Monroe County delays $45,000 planning grant application for proposed Waterloo footbridge until municipal backing secured

Monroe County commissioners on May 21 debated whether to apply for a $45,000 fiscal-year-2025 Planning Assistance Program grant from the Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) to fund a feasibility study for a proposed pedestrian bridge connecting Waterloo Park to the North Custer trail.

The county’s community planning and engagement director, Jason Berry, told commissioners the study would test whether a bridge is physically and financially feasible, noting the county’s parks-and-recreation plan lists the crossing as a suggested future project and that about 24,000 residents live within two miles of the proposed location. “This is a pedestrian bridge, only,” Berry said, adding the study would clarify engineering, landing and Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility constraints.

Berry said the project cost could run into the millions — estimates discussed in the meeting ranged as high as $6–7 million — and the grant includes an 18.15% local match. The county’s share for the study was presented as roughly $23,200 drawn from county funds if the board approved the grant application.

Several commissioners and municipal officials said they lacked political or financial support from partner jurisdictions. Commissioner Henry (last name not specified in the record) said Monroe Township officials and some city leaders declined to commit, and Monroe Township Supervisor John Manor told commissioners a local match could be roughly $2 million — roughly half of the township’s annual budget, in Manor’s account relayed to the board.

Concerns raised during the debate included potentially large construction and long-term maintenance costs, unclear landing and accessibility options on the North Custer side, and doubts that municipalities would provide follow-on funding or connections. Commissioners also cited previous local pedestrian-bridge projects and maintenance costs as cautionary examples.

The board initially heard a motion to submit the SEMCOG grant application. After extended discussion and multiple members asking for municipal assurances, a motion to table the application passed. The tabled motion, which passed on roll call, directed staff to return only after the county has “support from the local municipalities” — including political and financial commitments — and after parks-and-recreation processes and municipal outreach are completed.

The county staff and commissioners said the feasibility study could be reintroduced later if municipalities and regional funders (board discussion referenced potential Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation funding) indicate support.

Action on the SEMCOG application was therefore deferred rather than approved; commissioners instructed staff to secure municipal endorsements and return with the additional documentation and letters of support before moving forward.