A millage proposal to maintain and expand Oxford Township’s safety path system could be placed before voters in the August 2008 primary election.
‘I just would like to see some continuing funding for the safety paths,? said Larry Kucemba, who pitched the idea of a dedicated millage to the township board Tuesday night.
Speaking on behalf of Zoning Board of Appeals Chairperson Tammy O’Connor and Trustee Pat Fitchena, Kucemba, who sits on the township’s planning commission, proposed a 10-year, 0.25-mill tax on the unincorporated portion (outside the village) of the township ‘for the establishment, construction and maintenance of safety paths.?
He suggested the issue be placed on the next regularly scheduled election so ‘it wouldn’t cost the township any additional money?
The village was excluded from the proposal based on Kucemba’s talks with Manager Joe Young who spoke with other village officials about the idea.
‘They said they have sidewalks and they didn’t really see a need for it,? Kucemba told officials.
If voters approved this millage proposal as presented, it would raise about $175,000 annually.
Kucemba admitted ‘it’s not going to complete all the safety paths,? but it ‘would at least be a start to wards improving the safety paths every year.?
‘It’s not a huge amount, but it’s enough for the residents to at least see an improvement every year in the safety paths,? Kucemba noted.
Completing all the planned safety paths is a much more expensive undertaking than the millage being proposed.
‘The last time that we had an estimate it was $6 million to complete all the safety paths we have designed on the master plan,? Kucemba said. ‘This (millage) would give us probably somewhere around $2 million over 10 years.?
Based on more recent estimates of what it would cost to purchase the necessary right-of-ways and build all the planned safety paths, Kucemba explained, ‘I believe that we could probably do it (for) a little bit less (than $6 million)? and ‘get a little more use out of the money.?
‘I would like to see all of it done and completed,? he noted. ‘I’m just looking to make it as painless as possible and do as much as we can.?
If township officials agree to place this proposal on the ballot, it was the consensus of the board to do it in the August 2008 primary election.
‘I would prefer to see it in the primary ? that’s where most of our local issues are held,? Fitchena said.
There were legal questions as to whether the safety path millage proposal has to be spread across the entire township or if the village can be excluded.
Clerk Clara Sanderson was directed to research the issue and bring her findings back to the board in December.