Work on $8M worth of infrastructure projects begins
Projects were delayed as officials assessed virus impact on finances
After a pause due to the pandemic, Clinton Township is re-activating work on nearly $8 million worth of infrastructure projects.
The township’s Board of Trustees recently authorized the bidding process for a series of water and sewer projects, mostly on the community’s south end.
“It’s important that we stay on track as these projects are part of a five-year plan for capital projects,” township Supervisor Bob Cannon said Monday. “Once we get through this plan, we basically start over and re-do everything. The thought is to keep all of our projects as current as possible.”
Clinton Township delayed all non-emergency capital spending and discretionary expenditures until more information was known about the long-term social and economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis. Officials in the Public Services Department and Finance Department continued to monitor the potential impact to water and sewer capital fund balances and revenues, according to a news release.
“The ongoing assessment of our fund balance
has us to determine that we can move forward with bidding on up to $8 million in capital improvement projects for the 2021 fiscal year with no adverse financial impact,” Public Services Director Mary Bednar said in the release.
Close to half of the budgeted dollars are for improvements to water mains and sewer lines and pump stations located in areas south of Metro Parkway.
Projects where bids are being requested for include:
• Kelly Road Pressure Reducing Station $650,000
• Groesbeck Watermain (Metro Parkway to Harrington)
Close to half of the budgeted dollars are for improvements to water mains and sewer lines and pump stations located in areas south of Metro Parkway.
- $1.6 million
• Groesbeck Watermain (Kelly to 15 Mile Road) $1.2 million
• Remick Watermain (Groesbeck to Gratiot) - $1.1 million
• Gratiot Watermain
(Quinn to 15 Mile) - $1 million
• Harper Pump Station Improvements - $1.1 million
• Sanitary Sewer CIPP Lining - $800,000
Projects previously bid and constructed this year include the Bayham, Cobham and Kentvale crossings for $350,000 and Water Storage Tank Improvements for $480,000.
The above projects total $7.9 million.
Township officials say it’s critical to monitor and address the need of local infrastructure — roads, bridges, watermains, etc. — so they don’t get unexpectedly get caught facing
big-ticket repairs. One notable example of that is the sewer line collapse that caused a massive sinkhole on 15 Mile Road. The collapse cost $75 million and took about a year to repair.
“Everyone drives the roads - it’s easy to see what is wrong with the roadways,” Cannon said. “But with underground pipes that no one can see, you have to make sure everything is working properly even when you can’t detect problems with your eyesight.”
Cannon said crews are “about halfway” through this year’s planned improvements.