CCRC to Take on Innovative Projects

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY

Cleaver Senior Staff Writer

HARRISON – After approval of Jan. 20 regular meeting minutes, and Jan. 26 special meeting minutes and closed meeting minutes, the Feb. 3 regular meeting of the Clare County Road Commission heard the monthly financial report. Commissioners then approved Accounts Payable for Jan. 22 and 29, and Jan. 30 for construction.

Under Public Comment, County Commissioner Gabe Ambrozaitis related the BOC’s recent action to increase the existing indigent veteran benefit for burial. He explained that action would more realistically cover actual expenses, while not affecting the county’s overall appropriation due to the relatively few number of people who qualify for that benefit. He also reminded of the April 11 Egg-Stravaganza slated for April 11 at Clare County Airport 80D. Registration [limited to ages 12 and younger] will be from 9-10 a.m., with three age groups at 10:15, 10:30 and 10:45. He further explained that, due to a plane not being available, the eggs will be dispersed by firetruck.

Under New Business, Rogers reported the new Road Commission building’s interior was being painted, and that the shop roof and siding had been started, but delayed by recent weather.

Discussion then focused 2480 S. Clare Ave., which the CCRC is looking at acquiring. It was noted the acquisition was primarily for the property, which would enable trucks to enter/exit the highway directly, rather than via Mannsiding, and that the building would be an asset. The commissioners agreed to an onsite inspection of the premises to better know what might be needed for demolition, or what structure of value could be retained. The former Warner Petroleum property would require both a Level 1 and Level 2 environmental study, increasing the cost by $20,000 to $30,000.

Supervisor Dave Bondie reported drivers were busy, not a surprise with all the recent weather events. He said all the pre-order salt had come in, and that a 50-50 mix of salt and sand was being used in order to conserve salt. The only exception to that is the business route through Harrison, where there are lots of street drains which could end up clogged with sand come spring. Bondie also noted cutting had begun on Forest Road in Franklin Township, with partial road closure between Hoover and Athey.

Rogers spoke of footings being poured that day for the Brand Road bridge, with the next step being the setting of a three-sided pre-cast arch. He then described another bridge to be installed on Strawberry between Monroe and Mannsiding. That would be another bridge that’s the first of its kind: an Ultra High Performance Concrete poured into a box culvert form, with the concrete made by Superior Concrete and delivered to the road commission. Rogers said he had been approached to speak at an upcoming conference in April, and the success of that pour could give him something to share there. A March meeting at Michigan State University offers the possibility of an MSU project to work on.

He also noted the CCRC having been noted in a scrap tire magazine which used a photo of the Tobacco tire-filled baskets which was part of a Michigan Technological University environmental project.

There was some discussion of how CCRC meetings might be recorded. Commissioner Max Schunk was highly complementary regarding the CCRC’s handling of “an extreme old-fashioned Michigan snow.” Commissioner Merle Harmon suggested a specific day and time be set to inspect the building on S. Clare Avenue to do an informal walk-thru. Commissioners agreed, and a 4 p.m. Monday or Wednesday was slated. They further approved a formal motion to allow Dewayne Rogers to sign any documents related to real estate.

Other projects bandied about included preventative maintenance emergency temporary fill, and a possible roundabout.

The Clare County Road Commission meetings are at 8 a.m. the first and third Tuesdays of the month, currently at 3900 E. Mannsiding Road.