News Blog

Pictured: Darrell Cass and Tony Kakuk, accepting on behalf of Darrell Moilanen, PE

The County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan honored former Menominee County Road Commission (MCRC) managing director Darrell Moilanen, PE, with a Distinguished Service Award at CRA’s 2020 Highway Conference. Distinguished Service Awards recognize road agency staff and commissioners who have dedicated their time and service above and beyond their peers to advance the county road and bridge system in Michigan.

Moilanen joined Menominee County 27 years ago, retiring in February. He served as a member and vice chair of CRA’s Engineering Committee; member of the CRA Negotiating Committee; vice chair of the Canvassing Committee; former secretary and president of the Great Lakes Council of road commissions; as member of the Upper Peninsula Road Builders Scholarship Committee; and a member of the Roads+TM advocacy group.

“Throughout his nearly 30 years at MCRC, Darrell has advocated for county road agencies with thoughtfulness and dedication,” said Denise Donohue, CRA director. “He has gone above and beyond, and CRA greatly values his contributions in advancing the local road network.”

Brad Knight, director of planning/environmental concern, Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC), accepts the IMPRESS Award for Collaboration on behalf of RCOC. 

Craig Bryson, communications manager, Road Commission for Oakland County, accepts the IMPRESS Award for Communications on behalf of RCOC.

Danielle Deneau, PE, director of traffic safety, Road Commission for Oakland County, accepts the IMPRESS Award for Operations on behalf of RCOC.

The County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan honored the Road Commission for Oakland County (RCOC) with three statewide IMPRESS Awards at CRA’s 2020 Highway Conference. IMPRESS Awards recognize county road agencies that demonstrate innovation with special projects in communications, operations and collaboration.

RCOC received an IMPRESS Award in Collaboration for its “Oakland County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area Collaboration;” an Award in Communications for “RCOC Strategic Video Messaging;” and an Award in Operations for its project, “Cellular Communications Project for Video and Traffic Signal Operations.”

“RCOC applied its strengths in multiple areas to advance Michigan’s local road network,” said Denise Donohue, CRA director. “The agency’s innovative approach to solving county road issues has proven their dedication and commitment to our cause.”

Collaboration
RCOC helped found the Oakland County Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) in 2014 and has continued to help fund the organization. The Oakland County CISMA supports functioning ecosystems and improves quality of life through invasive species management. By partnering with this organization, RCOC promotes native vegetation, habitat management and roadside beautification for its community.

Communications
RCOC produced several informational videos to educate motorists, residents and businesses of Oakland County. Video subjects included winter road maintenance, gravel road maintenance and RCOC’s preservation overlay program. RCOC distributed the videos to local public access television stations, uploaded them to social media platforms and posted them to RCOC’s YouTube channel and website. They also emailed the videos to media representatives covering the county and all local, county, state and national public officials serving the county.

Operations
Over the last few years, RCOC has upgraded to a cellular-based wireless communications system to connect its “smart” traffic signals to its Traffic Operations Center. This new system is significantly improving signal operations, saving $500,000 per year, dramatically reducing the amount of staff time devoted to this function, and enhancing the system’s cybersecurity. RCOC is one of the first road agencies in the nation to convert its smart-signal system communications infrastructure from hardwire phone lines to cellular communications.

An independent panel of communications and operations experts from several of Michigan’s 83 county road agencies judged the projects. Award recipients were honored for projects that solved time restraints, labor costs, communication barriers and fostered collaboration.

Brett Laughlin, PE, managing director of Ottawa County Road Commission (OCRC), and Alex Doty, communications administrator of OCRC, accept the IMPRESS Award for Communications on behalf of OCRC.

The County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan honored the Ottawa County Road Commission (OCRC) with two statewide IMPRESS Awards at CRA’s 2020 Highway Conference. IMPRESS Awards recognize county road agencies that demonstrate innovation with special projects in communications, operations and collaboration.

OCRC received an IMPRESS Award in Communications for its “‘Countywide Road Millage’ Video” and an Award for Operations for its project, “‘The Undertaker’ Under-guardrail Cleaner.”

In its Communications project, OCRC created a video outlining the status of its current road millage to keep its Board of County Commissioners and the general public informed. The video provided information about the millage in an accessible way, allowing viewers to learn about past and future projects as well as how OCRC acts as the steward of millage funds. OCRC posted the video to a millage information webpage showcasing completed projects, a photo gallery and synopsis of the road millage. Over 1,500 people have watched the video on Facebook, and many others have viewed it on OCRC’s website and other platforms.

OCRC earned an Award in Operations for designing and building “The Undertaker,” an under-guardrail cleaner that addresses a long-standing need to efficiently clean and de-berm the area where debris builds up beneath guardrails. The machine has reduced the number of people and time needed for this work and has received positive feedback from OCRC’s staff and board.

“Ottawa County Road Commission has proven its dedication to innovation and the importance of informing its community,” said Denise Donohue, CRA director. “With creativity, OCRC is driving progress in our local road network.”

An independent panel of communications and operations experts from several of Michigan’s 83 county road agencies judged the projects. Award recipients were honored for projects that solved time restraints, labor costs, communication barriers and fostered collaboration.

John Rogers, manager of Kalkaska County Road Commission (KCRC), accepts the IMPRESS Award for Communications on behalf of KCRC.

The County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan honored the Kalkaska County Road Commission (KCRC) with a statewide IMPRESS Award at CRA’s 2020 Highway Conference. IMPRESS Awards recognize county road agencies that demonstrate innovation with special projects in communications, operations and collaboration.

KCRC received an IMPRESS Award in Communications for its “Community Report” project. The agency began producing a community report to inform residents of road improvements and road commission equipment upgrades. The community report is presented at monthly township meetings, county board meetings, and Rotary, Kiwanis and school board meetings. Residents now have a more accurate account of KCRC’s finances and roadwork plans, along with a better understanding of why and how the road commission operates.

“Kalkaska County Road Commission’s desire to educate the public shows its commitment to effective communication across the community,” said Denise Donohue, CRA director. “By presenting key information to residents, KCRC has become an example to other road agencies.”

An independent panel of communications and operations experts from several of Michigan’s 83 county road agencies judged the projects. Award recipients were honored for projects that solved time restraints, labor costs, communication barriers and fostered collaboration.

John Lindsay, managing director of St. Joseph County Road Commission (SJCRC), accepts the IMPRESS Award for Operations on behalf of SJCRC.
 

The County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan honored the St. Joseph County Road Commission (SJCRC) with a statewide IMPRESS Award at CRA’s 2020 Highway Conference. IMPRESS Awards recognize county road agencies that demonstrate innovation with special projects in communications, operations and collaboration.

SJCRC received an IMPRESS Award in Operations for its “Combination Tar Distributor/Plow Truck.” Budget constraints made it not feasible for SJCRC to purchase two tar distributors that were used only three months a year. SJCRC researched building two dual-purpose tar distributor/plow trucks that could then be used year-round. Collaborating with Etynre, Truck and Trailer Specialty Equipment and JX Peterbilt, SJCRC built the two distributor/trucks, meeting two objectives with one piece of equipment.

“Creativity and efficiency are important characteristics of any road agency, and the St. Joseph County Road Commission has proven itself a role model in these areas,” said Denise Donohue, CRA director. “Through collaboration and innovation, the agency has transformed its operations to run smoothly and efficiently.”

An independent panel of communications and operations experts from several of Michigan’s 83 county road agencies judged the projects. Award recipients were honored for projects that solved time restraints, labor costs, communication barriers and fostered collaboration.

Pictured: Jason Latham, managing director of Berrien County Road Department (BCRD), and Kari Bennett, BCRD business and finance manager, accept the IMPRESS Award for Operations on behalf of BCRD.

The County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan honored the Berrien County Road Department (BCRD) with a statewide IMPRESS Award at CRA’s 2020 Highway Conference for its development of a new project management system. IMPRESS Awards recognize county road agencies that demonstrate innovation with special projects in communications, operations and collaboration.

Berrien received an IMPRESS Award in Operations for “Master Project Schedule 2.0.” BCRD was in need of a more efficient project management system, which led to “master project schedule 2.0,” a computer spreadsheet tool that could provide assistance and guidance with its formulated asset management plan. Integrating project information in this spreadsheet has improved BCRD’s internal and external accuracy regarding the status or future planning of road construction.

“The Berrien County Road Department noticed a need at their agency to aggregate data in a new way and expertly used its resources to come up with something better,” said Denise Donohue, CRA director. “Their hard work resulted in a solution that helps the agency be more effective.”

An independent panel of communications and operations experts from several of Michigan’s 83 county road agencies judged the projects. Award recipients were honored for projects that solved time restraints, labor costs, communication barriers and fostered collaboration.

Pictured: Jon Myers, accepting on behalf of Terry Palmer, PE

The County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan honored former Midland County Road Commission (MCRC) managing director Terry Palmer, PE, with a Distinguished Service Award at CRA’s 2020 Highway Conference. Distinguished Service Awards recognize road agency staff and commissioners who have dedicated time and service above and beyond their peers to advance the county road and bridge system in Michigan.

Palmer has 40 years’ experience in Michigan’s transportation industry, having spent time as manager of MDOT’s Mt. Pleasant Transportation Service Center, an associate region engineer for the MDOT Bay Region and in MDOT Local Agencies Program before joining the Midland County Road Commission as managing director.

In five years with MCRC, Palmer worked on the county’s recycled plastic in roadways initiative, launched the Midland County Asphalt Recycle Center and relaunched the image of the road commission among other achievements.

“Terry’s dedication to the local road network and his experience on state highways have proved invaluable over the years,” said Denise Donohue, CRA director. “We are grateful for what he has accomplished, and we have all benefited from his innovative efforts.”

Joanna Johnson, managing director of Road Commission of Kalamazoo County, receives a Distinguished Service Award. 

The County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan honored Joanna Johnson, managing director of the Road Commission of Kalamazoo County (RCKC), with a Distinguished Service Award at CRA’s 2020 Annual Highway Conference. Distinguished Service Awards recognize road agency staff and commissioners who have dedicated their time and service above and beyond their peers to advance the county road and bridge system in Michigan.

Prior to joining RCKC, Johnson was assistant managing director at Calhoun County Road Department for over six years. She was appointed to the Transportation Asset Management Council (TAMC) in October 2013 to represent CRA and currently serves as chair. She has shown significant leadership as TAMC chair, and also serves on the Michigan Infrastructure Council. Johnson has represented the Southern Michigan Association of Road Commissions on CRA’s board since 2015, and is CRA’s immediate past president.

“We at the County Road Association appreciate Joanna Johnson, who has given of her skills and commitment tirelessly and selflessly to improve Michigan’s local road network, including an emphasis on asset management,” said Denise Donohue, CRA director.