Flushing City Council
Minutes
A Special Meeting of the Flushing City Council was called to order on Wednesday, March 27, 2002 at 2:38 P.M. by Mayor Janice L. Gensel, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
Present: John C. Gault
Janice L. Gensel
Chris A. Girard
Jay E. Johnson
Teresa K. Salem
Michael T. Szukhent
Absent: Richard L. Bade
Others Present: Dennis J. Bow, City Manager
Nancy G. Parks, City Clerk/Treasurer
MEETING OPEN TO THE PUBLIC:
No public comment.
PUBLIC HEARING:
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant – The City Manager informed Council that this special meeting was called to discuss a DNR trust fund grant. This grant would cover that part of the trail contained within the city limits.
We currently have an MDOT grant totaling $680,000.00. The city’s share of this grant is $160,000.00. The county and Flushing Township also have a local match for this grant based on a lineal foot allocation. Several problems have arisen in obtaining easements to the trail, the original grant estimate did not anticipate some of the structures that will be required along Cole Creek and we are now attempting to obtain additional monies for these structures. Additional work is necessary on the bridge across the Flint River and the required piers were not taken into consideration when the original grant was written. The original grant estimated the cost of lineal foot trail as a certain dollar amount based on the cost of paving city streets. In several of the areas, this estimate won’t cover the necessary cost because of the tightness of the trail. Much smaller loads and smaller equipment will have to be used to protect the existing canopies. Paving the trail will be much more labor intensive than a typical street paving project.
Flushing City Council
Minutes
Page Two
Other sources of funds have been sought, but we have been unsuccessful in obtaining additional funds. The DNR Trust Fund Grant is the most promising source of funds for Council to consider to complete the trail. The City will continue to seek additional grant funds at the County and State level which will not require a local match.
Our current MDOT grant has been extended to September 2003. If the funds are not spent by that time, the City will lose the grant. The City has been attempting to negotiate easements on property owned by the railroad. They have not been successful as of this date, but continue efforts because the trail cannot be completed without these easements.
The City Manager provided an overview of the city’s finances which highlighted the projects the Council is contemplating.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant Resolution – Motion by Gault, seconded by Salem, in support of the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant Application for the Spring 2002 funding cycle, approving the requirement to provide a minimum of twenty-five (25%) percent match of the participating project costs and to undertake the complete development of the trailway project if the grant is awarded.
Yea: Gault, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Adjourn – Motion by Gault, seconded by Johnson, to adjourn.
Yea: Gault, Girard, Johnson, Salem, Szukhent, Gensel
Nay: None
Motion Carried.
Adjourn: 3:10 p.m.
_____________________________ ______________________________
Janice L. Gensel, Mayor Nancy G. Parks, City Clerk/Treasurer