The Utica City Council on Dec. 9 approved HRC’s professional engineering proposal, not to exceed $51,000, to design non-motorized corridor improvements along Auburn Road and Cass Avenue. Staff said $22,000 of the project costs would be charged to the current fiscal year from grant funds received through the MDOT local agency safety grant.

Council moved to approve HRC’s design proposal and then approved a separate motion to amend the FY2026 major street fund engineering budget by $22,000 to reflect grant funding. Finally, the council approved a general-fund street-department engineering budget amendment of $4,110 from unassigned general-fund balance to support the MDOT safety grant application and project work. All motions carried on roll-call votes.

Superintendent Dimond described the grant and the project scope as design work for a non-motorized corridor intended to improve safety and connectivity. The council affirmed that grant funds—not general fund tax revenue—would cover the $22,000 portion while the $4,110 amendment tapped unassigned funds to complete the local funding match or related costs.