By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS – By a 13-0 vote Thursday, Cass County commissioners passed Johnie Rodebush's motion to require townships, villages and the city to hold a public hearing on possible parks and recreation projects at least two weeks before submitting applications for their share of the parks and recreation millage voters will be considering Nov. 7.
Voters will be asked to approve a half-mill for four years, 2006-09.
The levy would generate $720,166 the first year, with up to 50 percent distributed to Dowagiac, the villages and 15 townships for local parks and recreation systems, as determined by the Board of Commissioners, and the $360,083 remainder utilized by the county parks department.
Dowagiac would be eligible for $42,339.89.
Dowagiac Commissioner John Cureton said the Howard Township Democrat's motion is "much needed. In fact, I briefly consulted with Commissioner Rodebush about strengthening it even further. He didn't feel that was necessary."
Cureton was prepared to insert into the motion, "Failure to do so shall result in rejection of the application…"
Vice Chairman Ron Francis, R-Cassopolis, said that, based on the number of e-mails he received, the motion seemed "directed at the City of Dowagiac because it does not hold park board meetings in public."
While Rodebush heard such sentiments from a number of Dowagiac residents while moderating a Democracy Club debate on the park proposal Sept. 27 at Round Oak Restaurant, he said Thursday, "At the Pokagon Township meeting, when Scott (Wyman, parks director) gave his presentation on the parks millage issue," questions were asked about the composition of the seven-member committee the county will have review funding requests.
"This board could have ignored anything the public suggested about the dog ordinance," Rodebush said. "But we didn't. We postponed action on it. We took it back to the committee, discussed it and made some changes so it would be more palatable for the public. That's what this amounts to. Howard Township felt the same way as Dowagiac at Round Oak, when I filled in for Scott. That's the question that came up: Where will we have public input?
"If we're spending their tax dollars," Rodebush continued, "they should certainly be able to make comments. That doesn't mean the unit of government will pay any attention to them. That doesn't guarantee that whatever you say you're going to get. But at least (citizens) will have a chance to speak at a public hearing. That's not picking on any particular one, it's just being fair to the way the government is supposed to work – open."
"This goes back to the grassroots level and letting our local people in each township at least voice their opinion, whether the recreation board approves it or not," agreed Commissioner Gordon Bickel Sr., R-Porter Township.
Commissioner Annie File, R-Cassopolis, pointed out that the parks proposal itself was shaped at a public meeting for which citizens were invited to the Council on Aging "to tell us what they wanted to see the county do. I don't see why the townships, villages or city should be opposed" to requiring a public hearing.
"I completely agree with Commissioner File," Cureton said. "It's only reasonable and decent to allow citizens to have input into this type of thing. I represent much of the City of Dowagiac and I feel very comfortable with this motion."
"If it doesn't pass, nothing happens," Rodebush said. "If there's no money, there won't be a public meeting or anything else. The parks will remain like they are, going down hill. As far as postponing it until after the election, the people who ask me questions say, 'If there's not going to be any input, I'm going to vote against it.' I don't blame them. I'd probably feel the same way myself. This is showing the public that it's open and we're not trying to hide anything. I'm in favor of it. It's honest and above-board."
"It's been such a touchy topic that we need to be proactive," Commissioner Alan Northrop, R-Marcellus, added.
"Perhaps this motion will give a comfort level to voters," said Commissioner Cathy Goodenough, R-Marcellus.
Commissioner Minnie Warren, D-Pokagon Township, initially favored postponing "premature" action, but withdrew her motion after hearing the discussion.