KINGSFORD — Kingsford City Council has agreed to accept funding from the state for lead service line replacements on the recommendation of City Manager Mike Stelmaszek.

The state is offering $5 million with a combination of principal forgiveness totaling 50% of the total project scope for up to $2.5 million.

Stelmaszek suggested the city take the funding offered for lead service line replacements in the area south of Breitung Avenue. The city will seek a rate study through the Michigan Rural Water Association for the loan portion of the project.

The funding for this fourth water project is through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy.

Project engineer Ryan Morgan of GEI Consultants said each service line replacement could cost between $13,000 to $15,000 depending on materials. Once the project is more formalized, they will know which ones and how many can be replaced.

The state has mandated that all lead service lines be replaced by 2038. There are about 1,400 lines to be replaced with 1,150 full replacements and 250 partial replacements.

“I don’t know how smaller communities do it. We are fortunate we qualify for as many things as we do,” Council Member Michael Flaminio said.

Stelmaszek also gave an overall update on the city’s ongoing projects. Repaving was completed on Riverhills and North Riverhills road. Woodward Avenue near North Pyle Drive has been blocked off to complete the sewer work for project No. 3 in time to repave it during the final fall paving on project No. 2.

Woodward Avenue is open and the first phase of project No. 3 has been completed up to the lift station on Saratoga Street. The lift station has been abandoned. All the mechanical equipment has been removed and it was been filled in with gravel.

Work on another lift station will be completed in the spring. The final paving west of Westwood Avenue will be completed for project No. 2 this week.

Project No. 2 resulted in 24,957 feet of water main replacement, doubling the size of most lines. There were 433 residential water service lines replaced with one-inch copper lines. Fire hydrants, valves, roadways, curbing, and affected sidewalks were also replaced.

Projects No. 2 and No. 3 will resume in the spring in the Ford Addition and on Bancroft and Woodbine streets and East Breen Avenue.

In other business, the council:

— Learned the city is still seeking people to sign up for it twice-monthly curbside recycling program. The cost is $8.50 per month and residents will receive a 96-gallon container the will be collected by Green for Life. Residents can sign up on the city website or by calling City Hall.

— Agreed to provide $700 toward the city’s Christmas Tree Lighting event, after an update from Jennifer Castro. This year’s event will be Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Kingsford High School. In the past, the event was held at the Dickinson County Armory, but it is being renovated this year so it will be unavailable. She had requested additional money because costs have risen. She would also like to purchase a banner or sign that could be used each year. Castro said they will be receiving a donation from First National Bank. The Iron Mountain-Kingsford Community Federal Credit Union is providing goody bags and Ace Hardware is providing supplies such as plates. “It’s a lot of fun. Everyone gets excited when they see the kids singing,” she said.

— Received an introduction from new Breitung Township Schools Superintendent Aaron Yonke. He said he looks forward to working with the city and invited them to contact him with any questions or concerns.

— Learned 14 deer have been taken so far in the city’s managed archery deer by nine hunters.

— Approved a request for Tanya Hiltonen to attend the annual Upper Peninsula Human Resources Association training event on Nov. 12 in Marquette. The training includes a legal update and a segment on the impact of AI. There is no cost for the training, but the city will pay transportation costs.

— Agreed to pay for Stelmaszek to stay overnight to attend a one-day free training for the Community Development Block Grant program in Escanaba sponsored by Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission. He told the council that although he administers the program, he had never received training for it.

— Accepted a bid from Shad Brown Excavating and Snow Removal of Niagara, Wis., to pave two paths from the pavilion at Cowboy Lake for $8,130.

— Agreed to send Public Safety Director Brandon Rutter to the 2026 Winter Professional Development Conference Feb. 4-6 at the Amway Grand Plaza Resort in Grand Rapids, Mich.

———

Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.