City Council - Regular Meeting

call to order this meeting of the Eskanava City Council, October 16th, 2025. Miss Wiser, please call role. Council member Boscha here. Council member Dubour here. Council member Fla here. Council member Moore here. Mary here. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. At this time, seeking approval and/or corrections to the minutes of the regular meeting of October 2nd, 2025. Motion to approve. Support. Discussion. All in favor?

I. Thank you. At this time, seeking approval and or adjustments to the current agenda as written. Support. Support. All in favor?

I. Thank you. at this time. Is there any conflict of interest needing to be declared by members of council pertaining to items on the agenda? I I just I don't really have a conflict of interest, but I just wanted to um make it clear that in uh uh number six that enhanced Eskanava is a partner in that um proposal, but I don't feel that there's a conflict of interest. We're just a supporting part partner.

Thank you. At this time, we will hear brief public comments pertaining to items on the agenda. If you wish to make a comment, please approach the podium, state your name, place of residence, keep your comments to 3 minutes or less. Good evening. My name is Tyler Anthony. I live at 321 South 7th Street in Escanava. I want to make comment on items six and seven on the agenda. Uh firstly on section on item six I think there is a conflict of interest on the part of council member Moore being that she is the registered agent for the corporation enhance Esanava. Uh it's a charter violation for a corporation with a member of city council to be making a deal with the city of Eskanava. She's representing both parties and I don't think that she should be involved in the decision and that's according to the charter. And on section seven, I'm disappointed to see yet another full hearty condo development being rammed through the decision process. Um when the last two have not done very well at all. Uh neither condominium development has gotten off the ground. I see Northshore Flats is on their fifth or seventh or 23rd revision. Um, apparently they still haven't been able to get things sorted out there. And there's also the development that was on Willow Creek Road that

has laid for, I don't know, going on six, seven years at this point. I think it's ridiculous to try to push through yet another condo development on yet again land that has either been used or was planned to be used for parkland. I think it's robbing the future citizens of this community of resources that have yet to be realized. Thank you.

Further public comment at this time? Hearing none, we move on to public hearings. Item number one, public hearing for the notice of street improvements 20th Avenue South to 22nd Avenue South on South 18th Street. Public works. The city of Eskanaba received a petition from property owners requesting the city to construct a 24 foot wide double chip sealed roadway overlay treatment from 20th Avenue South to 22nd Avenue South on South 18th Street. In accordance with the city charter, the city of Eskanaba is required to conduct public hearing on the proposed special assessment assessed improvement project so that any comments or objections to improvements can be heard. Administration further request to set November 6, 2025 as the public hearing to comment and or object to the proposed street improvement assessments. Do we have anyone from public works that can elaborate on this prior to opening up the public hearing?

Yeah, both our DPW superintendent Kent Dubour and engineering assistant Terry Flower are both here. Um they can talk a little bit about uh the specifics of of this improvement and some of the past um double chip seal that this intersects. Good evening. So, basically what we're looking at here with a double chip seal um from 20th Avenue to 22nd Avenue South on 18th Street um in this area with the gravel cost effectiveness wise um it's about 12 times the cost to pave and with the drainage in this area it doesn't make sense to pay 12 times that amount and put curb and gutter and everything else in um where this would be a five to sevenyear um improvement. And then with plans in that five, six year window to add a third coat um to prolong the life of the road another 5 to seven years and kind of keep along that trend. And the reason for the double chip seal instead of the single chip seal um is for the long-term effective effect effectiveness of the road um because basically be putting a 5/8 layer coat down um and then that second layer would be a third uh third ace layer um in between those two layers a smaller rock would integrate within the larger rock to allow the drainage to drain off a lot better where a single chip seal um is just going to break down faster in like 3 to 5 year window. Um, so as far as longevity goes to us, it makes sense to why they why a petition was taken out um to double chip seal the road in this manner rather than having it paved in curbon gutter.

Thank you.

I think it's important to mention too this doesn't replace curb and gutter. Um we have not too many now, but over the past however many years we've had gravel streets in town. Um eventually homeowners may petition receive enough uh property owners agreeing to a petition to pave a street. Um if there aren't enough petition uh people in support to pave um chip seals kind of an alternative uh but definitely does not replace curbon gutter. and we looked at curb and gutter options as far as drainage and barrels and tying into the storm that's currently there and it was $160,000 to tie in all four corners um along the street. So effectiveness wise um financially it just didn't make sense to go that route and these numbers would be based off of what the county provided us this year. Speaking with the county today, um they said those numbers are probably going to go up at least 15% when we look at doing this work. The county would end up doing the work in the springtime, but that number is going to vary greatly based off of the oil and rock and everything else. So, the numbers most likely going to be more than $1.75 square yard. Um but it's going to depend on how much prices increase in the springtime.

Thank you. You've answered quite a few of my questions already, but uh one of my questions would be if it's that much cheaper, why isn't the entire town chip sealed?

That's a really good question. I mean, it's something we've talked about greatly with I mean, even gravel alleys, the amount of time we spend grading and chloride and gravel alleys, I think it's something that we want to look to in the future. a lot of these streets that are asphalt. Obviously, with the rest of the projects going around um town with a lot of stuff getting half width and patches and stuff like that and full with paving um with the grant money and stuff like that, I think it makes sense to keep paving. Um this is more of like a kind of a cowac local street um application or not as high of travel roads. Um I think a lot of our majors and stuff like that would get tore apart as time goes on and it would be something that would be constantly going back to um where a lot of the local streets and culdeacs um that are gravel currently it probably makes a lot more sense to go this option cost effectively.

So will these people be reassessed this same dollar amount every five to seven years when you go through and rechip seal again. Typically when we init residents pay for initial installation then the city takes it over. Um I honestly don't know how that's been handled with chip seal in the past. It's usually how it's with a typical city street. Um but we're going to have to think about with chip sealed areas. What do we want to do with that? Um and that could Mr. Bosch brought up a good point of

my street my street was paved 25 years ago. So that's what five times the fiveyear amount. Yes. And uh it still looks fabulous. A couple cracks here and there. Yes. And we're looking at as far as pavement we're looking at 20 20 $21 a square yard where um double chip seal we're looking at $1.75 a square yard um currently and that might go up to two something next spring. So, I mean, it's a huge cost difference compared to 25 years ago. I mean, asphalt and concrete were significantly cheaper where the price of everything have went up significantly in the last 2, three years.

And it seems to me that without the curbing, water is going to run down the edges of the the road and potentially undermine this thin layer of chips.

I think in a lot of areas, you you have to have the curb because I mean, our our plow drivers rely on it to get the snow moved away. I think in this area um obviously water is the downfall of everything. I mean it creates an issue on houses, the roads, anything you talk about. Um there needs to be proper drainage, but with a double chip seal, it'll create the effectiveness to last longterm that 5 to sevenyear window. Obviously, it's not going to be as structurally sound as turban gutter and having somewhere for the water to drain off to. Um, but at the same time, the way um the slope is with the yards um in the stretch for these couple blocks, um I think effectiveness wise, it'll be perfectly fine and the water will have somewhere to go because $160,000 financially, um we can alleviate whatever water issues come up as time goes on um versus making that investment um to properly put the structure we need to in. So for one 12th the price of the rest of what the rest of us have had to pay, they're going to have their street maintained repaved basically every 5 to seven years.

Well, like Jim said, it's something that I mean, obviously him and I haven't visited to this point with the chip seal, but it's a I think a further discussion we're going to have to have um going forward on what exactly the right answer is. And if you have to repave at five to seven years, I'm guessing potholes will start showing up after three or four years.

The chip seal back there's held up pretty well. Um I think for some of the reasons Mr. Dubour mentioned um with the drainage in that area. Um but yeah, it it's a five to 10 year product on the lucky end. And another thing that we can maybe consider with talking with the county today that they've started doing this year and last year is um that third coat that you put on in that five six year window to prolong it another seven years. They've added in that third coat. So you put your 5/8 coat, you put your 3/8 coat and then that 5/8 coat they put while they're right there because the equipment's there, all the work's there to be done and then you're not coming back in that 5 to seven year window. Now you're coming back in 12 to 14 years. Um, so that might be something we might want to look at um into this assessment because the numbers are going to change um in the springtime because obviously this isn't going to get done this year.

Do you think there is a future policy decision to make though about um maintenance or repaving of chip seal? This I'm sorry for I guess that answers uh the majority of my questions for now. This is at this time an effort to provide a workable solution to provide a better driving surface than the current gravel situation without incurring the full cost of curb and gutter and paving. Correct.

Correct. And then that falls, I guess, on future council members to figure out how to manage budgets and come up with money so we can do it the right way at some point would be my assumption. Thank you, Mr. Dubo. Thank you. After we've provided all kinds of information, we will now open the public hearing. And if you wish to speak on this subject, please approach the podium. State your name, place of residence, and make your comments.

Hearing none, we will close the public hearing. Motion to schedule a public hearing November 6th of 2025. Discussion. Wiser, please call RO. Council member Dubard, yes. Council member Fla, yes. Council member Bosch, yes. Council member Moore, yes. Mayor Aml, yes.

We currently have no unfinished business on the docket. Moving on to new business. Item number one, approval. Use of public space. Spooktacular trunk or treat. Downtown Development Authority. Eskanaba DDA is seeking city council approval to close the 1000100 and possibly 1,200 blocks of Lington Street and 11th Street to the alleys for a spooktacular trunk or treat event on Sunday, October 19th, 2025 from 2:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The event time from 4 to 6:00 p.m. Administration is recommending approval with the following conditions. Proper insurance be provided naming the city of Eskanaba as additionally insured. And two, the event sponsors provide all labor and materials to clean up at the conclusion of the event.

Move approval. Support. Discussion. All in favor? I. Thank you.

New business item number two, approval, skated network and Wi-Fi upgrades. Watcher administration is requesting city council approval to hire FDS engineering and electrical services of Iron Mountain, Michigan for the city of Eskanaba water department skada network and Wi-Fi upgrades an amount not to exceed $16,000. Money is budgeted for this type of work. Um I did send along some additional information on this. Um but ultimately we have um just kind of chronic Wi-Fi failures down at the water plant um with some deficiencies that were identified at wastewater plant. We had worked with FDS during the wastewater plant upgrade. Uh and we're looking to repeat that work over at the water plant. Um not really just a a Wi-Fi upgrade. It's not just installing like routers. It's more for security of our SCADA system.

Motion to approve not to exceed 16,000. Support discussion. Miss Wiser, please call role. Council member Dubour. Yes. Council member Fla. Yes. Council member Boscha. Yes. Council member Moore. Yes. Mayor Ammo. Yes. New business. Item number three, approval. Award contract to the west side substation concrete entrenching electric.

The administration is seeking city council approval to award a contract to Alexco Incorporated for the westside substation concrete entrenching for a total of $17,625. This is a budgeted item for the 202526 fiscal year. And I will let Mr. Percula explain what kind of concrete is getting done and what kind of trenching work is getting done here.

Um I just woke everyone up here. So our our engineering uh consultant put out a bid request for us. Um we received one bid um from the documentation. It's Alexco. Um the engineer reviewed's bid and put a recommendation in. um to use them. So, I talked with Alexco a little bit. Um they specialize in substation work. They do a lot of work for uh Wisconsin Electric. Um they're based out of uh Seymour. I believe it's near Green Bay, Wisconsin. So, this work is to um prepare the substation foundations and trenching for the new equipment that we're going to be installing. Um that would include a a couple of uh circuit breakers, the new control house, um and the trenching would be for the uh electric conductors that would um interconnect the reclosers to the control house. So that that's the purpose

as it's a budgeted item to approve $17,625. support discussion. Wiser, please call role. Council member Dubour, yes. Council member Moore, yes. Council member Bosch, yes. Council member Bla, yes. Mayor, yes. New business item number four, approval. Award contract electric department rooftop solar. Electric

administration is seeking city council approval to award a contract to Peninsula solar to supply and install a rooftop solar array at the electric department for a total not to exceed $165,000. This is a budgeted item for the 2526 fiscal year. And I will note it is below our budgeted item by a pretty good amount. Um, if we get rolling as we plan, um, this does qualify for the direct pay incentive, um, which would actually, I believe, reduce the, uh, project cost to $96,000, uh, but we would need approval for the full amount upfront. Um just for reference um it does look like the pay the break even point would be at some point during um year nine um which is generally a pretty quick solar payoff and and I think it's a quick payoff uh due to um the result of that direct pay incentive. So ultimately over time will be a pretty big savings to electric utility customers. Jerry can definitely tell you a lot more about the the technical end of the panels and when it would get going as well.

So u before speaking of that I I want to commend Josh Kry Kryak our distribution engineer. He put the bid request out did a lot of research contacted solar vendors. Um, so he did a lot of the leg work for this project. Um, so this is a rooftop solar for the electric building and it's to offset the usage of the electric building. Um, so it would be installed on the warehouse and garage area. We originally were looking at putting it on the office um for I think it was $1,100 more. there. There's one of the pages in here. Um they said they could put everything on the warehouse. Um the advantage to that is we could hold off doing our roof repair on the office. Um you know, we had some leaks. Our building maintenance uh person was able to fix some of those leaks. So we we feel if we can put these solar panels on the warehouse, which is a steel roof, um it would it would delay our roof repair probably three, four, five years. So, which was also a budgeted item. Um, so we received four bids. Um, Peninsula Solar out of Marquette was the low bid and Josh performed an evaluation. The uh the evaluation uh was in favor of Peninsula Solar as well. So, they've installed several uh rooftop solar facilities um pretty much around Michigan and Wisconsin. and they, you know, they cover a large area. So, Jim talked about these, uh, direct pay tax incentives. Um, pretty much the whole upper peninsula of Michigan qualifies for 40% of the direct pay tax incentive.

Um, something that changed recently is that the one big beautiful bill changed the requirements for receiving that incentive. The reason we'd like to push this through quickly is if we incur 5% of the cost, the total cost of this project in this year, we avoid a lot of the requirements of the one big beautiful bill. Some of which are the uh foreign entity rule. Um and uh the uh if if we wait until next year um certain certain amounts of construction um need to be done at at certain times. So So basically if we can start this project this year and incur 5% at least 5% of the total project um we're pretty much guaranteed to get that 40% return. Um, as Jim said, we did have 225,000 budgeted for this project that came in just over 160. Um, I'm asking for not to exceed 165 just to cover any incidentals that might come up. So,

so you said it would extend the roof repair by a few years, correct? Would it cost more for the roof repair to then remove the solar panels to fix the roof and then reinstall solar panels back on there? I think that's why we're looking at putting the panels just on the warehouse roof to avoid uh that exactly that situation. Correct. Correct. Yeah. Okay.

Yeah. They they gave us an adder $1,199 to put it all on the garage roof. So what happens is the roof is sloped um uh you know on the on the south side and the north side. So to put solar panels on the north side they have to add additional racking to get the solar panels up at the right angle. Um that's why there's an additional cost but but it does uh you know like I said it saves us a few years to do do that roof repair and in the future because there's no solar panels there um we can do that roof repair anytime. Um, we had another concern. Um, when we've had a lot of snowfall, that lower roof of the office has drifted over and I was concerned that some of the, you know, with the drifting, it would cover some of the panels and possibly do damage. So,

that was one of my questions as well is how old is the roof that these panels will be going on to, but you mentioned it'll be steel. I assume they'll the steel roof will outlast the uh solar panels 20 25 years.

It it should. Um the uh part of this contract is the solar contractor is supposed to do a structural study. Um, Peninsula Solar, they I believe they have an engineering firm that they use um that's a professional engineer that will review um and study our roof to make sure that it is capable of holding these panels. Um but yeah, the the office roof is a a membrane type roof. The the warehouse is a sheet sheet metal, so that should last a long time. As far as the age, the building was built around n 1992, I believe. So,

the background info you gave us said that these are uh some ballasts will be placed up on the roof and then some channel and then these lock into some brackets on the channel. So, there really is no roof penetration or anchoring. It's just weights. Correct. On on the metal roof that they it would clip onto the uh the existing sheet metal. It wouldn't penetrate. Um if we did it on the flat roof on the office that would be ballasted. Um but that's correct. Okay. And then um will these uh panels be sold or made available to the public like the uh airport?

These ones won't. Um I mean we we could do that but the plan is to offset the ex the uh energy usage for the building itself. Okay. So, the city wouldn't get any Rex credits for that or we would

Yeah, there's I think there's a possibility that if we register this panel with uh I I believe it's the state of Michigan um that we we could possibly get Rex. I I haven't looked into that um in in detail, but I don't believe it has to be utility scale solar to get Rex. I I believe any renewable energy source is eligible for Rex. You just have to apply and get approval from the state of Michigan. All right, last question I have. Uh you there is a website that people can go to to track the output of the airport uh project. Will there be something similar for this?

Um I don't know if it'll be made public. We could probably do that. Um but there will be a website available that we can track it. So yes, we we could make that available to the public. Thank you. Just one quick question. If we were toward it today, project starts today, that 40% will be rebate. When will the project be finished? If we start it today, what happen? How long of a time frame?

Yeah. Um I believe the project is scheduled to be completed um midway through 2026. So, um I I should add the uh the state of Michigan has contracted Raymond. It's a um accounting firm and they are providing free uh tax services for nonprofits and municipalities um for renewable energy. Um so we have we've already talked with them and you know pretty much understand what needs to be done to to get that tax incentive and they said that the uh I guess the incentives that they have already applied for for various nonprofits and utilities checks have been coming in. So they they said it is working and and the rebates are there. Can we just clear up for a moment here the 40% the the 97,000 versus the 165,000 because 65,000 seems like a really large contingency fee considering it's more than a third of the total project cost and that's not traditional for contingency fees.

So the total project cost is just over 160. Mhm. So, it's 4500 or so in contingency dollars. Um, the 96 is where we get to after rebates. This would be in the form of a rebate. Yes. I I don't believe the direct pay comes at the front. I believe it comes reimbursement type. Yeah, that that's correct. This would be to award a contract to Peninsula Solar, right? And we get the work started. The rebate comes from the federal government. Okay. So yeah, ultimately after it's all said and done, it's like $96,000.

And the likelihood of us qualifying for this rebate is because it it didn't sound like it was a sure thing. Um so Peninsula Solar assured us that they will be able to incur over 5% of the project cost by the end of 2025. Um that that's one of the keys is we need to do that. Um so things like engineering or procuring equipment. Um they said that racking is available so we can purchase things and actually have them on site and pay the invoices before the end of the year. So they they feel confident that we'll be able to do that.

But it's not a competitive grant type that we do the work and we apply and maybe we get the money. It is that money that is programmic and is available. Just wanted it to sound a little more certain. Yes. Then I mean because it's not very difficult to spend 5% of $165,000 on any construction project right now. Right. Um I have no I have absolute faith that they'll be able to spend that before December. Yeah. And I I'd like to add too even if we don't get the incentive um we did a calculation. It's about a 12 to 13year payback if we don't get the incentive. So um which is still not that bad a deal. Right.

These panels are um intended to be up for 25 years. So we are using this to create a offset of usage for the electric department for the rooftop. Did we ever consider our other municipality buildings then and expand this project to where wastewater plant, water treatment plant, yeah, city hall? I don't I'm just like why didn't we look at a larger scale project than if we're just doing one building why not others?

Yeah, this moved quickly. I mean we were doing the solar for all um and then that fell we received a grant and it was rescended within I don't know two days. Um so after that fell through it was what else can we do? Um, initially in our budget, we weren't aware of direct pay, so we were just doing a no grant solar installation at the electric department. Um, now knowing direct pay, it would be something that Yeah, we probably should look at other buildings. If we can move that quickly though, um, I'm not sure. Um, to go through our bid process.

Yeah. Um, I'd like to add we we still can do projects in 2026. It's just more uh we have we have more work to do to ensure um that we are eligible for those credits. Um like following that foreign entity rule. What that means is any any particular component say of the inverters if they're made in one of four countries um the the supplier has to provide what percentage of those of their equipment is made in say China or wherever. Um so it's going to be a lot more uh time consuming. Uh, I was told the vendors don't even know how they're going to handle that yet, but I think they'll figure it out early on. And like I said, even even without getting this tax incentive, it's about a 12 to 13 year payback. Um, I I thought also that this would be like a trial basis too for, you know, we'll install this on electric. Um but then yes, if if this works out great, which I think it will. Um yeah, public works could get it. City Hall, um I that's that's a possibility.

One last question. How much of an offset are you going to look at? Offset on your usage offset by putting these up? Um it's going to be significant. Um I I guess I didn't calculate for the whole year. Um, but I think our total demand is about 90 to 100 kilowatts. We're not large power, so it must be 90 kilowatts. Um, this is a 90 kilowatt facility. Um, obviously it only generates when the sun's shining. So, um, but it it should offset, you know, about a third is what I'm guessing. Thank you.

Sure. And then this this was budgeted at a much at a much higher amount. And you said it was Josh that vetted this and did all this. So yeah, thank him on our behalf for doing all that work cuz if we don't get anything else and we've grilled you pretty hard tonight, you're still coming in under budget. Correct. That's correct. I will uh move approval. Support. Further discussion on this item. Wiser, please call role. Council member Bja. Yes. Council member Moore, yes. Council member Dubour, yes. Council member Flat, yes. Mayor, yes.

New business item number five, approval. 1.4 megawatt AC white tail solar facility. Electric

administration is seeking city council approval to contract with power system engineering to provide engineering services for a 1.4 4 megawatt AC solar facility for a cost not to exceed $280,485. Um so you know this was a reaction to solar for all falling through. We thought well with these other programs out there that are not entirely going away but possibly going away um and definitely rules changing what else can we do? Um, so Jerry and Josh have talked with uh PSSE quite a bit. Um, we had talked a little bit with the other consultant that was involved with solar for all. Um, and we thought, well, what can we do if we want the project to start this year? Uh, because previously a different location was looked at that wasn't actually owned by the city. just obtaining that property would have put us into 2026, especially with some of the complications environmentally on that property. Um, so we looked at some unused land out in the industrial park. Um, we haven't had tremendous demand out there. We did consider would this be a better place for for industry. Um, and we just haven't had a great amount of demand. And there certainly are still other sites available, uh, both city-owned and privately owned. Um, and down the road when these panels are past their useful life, it could become a developable site again, too. So, it doesn't necessarily mean it's taken away forever from industrial park type use. Um but uh Jerry can can speak to a lot

of the details and um Ola with PSSE is actually uh connected too here. Um but I I think this the most important thing to point out possibly is just the the cost of this. Um the the economics really are pretty attractive to the city. Um, we recently kind of obtained a an an idea of what market prices were for for energy, um, which is usually quoted megawatt hour. Um, through Next Era, through our contract we've had for many years, were about $45 a megawatt hour. Current prices, if we were to look to try and and buy more right now, would be mid60s. Um the cost without any incentive for this location uh would be just over $62 a megawatt hour. So at about market rate. Uh but with the incentive it actually brings us down to about 31. So it's it's even it's probably half of market and uh even less than what we're paying to next era today. U over time. Jerry did the math. uh over the life of this project that would save about 6 and a quarter million based on I think a pretty modest projection of uh future power rates. Certainly could save a lot more if power rates go up uh as some say they may but certainly Jerry can talk to a lot of the technicals of this. Um

sure. So um I got three things in front of me here. Um I I guess we'll step back a little bit. If you recall, we did talk about solar early in the year during the budget hearings. Um we removed it from the budget. Um we kept applying for grants. We finally did receive uh solar for all grant and then three days later it was cancelled. So that's when Jim said, "Hey, look, look at possibly using just the tax incentives." So I contacted uh PSSE. Um they're an engineering firm that does a lot of work in the power industry um including solar. So we we spent a lot of time on this um trying to figure out what size um what are all the rules. We we've talked to the accountants um and I I provided a little bit of information. And I don't know if we want to cover all that, but the um I think the key is again those foreign entity rules um to avoid that if we can spend 5% this year and engineering is included in that um and and any materials a transformer we already have a transformer on hand as a spare um so the cost of that transformer will count. So I think we have a lot going for us to reach that 5%. Um the size of this facility is just slightly larger than our existing airport facility. So it pretty much double what we have now. Um Jim talked about the uh you know the energy and uh like transmission capacity the um the revenue that this would offset um is over 6 million. So, even if we didn't get the uh incentive, we, you know, we'd

still be ahead. Um, getting the incentive makes this very attractive. Um, the, uh, cost of energy, like Jim said, right now we pay in the mid40s for 45 to $46 per megawatt hour. Um if if we get this project started and incur 5% we get that uh rebate and we're actually looking at a 50% rebate by using domestic products. Um it it brings it down to $31 per megawatt hour which I mean I don't know that you'll be able to get that anywhere. Um look here on my notes. Um so I I guess going back to PSSE um we feel that it's important to use an engineering firm to ensure that we meet the requirements to get this uh 5% and to meet you know to get these tax incentives. Um if we don't use an engineering firm there there could be some areas where it would be unsure. I I I guess what I'm looking at it's an insurance policy. Um they they would help uh write the bid specs for getting you know the equipment and the installation um and and I guess meeting all the requirements to get these tax incentives. Um and and the engineering is in two phases. Um it's on page 10 of their proposal. Um there's pre-engineering and post uh post RFP engineering. So um when I was talking with Ola who's online right now, he he feels that we may be able to cover a lot of the postengineering requirements. It depends on how much we want to use, but the uh the total is 280,485

um to do the pre-engineering that's preparing the bid specs and you know um the environmental due diligence etc is 134,225. Um so for the second half it's going to depend on how much we want to rely on them and I I agree with Ola. I think we're capable of capable of, you know, following the project, following the, you know, the installations. Um, so I don't know that we'd have to rely on them as heavily. I I think they should still be involved again to ensure that we're meeting the requirements to receive that incentive. Um, and today we're we're just asking for approval to kick off the engineering. Um, so are there questions on the solar facility itself?

Mr. Ba, always uh some of the same questions as the uh previous agenda item. I assume you'll be able to get renewable energy credits for this definitely project. Um

um so I I calculated I don't have the numbers in front of me. I I calculated roughly what those renewable energy credits would be. Um it's over 2,000. Um our our existing facility generates 2,000 wrecks per year. Um this would be over that because it's slightly larger. Um and right now the Rex prices are three and a half to $4 per wreck. Um so there's value in that. I use that Rex as one of the uh I I guess one of the costs that the solar panel would offset for us. And I realize that the uh panels out at the airport haven't been selling very well to the general public, but with this one being what sounds to be uh cheaper or better rate or quicker turnaround rate of return, would you offer these uh for sale to the public?

Um I think that's something we'll decide afterward. I I didn't plan on it right up front. Um and we actually, I believe, did that with the existing facility. um those panels were made available after it was installed, but that's something we can discuss. Um and you know, we could come up with a dollar per panel price um and make this a community solar facility. And I guess you'd be able to put together a website so people could uh track the output, take a look at it at their leisure. I I guess one uh technical question if you want to call it that. I saw in the uh background information that you're planning to use uh slab supports rather than peer type. Why why would that be?

Um I guess I'm not sure where that was. Um we're actually looking at doing u the driving piles in this location. It was the uh the other site was the uh um brownfield site where we weren't sure if we'd be able to drive piles and that would have been a slab foundation type. Um no, we we feel that we'll be able to drive piles in this location. Um because of the orientation um we plan on putting in single axis tracking. So, what that does is it'll it'll orientate the panels towards the sun and track it throughout the day. Um, only only in a single axis. Um, there's dual axis available, but those it costs more, but that'll actually track throughout the year and try to, you know, get the panels in the most optimum position. But single access tracking is is probably the you know I guess most economical for this installation. Um what that'll also do is um provide higher generation. Our existing facility is is fixed. It's it's not it doesn't do tracking. Um but where I think the biggest benefit is is that in later in the evening where those panels will you know track the sun into the evening and it'll help offset capacity in in that respect. Um our demand is usually highest and and the peaks are in the evenings. So um we feel that single access tracking would would help with capacity.

Thank you. question is maintenance, maintaining it. Um, like to hear how we're going to maintain it or who's maintaining it. Yeah. Um, Jerry could talk to a little more, but maintenance hasn't really been much of a an issue and we've maintained the other solar facility. Um, and I don't think it's been a much of a cost at all really. It's not significant. We um we use um city employees for mowing. Um the single axis tracking will require a little more maintenance. There there may be some bearings to grease and you know monitoring but it shouldn't be significant.

All right. Thank you. Will we be buying another tractor with a lawn mower to leave at this site as well? No. Yeah. Expect to see Yeah, that's a good point. The uh DPW purchased that uh mower and they they mowed our existing facility. um it worked great for it. So um and that's what I would hope that DPW's employees would be able to mow this site as well. So the life expecties 20 20 to 25 years on these panels.

25 years and and possibly longer. I mean after 25 years whoever's running the show can look at it and see the proper, you know, I guess look at how well they're working. I mean, if if they're still producing power, why get rid of it? So, um, but it's it's typically 25 years, but it could go longer.

I'll move approval. Support. Further discussion on this item. Wiser, please call roll. Council member Bosch. Yes. Council member Fla. Yes. Council member Dubour. Yes. Council member Moore. Yes. Mayor Yo, yes.

Thank you. Thank you, Jerry. New business item number six, approval, America in Bloom grant application. Manager, city council will consider applying for a $25,000 America in Bloom grant for a variety of flowers, pots, and baskets in the project area. The grant will be in the name of the city with an assistance from Enhance Escanaba and the Downtown Development Authority. and project costs are currently estimated at $62,000. Um, so the city doesn't have so much experience with American Bloom, but enhanced ESCAN I believe has applied twice uh or completed to American Bloom projects. Uh, so we would be uh seeking uh their help to to facilitate this. Um, and they've been working with the DDA on kind of a project concept, a scope of of project. Um, it would be in the streetscaped area. Um, from this end of Lington all the way up to 9inth. Um, there's some information in the packet about generally what this might look like and and where pots would be located. Um, you know, we don't have a, I guess, a flower plan when it comes to the streetscape. We have sidewalk, uh, concrete, colored concrete, crossings, um, lighting, um, some benches, and some bike racks. Uh, but we did not do anything with with flowers as part of that. So, um, you know, certainly an opportunity to do it with some grant funds. Um we we of course depending on um you know commitments from the DDA between now and then. Uh we we'd always have the opportunity to say

no to the grant too. Um you know certainly um the DDA has and Judy Schroeder is here. Um and I actually think they have a PowerPoint too if if you want to hear more information. Um but I believe the DDA committee has been uh supportive of the scope. Uh but the DDA board as a whole has not addressed it yet. But again, we could once we get feedback, um we do have to get the application in. Uh we could always turn it away if if we weren't comfortable with commitments from partners on it.

I'd like to start with two questions, Mr. McNeel. Will this be the city of Eskanaba as the sole applicant on the grant application? Yes, I will be the named applicant. Uh but we will definitely be mentioning our other partners as partners in our application. I guess I mean the grant will be in our name. Um but we will be mentioning who our partners are on this. Okay. Thank you. Do we have our attorney on? Is Laura there? Yes, she is. Yep. Hi Laura. Takes a second to get it going there. Hi. Good evening.

My question for you is this. Does a grant application in this instance constitute a legal contract between the city and enhance Eskanaba

between between well at this point it would be between the city and America and Bloom because the city is a sole applicant. So, I don't have the entire grant application, but typically a grant application is just that it's a request. U it's you're applying for the opportunity to be awarded the funds. Um it would be unusual to be signing a contract at the time of the application stage.

Okay. In order for the city to have a partner on an application, does the city have to engage in an actual contract with their partners? From what I not if there's not any compensation for it. If this were a situation where the city were hiring enhance Eskanaba and paying them for um assistance with the application, I think a contract would be appropriate. If this is a more um sort of informal assistance, which is what I what I've gathered from the packet, I don't first of all, there's no contract between the city and enhance Eskanaba on today's agenda. Um so there is not an actual contract. um that's being proposed right now. And a contract of course requires some consideration back and forth. Um something of value exchanged. Uh it sounds rather more like a donation. Uh unless I've misunderstood the circumstances, a donation of assistance from enhanced ESANBA.

Thank you for that clarification, Laura. You're welcome. Welcome.

I'm done. I guess I'd uh like to say a few things since the question was raised uh as to whether or not Ms. Moore has a conflict of interest. It's been quite a while since I looked at Robert's rules and the council rules of procedure, but it's been my understanding that conflicts typic typically should be declared when there's some financial benefit to the council member. And as far as I know, Enhance Eskanaba does not pay their board members. So even if this grant money comes in, it's not like Enhance Eskanaba skimming money off and giving it to their their board members. Okay.

Enhance Eskanaba's role in this is strictly voluntary. It's a support mechanism for the city and the DDA. Strictly supporting and volunteering. That's that's all. Thank you. And then and then the the city being the um co-licant the if we were in fact lucky enough to get the grant then the money comes to the city does not come to enhance Esava. So the city is in charge of the whole project. We are just once again here to support.

Why didn't the DDA apply for this? Does it have to be a municipality to apply? I know it says on the American Bloom website that a municipality is an eligible applicant. Um doesn't I don't know if it lists out a downtown development authority or a tax capture authority. I assume a DDA probably could um but you know don't know for certain. Okay. I do have a question regarding uh something I saw in the background information. It said, and I don't know which pots it was, but they're selfwatering. How How does that work?

There's a reservoir in the bottom of them. Some of them are large and even and hold 250 gallons. So, there's a range from, I think, 30 to 50 gallons to 250 gallons. So, there the bottom is filled up and then the the soil sucks the moisture up through. So it's a huge saving for watering costs. So the DDA would be saving quite a bit of money in costs for watering. Um I have talked to municipalities in other areas that use these pots and one of them water them waters them every two weeks. So it would be an experiment. So we'd have to see how it depends on the weather and all kinds of things. But it's a huge huge huge savings in water.

So they're not maintenancefree. They they will still need some watering. Right. We um the flowers that we've had the last I think two years here at city hall. Um we tried a few selfwatering from cheners and they've been fantastic. I'll make a motion to approve the grant application. Support. the fastest item we went through all evening. You guys did that on purpose cuz I was getting coffee.

Oh, yes it was. Further discussion on this item. Wiser, please call roll. Council member Dubour, yes. Council member Flat, yes. Council member Bja, yes. Council member Moore, yes. May, yes. New business item number seven, approval purchase agreement manager.

City council consider purchase agreement between the city of Eskanaba and Old State Development LLC. Uh so just from our last meeting, um we had decided to bring a purchase agreement back to this meeting uh instead of using the purchase agreement that was provided. Um this agreement did have legal review. It was actually drafted by the city and not the developer. Um so it's fairly ordinary purchase agreement. Um and again has had legal review. Motion to approve support

discussion on this item. Mr. Bush I noticed the only uh shared costs are uh closing costs. any idea approximation what that might be? Uh it would be very little. Um I I don't know for certain. We already have a survey. Um title insurance would be a shared cost. Um any fee from the title company. Um but that is usually very little. Uh but the city is exempt from transfer tax which is usually the big one. Um, so given that it's hundreds to one or two thousand at most, I would think.

And if they say they need an 8 inch water line and there's only 6 in available, they end up paying for that sort of stuff. All in it's very clear um all infrastructure costs, I think that's section 3.2 two here um are going to be um required to be paid by the developer. So so there should be no cost to the city whatsoever. Um and the other part of their proposal was that everything on their property was going to be owned by the HOA and would not have to be maintained in the future by the city. Thank you.

Further discussion, please call roll. Council member Dubour, yes. Council member Moore, yes. Council member Bossha, yes. Council member Flat, yes. Mayor, yes. New business item number eight. Approval. Resolution 25-21, resolution authorizing Michigan Shared Streets and Spaces Grant Manager.

So, this resolution is from a grant we received um I think in 2024. Uh it took some time to figure out if the MDOT rules would be compatible with the CWSRF rules on Letington. Uh for a long time we were thinking no and then in about July we found a way to make it work. Um I thought we had completed the resolution already. We had a different resolution completed that was similar but different. Um, so to actually complete the contract with MDOT, we need this resolution that not only approves the contract but also names me as a signer.

Motion to approve resolution 25-21. Support. Discussion. Miss Wiser, please call role. Council member Dubour. Yes. Council member Fla. Yes. Council member Bosch. Yes. Council member Moore. Yes. Mayor Ammo.

Yes. Well, unfortunately, despite all of the energy that we do seem to generate here with interest and comments and we don't have anybody that's signed up to fill any of the positions on our boards. So, try harder next time, please. Board commission committee reports. Yes, I had a trifecta of meetings last week. Everybody sit back.

Speaking of uh vacancies or shortages of volunteers, the uh zoning board of appeals has been operating uh with one vacancy, I believe,

and two alternate vacancies. They had uh one person sick, so they had enough people for a quorum, but unfortunately one of the members declared a conflict of interest. Uh and so they could not hear a variance request that was uh brought before them. Uh the electrical board uh also met last week. Uh the primary topic was the uh the solar project out at the uh Landfill Road. Um and then the uh planning commission also met last week um to look at a site plan review for um a project out also on the uh Whitetail Park area that was approved. Very good. I have nothing.

I attended the housing commission. They were repairing and completing the installation of HVAC system in Harbor Tower. And in addition, they were 50% done with the new security cameras and system uh security cameras will be placed on every floor and they'll be able to view every angle because it is circular to be able to for security reason enhance security uh at the harbor tower. So that's 50% completed and it should be done uh on schedule.

Very good. I have nothing to report at this time. We'll hear general public comment. If you wish to make comment, please approach the podium. State your name and place of residence. Hello. Hello everybody. My name is Jaylen Sims. I live here in town at 225 North 13th Street. And so I came up here last city council meeting and I brought up the issue and current ordinance that backyard chickens, specifically hens, are not allowed here in the city of Escanaba. I said I would do some research and that's what I did. And I also started a petition uh one week ago and this has gotten over 106 signatures uh from people that live here in town as well as different residents across the upper peninsula and Michigan. And um I've prepared a small speech that I would like to share with y'all. So uh just good evening to everybody and I would like to just start with imagining a different kind of eskanaba where neighbors can trade eggs and seedlings, give each other advice about gardening and composting and also encourage each other towards a more self-reliant community. Uh picture a place where each household can contribute to its own food system, reduce waste and nurture its own land. and imagine families teaching their children how food is grown and where it comes from and not just reading it from books. And uh this is the kind of vision that I hold for Eskanaba. I moved here about a year ago and seeing such a thriving town, I know that uh there's a lot of opportunity in this space for many different projects. Uh, one of the reasons I stand before

you today is to I'm urging you to bring up for your next meeting to uh, vote on changing the ordinance of having backyard chickens, specifically hens. Uh, I know a good friend of mine here today had worked on a draft for this in December of 2023 and it was uh, if I recall correctly, it was looked at, but then nothing was actually voted on for this uh, ordinance that was written up. Um and so just saying some of the missed opportunities first before I explain some of the benefits. Uh but by not having a localized micro food system, we're very dependent on fragile supply chains. We currently import most of our products here in the upper peninsula. And if there's any kind of pandemic or supply chain issue due to natural disasters or anything like that, we're probably going to be one of the last people to obtain the resources we need. if not the price is skyrocketing like we've already seen before where eggs were like seven eight dollars per dozen. Um we also have a loss of local control over our food. So we're importing vegetables and foods and things from who knows where very far places usually and that diminishes the nourishment that people are able to get from these fruits and vegetables and foods in general. So just by having it uh more localized, it's been proven that uh backyard eggs and like local food systems provide much more nourishment for people. And then we're basically just like wasting some of our resources, overloading uh our garbage men and garbage women uh by overloading our bags with potentially food waste and plenty of other scraps that chickens could eat basically compost back into our land. Um, some of the benefits is just food security and nutrition, making sure people are eating well and that we're able to supply our own local communities, focusing on soil and garden health. Anybody that gardens

here, uh, chickens provide great compost matter for gardens. Uh, they reduce waste and they also attribute to composting which will just make our soil more fertile and better. And it focuses on local trade and resilience so that we as a community can uh, help each other out if needed. uh the classic like going knocking on your neighbor's house just to see if they have like some sugar or an egg to borrow. Uh that is much more possible if we're able to supply our own resources. And then uh just a small list of places in Michigan that do allow chickens. Some of these places are much larger than Eskanaba. Uh there's Ann Arbor, Clinton Township, Dearbornne, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Lancing, Leavonia, Sterling Heights, Warren, Michigan, Ishbaming, Michigan, where I had moved from, uh Nagani, and then also Marquette, Michigan, Hancock, Monomin, H Hotton, Antagan, Calum, and Ironwood. So, there's plenty of different ways that an ordinance could be crafted. And I think that we could find something that's very suitable for Eskena to make people happy here and allow them to have this opportunity. And then uh one of the last things is that here in Michigan, we are a right to farm state uh that kind of attributes more to commercial, but it just kind of shows our initiative in that way. And there was a bill passed, House Bill 4049, uh that was introduced. The specific words are the rearing of egg laying hens is permitted use of property under a zoning ordinance and is not subject to a special land use approval or any other approval under this act if both of the following requirements are met. The property is at least 1/4 an acre in size and the number of hens does not exceed five hens for every 1/4 acre property size or a total of 25 hens whichever is less. So with that, just wanted to bring the research I've gathered thus far and uh the petition and the support that I'm

starting to gain and um basically the longer this prolongs I would love to just continue gaining support and just at least if not anything providing education to people on how this is a valuable asset to a community and uh just want to say thanks for your time and I hope that we can uh make some kind of movement towards allowing people to own chickens specifically hens here Thank you.

Further public comment at this time and fix Esanava. I support the chickens, the hens for this community. And we we need Tyler, you talked about being progressive with the side by sides coming from the country and coming into our restaurants. I think we need to be progressive on the chickens. Six hens or five hens. I mean, I grow all my vegetables in my backyard. I have more problem with deer. 11 deer in my backyard consuming everything. Lakeshore Drive. Somebody's going to get killed hitting one of these deer going back at night. The motorcycles, the kids leaving the football fields on ebikes, scooters, you name it. Somebody's going to run into one of the deer. But I support and I hope I don't have to do the chicken little letter again. and I hope you will reconsider supporting changing the ordinance. Thank you.

Name is Liz Fitz Harris. I live on 9th Avenue South. I'm in um favor of having chickens, too. Um my son has chickens. he lives out in the country, but um you know, he pointed out that there's a huge expense involved in in starting up a chicken run and whatever. So, I think that if someone's willing to go to that expense and pay the $50 for the license and whatever, they're not going to be irresponsible people. and um when he said something about being a progressive community, Nagani has a chicken ordinance and they were just named um the number one town and by the Michigan Municipal League. So, I think that maybe it's not such a bad thing to have chickens. I know there are people that complain about noise and smell and whatnot, but they're not people who have actually had experience it. And um the only thing I was add is don't have guinea hens. They make so much noise. But um I think it would be a good thing for our community and uh it would show that we can be somewhat progressive. I've often thought if I had to describe Eskanaba by picking a color, it would be beige. Let's make it a little more colorful. Chickens are a lot of color and I think they would make us more appealing to a lot of people. We want people to move here because we have people that, you know, places that are starting up and are going to need employees if they can find a place to live. Um, but that might be something that entices people here and maybe future employers might think, well, you know, this town's willing to take a chance on things. Enough for me. Thank you. Oh, the other thing, sorry. Um, am I on a time limit? Um, we're talking about the condos that they want

to put in. I know you've already approved it, but we need to be looking at housing for people that can't that can't afford $600,000 or $800,000. um you know, we need to look at the people that are going to work at Quickstop and Quick Trip. Um and Meyer and Walmart and those kind of people. Um they're having a hard time finding a place that they can afford. And I think as a city, we need to put our minds to how we're going to house these people. My sister and her husband had tried to move here for four years, but they can't find anything that they can afford. And so I think that's something that council should be addressing rather than $800,000 condos. Thank you. Further public comment at this time. I do believe we have our esteemed librarian and if you would like to make some comments. Well, thank you. Um, tonight is a chance for us to shine a light on our wonderful Friends of the Library organization. Each October, the United for Libraries declares National Friends of Libraries Week. And it's just a chance to bring some awareness to what um these individuals do and the work they put in in making our public library the best it can be for our town. So, that's what we're here to do tonight. We have a number of our friends with us and we are asking for the proclamation declaring National Friends of Libraries Week.

Happy to make it. Is there anyone else on the Friends of Library that wishes to add something?

Thank you so much. I am a charter member of this group and I am so proud and humbled that 20 years we've been able to keep this going and I thank the city council for all their support and thank Carolyn. We have a wonderful asset to the community and it's just marvelous and warms my heart. Thank you. Anyone else? On behalf of council, I'd like to thank the friends of the library group for forming and supporting our library for the entire community and county. Thank you for all your work and your time. Are you ready? I'm ready.

Proclamation of the National Friends of Libraries Week, October 19th through the 25th, 2025. Eskanaba Public Library. Whereas libraries are essential institutions that foster education, imagination, and community connection. And whereas the Eskanaba Public Library serves as a cornerstone of opportunity and enrichment for residents of all ages in Eskanaba and surrounding communities. And whereas the Friends of the Eskanaba Public Library are a dedicated group of volunteers who advocate for and support the library through fundraising, outreach, and program sponsorship. And whereas the friends contribute significantly to the vitality of the library by funding and supporting a wide range of impactful programs and services, including Live on the Lawn concert series, offering free family-friendly music performances that bring the community together. Author talks, connecting readers with writers and fostering a love of literature and storytelling. Summer reading programs encouraging children, teens, and adults to engage in reading and learning throughout the summer months. Bookmobile and mobile outreach services expanding access to library materials and services to underserved areas and individuals who may not be able to visit the library in person. Story Walk in the Garden, a unique outdoor literacy experience that combines reading and nature, promoting family engagement and early literacy. Technology and digital access initiatives helping bridge the digital divide by supporting public access to computers, Wi-Fi, and digital literacy programming. local history initiatives, including a digital archive of historical local newspapers, electronic genealogy research tools, and local history programming.

Support for book purchasing and collection development, ensuring that the library shelves remain vibrant, diverse, and responsive to the interests and needs of the community. Whereas the friend's unwavering commitment and generous support make a lasting impact on the library's ability to innovate, grow, and serve the evolving needs of the community. Now therefore, I, Mayor Mark Aml, on behalf of the city of Eskanaba, do hereby proclaim the week of October 19th through the 25th of 2025 as National Friends of Libraries Week in Eskanaba, Michigan, and encourage all residents to recognize, celebrate, and support the invaluable work of the Friends of the Eskanaba Public Library. Moving on to announcements.

Just on your way out tonight, I've been told our lights uh have gone out in the parking lot, so please mind your step. Um I think we may attempt to try and provide um some lighting. Uh so if you need some help, find me or or find some other city staff member. Um and we'll definitely try and shine a light for you. Uh but otherwise just be careful.

Last announcement again as we did approve this Sunday, October 19th will be the spooktacular trunk or treat. So if you happen to be a kid, you can put on your costume and go down and get some candy. And if you don't happen to be a kid, you can decorate your trunk and buy some candy and give it out to the kids that are in the costumes going down to get the candy. Did we catch all that? seeking a motion to adjurnn. So moved. Second.