SEMCOG presents $1.74 million check to VBT

At its regular meeting July 15, the Van Buren Township Board of Trustees was very happy to accept a check for $1.74 million in federal funds obtained through the Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments.
The funds will be used to build a shared-use path along Tyler Road from Quirk Road to McBride Road to increase safety for those walking and biking. It will also have a HAWK signal to create a safer road crossing near Walden Boulevard.
Supervisor Kevin McNamara had the board walk out of the meeting and down the hall to pose in front of a special backdrop that had been put in place near the front door of township hall.
The meeting wasn’t officially paused, but the picture with the ceremonial check was taken with the board, the SEMCOG representative, and state representative Reggie Miller. Then they walked back down the hall and resumed the meeting.
Supervisor McNamara said he was very excited about the check, saying the township had applied for the Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) grant two or three times and was turned down each time.
He said they were disappointed, but they applied again.
He said they ramped up their application, put trustee Donald Boynton on the SEMCOG board, he never missed a meeting, and there was a personal application. The township finally got the grant.
McNamara said U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell was a huge supporter and a regional review committee had been selected.
Rep. Miller said this shows good government in action. She said Tyler Road is a corridor for families. She said she was there to celebrate and congratulate Van Buren Township, her home community where she used to serve on the township board.
Clerk Leon Wright thanked Merrie Coburn for all her work on this grant. Coburn is executive director of the Downtown Development Authority and she did the extensive work needed for all the applications for the federal grant.
“We’ll be able to do something for our residents,” clerk Wright said. “There are a lot of homes on Tyler Road and it’s not walkable now.”
In other business at the July 15 meeting, the board:
• Went into a 46-minute, closed-door session at the beginning of the meeting to consult with its attorney regarding trial or settlement strategy in connection with specific pending litigation;
• Held a moment of silence in memory of retired Van Buren Township Police Captain Kenneth Brooks who died July 7. Captain Brooks also had served as 34th District Court Judge Lisa Martin’s court officer. Condolences were sent to the family;
• Heard a presentation by four representatives of Giffels Webster who will work to design a redevelopment project for the township’s 181 acres it purchased from Ford Motor Co. at the northwest corner of Tyler and Belleville roads. A review committee selected Giffels Webster from the top four finalists of eight proposals. They will go through a series of steps to design a vibrant, mixed-use plan for a neighborhood that is economically and environmentally sustainable. They will identify what the community wants there through community engagement and come up with a master plan the community will like. McNamara said all the companies that applied are first-rate companies and any one of them would have been good;
• Approved the personal services agreement of Kevin J. Lawrence as water and sewer director. McNamara said Lawrence is returning to the position. He said the township let him get away and now it has him back;
• Approved the second reading and final approval of an ordinance amendment to create zoning regulations addressing Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). A developer said he is planning a BESS at the northeast corner of Rawsonville and Bemis roads; and
• Approved the second reading and final approval of a zoning ordinance amendment to require adequate spacing between Motor Vehicle Fueling Stations;
• Approved the recommendation from the attorney in connection with pending litigation;
• Heard Marlene Jones tell the board the township has been unwilling to help her take her son’s English black labrador away from him, so she can take better care of it. McNamara referred to a report by Police Lt. Ken Floro on his investigation into the issue and it says the dog is well-cared-for. She asked for a copy of the report and McNamara said it was a public document and he would give her a copy. He also sent a copy to the Independent.