Community Systems
TRANSPORTATION
The existing and proposed circulation system is shown on the 2003 General Development Plan (available at the City office). Descriptions of the principal and minor arterioles, major and minor collectors, and local streets are given. Michigan highway #M-52 jogs through the center of town, running north to interstate #I-94 near the Village of Chelsea and south to Adrian. Two vacated railroad right-of-ways crisscross the Village with some of the land in public ownership.
The Manchester Senior Citizens Council operates a transportation service, using a bus with a handicap lift and sometimes using private vehicles, enabling people, particularly handicapped and senior citizens, to have door-to-door transportation to doctors, dentists, and shopping. The Council also provides home delivery of meals to shut-ins.
The W.A.V.E. provides a free shuttle service that travels round-trip from Manchester to Chelsea. They operate a door-to-door bus program which is open to everyone who needs a ride to and from Chelsea. There are also 4 designated bus stops within Manchester that are labeled with WAVE signs. Ride the Wave Information
The City is approximately two square miles. Most residents are within one-half mile of the Main Street Bridge; others on the eastern edge are slightly more than three-quarters of a mile from the bridge. A stroll through the City is pleasant for many. Bicycling is a popular means of transportation. Most families own a car, and there are some parking limitations in the business district.
SEWER AND WATER SYSTEMS
Sewage and Waste Water: The sewage system’s coverage capacity extends throughout most of the City’s platted areas, although there are some exceptions. The system was designed to allow for moderate growth over a 15 to 20 year period from 1989.
Storm Sewer: The disposal of storm water runoff presented a problem to Manchester for a number of years, due to a combined sewer system. However, a complete separation of the storm sewer from the waste sewer was completed in 1990. The result has been a significant decrease in combined sewer overflows into the River Raisin.
Drinking Water: The service area of Manchester’s public water system extends through the platted areas. The City receives its water from three alternating wells with a pumping capacity of more than 800 gallons per minute.
MANCHESTER COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT
The Manchester Community School District is comprised of portions of Sharon, Freedom, Bridgewater and Manchester Townships in Washtenaw County and the smaller areas of Norvell and Grass Lake Township in Jackson County. All of the school buildings are within the Manchester City High School limits, as are the athletic fields.
Since 1976, the School Board has followed the “community schools” philosophy, which makes school buildings and grounds available to the general public after the needs of the K-12 programs are satisfied. Classrooms, gymnasiums, and study/auditoriums may be reserved through the Continuing Education Director.
A special note of interest is the fact the Manchester School District recently received voter approval to obtain funds to build a new high school. Land has been purchased for the new facility and construction is under way with and August 2004 opening.