Ionia County’s Board of Commissioners approved significant updates to the Road Department’s budgeting policies for primary and local roads and bridges during a meeting on October 3, 2023. The revisions aim to streamline the financial processes associated with road construction projects, as outlined by Managing Director Linda Pigue.
Pigue presented the proposed changes to the commissioners, emphasizing their potential to simplify funding arrangements. A key aspect of the revisions includes a resolution to “grandfather in” any local bridge funding applications submitted before January 1, 2026.
Under the previous policy, local municipalities were required to contribute 50% of the local match, preliminary engineering, and construction engineering costs for primary road bridges. The same percentage applied to local road bridges, a guideline that has been in place since 2007. The revised policy, named “Policy 03” and focusing on primary roads and bridges, now mandates that all upgrades on the primary road system will be fully funded by the Road Department.
This policy change covers all bridge preservation, rehabilitation, and replacement projects, including those financed with state and federal funds. The associated costs will now encompass all engineering, permitting, and right-of-way expenses.
Conversely, “Policy 04,” which pertains to local roads and bridges, stipulates that local townships will be responsible for the costs of improvements or preventative maintenance. This includes projects funded under the local bridge program with state and federal grants.
During the discussion, Commissioner Larry Tiejema suggested increasing the county’s road millage to support improvements on both local and primary roads. He expressed concerns about placing the financial burden solely on townships, which vary in their financial capabilities.
The cost implications are substantial. Pigue noted that replacing all 33 primary road bridges would amount to approximately $3,722,920, while replacing the 34 local road bridges would require around $14,731,250. Although federal grants are an option, they necessitate local contributions that some townships may struggle to meet.
For instance, a recent application for federal funding to replace a bridge costing $1,452,000 would impose a local match of $72,600, which was to be shared by Ronald Township. However, as costs escalated due to additional expenses excluded from federal grants, the total local match rose to $232,329.
Pigue highlighted the challenges faced by various townships in fulfilling these financial obligations, stating, “We have other townships that are going to be in a very similar situation, and I fully understand that not every township is going to be able to pay their share to replace local bridges.”
Despite the revisions passing with a 5-2 vote, dissenting voices were present. Commissioner Jack Shattuck expressed skepticism regarding the necessity of the changes, arguing that the existing policy had functioned effectively for many years.
“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,” Pigue rebutted. She underscored the rising costs of bridge repairs and replacements, cautioning that many townships may struggle under the new financial expectations.
In other matters, the Board of Commissioners conducted additional business during the meeting, including setting the date for their annual organizational meeting at 3 p.m. on January 13, 2026, and approving contracts for various road maintenance services.
The decision to revise the road budget policies marks a significant shift in Ionia County’s approach to infrastructure funding, reflecting ongoing concerns about financial sustainability and equitable resource distribution among local townships.
