Council moves forward on road project, puts off civic center

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The Alpena Municipal Council wrapped up one discussion and extended another during its meeting Monday.

The council decided how a Long Rapids Road improvement project would be paid for and put off a decision on the fate of the civic center until December.

In August the council voted that the improvement project was necessary, and on Monday it approved the assessment roll. The project, which is under way, will remove and replace the pavement on the road and add curbs and gutters to the side of the road.

Per city policy, property owners are assessed 25 percent of the project cost when curbs and gutters are being added to a property that did not previously have them.

Property owners had formally protested both the necessity and cost of the project.

Long Rapids Road resident Don McMaster said the project would not benefit his property, and language in the city charter states a property must be "especially benefited" to be assessed.

"(We're) still waiting to feel especially benefited," McMaster said.

Former Long Rapids Road resident Steve Mitchell said when the portion of the road from Bagley Street stretching east was done in 2005, residents were only charged $11.30 per foot of frontage. Now they are being charged $15.84.

Mayor Carol Shafto said the difference is a result of less grant money being available for the latest project.

Following her suggestion, the council voted 3-1 to charge the property owners $12.08 per foot of frontage. The cost was calculated by adding the rate of inflation to the original $11.30 per foot.

"That's not perfect," Shafto said. "It's a compromise I'm willing to propose."

The compromise will result in the city paying an additional $11,000 for the project.

Councilman Shawn Sexton represented the opposing vote. He said he didn't think curbs and gutters were benefitting the property owners.

"To me, I think it's simply wrong to assess people for that ... just because something's been done before doesn't make it right," Sexton said.

The council also received a report from planning and development director Greg Sundin comparing the city-owned civic center to similar facilities in the community. The report also examines the usage of the facility.

The report showed usage had decreased from 85 events in 2004 to 50 in 2007, though that number likely will climb to the mid-60s in 2008.

Council likely will decide its direction with the building in December. It needs repairs, which could require a voter-approved millage, or it could be sold - which would also require voter approval.

Councilman Dave Karschnick will lead an effort to determine how much of the cost to repair the facility can be defrayed. He will give that report in December, before council makes a decision on the matter.

In other business, the council set Halloween trick or treat hours from 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Sean Harkins can be reached via e-mail at sharkins@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5688.