Burton · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Burton public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Road restoration standards and utility cut ordinance
Telecom companies are boring fiber lines through right-of-ways and tearing up front lawns across Burton, and the city says it has little say. DPW is taking complaints and requiring bonds from contractors.
Residential street parking conflicts
Narrow south-end streets with cars parked on both sides create sight-line hazards for drivers backing out of driveways, and council members report near-misses. The committee learned parking restrictions come via traffic control orders adopted by the full council, addressed street by street.
Dort Highway reconstruction gap
Covert Road is finished, Belsay Road should reopen at the railroad crossing by Monday, and Genesee Road work remains on schedule despite traffic headaches.
Kelly Lake to For-Mar community walk and trail connectivity
The council hired Elexco Land Services to negotiate the four easements MDOT requires for the Iron Belle Trail — a resident asked whether landowners were contacted earlier in the design process.
Belsay and Potter Road intersection improvement grant
A 30-year resident said heavy truck traffic from the Paul's Davidson project wrecked Potter Road, leaving it like railroad tracks. DPW says it's on the radar but funds are stretched across a 50-year road backlog.
Sitka Street paving (SAD 26-009-P)
The gravel stretch of Sitka Street has deteriorated badly — deep potholes, washouts after every rain, and complaints it takes 10 minutes to drive a half mile. The city's 50/50 match program lets residents pay half the paving cost, spread over 10 years, while the city picks up the other half. The council unanimously approved moving forward.
Davison Road sidewalk extension
Another mile of sidewalk is coming to Davison Road between Genesee and Belsay, paid for by reallocating Major Streets money. It's the kind of walkability upgrade residents have pushed for for decades.
Genesee Road reconstruction update
The city hired T.G. Priehs, LLC to build the Genesee Road sidewalk connecting Kelly Lake to Formar Road. A councilman flagged a dangerously narrow segment at Court and Genesee that may not be handicap accessible.
Genesee Connect ride-share service in the DDA district
The MTA launched its Genesee Connect ride-share covering part of the DDA district, with expansion to new areas expected soon — a new transportation option for shoppers and workers downtown.
Montcalm and Day Street paving / special assessment district
Residents petitioned to pave Sitka Street from gravel to asphalt, and the city will chip in a 50% match. Property owners in the district get a May 4 public hearing before costs are assessed.
Burton Estates subdivision repaving
Council Member Tina Conley thanked DPW crews for grinding through days of pothole filling. DPW Director Abbey said snow, rain and freeze-thaw cycles are wreaking havoc on roads, even newer ones — though he noted conditions are far better than five years ago.
East Maple Ave road rehabilitation
Council put $324,250 from fund balance toward the Maple Avenue project between Dort Hwy and Center Road and hired Wade Trim for up to $64,100 in preliminary engineering — real movement on a major east-west corridor.
Major streets budget and ditching funding
The council approved contracts to rebuild Covert Road ($892,968) and Genesee Road ($3.13 million) this year, plus a budget amendment to cover the Genesee work.
Belsay Road railroad crossing reopening
Belsay Road will close for about two weeks while the Canadian National crossing is rebuilt — plan alternate routes.
MTA Bus Stop
The Jolson and Saginaw bus shelter was replaced with a modified version that offers less protection, and at least one business wanted shelters removed over drug activity complaints.
Winter salt costs surge
With a heavy winter driving up salt and overtime costs, officials expect they'll likely need a budget transfer by year's end for snow removal, after three mild winters.
CDBG paving of Buder and Homestead
Three late-added items paved the way for $324,500 in federal CDBG funds to repave Buder and Homestead, with $18,500 for engineering and a $141,558 budget amendment.
Act 51 road decertification
The state flagged small stretches of Burton streets — like 150 feet of Bergin Street — as not maintained public right-of-way. Decertifying them aligns records with reality; the city doesn't plow them anyway.