County Road Commission work on Schomberg Road between French and Bodus roads is planned, but no major changes in the grade are in store.

At its one-hour meeting Tuesday, commission members were encouraged by the discussion held at Centerville Township’s Annual Meeting Saturday about the condition of Schomberg from Holy Rosary Church north to Bodus. It was reported the township is seeking a half-mill levy to fund fire and emergency services costs. If voters approve the millage request in the Aug. 5 Primary election, the township would have more funds available for improving the road.

Road Commission members said their chief concerns with the 2.3-mile section of Schomberg are improving drainage and establishing a better base under the road. Clerk Joe Nedow said while township officials have also talked about lessening the steep grade on some of the hills, the cost for including the work would push the project past the $300,000 mark. Commission engineer James C. Johnson was directed to come up with plans for improving the drainage and repaving the road, and a rough estimate for that work alone is $200,000. “It will be a huge project without changing the grades,” Nedow said.

Manger/superintendent Herb Cradduck said workers have been busy with winter maintenance work on county roads and moving into spring work, like sweeping road shoulders free of left over sand and salt. He will present a complete list of county roads in line for sealcoating work this summer at the April 15 meeting. Sealcoating is a process in which a layer of stone and a sticky substance is applied to roads to lengthen the life of a paved surface.

In other business, the commission:

• Unanimously approved a recommendation from Nedow to use the accounting firm Anderson-Tackmann for its 2008 audit. Nedow received one bid from Anderson for $6,800, and a second quote from Rehmann-Robson for $7,000. Nedow also asked for a bid from the State of Michigan. He was told the cost would be $200 an hour, and a complete audit would cost about $10,000.

The commission is required in its bylaws to have an audit done every two years, but the county requires an annual audit of all county government books in order to maintain a bond rating. Therefore, an audit is done annually and the county funds the cost every other year.

Member Glen M. Noonan said after reviewing the 2006 and 2007 audits, both of which showed no problems, he questioned the need for an audit every two years. “I don’t think we need an audit every two years,” he said.

Chairman Lee A. Bowen said he would rather the commission have an audit done every year so a record on paper is available that shows the agency is in compliance with state law and regulations, and fiscal responsibility. “I look at it as the cost of doing business,” he said, referring to the funds spent on audits.

• Heard from Nedow that officials with the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore will attend the April 15 meeting to explain the latest developments in the update of the Lakeshore’s general management plan. With bids for some materials being opened at 1:10 p.m., the commission will most likely take up the matter around 1:30 p.m.

• Announced that it will open bids for aggregate, brine, fuel and snowplow blades at its April 15 meeting. Of chief concern to the commission was the cost of diesel fuel. In March, the commission paid $3.42 a gallon for diesel, compared to $2 a gallon a year earlier.

“In 2007 we used 126,200 gallons of diesel in our trucks and equipment. If diesel stays at $3.42 a gallon, we will be paying $200,000 more just in fuel costs this year,” Nedow said.