Oxford Township’s safety path network is going to expand a bit more this year.
Last week, the township board voted 6-0 to award a bid to the Detroit-based WCI Contractors, Inc. to construct approximately 4,255 feet of new safety path along Lapeer (M-24), Seymour Lake and Dunlap roads. The project will cost approximately $481,521.
Work will include installing approximately 1,030 feet of safety path along the west side of M-24 between Market St. and Gateway Dr.; approximately 3,025 feet of path on the north and east sides of Seymour Lake and Dunlap roads; and approximately 200 feet of path along the south side of Seymour Lake Rd. between Brookfield Dr. and Dunlap Rd. Paths will be 8 feet wide with the exception of two boardwalks crossing wetland areas, which will be 10 feet wide.
The new path on the north side of Seymour Lake Rd. will begin at Carriage Lane Ct. and head northwest where it will split into a Y-shape as it crosses the property containing the township hall and water treatment plant.
The portion of the ‘Y? heading northwest will connect to a recently-constructed 600-foot asphalt path on the east side of Dunlap Rd. in front of the township hall. That existing path will be extended by approximately 975 feet to the northernmost boundary of the township property.
As for the portion of the ‘Y? heading southwest, it will connect back to Seymour Lake Rd. near the Dunlap Rd. intersection. The idea is someday, the path will continue westward along the south side of Seymour Lake Rd. all the way to Seymour Lake Twp. Park.
Officials approved WCI Contractors? base bid of $477,021 with two alternates that would utilize concrete instead of asphalt for the M-24 path and the small path on the south side of Seymour Lake Rd.
‘Concrete is generally a better material for roadway/sidewalk purposes due to its strength and longevity,? wrote township engineer Jim Sharpe in a March 30 memo.
The addition of the alternates slightly increased the base bid price.
‘For the portion of safety path along M-24, there would actually be a cost savings of approximately $500 to install concrete in lieu of asphalt,? Sharpe explained in his memo. ‘For the portion of the safety path near Seymour Lake Road, the concrete cost would be approximately $5,000 additional.?
In addition to awarding the bid, officials also voted 6-0 to transfer $125,000 from the general fund’s reserves to the safety path fund, which prior to this move, had $425,000 sitting in it.
Treasurer Joe Ferrari, who chairs the safety path committee, tried to convince the board to transfer $250,000 to the fund, so there would be $150,000 left over for future projects.
‘Why don’t we just put a million in there, Joe, so you’ve got plenty?? said Supervisor Bill Dunn, who favored adding just enough money to cover the upcoming projects.
Dunn argued Ferrari can always return to the township board and request additional funds as needed.
‘It’s like a big old piggy bank. You can take it when you need it,? the supervisor said. ‘But to sit there and say you need a quarter of a million dollars just sitting there (in the safety path fund), so it looks good ? I’m going to be voting no.?
Ferrari’s motion for a $250,000 transfer failed in a 3-3 vote. Trustee Buck Cryderman was absent. The treasurer then made the successful $125,000 motion. ‘I’m glad you saw the light, Joe,? Dunn said.