The Road Commission of Kalamazoo County approved a contract to pave one mile of 44th Street in Wakeshma Township.
The road is gravel today. Staff told the Board of County Road Commissioners it serves the largest dairy farm in the county, and that the Road Commission grades the road and applies dust control many times a year.
Staff said the farm and a renewable natural gas company that has leased part of the property are paying for the project. The company is building a methane digester that processes cattle manure. Staff said the digester will bring 11 to 12 tanker loads of liquid manure each day, seven days a week, on eight-axle trucks weighing about 160,000 pounds. Staff raised concerns about whether a gravel road could carry that traffic, particularly during seasonal weight restrictions.
The contract covers the full mile to the next intersection, rather than only the section nearest the farm’s driveways. Staff said the Road Commission did not want a paved section ending in the middle of a gravel road.
The Wakeshma Township board approved the contract at a special meeting. The township will not sign until it receives the two private contributions. The commission’s approval is therefore contingent on those funds arriving. Staff said the paving contractor is available this year, and they hope to schedule the work within about two weeks.
Commissioners approved the contract by voice vote at the October 20 meeting which can be watched in full on Public Media Network.
