Swales, Mini-Circles & Street Issues Resurface in City of HowellSwales, Mini-Circles & Street Issues Resurface in City of Howell

7/29/14 - What to do about streets, swales and parking in the City of Howell is the ongoing task before council members. Council voted Monday night to defer a street modification project involving parking and curb changes as well as removing all of the 16 mini-circles previously installed. It will be re-bid in January or February. Council has been looking at modifications to streets in parts of the city and put together a plan but there’s a shortage of contractors to do the work this season as many are booked solid. The one bid that did come in was almost four times higher than engineering estimates. Mayor Phil Campbell tells WHMI council is committed to addressing ongoing problems in the City but what they can do is bound by what’s possible. In this case, he says the cost was prohibitive so council made the financially prudent decision to postpone the work. Staff will work to obtain informal quotes in case there’s the possibility of getting anything done this season. In a separate but related item, member Doug Heins proposed an ordinance lessening parking restrictions that he requested the city attorney draft per council rules, saying he wanted it on the agenda as a vehicle for discussion. Current ordinance prohibits off-street parking in certain areas and in swales. Heins said he doesn’t want to be ticketed for having a tire touching the grass and feels residents should be able to enjoy a certain amount of latitude in the right-of-way in front of their homes. Heins said his proposal was intended to address what he feels is parking discrimination but others on council were not convinced and pointed out as currently worded, it would allow unlimited parking in swales and owners would have no control. Some stated it would contradict efforts to address street erosion and waste the thousands of taxpayer dollars invested to solve real problems the street project was designed to eliminate including flooded yards and basements. Councilman Scott Niblock called it another step by Heins in a systematic attempt to dismantle the street project. Councilman Steve Manor commented that the swales were deliberately chosen by council to control and treat storm water run-off and have been successful in fulfilling their designed purpose. The matter of streets and parking will be revisited during the August 11th meeting. (JM)