By Cortney Casey
C & G Staff Writer

MACOMB COUNTY — Last winter is now a distant memory, but motorists on M-59 may be seeing its effects well into the dog days of summer.

The Michigan Department of Transportation is reducing its summer maintenance budget by $18 million to cover overages caused by increased plowing and salting during last winter’s severe weather. Median maintenance along state-owned thoroughfares is among the activities impacted by the cutbacks, according to an MDOT statement.

Local cities or counties typically assume responsibility for keeping medians in their areas manicured and receive reimbursement from MDOT to cover a specific number of mowings, said MDOT spokesman Rob Morosi.

In the case of M-59, Sterling Heights took over median maintenance from Dequindre to Lake St. Clair in 2002 amid concern over the area’s lackluster appearance, said Sal Conigliaro, Sterling’s Department of Public Works director.

In the past, MDOT has reimbursed Sterling for eight summer mowings, but will only cover six this year, said Morosi. 

“While we would love every median to look pristine … we put a premium on plowing and salting for the safety of the community, for the commuters,” he said.

According to Conigliaro, the city receives about $200,000 annually from MDOT for median maintenance on M-59, M-53 and the 18 1/2 Mile roundabout. 

Thanks to favorable contracts, Sterling is able to stretch that funding to cover 13 to 17 median mowings along M-59 each summer, he said.

“We’ve gone beyond what MDOT’s standard for grass cutting is on M-59,” he said. “We’d like to believe that it’s not your standard roadway, that it holds a little bit higher esteem or importance. It’s worked out really well.”

The city has been under budget each year, and surplus funds returned to MDOT are redirected to road projects in this region, added Conigliaro.

Even with the cuts, Conigliaro said, Sterling is committed to keeping M-59 in good shape — and is asking neighboring communities to chip in.

In late June, now-retired Sterling DPW Director Guy Kebbe sent correspondence to officials in Utica and Shelby, Macomb, Clinton, Harrison and Chesterfield townships, requesting contributions ranging from $1,057 to $9,938 — based on each community’s M-59 frontage — toward remaining summer maintenance.

“We put out there a proposal based on what we think our costs are,” said Conigliaro. “That’s kind of a worst-case scenario.”

The request prompted mixed reactions. Shelby Township has approved its share, while Clinton Township postponed a vote until July 28, and Utica is slated to address the matter July 31.

“My first thought is MDOT ought to dig deeper,” said Utica Mayor Jacqueline Noonan. “On the other hand, if there’s some chance we could fill in the blank and help out right now and look forward to being reimbursed down the road, I’m sure that’s an option my council will look at seriously.”

Shelby Township Supervisor Ralph Maccarone said he agrees that the maintenance costs should be MDOT’s responsibility.

“This is just characteristic of the problem with Lansing today,” he said. “Southeast Michigan is dependent on many of these economic corridors. Appearance is all-important when you’re trying to hallmark a business. (With) the significant amount of traffic that travels M-59, there’s no excuse.”

There are definite economic implications of leaving the median untended, Conigliaro agreed.

Based on preliminary indications from Shelby and Utica, Conigliaro said he doesn’t think the area from Dequindre to Hayes will be an issue.

But the other municipalities will have to decide whether they want Sterling to continue managing care of their portion of the median, and if communities on opposite sides of M-59 disagree, there will have to be some discussions, he said.

“We don’t want to get into that whole mohawk (look),” with grass on one side of the road longer than the other, he said.

Conigliaro said he understands MDOT is feeling the same economic pressure as everyone else, but officials from all of the affected Macomb County communities are hoping MDOT might reconsider the “blanket” cuts.

“We do have a good relationship with MDOT locally, and we’re not blaming them or pointing fingers at them,” he said. “We believe M-59 is one of those areas that if they can put more maintenance dollars toward that road, I think that would be money well spent.”

M-59 isn’t the only road impacted; Morosi said medians statewide will feel the cuts.

“Some freeways have gone from three (mowings) to two,” he said. “All things considered, we’re doing our best. If the money isn’t there to pay the bills, then the money isn’t there to pay our bills.”

MDOT officials hope the cutbacks will be temporary, but it all depends on what this winter has in store, Morosi added.

“We’re going to do everything in our power to restore the cycles back to the normal amounts of mowings,” he said. “We’re kind of at the mercy of Mother Nature.”

Staff Writers Kristyne E. Demske and Heidi Roman contributed to this report.

You can reach Staff Writer Cortney Casey at ccasey@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1046.