UPDATE: The Ionia County Board of Commissioners has just voted to revise vital road budget policies, impacting the construction of primary and local roads and bridges. This urgent update comes as Managing Director Linda Pigue successfully advocated for changes aimed at simplifying funding processes during a meeting held on October 24, 2023.
These revisions are crucial for the county’s infrastructure, as they address significant financial burdens faced by local townships. The new policies will ensure that upgrades to the primary road system will be fully funded by the Road Department, alleviating the financial strain on local townships that have struggled to meet existing cost-sharing requirements.
“The cost of replacing and repairing bridges is skyrocketing, and I just don’t think most townships are going to be able to afford this,” Pigue emphasized during the session. The revision includes a resolution that “grandfathers in” local bridge funding applications submitted before January 1, 2026, providing essential support for ongoing projects.
In stark contrast, the revised Policy 04 mandates that local townships are responsible for all improvements and preventative maintenance on local roads and bridges. This policy shift has sparked debate among commissioners, with Jack Shattuck expressing concerns that the new requirements could disproportionately affect financially weaker townships.
“This applies to all bridge preservation, rehabilitation, and replacement projects, including those constructed with state and federal funds,” the revised policies state. The cost of replacing all 33 primary road bridges is estimated at $3,722,920, while 34 local road bridges would cost about $14,731,250.
Pigue also highlighted the financial challenges faced by local governments when applying for federal funding, which often requires a local match. She explained, “We applied for federal funding to replace a bridge that was going to cost $1,452,000,” noting that the local match would have been a burden for townships like Ronald Township.
The urgency of these policy updates reflects the escalating costs associated with road and bridge maintenance, which have become increasingly burdensome for local municipalities. As Commissioner Larry Tiejema pointed out, many townships are already grappling with limited resources to fund essential services like fire departments.
In response to the growing concerns, Tiejema proposed increasing the county’s road millage to help fund improvements, although this suggestion did not receive immediate support from fellow commissioners. The board ultimately approved the policy revisions with a vote of 5-2, with Shattuck and Tiejema opposing the changes.
As Ionia County faces the pressing need for infrastructure improvements, these policy revisions are a significant step towards ensuring that road and bridge projects can move forward without placing undue financial strain on local governments.
NEXT STEPS: Residents and local officials will be closely monitoring the implementation of these new policies, as they will have a direct impact on the county’s ability to maintain and improve its critical infrastructure. With the clock ticking towards 2026, the urgency for effective funding solutions has never been more apparent.
