Council debates Jackson Avenue resurfacing grant as residents object to widening

Council and planning staff discussed a grant tied to a Jackson Avenue paving/resurfacing project and residents’ objections to widening. Administration staff said the item appeared on the agenda because it had been tabled previously while notification materials were prepared; that scheduling meant the agenda would show the grant even if council might later decide to vote to table or remove it.

Council members asked whether the township could accept grant money and then decline the project. Planning staff said the answer depends on the specific grant terms and budgeting requirements: accepting a grant may create obligations under the grant’s budgeting process and could require finding allowable uses for the funds. Administration recommended reviewing the grant language before accepting funds, and several councilors suggested tabling the item and holding a resident notice meeting to make sure community concerns — particularly opposition to road widening — were addressed before a final decision.

Council members also discussed the larger resurfacing program. Staff said the road-resurfacing work is split into multiple contracts and identified the current contract number and approximate program totals; council requested the schedule and an itemized list of roads included in the paving program. Administration agreed to provide the list and to clarify whether the township could accept the grant without committing to widening.

At the session, no final acceptance of the grant occurred; councilors asked staff to return with grant terms, road lists and additional resident outreach before any vote.