By By NORMA LERNER / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS – Cass County Road Commission last week discussed a lease agreement with the use of an employee, building space and equipment now that the parks are county owned through the formation of the parks and recreation commission.
The road commission on Thursday during a regular meeting approved an inter-local agreement for Parks Director Scott Wyman to remain as a road commission employee under a lease agreement for one year.
His employment will be leased to the county plus office space and equipment.
This follows formation of the new 10-member Cass County Parks and Recreation Commission under Act 261 in August.
This agreement was rewritten from a prior agreement by road commission attorney Eugene Smith.
But Commissioner Robert Powers said both parties are on thin ice. "I think he (Wyman) would be an employee of the parks commission," he said.
The agreement is based on $7,425 per month which includes the cost of health benefits, life insurance, comp time, vacation and other costs.
Powers was skeptical but said he was willing to "try it."
The 10-member commission was created by the county board in August under Act. 261 of 1965 as amended. The county board designated the Cass County Road commissioners as parks trustees in 1978 who managed the county and road commission parks since that time, but as of Oct. 1, the road commission parks board ceased to operate.
Engineer-Manage Joe Bellina announced that the union has reached a contract by Teamsters Local 214.
A 2.25-percent wage increase is in the contract retroactive to July 1, 2008, and an additional increase of .50 cents per hour that became effective at the contract signing.
Csokasy said the 2009 budget will be increased approximately $150,000 as a result of the settlement.
The commission heard about a wireless connection to all vehicles used on the roads with a global positioning system. The system would instantly locate any vehicle's location with the idea that it would save time and money when they are working in one area and are called out to work in another area where salt might be needed or in the case of emergency plowing or grading. The system was presented by representatives of Centennial Wireless who gave a sample demonstration of how it worked.
The cost to install the units would be about $10,000 for 30 vehicles plus a monthly cost of $1,000. Representative Shawn Quinn said the savings to the road commission would be 2 to 5 percent in fuel and efficiency.