Barrett Highlights Federal Investments in East Lansing, Charlotte, Eaton Rapids, and South Lyon

Lansing, Mich. - This week, Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) traveled across mid-Michigan to celebrate four federal investments he secured to strengthen public safety and improve infrastructure. The projects in East Lansing, Charlotte, Eaton Rapids, and South Lyon are part of the $146 million total Barrett has delivered for infrastructure, public safety, research, and other projects in mid-Michigan.

"Michigan families deserve to see their hard-earned tax dollars benefit them - not get lost in the Washington bureaucracy," said Barrett. "This week I visited five projects across mid-Michigan where I secured federal funding to improve public safety and real infrastructure. I heard it time and time again from local officials and workers - these are the types of projects that make mid-Michigan an even better place to live. Whether it's public safety, or infrastructure projects like roads and bridges, I look forward to delivering even more investments in our communities."

At East Lansing City Hall on Wednesday, Barrett met with East Lansing Police Department Chief Jennifer Brown and other city officials to hear an update about the department's planned security upgrades for city buildings. The $472,000 Barrett secured earlier this year will help replace old security cameras and install a weapons detection system and keycard access readers.

"In these financially challenging times, the bipartisan collaboration of Representative Barrett and Senators Peters and Slotkin to advocate for and support the City of East Lansing's security infrastructure is greatly appreciated," said City Manager Robert Belleman. "The City looks forward to receiving the $472,000 in Congressionally directed spending, which will be used to help expand entry point detection at City facilities and refresh camera systems that are at the end of their useful life."

Barrett then visited the Eaton County Courthouse and Administrative Offices in Charlotte and met with Sheriff Tom Reich, Board of Commissioners Chairman Jim Mott, Treasurer Dairus Reynnet, Controller/Administrator Ben Dawson, and other county officials and law enforcement. They shared how the county will use the $414,351 Barrett delivered to implement a uniform security camera system, tint windows, erect vehicle barriers to make the county complex safer, as well as cybersecurity upgrades to safeguard the sensitive data and digital records handled by the county government.

"On behalf of Eaton County, I want to thank Congressman Barrett for securing this critical funding," said Eaton County Board of Commissioners Chair Jim Mott. "These investments will have a meaningful impact on both the physical and cyber infrastructure of our 50-plus-year-old courthouse, helping us better protect our employees, residents, data and the essential services we provide every day."

On Thursday, Barrett visited the old Horner Mill site in Eaton Rapids and met with Eaton County Treasurer Dairus Reynnet, Eaton Rapids Mayor Pam Colestock, and members of the Eaton County Land Bank Authority. The Eaton County Land Bank acquired the abandoned property last year, and Barrett secured $1 million to help demolish the blighted structures and allow opportunity for future development.

"The deteriorating Horner Mill has been a prominent eyesore at the gateway of downtown Eaton Rapids," said Eaton County Treasurer Dairus Reynnet, who is chairman of the Land Bank Authority. "We are very grateful to Congressman Barrett for delivering critical resources to help us clear the property for new development. Instead of the deteriorating buildings that attract frequent vandalism and detract from the surrounding neighborhood, the people of Eaton Rapids are looking forward to seeing a clean, safe property that will make the community an even better place to live."

On Friday, Barrett met with Oakland County Road Commission officials in South Lyon to highlight the $1 million he secured to replace and enlarge an aging drain culvert at Dixboro Road. The planned replacement is part of a larger project to improve the infrastructure of the Yerkes Drain system.

"Replacing this failing 62-year-old culvert is critical to ensuring that Dixboro Road remains open," said Road Commission for Oakland County Managing Director Director Dennis Kolar. "We would not have been able to undertake this important project without the support of Congressman Barrett, and we appreciate his helping to ensure we received federal funding for the project."

The four stops followed Barrett's Tuesday visit to a closed Shiawassee County bridge that will be replaced with funding Barrett secured.

Click here to learn more about the $146 million investments that Barrett has secured for mid-Michigan.

East Lansing Police Department:

Eaton County Courthouse:

Horner Mill:

Dixboro Drain: