City to seek proposals for RV park feasibility study
Design professionals are being sought to perform a feasibility study to determine if construction of a RV park on property surrounding the waste water treatment plant would be in the best interest of the city of Rogers City. In addition to the feasibility study, the city will need the selected firm to develop a preliminary design and come up with a cost estimate and cash flow analysis. The Rogers City Parks and Recreation Commission has recommended that the study be performed in order to plan future uses of the Lake Huron waterfront property.
The current budget includes $7,500 for the study, which the city would like completed prior to the end of their fiscal year, preferably by May 31.
Proposals must be received at city hall by March 14. THE RV park has been talked about for a couple of years, and a conceptual drawing by consultants Beckett and Raeder was offered to members of the Rogers City Council in the fall of 2001. While the drawing showed 34 camping sites, assistant city manager John Bruning said Monday he believed 50 sites could be fitted into the park.
City officials have said the RV park would be a good interim use of the property because it still needs to be available in case the treatment plant warranted expansion. Bruning said expansion has to be part of the plan for the future.
IF THE PARK is developed on the site, campers would have the view of Lake Huron, plus the convenience of being able to frequent nearby businesses downtown, which would be a boost to the economy. Landscaping would be placed around the treatment building and holding ponds. The non-motorized trail would remain at its present location, within distance of clapping Lake Huron waves. City manager Rob Fairbanks said he looked at numerous RV parks in Michigan, including one in East Tawas, which also is along the Lake Huron shoreline. East Tawas has a larger site than the one proposed for Rogers City, but it makes enough money to finance a community center and city hall.
AS A PART of the site assessment, the property adjacent to the plant would be evaluated to determine if its suitable for use as an RV park. The construction cost estimate would be based on the conceptual plan outlining design, construction and operating costs. A cash flow analysis would take into account construction and design costs, projected revenues, financing costs, and operating costs, which would answer the question of whether or not the facility would be able to pay for itself.
The summary of the feasibility assessment would include conclusions and recommendations from the firm regarding use of the property as an RV Park and the number of sites that could be constructed. Comments, suggestions and recommendations for possible options or alternatives are expected to be included.
IN OTHER matters to come before council: ? Fairbanks said the environmental assessment from the Department of Environmental Quality, which should have been approved for the Lakeview Residential Renaissance Zone already, should be taken care of within the month. The city manager said many DEQ personnel changes have left the city working with new people, creating the delays. Fairbanks added that the Lakeview Residential Renaissance Zone now has two or three downstate firms interested in developing the property, and one from the area. More news on that is expected in the coming days and weeks.
? Mayor Beach Hall said a meeting was to be conducted this week with the Bay Mills Indian Community, Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians and officials from the Department of Natural Resources. The meeting, tentatively set for Brimley, would include Harbor Advisory Committee members Joe Signorelli, Dick Peacock, Bruce Grant, chairman Jack Smitka, Fairbanks or Bruning, and Hall.
It is hoped that the meeting will prove valuable to discuss issues of concern and interest for the upcoming boating season, so everyone can have a ?smooth summer,? Hall said.
? The Kiwanis Club will be working with city staff and the Parks and Recreation Commission to construct a roof on the gazebo at Lakeside Park. Kiwanis Club members have offered to pay for the top and the volunteers to help in the construction. The top would be built in Mio, but the civic group wanted to ensure they would receive help with transporting
? The Michigan Liquor Control Commission (LCC) has denied the owners of Bayport on Bradley Highway a request for a license.
The decision was made at a LCC meeting January 22 and mailed to relevant parties January 29. The city received a copy February 5. ? With the retirement of city engineer/manager Rob Fairbanks, council member Ralph Baker expressed his concern about the possibility of not having an engineer, especially with so many projects on tap.
Baker said Fairbanks has done an ?excellent? job, but without the engineer he believes projects will be stalled without someone to coordinate them.
