Officials rank wish list for Tribal payments

City leaders requesting funding for community service projects

Funding for an educational program that teaches children about community service, the operation of the airport, an aerial fire apparatus and outdoor dining are among the top of Mt. Pleasant city commissioners’ lists to be sent to the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe.

City commissioners on Monday prioritized funding requests to submit to the Tribe for spring 2021 two percent payments.

City officials are requesting funding for projects and programs in community services, public safety and public works totalling more than $1.5 million.

A majority of commissioners, along with Mayor Will Joseph and Vice Mayor Amy Perschbacher, hope the Tribe will fund the Partners Empowering All Kids (PEAK) program, ranking it as being in the top five of several programs and services submitted by city employees for funding.

Other programs and services commissioners hope will be funded include an outdoor dining area on Broadway Street, operational funding

for the Mt. Pleasant Municipal Airport, the purchase of aerial fire apparatus and 800 MHZ radios for public safety were also on commissioners’ lists of top five funding priorities.

City Manager Nancy Ridley said the selections made by commissioners will be tallied and sent to the Tribe for consideration.

Twice a year, the Tribe distributes funds from slot machine revenues to various governmental agencies, businesses and schools in Isabella County in lieu of paying taxes.

Since May 2018, the Tribe has distributed almost $250 million in two percent funding requests.

Public safety requests included 800 MHZ radios and aerial fire apparatus.

Public works requests include airport operational funding, an airport truck. closing sidewalk gaps, engineering survey equipment,

Requests from city officials included funding for community services, such as the PEAK program, a farmer’s market enrichment project, Island Park pickle ball courts, an outdoor dining district on Broadway Street downtown and a Riverwalk pedestrian bridge.

Other requests, which commissioners classified in order of importance, included a sewer flow meter, storm sewer extension, public safety evidence room remodel, clarifier rehabilitation, engineering survey equipment, a reservoir actuator replacement and computer software.