As work recently began to reconstruct 1 mile of 19th Street, one resident there told Otsego Township board members Monday, July 11, the work was an unexpected burden.
Bob Schuler told board members, “My wife tried to leave this morning and couldn’t get out of her driveway. It was something like a 4-foot drop-off.”
He said he understood the contractor had committed to having any driveways passable by 4 p.m. on the same day during the project, but that didn’t help his wife get out to do what she needed to do that day.
The work is the first part of a two-year project to reconstruct and pave 19th Street from 108th Avenue north 1 mile. This year, the reconstruction portion will cost approximately $390,000. Then the project, which will also replace several culverts, will be allowed to settle over the winter and be paved next year.
Part of the difficulty Schuler said he faced was no one he spoke with seemed to know why certain decisions had been made.
He said he had called the Allegan County Road Commission and found out they were supposed to have sent his house a letter in January or February about what would be happening along his road. He does not recall receiving it.
In the last week or so, crews had removed and relocated his mailbox, setting it back up a mile away at the north end of the project. Schuler said officials at the Post Office appeared to not know why the mailboxes had been relocated there.
Sabrina Todd, a spokesperson for the Postal Service said, “During construction projects, the Postal Service works with construction crews to ensure delivery and mailing services continue for our customers.”
Otsego Post Master Anne Kyes-Hill said, “The goal was to make sure the boxes were accessible and safe for both carriers and customers.
“We appreciate everyone’s cooperation during this time.”
Otsego township supervisor Bryan Winn said the road commission was handling the details on the project.
“A lot of these things are out of our hands,” Winn said. “We approve the amount, but they hire the contractor.”
Board trustee Lori Bumgart said the road commission needed to answer this complaint.
“I think we need to hold them accountable here,” she said. “They need to cough up this letter. I’m sure you’re probably not the only one who maybe doesn’t understand what’s happening out there, and they’re entitled to know... with some kind of explanation about these mailboxes—because that’s just not right.”
Winn said Friday the road commission had provided the township with a copy of the letter sent to residents.
Road commission managing director Larry Brown said the mailbox relocation was standard practice on major projects such as this.
“We move the trees, cut ditches, put in new culverts,” he said later on Monday. “The mail boxes are moved wherever the post office says to move them; I believe the contractor speaks with the mail carrier to help determine the best location.”
Brown said the mailboxes would be returned to their original locations when the road is reopened for traffic. In this case, he estimated that would take another eight to 10 weeks for major projects like these.
Winn said Friday he hoped to speak with Chef Container, which picks up the curbside recycling bins in the township, to find out what can be arranged for pickups.
In the meantime, Schuler said he feels like his only option is to put a series of holds on his mail; the Post Office only allows holds of up to 30 days at a time separated by five days.
Township board members later voted down a proposal by the project’s contractor, which had suggested extending the project another 550 feet north; it had even offered to delay billing for that portion of the work next year.
Winn said it was suggested because of the size of the change in grade at the current stopping point.
Extending the project that far north, however, would necessitate replacing another large culvert. The added reconstruction plus that culvert work would cost $73,000.
“We’re going to be talking next month about our five-year plan; this doesn’t really fit into that,” Winn said. “We don’t have a road budget set for next year, but we know—when the safety grant comes through—have to do the matching funds for a 108th Avenue, the paving for 19th Street.
“It’s nice of him to offer, but it’ll throw a wrench in our plans.”
Bumgart said, “Yeah, I think that money could be used someplace better than there.”
Township clerk Cindy Hunt said, “We set the project there because we knew that culvert was there and we didn’t want to replace it.”
Contact Ryan Lewis at rmlewis@allegannews.com or (269) 673-5534.
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