The regular meeting of the Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of Calhoun was held Wednesday, October 4, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. in their office located at 13300 Fifteen Mile Road, Marshall, Michigan.

Present: Commissioner Chester E. Travis, Chairman
Commissioner David D. Veramay, Vice-Chairman
Commissioner Charles E. Monaweck, Member
Joanna Johnson, Assistant Managing Director
Kevin Henning, Finance Director
Pixie Coats, Human Resource Director
Angela Kline, Assistant County Highway Engineer
Also Present: Tom Frank, Albion Township Supervisor
Eugene Hamaker, Marshall Township Supervisor
John Neterer, Leroy Township Supervisor
Robert Brownell, Marengo Township
Joe Bramble, Convis Township Resident
Peter Shrontz, Marengo Township Resident
Clarence Millard, Newton Township Resident
Gardy Berezonsky, Marengo Township Resident
Roland Owens, Marshall Township Resident
Jim Russell, Calhoun County Road Commission
Steve Ball, Calhoun County Road Commission
Robert Volkmer, Calhoun County Road Commission
Hershel Stacy, Calhoun County Road Commission
Dave Fuller, Calhoun County Road Commission
Paul Adams, Calhoun County Road Commission

Chairman Chester Travis called the meeting to order at 8:30 a.m. There being no additions or corrections to the regular meeting minutes of September 20, 2006 they stand approved as printed and distributed.

NEW BUSINESS

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve the September 25, 2006 accounts payable for $417,288.53. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the September 27, 2006 payroll for $131,995.53. Voice vote: Motion carried.

MANAGING DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Mrs. Johnson provided the Board with the following information:

Mrs. Johnson stated we are doing the following work around the County:

· Patching
· Ditching & Drainage
· Infrared Machine
· Shoulders
· Re-graveling Roads to begin later this month
· Signing up trees for winter operations
· R & S Tree Service working on tree limbs
· Salt shed repairs completed

Mrs. Johnson noted we have completed our State fiscal year for 2006.

Mrs. Johnson reported that we are completing our final punch list with the contractor for Pennfield Road. There are some soil erosion issues that we will be meeting on this afternoon with the Department of Environmental Quality.

Mrs. Johnson stated on Monday we had our pre-construction meeting for the Verona Road project and will be starting it very soon.

Mrs. Johnson said that we received our cost figures back from the State of Michigan for our salt purchases. Mrs. Johnson reported that our salt costs have gone up 56% from last year. Mrs. Johnson stated that we have been working with our management staff to discuss different salting techniques in addressing this issue.

The “Drive Michigan Campaign” kicked off and you will be seeing a lot of media coverage to help increase road funding.

Mrs. Johnson reported that we are working on our 2007 budget, fee schedules, finishing up all our cost for this year and, our policies. We are also updating our website to make the permit process more customer user friendly.

Mrs. Johnson said that the Road Tour is set for October 26th and our Snow Plow Day is set for October 18th. We are taking one half day, so that our driver’s can drive their snow plow routes.

Mrs. Johnson reported our fall newsletter will be completed soon. Also, we will be getting our ad in the newspaper for our fall version of the contact information to the Road Commission.

Mrs. Johnson stated we received copies of the Business Review and noted there is a section that highlights Calhoun County.

COMMISSIONER’S COMMENTS

Commissioner Veramay commented that he would like the Board to write to their representatives and ask them to follow up and justify these salt prices. Commissioner Veramay stated we have representatives to take care of these types of issues.

Commissioner Monaweck reported he had the opportunity to go on the Branch County Road Tour and was very impressed by their road program. Commissioner Monaweck stated that he was impressed with the way they take care of the mowing, the shoulders of the roads, the tree trimming and the overall quality of the work that was performed. Commissioner Monaweck said that he thought they had excellent roads in Branch County.

SUPERVISOR’S & PUBLIC OFFICIAL’S TIME

Mr. Frank asked about the salt. Mrs. Johnson said that she would share the information with him if he would like it. Mr. Frank said that he thought our roadside mowing looks good.

CITIZEN’S TIME

Mr. Millard asked if he we could redesign the guardrail on B Drive South. Commissioner Travis stated guardrails are put in so that when they are hit they will break away.

Mr. Bramble said he was aware of a complaint in Convis Township on the way the shoulders were done. Mrs. Johnson stated that she followed up on the complaint.

Mr. Owens stated that he came to the meeting last month and complained about a problem and now came back to say thank you. The issue was taken care of the very next day.

Mr. Berezonsky asked if we are going to do a study on Michigan Avenue east of Marshall where a motor-cross is going in. He wanted to know if the road would hold up to the extra traffic. Mrs. Johnson said that is a primary road so there shouldn’t be any problem but we would look into it. Mr. Berezonsky asked why we were spending so much money maintaining the road by the fairgrounds with brine.

Mr. Henning reported that our Michigan Transportation Fund will be approximately 1% less this year than last year.

Commissioner Travis reported he received a letter from Allegan County stating what they were going to cut back on this winter and also how they are going to be changing their program for next summer. Commissioner Travis noted it was interesting because Allegan County has a County mileage and they still are going to be making cuts. Mrs. Johnson reported that the majority of the Townships also have a mileage.

The next regular meeting of the Calhoun County Road Commission Board is scheduled for Wednesday, October 18, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. There being no additional business before the Board, Chairman Travis adjourned the meeting at 8:52 a.m