The Quarterly Journal of the County Road Association of Michigan
EDITOR’S NOTE No one can tell your story better than you! Every road commission has a story. It may be a time when green lights were the “beacon of hope” for a driver during a blizzard, it may be resilience during a hard-hitting summer storm or it could be something as simple as how you source your road salt. These personal stories demonstrate just how important the work and creativity of Michigan’s county road agencies are to the state. If you work with road agencies day-to-day, you are familiar with the challenges involved such as extended work days in the winter and inadequate road funding. I believe that if more people knew the stories behind roads and bridges in Michigan, the more people would show empathy and be advocates on behalf of county road agencies.
Speaking from personal experience, I was once an uninformed resident complaining about the condition of Michigan’s roads. It wasn’t until I started working at CRA and sharing the stories of members like you that I more fully understood the enormous efforts behind maintaining Michigan’s road systems. For the public to continue to support funding for roads and bridges, they have to understand the value and importance. They must know your story. Public support is critical as the Legislature begins to waver on fulfilling their road funding obligations for the future. Don’t be afraid to share your stories! Use the resources available to you whether it be Crossroads, PR Tips or me to make sure your story gets told.
Christina Strong Editor and Communication Manager
202 Morrell St. • Charlotte, MI 48813 (517) 543-3430 • (800) 527-4604
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Fall 2017
Crossroads