Mount Clemens adopts updated water and sewer fees and accepts $3,000 tree‑planting grant

The Mount Clemens City Commission on Sept. 5 adopted a resolution revising fees applicable to water and wastewater services and voted to accept a $3,000 tree‑planting grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, funded by the DTE Energy Foundation, with a local match of approximately $3,000.

City staff told the commission the fee changes — scheduled to take effect Oct. 1, 2017 — were reviewed during work sessions with city engineers and are based on actual labor and material costs. Staff highlighted two new or revised charges: a $70 fee for after‑hours water turn‑on and a $15 final water bill fee. "The proposed fees are based on actual labor and material costs to provide the service and are consistent or less than amounts charged by other communities," staff said.

Commissioners discussed sidewalk concerns related to tree plantings and whether species selection and placement would minimize sidewalk damage. A staff member explained the grant incorporates site selection criteria and that crews will perform utility locates and misdigs before placement; the program will prioritize requests from residents who had prior trees removed and a waiting list of applicants already exists.

The tree grant requires a 50/50 local match; the commission approved allocating up to $3,000 from local street funds to meet the match. The motion to accept the grant and the resolution revising utility fees were approved by roll call during the meeting.

The meeting also approved routine purchase payments and the consent agenda. City staff announced a work session scheduled for Sept. 18 and several community events in early September (Soapbox Derby pancake breakfast and race Sept. 9, farmer's market event Sept. 16).

Votes: The utility fee resolution and the tree‑planting grant were approved by roll call (affirmative responses recorded during the meeting).