Fraser, Clinton Township leaders reflect and look ahead

FRASER/CLINTON TOWNSHIP — As confetti is cleared from Times Square and late-made resolutions begin to be broken, it can be easy to leave 2023 behind in favor of what 2024 will bring. But while the new year is still fresh, leaders of local governments took time to examine the past year and give some idea of what can be expected in 2024.

Fraser City Manager Elaine Leven categorized 2023 as a good year for Fraser.

“I think we’ve made a lot of progress on improvements from many perspectives both internally and externally,” she said. “We have a lot of things going on with our parks and road improvements. We’ve worked on staffing and our budget, so I think we’ve done pretty good this year.”

She said that 2023 had its share of issues and obstacles but added that she believes they were dealt with as best as possible by city officials.

“Staffing is still probably the biggest issue we’re dealing with. We haven’t really had a lot of qualified candidates in a lot of areas like public safety and public works. There are fewer people going into these fields. I think this will continue to be a struggle in 2024,” said Leven. “We hope our audit next year will happen on time. We have the key players in place who can make that happen. This year, we were just so far behind with the previous audit, scheduling-wise it set us back three or four months.”   

Leven thinks residents will see some very visible improvements after the new year, with new staff being brought on and new road projects either beginning or advancing onto a new stage.

“We’ve gotten some good people in place and we’ve made great strides (in staffing) despite having more work to do. … We’re getting a new recreation director which will help us get a lot of things going in terms of Fraser programs and events,” Leven said. “We have a lot of major projects coming up next year. The Garfield Road reconstruction project will be a major development this coming year. The county will be working on the intersection of 15 Mile Road and Garfield Road for some sewer improvements. The work on Kelly Road will be finished next year. We’re also looking forward to going to 12-hour shifts in the Public Safety Department.”

In Clinton Township, Deputy Supervisor Dan O’Leary is proud of 2023 as a year in which the township was able to achieve goals while maintaining financial stability.

“It sounds very boring, but the government is supposed to be boring if you’re doing it right,” O’Leary said. “We’re getting things done but we’re also trying to cut costs, live within our means and that sort of thing.”

Grants played a major role in this by funding several ongoing parks projects like a trail along the Clinton River Spillway, creating a kayak launch at George George Park for a river trail. Outside of grants, the township was able to secure more donations for its inclusive playground and secured a donation of fill soil to level out Prince Drewry Park’s field.

Progress was made in the development of Groesbeck Highway, particularly at a planned unit development site near its intersection with Elizabeth Road. East Town Village, a mixed-use development that will feature residential and commercial properties, was approved in late 2021.

“(The developers) are at the state getting approvals,” O’Leary said. “There’s all kinds of things you have to get. Proving there’s no wetlands, working with drains and around drains. They have to get all that approved and that takes time, and we’re anticipating they’ll start building some time in 2024.”

O’Leary said residents can expect infrastructure projects to be a big part of 2024. The township will continue its campaign to improve roads and expand recreational options, particularly the parks potential of the Clinton River.

“Getting people to realize it’s an asset and not just an object to get around, that’s a big deal,” O’Leary said. “It’s helping them understand the Clinton River is for your recreation.”

The township is exploring uses for about five acres of land on the north side of the Clinton River Spillway as well as working with the county and neighboring communities to determine what the best uses of this land will be. The work is in tandem with making the river navigable for recreational human-powered watercraft and maintaining the trail along the spillway. Ultimately, O’Leary said he sees this work as having the potential to bring some of the recreational attention from Lake St. Clair toward the inland waterways.

“It’s not just about the lake,” O’Leary said. “The lake is wonderful, but they can actually get out there and play on our river. That’s what we’re shooting for. A little bit of time, a little bit each year, and eventually you’ll build a culture where people actually start to use these assets.”