The Plymouth City Council members were presented with two resolutions Monday night forwarded by the Planning Commission that would place the proposed Veterans Parkway extension project on the city’s project list. TIF areas 1 and 3 would provide funding for the project.
The project would essentially be funded by both Marshall County and the City of Plymouth with two-thirds of the cost being the county’s responsibility. The city’s responsibility of one-third of the cost of the project would come from TIF Funds in the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission’s budget. The county would apply for the project between Michigan Road to Oak Road and the city would apply from Oak Road to Pioneer Drive (or Pine Road).
If successful, the project would be funded in 2027, with a possible consideration of moving the project ahead of that to 2024 if funding is available.
Katie Lear from USI Consultants previously recommended to the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission that a notice to proceed be approved to get preliminary engineering report work done through Stage 1 design. The city’s share of the cost of that report would be $145,000. The city’s overall cost of its 20 percent share of the entire project, including construction, is about $900,000.
Baker Tilly is currently in the process of completing a feasibility analysis on TIF 1 and TIF 3 to fund the project. It is anticipated to be complete at the September meeting of the Plymouth Redevelopment Commission.
Clerk-Treasurer Jeanine Xaver told the council she was not in favor of the council supporting the resolutions to add to the project lists without the completed analysis to see if the TIF funds can support cash flow for the project and continue to meet bond obligations. City Attorney Sean Surrisi clarified that the resolutions are putting the projects on the list, and not necessarily coming up with funds for the project as there is time to discuss that aspect of the project.
In the end, the council voted 3-1 to pass the resolutions. However, due to parliamentary procedures outlined in the city code, the resolutions did not pass. Four members in attendance had to vote in favor of the passage of the resolutions in order for it to carry forward. It is not a majority vote of the members present. Council members Jeff Houin, Robert Listenberger and Shiloh Milner voted yes while Councilman Greg Compton voted no. They were the four voting members in attendance during the meeting. Duane Culp, Don Ecker Jr., and Randy Longanecker were absent from Monday night’s meeting.
The Plymouth Redevelopment Commission members were to hold a public hearing concerning these resolutions at their meeting on August 17 but that will not occur due to the action of the council. Surrisi explained to MAX 98.3 News that it is the hope that Baker Tilly’s feasibility analysis can be completed in an expedited fashion to be before the council at their next meeting or by September 13 in order for that public hearing to be held.
