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Country roadsBy MaryHelen Swanson Run into 5th District Commissioner Mike Robinson almost anywhere these days and youíll find him talking to someone about roads. In particular, the roads in his district which includes Rush City and Harris areas, areas where people have been promised paved roads for decades and are still driving on gravel. Robinson was found discussing roads in his district last Saturday at the Dennis Kirk Customer Appreciation Day in Rush City. He said with a few exceptions, almost all of the conversations with his constituents are about roads. At the board room in Center City Robinson has been fighting for months for more paved roads up north. He has reminded the other commissioners that some people have been waiting for paved roads through several generations. He also told them that some of the roads in his district are nearly impassable and dangerous. He has been urging the county board to bond for the money to pave at least some of the roads in his district. He said Saturday, if only half were paved it would help. The numbers He recently asked the county engineer, Mic Dahlberg, for a list of the number of miles in each commission district that are still gravel. No surprise to Robinson, the total of gravel roads in his district added up to 47.03 miles. That included 14 different roads. In comparison, District 1 (Tom Delaney) has 6.88 miles, District 2 (Bob Vande Kamp) 26.25, District 3 (Bob Gustafson) .8 miles, and District 4 (Ben Montzka) 1 mile. These totals, noted Dahlberg as he put the list together, are the remaining gravel roads after the base stabilization program is completed this year. Robinson has been talking with Carolyn Drude of Ehlers and Associates, financial consultants to the county, about a bonding program that would have minimal impact on the present citizens of the county. He emphasizes time and again that he would like to see the road bonds wrapped around existing financing so the bulk of the cost would be covered by new residents moving into the county in coming years. A ray of hope Just this week, on Monday, County Road 65, the Fish Lake beach road, was paved. Resident Chic Bellinger, who lives by the beach and park, was ecstatic. He said heís been waiting for 22 years and finally ìnext yearî came. He was so excited about it he had his photo taken as the road was under construction. Commissioner Robinson says he is intent on seeing other roads in his district get improved and he vows to continue his diligent work toward that end. ©ECM Post Review |