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Council of governments discusses shared road patching equipment

HOWLAND — Cities and townships within the county’s council of governments may receive assistance for their road departments, thanks to a possible piece of equipment that could be shared.

Former Brookfield Trustee Gary Lees reported at Wednesday’s regular meeting that he had spoken with Jamie Fredenburg, the township roads department supervisor, regarding the hot box discussion officials had at a previous meeting.

Lees asked Howland Trustee James LaPolla if he had any idea about the cost of Howland’s hot box.

LaPolla said he spoke with Public Works Director Dave McCann and Fredenburg, and told them to get together because McCann said he had no problem sharing it, so long as they purchased the raw materials.

LaPolla said the debate was going to be whether they let communities borrow the hot box and utilize their own manpower, or if they’d have to pay for Howland Township’s labor costs.

Lees said he told Fredenburg that after the last meeting, they expressed interest in having shared equipment.

Lees added that they could send out a letter to the COG’s membership and see what kind of response they get.

From there, they would have to set costs for rental use — which LaPolla said he was going to bring about once he knew McCann and Fredenburg talked.

Lees recalled that there was a good deal of interest in sharing equipment at the last meeting the group had a good turnout for.

“That would certainly be a good start for us, since we’re kind of wanting to keep our membership interest up,” Lees said. “With how much they’re (communities) having to put in to keep our membership flowing.”

Hubbard Councilman Jerome Crowe, D-at Large, said he wasn’t aware the COG was in the market for a hot box, but the city bought one.

Crowe said he was told $39,000 was the cost, but it also has a crack sealer, which helped drive up the cost.

LaPolla said while the COG doesn’t have the means to buy a hot box, he suggested Lees try and write a grant to get funds.

“I do think we have enough for a match if they want, 10%, 25% match, I do think we have enough in that element,” LaPolla said. “Then we would more than likely keep it in a central location.”

With 25 governing bodies in the COG, and Howland Township and the City of Hubbard having their own hot boxes, it would cost approximately $2,500, LaPolla said.

Starting at $3.23/week.

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