By By NORMA LERNER / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS – Cass County Road Commissioners heard some good news on Thursday.
Several roads in the county will be improved at the expense of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) in four townships, Pokagon, LaGrange, Silver Creek and Wayne.
"We get several roads paved because they are of importance to the tribe (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians), even though they are off of tribal roads," said Joseph Bellina III, engineer-manager of the road commission.
Bellina said at a road commission meeting Thursday there is a required contract to be signed by the road commission chairman which was done by Chairman Robert Powers.
"It's good news. The tribe has been good community citizens," he said.
Bellina said there is a mixture of primary and local roads; however, once they are resurfaced, the BIA does no follow-up road maintenance. This must be done by the county, he said. The routes in the contract are important to the tribe since they serve the tribal community, businesses and members' homes, Bellina added.
Bellina noted there is a band in Wisconsin that realized this money was available, but no one went after it. He said there was $.75 million because no one was spending it.
Bellina said there is no downside to the contract. The tribe does not ask for any ownership or doesn't ask for additional money. "I don't see how this could hurt us at all," he said.
Bellina said approximately 80 percent of the roads are being looked at in Pokagon Township; 35 percent in LaGrange Township; 60 to 70 percent in Silver Creek Township; and 25 percent in Wayne Township.
The BIA is federal tax money.
Roads to be improved as funding becomes available are Indian Lake Road, 5.5 miles; Peavine Street, 9.1 miles; Sink Road, 4.4 miles; Crystal Springs Street, 3.6 miles; Rudy Road, 4.6 miles; Gage Street, 2.5 miles; Klumbis Road, 2.1 miles; Champlain Road, 1.5 miles; Park Place, 0.5 mile; Mathews Street, 1.5 miles; Wilbur Hill Road, 4.3 miles; Dailey Road, 4.8 miles; Wells Road, 3 miles; Wood Road, 0.9 miles; Reynolds Road, 1.1 miles; Hampshire Road, 3 miles; Dewey Road, 2 miles; Beason Street, 6.1 miles; Pokagon Road, 8.4 miles; Garrett Road, 5.8 miles; Dewey Lake, 3 miles; Atwood Road, 2.5 miles; Swamp Street, 1.1 miles; Middle Crossing Road, 5.8 miles; Townhall Road, 2.5 miles; Downey Street, 2.2 miles; Topash Street, 2 miles; Leach Road, 1.5 miles; Indian Trail, 1.6 miles; Frost Street, 3.2 miles; and California Road, 2.1 miles.
In other matters, Howard Township resident and former Cass County Commissioner Dale Lowe asked the road commission to take a look at the public easement on Lake Shore Drive at Barron Lake since it appears there are rocks placed in the road right of way on one side of the easement and snow piles from a driveway apparently placed on the other side.
Bellina responded that the road commission will check it out and let the abutting property owners know that this is not to be done.
It was also asked by County Commissioner Gordon Bickel if private snow fences could be placed to prevent drifting on private properties.
This was particularly asked along Hilltop Road in Porter Township.
Bellina said for property owners to call, and the road commission will advise how far back to put the fences that would be most effective.
He noted that these fences must be off the right of way.