Village of Alanson seeks $400,000 MNRTF grant to upgrade ballfields

The Village Council of Alanson held a public hearing March 11 to consider applying for a $400,000 Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund (MNRTF) grant to renovate the Alanson Sports Complex, including ballfield infield refurbishments, new concessions and restrooms, parking and accessibility work.

Gosling Czubak landscape architect Kevin Krogulecki presented the project to the council, describing the parcel being acquired from the school district as “mainly unimproved” and saying the plan would refurbish baseball and softball fields, add concessions and restrooms and improve parking and site accessibility. "The Village is currently seeking the DNR Trust fund grant of $400,000," Krogulecki said during the presentation.

Krogulecki told the council that the Village would pursue additional state and federal sources and that smaller "mini" DNR grants are available though not required before applying for the Trust Fund grant. He said other DNR grant programs can offer roughly $150,000 in funds for related projects. Trustee Doug Larson said completing a proof-of-concept first phase should make the Village more competitive for additional grants.

There is a discrepancy between spoken remarks and the engineer's estimate in the meeting packet. In oral remarks Krogulecki described a total project cost of about $600,000; the Gosling Czubak opinion of cost included in the packet (dated March 4, 2024) lists a construction total of $522,000, engineering/permitting/grant administration of $89,000 and an estimated project total of $611,000. That estimate shows an MNRTF request of $400,000 (about 65.5% of the $611,000 figure) and a local match of $211,000 (about 34.5%). Krogulecki also stated during the hearing that the Village has a minimum 20% match requirement for some DNR programs; the packet numbers show the project match at a higher percentage on the current estimate.

During public comment, resident Matthew Weeber asked whether the Village had explored additional revenue streams. Krogulecki responded that the project team would seek other grants and funding and reiterated the availability of smaller grant programs. Resident John Wochoski asked whether an additional millage would be necessary to fund the project; Trustee Doug Larson replied that an additional millage would not be required.

Procedural motions recorded in the minutes: Trustee Doug Larson moved to accept the public hearing agenda (Trustee Scott Latva seconded) and the motion carried 5-0; President Greg Babcock moved to open the public hearing at 5:33 p.m.; Trustee Doug Larson moved to close the public hearing at 5:51 p.m. (Trustee Josh Larson seconded) and the motion carried 5-0. Trustee Larson then moved to adjourn (seconded by Trustee Josh Larson); the meeting adjourned at 5:51 p.m. by unanimous vote.

A draft resolution supporting submission of an MNRTF application titled "Alanson Ball Fields and Sports Complex Improvements" and stating a local match appears in the meeting materials; the official minutes for March 11 record only the public hearing actions and do not show a council vote adopting that resolution at this meeting. The next recorded procedural steps in the packet are finalizing application materials and submitting the MNRTF request (the packet includes application and sample-resolution templates).