By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
Clare City Commissioners approved engineering and construction oversight by Mead & Hunt for construction of PAPI (Airport Pilot Approach Path Indicator) lights at the Clare Municipal Airport.
The City’s current airport improvement project includes replacement and installation of the lights, the agenda report said. “Recently MDOT (Michigan Department of Transportation) Aeronautics determined that the city put out a new FRQ (request for quotes) for the professional consulting and engineering of this portion of the project.”
The Commission approved the RFQ and the agreement with Mead & Hunt.
Funding was also approved by the Commission Monday evening for the final phase, the surfacing of the Emerald Isle Recreation Complex playground. The agenda report said, “Due to the cost of the playground, the Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and the city decided to construct the playground in phases. Phase I was completed in 2020 and Phase 2 was completed in 2021.
The Commission had earlier approved using funds from the Hammerberg endowment (a $180,000 endowment stipulated for recreational and cultural projects in the city) for the Emerald Isle playground equipment project. Other donated funds earmarked for the cost of playground equipment are held by the Clare Community Foundation.
The total cost of the project is $38,816.60, the agenda report said. “However, no direct city funds are needed as the entire cost of the project is being covered by funds from the Hammerberg Fund (10,000), the Emerald Isle Recreation Complex CCCF Fund (8,816.60 and funds from the MDNR ( Michigan Department of Natural Resources Recreation Passport Grant ($30,000).
The motion also included approval of the bid from Sinclair Recreation to complete the final phase of the project through the State of Michigan MiDeal program, which bids out projects like this for the entire state and another $1,200 from the Hammerberg Endowment Fund was approved in the same motion to be used for music licensing for the Summer Concert Series.
In another matter, the Department of Public Works will have new truck with the approval of a motion to approve the purchase through MiDeal from Todd Wenzel Buick-GMC of Westland.
In his agenda report, Jeremy Howard wrote, “The DPW truck fleet is aging rapidly and some trucks are reaching the end of their usable service life.”
The Commission approved the purchase of a 2024 Sierra 1500 Crew Cab 4×4 truck at a cost of $49,966.00. It will replace a 2002 Dodge pickup in the current fleet.
DPW Director Luke Potter said the replacement of two aging trucks was in the budget, but that, “due to high demand, I am requesting just one this year and then one next fiscal year.
Other business at the Clare City Commission meeting included:
Clare Fire Chief Jim Chapman was honored at the City meeting for 15 years as Chief of the Fire Department. The recognition was for Chapmans for “his exemplary, faithful, courageous and dedicated public service.
Approval of an Airport LOT Lease with Bernie Nevill for lot 106 and the west half of lot 104. He will construct a new airport hangar on the property.
The presentation of the city-wide 2024/25 Budget, Public Hearing and adoption will be on May 6th on the second Budget Workshop.
Approval of the payables through April 16, totaling $67,616.
