ESCANABA – The Escanaba City Council will have its second public hearing Thursday on proposed improvements on South 18th Street from 20th to 22nd avenues South.

The council’s first public hearing was Oct. 16, after eight property owners petitioned for a 24-foot-wide, double-chip seal roadway overlay treatment.

The council also is expected to consider approving the site plan for a temporary railroad tie processing facility at 2172 N. 30th St., which the planning commission passed at a special meeting Oct. 27.

The council’s approval of the site plan will enable the applicant to complete the permitting process with Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy, or EGLE. Cornerstone Environmental Group – a Tetra Tech Company (Tetra Tech), submitted the Site Plan Application to the City of Escanaba Zoning Department on behalf of Omaha Track Inc.

The council has also been asked to approve a resolution on the Michigan Safeguarding Tomorrow Revolving Loan Fund, or MiSTRLF, which is providing financial assistance for the city’s Stormwater and Wastewater Management Project that includes federal funding through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

Total estimated project cost is $3,885,870. City Manager James McNiel reports an anticipated HMGP federal share of $2,914,402.50 in the memorandum.

The Downtown Development Authority has submitted two special event applications: the Christmas Tree Lighting and the Christmas Parade.

The Christmas Tree Lighting will take place Tuesday, Nov. 25, and requires closing South 11th Street from Ludington Street to the alley.

The Christas Parade will be Friday, Dec. 5, and will need Ludington Street from Fifth Street to Stephenson Avenue to be closed; the parade takes place on Stephenson Avenue from Ludington Street to First Avenue North.