Construction starts on kayak launch in city’s Horizon Park

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has granted approval for the planned kayak launch and attendant amenities to be built this summer at Horizon Park in Belleville.
The low bid of $194,071.50 from Blue Ribbon for construction was accepted by the Belleville Downtown Development Authority in March. But the project was put on hold until the city could get FERC approval for the work, which is in a lake that has a dam in it.
“We’re excited,” said Carol Thompson, coordinator of the DDA. She had sent out notices to DDA members before the May 20 regular meeting announcing that work can begin.
Thompson said the contractors are beginning the work.
She said the kiosk frame has been removed to be refurbished and weeds are being sprayed to get them out of the way for the new landscape plantings.
Thompson said they will be coordinating the construction work with events already planned for Horizon Park.
She mentioned the Thunder Rolls in Belleville at the Veterans Monument in Horizon Park on Memorial Day and then the Relay for Life event the next week end in the park on May 30. The Strawberry Festival is sponsoring a Kona Run starting at Horizon Park on Friday, June 19, and the Strawberry Festival trolley stops at the park during the festival.
Thompson said the large construction machinery will be staged out of the city parking lot next to the park. She said they have no plans to shut down High Street during construction.
Part of the construction pieces will be put into the water elsewhere and floated to this site, she said.
Thompson said, with emphasis, “It will be done this summer!” But, she had no estimate of when that would be. She said, now that they have approval, they will be able to set a time schedule.
There was a plan to dedicate the kayak launch during last year’s Taste of Belleville and that didn’t work out because of delays at the state level. Now they are hoping to dedicate it this year. The Taste of Belleville is Aug. 20 this year.
The Horizon Park Improvements received a Michigan Department of Natural Resources Grant of $120,700.
In other business in the brief meeting, the DDA:
• Approved its proposed 2015-16 budget of $914,225 pretty much the same as last year, with additions of $18,000 for donations for community event programs. A slight decrease in revenues necessitated the use of Fund Balance to balance the revenue and expenses. The Tax Capture Value is currently being audited by the City’s assessing firm as part of the DDA Development and TIF plan update. When the audit is finished they’ll know revenue projections for the 2015-16 budget year and will be able to make adjustments to the budget;
• Approved accounts payable of $13,119.89, including $3,180 to MSI for the outdoor sculptures and $160 to Motor City Canoe Rental up front as part of the $500 set aside for the Soup program’s canoeing event;
• Heard Thompson report that the new diffusers are in the back ponds at Victoria Commons and the water seems to be clearing faster. She said a couple of fountains are not working and electricians have been called to fix the plugs;
• Heard Mayor Kerreen Conley, who sits on the DDA, explain the road assessment the city has done and the $53,428 estimate to get the crack sealing done on Main Street and other streets. She said she is requesting that the DDA cost share on this project. She said they could review the budget after the audit and consider sharing the cost. “We get Major Street Funding and Act 51 money, but it doesn’t cover this,” Mayor Conley said. The city council is considering floating bonds to cover roadwork throughout the city;
• Heard Thompson announce that the new outdoor sculptures have been installed. Conley asked if they could have a tour of the sculptures, like Thompson arranged last year, and Thompson said, “We can do that”; and
• Heard DDA chairwoman Rosemary Loria report that it took her 40 minutes to get from her home on Edgemont to Gary Snarski’s office on Main Street because of all the traffic diverted from East Huron River Drive that is under construction. City Manager Diana Kollmeyer said Jack Loria called city hall to complain about the timing of the traffic lights at Five Points. Kollmeyer said they called Vickie Holland at the county and then send her an email requesting a change in the length of the green light for Savage Road. Police officers had timed the green light there at 14 seconds, allowing just three vehicles to pass. Rosemary Loria warned drivers not to try to get through that intersection between 3 and 5 p.m. She said three schools are dismissing classes in a 1-mile to 1 ½- mile area.