City of Belleville uses its federal CDBG funds to purchase kayak launch

At the beginning of the July 15 meeting of the Belleville Downtown Development Authority, City Manager Diana Kollmeyer announced how the city is using federal funds, dispersed by Wayne County, to help the DDA pay for the kayak launch.
The launch and docks added in Horizon Park is pretty much completed and is expected to be dedicated on Aug. 20 during the Bridge Walk/Taste of Belleville festivities.
City Manager Kollmeyer read the following prepared statement:
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For many years the City has searched for projects that could be funded by Wayne County Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.
Most of our funding through this program must be used for bricks and mortar type projects with a minimum amount used to help fund our Senior/Disabled Transportation program and Administration each year.
It has become increasingly more difficult to find viable projects for use of these funds due to the fact that the criteria is very stringent.
In the 2014 fiscal year we have been able to fund a new Playscape for Village Park. This Playscape will be ADA accessible. Village Park, of course, is in the DDA District and this project will be completed in early August. We hope future year’s funds will allow us to add pieces to the Playscape and continue developing our most under-utilized park in the City.
As we began to think about a project that could be approved by Wayne County CDBG for 2015, immediately the canoe/kayak launch came to the front. It meets the criteria for ADA accessibility; it is within the funding level that we have and the City thought it would be an excellent way for the City to acknowledge our continued commitment to the DDA.
With that said, I am announcing to you that the purchase of the canoe/kayak launch has been approved by Wayne County CDBG in the amount of $38,186.15.
The City has and will continue to assist in seeking funds that can be used for future projects within the DDA District AND thank you for your continued service.
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The canoe/kayak launch and dockwork at Horizon Park has a $120,700 grant from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and about $51,700 was expected to be paid by the DDA. Blue Ribbon submitted the low bid for construction work at $194,071.50 and Spicer Engineers did the engineering work.