HILL AND CUMMING TOWNSHIPS — While the process is in its infancy, a proposed joint-paving project on Wiltse Road between Hill and Cumming townships may include a unique feature – additional shoulder space for off-road vehicles.

“This would be for snowmobile access so they wouldn’t have to ride on the road,” said County Commissioner Ron Quackenbush at the board’s Jan. 14 meeting. “The Road Commission is looking at what the cost of that, and the feasibility of that, would be.”

“We are going to pave the road, but we want to have three feet behind the mailboxes,” said Hill Township Supervisor Bruce Baumann.

He said that Wiltse Road is important for snowmobile and off-road vehicle riders making their way to trails in Ogemaw County.

“That’s a main artery to the trails,” Baumann said, adding that when the road is paved, he doesn’t want the access to be diminished. “If we reduce that artery, we could reduce helping everybody in Ogemaw County.”

“That road might set precedence for other roads,” he added. “It would be a lot safer for snowmobiles.”

Baumann also said that he hopes the wider shoulder can be established on at least one side of Wiltse Road.

As for paving the road, Cumming Township Supervisor Charles Katynski said the support is overwhelming.

“Everybody’s wanted it (paved) for a long time,” he said. “This should’ve happened a long time ago.”

The supervisors said there are approximately 20 homes on the road and families drive to and from their homes in some nasty conditions.

“It’s like a river bed in the spring,” Katynski said. “The people have been living in a bad situation there.”

“They’ve always wanted Wiltse Road paved, no matter what,” said Baumann. “That road is nasty in the spring.”

Ogemaw County Road Commissioner/Engineer Michael Schultz said, however, the road project is still a ways down the road, as is deciding what the final cost would be for the project.

“We’re just in the research mode. … We’re trying to find the safest, most efficient way to do this.” Schultz said. “This whole project won’t even start until the tail-end of this (construction) season.

“We won’t do any construction until the beginning of next year.”

Hill and Cumming townships both have a road millage for road construction and maintenance. In Hill Township, residents are levied one mill and in Cumming Township, they are levied 2.3 mills.