Minutes of May 7, 2008

The regular meeting of the Board of Calhoun County Road Commissioners was held on Wednesday, May
7, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. in their office located at 13300 Fifteen Mile Road, Marshall, Michigan.

Present: Commissioner Scott A. Brown, Chairman

Commissioner Hugh T. Coward, Vice Chairman
Commissioner Charles E. Monaweck, Member
Commissioner Eric J. Tobin, Member
Commissioner Chester E. Travis, Member
Kevin Henning, Interim Managing Director
Robert Volkmer, Fleet Maintenance Supervisor
Mary Jo Crumpton, Secretarial Clerk

Also Present: General Public

Chairman Scott Brown called the regular meeting of the Board of Calhoun County Road Commissioners to
order at 5:30 p.m. and led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Moved by Commissioner Tobin and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to

approve the April 16, 2008 regular meeting minutes of the Board of Calhoun County
Road Commissioners. Voice vote: motion carried.

SUPERVISORS, PUBLIC OFFICIALS AND CITIZENS COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS ONLY

Mr. Gardy Berezonsky asked the number of bids received for the 2008-2009 Local Roadside Mowing
on County Roads and the 2008 Lawn Maintenance for the Turkeyville Rest Area. Chairman Brown
responded that three bids were received for both.

A representative from Battle Creek Gravel asked if the reason they were not being considered for the
29A cubicle shape bid was because they submitted a bid for 31A. Chairman Brown replied that the
bid specified 29A. The Battle Creek Gravel representative noted that he submitted a bid for a
modified 31A that is 85% crushed, whereas the 29A is 95% crushed. Mr. Henning added that
because of past problems with sealcoating, we have conducted research on specifications and found
that 29A is recommended.

COMMUNICATIONS AND RESOLUTIONS

Mrs. Crumpton read the communications as follows:

a) Received a memo from Pixie Coats requesting approval of the following policies:

i. #44-Employee Recognition
ii. #51-Workers’ Compensation
iii. #54-Harassment
iv. #64-Family & Medical Leave
v. #95-Violence in the Workplace Prevention

b) Received a memo from Kevin Henning, Interim Managing Director, requesting that the Board
award the bid for the 2008-2009 Hauling and Furnishing 29A, Cubicle Shape to Glacial Sand
& Gravel, LLC.

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c) Received a memo from Kevin Henning, Interim Managing Director, requesting that the Board
award the bid for the 2008-2009 Local Roadside Mowing on County Roads to E. Niewoonder
& Sons, Inc.

d) Received a memo from Kevin Henning, Interim Managing Director, requesting that the Board
award the bid for the 2008 Lawn Maintenance for the Turkeyville Rest Area to E. Niewoonder
& Sons, Inc.

e) Received the certification of Act 51 Report for 2007.

NEW BUSINESS
Moved by Commissioner Tobin and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to
approve the April 24, 2008 accounts payable for $296,488.71. Roll call vote:
Travis-Yes; Coward-Yes; Monaweck–Yes; Tobin-Yes; Brown-Yes. Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Coward and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to

approve the April 22, 2008 payroll for $100,575.08. Roll call vote: Tobin-Yes;
Monaweck-Yes; Coward-Yes; Travis-Yes; Brown–Yes. Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Travis and supported by Commissioner Coward to approve

Policy #44-Employee Recognition; Policy #51-Workers’ Compensation; Policy #54-
Harassment; Policy #64-Family & Medical Leave; and Policy #95-Violence in the
Workplace Prevention. Roll call vote: Travis-Yes; Tobin-Yes; Coward-Yes;
Monaweck-Yes; Brown–Yes. Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Monaweck and supported by Commissioner Travis to award

the bid for the 2008-2009 Hauling and Furnishing 29A, Cubicle Shape to Glacial
Sand & Gravel, LLC.

Commissioner Tobin asked if we are focusing on the best quality as well as the best price when
awarding bids. Mr. Henning responded that we focus on the most qualified bidder and in this
case, we are looking for the best product. He noted that Glacial Sand & Gravel, LLC was the
only company that submitted a bid for 29A.

Roll call vote: Coward-Yes; Monaweck-Yes; Travis-Yes; Tobin-Yes; Brown-Yes.

Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Tobin and supported by Commissioner Travis to award the

bid for the 2008-2009 Local Roadside Mowing on County Roads to E. Niewoonder &
Sons, Inc. Roll call vote: Travis-Yes; Monaweck-Yes; Tobin-Yes; Brown-Yes;
Coward-Yes. Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Travis and supported by Commissioner Coward to award

the bid for the 2008 Lawn Maintenance for the Turkeyville Rest Area to E.
Niewoonder & Sons, Inc. Roll call vote: Monaweck-Yes; Tobin-Yes; Travis-Yes;
Coward-Yes; Brown-Yes. Motion carried.

Moved by Commissioner Travis and supported by Commissioner Tobin to approve

the certification of Act 51 Report for 2007. Roll call vote: Tobin-Yes; Travis-Yes;
Monaweck-Yes; Coward-Yes; Brown-Yes. Motion carried.

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INTERIM MANAGING DIRECTOR REPORT

Mr. Henning provided a PowerPoint presentation and the following report:

• I-94 Service Road: Plans are progressing on this project. There are several players and aspects
involved in this project that have been incorporated into a development agreement. The
development agreement, Quit Claim Deed, and easements will be brought to the Board for
approval. The Board approved funding for this project when application was made to the State
for Category F funds and again as part of the 2008 budget for the 20% match for construction
costs. Mr. Henning added that he was asked to identify the responsibilities of all parties included
in the development agreement. He is asking the Board to authorize and sign the development
agreement which stipulates that the land is being deeded to CCRC for the development of a three
lane road from 11 Mile Road to Michigan Avenue with lane widths of 11 feet with 8 feet paved
shoulders, utilizing Category F funding from the State. Once the deed is filed and CCRC has
ownership of the land, we will proceed with final engineering estimates. At that time, we will
advertise, receive and award bids for this project. Mr. Henning explained that the project would
proceed like an Act 51 road construction project, as a rapid construct project under MDOT
specifications. CCRC’s legal counsel has reviewed all documents.
• Mr. Henning has met with Marshall Township on 2008 construction projects. He will be compiling
a roadwork list for 2008 construction projects for Board consideration at the next meeting. We
are looking at starting chip and seal operations in July. We will be testing four processes of
different mixes on primary roads, prior to sealcoating local roads.
• Patching continues to be a primary focus for our labor force. We continue to use the service
request system, as well as employee input, to pinpoint problem areas. Crews are being assigned
by road. Office staff receive the daily sheet to help inform the public of the location of our crews
on a given day. Priority for patching continues to be state trunkline, primary, local, and
subdivisions.
• We have made six batches of cold patch. As of 4-24-08, hot mix asphalt is available through
Lakeland Asphalt. Cold temperatures impact the use of hot mix and keeping it hot while
trucking. Hot mix is a more permanent patch and costs less than cold mix. Cold mix costs about
$54-57 per ton. The cost of hot mix is around $45 per ton.
• Two men and a bucket crews have not started yet. This process uses heated tar tanks with
heated aggregate and a wand to lay a tack coat before covering with stone, and is similar to a
mini sealcoat.
• Cold patch that is created in-house uses R29A crushed aggregate and CM300 emulsion. We rent
the pugmill and use our loader. Staff time includes equipment operators and stone hauling. The
end product is about 950 tons per double batch at a cost of $55,000, or $57.89 per ton for the
finished product. The market price if we were to purchase cold patch is about $75 per ton. Mr.
Henning noted that while cold patch is a quick method for patching large amounts of potholes
and can be made in bulk amounts, patches are often more temporary in nature and need to be
capped with different patching methods.
• Mr. Henning provided a PowerPoint presentation on the cold patch process that includes
cleaning, filling, leveling and rolling. We have put down over 1900 pounds of cold patch in the
past two months.
• The presentation also included information on patching with a Dura Patcher, which is a modern
spray injection technology for potholes, alligator cracks, shoulders and washouts that is a
permanent fix and can be used year-round. He provided a cost analysis that compared hot or
cold mix patching method vs. the Dura Patcher method. Mr. Henning emphasized that the REAL
cost is lost production and rework. Research was provided showing the percent of successful
patches by patching method over a five-year period. A Dura Patcher demonstration was
conducted last week on C Drive North near Myron Avery Drive.

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• A cost analysis of hand patching during March and April 2008 shows $428,056 was spent, the
majority of which was cold patch. A breakdown by road shows that $232,019 was spent on
primary roads and $196,037 was spent on local roads. A further breakdown was provided by
township on primary and local roads. Mr. Henning also provided data on the cost for rework if
the patch fails. CCRC crews that were present at the meeting stated that 50-75% of the patches
have failed.
• We need multiple, long-term solutions. Other counties have posted “Road Under Construction
Travel At Your Own Risk” signs on roads that are in very bad condition to get drivers to slow
down. Many of our double seal roads have failed because they were not bermed, shouldered, or
crowned at the time of construction.
• We will continue to analyze road failures, inform and educate the public, and research solutions.
Any time we are looking to hard surface a road, we need to look at a three-year plan that
includes tree removal, ditching, shoulders, crown in the center of the road, then follow with a
prime and double seal. Discussion continued.

Moved by Commissioner Tobin and supported by Commissioner Monaweck to direct

Mr. Henning to send out a Request for Bid on two Dura Patchers. Voice vote: Motion
carried.

Commissioner Brown suggested that Mr. Henning look at different financing options. Mr. Henning
stated that he would reassess financing and funding to present to the Board, once bids are received.
Commissioner Brown asked Mr. Henning to seek letters of recommendation from other counties that
may use the Dura Patcher method.

ADDITION TO THE AGENDA

I-94 Service Road – Development Agreement

Moved by Commissioner Travis and supported by Commissioner Coward to approve the

Development Agreement for the I-94 Service Road. Roll call vote: Commissioner Travis-
Yes; Commissioner Coward-Yes; Commissioner Tobin-Yes; Commissioner Monaweck-Yes;
Commissioner Brown-Yes. Motion carried.

SUPERVISOR, PUBLIC OFFICIAL AND CITIZEN TIME

• Mr. Tom Sprau, Bedford Township Supervisor, thanked Mr. Henning for his presentation. He
emphasized that we need to get information out to the public to educate them.
• A representative from Battle Creek Gravel stated that lack of ditches and tree removal causes
problems on the roads. He also emphasized that frost laws are needed. Mr. Henning responded
that we are installing frost tubes and if warranted, frost laws would be put on earlier and for a
longer period of time. Discussion continued.
• Mr. Steve Wisniewski, Athens Township resident, commented that misuse of the Violence in the
Workplace Policy should be avoided and the Board should have contingencies in place.
Commissioner Brown responded that the policy incorporates verbal violations, as well. Mr.
Wisniewski thanked the Board for the service on 3 ½ Mile Road, north of M-66.
• A citizen inquired about the rumble strips being installed on M-66. Mr. Henning responded that
they are being installed by MDOT on all “M” roads as part of a safety project.
• Mr. Art Farmer, Lee Township Supervisor, asked about a rumor he has heard that CCRC is
planning to tear out Baseline and 24 Mile Road and turn them back to gravel. Mr. Henning
responded that we are still assessing the condition of these roads and noted that there are
sections that need a substantial overlay. Mr. Farmer stated that township residents paid for the
double seal on these roads and would expect a refund if they are turned back to gravel. Mr.
Henning commented that roads that are built are not meant to last forever, and once their useful

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life is done, it does not mean that a “rebate” is issued. He asked Mr. Farmer to review the roads
with him to gain input on long-term solutions. Discussion took place on 22 ½ Mile Road and O
Drive North in Lee Township.
• A Lee Township resident stated that he is puzzled by the fact that it has taken five years to figure
out why these roads failed. The Road Commissioners and management at the time did not do a
good job on these road construction projects. He complimented Mr. Henning on his
presentation. Commissioner Brown emphasized that we are not playing the “blame game” for
past decisions. This year, this Board will be looking at policies and five-year plans for road
construction.
• Mr. Gardy Berezonsky stated that the City of Marshall applied for a grant through the Local
Bridge Program and asked if the township applied for this grant. Mr. Henning stated that we
received funding from the Local Bridge Program for 22 ½ Mile Road, but does not believe that
townships are eligible for funding as they do not receive MTF revenues. Mr. Berezonsky stated
that he would like to see work done on the 21 Mile Road Bridge over Rice Creek because it is a
one-lane bridge that cannot accommodate school buses and fire trucks. He asked if CCRC pays
the Sheriff’s Department for the deputy that supervises the work crew and if the cities pay when
work is performed within city limits. Mr. Henning responded yes.
• Mr. Joe Bramble, Convis Township resident, commented on the notices that were sent to
township supervisors regarding gravel road brining, tree cutting in the right-of-way, and roadside
debris pick up. He believes the notices should get out to the public. Mr. Henning read the four
notices and explained that winter maintenance operations ran 60% over budget and we need to
find $1,000,000 between now and 12-31-08 to balance. 1) We are cutting back to one brining
on gravel roads. This is in line with what surrounding county road commissions do. 2) We will
no longer pick up residential garbage that has been disposed of on the roadsides. Each year,
CCRC spends over $120,000 picking up and disposing of this garbage. We will continue to pick
up large items that could cause a traffic hazard and dead deer. Townships are being asked to
recruit volunteers for the “adopt a roadway” program, available through the Solid Waste
Department. 3) CCRC has suspended our tree removal program. If the tree is down and in or
alongside the roadway, we will take care of it. Property owners own their parcels to the center
of the road. Removal of standing trees is the responsibility of the resident. 4) Effective 6-2-08
through 8-22-08, CCRC will be working Monday-Thursday from 6 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Discussion
took place on berm removal and the importance of proper drainage on our roads. Commissioner
Brown noted that State Law dictates that we are responsible for the safe passage on our roads
and as long as there is a pothole in the road, we are required to fill it.
• Mr. Dave Veramay, Clarence Township resident, stated that the chip and double seal program
was a good program and, at the time, CCRC anticipated additional funding to complete the roads.
They were not expected to last more than 5-7 years and because of lack of funding, they were
not completed.
• Mr. John Sackrider, Emmett Township resident, thanked Mr. Henning for his work on the I-94
Service Road Development Agreement.
• Mr. Don Watkins, CCRC employee, stated that Mr. Henning did a good job with his presentation
but it didn’t show the motoring public that travels too fast on the roadways.
• Mrs. Dodie Thornton, CCRC employee, suggested using load covers to truck the hot mix into the
outlying townships. Mr. Henning responded that he would discuss this with Supervisors at
tomorrow’s meeting.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Commissioner Tobin commented that he was impressed with Mr. Henning’s presentation. He informed
everyone that the Board interviewed candidates for the Managing Director position earlier today, and
asked them to submit draft five-year plans. Commissioner Tobin also stated that one of the reasons for
expanding the Road Commission Board was to provide more oversight.

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Commissioner Monaweck stated that the whole problem is money. He referenced a County Road
Association of Michigan (CRAM) report that was published a few weeks ago. In the report, it stated that
11 of 83 counties have a special bond for roads and there is a drastic difference in their condition.
Another report was published regarding the number of counties that are turning hard surface roads back
to gravel because they do not have the funding to reconstruct or maintain these roads. Last year, 7
counties shut down all operations for the summer months, due to lack of funding, to enable them to
snow plow in the winter months.

ANNOUNCEMENTS
The next regular meeting of the Board of Calhoun County Road Commissioners is scheduled for
Wednesday, May 21, 2008 at 5:30 p.m.

There being no additional business before the Board, Chairman Brown adjourned the meeting at
7:12 p.m.

_______________________________ ______________________________
Scott A. Brown, Chairman Mary Jo Crumpton, Secretarial Clerk