COMMUNITY PROFILE
LOCATION
The City of Reed City (1990 population 2,379) is located along the US-131 corridor, approximately 15 miles north of Big Rapids (population 10,104) in northwestern Michigan. It is located at the crossroads of US-10 and US-131, representing good access to two important state highways. The city is located entirely within Richmond Township (population 1,722) in southwestern Osceola County. It is the county seat and the largest of the two cities in Osceola County. The City of Evart (population 1,744) is located 13 miles to the east.
TRANSPORTATION
Streets and Highways
Nearly all city streets are asphalt-paved (or top-coated), two-lane facilities with 66- to 80-foot rights-of-way. A few city streets have less than the standard 66-foot right-of-way; and a few, such as Chestnut (old US-131) and US-10, have wider rights-of-way. Street and road development is more extensive in the eastern and central portions of the city than in the western and southern portions. Traffic from US-131 enters the city from the north, along US-10, and must turn south on either Patterson or Chestnut Streets. US-10 serves the state between Bay City and Ludington. The US-10 business route is Church Street, which intersects with Patterson Road at its easter terminus.
Railroad Service
The city has historically been the crossroads of two railroads that are currently inoperative. The north-south route is now owned by the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and CSX and the east-west route by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) and CSX. Both railroads traverse and intersect at the center of the city and have either been aquired or are in the process of being acquired as part of the state's "Rails-to-Trails" program.
Table 1 Existing Land Use Totals | ||
---|---|---|
Total Acres | Percent of Total Area | |
Agriculture | 132 | 8.1 |
Single-Family Residential | 378 | 30.0 |
Multiple-Family Residential | 39 | 3.1 |
Commercial | 80 | 6.3 |
Industrial/Utilities | 93 | 7.4 |
Public/Institutional | 141 | 11.1 |
Vacant/Open Space/Right-of-Ways | 429 | 34.0 |
1,262 | 100.0 |
Some multiple-family housing is located in the southern portion of the city, including an 101-unit apartment complex managed and operated by the Reed City Housing Commission, comprised of senior citizen, handicapped, disabled, and low and moderate income housing. In this area there are also three other multi-family complexes, one of which is also low to moderate invome. The downtown area is primarily commericial properties, offering a mix of general merchandise and specialty shops. These activities are generally located along Upton and Chestnut Streets, between the north city limits and Todd Avenue. A second commercial area is located south of the CBD on Chestnut Street, between Lincoln and Church Streets. Other commercial properties may be found at a few isolated locations.
The major industrial area of the city is southeast of the city center; however, some industry is directly adjacent to the downtown. Existing industries include Yoplait Yogurt, Pilot Tool and Die, and Nabco. Public lands and institutional uses are located throughout the city.
Table 2 POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS | |||
---|---|---|---|
City of Reed City | Osceola County | State | |
Percent Under 18 Years | 28.9 | 29.6 | 26.5 |
Percent 65 Years and Over | 18.5 | 14.0 | 11.9 |
Median Age | 34.1 | 33.5 | 32.6 |
Percent High School Graduates | 72.0 | 72.1 | 76.8 |
Persons Per Household | 2.43 | 2.71 | 2.66 |
Table 3 HOUSING TYPE | |
---|---|
Total | Percent |
653 | 65.7 |
109 | 11.0 |
209 | 21 |
26 | 2.6 |
994 | 100.0 |
Table 4 EMPLOYMENT CHARACTERISTICS | |
---|---|
Industries of Employed Persons | |
34 Percent | Professional Services |
24 Percent | Manufacturing |
22 Percent | Wholesale/Retail Trade |
9 Percent | Business/Personal Services |
6 Percent | Public Administration |
2 Percent | Agriculture/Forestry/Fishing/Mining |
2 Percent | Construction |
Occupations of Employed Persons | |
31 Percent | Technical, Sales, and Administrative |
28 Percent | Managerial and Professional |
16 Percent | Service |
16 Percent | Operators, Fabricators, and Laborers |
8 Percent | Precision Production, Craft, and Repair |
1 Percent | Farminig, Forestry, and Fishing |
Nearly all of the labor force drives to work, with 76 percent driving their own vehicles and 10 percent car-pooling; 9 percent of the labor force walk to work; and 4 percent work at home.
Roughly 20 percent of the people in the work force actually work in Reed City. Nearly 70 percent of the labor force travel for more than 5 minutes to their places of work.
INCOME CHARACTERISTICS
In 1990, the median household income was $18,333, the median family income was $23,788, and the per capita income was $8,877. The income characteristics also vary across the city. For example, the median household income in Block Group 1 (eastern one-half of the city) was $21,154; and in Block Group 2 (the western one-half of the city) it was$26,394.
As shown in Table 5, Reed City residents have slightly lower median incomes than county residents but remain considerable below state levels. In addition, a higher percentage of persons in the city are below the poverty level than the county and state.
Table 5 here
RECREATION
There are many outdoor recreational areas in the city. They can be identified as:
- Recreation Park.
- Linear Park.
- Rambadt Park.
- Rails to Trails
- Water Tower Field
The Linear Park and Rambadt Park are adjacent facilities and are located near the northern city limits, along the Hersey River. The Recreation Park complex, located in the northeast part of the city, provides two baseball diamonds, four basketball courts, and three tennis courts. The Reed City Public School System has an outdoor football field and a softball/hardball field. The school also offers indoor recreation, such as a gym, basketball court, volleyball court, gymnastics, and a multipurpose room. There is no specific facility available for use by the senior citizens.
COMMUNITY FACILITIES AND SERVICES
Sanitary Sewage
The sewer system has the capacity to serve 2,000 equivalent units (one equivalent unit represents one housing unit). Figure D shows the city sewer system.
The system includes a primary lagoon treatment facility, with effluent being pumped directly to a secondary contained clarifier system prior to discharge into the Hersey River. It is designed for a toal capacity of approximately 1,500 to 2,000 units. Based on recent problems encountered for business expansion, it has been determined that the treatment facility has now reached capacity.
Water System
The city water supply system is shown in Figure E. The system has adequate capcity to meet the needs of the projected population through the year 2010.
Stormwater System
The stormwater system in the city generally flows northeast to the Hersey River. The system is comprised of traditional catch basins, drainage ditches, and culverts; however all but approximately 2,500 feet are totally enclosed drains. The stormwater system is portrayed in Figure F.
Police, Ambulance, and Fire Protection
Police protection is provided by the city. There are four full-time police officers and two part-time police officers working in the summer to put themselves through college. Ambulance service is provided by the county ambulance service. Response time is considered excellent, and no modifications are proposed.
Fire protection is provided by a volunteer fire department. Response time is also considered excellent for local fire protection services.
CITY FINANCES
Although property taxes represent the largest single revenue category, they comprise only about one-third of the city's total revenues. Other primary funding sources are from service charges and revenue sharing. The city operates on a total annual budget of approximately $1.3 million.
The city's state equalized value (SEV) is approximately $25.0 million, representing a theoretical market value of approximately $50 million. The millage rate of 16 mills represents obligations for general operating and sewage debt, and generates approximately $425,000 per year. The city has issued numerous commericial and industial facilities exemption certificates and many remain in effect.
According to state law the city is limited to a borrowing capacity of ten percent of its total SEV which equals $2.5 million. The city currently has only about $300,000 in outstanding general obligation bonds.
Tax increment financing has been authorized through the city's downtown development authority established in 1986.
Provided by the Reed City Downtown Development Authority.
This site is continually being updated, if you have any comments or suggestions, please take a minute to write [email protected].
Return to General Development Plan Table of ContentsBack to Reed City Main Page.
Back to Main Page.
MultiMag is not affiliated with external sites and is not responsible for their content.
Copyright © MultiMag 1996