Quarterly department reports: utilities say wastewater plant back in compliance; planning highlights several downtown projects

The Mount Clemens City Commission heard quarterly reports from Community Development, utilities, public services and finance, with the utilities update drawing particular attention.

Brian Tingley, introduced by the city manager as Community Development director, summarized recent Planning Commission actions, including special land use approval for Winter Circles Church at 258 South Mount Grama, site plan approval for a 23,100‑square‑foot addition to Comfort Prosthetics at 276 South Gratiot (including demolition of an adjacent structure at 272 Southbound), a site plan for a drive‑through canopy at 120 North Main (the former Tollner Bank building), and a 2,400‑square‑foot addition at 250 North Rose. He said the master plan update is moving forward and noted third‑quarter permitting and enforcement activity: 319 building/mechanical/electrical/plumbing/zoning permits issued, 477 code enforcement actions, 432 rental inspections and verifications, 101 rental certificates of compliance issued and 22 new certificates of occupancy. Tingley clarified in response to a commissioner that the "101" figure largely reflects routine recertifications every two years rather than 101 brand‑new rental units.

Blair Seelover, representing the F&V operations and resource management firm that the city contracted to oversee utilities, described major work at both the wastewater and water plants. Seelover said the wastewater plant has been returned to compliance after a lengthy sludge and biomass problem that required pump repairs, reconfiguration of centrifuges so both can run simultaneously, and recalibration of RAS pumps. "We've since got the plant back where it belongs in compliance," Seelover said, adding the plant's mixed liquor/biosolids are at normal parameters for the first time since 2012.

Seelover and city staff said they are pursuing alternatives to sole reliance on land application for biosolids — including a conveyor system and geobag options — to reduce operational disruption when field application is not possible. They also described a long‑overdue cleaning of the retention basin (operations said it had not been cleaned in about 12 years), repairs to pumps and flights that removed multiple dumpsters of material, and short‑term odor risks that prompted public notices to nearby residents.

At the water plant, staff said an out‑of‑service ozone unit was repaired at low cost by a local contractor and a failing backwash pump installed in 1958 was restored for about $40, avoiding a costly replacement. Seelover said staff are drafting a capital plan and expanding monthly safety training for operations staff.

Commissioners asked about apparent calendar/reporting errors in monthly production tables in the packet; Seelover and staff acknowledged carryover or formatting mistakes and said corrected figures will appear in the next report.

The public services director reported on completed street survey work, minor concrete repairs planned with contractor Luigi Cement, winterization of irrigation and downtown fountains, tree trimming and removal, parking citation revenue, and dial‑a‑ride usage. Finance director Marilyn De Lugi said the city's audit work, begun in August, should be presented to the commission on Nov. 16 and noted new pension reporting requirements under GASB 67/68.