Bedford Township sets 5 forums to discuss road plans

TEMPERANCE - Over the next two months, Bedford Township residents will get the opportunity to hear about the township's deteriorating roads and bridges and funding options to fix them.

A township board committee has set up five forums to discuss the township roadways and a long-term master plan designed to protect the millions of dollars in projects invested by the township.

Four meetings will be held at Bedford Township Hall, 8100 Jackman Rd. They are:

•1:30 p.m. April 9

•1:30 p.m. April 23

•10 a.m. May 8

••6:30 p.m. May 20

The other meeting will be at 10 a.m. April 17 at the Bedford Branch Library, 8575 Jackman Rd.

Supervisor Walt Wilburn said the meetings are not intended to solicit input on putting a millage proposal on the ballot.

The township's road consultant, Ralph Lange, recently compiled a 10 to 20 year master plan on the township road, bridge, and culvert needs.

The study recommends the township ask residents to vote on a 1-mill property tax levy that would pay for maintenance and generate funds that could be used to leverage state and federal grants for major improvement projects.

"We want to educate the people on what can happen, where we are at today, what are the fixes that could be made," Mr. Wilburn said. "The only way that this could be accomplished is to vote on the millage."

The 10-year millage request would generate about $900,000 annually. If approved, the township plans to dedicate $450,000 to year-round maintenance such as snow and ice removal and patching and sealing roads.

The remaining $450,000 would pay for road, bridge, and culvert improvement projects.

To put an tax issue on the August primary, the board must take action before May 11.