Charlevoix County closes damaged section of Wheelway and hires Machin Engineering for $10,800 inspection

The Charlevoix County Board of Commissioners voted to close a damaged section of the Wheelway bike trail effective the afternoon of Nov. 12, 2025, and approved a Professional Services Agreement with Machin Engineering for a structural inspection in the amount of $10,800. The motion, moved by Commissioner Scott Hankins and seconded by Commissioner Annemarie Conway, carried on a roll call vote of 5-0.

Parks Manager Jim Spires presented an email from Team Elmers outlining next steps to assess trail damage and recommended engaging Machin Engineering for a deeper study to identify underlying causes. The board’s action both closes the affected segment to users and funds an engineering inspection aimed at determining whether repair, reconstruction, or additional remediation is required.

The decision followed the board’s approval to amend the agenda to include the Machin Engineering contract review and to allow public comment on all agenda items during the first public comment period. The motion authorizes the county to proceed with the inspection; the transcript records that the motion carried but does not include a projected timeline for the inspection report or next steps for repairs.

The board’s action was presented as a safety and investigative measure; no contractor schedule, repair estimate, or funding source beyond the $10,800 inspection fee is specified in the meeting record. The board did not, in the recorded segments, direct staff to a specific repair timeline or interim signage plan beyond closing the damaged section.