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MACOMB TOWNSHIP —The Macomb Township Board of Trustees passed a resolution in support of applications for two Michigan Department of Natural Resources grants at its March 8 meeting.
Both applications are for DNR Trust Fund grants, serving projects aimed for recreation purposes.
The first grant would go toward the acquisition of property along the North Branch of the Clinton River in the township, which will be used to establish the North Branch Greenway along the river. With $750,000 coming from the county and the grant itself valued at $2.25 million, the total cost of the property acquisition phase of the project is valued at $3 million.
Despite the six present trustees ultimately lending support to apply for the grant, Township Supervisor Frank Viviano mentioned the project is not likely to be completed anytime soon.
“We recognize that this effort to create (and) preserve space (along) the entire stretch of the North Branch of the Clinton River could take much longer than any of us are going to be sitting in these chairs, but we’re starting that process now,” Viviano said. “So that could be 10, 20, 30, 40 years from now; we don’t know.”
The township has spoken with landowners along the proposed greenway, and Viviano has said while some have given tentative support for the project, several farmers that live there have expressed their concerns with the project.
“We’re driving everywhere along (the river); we farm that land,” Jim Vansteenkiste said. “We cannot afford to really let that land go and not have the use of it for our crops. Plus irrigation — you have irrigation pipes coming out of the river. … How are people going to cross this large pipe laying across the path?”
Though the township says it has asked for resident support for the grant on a noncommittal basis, another concern expressed by the farmers and the board was the idea that eminent domain — that the township would acquire land for the project, with compensation, despite the owners’ wishes under the pretense of the public good — would be used to complete the greenway. Viviano was opposed to invoking eminent domain for the project.
“Well, certainly not while I’m sitting here,” Viviano said when asked by Trustee Frank Cusumano about eminent domain being exercised.
Despite this, attorney for the township Dan Kelly clarified that future boards and supervisors may be more willing to use this power to complete the trail.
The second DNR Trust Fund grant applied for was to complete the McBride Trail. At an estimated project cost of $525,800, the project finishes a path around the McBride Pond, connecting the Township Center to Macomb Corners Park.
Recreation center repairs
The board approved replacing the motors on two pool dehumidification units at the township recreation center. This work took members of the board by surprise given the units were purchased in 2018. Department of Public Works Director Kevin Johnson explained that the motors purchased were never meant to be fixed.
“We found out ... that the new motors are basically maintenance free,” Johnson said. “There’s no way to maintain them, so when they go bad, you have to replace them. There’s no grease fittings, nothing you can do to kind of keep them going.”
Clerk Kristi Pozzi found the short life of the units surprising, comparing them to the units they replaced which she said lasted about 15 years. Johnson said the prior motors had maintenance capabilities.
“We anticipated getting another 15-20 years before this type of maintenance would be required,” Pozzi said. “So I find something off.”
Priced at $23,448, the work to replace components on both units is occurring simultaneously to reduce costs on crane rentals. Five motors have yet to fail, and the units are past their three-year warranties. Syenergy Engineering Services is handling the replacement work.
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