The Van Buren County Road Commission will soon celebrate its 100th anniversary. The commission was established on April 28, 1916, holding its first meeting in Paw Paw. At the time, the county road network consisted of a minimal number of miles, as the body was just starting to take control over roads granted to the county. By the end of this year, the Van Buren County Road Commission will be responsible for maintaining a total of 1,328 miles of local and primary roadways. The work it does includes plowing, grass cutting, tree removals, and pothole patching. The commission notes that the techniques it uses have greatly changed since those early days, and that’s one of the things that will be marked as part of the 100th anniversary celebration. In the coming weeks, more details will be released regarding the Van Buren County Road Commission’s official 100th birthday plans.
