NILES CHARTER TOWNSHIP — On Monday, the Niles Charter Township Board unanimously approved agenda items meant to make streets brighter, safer and more accessible.

The board unanimously approved a contract with American Electric Power to update streetlights, a resolution to support a Michigan Department of Transportation reconstruction of US-12 and a bid to repair 109 sections of sidewalk in the Niles Administration and Education Center neighborhood.

Trustee Herschel Hoese was not present.

Lighting up roads

This fall, Indiana Michigan Power, a subsidiary of American Electric Power, will replace all of the township’s incandescent streetlight bulbs with LED bulbs over a few-day period.

LED lights are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, making them cheaper and longer lasting.

At a July 15 board meeting, Indiana Michigan Power representative Jon Biek said electric rates would remain the same for the time being, but future costs could fluctuate because the $4 million investment his company was making in the replacement project.

“What’s the benefit to Niles? You get nice, crisp daylight-time LED streetlights for your constituents, for your law enforcement, for your businesses,” Biek said at the July 15 meeting. “We come in. We do the change.”

Indiana Michigan Power is seeking similar approval from all southwest Michigan municipalities it serves, per a Michigan law.

If the township had opted out, Indiana Michigan Power would replace its incandescent bulbs with LED bulbs as they burned out, rather than all at once.

Safety precautions

After meeting with the Michigan Department of Transportation July 22, the township board approved the government entity’s reconstruction plan for Third Street and US-12 Monday.

The board had expressed concerns about MDOT’s original plan for the intersection at a June 3 meeting, prompting MDOT to add measures meant for safer traffic flow and pedestrian crossing.

“They did make some changes. They took our considerations,” clerk Terry Eull said.

First, MDOT will add a dilemma zone detection system, which it said detects the approach of high-speed vehicles and either lengthens green light time or holds an all red time. It is meant to reduce crashes and will be installed in 2020.

Second, MDOT’s proposed US-12 crossover east of Third Street will include a green light for left turns.

“They had some tanker drivers here, and they were concerned about the Michigan turnaround, having to turn right at Third [Street], going down 700 feet to turn around to go west,” Eull said about MDOT.

Third, safety equipment would be installed at the intersection by 2023 to help Indiana Michigan River Valley Trail users cross at the intersection.

The Michigan department would provide signal equipment that gives trail users priority in crossing. It would hold a three- to seven-second phase where all vehicle traffic lights would remain red.

A median midway through the street will also be installed. Eull said it would help people who would have otherwise gotten caught by a signal change in the middle of the street.

School sidewalks updated

The board finished its new business considerations Monday by approving a $21,200 bid submitted by Brett Crouch Construction in Niles to replace 530 feet of sidewalk.

The construction company will replace 109 sidewalk parcels in the area surrounding the Niles Administration and Education Center, also known as the former Oak Manor Sixth Grade School building.

Trustee Richard Cooper said another company considered a bid, but it was about $40,000.

The board also unanimously approved to adopt a franchise agreement with American Electric Power, giving the utility the right of way when they work in the township. The agreement has been historically approved each year, said board members.