Road maintenance is always an issue in Clearwater Township, and it was the main topic of discussion at Monday’s monthly township meeting.
The board of supervisors is currently in the process of establishing a list of road project priorities over the next few years.
Last month, they met with officials from Silver Creek Twp. to talk about projects on town line roads. Each jurisdiction has the responsibility to contribute to the cost of shared road projects, and Monday, Supervisor Bill Langenbacher said Silver Creek decided to move ahead with one such project - sealcoating Eldridge Ave.
The road is already paved, and crack filling was done a few months ago. At last month’s joint meeting, officials from both townships agreed it was better to sealcoat the road to give it a longer life.
Monday, Langenbacher said two quotes were received to sealcoat the road. Peason Brothers’ quote was $1.65 per square yard. Astech quoted $1.55 per square yard.
Langenbacher said Silver Creek voted to accept Astech’s quote. Clearwater Twp. did the same Monday. Langenbacher said the township’s share would be about $12,000. There is no specific starting date, but Maintenance Supervisor Mike Ludenia estimated it would be some time in July.
Another project discussed at the joint meeting was the potential chip-sealing of Elder Ave. and 160th Street. Neither township agreed to do the project, but there were a number of residents in that area (Mississippi Oaks) who were in favor it.
Monday, the board was presented with a petition signed by residents in the area for that potential projects. Of 61 affected residential properties, 87% were in favor and one percent was against. The other 13% couldn’t be reached.
Langenbacher said the board wasn’t about to make any decisions on the project, but the information would be considered when priorities were set.
Another source of information the board will be using in its decision-making is traffic. Monday, they received a report listing the most recent traffic counts in eight locations. The busiest area was 148th Street near Hasty with 376 trips per day. Grover Ave. south of I-94 had 291 trips per day, and 160th Street just north of I-94 had 250.
Other road counts: Elder Ave. - 289; 160th Street just west of Elder Ave. - 111; 150th Street west of Co. Rd. 7 - 74; 150th Street east of Co. Rd. 7 - 109 and 150th Stree east of Grover had 204. Those counts covered a six-day period in April an early May.
“We need to digest all these numbers and put it together with the other information,” said Langenbacher. He also suggested holding another special meeting just to talk about road projects.
Supervisor Rose Thelen said setting road project priorities was a complicated process with lots of moving parts - maintenance costs, safety, traffic counts and the township’s budget. She suggested inviting someone like a professional road project planner who could advise the supervisors about their priorities.
The board agreed if Thelen could find such an individual for no more then $350, they would invite them to the meeting, which has been set for June 7 at 7 p.m.
Other Business
In other action the board:
• Approved a temporary on-sale liquor license for the Clearwater Lions for the Clearwater Rodeo Aug. 18-20;
• Recommended approval for a re-zoning of a 35-acre parcel from James and Christine Anderson near Grover Ave. and Co. Rd. 7 from agricultural to rural residential.
