Bessemer Water project coming together.

BESSEMER — Bessemer has cleared an important hurdle in its $21.4 million water and sewer replacement project, the city council learned Monday. C2AE engineer Darren Pionk told the council that the paperwork has been completed and the city has called for bids on the project. As importantly, contractors are showing interest. “We’ve had a lot of interest as contractors view the information,” city manager Charly Loper told the WNBPA. “Several have requested additional information, which is promising.” There is still a ton of paperwork ahead, much of it relating to financing the project, which is being done through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, via its Rural Development program. “We are looking to close on the USDA component in late May,” Loper said. Financing comes through loans, but has a significant grant component. More of the paperwork relates to the companion $705,000 project which will eliminate lead service lines to residences, driven by Michigan mandates. The council voted 5-0 to approve a quote from Baker-Tilley to generate a bond rating for the city, a first, but necessary according to the lead-copper program requirements. The rating will cost an initial $2,000, but another $8,000 will be due when the borrowing is completed. The city continues to hope that it can receive some forgiveness of the amount borrowed, i.e. grant funds, to assist with this work. The council was reminded that the Michigan Department of Transportation date for beginning reconstruction of U.S. 2 through Bessemer, a two-year project, is June 1. Responding to a question from council member Linda Nelson, Pionk said ground may be broken for the city portion of the highway rebuild in the first or second week of June, which would be right on the heels of the MDOT project. More detail and comment in this weeks Wakefield News / Bessemer Pick and Axe.