Village accepts draft of community plan; vote on Main Street program

KALKASKA – Village residents can take a peek at what officials believe could be the future of Kalkaska, after a “Capital Improvement Plan” was presented to Kalkaska Village Council members earlier this month.

Village president Haley Wales said the report, which was prepared under the direction of Downtown Development Authority associate director Gayenell Gentelia, is being updated to determine in what areas village officials would like to see improvements.

According to the 13-page document, the CIP is a multi-year planning directive used “to identify needs and financing sources” for upgrades in infrastructure.

“The CIP informs the Village of Kalkaska residents and stakeholders on how the municipality plans to address significant capital needs over the next six years,” the document states. “The CIP can also influence growth because infrastructure can impact development patterns.”

The plan both lists and prioritizes various capital improvement projects through 2014, such as the resurfacing of Maple Street, from Elm to Laurel, in 2019 at a cost of $800,000 in 2019 and site plan improvements to Railroad Square over a three-year period.

“The CIP is dynamic,” the report states. “Each year all projects included within the CIP are reviewed, a call for new projects is made and adjustments are made to existing project arising from changes in the amount of funding required, conditions or timeline.”

The document also outlines budgeting processes and potential funding sources.

While accepting a draft of the CIP, the council also voted unanimously, 6-0, with trustee Penny Dupuie absent, at its regular meeting in early October to continue to participate in the state’s “Main Street” program at the Associate Level.

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