Summary
The Suttons Bay Village General Services Committee met on October 7, 2025 to review DPW operations and discuss ongoing drainage concerns on St. Mary's Street. The committee received a staff report on infrastructure work and held a discussion item (VSB-2025-28) regarding a long-standing water runoff issue, with no formal vote taken. A status update on State of Michigan waterways fee increases was also noted from another committee.
Infrastructure Projects
The DPW Director's report (DPW-2025-01) detailed several ongoing utility and public works projects. Sidewalk replacement on Elm St. has been completed, with repaving of Elm between Broadway and First St. planned next; a stormwater grate will need adjustment to meet the new road grade. A leaking water service was repaired at St. Michaels Church, discovered during DSMI inspections tied to valve box adjustments for upcoming street paving. A new service line install is planned at Dalzell's after the season closes, which will count as a lead service line replacement; coordination with the contractor and MDOT for permitting is underway. Staff has begun cleaning grit from the North Aeration Basin at the treatment plant to allow for air diffuser repairs and liner inspections, with an estimated three days of removal remaining. Water chlorination and hydrant flushing were also starting that week.
Separately, Report VSB-2025-28 addressed drainage concerns on a 60-foot isolated section of St. Mary's Street where on-street gravel parking has caused runoff complaints. In April 2025, the committee had agreed a cost-effective short-term solution would be converting perpendicular parking to parallel parking to match existing configuration, and had expressed a preference for a long-term solution once a future waterline replacement project occurs. Staff recommended limiting the scope of any new work to the 60-foot problem area rather than the full 200-foot gravel section. This item was listed for discussion only; no decision or vote was recorded.
A status update item referenced a State of Michigan waterways fee increase, but no further detail was provided in the document.
Other Business
The agenda included standard items such as committee member comments and announcements, with no additional substantive business detailed in the document.
Action Items
- Staff to continue coordinating with the contractor and MDOT on permitting for the new service line installation at Dalzell's.
- Committee to revisit a long-term drainage solution for St. Mary's Street once a waterline replacement project is undertaken.
- Bulk leaf pickup schedule to be announced via robo-call this fall.