Grosse Pointe City

City scores grant for new trash truck

By K. Michelle Moran
C & G Staff Writer

GROSSE POINTE CITY — City leaders know they don’t exactly have money to throw away. So, they were especially pleased when they learned that they could get a grant for a new refuse truck — a major purchase.

Hot on the heels of a similar grant last year in Grosse Pointe Shores, City administrators told the council they had received a grant of up to $176,000 from the Federal Highway Administration, through the Michigan Department of Transportation, for a new refuse truck that would release less pollution into the environment. The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Program grant will cover the cost of replacing one of the city’s older vehicles, which has higher emissions, officials said.

“There should be no cost to the City for this expenditure,” Public Service Director Paul Weitzel told the City Council during a Jan. 23 council meeting.

To get the grant, officials needed to enter into an agreement and approve a resolution, and the council voted unanimously in favor of doing that. The agreement had already been approved by the city attorney, Weitzel told the council.

Weitzel said this will be his department’s first new vehicle in years.

“This is a great blessing and a surprise,” he said.

Weitzel credited Public Service supervisor Gary Huvaere with securing the funding. City Council member Jean Weipert praised Huvaere, saying he did “great work.” Fellow council members concurred.

“Thank you for saving the city $176,000,” City Council member John Stempfle said.

This was one of several grants administrators announced at the Jan. 23 meeting — something leaders found particularly welcome as the community struggles with falling revenues from declining property values. Mayor Dale Scrace said the outside funding was “great news.”

“Everyone has done a really nice job finding these grants,” City Council member Christopher Boettcher said.

You can reach C & G Staff Writer K. Michelle Moran at kmoran@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1047.