Clawson voters to decide on $64.5 million infrastructure bond

CLAWSON — An infrastructure improvement bond will be on the ballot for Clawson residents during the Nov. 5 election.

The infrastructure improvement bond for $64.5 million would fund improvements to the city’s sewer systems, water distribution systems and roads.

If the proposal is approved by the voters, the total debt millage levied in 2025 will be 6.9 mills, which is a 2-mill increase from the current debt levy of 4.9 mills. One mill is equal to $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value.

“The funds will be directed toward high-priority projects such as road repairs, water main replacements, and sewer improvements, addressing critical infrastructure needs that surpass the city’s annual budget,” the city states in information posted on its website, cityofclawson.com.

If approved, construction and maintenance is expected to begin as early as 2025, according to the information provided about the bond on the Clawson website.

The city also states that by coordinating road work with sewer inspections and repairs, the city will be minimizing distractions that can occur while projects are happening.

Along with the infrastructure improvements, the bond would be providing funding for a closed-circuit television program that will clean and inspect the municipal sewer mains.

This would mean a camera would be put into “every foot of our city-wide system to document its condition,” according to the website. The cleaning would remove roots and other blockages in the sewer system.

In a sewer project conducted on Elmsford Drive, the CCTV system was used and “showcased the abilities of CCTV cameras in monitoring stormwater sewer systems. It also demonstrates the effectiveness of sewer cleaning operations,” the city states on its website.

According to the “Bond Proposal FAQ’s” section on the website, the improvements could lead to the boosting of property values, economic growth, safety and quality of life for residents.

“Improvements could include decreased flooding and sewer backup, improved water pressure, and the reconstruction or re-paving of damaged and deteriorated roads,” the document states.

During the June 4, 2024, City Council meeting, the council approved the bond language for the Nov. 5 general election in a 5-1 vote.

The council was tasked with choosing one of three options for a bond proposal. The gold bond was the biggest amount with $64.5 million, the silver bond was for $56 million, and the bronze option featured a bond in the amount of $46 million.

Council member Susan Moffitt said at the June 4 meeting that she did not think it was a good idea to approve the gold bond.

“I think the gold is too aggressive, and I have talked to people in the community who said that they would not vote for it — they would support something lesser,” Moffitt said. “I think it’s tone-deaf to go for the gold.”

Council member Glenn Shepard said he had heard the opposite response from residents.

“There may be something down the line that we won’t be able to get all of this done because of all the financial costs that are going to occur,” Shepard said. “So I would like to get the gold now and see how much we can cover.”

Mayor Paula Millan said at the meeting that the best decision would be to choose the gold plan to provide the people of Clawson with a plan that she hopes will complete all the improvements the city needs.

“I think we owe it to the residents to come up with a plan that will get the most done, and to keep us on track,” Millan said. “Let’s give people confidence that we are going to take care of as much as we can.”

Clawson residents looking for more information on the infrastructure improvement bond can find it at cityofclawson.com/top_alert_detail.php. That link also includes a tax calculator and an infrastructure priority list.