The Mackinac County Road Commission approved a $5.2 million budget for 2009 and a five-year plan for work on select township roads using state and federal funds totaling about $2.4 million. Both were adopted following two public hearings by the Road Commission Tuesday, December 16.

The 2009 budget has little change in comparison to 2008, $5.8 million budget. Most of the difference is attributable to salt shed constructed near the East District garage last year. This year, the commission has no plans to purchase equipment or construct any buildings.

At Tuesday's meeting, the road commission also amended the 2008 budget to account for increase maintenance costs, largely owing to the long, harsh winter.

Faced with less state and federal gas tax revenue, the commission has already begun making cutbacks, said Commissioner Lester Livermore. At best, he said, the commission needs to plan for at least a 6% reduction in funding for road maintenance for the next several years.

"We're looking at significant cutbacks," he said. "We already started some of that with notifications on winter maintenance levels. We're definitely in a time when we're going to have to start tightening our belt more, and obviously that means . . . reduced services."

The reduced revenue also could impact the number of employees, he said, and residents will notice significantly fewer trucks on the road this summer.

"Last year we didn't bring some of the seasonals [workers] back, and this year you may see that some of the full-timers don't even come back in the summertime."

In other business, commissioners approved an agreement worth about $38,000 with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, which will be paying for salting sections of Three Mile Road and Mackinac Trail through the winter. The tribe is asking the commission to apply straight salt on a portion of both of the roads. Salt will be applied on Three Mile Road from M-134 to Rocky Road and Mackinac Trail from the I-75 business loop to Ingalsbe Road.

Commissioners approved hiring Jason Cameron of Newberry as a mechanic to fill the position vacated by Hugh Bigelow, who was promoted to be the West District garage foreman. Road Commission Manager Dirk Heckman made the recommendation.

Mr. Cameron is a certified diesel mechanic, certified in anti-lock brakes and air conditioning, and can perform electronic diagnostics, said Mr. Heckman. He is expected to begin work in early January.

The union contract calls for a nine-month probationary period.

Commissioners and township representatives attending the meeting discussed the proposed $1.5 billion state transportation stimulus package that includes a proposed change in the gas tax and vehicle registration fees. It had just passed the House of Representatives as the commission met Tuesday and was slated to be considered by the Senate Thursday. The state's gasoline tax, which is 19¢ a gallon, was last raised in 1997.

The Senate, meeting Thursday, let the package die and now it is expected to be considered again in 2009.

St. Ignace resident Judy Luoma suggested people contact elected state officials and ask for help.

Eric Cadea, an assistant development engineer with the Michigan Department of Transportation office in Newberry, presented the state's five-year projects for Mackinac County. Plans include the following:

Continued work on the Cut River Bridge in 2009 and enhancement and erosion control on US-2 east of the Cut River Bridge, road preservation on the I-75 by-pass and US-2 to High Street in St. Ignace, and safety work on I-75 from St. Ignace to north of M-123.

In 2010, road projects include preservation work on US-2 from Brevort Lake Road to Martin Lake Road and bridge work on I-75 over the Carp River.

In 2011, safety work at the intersection of Borgstrom Road and US- 2, and road preservation work on US-2 from Borgstrom Road to west of Hiawatha Trail.

In 2012, I-75 bridge work over Hoban Creek.

In 2013, road preservation on US-2 from M-117 to Naubinway.

Working with townships, the county road commission also approved a plan for road improvement projects for the next five years. Townships are required to pay 20% of the local share of the work and engineering costs.

Under the new road commission policy adopted last month, townships will be required to pay 50% of the cost before the project begins.

Al Garavaglia, supervisor from Hudson Township, said his township would like to receive the engineering plans when they pay the 50% costs.

Mr. Heckman said that would not work because the commission needs the money to help pay for design, engineering work, necessary permit fees, and construction materials.

"We don't necessarily get too heavily involved in a project until we know the township is on board," he said, "and we have a signed agreement back from the township."

At that time, the road commission would bill the township the 50% and continue with the design and permitting process.

"Maybe you are familiar with the permitting process," said Mr. Heckman, "but some of these wetland issues require mitigation, and mitigation is on the average $10,000 to $20,000 per acre now. We need to start the process about a year before the project actually takes place. We can have a significant amount of resources tied up in just the permitting and the mitigation before you turn a load of dirt or start anything on the road."

Commissioners approved a contract with MDOT for a road safety project on John Martin Road, including realignment work at the intersection of M-123. The project is expected to cost about $42,000 and will be funded by the Federal Surface Transportation program.

Commissioners approved a health care savings program for employees and commissioners. The program allows retiring members to put funds into a savings program that will earn interest tax-free and can be withdrawn to pay doctor bills, premiums, co-pays, and any medically related costs.

Five-year county road commission projects include improvements of the following roads:

In 2009, Black Point Road to Worth Road to Charles Moran Road, and Charles Moran Road in Brevort Township.

In 2010, H-40 west of Rexton, Sandtown Road from Manistique Lake to Gould City Road, Three Mile Road to Townline Road South, Swede Road east of M-129.

In 2011, H-40 west of Gilchrist, Simmons Road in Marquette Township, East Lake Road north of Charles Moran Road, and Mackinac Trail north of M-134.

In 2012, Charles Moran Road east of M-123, Three Mile Road north of Rockview, and Naubinway Road in Garfield Township.

In 2013, South Curtis Road east of West County Line Road.

The county road commission plan next will be reviewed by the Rural Task Force, which meets with MDOT. Once the plan is approved, Mr. Heckman begins the process of preparing road agreements with the townships.

Road commissioners will present their budget to the county commission Monday, December 29, at 6 p.m. at the courthouse.

The commission next meets Tuesday, January 6, at 1:30 p.m. at the Road Commission building on North State Street in St. Ignace.