By CRYSTAL

NELSON

News Staff Writer

HARRISVILLE — In a busy meeting on Monday, the Harrisville City Council agreed to give Mayor Jeff Gehring the ability to add, subtract or make changes related to the playground renovation at the Harrisville Harbor, accepted the resignation of its city treasurer, and authorized spending to treat an invasive species.

The city received a $107,800 Recreation Passport Grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources for the playground renovation, but did not factor in the cost of a “prime professional” into its grant application.

City officials recently learned the DNR requires an engineering firm to be in place. In May, the council hired the Petoskey-based firm OHM Advisors as its “prime professional.” The city has previously worked with the firm on its water and sewer and street grants.

“When the contractor comes, there’s going to have to be some give and take, as far as our money goes, because we’re going to have to pay for the contractor fee,” Gehring told council members, noting he would have the ability to make the changes necessary to get the project done.

Gehring noted that OHM has completed a survey on the property and that he has sent an email to the firm asking about an estimated time of completion. City officials estimated in June that the misstep on the engineering firm would push the project’s completion date back to next spring.

Gehring said he would address the Harrisville Lady Lions personally at their next meeting to keep them in the loop. The club raised $25,000 for the renovation of the playground.

TREASURER RESIGNS

The board also decided Monday to accept, with regret, a letter of resignation from Tom Keerl, who will step down as the city’s treasurer effective Aug. 12. Keerl will continue to work for the city in the Department of Public Works and has secured the licenses needed to operate the city’s water and sewer system, as well as the city’s lagoons.

The Michigan Rural Water Association stepped in to help the city early this year after Louis Campbell, Harrisville’s former DPW employee who held the operational licenses, died unexpectedly.

Because Keerl earned the additional licenses, the council voted unanimously to increase his pay to $15 per hour. That is Keerl’s second pay increase this year. Council members previously increased his salary in March by $1.50 to $13.50 per hour.

TREATING

INVASIVE SPECIES

The council also agreed to pay Huron Pines to spray up to three more locations for Japanese knotweed, which will cost the city an additional $300. Japanese knotweed is an invasive species that is difficult to eradicate.

The city has a contract with Huron Pines and is currently paying the nonprofit $1,000 to treat for Japanese knotweed at about 10 locations in the city.

Because the three new locations are not included in the contract, Huron Pines is charging the city $100 per application.

Crystal Nelson can be reached at cnelson@thealpenanews.com or 989-358-5687.