Craig H. Cugini

MARQUETTE — Ishpeming leaders will decide Thursday whether Ishpeming City Manager Craig Cugini will serve as the head of the city’s public works department.

The Ishpeming City Council will hold the special meeting via the Zoom teleconferencing platform at 2 p.m. Thursday.

Carl Peterson, a longtime city employee, has served as the director of the public works department since January 2018 following the resignation of Jon Kangas. According to the minutes of the June 3 council meeting, Peterson notified the city he intended to retire in the fall. At that time, Cugini suggested the DPW be restructured.

The council will also hear the results of the city’s 2019 audit. One of the highlights of the report will be the resolution of the city’s corrective action plan for its water fund.

The plan, which was filed in 2015, was required by the Michigan Department of Treasury after the city’s water fund was found to be $1.1 million in deficit.

Issues leading to the deficit included back-to-back winters that resulted in freezing pipes and water mains, which caused significant damage to the water system infrastructure. There was $1.4 million in freeze-related damages during the winter deep freeze in fiscal year 2014 and around $500,000 in nonparticipating water system infrastructure replacement that took place as part of the U.S. 41 and connector roundabout projects in 2016.

Water rates rose 35% in 2017, 12% in 2018, 5% in 2019 and another 5% this year as part of the plan to address the deficit.

In addition to these items, the council will consider a revised pay application for the Lake Bancroft Park Pavilion project at the meeting.

Participants can join the virtual meeting by going to https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88692842170 on the web or calling 1-646-558-8656 and keying meeting ID 88692842170#.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at lbowers@miningjournal.net