Long Rapids voters face two road millages

Long Rapids Township residents will have the option of approving or denying two ballot proposals when they fill out their ballots on Aug. 5.

A one-mill road repair and maintenance millage will be on the ballot that allows the Alpena County Road Commission to regravel roads and do drainage and ditch projects.

Road Commission Managing Director Larry Orcutt said, from his perspective, the millage has been a success.

If passed, the millage is expected to raise $30,324.

"I'm hoping the people will be for it. To me, its a small price to pay when you're paying $30,000 to $40,000 for a vehicle and you're driving it on a road that's going to be rough," Township Supervisor Howard Lumsden said.

The second millage is for chloride-based dust control treatment of gravel roads in the township for 0.5 mills.

Lumsden said the millage was reduced from 1 mill to0 .5 mills because the township was raising more money than necessary for the dust control program.

The dust control millage would raise $15,162 for the program.

Orcutt said the millages don't raise enough to pave roads, but they do keep the existing gravel roads in good shape.

Keeping the roads in good shape also can improve property values, Lumsden said.

He said without the millage the township wouldn't even be able to do half the work they do with it.

If both millages are passed, residents would pay $1.50 per $1,000 of their home's taxable value. A homeowner whose home has a taxable value of $50,000 would pay $75.

The township has 42.4 miles of local roads, which doesn't include state roads such as M-65. Of that, less than one mile is paved.

Orcutt said some townships do pay for road improvements out of the general fund, but a millage guarantees money for road maintenance.

"I'd like to give them credit for doing it, it does really help out the road system in their area," Orcutt said, adding that Long Rapids is the only township with road millages.

Sean Harkins can be reached via e-mail at sharkins@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5688.