The regular meeting of the Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of Calhoun was held Wednesday, July 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
Also Present: Tom Frank, Albion Township Supervisor
Eugene Hamaker, Marshall Township Supervisor
Richard Harvey, Bedford Township Resident
Joe Bramble, Convis Township Resident
Clarence Millard, Newton Township Resident
Gardy Berezonsky, Marengo Township Resident
Maurice Shaffer, Newton Township Resident
Jim Russell, 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 9:00 a.m. There being no additions or corrections to the regular meeting minutes of June 21, 2006 they stand approved as printed and distributed.

COMMUNICATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

•  Received Resolution from Pennfield Township requesting CCRC to conduct a study for the installation of traffic lights at the corner of Morgan Road and Ease Avenue North, as well as M-66 and Sunset
•  Received Notice of Intent to establish a Condominium Project from Stetler Built Homes Penn Village, Pennfield Township
•  Received Traffic Control Order 06-100-002, Emmett Township for no thru truck route

NEW BUSINESS

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the June 22, 2006 accounts payable for $314,897.22 . Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve the June 21, 2006 payroll for $131,585.4. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the Resolution from Pennfield Township requesting CCRC to conduct a study for the installation of traffic lights at the corner of Morgan Road and Ease Avenue North, as well as M-66 and Sunset. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the Notice of Intent to establish a Condominium Project from Stetler Built Homes. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve Traffic Control Order 06-100-002, Emmett Township for no thru truck route. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Mrs. Johnson stated at the last Board meeting we accepted the resolution from Emmett Township and that traffic control number 05-00-001 originally listed B Drive North between I-94 and Beadle Lake Road, which was incorrect. This traffic control order clarifies that it is B Drive North between 6 Mile Road and Beadle Lake Road.

MANAGING DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Mr. Randolph provided the Board with the following information:

•  Prepping for Seal Coating, which will start next week.

Mr. Randolph said that we would begin in the City of Battle Creek. The city is paying 100% of the cost. We will then move clockwise around the county beginning in Bedford.

•  Continue to have crews out pothole patching

Mr. Randolph stated that we now have a flow boy come to our yard, first thing in the morning to fill our trucks. This saves us the drive time to the plant and we can get our crews out on the roads much quicker. Also, the large flow boy holds the heat much better.

•  Drainage and ditching work continues

Our crews are paving in Shadowood sub-division. This is a shared project with Emmett Township.

•  Mowing and roadside cleanup
•  Shoulders

Mr. Randolph stated that the Road Commission is current on all bills. Our payables are down 13% from last year. Our payroll cost is down 6% from last year. We have been watching how we spend money.

Mr. Randolph said the APWA Recorder magazine came out with the announcements of the projects of the year. It has two pages of information on Historic Bridge Park.

Mr. Randolph stated that he has signed a petition from Blaine VanSickle to consolidate the drainage district in the Shadow wood area.

Mr. Randolph discussed the opinion from the Michigan Supreme Court. The ruling of the Supreme Court says that the shoulder of the road is not within the traveled portion of the roadway and is not designed for vehicle travel. Therefore, it limits liability for defects on the shoulders.

Mr. Randolph discussed the U.S. Supreme Court opinion. This ruling has to do with the development of wetlands.

Mr. Randolph stated that the complaints for potholes have been tough this last week. We have built a hot box to help us catch up on potholes.

Mr. Randolph said that the State receives nine times more money per mile each year than the County receives.

Mr. Randolph commented that he has sent in applications for federal aid money. We hope to receive an additional $800,000 of federal aid money for projects this year.

COMMISSIONER'S COMMENTS

Commissioner Monaweck asked if there was an informational survey on other counties in the State who participate in giving funds to the Road Commission. Mr. Randolph said that he could get that information from the CRAM data website.

Commissioner Monaweck stated that on his way to South Haven from Vicksburg to Schoolcraft he noticed that when they do their chip and seal, they have little to no excess stone built up on the edge of the road. Mr. Randolph stated that they have done that in response to us. Going back ten years, it was common for them to leave quite a bit of stone on the side of the road. We leave very little stone and because of that they have refined their operation to also leave very little stone.

SUPERVISOR'S & PUBLIC OFFICIAL'S TIME

Mr. Frank asked after brining a gravel road and within six hours you have a big rainfall do you lose the brine. Mr. Randolph stated that you do lose some, but not enough to cause a problem.

Mr. Hamaker said that he noticed there is more traffic on C Drive through Ceresco and also B Drive with everyone going to the mall. Mr. Hamaker also asked if we were going to do more shoulders. Mr. Randolph said no, not this year.

CITIZEN'S TIME

Mr. Bramble said that he would also like a list of the Counties that contribute. Mr. Randolph said that he would get that information for him.

Mr. Millard said that we have trouble getting the County to contribute because they don't like to do that. There is a large pothole in Leroy Township on K Drive South and 5 Mile Road.

Mr. Berezonsky asked why we are doing the City of Battle Creek roads before doing our own roads. Mr. Randolph said because the City is paying 100% of the cost. Mr. Berezonsky said that he goes to most of the County meetings and he has never seen anyone from the Road Commission ask for money. Mr. Randolph said there is a budget process that is used to submit requests.

Commissioner Veramay stated that it is very hard to get money out of an organization that doesn't have the money to pay their bills.

Mr. Shaffer said that he made a pothole complaint and received a card back on June 2 nd and the pothole still hasn't been filled. Mr. Shaffer said that if you have to get out of a truck to fill a hole along side the road, and there is another one in spitting distance that doesn't get filled, then he doesn't think this is very efficient. Why fill one and leave the others. The roadside mowing is being mowed 12 inches high and he is not doing a good job.

The next regular meeting of the Calhoun County Road Commission Board is scheduled for Wednesday, July 19, 2006 at 9:00 a.m. There being no additional business before the Board, Chairman Travis adjourned the meeting at 9:53 a.m.