City of Utica receives $2.5 million Michigan Enhancement Grant

UTICA — The city of Utica recently received a $2.5 million Michigan Enhancement Grant from the state of Michigan, with the assistance of former state Rep. Diana Farrington, to help the city with some projects.

Mayor Gus Calandrino said that, when he began his time as mayor, he met with the city’s department heads and City Council members to determine the city’s needs.

“From those meetings, I developed a list which included the project, estimated cost and the benefit to the residents of Utica. I’m pleased that we will be able to address some of the most urgent projects facing our City with this grant from the State of Michigan. The funds from this grant will be used to support our Police and Fire. We will also be fixing some long-neglected infrastructure needs including our sewers and the Davis Street lift station,” he said in an email.

The grant funds will be used for public safety and infrastructure projects including:

• Sanitary sewer rehabilitation. In combination with the Utica’s American Rescue Plan Act funds, every sewer line in the city will be lined. Lining reportedly will minimize the amount of groundwater that infiltrates the system and reduce the costs that infiltration causes for residents and businesses.

• Davis Street lift station replacement. Replacing the lift station, which has lasted longer than it was intended to serve, will end the frequent maintenance that it requires. Maintenance also requires Public Works employees to climb into its main chamber, which reportedly is a health and safety risk.

• Construction of Northpointe Boulevard and Schoenherr Road sidewalks. Two condominium complexes and a senior living center will benefit from having the new sidewalks.

• Lead service line removal. There are lead water service lines in the city that must be replaced under Michigan’s Lead and Copper Rule.

• Replacement of all police radios. Replacement parts reportedly are no longer available for the city’s current radios, due to their age.

• Purchasing a new patrol vehicle. Adding a patrol vehicle will lessen wear and tear across the Police Department’s entire fleet.

• Purchasing a firetruck. The Utica Fire Department’s aerial platform truck is 31 years old and requires frequent maintenance. Utica needs an aerial truck to serve its hotels, business district, apartment complexes and churches, and to help other departments through mutual aid agreements.

Matthew Kaluzny, the Utica deputy chief of police, said the Police Department will use the funds to further the safety that it provides.

“The police department is looking forward to using these funds to update our communications system and purchase an additional patrol vehicle. Radios are paramount for public safety, and this has been a project our department has been looking at funding for the last couple of years. The State grant allows our department to enhance public safety without affecting the current budget. Our department is appreciative of the work that former State Representative Diana Farrington and Mayor Calandrino put in to procure these funds for our city. This assistance will go a long way to the betterment of our community, businesses and visitors to the City of Utica,” he said via email.

Calandrino explained the importance of the new sidewalks.

“Since the first day of becoming mayor, I’ve been working to eliminate the sidewalk gaps along Northpointe Boulevard and Schoenherr Road. The residents of Utica Woods and Stonefield Village have been very patient as we sought funding for this project. It’s also important to install sidewalks along this stretch because there are currently none for the residents of the Brookdale Utica Senior Living facility.”

Calandrino said the city is very thankful to Farrington for her assistance with the grant and her support.