Dexter Council Floats 10 year Bond to Raise $950K to “Rehabilitate” Roads

IN MAY 2014, Dexter officials  determined, using a road survey, that streets in that village were rated an average of 5.2 out of a possible ten. The Village Council then issued a ten-year road construction bond for $800,000, to be paid for with a .5 mill increase in the Streets Millage.

Prior to the millage enhancement, Dexter levied approximately one mill less for streets than it was permitted to by law. The 0.5 mill increase cost the owner of $200,000 home an additional $50 per year.

According to officials there, “The rating system uses a scale from one to ten, with one being the lowest rating (needing total reconstruction) and ten being the highest rating (brand new). The current average rating for Village streets is about 5.2, and the goal is to bring this average rating up to at least a seven within the next three to five years. By bringing the ratings up to a seven, the result should be greatly lowered (or eliminated) future costs for reconstruction and replacement.”

The plan includes laying a new surface of asphalt on 6.8 miles of streets, which is more than a third of the Village, in the first three years.

While roads are the main focus, new storm sewer, electrical improvements and curb replacements are also planned during the complete rebuilding of Ann Arbor Street—a two-lane road which runs through the center of Dexter’s downtown.

Once the major road projects are complete, funds from the Streets Millage that were used for major repairs and reconstruction will be used instead for improvements such as sidewalks, storm water management, non-motorized paths, and other pedestrian and traffic flow improvements.

Dexter received $400,000 in federal funds for the road work, as well.