Wednesday, November 6, 2024

Millages approved: Voters OK Algansee Twp. fire, Coldwater infrastructure requests

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Both millages on Branch County ballots passed in Tuesday’s election 

Algansee Township

Voters in the township decided to fund future Quincy Volunteer Fire Association equipment needs by passing a 10-year 1 mill levy by a vote of 362 to 315.   

The township board said the tax will raise approximately $114,515 in the first year levied.  

Retiring Supervisor Russ Jennings said the additional millage money would be the only way the township could afford to pay for its share of future fire trucks now those costs exceed $1 million. 

After the wiring on Engine 32 burned during a November 2022 house fire on Briggs Road, totaling the truck, association members Quincy Village, Quincy, and Algansee Townships used insurance funds along with assessments of $379,000 to order a new $1.2 million replacement from Pierce Manufacturing, which will not arrive until 2028.   

At that time, the fire association will consider when to order another truck as current equipment ages.  

When Quincy Fire purchased pumper/tanker Engine 33 five years earlier in 2019, Pierce was the only bidder at $712,000.  

Under the joint agreement, if Algansee leaves the association, the township forfeits all its investment in the fire department.   

Coldwater

City voters approved a new 1.52 mill property tax millage by 53% of the vote Tuesday. 

According to unofficial results, 2,284 voted for the millage, while 1,987 opposed the tax.  

The $5 million in bonds the city will sell will pay for additional public infrastructure projects the city cannot fund through current taxes or state road and street funding.    

The money can cover the reconstruction of Morse, East Pearl, or West Pearl streets, which will take more than a year’s gas tax revenues to redo.   

City Manager Keith Baker said the Randall parking lot downtown, between the Brown Municipal Building and West Chicago Street, will cost over $2 million. Randall is the last downtown lot not reconstructed. 

The city council will decide which projects the bond funds will cover in future budgets.  

Like the 2014 street millage of 1.82 mills, which was paid off this year, the new millage is expected to decrease over the 10 years as city property values grow, and the city grows, requiring less millage to cover bond debt service.    

Contact Don Reid: dReid@Gannett.com 

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