Is Unpaved Fairchild a Health Hazard? Homeowners Think So

A homeowner on Fairchild Road for the past 11 years, Scott Scharich says he can no longer live with the health and safety issues related to the road’s unpaved state.

“When I moved in 11 years ago, the anticipation was for the entire area to be paved,” Scharich told the Macomb Township board of trustees Wednesday. “We understand that the economy went south, but I cannot live with this anymore and have actually contemplated moving. If you could only realize what Fairchild goes through, it is a major thoroughfare.”

A dirt and gravel road from 21 Mile to just past 22 Mile, Fairchild’s dust issues are ongoing and chief among the concerns of Scharich and his neighbors. 

“This is something that will not go away,” Scharich said. “I think this requires approaching yesterday. Please don’t let us sit there anymore with this situation. Please let us get this road paved before people start dying of lung problems.”

Or from accidents caused by dust clouds that reduce visibility to zero.

"Safety-wise, there's semi truck traffic, we have bus speeds, car speeds that are basically unlimited, cars passing school buses, dust clouds that reduce visibility to he point that you have to come to a dead stop as if you are in a blizzard ... it’s never ending. There are numerous accidents on the road."

Fellow Fairchild resident, Al Pauli, joined Scharich in addressing trustees on this issue, citing more than a dozen problems he and his neighbors deal with on a daily basis due to dust.

“It’s nonstop dusting,” he said. “It never ends whether your windows are open or closed … pole barns and garages are nonstop maintenance. Siding washing, screen washing and window washing is a nonstop project.”

“I wish you could get a visual on the amount of time and effort … is spent on cleaning up the results of the road.”

These concerns have led both Pauli and Scharich to join the township’s , which was organized last month to bring residents and local officials together to identify and prioritize Macomb’s paving needs.

Although the committee is not a decision-making body, it will make recommendations to the board of trustees and–as is the hope of resident members–facilitate road improvements where they are most needed, in the case of Pauli and Scharich, this is Fairchild Road.

The committee next meets May 2 at 7 p.m. in . Anyone is welcome to attend.