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Kalkaska County Road Commission seeks $23 million for facility upgrades
Summary
Road Manager John Rogers told commissioners the Road Commission’s request for facility repairs and site work remains $23,000,000, citing needs for maintenance bays, administrative space and site improvements; commissioners pushed for cheaper alternatives, public education, and possible grant searches before a millage.
John Rogers, road manager for the Kalkaska County Road Commission, told a joint workshop of the Kalkaska County Board of Commissioners and the Road Commission that the agency’s current facility and site needs are substantial and listed architect/engineer reports and cost estimates supporting a $23,000,000 funding request for parking, maintenance/wash bays, administration and site work.
Rogers said five townships already have individual road millages that can support localized improvements, and he presented mapping and minimal-need cost estimates to the boards. Commissioners pressed for alternatives that would lower taxpayer impact and asked what has changed since the Road Commission’s previous request. Several commissioners emphasized the need to educate voters before pursuing another millage request and to explore grants or phased work as cost-lowering measures.
Board members also flagged safety and operational concerns tied to the current building, saying repairs or replacement would allow crews more time for roadwork. The workshop produced no formal vote on funding; commissioners discussed whether a future millage request should be held in November rather than August and sought more public information and options if a millage were to fail.
