For the second straight year, Orion Township will purchase gravel for some of their worst roads.
The board accepted a recommendation from their engineers last week to purchase up to $88,000 of 21AC stone, to be spread on five different roads across the township.
The Road Commission for Oakland County will spread the gravel.
‘The township has to do this because the county is unable,? said Trustee John Garlicki. ‘I don’t see this changing. They’re not keeping dollars around for gravel roads.?
Garlicki made the motion to move forward with the gravel purchase and stressed that the gravel must be applied to the roads indicated, something he said was not done last year (when the board spent $100,000 on gravel).
The roads getting gravel include Casemer (from Hemingway to M-24), Hemingway (from Clarkston to Casemer), Indian Lake (from M-24 to Barr Road to the township line), West Scripps (from Avon Glen to Amsbury) and Greenshield (from M-24 east to Freeman). The balance of the gravel is to be applied by the RCOC as they see fit.
‘I’m supportive of the whole thing, but my caution is that we didn’t budget for this,? said Trustee Matt Gibb.
‘The township is not in the road-making business,? added Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk, who said the board needs to look into whether the gravel purchases should be a permanent task.
Dywasuk was happy to see the board get some feedback from residents that were aided by last year’s gravel spreading.
‘Some residents acknowledged the efforts we’re putting in,? he said. ‘It was nice to see that there was some feedback.?
The money for the gravel will come from the township’s general fund balance and the board is expecting Oxford Township to pick up a portion of Stanton Road, near Baldwin Road.
Because of that fact, the board opted not to invest any more gravel into Stanton this spring, thus allowing Scripps and Greenshield to be added to the list.
‘The problem with the gravel roads in the township and the upkeep by the county is that they aren’t maintained as often as they should be,? Garlicki said. ‘They’re more like dirt roads then gravel roads.?