GLADSTONE — The Gladstone City Commission approved a change order from Coleman Engineering Company Monday night, increasing the 9th Street Project amount by $40,777.40, bringing the total cost of the project to $4,364,786.

Coleman Engineering requested the change order for additional utility exploration, removal of asphalt millings, additional sewer footage, additional aggregate and storm sewer.

A change of $6,979 was requested to cover the extra cost of purchasing domestic and additional fittings for the project. The fittings were needed to move water mains out of the way of the new sewer on 4th Street and Superior Avenue.

“There was a little bit of combined sewer there that had to be separated and we had to move some things around … with the new sewer and the new water lines running, we had to do some up and under, up and over,” said Gladstone City Manager Eric Buckman. “North American fittings we have in our specification, and it was missed by the engineer when they put the bids out, we wanted that change.”

Much of the utility exploration had to be done because many old city plans did not depict exactly what was underground.

“By Holiday Gas Station … a new gas line that went through wasn’t buried where the contractor said they buried it. Then you have our force main that’s in that … if you go and look at the MISS DIG (Michigan’s utility safety notification system), you’ll see an area about four feet — there’s a whole lot of stuff there,” noted Buckman.

Underground work is planned to be completed in early August. The remaining work includes one more water main crossing, sewer main crossing, the installation of a separate valve and hydrant, and some cleanup.

In other business the commission:

— Approved the 4th Street Special Assessment District, Resolution No. 2020-12-04, after hearing no comments from the public during a special hearing before the regular meeting.

Gladstone City Assessor Janice Ketcham provided a special assessment roll to the city showing the tax each parcel owner will pay in the 4th Street Special Assessment District. The total special assessment value is approximately $125,000. The special assessment was calculated by multiplying each property’s assessable footage by $23.80. Assessable footage in the district totals 5,253.

The special assessment roll is divided into 15 equal annual installments, with payment starting Nov. 15 and continuing for 15 years, with payments due Nov. 15 of each year. Property owners who do not pay the tax by the due dates will be charged penalties and fees.

The total estimated cost for the 4th Street Project is $490,000, based on plans by Coleman Engineering Company and Gladstone Department of Public Works. A Federal Surface Transportation Program/Michigan Department of Transportation grant will cover $320,000, and the city’s Major Street Fund will cover $45,000, with the remainder of the project paid through the special assessment. The district was approved at the commissions’ July 13 meeting. The work along 4th Street and part of Delta Avenue includes paving, curb and gutter replacement, and sidewalk refurbishment, including ramp reconstruction.

The special assessment roll is on file with the City Clerk for the public to view during regular business hours.

— Set a public hearing date of Aug. 24 at 6 p.m., for the amendment of the City of Gladstone Downtown Development Authority Development and Tax Increment Financing Plan. The revision of the plan started a year ago, and the proposed revision doesn’t change the DDA’s boundaries. The amended end of the DDA plan is March 31, 2041 — a 20 year extension.

— Approved 9th Street Special Assessment Resolution #5, changing Resolution #4 by extending the roll due date from July 1 to Nov. 15 of each year. The original resolution was written so invoices would go out with the summer tax roll.

— Approved and adopted Municipal Employees’ Retirement System (MERS) Health Care Savings Program Agreement for Division Number 300797 – Supervisor Division.

“This is a savings for the city and the retiree,” said Buckman.

— Congratulated Gladstone Parts and Recreation Director Nicole Sanderson on her retirement. Buckman read off a list of her accomplishments.

Gladstone City Commission meetings will continue to be conducted virtually due to health concerns surrounding COVID-19 under Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s Executive Order 2020-154. Meetings are available online using the Gladstone webpage, www.gladstonemi.org, or the city’s YouTube channel. The next regular meeting is Aug. 10.