In a bid to possibly add another 4.6 miles of gravel trail to Orion Township, trustees OK’d a budget adjustment of $140,000 to get work started on a utility corridor pathway.
The pathway will be gravel six inches in depth, and 10-feet wide, provided by Consumers Energy who is putting in a 36-inch gas pipeline from east to west across the township.
In doing its restoration in the area, Consumers agreed to put down the gravel for the trail, provided the township is willing to incur expenses for obtaining easements (about 36 in all), and for providing boardwalks for wetland crossings, and signage for road crossings.
The township will also be responsible for expenses required to get the trail through steep slope areas. Consumers will not be doing any extensive grading outside of its normal restoration efforts.
The budget adjustment to the general fund of $140,000 will come from the capital improvement fund. It will go towards design and construction services for Consumers to install the trail from Baldwin to Giddings.
The township’s portion, to install wetland crossings and steep slope portions of the trail, will come at a later date.
According to township engineers, Orchard, Hiltz and McCliment, the estimated cost for easements is $130,000, ranging from $4,000-$10,000 per easement.
Parks and recreation director Rock Blanchard has recommended the board pursue a Southeast Michigan Greenways Grant in December, as well as other grants like a Transportation Enhancement Grant to complete boardwalks and other parts of the trail.
OHM presented to the board the results of a study of what the township would have to do to be able to comply with Consumers? donation.
OHM engineer Jim Stevens said the township would have to design the pathway, including having a survey crew lay out the trail, in addition to the other requirements like wetlands crossings.
‘The township would be responsible for obtaining all the necessary easements,? Stevens added. ‘Consumers just has easements for their pipeline.?
In order to obtain the easements by August when pathway work is to start, Stevens said the township’s best option would be having the trail from Baldwin to Giddings, rather than to Lapeer.
‘We felt that was the most viable option,? he added.
Trustee Matthew Gibb wanted to know if it would be possible to have the trail be ‘an extreme trail,? to limit the amount of grading the township would have to do.
‘The area between Baldwin and Giddings has a couple of thousand feet, potentially (of steep areas),? said Stevens.
Blanchard said once the township improves part of the trail, it would be obligated to flatten the rest to a certain number of feet.
‘The guidelines are similar to those for safety paths,? Stevens said. ‘I would defer to the attorney for how you’d present (an extreme trail).?
Gibb said the township might be able to put some signage up.
‘It seems like a warning sign would be cheaper,? he said.
Orion Township Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk asked what the $140,000 would get the township and commit the board to.
‘That essentially provides all the documents necessary to have Consumers install the gravel in all the areas they are willing to,? said Stevens. ‘The second phase is to do the grading, board walks and other things.?
Dywasuk believes the corridor was a ‘quality of life issue.?
‘This seems to be a golden opportunity,? he said.
Blanchard said without Consumers? donation, it would cost the township about $66,000 per mile without boardwalks.
‘So it’s saving the township about $124,000 to $130,000,? he said.