KINGSFORD — Up to $30,000 in fees will be paid to update titles and easements on 35 properties in Kingsford, a requirement for a $4,439,000 loan the city received from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for an upcoming water and sewer project.

A title company will be hired to send letters to homeowners involved to see if there is an existing easement at a cost estimated to be about $15,000, officials said. If no easements are in place, it could mean a large amount of legal work, according to City Attorney Henry McRoberts.

McRoberts told the city council Monday he hopes the legal fees will be much less than the proposed $15,000. The costs will be reimbursed to the city.

The USDA has requirements that are different from other loans the city has received from the state.

The project is expected to start next summer in the Heights/Ford Addition area. It includes replacing 23,000 feet of mains and 343 residential access lines and some well work. The city has accepted a bid for $11,087,509 from Payne and Dolan of Gladstone.

The city had earlier qualified for $6,710,500 in state grant and loan assistance. The grant portion awarded through the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy is $2,184,910.

In other business, the city council:

— Tabled a vote on a city seal emblem for the council chambers suggested by council member Dennis Baldinelli. Council member Michael Flaminio said since the city has gone 100 years without one, there was no need to rush. Council member Cynthia Dixon-Miller said it was not the right time to purchase it and Mayor Pro-Tem Daniel Freeman wanted to have more input into the design. Mayor Joe Groeneveld recommended doing some more research.

— Approved a change order for the first sewer and water project in the Kingsford Heights, that has nearly been completed. The change order will increase the cost by $218,173 to $8,652,011. The added costs come from additional concrete for curb and gutter, pavement removal and concrete stairs.

— Heard that the City Christmas Tree Lighting on Dec. 5 had more attendance and activities than last year.

— Learned 32 deer have been taken by 14 hunters in the managed archery hunt.