300 W 8th St, Mio, MI 48647
Summer Hours: 6:00AM – 4:30PM, Winter Hours: 6:00AM – 2:30PM
(989) 826-3218
Winter Maintenance
After I cleared my driveway, a Road Commission truck pushed all the snow back into it—why won’t you clean it up?
Be sure to place snow to the right of your driveway as you face the road so plows will push it away from, rather than back into, the driveway entrance. A reasonable amount of snow will always return to your driveway. As the plow comes through, some snow will accumulate on the plow blade and deposit into the first open space that comes along. Often, that space is a driveway. If your driveway is re-packed with snow, we will not re-plow your driveway, as this is a seasonal hazard that is impossible to avoid altogether.
What should I do if the snowplow damages my mailbox?
First, determine if the plow hit the mailbox or if it was snow thrown by it. If the snow damages the mailbox, you must fix or replace it. If the actual plow hits it, we will erect a temporary mailbox until you can replace it with your own.
Why is my road always the last one plowed?
We must prioritize primary roads and school bus routes over local roads. It is nothing personal, but we must start with the most travelled routes; not everybody can be first.
Why can’t you plow my private road?
The road commission can only work on roads on our certification map by law. If you want to check to see if your road is on it, please see our County Roads Map.
Summer Maintenance
The gravel road I live on is full of holes. When are you going to grade it?
Grading is done on a routine basis. However, many times, it must be postponed because of the weather. If the road is too dry or wet, grading has little effect other
than rearranging dust or mud. In the Spring, we grade roads after the frost has left the ground. In the summer, we try to grade roads after rain, and the road has softened. The moisture will allow the gravel to pack down, limiting the amount of dust generated.
Our gravel road is a muddy mess! Can you do something to stop this springtime situation?
We can try, but when the frost comes out of the roadbed in the spring, what was once frozen and solid turns soft and unstable. It will remain this way until the moisture comes out of the roadbed. The best cure for this is warm, dry temperatures and good wind. If we attempt to haul gravel on top of this condition, it could turn into a bigger mess. There is a saying in the trade that “adding a bucket of gravel to a bucket of mud just gets you a bigger bucket of mud.” There is much truth to this quip, as adding sand or gravel to fill a mud hole usually has little or no effect because the gravel mixes with the mud, just making more mud and sometimes aggravating the problem as equipment stirs things up.
State Highways (M-33 & M-72)
Is the Oscoda County Road Commission responsible for state highways?
No, we do not maintain state highways in our county. For issues with those roads, please call MDOT in Alpena at (989) 356-2231.
Local Roads
Why can’t you replace my local road?
The townships must request all Oscoda County Road Commission local road projects. By law, road commissions are allowed to spend only up to 50% of the cost of
improvements for local roads. If you live on a local road and think it needs to be replaced, please contact your township.
Road Signs
How do I get a “Children Playing” sign put up to protect my children?
The Road Commission no longer places or maintains “Children Playing” signs, although some are scattered throughout our road system. Before revising the
Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD) in 1983, these signs were acceptable for use on county roads. Studies done nationally leading up to
that revision demonstrated conclusively that, while these signs may make parents and children feel safer, they have absolutely no effect on driver behavior, and do not slow traffic speeds as expected. To the extent that the signs might make parents or children think they are safer when the danger is still present, these signs can actually reduce safety. The best policy is to keep children as far away from the road as possible and not allow children to play in or near the road.
How do I have a speed limit sign placed on my road?
The Michigan State Police set speed limits on county roads after a traffic study. For further information, contact the Michigan State Police Department. Gaylord Post – (989) 732-2778
Can we add a stop or yield sign on our street to slow traffic?
According to the Michigan Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MMUTCD), YIELD or STOP signs should not be used for speed control. Studies have shown that this might increase speed because drivers feel like they have lost time having to stop, so they accelerate to make up for it.
How do I get a sign for my private road?
Signs for private roads are the responsibility of the private landowner. The Road Commission is not responsible for maintaining or replacing these signs. However, we will install them at the behest of your township. To obtain one, please get in touch with your township.
Right-of-Way
What is the road commission’s right-of-way?
The road commission has a right-of-way so that we can work on our roads. It is usually 33′ from the center of the road, but some exceptions exist. We do not own this property but can control what can be done there. For example, if you want to put in a new driveway or alter an existing one, you must get a permit from us. You can obtain a permit from the Oxcart Permit System.
I’m fixing up my property. Is planting trees along the road okay?
Trees do add beauty, color, and character to our roadsides, but if they’re too close to the road edge, they can be hazardous and a potential liability for property owners, utilities, and the Road Commission. Therefore, we do not allow tree planting within the road right-of-way.
How do I get a culvert for a driveway?
The Road Commission is not a supplier of driveway culverts. As a property owner, you must obtain your driveway culvert from a local vendor. We only install driveway culverts when we are doing a major ditching or construction project on your road.
Frost Laws
What are weight restrictions?
Weight restrictions are legal limits placed on the loads trucks may carry. When seasonal thawing occurs in late winter and early spring, the maximum allowable axle
load and speed limit are reduced to prevent costly road damage.
What are all-season roads?
All-season roads are not subject to weight restrictions, meaning trucks can haul regular legal loads on them all year.
Dead Animals
What do I do if I have a dead deer or small animal in my ditch or on the road?
The Road Commission will move the animal off the traveled portion of the roadway so as not to obstruct traffic, but is not responsible for picking up animals and
disposing of them.
Streetlight (lamp) Outages
The streetlight (lamp) on the corner is out. Does the Road Commission fix these?
No. You must call your township offices to report a streetlight that needs to be replaced.
Finance
Where does the Road Commission get its operating funds?
The Road Commission’s primary funding source is the Michigan Transportation Fund (MTF), which comprises gas and weight taxes and driver’s license fees. The state distributes the MTF through a formula. In addition, the townships can contribute money to the local road system for local road improvements. We do not receive any property tax funds.