HART - At its meeting Tuesday, Nov. 25, the Hart City Council authorized proceeding with an application for a Michigan Revitalization and Placemaking (RAP) grant which would be utilized to implement a much-anticipated refreshed streetscape for downtown Hart. Community and Economic Development Director Nichole Kleiner provided an overview of the grant and project prior to the approval.
According to City Manager Rob Splane, the Hart TIFA (Tax Increment Finance Authority) has been budgeting for a new streetscape for a number of years and has been working on plan renderings for over a year. Several public forums have been held to gather ideas from the community as well.
The focus of Michigan RAP grants is to prompt community gathering, downtown development and infrastructure repair. The hope is that a new streetscape would coincide with the eventual replacement of lead service lines running through downtown Hart, scheduled for 2026 or 2027.
Hart’s TIFA district boundaries include State Street from East/West Main to Polk Road and one block East and West on either side, as well as what is known as the Polk Road corridor. A portion of the taxes from businesses in the TIFA district are captured each year and must be utilized within the TIFA district. The Hart TIFA board meets monthly and is led by Kleiner along with the following business owners: Chairperson Deborah Windell, Vice-Chair Gale Goldberg, Bill Hegg, Tracey Lipps, Treasurer Scott Hegg, Amy Trudell and Caleb Griffis.
The RAP grant, due at the end of January, would provide up to $1M in matching grant funds if awarded. Phase 1 of the streetscape project (engineering, bidding) would begin in the spring of 2025, followed by construction in the spring of 2026. If the grant were not awarded, construction would most likely begin in the spring of 2027.
Two discussion items were also on the agenda last Tuesday: a Draft Memo of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Hart and the Hart Area Public Library (HAPL), as well as a proposed updated John Gurney Parks Rules and Regulations document.
Splane related that the HAPL charter members and owners of the library include the city and Hart Township. Non-charter members include contracts with other neighboring entities, including the townships of Weare, Crystal, Elbridge and Golden (Golden Township’s contract is currently under negotiation). The main responsibilities outlined in the MOU Draft address lawn care, snow removal and waste management.
Since its beginnings, the city has spent enterprise funds (Hart Energy, Water, BioPure) to keep the lawn mowed and the sidewalks shoveled/salted. Splane explained that doing so is not the best use of tax dollars. Utility customers should be paying utilities to receive utility services, not to have the library lawn mowed or sidewalks shoveled. He added, “The impetus isn’t to be petty; the impetus is to be more equitable. This is the third or fourth revision that the library board has seen.”
The draft states that any costs realized by the City of Hart and the HAPL will be split 50/50, unless discussed and agreed upon before the expense is incurred. In addition, the City of Hart will continue the use of its contract-negotiated solid waste dumpster, while the HAPL will seek its own waste management contract and discontinue use of the city’s dumpster.
Council was also updated on a proposed updated John Gurney Park Rules and Regulations document that will be on their Dec. 10 agenda for approval. Splane reminded council that one of the city’s goals with the creation of the Parks and Recreation position earlier this year was to do a better job of managing all city parks. The hope is that by upgrading the current park (during the winter) and its fee structure (approved earlier this year), the city would be able to create more income to put toward all city parks and opportunities.
The two main changes to park policy will be mail delivery and the removal of permanent structures at the end of every season. The proposed rules and regulations state that in order to align with state statute regarding “Permanent Residence in Campgrounds,” no mail will be accepted at the campground address after Jan. 1, 2025. Campers requiring mail delivery will need to make other arrangements for mail delivery.
The second change will require more permanent structures, such as decks, outbuildings and fences, to be removed by Nov. 1 of each year. “We want to be able to do some landscaping, tree trimming and pour some more cement slabs. Having a ‘bare canvas,’ so to speak, will allow us to be much more efficient and way more productive in the off-season,” Splane said.
While there is some pushback from a few of the campground’s seasonal residents, the city’s goal is to create a park that the entire community can be proud of and that will draw more visitors to it. Individuals interested in reviewing either draft document should contact the city office.
