Manchester City Council approves several infrastructure contracts, authorizes review of DPW bids

The Manchester City Council on July 8 approved a series of infrastructure contracts and payments and authorized city administration to review sealed bids for a Department of Public Works facility addition. The meeting opened at 7:00 p.m. at Manchester City Hall and was presided over by Mayor Patricia K. Vailliencourt.

Why it matters: Council actions authorize engineers and contractors to move forward on road and utility projects that affect local streets, sewer service and maintenance costs, and they clear vendor payments that fund city operations.

Councilmember Dresch moved and Councilmember Woods seconded a motion to receive sealed bids for the DPW Facility Addition and Associated Renovation Project and allow city administration to review, evaluate and negotiate with the lowest bidder; the council did not award the project at the meeting. The council later approved an agreement with engineering firm Fishbeck for the W. Main Street repaving and bridge project (motion by Dresch, second by Woods), a contract with Washtenaw County to fund façade improvements at Manchester City Hall (motion by Woods, second by Harvey), and the Notice of Award and contract for the Hogan & Parr Road sewer and water extension to Salenbien Truck and Excavating, Inc. (motion by Dresch, second by Woods). All motions carried unanimously among members present.

The council approved a repair quote from Cal’s Excavating for the Ockrow Street sewer repair in the amount of $18,250.00 (motion by Woods, second by Harvey) and separately approved the purchase of parts and materials from Michigan Pipe & Valve for $5,272.58 (motion by Woods, second by Harvey). The council also approved the Accounts Payable Report dated July 7, 2026, in the amount of $123,031.66 (motion by Dresch, second by Woods). For each recorded vote the ayes were Dresch, Harvey, Woods and Vailliencourt; councilmembers Chartrand, LaRocque and Mahony were absent.

City administration shared documentation from the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office regarding the county 911 surcharge; council members reviewed the information but took no action. City Manager Sessions provided an update that storm pickup and outage response would continue through the week.

No public comments were offered during the meeting. The meeting adjourned at 8:34 p.m.

Votes at a glance: Sealed bids for DPW Facility — authorized receipt and staff review; Fishbeck engineering agreement for W. Main Street repaving and bridge project — approved; Washtenaw County-funded façade improvements for City Hall — approved (funding amount not specified in the record); Hogan & Parr Road sewer/water extension contract to Salenbien Truck and Excavating, Inc. — approved; Ockrow Street sewer repair (Cal’s Excavating) — approved ($18,250.00); parts/materials purchase (Michigan Pipe & Valve) — approved ($5,272.58); Accounts Payable — approved ($123,031.66).

Next steps: Administration will proceed with bid evaluation and negotiation for the DPW facility addition and begin contract implementation for the projects approved; no further council action on the 911 surcharge was recorded.