When it comes to dust control, it’s the local issue that just keeps on giving.
The Martin Township Board, which has heard more than its share of complaints over the last four years, heard from four citizens Wednesday night who showed up to plead for relief on dusty, rural, gravel roads.
The quartet of citizens acknowledged they live on the township’s worst two roads for dust (7th Street and 122nd Avenue) in the summertime, but they asked township officials why the application couldn’t have been made sooner than it was this year. They asserted that massive amounts of dust not only choke residents living on the roads, but also pose as safety hazards because pedestrians and motorists cannot ne easily seen literally within the cloud of dust.
One woman said, “We don’t get the spring rains we used to get.” She added that she and other motorists have to wait before backing out of their driveways because cannot see if there is oncoming traffic.
“We’d like to have an application early in the spring and then have them come back for another application on a spot basis,” said Trustee Jim Brenner. “I can’t believe they (Southwest Michigan Dust Control) didn’t do it sooner.”
Brenner said he was told that because Martin Township ordered only one application township-wide, SW Michigan Dust Control decided to take care of customers who ordered two applications first.
“We’ll try to make it better for next year,” he added, “but right now that’s about all we can do.”
The citizens said they want two applications done so the service might be provided earlier.
Brenner said township officials might look into switching dust control application providers.
Treasurer Sue Tiemeyer said she has heard some encouraging information about using soybean oil for applications. She brought it up because many farmers have complained about the brine used for dust control corroding farm machinery and other vehicles.
“I’m thinking we should continue to look at this soybean oil,” Supervisor Glenn Leep said.
Tiemeyer added, “If farmers can put down manure with their vehicles, then then this soybean solution should be able to be applied.”
The irony is that Martin Township agreed four years ago to experiment with a different new solution, which turned out to work well, but was too expensive.
Leep added that Watson Township may have had the best answer recently when it switched to a calcium chloride solution applied by Michigan Chloride Sales.