A safety path has been promised at Clintonville and Mann roads ? Independence Township resident Michael Powell wants to know where it is.
‘We still don’t have a bike path any closer than we did since 1984,? said Powell (see page 6A for his letter to the editor on the subject).
Building Director Dave Belcher said the safety path, connecting Mann to Maybee, is a 2008 priority.
Belcher said the project, in the Steeple Chase development, was delayed because of change in ownership.
‘No matter what, when that project is developed, they are obligated to put the safety path in or give us $100, 000,? said Belcher.
‘Any developer that comes in, we require them to install a safety path or give the township the equivalent of the money, so when we do put the safety path in, it’s already paid for.?
Powell said the township should not have to depend on a developer, but should do it themselves.
‘Everything I see from my house benefits Clarkston and nothing in the rural areas of Independence Township gets taken care of,? he said.
‘We live right on the Waterford, Independence Township border and we
have no services at all here. We have nothing for our tax dollars except for schools.?
Belcher said the township has about $6,000 per year for new paths.
‘It cost a lot of money to put these safety paths in,? he said. ‘Whatever the millage was when this safety path was created has not changed. The only tax increase we get is if the taxes go up on houses.?
The township is working to connect existing paths. he said..
‘In the last five years we have been trying to connect the dots,? he
said.
Also, ‘rural pathways? have been removed from the master plan, he said.
Independence Township Supervisor Dave Wagner, member of the safety path committee, said the township is building a fund balance for the safety path.
‘The reason why we have that is so if the millage goes away, we have some money to continue to make some repairs to these paths and keep them up,? he said.
‘That’s one of the best programs we have. I’ve had so many positive things said about that. People can get on a bike and go somewhere now.?