By Pat Maurer
Correspondent
“Dredging (on Lake Shamrock) is continuing with good progress,” Clare City Manager Jeremy Howard told the Commission at the August 5th City meeting.
He said, “Our mechanical dredge has ben undergoing some repairs from normal wear and tear on the equipment, but should be back up and running hopefully the first full week in August to continue working to the north of the beach at Shamrock Park,” adding, Savin is operating both dredges 24 hours a day, five days (Monday-Friday,) but has also experienced some intermittent mechanical issues that have been resolved.”
He said hydraulic work has started on the north side of Barnes Island and some work southwest of Barnes Island.
While working near the island, Howard said they made an interesting discovery. “An old metal canoe, long forgotten and sunken in the lake of the shore of Barnes Island, got caught up in the suction head.” He said the crews were able to bring the canoe up and get it on shore.
Concerning the dam project, he said the engineers, GEI and Spicer are still waiting for the grant agreement from the State. The $600,000 High Hazard Dam Grant that the City was awarded is still “moving through the State’s management team for review and approval and the review can take quite some time.”
Howard also reported on the progress on the Rail-Trail, saying, “The project continues to mov forward and appears to be on schedule to finish in late summer or early fall.” He continued, “The contractor completed the new parking arena at the depot….the new trailhead sign has arrived and …will be placed at the depot.”
He also noted that work “is continuing on the trestle bridge and once that is done that section will get a base layer of asphalt and the entire trail will get the final topcoat of asphalt.” He said the trail is on schedule to finish I later summer or early fall.
Along with all of the other ongoing projects the main street through most of the town – South Clare Ave/McEwan – has been getting a facelift. With some savings from a “light winter,” the Michigan Department of Transportation has “added a 1.5-inch cold mill and 1.5 inches of resurfacing (asphalt).
The project, approximately 1.72 miles, began just north of the Speedway Gas Station and runs south to State Street. It was finished up this week.
Finishing up his report to the City Commission, Howard said the Downtown Development Authority is considering an expansion of the district to include the depot, and the property located adjacent to the Burmeister “popcorn wagon” parcel (directly south of the Fifth Street Dollar General store). The DDA asked for a consensus of the Commission’s feelings about the proposal. More information will be available at the next City Commission meeting.
In another matter, the Commission unanimously recognized Parks and Recreation Director Joy Simmer for ten years of “extraordinary outstanding service” to the City and community. Mayor Pat Humphrey presented her with a plaque in recognition of her service.
In other business:
*The Commission renewed their contract with Hometown Decorations and Display LLC for two more years of holiday decoration services.
*The board also approved the purchase of a new Department of Public Works truck to MiDeal (State Program) from Todd Wenzel Buick-GMC. The new truck, included in this year’s budget, will be a 2024 GMCF Sierra 2500HD Crew Cab 4×4 Pro truck, bid out for $50,738.00.
*A contract amendment was approved with Waiste Deep Dumpsters Hauling of Lake Shamrock (Marvin Heintz) to use their trucking company to haul the spoils removed from Lake Shamrock with the City’s mechanical dredging operation. Because it took a long time for EGLE (Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy) to approve the permit for mechanical dredging which delayed the actual start of hauling, and resulted in a large increase in the costs due to increases in diesel fuel which meant the original contract amount per load was increased from $125 to $150. Howard said, “We hope to have the mechanical portion completed before the end of the year, barring any unforeseen issues.”
*The commission approved a 3-year contract renewal with City Clerk Diane Lyon, amended to add “Acting/Assistant City Manager” and the addition of a “yearly Percent” salary adjustment ($63,000 in the first year and an additional 2 percent annual salary increase beginning July 1, 2025) for the additional duties.
*Payment of $310,800.25 in bills was approved by the Commission.
