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St. Joseph County Road Commission saved taxpayers more than $250,000 by overseeing a culvert-replacement project itself rather than contracting the job to an outside source.
The fact was one of many shared by Eric Shafer, chairman of the St. Joseph County Road Commission Board. He presented the agency’s 2022 annual report to St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Dec. 19.
The culvert was installed on Shimmel Road and filled a critical need for the low-lying area. Shafer said the culvert was 14 feet in height, 99 feet long and 21 feet wide.
Continuing through the report, Shafer noted the amount of work done in the county’s 16 townships in 2022. Tasks included road reconstruction, chip-and-seal projects, local asphalt overlay, crack sealing and local re-gravel work.
Shafer went on to identify a few notable accomplishments in 2023. He mentioned the agency completed more than 33 miles of new-road surface, it purchased land in Flowerfield Township for $455,000 with the intent of operating a gravel pit; and completed construction of an equipment barn at road commission headquarters.
Also worth noting, the road commission’s 10-year millage expires in 2024 and will be up for renewal. The 1 mill, Shafer said, allows the agency to offer a 50-50 match with townships willing to commit their own funds to cover half the cost of various road projects.
