Larry Obrecht, former Oakland County Commissioner and now head of animal control, told the Orion Township Board on July 5 that construction on a bridge for the Polly Ann Trail over Oxford is set to begin in August.
Last August, the Oxford Village Council approved plans for construction of a pedestrian bridge over M-24, to connect the western and eastern portions of the 12.2-mile trail.
The plans call for an 1800s railroad-style, double-arched, pre-fabricated, 100-foot, steel truss bridge for walkers, hikers and bicyclists to be located on M-24, north of Center and Davison Streets and south of Church Street in Oxford.
Obrecht, the bridge project manager, told the board that a formula for funding participation by the municipalities along the trail is something the PAT council has been working on for a year.
‘The formula is based on one like that of SEMCOG (Southeast Michigan Council of Governments),? said Obrecht.
‘The formula was developed, not only for the participation of the big guy, Orion Township in this case, but so the big guy couldn’t push the little ones around, like Leonard.?
Obrecht explained the PAT funding weighted formula would use population as 55 percent, mileage (how many miles of trail are in the area) as 15 percent, and SEV (residential property only) as 30 percent.
‘Orion has 3.4 miles of trail,? Obrecht said. ‘And with the Orion (GM) Plant, you have more industrial SEV here than anyone else, so we only go by residential.?
Obrecht said the other townships along the PAT are just starting to build, so their costs for the trail will begin to escalate in the coming years.
‘Population being 55 percent of the formula,? he said. ‘As time goes on, Orion’s share would reduce and the other communities would pick up that difference.?
Trustee Matt Gibb wanted residents to know the township wasn’t just ‘sending money to build a bridge over Oxford.?
Obrecht said the project is being funded by three sources: The Chrysler Corporation, Community Foundation and an Enhancement Grant.
‘The formula represents operational expenses,? he said. ‘We have been fortunate to raise all the dollars…There were no municipalities? dollars going into that.
‘No dollars are requested of Orion or the other municipalities participating in the (PAT).?
According to Obrecht, there will also be no responsibility on the part of Orion Township for maintaining the bridge.
‘MDOT accepts the liability and major maintenance of the bridge,? said Obrecht, adding that the money the township and other municipalities would be putting in per the formula would go towards regular maintenance for the whole PAT.
‘That way if there’s a pothole in Orion or Addison, it won’t make any difference, it will be paid with those dollars,? he added.
Treasurer Alice Young said she had understood the next dollars spent on the PAT would be spent in Orion.
Obrecht said 2.4 miles donated by Stan Aldridge (owner of Indianwood Country Club and Golf Course, and Always Christmas/Olde World Canterbury Village) would be an extension to the trail through Orion.
‘The extension should be next on the agenda,? he added. ‘We’re not going north…the most reasonable and logical extension is what we own, and we own those additional 2.4 miles.?