The regular meeting of the Board of County Road Commissioners of the County of Calhoun was held Wednesday, September 20, 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 County Highway Engineer
Also Present: Tom Frank, Albion Township Supervisor
Eugene Hamaker, Marshall Township Supervisor
John Neterer, Leroy Township Supervisor
Sharon Lindauer, Pennfield Township Supervisor
Richard Harvey, Bedford Township Trustee
Joe Bramble, Convis Township Resident
Clarence Millard, Newton Township Resident
Gardy Berezonsky, Marengo Township Resident
Frank Thomas, Tekonsha Township Trustee
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

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 September 6, 2006 they stand approved as printed and distributed.

COMMUNICATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

Received Resolution 2006-08 for MDOT Contract Number 06-5409, for hot mix asphalt coldmilling and resurfacing work along Verona Road from Raymond Road to 500 feet east of 11 Mile Road, including shoulder work, and all related work

Received Resolution 2006-09 for MDOT Contract Number 06-6409, for the Loan Contract between Michigan Department of Transportation and Calhoun County Road Commission

Received a memo from Mrs. Annette Chapman to Mr. Pizzimenti approving the road name of Sunset Hills Drive in Marshall Township

Received Resolution 2006-10 requesting Sunset Hills Drive be accepted into the county local road system

NEW BUSINESS

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve the September 08, 2006 accounts payable for $587,129.35. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve the September 13, 2006 payroll for $129,927.12. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve Resolution 2006-08 for MDOT Contract Number 06-5409. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Veramay to approve Resolution 2006-09 for MDOT Contract Number 06-6409. Voice vote: Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Veramay and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to approve Resolution 2006-10 to accept Sunset Hills Drive as a county local road. Voice vote: Motion carried.

MANAGING DIRECTOR’S REPORT

Mr. Randolph provided the Board with the following information:

Mr. Randolph discussed the two MDOT contracts and explained how the loan contract works.

Mr. Randolph stated we are doing the following work around the County:

· Tar & Chip
· Patching
· Ditching & Drainage
· Infrared Machine
· Boom Mower & Chipper
· Shoulders
· Gravel Roads
· Sign Shop Activities
· Salt shed repairs

Mr. Randolph said that we received a signal rejection notice from the State for 15 Mile Road and Michigan Avenue. We received another signal rejection notice for M-96 and Dickman Road and Armstrong. He said that they have been consistent in rejecting all of our signal requests.

Mr. Randolph discussed the study that was done by the State on edge drop off’s. This study has to do with edge drop off’s along newly paved roads. Mr. Randolph showed the Board a chart that indicates a relative degree of safety. It provides a guideline of what is safe and what is not safe. The safest edge drop off is at a 45-degree angle. Anything over a 4” drop off becomes a safety problem.

Mr. Randolph said he has been working on a number of reports to try to prepare for the budget. He believes that in order for us to know what services we want to offer, we need to understand the demographics in our area. Mr. Randolph stated that the population in our area impacts the county roads.

Our service request system is an indicator of what our citizens are concerned with. Over 14 years we have logged in over 46,000 calls from our citizens. Mr. Randolph confirmed that from 1996 to 2006 the trends of these calls have changed. The overall trends of calls have been positive and have steadily decreased over the years. We do have one trend that has not decreased and that is deer call. This has increased over the years but we can’t do much about it.

Mr. Randolph commented that mailbox calls have decreased because we replace all mailboxes without question.

Mr. Randolph mentioned our Federal Aid Projects: Pennfield Road has had some run off problems but is in good shape. The Broadway project in Union City is completed. The Custer Bridge and the Verona Road and 11 Mile Road intersection are on the list to be processed this winter for 2007.

COMMISSIONER’S COMMENTS

Commissioner Monaweck observed on the report that the tree requests have decreased and the pothole requests have increased. Commissioner Monaweck wondered if it was because people were more attentive or because our roads are deteriorating. Mr. Randolph said that it could be either one. Many of the pothole requests are internally generated and that may be the reason for the increase.

Mr. Randolph mentioned that we have R & S Tree Service working on tree limbs. They have started in Leroy, moving to Athens, and then to Burlington and from there they will loop around the rest of the county.

Mrs. Johnson stated that we have also marketed our service request system and encouraged citizens to call.

Commissioner Monaweck mentioned that he thinks leaving a 3-inch drop off for any length of time would be a safety problem. Mr. Randolph agreed and stated that the 45-degree angle helps with this drop off.

Commissioner Travis said that the biggest issue when you run off the road is that people need to slow down when they try to get back on the road.

SUPERVISOR’S & PUBLIC OFFICIAL’S TIME

Mr. Hamaker stated that he looked at 12 Mile Road and thought that the steel slag really looks nice.

Mr. Frank asked if we were going to do the re-graveling. Mr. Randolph told him that we would be starting on them next week. Mr. Frank commented that he also liked the looks of the steel slag. Mr. Frank said that he would like to see the steel slag added to the fee schedule. Mr. Frank stated that working on trees is ok but hopes resurface work continues because he was very happy with the timely service that was done in his township this year.

Mr. Neterer asked if we could look at H Drive between 2 ½ Mile Road and West County Line Road to see if it could be crack sealed. Mr. Randolph said he would have Mr. Stacy check that road out.

Mrs. Lindauer said that she wanted to thank the county for taking care of some of the issues in Pennfield Township.

Mr. Harvey stated that he thought the shoulder work looked great and he is very happy with it.

CITIZEN’S TIME

Mr. Millard stated that he noticed a great deal more truck patching this year and is very happy to see that. Mr. Millard said that on F Drive South between 8 and 9 Mile Road some truck patching is needed.

Mr. Bramble said that he was very impressed with the county mowers this year. They are going over and above on their cutting and it is very nice. Mr. Bramble also likes the mats that are put out when we have problem areas.

Mr. Thomas stated that he had a meeting with Mr. Ball about a culvert on K Drive just east of 12 Mile Road in Fredonia Township and was wondering when it was going to be put in. Mr. Thomas stated that he used to have a nice large Rubbermaid plastic mailbox and now he has a small mailbox that was replaced by the county.

Commissioner Monaweck asked what our policy was for mailboxes. Mr. Randolph stated that we always replace mailboxes without question. Commissioner Monaweck asked what we pay for the mailboxes. Mrs. Johnson estimated that the mailboxes were about $3.00. Our policy has always been that if we knock down a mailbox then we replace it without question using a standard mailbox and post. (if needed.)

Commissioner Monaweck asked if we could give the citizen an option of either having it replaced or giving them money for the mailbox. Mr. Randolph said he would check into the cost.

Mr. Berezonsky said that the bridge over I-69 is flaking apart. He commented that B Drive North just east of Marshall has had railroad construction trucks that have ruin the road and the shoulder.

Commissioner Travis requested that the next Road Commission meeting be held at 8:30am rather than 9:00am because he needs to leave early. Commissioner Monaweck and Commissioner Veramay said that they approve the next Road Commission Board meeting be held at 8:30am.

The next regular meeting of the Calhoun County Road Commission Board is scheduled for Wednesday, October 4, 2006 at 8:30 a.m. There being no additional business before the Board, Chairman Travis adjourned the meeting at 10:22 a.m.