Village officials plan trip, seek to secure millions in state funding

By: 
Dennis Mansfield, Contributing Writer

KALKASKA – It won’t exactly be a holiday vacation, but a contingent of Kalkaska village officials are planning for a trip downstate that they hope will provide an exciting Christmas gift for local residents.

According to Kalkaska Village President Harley Wales, a handful of village representatives will be traveling south to Lansing to make their case before the Michigan Strategic Fund board at its Dec. 17 meeting for potential grant funding toward the proposed Railroad Square development of the 300 Block of Cedar Street.

“We will be going to the MSF board meeting,” said Gayenell Gentelia, DDA associate director. “We should know (about grant funding) shortly after that.

“At this time, we are on a holding pattern and hope to receive a positive response to our grant application,” she added.

Plans for the trip come after the Kalkaska Village Council voted at its Nov. 4 meeting to accept a pair of bids totaling nearly $3.1 million for the Railroad Square project – an effort by the village’s Downtown Development Authority spanning almost five years to redevelop the former sites of the Erb Lumber Co. and chamber of commerce building.

The votes included awarding the winning bid of more than $2.5 million submitted by Grand Traverse Construction of Traverse City for the bulk of the economic improvement project. That includes the construction of a clock tower and informational kiosk, with adjacent space being designed to host community events, such as concerts, outdoor movies and various festivals.

Cadillac-based C.J. Excavating was awarded the second part of the renovation project after submitting a bid of nearly $587,000 to crush and rebuild two blocks of Maple Street, including parking improvements.

The next hurdle is to secure funding for the project, which is the reason for the delegation’s travel plans. The group will probably consist of Wales and village manager Scott Yost, as well as Gentelia and assistant village manager Aaron Popa.

“And, maybe a few others should be in attendance to appear before the state board,” Wales said. “The group has not been finalized.”

Wales said securing state funding will be key to whether the Railroad Square project moves forward, possibly breaking ground in spring of next year, if the village receives good news in the fairly near future.

KALKASKA – It won’t exactly be a holiday vacation, but a contingent of Kalkaska village officials are planning for a trip downstate that they hope will provide an exciting Christmas gift for local residents.

According to Kalkaska Village President Harley Wales, a handful of village representatives will be traveling south to Lansing to make their case before the Michigan Strategic Fund board at its Dec. 17 meeting for potential grant funding toward the proposed Railroad Square development of the 300 Block of Cedar Street.

“We will be going to the MSF board meeting,” said Gayenell Gentelia, DDA associate director. “We should know (about grant funding) shortly after that.

“At this time, we are on a holding pattern and hope to receive a positive response to our grant application,” she added.

Plans for the trip come after the Kalkaska Village Council voted at its Nov. 4 meeting to accept a pair of bids totaling nearly $3.1 million for the Railroad Square project – an effort by the village’s Downtown Development Authority spanning almost five years to redevelop the former sites of the Erb Lumber Co. and chamber of commerce building.

The votes included awarding the winning bid of more than $2.5 million submitted by Grand Traverse Construction of Traverse City for the bulk of the economic improvement project. That includes the construction of a clock tower and informational kiosk, with adjacent space being designed to host community events, such as concerts, outdoor movies and various festivals.

Cadillac-based C.J. Excavating was awarded the second part of the renovation project after submitting a bid of nearly $587,000 to crush and rebuild two blocks of Maple Street, including parking improvements.

The next hurdle is to secure funding for the project, which is the reason for the delegation’s travel plans. The group will probably consist of Wales and village manager Scott Yost, as well as Gentelia and assistant village manager Aaron Popa.

“And, maybe a few others should be in attendance to appear before the state board,” Wales said. “The group has not been finalized.”

Wales said securing state funding will be key to whether the Railroad Square project moves forward, possibly breaking ground in spring of next year, if the village receives good news in the fairly near future.

Read the full story in our regular edition of The Review. To subscribe to the paper for just $34 a year, which includes access to our full online e-edition, please go to the subscription page on this website at: http://www.antrimreview.net/subscribe/

 

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