The Ionia County Board of Commissioners voted on Tuesday to approve significant revisions to the Road Department’s policies governing the construction of primary and local roads and bridges. Managing Director Linda Pigue presented the changes, aimed at simplifying the budgeting process for these essential infrastructure projects.
The revisions to the existing policies include a new resolution that will “grandfather in” local bridge funding applications submitted before January 1, 2026. Pigue emphasized that the updated guidelines are necessary due to the increasing costs of construction and repair.
According to Pigue, the previous policy required townships to cover 50% of the local match for primary road bridges, as well as engineering and construction costs. She noted that this approach has been in place since 2007, but with rising costs, many townships are struggling to meet their financial obligations.
The revised Policy 03, titled “Construction on Primary Roads and Bridges,” now mandates that the Road Department will fully fund all upgrades to the primary road system, including preservation, rehabilitation, and replacement projects. This update encompasses all associated costs such as engineering, permitting, and right-of-way expenses, irrespective of whether state or federal funds are used.
Conversely, the updated Policy 04 places the financial responsibility for improvements and preventative maintenance of local roads and bridges squarely on the local townships. Pigue pointed out that this structure could lead to disparities among townships, as some may be unable to afford their required contributions.
During the meeting, Commissioner Jack Shattuck raised concerns about the necessity of these changes, arguing that the previous policy had functioned effectively for many years. He expressed skepticism about the need to alter a system that had worked well in the past. “Not all townships are the same, financially, and not all townships are the same, as far as if they have rivers or expressways with different bridges going to them,” Shattuck said. He suggested that maintaining the previous policy would better distribute costs among townships.
In response, Pigue countered, “If we have a policy that we have to keep coming back and saying, ‘We need a variance from it,’ maybe it’s time to acknowledge that policy doesn’t work anymore.” She highlighted that the costs for replacing and repairing bridges are increasing rapidly, making it difficult for many townships to keep up.
Commissioner Larry Tiejema echoed some of Shattuck’s concerns but also proposed increasing the county’s road millage to fund necessary repairs, though this suggestion received no immediate support from other commissioners. Ultimately, the board voted 5-2 in favor of the policy revisions and the resolution to grandfather existing applications, with Shattuck and Tiejema opposing the changes.
The Ionia County Road Department currently oversees 33 primary road bridges and 34 local road bridges. Pigue outlined that replacing all primary road bridges would cost approximately $3,722,920, while the total for local bridges would amount to $14,731,250. She reiterated that while federal grants are obtainable, local entities must still contribute financially to these projects.
In a notable instance, Pigue referenced a federal funding application for a bridge replacement project estimated at $1,452,000. Under the previous policy, the local match required from the township would have been $72,600, which would have been split with Ronald Township. However, with additional costs excluded from federal grants, the financial burden increased significantly, leading Ronald Township to express its inability to pay.
The board meeting also addressed other matters, including scheduling the annual organizational meeting for 3 p.m. on January 13, 2026, and renewing several contracts for road maintenance and repair services.
As the Ionia County Commissioners move forward with these policy changes, the impact on local townships remains a critical point of discussion, especially regarding their capacity to fund necessary infrastructure improvements.
