Advertisement

The engineers proposed about 40.5 miles of paving. The plans range from adding an overlay or a second layer of asphalt to almost 19 miles of road they want to take out and redo from the ground up.

However, those projects are estimated to cost the road commission about $2.3 million, or around $970,000 more than their share of the county road tax. They are anticipating around $1.33 million in road millage funds once the cities and villages get their share. Accountant Joyce Hagan reported the municipalities will receive about $600,000 of the approximately $1.933 million collected.

"We are not robbing Peter to pay Paul this year," she emphasized.

"Because Peter is not there anymore," commented Highway Consultant Bob Wellington. "We'll take bids and let Joyce decide (how much the agency can afford)."

Over the past few years the road commission has approved more projects than they could pay for out of road millage monies, forcing them to tap their operating funds or take the money out of the following year's millage funds.

The proposed primary road projects include: Ruth Road from Palms to Bay City-Forestville roads and from M-46 to Eddy Road; Germania Road from Walker to Marlette and from Deckerville to Argyle roads; Maple Grove Road from north village limits of Carsonville to Forester; Galbraith Line Road from west village limits of Melvin to Shepard Road; Parisville Road from Bay City-Forestville to Huron County Line; Brown Road from M-90 to Stilson; Deckerville Road from Maple Grove Road to the east village limits; and Snay Road from Loree Road to M-25.

The engineers also plan to rebuild Todd Road from M-90 to Fisher Road and Bay City-Forestville from M-19 to Polk Road, using primarily state and federal dollars and over $480,000 in local funds.

In other business, the road board went into executive session to discuss union contract negotiations.

They have also discussed land purchases for the proposed new maintenance/office facility in closed session the past couple months, but did not plan to talk about the $5 million project last week.

"It is on hold. We have decided not to proceed at this time," stated Engineer-Manager Robb Falls.

*The county may finally be able to get dead deer removed from the roads after years of lobbying. However, it will cost them.

Falls reported MDOT officials say other counties are contracting with someone to pick up the deer at a cost of $25 per carcass, which will come out of their state maintenance check.

Falls said he didn't want to deal with it because of the liability and dumping costs, however the board voted to have the road crews pick up the carcasses on the state highways to see how it goes.

*The commissioners voted to cost share with the state for the Cedardale Garage salt shed and asked Falls to look into possible grants. He is also checking the cost of loans through Rural Development.

Falls reported the county is eligible for cost share on two garages this year, but they can only afford to help pay for one. They will pay $300,000 of the estimated $500,000 cost to build the new salt shed. The cost share varies according to the usage at each garage he explained.

The new shed will hold 1,000 to 1,200 tons of salt compared to 250 tons for the existing shed.

*The board voted to cost share on an ultra light long-range laser for the Sheriff Department weigh master. They will pay half of the $4,005.01 price.

"It is for the trucks. During weight restrictions they are only supposed to go 35 mph on Class B roads. We are looking at the safety of the motoring public too," said Falls.

*They approved the low bid for three new Schulte mowers from Tri-County Equipment at a cost of $14,850, including trading in the John Deere mowers.

*Assistant Manager-Assistant Engineer Dale Stolicker reported soft spots on the gravel roads are healing pretty well, although there were still quite a few near the lakeshore as of last week.

"The last rain (March 4) should help. There are some potholes, but we are in pretty good shape," he noted.

*The commissioners agreed to advertise the surplus equipment on eBay, with a notice in the Sanilac County News to notify local residents about the Internet sale. They are getting rid of everything from five tandem dump trucks to a wheel dolly.