Crossroads The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of

Volume 2 | Issue 1 Fall 2016

SNOW ISSUE

How do they do it? Winter maintenance on island roads

Page 10

IN THIS ISSUE: g Living memorial doubles as snow fence

g Member Profile: Keweenaw County clearing roads in Michigan's snowiest county Waterwind_FP-Crossroads.qxp 7/2/15 10:22 AM Page 1

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IN THIS ISSUE Crossroads Crossroads is the quarterly publication of the County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan. The 83 county members of CRA represent the unified, credible and 4 PRESIDENT’S CORNER effective voice for a safe and efficient local road system in Michigan. The Association, headquartered three blocks north of the State Capitol, is dedicated 6 MEMBER PROFILE to helping members promote and maintain a safe, efficient local road system in rural Keweenaw County implements and urban Michigan. efficiencies in the snowiest county.

CRA BOARD 10 TOUGH ROADS PRESIDENT: James M. Iwanicki, PE, Marquette Keeping island roads clear in winter. VICE PRESIDENT: Steven A. Warren, Kent 16 IMPRESS AWARD SECRETARY-TREASURER: Dorothy G. Pohl, CPA, Ionia Living snow fence pulls double duty. DIRECTORS: Larry Brown, PE, Allegan John H. Daly, III, Ph.D., Genesee 17 MEMBER AWARDS Planning for the long-term and winning. John M. Hunt, Huron Joanna I. Johnson, Kalamazoo 18 CRA’S NEW UNIFIED PERMITS Dennis G. Kolar, PE, Oakland The real cost of permit. Bradley S. Lamberg, PE, Barry Michael A. Maloney, PE, Ontonagon 20 INNOVATION ALLEY Road agencies get innovative to Douglas J. Mills, PE, Baraga manage winter roads. Larry Orcutt, Alpena Douglas Robidoux, Mason 24 LEGISLATOR PROFILE Walter J. Schell, PE, Macomb Rep. Rob VerHeulen on the importance of road commissions communicating Kelly Smith, Newaygo with legislators. Burt R. Thompson, PE, Antrim Richard B. Timmer, Chippewa 28 COMMUNICATION CORNER DIRECTOR: Denise Donohue, CAE, APR Setting road funding expectations. PUBLISHING TEAM: Christina Strong, [email protected] 30 EDITOR'S NOTE Kathy Backus Nathan Jones Dustin Earley

No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission of the editor and the County Road Association of Michigan. Opinions expressed by 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. © 2016, County Road Association of Michigan Next Publication The Winter 2016 Crossroads will cover best practices and innovations from the summer 2016 construction season. Crossroads’ editorial team wants to highlight the most interesting county projects of 2016. Call CRA at 517.482.1189 and let us share what you worked on this summer!

micountyroads.org Fall 2016 3 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

In my first article, the Marquette County Road Commission, With that statement, I knew I had my goal was to I ask my staff to have the following won! I wasn’t going to change remind everyone how philosophy: her mind and she wasn’t going to important working change my position. The issues g If possible, find a way to say “yes” as a team is to were still the issues, but she was not without deviating from approved the success of an making personal attacks anymore. policies and/or the law of the land. organization. Instead, she was defending me g If “no” is the only answer, explain I encouraged all from others making personal attacks why. “No,” just because you said county road agencies against me. I had won the only so, is simply unacceptable. and their employees to be part of the battle I was going to win on the CRA team to strengthen and move the g Regardless of the answer, discuss issue. I had won her respect. association forward. the issue, be polite, be respectful, I encourage you to help yourself, be understanding. In this article I would like to raise another your county road agency, and the important factor in making county The bottom line is to have a positive CRA with the politics. road agencies and CRA more effective interaction with everyone you encounter. Fight hard toward what you believe organizations. That doesn’t mean you give them what in, but always be polite, respectful they want. Road agencies and CRA staff are and understanding. Find a way constantly under pressure from special It means, whether the answer is “yes” or to say “yes” if you can, and if you interest groups demanding legislative “no”, the discussion maintains a positive can’t, explain why. If nothing else, action to dictate how road agencies must and professional tone. Acknowledge their win every issue by gaining their interact with their special interest. position, and do your very best to help respect, regardless of the outcome. Most of these “special bills” come them understand yours, especially if it’s about because the interaction between contrary to theirs. the special interest group and the road One of the greatest compliments I agencies was negative, leaving the received came from a critic. In an email group feeling wronged and wanting rant between several people that did not Jim Iwanicki to get even. like my position on an issue (which lasted CRA President This, of course, is politics. over three years!), one of my biggest Engineer-Manager of critics said, “He’s still polite …” In an effort to minimize negative Marquette County Road Commission interactions and keep politics in check at

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MEMBER PROFILE

KEWEENAW COUNTY

Located at the tip-top of Houghton Lake or 101” in Traverse City. usually make a “bench” on the snowbank Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Keweenaw’s all-time snow record is 390” at about 3 to 6 feet tall with a grader wing Keweenaw County might be a in 1978-79. or an Oshkosh wing,” Patrick said. study in extremes: The most Suffice it to say: There’s a whole lot of Forecasting snowfall is as much art as snow in Michigan, along with the plowing going on by KCRC. science at Michigan’s northernmost point. smallest population and smallest geographic area – unless you “We’ve had our guys plow 60 to 70 days “For low level precipitation events, add in land rights, straight without a day off,” said Patrick, Canadian radar works better for us than which makes it the largest county a nearly-lifelong resident of the UP and the National Weather Service in Marquette, in the state. graduate of Michigan Technological because of the Huron Mountains University. (Marquette County) we can’t see what’s coming,” Patrick said. “We use the NWS, Where to pile all that snow is a challenge, SNOW AND HOCKEY the Canadian weather service, the Weather although the county is largely rural. Channel – about four different sources.” When people think about the UP, snow Snowbanks along US-41, the main artery, and hockey come quickly to mind. The can reach anywhere from 4 to 10 feet tall. KCRC also benefits from the forecasts Keweenaw County Road Commission of a professional meteorologist celebrity, “To maintain visibility and provide space for (KCRC) has strong ties to both. John Dee, who moved from Chicago to additional snow storage, our plow operators First, the hockey. KCRC’s cold storage equipment building sits on the location of the once-popular Glaciadome, built in 1909 by the Mohawk Mining Company. For 30 years, Glaciadome was the area’s The first day on the job, my entertainment center holding a large predecessor says you budget and plow skating and hockey rink, and at times, for winter and whatever you have left bowling alleys and a ballroom. “ over is what you can use for summer. Heavy snow is a given for the Keweenaw Peninsula, surrounded by Lake Superior We still live that way – it keeps our on three sides. schedule very fluid. Fifty percent of “We can get ‘lake effect’ snow from three our budget is winter maintenance.” directions,” said Gregg Patrick, PE, engineer-manager of KCRC since 2003. – GREGG PATRICK, Keweenaw gets about 245” of snow in ENGINEER-MANAGER, KEWEENAW COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION an average year, compared with 82” at

6 Fall 2016 Crossroads Keweenaw because of his love g SHARING ROUTES, BUYING of snow. TOGETHER. Keweenaw and Houghton KCRC receives about 1,500 tons of counties share about four miles of plow JUST THE Facts: salt a year, primarily for its MDOT routes, which improves efficiency for contract, and uses about 350 tons in a both counties. The two also buy, trade 9:1 sand-to-salt mix. and sell materials on a regular basis, and share equipment. Keweenaw County Salt isn’t routinely used because Road Commission putting it down at the beginning of a KCRC performs the plowing and heavier snow event of unknown duration can street maintenance for the villages of Office location: Mohawk create a days-long slushy mix that is Ahmeek and Copper City, the latter located Staff: 15 full-time, 4 part-time, actually worse for drivers. Keweenaw in Houghton County. 7 summer staff also doesn’t have the traffic volume g DOING WORK IN-HOUSE. KCRC does No. of commissioners: 3 (elected) that allows road salt to be most as much work as it can with its own staff. effective. Miles of paved roads: “About a decade ago we purchased an 122 = 99 primary + 23 local IMPLEMENTING EFFICIENCIES asphalt zipper to crush our own pavement,” ON THE PENINSULA Patrick said. “The plan at the time was to Miles of unpaved roads: crush and shape, chip seal and then hire 54 = 4 primary + 50 local g CHANGING ROUTES. Declining road funding has changed the level of the surface to be paved over a three-year MDOT contract: Yes (129 lane miles) service KCRC delivers to the county’s period. With the lack of funding, we’ve No. of bridges: 3 2,100 residents, particularly over the been unable to do that.” Annual budget: $2.6 million last decade. However, with new local funding this (inc. MDOT contract) “Years ago you could set your watch summer KCRC has been able to do its own crush and shape and roadway Local revenue: $274,000 (thru 2020) by the road commission. We used to have 25 to 30 employees on the plows prep for paving, for the first time in 20 Annual snowfall: 245” average every day, doing the same route at the years. “Seeing some progress made is encouraging; it’s been stagnant for so KCRC established: 1913 same time – even if there was 1 inch of snow,” Patrick said. long,” Patrick said. Office built: 1916 g “We have implemented some CULVERT REPLACEMENT. Playing to Oldest vehicle: 1970 Oshkosh efficiencies, which change the routes its strength, KCRC has been stretching its plow truck depending on the conditions,” he road funds by slip lining culverts, rather than removing and re-installing new pipe. FUN FACT: KCRC offices are located said. “It took a while, but people have in the 100-year-old former Mohawk gotten used to it.” “Many of the culverts installed in Mining Company machine shop. With Regardless of the amount of snow, Keweenaw County in the 1960s were railroad tracks originally delivering iron most Keweenaw County residents are ‘way oversized, which works well for us and other goods to the shop’s heavily plowed out between 5 and 10 a.m. today,” said Patrick. “We’ve been slip- reinforced concrete 2nd floor, that’s lining culverts with our own forces since I’ve where KCRC parks and services its trucks. Offices are on the first floor, making it possibly the only road commission office housed under the garage.

KCRC does much of its work in-house. With new funding, KCRC used its own equipment to do crush and shape and roadway prep for paving for the first time in 20 years.

micountyroads.org Fall 2016 7 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

been here, meaning we’ve been installing Patrick believes positive interactions The road commission wasn’t sure the a slightly smaller pipe inside the existing, with loggers come down to regular millage would pass. There were a couple deteriorating pipe. We’re hoping to get communication and relationship building. of articles in the local newspaper and some local meetings that were not well attended. another 50 years out of them. “I know all of the foresters in our county; “With slip-lining we don’t have to open- I have known some of them for decades,” “At the county meeting, we had 13 people cut the road to put in a new culvert, and he said. – half of them being local elected officials,” Patrick said. “So we were shocked when it we don’t create new dips or heaves in the “My foreman was a former logger. passed by a 68-to-32 margin.” road,” he said. “The DEQ has allowed us Foresters working in the area will find him to reinforce some of our rusted-out arch and let him know what they’re up to, when The first funds were collected in 2015, and pipe culverts with reinforced concrete in the he’s out and about in the county,” Patrick this construction season KCRC has been bottom if the sides are good.” said. “In addition, if the road where they’re able to pave some local streets. SUPPORTING LOCAL BUSINESSES working is a questionable area, they will As part of the millage, Keweenaw set up a contact me first.” Much of Keweenaw County’s revenue county road millage committee that includes depends on tourism and logging, and “Like everything else, it boils down to good five township supervisors, KCRC and one Patrick notes the road commission has communication,” he said. road commissioner. The group meets periodically to decide which roads should be become creative in supporting them. ONE OF MICHIGAN’S NEWEST a priority. Of course, the seasonal roads are not COUNTY-WIDE MILLAGES NEW ROAD FUNDING plowed in winter and most of them become Keweenaw County has five townships, and popular snowmobile trails. Maintaining utilizes full asset management planning “With the new road funding, I tell people access to them is very important to the including PASER ratings, traffic counts and to be patient,” Patrick said. “Not only area’s winter tourist economy. identifying current and future business do we have bad roads, but we have old For tourists visiting from spring through locations. It has developed a five-year plan equipment, and we have an old building. color tours, Patrick is very aware of the need in collaboration with its stakeholders. We have both short- and long-term plans, to have good roads. “You take Brockway Mountain Drive, which is almost nine miles long,” Patrick said. It was originally constructed by KCRC in 1933 with dollars from a Depression-era public work program. “Today, sections of it are awful – yet it is one of the crown jewels of the Midwest, and even the entire US,” Patrick said. “We heard from our hotel and restaurant operators that the road was so bad it was deterring some tourists from going up there.” and our board of commissioners is currently “With our dwindling budget, no way can KCRC’s Transportation Asset Management reviewing how best to approach all of the we afford to fix the whole nine miles. So Council dashboard indicates just 15 percent things we need to do.” we decided to make two miles of patches of federal-aid roads are in good condition. with crush-and-shape and double chip seal Its local roads, which represent most of Patrick said he works closely with the board last year,” Patrick said. “We made the road its road miles, are in considerably worse on all issues. Over the years, it has had very better for tourists and local business, by condition. diversified members, with everyone bringing stretching our funds with shorter segments a unique perspective on roads. In August 2014, the voters in Keweenaw of surfacing.” County passed a new county-wide millage. With winter demands so uncertain from Logging is the area’s number-one industry, year to year, KCRC also needs to keep “It started out as one township was and requires special attention from the road its schedule fluid – meeting its match on interested in a local millage. That supervisor commission. federal-aid projects first, addressing future talked to his neighboring township and they utility projects and seeing what’s left to “We work to help our loggers by plowing thought they might like to do it, too,” Patrick address complete mix of right-of-way issues. some seasonal roads until mid-January said. “We talked about it for six months and so they can pull timber out,” Patrick then they all said let’s go for a county-wide “Fixing all of our roads will take some said. Keweenaw also uses its forest funds millage, and the county commission agreed time,” Patrick concluded. primarily to improve all-season roads and to put 2 mills on the ballot.” expand the network for loggers.

8 Fall 2016 Crossroads micountyroads.org Fall 2016 9 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan Think your roads Islands by are tough? the numbers: Island road miles under road commission jurisdiction. Winter weather can make accessing an island CHARLEVOIX COUNTY Try keeping impossible. Winter interruptions to ferry service Beaver Island and ice formation make getting items to an (Lake Michigan) an island road island a daunting task. In the case of Neebish Island in Chippewa g 100 road miles County, ferry weight restrictions are a serious g 3 employees running clear! limitation. Michigan has 120,000 miles of CHIPPEWA COUNTY “The Neebish Island ferry is limited to 50,000 vehicular roads, at least 300 miles of pounds on the deck which limits materials that Drummond Island them running across islands. Three CRA can be hauled over there,” said Chippewa (Lake Superior) members maintain roads for year-round County Road Commission superintendent/ residents of sizable islands in all three g 88 road miles (80 miles manager Robert Laitinen, PS. . for Chippewa County Road Commission; While island roads are certainly exotic 8 miles for MDOT.) – they bring planning headaches and higher costs to road commissions that Point of Reference g 2 employees must service them. Inches of snow accumulation per year: Neebish Island Crossroads spoke with three county (Lake Superior) road commissions to get an inside look BEAVER ISLAND 74” g 30 road miles at what it takes to maintain an island in the winter. HARSENS ISLAND 41” g 1 employee DRUMMOND ISLAND 69” (Lake Superior) Battling against NEEBISH ISLAND 120” g 60 road miles Mother Nature: SUGAR ISLAND 120” g 2 employees How to get there ST. CLAIR COUNTY from inland Items such as the gravel crusher are too heavy Harsens Island For landlubbers in Michigan, to be transported to Neebish Island. To move () maintaining island roads is a foreign any equipment more than 50,000 pounds, g 27 road miles (20 miles concept. But for the road commissions Chippewa CRC will either hire a marine company for St. Clair County Road in Charlevoix, Chippewa and St. Clair to move the machinery or if available, the Commission; 7 miles for counties, islands are a high-cost, high transit company will move the larger ferry from MDOT.) planning feature, especially in winter! Drummond Island to Neebish Island to move a piece of heavy equipment. g 1 employee Each island has varying degrees of snow, weather conditions and During the winter, Neebish Island has a standard accessibility. truck and a spare truck for backup because there is no ferry service from January to March. For Beaver Island, 32 miles off the Lake Michigan coast of Charlevoix County, the only option for delivering materials is by plane from January through March.

10 Fall 2016 Crossroads “All your winter supplies have to be at the island before winter: Spare tires, blades. We always fill the fuel tank before winter — a 10,000 gallon tank gets through winter,” said Charlevoix County Road Commission manager Patrick Harmon. “It’s not like the mainland where you place an order and the next day it’s delivered. The logistics of getting anything there is why it costs so much.” When a furnace stopped working this past winter at the main garage on Beaver Island, a contractor for Charlevoix CRC had to disassemble the new furnace and load it onto a small 10-passenger airplane. Once on location, the furnace was reassembled.

Aerial view of Beaver Island St. Clair County Road Commission assigns one truck to Harsens Island for the winter. The truck is loaded with salt and that supply will be used all winter. If necessary, the truck can be brought back and forth on a ferry in winter months. However, if ice interferes sometimes the federal government has to help. “Access to the island is the biggest challenge, especially during times of ice floe,” said St. Clair County Road Commission (SCCRC) managing director Kirk Weston. “There are times when the river will block off and we will have to wait for the Coast Guard to open it back up to get through.”

No one’s allowed Harsens Island in Lake Huron to drop the ball Another rule of thumb is islands with roads have less staff than mainland road commission garages. Some islands vary staff numbers throughout the year, but typically an entire island’s road maintenance falls into the hands of one or two employees. On Harsens Island, one employee maintains the 12-square mile island in the winter. Other staff can substitute if needed. Employees who maintain Harsens don’t live on the island. Beaver Island’s three employees live on the island. For Drummond, Neebish and Sugar, staff live on the islands they maintain. Neebish has one employee; Sugar and Drummond Ferry to Sugar Island have two each.

micountyroads.org Fall 2016 11 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

weather event or call-out, we can’t share that call-out with anyone or have anyone Winter maintenance else cover their overtime. They are the only ones,” Laitinen said. equipment used on “A tree down, a sign down, you name it -- we are limited in the people that can get to the islands the island to respond to things.” Chippewa County: Drummond, Neebish and Sugar Islands Big out of pocket costs g One standard single-axle truck with Of the three counties with drivable island front plows and underbody scrapers roads that Crossroads interviewed, all agree on each island. everything needed to maintain an island in g One tandem-axle truck with front the winter costs “three times” more than on plows and underbody scrapers each the mainland. on Drummond and Sugar islands. Several factors affect how much an island costs to maintain, but a “big ticket” item is Charlevoix County: Beaver Island transportation to the isle. September 14-16 g Three single-axle dump trucks with Transporting staff and equipment depends NMARC/ASMCRA 4th Annual underbody scrapers, front plows on ferries, airboats or airplanes during Joint Conference and sanders. the winter months, and sometimes even Join county road agencies from g One grader with snow wing. snowmobiles. across the Lower Peninsula for educational and networking g On Neebish Island, if a part is needed and One loader. sessions, the NMARC and ASMCRA the ferry is not running due to seasonal g Pickup truck with plow. annual business meetings and more. shutdown or weather conditions, bringing At Boyne Mountain Resort. St. Clair County: Harsens Island parts across the ice via snowmobile may, indeed, be a last resort. g One tandem truck. October 27 Chippewa CRC’s annual costs associated Public Relations Workshop: with using ferries to Drummond, Neebish Digital Communications 401 and Sugar total about $20,000. CRA’s Public Relations Committee The winter months are not kind to island hosts a workshop on creating a If an employee needs leave time or falls ill maintenance. Through the dedication practical digital communications workflow for your county road on Sugar or Drummond islands, the second of the various hardworking county road agency. At the Comfort Inn & employee could cover. If that happens on commission staff, the residents of Beaver, Suites, Mt. Pleasant. Neebish Island, it would be a challenge Drummond, Harsens, Neebish and Sugar to keep the roads clean (Neebish gets an Island can still drive to stores, visit friends December 8 average of 120 inches of snow a year.) and family, attend appointments and get That hasn’t happened, but it’s something to work. Legal Issues Symposium and that keeps Laitinen awake at night. Road Funding 401 Workshop This year’s Law Symposium focuses “When we have to on right-of-way issues. Road get someone Funding 401 picks up where Road to fill in, it throws a Funding 101 left off! Learn details wrench in operations of the Michigan Transportation — especially in the Fund. At the Comfort Inn & Suites, winter months,” Mt. Pleasant. Laitinen said. Island staff are also limited in taking For additional information personal time off on CRA Events, visit during the winter micountyroads.org/Events season. “Employees have a hard time having any sort of private life. If there is any sort of Beaver Island

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micountyroads.org Fall 2016 15 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

Roscommon’s living snow fence pulls double duty – Increasing safety and serving as a living memorial

There isn’t a county road agency in Michigan that doesn’t deal with the hazards of blowing and drifting snow every winter. But when a young college student died in a car crash in Roscommon County after encountering this hazard on her nightly drive home, the Roscommon County Road Commission (RCRC) knew it had to take significant action to decrease the risk of driving in this particular location. The county turned to an innovative solution: Utilizing living plants to work with the environment. County Road 603 is a primary north/south road in Roscommon with a history of winter- related accidents. One of the worst of them occurred in March 2013, when Roscommon resident Alexa Luck had a tragic fatal accident on CR603. After investigating the situation, RCRC leaders put their heads together and came up with an innovative solution: plants. They settled on the concept of a “living snow fence” to help reduce future accidents, and memorialize the young woman.

2016

The sign from Tim and Cheryl O’Rourke dedicated to Alexa Luck on CR 603

16 Fall 2016 Crossroads PLANNING FOR “After a lot of discussion we wanted the fix to be a testament to the life of the young girl who died at the location,” said RCRC Manager Tim O’Rourke. “She was a THE LONG-TERM student at Kirtland Community College and this is the main route most of the Roscommon students take every day to AND WINNING and from class.” As with many road projects, RCRC was faced with a funding dilemma after initial bids came in at nearly double the cost of the Congrats to 2016 TAMC original forecast. “We wanted a ‘forever’ kind of fix, not a Organization and MCA fix that would come and go with budget constraints,” said O’Rourke. “Sometimes Award of Excellence winners doing the right thing just has to trump the Thinking ahead has several budgetary concerns. What is that one life benefits, including winning worth?” awards! For that reason, the The road commission eventually decided they Michigan Transportation could perform the work themselves closer Asset Management Council to the original estimate. They then worked (TAMC) honored the St. closely with MDOT’s Local Agency Program Joseph County Road safety initiative to secure additional funding to Commission (SJCRC) complete the project. with the 2016 TAMC Organization Award. RCRC removed trees and improved embankment slopes in October 2014, and TAMC recognized SJCRC began planting about a year later. for its Asset Management Bridge Plan and Training In total, 660 bushes were planted in a TAMC president Joanna Guide; its PASER work with Johnson poses with triangular pattern along CR 603. An extra 40 adjoining counties; and efforts Donald Preston who shrubs are planted off site, as backups. to educate local officials and the accepted the 2016 TAMC The final cost of the project ranged from public. The award was accepted Organization Award on $6-$10 per foot, O’Rourke said. The project by Donald Preston. behalf of SJCRC. was also a learning opportunity for RCRC that St. Joseph County Road Commission will influence future projects. maintains 1,022 miles of road and 97 bridges. Along with reducing blowing and drifting snow, RCRC’s living snow fence should also reduce repeated plow time, and limit Solid Concrete “Award equipment wear and material usage, O’Rourke said. of Excellence” But perhaps most importantly, it will stand The Kent County Road as a living testament to Alexa Luck’s life, Commission (KCRC) received something with which O’Rourke and his wife, an Award of Excellence from the Cheryl, have a deep personal connection with. Michigan Concrete Association (MCA) for its 36th Street After Tim and Cheryl O’Rourke personally reconstruction project completed funded a new sign for the living snow fence, last summer. The project replaced Luck’s family was invited out to see the asphalt pavement with concrete memorial that would help keep Roscommon to better support the commercial residents safe in the future. traffic in the area. “It helped to have a private moment with Jeff Fischer, the project’s them to just hug and cry,” O’Rourke said. inspector, accepted the award for “We just can’t imagine what they are going KCRC. Members of the project’s through. No parent could.” team included Eric Rodegher, PE, project engineer; Gene DeRuyter, Jeff Fischer assistant project engineer; and Ed accepted the Award Vruggink and Chuck Shiroda, of Excellence on project staking. behalf of KCRC. micountyroads.org Fall 2016 17 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

CRA Unveils New UNIFIED PERMITS

Over the last year, CRA’s permits that provides a unified must follow. This can strengthen Engineering Committee and set of rules and methods for relationships with commercial Permit Subcommittee have both county road agencies entities, and demonstrate to the Permits available worked closely with CRA and industry. Legislature that we can solve our at tinyurl.com/ engineering specialist Steve own issues. UnifiedPermits CRA: When was the need Puuri, PE, to update the to revise these permits first CRA: Do the updated permits g Agricultural uniform transportation permits. identified? include uniform fees? Seasonal The updated transportation SP: There were significant SP: Yes. The updated unified g Milk Haulers permits were distributed for efforts in the early 2000s to permits include a uniform fee Seasonal adoption by the counties in two standardize the transportation structure that would need to be groups: The first set of permits g Public Utilities permits that county road considered and adopted by each was released in March; the Seasonal agencies use. While these road agency in accordance with second batch was distributed earlier updates produced a the public hearing procedures g Single Move in August 2016. great platform, something for adjusting fees. Also, the g Annual Move Crossroads sat down to talk more substantial has become applicant may be responsible for with Puuri on these new necessary. Recent legislation additional permit processing fees, g Single Mobile transportation permits and why and an unfavorable Attorney due to additional inspection and Home Move CRA members should adopt General opinion in April 2015, other expenses relevant to that g Annual Mobile them. that provided weight restriction project. Home Move exemptions to truckers, required CRA: Now that these permits county road agencies to make g Super Move CRA: Steve, we’d like to are being rolled out by CRA major revisions. open things up by asking how and a comprehensive Guidance did such a complex task get CRA: How will the new Document is coming, do you have completed in under a year? unified permits impact counties’ any general advice for counties? workflow and overall permitting Steve Puuri (SP): This update SP: Counties need to review the added to a road agency’s website atmosphere? was truly a collaborative effort updated permits and guidelines for download. CRA will publicize by many highly experienced SP: When these updated with their boards and move the new permits to stakeholder weighmasters and engineers permits are adopted by county to adopt them. Also, the new groups and the Legislature. from county road agencies road agencies, the trucking permits are executable online CRA: Thank you, Steve. across the state. Their insight industry will have more certainty forms or can be used as hard helped to create a modern set of of the rules and regulations they copy documents that can be SAMPLE PERMIT Counties can download the permits from tinyurl.com/UnifiedPermits. A general information page on unified permits can be found under “Doing Business with us” on micountyroads.org, on the “Permit Information” page.

Sample seasonal agricultural transportaion permit.

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202 Morrell St., Charlotte, MI 48813 micountyroads.org Fall 2016 19 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

innovation ia Road agencies Alley implementing new WINTER PRACTICES

There’s no shortage of innovation among road agencies across the state. allows us to buy additional equipment,” From collaborating for cost savings to creative engineering methods and said O’Rourke. new snow removal tools, there’s some serious outside-the-box thinking Purchasing a road widener was on going on to best manage Michigan’s roads. RCRC's capital five-year wish list. said O’Rourke. “If I can send some of O’Rourke said they would not have Borrowing from my equipment somewhere and make bought the $40,000 piece of equipment the neighbors some money on it, why not? It’s a win- without the willingness of other counties win for all.” to borrow it and offset Roscommon County Road the cost. Commission (RCRC) needed road The next step to formalizing the shared program was drafting a rental The long-term result of the Shared widener equipment for a project. Equipment Program will be the ability Manager Tim O’Rourke called the agreement outlining rates, equipment maintenance and return policies, to collaborate on major equipment Alpena County Road Commission; purchases. asking to borrow theirs. Alpena loaned operator allowances and training. the equipment to RCRC for a low rate Superintendents had lots of questions “Ultimately why is there a line between and both road commissions were happy. about the plan. one county and another?” asked O’Rourke. “Why can’t we cross those That simple exchange caused O’Rourke “There were plenty of ‘what ifs’ and lines and help each other?” to realize if Roscommon bought a road fears about giving something away,” widener his seven adjoining counties said O’Rourke. “But the realization was also could borrow it and pay a little of this is not going to break the system; DIY auger converting its overhead. ultimately it’ll help streamline things.” Chain sanders are widely used in the winter by road agencies to disperse salt and sand “This started a conversation about what A new Shared Equipment Plan was on roads. Annual maintenance is costly – up equipment the other counties have that unanimously approved by the East to $2,300 per year per sander. The Delta could be shared,” O’Rourke said. Central Council in May. It was the first County Road Commission (DCRC) time the board has voted unanimously That conversation led to the development decided there must be a better way. of a master equipment inventory list for something, O’Rourke said. They converted chain sanders to augers among all 11 counties in the CRA East “It’s really a matter of being neighborly. using a hydraulic motor to turn. Annual Central Region Council. It was the first You can’t be afraid to loan and/or maintenance on augers runs about $80 step toward a formal shared equipment borrow equipment. You realize you can per year. program for the region. get along with less equipment if the “We all have equipment we’re not road agency next door has one you can Initially, the idea was to buy new augers using. We all benefit from sharing,” depend on. It’s a savings for both and for the trucks, but the price was too high. “We figured we could cut the cost by changing over what we have rather than Converting chain buying new,” said Jody Norman, DCRC sanders to augers manager. “We found a local vendor to reduced annual build an auger to fit our needs and we did maintenance costs the conversion work ourselves.” from $2,300 to $80 Delta County’s first conversion in 2014 at Delta County Road cost about $10,000 and took some Commission. tweaking to get it right. The next one was done for half the price in half the time.

20 Fall 2016 Crossroads “You have to weigh Antrim’s new icebreaker Thompson believes the icebreaker out the reward for attachment is capable is a valuable tool for winter road the upfront cost,” TOP 3 REASONS of cutting through ice maintenance, especially in Northern said Norman. “Within TO CONVERT build-up several inches Michigan. three years each one CHAIN TO AUGER thick and getting down “We have roads with hard-packed we convert should to pavement in one pass 1. Significant ice. It gets cold and we can’t use salt pay for itself easily.” with a plow. maintenance cost effectively. The icebreaker saves time Downtime for savings. The attachment, first- and money by peeling ice away and repairs is significantly of-its-kind used in getting back to the surface,” said 2. No sander truck reduced from the Michigan, is a drum-like Thompson. down time. typical two days cylinder with one-inch It also cuts through built-up 3. Improved quality required for chain spikes. It hooks onto the ice on gravel roads to get to a sander maintenance. of sand spreading. front of a plow truck. smooth surface. 3 BENEFITS OF “There are very few As the truck drives “We don’t use salt on gravel THE ICEBREAKER things that can go the drum rotates and roads. In the past there wasn’t 1. Saving money on wrong on an auger and there’s easy the weight of the truck drives the much we could do in the winter salt use. access for quick repair when and if spikes into the ice, breaking it up. for people living on these necessary,” said Norman. An underbody scraper removes the roads,” said Thompson. 2. Saving time in crushed ice from the road, exposing Perhaps best of all, plow drivers clearing icy roads. bare pavement. The icebreaker mounts easily on report auger performance outshines any truck or plow with a quick 3. Improving winter chain sanders, spreading sand in a Burt Thompson, PE, ACRC hitch. Driver training is minimal, maintenance of continuous, consistent flow and never engineer-manager saw the icebreaker but required some focus on the gravel roads. dropping lumps of sand. at a trade show in 2015, and proper speed for best use. ordered one for a three-month trial. Icebreaker – They bought the $30,000 piece of equipment following the trial period. baring pavement The icebreaker In Antrim County once it starts saves time and snowing residents usually don’t money, peeling expect to see pavement until ice away on paved April. But that might change roads and cutting as the Antrim County Road through built-up Commission (ACRC) busts out a ice on gravel roads new piece of equipment that breaks to get back to a through the snow layer to make smooth surface. pavement visible all winter — even on gravel roads.

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micountyroads.org Fall 2016 23 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

LEGISLATOR PROFILE REP. ROB VERHEULEN

FROM CORPORATE ATTORNEY TO THE HOUSE OF REPS. Rep. Rob Verheulen never intended a career in politics. He loved history and viewed government as important, but he was content working as a corporate attorney for Meijer. When the mayor of his hometown of Walker reached out about a position on the zoning board of appeals, the 35-year resident could not turn him down. Several years later, Rep. Rob VerHeulen, serving I was not shy about reaching out understanding of reality in VerHeulen was District 74, gave us the chance to the road commission on road Lansing; knowing what’s doable encouraged to run for to get to know him during a issues; they are knowledgeable, and what’s not. mayor. He was elected recent conversation with CRA’s have good judgment and great I have an open door policy with to office on September Deputy Director Ed Noyola. stewards of resources. my local road commission and I 11, 2001. There was no feel the same with them. In an The lifelong Michigan resident CRA: Did your relationship celebration. His legal era of term limits, you cannot talked about his path to Lansing with the road commission have training and business skills be an expert on everything; you an impact on votes you have were put to the test during – from corporate attorney to have to depend on the experts taken as State Representative? three terms as mayor. mayor to state representative in each area. My local road – and the important role road REP. VERHUELEN: commission has credibility and “Times were tough. With commissions play in keeping Yes, definitely. As a recent solid expertise. That makes my revenues slashed following legislators informed about key example, being in touch with job easier. The CRA has earned 9/11, income tax revenues road issues throughout the state. local road commissions and respect and trust, too, which is a dropped. We hunkered the County Road Association huge benefit to both legislators down, cut spending, was important in passing the and road commissions. closed city hall offices on What is your CRA: “Green Light Bill” – House Bill Fridays and weathered the understanding of your local CRA: How important is the 5242, allowing green lights to be storm together,” explained road commission (Kent County new transportation revenue to used on snow plows and other VerHeulen. Road Commission) prior you and your community? government vehicles in winter Looking back, VerHeulen to and after your election conditions. We relied on the road REP. VERHUELEN: considers navigating to the Michigan House of commissions’ assessments and It’s a huge step forward. through those tight times Representatives? expert testimony to inform and You can’t have economic his greatest challenge. REP. VERHUELEN: educate us on what was needed development without adequate Now his community is able As mayor of Walker for 11 and what would work best. infrastructure and good, safe to invest in the future. years, I developed an excellent roads. It’s a very positive step CRA: Is your road commission VerHeulen is looking relationship with our road for the entire state. Passing the your go-to source for forward to being re- commission. Once elected transportation funding package transportation legislation? elected in the fall and to the House and appointed was a big accomplishment. I am continuing his leadership chair of the Transportation REP. VERHUELEN: pleased to have participated. in the state. Appropriations Committee, I find road commissions to be helpful and have a solid

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micountyroads.org Fall 2016 27 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

FIVE STEPS FOR SETTING ROAD FUNDING EXPECTATIONS - By the CRA Public Relations Committee

Everyone knows the story. For 18 years together a solid plan to get the biggest bang Clear messaging and a transparent, visible road agencies struggled to get the Michigan out of the new bucks. plan will keep the trust with the public, local Legislature to address road funding. This is important for two reasons: First and officials and the Legislature. Road agencies appreciate that the Legislature foremost, it’s good business practice and 4. START NOW TO SET REALISTIC and Governor Snyder have agreed to county road agencies need to be excellent EXPECTATIONS. stewards of public funds. increased revenue for transportation. Use these key messages in any Now that they have, road commissions and However, a very important part of a road communication pieces related to future departments face a new set of challenges: agency’s message is to be able to say they’re road work or road funding. Include them in The funding package falls short of the need, using the new money in the best way public presentations and conversations with it’s phased in over five years and the second possible. That as the leading road experts the media, local officials, community leaders half of the funding is not constitutionally in the community, the county road agency and other local thought leaders. dedicated. has reviewed the needs and the options, and selected the best way to make the most 5. BE CONSISTENT IN MESSAGING. Those three points mean it’s more important improvements on public roads. than ever to proactively manage the In the field of marketing, there is an old expectations of local communities and This fact must then be part of county’s adage that prospects need to hear a taxpayers. Many people believe the road messaging going forward: This is the best message at least seven times before they funding problem is solved, and within a plan to use the new money. will act on it. short period of time all the roads will once Road agencies can apply this lesson as 2. BE TRANSPARENT ABOUT WHAT again be pristine. well: It’s safe to assume road commission WORK CAN BE DONE AND WHEN. In fact, for most counties, the roads will audiences need to hear the key messages likely get worse before they get better. Road agencies must begin as soon as repeatedly before they fully understand and At least through 2017, when some new possible explaining exactly what can be internalize the information. done with the new dollars. Be very clear – money begins to arrive. Whenever there’s an opportunity – with the don’t sugar coat. So, how to get the public to understand media or talking to a community group or that the road commission probably won’t While a road agency may not need to local officials – share the key messages. be repaving their subdivision this summer? immediately list exactly which roads will Be consistent and stick to the key points. In other words, how do road agencies receive which treatments, do identify how Stay on message. many miles of resurfacing can be manage those expectations? The more successful road agencies are in done over the next several years, how messaging about the 2015 transportation The answer is to aggressively, proactively, many miles of chip sealing, reconstruction, package, the more likely the public will consistently and repeatedly communicate widening and other treatments. the realities of this situation. understand the real limits of the new dollars. For perspective, compare the additional They won’t be surprised when all the roads Here are five steps that a road agency can quantity of work that can be done due are not miraculously perfect overnight. implement to achieve transparency with the to the new money. For example, “we’ll local community. be able to resurface five additional miles of roads each year, chipping away at our 1. HAVE A PLAN FOR THE list of 100 miles of roads that need to be NEW MONEY. resurfaced.” The first step is make sure the road commission has a plan to use the new 3. IDENTIFY THE KEY MESSAGES money as effectively and efficiently as TO GET ACROSS. possible. While it may not be as much new Such key messages will probably include: money as hoped for, it will be new dollars. g There is a plan for the new money; County road agencies are the local road professionals, and each county road agency g The new money won’t fully address in Michigan has the expertise to put the problem; This road sign, social media campaign g New dollars will be phased in from template is available from CRA with 2017 through 2021. county highlight. 28 Fall 2016 Crossroads

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micountyroads.org Fall 2016 29 The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan

EDITOR’S NOTE

Here’s hoping you have a g Cynthia Dulaney, and Ed Noyola is drafting the Road lovely finish to summer! the new accounting and Funding 401 presentation. Both of Our family had fun in administration manager, these education programs are set for several communities who joined our team in Tuesday, December 6. these past few months, late July. Cindie has served The challenges we face as summer and we took a lot of local as controller for a large turns into fall are big: roads to get there. insurance company, and g The final report of 21st Century was formerly VP of finance Settling back into fall Infrastructure Commission and and membership with – and as the legislators possible ‘lame duck’ bills. return from their summer the Ann Arbor-Ypsilanti g Resolution of the lockbox stand- campaigns – we find neat Chamber of Commerce off that will siphon $100 million of opportunities and great where she supervised staff new road funds. challenges awaiting the Association. and coordinated events. We’re looking forward to her guidance g Gov. Snyder’s unexpected call to Two neat opportunities for the as we strategically plan the future change Act 51. Association are: of CRA. g Some concerning pieces of utility- g Christina Strong, the CRA Summer projects have allowed the sought legislation. communication specialist, who joined Association to make progress toward And don’t forget the upcoming our staff in late May. A MSU grad, the next-generation MISCRAM, election that will bring many new she was the digital media manager for create a website-based “bill watch” faces to the Michigan Legislature: WOOD/WOTV television in Grand document (external and members- One-third of House seats will turn Rapids, and is an excellent writer and only versions), implement revisions to over in November! creative thinker. local bridge board appointments and By the time you read this, Christina consider options for working with the We must be sure the new legislators will have activated our new Facebook, logging industry. understand road funding, the total right-of-way picture and the role of Twitter and YouTube pages; created The board has worked in two strategic county road agencies in addressing guidelines for using the CRA logo; planning sessions, as it contemplates these challenges. organized the October PR Workshop; the future and challenges to right-of- and put out two PR Tips packages way authority. along with this magazine. You will begin seeing Christina at meetings We’re completing the 2016 Law and conferences soon! Symposium on “right of way” issues, Denise Donohue, CAE, APR

Key transitions at… Road Commissions and … CRA Departments Cynthia Dulaney has joined CRA as Charles Arbour has been appointed accounting and administration manager. commissioner at Montmorency County Changing Lanes Road Commission In Memoriam Keith C. Richard has taken over as On June 1, 2016, Bill Weisberger, director of operations at the Monroe commissioner at the Ionia County Road County Road Commission. Commission passed away. Weisberger was a road commissioner since 2011. Richard Frighetto has been appointed as commissioner at the Iron County Road Commission.

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