Cass road commission looks at saving money

Published 7:22 am Thursday, December 11, 2008

By By NORMA LERNER / Edwardsburg Argus
CASSOPOLIS – Saving money is one of the top priorities of the Cass County Road Commissioners.
The commissioners discussed last week, during a regular meeting, ways to cut down on cleaning costs of the road commission headquarters which totals some $15,000 a year on a contractual basis. It was explained by Engineer-Manager Joseph Bellina III cleaners come in daily. Other tasks are done weekly and some less often.
It was discussed that possibly the cleaning service areas could be downsized or eliminated altogether. Attorney Eugene Smith suggested cleaning once a week rather than every day. "Once a week would do it," he said.
Finance Committee Chairman Louis Csokasy suggested cleaning one half of the building one time and the other half the next time. However, it was discussed that the back area where the employees come in needs to be cleaned daily. Vice Chairman Leroy Krempec said with sloppy weather and snow, there could be an accident with slippery floors. Superintendent Rick Janssen said some of the workers volunteer to clean and cooperation has been going well.
Chairman Cliff Poehlman recommended for members to mull it around until the next meeting on Dec. 18.
In a related matter, Csokasy said state funds are in for 2008 which are 3.5 percent down from last year and are projected to come in at 4 percent lower during 2009.
Bellina announced he met with representatives of the Michigan Department of Transportation about bridge repair to be done on U.S. 12 east of Union Road in Union. The highway will be shut down for three to four months from Union Road to the St. Joseph River. He said the state is working on a detour route.
Smith reported he will be attending a Jan. 13 mediation hearing at Cass County Circuit Court on a lawsuit filed by the Dock LLC versus the road commission. Plaintiff Paul DeLano of Edwardsburg claims that property across from the Dock at Eagle Lake on Eagle Lake Road along the water's edge belongs to him.
The commission went into closed session to discuss Bellina's contract performance.