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BUCHANAN — With the $19.4 million downtown infrastructure project on the homestretch, Buchanan City Commissioners are turning their attention to other issues including a new zoning ordinance, a new sidewalk program and the sale of city-owned property.

      Relative to the infrastructure project which has left downtown streets torn up for several months, City Manager Tony McGhee reported that underground utility work is done and the focus now is shifting to putting down asphalt and concrete on the streets.

      McGhee told commissioners that the ribbon cutting for the downtown project has been set for Nov. 21 at 10:30 a.m. Most of the work should be done by then with only minor items left to be done over the winter and into next spring.

      Commissioners held their first reading of the new zoning ordinance at the start of Monday’s meeting. Clerk Kalla Langston-Weiss reported that one phone comment was received from former commissioner Scott King who urged the current commission to be cautious as they move forward with the new ordinance.

      Commissioners approved the first reading of the ordinance and set a second public hearing for Nov. 10 prior to that night’s meeting. Commissioner Dan Vigansky has been working on the updated ordinance as a member of the city planning commission and said he’s glad to see the new ordinance in place after over three years of work.

The updated ordinance is called a “unified development code” and represents a whole new approach to zoning and development, McGhee said. The new ordinance is “form based” rather than “traditional use based” as it balances growth with preservation with an emphasis on encouraging compact, pedestrian-oriented, mixed use development.

The new sidewalk program is being rolled out this month and will target sidewalks needing repair throughout the city. Monday, commissioners approved the $56,200 bid of Astrong Construction of Niles for 3,000 square feet of new concrete sidewalk. Astrong was the only company to submit a bid.

McGhee said the city had budgeted $60,000 in the current budget for the sidewalk work. He said the city’s public works department has identified deteriorated sidewalks that need to be replaced and will share the costs 50-50 with homeowners. Homeowners will have three years to repay their share of the costs.

He said that letters are being sent out this month to homeowners and the sidewalk work will be done on a first come first serve basis. The contractor has until next May to get the work done.

Commissioners also approved a public hearing for Nov. 10 concerning the sale of 13 city-owned properties. McGhee said he and commissioners have been talking about selling these properties for the last few months and that he has received calls from developers interested in buying some of the lots available.

The city-owned properties are mainly on the city’s north side and are primarily lots gained through tax sales. Available properties are on Arctic, Bluff, Elizabeth, Fulton, Victory and West Roe Streets. All but West Roe are on the city’s north side.

A third public hearing will be held at the Nov. 10 meeting. Commissioners set a public hearing on a proposed change to the ordinance governing city filing deadlines. Langston-Weiss said the change would restore the filing deadline back to the 15th Tuesday prior to the August election rather than the 15th Tuesday before the November election.

One last item approved Monday was the renewal of the retail marijuana permit for KISA Enterprises doing business as Pinnacle Emporium at 221 E. Front St.

KISA representative Doug Huntsinger confirmed that his company is disinvesting from their Michigan holdings but wants to keep the license active as they look for another entity to take over the local store.