GRANT TWP. — While the ROTHBURY Festival may be on-hold this summer, the economic impact of past festivals on Oceana County will indeed be felt in 2010.
The Grant Township Board, Tuesday night, approved a motion to repair a half-mile portion of Water Road, from Wilke to Clay roads, using funds collected from the sale of ROTHBURY Festival tickets the past two years. Township Clerk Bill Wagner said the project could be finished by Memorial Day.
“The (Oceana County Road Commission) said (this portion of Water Road) was the worst part,” said Wagner Tuesday night. The 2,900-foot stretch will cost between $133,900-$150,000 to repair and resurface, said Wagner.
That’s where festival money enters the mix. The township collected $60,000 in 2008 and $65,000 last year directly from Madison House Productions, the firm charged with producing the event, which former township Supervisor David Woller said would be specifically earmarked for Water Road repairs.
Woller died late last year, and former township Trustee Roger Schmidt took over supervisor position in December.
Still, Wagner said the original plan for Water Road should remain. “This is money we got for this purpose from Madison House,” said Wagner. “And I don’t think we should renege on it.”
Normally, after a township constructs a road, the county’s road commission is charged with maintaining it. But, due to a shrinking pot of money the road commission may use for road repair, Wagner said the township would have to take it upon itself to see that repairs on Water Road are done.
The township has paid for similar road repairs in the past, most notably on 104th and 64th avenues. Wagner did indicate that the Oceana Road Commission may be willing to kick in any remaining balance to complete the half-mile stretch on River Road — between $9,000-$25,000; though the total cost of the project won’t be known until the job is bid out, he said.
Wagner added that talks about contributing financially to the project are also underway with Double JJ Ranch and Resort, which owns a considerable amount of property along Water Road.
The total length of Water Road in Grant Township is 3.5 miles, and the cost of paving the entire stretch would run over $2 million.GRANT TWP. — While the ROTHBURY Festival may be on-hold this summer, the economic impact of past festivals on Oceana County will indeed be felt in 2010.
The Grant Township Board, Tuesday night, approved a motion to repair a half-mile portion of Water Road, from Wilke to Clay roads, using funds collected from the sale of ROTHBURY Festival tickets the past two years. Township Clerk Bill Wagner said the project could be finished by Memorial Day.
“The (Oceana County Road Commission) said (this portion of Water Road) was the worst part,” said Wagner Tuesday night. The 2,900-foot stretch will cost between $133,900-$150,000 to repair and resurface, said Wagner.
That’s where festival money enters the mix. The township collected $60,000 in 2008 and $65,000 last year directly from Madison House Productions, the firm charged with producing the event, which former township Supervisor David Woller said would be specifically earmarked for Water Road repairs.
Woller died late last year, and former township Trustee Roger Schmidt took over supervisor position in December.
Still, Wagner said the original plan for Water Road should remain. “This is money we got for this purpose from Madison House,” said Wagner. “And I don’t think we should renege on it.”
Normally, after a township constructs a road, the county’s road commission is charged with maintaining it. But, due to a shrinking pot of money the road commission may use for road repair, Wagner said the township would have to take it upon itself to see that repairs on Water Road are done.
The township has paid for similar road repairs in the past, most notably on 104th and 64th avenues. Wagner did indicate that the Oceana Road Commission may be willing to kick in any remaining balance to complete the half-mile stretch on River Road — between $9,000-$25,000; though the total cost of the project won’t be known until the job is bid out, he said.
Wagner added that talks about contributing financially to the project are also underway with Double JJ Ranch and Resort, which owns a considerable amount of property along Water Road.
The total length of Water Road in Grant Township is 3.5 miles, and the cost of paving the entire stretch would run over $2 million.
