Village of Bruce
PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES
Monday, July 5, 2021
6:30 PM
BRUCE VILLAGE HALL
A Public Hearing was held at the Bruce Village Hall on Monday, July 5th, 2021. Village President Shane Trott presided and called the public hearing to order at 6:30 p.m. Board members present were Loren Beebe, Kim Grasley, Mark Zimmer, Galen Brainerd and Jim Johnson. Rob Grabon was absent. Clerk/Treasurer Jessica Hayes and Engineer Larry Gotham of Morgan & Parmley, Ltd. attended the meeting also. A sign in sheet was circulated.
-PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE-
Administrator of the CDBG grant for the North Main Street Reconstruction Project, Amy Kelsey from Cooper Engineering, attended the hearing and gave a brief overview of the Community Block Grant program. The CDBG-PF is a financing tool for local units of government to undertake needed infrastructure and public building projects. The program supports public investment that contributes to the overall community and economic development. The CDBG-PF program is federally funded, and is administered by the Division of Energy, Housing, and Community Resources within the Department of Administration.
The primary purpose of the CDBG program is the development of viable communities through the provision of decent affordable housing, a suitable living environment, and the expansion of economic opportunities, and address deficiencies affecting local public infrastructure and public service amenities, principally for the benefit of persons of low and moderate income.
To be eligible, the project beneficiaries must meet at least one of the following National Objectives: 51 percent LMI Benefit, Slum and Blight Removal, or Urgent Local Need as determined by the 2011-2015 American Community Survey census data. The Village of Bruce has an LMI rating of 69.81% community-wide and the project was determined to benefit the whole community.
The maximum CDBG grant award is up to $1,000,000 of the construction costs with a match requirement of $1 Village funds for every $2 of CDBG money spent. The proposed project budget is $2,003,000. The Village has also obtained funding from the DNR Environmental Improvement Fund in the form of loans and principal forgiveness ($500,000) which is considered match for the project.
Eligible CDBG activities include projects that promote or improve economic development, public facilities such as public infrastructure, community facilities, or downtown revitalization, and housing for persons with low to moderate income.
The proposed project would provide reliable water service to the Village by duplicating the water transmission main, increase water quality and quantity by eliminating many dead ends, reduce lead exposure to residents, and increase fire protection. Infiltration and inflow into the sanitary sewer system will be reduced which will lower wear on the treatment system and reduce treatment costs. Essential lift stations will be revived, street flooding will be addressed, and the driving surface will be improved in the project area as well as ADA-compliant pedestrian facilities will be reconstructed or added which will connect the school and business district.
Three blocks of Washington Avenue (Alvey St. to N. 2nd St) will be reconstructed in front of the school. Underground utilities that are deteriorated will be replaced – water main and services, sanitary sewer and services, storm sewer, and the roadway surface. Curb and gutter will be installed to improve surface drainage; ADA-compliant sidewalks will be installed. This section of Washington Avenue will complete the urban cross section initiated in the 2010 CDBG project.
North 1st Street (Washington Ave. to E. River Rd.) will be reconstructed (2 blocks). One block of N. 1st Street, north of Railroad Avenue, is in a residential neighborhood. The 1-inch and 2-inch water line is undersized, and there is no hydrant. The street is in poor condition, and the sidewalk is a trip hazard and non-ADA compliant. Watermain will be upgraded to an 8-inch main and will be connected to East River Avenue to create a loop eliminating a dead end. Fire hydrants will be installed, and new water services will eliminate any existing lead goosenecks. Sanitary sewer will be replaced and a manhole installed. The street will be reconstructed with ADA‑compliant sidewalk on the west side of the street. South of the railroad crossing, N. 1st Street is closed to accommodate the CN railroad. Within the existing street right of way, an essential 8” watermain will be installed under the railroad tracks which will provide a secondary loop to connect the south half of the Village with the north half.
North Main Street (Washington Ave. to E. River Ave. (2 blocks)) will be reconstructed. The original water mains, sewer mains and services will be replaced including the railroad undercrossing pipes. The cracked concrete sidewalks have been paved over with asphalt 2-3 times (the Village was sued over a fall on this sidewalk). Work will include new sewer main and services, water main, water services to eliminate lead goosenecks, storm sewer, curb and gutter, roadway surface, and ADA-compliant sidewalks. The sidewalks will be installed on both sides of the street to provide a safe route to the school.
Railroad Avenue (N. Blackburn St. to N. 3rd St. (5 blocks)) will be reconstructed. The 80-year old water main leaks and is manganese encrusted. Work will include new sewer main and services, water main, water services to eliminate lead goosenecks, storm sewer, curb and gutter, roadway surface, and ADA-compliant sidewalks. Spot sidewalk construction will complete connections to the sidewalk system. The new water main will eliminate four dead ends at N. Blackburn St., N. 1st St, N. 2nd St, and N. 3rd St.
East River Avenue (N. 1st St. to N. Main St. (1 block)) will be reconstructed. Work will include new sanitary sewer main and services, water main and services, curb and gutter, storm sewer, street reconstruction, and sidewalk on the south side of the street.
The Coleman Avenue Lift Station will be replaced but is not eligible for CDBG funding. A new sanitary sewer connection, manhole, lift station electrical components, and control system will be installed. The Main Lift Station at N. 4th St. will be rehabilitated with new pumps, manhole top, force main reconnects, electrical components, and lift station float system.
To date, all sewer and water main replacement work has been completed, except for the change order that was added on Railroad Avenue in front of Village Hall. All storm sewer has been installed. Curb and gutter are substantially completed (Washington Avenue and Railroad Avenue are left to complete). Paving of the street surface will follow. The project is on schedule.
The two lift stations have not been completed yet. The contractor is waiting for parts.
The contractor is working with the school to complete the street face, and the school has hired the contractor to do extra work on their site.
Minor adjustments to storm sewer inlets and a manhole that is within the road radius is needed during final grading and paving of the street.
The floor was then open to public comments and questions regarding the grant and project. The question was raised whether there would be any delay or shut down in sewer service when the lift stations are replaced. The Village should not feel any effects or interruptions in service during the reconstruction of the lift stations. The old lift station will be utilized until the new lift station is online. The contractor may need to hire a sewer service to provide bypass pumping during the switch over.
The Village acknowledged that the contractor Haas Sons is doing a great job and is very accommodating. Haas provided help to make the site/roads passable for an auction. They have been responsive to residents requests and concerns.
A resident asked if there would be any more water shut downs. The Village had some complaints about the disruption in water service.
There may be one or two more water interruptions to replace the last water line, but it should not disrupt the entire Village.
With no other comments from the public, Trott called for a motion to adjourn.
Motion by Zimmer, seconded by Brainerd to adjourn, carried. The public hearing adjourned at 7:00 p.m.