ESCANABA — A wide range of topics will be before the Escanaba city council Thursday. These topics include:

THE BUDGET

The first items on the council’s agenda Thursday will be the third of five public hearings planned on the city’s budget. Historically, there is little participation from residents during public hearings on the city’s budget, but the hearings themselves do allow for residents to weigh in on the city’s finances and future projects.

AMONG THE STARS

Dan Young of the Delta Astronomical Society will give a brief presentation on updates to the Planet Walk planned for Ludington Street. The scale model of the solar system will feature updated, full-color information placards. The Planet Walks has been a feature of Escanaba’s downtown for 22 years.

POLICE POWER

The council will vote whether to approve the purchase of a new generator system for the public safety department. The 80KW Generac generator would replace the existing generator at the department, which was built in 1975.

The generator would be purchased from Master Electric of Escanaba for $120,705.

DOWNTOWN

SPECIAL EVENTS

The council will weigh a slew of road closures for special events around Cat-Man-Do’s, located at 1223 Ludington Street. The events would close the 1200 Block of Ludington Street for Classic Car & Bike Nights and the 100 Block of South 13th Street from Ludington Street to 1st Avenue South for other fundraisers throughout the summer.

INFRASTRUCTURE FUNDING

The council will be asked to approve the city applying for two $2 million loans through the State Infrastructure Bank.

The first $2 million loan would be for 20-years. The city’s administration says the loan is necessary and will be used in conjunction with Clean Water State Revolving Fund monies to do full-width road reconstruction and storm sewer construction on Ludington Street.

The second loan would be for 15-years and would be used in conjunction with Drinking Water State Revolving Fund monies for full-width road reconstruction following water main replacements and a portion of the replacement areas affected by the city’s ongoing lead service line replacement project.

APPROVE RECREATION BIDS

The council will be asked to approve a bid from Stenberg Brothers of Bark River for portable restrooms units. The restrooms will be placed in a variety of recreation areas as well as being made available at special events like band concerts or other large events.

The bid is broken down to the costs for individual types of units per day, meaning the price the city will pay is dependent upon recreation and community activities.

The council will also be asked to approve a bid by Sticky Fingers of Gladstone to be the official food and drink concessionaire in Ludington Park for 2024. Sticky Fingers was one of 21 vendors to apply for the bid and it will be the 21st year Sticky Fingers was awarded the contract.

PICKLEBALL

The city’s continued effort to bring dedicated pickleball courts to city parks will also be on the agenda. The city recreation department is seeking the council’s approval to apply for a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant for $400,000 to construct eight pickleball courts at Royce Park. If the grant is awarded, the city would be responsible for $100,000 in matching funds.

WATER

INVESTIGATION

The council will be asked to hire Monchilov Sewer Services, LLC of Fairgrove, Mich. with regard to a Drinking Water Asset Management grant to investigate existing water services throughout the city. This will definitively determine whether unknown service lines should be replaced as part of the city’s ongoing lead service line replacement project.

The total cost of the investigation is not to exceed $321,077.

SELLING LAND

The final item before the council will be whether or not to approve the sale of city-owned unused property located on the west side of South 32nd Street. The property in question is an area of land adjacent to multiple properties and the Willow Creek Road right of way. Property owners would — if approved — be able to purchase the additional land to add to their existing property.