Be it more gravel of eventual paving, Indian Lake Road is in need of some immediate improvement, residents say.
A group of concerned citizens addressed the Orion Township Board of Trustees on July 6, asking for some assistance in getting the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) to improve the road.
Approximately 100 citizens from Orion and Oxford, both of which use Indian Lake Road, along with the RCOC, Orion Township representatives, an Oxford Township representative and members of the Orion Historical Society met on June 28 at the Orion Township Library to discuss improvements.
At the July 6 board meeting, the residents presented a petition with signatures of residents who want the road improved. Some of the possible improvements discussed include adding more gravel or 21AA (a more durable gravel, drainage, crowning of the road, more frequent grading, and/or chloride immediately following each grading.
Supervisor Jerry Dywasuk said the township had received a similar request from residents on Clarkston Road, east of M-24.
‘The direction was to go back to the citizens in that area to find out exactly what they are looking for,? he added. ‘A majority wanted to improve without paving.?
Clerk Jill Bastian attended the June 28 meeting and had the initial impression that it would be to set up a Special Assessment District with the RCOC.
‘In the past we’ve been willing to be a facilitator if a issue was brought up,? she said. ‘We would then take it up with the (RCOC) on behalf of the citizens…to have a more official meeting.?
According to Dywasuk, the RCOC has 25 items on its strategic plan for Orion Township and that neither the Clarkston Road or Indian Lake Road requests for improvements were on there.
‘We, as a group, still in the future, long-term, would like to see (Indian Lake) paved,? said Indian Ridge Drive resident Jackie Doran. ‘But we’d like to see some improvements in the meantime.It’s very unsafe…A lot of people drive on the wrong side of the road to avoid potholes.?
Doran believes Joe Ferrari, representing Oxford Township, had asked Oxford engineers to contact Orchard, Hiltz and McCliment, Orion Township’s engineering firm.
‘To find the best way to improve the road,? she said. ‘But we’re residents, we’re not sure which way would be best.?
Bastian said the board of trustees usually has to authorize any use of their engineers.
‘And usually there’s a price tag with it,? she said, adding that Jim Stevens of OHM was at the June 28 meeting. ?(RCOC) has their own engineers. We need to know where the funds are coming from.
‘Jim Stevens was not there for free,? she added.
Dywasuk had asked Stevens to attend the meeting.
‘I felt it was important to keep the process going,? he said. ‘I think it was only fair to get you some answers as soon as possible.?
One resident brought up the issue of the bridge over Indian Lake at M-24.
‘That bridge is a check valve…if that is eliminated, you’re looking at 10 times the traffic,? said Dywasuk, adding that the township does not own the bridge.
Bastian said Oxford might be able to get donations of gravel to help improve the road. Doran said funds would also be needed for grading and chloriding.
‘It needs to be done one after the other,? she said.
Trustee Richard Tomczak said it sounded like someone was needed to coordinate what would be done with the road.
‘You’re asking us to take township taxpayer’s money to do something the county should do,? he added. ‘The ultimate responsibility for that road rests with the (RCOC).?
According to Doran, residents had made numerous calls to the RCOC over the years. ‘We’re not getting anywhere,? she said.
Dywasuk will correspond with the RCOC and Oxford regarding concerns raised by the residents, and report to the board by Aug. 16. The board will consider recommendations for further action at that meeting.
?(The supervisor) should report back to the board with the cost estimate for using our consulting engineers as part of this,? Bastian said. ‘Then the board could authorize something to happen to help the residents.A plan basically would come back to us with a price tag.?
Deputy supervisor Jill Verros told the board any options the RCOC gave residents would depend on the outcome of traffic volume studies.
‘They are doing one again in August,? she added. ‘The volumes might be too great for gravel (to be an option).?