The Mackinac County Road Commission will send a letter to the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), reminding it of the verbal agreement to maintain Hog Island Road during the ongoing logging activities nearby and repairing it after activities have been completed. The letter in is response to Hudson Township Supervisor Al Garavaglia's concern.

Mr. Garavaglia addressed the commission Tuesday, September 1, asking what could be done to maintain Hog Island Road. Some loggers have helped repair the road as it was damaged, he said. One logger contributed nearly $1,000 for road maintenance. Deep holes have appeared along the south end of the road despite the efforts.

Weight restrictions on the road were lifted to facilitate the logging trucks, Manager Dirk Heckman said. A verbal agreement between the commission and the DNR was made that the DNR would maintain the roads throughout the logging operations and leave it in as good condition or better afterward, Mr. Heckman said.

Safety concerns were raised by Mr. Garavaglia during the June 23 meeting when several logs had been left on the road. After the logs were removed, the road commission decided to wait and see how the DNR would maintain the road in the future.

Commissioner Frank Luepnitz agreed with Mr. Garavaglia's comments last week, saying the road was in terrible condition.

Mr. Heckman said the best recourse would be to contact the DNR and remind it of the verbal agreement.

"This is going to set the tone of our working relationship with the DNR," Mr. Heckman said.

In the event the road is not properly maintained, the road commission will reinstate the weight limits, Mr. Heckman said. Imposing the restrictions would slow logging down, a move road commissioners have been against in the past.

Upcoming Road Projects for Newton Township

The Mackinac County Road Commission entered into an agreement with Newton Township for work on four road projects. Total costs of all projects is about $30,000 and these are match projects, meaning Newton Township will pay $20,000 while the commission will cover the remaining $10,000.

Brotherton Road will have a sand and gravel lift for 250 feet, while North Gould City Road will be re-graveled for 1,300 feet. Hiawatha Trail will receive 450 feet of re graveling work, along with Polly Road which will have 1,1000 feet of re-graveling.