Michigan city targets water systems in six-year improvement plan

The Big Rapids City Commission approved a 2025-2031 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), with a wish list of projects worth over $12.4 million in the first year alone.

The Commission is using the CIP as a tool to drive funding decisions and budgeting efficiency over the next six years. The CIP prioritizes what department heads deem most essential and desirable, with a strong emphasis on infrastructure and public safety.

The CIP was approved March 17 to help structure the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The bulk of the first-year funds in the plan are allotted to wastewater and water system improvements, with over $9 million for wastewater treatment upgrades and over $1 million for water system water main and service line replacement.

Wastewater system upgrades include:

Digester Improvements ($2,500,000)
Aeration System Improvements ($1,320,000)
Grit Removal Machinery Installation ($990,000)
Sludge Thickening System Replacement ($985,000)
UV System Upgrades ($920,000)
Novak Lane Lift Station Replacement ($870,000)
East Screw Pump Replacement ($680,000)
SCADA System Hardware and Software Upgrade ($560,000)
Tioga Park Lift Station Upgrades ($160,000)

Water system upgrades include:

State Street Watermain Replacement ($1,000,000)
Bjornson Watermain Replacement and Paving ($161,000)
Lead Service Line Replacements ($100,000)

Community-focused projects like streets and parks are next in line, along with a new fire engine and library upgrades.

The remaining money will be allocated as follows:

General Fund ($900,000)
Motor Pool ($272,000)
Downtown Development Authority ($75,000)
Local Streets Fund ($426,120)
Major Streets Fund ($351,800)

Although funding is not guaranteed, the majority of sourcing for the 2025-26 CIP is expected to come from bonds and the State of Michigan’s Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF). These funds make up about 63% of the total funding, with the rest coming from local city funds.

Big Rapids, Michigan, is a city of fewer than 8,000 residents along the Muskegon River, about 56 miles north of Grand Rapids. Big Rapids levies a 1% income tax on residents and 0.5% on non-residents. This six-year CIP ensures infrastructure, public safety, parks and utility services remain a priority for Big Rapids.

The full plan is available on the city’s website.

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