By Shelby Stewart-Soldan
ssoldan@mihomepaper.com
Brandon Twp. — During the regular meeting on Monday night, the Brandon Township board of trustees approved a budget amendment for development of the Brandon Township Community Park, 1414 N. Hadley Road.
“In July, we received past invoices from HRC in the amount totaling $23,437,” said parks and John Hug, recreation director. “These invoices were part of the comfort station project, DNR Grant 3 Park development. Our current 2024 budget is $35,000, of which $10,071 has been spent as of June 30, 2024. With this project currently in the per-construction phase and expected to run through 2024 a budget amendment is needed.”
The approved motions would increase the budget for additional professional fees to $65,000, and move the additional funds from the cell tower funds.
In addition, funds were needed for electrical work from DTE. The electrical could not be bid on due to DTE being the only service provider.
“In November 2023, we met with DTE, regarding our electrical requirements for the new comfort station and gazebo, as well as basic future enhancements,” said Hug. “The current electrical service of the park is set in the northeast corner. It provides power to the parking lot, the current water well, the pavilions and the sledding hill. Based on the current demand as well as the distance from the existing DTE pedestal, it is not enough power to meet our needs with the two new structures that are going up.”
The board approved moving $69,000 to cover the costs from the designated infrastructure projects fund to the land improvements capitalized funds. They expect a 6-10 week turnaround, and the parks and recreation staff will dig the trenches to cut down on costs.
“Talking to DTE, with the new transformer, it will be located near the basketball court, they can move up to 800 feet away from there and put in another transformer if we needed it,” he said.