Crossroads The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
Volume 1
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Number 3
Spring 2016
Action-packed itinerary awaits at 2016 Highway Conference Page 10
IN THIS ISSUE: g
Engineer of the year winners
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Member Profile: Allegan County embraces future, gets involved
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The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
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 effective voice for a safe and efficient local road system in Michigan. The Association, headquartered three blocks north of the State Capitol, is dedicated to helping members promote and maintain a safe, efficient and local road system in rural and urban Michigan.
CRA BOARD PRESIDENT:
Burt R. Thompson, PE, Antrim
VICE PRESIDENT:
James M. Iwanicki, PE, Marquette
SECRETARY-TREASURER:
Dorothy G. Pohl, CPA, Ionia
DIRECTORS:
Blair E. Ballou, PE, Eaton
Larry Brown, PE, Allegan
John H. Daly, III, Ph.D., Genesee
John M. Hunt, Huron
Joanna I. Johnson, Kalamazoo
Dennis G. Kolar, PE, Oakland
Bradley S. Lamberg, PE, Barry
Michael A. Maloney, PE, Ontonagon
Douglas J. Mills, PE, Baraga
Larry Orcutt, Alpena
Douglas Robidoux, Mason
Walter J. Schell, PE, Macomb
Kelly Smith, Newaygo
Richard B. Timmer, Chippewa
DIRECTOR:
Steven A. Warren, Kent
PUBLISHING TEAM:
Denise Donohue, CAE, APR
Kathy Backus
Nathan Jones
Dustin Earley
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PRESIDENT’S CORNER
6
ENGINEER OF THE YEAR AWARDS Top talent from 83 road commissions honored
10 PARTENERS IN EXCELLENCE 2016 HIGHWAY CONFERENCE Action-packed itinerary features 50 speakers
14 IT’S A WINNER Best in asphalt paving awarded
16 MEMBER PROFILE Allegan County embraces future, gets involved
18 CRA ROADSHOW 100 exhibitors show off expertise
20 BETWEEN THE LINES Blurred lines of alternative vehicles
22 ASK MDOT Road Watchers program: from driver’s view
24 LEGISLATOR PROFILE Speaker of the House Kevin Cotter on road funding resources
26 BRIDGING THE GAP Calculating fringe benefits
28 COMMUNICATION CORNER Customer service is job no. 1
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
CRA How’s That Again? “C-R-A.” That’s how to pronounce the County Road Association’s new acronym. Three short letters: “C-R-A.” For the last year, the Association has been moving away from “CRAM,” as the acronym used. While it’s snappy and memorable, it’s often first seen as hostile or uncivil, even. One chain of radio stations said, ”For most groups we use their initials on the second mention of an interview. Of course with you – with CRAM – we can’t do that.”
Next Publication The next issue of Crossroads (May 2016) will highlight innovations and technologies within county road agencies across the state. As Michigan moves forward with statewide road funding secured, public focus will be on construction practices and the new innovations and technologies road agencies are using to make road funding count.
The name of the organization is still the County Road Association of Michigan, but it’s pronounced “C-R-A,” for short. micountyroads.org
Spring 2016
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The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
President’s Corner It’s hard to believe another year is behind us. We have accomplished a lot over the past year. These accomplishments were not the result of any one person; it took all of us. Many people have taken time out of their regular duties at their respective organizations to help all county road agencies. Some have served on the various committees, some have attended special meetings to provide input and expertise, some have reviewed documents and legislation, etc. It would not be possible to achieve our goals without this help. I realize it takes time away from everyone’s regular duties and we certainly could use more time. I want to thank each one of you that has contributed your valuable time to make county roads in this great state better. I also want to thank those that have allowed staff from your road agency to be involved. Being involved in the CRA is more than just giving of your time. I firmly believe it benefits the individual and their respective road agency just as much as it benefits the Association. There is a much better understanding of the issues and a better understanding of your counterparts throughout the state. We are all working towards the same goal – providing a safe and efficient county road system. Yet we all do this a little bit different. I understand each agency has different challenges, dictating how each one operates, but we need to keep in mind the more uniform we are, the better understood we all will be. If we are not careful, we may be forced into uniformity. Better to work on something we can all agree to rather than to have something less desirable mandated to us. I think we will be hearing more on uniformity in the future. As my term as your President winds down and I reflect on the past year, I am truly honored to work amongst a great bunch of people. You are all extremely dedicated while working in very challenging times. I look forward to seeing you in Lansing at the Annual Highway Conference and Road Show. If at any time you have a question, concern or comment, I am happy to talk to with you. Thank you!
Burt R. Thompson, PE CRA President Engineer-Manager of Antrim County Road Commission
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Strengthen your thinking muscles! At the 2016 Commissioners’ Seminar This April marks the 38th gathering of county road commissioners to network and learn new skills to make these boards of directors even more effective. Registration materials are now available on the Event Calendar on CRA’s website for the April 17-19 event. Sign up early to guarantee a seat at this work-out for the mind. CRA’s Commissioners Committee has been working for months to develop a seminar that will stretch the mind and has settled on the theme: Strengthen your Strategic Thinking Muscles. Longtime Michigan Townships Association Executive Director Larry Merrill will deliver the Tuesday luncheon keynote on the seminar theme. Some of the highlight sessions for the seminar include: OPEN MEETINGS, CLOSE THE DOOR This session by Michigan Tech professor Joel Tuoriniemi, JD, will provide details on recent statutory revisions to Michigan’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). It will also provide a refresher on what constitutes a quorum, and what issues should be discussed behind closed doors. BEST IN CLASS: ROAD MILLAGES ACROSS MICHIGAN Even with new state road funding on the way in 2017, local matching funds will still be required whether at the township or countywide level. A panel discussion by commissioners and managing directors from five different road commissions will discuss how they use local millage dollars, how they developed local support and worked with local taxing agencies. BONDING 101 Given the poor conditions of many local roads and the happy fact that new road funding is coming, more local agencies are looking at bonding as a way to bootstrap some repairs ahead of time. Commissioners will learn from two municipal bond experts that have worked with Michigan road commissions. The presentation will cover the risks, rewards and processes of bonding for a road project. BE THE “GO TO” COMMISSIONER Commissioners are a vital cog in the County Road Association’s strategic goal to build a vocal constituency for roads! In this panel discussion, CRA’s deputy director and chief lobbyist Ed Noyola interviews four county road commissioners about how they have developed strong relationships with representatives and senators. Learn their tips and habits for working positively with legislators.
Crossroads
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The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
2016 ENGINEER OF THE YEAR
AWARDS ANNOUNCED Selections have been made for the 2016 County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan Engineer of the Year. Choosing the top talent from all 83 road commissions and departments is always challenging – and 2016 was no exception. CRA’s Engineering Committee has reviewed top-drawer candidates to determine those with the very best commitment to designing and building Michigan’s future. This year, three engineers have been singled out for this recognition.
URBAN – Tom Blust, PE, Road Commission for Oakland County Tom Blust, PE, has been with the Road Commission for Oakland County since 1992, serving as director of engineering since 1999. Since taking on the mantel of engineering director, Blust has overseen up to $50 million of construction and design annually. He has led RCOC through a variety of challenges from paving gravel roads to the development of six-lane boulevards and multi-span bridges. Blust’s most recent success is the capstone to decades of planning and includes participation, funding and cooperation from MDOT, Oakland County, the city of Farmington Hills and the township of West Bloomfield. Dubbed the Northwestern Connector, Blust helped organize and oversee the construction of the $16 million roundabout, which was completed ahead of schedule and with an innovative, industry-leading HAWK pedestrian crosswalk system. Blust has greatly appreciated the support he’s received from RCOC in pursuing further professional development by serving on committees and being a part of the greater conversation. He feels fortunate to have been able to contribute to the industry in a larger capacity, doing things like judging for the MSPE and ACEC awards. “I have had many opportunities to leave and go to the public sector, but I’ve always felt very good about being in public service. Going to bed at night and feeling like you’ve done something for the betterment of society as opposed to pure personal gain is something I cherish. Working for the road commission is a noble and great profession.” Blust was nominated by Dennis Kolar, PE, Managing Director of RCOC.
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RURAL – John Cima, PE, Houghton County Road Commission After eight years with the state department of transportation, John Cima, PE, joined the Houghton County Road Commission (HCRC) in 2005, and now serves as the road commission’s assistant engineer.
PROJECT MANAGER – David Deatrick, Chippewa County Road Commission David Deatrick, project manager with the Chippewa County Road Commission (CCRC), is a true veteran of Michigan’s transportation industry. After working with MDOT for 36 years, Dave joined CCRC in 2008. He enjoys the sense of freedom and personal growth he’s been able to achieve within the transportation industry over the years. At Chippewa County Road Commission, Deatrick has overseen $11 million in federal aid projects covering over 60 miles of roads.
Cima’s day-to-day responsibilities at HCRC include project engineering, design, construction and bridge inspection. While Cima’s current roles have him acting as everything from a project engineer to a radiation safety officer, he’s always looking to the future. He’s currently working on a project to connect a future road design to Michigan’s past. Cima is working to re-design and then reconstruct the entrance to the Keweenaw National Historical Park. Using a combination of urban funding and a Michigan Transportation Economic Development Fund (TEDF) Category-F grant, John has worked closely with the National Parks Service to collaborate on the project. According to Cima, it’s those kinds of partnerships that set road commissions apart from other transportation industry organizations. “The biggest difference from a road commission to somewhere like MDOT is the relationships you have with neighboring road commissions and townships,” he said. “I kinda joke with the townships that with the money we spend as a road commission, I treat it like it’s coming out of my own pocket.” Cima was nominated by Kenneth Rowe, vice chair of the HCRC Board of Directors.
micountyroads.org
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Alicia Krouth, PE, accepts the award for David Deatrick.
Ever since I’ve been working, even to this day, I try to give my maximum effort every single day. Every day, I feel like you have to keep proving yourself, and I think that gives me an edge. I have never thought I need to just get through this day. Keep giving everything you can.”
One of his most challenging projects recently, has been the resurfacing of Mackinaw Trail, an important road artery in the area. Mackinaw Trail was originally built in 1933, and the resurfacing project required CCRC to deal with the original culverts. In making his nomination, CCRC employees put a particular emphasis on how meticulous Deatrick is, noting that his projects regularly come in under budget with few to no corrections needed. “I try to examine problems from all angles, and be as thorough as I can,” Deatrick said of his detail-oriented work habits. “Throughout my career I have acquired what may seem like a lot of useless information, but it has come back to help me. I try to get really interested in a subject, and see it through to completion, something that has always been very gratifying to me.” Deatrick plans to retire from CCRC in 2016.
– DAVID DEATRICK
Spring 2016
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The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
EDITOR’S NOTE It seems a little late to say Happy New Year, yet we’re only a few weeks into 2016. At the offices of the County Road Association of Michigan, we’re excited about the programs we’ll bring to members in 2016. But first a trip back in time… To close out 2015, in December CRA organized the first educational seminar in our new Mastery Series: Road Funding 101. We had nearly 200 attendees, and calls for an encore! While the next venue for Road Funding 101 is not set, its overview of the revenue sources, Michigan Transportation Fund formula, federal funds distribution and Act 51 reporting was a success. My observations are it worked best where a county brought its managing director, commissioners and financial administrator to the table together. These groups had fun networking, and used the break-out times to talk through the specifics of that part of the road funding story in their own county.
Armed with more complete information on how the system works, such counties will operate at a higher level in the months to come.
New priorities are likely to be added at the March business meeting. Meanwhile, some groups have begun to believe that road commissions and departments are now flush with cash, and are seeking legislative assistance to foist their costs onto governmental road agencies.
Our first-ever Law Symposium, also held last December, drew nearly 100 attendees. The lawyers advised how to enforce and collect on road damage, an ongoing challenge in protecting the transportation infrastructure. Presenters also took a look ahead at the emerging legal concerns of self-propelled, unlicensed, uninsured vehicles including golf carts using the roads. As we begin 2016, we anticipate another Mastery Series program, a possible statewide address on Michigan’s roads, and development of new messages to accompany new road funding. At the State Capitol, we’re advancing a few of CRA’s legislative priorities including those on wetland banking, seasonal roads and others.
CRA and our lobbying allies are working to explain the implications of these efforts to legislators, and vigilantly protecting the newly-appropriated funds, which are over a year away. We want to put every dollar possible into restoring Michigan’s roads and bridges. Like your road agency, the Association has its work cut out for 2016. The best is yet to come!
Denise Donohue, CAE, APR
Key transitions at… Changing Lanes
… Road Commissions and Departments
Kristine Parsons has joined the Calhoun County Road Department in a newly-created project engineer position. Douglas Steffen has joined the Calhoun County Road Department as director of operations. Jamie Stafne has been appointed to replace LeRoy Krempec as a commissioner on the Cass County Road Commission. Lisa Kleeman has been appointed interim manager of the Schoolcraft County Road Commission. She continues to serve as Schoolcraft’s finance director.
… CRA
Monica Ware, APR, communications and development manager of the County Road Association of Michigan, left in January after eight years of service. She has started her own association management firm, and will work with CRA on special projects.
Mile Marker
Stanley Clingerman, PE, engineer-manager, has retired after 40 years of service to the Hillsdale County Road Commission. Craig Kelso, PE, engineer-manager, has retired from the Schoolcraft County Road Commission. Karen Miller has retired as administrative assistant at the Otsego County Road Commission.
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Spring 2016
Crossroads
micountyroads.org
Spring 2016
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The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
BOARD MANAGEMENT TRACK
Making Rural Task Forces Work Better In 12 short months, a dedicated team of county road commissions, cities and villages, transit and MDOT spent hundreds of hours developing a plan to overhaul the entire Rural Task Force process. This summer, big changes will be implemented that affect how federal funds are distributed to RTFs, which will significantly improve the process. Get a head’s up now on the changes coming to county road agencies later this year.
An action-packed itinerary awaits you at the 2016 County Road Association of Michigan Highway Conference! Themed “Partners in Excellence”, the conference features two dozen breakout and general sessions, with 50 different speakers invited. In addition, don’t miss the award-winning Road Show (see article, p. 18) with dozens of exhibitors and vendors, which kicks off the conference beginning on Tuesday afternoon.
CRA Vice President Jim Iwanicki, PE, Engineer-Manager of the Marquette County Road Commission, and chair of the Education Committee for the RTF Oversight Board, will speak alongside MDOT’s Rural Task Force coordinator Jim Koenig. Weds., March 16 g 2:30-3:15 p.m. g 3:30-4:15 p.m. CEU Credit
CRA is excited to announce that Duane Ratermann, PE, the new president of the National Association of County Engineers will attend the conference, and give a brief NACE update at the keynote luncheon on Tuesday. When the last learning session closes on Wednesday, CRA members have the opportunity to spend some quality time with their state Senators and Representatives at the Legislative Reception. Finally on Thursday morning, CRA members will hear from Mark Van Port Fleet, MDOT’s new deputy director and chief operations officer. Social opportunities include the President’s Reception on Tuesday, as well as hospitality suites on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Round-trip complimentary bus service between the hotels and the Lansing Center has been arranged for conference attendees.
John U. Bacon, Keynote lunch speaker, motivational speaker
With road funding secured in 2015, now more than ever, road agencies need to collaborate with our strategic Partners in Excellence to achieve our shared goals of creating and maintaining a safe and reliable local road system. Keynote Lunch Speaker g 12 p.m. In a departure from tradition, CRA will bring motivational speaker, Michigan resident and author John U. Bacon to the Highway Conference. His “Reset Your Expectations!” presentation on change will be rousing, as befits a hockey player and coach turned sports writer. Starting right after lunch.
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Winter 2015
Crossroads
FINANCE & HUMAN RESOURCES TRACK, GENERAL SESSION
Permitting Permitting is a significant focus at the 2016 Highway Conference, as it is one of the most challenging issues ahead in the Michigan Legislature. Wednesday morning’s general session has One CRA: Standing United on Permits, where CRA staff will discuss the importance of unity across counties, as well as the suite of new standardized, tech-enabled permits being developed by the Engineering Committee. A break-out session later Wednesday will address how to achieve a defensible and transparent cost for permit fees. In What’s the Real Cost of that Permit? three road commissions will discuss how they calculate costs for their permit and oversight activities. This discussion panel will have your county taking a look at permit fees and reassessing how you do business. Weds., March 16 GENERAL SESSION g 9-9:30 a.m. CEU Credit One CRA: Standing United on Permits BREAKOUT SESSIONS g 1:30-2:15 p.m. g 3:30-4:15 p.m. CEU Credit What’s the Real Cost of that Permit?
BOARD MANAGEMENT TRACK
BOARD MANAGEMENT TRACK
FAST Act: What Does the New Federal Highway Bill Mean to your Road Agency?
Implementing Change while Maintaining Union Support
Learn what’s in the 2015 federal highway bill without reading all 1600 pages. CRA is pleased to have Michigan’s Federal Highway Administrator Russell Jorgenson give an overview of the new federal highway bill: The FAST Act. Likely to be popular, the FAST Act breakout will be held only once. Weds., March 16 BREAKOUT SESSIONS g 1:30-2:15 p.m. CEU Credit Be one of the first to learn what’s in the new federal highway bill. Details are still emerging as FHWA interprets the many provisions written into law by Congress. COMMUNICATION TRACK
Get to know your Association
Making changes within a county road agency while maintaining and following the rules of a union contract and Act 51 can be a tricky balancing act. Two road commissions and legal counsel that frequently represents road commissions will provide advice on how to handle these tricky turns. Weds., March 16 BREAKOUT SESSIONS g 1:30-2:15 p.m. g 3:30-3:15 p.m. Darrell Tennis of the Eaton County Road Commission, Russell Williams of the Marquette County Road Commission, and Mike Kluck of Michael R. Kluck & Associates will speak on their experiences of successfully navigating change while maintaining the integrity of organized labor contracts.
Tied into the conference theme, CRA is working hard to be a strategic partner and link between county road agencies and many other stakeholder groups. Connect – or reconnect – with CRA to learn how the newly-rebranded Association can be helpful in achieving the tasks and goals of a local county road agency. g 3:30-4:14 p.m. CRA Director Denise Donohue, CAE, APR, will be leading the discussion on the main roles of CRA, changes going on in the Association and future plans.
micountyroads.org
Winter 2015
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Join our
Local Roads Matter Coalition
today!
Local Roads Matter to: • Business and economic revitalization; • Schools, families and seniors; • Emergency response times;
facebook.com/ milocalroadsmatter
• Public safety and health care; • Agriculture and tourism; • Every Michigan resident.
youtube.com/ milocalroads
twitter.com/ milocalroads
milocalroads.com
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Crossroads
capitol beltway CRA 2016 LEGISLATIVE RECEPTION 5:30-7 p.m. Wednesday, March 16 County tables will be marked. Call CRA office if you need local restaurant recommendations. These change periodically.
2016 Legislative Reception:
Have we got a lot to talk about! With the passage of the 2015 transportation package, this past year was a milestone for CRA members. The year ahead will be equally challenging – but certainly different. The County Road Association of Michigan’s 2016 Highway Conference has a built-in opportunity to thank legislators for their support of road funding, if appropriate, and talk to them about future items of concern. It’s also a nice opportunity to take them out to dinner and build relationships – make plans now. One of the tent poles of an excellent relationship is communication, and face to face works nicely. Legislators appreciate when their constituents visit them in Lansing.
202 Morrell St. Charlotte, MI 48813 (517) 543-3430 (800) 527-4604
micountyroads.org
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Spring 2016
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The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
It’s a winner! The best in asphalt paving awards recognize four county road commissions
A total of 27,500 tons of mix was used in the project.
Four county road commissions were honored for their excellence in asphalt pavement construction at Michigan’s Asphalt Paving Awards Program at the end of last year.
Urban roundabouts were one of the darlings of the asphalt paving awards program, when the Washtenaw County Road Commission (WCRC) was recognized with a Merit Award for its Textile Road project.
The annual asphalt award program is a joint project of the Asphalt Pavement Association of Michigan (APAM) and the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), and honors local road agencies for their contributions to Michigan’s transportation industry.
Covered in the last issue of Crossroads (Winter 2015, Vol. 1 No. 2), WCRC’s urban roundabouts exemplify the innovations being adopted by county road agencies across Michigan.
AWARD OF EXCELLENCE Taking a top award was the Monroe County Road Commission (MCRC), which received an Award of Excellence for its Samaria Road/St. Anthony Road project. The project was a massive undertaking! It covered a 10-mile long stretch of road and involved rubble-izing the existing pavement, and then overlaying the roadbed with five and a half inches of asphalt.
From left to right: Alex Vasquez, Ajax Paving; Dean Trella, project inspector, WCRC.
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MCRC’s project scored well in every category used to evaluate the projects. AWARD OF MERIT
The Textile Road/Hitchingham Road intersection now boasts the first two roundabouts of the kind in Michigan, and two of only 15 across the US. WCRC’s roundabout project was six-tenths of a mile, and required six inches of asphalt for a total of 3,700 tons of mix. Accepting the award for Washtenaw was Dean Trella, WCRC project inspector. AWARD OF MERIT The Otsego County Road Commission (OCRC) had a smooth ride to a Merit Award for its Dickerson Road Safety Project.
From left to right: Mark Van Port Fleet,deputy director, COO, MDOT; Matt Miller, project superintendent, Payne & Dolan; Tom Deans, PE, engineer-manager, OCRC; Chad Loney, Rieth Riley, APAM president.
OCRC’s Dickerson Road project involved crushing and shaping nearly a mile of existing pavement, and then overlaying it with 3.5 inches of asphalt. By using the right techniques for the job, OCRC was able to create a particularly smooth, uniform ride that was judged worthy of an Asphalt Paving Award. Accepting the award for Otsego was Tom Deans, PE, engineer-manager. AWARD OF MERIT Ending a long and illustrious career on a high note, Stanley Clingerman, PE, engineer-manager of the Hillsdale County Road Commission (HCRC) accepted an Award of Merit at the December awards program. HCRC was recognized for its South Hillsdale Road Project, which spanned nearly five miles. The project involved milling the existing pavement and overlaying it with one inch of HMA Ultra-Thin asphalt. Clingerman was the South Hillsdale Road project engineer, notching another successful road improvement. He will retire this month after 40 years of dedication and commitment to HCRC.
From left to right: Jeff Fackler, Gerken Paving; Mark Kreig, project superintendent, Gerken Paving; Stanley Clingerman, PE, engineermanager, HCRC.
Crossroads
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micountyroads.org
Spring 2016
15
The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
ALLEGAN COUNTY
“With gravel roads, the optimal conditions to grade after a rain event are very limited. Often a matter of days in the best circumstances,” Brown said. “We can only put about 24 people out on the road to grade.” PREACHING (AND PRACTICING) COUNTYWIDE ASSET MANAGEMENT One of Brown’s top priorities is applying TAMC’s best management practices on paved roads. In Allegan that translates into rating its paved federal aid eligible routes every other year and the entire local paved system each year.
MEMBER PROFILE
Embracing future needs of roadwork while maintaining a natural environment Change is in the air this winter at the Allegan County Road Commission (ACRC). At press time, the ACRC was in the middle of a two-phase construction project. A two-step move from their old leaky, flat-roofed office (ca. 1949, 1962) to a new garage that opened in November and new office building that will open in June 2016. While road crew staff has transitioned smoothly into the well-designed new garage, office workers are wedged into a variety of nooks until the office building opens this June. Altogether the project was $9 million, partially financed with a sinking fund established six years ago. ACRC sat down with Crossroads last month to describe operations in the county nestled along Lake Michigan. UNUSUAL GEOGRAPHY Allegan County is well known in the southwestern Lower Peninsula for its agriculture and natural resources, including scenic Lake Michigan shoreline and the 16
Spring 2016
50,000 acre Allegan State Game Area bisected by the Kalamazoo River. The game area is popular with hunters, campers, horseback riders, hikers, snowmobilers and nature enthusiasts. It also takes a great deal of land off the tax rolls, and presents its own challenges with unpaved roads.
During his five years as managing director, Brown has been particularly focused on bringing the asset management message to the township level. Allegan has 24 townships, significantly more than the average county in Michigan, and is one of the largest geographical counties in the Lower Peninsula, Brown said. County voters approved a 1-mill countywide millage in 1968, to allow bridge and culvert replacement. This millage was changed to a primary road resurfacing millage in 1984 and remains in place today.
While it has no large urban areas of its own, Allegan is positioned between Holland, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo and South Haven and is a busy commuter route for people working in those cities. “We have about 680 miles of unpaved roads ,” said managing director Larry Brown, PE, who has worked at ACRC since 1977. “We also have 67 miles of seasonal roads, which is unusual for a county this far south.” The unpaved roads pose a particular challenge for the ACRC. “When the weather is good, we have 680 miles of scenic gravel roads in good condition. But when it rains, we can suddenly have many miles of roads that need work,” Brown said. Crossroads
As more townships saw the value of that millage, they began voting in their own millages for road improvements. To date, 22 of Allegan’s townships have voted in their own road millages, ranging from a high of 6 mills down to 1 mill. Allegan County generates more local funds than their share of the current Act 51 revenues. “Each year we meet with four townships at a time during the month of January,” Brown said. “We discuss our primary road projects for the year and we talk about their local road plans, including asset management.”
Facts:
JUST THE
Allegan County Road Commission Office HQ: Allegan Staff:
50 full time, 8 seasonal
No. of commissioners: 3 (appt.) Miles of paved roads: 1799 = 512 primary + 1287 local Miles of unpaved roads: 679 = 34 primary + 645 local MDOT contract:
No
No. of bridges: 151 Annual budget:
$31,982,000, 2014
(including building project costs in 2014)
Local revenue: Annual snowfall:
$10,560,674, 2014 100”, 2014
ACRC established: 1913 Office built: 1936 Oldest vehicle: 1987 Road-kill deer count: 811 reported FUN FACT: ACRC logos on trucks include a goose because the county is the home of the “Todd Farm”, a well know goose hunting area south of Fennville which hosts a large number of resident and migrating Canadian geese.
micountyroads.org
“I would say that over the last five years we have been able to get more of the townships to understand that fixing the worst-first may not be the best use of their millage dollars,” Brown said. “They are now more open to crack sealing and chip sealing, where before they simply wanted the hot mix asphalt to resurface a road.” EVOLUTION IN HOUSING THE ROAD COMMISSION The Allegan County Road Commission was founded in 1913, and for many years was located on the north side of Allegan on land that is now a grocery store. ACRC moved east of town into the old state highway department garage in 1962. At one time the county had 10 garages but now has four. “As we have replaced our smaller garages over the years, we have consolidated our operations into garages and placed them more strategically throughout the county to be more efficient,” Brown said. “The trucks have gotten bigger and can carry larger amounts of road treatments today. We are better off spreading ice control material than driving back and forth to the garages reloading.” The new garage is equipped with other tools for safety and efficiency, including four hoists and a five-ton overhead crane on a rail system, so that more trucks can be worked on at the same time to get them back on the road quickly. The mechanics’ bays are equipped with in-floor heat. Other features include a chemical containment room to protect against hazardous materials spills, a fire suppression system, extensive compressed air system, energy-efficient LED lighting, an emergency generator and two wash bays that capture all run-off. When the administration building adjacent to the garage opens in June, it will mark the first time that ACRC board meetings have not been held adjacent to the managing director’s desk. “Our board meeting room will have more room for public participation, and will allow us to host and participate in video conferences and seminars,” Brown said.
LOOKING AHEAD TO NEW ROAD FUNDING As Allegan looks to the new road funding that’s anticipated over the next five years, the road commission believes it will stabilize their day-to-day operations. They also expect to increase the preventative maintenance, including crack sealing and chip sealing more miles of roads. Allegan County Road Commission Managing Director Larry W. Brown, PE, believes in giving back to the road commission community. Brown has been managing director of ACRC for the last six years. He’s currently serving on the board of directors for the County Road Association of Michigan as the liaison to the Association of Southern Michigan County Road Agencies. At CRA, Brown also heads the Education Task Force that put together the successful Road Funding 101 session this past December; and serves on the Legislative Review Committee, which evaluates pending bills in the Legislature for consistency with county road agency views. Brown also serves as president of the Association of Southern Michigan Road Commissions, having been on its board for four years. ACRC’s county highway engineer, Craig Atwood, PE, serves on the Engineering Committee and several of its subcommittees. Board members have also been active in the CRA. Bruce Culver is a past president of CRA and Robert Kaarlie currently serves on the ASMCRA Board and the Commissioners Committee. Why so many volunteer positions? “It’s important for all of us to get involved,” Brown said. “Particularly on the legislative side, being involved with the association helps me in understanding the funding process, the political process and how it impacts us locally.” “I think it’s important that all county road commissions have its staff and board members involved in CRA,” Brown said. Spring 2016
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The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
Some of the best things in life are free:
CRA Road Show, March 15-16 For only the second year, the County Road Association’s award-winning trade show – The Road Show – will be open free of charge to all staff of county road commissions and departments, the Michigan Department of Transportation and industry stakeholders. Road agencies are encouraged to send a wide variety of staff to Lansing to view the Road Show and have informative discussions with vendors representing products and services ranging from trucks and
snow removing equipment to insurance and financial services. The Road Show boasts more than 100 exhibitors and occurs over two days, in conjunction with CRA’s 2016 Highway Conference. It is simply the place to learn about the services and innovative products available to road agencies, and to network with other road agencies to learn what they may be doing. Several hands-on exhibits are part of the mix, and industry
experts will be on hand to showcase the latest best practices and technologies. On Wednesday morning, CRA will host a revamped main stage with short educational product demonstrations and other programming of interest to industry professionals. While there is no charge to attend the Road Show, please register on the CRA website at www.micountyroads.org/ Events/Highway-Conference.
ROAD SHOW HOURS: Tuesday, March 15, 2:30 - 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 16 9 am - Noon
LOCATION: Lansing Center, 333 E. Michigan Ave., Lansing, MI 48933 Parking cost: $5 (cash)
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By Bill Henn, Henn Lesperance The enactment of recent legislation permitting the operation of alternative vehicles on public roads has created potentially bumpy legal terrain for county road commissions.
Golf carts
Effective January 13, 2015, Michigan law (MCL 257.657a) provides that a village, city or township having a population of fewer than 30,000 individuals may, by resolution, allow the operation of golf carts on the streets of that village, city or township. However, there are limitations: g Golf cart operators must be 16 years old and have a license to operate a motor vehicle. g Golf cart operators must ride as near to the right side of the roadway as practicable. g Golf carts cannot be operated on a state trunk line highway, except to cross it.
LI N ES TH E
Golf carts, ORVs, bicycles and lawn mowers
BE TW
BLURRED LINES:
EE N
The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
g Ride as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway when operating at less than existing speed; and g Ride with the direction of traffic. However, Michigan law does not require cyclists to use bike lanes, even if present (MCL 257.660(3). Pursuant to Wilson v. Alpena County Road Commission, road commissions have a duty to maintain roadways in a condition safe for cyclists.
Lawn mowers
While this is a relatively undeveloped area of law, according to an Attorney General opinion, a self-propelled lawn mower does not need to be registered as a vehicle when its movement on a highway is incidental to its use as a lawn mower. In fact, the AG stated that such equipment may be driven for several blocks for use at its next destination.
Looking ahead
g Golf carts cannot be driven on a highway or street with a speed limit of more than 30 miles per hour, except to cross it.
While they may be fun, most alternative vehicles are not designed or equipped for safe travel on public roads. To reduce liability risk, please keep the following in mind:
There is no requirement under the statute for the city, village or township to consult with or obtain approval from the road commission before enacting an ordinance under this rule.
g Take advantage of required consultations to oppose alternative vehicle ordinances, or at least advocate for sensible restrictions on their use.
Off road vehicles (ORVs)
g If it appears that a new ordinance will pass, aim for a middle ground:
The new ORV statute (MCL 324.81131) permits both the county board of commissioners and local townships to enact ordinances regarding the operation of ORVs on area roads. The ORV statute allows much more input from road commissions because:
• Suggest a “sunset” on the ordinance, i.e., one-year expiration. • Suggest a trial period to determine the risks and benefits. g Remember: Road commissions have authority under the ORV statute to close up to 30 percent of roads to ORVs.
g All proposed ORV ordinances are subject to a public hearing and county road commissions must receive notice. g Local road commissions have the authority to close up to 30 percent of roads otherwise open to ORVs under active ordinances. g The road commission does not have a duty to maintain a county road under its jurisdiction in a condition reasonably safe and convenient for ORVs.
Bicycles
Rules of the road for cyclists are found in several statutes of Michigan’s Motor Vehicle Code. Generally, a person operating a bicycle must: g Give appropriate hand signals;
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Show me the Money for Safety Although an historic transportation package became law in 2015, the phase-in period and crumbling local roads demand that county road agencies turn over every stone looking for new money. For certain projects, specialized grants may be the fix. We sat down with MDOT’s Local Agency Planning Coordinator Tracie Leix, PE, who will be one of a panel of speakers at Looking Under the Money Stones at CRA’s 2016 Highway Conference. CRA: Tracie, can you tell us a little bit about which grant you’ll be speaking on during the breakout session? Tracie Leix, PE (TL): One of the things I will be touching on is the local agency safety program offered by the Michigan Department of Transportation. CRA: Can you give us an “elevator pitch” for the safety program? micountyroads.org
TL: Every year, MDOT provides roughly $15 million in federal funds to local agencies to make improvements in roadways in order to reduce the occurrence or chance of occurrence of fatalities or incapacitating injuries. As Michigan looks to move Towards Zero Deaths, one of the ways MDOT wants to support that initiative is to offer funding for counties who embrace safety and innovation as a priority. CRA: Do you know which counties have been awarded funding through the safety program, and for what projects? TL: This year, in 2016, we are working with well over a dozen counties on various projects across the state. One of the more impressive and innovative submissions we’ve seen lately comes out of Roscommon and the Roscommon County Road Commission (RCRC), called the living snow fence. Instead of relying on orange wire or something similar to build a snow
fence, RCRC is using things like shrubs and bushes to promote safety while lessening environmental impact in an innovative way. CRA: Do you have any tips for counties that might be applying for the grant? TL: Working with MDOT’s local safety initiative group to fix areas that have been identified as having safety concerns will most certainly give your submission extra points. In fact, not only that but working with the initiative group to submit plans addressing previously identified safety concerns can also translate to preliminary engineering dollars. CRA: Do you have anything you’d like to tell those who are looking to attend your session at the Highway Conference? TL: Just that I look forward to seeing them and I’m excited to be able to answer their questions! Spring 2016
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The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
Ask MDOT
Road Watchers – What drivers think
We can’t control the weather. However, agencies responsible for winter maintenance in Michigan know the public often believes we can. The realities of winter weather, fiscal constraints and drivers’ expectations rarely align. For years, the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) relied on selfmeasurement of its state highway winter maintenance program. The department set levels of service, and then evaluated the outcomes on state routes maintained by MDOT employees, county road commissions and city public works departments. Generally speaking, this provides a good picture of whether the job of plowing and treating roads is getting done as expected within an acceptable timeframe. But the process left out a key evaluator … drivers. To address this gap, in 2013-14 MDOT’s North Region (the northern 21 counties of the Lower Peninsula) developed the Road Watchers program. The program recruits volunteers who commute between 6-9 a.m. on certain routes, then asks them to complete brief questionnaires about road conditions on days with winter events, such as snow, freezing rain or high winds. Six commuter routes were selected spanning multiple counties. Each route included varying weather conditions, and portions maintained by MDOT and contract agencies. Volunteers were recruited through traditional and social media, and the department sent information to major employers to share with staff. 22
Spring 2016
Following winter events, Road Watcher volunteers are sent a link to an online survey. Two questions asked in the survey: 1) “Considering the weather conditions during your drive, how would you rate the condition -- good, fair or poor?” 2) “Were there locations where road conditions became significantly better or worse? What time was it when you noticed the issue?” As surveys are received, MDOT compares internal measures to customer evaluations, and looks at whether the issues raised were factors MDOT could control and if operational changes could resolve concerns within existing guidelines. The process has prompted new dialogue with drivers. The department uses the opportunity to educate volunteers on winter maintenance practices and limitations, such as salt use and effectiveness, and implementation of new technology. MDOT could not have known the winter of 2013-14 would be one of the harshest and longest in 20 years. The “Polar Vortex” made it difficult to deliver expected road conditions. Despite this challenge, 83 percent of Road Watchers rated road conditions as good or fair, given the prevailing weather. Several volunteers provided extremely detailed observations and suggestions, and a number of positive comments:
R O AD
4
Regions participating
ROAD WATCHERS WANTED MDOT is looking for motorist volunteers to provide reports on road conditions and suggested improvements. Travelers in the 39 counties involved in Road Watch volunteer here: www.michigan.gov/roadwatchers
g “I liked the fact that MDOT was interested in hearing from people who drive the roads.” g “It was good to see that problem areas were dealt with by the next day.” Now in its third winter, the program has expanded to include MDOT’s Grand, Bay and Superior regions, including 39 routes across 39 counties, with nearly 500 volunteers. The results show by creating realistic expectations, explaining processes and constraints, and following through to address concerns, Road Watchers has been turning volunteers into advocates for winter maintenance crews. For more information on the Road Watchers program, visit www.michigan. gov/roadwatchers, or contact Bill Wahl, MDOT North Region associate engineer for Operations, at wahlb@michigan.gov.
WATC H E R S
39
Highway routes
S TATS :
39
Counties
472+ Volunteers
Crossroads
micountyroads.org
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The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
L E G I S L AT O R P R O F I L E
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
KEVIN COTTER In our third conversation with a Michigan legislator, CRA’s Deputy Director Ed Noyola talked to Speaker of the House, Kevin Cotter, serving the 99th district, encompassing Isabella County and 10 townships in Midland County.
With the road funding package in place, Rep. Cotter looks forward to seeing lots of orange barrels this spring when construction season begins. He talked about the spending of road funding resources, Michigan’s unexpected surplus and the legacy he hopes to leave as he finishes his final term in the House of Representatives.
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Spring 2016
CRA: What do you see as the next big challenge for roads in Michigan?
REP. COTTER: We need to play an ongoing oversight role going forward; making sure resources are being used most effectively and stretch those dollars as far as we can so there are lots of orange barrels during construction season. CRA: Why are roads a priority for you? REP. COTTER: I’ve been saying publicly that I was going to see it as a personal failure if we could not get a road funding package completed. It’s that important to me and to our state. It’s one of the true functions of state government, focusing on three issues … education, public safety and infrastructure.
With the funding package in place, we need to stand ready to assist if further action is needed in construction projects. We should work cooperatively with locals, utilities and others to tackle fixes necessary now so we are not tearing up newly constructed roads in a few years. CRA: Will roads receive funds from Michigan’s 2015 unexpected surplus of $575 million? REP. COTTER: While I haven’t made any decisions about my priorities yet, I think roads should be on a very short list of things that should be considered for the funds. Roads were underfunded for years, leading to a lack of funds for preventative maintenance and causing roads to deteriorate quicker. Crossroads
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The funding plan passed is going to phase in over a period of years. There will be a ramp up period. I believe we could consider using some of the surplus money to do some preventative maintenance in order to maintain the condition of the roads until we are able to do the repair work actually needed. CRA: With fuel prices down and expected to go down further, would it be prudent for the Legislature to take the pressure off the general fund and increase fuel tax by a few cents now? REP. COTTER: As we look at finding a solution and consider how we get there, it would probably be easier to do a onetime funding appropriation versus a gas tax increase. micountyroads.org
Speaker of the House Kevin Cotter – from student council to Lansing Rep. Kevin Cotter was elected student council treasurer in his freshman year at Shepherd High School in Shepherd, Mich. He had no intention of continuing his political career. Then, as a practicing attorney in 2009, he saw people leaving the state to find jobs. Cotter’s family was impacted directly when a relative left for a job in Florida. Hearing young college students talk about moving away after graduation to find a job, he decided to do something about it.
“I believe we should all enjoy the freedom, if we choose, to go to other states,” said Cotter. “But we should never feel we have to leave due to lack of jobs.” Cotter contacted local legislators and jumped in with both feet. He was elected to the Michigan House of Representatives in 2011. As he concludes his final term in the House, Cotter considers passing the road funding package one of his greatest accomplishments. He is extremely honored to have been elected Speaker of the House in November 2014 by his colleagues. “I am most proud to have played some small role in the transformation that has occurred in Michigan since 2011,” said Cotter.
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The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
Bridging the Gaps
Calculating
FRINGE BENEFITS Fringe benefits don’t receive much fanfare; always in the background and rarely applauded for the true value they add to employees’ compensation. This month Crossroads shines the light on fringe benefits; highlighting how these extras add up and providing a better understanding of their value in relation to labor costs. Fringe benefits include any additional benefits supplementing an employee’s salary. The major types of benefits include health insurance, workers’ compensation, and paid time off such as vacation, sick and holiday pay. Direct labor is the cost for work being performed, excluding time off.
CALCULATING FRINGE BENEFITS An employee is paid $20 per hour, the fringe rate for the road commission is 80 percent, eight hours of work (labor and fringe benefits only) costs $288. The breakdown:
A fringe rate is a ratio expressed as a percentage of the fringe benefit costs to direct labor. Road commissions have fringe rates varying from 60 to 100 percent, according to John Strauss, finance director, Kent County Road Commission. A fringe rate is a ratio expressed as a percentage of the fringe benefit costs to direct labor. Road commissions have fringe rates varying from 60 to 100 percent, according to John Strauss, finance director, Kent County Road Commission.
DIRECT LABOR: $20 x 8 = $160 FRINGE is 80% of $160 Direct labor = $128 TOTAL COST: $160 + $128 = $288 This method is used to bill customers of the road commission and to account for its project and service costs.
“When accounting for the cost of a project or service, the cost of the direct labor plus the calculated fringe cost is included in valuing the total cost of the work being done,” said Strauss. Strauss outlined the method used to bill various customers and account for the project and service costs. If an employee is paid $20 per hour and the fringe rate for the road commission is at 80 percent, eight hours of work (labor and fringe benefits only) would cost $288. Here’s how it adds up: Direct Labor: $20 x 8 = $160 Fringe is Direct labor: 80% of $160 = $128 Total cost: $160 + $128 = $288 “This calculation is used to bill labor to MDOT for state trunk line work,” explained Strauss. “It’s audited each year for those counties participating in the maintenance of state roads.” 26
Spring 2016
Crossroads
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Spring 2016
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The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
CUSTOMER
SERVICE IS JOB #1 Who are a county road agency’s customers? The residents who take local roads to work? The bus drivers who deliver kids to school? Legislators who help decide how funding is distributed? Or local economic development partners? Reality is: It’s all these people and more. Providing excellent customer service to all customers and partners of a county road agency should be the number-one priority. Good communication and relationship building will play pivotal roles in improving it.
How can your agency provide the best customer service possible? MAKE YOUR AGENCY ACCESSIBLE Whether it’s online through social media and email, or via phone calls and interviews, local residents (“customers”) want to know what’s happening at a county road commission or department. When there’s an event taking place or a project in the works, have well-informed staff available who can explain things in ways that are easy for non-engineers to understand. BE PROACTIVE Most of the time a road commission shouldn’t wait to be contacted on events and projects.
HIGHWAY CONFERENCE
Rather, be proactive. Reach out to customers and let them know what the road agency is doing, and how it may impact them.
Weds., March 16
This can be achieved simply with a news release at the outset of a major project. A more complex project may require creating a multiorganizational task force to develop community support before tackling a controversial issue. TALK IT THROUGH A service agency should never assume it knows what customers are thinking. Ask questions and talk with people impacted by road projects. Consider a leave-behind survey with a few multiple-choice questions and a comment field.
1:30-2:15 p.m. 2:30-3:15 p.m. Customer Service is Job #1 is the theme of a 2016 break-out session on communication. County road agency staff will talk about good customer service and best practices to engage and prioritize customers.
Whether at the lunch counter or the road commission, customer service is a two-way relationship. Comments from customers can point out areas for improvement, give new ideas to the road agency or even provide a “warm fuzzy” of resident appreciation.
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Spring 2016
March 15-16 2016 CRA Road Show The CRA Road Show is a must-attend trade show every company in the road business! MDOT, county and municipal road agency staff are invited to attend at no cost. Register for this free event at micountyroads/events.org. March 15-17 2016 CRA Highway Conference – Partners in Excellence More than 20 break-out and general sessions are planned at this year’s Highway Conference, set for the Lansing Center. Last year’s Highway Conference had more than 500 attendees! View conference schedule and register at micountyroads/events.org. April 17-19 48th Annual Commissioners’ Conference Learn and grow with your peers at the 2016 Commissioners’ Conference. Spread over three days, the seminar features nine sessions designed specifically for road commissions. At Kewadin Casino & Convention Center, Sault Ste. Marie. May 17-19 2016 Finance and Human Resources Conference Always a lively conference, this year’s Finance and Human Resources Conference will have sessions on best practices and emerging issues affecting county road agency personnel. At the Holiday Inn of Marquette.
For additional information on CRA Events, visit micountyroads.org/Events
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