The Sandusky city council met Monday evening and agreed to end the courtesy of delaying water shut-off bills that was instated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Michigan’s Executive Order expired March 31st, ending the moratorium for non-payment of water bills.
City Manager Dave Faber said the city had gone four months beyond the expiration date but felt it was time to begin trying to get back on track.
Faber told council that there are roughly 150 individuals who owe more than their regular, monthly water bill to the tune of around $100,000 dollars.
Faber said some people have chosen to not pay their bills recently and were falling further and further behind.
He also cited the fact that after mid-September, outstanding water bills will go to residents’ tax bills.
In other council news, concern was raised over the recent tornado warning and the failure of at least one of the City’s warning sirens as well as the public’s knowledge of what the siren was for.
Several council members and the Mayor expressed concern over not knowing why the sirens were going off, unable to get information from the radio or television.
Councilman Roger Williamson voiced his concern about the failure of the siren on the west side of town and stated “at a time like that, people’s lives are at stake and we had no warning.”
Councilman Larry Mitchell added, “By the time the sirens go off, a two or three minute delay, from when the storm actually hit the other day, the damage is already done and we’re talking about people being in danger. It needs to be looked at.”
City Manager Faber said he had received one quote to have the sirens replaced, at an expense of around $85,000 dollars for four sires.
Their current warning sirens, that are set off manually during a storm warning, were installed in 1997.
Council asked Faber to get at least two more quotes as well as look into why the failed siren did not activate.
Faber also updated council on the Dawson street project, saying paving was slated to begin Tuesday and the hope is to have the street open to vehicle traffic by sometime Friday, just prior to the start of the Sanilac County 4-H and Youth Fair which begins Sunday.
The project, with a price tag of around $550,000 dollars, included new water and sewer infrastructure along with curb and gutters.
