Water and sewer construction materials are stored along West Ludington Street as a replacement project takes place on neighboring West A and West Hughitt streets in Iron Mountain. (Jim Anderson/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — Water infiltration is a problem at some homes in Iron Mountain, but it’s up to individual owners to find remedies, a resident was told by the city’s mayor Monday.

During citizens’ time at a city council meeting, Rebecca Langin told the council about issues throughout the 700 block of East A Street near the city’s East Side Park. This year has been especially bad, she said, with 4 inches of water in her basement.

“It’s like it’s just been ignored,” she said of the city’s viewpoint. “I have to put on boots to do my laundry.”

The city should look into “a serious study” of the problem, she said.

Mayor Dale Alessandrini said sump pumps and adequate floor drains are among the first options for easing problems. There are contractors who provide waterproofing and foundation repair services, he added.

“We live in a mine area,” he said. “There’s holes everywhere. If there was a grant (to look into it further), we would.”

He added there may be small streams beneath some structures. He suggested contacting Dickinson County Mine Inspector Mike Ghere for information on the city’s layout.

Langin said the problem gets worse when groundwater rises. The neighboring park this year, she said, has been “like a sponge.”

Langin said damages in a neighbor’s basement, including a furnace, came to $5,700, not covered by insurance.

In other action, the council:

— Authorized $92,055 in paving on the 1100 and 1200 blocks of West D Street. The work is needed because water service line replacements by Bacco Construction Co. at the intersection of Hemlock Street involved more excavation than expected, according to City Manager Jordan Stanchina. Of the total, $35,700 can be covered through Michigan Drinking Water State Revolving Fund monies already awarded, but the city’s local street fund will be tapped to cover $56,355 to pave adjacent areas totaling 1,650 square yards. The price is higher than a typical paving job because there is no existing base, Stanchina said.

— Will soon schedule an infrastructure committee meeting to identify other areas to pave. Bacco was awarded a $15.4 million bid last year that includes 2.5 miles of paving that will occur as part of its water and sewer installations. The city has set aside $1.35 million for local road paving in the next budget year, some of it to extend off the infrastructure project. The overall work includes full replacement of water and sewer utilities for all of West A Street, East C Street, and a substantial portion of West Hughitt Street.

— Approved an additional $166,311 for a water main replacement that Stanchina said should have been included in the Bacco project but was not. The section is an original 6-inch main on Prospect Avenue from West A Street to West Hughitt Street. “This would update all of the utilities in and around the school campus,” Stanchina said. The water portion is about $89,662, a storm sewer upgrade is $2,940 and the road restoration is $73,709.

— Accepted a quote of up to $26,125 from Kleiman Pump & Well Drilling to address a reduced capacity problem at the city’s Well No. 3. The normal pump capacity is 320 gallons per minute, but it’s currently only 190 gpm, Stanchina said. Kleiman’s quote includes a full pump replacement, but the final cost could be lower after the pump is removed and evaluated, he said.

— Reappointed Rob Barkle and Kim Recla to three-year terms on the Zoning Board of Appeals.

———

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