Sault to see upgrade in water infrastructure
SAULT STE. MARIE City residents can expect an upgraded water meter system within the next year.
“This is a large project we want to undertake,” said city manager Brian Chapman. “Essentially replacing our entire water meter system and infrastructure to a more state-of-the-art … program for water meters. There are a lot of benefits to the upgraded meter system.”
The city, besides having an aging meter infrastructure, is facing a large water loss gap of 33 percent between produced water and billed water. The average water loss in the United States is 16 percent. This gap in accountability can be attributed to numerous factors such as aging meters, leaks and unbilled water.
City to start downtown construction May 17
The Sault News
SAULT STE. MARIE The city will be starting a significant renovation/reconstruction project throughout the downtown area this summer.
The project, referred to as the Downtown Access and Placemaking Project, is over a $6 million investment in new roads, underground utilities, parking lots and placemaking elements.
“We understand that this investment and the associated closures will create frustrations throughout the summer months,” City Manger Brian Chapman said. “In order to help keep communication open, we are asking for questions or concerns to be emailed to Sue at sgoetz@saultcity.com.”
The downtown access and placemaking project is a major project for the downtown Sault area. Four parking lots will be rehabilitated as well as four different streets. Along with this will be various placemaking elements added to the parking lots and the streets. Improvements include more friendly bus stops, social gathering
New SSMPD chief hired
The Sault News
SAULT STE MARIE The Sault Ste. Marie Police Department will be welcoming a new police chief in a few weeks: Wesley Bierling.
According to city manager Brian Chapman, Bierling is currently the undersheriff for Lake County. Prior to that role he served as the undersheriff and as a sheriff’s deputy for Newaygo County. Bierling has accepted this offer of employment and he starts tentatively on June 1.
“Bierling brings a good mix of law enforcement and managerial experience which will help him contribute to the great work our police department is currently doing,” said Chapman.
SAULT STE. MARIE The Fourth of July fireworks display is happening this year for Sault Ste. Marie.
“I discussed the issue internally with some of my staff members and based on how last year’s fireworks display went, we felt we could host it again this year,” said city manager Brian Chapman.
Some cities around the state, such as South Haven, Grand Haven and Muskegon have canceled their fireworks display for 2021 to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Last year, the Sault had its fireworks display scheduled for July 4, 2020. However, after technical difficulties, the show had to be postponed to July 5, 2020. Chapman said the city had been using the same company for years and has never had any technical issues until last year.