Meridian Township asks Okemos schools for three easements to complete pathway, water and siren access at Bennett Woods

Meridian Township officials told the Okemos Public Schools Board of Education they are seeking three easements across the Bennett Woods school site to legalize existing township infrastructure and to build a short pathway and boardwalk that would connect the school to nearby neighborhoods.

Township project engineer Casey Hart told the board the request covers (1) a water easement around existing township mains and hydrants, (2) a warning siren easement west of the school driveway for severe-weather alerts, and (3) pathway easements that include an existing 7-foot concrete sidewalk and a proposed boardwalk across a wetland to tie into the off-site pathway network. "So what we're proposing is a pathway project that consists of a boardwalk... we're going to construct the 7 foot wide concrete pathway until we get to the wetland. Then we have about 335 linear feet of boardwalk. It's gonna be 8 foot…