NORWAY — Norway City Council has approved a new contract with Mead & Hunt Inc. to support the city’s compliance with Federal Energy Regulatory Commission regulations for the Sturgeon Falls Hydroelectric Dam.

The first year of the five-year contract will cost the city $44,800 and trends downward to $30,800 the final year. The variance is due to the reports required in a given year. In 2024, additional reporting is needed for the Owner’s Dam Safety Program audit and guard lock permitting.

Council member Rico Meneghini noted the add-on reports and asked if more may pop up in later years of the contract. Department of Power and Light Foreman Scott Hegy said it’s possible to project the compliance requirements 10 years out with very limited variables.

Mayor Candy Brew inquired if a five-year contract was the route to go, as things could change and there will be other things for Mead & Hunt to do.

Hegy said it had been a five-year contract at one point and when that expired the city went short-term, trying to see if other contractors might be available to do the work. None were ever found to place a bid.

Also related to the hydroelectric dam, the council approved a proposal from GEI Consultants for $12,900 to inspect the Tainter gate, which raises up and down to let floodwater escape the dam. Mead & Hunt was not interested in doing the inspection, as it requires rappelling down to the gates.

In other business, the council:

— Approved buying 36 power poles for $23,368 to restock the electric department’s inventory. Hegy told the council it pays to stock up to save on shipping charges. The city would have to pay for a load of up to 40,000 pounds even if it weighed much less.

— Accepted a $6,228 bid from Interstate Power Systems to replace the rear differential carrier on a tandem axle dump truck. The city may receive a refund of $863 for the core.

— Adopted a resolution to dispose of wastewater sludge by spreading it as fertilizer in Wisconsin, as required by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

— Congratulated the Norway High School baseball team on reaching the MHSAA state tournament in East Lansing, finishing as state runner-up.