MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - During the April 14th Meridian Township Board virtual meeting, members discussed a Local Roads Bid Proposal for 2020.

Deputy Township Manager and Director of Public Works, Derek Perry, introduced this proposal. Since road projects involve a complex process, this project has been broken down into four phases.

Deputy Manager Perry requested approval from the Board to move forward with the first phase of this project.

The Township's contractor, Michigan Paving and Materials, is ready to begin repaving and milling these roads, as early as this May.

Despite the Executive Order recently signed by Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, which limits operations for many businesses over COVID-19 health concerns, this project will proceed as scheduled as roads are an important part of infrastructure.

25 roads were solicited as bids and 4 of them were considered as low bids, totaling to $2,131,586.15.

The prevailing wage policy, which requires the Township to pay for project costs over $50,000, will apply towards this project.

"Well, I think we need to get our roads fixed," said Township Trustee Kathy Anne Sundland, "So this is a good bid. It was competitive, and we are going with the lowest bidder, and seems in order."

Treasurer Phil Deschaine said, "I am pleased that this has been brought to us early in the year. We might see some road construction in May. The sooner we can show our residents that their road millage dollars are out there for repaving roads, the better. This is a good message to send to our residents."

Board Members voted unanimously to approve Deputy Manager Perry's request to move forward with this project.