The Mackinac County Road Commission unanimously decided to restrict the use of its property to road commission projects upon legal advice during its Tuesday, August 18, meeting. The action is a reversal of the commission's decision June 8 to allow the use of the property through specialized contracts.

The commission originally restricted use of its property when Manager Dirk Heckman noted that private contractors were storing equipment and gravel on commission premises without permission. That presented a liability, he said, as commission and contractor equipment and gravel could get mixed up.

Mr. Heckman proposed leasing the property for private contractor use. The leases would cost $5,000 a month with a one-month minimum commitment and would enable the road commission to keep track of the land use and ensure a timely removal of equipment.

The commission's attorney advised against such leases, however, noting the commission should not allow the use of property for anything but road commission business, Mr. Heckman said August 18.

Such leases would need to be monitored to ensure compliance, and the road commission would also be liable for damage a contractor may do to adjacent property or the environment, the attorney cautioned.

Special leases could be drawn up when absolutely necessary, Mr. Heckman said, but would be specific to each situation.

Commission Rejects Seasonal

Road Plowing Permit

The road commission also rejected the idea of allowing residents to plow seasonal roads, which are not maintained by the commission during the winter. That decision was made in response to William Graves, a resident of Bois Blanc Island, who had asked permission to plow a seasonal road near his residence.

Commissioners cited the problems of inspections and the liabilities resulting from such agreements.

Seasonal roads are not plowed because they are not engineered to year-around standards, such as being wide enough for plow trucks or having the ability to support traffic when the road thaws during the spring, Mr. Heckman told The St. Ignace News.

Commission Chairman Lester Livermore said the road commission often is asked to plow seasonal roads when someone purchases property on them and discovers later that they can't get access in the winter.

For the commission to plow the road, Mr. Livermore said, it would have to be upgraded by the township from a seasonal to a yeararound road. Such upgrades could be costly, especially when a new foundation and wider road would be required.