The Ionia County Board of Commissioners voted on October 24, 2023, to approve significant revisions to the Road Department’s policies governing the budgeting of primary and local roads and bridges. This decision, driven by the need for a more efficient budgeting process, was advocated by Road Department Managing Director Linda Pigue during a meeting that highlighted the rising costs of infrastructure maintenance.
The revised policies aim to streamline the funding process for road and bridge construction, with a notable change being the complete funding of upgrades to primary roads and bridges by the Road Department. According to Pigue, the previous framework mandated that local townships cover half of the costs associated with primary road bridge projects, which often placed a significant financial burden on smaller municipalities.
Pigue explained that the existing policy required local townships to pay 50% of the local match, as well as half of the preliminary and construction engineering costs for primary road bridges. This requirement, which had been in place since 2007, was viewed as increasingly untenable given the escalating expenses of bridge repairs and replacements. The new policy, titled “Policy 03,” will eliminate this local match requirement, allowing the Road Department to assume full financial responsibility.
In conjunction with these changes, Pigue also requested that the commissioners approve a resolution to “grandfather in” any local bridge funding applications submitted before January 1, 2026. This move is designed to provide municipalities with a smoother transition to the new policy while ensuring that ongoing projects are not adversely affected.
Despite the overall support for the changes, Commissioner Jack Shattuck expressed reservations, voting against the revisions. He argued that the previous policy had worked effectively for many years and questioned the necessity of altering it for what he perceived as isolated cases. Shattuck remarked, “The policy we had in place worked fine for a lot of years; it just didn’t work okay for this one instance.”
Conversely, Commissioner Larry Tiejema voiced his support for a potential increase in the county’s road millage to help fund necessary improvements. This proposal indicates a recognition of the financial challenges faced by the county in maintaining its infrastructure, particularly in light of the substantial costs associated with bridge repairs.
Pigue highlighted the financial implications of the changes, revealing that replacing all 33 primary road bridges would cost approximately $3,722,920, while the cost for replacing the 34 local road bridges would amount to around $14,731,250. These figures underscore the urgency of addressing funding mechanisms for infrastructure projects, especially as federal grants typically require local entities to contribute a matching share.
In a specific example, Pigue noted an application for federal funding to replace a bridge estimated at $1,452,000. Under the old policy, the township would have been required to pay half of the local match, amounting to $72,600. However, due to additional costs associated with engineering and design, the total contribution from local sources would have escalated to $232,329, raising concerns about the financial feasibility for many townships.
Shattuck cautioned against creating a system that unfairly burdens certain townships, noting, “Not all townships are the same financially, and not all townships are the same in terms of infrastructure needs.” His comments reflect a broader concern about equitable distribution of costs among municipalities, emphasizing the diversity of financial capabilities across the county.
Following the vote on the road policies, the commissioners also addressed several other items during the meeting. They unanimously approved a sleet sand contract with Top Grade Aggregate and renewed a contract for chip seal and fog seal with Fahrner Asphalt Sealers, LLC. Additionally, they voted to maintain annual payments for technology systems utilized by the county’s Central Dispatch.
The revisions to the road budget policies mark a significant shift in Ionia County’s approach to infrastructure funding, reflecting the pressing need to adapt to rising costs and the financial realities faced by local governments. As the county moves forward, the implications of these changes will likely be felt across its municipalities, influencing how road and bridge projects are funded in the future.
