By Terry Schrimscher, For the Tribune
SPRINGVILLE – The Springville City Council met Monday night, Aug. 7, for the first regular meeting of the month. The Council began earlier than normal with a work session an hour before the regular meeting.
Doug Morrison outlines plans for a bioswale to filter runoff water at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve. Morrison was named manager of the preserve in the summer of 2022.
Nature Preserve Manager Doug Morrison gave the Council an update on the progress at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve. He outlined plans for bioretention swales in the parking areas to drain, capture and filter runoff water to protect the water quality of Big Canoe Creek.
Morrison asked the Council to approve $42,783 for the project. Work on the nature preserve has gone over budget for the year but Morrison emphasized the importance of getting the work done right to stay consistent with the purpose of the preserve.
“I know it seems like an exorbitant amount of money, but it can really be a benefit to the preserve and to the community at large,” Morrison said. “I’d like to see Planning and Zoning start looking into using more bioswales. This really helps our water quality. Sediment is the number one cause of pollution in a waterway.”
Mayor Dave Thomas and members of the Council expressed concern about unexpected costs of preparing the park to open. Thomas also emphasized the importance of doing the work now rather than trying to come back and amend it after the park opens.
“We need to be careful that we don’t lose sight of what is the most, in my estimation, value in the return on that investment as far as the bioswale goes and that is the decontaminating of the runoff water because that’s going to get into Big Canoe Creek,” Thomas said.
The Council added the request to the regular agenda and approved moving funds from previously approved work to apply toward the cost of the bioswales.
In the work session, the Council heard a proposal from Raymond James and Associates to borrow funds for the purpose of grant matches. Representatives from the company outlined suggestions for funding. The Council is reviewing options and is expected to present options at a later meeting.
The Council also heard a proposal from Enterprise Fleet Management to upgrade and maintain the city’s fleet of vehicles. The proposal would work on a five-year cycle to lease new vehicles for city use. The Council did not add anything to the agenda and will review the terms of the proposal and amend vehicle budget requests accordingly if the plan is adopted at a later meeting.
In other business, the Council approved:
- A request from Linda Gravlee to plan the Witches Ride 2023 to benefit Springville Soccer.
- Declared a kiln at the Springville Senior Center as surplus.
- Renewed the annual School Resource Officer agreement with the St. Clair County Board of Education.
The next meeting of the Springville City Council will be held at 6 p.m., on Aug. 21, with a work session at 5:30 p.m. The Council moved the first September meeting to 8 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 6, due to the Labor Day holiday.
