Published: March 25, 2008 09:46 am         

Board rethinks road commission additions

TRAVERSE CITY -- Not so fast on plans to expand the Grand Traverse County Road Commission.

Negative public reaction prompted county board members to reconsider last month's decision to add two members to the road commission.

County commissioners on Feb. 27 approved the measure by a 6 to 3 vote, but last week voted 6 to 1 to rethink the move. The board will take up the matter when it meets Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Governmental Center.

County Commissioner Larry Inman said he received an "extensive amount" of feedback after residents learned it will cost about $50,000 to add two members to the current three-member road board. Inman and fellow commissioners Bruce Hooper and Dick Thomas also had second thoughts after previously voting for expansion.

"It was the right decision, but an inappropriate time to do it," Inman said.

Inman said the county board should wait for the road commission's financial situation to improve and then add the positions. But he then acknowledged: "It isn't going to get any better soon."

The road commission has witnessed funding cuts in recent years and expects another reduction this year.

Road commission employees recently proposed a county property tax increase that would generate about $4 million annually for the road department.

Larry Fleis was the lone county commissioner who wanted to stick with the road commission expansion plan. He said he knows a retired contractor who would be a great addition to the road commission and that he highly recommended the applicant to a board subcommittee that conducted interviews. He did not name the applicant.

By Monday, more than 20 people had applied for the part-time road commission appointment that pays a $6,000 salary and full family health, vision and dental benefits. Road commissioners also receive life insurance, a pension, and mileage and meeting reimbursements.

Road commission manager Mary Gillis said salary, benefits, and other expenses total about $25,000 per road board member.

County Commissioner Christine Maxbauer said she won't vote to add road commissioners until benefits are cut.

"I think we should take the price of three (road) commissioners and divide it among five," Maxbauer said. "We can't afford any more money toward administration when the county roads are in the shape that they are in."