Hillsdale unsure of stimulus gain
Whitney A. Stewart
Issue date: 1/29/09 Section: Beyond
Though President Barack Obama's election may not directly change Hillsdale as a city or a county, the new, largely Democratic Congress might - with new ways to grant federal funds to municipalities - although officials say they aren't counting on extra money any time soon.
Hundreds of mayors gathered on Jan. 17 in Washington, D.C., and released a wish list of 18,750 infrastructure-building projects they hope to complete in 779 cities - if they get more federal funding.
But Hillsdale Mayor Michael Sessions is waiting to see if stimulus package promises become a reality.
"You never know when the stimulus is going to get passed," he said. "We'll be cautiously optimistic about it."
With the new presidential administration and Democratic Congress, local officials around the country are discussing wishes to rebuild the nation's infrastructure sectors like roads, airports, water management and community development.
Although Sessions said he could think of ways to improve the city's infrastructure, he's not creating any laundry list until he sees what kind of money becomes available, he said. And he is only "cautiously optimistic" any money from a stimulus package would ever trickle all the way down to Hillsdale. He said the money would likely go to more populated areas first.
Sessions said Hillsdale roads are faring well compared to other Michigan cities' roads, though the city could certainly benefit from some extra road repairs. The city's roads ranked 810 of 1583 municipalities with the most miles of bad roads, according to a 2007 Michigan Asset Management Council Annual Report of the Federal-Aid Highway System. Of its 105 miles of road, 50 of them were federal roads, and only 10 miles of the federal roads were considered "poor."
"[Stimulus money] is not something that we're planning on in the budget or anticipating getting," Sessions said. "It's always kind of surprising when you get a grant, but at the end of the day, you can't count on it."
Hundreds of mayors gathered on Jan. 17 in Washington, D.C., and released a wish list of 18,750 infrastructure-building projects they hope to complete in 779 cities - if they get more federal funding.
But Hillsdale Mayor Michael Sessions is waiting to see if stimulus package promises become a reality.
"You never know when the stimulus is going to get passed," he said. "We'll be cautiously optimistic about it."
With the new presidential administration and Democratic Congress, local officials around the country are discussing wishes to rebuild the nation's infrastructure sectors like roads, airports, water management and community development.
Although Sessions said he could think of ways to improve the city's infrastructure, he's not creating any laundry list until he sees what kind of money becomes available, he said. And he is only "cautiously optimistic" any money from a stimulus package would ever trickle all the way down to Hillsdale. He said the money would likely go to more populated areas first.
Sessions said Hillsdale roads are faring well compared to other Michigan cities' roads, though the city could certainly benefit from some extra road repairs. The city's roads ranked 810 of 1583 municipalities with the most miles of bad roads, according to a 2007 Michigan Asset Management Council Annual Report of the Federal-Aid Highway System. Of its 105 miles of road, 50 of them were federal roads, and only 10 miles of the federal roads were considered "poor."
"[Stimulus money] is not something that we're planning on in the budget or anticipating getting," Sessions said. "It's always kind of surprising when you get a grant, but at the end of the day, you can't count on it."
Be the first to comment on this story