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Neighbors United, a group formed because of concern for the location of the gravel pit and its driveway, submitted a petition to the Charlevoix County Road Commission with 198 signatures asking for the study. The petition requests that the Michigan State Police conduct the study and that it look at sight distance, speed, and safety.

The South Arm Township board supports the study. The township planning commission board approved a special use permit for the gravel pit on July 17.

Ellis Boal represents Neighbors United.

"In granting the permit, the planning commission voted to allow MDC (Manthei Development Corporation)up to 18 trips a day for 20 years between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. The peak season lasts from late April to early December," Boal said.

The East Jordan school bus supervisor submitted a letter to the planning commission stating that the bus in the area of concern transports students from 6:50 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. and from 3:15 p.m. to 4:10 p.m., an overlap of almost two hours, Boal said.

The gravel pit owned by Manthei Development Corporation is located at the Ranney and Ellsworth roads intersection in between two hills.

Residents fear accidents in the area with school buses and cars coming over the hills and slow-moving trucks pulling out of the driveway.

Mark Manthei of Manthei Development Corporation said the business has exceeded county road commission requirements.

"We believe the plan balances safety and environmental resources," Manthei

said. "We've met all of the requirements to the best of our ability." Anyone living in an agricultural district should understand conditions if they choose to live there, he said.

Use of the gravel pit will be intermittent, Manthei said, and he expects to take a few loads a day.

Charlevoix County Sheriff George T. Lasater supports the traffic study. He said he has made two recommendations to South Arm Township. One is that no trucks enter or exit the gravel pit during hours that conflict with school buses. The other recommendation is that a lane be constructed for slow moving trucks.