WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?
If you need assistance with a public utility or public works services, but do not know who to contact, or if you have recently moved to the area, and you need to set-up utility services, this reference is for you!
PUBLIC WORKS SERVICES
STREETS
The City of New Buffalo Street Department is responsible for maintaining and snow-plowing the public streets of the City - other than US Route 12 (Buffalo Street), which is the responsibility of the Michigan Department of Transportation.
RIGHT-OF-WAY TREES
The City has authority over the planting, trimming, and removing of trees and shrubs in City rights-of-way. Please contact the Street Department, 269- 469-2781, to report trees in a City right-of-way which is diseased, dead, or a threat to public safety. Please see the City's Tree and Shrub Removal and Planting Policy for more information on this topic.
BRUSH AND LEAF PICK-UP
The Street Department maintains a yard waste collection service for properties in the City. Please see the Yard Waste Collection Policy for more information.
STANDARD STREET LIGHTS
Standard street lights in the City are the responsibility of the electric utility, Indiana Michigan Power, a unit of American Electric Power (see below). Here is a link to their street light problem webpage.
DECORATIVE STREET LIGHTS
The decorative street lights, which are along North Whittaker Street from Oselka Drive (including the new train station) to Water Street, and the lights along North Thompson Street from Merchant Street to Mechanic Street, are the responsibility of the City. Please contact the Street Department, 269-469-2781, to report any of these lights out.
MUNICIPAL WATER SERVICE
WATER SERVICE
The City of New Buffalo Water Department is responsible for municipal water service in the City and a few locations nearby, including the Four Winds Casino. Please see the Water Department for more information, and City Ordinances for specific regulations.
WATER BILLS
If you have questions or concerns regarding a water bill, please see the municipal utility bills webpage or contact City Hall, 269-469-1500 for assistance. This fee chart outlines the charges for water and sewer use rates, ready to serve charges, tap-in fees, and buy-in fees.
STORM DRAINS AND SANITARY SEWERS
The City is served by two types of sewers:
STORM DRAINS
Storm drains (also called storm sewers) are used for outdoor rainwater runoff and water from sump pumps, eave down spouts, footing and floor drains. Stormwater should be sent to the storm drains, not sanitary sewers. Storm drains are managed by the Street Department.
SANITARY SEWERS
Sanitary sewers are used for wastewater from toilets, sinks, indoor showers, clothes washers, dish washers, and garbage disposals. Wastewater should be plumbed into the sanitary sewer, not storm drains.
Sanitary sewers are owned by the City, but they are maintained by the Galien River Sanitary District (GRSD) Sewer Authority, who is also responsible for treating the wastewater. Regulations concerning sewage are found in City Ordinances.
Please contact the GRSD for sanitary sewer issues:
GRSD Sewer Authority
Wastewater Treatment Plant
10831 Kruger Road
New Buffalo, MI 49117
Telephone: 269-469-3434
Facsimile: 269-469-0058
The GRSD Sewer Authority is an intergovernmental agency controlled by a Board with representatives from the City of Bridgman, City of New Buffalo, Chikaming Township, Lake Charter Township, and New Buffalo Township.
The GRSD Sewer Authority Board Members are:
Gerald Kohn, Chair
City Manager Aaron Anthony, representing City of Bridgman, Vice Chair
Supervisor Jeanne Dudeck, representing Chikaming Township, Secretary
City Manager Chuck Dobbins, representing City of New Buffalo, Treasurer
Supervisor John Gast, representing Lake Charter Township
Supervisor Rosann Dudiak, representing New Buffalo Township
The Board meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 1:30 PM ET, in the meeting room at Chikaming Township Center, 13535 Red Arrow Highway, Harbert, Michigan 49115.
CITY FRANCHISE HOLDERS/ CONTRACT SERVICES
RECYCLING AND WASTE COLLECTION
The City of New Buffalo has a contract with Reliable Disposal for recycling and solid waste collection services. If you have any customer service issues, please feel free to contact them at 800-677-1083, Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. They can be faxed at 269-465-3924, and they are located at 7227 Reliable Path, Stevensville, MI 49127. City regulations concerning solid waste disposal and recycling can be found in City Ordinances, starting in Section 15-1.
Please note that City Ordinances, Section 11-3, Subsection N "Waste collection hours" states: "Waste collection service activities, including obtaining and removing waste, garbage, rubbish, trash, bulk waste, and/ or recyclable materials from dumpsters, cans, bins, receptacles, and/ or similar containers, or bulk waste within a container or not, shall be an unlawful public nuisance when such activity is not conducted between the hours of 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM, Eastern Time." This regulation applies to the City's contract with Reliable Disposal as well as other waste collection services.
For additional information on recycling and waste collection service, please see the City's information webpage on that topic.
ELECTRICAL POWER
The City's electric utility is Indiana Michigan Power, a unit of American Electric Power, 800-311-65-6424. Regulations concerning the City's electric utility can be found in City Ordinances, starting in Section 20-22.
This area receives electricity from the Cook Nuclear Plant in Bridgman, Michigan. Nuclear Emergency Information is available – New Buffalo is a reception area for evacuees.
NATURAL GAS
The City's natural gas utility is Semco Energy Gas Company, 800-624-2019. Regulations concerning the City's natural gas utility can be found in City Ordinances, starting in Section 20-28.
CABLE TELEVISION
The City's cable television utility is Comcast Cable, 888-266-2278. Regulations concerning the City's cable television utility can be found in City Ordinances, starting in Section 20-1. This company also offers other telecommunications services.
LANDLINE TELEPHONE
The landline telephone service provider for this area is AT&T. Residential customers should call 800-244-4444, and business customers should call 800-660-3000. This company also offers other telecommunications services.
MISS DIG IS NOW 811
Building a deck? Planting a tree? Installing a mailbox?
811 is the new number you should call before you begin any digging project.
A new, federally-mandated national "Call Before You Dig" number (simply 811) was created to help protect you from unintentionally hitting underground utility lines while working on digging projects. People digging often make risky assumptions about whether or not they should get their utility lines marked due to concerns about project delays, costs and previous calls about other projects. These assumptions can be life-threatening.
Every digging job requires a call – even small projects like planting trees or shrubs. If you hit an underground utility line while digging, you can harm yourself or those around you, disrupt service to an entire neighborhood and potentially be responsible for fines and repair costs.
This page last updated on 5/27/2010.
