Meeting Minutes

The regular meeting of the Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of Calhoun was held Wednesday, August 4, 2004 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 Albert C. Bobrofsky, Member

Dennis A. Randolph, Managing Director

Carole S. Tabiadon, Deputy Managing Director – Clerk

Joanna I. Johnson, Assistant Managing Director

Angela Kline, Assistant Highway Engineer

Also Present: Tom Frank, Albion Township Supervisor

Eugene Hamaker, Marshall Township Supervisor

Joseph Bramble, Convis Township Resident

Dennis Smock, Fredonia Township Resident

Clarence Millard, Newton Township Resident

Greg Purcell, Calhoun County Administrator

Paul Adams, Calhoun County Road Commission

Roger Horton, Calhoun County Road Commission

Jim Russell, Calhoun County Road Commission

Robert Volkmer, Calhoun County Road Commission

Chairperson Chester Travis called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m. There being no additions or corrections to the regular meeting minutes of July 21, 2004, they stand approved as printed and distributed.

COMMUNICATIONS

•  Resolution from Burlington Township regarding road work

NEW BUSINESS

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Bobrofsky to authorize Dennis A. Randolph, Managing Director, to sign the Professional Services Authorization with Driesenga & Associates, Inc. for Glenn Cross Extension Design Proposal. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Bobrofsky and supported by Commissioner Veramay to authorize Dennis A. Randolph, Managing Director, to sign the Architectural and Engineering Services Proposal with DLZ Michigan, Inc. for a new Michigan State Police Post. Commissioner Travis asked if we did this once before. Mr. Randolph replied that we did some renderings several years ago. This is for a design. Commissioner Travis asked if we get the money back if/when this goes. Mr. Randolph replied yes. Commissioner Bobrofsky asked if or when is the money returned and has the project been approved by the State Police. Mr. Randolph said that he has a meeting this week and will find out who is opposing it, so State Representative Nofs can work on them. Commissioner Bobrofsky asked how much we have out to be reimbursed at this time. Mr. Randolph stated approximate $75, 000 - $100,000. Commissioner Bobrofsky stated we should be sure we have the arrangements to get that back. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Bobrofsky and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the July 22, 2004 accounts payable for $897,682.17. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Bobrofsky to approve the July 21, 2004 payroll for $136,481.31. Voice vote: Motion carried.

OTHER BUSINESS

Mr. Randolph provided the Board with the following information:

•  Paving today – about 25 miles so far this year. They are doing Capital Avenue S.W. this week; then will move to the BIA project.

•  The Sealcoating crew has completed 94 miles. They are using control charts to manage application rates; they keep costs down, as well as excess stone and emulsion bleeding. They are down today due to weather. They are in Pennfield Township.

•  The crews are doing general clean up and patching today.

•  Gravel roads are doing very well … they are not in bad shape. The graders will be maintenance this year and they will be used on the gravel roads next year. The brining has made them very hard.

•  We are using carbide tips on shoulder boxes and graders

•  The major amount of man hours are spent in signs, patching roads and snow removal.

•  Beadle Lake Road is our major road project this year. Angela Kline is done some clean up work.

•  We have some additional state maintenance work on Beadle Lake Road, M-60 and M-311 that will total about $750,000 extra state paving this year.

•  State Maintenance is good business for us. It has helped us upgrade our safety standards. It also gives us some input where state funds are used in our county.

•  He displayed a map showing 2003 and 2004 road work and state maintenance work.

•  This week Hershel Stacy is out with MDOT and BCATS reviewing the federal aid roads. This is an annual evaluation process.

•  He displayed a culvert survey map that should be completed in September. This will go into Roadsoft inventory. This is part of the GASB-34 requirements for audit. It has already helped; the supervisors are changing the poor rated ones out before paving and sealing.

•  The State Police Post project looks pretty good right now.

•  Robert Volkmer keeps equipment in good shape and rivers are being made to clean their trucks.

Commissioner Travis asked about the work on M-60 east of Old 27. Roger Horton said that is a MDOT job; they are capping it.

Commissioner Bobrofsky asked if we could do something about double-bottom gravel haulers speeding on N Drive North. Mr. Randolph stated no, but he has noticed them. Commissioner Bobrofsky said that they are speeding, especially empty toward the pit on 12 Mile Road. He did call law enforcement regarding very careless driving.

Commissioner Veramay asked why the Board can not send a letter. Angela Kline stated that she has a letter to send and will do that. Joanna Johnson said that we could put mobile speed panel up, too.

Tom Frank, Albion Township Supervisor, said he would like to see if the state has extra money for 11 Mile Road and he would like to see M-60 divided portion done too. Mr. Randolph replied that we receive money every year, and he was glad for the money we received on M-60 this year. We will submit the additional M-60 portion for next year, as well as 11 Mile Road. Mr. Frank said he is receiving complaints about working on trees that came down in the spring. Mr. Randolph said we will be buying a trimming attachment for the excavator. Mr. Frank inquired about the status of the annual road tour. Mr. Randolph said we will have one probably in October.

Eugene Hamaker, Marshall Township Supervisor, said that he didn't know what the answer to trees is; you just can't keep residents happy. Marshall Township is satisfied with the shape of the roads.

Clarence Millard, Newton Township resident, said he had good news; the 12 Mile Road truck patches are very nice. He wishes they would get to 6 ½ Mile Road. Carole Tabiadon asked for his patience; it is on the list for this year. Mr. Millard said that the solution to trees is to clear all trees and rocks from the right-of-way. He will be glad to see brining come, but the gravel roads are certainly a lot better then they used to be.

Joseph Bramble, Convis Township resident, asked about the status of the land sale. Carole Tabiadon said that the Phase II environmental evaluation is just completed for the Garfield Road pit and has been sent to the realtor. They will schedule the public auction very soon. The Pine Lake Road pit has been signed by that realtor and the property is on the market. Mr. Bramble agrees the gravel trucks are too fast. He said that there is a Convis Township Deputy, so give him a call. He stated that he imagined the shoulders would be taken care of when the work slowed down a bit. Mr. Randolph replied that the concrete crusher would be here next week for 15,000 tons in Tekonsha. Rodney Horton will crush 20,000 tons for us too. We will have plenty of shoulder gravel material.

The regular meeting of the Calhoun County Road Commission Board scheduled for Wednesday, August 18, 2004 has been cancelled. The next meeting will be held on September 1, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. in their office at 13300 Fifteen Mile Road, Marshall Michigan. There being no additional business before the Board, Chairperson Travis adjourned the meeting at 9:52 a.m.