By David Fleet
dfleet@mihomepaper.com
Goodrich — On Monday night the Goodrich Village Council voted 4-1 to postpone a vote on a proposed heavy truck route ordinance around the village until October 2024. Council member Sherry Ann Moore voted no.
The proposed ordinance, introduced in July, emphasized safety of the village citizens, truck noise and vibration along with deterioration of those streets not designated for truck traffic. The ordinance would restrict vehicles with a gross greater than 10,000 pounds. Some of the excluded vehicles would be school buses, emergency vehicles, motor homes, farm tractors, utility service vehicles, road construction vehicles, refuse trucks while making pick-ups within residential districts.
The public hearing attracted about a dozen area residents that expressed their concerns regarding the proposed truck route. Their considerations for a possible route include the alternative usage of Perry, Green and Gale roads. Many comments focused on the congestion created at the Perry-Gale intersection in Atlas. In addition to sharp curves in Atlas the road also includes a stop sign at the top of a hill, a possible challenge for trucks. The alternative routes could also require M-15 traffic lights at both Green and Perry roads for heavy trucks. Also, some residents were concerned heavy truck traffic would damage and speed on the soon-to-be paved Green Road between Ridge and Gale roads.
Cindy Nance a Green Road resident who had driven a Goodrich School bus for 36 years, opposed the ordinance. The veteran bus driver expressed concern regarding the Perry Road hill and intersection in Atlas.
“I had a difficult time getting out of there with a bus load of kids,” said Nance. “Every day, every run. Then buses trying to get out onto M-15 from Green Road, those cars (on M-15) do not slow down to let us out. After thirty-six years I can tell you there will be a lot of terrible, terrible accidents that will claim a lot of lives if this is approved.”
David Lucik, a former village council member and longtime resident also opposed the truck route.
“If you think you’re going to get a traffic light at Perry or Green roads (on M-15) you’re crazy,” said Lucik. “You’re going to need lights at these corners (Perry and Green) roads if trucks are going to come through there. They just can’t pull out onto the M-15. Investigate this first and it might be better on the palate of (truckers) Johnson’s and Sons or Ken’s Redi-Mix.”
Shannon McCafferty, council president pro-tem, supported postponing the vote.
“I hear everyone’s concerns,” said McCafferty. “People have made valid points for us to re-look at the (ordinance). I don’t want to see more accidents in the community. But, it’s also the responsibility to protect taxpayer money and when we have to fund fixing main thoroughfare then have to special assess folks in subdivisions where roads are torn up. We need to think about everyone in the community. I don’t like to see my tax money wasted.”