Plans for Road Improvement will be posted after the County meeting in the spring.
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Board of Road Commissioners Meeting
County Services Building
January 14, 2026
The Organizational Meeting of the Oceana County Board of Road Commissioners was called to order by the Board Clerk, Renee Curtis, at the County Services Building at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all.
Members present: Myers, Gowell, Koch
Members absent: Heykoop, LaFever
Staff present: Timmer, Curtis, Shafer, Terryn, Frick.
Visitors: Dave Leonard, Colfax Township Supervisor; Lance VanSickle, Elbridge Township Supervisor;
Michael Bosch, Hart Township Resident; Stephanie Hughes, Golden Township Resident.
TOTAL: 4 visitors.
The Board Clerk asked for nominations for Chairman of the Board of the Oceana County Road Commission for fiscal year 2026.
Commissioner Gowell nominated Commissioner Myers for Chairman of the Board of the Oceana County Road Commission for fiscal year 2026. Commissioner Koch seconded the Motion. There were no other nominations.
Roll call vote: Gowell – yes; Koch – yes; Myers – yes; Heykoop – absent; LaFever – absent.
Motion carried.
Chairman Myers then asked for nominations for Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Oceana County Road Commission for fiscal year 2026.
Commissioner Koch nominated Commissioner Gowell for Vice-Chairman of the Board of the Oceana County Road Commission for fiscal year 2026. Chairman Myers seconded the Motion. There were no other nominations.
Roll call vote: Koch – yes; Myers – yes; Gowell – yes; Heykoop – absent; LaFever – absent.
Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion by Gowell and supported by Koch to approve the following Agenda items for discussion.
- Tunnel Under Stony Lake Road (M-20) Bids
Roll call vote: Gowell – yes; Koch – yes; Heykoop – absent; LaFever – absent; Myers – yes.
Motion carried.
CITIZEN’S PARTICIPATION
Michael Bosch asked about new road funding package, specifically gas sales tax distribution.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion by Gowell and supported by Koch to approve the Minutes of the December 30, 2025 Regular Board Meeting.
Roll call vote: Gowell – yes; Koch – yes; Heykoop – absent; LaFever – absent; Myers – yes.
Motion carried.
APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS
The Revenues & Expenditures Report and Cash Flow Statement were given to the Board members to review.
Motion by Koch and supported by Gowell to approve the following Vouchers as presented.
Voucher No. 72466 (Payroll) $ 767.83 Voucher No. 72467 (Payroll – pro-rated HSA) $ 1,001.33
Voucher No. 72468 (Accounts Payable) $ 97,472.41
Voucher No. 72469 (Payroll) $ 130,790.28
Voucher No. 72470 (Accounts Payable) $ 174,090.35
Total $ 404,122.20
Roll call vote: Koch – yes; Gowell – yes; Heykoop – absent; LaFever – absent; Myers – yes.
Motion carried.
RESOLUTION NO. 1 – TUNNEL UNDER STONY LAKE ROAD (M-20) BIDS
Motion by Gowell and supported by Koch to award the M-20 Pedestrian Tunnel Box Culvert Project to Davis Construction, Inc. in the amount of $1,619,329.00 which is the low bid. Davis Construction, Inc. is an MDOT pre-qualified bridge contractor.
Roll call vote: Gowell – yes; Koch – yes; Heykoop – absent; LaFever – absent – yes; Myers – yes.
Motion carried.
STAFF REPORTS
The State removed snow and ice, patched roads.
The M-20 and Hart crews removed snow and ice, trimmed brush, cold patched with hot box, used ice blades on gravels with trucks and grader.
Engineering opened bids for M-20 Tunnel, worked on sign safety upgrades project punch list, coordinated utilities on Longbridge Fisherman Platform and EGLE Generator Number, developed several township estimates, worked on BUILD Grant quantities, construction schedule and traffic counts and narrative, coordinated meeting with City of Hart regarding utilities on Polk Road, imposed seasonal weight and speed restrictions.
Traffic Services supervised sign crew (County and State work) for snow and ice removal, worked on asset management, Road Soft and permits, sign repairs, supervised retro-reflectivity sign stop sign and stop aheads in Benona township, upgrades in Golden township.
Finance/HR are training new office staff that have begun to work.
Managing Director reviewed bills and finances with Assistant Managing Director-CFO and Accountant, had meeting with grant writing team for Build Grant, worked on Build Grant budget, quantities and estimate, put four (4) employees through CDL school – one (1) Mechanic, one (1) employee who needed an upgraded license, and two (2) new employees. All passed and two new employees are plowing snow.
Managing Director did initial paperwork for 401/457 transfer.
Assistant Managing Director-CFO and Accountant worked on year-end close out.
Chairman Myers asked if there was any further business to come before the Board. There being none, the Meeting was adjourned by Chairman Myers at 10:27 AM.
Respectfully submitted.
________________________________ ______________________________
RENEE CURTIS WILLIAM MYERS
Assistant Managing Director-CFO Chairman
______JANUARY 28, 2026_________