HARVEY — The Chocolay Township Board approved of a plan on Monday to contribute $17,000 to mitigate erosion along a one-mile portion of the Iron Ore Heritage Trail on the Lake Superior shoreline.

The board voted 4-2 to reallocate funds from the Safe Routes to School line item in its budget to pay for the project.

The local unit of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources applied for emergency project funding to stabilize and protect the trail from further erosion, MDNR Central Upper Peninsula Trails Specialist Rob Katona told the board.

He said a discretionary spending freeze implemented by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer across several state agencies on March 30 has complicated the situation to a degree.

“If this was any normal year, I am sure we would be looking at getting the work completed. But due to the spending freeze, the fact that this has just been a cumulative problem and that we did have funding for this set aside because we don’t have a contingency fund for this particular trail and we weren’t sure what was going to happen here. We didn’t really forecast this to happen. So we didn’t have funding set aside for this,” Katona said. “We are looking at about $200,000 (to complete the project) but I was asked to reach out to local partners and see if they can help. Because right now we are on a spending freeze and as of now I do not have a single dollar for this project except for the city of Marquette.”

Katona said he anticipated the city of Marquette to contribute up to $17,000 — which it approved at its Monday meeting — and the Iron Ore Heritage Recreation Authority to contribute between $5,000 and $15,000. Depending on its board’s decision, it is anticipated that the rest of the funds for the project will come from an Iron Belle Trail Grant, which is administered though the DNR.

“Currently, our authority to spend any trail grant funding is on hold due to the executive orders and spending freeze related to COVID-19, however, we submitted a Critical Project Request, CPR, for this project that would authorize spending and construction, so we may move forward with this project when approved,” he said.

Katona said there is approximately 110 feet of impacted trail in Chocolay Township, 60 feet of which is considered “critical.”

Chocolay Township resident Deborah Mulcahey spoke in opposition to the expenditure during public comment. She noted the portion of damaged trail in the city of Marquette was much larger than the portion in Chocolay Township and that residents pay a millage to maintain the trail system.

“There is approximately 867 square feet in the city of Marquette and 60 feet in Chocolay Township. Chocolay Township would be spending ($17,000) for 60 square feet and the city of Marquette would be spending $17,000 for 800 square feet.” she said “I think that that is totally inequitable and it needs to be revisited.”

Mulcahey also expressed concerns that the project would only address one spot or section of the trail.

“The work completed as outlined in this proposal displaces the problem. And in this case relocates the issues elsewhere along the shore to adjoining neighbors and adjoining property along the Iron Ore Heritage Trail,” she said.

Chocolay Township Board Trustee Judy White, who was one of two “no” votes on the measure, said she agreed with Mulcahey.

“I can’t agree with this,” White said. “We do pay a millage for the Iron Ore Heritage Trail. Since the taxpayers do pay a millage for it, I can’t support this. Maybe $5,000 but that is as far as I think we would be able to contribute after the millage that we currently pay.”

Katona said in an email on Wednesday that the completion of the stabilization will have a broader impact than the trail system.

“Stabilizing multiple critical areas by armoring slopes with large boulders is necessary to prevent further erosion leading to extensive trail loss and potential infrastructure damage,” Katona said. “Fiber-optic, high-pressure sewer and MDOT water drainage structures may be impacted if stabilization work does not occur.”

Township Supervisor Richard Bohjanen said he supports the project.

“I would be inclined to support the idea of paying the money now rather than looking at the future of closing down the trail,” he said.

Dependent on funding, Katona said he expects work will begin this summer.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at lbowers@miningjournal.net.