By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS – Cass County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert Wagel on Thursday appointed an ad hoc committee to consider the size of the Road Commission, salaries, health insurance and retirement benefits, and the amount of bond each member should have.
Wagel, R-Wayne Township, named Commissioner Robert Ziliak, R-Niles, to chair a panel composed of Commissioners Gordon Bickel, R-Porter Township, Carl Higley, R-Edwardsburg, Dixie Ann File, R-Cassopolis, Minnie Warren, D-Pokagon Township and Ed Goodman, D-Silver Creek Township, and assigned them to report back within 90 days.
As Commissioner David Taylor, D-Edwardsburg, explained it, "Due to the recent authorization in our Legislature, we can increase the number (of road commissioners) from three to five if we so wish."
Taylor urged his colleagues to tread "delicately," however, or risk giving the Road Commission "the idea we have any adverse concerns with them. I think we should do all we can to see how people are compensated and see if we can improve."
Added Commissioner Johnie Rodebush, D-Niles, "I wouldn't want people to think that because we're discussing to enlarge it or not, commissioners are eager to hop on the Road Commission."
In neighboring Van Buren County, commissioners in Paw Paw addressed two years of budget woes by removing health insurance from their part-time road commissioners' compensation package.
Van Buren's three current road commissioners weren't affected, but the board action eliminated retirement health care benefits for future road commissioners.
Van Buren County spent about $35,000 last year on road commissioner health care benefits.