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Road commission outlines four-year millage plan as residents press halt to roadside tree removals
Summary
Washington County Road Commission presented its four‑year millage-funded road program and asset-management approach, while multiple members of the public urged the county to halt roadside tree clearings and review herbicide use. Commissioners asked for more timely public reporting from municipalities that receive millage funds.
The Washington County Road Commission briefed county commissioners on April 15 about its four‑year plan for projects funded by the roads and non-motorized millage and answered questions on project selection and winter impacts.
Matt Maxel, managing director of the Road Commission, and Brent Schlack, director of engineering, said the plan prioritizes work by condition and asset-management criteria rather than visual distress alone. Schlack explained the commission’s condition ratings (1–10) and said more-preventive maintenance such as seal coat and mill-and-overlay extends pavement life at lower cost: "our goal is to extend the service life of the road and using those asset management practices," he said.
Schlack said the 2025 plan totaled about $5 million and the 2026 plan was projected near $5.5 million, combining township millage proceeds and Michigan transportation funds.
Public comment during the meeting focused on ecological and process concerns. Sheila Palowski urged the county to stop nearby utility and roadside herbicide spraying, saying the chemicals “cause cancer” and “contaminate groundwater,” and asking the board to require that Consumers Energy and contracted tree-service firms halt spraying on private property. Several residents from Silvin Township described rapid tree removal and voiced frustration with the road commission’s outreach. Norman Weber said he and neighbors felt “a cloak of secrecy” about work on Workner Road and criticized limited advance engineering explanation from commission staff.
Commissioners asked the Road Commission about city agreements for spending millage funds and reporting. Matt Maxel said cities submit reimbursement requests through the Road Commission and that municipalities were expected to report under memoranda of understanding, but some cities still had not returned signed agreements. Commissioner Scott and others asked whether the commission could hold more evening or public comment meetings to allow residents to attend; commission staff said meetings are typically daytime but they could provide more data and public forums.
What’s next: Commissioners asked county and road-commission staff to provide a follow-up on which cities have signed memoranda and to present project-level reporting at a future meeting so residents can see how millage proceeds were spent.
