By the end of September, roads in Clark Township will see more than one-half million dollars in repairs with less than half of the funding contributed by the township.

The Clark Township Road Committee, with the help of consultant Oliver House, is working to outline a multi-year plan to prioritize which roads need repairs both now and in the future. Eight projects are scheduled to be completed by the end of September, with the possibility of four more, pending township board approval.

Frank Harness, chairman of the Road Committee, said much of the repair will be done during the busy tourist season, but with few road or lane closures.

"We've got a lot going on in the township and a lot of its going to happen during the time that theres a lot of people around," he said. "You cant stop progress, I guess. We're doing a lot of work and we're spending a lot of money(.("

The majority of the $583,100 road repair cost will be paid from state and county funds. The township's portion of that cost will be $239,500, which will be paid out of its road fund. The township road fund is replenished twice a year through a five-year, 1.5-mil tax levy approved by voters. Next May, the township will as voters to re-approve the milage, which creates about $172,000 annually for the fund.

Scheduled projects include:

Re-paving and installing new drainage culverts on parts of Four-Mile Block Road, Park Avenue, and Tassier Avenue in Cedarville. The project will be mostly funded by Clark Township for $182,500. An additional $3,500 in engineering costs will be paid by the Mackinac County Road Commission.

A sand and gravel mixture will be used create a base to lift a portion of Chard Road, with poor drainage, six to eight inches. Mackinac County will match $10,000 what the township for the project. The Mackinac County Road Commission will also contribute up to $10,000 in labor and materials.

The culvert over Pearson Creek at State Avenue will be replaced to help stabilize the banks and prevent erosion into the creek. The $60,000 project will be funded entirely by the Chippewa/Mackinac Conservation District. The project will require a brief shutdown of State Avenue during construction.

Three culverts over Pearson Creek at Meridian Street will be replaced with one culvert to stabilize the banks and prevent further erosion into the creek. The majority of the project will be funded by the Chippewa/ Mackinac Conservation District at a cost of $185,000. Clark Township is kicking in an additional $20,000 to extend the culvert area to install a sidewalk at some point in the future. The project will require a brief shutdown of Meridian Street during construction.

The Chippewa/Mackinac Conservation District will also fund a $1,000 road and bank repair to East Nordquist Road near Pollard Creek to prevent further erosion.

Work on Swede Road, including installation of a culvert, and lifting and widening the road in certain spots, will be funded mostly by a federal safety program, with a $22,000 cost to the township. The entire project will cost $93,600.

Strips will be repainted on portions of Meridian Road, Kromiller Road, and Four-Mile Block Road, as well as the intersection of Hodek Street and Meridian Road. The township will pay the $2,500 cost for the repainting.

Two applications of brine will be sprayed on 11 gravel roads in the township to help keep the dust from blowing around. The township will foot the $6,000 bill to spray portions of State Avenue, Windberg Road, Flower Bay Road, Rudd Road, Poglese Road, Chard Road, Nordquist Road, Swede Road, Webb Road, Dumler Lane, and Fox Street.

The township will also repair sink holes in the areas bordering Beach Street, Grove Street, Griffin Street, and M-134.

Four additional projects awaiting approval include repaving the approach to the bridge on Forest Lane connecting Hill Island to Island No. 8, new culverts on Weston Avenue and Mary L Street, and drainage ditches on Islington Road and Grove Street.

Township Supervisor Gerald Hill, Luke Jaroche, Mike Patrick, and Norm Perkins sit on the Township Road Committee with Mr. Harness.