Construction of the Meier store and gas station are depicted in this 2016 photo along the U.S. 41 corridor in Marquette Township. The Marquette Township board will consider a resolution to expand the boundaries of the Downtown Development District during its regular meeting tonight at 6:30. (Photo courtesy of Jason McCarthy)

MARQUETTE–The Marquette Township Board will consider a Downtown Development Authority request to expand its current boundaries during its meeting at 6:30 p.m. today at the Marquette Township Community Center.

With approval of the proposed resolution, the DDA will be able to expand its boundaries to property north of the Iron Ore Heritage Trail, all property east of Brookton Road, and a parcel to the south and east of Marquette County Road 492 and Brookton Road.

“The proposed amendments shall not include reimplementation of either Tax Increment Financing or Tax Increment Revenues, and do not contemplate funding projects with revenue bonds in the foreseeable future,” the resolution states.

The original request to explore the expansion of the DDA boundaries was approved by the board during a meeting on Jan. 20, 2015, according to a memo from Marquette Township Manager Randy Girard. The board then approved a refined definition of the proposed expansion in March 2016.

“The rationale for the request reflected the declining major property values within the existing DDA, and inclusion of numerous adjacent properties zoned for Development District and General Business that are not currently within the DDA,” the memo states.

If the resolution is approved, the DDA will hold a public hearing on March 20 to consider the proposed amendment to the township ordinance that originally established DDA boundaries in 1986.

In a Jan. 23 letter, DDA Chair Todd Noodyk said the authority is planning informational meetings in the township’s community room to explain the expected DDA benefits and seek input regarding Michigan Department of Transportation projects in 2019 and 2021. The meetings will be held at noon and 5:30 p.m. Feb. 13, and noon at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 15.

The board will also consider a proposal to assess the condition of the township’s sanitary sewer lift stations.

The lift stations are used for pumping wastewater or sewage from a lower to higher elevation.

According to a memo from Kirk Page, superintendent of public works, the work would be conducted by Stantec Consulting Michigan Inc. at a cost of $17,500.

The project includes an asset inventory of the each major piece of equipment at the sanitary lift stations as well as a visual inspection of the equipment to assess conditions.

Page said the township’s lift stations need to be assessed to meet the requirements of a Michigan Department of Environmental Quality Stormwater, Asset Management, and Wastewater grant.

Lisa Bowers can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 242. Her email address is lbowers@miningjournal.net.