By Kalvin D. Perron
Staff Reporter
Tribe acquires $1 million from BIA for road upgrades
BAY MILLS - According to Bay Mills Indian Community Tribal Chairman Jeff Parker, the last major hurdle in the rerouting of Plantation "Dump" Road was cleared after the tribe purchased 80 acres of property near the old Lyons' Farm earlier this summer. The acquisition of the property means that the tribe now officially owns all the land from Lakeshore Drive to Half-Mile Road. It also means that the tribe can now reroute the road to go straight to the top of the hill, instead of meandering up its side. The newly built road will rejoin with the existing roadway on the top of the hill, where it will be paved to Half-Mile Road.
In addition to rerouting the road, which would begin its ascent over the hill an estimated 100 yards from where it currently lies, Parker said that Half Mile Road would also see some significant renovations. He said the tribe will not only improve a stretch of the road by building it up and then paving it, but would build an additional road that will connect the two roadways. The new road will meander from the top of Plantation Road, through the roughly 400 acres of tribally owned land, and connect with Half Mile Road. Parker said that new roads or loops would be built, mirroring those of Spectacle Village.
"We currently have a shortage of available lots for those who would like to live in the community," Parker said. "What this (building of new roads) will do is open up additional spots for tribal members who would like to own their own home. We will now have the space and ability to put about 100 lots up there."
Parker said that in addition to securing the property necessary for rerouting the road, the tribe was also successful in getting a little over $1 million in funding from the Bureau of Indian Affairs for the road upgrades. He added that the tribe was currently working with Indian Health Services to extend the water lines from the top of Mission Hill over to the new development. Once the entire infrastructure is in place, such as sewer, power, and water, Parker said the lots would be open to tribal members.
"We hope to start giving lots out as early as next year," he said. "The property is very nice and soil is conducive to building."
While the tribe is chomping at the bit to get started on the development, Parker said that they still must wait for a soil boring, or study of the soil, to determine what kind of foundation is needed to build, and for the engineers to draw up all their plans. While he remains optimistic the project will begin in only a few weeks' time, Parker said he is quite certain the project will be complete by next fall. With tribal members struggling to find existing lots on the reservation to build their homes, Parker said the new development on Plantation Road would be a major asset to the tribe for years to come.
"This will be a great thing for the tribe," Parker said. "We now own from Lakeshore Drive to Half Mile Road. As the demand for more housing grows, we will now have the land to build new roads and new housing developments."
