Anyone wanting to officially object to the proposed road improvement project in the Mission Hills subdivision will have an opportunity to do so later this month.

On Monday, the Niles Township Board of Trustees scheduled a public hearing for the proposed $300,000 project for 7 p.m. Dec. 21 at the township hall.

Supervisor Jim Stover said the main purpose of the hearing is for the board to hear from people opposed to the project, since the majority of residents in the subdivision have already indicated they are in favor of moving forward with it.

“It’s for informational purposes, but it’s especially for people with objections,” Stover said.

The seeds for the project were planted several months ago when residents of the west Niles Township subdivision learned that the Berrien County Road Commission was planning on reverting their paved roads into gravel due to the extremely poor condition of the roads and the lack of funding to repave them.

Residents decided to take matters into their own hands by pursuing the creation of a special assessment district to pay for road improvements through Public Act 188.

The project is expected to cost $300,000 and the township has said it would pay for half the cost.

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

The upcoming public hearing is the last chance, Stover said, for people to voice opposition.

People can also submit objections in writing to the township hall prior to the meeting.

At least 51 percent of residents (based on road frontage) need to be in favor of the special assessment in order for it to advance.

Stover said all affected homeowners should have been notified of the special assessment by mail.

Assuming the road project moves forward, Stover said the board would set another public hearing concerning the cost of the project for each homeowner.

Road work could begin as early as the spring of 2016.