Project to move forward

Members of the Centreville Village Council have been advised that a sidewalk project planned through a $400,000 grant will proceed, despite objections from a group of village residents.

Council members Monday were told village attorney John Barnes was contacted last week following a special meeting to hear some residents’ opinions against the sidewalk construction.

Village president Jeff Johnson indicated Barnes said conveyed that since the project had gone as far as it has and is in the hands of the Michigan Department of Transportation, it’s too late for the board to halt the matter.

More than a dozen residents complained last week about the plan showing sidewalks will be going through their yards. Village officials, however, said a construction-site manager would be available once the project started to work out problems with the project plans, residents and engineers.

MDOT is expected to approved the project plans by June 7.

Residents oppose plan

A group of Centreville residents is voicing opposition to a sidewalk plan in their neighborhood.

Nearly two dozen residents attended this week’s Centreville Village Council meeting to voice concern over sidewalks to be built through a Safe Routes To School grant. The $416,000 to help cover the sidewalk-development cost was awarded last September.

Comments ranged from the need for the sidewalks to concern tax dollars will be used for construction. Village officials reiterated the grant will cover all expenses.

The project is now in the hands of officials from the Michigan Department of Transportation. The agency is expected to approve the village’s sidewalk plan early next month, with bids awarded by the end of June.

Construction would likely start in July, with the work done before the start of school in September.

Brush pick-up in Sturgis

The city of Sturgis is continuing its brush pick-up through the end of the week.

Department of Public Services crews started the process Monday from the north side of the city and are making their way to the south end.

City officials ask that materials be neatly stacked on the terrace area, away from objects or obstructions such as power poles, guy wires, sign posts or valve boxes. Also, limbs, branches or brush material longer than eight feet will not be collected.

Grass clippings, roots, thorn-bearing branches, tree trunks, stumps or construction materials will not be collected.

Voters support increase in millage

Smoother roads will be appearing in Sturgis over the next decade, as voters Tuesday supported a 3-mill increase dedicated to street improvements and sidewalk repairs.

The 10-year millage is expected to generate about $6.7 million in all, thanks to voter support of the proposal, which passed by a 3-to-2 margin.

Mayor Ken Malone said the 3 mills will appear on the city’s summer 2013 tax bill. The increase will cost the average property owner in Sturgis about $100 a year.

Malone said roadwork from the millage money will begin before the end of the year.

Weis resigns position

The Centreville Village Council is short a member after council president Eric Weis resigned Monday.

Weis was vague about his reasons for stepping down, noting only that family considerations, time commitment to the job and public criticism of the council’s actions were factors contributing to his departure.

With Weis’ resignation, Jeff Johnson will serve the role of president, as he was named president pro-tem earlier in the evening. Johnson joined the board earlier this year after Christine Sheteron on March 18 resigned from the panel, indicating she had no interest in being a part of what she called a non-working and uncooperative body of elected officials and community members.

MDOT issues grant to Sturgis

The Michigan Department of Transportation has issued a road-improvement grant to the city of Sturgis to complement an expansion project underway by Summit Polymers.

State Rep. Matt Lori announced the $242,640 grant would be matched by $60,660 put up by the city to improve a 1,420-foot portion of Broadus Street between Progress Street and Dresser Drive for all-season access to Summit Polymers.

Sturgis City Manager Mike Hughes said the grant complements the company’s commitment to a $1 million investment in equipment for a new line and overall upgrades of the automobile-parts supplier’s Sturgis plant.

While Summit Polymers has already started work on its new line, the city will complete the roadwork for which the grant was awarded later this calendar year, Hughes said.

Summit Polymers currently has 157 employees at its Sturgis facility and plans to add 27 more workers when its new line is put into operation.

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