BERRIEN COUNTY COMMISSION UPDATE

By DEBRA HAIGHT

BCR Correspondent

ST. JOSEPH – The focus has been on parks and trails at recent Berrien County Board of Commissioner meetings. Commissioners have adopted a new trail project policy, moved forward on a new trail near Lake Michigan and heard an update about plans for Silver Beach County Park.

The new trail policy allows commissioners to set down the ground rules for future trail projects in the county. The new policy will affect those entities that seek county support for developing trails.

Berrien County Administrator Brian Dissette thanked Administration Committee members as well as county staff for working on the new policy. “It’s something we’ve talked about for months,” he said. “This was one that was difficult and I want to thank you for getting it across the finish line.”

“The board will be getting an update from the Friends of Berrien County Trails in the next few weeks,” he added. “It’s critical to have these goal posts in place on how future trails will be developed in the county.”

The new policy acknowledges that recent planning efforts have focused on the development of new trails, water trails and greenways in the county. Efforts mentioned include plans to develop a Berrien County Linear Trail connecting all seven current county parks with safe non-motorized pedestrian and bicycle trails.

The policy also notes that Michigan Department of Transportation grant funding requires the county to spend 10 percent of its County Road Department budget on trails over a 10-year period.

The policy states that while establishing trails is primarily the responsibility of local governments, work in public right-of-ways are the purview of the Berrien County Road Department and will be governed by new rules when the county is asked to contribute funding and approve permits and other assistance.

The policy defines non-motorized transportation facility types to be non-motorized paths, paved shoulders of roads, signed routes on existing roads and sidewalks. Local entities asking for county assistance will have to provide a resolution outlining funding sources and right-of-way permit applications among other items.

The county will consider a number of factors in determining county involvement in projects such as pavement surface evaluation, safety and mobility, current and future roadway needs, drainage, utilities and environmental constraints.

Perhaps most importantly, any agreement between the county and local governments on trail projects will have to include how the trail will be paid for initially as well as in the future. Agreements will have to outline trail maintenance plans and who will pay for it.

Work on the Lakeview Trail in the Twin Cities area near the Whirlpool campus got the go-ahead last week. The non-motorized trail will run along M-63 between Higman Park Road and Monte Road. Funding for the trail development and future maintenance will come from state and private sources.

Last week’s action involved applying for a Michigan Department of Transportation “Transportation Alternatives Program” grant to help fund the project. The project is expected to cost $2.3 million with the TAP grant providing $1.4 million and other grants making up the difference.

The other grants are expected to come before the board for action soon. Commissioners will be asked to submit applications for a $600,000 SPARK grant and a $300,000 Trust Fund Grant. Both programs are administered by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

The SPARK grant program was created this year to support projects that provide safe and accessible public recreation facilities and spaces.

Another SPARK grant application was approved earlier by the county board, this time to pay for new playground equipment at Silver Beach County Park in St. Joseph. The equipment is 30 years old and in need of replacement.

Berrien County Parks Director Jill Adams described most of the playground equipment as having held up great but at the “end of its life” at a recent county board meeting.

It will be the first project from the Silver Beach master plan to be addressed. The grant application asks for up to $1 million Michigan from the DNR’s SPARK grant. The county would then provide a 10 percent local match.

Adams and architect Jason Vetne of DLZ Architects unveiled the new master plan for Silver Beach which is located on Lake Michigan in St. Joseph. Adams said the plan has been developed over the last year with input from past and current staff, residents and other community leaders.

She and Vetne said the master plan calls for improvements in three areas: playground equipment, the concession stand and the main entrance area. The last item includes developing a new plaza space at the main entrance and more lanes to reduce traffic congestion for those coming into the park.