Ludington's Golden West End Walkway

[XLFD]

How Much Money for Concrete and Labor? 

How Much for Open Meeting Act Violating City of Ludington Grafters?

These questions will be answered after analysis of the facts.  Here is a map of some of the modifications the City planners are planning, the blue area represents what they apparently are seeking funds for.

 

I say apparently, because the City of Ludington will not allow anybody to see these trust fund applications records unless they pay $63.25, and due to the conflicting information out there that have not been all that clear as to where the money is to be going. 

COLDNews 3-2 2013:  The city is seeking a grant of up to $300,000, which requires a 25 percent match.  The money would pay for a concrete walkway along the beach in front of the dune between the Ludington North Breakwater and the west end of Ludington Avenue, where the pavement ends, plus a portion of the promenade area where the avenue ends.  This is the same information they gave on a 2-15-2013 article.

Mason County Press 2-19-2013:  "Following the public hearing, the council will consider a resolution to apply for the $300,000 grant, which would be used to construct a walkway to connect the west end of Ludington Avenue with the existing breakwater that leads to the North Pier Lighthouse."

From the City Council Meeting Minutes for 2-18-2013:  "The meeting was opened for the scheduled public hearing for comments on the West End of Ludington Avenue Project. City Manager John Shay explained that the City intends to re-apply for the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund Grant in the amount of $300,000 that will pay 75% of the costs to renovate the West End of Ludington Avenue by constructing a concrete walkway to connect the existing break water leading to the lighthouse to the west end of Ludington Avenue. The project costs are $479,000 and the grant would pay $300,000. The City has received approximately $51,000 in grants from other sources and will hold fundraisers to raise the additional money to pay for this project."

 

The blocklong stretch of beach is seen in the background here in less inclement weather, where someone is feeding those seagulls.  The walkway looks to be pushed back to the grassy area. 

 

It looks like the minutes of that meeting where it was explained in the most detail match the MCP's article, whose reporter was at the same meeting.  Go figure that the COLDNews would mislead us.  There is $479,000 to be used for the walkway, and the walkway has been acknowledged to be made ten feet wide.  I find it amazingly ironic that they decide to cut the right of way (sidewalk) in the downtown district down to five feet at the same time they wish for ten feet on the beach.  Should we be expecting outdoor dining in the future along the beach on half of the walkway?

 

Pacing the distance out between the breakwall and the end of Ludington Avenue, as in the graphic picture is a liberal 120 yards, or 360 feet.  360 ft. X 10ft. = 3600 sq. ft. of sidewalk is envisioned going across the beachfront.  Let's calculate the cost of such an endeavor using this "sidewalk cost calculator" from Homewyse and that 3600 square footage of sidewalk.  You will note, the total costs calculated includes materials, labor, and several other variables you need to install a sidewalk. 

 

 

Now how about that, the costs to install a 360 ft. long, 10 ft. wide sidewalk, in accordance with what the Ludington City Manager has figured is a bit high-- more than $460,000 more than the high range of what this sidewalk should be costing you if you put this sidewalk along your typical city block.  Put another way, it is over 3615% of the amount our up-to-date sidewalk installation calculator is telling us.  This is one reason why details matter, when you're dealing with City Hallers with questionable scruples and histories.

 

So our City Manager, who says $479,000 is what we need to build this walkway in the official minutes of the City Council meeting, has over estimated the cost a wee, little bit.  Next thing you'll be telling me is that we are going to be paying over $1.5 million to paint the two water towers and a water tank, when it could have been done for about a fifth of that, and without worrying about painters that apply paint in conditions that they shouldn't be. 

 

Isn't it also ironic that this application to the Michigan Natural Resources Trust Fund is due on April Fool's Day? 

[Willy]

The new sidewalk is going to be more than a sidewalk. It's actually going to be a road. It will have to be strong enough to support emergency and maintenance vehicles so I can see why the price is so high. Imagine a road being installed on this beautiful beach. This may be something that the State would refuse to allow because of not only the fact that a "road" is being built within feet of the Lake but because it may be in violation of the Michigan Critical Dunes Act http://macd.org/critical-dunes.html. 

[XLFD]

It looks as if they do plan on altering the dunes significantly and making it more stable through planting.  Good catch, Willy, I would have to agree it seems to go against the MI CDA.

This will not be your typical sidewalk, and it may have more technical issues than a resident's front yard would as regards making it durable within a sand base, but who knows what this walkway will be?  All we got to work with is it's going to be concrete, 10' wide, and connect two structures 360' away from each other.  Will it be solid like a breakwall or just a basically normal sidewalk like you have going on Stearn's Drive?  I'd like to know, but they're not telling us.

[easymoney]

Hey taxpayers, It's only money.

In my humble opinion, this will totally become a distraction and look too commercial. Maybe some one complained about sand in their shoes, while trying to feed the fish?

[XLFD]

I've recently got some public records from the City.  The 'public meetings' they refer to at the end of their meetings are public hearings from November 2006 and February 2007.  Trotting out an idea six years earlier without reference to this 'old news', and perhaps dated plans, is ridiculous.

 

And just so you know, these public meetings during what were good economic times had the public involved (besides those involved with the actual planning of it) being skeptical of it, its cost, its effect on the overall effect you have down at the beach.  We've got the sequester in Washington DC now, the loss of local revenues threatened by the state, the bankruptcy of Detroit, and so what do you want to do? 

Gee, let's sink over $2,000,000 of funds so that you can block the end of Ludington Avenue with a beer tent  and have a glorified sidewalk extend over to the breakwall so drunken revellers can more easily  get on the breakwall and become another Ludington statistic. 

I appeal to the creators of this plan:  let the people decide what to do with the west end of Ludington, put it up for a vote.  If you were surprised by John Henderson's City Proposal taking a thumping, you'll see this plan even getting a more resounding denial.  Could this area be improved?  Yes, but let's let the community decide if we should do so and how, as our charter effectively mandates.