HISTORY OF THE BARRY COUNTY ROAD COMMISSION

(Complied by Betty Moore in 1986, Updated in 2009)

The Barry County Road Commission has a long and interesting history dating back to 1916. The following is an excerpt form the original minutes written on July 8, 1916.

The County Road Systems was adopted in the County of Barry at an annual election held on April 3, 1916. The Board of Supervisors of said County had determined by resolution that the members of Commissioners should be three.

The present Commissioners of the Road Board are Donald Willcutt – Chairman; D. David Dykstra – Vice Chairman; and Frank M. Fiala – Member.

George Burgess was hired as the first engineer on July 25, 1916. His salary was $6.00 per day plus necessary expenses. Over the years the Road Commission has had only 13 engineers. Lawrence West, an engineer hired in 1939 was given a leave of absence during WWII in order for him to serve his country. Our previous Engineer was Jack L. Kineman. Mr. Kineman returned to Barry County after serving as Road Engineer in Sanilac County for the previous 6 years. Mr. Kineman was originally an engineer for Barry County during the years 1971-1979. One other engineer Roy Dehaven, also worked for Barry County on two separate occasions for a total of 15years. Our current Engineer is Brad Lamberg P.E., Managing Director. Mr. Lamberg is a graduate of Michigan State University; with a Bachelor and Masters in Civil Engineering in 1993 and 1995, respectively. Before coming to Barry County in 1996, Mr. Lamberg worked in Barium and Newaygo Counties.

County Clerks and their deputies acted as Secretary of the Board until November 1, 1941 at which the time the Road Commission hired Spencer C. Scobey as Secretary of the Road Commission. Mr. Scobey worked in other capacities for the Road Commission before hiring in as Secretary of the Board. Mr. Scobey served as Secretary until his retirement in January 1, 1973. From October 1973 until December of 1979 he served as Commissioner of Road Board. Betty M. Moore served as the Secretary from 1973 to 1987 when Gary Vandecar assumed the position on Betty’s retirement.

The following excerpt from the original minute’s book dating back to 1916 described the procedure through which roads were adopted by the Road Commission:

“Resolved that is hereby determined that the Board of County Road Commissioners of Barry County take over and adopt as County Roads all that are being improved this year, and those being prepared for improvement next year (years 1917 and 1918) that same be advertised and the Clerk notify the Highway Commissioners of the several Townships in accordance with the provisions of Section 18 of Chapter IV Highway Laws of Michigan.”

In a five year period from 1930-1935 the Road Commission took over most of the roads previously maintained by the Townships.

In order to maintain the ever increasing road system the Road Commission depended on the manual labor of local residents. It was a common practice to take bids from County residents for both new construction and maintenance. When work was awarded to a certain bidder it was the bidders’ responsibility to employ his helpers and submit time sheets to the County Board. The helpers were usually local farmers and their team of horses. Snow removal during the winter was a major undertaking. Individuals were paid to shovel snow from miles of roadway. Over the years road equipment was acquired piece by piece and today the county owns a fleet of trucks and heavy equipment valued at over $7,000,000.

The Barry County Road System as we know it today has 341 miles of Primary Road and 727 miles of Local Road for a total of 1,068 miles of County Road; with 591 miles of paved road, 478 miles of gravel and 60 miles of all season road.

Originally the Barry County Road Commission was located in the City of Hastings on a lot on State and Boltwood which was purchased from Lillian Perkins in 1927 for $200. In 1935 the garage was enlarged to accommodate more equipment and to house office personnel and records. In 1936 the Barry County Road Commission moved from the County Court House into their own facility. This was to the County Road Commission home until 1965.

In 1956 100 acres in Section 13 and 24 of Rutland Township was purchased for $1,000 from Chester Peck which is now the site of the Barry County Road Commission. IN 1962 an office building at this location was constructed for a total of $33,858. The office was moved to its present location in August of 1962. The first radio system was also purchased in 1962.

In 1964 construction of a new garage was started at this location for a total $150,954.76. The complete operation was moved in 1965. The present facility, including the office, garage, salt storage barn, numerous outbuildings and cold storage, is valued at $9,000,000.

Insuring an operation as large as the Barry County Road Commission is a major expenditure for the County’s yearly budget. But insurance premiums are not new to the Road Commission. In 1918 the Road Commission was concerned about liability and took bids for liability insurance. A policy costing $2.37 per hundred dollars was acquired from John M. Gould. An auto insurance policy was acquired with Michigan Mutual through agent Charles Faul. Present insurance costs are approximately $200,000 annually.

Many other interesting facts are noted in the early records of the Road Commission.

In 1917 reckless drivers were a concern to the Road Commission. A resolution was made to instruct the County Sheriff to enforce the law and stop the reckless driving of automobiles and motorcycles.

Another little known fact is that Charlton Historical Park and Village was at one time under the jurisdiction of the Barry County Road Commission. In 1937 Park Committee members were Charles Leonard, Bert Brown, and Fred Stevens. In January 1938 a meeting was held with Walter Kingscott, Superintendent of State Parks, Charles Boulter, Landscape Architect, DeForrest Platt, and Irving Charlton to obtain recommendation of Park Development. As the park developed Mr. Charlton would bring the weeks receipts into the Road Commission along with the expenditures to be paid. The Park Commission was formed under the jurisdiction of the County Commission Board.

This is only a brief history of the Barry County Road Commission. In the nearly 100 years since its formation the Road Commission has grown from a tiny network of dirt trails and by ways to a highway system of today which the traveling public of Barry County can be proud of.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF MICHIGAN COUNTY ROAD COMMISSIONS SEE ATTACHED
Michigan Road Commission History .pdf

Page Last Modified: May 21, 2009 at 12:20 pm