Marshall County Council Does Not Act on LOHUT Recommendation

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Council has decided to step back and gather more information before moving forward with a Local Option Highway User Tax (LOHUT).

The LOHUT contains a surtax of the vehicle excise tax as well as a wheel tax. That money can be used to reconstruct, construct, repair or maintain streets under county, city or town jurisdiction.

Highway Administrator Laurie Baker and Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters Monday morning spoke to the council about the funding they currently have for road projects this year. Of the $1.2 million available, the county plans to pug 13.5 miles of road and pave at least five miles of road that totals just over $500,000. The rest of the funds will be used for materials, dust control, and other actions conducted by the highway department.

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Marshall County Commissioners Approve LOHUT Recommendation

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

In order to generate funding for county and local roads, the Marshall County Commissioners approved a recommendation to the county council to enact a Local Option Highway User Tax (LOHUT). A LOHUT contains a vehicle excise tax and wheel tax.

Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters said the county now operates with $850,000 for road projects. With the addition of relinquishment funds of $350,000, the county will have $1.2 million to chip and seal 13.5 miles of road and to pave five miles of road this year. The $1.2 million figure also includes dust control and the acquisition of materials.

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Marshall County Looking for More Highway Funding

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Highway Department will be looking for ways to get more funding to improve roads in the county.

Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters commented to the commissioners this week that the county has limited funds to repair county roads. He said there will be some roads that will need to wait to be repaired until next year because the funding isn’t there to provide a workable solution.

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Marshall County Highway Department Commended for Efforts

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners commended the highway department on their efforts during the weekend to keep roads clear for travelers.

Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters said the crews went out Sunday morning as opposed to Saturday night as visibility was low and cars were stranded in the roadways.

“At nighttime it’s hard to see especially with snow-covered cars sitting in the middle of the roads,” commented Peters. “Why jeopardize taking a chance of hitting a car sitting in the middle of the road?”

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Marshall County Council Supports Highway Department Purchase

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Council discussed the purchase of a pug mill when the members met Monday morning.

Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters gave the council paperwork on a used pug mill he found in Missouri. He said the machine was purchased by an individual who wanted to try something different with the machine, but it didn’t work out. The machine is now for sale.

Peters said the machine would cost $375,000 brand new, but this machine is selling for $285,000. It would only have a one-year warranty. The purchase of the pug mill would save the county money, according to Peters. When asked by Councilman Rex Gilliland about the savings, Peters said it could be realized almost immediately. Up to $250,000 could be saved in having the machine on-site and making road materials for paving and patching.

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Marshall County Highway Supervisor Getting Quotes for Pug Mill

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Highway Department will be working toward getting a pug mill to save money on paving costs.

Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters told the commissioners this week that they have been using Starke County’s pug mill and have patched roads with the stone, oil and sand mixture. Compared to a hot asphalt mix, having a pug mill will save the county thousands and thousands of dollars. He said the materials for other paving options are getting more expensive.

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Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Tuesday

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners will not meet today as the county employees will observe Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

When they meet tomorrow, the highway department heads will have updates on the wetland mitigation issue and the mill pond dam. Highway Administrator Laurie Baker and Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters will also have pug mill estimates and bid specifications for a loader.

Bart Trester from USI Consultants will present a fiber-optic conduit certification of completion for Glen Overmyer Drive in connection with the Metronet project. Curt Fey from Legal Shield will have a presentation and the commissioners will discuss the 2015 covered bridge certification.

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Marshall County Commissioners Sign Grant, Get Update from Highway Department

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners signed grant paperwork so EMA Director Clyde Avery can order equipment. The commissioners previously approved the 2014 Department of Homeland Security grant worth $20,000 to order newer 800 MHz radios to have on hand.

Highway Administrator Laurie Baker informed the commissioners that bridge inspections are ongoing. The department has gotten a bill for $78,967 for work already completed on the first phase. The inspections are about 60 percent complete. INDOT will reimburse the county for 80 percent of the cost.

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Highway Supervisor Gives Road Plow Priority List to Commissioners

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

Marshall County Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters gave the commissioners a map and a list of which roads are to be opened first in the event of snow.

The commissioners had asked for a list so they know which areas would receive attention first. They also asked Peters to forward the information to the sheriff’s department, EMS, fire department, and EMA Director for emergency planning.

Peters said that the main roads, Quince Road, 4B, Queen, Oak, North Michigan, King, Plymouth-Goshen, Iris, Fir, 9th, Overmyer, Olive, Thorn, Muckshaw, South Michigan, Lincolnway and others, would be open to traffic within two hours first thing in the morning.

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Weather Delays Jefferson Bridge Opening

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

It will take a couple of more days to open the Jefferson Street bridge in Plymouth.

Marshall County Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters told WKVI News that weather has delayed the completion of bridge work. The projected reopening date is now Wednesday.

Bart Trester from USI Consultants told the Marshall County Commissioners last week that the remaining items on the checklist include sidewalks and curbs. Crews also want to reseal the bridge deck to complete the project.

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Marshall County Commissioners to Meet Today

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Commissioners will receive updates on three major construction projects when they meet this morning.

Bart Trester from USI will have status updates on the 7th Road construction project, the Metronet project and the Jefferson Street Bridge rehabilitation project.

The commissioners approved paperwork at their last meeting to call sections of the Metronet project substantially complete. Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters told WKVI News last week that Beer and Slabaugh is working on the east end of the Jefferson Street bridge and that road should be open at the end of next week.

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Marshall County Highway Department Crews Busy this Summer

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The Marshall County Highway Department was busy this summer with the road program.

Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters told the commissioners Monday morning that crews were able to chip and seal 38 to 40 miles of roads this year.

“We pugged right around five-and-a-half miles, we paved a little over two-and-a-half miles. We used about 2,000 tons of milling for paving. We used about 1,500 ton of that for miscellaneous patching here and there. Roughly 1,000 to 1,500 ton we used for patching which offsets a tremendous amount of money in years to come as far as buying cold mix,” said Peters.

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Jefferson Street Bridge Rehabilitation Continues

Posted on Author Lenny Dessauer

The repairs to the Jefferson Street Bridge in Plymouth are on schedule.

Supervisor of County Highways Jason Peters told the Marshall County Commissioners on Monday morning that work is nearly done on the west side of the bridge.

“They’re actually hoping to have that end of the bridge done by Friday. Of course it will be closed for probably a week before that end will all be said and done. Then, they’ll start on the east end. On the east end, they do have the sidewalk off. I think, in previous years, they must have actually cut a hole in the cement and filled it with cement and it actually ran down on the gas line,” Peters said.

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