2025 TO BE “YEAR OF ACTION” FOR CITY OF BUCHANAN; CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
BUCHANAN – Buchanan residents are currently grappling with detours and torn up downtown streets as the city’s $19.4 million infrastructure project gets started. The project started with downtown trees removed last month and now some downtown streets being worked on.
During the course of the project, which will take at least the rest of this year, water and sewer lines as well as downtown streets and sidewalks will be replaced. A new sanitary sewer line is being constructed from the wastewater treatment plant to the downtown; water and sewer lines will be upgraded, and downtown streets and sidewalks will be redone.
City Commissioners and City Manager Tony McGhee spoke about the infrastructure project at their meeting Monday night, in terms of both what it will mean for the city and how the city plans to make up the $1.5 million funding shortfall. In addition, McGhee outlined his plans to spend $500,000 to address long term road issues throughout the city.
With the funding shortfall, commissioners authorized McGhee to work out a financing plan with Sturgis Bank officials. McGhee said the bank has offered interest rates of 4.75 percent or less over seven years with the city having the option of paying the loan off early. Commissioner Patrick Swem abstained from the vote, citing conflict of interest given his affiliation with Sturgis Bank.
McGhee will bring back a final proposal for commission action later this month. He said after the meeting that the plan is to use general fund revenue to pay the loan back, including the revenue from the four mills the city already levies for local street work.
McGhee noted that local streets are in bad shape for a number of reasons including this winter’s freeze and thaw periods that wreaked havoc on the roads. He added that a lot of the streets are built on clay foundations which hinder drainage.
“We’re going to spend $500,000 this spring and hit the worst areas on Liberty and River Streets,” he said. “We’re then going to use the PACER system to prioritize the rest of the city’s streets to rate what shape they’re in objectively … In 2023, 80 percent of streets were rated as bad so the problems aren’t new. There’s been no work done in the last 25 years.”
His efforts drew praise from commissioners. City Commissioner Dan Vigansky was the first to say he appreciated McGhee’s efforts. “I can’t thank you enough for the work you’re doing,” he said. “People don’t understand how long I’ve been screaming about it.”
“I also want to thank Tony,” Commissioner Larry Money said. “We had a good interim manager but he was short term. Tony came at the right time and has jumped in with both feet. Things are starting to work out for the city.”
Commissioner Patrick Swem noted that the next several months won’t be easy for residents. “It’s going to be a tough year but everyone is working together,” he said. “2025 is a year of action for the city of Buchanan with all the projects we have going on. It took us a while, but the city is taking action.”
Projects Swem mentioned included the completion of the city’s DPW building, the demolition of blighted properties, the library expansion, the trail expansion, the downtown infrastructure work, the riverfront boat launch, the Days Avenue culvert repair, and the demolition of the old feed mill.
“What we’re accomplishing today is what we talked about years ago,” Mayor Mark Weedon said. “It’s exciting to see. We’re finally seeing the commission and the city staff coming together.”
Monday’s meeting also featured action on other items such as the first reading of a new rental housing ordinance, the renewal of retail marijuana permits for two companies and going on the record opposing Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s plan to increase landfill tipping fees to pay for road repairs. City officials are assuring residents that the city will be back better than ever once the current construction work is done.