Alpena County schedules public hearings on proposal to increase Road Commission from three to five members

The Alpena County Board of Commissioners on April 22 scheduled public hearings on a proposal to expand the Alpena County Road Commission from three to five members.

Administrator Jesse Osmer said a letter was sent inviting the Road Commission to provide input and noted the Road Commission has had three members since 1894. The board announced a public hearing on Tuesday, May 27, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. and another on Tuesday, June 24, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; the earliest the board would vote on a change is July 8, and any membership change would most likely take effect at the start of next year so it does not affect the 2025 Road Commission budget.

Alpena County Road Commission Managing Director Ryan Brege provided background materials; Road Commission member Jerry MacArthur said adding two members would bring additional expertise and "more wisdom to get the most of taxpayer dollars," while member Tom Spaulding said the commission has functioned adequately with three members. County documents included a comparison showing 42 road commissions have three members and 34 have five. County staff estimated the additional two seats would impact the Road Commission's budget by approximately $30,000.

During public comment Gary Goren of Alpena said he supports increasing the board size, clarifying he was critiquing the governance structure rather than the commission’s work. The board did not take a vote on the proposal at the April 22 meeting but set the hearing dates and outlined timing for a future decision.

Next steps: the board will hold the public hearings in the Howard Male Conference Room and the earliest possible vote on changing the commission's membership is scheduled for July 8.