Goodrich- In an apparent attempt at cost saving, the Genesee County Road Commission has extended an offer to the village to assume responsibilities for maintaining the local road system.
John Daly, Manager Director for the Genesee County Road Commission, said the offer was made to Gaines, Goodrich and Otisville.
‘It seemed like this might be an opportunity to do things a little more efficiently,? said Daly. ‘It’s strictly an invitation we gave to the villages, and it’s up to them whether they want to pursue it or not.?
If accepted, Daly said the county would assume the duties of snow and ice removal, reconstruction and maintenance of village roads, duties currently performed by Department of Public Works employees.
Village Administrator Jakki Sidge, Village Council President Ed York and Village Council Members Pete Morey, Dave Lucik and Rick Horton could not be reached for comment prior to deadline.
Daly said villages are typically left dipping into their general fund to provide these services unless they have at least 1,500 miles of roadway.
‘Potentially it’s an opportunity for the road system inside the village to be maintained at a lower cost….You don’t get enough money out of fuel tax and you wind up… having to import money out of the general fund. I think everybody’s got to look at different alternatives that we have, in the past, not looked at,? said Daly.
Thus far, said Daly, only Gaines has expressed interest in the offer.
And while Daly said the offer was basically an open invitation, he added a likely time to make such a change would be in September, when villages need to submit their Act 51 reports to receive funding. If accepted, the county would take over for the DPW in October, said Daly.
‘If you were going to change, that would be the logical way to do it,? said Daly.