County Road Commission officials will be meeting with Leland Township representatives and the county Sheriff to discuss placing a parking order on Grand Avenue between Pearl and North streets.

At its meeting Tuesday, the Road Commission discussed an ongoing concern with vehicle parking along both sides of Grand during Leland Public School events in the winter. The commission directed its management officials to meet with a Leland Township representative, most likely supervisor Harry Larkin, and Sheriff Michael F. Oltersdorf to see if the Township Board would be willing to impose a no-parking restriction on the street.

Assistant manager David Newman said he met with Oltersdorf last month to discuss the problem. If the Road Commission tries to impose the restriction, it would first need a traffic control order, which requires approval from the Michigan State Police. Newman said the Sheriff’s office could only enforce a no-parking provision if it has some sort of controlling authority that backs the department.

Commissioner John Popa said in talks he had with Larkin, he learned the Leland Township Board recently adopted the state traffic code, which means it could declare the portion of Grand Avenue in question as a no-parking area. No date was set for the meeting between Road Commission, township and Sheriff’s Department officials.

In other business, the commission:
• Commended Glen M. Noonan for being recognized by the County Road Association of Michigan (CRAM) as the longest-serving county road commissioner in Michigan history. Noonan has served as a road commissioner for 36 years and received a certificate from CRAM that was presented to commission engineer James C. Johnson during a recent safety meeting. Noonan said he was appreciative of the recognition from the association.
• Heard an update on the Leland champion tree. Manager Herb Cradduck said a work crew from Bartlett’s Tree Service in Grand Rapids planned to trim the crown of the 106-year-old eastern cottonwood yesterday, and cable the limbs today. River Street from M-22 to the Leland Harbor and part of N. Lake Street were scheduled to be closed both days during the tree work.
• Unanimously accepted the Act 51 financial report prepared by the accounting firm of Anderson and Tackman. Each year, the Road Commission submits an audit report to Lansing showing how it spent funds received through the state for work done on state roads and highways. Accountant Philip L. Wolf with Anderson and Tackman said no problems were found and that clerk Joe Nedow and assistant clerk Lynn Herman do an excellent job of keeping track revenues and expenditures.