BY TREVOR KEISER
Clarkston News Staff Writer
According to Independence Township Trustee David Lohmeier, the township has been good at “getting ahead of problems.” That’s what his proposal to build a pedestrian bridge at the I-75 Sashabaw Corridor does.
“This is a project that we’re going to have to do one day,” Lohmeier told board members at the March 30 special meeting. “I want to do it before somebody gets killed.”
Treasurer Paul Brown asked Lohmeier for data to back up the proposal.
“I think we should leave that out of our discussions because it tends to put a little bit of pressure on us ‘that we better do this before someone dies,’” Brown said. “I don’t think it’s an appropriate comment given someone could die anywhere we don’t have a safety path.”
Lohmeier brought two bridge proposals before the board, which deferred voting on them until the April 19 regular board meeting.
The first is an option adjacent to Waldon Road for $4.1 million. This would include lighting, aesthetics, design, and engineering costs.
The second would be to build a bridge south of Waldon Road by the cell tower for about $4.5 million, which would include lighting, aesthetics, design, and engineering, as well as a retaining wall with fence because of the elevation change at that section of the corridor.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) has agreed to cover the cost of construction and design engineering, which would reduce the township’s cost by $623,000 on the adjacent-to-Waldon option, or $488,000 at the cell tower.
Lohmeier also noted they could also get TAP (Transportation Alternatives Program) grant funds, which would cover 40 percent of the construction costs, which means the township would pay approximately $2.2 million for the adjacent-to-Waldon option and approximately $2.6 million for the cell tower option.
Lohmeier said payment alternatives include Safety Path millage funds and the general fund, while maintaining more than a 20 percent reserve.
If approved, the project wouldn’t take place until 2018, which is budgeted to have a general fund balance, which includes Capital Improvement Plans (CIP) money, of at $5.37 million, which Lohmeier said is $3.9 million over the reserve.
“As a township resident, we’re not supposed to build a mutual fund. I actually believe the general fund is a perfect use for this type of thing,” he added. “We built up a huge reserve above our 20 percent and we got our CIP funded.”
Brown asked what would not get done if they took the money out of the fund balance.
“Because we have capital improvement plans for the next 10 years, we have a lot of things on the horizon residents expect from us,” the treasurer said. “Taking money out of the general fund to do this project because we’re not going to do something else, what is not going to get done?”
Clerk Barb Pallotta said using general fund money for the bridge would jeopardize their chances of getting the full levy amount for the safety path millage when it comes up for renewal in 2018.
“I have an issue drawing any money from our general fund to support this project. I just don’t think it’s right,” Pallotta said. “I think we need to stick within our budget for the safety path. Despite the fact we’re getting support from the other outside agencies, I don’t think that was the intent of our safety path millage. I think we should have been a little more wiser in doing this sooner than later since we’re almost at the end of it.”
Trustee Andrea Schroeder agreed with Lohmeier they should use some of the fund equity.
“I think we get a lot more push back on ‘you’re not using the money you already have.’ I’m not a proponent of saying ‘but what if something else comes up?’ I think we’re pretty good at doing our budgeting,” Schroeder said. “The idea of ‘let’s just sit on this awhile and see if maybe another better idea comes up,’ that doesn’t sit well with me either. If it can improve the quality of life of the people that we represent that is a legitimate and enough reason to consider it.”
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The Independence Township Board appointed two members to the Safety Path Advisory Committee after the resignations of Joseph Figa and Jackson Marr.
In two separate motion sthe board voted 4-0 to reappoint Dave Henderson and appoint former township Trustee Mark Petterson.
Both were appointed to a two-year-term, which will expire Feb. 21, 2018. Trustees David Lohmeier and Andrea Schroeder were absent from the meeting.
“I think it’s going to be a good team,” said Supervisor Pat Kittle. “Mr. Henderson was very active with Addison Township and Mark with his construction experience, he’s already provided some good counsel the advisory team.”

  Independence Township