Frequently Asked Questions
Find answers to common questions about Marie Gress and her campaign for Milan City Council. If you don't see your question answered here, please feel free to contact us.
I hear residents calling for progress on road improvements. As the head of a public transportation agency, I have an understanding of the various funding mechanisms that support both transit and road projects through the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), the Southeastern Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), and the Washtenaw Area Transportation Study (WATS).
We need progress in communication regarding road projects. Did you know that it costs about $1 million per mile to build a road? However, Milan only saves 1 mil (or $250,000) per year for road maintenance. Every other year, Milan receives Small Urban Fund dollars, approximately $385,000, to allocate towards road projects, but these projects must be selected years in advance. Additionally, since these funds are federal, delays, staffing shortages, and recent freezes at the federal level, along with rising costs due to inflation and tariffs, can extend the timeline for these projects. Moreover, when using state or federal funds, localities are often required to accept the lowest bid, which can result in lower quality work compared to what we would prefer for our residents.
We need progress in communication regarding road projects. Did you know that it costs about $1 million per mile to build a road? However, Milan only saves 1 mil (or $250,000) per year for road maintenance. Every other year, Milan receives Small Urban Fund dollars, approximately $385,000, to allocate towards road projects, but these projects must be selected years in advance. Additionally, since these funds are federal, delays, staffing shortages, and recent freezes at the federal level, along with rising costs due to inflation and tariffs, can extend the timeline for these projects. Moreover, when using state or federal funds, localities are often required to accept the lowest bid, which can result in lower quality work compared to what we would prefer for our residents.
Housing is a significant issue at the national, state, and county levels, but local governments play a crucial role through zoning regulations and incentives. I am interested in exploring progress by increasing housing availability, improving existing housing and sidewalks, and considering public transportation options - public transit enhances our chances of receiving financial assistance from state and federal housing development programs.
Progress with Milan housing means more local activity more locals helps bring and keep businesses in the Dexter St Corridor, more locals and businesses means a larger tax base as the costs for services increases.
Progress with Milan housing means more local activity more locals helps bring and keep businesses in the Dexter St Corridor, more locals and businesses means a larger tax base as the costs for services increases.
Milan needs progress in our revenues: road improvements can’t happen if we don’t, small business incentives can’t happen if we don’t, higher taxes will happen if we don’t.
As a grant writer, I commend the current city administrator for securing COVID relief funds for our community, specifically for the senior center, water and sewer system, and parks. However, I know there are more funding opportunities available that our city staff could not pursue due to capacity. I am eager to assist in seeking out these opportunities by building relationships with potential funders and helping to write the grant requests. Grant awards are more likely to be given to communities that intentionally cultivate these relationships.
* I wrote and won the $8 million state earmark Dexter Senior Center and Dexter Schools to purchase the local wellness center and build a new age-friendly senior center.
* I wrote and won the $10 million federal earmark for the Goodwill of Deleware build a workforce development center.* I advocated for $8 million in Washtenaw County ARPA covid relief dollars to be allocated to aging services, we successfully received $4 million and then another $500,000 of county general funds a few months later. * In my first year at my current agency, I raised $500,000 from neighboring townships, foundations, and donations.
In addition to financial growth, I advocate for additional communication about Milan’s financial position, the priorities, needs, and gaps. Which fund is healthy, which needs attention?
As a grant writer, I commend the current city administrator for securing COVID relief funds for our community, specifically for the senior center, water and sewer system, and parks. However, I know there are more funding opportunities available that our city staff could not pursue due to capacity. I am eager to assist in seeking out these opportunities by building relationships with potential funders and helping to write the grant requests. Grant awards are more likely to be given to communities that intentionally cultivate these relationships.
* I wrote and won the $8 million state earmark Dexter Senior Center and Dexter Schools to purchase the local wellness center and build a new age-friendly senior center.
* I wrote and won the $10 million federal earmark for the Goodwill of Deleware build a workforce development center.
In addition to financial growth, I advocate for additional communication about Milan’s financial position, the priorities, needs, and gaps. Which fund is healthy, which needs attention?
Strategic partnerships includes working with our neighbors for collective progress on key issues, such as...
With our schools: Did you know in the City of Ann Arbor, students can shovel or mow for older adults for PE credit, instead of participating in the PE class?
With nextdoor townships: Did you know we could have a shared grant writer? That we could start an interlocal agreement for public transportation like we do for the Fire Authority? A compact for the same waste management at a lower cost?
With potential funders: WATS, SEMCOG, Michigan Health Endowment Fund, Ralph C. Wilson Jr Foundation, Herrick Foundation - having a seat at the table or a relationship established increases your success rate to fund local projects. Personally, I’ve been successful with these entities after I’ve built the relationships.
With local agencies and special interest groups: Aid in Milan, Moving Milan Forward, Milan Seniors for Healthy Living, Compassion Ministries, Milan Cares, Historical Society, ARC, and more! These groups are very effective at serving our community. There is an opportunity to be more strategic in how the City invests and/or leverages these agencies' strengths, especially in this season of Master Planning.
With our schools: Did you know in the City of Ann Arbor, students can shovel or mow for older adults for PE credit, instead of participating in the PE class?
With nextdoor townships: Did you know we could have a shared grant writer? That we could start an interlocal agreement for public transportation like we do for the Fire Authority? A compact for the same waste management at a lower cost?
With potential funders: WATS, SEMCOG, Michigan Health Endowment Fund, Ralph C. Wilson Jr Foundation, Herrick Foundation - having a seat at the table or a relationship established increases your success rate to fund local projects. Personally, I’ve been successful with these entities after I’ve built the relationships.
With local agencies and special interest groups: Aid in Milan, Moving Milan Forward, Milan Seniors for Healthy Living, Compassion Ministries, Milan Cares, Historical Society, ARC, and more! These groups are very effective at serving our community. There is an opportunity to be more strategic in how the City invests and/or leverages these agencies' strengths, especially in this season of Master Planning.
I’ve called out in my other points some of the things I plan to communicate to you. I appreciate other council members’ efforts to get information to the public, and I will expand the communication channels. I also will remain open to you - message me, email me, call me. I will hear you out, tell you what I can, and will voice your concerns and ideas.