CCRC Hears Perennial Road Maintenance Complaint

By DIANNE ALWARD-BIERY
Cleaver Senior Staff Writer
HARRISON – The April 7 meeting of the Clare County Road Commission saw all commissioners present, and only Supervisor Dave Bondie absent. After approval of previous meeting minutes, the Financial Report was provided by Kayla Randle, finance director/board secretary. She noted a beginning cash balance of $867,359.07 and that after having received February payments which included the gas tax as well as random permits and other deposits, that total became $777,356.16; normal charges totaling $537,565.40; leaving a $1,107,149.83 ending cash balance.
Commissioners then approved the April 1 Accounts Payable and the April 1 Accounts Payable-Construction Account.
In Public Comment, Clare County Commissioner Gabe Ambrozaitis had no BOC report until the county board’s next meeting April 15, Tax Day. He did inform of the upcoming April 11 Egg-Stravaganza event at the airport, and the CCRC’s participation in the event’s Touch-a-Truck was confirmed.
Three people were in attendance to voice concerns regarding inadequate road drainage/grading maintenance in Ash Acres, particularly Ash Road between Butch and Hazel. Rogers explained that this type of complaint is common across the county in subdivisions that got platted and divided, where there is no drainage. He said it’s a local road, but any type of excessive work to that type of road has to go through the township.
Rogers explained that local projects require financial participation by the township: something Hayes Towsnship doesn’t provide for subdivisions. Hayes does have a road millage, but that applies only to paved roads. When asked about residents’ paid taxes, it was explained that taxes go to the township, but the Road Commission funding comes from the state.
“We do work with the townships every year on what they want to do, and we kind of go that route,” Rogers said. “But for your subdivision to get proper drainage, they should’ve been built right in the first place, and it wasn’t … and that’s a huge undertaking to get ditches; if you ditch it, where does the water go after it gets in the ditch? There’s no retention pond or drain nearby.”
It was explained that there indeed is a pond, so Rogers affirmed that is something that could be engineered, but it would still be a huge undertaking – costing in the neighborhood of hundreds of thousands of dollars which the township likely would not invest in a subdivision.
The residents were told maintenance is focused on the streets that lead to larger ingress/egress roads, i.e., Townline, BR. 127, etc., that other subdivision streets lead to.
Weighmaster Brian Coon also informed that some years back, at the township’s request, the Road Commission had gone into the Ash Acres sub to see what it would take to pave the entire subdivision and came up with a number of $3 million. He said that included paving, valley gutters and ditching.
He said that when that subdivision was first set up, there were natural drainages that went to most of the ponds, but as people built in the sub, they filled in the drainage ditches.
“That’s what happens in your subdivisions,” Coon said. “People don’t want a ditch in front of their house so they fill it in with black dirt. We get people who tell us all the time they want the water to stay in the road and not in the yard, because their garage is downhill and their garage is flooding. You people want the water in the ditch, your neighbors might not.”
In response to references to gravel repair needs, Rogers said the CCRC’s gravel piles have just begun to be built, and with the advent of better weather [and the lifting of weight restrictions] some gravel repairs would be getting underway.
Commissioner Max Schunk described the situation as, “It’s a big battle because of all the residents that don’t want their yard cut up and don’t want their trees cut. It’s a big battle. Then there’s people like you that see it, and see what needs to be done.”
Again, that cost for subdivision work would be borne by the township one way or another. The group were urged to take up their concern and inquire about a road millage with Hayes Township.
Hayes resident Pat Adams then informed that he had filed his paperwork to run for the position of Road Commissioner.
Rogers then informed of progress on the new CCRC building, noting it was “rockin’ ’n’ rollin’.” He said office cabinets were installed and office just about done. The parking garage drains were being installed along with floor drains, and that the shop was full up with plumbers, electricians and masons. Rogers also noted the shop floor was poured, walls built and fire extinguishers/sprinkler system installed.
“It’s actually going pretty quick now” he said. “We’ve had a crew out there excavating for the under drains/slot drains; they’re working on the parking lot this week because the big generator’s coming in and we have to do some grading for that.”
Randle added that fiber installation was taking place, and that Jerry Becker had been onsite to check/ensure that no radio reception shielding caused by windows was plaguing the project as had happened at the CTE building. That showed no problem, as yet.
Next under New Business was the FY25 Audit Presentation by Tyler Watters, the results of which were quite similar to last year’s audit and presented as positive overall.
Commissioners then approved a Credit Card Addendum and Agreement to move it from a personal account to a corporate account. They also approved administrative wages at the recommended rate of pay for 2027.
There also was information Rogers provided regarding the forming Rural Road Alliance of Michigan, which if the CCRC participates would cost $10,000 in annual dues for 2026, as compared to the currently paid $14,000-$15,000 for County Road Association dues. Rogers offered this as information for the commissioners, noting it could be “another voice at the Capital for smaller road commissions.” He said it was something for commissioners to research and consider, and that he would continue to do research as well.
In his Maintenance Report, Rogers noted having a pre-construction meeting for Tobacco Road paving by Reith Riley right after Memorial Day or possibly before. The balance of the year’s paving is not yet scheduled, and that paving will also include the CCRC parking lot and road adjacent.
Work remaining on the Brand Road bridge still needs guardrail and some paving, which awaits opening of the asphalt plant. Rogers also informed that all the trees had been cut for gravel projects, and that crews were dealing with water, wind and ice, and blading roads as best they could. He said some work had been done previously on Forest, but after a planning meeting the focus is on failed and plugged culverts.
“Little one-day jobs, clean it all up,” he said. “Then when the weather finally breaks, maybe in a couple weeks, we’ll start diving into projects. Right now it’s a muddy frozen mess.”
Beginning Commissioner Reports, Schunk remarked having heard the weighmaster training at Robbin Harsch Excavating had gone well. Referring to Coon, he said, “I think you’re the one behind all that, and that’s a good deal. If you can keep getting that type of participation every year, you’re doing something right.”
Coon said the intent was to step it up in the future at the new CCRC facility, having a road show with equipment and having more instructors so it’s more hands-on for contractors with their own equipment.
“People are really trying to comply,” Coon said. “And I think that’s our goal. All through the weight restrictions, I’ve dealt with people in a good way. They want to do things right and protect what they have, too … they’re trying to do things right.”
Coon said he tries to focus on insecure loads because it’s a safety issue.
Commissioner Bill Simpson advised that Rep. Tom Kunse would be at Cops and Doughnuts at 9 a.m. April 20. He also noted that Hamilton Township had thanked the road commission for its commitment to supply a truck for their park’s June 6 grand opening. He said the Road Commission Retirees breakfast was set for 9 a.m. May 4.
Commissioner Karen Hulliberger offered her thanks to the crew for all their work the previous weekend. “Normally, on a holiday weekend it’s kind of tough, but the guys were right there,” she said.
The Clare County Road Commission meetings are at 8 a.m. first and third Tuesdays of the month at 3900 E. Mannsiding Road.