ESCANABA — The future of City Manager Patrick Jordan’s contract is expected to be a major topic of discussion at Thursday’s Escanaba City Council meeting.

A subcommittee was formed earlier this year to draft a new contract for Jordan. The committee, which was formed of Mayor Mark Ammel and Council Member Ron Beauchamp, were assisted in the creation of the contract by an outside attorney, who has not been named publicly but purportedly specializes in employment and contract law.

Jordan has served as the city manager for Escanaba since 2017. He submitted a resignation letter to the council in October of 2019, but rescinded his resignation a month later.

The draft of the new contract published on the city’s website as part of Thursday’s agenda packet does not include values for salary or other types of compensation, which would be negotiated at a later date prior to its approval. Instead, the document focuses on expectations of Jordan, general benefit information, and the process the city would follow if Jordan were to be terminated.

JAIL AND CHAMBER DEVELOPMENT

The council will also hear an update of the sale and redevelopment of the former Delta County Jail and Delta County Chamber of Commerce sites. Updates on the projects have been a consistent feature of city council agendas and will likely remain a feature of them until the properties are sold.

All three developers — Terrace Bay Hotel, North Shore Marine Terminal & Logistics and Swanee, Inc. — have hit snags in the purchase agreement stage of the respective development projects. However, recent joint negotiations between the developers, their attorneys and the city may make Thursday’s discussion more informative than past updates.

COAST GUARD LEASE

A contract allowing the U.S. Coast Guard to continue leasing the Municipal Dock will also be discussed Thursday. The Coast Guard has historically leased the dock, but the planned renewal of the lease agreement was stalled recently when the city’s attorney, Lisa Vogler, raised concerns over some of the contract’s language and terms.

The contract being discussed Thursday would give the Coast Guard a one-year lease of the dock, but allows for annual extensions through 2042.

WATER AND WASTEWATER

Jeff Lampi, the city’s water and wastewater superintendent, will be requesting approval to retain C2AE of Escanaba for professional services for the two departments. For wastewater, Lampi is seeking to hire C2AE for services related to the wastewater treatment plant’s asset management plan for an amount not to exceed $29,750. For the water department, Lampi is seeking to hire C2AE for engineering related to the water treatment plan project, in an amount not to exceed $439,200.

BYPASS LANE

The public works department is requesting the city approve a contract with Anderson Excavating for work necessary to construct the road base for a bypass lane on North 30th Street.

CHRISTMAS PARADE

The council will vote on closing Ludington Street for the city’s annual Christmas Parade. The parade is scheduled for Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.