Industrial park improvements move forward in Fraser

FRASER — The bumpy network of roads in the Fraser Industrial Park moved closer to smoothing out at the Fraser City Council’s Sept. 12 meeting.

The city cautiously offered to support $3.5 million in funding toward the project, though this amount may change as the project moves along. The plan includes the city working with business owners in the industrial park on the project. The supported funding was unanimously approved. Councilwoman Amy Baranski was not present at the meeting.

“The point of this is to give the city administration something to work with in the planning process,” Fraser City Attorney Donald DeNault said.

Anderson, Eckstein & Westrick, Inc., the city’s engineering firm, would be carrying out the project. AEW Vice President and Director of Engineering Michael Vigneron recommended that the city not go with a resurfacing or a rehabilitation of the roads because of the heavy truck traffic they see.

“We don’t anticipate long-term success with that type of treatment,” Vigneron said.

Councilwoman Patrice Schornak wanted to make sure any fix made to the industrial park roads was lasting.

“I just really don’t want to deal with any more road issues once we get things fixed,” Schornak said.

“I’d rather get it right the first time,” Fraser Mayor Michael Lesich said.

Mayor Pro Tem Dana Sutherland asked if the water mains and sewers would need replacing as well.

Vigneron said the water mains don’t need replacing now, but the storm sewers would need replacing. However, there are some aging water mains that could need addressing in the future. Replacing sanitary sewers would fall under a separate ongoing program from the city.

“The oldest does date to 1966 and is a material we would recommend replacing,” Vigneron said.

Vigneron estimated it would take two years for the project to be completed.

Recently, District 11 state Sen. Veronica Klinefelt was able to secure $4 million in funding to repair roads in the Fraser Industrial Park. Fraser City Manager Elaine Leven previously said the engineering estimate for the project would be over $16 million.

Federal funding was requested for the project, but the city has not heard back about that inquiry.

Lesich confirmed at the meeting that additional funding would be needed outside of the state and city sources.

This isn’t the first time Fraser has attempted to address the industrial park’s roads. Last year, the funding was proposed through a special assessment district. According to previous reporting in the Chronicle, business owners went to a June 8 meeting to speak out against taxing residents to fund the project. After a hearing of the public at the City Council meeting on Aug. 10, 2023, the tax funding for the project fell by the wayside.

Following the meeting, Lesich said a special assessment district would most likely be used to repay a bond.

“I’m very happy to see things move forward and we now have nearly half the project funded, and we’d like to figure out how to get all the way there as soon as possible,” he said.

Jeff Siciliano, representing the businesses in the industrial park, addressed the long process of getting the road fixed and said he appreciated the city’s efforts.

“We’ve worked together. This is what we’re supposed to do,” Siciliano said. “Government is supposed to work with the citizens.”