The regular meeting of the Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of Calhoun was held Wednesday, February 16, 2005 at 9:00 a.m. in their office located at 13300 Fifteen Mile Road, Marshall, Michigan.

Present: Commissioner Chester E. Travis, Chairperson

Commissioner David D. Veramay, Vice-Chairperson

Commissioner Charles E. Monaweck, Member

Dennis A. Randolph, Managing Director

Carole S. Tabiadon, Deputy Managing Director - Clerk

Angela Kline, Assistant Highway Engineer

Pixie Coats, Human Resources Manager

Also Present: Tom Frank, Albion Township Supervisor

Eugene Hamaker, Marshall Township Supervisor

Jeff Adams, Newton Township Supervisor

Laura Monaweck, Athens Township Resident

Joseph Bramble, Convis Township Resident

Dennis Smock, Fredonia Township Resident

Don Franklin, Marshall Township Resident

Alice Goode, Pennfield Township Resident

Steve Ball, Calhoun County Road Commission

Dave Fuller, Calhoun County Road Commission

Jim Russell, Calhoun County Road Commission

Robert Volkmer, Calhoun County Road Commission

Chairperson Travis called meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. He stated that there being no additions or corrections to the regular meeting minutes of February 2, 2005 they stand approved as printed and distributed.

COMMUNICATIONS

• Letter from George Michael Brockway regarding roadwork on 26 Mile Road between J Drive South and L Drive South

• Letter to Sheridan Township regarding “No Parking” Resolution 2004-03

• Memo to Calhoun County Townships regarding new specification book and website

• Memorandum of Understanding for County Planning Services for 2005 from Calhoun County

• Resolution from Convis Township regarding 2005 roadwork

NEW BUSINESS

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve Resolution 2005-03; Certification of Meredith Trail, Marshall Township. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Resolution 2005 - 03

Certification of Meredith Trail in Marshall Township as County Local Road

WHEREAS, the developer is requesting to certify as a county local road Meredith Trail located in Section 12, Marshall Township; and

WHEREAS, this road is located within a right-of-way owned and under the jurisdiction of the Calhoun County Road Commission; and

WHEREAS, this right-of-way is for public road purposes; and

WHEREAS, Meredith Trail has been hard-surfaced and the developer would like to have the length of 2883' certified and maintained.

NOW THEREFORE LET IT BE RESOLVED that the Calhoun County Road Commission will agree to certify the additional length of .546 miles.

THEREFORE LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED that the Calhoun County Board of Road Commissioners acknowledges that Meredith Trail has been accepted into the county local road system.

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve Donald Holt, Chippewa; Jack Deming, Otsego; William Watkins, Hillsdale; and John H. Daly III, Genesee for the Board of Director's of County Road Association of Michigan (C.R.A.M.) as marked on the ballot presented. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the proposed amendment – New Section 7; in accordance with Article X of the Constitution and Bylaws of the County Road Association of Michigan (C.R.A.M.) as presented. Voice vote: Motion carried. Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the Parks maintenance request for leasing new lawn equipment per memo from Annette Chapman, Parks & Recreation Director. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve Resolution 2005-04; MDOT Contract 04-5420, I-69 Heritage Route. Voice vote: Motion carried.

RESOLUTION 2005 - 04

WHEREAS , A agreement between the Michigan Department of Transportation and the Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of Calhoun, Michigan for the purpose of approving Contract Number 04-5420, Job Number 52994/81103, Control Section SBD 84900/SPR 84900, Federal Item Number RR 2387/RR 4296; and all together with necessary related work.

Part A – Job 52994

Development and management of the Highway I-69 Heritage Route application, which shall include but not be limited to the following work activities: identification of continuing funding sources; preparation of grant applications; including coordination with other affected agencies; administration of grant awards; project oversight; preparation and administration of subcontracts, and the performance of any other Heritage Route Staff responsibilities (agenda, meeting minutes, mailings, etc.); and all together with necessary related work, located in Branch and Calhoun Counties; and

Part B – Job 81103

Facilitation of data collection and data dissemination for proposed Highway I-69 Heritage Route along Highway I-69 from the Indiana State Line to Highway I-94; together with necessary related work, located in Branch and Calhoun Counties.

BE IT RESOLVED , that Chairperson Chester E. Travis and Vice-Chairperson David D. Veramay sign Contract Number 04-5420 on behalf of the Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of Calhoun.

OTHER BUSINESS

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve the February 10, 2005 accounts payable for $395,967.75. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the February 2, 2005 payroll for $146,236.41. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the February 3, 2005 payroll for $4,109.22. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Mr. Randolph provided the Board with the following information:

•  The MDOT contract was additional funding on the I-69 Heritage Route and will allow for a consultant.

•  He displayed new Water Over the Road folding signs that will be put up at problem areas

•  Additional folding signs (such as Bridge may be Icy) should be replacing the current signs that are up all the time. He is going to contact MDOT about those.

•  We are salting in icy areas today and taking care of water areas

•  We are working on potholes and trees when it is not snowing

•  The seasonal weight limits become effective on Monday, February 21, 2005. Some counties are already in effect.

•  Roadsoft was updated yesterday and now contains current data. He will be running reports for all townships.

•  Regarding the T.C.O. in Sheridan; we can not erect No Parking signs as it is covered under the Motor Vehicle Code.

•  He received a letter from Jim Demarest, Emmett Township Supervisor, regarding snowmobiles in the right-of-way. They are allowed to ride in the right-of-way.

•  There was an opinion letter in the Battle Creek Enquirer & News on Saturday stating that we did not know the condition of our roads. Just because we know about it doesn't mean we can do anything about it. The resident was not pleased as the insurance company refused their claim to replace a damaged tire.

•  He is doing some follow-up from the meeting last Friday with Gloria Jeff, MDOT Director. He will meet with Senator Schauer tomorrow at his office and with the MDOT TSC.

•  He is still working on the Air Attainment Quality with MDEQ and BCU

•  He displayed charts showing service request history; dead deer complaints; pothole complaints.

Commissioner Veramay would like to see information sent to our State Representatives indicating costs to the Road Commission for picking up dead deer. Besides the actual costs, it is lost time that crews could be doing other work; then there is the cost of the deer reflectors, that have reduced the crashes in those areas.

Commissioner Veramay went to a meeting on Friday and indicated that something has to change regarding how the Road Commissions are funded. The old method is just not working any longer. We receive no county general fund money, although many other Road Commissions do. We receive less township money than most other Road Commissions. We need to educate our public and townships that additional funds will be needed to keep our roads good.

Commissioner Monaweck inquired:

•  If the seasonal weight limits should be put on earlier in the year? Mr. Randolph stated we have a road frost monitor in Albion Township and we watch that to help us decide when to put them on. Last week the frost was at 5'7”. The surrounding counties have started this week, so we are not really behind the others in the area.

•  Since we use a contractor on state roads to pick up dead deer, why not on county roads? Mr. Randolph said we have looked at that, it is a balancing act between keeping crews working and cash flow when we use contracted services.

•  Was the boom mower designed for the way we use it? Mr. Randolph indicated that we use it as the manufacturer recommends.

•  If we were with Kalamazoo County Road Commission he would be so embarrassed by the fellows that were doing the work on the television news earlier this week. He suggested a patching machine that clears water from holes before the material is put into it. Robert Volkmer, Equipment Supervisor, stated that we have one. Mr. Randolph explained how the Asphalite Machine, the front-end truck rollers and cold patch material each function.

Tom Frank, Albion Township Supervisor, said you can't stop homes from going in and traffic from increasing. He is glad to know the seasonal weight limits will go on next Monday.

Joseph Bramble, Convis Township resident, said a road in Convis is under water, but it is not a new problem.

Alice Goode, Pennfield Township resident, would like guard rail on McAllister Road near the river before a car goes off into the river. Bellevue Road is getting very bad. She counted 19 trees near wires that should be removed. Mr. Randolph indicated that Consumers Energy takes care of trees that endanger wires.

The next regular meeting of the Calhoun County Road Commission Board is scheduled for Wednesday, March 2, 2005 at 9:00 a.m.

There being no additional business before the Board, Chairperson Travis adjourned the meeting at 10:24 a.m.