Courtesy photo The Alpena County Road Commission maintains a road gravel road.

ALPENA – The Alpena County Road Commission has allocated $400,000 in matching funds for local road reconstruction, heavy maintenance, and road preservation projects.

Alpena Township is one of the eight townships in Alpena County that will contribute to the fund.

Alpena Township will contribute $131,974 to be exact. That number is based on 65% of the road mileage in the township and 35% of its population.

The distribution factors were calculated using 2020 census data and current local road mileage.

Matching appropriations in Michigan townships, often called township matching programs or local road participation funds, are voluntary financial agreements where a township contributes local funds to a county road commission to fund improvements on local roads within that township.

According to a memorandum from Ryan Brege, managing director for the Alpena County Road Commission, the road commission has requested each township obligate its share of the funds by May 8.

“That $400,000 is a 50/50 match between the road commission and the townships, the townships put up $400,000 , we put up $400,000 for a total of $800,000,” Brege explained. “That is split between eight townships.”

Matching funds not obligated after all townships have planned their projects, will be redistributed to those townships who wish to utilize them unless other arrangements are made.

As soon as weather permits, officials from the road commission as well as the township officials will seek out roads and projects that fit the criteria listed for eligible repairs.

“Once the snow melts and things start to tighten up, as far as roads are concerned, the superintendent that works under me will meet with township officials,” Brege said. “They will ride around on their roads and make recommendations on projects to do with that money.”

Alpena Township Supervisor Abbi Kaszubowski explained the township’s role in deciphering which roads will be repaired under the guidelines set forth by the road commission. She said she will be going on a ride with John Bygden, superintendent of the Alpena County Road Commission, to inspect road conditions and some up with projects to propose to the board of trustees.

“I should be going out with John Bygden in the beginning of April once the snow is gone to assess the roads,” Kaszubowski said. “He will provide a list of projects and then I prioritize them and present them to the board, and we decide what to do for the year.”

With Alpena township paying $131,974 or 0.33% of the $400,000 that means with the contribution from the road commission the township will be able to make approximately $263,948 in road repairs.

Local townships will make the following allocations for road repairs: Green township will contribute $38,097, Long Rapids $31,876, Maple Ridge $35,579, Ossineke $41,846, Sanborn $49,468, Wellington $16,279, and Wilson $54,882.

The operating millage rate for Alpena Township, which is currently 1.0103 mills, has remained at that level since the 1970s. The funds being allocated for road repairs via Alpena Township make up approximately 13% of their operating budget.