Although the lowest bids for road resurfacing projects in Lake Township have come in under estimates, the township trustees may proceed with only two of four planned projects due to a tight budget in the road department.

Dan McLargin, roads supervisor, earlier this month recommended contracts be awarded to Gerken Paving, Inc., Napoleon, which had submitted the lowest bids for resurfacing portions of Lakehurst Drive and Latcha, Ayers, and Isch roads.

But the trustees last week postponed action on his recommendation until they could confer further with McLargin, who wasn’t at the meeting.

Vicki Schwamberger, fiscal officer, said the road department’s budget had $56,000 as of June 30, which was enough to cover salaries and basic operational costs. She told the trustees she’s estimating second half real estate tax collections for the department would reach $130,000.

Even with the infusion of tax revenue, however, the department’s budget would not cover the costs of resurfacing all of the roads. The Gerken bid package sets the cost for paving Lakehurst at $33,489; Latcha, from East Broadway to Tracy Road, at $96,017; Ayers, from East Broadway to Luckey Road, $85,669, and Isch, from East Broadway to Luckey, $37,835.

The trustees agreed to table the matter until McLargin could advise them on which roads were in the worst shape.

Schwamberger said the township won’t realize the full collection of a replacement road levy passed last November until next year.

The township’s finances also dominated another discussion by the trustees on what to do with a 2008 Chevy Tahoe purchased as part of a package of 12 vehicles from the Michigan State University Surplus Store.

Mark Hummer, police chief and administrator, purchased the vehicles on behalf of the township to replace police department cruisers destroyed by the June 2010 tornado and others that were going to be phased out of operation.

The MSU store offered a discount of $1,000 per vehicle if the township bought 12.

Chief Hummer said 10 vehicles were needed by the police department and one is being shared by the trustees and zoning department.

What to do about a request by Fire Chief Todd Walters for the 12th, equipped with four-wheel drive, was discussed for about half an hour.

Chief Walters had requested the vehicle to replace a Chevy Suburban used by the fire department.

The trustees opted to wait until they have a clearer picture of the township’s financial condition later this year.

Schwamberger informed them the fire department’s budget is already tight due to planned purchases of turn-out gear for firefighters, new radios, and training.

The Tahoes were purchased from funds in the police budget, she said, reminding the trustees that fund would have to be reimbursed if the vehicle was transferred to the fire department.

“I’m surprised you would entertain this. What are you not going to do? ” she said, referring to the pending expenses in the fire department budget.

In other business, the trustees approved a motion to thank Eric Barnum, of Crow Executive Air, for the use of airport hangars to store township property after the June 2010 tornado. 

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