AA Learn more about in-home care options for your loved ones

Given the choice, most of us want to stay in our homes. Sometimes, people need help to remain at home. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.

Personal Care Consultation

×
TESTIMONIALS

“Best place I’ve ever worked. Not only do they take care of their clients, their employees too!! Blessed everyday to work for this company”

Jeanine L.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“I’d like to thank always best care for all their support. As this was my first experience with any senior care agency, I was a bit apprehensive but they were great right from the start. All the caregivers were very attentive and assisted my parents with proper care at home. Undoubtedly a great caregiving agency..”

Christoper W.
×
TESTIMONIALS

“We used Always Best Care of Macomb County for my friend and they were wonderful. We chose them because they had a little edge on the caregiving model that they use and they negotiated the price with us. The caregivers were professional and prompt. They provided my friend with companionship, helped with feeding, and they were available at night for nighttime issues that arose. They were also there to pass meds to her, to facilitate her taking her anti-anxiety pills, and to reassure her. They were always prompt in returning my phone calls and they kept a notebook so we could communicate. They solicited feedback too.”

Cindy
×
TESTIMONIALS

“Good review Good review Good review Good review Good review Good review”

Mr. -.
 In-Home Care Fraser, MI

How does In-home Senior Care in Fraser, MI work?

Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it's especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age. When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.

The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.

At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one ages, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.

Request More Informationright-arrow-light
 Senior Care Fraser, MI

Aging in Place: The Preferred Choice for Most Seniors

While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit.

In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a unfamiliar assisted living community, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.

Here are just a few of the reasons why older men and women prefer to age at home:

Comfort
Comfort

How much does a senior's home truly mean to them? A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old. With the help of elderly care in Fraser, MI, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.

Healthy Living
Healthy Living

Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors. Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.

Independence
Independence

For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like an assisted living community. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.

Cost and Convenience
Cost and Convenience

More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, can be less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.

With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care in Fraser, MI gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.

Empowers Seniors

Affordable Care Plans

In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.

Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.

At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.

In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:

Veteran's Benefits
Veteran's Benefits

Aid and Attendance benefits through military service can cover a portion of the costs associated with in-home care for veterans and their spouses.

Long-Term Care Insurance
Long-Term Care Insurance

Many senior care services like in-home care are included in long-term care insurance options. Research different long-term care solutions to find a plan that provides coverage for senior care.

Private Insurance
Private Insurance

Home care can be included as part of a senior's private insurance plan. Read over your loved one's insurance policy carefully or speak with their insurance provider to determine if in-home care is covered.

Life Insurance
Life Insurance

Depending on the life insurance plan, you may be able to apply your policy toward long-term care. You may be able to use long-term-care coverage to help pay for in-home elderly care.


Respite Care Fraser, MI

During your Care Plan consultation with Always Best Care, your Care Coordinator will speak with you about in-home care costs and what options there may be to help meet your budget needs.

Compassionate Care. Trusted Caregivers

When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.

Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.

At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Fraser,MI understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.

Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.

Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.

 Caregivers Fraser, MI

Taking the First Step with Always Best Care

The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:

An assessment of your senior loved one

01

An in-depth discussion of the needs of your senior loved one to remain in their own home

02

Reviewing a detailed Care Plan that will meet your senior loved one's needs

03

Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.

If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.

When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.

Latest News in Fraser, MI

Visit Fraser’s All-Inclusive, Barrier Free Playground At McKinley Park

Grab your fire truck and airplane lovers and head to McKinley Ba...

Grab your fire truck and airplane lovers and head to McKinley Barrier Free Park for a full day of playing!

McKinley Park is has so many fun things to do and explore! It has a music making area, a awesome fire truck that doubles as a slide and climbing area. It even has fun learning activities listed on it. Such as stop, drop and roll, and rules for if you are in a fire. There is even an inclusive see saw and merry-go-round.

Adventuring a bit further, there is a airplane play structure filled with noise making activities, slides and tons of ways to climb up. There is also a swing set complete with a mommy and me swing, and inclusive swings and two zip lines. This park also has walking trails, a quaint garden, and little free libraries. The park also has a sandbox, pavilion and bathrooms.

McKinley Barrier Free Park is located at // 31500 Grove St, Fraser, MI 48026

Don’t keep us secret – help us share with a friend or to social media!

search by date or event type

SEARCH EVENTS

search by date or event type

SEARCH EVENTS

Search eventS:

Search events Search content Filter dates Date

Downtown Berkley Farmers Market

Time:

9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Location:

Downtown Berkley

Learn more

Open Gym

Time:

9:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Location:

Troy Gym – TG1

Learn more

Parent & Me Indoor Playtime

Time:

9:30 AM – 10:30 AM

Location:

Waterford Recreation Center

Learn more

Late Night At Sloan

Time:

10:00 AM – 8:00 PM

Location:

Sloan Museum

Learn more

Preschool Hike: Log Cabin Cozy

Time:

10:00 AM – 11:00 AM

Location:

Parker Mill County Park, Ann Arbor

Learn more

Tricks & Treats!

Time:

10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Location:

SEA LIFE Michigan Aquarium

Learn more

BRICK OR TREAT

Time:

10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Location:

LEGOLAND Discovery Center

Learn more

Peppy Preschool Storytime

Time:

10:15 AM – 10:45 AM

Location:

Carl Sandburg Library

Learn more

Parent & Me Indoor Playtime

Time:

10:30 AM – 11:30 AM

Location:

Waterford Recreation Center

Learn more

Homeschool Series: Wolves

Time:

10:30 AM – 12:30 PM

Location:

RED OAKS NATURE CENTER

Learn more

Fall Pumpkin Patch Experience

Time:

11:00 AM – 10:00 PM

Location:

Jojo’s Shake Bar

Learn more

Family Storytime

Time:

11:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Location:

Plymouth District Library

Learn more

The Markets of Downtown Wyandotte

Time:

2:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Location:

Downtown Wyandotte

Learn more

All Ages Open Gym

Time:

2:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Location:

Troy Gym – TG4

Learn more

Hallowe’en in Greenfield Village

Time:

4:00 PM – 9:30 PM

Location:

GREENFIELD VILLAGE

Learn more

Ooky Spooky Light Show

Time:

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM

Location:

Longway Planetarium

Learn more

You Are My Hero, Mother Son Super Celebration

Time:

5:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Location:

Friendship Factory – West Bloomfield

Learn more

Howl-O-Ween at the Library

Time:

6:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Location:

Salem-south Lyon library

Learn more

October 12

Bostick Family Light Show

Time:

7:30 PM – 9:30 PM

Location:

Bostick Family Light Show

Learn more

October 12

Jack O’ Lanterns Unleashed

Time:

7:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Location:

Ingham County Fairgrounds

Learn more

Previous Day Next day Advertise with US

LITTLEGUIDE MAGAZINE

Advertise with US

Featured Articles

Event calendar

October 2023

SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
1234567
891011121314
15161718192021
22232425262728
293031

Grosse Pointe prayer service honors Michigan State shooting victims including GP North, South grads

GROSSE POINTE FARMS, Mich. (FOX 2) - It was standing room only at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms ...

GROSSE POINTE FARMS, Mich. (FOX 2) - It was standing room only at St. Paul on the Lake Catholic Church in Grosse Pointe Farms where more than 700 people mourned the deaths of Arielle Diamond Anderson, Alexandria Verner, and Brian Fraser.

The three were fatally wounded in the senseless mass shooting at Michigan State University Monday night, which also left five others critically injured.

"He was just the nicest, most genuine person," said Henry Chen. "I mean, I know I always had someone to talk to, if I needed it. He was just the life of the party."

Chen and Jacob Henige were in the same fraternity as Fraser. Chen and Fraser pledged together.

Henige and Fraser became fast friends at the beginning of the school year.

"I’ve only known him for six months, but we became so close, so fast. We lived on the same floor, in the same dorm," Henige said. "The first week of school we met, it was just like a friendship that I thought that I had since I was born.

Fraser grew up at St. Paul and graduated from Grosse Pointe South High School.

And while most of the people who attended the vigil were there for him. Father Jim Bilot and the rest of the clergy at St. Paul made a point to pray for Arielle Anderson and Alexandria Verner as well.

"My mind and heart is thinking about those girls and those families too," said Fr. Bilot. "And I think that it helps the community here to know how much the three of them were connected, but they didn’t even know each other."

Alexandria Verner, who was from Clawson, is being remembered as a tremendous student, athlete, and leader.

Sparty statue becomes makeshift memorial after Michigan State mass shooting

All day Tuesday and into the evening, students and others continue to gather at the Sparty statue - an iconic landmark on campus, just to stand in the silence and calm. It is a stark contrast to the chaos and terror endured last night.

Related:

Arielle Anderson is from Harper Woods and graduated from Grosse Pointe North High School - a compassionate and driven young woman who dreamt of becoming a doctor.

"I came here for the vigil for prayer to hopefully that one day soon we stop having to bury our children from senseless violence," said Valerie Kindle, the Harper Woods mayor.

to learn about the types of data we collect and how we use and share it. We collect data from your browser to personalize your weather and the ads you see.

Get 50% off Premium Pro and upgrade your holiday travel game with our most advanced features.Tuesday, November 28Sunny21°1%Sunny21°1%WNW 11 mphSunny21°1%WNW 11 mphSunny1%WNW 12 mphSunny...

Get 50% off Premium Pro and upgrade your holiday travel game with our most advanced features.

Tuesday, November 28

Sunny

21°

1%

Sunny

21°

1%

WNW 11 mph

Sunny

21°

1%

WNW 11 mph

Sunny

1%

WNW 12 mph

Sunny

1%

WNW 12 mph

Sunny

1%

WNW 14 mph

Sunny

0%

WNW 16 mph

Sunny

0%

WNW 16 mph

Mostly Sunny

29°

0%

WNW 15 mph

Partly Cloudy

30°

0%

WNW 14 mph

Partly Cloudy

30°

0%

WNW 14 mph

Partly Cloudy

29°

0%

W 12 mph

Partly Cloudy

27°

0%

W 11 mph

Partly Cloudy

26°

1%

W 9 mph

Partly Cloudy

26°

1%

W 9 mph

Mostly Cloudy

25°

2%

WSW 9 mph

Mostly Cloudy

25°

3%

WSW 8 mph

Cloudy

25°

3%

WSW 9 mph

Cloudy

24°

WSW 9 mph

Wednesday, November 29

Cloudy

24°

SW 10 mph

Mostly Cloudy

23°

3%

SW 10 mph

Mostly Cloudy

22°

1%

SW 11 mph

Mostly Cloudy

22°

1%

SW 10 mph

Cloudy

22°

1%

SW 10 mph

Cloudy

21°

1%

SW 10 mph

Cloudy

22°

4%

SSW 10 mph

Cloudy

22°

1%

SSW 11 mph

Cloudy

23°

7%

SSW 12 mph

Cloudy

25°

1%

SSW 12 mph

Cloudy

28°

1%

SW 14 mph

Mostly Cloudy

30°

1%

SW 15 mph

Partly Cloudy

32°

1%

SW 14 mph

Partly Cloudy

34°

1%

WSW 14 mph

Mostly Cloudy

35°

1%

WSW 13 mph

Mostly Cloudy

35°

2%

WSW 13 mph

Cloudy

35°

3%

WSW 12 mph

Mostly Cloudy

34°

4%

WSW 10 mph

Mostly Cloudy

33°

7%

SW 9 mph

Mostly Cloudy

32°

6%

SW 9 mph

Mostly Cloudy

33°

6%

WSW 10 mph

Mostly Cloudy

33°

6%

SW 9 mph

Partly Cloudy

32°

7%

WSW 8 mph

Partly Cloudy

32°

7%

WSW 8 mph

Thursday, November 30

Partly Cloudy

32°

7%

SW 8 mph

Partly Cloudy

32°

7%

SW 7 mph

Partly Cloudy

32°

7%

SW 8 mph

Partly Cloudy

32°

7%

SW 8 mph

Partly Cloudy

31°

7%

SW 8 mph

Partly Cloudy

30°

7%

SW 8 mph

Partly Cloudy

30°

7%

SW 8 mph

Partly Cloudy

30°

7%

SSW 8 mph

Partly Cloudy

30°

7%

SSW 8 mph

Partly Cloudy

30°

7%

SSW 8 mph

Partly Cloudy

30°

7%

SSW 8 mph

Hourly Subscription
Lock

Premium ProUnlock more hourly forecasts

Upgrade to Premium Pro and get 192-hour forecasts, so you can plan further ahead.Level up your forecast.

Go Premium

Radar

Now

Safety First!

What To Do And Not Do To Your Car In Winter

Get Your Roof Ready Now For Winter Precipitation

Holiday Lights Safety Checklist

See More

Don't Miss

Multiple Crashes Reported In Dangerous, Snowy Conditions

Europe Battered: Thousands Lose Power, 2k Rescued From Cars

Blast Of Cold Air Will Drop Temps Across Much Of US

See More

Irresistible

Dogs Frolic In Snow Up To Their Ears

Puppies Dive Face First Into Mud Puddle

Puppies Frolic In First Snow

See More

Weather Wonders

Real Christmas trees: Which one is right for you?

Bill Lindberg, Michigan State University Extension, and Bert Cregg, ...

Bill Lindberg, Michigan State University Extension, and Bert Cregg, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Horticulture and Department of Forestry - November 16, 2023

Updated from an original article written by Bert Cregg and Jill O'Donnell.

Consumers still have an array of choices as supplies tighten for some Christmas tree species.

Michigan farms and tree lots offer an array of great Christmas tree choices. While it’s true that supplies of some species, particularly Fraser fir, will be tighter than in past years, consumers that want a real tree will be able to find one. Whether you look for a pre-cut tree at a local tree lot or bundle up the family for the choose-and-cut experience, you will find a wide variety of tree types that offer something for everyone.

As with most things, shopping early will ensure the best selection. If your holiday tradition is to put the tree up closer to Christmas day, you can store your tree with its cut end in water in your garage or other protected, unheated space until you are ready to move it into the house. (See “Making your real Christmas tree last through the holidays.”) Consumers will also have an easier time finding a real tree if they are willing to expand the menu of trees they choose from. Michigan Christmas tree growers produce a diverse range of Christmas tree types, and this might be the year to consider something different for your holiday tradition.

To help you pick the perfect tree, Michigan State University Extension has developed a description of the main types of trees grown in Michigan:

These Christmas tree species can be found at nearly every choose-and-cut farm or tree lot.

Fraser fir

Fraser fir continues to increase in consumer popularity and for good reason. Fraser fir has blue-green needles with silvery undersides. The branches are strong and stiff and hold up well to ornaments. The trees have a pleasant scent and needle retention is excellent. For more pictures and information on this species, see MSU‘s Fraser fir Youtube video.

Back to list of tree species.

Scots pine

Scots pine is the tree species that has long defined the Michigan Christmas tree industry and is still a favorite for traditionalists. Scots pines are dense trees with dark-green needles. Stiff branches hold up well to ornaments and needle retention is excellent. Scots pine is also a more economical choice. For more pictures and information on this species, see MSU‘s Scots pine YouTube video.

Back to list of tree species.

Douglas fir

Douglas fir is a dense tree with soft, light green needles. You’ll need to stick with lighter-weight ornaments since the branches are not as stiff as some other species. This is another good choice for budget-conscious consumers. For more pictures and information on this species, see MSU‘s Douglas fir YouTube video.

Back to list of tree species.

Blue spruce

Blue spruce remains a popular Christmas tree because of its bright blue color. Branches are stiff and hold ornaments well. Blue spruce needles are quite sharp, so be sure to wear gloves and long-sleeves when handling. While the needles may make the tree hard to handle, some people choose blue spruce to keep pets away from the tree. For more pictures and information on this species, see MSU‘s blue spruce YouTube video.

Back to list of tree species.

Black hills spruce

Black hills spruce have needles that are shorter and softer than Colorado blue spruce. Black hills spruce have excellent color and have a very traditional Christmas tree appearance. Branches are stiff and hold up well to ornaments.

Back to list of tree species.

White pine

White pine is one of two Michigan native conifers commonly used for Christmas trees, along with balsam fir. This is a dense tree with soft, green needles. This tree will require light-weight ornaments as the branches are not particularly strong. For consumers that have a high ceiling and want a larger tree, white pine can be an economical choice. For more pictures and information on this species, see MSU‘s white pine YouTube video.

Back to list of tree species.

Balsam fir

Balsam fir has long been a preferred species for many consumers because of its strong Christmas tree scent. It has dark green needles and excellent form.

Back to list of tree species.

Concolor fir

Concolor fir have longer needles than many other fir trees and they may be as blue as a blue spruce. The big draw for this species, however, is the strong, citrus-like scent. For more pictures and information on this species, see MSU‘s concolor fir YouTube video.

Back to list of tree species.

In addition to the traditional species mentioned above, Michigan growers continue to add species to their mix. For more information on other lesser-known trees, see "Christmas trees for connoisseurs: Try an exotic species this year."

Korean fir

Korean fir is native to Asia, as noted by the name, but grows well in our climate and soil. It has dark green needles with striking silvery undersides. The form and unique texture add to this species’ appeal. For more pictures and information on this species, see MSU‘s Korean fir Youtube video.

Back to list of tree species.

Canaan fir

Canaan fir combines many of the characteristics of balsam fir and Fraser fir. It is sometimes described as a hybrid between the two, but is actually a specific seed source of balsam fir from the Canaan Valley of West Virginia. For more pictures and information on this species, see MSU‘s Canaan fir Youtube video.

Back to list of tree species.

Want to find a Christmas tree farm near you? Visit the Michigan Christmas Tree Association website to see choose and cut farms, retail lots, and wholesale farms in your area!

Articles

Tip sheets

Videos

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).

Fraser residents to vote next week on street improvement plan

Fraser residents will decide next week if they want to pay for road repairs now or pay more — a whole lot more down the line.Voters will take action Tuesday on a $15 million bond proposal to finance a series of residential road upgrades. The plan doesn’t include state or county roads.Mayor Michael Carnagie says the bond will give residents “a voice in how this city looks” in terms of roads and streets.“If it passes, we would focus on the absolutely worst roads,” the mayor said. “...

Fraser residents will decide next week if they want to pay for road repairs now or pay more — a whole lot more down the line.

Voters will take action Tuesday on a $15 million bond proposal to finance a series of residential road upgrades. The plan doesn’t include state or county roads.

Mayor Michael Carnagie says the bond will give residents “a voice in how this city looks” in terms of roads and streets.

“If it passes, we would focus on the absolutely worst roads,” the mayor said. “That way there can be no accusations of favoritism.”

If the proposal doesn’t pass, Carnagie said, city officials would continue to work to “educate” the electorate on the need for road financing.

According to city officials a bond would allow Fraser to borrow a sum not to exceed $15 million. A millage would be levied to pay for this bond, to be paid back within 12 years.

The millage is estimated to be charged at 1.3058 mills, or about $1.31 per every $1,000 of taxable property. The average resident with a home with a taxable value of $100,000 would pay about $216 a year.

Most municipality’s infrastructure needs are always seemingly never ending. This plan would give Fraser a little breathing room, according to City Manager Elaine Leven.

“I know this has been something that has been a need for decades as roads are always underfunded in just about every community,” she said. “This is not something we want to do, but it’s one of those things that is a necessary cost.”

Fraser will depend on a local road pavement condition study conducted by city road crews every few years. The study, known as the Pavement Surface Evaluation and Rating (PACER), will prioritize which streets will be tackled first if the bond plan is approved.

According to the most recent PAVER rankings, nearly half — or 49% — of the city’s neighborhood streets are in poor shape. Another 43% are rated in fair shape, while only 8% qualify as being in good condition.

The ballot language says the bond would be used to pay for the “cost of acquiring and constructing street improvements throughout the city, consisting of paving, repaving, reconstructing and improving streets, including all necessary appurtenances and attachments.”

Fraser receives $1.5 million annually for its roads from the state of Michigan for its 43 miles of city roads. Fraser officials say that $1.2 million is needed for standard operating and maintenance costs, leaving only $300,000 for road projects. Estimated costs for a full reconstruction of a road, including sidewalks, driveways, and curbs, is $1.5 million per lane-mile.

There was talk of having a separate special assessment tax for businesses in the Fraser Industrial Park, but that idea appears to have been rejected in meetings between city officials and the industrial park.

“They were shocked at how much it would cost and realized it was not a good plan. I think we got their attention now and can work together on finding ways to finance the needed improvements going forward,” Carnagie said.

For more information about the bond measure, visit the city’s website at ci.fraser.mi.us. For in-person voting, the polls will be open from 7 a.m – 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Disclaimer:

This website publishes news articles that contain copyrighted material whose use has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. The non-commercial use of these news articles for the purposes of local news reporting constitutes "Fair Use" of the copyrighted materials as provided for in Section 107 of the US Copyright Law.