Township supervisors in Muskegon County unhappy over downgrading of hard-surface roads

Township supervisors in Muskegon County unhappy over downgrading of hard-surface roads
The supervisors' frustrations came to a head recently when the road commission considered a proposal to crush four miles of hard-surface roads in Holton and Cedar Creek townships. The matter was tabled, and it remains unclear whether it will return at the road commission's Sept. 23 meeting.
Fruitland Township Supervisor Sam St. Amour said the problem is a lack of funding from the state, not the road commission.
Laurie Peterson, the road commission's maintenance supervisor, agreed. She said the road commission would rather repave roads, but a lack of state funding makes crushing some roads more feasible.
"There's just not enough money," Peterson said. "We can't keep patching the roads. All we'd be doing is throwing money into bad roads that are too far gone.
"We understand their frustrations. The ideal solution costs much more than crushing."
Holton Township Supervisor Mickey Noble said a two-mile stretch of Brunswick Road was crushed last year -- unbeknownst to him. He said he knew the project was under consideration, but found out from a resident that the crushing had already started.
"It's not acceptable to find out a project is already in gear," he said. "Why the township is honored to have their roads pulverized is beyond me. Give us a break."