News

Millage could improve roads

By MICHAEL PETERSON Argus-Press Staff Writer

Wednesday, July 23, 2008 10:52 AM EDT

DURAND - On the Aug. 5 primary, the city of Durand is asking to collect two mills from 2008 to 2018 for street repairs.

“With our street program that we adopted in 1994 we have not been able to continue our projected replacement improvements to the streets because we don't have the money coming in like we did before,” Interim City Manager and Clerk Amy Roddy said. “This allows the city residents to make the decision whether they want to pay to improve the streets.”

The city estimates that it will collect $153,000 in the first year if the proposal is approved.

“I believe the residents of this community want to have streets that are smooth and are safe, but I don't know how willing they are to pay for it. But we can't afford to do the improvements that we need out of our general operation budget,” Roddy said. “It costs approximately $30,000 to reconstruct a one-city-block road.”

Director of Public Works Steve Mince said the city receives funds from the state to maintain the streets, such as snow-plowing or pothole patching, but that's as far as funds go.

Of the 18 miles of roads of Durand, Mince said about 50 percent of the main roads needs structural improvements, while about 75 percent for the local streets, according to Mince.

Mince also said the city is working on a road project on North Saginaw Street where they have received $400,000 in grant funds for construction, but they were turned down for a grant of another $400,000 in state-matching funds needed to finish the project.

Therefore, they are now looking at losing their original grant.

“With this millage we would be able to take some of that money and apply it toward some of the grants,” Mince said. “We are in a perplexing situation because we have all these streets available for federal grant funds, but we don't have the match money to go along with the project.

Roddy said the millage is important, but is ultimately up to the voters.

“These two mills will provide us the opportunity to reinvest in our roadways and we think it is very important,” Roddy said.

- Contact Michael Peterson at 725-5136 extension 223 or mpetersonarguspress@gmail.com.

Comment on this Story

Sandy wrote on Jul 30, 2008 2:33 PM:

" Has anyone notice how they are presenting this to the good people of Durand, they are saying for the year's of 2008-2018 because they want you to think if it is over a ten year time limit, then we can afford this. Well they are wrong, I think that the City should mail every house hold, the Contract of how it really is to be. They can mail bulk rate on our water bills. So they can mail that bulk rate to. Lets see if they dotted their I's and crossed all of their T's. I would like to know all of the extra's they added to it. 400 empty house's means you and I pay more. "

Sandy wrote on Jul 30, 2008 2:27 PM:

" The City did South Oak Street. Drive down it and take a look at it on South Side. Its all patch work now. Just like Fauble st. And drive through down towm by Iron Horse, take a good look at our tax dollars at work. Why are the people in this town voting for things like this to pass, I know almost everyone on the City Counsil, And I am voting this down come voting time. We have 400 empty house in Durand, We should not even be thinking about roads. We should be thinking about bring more and better busnesses into our City. And the money that was was going for roads, ended up for other things, That money should not of been touched. It is getting to the point that we can not trust the people who run this City, that is pretty sad. I am asking all of the good people of Durand to vote NO NO NO. And I would like to see a bigger turn out on August 5th because those of you who do not vote, have no room to complain, And I know I can not keep affording all of the toys that the City of Durand want's, I need all the money I can save to pay my taxes, just to live here. Now come on people of Durand, it is time to group together and start saying NO!! Their is a public of information act, anyone can go to the City Hall, and make them show you how they are spending your hard earned money, More people in Durand need to go up there and find out where exactly all your money is going. Please vote NO! on August 5th, lets take our City back. "

Ralph wrote on Jul 27, 2008 12:54 PM:

" With the taxes and water being as high as they already are, there is no way that I or anyone i know will vote for this millage. Get some business into Durand to help cut the cost of our taxes and water.

Our water plant only uses some 35%-45% of it pumping capacity, sell some of our water like Owosso does to Corunna to help pay for roads. Our taxes are very high for a city and it doesn't show as is, where is all of our taxes going? Sure as heck not into city improvement...... "

shiataxpayer wrote on Jul 26, 2008 11:05 PM:

" mike: all six schools in the district are undergoing repairs and renovations paid for with the millage THAT VOTERS APPROVED--this is not road repair fund money being used. "

Jim wrote on Jul 25, 2008 11:34 AM:

" It Sure Is Nice To Be Lay ed Off Just To Give The City More Money To Keep Somebody Working. Why Not Hire Local Unemployed People Just Like The Great Depression. It Would Save A lot Of Money And Give People Work. You Could Hire Perrin Construction To Manage The Road Project.
Jim Again "

Jim wrote on Jul 25, 2008 11:23 AM:

" As A Resident I Will Not Support This One Unless I Can Claim This On My Income Taxes. Last Year I Paid $2000 In Taxes Just To Get A Letter From The State Claiming I Only Get $1600 Due To How Last Year Millage Was Set up For Road Repair.
With 400 Empty Houses And The High Unemployment In This Area Who Has A Job To Drive To? High Gas Prices, Few Jobs And Repairing The H.S. Parking Lot(That Did Not Need It) And 400 Less Tax Payer When It Stop. If You Take The Average Unemployment Check And You Want 2 Extra Mill Of Taxes~There Is Little Money To Eat On. Enough Is Enough! "

Sandy wrote on Jul 25, 2008 3:36 AM:

" I am voting against this, the reason is because they did my road about 6years ago, and the work is shotty to say the least. It is not quality work for what I had to pay to have it done. They are now patching up the hole's. You would think only being 6 years old that it would look great, well drive down the first 2 blocks of Fauble St. And you can see what we got, before you vote yes on this, We the tax payer's have to pay for this, so please I urge you to drive down Fauble St. On Southside by the park, and you will see what your money will by and what it will look like after a few years. If I trusted the city on everthing they say, I would be a stupid woman. They would have to do far better then what they did on Fauble St. To get me to vote yes. And one more thing, The dirt they used to fill in my front yard of about 5 to 6 feet, Is full of Grubs. Hello who want's that. Have a great day. "

mike wrote on Jul 23, 2008 4:28 PM:

" As a resident i will have to really think about this one due to the high school taking our hard earned money to repair there parking lots that didn't need it. "