IRON MOUNTAIN — Bids will be opened Nov. 17 as Iron Mountain looks to buy a new plow truck, possibly in time for the heart of winter.

The city has allocated $200,000 for a new 4×4 truck that would replace a 1996 International Paystar. This is one of the city’s two largest plow trucks, both of which are nearing 30 years of use, said City Manager Jordan Stanchina.

The bidding process will give “some insight into costs,” he told the council Monday. Specifications call for a 380 horsepower diesel Cummins engine.

The city also plans to buy a new 3/4-ton high-roof van for public works, although bids for low and medium roof options will be advertised as well. There is $40,000 in the budget to replace a 2008 model. Bids will be opened Nov. 17.

In other action Monday, the council:

— Approved a pay request from Bacco Construction of Iron Mountain totaling $352,272 for work completed to date on a $15 million project to replace water and sewer utilities and some storm sewers on all of West A and East C streets, and a substantial portion of West Hughitt Street. Work this fall was done on the 1000 block of West A and Hughitt.

— Approved a change order in a contract with Ultra Construction Services of Marquette, adding $15,887 to the city’s cost for replacement of lead service lines. This is to address plumbing extras in the home when a new path is needed to connect the service line to existing plumbing, Stanchina said. Ultra is working on a $4.57 million project paid through a Michigan Drinking Water State Revolving Fund loan and grant, but these extras are excluded and will be paid from the city’s water budget.

— Scheduled a public hearing for 6 p.m. Nov. 17 on a marijuana ordinance change to permit curbside and/or drive-thru sales, which have been occurring since the COVID-19 pandemic. There have been no reported problems with these sales, Stanchina said.

— Scheduled a public hearing for 6 p.m. Dec. 1 to adjust zoning rules for marijuana facilities to exclude the I-2 general industrial district as no facilities have been built in this district. All existing and closed facilities are in the I-1 light industrial district, Stanchina explained.

Jim Anderson can be reached at 906-774-2772 ext. 85226 or janderson@ironmountaindailynews.com.