The Milan News-Leader
A Heritage Newspaper
Weekly Publication
City seeks grant
Milan officials want $970,000 in state funds to repair roads
By Brian Cox, Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: February 14, 2008
The city of Milan is seeking some $970,000 in state grant money to repair four roads, including stretches of Plank Road, Wabash Street, County Road and Tolan/North Street.
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The Milan City Council Monday night gave City Administrator Dan Bishop the go-ahead to pursue the four grant projects from the Michigan Department of Transportation.
"The city is always looking for grant opportunities to assist in financing public improvements," Bishop wrote council in his proposal. "Our streets need rehabilitation. We do not have enough local dollars to do the work. Without grant funding, our infrastructure will deteriorate at a faster rate."
The city has applied for $300,000 to resurface 0.54 miles of Plank Road from US-23 to the city limits. The proposed project would add 3 feet of paved shoulders to the roadway and sidewalks.
Plank Road is marked to get water and sewer services soon, Bishop said, and has been identified as a prime development site because of its proximity to US-23.
Another grant request for $120,000 is for the reconstruction of 0.23 miles of Wabash Street south of the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks. The project would include repaving, minor drain improvements and creating a 3-foot paved shoulder.
The Tolan/North Street project would resurface 0.3 miles from Main Street to Michigan Avenue and would include reconstructing curbs and gutters, minor storm drain improvements, and the widening of sidewalks. The city is seeking $200,00 in grant assistance.
The largest amount of grant money sought is $350,000 for the reconstruction of 0.77 miles of County Road from Gay Street east to the city limits. The project would include repaving, improving drainage, and reconstructing the curbs, gutters and sidewalks.
The city hopes to begin the Plank Road and Wabash Streets this year. The Tolan/North Street project is slotted for next year and the County Road reconstruction would take place in 2011.
Each of the grant requests requires matching city funds.
"If we were fortunate enough, the city would be required to commit $330,000 over the next three years, plus engineering costs and any ineligible project portions," Bishop told council.
The city could use money from the Michigan Transportation Fund, but would also likely have to draw some on local dollars, Bishop said.
The likelihood of securing all four grants is unclear, said Mayor Kym Muckler.
"It's very competitive," she said, "but (state Rep.) Kathy Angerer and (state Sen.) Randy Richardville have offered their support."
Staff Writer Brian Cox can be reached at 429-7380 or bcox@heritage.com.
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