PART OF A new walking path that has been set up in Quinnesec in Breitung Township. The Breitung Township Board had a recent forum and plans to send out a survey on what other capital improvement projects residents would like to see in the future. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

QUINNESEC — Residents got a look at capital projects Breitung Township officials are considering — a new combined fire hall, a community center, numerous parks improvements — and the chance to give their opinion during a public forum earlier this week.

Township Superintendent Steve Mulka gave the dozens of people who attended Monday a presentation on the proposed or requested projects the township board has discussed over the past several months.

“We need your input as well and the board takes your input seriously,” Mulka said. “Once the majority of the board sets those goals, then it is up to me and the rest of the employees to get those goals advanced.”

The new fire hall would consolidate the East Kingsford and Quinnesec fire halls into a single site that would also include training facilities. Mulka also said the fire department has two pumper trucks that are 25 years old, so it was time to think about whether to replace both trucks or use the money for the new fire hall.

Another project — one that has gotten a positive response so far — is building a Breitung Township community center that could be used for indoor sports, as an emergency shelter, for elections or rented out for events.

Mulka detailed numerous parks and recreation improvements, including expansion of the township’s paved walking trails, new playground equipment, tennis or basketball courts in the East Kingsford Recreation Area and lighting for the Quinnesec Recreation Area ball fields.

Road projects, Mulka said, have been a struggle to keep up with, but in recent years the township has been investing more in road maintenance and would like to continue to do so in the future.

Last was the upcoming state mandate to start a recycling program. Mulka said it might not be possible to offer curbside recycling pickup due to the township’s size, but dropoff sites could be set up at the fire halls and public works building.

Mulka reassured those in attendance that the township does — and will continue to — spend taxpayer money wisely and any proposed improvements would be done with existing funds at no additional cost to taxpayers.

Resident Jeff Iverson, a former fire chief, expressed his concerns over a new fire hall. Iverson said a study many years ago determined the best place for fire halls was where they are now.

Iverson also said the new fire hall would require full-time staffing, an unnecessary expense.

“I am kind of worried we may be going down a bad road with that,” Iverson said.

Chris Summerfield said he opposed a new fire hall and was concerned that a community center might not get used. However, Summerfield said he fully supported anything that would keep children active so was in favor of park improvements.

Doni-Mae Rauch praised the new walking path that runs from Quinnesec park up Cliff Street to the Township Hall, along Menominee Street and then back to the park. She said she would like to see more picnic tables in the parks and benches along the walking path.

All township residents will be given the chance to weigh in with their opinion when the township sends out a survey with the upcoming tax bills.