Owosso council backs $7.16M in water main bids, takes up $12M bond

The Owosso City Council approved its July 6 consent agenda on a 5-0 roll call vote, tentatively awarding two 2026 water main replacement contracts worth about $7.16 million combined, according to the minutes approved July 20.

Voting yes were Councilmembers Rachel M. Osmer and Carl C. Ludington, Mayor Pro-Tem Jerome C. Haber, Councilmember Emily S. Olson and Mayor Robert J. Teich, Jr. No one voted no. Councilmembers Janae L. Fear and Christopher D. Owens were absent. Olson moved the consent agenda and Osmer supported it.

Under Resolution No. 106-2026, the council tentatively awarded Contract 1 of the 2026 Water Main Replacement Project to The Glaeser-Dawes Corporation in the amount of $4,519,131.02. The resolution text lists the company's low bid as $4,519,124.19. Resolution No. 107-2026 tentatively awarded Contract 2 to the same firm for $2,640,530.95. Both awards are contingent on the receipt of Drinking Water State Revolving Fund bond proceeds, the minutes state. Public Services and Utilities Director Ryan E. Suchanek recommended awarding both to the low responsive bidder. The bid tab for Contract 1 was corrected on the floor when Ludington moved to approve the agenda, "amending particular line items to correctly allocate costs."

Under items of business, Olson moved to adopt Ordinance No. 851, a supplemental ordinance providing for the issuance and sale of revenue bonds under the Drinking Water Revolving Fund program. The ordinance sets the aggregate cost of the improvements at not more than $12,000,000 and authorizes the city to borrow up to that amount, at an interest rate not to exceed 2.50% per annum, with final maturity no later than 40 years after issuance. The bonds would be sold to the Michigan Finance Authority through a negotiated sale and would be payable solely from net revenues of the water system, not as a general obligation of the city. The work described includes replacing water mains and service lines to comply with the state's Lead and Copper Rules, water treatment plant improvements and booster pump upgrades. The published minutes text available runs into the form of the Series 2026 Bond and does not show a recorded vote on the ordinance.

Other consent items included a two-year extension of the professional services agreement with OHM Advisors for planning, zoning and development advisory services beginning July 1, 2026 (Resolution No. 100-2026); $19,980 to MJO Holdings Corporation, doing business as Professional Pump, for emergency repair of Secondary Influent Pump #1, with competitive bidding waived (Resolution No. 101-2026); a contract of up to $14,757 with Mid Michigan Emergency Equipment Sales and Service for outfitting one new police utility vehicle (Resolution No. 103-2026); and $29,801.30 for ten Dell Pro Rugged 14 computers for the police department through a MiDEAL contract (Resolution No. 105-2026). The council also approved CDBG Round 1 Contractors' Quotes #6 at $46,490 with related purchase order reductions of $16,652 (Resolution No. 104-2026), sand and gravel bids to Smith Sand & Gravel and to Ocenasek, Inc. of Perry estimated at $48,025 and $25,470 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027 (Resolution No. 108-2026), and Warrant No. 667 totaling $88,579.07 in quarterly water agreement payments to Caledonia Charter Township and Owosso Charter Township. Members affirmed accounts payable disbursements of $2,178,093.98 and payroll disbursements of $1,426,294.07 for June. Erin Powell was reappointed to the Downtown Historic District Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2029.

The council also authorized the city attorney to file a quiet title action in Shiawassee County Circuit Court under MCL 600.2932 for the Carnegie Library Property at 500 W. Main Street (Resolution No. 102-2026). The resolution states the city's chain of title "includes a reverter clause and/or other defect that clouds clear and marketable title, impairing the City's ability to plan, finance, or convey the Property."

Two traffic control orders were added to the agenda and approved: No. 1559, closing Curwood Castle Drive from M-52 to the Shiawassee Arts Center from 2 to 10 p.m. on Thursdays July 9, 16, 23 and 30 and Aug. 6 for the Moonlight Market, at the request of Stephen Schlaack of Owosso Farmers Market, LLC; and No. 1560, closing intersections along the Shiawassee County Ag Society's semi-truck parade route on Corunna Avenue, Washington Street and Main Street from 9 to 11 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 8.

During citizen comments, Sam McLaren of 721 W. Oliver Street said he had received an estimate of about $40,000 for water service and fire suppression connections at a commercial property he is developing and said the city was not following its stated policies and contracts. Mike Cline of 204 Stratford Drive asked why the city has parking enforcement if it writes off $15,000 in unpaid tickets each year. Bill Moull of 1335 W. North Street said use of golf carts and ATVs on city streets has increased and asked the city to act before a crash occurs. Ashley Stevens of 1438 W. Main Street said she has had a theft problem on her property and asked what could be done about residences in her neighborhood housing people with substance abuse problems. Christopher Eveleth of Shiawassee Health & Wellness reported the agency implemented a 24/7 mobile crisis unit with a state grant, and Robert Doran-Brockway of America 250 MI said the organization has awarded more than $3,000,000 in grants over five years.

In council comments, Olson said she was concerned about onlooker safety when people do burnouts on Park Street near Taco Bell. City Manager Henne said it would not be a good idea for the city to sanction a burnout contest on city property and that all police officers would be on duty that weekend. Olson suggested a public notice plan warning that violators will be ticketed.

What happens next

The two water main awards remain tentative until the city completes financial arrangements with the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund. Final terms of the Series 2026 Bond, including the amount advanced, interest rate and maturity dates, are to be set by an authorized officer — the mayor, city manager, finance director or public utilities director — at the time of sale under the contract documents with the Michigan Finance Authority. The minutes were approved at the council's July 20, 2026 meeting.