Friction from rare road appointment
Published 3:22 pm Friday, October 21, 2005
By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS - There are routine appointments and there are APPOINTMENTS, Cass County commissioners decided 6-5 Thursday.
Since there are only three road commissioners who serve six-year terms and govern a significant budget, the board by that margin sided with Commissioner Johnie Rodebush that instead of having its four-member Appointments and Resolutions Committee select Brad Walker's replacement from four finalists it narrowed down from 12 applicants, all 15 commissioners should meet with applicants.
By their vote, those six commissioners indicated that at their next meeting at 4 p.m. on Nov. 3, they want an opportunity to hear from the four, Roger Bowser of Cassopolis, Larry Malsch of Cassopolis, James Mesko of Cassopolis and Harry Stemple of Edwardsburg.
To “see the whites of their eyes,” in Rodebush's words.
The committee was accused of being “a bit arrogant” in reducing potential appointees from 12 possibilities to one for the full board to “rubber-stamp.”
Committee member Commissioner Terri Kitchen, R-Silver Creek Township, said this is the first time fellow commissioners have questioned the panel's conclusions.
She felt a “little upset” at having their judgment questioned.
Commissioner Gordon Bickel, R-Porter Township, however, who characterized the desired action as a “rubber stamp” of the committee, said, “We should know and see these people and maybe ask them a question or two.”
Commissioner Jack Teter, R-Edwardsburg, said it was nothing personal against the committee, but recognition of the “responsibility for a lot of dollars. That's the only concern.”
Teter acknowledged how seldom road commission appointments come before the county board. This is the first in his three years in office.
Teter said there's no comparison between road commission and other appointments commissioners make each month.
Another committee member, Commissioner Minnie Warren, D-Pokagon Township, commented before the board voted to bring the four applicants to the next meeting that if the board vetoed the panel's selection, “We will have done a disservice to the county.”
Commissioners are not obligated to support the committee's recommendation, Teter stated. “We don't have to accept what they bring us.”
It looked like the discussion had run its course and commissioners were joking good-naturedly about Teter's and singing waiter John Cureton's roles in the county's hurricane benefit at the Council on Aging that raised almost $10,000 when Rodebush suddenly returned to the issue.
Rodebush said road commissioners wield responsibility second only to commissioners' setting the county budget and the county administrator's authority, meaning their appointment warrants a review by the entire 15-member board and not a committee.
Rodebush advised his colleagues that he trusts them to narrow the field from 12 to four, but not beyond that. He moved that any road commission appointments be brought before the full board.
In the 6-5 vote, Dixie Ann File, Robert Ziliak, Cureton, Bickel and Teter, all Republicans, joined Rodebush, D-Howard Township.
Opposed were Chairman Robert Wagel, Vice Chairman Ronald Francis, Kitchen, Warren and Dale Lowe.
Carl Higley Sr., Alan Northrop and David Taylor were absent.
Cathy Goodenough left before the vote.