Tonight a special public input meeting at the Alpena Township Office will provide a venue for residents to comment on a proposed extension of the Alpena Bi-Path.

The estimated $1.1 million extension would begin at Island Drive, run along the shoulder of U.S.- 23 South and veer off into the woods until it exits on South Partridge Point Road.

South Bay President Larry Clark said the bi-path will be made of asphalt and have culverts to help with draining. He said a past plan — which included a boardwalk and bridges along Birdsong Bay — has been scrapped because of costs and potential issues with the wetlands in that area.

Clark said South Bay has been working with Alpena Township Supervisor Nathan Skibbe and Trustee Russ Rhynard.

Courtesy Photo This is a preliminary design plan for an extension of the bi-path in Alpena Township. A public input meeting about the plans for the bi-path is tonight at 7 p.m.at the Alpena Township Office building.

Skibbe said currently the township has no position on the bi-path project, but does support a meeting where the idea can be pitched to residents and have feedback gathered.

“We have been working with the township to come up with a way that addresses the wetland and cost since December,” Clark said. “We kept working and little by little, and we finally got to the point where we are ready to show the plan to the public.”

Clark said fundraising to extend the bi-path will begin after the public input sessions and action is taken to approve the plan by the township.

Skibbe said just because there is a design plan that overcomes the wetland challenges, it doesn’t mean the project has the green light from the township. He said tonight’s meeting is just another step in the process to see gauge support and opposition.

“This has been five years in the works and it is a chance for people to have their voices heard and have a voice,” Skibbe said. “I think the township has wanted this for some time now and it’s time for the people who will be impacted positively, or negatively to speak. This is only one piece of the puzzle.”

Last July, South Bay announced it was taking a minimum two-year hiatus and stopping all proposed projects, planning, and fundraising. Clark said some people involved with South Bay continued to update the township and communications about the bi-path extension resurfaced and face-to-face meetings developed.

“We stayed in touch with the township, especially the board of trustees, because we didn’t want them to think we were just ending.”

Today’s meeting, which begins at 7 p.m., is geared toward property owners who received letters from the township regarding the proposed bi-path extension. Clark said a second public input session will be scheduled so residents can share their thoughts, concerns, support, and ideas.

No date has been set for the second public input session.

Skibbe said between 35 and 40 letters were sent out to property owners near the proposed extension, but anyone can comment on the proposed project.

“It is important to see what kind of buy-in there is from the community,” he said.