A capital improvement plan, often referred to as a CIP, is a simple enough document.

It’s essentially a list of major infrastructure or other construction or renovation projects you want to tackle and the approximate cost of each project. Creating a list helps you to plan for, save for, and prioritize projects so you don’t just tackle things willy-nilly.

With a good capital improvement plan and smart planning around it, an organization can save time and money by helping to avoid inefficiencies. For example, if you know you want to completely resurface a street and you know you need to replace the water main under that street, you can do them both at the same time. Without a plan, it’s possible to resurface a street only to have to tear it up again later for the water main.

That’s why we’re pleased to see both Alpena County and Alpena Township working to create their own CIPs, something Alpena city government has done for years.

“It will make everyone aware of the needed maintenance and facilities and what is needed and what will be needed down the road,” Alpena County Commissioner Don Gilmet, who was the Alpena building official for many years and worked on Alpena’s CIP plans in that capacity, told News staff writer Steve Schulwitz for a recent story. “The county has a lot of facilities and it is hard to stay on top of, sometimes. This makes it easier for the commissioners to establish timelines and funding.”

Another good thing about having a plan in place? Residents can then see what their local governments say they need and how much they say they need to spend, so residents can make more informed comments to governing boards about what ought to be on those lists of projects and which ones should get prioritization.

We say kudos to Alpena County and Alpena Township leaders for taking on the CIP process, and we urge every resident to look at those plans and provide input as they’re put together.