Discussion about the poor road conditions in Niles Township continued at Monday’s meeting of the township’s board of trustees.

Supervisor Jim Stover said it might be time for the township to take control of its own roads, instead of waiting for the federal and state government to come up with a funding plan.

“If we want to get this done we have to establish and make a commitment that we are going to get it done by doing it with our funds,” he said. “If we continue to wait for the governor or the president or whomever to give us $200,000 — it isn’t going to happen.”

One way to do that, Stover said, would be to ask voters to approve a local road millage.

“If we have a dedicated road millage and funds available to fix these roads we could take care of our own problems,” he said. “We aren’t looking at a two-year solution — we are talking five to 10 years. At least it is something big picture we have to look at.”

Township Clerk Terry Eull said he has no problem going for a millage, adding that the five communities in the county that levy taxes for roads have roads that are in much better shape that the township’s.

“I don’t think we could do it this year. We’d need to build a consensus and a platform and a plan to move forward,” he said. “I would love nothing more than to say we get $100,000 from this millage every year and what roads are we going to attack this year?”

Township Treasurer Jim Ringler said while he agrees the township can handle some of the road improvements, the state government needs to do a portion of the work.

“To put all the Niles Township roads in shape you are probably talking $20-$25 million,” he said. “The state kicked the can down the road in front of the elections and didn’t deal with the road issue. I hope the state picks this issue back up. Road repair is just so expensive that it was never meant for us to do it.”

Ringler suggested the possibility of making a special assessment more appealing to residents. Currently, a special assessment would need signatures from more than half of the property owners on a street. Those residents would pay 80 percent of the cost, while the township picks up the remaining 20 percent. Ringler said the township could up its portion to 50 percent.

“That is one idea you can float out there,” he said.

There was also talk of using a list compiled by the county of the roads that are in the worst shape to determine the priority of which roads to fix first.

Stover said the road committee would discuss these ideas further.

Also Monday:

• The board approved by a 6-1 vote spending $26,000 for improvements to Chamberlain Road from the landfill entrance to Rynearson Road. Stover said the fix would last approximately 20 years. Trustee Chris Vella said she voted against it because she did not want to spend a majority of the township’s budget for roadwork on one road.

• The Howard Community Lions Club, which is disbanding, donated $1,000 to the township’s parks department and $1,000 to the township’s fire department.

• The board set a public hearing for an industrial facilities tax exemption at 7:05 p.m. Sept. 2 for R&M Manufacturing, 2424 N. 5th St.

• Ringler said he is continuing to work on developing an ordinance for the River Valley Trail.

• County Commissioner Jim Curran reported that the life rings installed on the south pier in St. Joseph have already saved lives.

• Brian Schribner, director of Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service, reported that he is in the process of figuring out ways to reduce expenses and increase revenue. Schribner took over as director about a month ago.