Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Cdbg topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Hillman approves CDBG application with Habitat for Humanity; paving contract recommended
Summary
The Village of Hillman voted June 16 to authorize a $1,239,000 MSHDA CDBG application with Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan to extend roads and utilities for Orchard Pines Subdivision (up to 14 homes). Huron Engineering recommended awarding paving work to Payne & Dolan; the council approved moving forward and authorized the village manager to sign grant documents.
President Dave Hornbacher opened the Village of Hillman meeting on June 16 and the council held a public hearing on a Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) Neighborhood Community Development Block Grant application in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan.
The council unanimously approved Resolution 2026‑12, authorizing the village to seek $1,239,000 in CDBG funds to extend roads, water, electricity and sewer to Orchard Pines Subdivision Phase 11, a project described in the application as supporting development of up to 14 homes. The resolution states the village will commit $30,000 in local funds and Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan will commit $1,270,000 to the project. President Dave Hornbacher read the resolution and Trustee Steve Orlandi made the motion to adopt; Trustee Velma Brown supported the motion and it carried unanimously.
Katie Wolf, a representative of Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan, told the council the subdivision plat "is being worked on right now and should be available for the Council to review and approve at the next meeting on July 7, 2026," and that Huron Engineering is preparing project engineering work that also should be ready for the July meeting. Wolf said home designs will be tailored to buyers and that both stick‑built and modular options are available. She told the council about "45 people who are in the process of being qualified in the Northeast region" and said she would provide a more precise count for the Hillman area.
On the question of financial responsibility if homes are not built within the grant window, Wolf said Habitat has told state grant administrators it would repay funds and that Habitat would be willing to sign a memorandum of understanding with the village documenting that commitment. A separate question about whether Habitat would obtain a performance bond was not answered during the hearing.
When asked about the value of two homes on Pine Street, Wolf said she did not know the State Equalized Value or the taxable amount but that the two homes were appraised at $275,000. President Hornbacher and Rebecca Rivard of the Montmorency County Road Commission confirmed that street paving is part of the CDBG project scope.
Rebecca Rivard reported that Huron Engineering recommends awarding the Category B paving contract to Payne & Dolan. The council voted to award the paving contract to Payne & Dolan and to allow Village Manager David J. Post to sign grant documents and related agreements; that motion passed unanimously.
Next steps identified in the meeting: the plat and engineering materials are expected for council review on July 7, 2026, and no field construction can begin until the grant application advances, environmental reviews are complete and a formal written authorization to obligate funds is issued by MSHDA.
The council recorded the resolution and contract awards as formal actions in the meeting minutes; additional project details, including the Hillman‑specific buyer qualification count and whether a performance bond will be required, were left to follow‑up.
