GENESEE COUNTY, MI – Residents in three southern Genesee County communities are set to cast their ballots in May on whether or not to move forward with new non-motorized trails.

Voters in Fenton, Linden and Fenton Township will see a measure on May 7 to add 1.2 mills to the levy collected for the Southern Lakes Parks and Recreation beginning in December 2019, for a period of 10 years.

Vince Paris, the SLPR’s director, said the vote is to amend the group’s charter, increasing the tax dollars they can collect from .4 mills to 1.6 mills. The current .4 mills is only used for current operations and would go toward the the trail system.

By state law, the group had to take the plan to the governor and attorney general’s office since it is seeking an amendment of its charter.

If approved by voters, the money would strictly be used for costs associated to the trail system including the purchase of right of ways, maintenance, land acquisition and engineering.

Three potential trails have already been discussed, Paris said, including the Silver Lake Road connector from the Fenton city limits through Fenton Township to the Linden city limits.

“That’s the one that, sort of, everyone is talking about,” he commented.

Other trails may include Fenton Road from the Thompson Road dog park into the city of Fenton and west on Owen Road and north on Linden Road to connect to the Genesee County trail at Linden County Park.

Fenton City Manager Lynn Markland expressed approval for the plan.

“It provides alternative transportation, recreation for the people who live in our region and those who visit,” he said. “It’s a quality of life issue, enhancement on quality of life.”

The SLPR was incorporated following a vote in November 2000, with Fenton, Linden and Fenton Township residents deciding to have representatives in the group.

Argentine and Tyrone townships were involved in the initial charter commission, Paris said, but voters turned down the opportunity to join.

The city of Fenton is working with the SLPR to try and tap nearly $2 million from three grant sources -- $432,000 from the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission, $1 million in Transportation Alternative Program through the state and $300,000 via the Michigan Department of Natural Resources Trust Fund.

Paris noted the grants would require some local match, but he’s confident the vote will be positive.

“I think elections are always tricky, but we took it on seriously when we saw the large number of people who were in support of LAFF,” he said.

LAFF stands for the Linden, Argentine, Fenton and Fenton Township Pathway, a grassroots group that’s held fundraisers for three years and raised thousands of dollars in support of non-motorized trails to connect the communities.

“They are strong supporters of Southern Lakes Parks and Recreation now,” Paris said, along with the Genesee County parks and the Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission.

He sees the potential from trail growth on the county’s south end to extend into Holly and Mundy Township with an eventual hook-up to the state’s Iron Belle trail.

“This creates safer places…for bicycles, roller bladers, runners, walkers,” Paris said.

Should the proposal not pass voters, he noted the group would move forward in fundraising, grants and other efforts to get the trails built.

“We’re just looking forward to it,” said Paris.