Improvement plan update expected this September

The White Lake Township Planning Department is gearing up to start assembling the township’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) update for 2012-2017.

This will be the township’s third year putting a plan together. Since the Michigan Planning Enabling Act of 2008, any Michigan township which owns and/or operates a water supply or sewage disposal system has to develop and annually update a Capital Improvement Plan.

While Planning Director Sean O’Neil said he one day hopes to assemble the plan completely “in house,” the township will once again use consultants to help edit and assemble the plan for a fee of $2,700, which was approved by the Board of Trustees at a Tuesday, May 17 meeting.

O’Neil said he also hopes to start updating the plan next month to have it ready for adoption by the board in late summer.

“If we have it ready by September, that gives the board time to fully consider the CIP when approving the budget for the upcoming year,” O’Neil said.

While water and sewer systems necessitate the need for a CIP under state law, O’Neil explained that all departments within the township are considered for these improvement projects.

“The CIP spans all departments,” he said. “It’s a very helpful document internally, as well as for the community. Residents can go online and get a copy to find out what projects are coming down the line or which have already been completed. It’s also useful for people planning to locate a business here to see what the township’s plans are for the future.”

The current CIP for 2011-2016 can be found at whitelaketwp.com/planning.asp.

According to O’Neil, the CIP is for only “major projects” in the community — those normally totaling over $50,000. The CIP also shows which projects are considered a top priority and where additional funds can come from to fund the project since the township normally doesn’t have the funds to carry out all these projects purely using its own funds.

“It’s a living document,” O’Neil said. “It changes from year to year. We’re just trying to chart all projects for the next six years to make all the pieces of the puzzle fit together financially. We welcome the public’s input and are looking forward to working together to update the CIP.”