The proposed Schoolcraft to Vicksburg Park Trail received a financial boost at the October 14 Township Board meeting when officials from Bike Friendly Kalamazoo presented the Board with a check for $6,500.
The check was presented by Tom Hohm, president of Bike Friendly Kalamazoo, and Bill Adams, a member of the bike group’s board. Adams is also a member of the Township’s Parks Committee.
“It’s good to have another non-motorized trail,” said Hohm at the presentation.
Adams noted that trail plans include gardens and art sculptures.
“It will make it an attractive place for people to come,” he said.
In addition, the Park Trail project has received two grants from the Vicksburg Foundation, one in the amount of $5,500 and another for $3,400, reported township Trustee Tamra Stafford, who also serves on the Parks Committee.
The Committee is looking into ways to finance a brochure and website about the Park Trail plan with an estimated cost of $15,000.
The newly developed Parks and Recreation Master Plan is now on the Township’s website, said Stafford. It can be found through the home page at schoolcrafttownshipmi.gov, clicking on the link “Draft Schoolcraft Township Park and Recreation Master 2026-2030.”
The Township is seeking the public’s input on the master plan which can be done by calling the Township office at 269-649-1276 or emailing Tamra Stafford at tstafford@schoolcrafttownshipmi.gov. Printed copies of the plan will be available at the Township Office, 50 E. VW Ave.
The goal is to have the plan approved by the end of December so the township can get approval for grants in 2026, said Stafford. The five-year master plan is a requirement for applying for grants from the state of Michigan.
During public comment time, a group of residents from Prairie Edge Estates in Schoolcraft Township expressed concerns about a 13-acre property adjacent to their community which they fear will be sold to a developer. Residents believe that a sale of the property is pending. Their subdivision is northwest of Oakland and West U Avenue.
Their concerns were about the number of houses that could possibly be built on the site, many of them much closer together than the ones in their neighborhood. Increased traffic flow and possible infrastructure changes including water and sewer were also issues expressed.
Township Superintendent Don Ulsh said the Township hasn’t received any paperwork regarding development on the site near Prairie Edge. He encouraged residents of the community to attend the Planning Commission meetings to express their concerns now rather than waiting for development plans to be submitted.
The Planning Commission meets the first Monday of the month at 6 p.m.
Treasurer Teresa Scott reported that South Central Michigan Construction Code Inspections (SCMCCI) wants to know how many building inspections the Township wants during a construction project.
Homeowners pay $95 per inspection, she reported.
Clerk Eska Brown said, “Two is the most I would see. Four seems kind of overboard.”
Ulsh added, “We should make it easier for people, not harder.”
The Board tabled action on the issue until the next meeting.
Scott also updated the board on budgeting issues related to the South Kalamazoo County Fire Authority board which will be losing two of its six members. Brady Township and Wakeshma Township are exiting the Authority as of April, 2026, and are contracting with other municipalities for their fire and emergency services.
So, after April 1, 2026, that will leave Schoolcraft and Prairie Ronde townships and villages of Schoolcraft and Vicksburg to cover the costs of the Authority.
Currently, Schoolcraft Township contributes $198,000 annually to the Fire Authority which is the largest portion of the Authority’s budget, money which comes from the Township’s general funds, said Scott.
“In the future, Schoolcraft Township may have to come to the people to ask for a special assessment for emergency services,” she said, noting that other entities such as Brady Township have done so in the past.
In other business, the Board heard a presentation from Bill Adams, speaking on behalf of the Vicksburg Community Schools Co-op program.
He pointed out that Michigan is 44th out of 50 states when it comes to high school graduation rates.
“In most cases one in five students doesn’t graduate,” he said.
A co-op program is a way to make life interesting and exciting for kids, he said. In the program, students would be mentored in local businesses.
“Giving students a mentor helps raise their grades,” he said.
At Vicksburg High School, the goal is to have 12 students enrolled in the program by January, he said.
Any companies interested in partnering with the program are encouraged to contact Jason Luke, counselor, at jluke@vicksburgschools.org, or 269-910-4881, or Justin McDonald, business teacher, at jmcdonald@vicksburgschools.org, or 231-794-9441.
Toni Kennedy, a commissioner with the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County, introduced herself to the Board as their new liaison from the commission.
As part of the Board’s routine business, they approved the minutes of two special meetings which dealt with replacing 24 diseased trees in Swan Park. At the October 2 special meeting, the Board accepted a bid from Wedel’s to remove the diseased trees and to replace 14 of them. The ones to be replaced are in the walking path area.
At that same meeting, the Board also approved a bid of $3,000 from Roman’s Reliable Tree Service in Fulton to trim trees in the Vicksburg Cemetery.
