The regular meeting of the Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of Calhoun was held Wednesday, April 5, 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
Dennis Randolph, Managing Director
Joanna Johnson, Assistant Managing Director
Kevin Henning, Finance Director
Pixie Coats, Human Resource Director
Angie Kline, Assistant Highway Engineer
Also Present: Tom Frank, Albion Township Supervisor
Larry Spoor, Burlington Township Supervisor
John Neterer, Leroy Township Supervisor
Eugene Hamaker, Marshall Township Supervisor
Richard Harvey, Bedford Township Trustee
Jim Demarest, Emmett Township Supervisor
Arthur Farmer, Lee Township Supervisor
Greg Moore, County Commissioner
Greg Purcell, County Administrator
Lynn Hagelshaw, Burlington Township Resident
Maurice Shaffer, Newton Township Resident
Alice Godde, Pennfield Township Resident
Joseph Bramble, Convis Township Resident
Gardy Berezonsky, Marengo Township Resident
Walt Gamble, Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire Productions
Steve Buller, Emmett Township Resident
Robert Messner, Emmett Township Resident
Polly Messner, Emmett Township Resident
Peter George, Emmett Township Resident
Judy Censke, Emmett Township Resident
David Censke, Emmett Township Resident
Tom Censke, Emmett Township Resident
Darrell Campbell, Candidate Congress
Jim Russell, Calhoun County Road Commission
Steve Ball, Calhoun County Road Commission
Robert Volkmer, Calhoun County Road Commission
Dave Fuller, Calhoun County Road Commission
Paul Adams, Calhoun County Road Commission
Annette Chapman, Calhoun County Road Commission
Erin Cummings, Calhoun County Road Commission

Chairman Chester Travis called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. There being no additions or corrections to the regular meeting minutes of March 15, 2006 they stand approved as printed and distributed.

COMMUNICATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

•  Received a letter from the Village of Athens requesting the Road Commission's bridge inspector to inspect the bridge on North Avenue A

•  Received a memo from Annette Chapman requesting approval for the 2005 certification of roads for Calhoun County.

•  Received bids for the 2006 Bituminous Paving Materials

•  Received bids for the Infrared Asphalt Recycler

•  Received bids for the 2006-2008 Pavement Marking

•  Received bids for the 2006-2007 Sweeping

•  Received bids for the Concrete Crushing

•  Received a letter from Mr. Maurice Shaffer requesting consideration to keep the pine trees located on D Drive South

NEW BUSINESS

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve the March 24, 2006 accounts payable for $237,525.63 . Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the March 15, 2006 payroll for $124,783.64. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the March 29, 2006 payroll for 124,816.34. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the 2005 Certification of Roads for Calhoun County . Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve the 2006 Bituminous Paving Materials .

Commissioner Monaweck asked if the Road Commission only bid two paving companies for the material for paving. Mr. Randolph stated that he only recommended two of the companies because other companies didn't bid on all the items, as noted on the tabulation sheet.

Commissioner Monaweck asked Mr. Randolph if the bid from Michigan Paving was the same as it would be from all three of their other locations. Mr. Randolph stated the locations are noted on the bid tabulation sheet. The Kalamazoo location would be too far of a run for us. Mr. Henning said the three companies are in Galesburg, Coldwater and Jackson.

Commissioner Monaweck asked if we take the shortest route to pick up the material. Mr. Randolph said yes, that it is why he had asked approval for two firms. We first look at the kind of mix we want to use for the job, then we plot out the route and distance to the site, we factor in the truck cost and then use all of that to determine which plant we go to. We have found this to be very efficient and drivers given route information daily. The cost of the material has taken a big jump this year due to the gas prices. Mr. Randolph said that we sometimes ask the firms why they didn't bid. Mrs. Johnson said that we do send out packets to the prospective bidders.

Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve the Infrared Asphalt Recycler . Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve the 2006-2008 Pavement Marking . Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve the 2006-2007 Sweeping . Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve the Concrete Crushing . Voice vote: Motion carried.

MANAGING DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Mr. Randolph provided the Board with the following information:

The bid for the Infrared Asphalt Recycler has now been approved so we will be getting this piece of equipment very soon. Mr. Henning has been working on getting a small roller to go with it so that it will make the patches nicer.

•  Continue on maintenance

•  About 6-7 crews have been out with the tar and chip

•  The Auto-Patcher has been out

•  Patching with cold patch when it rains

•  Continue to work on the tree list

•  Guardrail crew has been out

•  Boom Mower and the Chipper have been out

•  Doing shoulder grading and gravel road touch ups

•  The Pennfield Road plans are completed and will be going to Lansing for bid, but prior to this work we will have the water main project that will begin soon

•  Working on the proposal for the Union City project

•  Working on a Verona Road project estimate

•  Soil erosion inspections and driveways permits have been slow

•  Finalizing the Custer Road Bridge project- still reviewing plans

•  Working with Roadsoft

•  Working on a couple of cost estimates

•  Working very hard on the shoulders right now

•  Have done some drain repair maintenance

•  Still waiting on a bid for the 21 Mile Road Bridge project over Rice Creek

•  Working with Kevin Henning on the salt supply. We have enough for at least a couple of storms. We may need to order more in November.

•  Continuing to work on road repair in the County

We are trying to get our cash fund up and would like to start our construction season with the fund up around a million dollars. We are staying current on our bills due to the fact that we are managing our staff and are very careful not to replace someone every time we have a vacancy.

Mr. Henning has done an excellent job on re-negotiating new terms with all of our vendors. Our biggest cash crunch at the Road Commission comes in July because our road bonds come due. We are however, paying off two of the road bonds this year, which will help us next year.

COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS

Commissioner Monaweck commented that the guardrail on B Drive South and Beckley Road was a big improvement to a dangerous situation. It looks very nice and adds to the safety in that area.

Commissioner Monaweck stated that he was pleased to see that management, or whoever was involved, in the continued patching with oil and aggregate. We are all trying to work toward the same outcome and to get it all down on paper so that there are no misunderstandings is a big step in the right direction. Commissioner Monaweck also stated that it puts more responsibility on the managers because they will have to make sure that the employees are following through and doing this job as expected and also make any corrections needed.

Commissioner Monaweck stated that he had some information for the public. It is information about Road Commissions and touches on Act 51 and where our money comes from. It states that Michigan is the fourth largest road system in the nation and we are forty-second per capita for funds to support our roads. Michigan is way down the ladder when it comes to collecting money to keep our roads in repair.

SUPERVISOR'S & PUBLIC OFFICIAL'S TIME

Mr. Hamaker stated that he understood that their 5-year plan was completed. Mr. Randolph said that it was done and it was ready for him to take.

Mr. Frank asked how many dollars the Road Commission was paying off in road bonds this year. Mr. Randolph said that it would open a block of about $300,000.00 dollars and we are looking at replacing some of our tandem trucks with that. Mr. Frank asked if they were going to still receive free miles of gravel and brining this year. Mr. Randolph said that it's in the budget and we haven't changed that. Mr. Frank asked if the Road Commission had the list of roads they are going to be working on this summer. Mr. Randolph said that it was getting very close to being done. Mrs. Johnson has been working on it and I want to take another look at it before it goes out. Our revenue is about 2% under what it was last year, so this is something we have to keep an eye on and remain cautious with our spending. Mr. Frank asked if Mr. Randolph was going to do the 50-50 projects in June. Mr. Randolph stated that he is planning to do that because it allows cash to come in here.

Mr. Randolph stated that the one big thing we have to deal with is our Federal Aid projects. Even though we get Federal funds, the bills for those projects start coming from the State in September. If we don't pay the State right away, they will take the money right out of our MTF checks.

Mr. Campbell, a candidate for Congress, talked about the condition of the roads and wanted to get feedback on the conditions of our roads and talk about funding.

Mr. Spoor, Burlington Township Supervisor, wanted the minutes to reflect that the township is opposed to the rolling employment contracts and any wage increases.

Mr. Farmer, Lee Township Supervisor, stated that he was interested in seeing the list of roads the Road Commission was going to be working on this summer.

CITIZEN'S TIME

Mr. Shaffer presented the Board with pictures of the pine trees on his property. Mr. Shaffer stated that he was invited by Mr. Randolph to come to the Board about his concerns and he thanked Mr. Randolph for the invitation. Mr. Shaffer wanted it noted that the roadway by the trees is completely clear and he is the one who cleared it. The new trees are behind the original fence row. We have allowed the County to come in and make a turn around for the school busses. I planted some seedlings along the road, but after talking to Jim Russell, I moved 50 of those trees yesterday and will move the other 18 this afternoon. I received a pamphlet from Erin Cummings on tree procedures and my wife and I are asking the Board to deem these trees not a safety hazard and allow them to remain where they are on the road right-of-way.

Commission Travis stated that the Board does not intend to make a decision on whether the trees should be remove or not. We will leave this decision up to our Managing Director.

Mr. Berezonsky asked what the Road Commission puts up for collateral on our road bonds. Mr. Randolph said the collateral we put up is our Act 51 check. The first money off the Act 51 check goes to pay bonds.

Joe Bramble stated that they had a Public Meeting in Convis Township regarding the alligator situation. It was the biggest crowd that they have ever had in the township hall.

Ms. Godde asked if the McAllister Road Bridge was going to be extended. She feels it's a dangerous bridge. Mr. Randolph said that he has ordered guardrail for the bridge. Ms. Godde asked if we were going to fix the Pennfield Road intersection. Mr. Randolph said that we only had enough federal money to come up to the creek on Pennfield Road but we will try to do some repairs. Ms. Godde asked if the Road Commission was going to do anything with Gorsline Road because it's falling apart. Mr. Randolph stated that it is a matter of priorities right now, and it isn't on our list this year, but we are keeping an eye on it.