Big Rapids, Mecosta County split $1.4 million in marijuana funds

In discussions about how the money should be used, city commission members agreed it should be used for something visible that the community can see, which will enable them to see the benefit of having the marijuana businesses in the community.

In May 2022, the city commission approved expenditures for the marijuana funds including the following:

• Fire department SCBA equipment replacement: $105,000
• Police department conducted energy weapon: $20,100
• Hemlock Park Improvements: $100,000
• Department of Public Safety sign replacement: $40,000
• Parking lots, parking lot resurfacing: $188,200
• General fund contribution to skate park: $25,000
• City commission for Clay Cliffs Stabilization: $13,000
• City parks for community garden water: $10,000
• City parks for Riverwalk steps and lighting: $45,000

Big Rapids Fire Department: Big Rapids Fire Chief Steve Schroeder said with the assistance from the $105,000 allocation, the department was able to purchase 19 new SCBAs, or self-contained breathing apparatus, along with 38 air cylinders and new masks with improved integrated communication apparatus, which better allows firefighters to communicate with one another while on a call. 

Schroeder said they are still waiting on the equipment to arrive, and when they receive it, they will do a demonstration for the city commission during an upcoming meeting.

Big Rapids Police Department: According to Big Rapids DPS Officer William Sell, the $20,000 in funding for the police department was used to purchase six new conducted energy weapons, or Tasers, to replace older ones, along with new holsters and a charging station in August 2022. Additional funding of $40,000 will be used to purchase a new digital sign for the Department of Public Safety building. That purchase is currently out for bids.

Hemlock Park: An allocation of $100,000 was set aside, along with an additional $150,000 allocation from the general fund, to support the replacement of the playscape and installation of the splash pad at Hemlock Park. That work, part of the Hemlock Park Improvement Project that has been in the works for about three years, is planned for this summer.

Downtown improvements: Department of Public Works director Heather Bowman said previously that her department was tasked with focusing on improving the downtown area with the $188,200 allocation from the marijuana funds. 

“Last summer we paved behind the Blue Cow, paved behind Red Fox Market and did the alleyway behind Jet’s Pizza,” she told the board recently. “There is still money available, so staff identified the parking lot south of city hall as a good project to get underway.” 

That work is planned for summer 2023, as well.

Skate park: A skate park was identified as a parks priority in the five-year Parks and Recreation Plan that was adopted by the board in 2021.

During her time with the city, community development fellow Jesse Black began work on the project with city staff, and the BR Project Skatepark Team, successfully winning a $25,000 Consumers Energy “Put Your Town on the Map” grant to start the project moving forward. Additional funding will come from a Swede Hill Foundation grant of $29,000, the marijuana fund allocation of $25,000 and fundraising efforts by the BR Skatepark Team.

In October 2022, the board approved a bid from American Ramp for engineering and design of the skate park.

Clay Cliffs Nature Area: In May 2022, Scott Faulkner, director with the Muskegon River Watershed Assembly presented the city with plans to stabilize the banks along Mitchell Creek in the Clay Cliffs Nature Area. The project will prevent further erosion of the bank and prevent sand from getting into the river.

Faulkner said at the time that federal funds will pay for 50% of the cost of the project, while MRWA will put in $5,000 from a DTE fellowship grant. They requested a contribution from the city.  

The city has pledged $13,000 from the marijuana funds toward the project. 

“With the assistance of the city Big Rapids and Big Rapids Rotary, we have sufficient funding to move forward,” Faulkner told the Pioneer. “We are hoping for engineering and restoration design to occur this summer or fall and a full restoration during the spring/summer of 2024.”

Sidewalk improvements: As part of the city’s ongoing sidewalk improvement program, new sidewalks were put in along River Street near the Bulldog Dog Park and DPW staff began working on a plan to put stairs from River Street down to the Riverwalk, after the idea was pitched to them by some avid walkers. 

Installation of stairs and lighting in the area was completed in October 2022 providing walkers another exit from the trail, DPW engineer Cody Wyman said. Additional plans are to connect the dog park area to the stairs with pedestrian travel ways and to the opposite side of the road, as well.

“City staff would also like to compete two more sets of stairs for more access and exits to and from the trail,” Wyman said. “This is for safety and convenience. We are also making sure we have A.D.A. entrances and exits so everyone can enjoy the trail.”

Community gardens: The city commission also approved a $10,000 allocation of the marijuana funds to support maintaining city parks and community garden watering.

The total amount of allocated funds is $546,300. The remaining $131,141 has been added to the General Fund balance for future spending as needed.

City treasurer Carla Staffen said the city has not allocated any funds towards expenditures in the current budget year because they do not know what they payout will be in 2023. 

“We did budget $340,000 revenue for fiscal year 2022-2023, which is half of what we received last year” she said.

COUNTY ALLOCATIONS

Mecosta County commissioners also agreed that the marijuana funds, in combination with $8.4 million from the American Rescue Plan Act lost revenue replacement funds, should be used in ways that would positively impact as many county residents as possible.

With that in mind, the following project allocations of marijuana funds were approved by the board:

• Dragon Trail construction: $225,000
• Generator project at county parks: $100,000
• Safety equipment for first responders: $39,912
• Hope House Free Medical Clinic: $50,000 over three years
• Child hunger, year one: $100,000
• Child hunger, year two: $100,000
• Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office marine boat: $62,500

Dragon Trail: According to county treasurer Sherry Earnest, the Dragon Trail funding was transferred to the Mecosta County Parks to be used as needed to fund the Dragon Trail construction. 

Marine boat: The $62,500 allocated to the Mecosta County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division was used to purchased a new boat this past summer to replace a 2008 Sea Fox, about which Sheriff Brian Miller said the engine burned oil, the hull took on water, and the emergency lights shorted out from wires coming loose from the console. 

Hope House Free Medical Clinic: In November 2022, the Board approved a contract agreement with Hope House Free Medical Clinic for disbursement of $50,000 in funding over three years.  According to the agreement, the county will appropriate $24,000 in January 2023, $15,000 in January 2024 and $11,000 in January 2025 to be used to purchase equipment necessary to provide minor office procedures and pharmacy care, dental care, health screenings and imaging and testing.

Nonprofits: Manna Pantry, Project Starburst and God’s Helping Hands of Mecosta County were each approved for a portion of the $100,000 child hunger allocation, with each receiving a total of $33,300 over a two year period.

In November 2022, God’s Helping Hand Mecosta County food pantry in Remus requested and was approved for the release of the initial installment of $16,667 for providing food and basic personal toiletries to those in need and in January, the board approved an allocation of $16,667 to Manna Pantry in Big Rapids for the purchase of food for 2023.

An additional $100,000 allocation was approved for Angles of Action in Big Rapids. No funds have been released to Angels of Action at this time, Earnest said.  

Safety equipment: A $39,912 allocation was approved for the purchase of safety equipment for local fire and rescues units through the Mecosta County Fire Chief’s Association. Those funds have not yet been dispersed and conversation are still taking place regarding how the funds will be used.

County parks: The Mecosta County Parks generator project, for which $100,000 was approved, is in progress and is expected to be funded this spring/summer. It will involve installation of generators in all four county parks. 

“The generators in the parks will help in natural disasters to ensure that county residents in all for corners have access to showers, water and whatever else they need,” former board chair Bill Routley previously said.

FUNDS DISBURSEMENT

In March 2022, eligible municipalities and counties received around $56,400 for every licensed retail store and microbusiness located within its jurisdiction during the fiscal year 2021.

The $677,441 received by each the city and the county was based on 12 active licenses.

In 2022, there were approximately 20 active licenses within the city, according to information on the website komornlaw.com. 

Several new adult use recreational marijuana dispensaries opened for business in Big Rapids in 2022, including Timber Cannabis Company on Perry Avenue, High Society Dispensary on Clark Street, Levels Cannabis on Northland Drive, Fluresh Provisioning Center on Third Avenue, Lucky’s Cannabis Company above Shooters downtown and Treehouse Club on Maple Street. 

Since October 2022, the city has seen the closure of several stores, as well, including The Wellflower on Maple Street, Alluvion Cannabis Company on Maple Street, KKind on Perry Avenue, Fluresh Provisioning Center and Lucky’s Cannabis Company.

More articles by Cathie Crew