State Rep. Mark Tisdel voted on Wednesday, Sept. 25 to give $1.3 million to the City of Rochester Hills for green space land acquisition.

This is the second time that Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, has voted in favor of the funding, which was previously approved by the Michigan House of Representatives in May. The funding bill stalled in the state Senate, however, due to a dispute over other projects, so the House asked for the legislation back and made changes. The funding bill was then approved by the Senate on Sept. 26.

“The funding for Cloverport wasn’t ever in trouble,” Tisdel said. “It passed with wide bipartisan support both times the legislation came up in the House, and the disagreement with the Michigan Senate was over other projects elsewhere in the state, but that’s been worked out. Now we just need the governor to sign the bill into law.”

The money, once approved, will be used to purchase a 9-acre plot of undeveloped land on S. Rochester Road, near the existing Cloverport Green Space. The land, which was once home to an apiary, is needed so the city can establish a trailhead and build a path that will connect to the rear of Rochester Christian University and the Clinton River Trail.

The money for the land acquisition comes from Michigan’s Natural Resources Trust Fund, meaning it is not taxpayer money. The NRTF is funded by mineral and oil and natural gas royalties, which the state constitution requires get used to improve parks and natural areas.

The funding is contained in Senate Bill 817, which now goes to the governor for her signature.

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PHOTO: State Rep. Mark Tisdel, R-Rochester Hills, standing in front of the voting board at the Michigan House of Representatives on May 8, 2024 when the funding bill was first approved by the House.