By BRENNAN WHITE

Journal Staff Writer

MARQUETTE ­– Sand has slowly been collecting at the mouth of the Dead River and has created a narrower outlet year by year.

The collected sand will be moved and reused for the nearby beach.

The city commission previously approved a grant application through the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration for a $2.3 million dredging project during its July 26, 2021, meeting.

The dredged material is proposed to be reused for shoreline protection and stabilization along the Lake Superior shoreline between Hawley Street and Fair Avenue.

Remaining material would be placed on the northern portion of the Cliffs-Dow site and at a disposal site in the LS&I railyard.

The city is partnering with Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. on the project.

Cliffs will provide funding for the required match. The U.S. Department of Transportation has tentatively awarded a grant to the city for the project.

The next step in initiating the grant is a review of the dredging and potential reuse of the sites per the National Environmental Policy Act.

Cliffs has agreed to cover the cost of that review.

The city issued a request for proposals for the environmental analysis and a State Historic Preservation Office consultation as required by NEPA.

The city received two RFP responses for the environmental analysis and one proposal for the SHPO consultation.

GEI Consultants was awarded both projects­, including $31,358 for the SHPO work, and $56,956. for the environmental analysis. That motion was approved 7- 0.

In other business, the Board of Zoning Appeals presented its annual report to the city commission.

“Ultimately, the city has planned properly and changed things to really help us help citizens and the problems with needing variances,” said Chair Jeremey Ottaway. “We really don’t need to meet that often. In fact, in 2022 that number is definitely going to go down.”

He said the board canceled seven of its monthly meetings, in large part because there are not enough members.

The board has three vacancies.

Officials are trying to come up with ways to recruit residents to serve on the board.

Ideas for recruitment include providing pay through a possible city-issued stipend.

It was also suggested that the volunteer opportunity be presented to service clubs or to contact Northern Michigan University .

In 2021, the only requests it had were for variances. According to Ottaway, it is rare to hear an appeal with only one in the last five years.

The board meets the first Thursday of each month.

Consent Agenda approved unanimously, items include:

– Approval of the minutes of the Aug. 25 special commission meeting.

– Approval of the total bills payable for $3,357,724.98

– 2023 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Medicare Advantage preferred provider organization.

– Keweenaw Bay Indian Community funding for the Marquette Fire Department.

– Marquette Outdoors; Tourist Park kayak rental lease.

– Queen City courts, Hurley Park mural, artist contract.

– Appointment of four individuals, each approved 7 to 0:

– Dallas Fetter, Planning Commission, until Feb 15, 2025.

– Daniel Torres, Harbor Advisory Committee, ending June 1, 2025.

– Christopher Jason, Harbor Advisory Committee, until June 1, 2023.

– Michael Potts, Harbor Advisory Committee, for an unexpired term ending June 1, 2023.

Brennan White can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 248. His email address is bwhite@miningjournal.net.