The map shows a proposed drainage run (orange line)
that was rejected by Sandusky council
In an exchange of spirited conversation, Sandusky city council members did not share the same viewpoints as Sanilac County Drain Commissioner Greg Alexander at Monday night’s meeting, leading to some terse words on both sides. Alexander approached the council about the possibility of improving drainage on the east side of Sandusky, near the city’s Industrial Park.
He proposed a cleaning of the city-owned drain to the north, at the city’s expense, to allow for quicker relief of surface water coming from the Industrial Park. Council members Brad Harris and Nort Schramm strongly disagreed and felt if the work was done, the County should pay for it.
The current drain runs two miles to the east and is slow to reach the Barry Drain on the north side of M-46, west of Stringer Road. No action was taken on the proposal.
In other council news, Sandusky City Manager Dave Faber gave his annual budget overview to council Monday night, reporting the city is in good financial shape. Faber said of the city’s $5.5 million dollar budget, General Funds is 33%, or $1.796 million dollars of the budget while the other big ticket item is the city’s sewer fund which takes 26% of the overall budget.
Residential taxable values have increased for the second straight year while commercial values continue to decline with tax abatements coming off the rolls. The city’s two largest expenditures are the Sewer Fund at approximately $1.4 million dollars and the Water Fund at just over $851,000 dollars.
The city intends to use money from the equipment fund to purchase a new pickup truck for the police department.
