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NILES — A key Niles building will soon be receiving needed improvements.

The Niles City Council voted unanimously to accept a $489,205 bid from Van Doorn Roofing, Inc. of Elk Grove Village, Illinois for a new roof for the City Hall Building, 333 N. 2nd St. Two-thirds of the expense in the amount of $322,875.30 will be paid from the Utilities Budget and one-third of the expense in the amount of $166,329.70 will be paid from American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Funds.

The project is expected to start in the spring and be completed by June 1, 2024.

According to city documents, Garland Roofing Company was asked to investigate the condition of the City Hall roof in August. Following some core samples, infrared imagery and a nuclear scan it was determined that the current roofing system is failing and needs to be replaced. It is believed that the current roofing system is the original roof from the early 1970’s. The proposed system will be very similar to the existing system and is expected to last approximately 50 years.

Specifications were prepared and bids were opened on Dec. 12 with a total of five bids received, with Van Doorn Roofing being the lowest bidder. Due to the flat roof, it was determined that the base would be difficult to construct without having to raise several roof protrusions. Van Doorn Roofing was recommended from the selected manufacture of the roofing system and has successfully completed several roofs in the Niles area.

In other business, the council approved the sale of a parcel of land to city resident Daniel Nelson for the sum of $1 plus costs estimated to be approximately $760. The parcel was foreclosed on due to back taxes by Berrien County and was offered for sale at the County’s land auction and failed to solicit any bids. When a property fails to sell, it is offered to the jurisdiction where it is located for past taxes and expenses. The city then purchased the parcel of land at a cost of $582.67 before selling it to Nelson. The Acquisition and sale of this property will allow the parcel to be placed back on the tax roll and aid in the maintenance of the parcel.

The parcel, approximately 100-by-10 feet in size, is directly behind Nelson’s property and from an adjacent lot line comparison was likely originally part of the property Nelson currently owns. Nelson requested to purchase the property from the city and will pay the city’s costs plus $1 for the parcel.

In further business, council:

• Approved the purchase of a new combination sewer cleaning truck, with necessary components, from Jack Doheny Company of Northville, Michigan, at a total cost of $549,968.46 and charged the expense to wastewater recent plans – Trucks and Trailers fund. The combination sewer cleaning truck will be used to maintain approximately 64 miles of sanitary sewers in the city.
• Approved the renewal of the Uniform Video Service Local Franchise Agreement with DirectTV and authorized the Mayor to sign the Agreement and attached map indicating the Video Area Foot Print.
• Approved the purchase of six leaf collection boxes from Ferguson Equipment of South Bend, Indiana at a cost of $85,650 and charged the expense to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds.
• Accepted the bid in the amount of $18,105, annually, with a five year contract, from LRS, LLC of Rosemont, Illinois for refuse collection and disposal for City-owned properties and charged the expenses to the various budgets as stated.
• Accepted the quote from SHI International Corporation in the amount of $22,947.50 for a twelve month period, for computer security services, charge the expense to General Fund and Utilities Department’s Computer Equipment and Supplies budgets.
• Accepted the MDOT AERO Grant/contract number 2024-0143 to fund the acquisition of seven navigation easements at the Jerry Tyler Memorial Airport. The easements are being sought to support the removal of obstructions to the approach area of Runway 33. Seven of the thirteen property owners have agreed to the values set forth in the good-faith-offers that have been tendered to them, along with several requests for mitigation.
• Accepted the Substation Engineering proposal from Commonwealth Associates of Jackson, Michigan in the amount of $868,000 to upgrade and rebuild our Southside substation. The expense was budgeted for in the FY24 Capital Plan, and will be reimbursed by AEP/I&M.
• Authorized the Utilities Department to proceed with equipment procurement for installation of a box span traffic signal at 3rd and Broadway at a cost of approximately $63,000.
• Approved the appointment of Assistant Utilities Manager Madison Mosher as the Niles alternative member to the Michigan Public Power Agency Board of Commissioners.
• Approved the Community Development Block Grant Plan Year 2022 CAPER. As a CDBG program requirement, the City must submit a CAPER every year. The CAPER describes the actions, projects and programs that have taken place during the previous year to address the priority needs and specific objectives identified in the Consolidated Plan, and Annual Action Plan which have been approved by City Council.