Jenny Lancour | Daily Press During budget work sessions at Escanaba City Hall Tuesday, council members discuss the need for road improvements as shown on the maps in the foreground. Council agreed to use part of the city’s fund balance to pay for more road improvements in the 2018-2019 budget. Pictured from left are council members Ralph Blasier, Michael Sattem, Mayor Marc Tall, Peggy O’Connell-Schumann and Mayor Pro Tem Ron Beauchamp.

ESCANABA — Taxpayers in Escanaba will see their money put to work in the 2018-2019 fiscal year when a variety of road projects are put into action as a result of finances tentatively approved by city council this week.

During two days of work sessions Monday and Tuesday, council members met with city administrators and department heads as they worked together to review the proposed budget line by line.

The proposed $31 million 2018-2019 budget is similar to last’s year’s finances with the $8.3 million general fund representing an increase of 1.56 percent needed to fund increased costs and other expenditures.

In the end, council agreed Tuesday to add more than $420,000 in road work compared to what City Manager Patrick Jordan and City Controller Melissa Becotte had already drafted in the proposed document.

Council has been looking at ways to step up street improvements above and beyond the typical annual maintenance schedule due to an increasing amount of roadway considered in poor condition throughout the city. Council was considering a road millage, but has opted to use the city’s fund balance instead.

“We have so many roads that need work. It certainly won’t solve the problem but it’s a step in the right direction,” commented Mayor Marc Tall, who has been instrumental in convincing the city to fix deteriorating roads.

The proposed budget initially included $360,000 worth of resurfacing and curb repair, along with $210,000 to improve Danforth Road from North 30th Street to the north city limits and $100,000 for the city’s share to realign an intersection and resurface 3rd Avenue North from North Lincoln Road to Stephenson Avenue.

The $421,500 worth of road work added to the proposed budget includes projects outlined in a three-year plan submitted by Wendy Taavola, city engineer, and Keith Marenger of Public Works at the request of council.

In addition to the road projects already in the budget, the plan’s first year recommendations suggested resurfacing 3rd Avenue North going west to North 30th Street at an estimated cost of $271,500. The plan also included $150,000 worth of road work on 11th Avenue North, South 11th Street and North 14th Street.

The above projects were recommended to tackle first because no underground service work is expected in these locations, noted Taavola.

Remaining projects outlined in the three-year plan include $1.92 million in road repairs and general maintenance in 2019 and $1.76 million worth of projects in 2020, not counting underground utility repairs.

In addition to more road repairs in the new budget, council also agreed to add $14,000 more expenses in the general fund budget after meeting with department heads this week.

These items included $10,000 to address the civic center’s flooding basement and $6,000 for training for council, the planning commission, and the board of appeals. A subtraction of $2,000 from the city’s $12,000 fireworks expenditure brought the difference of the general fund down to $14,000.

Other expenditures not originally in the proposed budget were $40,000 for a police vehicle, $8,000 for a lawn mower for the water plant and $5,000 in free landfill passes for a spring clean up program.

The police vehicle is in addition to another vehicle which administration had already included in the proposed budget along with hiring one police officer. Lawn mowers were also already in the budget for Escanaba Public Safety and the marina.

Other equipment which will be purchased in the upcoming fiscal year include a $175,000 used grader and a $50,000 road patching machine for Public Works.

The electric fund includes three new trucks — a meter truck, a double bucket truck and a digger/derrick truck — all for $540,000.

Major electric department projects are a $1.5 million solar facility, which will be funded by the electric fund and the city’s renewable energy fund. The public will have opportunity to buy shares in the project to help offset costs.

Electric meter replacements will amount to $1 million in the coming year. Substation improvements total $300,000 in addition to $20,000 worth of batteries. Other expenses include $280,000 for power pole replacements, $80,000 for street light replacements and $80,000 for underground line replacements.

To help fund expenditures, electric customers will be charged an added fee for meters. For example, residential customers will experience a $2.45 increase on their monthly bill. A $25,000 rate study will be conducted to help determine the electric department’s future needs and costs.

Ten percent rate hikes are included in the budget for both water and wastewater services. Both of these departments have various projects lined up for the new fiscal year.

A water main on 1st Avenue North will be replaced at an estimated cost of $450,000. Water meters will continue to be replaced city-wide at a cost of $200,000. Fire hydrants will be painted for $45,000. The water department is looking to buy a vibrator compactor for $45,000.

Major projects in the wastewater department include $527,050 to fund the repair of three sanitary sewer lines in three locations within the city.

The wastewater facility is undergoing upgrades including $310,000 needed to replace a blower and motor and $250,000 to pay for plant improvements to reduce the level of disinfection by-products in the city’s water. A $90,000 digester valve and automatic mixer will be purchased.

Additional budget items for next year include a dock replacement at the marina, which the city will contribute $25,000 to the $350,000 project that is also funded by grants.

The library will be receiving $5,000 for computer upgrades, while the city clerk’s office will be buying a voting machine for $4,600.

Budget items for the recreation department include fixing the beach shower, removing metal posts from a former dock at the beach, and funding two weekend “Rock the Dock” events this summer in addition to the department’s year-round activities.

Public hearings on the proposed 2018-2019 finances will be held during council meetings on May 3 and May 7 when the city budget will be adopted.

Following Tuesday’s work sessions, Tall commented, “I’m quite impressed with the work our new city manager has done in putting together this budget for next year.”

In turn, City Manager Jordan praised the work of the city controller in developing the budget, along with the department heads, city employees, committees and community members who assisted in the process.

“I am fortunate to have a council, community and dedicated employee support in providing the residents with the necessary resources, flexibility and funding which allow us all to live in a community that we can be proud of,” stated Jordan in his budget introduction.

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Jenny Lancour, (906) 786-2021, ext. 143, jlancour@dailypress.net