'Adaptability and flexibility:' Here's what stands out in Howell's 2022-23 budget

Sophia Lada, Livingston Daily
·2 min read
One project included in Howell's budget is water meter replacements to increase efficiency.
One project included in Howell's budget is water meter replacements to increase efficiency.

HOWELL -- The $8.4 million general fund budget the Howell City Council passed May 9 is one of "adaptability and flexibility," City Manager Ervin Suida said.

Suida said the budget focuses on taking advantage of funds from the American Rescue Plan Act and grants to move forward with infrastructure upgrades.

One major upgrade will improve city parks. The city is redoing the West Street Park playground and updating bathrooms at Scofield Park to be ADA compliant.

"It's a maintenance budget," Suida said.

This year's general fund budget is about $230,000 more than last year's.

Here are some of the major city maintenance projects included in this fiscal year's budget:

Sealing cracks and other repairs

The city has allocated $50,000 to repair pavement and seal cracks throughout the city. The work will include downtown parking lots 2 and 4, which are located at Clinton and Walnut streets. Funds will go toward repairing the storm and sanitary sewer systems. Some repairs include sealing manholes or spot-lining sewer pipes.

Scofield Park is the site of a project included in this year's budget — ADA compliant bathrooms.
Scofield Park is the site of a project included in this year's budget — ADA compliant bathrooms.

New water meters = increased efficiency

In 2018, the city began replacing water meters to increase efficiency. Now, the city is finishing the project. The new meters mean that fewer physical, in-person readings will be needed. Readings are gathered from an antenna on the water tower. The total anticipated cost is $300,000, which will be split between the Water and Sewer funds.

Pedestrian crossing lights

Buttons to operate flashing crosswalks will be installed at the intersection of Clinton and State streets, as well as three crossings on North Michigan Avenue. The total cost of the project is $450,000; the city will pay $110,000 because of grant funding.

If the city can obtain the necessary funding, it will build a kayak/paddleboard launch on Thompson Lake.
If the city can obtain the necessary funding, it will build a kayak/paddleboard launch on Thompson Lake.

Replacing a 1930s water main

The current water main on the east side of the city to Barnard Street was installed in the 1930s. Using low-interest loans from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund, the city plans to replace the East Grand River main at the end of July.

The cost of the project is $2.94 million; the city will pay back $1.77 million of the loan through lead replacement grants and loan forgiveness. Next April, the city intends to replace the West Grand River water main, from Chestnut Street to Highlander Way.

Road, water and sewer fixes

The city will start water, sewer and road improvements along Lucy Road. The city has budgeted $2.1 million for the project, but staff are currently investigating ways to fund the project, including grants.

Byron Road and Warbler Way are two streets that might see repairs in the coming year. In total, there are about $30 million of road-related infrastructure projects that need to be completed in the city, Suida said.

Sophia Lada is a reporter for the Livingston Daily. Contact her at slada@gannett.com or 517.377.1065. Follow her on Twitter @sophia_lada.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Here's what stands out in Howell's budget this fiscal year