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CASSOPOLIS — Cass County Commissioners won’t be getting a pay raise over the next four years after commissioners deadlocked Thursday on a vote to increase the chairman and vice chairman salaries.

Commissioners initially considered a proposal that would have raised all eight commissioner salaries over the next four years. The original proposal was first moved from the consent agenda to the regular action agenda and then amended to just give pay raises to the chair and vice chair.

The proposal voted on by commissioners would increase the budget for commissioner salaries by $1,500 with the chair getting an additional $1,000 over the current $18,500 and the vice chair getting $500.more than the current $18,500. Other commissioners would not get a pay raise and continue to get $18,500.

Some commissioners noted that they have not gotten a pay raise in six years, adding that a survey of 63 Michigan counties showed that Cass was one of only three counties where commissioners do not get any benefits.

Voting yes to approve the pay raises for the chair and vice chair were commissioners Sam Barrera, Mary Howie, James Lawrence and RJ Lee. Voting no were Jeremiah Jones, Ryan Laylin, Joyce Locke and Roseann Marchetti.

Commissioner salaries will now remain unchanged for the next four years. Salaries can only be changed before terms start and commissioner terms were increased this year from two to four years.

Thursday’s meeting also featured a discussion about the value of the Market One economic development effort. The county has partnered with Market One for a number of years and pay them a fee of $10,000 a month. Market One was initially known as Market Van Buren but has been expanded to include Cass County.

Laylin, who is leaving the county board this month, brought up the Market One discussion.

“My biggest concern is that I’ve asked numerous times to get a report on what they are doing and what our money is paying for,” he said.

Laylin said that his departure will bring a vacancy to the Market One board and he’s concerned that they’ve already picked his replacement without input from the county board.

Other commissioners were also concerned. They said they had talked to local business owners who were unsuccessful in getting any assistance from Market One. One person said the county is “wasting our time with these people, they’re helping others besides Cass County.”

Marchetti had a different view. While she admitted that she often doesn’t see reports from Market One, she wants to give them another chance.

“I want to give them another year, if we don’t see anything from them, then we can get rid of them,” she said. “Economic development doesn’t happen overnight, it’s like gardening, you have to plant a seed and fertilize it.”

She pointed out that Market One has worked with some Cass County entities and helped local businesses get help during the pandemic. She said that 15 small businesses in the county got money and would have gone under without it.

No vote was taken on the Market One issue as it was a discussion item only.

Cass County Road Commission Managing Director Bob Thompson updated the county board on road related matters. He said the snowfalls so far this year have been frustrating as they’ve had to go out and spread salt for one or two inches of snow only to have it melt a few days later.

      He also talked about recent traffic changes with the new roundabout at Gumwood and Redfield, the new traffic light at Dailey and Pokagon and the work being done on U.S. 12. He said the Gumwood roundabout and the Dailey/Pokagon intersections both had their first accidents after months of being in operation.

      A new light at Gumwood and U.S. 12 is being installed and Thompson said there is talk of installing another roundabout at that intersection in the future.

      As far as U.S. 12, he said Cass County has been feeling the after effects of the construction in Berrien County at U.S. 12 and M-51 south of Niles with the removal of the U.S. 12 overpass over M-51. He said there have been accidents at Bell Road and U.S. 12.

      At the Berrien County Board of Commissioners meeting earlier Thursday, County Commissioner Jim Curran expressed similar concerns about a different section of U.S. 12. He said there have been a growing number of accidents at Bond Street and U.S. 12 with motorists avoiding the U.S. 12 intersections with Third Street and M-51 to the east.

      The next Cass County Board of Commissioners meeting will be Thursday, Jan. 9 at 5 p.m. with that date moved from Jan. 2 to make sure all commissioners can be in attendance.

      Thursday’s meeting featured honorary resolution for the outgoing commissioners as well as Sheriff Richard Behnke who is retiring. Commissioners honored were Laylin, Locke and Howie.