Dan Kildee requests funds for Four Lakes Task Force project

In his last year before retirement, Congressman Dan Kildee (D-Flint) has requested funding for three major community projects in Midland County, including plans from the Four Lakes Task Force and the Ten16 Recovery Network. 

Each year, members of Congress can direct federal resources for up to 15 local projects, commonly referred to as community project funding. Kildee has submitted these funding requests, including three for Midland County, to the House Appropriations Committee – the committee responsible for drafting the Fiscal Year 2025 budget.

“We want to meet the priorities of the local communities, but we have to balance that against the feedback we’re getting from the Appropriations Committee on the most likely projects that will be successful,” Kildee said. “In the case of Midland County this year, three of those projects rose to the top and met that standard.”

One of the Midland County projects would allocate $3 million to the Four Lakes Task Force to be used for mechanical, electrical and plumbing improvements to the Sanford Dam. This project would support efforts to restore Sanford, Secord, Smallwood and Wixom lakes to normal levels.

“We would like to thank Congressman Kildee for working to secure this much-needed funding. This will help offset the cost of restoration of Secord, Smallwood, Edenville and Sanford Dams,” said Dave Kepler, president of the FLTF. “The Four Lakes Task Force will specifically leverage this funding for items necessary for the operations of the dams. Federal investments in the project help lower the costs to property owners in the Four Lakes Special Assessment District.”

“We’re trying to do everything we can to deal with the aftermath of the devastating dam breach and the flooding that occurred (and) trying to come up with whatever resources we can to make the improvements to the Sanford Dam,” Kildee said. “It’s important to restore normal lake levels and obviously provide the economic and social benefits that come with that. This was a really important priority.”

Congressman John Moolenaar (R-Caledonia) has also made a community project funding request for the Four Lakes Task Force – at a level of $2.25 million – for an architectural, mechanical, electrical and plumbing project at Edenville Dam. 

Kildee also requested over $1.4 million for Ten16 Recovery Network, which would be used to expand the network’s residential substance use disorder treatment services by making critical infrastructure improvements to its facility. This would include new programming for pregnant women and mothers with infants, adding a six-bed step-down unit to support patients’ transition out of treatment, and constructing an activity center.

The new activity center would facilitate enhanced family and community involvement in patients’ recovery. 

Ten16 Recovery Network is a Midland-based non-profit offering Central Michigan residents recovery treatment and support services for substance use disorders. It offers nine programs spread across 10 counties and 22 locations.

“Congressman Kildee’s dedication to our mission is truly valued. His unwavering commitment to securing these funds reflects his profound understanding of the significance of addressing substance use disorders and supporting individuals on the path to recovery,” said Sam Price, president/CEO of Ten16 Recovery Network.

These funds would help combat the opioid epidemic by expanding access to substance use disorder treatment services in a county with a shortage of short- and long-term residential treatment options.

“We have spent a lot of time visiting various organizations and I was impressed with Ten16 and what they do. I want to do more to deal with all the problems associated with addiction, particularly the opioid epidemic,” Kildee said.

Kildee’s third Midland County request is $600,000 for the City of Midland to purchase and install an emergency power generator, ensuring water services are maintained during natural disasters.

“The City of Midland is grateful to Congressman Kildee for his support of the City of Midland’s critical water infrastructure project to ensure vital water services are provided without interruption during a power outage, local emergency, or natural disaster,” said Midland City Manager Brad Kaye. 

The generator would allow the city to continue providing safe drinking water for its residents as well as its businesses, schools and health care facilities. 

“(This request) to ensure that residents and other institutions don’t have difficulty getting safe drinking water during a natural disaster or some other emergency,” Kildee said. “I’ve become acutely aware of the need to provide infrastructure regarding drinking water. That’s an issue for every kind of community; obviously I’ve dealt with it in a really dramatic way in Flint. It’s taught us a lesson that we need to invest in infrastructure to make sure that drinking water is something that people can count on.”

Hemlock Public Schools, which partially extends into Midland County, is also on Kildee’s list of projects. Kildee has requested $5 million for the school district to build a new Early Childhood Center, which would provide child care, expand access to educational services critical to early childhood development and create over 50 jobs.

“Our projects are really a reflection of the community’s priorities,” Kildee said. “The 15 that we submitted I’m confident are very good projects operated by people that can get the work done, and I’m excited to support their work.”

Isabelle Pasciolla is a political reporter at the Midland Daily News. Email her at Isabelle.Pasciolla@hearst.com.