Newberry Village Council approves resolution for $900,000 sidewalk grant

By Sterling McGinn

The Newberry Village Council approved a resolution last Tuesday night committing to the submission of a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Major Grant Application for possible funds from Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) and SRTS funding through MDOT. The action was taken at the council’s regular monthly session held at the village chambers at 6 p.m.

Originally slated to be voted on at the August meeting, the council held off on a decision until more information, especially that of added cost of maintenance and engineering, was secured.

The grant has been a project of a local planning team including Roxanna Transit, Allie Johnson, and Brooke Dake, and it has a potential of up to $900,000 to improve specific sidewalks within the village for children walking to and from school.

Though the village adopted the resolution on the grant submission, the village will still have the option to turn down the grant if it is awarded. There is no financial obligation in the application submission process.

Village Manager Allison Watkins addressed some of the concerns from council members following the previous meeting.

Watkins and the board are concerned about costs that would not be covered by the grant. If funding is secured to redo village sidewalks, the village will need to clear them during the winter. There are already a number of sidewalks that were improved with a SRTS grant from a number of years ago. The costs of maintenance and the possibility of needing to hire additional DPW personnel would add costs that the village does not currently have in their budget.

“It will increase maintenance costs depending on what is awarded, and we are asking for a lot of sidewalks but that doesn’t mean that is what we would be awarded,” Watkins said. “It’s a $900,000 grant, but that doesn’t mean it is not going to cost additional.”

Watkins said that 30 percent of the preliminary engineering costs [$41,000] would be covered by MDOT. An estimated $230,000 in additional engineering costs are not covered.

“That would be funds that would need to be covered through grant money or other funding,” Watkins said. “If the village is not able to secure that funding, then the project would not happen.”

Expenses not covered, like those for permits and construction overage, would have to be covered by the village—something that is not in the budget.

“Based on other things that we have seen happen, I bumped that estimate up to $250,000 to $300,000, which could be more realistic,” she said.
Roxanna Transit told the board that the planning team would likely apply to the Office of Rural Prosperity for potential funding of up to $100,000 to use for the costs not covered by the SRTS fund. She also said that the Health Endowment Fund, which currently does not have a grant cycle open, is expected to be open by the end of the year and the team may look into that for additional funding.

After discussion, Watkins told the board that she recommended that the council adopt the resolution. Trustee Lori Stokes voted “no.”
The grant application will be submitted at the end of this month. Transit said that it would take several months until the notifications would be made.

In other news, Watkins has been working this year with the E.U.P. Regional Planning office to update the village’s five-year parks and recreation master plan, which is a tool used to evaluate recreational facilities in the village, along with needs and highlights future improvements.

“This is required if we want to apply for DNR funding,” said Watkins. “For example, the yellow and teal equipment at Atlas Park was paid for by a DNR Passport Grant. Passport Grants are funded through the stickers that are sold at the gates at all the state parks, and also you can pay for it through your license plate renewal.”

A good portion of the TORC Park, along with the equipment there, was paid for through the DNR trust Fund.

“It is important to have one in place all the time, ours was a little outdated and had expired,” Watkins said. The project costs around $6,000 but is covered completely by a grant.

Law requires a 30-day public review and comment period, which started September 16. The village is encouraging public input. The plan is available on the village website: www.villageofnewberry.com or at the village office. Public feedback will need to be submitted by October 16 by 4 p.m.

A public hearing regarding the recreation plan will take place at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, October 20, just before the beginning of the regular council session.

Finally, the village is seeking local kids to participate in the Public Power Coloring Contest taking place as part of Public Power Week October 4-10. The contest is open to 1-4 grade students from Tahquamenon Area Schools and those in the homeschool program whose parents are village power customers.

Submissions need to be turned in by Friday, September 25. The winner will be announced during the week of October 4. The winner will be recognized at the next council meeting.