COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) - Branch County Road Commission Manager Trent Arver has some concerns about legislation headed to the Governor that would make it easier for counties to eliminate Road Commissions.
Arver believes ultimately it should be up to voters to approve any such changes. The Governor requested the bills as part of the overall goal to save taxpayers money by consolidating government services. According to Arver, the local road commission continues to have a good working relationship with the county and townships, in serving the needs of the entire county road and bridge network.
Arver says the Branch County Road Commission has embraced the principles of asset management in determining road projects. He says gone are the days of fixing the worst roads first. Asset management requires that the right fix be applied at the right time to preserve pavement conditions.
Arver believes bringing the road commission under county general government would interject political boundaries into the decision making process, undermining the road commission's ability to base decisions on scientific principles.
The local road commission is already working at or below minimum levels of staffing. If the Branch County Board of Commissioners were to discuss this issue, Arver says there is nothing preventing them from putting this issue before the county voter, even if not required by law to do so. Road commissions were created by a vote of the public and Arver says they should only be absorbed, consolidated or regionalized with approval of the voters.
