Brandon Twp.- Supporters of a proposed township nature preserve took one step backwards Monday night.
The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund declined an $800,000 grant sought by the township to purchase 80 acres of property for a nature preserve said board trustee Tom Stowell.
‘I don’t want anyone to think we’ve given up and the issue is dead, because it certainly is not,? said Stowell. ‘We are trying to see if there is a way to move forward with an application in April 2005. It is our strong desire to do so, so we are researching it.?
The Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund is a state program set up to help municipalities purchase property to protect natural resources. It is funded through the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
The property, adjacent to Brandon High School and owned by the Casselman family includes a section of Kearsley Creek, dense forests and several acres of wetlands. The township, along with the North Oakland Headwaters Land Conservancy, had planned to use the property for environmental education, outdoor classrooms and other learning activities due to the proximity of the high school.
Although Brandon Schools Superintendent Bart Jenniches had some initial reservations about the accessibility to the park, he believes the community and school district could have worked together to solve potential problems for what he said would have been a real asset to the community.
‘The nature preserve is needed in the area,? Jenniches said. ‘They have to find out first why it was denied and then see if there is any other way they can go about obtaining it.?
Stowell said the lack of plans for hunting or a shooting range is one possible reason for the grant denial. In requesting a grant from the Department of Natural Resources a point system is used. Points can be earned from applicant history, need for the project, quality of property and financial feasibility, among others. Stowell said the township did well on the those, but there are also special initiatives and this year bonus points could be earned if the grant plans involved hunting or shooting ranges.
‘What we were doing cannot earn points in that area,? Stowell said. ‘We think there ought to be other ways to earn bonus points as well.?
Stowell said they are now researching the weaknesses in the grant and thinking of creative ways to use the special initative, since hunting or shooting ranges are eligible for bonus points again this year.
Lois Robbins, chairperson for the Brandon Preservation Committee, said although there are obstacles to overcome, she hopes to be able to reapply for the grant by the deadline of April 1.
‘These applications are often turned down on the first round,? Robbins said. ‘You take what you’ve learned by being turned down and try again.?