Building Bridges in the Community Through Good Larry Young, PE, Wayne Customer Service and Innovative Hiring

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The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

Volume 4 | Issue 1 Fall 2018

Building Bridges Page 26 in the Community How Michigan’s county road agencies are impacting their communities.

Photo: Kent County Road Commission

IN THIS ISSUE: g Member Profile: Sanilac County Road Commission

g CRA board observes future of automated and connected travel

The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

IN THIS ISSUE

4 PRESIDENT’S CORNER Crossroads is the quarterly publication of the County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan. The 83 county members of CRA represent the unified, credible 6 MEMBER PROFILE and effective voice for a safe and efficient county road system in Michigan. Sanilac County Road Commission. The Association, headquartered three blocks north of the State Capitol, is 11 INNOVATION ALLEY dedicated to helping members promote and maintain a safe, efficient county Recycle in place technology takes shape with road system including stewardship of the county road right-of-way in rural Jackson County Department of Transportation. and urban Michigan. 14 USING INTER-NA-TIONAL FUNDS ON CRA BOARD LOCAL ROADS PRESIDENT: Joanna I. Johnson, Kalamazoo County road agencies and Indian tribes collaborate on local roads. VICE PRESIDENT: David Pettersch, Gladwin SECRETARY-TREASURER: Burt R. Thompson, PE, Antrim 17 LEGISLATOR PROFILE DIRECTORS: John M. Hunt, Huron State Senator Margaret O’Brien discusses her history James M. Iwanicki, PE, Marquette with local roads. Dennis G. Kolar, PE, Oakland 19 CRA OBSERVES THE FUTURE Bradley S. Lamberg, PE, Barry CRA board visits the American Center for Mobility. Michael A. Maloney, PE, Ontonagon 22 LONGEST SERVING COMMISSIONER Douglas J. Mills, PE, Baraga Wes Federspiel has served as a Gratiot road Larry Orcutt, Alpena commissioner for 35 years. Douglas Robidoux, Mason Walter J. Schell, PE, Macomb 24 BETWEEN THE LINES Richard B. Timmer, Chippewa A legal perspective on financing road improvements. Steven A. Warren, Kent 26 COMMUNICATION CORNER Joyce Whisenant, Muskegon Building bridges in the community through good Larry Young, PE, Wayne customer service and innovative hiring.

DIRECTOR & Denise Donohue, CAE, APR 28 BRIDGING THE GAPS PUBLISHING TEAM: Dustin Earley, [email protected] CRA releases MiRAD, next-generation road agency database. 31 DISASTER IN ISABELLA COUNTY Using 21st century technology in crisis conditions. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the editor and the County Road Association of Michigan. Opinions expressed by 34 EDITOR’S NOTE columnists and contributing authors are not necessarily those of the County Road Association of Michigan, its officers, employees or the editor.

Advertisers and sponsors are solely responsible for the accuracy of information in their ads. Next Publication © 2018, County Road Association of Michigan The theme for the Winter 2018 issue of Crossroads is 21st century winter maintenance practices. We’ll take a look at the innovative tools and techniques county road agencies are using to combat snow and ice. Crossroads’ editorial team wants to hear from you. Call CRA at 517.482.1189 and share ideas for future issues!

Crossroads individual articles now Our Mistake! shareable online! Crossroads online has a new digital reader featuring In the “Requested vs. Required Signs,” article from the an enhanced share function for individual articles. To Summer 2018 issue of Crossroads, we erroneously stated share your favorite article from this and other issues on Facebook, Twitter or through email, head to that townships must pay for road signs. Road signs are the micountyroads.org/Crossroads-Magazine. responsibility of the county road commission or department and therefore are paid for by the road authority.

micountyroads.org Fall 2018 3 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Once again, I am amazed by the In times of emergency response I refer back to Mister efforts in public service and emergency Rogers – I may be dating myself as Mister Rogers’ response throughout the state with the Neighborhood was a favorite of mine as a child. He has recent flooding events. a quote that has been repeated many times recently and to which I often refer: Certainly, road agencies are no strangers to emergency response, “…Look for the helpers. You will always find people having to respond to a variety of who are helping. To this day, especially in times of emergency issues at any time and any disaster; I remember my mother’s words and I am always day. We are what shines in a time of comforted by realizing there are still so many helpers – crisis and where helping hands come so many caring people in this world.” – Fred Rogers together and collaboration is a given. We make sure that our infrastructure is safe for all users. “We are what shines in a time of crisis”

Recently the American Public Works Association (APWA) unveiled a new logo to enhance the awareness of what we all do every day. Although it may seem simple, by We are thankful for all the comfort you bring to so many displaying the logo wherever appropriate we can raise people and all you do as a public works first responder. awareness among all citizens, government officials, and other first responders about the critical role public works plays in emergency management efforts.

A link to more information can be found at: https://www.apwa.net/MYAPWA/MyApwa/Apwa_ Joanna I. Johnson Public/Resources/First_Responder.aspx CRA President Managing Director Road Commission of Kalamazoo County

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Michigan Crossroads Magazine, 05-18.indd 1 5/21/2018 8:39:07 AM The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

MEMBER PROFILE SANILAC COUNTY

SCRC crews hauling and spreading limestone onto a local road grade construction project. (Robinson Road reconstruction)

The remaining SCRC staff has taken on Doing all the right-sized stuff the extra work required to make the wheels go ‘round, even after right-sizing. Sanilac County used to be the whole low just as Falls was taking over. The “Thumb” of Michigan back in 1822 budget dictated the road commission “Our workers are very dedicated – we when it was split from St. Clair County shed 16 employees and a corresponding don’t have late-night shifts,” Falls said. and administered, for some reason, by amount of heavy equipment, despite “They all know year-round if there’s Oakland County. Two decades later, serving a whopping 26 townships and a windstorm or a rainstorm they are Sanilac was divided to create Huron and having an above-average number of going to get called in, and they are very Tuscola counties – and today all three bridges and road miles. reliable.” make up Michigan’s globally–recognized Thumb. That “right-sizing” set SCRC on course for the healthy financial position it enjoys Quality staff + good What was important in the Thumb back today, Falls said, and has made the road equipment = ready for then, still matters to the Sanilac County commission very economy-minded. the roadwork Road Commission (SCRC): Agriculture and tourism on the Having the right tools for the job is key to Great Lake Huron. every profession, as it is to every county road agency. SCRC has put a priority As with many county road on having proper equipment while also agencies Sanilac has seen its ups funding road work over the years. and downs in the 99 years since the commission was established, according to current 16-year Taking wing county highway engineer- manager Robb Falls, PE. One of Falls’s points of pride is Sanilac’s early adoption of the wing plow extension The early 2000s were a that expands the plowed area from 10 to challenging time for SCRC, when Robb Falls, PE, county highway engineer- 15 feet. cash flow dipped dangerously manager, SCRC, with a heavy truck in SCRC’s garage. “In about 2008 we became one of the first counties in this area to have a wing,” 6 Fall 2018 Crossroads Today all but four SCRC plow year with township officials, as well as one- trucks have wings, and they on-one meetings. will all be equipped by 2020. JUST THE “We tell them: ‘You’re the customer, you’re paying a large percentage of the bill, so how Wrenching can we get this [road project] done to our Sanilac County Road Commission re-invented standards by working together’,” Falls said. Sandusky “It wasn’t always that way. Fifteen and “Something else I’m very proud twenty years ago, townships wanted to use Staff: 51 full time of is that in 2005 we switched private contractors to do all of their work, No. of commissioners: 3 (elected) over to one centralized including summer maintenance.” Miles of maintenance garage,” said “We have asked the townships to help us paved roads: Total: 397 Primary: 363 Local: 34 Falls. “Before that everyone was taking care of his own out by utilizing us in the summer for dust Miles of truck, doing his own oil control, mowing, other maintenance and unpaved roads: Total: 1439 Primary: 0 Local: 402 changes and making individual construction work. This helps the road MDOT contract: Yes (343 lane miles) maintenance decisions.” commission retain the employees who are No. of bridges: 140 critical to our winter road operations, and “As a leadership team we keep them busy all summer,” he said. Annual budget: $15,328,837 (FY 2018) decided to change to one Local revenue: $2,155,452 (FY 2017) maintenance garage, which “It took years, but we have won over a lot Annual snowfall: 43 inches is currently staffed with four of the townships with our commitment to working together,” Falls said. SCRC established: 1919 certified mechanics. At the time, it wasn’t popular with our No. of garages: 5 + 1 maintenance garage drivers” who often bond with Matching funds Early 1960s “their” trucks and want to care FUN FACTS: for them. SCRC has had a policy of requiring 83 For many years, SCRC had a worker who made “trophies” percent of funding for a local road project “We went from a whole day in out of old toys to “commemorate” when a sta had an to come from townships with the road accident with a piece of equipment or did something some cases to do an oil change commission providing 17 percent of the wrong that caused a big problem. (Crossroads was told to three hours,” Falls said. dollars plus its in-kind workforce. With no photos exist, but the presentations were a hoot!) When the certified mechanics new road funding arriving, SCRC has just got under the hoods, they Vacation time at SCRC ends up being work time: Most increased its contribution to 25 percent. discovered that some corners employees use leave time to help on a farm during planting or harvest, including loading up the sugar beets. had been cut in maintenance On culverts under 30 inches, SCRC pays Others haul milk on the weekends. Every road commis- with a “quick fix” that wasn’t a for the project; larger culverts are the sioner and the engineer-manager is either currently lasting fix in the long run. township’s responsibility per board policy. farming or retired from it. “I believe our equipment has In Sanilac County, over half the townships less down time now, and more have a local road millage and the county Falls said. “A lot of people including our time out on the road serving has a two-mill county-wide primary road crew, and even my neighbor on the farm, the people of Sanilac County,” Falls said. millage that was up for renewal on the were skeptical that we would see any benefit August 2018 Primary ballot. from this big piece of equipment.” When not maintaining the fleet, mechanics also custom-build SCRC’s own “It is very important that we keep the “Within two years every one of our trucks with purchased chassis and other county millage and the township millages,” employees wanted to drive plows with the parts. “We save money, get better quality Falls said. “We need both of these funding wings because it is such a huge efficiency, and have a truck more suited to our sources in addition to state revenue and saving time in clearing the road and also needs,” Falls said. federal dollars to restore our roads.” improving the quality of the plow job.”

The improved quality comes from clearing Building township Supporting local economic 15 feet of lane width in a single pass. This relationships development gives Sanilac motorists more time with a “clean lane” during a snow event, before With 26 townships and a history of When it comes to supporting the local the road is plugged up again. conflicts, Falls and his commissioners have community, county road professionals get worked hard to create new relationships. involved in local economic development They hold a large meeting nearly every planning and construction. micountyroads.org Fall 2018 7 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

One of SCRC’s biggest economic Fund Urban grant from MDOT to “Everyone has trouble with the front-end development projects took place several improve roads to accommodate the loader for some reason,” Falls said. “But years ago as collaboration between the expansion of an automotive supplier when you put those younger people on City of Sandusky, also the county seat, near the Village of Lexington. The road our road grader – the most expensive piece and SCRC to improve the road as part of commission has also worked with large of equipment we have – they can run it enlarging the city’s industrial park. dairy farms that need roads upgraded to like nothing. I think that’s because the Class A all-season roads so that they can operating mechanisms are two joy-sticks “We got one of the local roads certified haul full milk loads year-round and remain like their video game controllers!” as a primary road and then put a major competitive in the milk business. reconstruction and paving project on our five-year state TIP [Transportation Hiring times are a changin’ Improvement Plan] so that we could get Top 3 things Sanilac federal funds for it,” Falls said. In a full-employment economy, hiring at Road Commissioners the county road agency has become more “We went to that amount of effort and are thinking about: challenging in all corners of the state. planning because economic growth in our county would generate more tax for “My hardest job is trying to draw that 1) Passing the county-wide roads and more people working at this personality and true skills out of a person millage renewal to support location... We have ethanol plants at applying for a job with the Sanilac County primary roads and bridges. Caro and Marysville – what if something Road Commission,” Falls said. of that magnitude wanted to come 2) Keeping good to Sanilac County? We have to be The Gen Y’ers particularly distinguish township relations. themselves during the hands-on prepared,” he said. Providing a high level of equipment-driving tests Falls administers 3) This summer, SCRC is working with a to potential employees. service to customers. Transportation Economic Development

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micountyroads.org Fall 2018 9 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

10 Fall 2018 Crossroads LONG LIVE THE RECYCLED ROAD

Can you grind up an asphalt road, spit it While 50 years is a stretch, it’s no secret of the road,” Bolt said. “After laying the back out and use it again? The answer is that re-constructed roads taken down to material, a top coat of hot-mix asphalt yes, of course! the aggregate (gravel) layer and rebuilt material is added in partnership with a last longer than a band-aid approach. private-sector asphalt paving contractor.” New this summer, the Jackson County Department of Transportation (JCDOT) Cold-in-place recycling is one path JCDOT is the first road agency in began a large-scale approach with a to reconstruction. JCDOT and the Michigan to utilize cold-in-place recycling decades-old process called cold-in-place Jackson County Board of Commissioners technology as part of a comprehensive recycling to improve the longevity and have made a $6 million investment in road improvement program, purchasing conditions of its county roads. equipment needed for a comprehensive nearly $6 million of equipment earlier road recycling program. this year. The undertaking was not without controversy between the county and the “Cold-in-place recycling takes the road’s “This isn’t a process you can use if you private road-building industry, yet the aggregate base and existing asphalt, just want to grab the keys and go – a Jackson County Board of Commissioners grinds it all up, adds asphalt binder and a lot of preparation and planning goes forged ahead. small amount of Portland cement, paves into every project. We’re working with and rolls and compacts it to make bound on-site materials, and every road has aggregate base material to put back different base and asphalt characteristics, 50-year roads? as a ‘new’ very durable roadbed,” said so a ‘recipe’ must be developed for Shortly after the Transportation Package Christopher Bolt, MPA, PE, the JCDOT every project in the lab to maximize the passed the Michigan Legislature in 2015, managing director. strength of the new road base,” Bolt said. there was much discussion about 50-year “The recycled material is typically Jackson will recycle roadways one of two roads. Could roads be made to last that between 6 and 8 inches, but can vary in ways: the train method or the stationary long on a routine basis? thickness depending on the traffic volume method.

Road crews with the JCDOT put the department’s cold-in-place recycler to the test. micountyroads.org Fall 2018 11 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

JCDOT’s cold-in-place recycling machine making short work of reconstruction.

JCDOT anticipates environmental benefits, such as reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and reuse of existing aggregate and road materials.

“Jackson maintains about 1,600 miles of roads, with nearly 1,000 miles currently requiring reconstruction. On average it costs about $300,000 to $400,000 per mile for traditional reconstruction,” Bolt said. “Unfortunately, we won’t ever be able to catch our tail and resolve our nearly half-billion-dollar problem because as we’re fixing some roads now, many “In the train method (shown above) all “We’re putting science back into our other roads are falling apart. They the equipment is out on the roadway and road building, and we are looking at are costing us a lot money to patch moving very slowly, grinding up the old things differently,” Bolt said. Staff because they’re already in such poor road, adding binding agents, and laying talked to or visited agencies and condition. We simply do not have it back down with compaction as a new contractors doing cold-in-place recycling adequate funding to stop the decline.” bound aggregate base,” Bolt said. “You in Ontario, Canada, as well as Florida, “Our financial projections show that cover about 20 feet per minute.” Texas, Minnesota, California, Alaska with cold-in-place recycling we can and Pennsylvania. While Bolt has save an average of about $100,000 a The road can be opened to traffic long tracked the development of this mile, and we are building a stronger, immediately and a finishing course of technology, he worked with staff to more durable road – from the bottom asphalt is applied by a private contractor comb through 30 years of research to up. And we expect additional savings a few days later, Bolt said. understand project successes and failures on maintenance over the 30 to 50- and new developments. In the stationary plant method, some of year life of the road,” Bolt said. the process happens away from the work “What we saw in Ontario was nothing In late June, JCDOT completed its site. This works very well in subdivisions, short of amazing and validated what we first mile of recycling on Rosehill, a roads with hills and curves, and when had been reading and hearing: They have primary road. “This road now has the additional base stabilization work is the same winter freeze-thaw cycles and best foundation we have ever seen.” needed ahead of time. face the same challenges that we do, Twenty miles are planned for 2018 and their recycled roads are holding up “You’re still using all the equipment, but increasing to 50 to 80 miles annually very well with no cracks or defects after a stationary mixing plant is set up in a over the next 20 years. several years of service – not one, but staging area nearby rather than on the mile after mile of driving,” Bolt said. “The roadway,” Bolt said. “I credit our county board and our base is solid. They have been doing this county administrator, Mike Overton, for about 30 years, and they expect to be for their collective leadership and Making the decision to able to just mill and overlay the top layer support in approving the nation’s first purchase of asphalt for decades to come.” municipally-owned comprehensive recycling program,” Bolt said. “The Jackson thought long and hard, talking Costing it out technology and equipment has with experts, other agencies and evolved and improved a great deal in contractors currently utilizing cold-in- During its year of researching the recent years, and we sincerely hope to place recycling technology and visiting technique, JCDOT came to believe see other road agencies consider using roads built with the process before the cost savings to the county and cold-in-place recycling to create a making the decision to purchase the the anticipated improvements to road strong market demand for contractors equipment. longevity were compelling. Moreover, here in Michigan.”

12 Fall 2018 Crossroads micountyroads.org Fall 2018 13 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

That’s not the case with traditional federal Using Inter-Nation-al Funds road disaster funds. While a disaster-scale road wash-out may seem like the best time to replace a culvert with a regulation- on the required larger one, doing so forfeits federal funds for making an “improvement.”

“There are many different ways to get from LOCAL ROADS the start to the finish [on a road project]. Restoring the local road system with “We try really hard to collaborate,” Seal With BIA funds my perception is there is international dollars is easier than it said of his role. “Especially in today’s less red tape,” said Bryan Hewitt, PE, BIA sounds when county road agencies are climate, we try to get everyone together highway engineer for the Midwest region working with Michigan’s 12 sovereign and just talk. We have great local and contact point for all Michigan tribes. Indian nations. relationships and have worked together “It works this way in most cases because many times” including working with the the counties and the tribes have a good Road agencies with a local tribal presence Isabella County Road Commission. relationship.” say working with the tribe and the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) on road and bridge Michigan Indian tribes support roads that projects is a very positive experience that serve the Native community in several Economic development benefits the entire community. ways. boosters

Crossroads is reporting on this All tribes maintain a Transportation Michigan’s Native American nations international relationship within Michigan. Infrastructure Inventory of roads contribute to local economic development and bridges – located directly on the in many ways. Of course, the casinos Inter-nation-al support reservation land or otherwise serving attract tourists who spend money at other the tribal members. Inventory status is businesses in the area. for roads required for BIA funds for routine repairs, safety improvements and emergencies. The Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe is One of the point people working with building a 148-room hotel that will have BIA road funds is Don Seal, community Routine repairs to roads and bridges 500 jobs and has worked with the Arenac engineer for the 3,300-member Saginaw come from the tribe’s annual federal County Road Commission to develop the Chippewa Indian Tribe. The Saginaw FAST Act allocation, following a long- local roads. Chippewa work with road and bridge standing equation. As with non-tribal projects important to the tribe in Isabella projects, the US government requires “We want to spur economic development and Arenac counties. tribes to put together a five-year there and we will be the largest Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) employer,” Seal said. “But we try to get of intended projects, which involves the infrastructure in place first. Without cooperation with the county road the infrastructure – the roads and railroad agency. crossings – the development can’t take place.” Emergency use. The Federal Lands Highway’s Emergency Relief for In addition to building attractions and roads Federally Owned (ERFO) roads program to them, Michigan tribes also support the administered by the BIA comes into play community by contributing two percent of more frequently than many realize. casino revenue to the area. Some tribes opt to benefit the region by providing funds The July 2017 rainstorm in Isabella directly to townships, which in turn may use County and the 2013 Sugar Island road them on local road projects. wash-out both relied on BIA ERFO dollars for immediate relief. “For the most part these tribes are pretty great to work with, especially on the Cooperation on tribal-inventoried If there’s a silver lining to getting a BIA transportation side,” said Hewitt of the BIA. roads is a hallmark of the relationship ERFO grant, it’s that ERFO funds pay for “We are all looking for good roads and between Tony Casali, manager of engineering and many expenses as soon good infrastructure – I think there’s been Isabella County Road Commission as the disaster occurs and allow up-sizing a pretty good collaboration between the (at right), and Don Seal, community culverts while an inventoried road is tribes and all these local road agencies for engineer for the 3,300-member Saginaw being repaired. Chippewa Indian Tribe in Mt. Pleasant. the last 15 years that I’ve been here.”

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micountyroads.org Fall 2018 15 17321_HIP Half Page Ad_CRA Directory_FINAL.indd 1 4/25/17 9:01 AM The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan NOISE IS ONE PASSENGER TOO MANY DRIVABILITY MATTERS

“Whether I’m training a Special Forces driver in tactical roadway maneuvers, or my son how to drive, I need to know my students can hear me. I choose to train on asphalt roads because they produce less pavement-tire noise, guaranteeing I’m heard, even when my son pretends he isn’t listening. That matters.”

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APAM-Drivability_Noise_AsphaltPavement.indd 1 4/18/2018 9:53:58 AM CRA: Were you surprised when the $400 million surplus in the 2018- 2019 budget was first discussed for infrastructure, with $300 million going to roads?

SEN. O’BRIEN: The only surprise I had was how much the surplus was. My community has been adamant that we must invent in roads. When they said it would go to roads, it made sense.

CRA: Because of recent infrastructure emergencies across the state, have you given any thought to creating LEGISLATOR PROFILE an emergency infrastructure bank or emergency local government bank?

SEN. O’BRIEN: We should have an STATE SENATOR emergency infrastructure account, but we must deploy it so that it really applies to emergencies that couldn’t be planned or MARGARET O’BRIEN prepared for, and we must make it fair and State Senator Margaret O’Brien has been involved with local transportation since accessible to all. her public service career began with the Portage City Council in 2003, where she led the charge to move to a millage instead of street special assessments. CRA: Can you touch on your views on funding distribution regarding Crossroads and CRA’s deputy director Ed Noyola talked with Sen. O’Brien about local agencies? her history with transportation and the 20th Senate District she represents covering Kalamazoo County. SEN. O’BRIEN: It’s important that we maintain local distribution. I know there is Caption: Pictured from left, CRA president and Road Commission of Kalamazoo County managing director Joanna Johnson on the Senate floor with Sen. O’Brien and Sen. Tonya Schuitmaker (R-Lawton). a desire from some to change the funding formula, but we need to look at why. CRA: We hear you have quite There are many needs to be balanced, and the history with your county Partnerships are key compromise is key. That’s how we got PA transportation agency and road 51; it’s based on compromise and treating From her earliest days on the commissioners. everyone fairly. Portage City Council, Sen. O’Brien realized that even though the city SEN. O’BRIEN: Funny story, when I was CRA: The Legislature has placed has many of its own roads, it shares a young girl I lived on a dead-end road an emphasis on road funding that a lot of responsibility with the Road has seemed to ramp up over the that was serviced by the road commission. Commission of Kalamazoo County. Our road was never plowed until our last two years. With so many term- neighbor got elected road commissioner. Sen. O’Brien believes that “it doesn’t limited seats up for election, do you We weren’t ever the first to get plowed, matter if I have responsibility for a road anticipate any change in attitude we were just thrilled we got plowed at all. or if someone else does; whenever we toward road funding come 2020 and That was the first time I learned what a can utilize strong partnerships it makes beyond? road commissioner was. us all more effective.” SEN. O’BRIEN: Any time we have a CRA: Can you tell us a little more major turnover, my biggest worry is the shovel-ready projects ready to go. I was about your relationship with the loss of knowledge and history of the past. impressed when Joanna had a list of manager and road commissioners in I am asking all my partners and locals: projects ready covering the entire county Kalamazoo? What are you doing to educate the next of Kalamazoo. crop of legislators? SEN. O’BRIEN: Joanna Johnson, our It’s important to have this in-depth road commission director, is incredible. She I’m worried not all legislators will have a knowledge, but trust is even more keeps me in the loop. support system like I do. Be the resource, important. My relationship with my build the team. When the recent supplemental for roads road commission is truly an exemplary was announced, we were told we needed partnership. micountyroads.org Fall 2018 17 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan SNOW & ICE CONTROL ANTI-ICING Monroe, Michigan PRE-WETTING Civil Engineering (734) 289-2200 Environmental Engineering Canton, Michigan CHLORIDE SAND Geotechnical Engineering (734) 397-3100 Trademark of Occidental Chemical Corporation Landscape Architecture Detroit, Michigan (313) 961-9500 Bay Dust Control Division of Construction Engineering & Liquid Calcium Chloride Sales Lansing, Michigan Inspection (517) 316-9232 Material Testing Traverse City, Michigan Surveying (231) 929-7330 Houghton, Michigan (906) 487-7451

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18 Fall 2018 Crossroads CRA BOARD VISITS THE FUTURE OF AUTOMATED AND CONNECTED VEHICLES

Sometimes, to see the future you have to first journey through the past.

Ironically, to find the future of connected and automated board members and administrators of CRASIF and MCRCSIP (formerly autonomous) vehicles in Michigan, one has to look toured the new American Center for Mobility (ACM) facility in back to the WWII Arsenal of Democracy that was Detroit in the Ypsilanti Township. 1940s, as coined by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. MDOT staffer Mark Chaput, PE, (pictured, far left) and now ACM At that time “Rosie the Riveter” and the Willow Run Aircraft Vice President of Construction & Infrastructure Development gave Factory in Ypsilanti built a B-24 bomber every 52 minutes for a special tour of the site and an informative talk about the future the US Army Air Forces, with Henry Ford applying automotive of CAVS as it relates to the state and local road system. assembly-line technology to aircraft under the watchful eye of Charles Lindbergh. With state loans totaling $50 million and a nearly equal amount of investment from industry supporters, the ACM began Today the defunct 5 million-square-foot B-24 factory is literally construction of a diverse CAVS test facility in June 2017, largely the foundation for the nation’s most comprehensive connected under Chaput’s oversight. and automated vehicle systems (CAVS) test site in the US. The main objective of the CAVS revolution is to improve driver safety, and the road and bridge network are as important as the CRA Board of Directors visits the vehicle in achieving this goal. The main objective of ACM at future Willow Run is to provide real-world transportation infrastructure necessary to test and validate CAVS and related software, and to To close out the CRA’s strategic planning session in July, many develop CAVS standards. members of the CRA board and staff, as well as some staff,

Attending the tour were (front row from left) Chaput; Doug Mills, PE, Baraga; Larry Orcutt, Alpena; Cindie Dulaney, CRA; Walt Schell, Macomb; Denise Donohue, CRA; Joanna Johnson, Kalamazoo and CRA president; Marilyn Semonick, Success Studio; Gayle Cummings, MCRCSIP; Burt Thompson, PE, Antrim; (back row) Jim deSpelder, CRASIF; Joyce Whisenant, Muskegon; Doug Fuller, Washtenaw; Doris Baakko, CRASIF; Doug Robidoux, Mason; Ken Hulka, Muskegon; John Rogers, Kalkaska; Alan Cooper, Wexford; Dave Pettersch, Gladwin and CRA vice president; and Dustin Earley, CRA (taking the picture). micountyroads.org Fall 2018 19 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

Adaptable multi-lane intersection built atop the Willow Run Aircraft Factory concrete foundation (lower left).

Back in the early 1940s, Willow Run site was built to areas with fiber-link to download the vehicle’s data for immediate accommodate 45,000 vehicles per day coming and high-speed transmission; 2, 3 and 4-lane capacity; signage; going to work in the aircraft factory. The traffic demand intersection visibility obstructions; and lane marking variability is long gone, but the segment of freeway, a cloverleaf among other items, all utilizing AASHTO standards. interchange and tri-level overpass remained available on the 500-acre site. A rural-style road network with chip-seal and sealcoat surfaces, as well as gravel roads are planned within the next two years, to The original 5 million-square-foot concrete slab on expand the range of road conditions available to the vehicle and tech which the factory was built, remains intact on-site for developers. environmental reasons. New roads are being built atop it and structures anchored into it. As CRA and its members begin looking into the CAVS technology county road agencies will need to incorporate in the 75 percent The ACM is constructing new roads and intersections of road miles they own, ACM will become an important source of to address NHTSA data on the nation’s top intersection information. crashes and other scenarios that will challenge CAVS with real-road situations. Yes, including potholes.

There are nine other Automated Vehicle Proving Grounds across the US that have been designated by the Federal Government, with ACM at Willow Run being the most comprehensive of them all, Chaput said.

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micountyroads.org Fall 2018 21 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

Longest serving In the record books Federspiel, a humble man who goes by Wes, was shocked to COMMISSIONER learn he was the longest serving commissioner. Many people may remember 1983 as the year “M*A*S*H” ended its iconic run, “Every Breath You Take” ruled the airwaves and Jennifer Beals danced onto the silver “I had no idea,” Federspiel said. screen in “Flashdance”. Wesley Federspiel, however, remembers it as the year he “I’m just thankful to enjoy it and became a road commissioner. keep doing the job.” Here are some other current Everything different, always seen the most important role of commissioners with a long the road commissioner as partnering career in county roads: everything the same with townships, politicians and local business to bring the community • Roy Koski, Baraga (1984) Federspiel, now chair of Gratiot County together.” Road Commission (GCRC), has been • Randy Schafer, Ingham with the road commission for 35 years. As GCRC has seen increased road (1985) A lifelong farmer, local road commission funding, Federspiel believes the need • Frank Leiva, Iosco (1986) leaders convinced him to be a road for community partnerships has also commissioner to get better geographic grown. • Doyle Donn, Gladwin (1989) representation across the county. • John Hunt, Huron (1989) He has helped lead the charge by “I have always had an interest in the road meeting regularly with township • Larry Norman, Missaukee system,” said Federspiel. “Supervisors officials to better coordinate (1989) at the Gratiot County Road Commission construction and development, knew this and wanted someone from my something he says has greatly area to help represent our unique needs. improved public perception and hope The rest is history.” for the future. The next generation According to Federspiel, across more than “Many things have a cycle, from simple When asked what advice he would have three decades the most important aspect things like our equipment needs to for future commissioners, Federspiel said: of the position—building community complex issues like road funding,” said relations—has not changed. Federspiel. “Things look very positive “It takes a couple years to learn right now. As we get more money and what’s really going on, so don’t rush “How we plan and the technologies we focus on our community, I can see it. Attending CRA events for new are deploying on roads has changed over things really improving.” commissioners is a great idea, too.” the years,” Federspiel said. “But I’ve

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810-987-8748 www.PrecisionCS.net micountyroads.org Fall 2018 23 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

Financing Road Improvements

With road conditions being such a hot topic in Michigan, now Installment Purchases is a good time to briefly review financing options available to county road commissions. The traditional methods county road A county road commission can purchase real or personal commissions use to finance road improvements are: property for public purposes by installment purchase contract. The purchase is paid in installments over a period of the lesser Road Commission Notes of 15 years or the useful life of the property acquired. Note also that counties can purchase lands, property, or equipment by A county road commission can borrow in anticipation of receiving installment purchase contract. future revenues derived from the Michigan Transportation Fund. Other financing options for consideration under the right Future MTF revenues can be pledged for the payment of notes circumstances may include: voted township bonds issued to issued for purchasing road machinery or equipment, for improving finance public local road improvements under a contract with county highways, or for other general county road purposes. a county road commission; county-issued capital improvement Notes can be repaid in up to 10 annual installments. The amount bonds; voted county bonds issued for construction and borrowed cannot exceed the amount approved by the county maintenance of county roads; borrowing for construction board of commissioners or certain statutory limitations. of bridges across navigable streams; bonds issued to pay an allocable share of the cost of construction or reconstruction County-issued MTF Bonds of highways pursuant to a contract with the state, a city, or a village; and loans taken from proceeds of state transportation A county can issue bonds secured by MTF Revenues to pay commission bonds for paying capital costs for certain all or any portion of the cost of construction, reconstruction, transportation purposes. enlargement, or relocation of existing highways, the acquisition of necessary rights-of-way, and all incidental work. The written recommendation or approval of the county road commission is By Eric A. McGlothlin, required to issue these bonds. The amount that may be issued is Dickinson Wright, PLLC, Troy subject to certain statutory limitations.

24 Fall 2018 Crossroads Key transitions at…

…Road Commissions and Sheryl Siddall, PE, has been selected as Christina Strong, communications managing director of the Washtenaw manager, has left CRA after two years. Departments County Road Commission. She has taken a new position in southeast Michigan. Lisa Hammerberg has joined the Matthew Snell, PE, has joined the Menominee County Road Commission Monroe County Road Commission as Roy Townsend, PE, managing director, as office/accounting assistant. county highway engineer. Washtenaw County Road Commission, Stuart “Mike” McTiver, PE, has joined retired after 31 years of service. the Luce County Road Commission as Mile Markers engineer-manager. Marlena McNeil, administrative assistant, In Memoriam Eric Nelson, PE, is now county highway Alcona County Road Commission, retired On July 8 Robert Kaarlie, chair of the engineer at the Mason County Road after 29 years of service. Allegan County Road Commission, Commission. passed away unexpectedly. He was on Stan Ronquist, PE, engineer-manager, the Allegan board for 11 years. Wayne Schoonover, PE, has joined Luce County Road Commission, retired the Grand Traverse County Road after 18 years of service. Commission as county highway engineer/engineering manager.

Do you have a staff member you want recognized in Crossroads? Call Alexandra Contreras at 517.482.1189, or email [email protected].

micountyroads.org Fall 2018 25 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

The Municipal Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship Program is a collaboration between Teamsters Local 214; Michigan Building Bridges Human Resources Development, Inc.; Michigan Works Southwest; and the US in the Community Department of Labor. The program is registered with the US Department of Labor. And it’s the first of Staff from Michigan’s county road “R.O.A.D.S. stands for Remain calm, its kind in the state for road commissions. agencies are on customer service duty Observe and listen, Acknowledge, Direct The idea for the program was generated 24/7/365! It’s not just maintaining and Smile. This initiative was created for during a conversation between RCKC and Michigan’s county transportation everybody at the Road Commission for Teamsters Local 214. infrastructure that is vital to county road Oakland County,” said Catina Richter, agency success; it’s also maintaining RCOC’s human resources training “The program was developed to support good relationships and strong ties with specialist. “We print the acronym on the recruitment and retention in our the communities each agency serves. the back of badges for all new hires unique industry (the road commission),” and include it as part of the orientation said Deb Hill, RCKC’s Assistant Finance Crossroads sat down with two road process. Temporary employees get a and Human Resources Director. “It is a commissions to learn how they’re badge with R.O.A.D.S., printed on it paid two-year apprenticeship program. improving communications and building as well.” By the end of the program an individual bridges locally. will have a CDL Group A license.” “To educate current employees on the R.O.A.D.S. = great new communication initiative, we did Program participants must be at least several presentations to on-site staff 20 years of age and possess a high school customer service at our main office and at each of our diploma or GED. There isn’t currently a garages,” Richter said. specific number of slots available in the To make communicating with the program. public easier, the Road Commission for RCOC’s R.O.A.D.S. initiative was also Oakland County (RCOC) developed an the recipient of one of the County Currently RCKC will sponsor one position. acronym public-facing employees could Road Association of Michigan’s 2017 This number may be adjusted as the remember no matter where they were – IMPRESS Awards. program develops and staffing needs in the office or on the road. change. R.O.A.D.S. was not developed as a reaction to service issues “The Road Commission of Kalamazoo but rather as a proactive County sponsors the apprenticeship approach for ensuring RCOC program. We will continue to look for maintains a high-quality level grant opportunities and assistance as of customer service. skilled trade initiatives become available,” Hill said.

Building a pool of Enrollment for the apprenticeship road workers program is open. Instructions on how to apply are on the RCKC website and The Road Commission of Michigan Works! job board. Initial Kalamazoo County (RCKC) is screenings of applicants take place using partnerships to recruit through Michigan Works! and maintain a robust group of highly-skilled workers. Interested candidates are directed to Michigan Works! Southwest for enrollment processes. Catina Richter, Road Commission for Oakland County human “It’s been a rewarding process and a resources training specialist good learning experience. We’re looking displays a RCOC employee badge forward to seeing how this rolls out,” Hill featuring the R.O.A.D.S. acronym. added.

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micountyroads.org Fall 2018 27 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

Signup for access to MiRAD Have you signed up for MiRAD? Access is just a MiRAD click away. CRA has launched its highly information already in MiRAD instead of Fill out the form at anticipated next-generation database reentering it every year. micountyroads.org/ system: the Michigan Road Agency MiRADsignup to enable Database, or MiRAD (the database “Finance directors did not like that we your account today. formerly known as MISCRAM). had to re-enter all of the information from scratch each year. Nothing was carried For more information For over a year, a MiRAD team from forward from the prior year to the current on MiRAD, call CRA at CRA’s Finance & Human Resources year,” said Steve Watson, CPA, finance 517.482.1189. Committee worked to fine tune what director, Huron County Road Commission. MiRAD would contain, how it would “If the new MiRAD system eliminates these look and functional properties to make problems it will be more user friendly and a CRA would like to thank the members of the MiRAD workgroup for their MiRAD a more useful tool. big time savings for us as finance directors.” efforts in launching MiRAD: Beth Hunt, MiRAD pulls the most recent Act With a focus on sustainability and the Lenawee County Road Commission; Kimberly Kimmel, Clare County 51 revenue and expenditure data flexibility to change and grow with the Road Commission; Jennifer Rosser, from MDOT, combines it with needs of county road agencies, this is only Shiawassee County Road Commission; current compensation data, council the beginning for MiRAD. Steve Watson, CPA, Huron County Road information, road miles and the Commission; and Melissa Williams, “MiRAD is a great tool I have been able number of bridges, and allows a Road Commission for Oakland County. county to review and manipulate it for to put to use my first time using it,” benchmarking and agency to agency Schoonover said. “I’m excited to see how it comparison. continues to develop as time goes on.”

“Before leaving the Mason County Road Commission, with minimal training I was able to get into MiRAD and build some sophisticated reports comparing manager salaries in our council,” said Wayne Schoonover, PE, now county highway engineer/ engineering manager, Grand Traverse County Road Commission. “Using quick filters and the reports saved in MiRAD, I was very happy with what I was able to build and provide my former board.”

Perhaps the most requested feature is the ability to verify previous

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30 Fall 2018 Crossroads calls from dispatch at four or five in the morning that the levels were already exceeding the normal conditions and water was over the roads,” Casali said.

Upon arriving at the road commission building, Casali realized that Mother Nature was challenging ICRC in more ways than one.

“The Isabella County Road Commission Garage was flooded! Our office had three to four inches of water in it,” Casali said. “Our road commissioners came to our office to help us. They ripped out carpet while our staff worked to set up an emergency command center and get out on the roads.”

“We did lose some computers, but the road equipment was okay,” Casali added.

Using 21st century technology

While ICRC was working double- duty cleaning out its office and dispatching staff, bridges and roads were disappearing rapidly beneath the extensive downpour.

This included areas under construction Woodruff Road North of Pickard Road in Isabella County. such as the Lincoln Road Bridge between Broomfield Road and M-20 in the county.

Rain completely washed out the south leg of the Lincoln Road Bridge.

ICRC utilized drone footage to capture DISASTER in-depth footage of storm damage, including the bridge. Using traditional storm damage assessment techniques, identifying the damaged leg of the bridge in Isabella County would not have been possible, Casali said. With the use of 21st century drone technology, ICRC was able to quickly identify and assess damage to the bridge.

Mother Nature’s fury Tony Casali, managing director for the Drones were also used to assess damage Isabella County Road Commission on numerous other roads that couldn’t be unleashed (ICRC), began hearing about bridges traveled by ICRC staff. and roads being washed out during the On June 23, 2017, a 48-hour downpour “We were able to get some footage from torrential downpour in the wee hours of hit Central Michigan. Before it was over, hand-held drones,” Casali said. “The the morning. nine inches of water would wreak havoc construction company we were working across 578 square miles, including the “We knew immediately that morning with had one. Also, a resident brought in university, casino resort and rural roads. about the damage. We were getting video shot with his own drone.” micountyroads.org Fall 2018 31 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

ICRC did not own a drone at the time of the storm but is considering adding one to its equipment supply.

“We are considering buying one because of this past storm. Drones were also useful in identifying areas of infrastructure that could be improved,” Casali stated. “Hopefully by making improvements, we can avoid or reduce damages if a storm like this should occur again.”

In addition to drones, the Michigan State Police assisted ICRC by using one of its helicopters to record video that was livestreamed into ICRC’s office.

The flooding damaged 130 roads and 10 bridges just in Isabella County. ICRC made daily calls to 911 dispatch regarding which roads were passable and kept the public up- to-date with Facebook. Loomis Road North Branch Salt River. “Our staff was putting out Facebook updates The after-effects of on which roads were closed and which the storm Thirty of Isabella’s roads remained closed bridges were damaged,” Casali said. going into 2018, and a few were still ICRC’s staff and subcontractors closed at press time. ICRC plans to reopen were working 24 hours a day for all roads this year. two weeks after the storm. At the end of the storm, damages totaled “It’s astonishing that 12 months have $15 million. already gone by and we’re still dealing with the aftermath from the flood,” Rebuilding Isabella County’s Casali said. “We are grateful the storm transportation infrastructure would wasn’t worse, and that we were able to take numerous funding sources work with our partners to find funding to and help from townships and other open roads again for the public.” government organizations.

“We received a loan from the Getting by with help Governor’s office that has to be from friends paid back. We were also fortunate to go through the Bureau of Indian Isabella County’s recovery has been a Affairs in Washington,” Casali said. year-long journey with much help from “We were able to get reimbursed the community. for 20 sites thanks to the Saginaw Chippewa. So overall, it was about “The public and their patience was kind $12.3 million in federal funding to of surprising. During the storm recovery, restore the roads.” townships were coming with pop, food and water for our staff. Other road “We also received Section 19 commissions not affected helped with funding through the State of staff and equipment if they had it,” Michigan. We had to work with Casali said. Isabella’s 16 townships and they applied on our behalf for a portion “MDOT called and asked if they could of the damage that was done in help. We had lots of help from our State their townships,” Casali said. “Total Representative Roger Hauck. It was nice Lincoln Road Bridge over Chippewa to know we had people there for us,” River was severly damaged. funds through townships was $300,000.” Casali said.

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micountyroads.org Fall 2018 33 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

EDITOR’S NOTE

Michigan roads and bridges will continue It is because of the work you do that Michigan’s economy can to see even more improvements next thrive, “first responders” can save someone’s life, parents can year thanks to $300 million in surplus get their kids to school and tourism in the state can flourish. funding from the state; and the first July 5th marked my last day with CRA, and this is my phase of the new income tax funding in last Editor’s Note. It has been a pleasure serving with the fiscal 2018-2019. hardworking men and women who maintain 75 percent of When I first started with the County Michigan’s roads, 5,700 bridges and more than 31 billion Road Association, I was unaware of the square feet of right-of-way! work that went on behind-the-scenes As I travel down county roads from time-to-time, I will always and the large amount of funding needed remember who to thank for passageways throughout the to simply maintain, let alone improve  “Mitten.” Michigan’s transportation infrastructure. I didn’t know that roads were maintained by separate road agencies, such as MDOT, cities and county road agencies. I was unaware that Michigan roads hadn’t seen an increase in capital in 20 years! I was also unaware of the huge costs associated with road maintenance and repairs. Christina Strong Editor and Communication Manager During the two years I have been with CRA, I have watched county road agencies do more with less and constantly innovate to serve the residents of their counties.

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