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Mackinac County residents urge adding two Road Commission members after complaints about flooded Swede Road
Summary
At a special April 17 meeting in Cedarville, about 26 residents urged the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners to expand the County Road Commission from three to five members to improve local representation and address widespread maintenance complaints; the board said it can appoint members who must run in 2026 and will hold another public hearing in St. Ignace.
CEDARVILLE, Mich. — About 26 residents urged the Mackinac County Board of Commissioners on April 17 to expand the County Road Commission by two members, arguing the change would give each of the county’s five districts direct representation and improve road maintenance.
The special meeting, called to order by Chair Mike Patrick at 6:30 p.m. at the Clark Township Community Center, included roll call by County Clerk Hillary Vowell. Commissioners Austin Kimberling, John Kling, Mike Patrick and Judy St. Louis-Scott were present; Daryl Schroeder was absent. The agenda was approved on a motion by Commissioner Austin Kimberling, seconded by Commissioner John Kling; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally.
Residents repeatedly pressed the board about the condition of county roads. Multiple attendees singled out Swede Road, which they said is currently under water because of a beaver dam and melting snow, and asked for more attention to maintenance. "There needs to be more common sense when it comes to road maintenance," one resident said. Another said some county roads are "beyond repair."
Many speakers expressed support for increasing the Road Commission to five members so each district would be represented, mirroring the county board’s district-based structure. Several residents also urged the board to consider term limits for Road Commission members.
The commissioners told attendees the board has the authority to appoint additional members if it decides to do so and noted that any appointed members who wish to remain on the commission would have to run for election at the next general election in 2026. The board did not take a formal vote on changing the commission’s size at the April 17 meeting.
Commissioner Kimberling said the board plans to hold one more public hearing, to be centrally located in St. Ignace in the coming months, to gather additional public input before any decision. The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m. on a motion by Commissioner Kimberling, seconded by Commissioner Kling; the transcript records the adjournment time but does not provide a roll-call vote tally.
Next steps: The board will schedule the announced St. Ignace hearing and consider public input before determining whether to expand the Road Commission or pursue other changes.
