IRON RIVER—For years, the townships have asked the Iron County Road Commission for the ability to hire private contractors for their local road projects.

At its Nov. 10 regular meeting, the Road Board agreed to give it a try.

The policy for local road maintenance requires townships to submit their lists of proposed road projects to the ICRC. Those involving only gravel surfaces are billed at a 60-40 percent split with the townships; bituminous projects are billed 100 percent to the townships. The work is done by the road crews; the blacktop is bid out by the ICRC.

Township officials have indicated they could get their projects done at a lower cost if permitted to contract out themselves. Bates Township Supervisor Grant Helgemo said he could have saved $15,000 on a recent project in his municipality.

Additionally, in many cases, the townships have the funds, through their own road millages, to proceed with projects, but the Road Commission “can’t get to them,” said ICRC Superintendent Doug Tomasoski.

“We’ve heard for years that the townships could get their projects done cheaper,” he added. He told the Road Board the plan he proposed would entail charging the townships for design, inspection and oversight of projects.

“Let’s try it out,” said Commissioner Ernie Schmidt. The board approved the motion, with the suggestion of using the new policy on Section 22 Road in Bates Township.

in other business:

--Tomasoski said that with 83 percent of the year gone, 73 percent of the primary road budget has been spent; 79 percent of the local road budget was spent.

--The superintendent told the board crews did not get to any crack sealing on the west side this year; the local roads will be the priority next year.

--An abandonment request for Homestead Road at Ski Brule was reviewed. David Andreski, president of Tony Andreski Lands, Inc., told the board the issue of whether the road abuts his property has not been resolved.

ICRC Attorney Mark Tousignant said he was concerned with the language of “abutting the road,” or abutting the property. A survey showed the existing right-of-way stop before the Andreski property.

Schmidt said he was not comfortable with approving the abandonment until the issue is worked out, and he made a motion to table the request. The motion passed.

--The board approved awarding Dean Stolberg the position of master mechanic.

--The board approved participating in a “snowplow awareness” campaign developed by the Great Lakes Council and MDOT. The $800 cost will be used for televised public service announcements.

--Tomasoski said he had been told by MDOT “to expect a 5 percent cut in budget” for next year. The board will hold its budget hearing following the regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 8, at 4 p.m.