Logging Activities Damage Hog Isle Road in Hudson Twp.

The Mackinac County Road Commission will keep an eye on Hog Island Road conditions during an ongoing logging project nearby, following safety concerns brought up last week.

Extensive logging activity has greatly damaged Hog Island Road, Hudson Township Supervisor Al Garavaglia told the Mackinac County Road Commission Tuesday, June 23. Trucks that began hauling logs across Hog Island Road at the beginning of June continue to damage the road by driving over it with heavy loads.

Safety is another concern, Mr. Garavaglia said, as a truck was forced to leave several logs in the middle of the road when it became immobilized. It was at least a day before the logs were removed from the road, he said.

Mackinac County Road Commission Manager Dirk Heckman said the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will oversee the logging truck activities, which are taking place on state land. The DNR agreed to repair any damages caused by the logging trucks, Mr. Heckman said. The DNR also removed the logs from the road and assured the commission it would manage the activities on the road.

Mr. Heckman said if the DNR does not properly manage the road, "severe" weight limitations would need to be imposed or the commission may have to close the road.

Road Commissioner Tom Doty said the road is often used by campers, and leaving materials lying across the road would be a serious safety hazard.

Both Mr. Heckman and Mr. Doty do not want to close the road, as doing so would harm the loggers.

"I truly don't want to shut anybody down," Mr. Doty said.

The commission agreed to wait before taking further action and see how well the DNR maintains the safety and condition of the road. Mr. Garavaglia said he would watch the road and report to the commission if another safety issue arises.

6th Street Guardrail

Considered

The road commission will also monitor erosion of a road shoulder in Moran Township to see if it warrants a guardrail to prevent damage to the shoulder.

Mark Spencer of the Moran Township Road Committee requested a guardrail on the far north end of 6th street because, he said, all-terrain vehicles and other four-wheel-drive vehicles are driving off the road and damaging the gravel shoulder. Installing a guardrail would stop the vehicles from driving off-road and prevent any further damage, he added.

Mr. Heckman said that the road commission does not have enough money to install guardrails at each road. Guardrails are intended as a safety precaution, not as a form of preventive maintenance. Mr. Heckman agreed, however, that it would be prudent to install the guardrail, if only for safety.

Mr. Doty said it was a "pay now or pay later" situation. Either the commission could pay for the guardrail now and prevent damage to the gravel or wait until the road eroded and pay for the repairs later. He also agreed that a guardrail should be installed.

Commissioner Frank Luepnitz was concerned about installing a guardrail along 6th street. A guardrail would make snow removal difficult, he said, as snow is often plowed off the side of the road.

The commission decided to observe the road first and determine if the erosion rate is serious. If it is, then a guardrail will be erected.

Road and Highway Improvement Plan Resolution

Approved

The Mackinac County Road Commission joined others in adopting a resolution requesting the governor and the Michigan legislature implement a plan to improve Michigan roads and highways. The resolution is in response to the dwindling funding road commissions across the state are receiving as a result of state budget cutbacks.

The original resolution was received from the Dickinson County Board of Road Commissioners. The Mackinac commission adopted the resolution as it was received.

Township Road Improvements

on the Horizon

The road commission entered into a series of road improvement agreements with the Portage, St. Ignace, and Brevort township boards.

The commission will work on six roads in Brevort Township, including 1,000 feet of Nothelfer Road, Wartella Road, 1,000 feet of Ed Hansen Lane, Walker Road, East Brevort Lake Road from M- 123 north and west 4.6 miles to M- 123, and Brevort Lake Road. The work consists of gravel surfacing, grid underlayment, shoulder gravel, paving, pavement markings, and skip pavement patching. The projects will cost $200,906. The road commission will pay $10,000 for the East Brevort Lake Road and Walker Road work, as it is a match project with the township contributing. The commission will also pay $18,091 in engineering costs.

Gager Road in Portage Township will be improved through a sand fill, aggregate surfacing, and clearing and restoration work. The work is also a match project, and will cost Portage Township $88,006 after the road commission covers $6,450.

Charles Moran Road in St. Ignace Township will have its existing seal coat pulverized and reshaped for about 1,050 feet. It will cost St. Ignace Township $3,500.