In The News: Downtown Vicksburg continues to be focus of improvement efforts
Mike and Mary Corfman have been working with the Vicksburg council to help reduce the village’s telecom spend. Details regarding the impressive savings Schooley Mitchell was able to retrieve can be found towards the end of the following article. Adding to Vickersburg’s impressive savings, after the first three years the village will keep 100% of the yearly savings, which will amount to an additional $32,000. Read the full article below or click here to view online.
Downtown Vicksburg continues to be focus of improvement efforts
By Tom Haroldson | March 22, 2016
VICKSBURG, MI — Things are literally brighter for downtown Vicksburg as new LED lights have been installed, a façade improvement grant program seeks applicants and a project fundraiser hits its goal.
It’s all part of the village and Downtown Development Authority efforts to breathe new life into the historic downtown and the entire town. From new downtown lights to a $2.7 million trail system through town and up to Portage, the multi-prong efforts are under the umbrella of the Vicksburg Vision Campaign.
Kathleen Hoyle, Vicksburg DDA director, has been giving monthly updates to the Vicksburg Village Council, and Monday’s included several new items:
– The Liberty Lane East crowdfunding program surpassed its $50,000 goal with $50,996 collected. Matched with Michigan Economic Development Corporation funds, the $100,000 project could begin in April to renovate and improve Liberty Lane East alleyway between Jaspare’s and Aaron’s Music Shop.
– The DDA has launched its Vicksburg Foundation $170,000 community matching program for the Vision Campaign. The entire campaign will fund a new nature trail system, improve area parks, enhance downtown parking and update downtown streetscapes with new sidewalks, trees, flowers and seating.
РApplications will be collected until April 15 for the fa̤ade improvement program. The DDA received a $10,000 Local Initiatives Support Corporation state grant that will be matched with $10,000 more from the DDA to provide a grant up to $2,500 for businesses and commercial property owners to renovate their facades, from awnings to brickwork. The project must be within the DDA district.
Though not directly related to the downtown, the Vicksburg council approved paying $10,600 to Chicago Title to prepare a title search on properties related to the $2.7 million trail system that will run from Angels Crossing Golf Club to the city of Portage.
Hoyle said that there are 24 parcels involved in the proposed trail, with two being purchased and 22 needing easements. Nine of the properties are new and 13 are village owned, and all need title work.
As part of the overall campaign, the DDA has submitted nearly $345,000 in grant requests, most of that from the Vicksburg Foundation matching program, and is planning another $1.6 million in grants, most of that a $1.1 million Michigan Department of Transportation grant resubmitted.
MDOT has asked for more information involving trail site plans for the Prairie Street railroad crossing, Vicksburg Cemetery, TU Avenue parking and Clark Park. The DDA hopes to hear word on that grant request in May.
As for the LED lights, more than 100 have been installed downtown by the Department of Public Works and will be in the Leja Business Park soon, said Village Manager Ken Schippers, who is also the DPW director.
Most of the more than $30,000 cost is being paid for through grants, and Schippers has told the council that the village’s share of the new lights should be recouped in less than two years thanks to the energy savings.
In other action, the Vicksburg council approved a three-year agreement to switch over its phone system and Internet service from AT&T to Comcast.
The switch comes following a recommendation from its consultant, Schooley-Mitchell, which has been studying the potential savings by going with Comcast. The consultant told the village that the village could save about $16,000 a year with the switch.
Under the agreement, half of that savings will go to Schooley-Mitchell. In addition, which the council also approved, the village will need to spend $4,384 to upgrade data and phone lines for the new service.
The result is that while the first year savings for the village will be mostly eaten up by the upgrades the second and third year savings will be more, said Mike Corfman, representing Schooley-Mitchell.
