Capital Improvements Plan 2019-2024
City Manager Nate Heffron is pleased to announce that the City Council at a special meeting held on October 4, 2018, accepted it first ever Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). A CIP is a planning document that helps to guide local communities undertaking capital investments. These investments range from major equipment purchases, such as a snowplow, to the construction of a new building. A CIP is authorized and required under the Michigan Planning and Enabling Act. A CIP is community-based, meaning not every CIP is equal, but lends itself directly to what a community needs are. A copy of this document can be viewed online or at the Negaunee Public Library.
According to Heffron “This document helps us plan for our future. As new council members are elected, we can lose touch on what is really needed. We also haven’t looked to the community for their input on these matters, now we will.”
The CIP is a flexible living document; intended to be updated during summer of each year ahead of the budget process; incorporating new improvements and more details on costs and funding as that information becomes available. As the community adapts to changing circumstances and new policy directions, the CIP is intended to adapt along with it. “Saving for future projects and prioritizing these projects is extremely important, we must reinvest our infrastructure in an intelligent way”, Heffron said.
The three major areas that this CIP will focus on include, economic development, following through on existing plans, and infrastructure investment. “For almost every capital improvement, job growth, retention, and attraction should be on our minds to improve our economy.” Heffron said. Heffron also noted that there have been many plans throughout the years that have been put together by the city and different groups, in some cases many have gone nowhere. According to Heffron, “this is due to lack of follow-through, no funding, and competing agendas; a CIP will add focus for everyone now and the future.” The CIP also noted that repairs to aging infrastructure such as streets and sidewalks where a major priority of residents. “We know that some of our streets are bad, we’ve known for a while. My intentions are to use the street millage, grants, and other creative ways to maintain and repave our streets. We must be smart in doing this, coupling with sewer and water projects.” Heffron stated.
In addition to helping add direction to the city’s future capital investments, another major hurdle will be out of the way as it pertains to becoming a Redevelopment Ready Community (RRC). According to the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) website (miplace.org) the Redevelopment Ready Community program “measures and then certifies communities that integrate transparency, predictability and efficiency into their daily development practices. The RRC certification is a formal recognition that your community has a vision for the future—and the fundamental practices in place to get there.”According to Heffron, becoming RRC certified, Negaunee will be eligible for technical assistance through MEDC and possible receive more priority on grants.
Negaunee’s CIP was put together with help from Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development (CUPPAD). “This was our first CIP that we put together using a new program. We felt that the process worked out well and that we will be looking to use Negaunee’s CIP as a model for other communities that we are currently working with.” Ryan Soucy, Community Planner of CUPPAD said.
The city expresses its thanks to the CUPPAD for their help in this major development. In addition, the city thanks the residents of Negaunee for their input and looks forward to engage them next year during the 2019 CIP process.
Questions concerning this release may be directed to the attention of the City Manger, Nate Heffron at (906) 475-7700 ext. 11, or Ryan Soucy at 906-786-9234. Plan is attached below: