City Engineer

The City Engineer is responsible for the handling, planning, oversight, and reporting on all city-led engineering projects including:

  • Handling water, sewer, and roadway related constructions permits in the public right-of-way.
  • Planning, prioritizing and seeking funding sources for future infrastructure projects.
  • Oversight of Engineering Consulting Services.
  • Construction Progress Meetings and Site Inspections of ongoing construction projects.
  • Responding to Citizen Concerns including Periodic Updates on Construction Progress.
  • Administration of the City's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permits.
  • Archives infrastructure project record drawings.
  • Plan review and approval of infrastructure-related elements of new developments.
Tim Zebell

City Engineer:
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 Alex Austin 2

Assistant City Engineer:
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Address: 700 Broad Street
Phone: (269) 983-5541
Fax: (269) 985-0346

For information on the St. Joseph River - Bicentennial Bridge USGS Stream Gage, please click on it.

Kingsley, Morton, Orchard and Langley Projects

 PROJECT BACKGROUND

In 2020, the City completed the Kingsley, Morton and Orchard Reconstruction Project and in 2021, Langley Avenue will be reconstructed.  Both projects involve a change in the configuration of the roadway and the information that follows provides some background on how and why the roadway and right-of-way will be different when all the work is done.
 
In early November 2018, the City held an open House to gather public input on several concepts for the upcoming reconstruction projects.  All of the concept plans included non-motorized facilities in order to comply with the City's Master Plan and the Complete Streets Policy adopted by the Twin Cities Transportation Study (TwinCATs).  Space within the public right-of-way is limited, so the addition of non-motorized facilities generally results in a reduction or loss of on-street parking.  Extensive tree removals were also required for both projects for multiple reasons including the tree size being too big for the available space, tree age, and conflicts with water and sewer services.  The tree removals were completed in the winter, in advance of the construction, in order to comply with environmental regulations.  The following links will take you to the public notice and the concepts presented in November 2018.

August 12 Meeting Notice to Project area
August 12 Power Point
Open House Kingsley Concept 3
Open House Morton Concept 3
Open House Orchard Concept 1
Open House Langley Concept 1

2021 LANGLEY RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT 

The Langley Reconstruction is scheduled to begin on March 15, 2021.  A public meeting will be held remotely on Zoom on February 25th at 6 PM for those wishing to learn more about the project.  Additional project information and a link to the meeting is included in the public notice which can be accessed from the link that follows.
 
 
A general summary of the Langley Reconstruction Project can be found in this one page project information sheet.

Current Road Closure and local access map can be found here:
 

The City intends to plant trees in the tree lawn once the project is complete.  The preliminary tree planting plan can be view by following the hyperlink text.  Property owners fronting on the construction that desire to add a tree to their front yard may also be eligible for a City planted tree.  Those interested should contact Greg Grothous (t: 269-983-5541, e: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) at Public Works for additional details. 

June 11, 2021 Update
 

This is an update on the Langley Avenue Reconstruction Project for the week of June 7, 2021.

Last weekend, Kalin Construction paved Langley Avenue from approximately Michigan Avenue to Wolcott Avenue. On Tuesday the traffic pattern was switched from Phase 1b to Phase 2a, closing Langley to through traffic from Napier Avenue to Wolcott Avenue and opening Langley Avenue from Pearl Street to Wolcott Avenue to local traffic. Over the past week, Kalin also continued to lay water main along the west side of the right-of-way from Wolcott Avenue to Hillcrest Avenue. Water service connections were also made on the north end of Phase 2a and the water main connections were completed at Lewis Avenue today.

Next week, area residents should expect more of the same. Water main work will continue to the south and sanitary sewer work will begin near Wolcott Avenue, moving south. Kalin informed the City that two crews will be working on the project through the end of this month with no Saturday work expected over the next two weeks.

Two water shut offs are scheduled next Friday, June 18, 2021. Properties expected to be impacted are illustrated on the maps that follow.

Individual services will also be switched over to the new main in the coming week. The service switch overs are generally brief in duration. Impactedproperty owners will be notified by door hanger notice in advance of the water service interruptions.

As a reminder, the odd/even sprinkling ordinance will be waived for 30 days for the properties with restoration, and we ask that you water these areas daily to allow the grass to take hold. We ran into similar hot and dry weather conditions during the project last year, and saw that they are very conducive to the growth of crab grass and other weeds. So, again, please water your lawn regularly to reduce the potential for weed growth.

We thank you for your continued patience and please feel free to contact Sam Jablonowski, Abonmarche Project Engineer (email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., telephone: 269-605-9653) or Tim Zebell, City Engineer (email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., telephone: 269-985-0339)

Lakeview Avenue Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project

On Thursday, May 20th the Lakeview Avenue Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project will begin.  Thepurpose of the project is to replace a failed section of sanitary sewer from Lakeview Avenue to the sanitary sewer interceptor in the ravine.  The work will require the closure of the southbound lane of Lakeview at the ravine crossing. Please see the detour route HERE.  The project is expected to be completed by June 4th, 2021.

Concrete Pavement Preventive Maintenance Project

The Concrete Pavement Preventive Maintenance Project started on May 10th and the work is now done. The project included full depth pavement repairs, joint stripping and resealing, and crack sealing.  Full depth pavement repairs were completed on Momany Drive, Renaissance Drive, and Whitwam Drive.  The project was undertaken to keep the newer concrete roadways throughout the City in a good state of repair.  The work also included concrete patches throughout the City from water main break repairs that were made last winter.

2020 Water Service Replacements Project

The City has contracted with Compton Inc from South Haven, MI to complete the work for the 2020 Water Service Line Replacement Project.  As part of this work the City will also be replacing any private water service made of galvanized steel or lead from the curb stop to just inside the home as well as the public water service in the street. You can view a progress map for the work HERE. 

Lead Water Service Information

Please follow this link for more details. Lead Service Replacement Program

Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Program

Point of contact:

Tim Zebell, P.E.
City Engineer
Telephone: 269-983-5541
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Please see the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) Report for additional information at : https://www.michigan.gov/documents/egle/wrd-cso-sso-rtb-2019-annual-report_695004_7.pdf

SAW Grant

Asset Management Plan

Public Meeting Maps

 

A Permit is required for work within the Right-of-Way.

The Right-of-Way typically includes the street, tree lawn and sidewalk area in front of your property. Please refer to the Right-of-Way Permit application - at the link that follows - for additional details on the requirements.

Right-of-Way Application (PDF)(revised 4-18-2019)

Please submit applications and supporting materials to Alex Austin at the contact information noted above.

City of St. Joseph and Southwest Regional Sanitary Sewer and Water Authority Standard Specifications and Details for new water main construction

Water Main Permits

Please contact City Engineer Tim Zebell for information on the water main permit approval process. 

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