Just as winter arrives in the Straits area, Hugh Bigelow (left) and Terry Cece begin their new roles as Mackinac County Road Commission foremen. They are pictured at the State Street office in St. Ignace Wednesday, December 3. Townships now are required to pay 50% of their costs for road maintenance and construction before work begins on all projects. The decision was approved by Mackinac County road commissioners during their Tuesday, November 25 meeting. The payment requirement already was in place for bituminous road projects, however, on other projects townships had been paying 100% of their costs for road work at the completion of the job.

Budget constraints require the change, say commissioners. In the past, the commission used its working capital to cover all of the cost of materials needed for projects, and it was not reimbursed until the townships were billed at the work's completion. Some of the projects affected by the change include crushing gravel, ordering culverts, and commissioning design work.

The requirement will be part of the road work agreement and sent to townships along with estimated project costs. The agreement for work and up-front payment will require township approval before the road commission proceeds on the project.

Commissioner Lester Livermore requested a letter be sent to the townships advising them of the payment requirement.

"It is going to be an issue and there's no worse time to deal with it than when you're trying to get a project signed and you're trying to get [bid] letting dates," said Mr. Livermore to Manager Dirk Heckman. "Don't wait until then, because you'll have two months of meetings; they'll table it a couple of times. You might as well get it out there and get it hashed out right now."

Hudson Township Supervisor Al Garavaglia said now that old billing issues have been rectified, he doesn't anticipate a problem with the new up-front payment requirement. In recent years, townships have complained that road commission estimates and bills did not itemize costs, making it impossible to monitor projects.

"I'd like to just address it as someone with a township perspective," Mr. Garavaglia said. "We're probably going to battle over nuts and bolts. I think trust has probably been a problem. If we can work together, I think that will go a long way."

Mark Spencer, a trustee for Moran Township, disagreed.

"Coming to these meetings for the last four years, I understand you're going to get a lot of flack over that," said Mr. Spencer to commissioners.

He did agree with Mr. Garavaglia that previous invoices lacked specifics that township officials needed, such as listing ditching, but not explaining whether ditches would be dug or just cleaned out.

Road commission clerk Theresa McPherson said the board had discussed adding details to billings earlier this year, although no formal action was taken. Since then, townships have required different levels of billing information, she said, which she has been providing.

Mr. Heckman reminded township representatives that all project details are available in the Road Commission office on State Street in St. Ignace.

Mr. Livermore suggested if a township had trouble meeting the 50% requirement, it could address the situation with the board to see if any payment arrangements could be agreed upon.

Employees Hugh Bigelow and Terry Cece named new garage foremen Tuesday, November 25. Mr. Bigelow will oversee operations at the West District garage in Engadine, replacing retiring foreman Bill Wagner. Mr. Cece will manage operations at the East District garage in Marquette Township, replacing Dale Williams, whose contract was not renewed.

The one-year agreements do not contain a longevity clause that is in the union contract, and Mr. Livermore wondered why.

Union employees receive an annual longevity payment near the end of each year. The benefit applies to full-time employees who have worked at least 1,200 hours during the year, are still employed at the time the benefit check is issued, and have been employed by the commission for a minimum of two years. Workers are paid $50 for each year of service up to a maximum of 20 years. A worker, who this year has 10 years of service with the road commission, would receive a check for $500 December 20.

Mr. Livermore said that in October, the board agreed to have management contracts mirror the union contract, which contains a longevity benefit for the employees.

"When we make a motion here, whatever that motion is, needs to happen," said Mr. Livermore.

Commissioner Frank Luepnitz said the board had discussed removing longevity from management contracts.

"I want this contract to be a management contract and have its own language," he said.

Mr. Livermore said he has no problems with the contract, but that it did not reflect board action, replying, "That's not what the motion said, Frank. What you want after the meeting's over doesn't really matter. What matters is the motion we approve at this board table. That's what we have to do."

Commissioners agreed to advertise for a mechanic to fill the position Mr. Bigelow is vacating at Engadine. The board accepted Mr. Heckman's recommendation that the position be filled by a certified diesel mechanic. The knowledge required to be a mechanic has changed through the years, said Mr. Heckman, and now includes the ability to operate computer diagnostic equipment.

The commission hopes to fill the position at the beginning of January.

Mr. Spencer said he had received some complaints from residents about winter plowing. Plowing was not complete enough, leaving intersections narrow, he reported to the board. Of most concern, said Mr. Spencer, is Schoolhouse Road where it meets US-2. He also said not all hills were being sanded and more was needed on Schoolhouse Road.

"Schoolhouse Road is a bad road," said Mr. Spencer, "because it dumps you into either US-2 or Worth Road and there are semis going 60 miles per hour on that road either way."

Winter weather and heavy snow arrived early this year, Mr. Heckman said, and not all trucks were outfitted with sanders.

Commissioners approved the final payment on the new salt shed at the East District garage for $45,257.26. The total cost was $557,920.20, with the state paying 89% and the county paying 11%.

The 2009 meeting schedule was approved by commissioners. Meeting will continue every other Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. except for two Monday meetings for February 16 and March 2, with conflicts on the following Tuesdays. Also four nightly meetings at 7 p.m. are scheduled for March 17, June 23, September 15, and December 8.

The commission next meets Tuesday, December 16, at 1:30 p.m. at the Road Commission building on North State Street. Commissioners also will hold a public hearing at that time for discussion on the five-year transportation improvement plan for federal- and state-funded projects. The plan is available for review at the Road Commission office.