MCCOY CREEK TRAIL UPGRADES RECEIVE CITY SUPPORT

By DEBRA HAIGHT
BCR Correspondent
BUCHANAN – Tony McGhee’s first meeting as the new Buchanan City Manager was a busy one with action on a number of items. McGhee, a former executive at the Abonmarche engineering firm, was chosen to be the new city manager in late November after a month long search and began his new duties earlier Monday.
McGhee reported that he “hit the ground running” Monday and looks forward to working with the City Commission. “Day one is in the books. It’s been a great first day; I hit the ground running,” he said.
“Welcome to the jungle,” Commissioner Dan Vigansky said. “It went pretty smooth tonight.”
Other commissioners agreed and gave their welcome. Mayor Mark Weedon also took time to thank outgoing city manager Tim Lynch for his efforts. “We were…very fortunate we had Tim to get us on the straight and narrow,” Wheedon said. “He proved that the city was not in financial straights we had all believed it was.”
McGhee was able to give his expertise on several of the items on Monday’s agenda. One included the city’s acceptance of a state grant for $120,000 to pay for public safety and public works improvements. The grant is from the Financially Distressed Cities, Villages and Townships Grant program.
Work will be moving forward on the extension of the McCoy Creek Trail Extension Project after City Commission action Monday. Commissioners approved the contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation for the completion of the project.
The project extends the existing trail a half mile along Schirmer Parkway to River Street and then across the River Street Bridge into Buchanan Township and out to the River St. Joe brewery and restaurant on Walton Road.
Funding for the $1.57 million project is coming from a variety of sources including federal and state grants and local private donations. Suzannah Deneau of Wightman and Associates said the project had to be rebid after initial bids came in too high.
She said that funding for the project includes $900,000 from two state MDOT grant sources, a Michigan Department of Natural Resources grant for $300,000 and then private donations of over $200,000 from local sources.  The Southwest Michigan Planning Commission and Be Healthy Berrien contributed another $100,000, she said.
Commissioners and residents also discussed future trail plans including connecting the McCoy Creek Trail with the Indiana-Michigan River Valley Trail, as the latter trail is extended north from Niles.
Friends of McCoy Creek Trail Chairman Jerry Flenar presented a proposed letter of support his organization wanted the city to sign. Commissioners ended up voting to have Mayor Mark Weedon sign the letter to support for the project.
The letter presented by Flenar stated that the city of Buchanan supports the Niles-Buchanan Trail Connection Project that involves the construction of a 3.4-mile improved shared-use path along Walton Road including a trailhead at Walton and Winn Road. The letter also stated the two trails are regionally significant, noting that the project will have multiple benefits ranging from health and community building to economic and tourism development and improving the quality of life.
Work on the Front Street retaining wall can move forward with the commission accepting a bid of $303,130 from an area construction company. The project was rebid late last year and four bids were received with the new bidding.
Also Monday, commissioners approved the renewal of two adult-use marijuana retailer permits and one medical marijuana retailer permit. In addition, they approved the restaurant incentive grant for the newly opened Thistledown & Row restaurant.
Commissioners also heard about a new restaurant opening in the former Redbud Insurance building on Main Street. Community Development Director Rich Murphy introduced the investors who told commissioners a little about their plans.