“This (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009) construction plan is a resurfacing project that is currently on schedule and should be completed by the end of November,” said Anita Richardson, the Bay Region spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Workers are operating Monday through Sunday, so motorists can still expect delays on the weekends, she said.

Terry Palmer, MDOT Mount Pleasant transportation service center manager, said the project is actually a little behind schedule.

“Even though we’re running behind, we’re shooting for the project to be done by the end of November or before winter starts,” Palmer said. “It’s a weather-dependent project, so it’s hard to determine how much work we’ll get done in the next month or so under the given circumstances.”

The construction is taking place on Blanchard Road going into Mount Pleasant. The project budget started at $9.3 million and has not exceeded that amount so far, Palmer said.

Workers are finishing up asphalt-paving for the rest of the roadway, but there are still several unpaved areas left to be done, Palmer said.

The main reasoning behind the project is to bring modernity to these roads, Palmer said. The pavement was too old, so workers are adding long-term layers to it.

“The mission is primarily for safety improvement,” Palmer said.

The ARAA is funding the project, which started July 7 in Isabella County.

Senate Bill 404, a bipartisan proposal that would top the film tax credit off at $50 million and reduce the available refunds by 7 percent, is being discussed.

The refundable film tax credits would be cut to 35 percent from their current rate of 42 percent.

The bill was introduced on March 25 and is sponsored by State Sens. Nancy Cassis, R-Novi; Jud Gilbert, R-Algonac; Tom George, R-Kalamazoo; and Mickey Switalski, R-Roseville.

“We recognize that Michigan has a significant, large deficit of $2.8 billion, and part of what’s contributing to that is the giveaway money to Hollywood producers,” Cassis said.

The bill would be keeping the film tax credit at $50 million, which would scale back a little on overly generous giveaway money, she said.

“These movie producers are currently not paying taxes in Michigan, but are still getting money,” Cassis said.

The bill would just restore funds to other areas of the state, such as police, fire and Medicare, she said.
Cassis said the bill also would support commercial ads and more jobs.

“We would be able to provide credit for commercials to be done here, and we would hire 90 percent of Michigan workers first,” she said.

In the long run, Cassis said, Bill 404 would recognize all the refundable credits that are not necessarily vital and giving relief to other businesses.

State Sen. Jud Gilbert said even though the majority is not in favor of the bill, it is still necessary.

“The bill is necessary because films last for a short duration, which means the money will run out before anyone gets the subsidy,” Gilbert said.

He said the bill would divert money into a tax relief.

“If the bill passes, people will see gradual employment increases in small businesses with longer durations,” Gilbert said.

Change may not be noticeable yet

Kevin Corbett, a broadcast and cinematic arts professor, said it is too soon to tell if the bill should be approved.

“It’s probably going to be at least five years before we can tell if the state needs to cut back on the film tax credit,” he said.

Corbett compared Bill 404 to a study on New Mexico’s current film tax rate. The study from Ernst and Young showing New Mexico’s film tax rate results at 35 percent was a five-year study, which meant it took five years to be able to tell if the tax rate was working for the state or not, Corbett said.

“Michigan’s current rate at 42 percent has only been in effect for 18 months, so it’s too soon to tell if we need to lower it or not,” he said.

The bill will not produce more jobs in Michigan or provide stamina for Michigan filmmakers, he said.

“There would be fewer filmmakers so, at 35 percent, the bill would generate even fewer jobs,” Corbett said. “If we keep the current rate, it could give Michigan film industry workers a chance to move up to the higher end of the film industry.”

Volunteers are teaming with the local Habitat for Humanity to build a house for Jason and Amanda Baird on Monroe Street in Rosebush and make up volunteer hours the family cannot maintain.

“The Habitat requires anyone in the family that is 18 years or older to put in 250 equity hours on the building of the house,” Clark said. “Jason was naturally distraught because he wouldn’t be able to put his 250 hours in, and was worried his family would lose the house.”

But Jason Baird is part of the armed forces and was deployed to Iraq, said Office Manager of Habitat Edwina Clark. And Amanda Baird has been putting her time in with the house, but finds it hard with two kids, said site supervisor Jamie Smith.

Mount Pleasant resident Corey Snow works on a new Habitat for Humanity House in Rosebush. The house is being built for Jason and Amanda Baird and will be completed in November. (Neil Blake/Senior Photographer)

There have been about 45 to 50 people out to volunteer with more to come, Smith said. The Baird family waited more than a year to get a house.

“The Habitat felt Jason was definitely putting his hours in by serving our country,” Clark said. “We’ve been trying to recruit other local military veterans to volunteer to help build the house in honor of Jason’s departure.”

Construction began in late July and is expected to complete in November.

“So far, progress on the house is going smoothly and is right on schedule,” Smith said.

Volunteer work includes help from the Michigan Works Association, a member of the American Legion, a couple construction contractors, a few CMU student groups and Richard Clark, the construction chairman for the Habitat, Smith said.

“My job is to guide and instruct all of the volunteers on the site,” Smith said. “It hasn’t been a difficult process to find volunteers for this project.”

The Habitat gets its funding for equipment and materials from donations they received throughout the years, Clark said.

“We have been a small local affiliate for 20 years, so we’ve gotten many donations through fundraising,” she said.

Michigan Works also is helping with the Rosebush house project.

“Through state stimulus money, Michigan Works hired 18 to 24 men to help work on the house,” Smith said.

The Habitat for Humanity chapter at CMU helped a great deal with the Rosebush project, and plans to continue, Smith said.

The three courts, which now form a one-way street entering at Ottawa and exiting at Ojibway, surround Washington Apartments and the new Education and Human Services Building.

“The project is piloting back-in angle parking, which is a pedestrian friendly concept that CMU and the city of Mount Pleasant learned about last winter when working with a consultant on ‘walkable’ communities,” said Linda Slater, director of plant engineering and planning.

Other cities, including Ann Arbor, are installing this type of parking, she said. Many places are testing the new parking concept out and are proving back-in parking to be safer and easier, she said.

“I agree that back-in angle parking will afford the driver a better view of oncoming cars, pedestrians and bikers as they pull out of the parking space,” said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management.

The project, which was necessary because of the roads’ poor condition, is trying to incorporate pedestrians and drivers into a safe and welcoming environment, Slater said.

“The new changes on campus will definitely result in a more pedestrian-friendly atmosphere,” Lawrence said.

FM additionally added raised crosswalks, bike lanes, a bus stop and an entrance and exit to the new lot 56, which will be between the EHS building and Washington Street, Slater said.

“Four Washington Apartments were demolished for the construction of the parking lot, and construction is scheduled to be completed by Sept. 11,” Lawrence said.

Students living in Beddow, Thorpe, Merrill and Sweeney Halls will have better control of the temperature in their rooms with the installation of temperature control valves, said Linda Slater, director of plant engineering and planning.

The project cost $120,000 and will save about $60,000 a year in heating costs, she said.

“These temperature control valves are a win-win situation,” said Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management. “Occupants can now control their own room temperatures providing more comfort, and it will reduce energy consumption.”

Brooks Hall also had mechanical, electrical and plumbing updates during the summer.
FM replaced the existing HVAC system with 120 new heat pumps located in labs, classrooms and offices throughout Brooks Hall, Slater said.

“The original HVAC system was put into service in 1964 and is well past its intended useful life,” Lawrence said.

The new heat pumps are much more efficient, and each room can work individually instead of the whole building being under one heating or cooling mode, he said.

The $5 million project, also funded by Deferred Maintenance, will result in “increased occupant control and comfort” and will save energy by 25 percent, Slater said. The project budget is more than $5 million and also is funded by Deferred Maintenance.

Grawn Hall also saw some improvements.

“Occupancy lights were installed in Grawn Hall so that lights will turn off when classrooms and other spaces are not in use,” Slater said. “This project budget is $33,000 and saves more than $11,000 a year in electrical costs.”

FM also replaced roofs on the Student Athletic Center, the Bohannon School House, Neithercut Lodge, on five buildings in Kewadin Village and on seven buildings at the Northwest Apartments, Slater said.

Anita Richardson, spokesperson for the Bay Region of the Michigan Department of Transportation, expects the US-127 construction project, which started on July 7, to be completed in November.

“The US-127 construction is a resurfacing project focused on creating a roundabout in the north and southbound lanes. It is on track and progressing well,” she said.

The area extends from the Shepherd exit south of Blanchard Road to the Mission Street exit in Mount Pleasant.

The $9.3 million project is funded by stimulus money from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, Richardson said.

“It really shouldn’t affect back-to-school traffic except for a little back-up on Friday evenings when people are leaving or coming for the weekend,” she said. “I would just advise motorist to go slow through the area.”

Main roundabout

Mount Pleasant Director of Public Works Duane Ellis said the construction of a roundabout at the Main and Mosher Street intersection began Aug. 3, and should be completed in mid to late September.

“This construction will impact traffic, but people can still go through,” he said.

Overall, the roundabout will increase safety, the removal of traffic signals will save energy and the intersection will be more pedestrian friendly, he said.

Street Mill and Overlay

The Street Mill and Overlay, which began Aug. 5, will improve 12 streets in the city limits.

“The two big mill machines, being provided by the city, will first grind off 2 inches of asphalt from the street, which is a rather quick process and takes about three days to complete,” Ellis said. “Then, afterward, the street will be repaved.”

The only traffic impact will be driving around the mill machine, he said.

Franklin Street

Construction on Franklin Street to replace the water main began in mid-July and should be completed in mid-August. These city construction projects are funded by the city stimulus money, he said.

“The city money’s primary source is from the Act 51 funds, which are capital improvement funds and no grant money,” Ellis said.

West Campus Drive

Construction on West Campus Drive between Broomfield Rd. and the railroad tracks to the south was reconstructed and completed in July.

“The reconstruction of West Campus Drive included the crush and shape of the existing roadway, upgraded the Upton Drain, and installed bike paths on each side of the new roadway,” said Linda Slater, Facilities Management director of plant engineering and planning.

MDOT funded 90 percent of the $416,000 project, and the difference was funded by Deferred Maintenance.

Steve Lawrence, associate vice president of Facilities Management, said one of the first considerations for the West Campus Drive construction was the amount of traffic.

“West Campus Drive, south of Broomfield Rd., has the highest vehicle count of university-owned streets,” Lawrence said.