The Clearwater Township Board is looking to be proactive about future road projects.

 

At a special meeting last week, they looked a 16 different potential projects that might end up on the “to do” list.

 

With about 15 people in attendance, Supervisor Scott Miller said the township currently has funds in its road and bridge fund that could be used for a project or number of projects.

 

“We have a little bit of money in reserves and we’re trying to figure out how we’re going to invest in the future,” he said. “We’re looking for input on possible road projects.”

 

Board members agreed input was important because residents were familiar with traffic patterns and road conditions in their area.

 

 Miller said the most recent big project, improvements on Illsley Ave., didn’t have the support of everyone in the township. 

 

 “There was a lot of opposition to the project. That was something that was started before any of us were on this board,” he said. “It passed, and that project ended up costing $250,000 for one mile of dirt road, and possibly more adding in engineering.”

 

He said the township had about $340,000 in the fund, and they wanted to get an idea which projects residents might be in favor of doing, if any.

 

“We don’t want to look back. We’re trying to look forward and figure out want kind of money we might need if we’re looking at bigger projects, or if we’re going to keep our levies the same.”

 

Supervisor Bill Langenbacher had put together a list of potential projects and maps indicating where they were.

 

The longest discussion focused on a potential project on 150th Street between Ferman Ave. and Grover Ave. The road has issues with frost boils and a lack of slope areas on the sides.

 

“You’d have to decide on the width and do all the ditch work,” he said. “And you have wetlands to deal with. You’re probably looking at two years from the time you start the project to the time you start  moving dirt.” 

 

Supervisor Rose Thelen asked about the cost of some of the projects. Langenbacher said he didn’t have any idea about costs yet.

 

“We have not put together any costs. Our annual meeting is coming up the first part of March and there’s quite a bit of money sitting in the accounts,” he said. “We currently don’t have any long range plans so we need to make some plans.”

 

Ludenia said he couldn’t even guess what the 150th Street project would cost. There was major engineering work to be done and permits from the Army Corps of Engineers involved.

 

“That’s going to be a major project,” he said.

 

A few people in the audience lived on 150th Street and said there were problems with narrow areas and areas that drop off.

 

John McCooley said because of all the gravel that has been put on the road over the years, the road is much higher than his driveway. He said now water runs from the road down his driveway.

 

 “I think if we were to get into this project, that’s something we can address,” said Langenbacher. “If we’re going to have to dig it up and put a mat down anyway, maybe we can do something about the elevation of the road as well.”

 

Another issue with the road is the location. It is a town line road, which means it would be a joint project with Silver Creek Twp.

 

 

There were two other town line road projects on the list: Re-shaping the road on Elder Ave. from Co. Rd. 75 to 160th Street and blacktopping on 162nd Street in the Mississippi Oaks development.

 

“If we decide to do any of these, the first step would be to sit down with Silver Creek and discuss shared costs with them,” said Langenbacher.

 

The board also discussed smaller projects that could be done with the township’s personnel, and potential chip sealing projects that wouldn’t require any major road preparation. The list will be available for further discussion at the township’s annual meeting  March 14.