CASSOPOLIS — Cass County Board of Commissioners Thursday night voted 11-4 to establish the $100,000 bridge and major culvert fund advocated at the May 19 meeting by Road Commission Manager Louis Csokasy.

Commissioner Roseann Marchetti’s motion 77 of 2011 specifically limits the appropriation to 2012 and stipulates, “It is the intent of the Road Commission that this fund be used to leverage additional outside dollars with this fund. Any withdrawals from this fund will need to be approved separately by the Cass County Board of Commissioners at the request of the Cass County Road Commission for specific work to be performed on bridges and culverts in Cass County.”

Action came over the objections of Dale Lowe, R-Howard Township, and former chairmen Robert Wagel, Johnie Rodebush and Robert Ziliak, R-Milton Township, who later in the meeting Chairwoman Minnie Warren, D-Pokagon Township, tasked with chairing an ad hoc hiring freeze committee suggested at a previous meeting.

Warren also appointed Dowagiac Commissioner E. Clark Cobb, Charlie Arnold, Marchetti and Dixie Ann File to the panel.

Wagel, R-Wayne Township, suggested the Road Commission go back to the public with another millage try.

From the other side of the issue, Vice Chairman Ed Goodman, R-Silver Creek Township, pointed out that the county already ranks fourth-worst in Michigan, to which Commissioner Skip Dyes, R-Calvin Township, added, based on his 16 years at that level, that townships cannot afford bridge expenditures.

Ziliak cited “primarily three main reasons” for his reservations about whether the Board of Commissioners should be authorizing appropriating $100,000 to be placed in a fund for bridge and culvert repairs.”

First, commissioners have not seen the 2011-2012 proposed budget at this time — and County Administrator Charlie Cleaver reported on the $948,000 “hole” which exists at this point in the process — “therefore, I cannot see how we as commissioners can make an informed decision on this motion. We do not know the revenues or expenses for the 2011-2012 budget. Although the treasurer (Linda Irwin) did give us an update this evening showing where some money could be obtained if it isn’t required elsewhere.”

Irwin gave the annual report on the balance in land sale proceeds of $236,994 as of June 13 from the 2006 tax year available for transfer to the general fund.

The county is also saving $14,400 on its equalization technical assistance contract, thanks to Cleaver negotiating its three-year agreement for $164,440 with Manatron of Portage in a one-year renewal for $150,000 or $12,500 monthly during July 1, 2011-June 30, 2012.

Second, Ziliak continued, “I also have a concern over the Road Commission manager’s letter requesting $100,000 each year to be given to the bridge and culvert fund, Although I did notice that the motion before us this evening is for only one year, even so, I am sure that the Road Commission manager will be back next year for an additional request.”

Csokasy nodded his head in the affirmative in the audience.

“What we are doing,” Ziliak continued, “is subsidizing the Road Commission budget each and every year for $100,000. This seems to be an attempt by the Road Commission to guarantee an extra $100,000 per year for its budget. I would like to see what interest the townships have in supporting this fund. If the townships each dedicate seven tenths of one percent of their budget annually — that’s what $100,000 represents to the county budget — to this fund, then maybe I would be convinced that we should put money, if we have it available, into this fund.

Third, Ziliak stated, “To attract business and industry to Michigan, we must have good roads, bridges and culverts throughout the entire state and not just in Cass County. To accomplish this, our state senators and representatives must accept their responsibility and make the tough decisions required to generate revenue for this statewide infrastructure. They must not continue to do ‘nothing’ and hope that the counties, cities and villages will bail them out by having an additional millage to cover these expenditures. Many counties are not in as good of a financial condition as Cass County.”

Ziliak said, “If we put into this fund, what we are doing is ‘putting out the fire’ for the Road Commission, since they are not getting the required amount of funds needed to operate from the state. We are not solving the problem of how money is generated for the entire state for the construction and maintenance of roads, bridges and culverts. Cass County’s road projects may be in good shape, but other counties may be in terrible shape, which will keep business and industry from expanding or moving into Michigan because the infrastructure is not at the required level to attract them.

“I know that many commissioners feel that Louis Csokasy is doing an excellent job,” Ziliak said, “and that we as a board should give him what is asking with no questions being asked. As many commissioners are aware, I also think that Louis doing an excellent job as the Road Commission manager. But just because someone is doing a good job doesn’t mean that everything they ask for should be given to them. Let’s look at the situation and try to analyze why the problem exists, what is required to solve it and not just ‘put out the fire.’”

“I might be in favor of this after we see what the budget is going to be,” said Rodebush, D-Howard Township. “But right now, I’m having a problem.”

Wagel’s attempt to postpone the issue failed by a similar 11-4 margin.