The Ionia County Board of Commissioners has approved revisions to the Road Department’s budgeting policies regarding the construction of primary and local roads and bridges. The decision, made during a meeting on October 3, 2023, aims to simplify the financial processes involved in these infrastructure projects.
Linda Pigue, the Managing Director of the Ionia County Road Department, presented the proposed changes, which include a resolution to “grandfather in” local bridge funding applications submitted before January 1, 2026. According to Pigue, the revisions will alleviate financial burdens on townships by fully funding upgrades to primary roads and bridges through the Road Department, rather than requiring townships to pay a portion of the costs.
The previous policy mandated that for primary road bridges, the township must cover 50% of the local match, along with preliminary and construction engineering costs. Pigue pointed out that a similar stipulation had been in place for local road bridges since 2007. The revised policy, titled “Policy 03,” now states that all upgrades to roads and bridges on the primary road system will be financed entirely by the Road Department.
“This applies to all bridge preservation, rehabilitation, and replacement projects, including those funded by state and federal sources,” the revised policy specifies. It encompasses all engineering, permitting, and right-of-way expenses associated with these projects.
In contrast, the revised “Policy 04,” which addresses local roads and bridges, stipulates that local townships are responsible for all improvements and preventative maintenance. This policy remains consistent with previous practices, which require local governments to fund their contributions.
During the meeting, Commissioner Jack Shattuck expressed his dissent regarding the revisions, arguing that there was insufficient justification for the changes. He noted, “The policy we had in place worked fine for a lot of years; it just didn’t work okay for this one instance.” Pigue countered that the escalating costs of bridge repairs indicate a need for a policy update. She emphasized that many townships may struggle to afford their share of funding for local bridge replacements.
The financial implications of the existing policies were highlighted during the discussion. Pigue shared that replacing all 33 primary road bridges would require approximately $3,722,920, while the cost for replacing all 34 local road bridges would amount to $14,731,250. Several townships may face challenges in meeting their financial obligations, particularly when federal grants are not applicable to all related expenses.
“We applied for federal funding to replace a bridge that was going to cost $1,452,000,” Pigue explained. “There is a 5% local match, which would have required the township to pay half, leading to a cost of $72,600.” However, increases in associated costs, due to exclusions from federal grants, raised the total to $232,329, a burden that the township found difficult to shoulder.
Following the discussion, Commissioner Larry Tiejema suggested increasing the county’s road millage to help fund road and bridge improvements. His proposal did not receive immediate response from fellow commissioners, although it highlighted the ongoing concern regarding funding mechanisms for infrastructure.
The board ultimately voted 5-2 in favor of the revised policies and the resolution to grandfather existing applications. Shattuck and Tiejema opposed the changes, reflecting a divide among commissioners regarding the best approach to funding local infrastructure projects.
In addition to the road budget discussions, the Ionia County Board of Commissioners addressed several other matters during the meeting. They unanimously set the date for their annual organizational meeting on January 13, 2026, and approved a sleet sand contract with Top Grade Aggregate. Additionally, they renewed contracts for chip seal and fog seal services with Fahrner Asphalt Sealers, LLC.
As Ionia County navigates its road infrastructure needs, the recent policy revisions represent a significant shift in approach, aiming to provide clearer funding guidelines while addressing the financial constraints faced by local townships.
