To: Dr. Beverly Brown, Community & Economic Development Committee Chairperson
From: Derek Bradshaw, Director
title
RE: Approval of a Genesee County Legacy Trails: Design and Construction Engineering Consultant
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Genesee County Metropolitan Planning Commission (GCMPC) staff are recommending approval of the Genesee County Legacy Trails Design and Construction Engineering Consultant contract with Rowe Professional Services Company in the amount of $401,800 and for the Board Chairperson Dale K. Weighill to sign the contract. Staff is also requesting approval to create a purchase order for Rowe Professional Services Company in the amount of $401,800 for this activity.
BACKGROUND:
The Genesee County Metropolitan Alliance approved a five-year strategic trails plan for Flint and Genesee County in March 2026. The Plan provides a clear framework to expand trail connectivity, strengthen partnerships, provide accessible travel, and accelerate the delivery of trail projects countywide. The primary goal of this project is to increase the pace of building non-motorized trail connections between Genesee County residents and essential community resources. A selected consultant will provide comprehensive engineering services, including early preliminary engineering, final design, and construction oversight to ensure Legacy Trail projects are construction-ready and efficiently delivered. Ultimately, this coordinated approach aims to accelerate infrastructure development that would otherwise take several decades to complete at the current pace. The Genesee County Board of Commissioners accepted an award of $3,500,000 from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation on July 22nd, 2026. Funding from this grant (#2026-14808) was set aside specifically to be used towards the management of a consulting firm to carry out the design and construction engineering of projects identified in the five-year strategic trails plan.
DISCUSSION:
The Genesee County Purchasing Department released a request for proposals to identify a qualified firm to provide design and construction engineering services for Genesee County’s Legacy Trails. The request generated significant interest, with 5 proposals submitted from firms across the state. Following a competitive review process, two finalist firms were interviewed, and Rowe PSC was identified as the top scoring firm. Early preliminary engineering (EPE), project scoping, grant application creation/management, agency coordination, and overall technical assistance will be completed for the Legacy Trail projects identified for years 2027 through 2030 in the Genesee County 5-Year Strategic Trails Plan. Future mutually agreed upon amendments/modifications will clarify schedule and fees for future design and construction engineering phases for various projects as the EPE phase progresses.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
There will be no impact on human resources.
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
No General Funds will be used for this project. The project will be funded through the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation Grant #2026-14808.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
There will be no impact on Genesee County facilities.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
There is no impact on technology.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
A design and construction engineering consultant for The Legacy Trails supports Genesee County’s goal of Healthy, Livable, and Safe communities by promoting active transportation and recreation which will help to increase quality of life for residents as well as improve talent attraction and retention in our communities.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Director of Planning to authorize entering into the Genesee County Legacy Trails Design and Construction Engineering contract between Genesee County and Rowe Professional Services Company, whereby the contractor will provide comprehensive engineering services for the Legacy Trails project, at a cost not to exceed $401,800.00, and to authorize a Purchase Order for Rowe Professional Services Company to pay invoices, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documentation being on file with the official records of the November 3, 2026 meeting of the Community and Economic Development Committee of this Board), and the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute the contract on behalf of Genesee County.