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City Manager Steve Schaub asked council for permission to sign a work change order on behalf of the city when the paperwork arrives. The change order has to do with the pending wastewater treatment plant's electrical system and changes to be made to it after construction began and problems started to surface.

Schaub wanted permission to sign the order soon, since delays in construction caused by the city could result in fines of $1,550 per day. Schaub also requested to have a cap of $150,000 placed on the electrical system work change order, though the actual cost may be closer to $120,000.

Mayor Donald Redman asked Schaub how the city would know the changes included in the work order would be what was needed.

"I've lost a lot of faith in Wade-Trim," Redman said of the civil engineering firm.

The electrical system re-design was originally set as a $300,000 work change order, but was then reworked and presented to the city as a $150,000 project.

"What are we cutting? Does it meet code?" Councilman Dennis Cargill asked Schaub.

The city manager replied that according to the county inspector, the new electrical system will meet code.

The work change order should be finalized and presented to the city by Friday.

The idea of asking Wade-Trim to present the change order and the costs involved at a city council meeting was raised by Councilman Charles Zampich.

"We're shooting in the dark," Zampich said of signing the order without an explanation.

Councilman Stephen Quade pointed out that giving Schaub permission to sign the order did not mean Schaub had to sign it if it could possibly hurt the city.

Schaub assured council he would not sign the order until the Department of Environmental Quality approved the plans.

"All the I's will be dotted and the T's crossed," Schaub assured council.

A motion to allow the manager to sign the order passed, over no votes by council members Cargill and Dale Moshier.

Wade-Trim representatives will be asked to explain the order at city council's next meeting on May 7.

In other business:

*A motion passed to enter into a one-year contract with Thumb Residential to have Thumb Corrections inmates do work for Marlette. The workers will do various jobs around the city, including mowing, two days a week.

"They screen these people very, very well," Schaub said of the prisoners.

*The Lions Club will hold its annual White Cane Drive April 27 and 28. National Honor Society students will be at local businesses to assist with the drive.

"All of the funds are used to aid the blind," Councilman and Lions Club member Zampich explained.

*Council agreed to pay Skyline $57,872.10 for work done on the new wastewater treatment plant.

*According to Finance Committee Chairman Cargill, the new budget for the city will run at about $5.8 million and will be up for approval at the next city council meeting, May 7.

*The purchase of a video camera and locator to inspect and map the sewer mains was approved for just under $10,000. The city had borrowed a camera for the work in the past.

"We would do a lot less digging with this," said Schaub.