The regular meeting of the Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of Calhoun was held Wednesday, June 21, 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
Angela Kline, Assistant Highway Engineer
Also Present: Tom Frank, Albion Township Supervisor
Steve Irons, Athens Township Supervisor
Eugene Hamaker, Marshall Township Supervisor
John Neterer, Leroy Township Supervisor
Sharon Lindauer, Pennfield Township Supervisor
Alice Godde, Pennfield Township Resident
Richard Harvey, Bedford Township Resident
Joe Bramble, Convis Township Resident
Larry Holcomb, Convis Township Resident
Bob Brownell, Marengo Township Supervisor
Sharon Drumhiller, Tekonsha Township Supervisor
Clarence Millard, Newton Township Resident
Gardy Berezonsky, Marengo Township Resident
Peter Shrontz, Marengo 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
Dave Fisher, Rehman Robson, CPA

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 June 7, 2006 they stand approved as printed and distributed.

COMMUNICATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

•  Received MDOT Contract Number 06-5254, intersection improvement work on Hwy M-199 at B Drive North in Sheridan Township
•  Received MDOT Contract Number 06-5242, hot mix asphalt coldmilling and resurfacing work along 8 ½ Mile Road
•  Received a resolution from Emmett Township to amend no thru truck routes
•  Received a resolution from Eckford Township to participate in the 2006 Road Improvement Program

NEW BUSINESS

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the June 9, 2006 accounts payable for $172,667.13 . Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to a pprove the June 7, 2006 payroll for $4,844.26. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the June 7, 2006 payroll for $131,722.52. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve Resolution 2006-06, MDOT Contract Number 06-5254, intersection improvement work on Hwy M-199 at B Drive North. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve Resolution 2006-07 MDOT Contract Number 06-5242, hot mix asphalt coldmilling and resurfacing work along 8 ½ Mile Road. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve the resolution from Emmett Township to amend no thru truck routes. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the resolution from Eckford Township to participate in the 2006 Road Improvement Program. Voice vote: Motion carried.

MANAGING DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Mr. Randolph provided the Board with the following information:

•  Continue to have crews out patching potholes
•  Paving operations continue
•  Drainage and ditching work continues
•  Mowing and roadside cleanup
•  Brining on gravel roads
•  Federal Aid contract on Pennfield Road has started
•  Working on crash data

PRESENTATION

David Fisher, C.P.A. from The Rehmann Robson Group presented the 2005 Financial Audits to the Board.

PARKS

•  Received a Clean Opinion
•  The fund summary shows revenue in excess of expenses in the amount of $18,568, which leaves the fund deficit at $46,991
•  It is the County's intention to eliminate this deficit by generation of revenues in excess of expenditures in future years, and to file a deficit elimination plan update with the State of Michigan Department of Treasury

PUBLIC WORKS

•  Received a Clean Opinion and no fund deficits
•  This shows the Solid Waste summary and major activities of Debt Service Fund for various townships

ROAD COMMISSION

•  Received a Clean Opinion and no fund deficits.
•  It is presented in the GASB-34 reporting format with a Management Discussion and Analysis letter
•  Includes Housing Rehabilitation, Community Development and Remonumentation with the Road Commission
•  There was an excess of revenue over expenses to increase the fund balance by $322,570
•  The Management letter addresses the Ott land contract; inter-fund loans; journal entries and budgeting amendments

Commissioner Monaweck had some questions regarding the interest rates and the Ott Preserve. He also inquired about receiving the information. Mr. Henning provided Commissioner Monaweck with an explanation on the depreciation of road equipment and on how to review the audit. Discussion's continued.

Moved by Commission Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to accept and place 2005 Financial Audits on file. Voice vote: Motion carried.

MANAGING DIRECTOR'S REPORT (Continued)

•  The Living History demonstration will be at the Historic Bridge Park on June 24 th from 11:00am to 3:00pm. Our bridge crew, blacksmiths, tours of the new Charlotte Highway Bridge and Iron Workers from Local 240 will be present. The Drifter's Car Club is bringing in 14 historic cars.
•  Our monthly newsletter is out and has been sent over to the County Building. Ms. Crumpton does a nice job putting it all together.
•  We have our current updated roadwork list available.

Mr. Randolph provide a powerpoint presentation on our cost saving measures and on our Blue Cross and Blue Shield rates which have decreased by 3.7%. We have been able to achieve this result without reducing benefits for our employees or retirees. Mr. Randolph thanked the employees for their efforts in this reduction because they have contributed to this trend.

COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS

Commissioner Monaweck stated that he received two calls last night from citizens living at Sonoma Lake. They are very happy with the roadwork that is being done out there.

Commissioner Monaweck asked if we had contract mowers and if so, how many. Mr. Russell said we have three contract mowers.

SUPERVISOR'S & PUBLIC OFFICIAL'S TIME

Mr. Frank asked when the brining would begin. Mr. Adams stated that they were in Albion scraping today, so they should start brining sometime this week. Mr. Frank stated that the paving in his township looks great and he hopes that the Road Commission puts it on the tour this fall. Mr. Randolph stated that they would put it on the tour and in fact they are going to be on the east side of the county this year.

Mrs. Lindauer stated that she would like a traffic flow study done on Pennfield Road.

Mr. Irons said that he had some potholes on Q Drive, O Drive and S Drive, east of M66. He stated that the brush cutter needs to go down Q and O Drive and also by the curve.

Mr. Neterer said that we did a nice job pothole filling between D Drive and H Drive. He stated that he has some potholes between 4 Mile Road and Capital on B Drive South and some washouts and potholes on B Drive South between 3 and 4 Mile Road.

Mrs. Drumhiller said thank you to Mrs. Johnson for attending the township board meeting and for the nice program she presented. Mrs. Drumhiller asked if they had started mowing in Tekonsha. Mr. Russell said no, not yet. Mrs. Drumhiller announced that the MTA meeting would be held at the township hall on June 28 th at 7:00 pm.

Mr. Bramble asked if 16 Mile Road was going to be fixed. Mr. Randolph said that a portion is on the roadwork scheduled.

CITIZEN'S TIME

Mr. Millard stated that he thought a letter should be written to the person who lives on K Drive South and 11 Mile Road. They built a mailbox cover made out of rocks and concrete and it's very close to the edge of the road. It's a hazard and should be removed. Mr. Millard said that there is also another one on K Drive South, close to 7 ½ Mile Road. He wanted to thank us for the patching job on B Drive South, it looks great.

Mr. Holcomb stated that Garfield Road needs some work done on it. He inquired about the county property that is on Garfield Road. Mr. Holcomb stated that he bought the adjacent property that we owned on Garfield Road and would like to purchase the remainder of the 9.64 acres. He asked that the Commissioner's think about his proposal and let him know. Commissioner Travis said that the administration would let him know.

Mrs. Godde stated that the sign in Battle Creek on McAllister and Gorsline Road isn't very big for people to see when you come down from the east going toward that bad curve. She would like to see one put on the corner of McAllister Road and Gorsline Road for Battle Creek. The grass in the corner of Verona Road and McAllister Road is very unsafe when coming from the south. Mrs. Johnson stated that the grass was mowed yesterday. Mrs. Godde wanted to know if the grass was mowed at the intersection of Bellevue Road and Verona Road. The hill down to Bellevue Road is getting impossible to see when you come down the hill from the south. The hill is in very bad shape and needs repair.

Mr. Berezonsky asked if there would still be an angle over the railroad track by the ethanol plant. Mr. Randolph said yes, it would remain with an angle. Mr. Berezonsky asked if the State would put a light up there. Mr. Randolph said it may be difficult with the State.