[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6302066,"mediaKeyId","2482643-7a590e0600caf9b5e7ed1e8dce42a414","parentId",2482643,"title","Sustainable BC committee approves December minutes; staff outline compost pilot, electronics recycling, tree plantings and grant efforts","audioSeconds",240,"startMs",3199000,"endMs",3439000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2482643-7a590e0600caf9b5e7ed1e8dce42a414&start=3199&end=3439","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2482643-7a590e0600caf9b5e7ed1e8dce42a414/thumbnail_3199000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6302066/Battle-Creek-City/Calhoun-County/Michigan/Sustainable-BC-committee-approves-December-minutes-staff-outline-compost-pilot-electronics-recycling-tree-plantings-and-grant-efforts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302066-5048384c4284da7b2baa80d351fa864a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139312&Signature=K93q49vSgMrhEtZnqKrkAAPTz50BGPJzFkN5eRNOUTHcsdVd787sXQG2AXNFfXVETZW4uZXgoojbhRBMl~Eq1InLZ-OXgHjTcEIVBOcum~AoBV2cwfNfXq-ElbUyvyymuEL9mlN1frTKOUBEUm78aYC6QSwr-9bKx6OfFnEDqSV3SvILeHYZCQN8ONFwsmIui3odqT7fpmTEy~ihFps4qZ6iHJF8QzYAXxNuJhdn1EaWXk93WZpERVrL5EUqpgq1SipbEO0X4wNGbmiJ1j3BW6hnaZNRRUxgAnW960IHIIIaamOC7NQrqniCqjztVraxbmNSLkSDMVdUAFSN9nZ04Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Battle Creek","date","2025-02-24T00:00:00Z","article","The Sustainable BC Committee approved the minutes from its December meeting unanimously on Feb. 24. Patty Hoke moved to approve the minutes and Bessie Ploog seconded; the chair recorded unanimous approval.

Committee members then heard a series of staff updates from the City of Battle Creek environmental department and volunteers about ongoing programs and upcoming events.

Patty Hoke said staff are continuing conversations with Consumers Energy about an on-demand program that would serve city facilities including City Hall, Verona Wellfield and the wastewater plant. She also reported exploratory work on a potential food-waste compost pilot in partnership with My Green Michigan and said staff are identifying possible pilot locations; the city is watching recent pilot launches in Portage and other Michigan communities.

Bessie Ploog reviewed near-term volunteer opportunities and events: a March electronics and polystyrene (styrofoam) collection that will need volunteers to help sort materials, and multiple tree-planting events in April (staff identified the week of April 7 and the week of April 20 as target timeframes). Ploog said details and signups are posted on vcwater.org.

Hoke and staff also described grant work: the committee submitted a pre-proposal for the Sustain Our Great Lakes grant to address invasive-species treatment along the linear path from Bailey Park and are coordinating with the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council on tree-planting funds and site work. Hoke said she expects to invite Sarah Lundy from the county to present on the county’s required municipal solid-waste plan update at a future meeting.

Ryan Ranke of the Calhoun Conservation District told members he is conducting a conservation needs assessment to gather public input; he said he will share the survey with the committee email chain. Committee members asked Hoke to circulate a summary of the city’s 2024 sustainability accomplishments and noted an interest in focusing on government management and waste chapters of the sustainability plan during 2025.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Remote Sustainable Battle Creek Committee meeting - 2/24/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Sustainable BC Committee approved the minutes from its December meeting unanimously on Feb. 24, then received staff updates on composting pilots, electronics recycling, tree plantings, and grant applications.","taxTitle","Battle Creek City, Calhoun County, Michigan","taxId",3332,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6302072,"Ride Calhoun authority outlines timeline, budget and service plan after millage win",2914,265000,3179000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2482643-7a590e0600caf9b5e7ed1e8dce42a414&start=265&end=3179","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2482643-7a590e0600caf9b5e7ed1e8dce42a414/thumbnail_265000.jpg","/articles/6302072/Battle-Creek-City/Calhoun-County/Michigan/Ride-Calhoun-authority-outlines-timeline-budget-and-service-plan-after-millage-win","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302072-bd73920aaeef41dae5c612c402c2548a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139312&Signature=GYfP8KWiuOO3QZrEPEf1qxL5xIxii97DSiaeMpPMyNdcncphDkKw5P4t8X8OQH4CCRiKE0XGeNAoBfAvryL~yto7h2oAuo6yDFW0hjFhtyRZMxdWSL6TdpEtlS4HZeSUksFpZKfNm4JUnT2jdWTCwt~5q71sidgbvF1cKFGRgMbyIwRNSM2~IzF-9HCNxWpwbhMnSlUXYqVYbnFaVaPbxe0-FCI9FJfM0dNCylBcNzQE1IJRCeiowfyz5NWYB5TBjY6GKJ-PrDHC2AAmRw6~Ie3jJHSy09iMWVcK8s4Dh93cxTPR1tIxt0ljeulG~tpVGMccrnEC8a5PZERbKTJnwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mallory Avis, public transit director for the City of Battle Creek, told the Sustainable BC Committee on Feb. 24 that the Transportation Authority of Calhoun County — branded Ride Calhoun — will use a voter-approved 2.66-mill levy to fund expanded countywide transit and to meet federal and state reimbursement rules.

Avis said the millage passed in November with about 58% support and that the authority will rely on a mix of fare revenue, federal and state grants and the millage to operate. “Our estimate is an average operating budget of about $12,000,000 with roughly $7,000,000 in federal and state grants,” she said. She added that farebox receipts (about $1.75 per ride) currently cover roughly 7% of operating revenue.

The authority grew out of a BCGo pilot and transit studies; BCGo demand exceeded expectations, Avis said, with more than 50,000 trip requests by the pilot’s second year and only about 22% of requests met. That data informed the authority’s planning and the service scenarios the board considered.

Under the board’s preferred “best” scenario, Ride Calhoun would operate expanded service roughly 5 a.m.–midnight Monday–Friday with some enhanced weekend service. The authority’s planned service model will combine three types of service: conventional fixed-route buses, ADA paratransit where required, and a on-demand technology-based service called RC Flex that will replace the BCGo pilot.

Avis said the authority’s budget supports a fleet increase (the city and Marshall currently operate about 28 vehicles combined; the authority’s budgeted fleet is about 44 vehicles) and a mix of vehicle sizes, from small vans used for on-demand trips to larger shuttles where demand supports them. The authority has placed an order for four larger vehicles and is awaiting word on a CMAQ (Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality) grant for three electric vans.

She told the committee the authority is not yet the designated recipient of federal and state transit funds; that status must be transferred from the cities to the TAC before the authority can draw formula grants from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). “The TAC, along with the City of Battle Creek and the City of Marshall, are working with FTA and MDOT to transfer that designated recipient status,” Avis said. That transfer is likely before October 2025, and the authority hopes to complete major staff and asset transfers by July 1, 2026.

Avis explained why the millage preceded full operation: many federal and state grants are reimbursement-based, meaning the authority must show expenditures before drawing down funds. The millage provides operating cash to ramp up hiring, procure technology and contract legal and financial advisors. She also noted procurement constraints tied to federal requirements (including Buy America rules) that limit some local purchasing options but do not preclude creative public–private partnerships funded locally.

Committee members asked about turnaround times, regional connections and labor. Avis said BCGo currently requires a 30-minute booking window as a minimum; the RC Flex system is expected to offer faster matches when vehicles are available and to continue offering advance bookings (the authority is still finalizing the booking window). She said Ride Calhoun already coordinates with Amtrak and other regional providers via interlocal agreements and that longer-distance or regional connections will be a priority once the authority is operational.

On staffing and unions, Avis said Public Act 196 governs the creation of transit authorities and that existing collective bargaining agreements are protected during any transfer of employees to the TAC. She said the authority’s budget supports higher wages for CDL drivers and that the authority will negotiate with unions as transfers and hires proceed.

Avis closed by directing residents to ridecalhoun.org and the authority’s social channels for updates and said committee members and residents may send questions through the site or the authority’s contact form.

","Mallory Avis, public transit director for the City of Battle Creek, told the Sustainable BC Committee on Feb. 24 that the Transportation Authority of Calhoun County — branded Ride Calhoun — will use a voter-approved 2.66-mill levy to fund expanded countywide transit and to meet federal and state reimbursement rules.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6302061,"River restoration initiative reaches federal feasibility milestone; consultants to study next steps",49,3553000,3602000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2482643-7a590e0600caf9b5e7ed1e8dce42a414&start=3553&end=3602","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2482643-7a590e0600caf9b5e7ed1e8dce42a414/thumbnail_3553000.jpg","/articles/6302061/Battle-Creek-City/Calhoun-County/Michigan/River-restoration-initiative-reaches-federal-feasibility-milestone-consultants-to-study-next-steps","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6302061-fe16172d1d6b342031e362506bfb8d67/orig.mp4?Expires=1771139312&Signature=h0ifq13rRLcc9ibsmjMo4HZYsZq~O9RnKJ5zvwtSlgKRfK4OuB4zTyhXqqcG2R7p0iZDUuvaDzcgE5ERvz4Js-LtrdAc5JSvWkxt6nTwpvZSTNVyNv0a0kfkD-N0~ctq5kis~SKDHuGe0qJ19Ap78l-49fDX93cu8-VEfpTGMHWIQeKo57Xt32afKEdjiq1DpMN8y7MK9O7KrKv~~pWMqgxOT22i9HswhiLkRFqlEywyMeElW0wTyNSQDzli33dSqUQ7iflVpHhdQPE-GiJBiz1z0~EV2MZutKh5j7qx0K6DCJYusdUUs~aHeLyC51931uYwqAvXQ120RtGDs5jBLg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chris Martin, an urban planner who briefed the Sustainable BC Committee on Feb. 24, said the river restoration initiative has been assessed as feasible at the federal level and was included in recent federal legislation.

“We received federal authorization of feasibility,” Martin said. He described the authorization as a major milestone after more than two decades of local work and said the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has made the project a priority in its budget request. The city has onboarded consultants who will work with city staff over the next roughly 20 months to examine efficiencies and next steps for design and funding.

Martin emphasized the authorization does not complete project funding; rather, it clears a key technical and procedural hurdle that allows the city and its partners to seek additional federal and other capital funding sources. He said consultants will evaluate potential improvements and assist in positioning the project for funding requests.

","An update to the Sustainable BC Committee reported that a long-running river restoration initiative was recently federally authorized as feasible and included in recent federal legislation. Chris Martin said consultants have been hired to work with city staff over about 20 months to refine project efficiencies and pursue funding.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sustainable BC committee approves December minutes; staff outline compost pilot, electronics recycling, tree plantings and grant efforts

Ride Calhoun authority outlines timeline, budget and service plan after millage win

River restoration initiative reaches federal feasibility milestone; consultants to study next steps