City to seek grant for parking lot improvements

Sturgis city officials will seek up to $1 million in grant funding to apply toward city parking lot repairs.

The million dollar amount is the maximum allowed through the state revitalization and placemaking program, city officials said Wednesday at a special work session. The session was scheduled as a "springboard" to begin discussion on potential  parking lot improvements in Sturgis.

Preliminary estimate for parking lot improvement is $3.3 million, with about $230,000 for storm sewer upgrades and $750,000 for underground electrical work.

City lot improvements would be done piecemeal, upgrading one or two parking lots at a time to reduce inconveniences. Two city-owned lots, on the southwest corner of Clay and John streets, as well as the lot between the Sturgis Department of Public Safety and the West Chicago Road businesses, are "ready to bid," according to city officials Wednesday.

Financial sources include city funds, property owner special assessments and RAP grants. Currently, the city's preliminary estimates would put the municipality responsibility at $1.6 million, property owner assessments at $745,000, and the grant at $1 million.

At the conclusion of the special meeting, the commission voted unanimously to apply for the RAP grant.

This article originally appeared on Sturgis Journal: News