Three-thousand dollars, and not a penny more.
That’s how much Independence Township Board says Dick Carlisle, township planner, can spend to keep things rolling for the Sashabaw Corridor Improvement Authority.
Over the past year and half, Independence Township has been working with Oakland Counties Ad Hoc sub-committee to create a feasible criteria for a CIA.
Treasurer Jim Wenger said they previously narrowed the list from about 15 projects, total cost more than $37 million, to four, including expansion of I-75 bridge, widening Sashawbaw Road north of I-75, beautification along Sashabaw Road, and burying overhead lines.
Now the scope has been narrowed to three items, down to about $20 million.
The $4-million line burying project didn’t make the cut.
Tom Middleton, Oakland County commissioner, said the Ad Hoc committee struggled to come to a consensus.
‘They sat down and studied what they were going to accept for CIA, they put up a new set of criteria and in that new criteria they said they would not accept burying electric lines,? said Middleton.
On Dec. 13, the finance committee brought the new criteria before the entire Oakland County Board of Commissioners, which unanimously approved then.
That morning, Wenger met at the township with Supervisor Dave Wagner, Trustee Dan Kelly, Township Planner Dick Carlisle, and Forrest Milzow, as well as Dan Hunter and Dennis Toffolo from Oakland County.
‘We looked at where we are at with the CIA and what conditions and things we need to look forward to, to keep it going,? said Wenger.
Wenger brought up the update and discussion of the CIA to the township at their
Dec. 18 meeting.
At the meeting, Commissioner Middleton urged the board to keep pressing forward.
‘I would recommend to this board to present to the Ad Hoc committee those three issues that you talked about, beautification, the road project and the bridge. I think that gives us our best chance to try and get the votes,? he said.
Getting the CIA approved is a three step process.
The Ad Hoc committee must approve the criteria given by the township, then the Ad Hoc gives it to the finance committee which votes on it, and finally finance presents to the entire board of commissioners.
Middleton said six votes are needed to pass from finance and 13 from the board of commissioners.
He is confident the Ad Hoc committee will approve, but getting through the finance committee is another challenge.
‘But you’ve got to at least get it there,? said Middleton.
‘Make us have to vote on it. I can come real close on votes, but close only helps in horse shoes, not in politics.?
The McLaren hospital project on Sashabaw promises 4,000 jobs ? a plus for Oakland County.
However, the CIA will have a more long-term impact, he said.
‘It will be 10 years before the Department of Transportation starts looking at building new bridges. That’s when the township would be coming to the table with showing local interest and local support,? he said.
‘This isn’t going to help those jobs today, it’s going to help those jobs 10 years from now ? We still have to keep an eye on the future and we can do that.?
On Tuesday, Dec. 18, The township board voted unanimously to approve the continued effort.
‘I want to commend the board on this difficult issue and for staying the course to the end whatever that is,? said township Clerk Shelagh Vanderveen.
‘I think we’ve come this far, we should let these things play out. We deserve it, we owe ourselves an answer.?