We, the residents on Henley St, in Birmingham, MI, USA, need the planned infrastructure upgrades, for our water and sewer lines. However, our City Commission plans to bundle these necessary upgrades with expensive road improvements, dumping a considerable cost responsibility onto homeowners. The daunting reality? The proposed costs are up to $350 per Linear Foot (LF) for road enhancements, to which homeowners will bear 85% of the total cost burden. This high cost is not only unnecessary but also detrimental to our financial wellbeing, threatening our retirements, college funds, and early mortgage pay offs.

There's a much more economical alternative: "cape seal treatment." At $70 per LF, it's roughly 80% cheaper than the proposed road improvements and entirely satisfactory for our needs. Yet, the City Commission remains resolved on pursuing the more expensive and unneeded initiative.

By lopsidedly shouldering the residents with the financial burden of such costly infrastructure improvements, the Commission would indirectly force homeowners into potential debt - leaning on our properties or imposing a 5-year loan with an intimidating 10% interest rate.

We call on the City Commission to reconsider their decision and opt for the affordable, functional, and perfectly adequate cape seal treatment for our roads. Let's jointly ensure that any infrastructure upgrades do not exorbitantly drain our hard-earned savings or affect our financial future adversely. Stand with us. Sign this petition. Stand up for responsible, considerate, and affordable city planning.