Ferrysburg council tables bridge millage proposal
By tabling a decision at its most recent meeting, the Ferrysburg City Council opted not to seek a Smith's Bridge replacement millage on the Nov. 5 ballot.
In June, the council voted to close the bridge, due to safety concerns. The bridge structure has steadily deteriorated, with load limits continuously being reduced. The council said it is unsafe for anything more than bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
The estimated replacement cost of the bridge is $13 million, city officials say.
The deadline for November ballot issues is July 30. Since the City Council has no meetings scheduled for the rest of the month, the soonest a proposal could appear on the ballot is next year. City Clerk/Treasurer Debbie Wierenga said the soonest a millage proposal could appear on the ballot now is March, with a Dec. 17 filing deadline.
At its July 15 meeting, council discussed three options for the bridge millage proposal — 4.5 mills for 20 years, 4 mills for 25 years and 3.6 mills for 30 years.
As an example, a voter-approved 3.6-mill proposal would have cost the owner of home valued at $200,000 about $360 per year in additional property tax. The 4.5-mill option would have cost the owner of the same home $450 a year.
Council members expressed concerns about the burden on taxpayers, both commercial and residential, particularly for a project that would not take place until 2022.
Public comment suggestions during the council meeting ranged from charging a toll to go over the bridge to closing it entirely at a cost of about $1 million.
Councilman Tim O'Donnell said he's "dead set against any millage request."
“Our largest taxpayer is also one of our business owners (and) our largest taxpayer would be paying $116,000," he said. "This would adversely affect our businesses. We have businesses that are operating at minimum profits.”
O'Donnell said a business owner recently told him that if there's even a 2-mill increase in property taxes, he would likely close up shop.