By By JOHN EBY / Niles Daily Star
CASSOPOLIS – Effective Jan. 1, Cass County Drain Commissioner Jeff VanBelle's office will be changed to "water resources commissioner."
VanBelle, of Edwardsburg, consented to the name change, which is one of the requirements of House Bill 4641, approved by Gov. Jennifer Granholm on Aug. 28 to become Public Act 51 of 2007.
The move is meant to reflect the drain commissioner's actual wider role, from performing the function of lake levels to facilitating compliance with federal clean water act mandates.
For years it was a part-time position in Cass County, but in 2008 will pay $40,847.
As VanBelle wrote in his consent letter, "It's an interesting idea. I think the reasoning behind it is the job entails more than the title used to. Lake levels and soil erosion issues are definitely becoming a bigger part of the job."
"I am in favor of" the name change, he added.
"The chair imagines that one rationale for the change may be that there are going to be some changes in the drain code" at the state level, said Bob Wagel, R-Wayne Township.
"With that kind of name, people aren't going to know who to call," said Commissioner Carl Higley Sr., R-Edwardsburg.
"They're going to call up here and say, 'Who do I call for a drain?' The other thing is we're going to have to change all the stationery. It's futility, if you ask me. We went through the same thing with 'dog catcher' or 'dog warden' becoming animal control director. Changing the name doesn't change the job, that's my opinion."
Changing the name of drain commissioner to water resources commissioner proved the most contentious issue of the day, settled by a 10-5 vote, with Johnie Rodebush, Debbie Johnson, David Taylor, John Cureton and Higley in the opposition.
In other Oct. 4 business, County Administrator Terry Proctor reported that there were 37 applicants for the two additional seats on the Road Commission.
Each commissioner identified for Proctor their six most qualified candidates for an interview with the full county board.
"I will compile a list of the six who get the most votes," he said. "Then they will be invited to a future board meeting where the board will interview them."
Proctor also reported that the Road Commission refunding bonds sold recently should save $170,000, or better than the $140,000 originally estimated.
Now that the state shutdown was avoided and the Legislature turned to a 30-day window to approve department budgets, "From a county perspective, and particularly a Cass County perspective," Proctor said, "number-one on the list is straightening out the funding for E-911. That needs to be done. Second, there are questions about funding for child support enforcement and collection – both at the state and federal levels. A third issue coming up in this 30-day period is privatization of foster care. It's projected that if that is approved by the state, it will cost Cass County $170,000 a year."
In the discussion which preceded the setting of officials' 2008 salaries, a couple of commissioners questioned them.
"We gave the drain commissioner an 8-percent raise, the treasurer a 7-percent raise and the clerk a 10-percent raise" for 2007, pointed out Commissioner Ed Goodman, D-Silver Creek Township, "to bring them into line with others in our area."
The Board of Commissioners on Aug. 2 authorized Chairman Robert Wagel, R-Wayne Township, to appoint a committee to recommend 2008 salaries for elected officials, the undersheriff and the animal control director.
Wagel named Commissioner Cathy Goodenough, R-Marcellus, as committee chair and Commissioners Ann File, Minnie Warren, Ron Francis, Charlie Arnold, John Cureton and himself.
The committee met Sept. 6 and reviewed pay for positions in Barry, Berrien, St. Joseph and Van Buren counties.
Reasons cited for the proposed salaries included catching up with comparable counties, cost of living and merit.
Proctor responded that "the whole story last year, if you recall, was what the committee recommended and the board approved would, in fact, not bring them up to comparability. The committee wanted to recommend larger raises," but opted to spread it over two to three years.
"One of the reasons the county has a fund balance," Proctor said, "so it can pay for raises for elected officials and for employees.
"For example, coming up in December, we'll be asking for a general wage increase for all non-union employees. That will be up for consideration before the board. Elected officials must be acted upon before Nov. 1 by statute," he added.
"In my opinion, the salaries of the treasurer and clerk-register are still subpar," commented Cureton, R-Dowagiac. "The (5-percent) raises here are certainly justified. There should be at least one more installment of these raises next year."
Commissioner Debbie Johnson, D-Niles, felt, however, that given the fragile economy and tight finances, the county should be more "conservative."
"I think all of these people do a superior job," Johnson said.
"A lot of them I know personally and I like them, but it's not a personal issue. My job as commissioner is to look at the money, and I'm worried if this is the right time to do it."
"I'm very conservative," Goodenough said. "(Proctor) assured me we could afford it."
Commissioner David Taylor, D-Edwardsburg, agreed. "We brought in $750,000 more in tax revenue than we planned. We have lots of money to do this."
Proctor's own salary as administrator and controller has not been set for Feb. 1, 2008.
Wagel appointed a committee of Goodenough, Francis, Warren, Wagel, File, Arnold and Cureton chaired by Vice Chairman Francis to review the contract with Proctor.
On Cureton's motion, the 2007 apportionment report was tabled until the 4 p.m. meeting Oct. 18.