UPDATE: INGHAM COUNTY - The abnormaly warm winter may provide Michigan with a chance to patch the states infrastructure.

Michigan is having one of its warmest winters in recorded history. With temperatures regularly above freezing that weather just keeps on giving, Bill Conklin, managing director of the Ingham County Road Commission, explained, “well really the whole ’11 and ’12 winter season has been fairly light. That’s what helped up save on our 2011 budget.”

During the 2011 calendar year their budget for winter maintenance, which includes salt and overtime, was $849,700. They ended up only using 73% of the funds leaving an excess of $228,667, and in 2012, Conklin explained, “we’re just a little bit below budget for the month of January. February’s numbers aren’t quite prepared yet, but I’m expecting we will be right on budget.”

So, what does the Ingham County Road Commission plan to do with these extra funds? Conklin said, “maintenance paving, and chip sealing, crack filling and patching of our roads. Ditching drainage improvements all those types of activities that we do in the summer time.”

Due to decreasing funding and increasing costs these excess funds can’t go towards larger projects other than filling potholes on major roads.

However, Conklin did express that Meridian Township will experience major renovations into 2012 and 2013 through various federal aid programs.

Those projects are set to begin in late March or early April.


ORIGINAL STORY: INGHAM COUNTY - The Ingham County Road Commission has plans for their excess winter maintenance funds. Watch Changing Seasons for more details.