KINGSFORD — Fewer than half of the 244 Kingsford residents affected by the first Heights water line replacement project have responded to letters sent out by the city, according to Kingsford Public Works Director Jeff DeMuri.

The letter requests permission to enter the house to install new lead-free water access lines.

The project includes replacing the access lines, 13,100 feet of water mains, some of which are 100 years old, repaving streets, replacing sidewalks, curbing and hydrants. The project is expected to start in April, so DeMuri is hopeful the response rate will improve.

The streets affected include Harding Avenue, Wilson Avenue, Harrison Street, Cleveland Avenue, and portions of Maplewood Court, Lexington Street, Saratoga Street, Westwood Avenue, Waverly Street and Osage Street.

The $8,396,315 project will be constructed by Payne and Dolan of Gladstone, which had the lowest bidder. DeMuri also reported he drove around with them to determine if any more trees need to be removed in the area of construction.

In other business Monday, the council:

— Ratified a tentative agreement negotiated by the Personnel Committee and approved by the city’s Public Safety Union for the next three-year collective bargaining agreement. Details can be released once the agreement is signed by both parties, City Manager Mike Stelmaszek said.

— Heard Dickinson County Commissioner Barb Kramer discuss her opposition to the “AxMITax” referendum proposed by Karla Wagner of Jenison, Michigan. The proposal would prohibit the use of property taxes to fund any Michigan governmental entities including cities, villages, townships, school districts and county government. According to the Citizens Research Council of Michigan, more than 94% of directed levied taxes comes from property taxes and 58% of all property taxes are used to support local school districts. Kramer believes it would have an adverse affect on local millages and shut down the county library, Bay College, senior centers, the veterans service office, the Medical Care Access Coalition that helps low-income individuals obtain prescription medications, the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District, rural ambulance services, Kingsford Police and Fire Pension millage and the bond for Kingsford’s public workings building.

— Learned the city had 1,024 residents cast votes in the primary election Feb. 27, of which 424 were in person and 600 absentee. Another 110 residents took part in the early voting. There were 290 countywide early voters at the Kingsford site. Stelmaszek believes the number voting in the primary was higher than normal. Over half who chose to vote voted absentee. “It supports our decision to put both precincts at City Hall,” he added.

“I thought it was really good, it really went smoothly,” Mayor Joe Groeneveld said. He was also happy the voting was all at City Hall.

— Had a public hearing for comments on the pre-application for a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Grant. The city is expected to receive $25,900 toward the purchase of a public safety vehicle, which is lower than previous amounts. About 55% of the purchase used to be covered, now it is about 35%, Stelmaszek said.

— Agreed to hire two people for summer help. Last year the city had three people, but DeMuri said that was because of the centennial celebration.