Councilman Dave Bailey last week spearheaded an effort to rescind the Oxford Village Council’s previous support for the proposed Polly Ann Trail pedestrian bridge over M-24, but was defeated by one vote.
Bailey made a motion to rescind council’s Aug. 24 3-2 approval of the bridge’s design based two things.
One, as it stands right now, the current design does not have staircases leading from the sidewalks on both sides of M-24 to the bridge, according to Bailey.
Staircases were suggested at the Aug. 24 meeting by village Planning Commissioner John DuVal. At the time, Bridge Project Manager Larry Obrecht told officials, ‘I would suggest to you it’s (stairs) a good idea. And I’ll attempt to incorporate it . . . I’ll be pleased to pursue that and see if we can install a staircase.?
Staircases would allow non-trail users who simply wish to cross M-24 easier access to the bridge. Although he was told staircases are ‘in the works,? Bailey said, ‘I’ll believe it when I see it.?
The councilman doesn’t trust there will be staircases because that item was not specifically included in council’s original motion to approve the design presented Aug. 24, which did not include staircases.
Manager Joe Young told council he spoke with Obrecht, who indicated to him ‘he will push for steps.?
Having read no written ‘verification? of where the funding for the bridge project is coming from was Bailey’s other reason for the motion to rescind support.
Bailey said bridge proponents say no local millage dollars will be involved in the project, but he hasn’t seen any written documentation to that effect.
Council President Renee Donovan said there is written documentation of the funding sources available from the Polly Ann Trailway Management Council (PATMC).
The councilman said his misgivings about the stairs and funding sources are based on the fact that previous attempts to gather information about the bridge were met with ‘stonewalling, ridicule, poo-pooing, you name it ? whatever bad adjective you want to use.?
Bailey noted that the only reason he voted in favor the bridge design at the Aug. 24 meeting was because he had no objections to the bridge’s appearance.
The councilman said his main objection is to the project’s more than $1 million cost, which is why he instead supports installation of a push-button traffic signal and crosswalk on M-24.
Councilman Steve Allen, who voted against the bridge approval Aug. 24 and was one of 520 residents who signed a petition objecting to the bridge, said he appreciated what Bailey was trying to do, but council should not change its mind.
‘This council voted in a 3-2 vote to approve that bridge. I was one of the dissenting votes. But it’s over. It’s done with,? Allen said. ‘If you revisit things, I personally believe you begin to look a little foolish. So, I think it’s time to move on.?
Councilman Matt Weber said it would be ‘foolish? and ‘irresponsible? for council to rescind its approval ‘based on public opinion? and because the original ‘word-for-word? motion was not in front of them so they could read what they’re voting on.
Weber added, ‘I support the bridge. I think it will be an asset to the community.?
Bailey told his fellow officials, ‘I don’t mind changing my vote. I don’t mind doing a flip-flop.?
Although the term ‘flip-flop? has garnered a ‘bad name in politics recently,? Bailey said, ‘Public servants aren’t required to abstain from changing their mind.?
‘I’m willing to do a flip-flop on this,? he said. ‘I don’t flip-flop very often, but when I do it’s an honest change of my opinion.?
Allen said he ‘couldn’t siginificantly alter (his) vote one way or another without having new or different information.? ‘There’s no new information,? Allen said.
The only support Bailey received was from Councilman George Del Vigna, who said, ‘I was never in favor of the bridge. I’m still not in favor of the bridge.?
Bailey’s motion to recind the bridge approval failed in a 3-2 vote with himself and Del Vigna voting for it and Allen, Weber and Donovan voting against it.
****
At the Dec. 17 PATMC meeting, Chairman Eugene Mallia, Jr. reported that Obrecht informed him the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) approved the scope changes for the bridge.
These changes included increasing the width of the bridge from 12 to 16 feet and adjusting its camber (or curvature) to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards for wheelchair standards.
Bridge plans must be revised by the engineering firm Wade Trim to reflect these scope changes and if everything goes smoothly, the project could be ready to bid in late January or early February, according to Mallia.