Niles Charter Township is setting aside $500,000 for residents who are willing to improve their roads through the creation of a special assessment district.

The township’s board of trustees set the amount, and other stipulations concerning special assessments through Public Act 188, at Monday’s regular meeting.

Niles Township won’t foot the whole bill for road improvements.

Clerk Terry Eull said they would commit up to $500,000 with a 50/50 match, meaning the township would actually end up contributing $250,000 and loaning the other $250,000 at an interest rate of 3 percent.

The only group of residents who have thus far expressed interest in fixing their roads through a special assessment district are in the Mission Hills subdivision, which is located off Niles-Buchanan Road in the area of Carey Mission Road.

That project is expected to cost around $300,000, according to Supervisor Jim Stover.

“The people of Mission Hills would like to thank you (the board),” said Mission Hills resident Rich Appleget. “Even though we are paying half the bill, we will take it.”

Eull said municipalities are not required to contribute anything toward special assessment district road projects. He said Niles Township has contributed 20 percent in the past and that it has been many years since a neighborhood has pursued one.

Mission Hills residents have already submitted an informal petition to the township indicating they are in favor of moving ahead with the road project.

Eull said the next step is for the township to prepare and send out a formal petition to Mission Hills residents. The petition will include the cost of the road project for each property owner. For the project to move forward, Eull said Mission Hills would need at least 51 percent approval from residents based on their road frontage.

Eull said the petition would be sent out within the next couple weeks.

Treasurer Jim Ringler said the road improvement program money would be available only to residents on non-private roads or any county or township roads within Niles Charter Township.

Anyone interested can contact township hall by phone at (269) 684-0870.