ESCANABA — The city of Escanaba is seeking qualified individuals to serve on a study committee that would explore the viability of a historic district in the “Ogden Triangle.”

The Ogden Triangle includes the area located between 1st Avenue South to the north, Lake Shore Drive to the south and east, and South 17th Street to the west. Last year, the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) conducted a survey of the area and its historicity, which highlighted the large number of homes built in the triangle between 1860 and 1920.

Residents have been divided as to whether or not the area should become a historic district. The designation would protect the character of the area from changing, but would limit residents’ ability to make improvements to their properties that deviate from the way their homes looked historically.

The study group approved Thursday does not create a historic district or enact any restrictions on residents. Rather, the group will look into whether the designation would be viable or beneficial to the city.

The group will be composed of five individuals, two of which will be appointments from the Delta County Historical Society. The remaining three will be from citizen applicants.

“It is an ad hoc committee that would cease to exist at the time that they finish all of their duties. There’s a lot of duties ahead. We’re probably looking at a couple years worth of work,” said City Planning and Zoning Administrator Tyler Anthony.

A request for applications will be advertised. Applicants will follow a different process for showing their interest than is seen with other boards, as the committee members must meet certain qualifications.

In other business the council:

— Held a public hearing but took no action on a request for the construction of a cul-de-sac at the south end of South 20th Street. The residents who requested the project withdrew their petition for the project prior to Thursday’s meeting, effectively ending the project’s consideration by the council. The hearing was still held, as it had been properly noticed, but no members of the public participated.

— Approved two service agreements, one for the Delta County Historical Society and one for the William Bonifas Fine Arts Center.

For the historical society, the agreement provides the society with $2,000 for the fiscal year in exchange for the society continuing its work through the museum and lighthouse.

For the Bonifas, the agreement provides the arts center with $5,000 for the fiscal year in exchange for the Bonifas providing a minimum of six on-stage or radio plays annually, six to eight art exhibits, and a minimum of 40 classes in the creative and visual arts.

Both agreements were included in the city’s fiscal year budget.

— Approved an updated water agreement for Wells Township. The 10-year agreement was functionally identical to the prior agreement between the two bodies, which had recently expired. Changes were made to update the language, which City Manager Jim McNeil said better protected both municipalities and made the agreement easier to understand.

— Voted to retain C2AE, of Escanaba, for engineering services to ensure compliance with the administrative consent order for the city’s water plant in an amount not to exceed $32,000.

— Approved extending C2AE’s allowance for financial obligations to complete activities related to a Drinking Water Asset Management (DWAM) grant. An additional $119,149.20 was requested, bringing the total cost to $271,609.20. The funds will be reimbursable through the grant, which is for $595,233.

— Approved the purchase of a 2025 Ford F750 from Gorno Ford of Woodhave, Mich. for the water department. The cost of the vehicle — including signage, toolboxes, two-way radios, and delivery — will not exceed $122,000, due to price breaks from the MIDeal program.

— Hired Payne and Dolan to pave North 16th Street from 10th Avenue North to 11th Avenue North for an amount not to exceed $26,600.

A second proposed paving project in the alley between 4th and 5th Street South between Ludington and 1st Avenue South was removed from the agenda. The project will be reexamined at a future date.