Grand Traverse County commissioners will discuss a resolution tonight that would withdraw county support for a planned Cass Road bridge replacement over the Boardman River. The bridge is scheduled to be rebuilt in 2016 as part of the Boardman River Dams Project.

Garfield Township Supervisor Chuck Korn is spearheading an opposition movement to the project on the grounds the county should be pursuing a long-discussed (and long-contentious) Hartman-Hammond bypass instead. The Garfield Township Board of Trustees passed resolutions in October opposing the Cass Road bridge and affirming support for the Hartman-Hammond project. County Chair Christine Maxbauer has requested county commissioners also discuss the resolutions at tonight's 6pm meeting at the Governmental Center.

In a memo last week to commissioners, County Administrator Dave Benda cautioned that the previous board "reviewed the issue and concluded that it wanted to move forward with the Cass Road Bridge replacement," and that the Boardman River Dams Project Implementation Team has "expended considerable time and money on the design process" as a result.

"Since there is enough time for thoughtful consideration by the current board, I would encourage the board to wait for more complete information about the project from the Implementation Team before acting on these resolutions," Benda wrote. He also encouraged commissioners to hold a public hearing before voting on the subject.