Marine City water main project updated

City manager admits it’s a ‘travesty’

By Barb Pert Templeton

Patience.

It’s something Marine City officials are asking residents to have when it comes to the ongoing water main construction project in the city. It’s been five long months of dirt, dust, road closures and unexpected underground water main repairs but it’s all going to be worth it when the new system is completed.

At a Sept. 18 city commission meeting City Manager Michael Reaves provided an update on the project in the city.

Reaves said he knows there have been many questions and concerns expressed by residents about the condition of the city roads due to the water/sewer project. He said many people are stating they don’t feel things are being done in a timely matter.

“It’s all a process and we all inherited it and it’s something we are trying to work through,” Reaves said.

The biggest issues right now are the finishing of repairs that came out of the project and that means there will be both sanitary and storm issues on multiple streets. Reaves said there are still 15 residential service lines that need to be done along West Road at 5th and 6th streets.

A significant portion of the paving has been scheduled for Sept. 24 through Sept. 28 and crews will be working over that weekend, Reaves said.

“I apologize to our citizens for the conditions of the streets, some of them are horrific,” Reaves said. “Their frustrated and I understand that frustration, I accept that and I’ll be happy to reach out to citizens that have more issues on it.”

Phase Three of the project started on Sept. 22 and will last 55 days in terms of figuring out the status of that area. Reaves said they expect many more repair issues simply because the roads on that side of town are even older.

“I know people are tired of hearing about the infrastructure but I work every day trying to make sure we can maintain the infrastructure we have and fix the infrastructure that needs to be fixed.”

Reaves said. “It’s a travesty, I readily admit it but it’s ours and we’re going to work through it and I’m not going to stop until we get through it.”

Mayor Pro Tem Lisa Hendrick said she thinks the biggest thing for people is the condition of the roads and they don’t understand the contractor has to handle that part.

Reaves said they talk to the contractors weekly about dust control and regrading and have even torn a bad section of the road out and it all takes time.

“I know they don’t understand that, it’s difficult to understand when you see your roads torn up for five months,” Reaves said. “It’s unfortunate but I don’t have the ability to force things, the contracts are very specific.”

During commissioner comments several officials offered their thoughts on the situation.

“Just sit tight and the road will get done and the sewers will get straightened out,” Commissioner William Klaassen said, noting there are procedures to follow. “Try to stay with it and if you have any questions give us a call.”

Commissioner Sean O’Brien said in terms of the road project right now the city needs help from residents. They need to reduce rumors and make sure the facts are reaching people.

“We are going to be enduring this process for a while longer,” O’Brien said. “This is something that we all need to be patient with but also help each other out with to get through it,”

Commissioner Rita Roehrig said she understands about the traffic in the city and endured quite a bit of road work during a recent trip to New Baltimore. She understands everyone’s frustration as her street has been torn up for five months now.

“I just keep thinking about how nice it’s going to be when it gets done,” Roehrig said.

Hendrick encouraged residents to please report any issues or problems with the project near their homes now, don’t wait until the project is done.

“Please have patience with the water project and the roads,” Mayor Jennifer Vandenbossche added.

The city manager also reminded residents that the city’s social media page and website are sometimes changing hourly in terms of updates.