Where you belong. It’s the slogan of Ottawa County, and residents will tell you that statement rings true. The Ottawa County Road Commission (OCRC) lives up to this reputation by seeking continuous input from its townships. For the OCRC, this feedback is crucial to the development of its Strategic Improvement Plan.
“For us, this plan is what it’s all about: It helps coordinate with our local partners so we don’t duplicate with our efforts, and we have minimal disruption for the traveling public,” Brett Laughlin, PE, OCRC managing director, said. “If we were to tear up a road after we just paved it to accommodate a drain improvement or another facility – it just looks bad and is inefficient.
“By having a future plan, we’re able to coordinate with utilities and other projects impacting the roadway. It may take longer to finish the job, but drivers do not experience double disruption.”
Since 2008, Ottawa’s Strategic Improvement Plan has guided its goals. The plan focuses on asset management and, of course, communication with the community. Laughlin stresses the importance of the plan but acknowledges the funding challenges the county continues to face.
“Having a good plan helps us make good decisions, but we are still limited by dollars,” Laughlin said. “We can be using a good asset management strategy, but the road system may still decline – and we shouldn’t be penalized for that. We have goals … but the only way we may achieve them is with an increased funding package.”
Utilizing a smaller budget, the OCRC has invested in several improvements including satellite surveying equipment, multi-county chip sealing, wing plows and in-house truck fabrication. Another important advancement includes the creation of a communications and public relations position. Efforts to leverage social media and digital communications have expanded the OCRC’s visibility and impact.
In the end, it’s about the impact the county has on its residents. Because after all, Ottawa is where they belong.
For more on the Ottawa County Road Commission, read the Winter 2019 edition of Crossroads, the quarterly journal of the County Road Association (CRA) of Michigan, which can be viewed digitally or downloaded at https://micountyroads.org/newsroom/crossroads/.