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of Clare County

BOC Appoints 2 Interim Road Commissioners

Strouse hints at possible step-down

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HARRISON – At Jan. 15 meeting, the Clare County Board of Commissioners voted to change the Clare County Road Commission over from a board comprised of three commissioners to a five-member board. The intent of that change was to help allow those commissioners to avoid violating the Open Meetings Act, as well as to afford a broader range of input. Also at that meeting, County Administrator Tracy Byard was instructed to post the two positions, so that applications could be accepted and applicants interviewed prior to the following monthly BOC meeting.

Some 14 capable Clare County candidates applied, and after an interview process that lasted from 8 a.m. to around 3 p.m., allowing 15 minutes for each applicant, the 14 were narrowed down to four. Then, at the Feb. 19 meeting, the county commissioners wrote down their preferred two of those four. The slips of paper were collected and tallied by Commissioner Dale Majewski, who then made the motion:

“To appoint for the term to finish out for this year as road commissioners, at the pay grade of what the road commissioners make right now, Bill Simpson and Merle Harmon.

After the motion was seconded by Jeff Haskell, the two applicants were approved by unanimous vote of the six commissioners present. BOC Chairperson Jack Kleinhardt was absent, and the meeting run by BOC Vice Chairperson Samantha Pitchford.

“I would like to welcome Bill and Merle as road commissioners,” Pitchford said. “Best of luck in your new endeavors, and I hope everything goes smoothly from here on out.”

“I just ask that the two new commissioners, when you make your decisions with the road commission, you’re thinking of the people of Clare County,” Majewski said. “Keep that upfront and foremost, and good luck.”

He also reminded the appointees that, if they are interested in keeping the position, they would have to be sure they file for the election no later than April 21.

The appointees expressed their appreciation for being selected and were informed of the procedure for being sworn in, which would be done by appointment with the county clerk.

“I appreciate the other two who were in the final four,” Majewski said. “You know it was a really tough decision – we had all good candidates. There were some great selections there, but unfortunately, we had to narrow it down and make a decision from the final four. I’d say that everybody that applied were great; it was a tough decision.”

Haskell said he agreed with Majewski, and that he was “very impressed” and that “there were some good people – everybody.”

Commissioner Leonard Strouse agreed, saying there were some good solid citizens who didn’t make that final four. Strouse also questioned how the terms would be set up for the road commissioners who get elected in November, as there had been a two-year span dividing the CCRC board members, using 2-, 4- and 6-year terms, which meant there was always only one commissioner up for election in a given year.

Majewski noted that the topic of term length had been touched on and reminded that the BOC could have all new members in one election and no problem had arisen from that situation.

Byard told the board that it has the option of changing the CCRC appointments to what it wants them to be, stagger them, whatever.

There also was more discussion of previously brought out intentions to level out all commissioner pay to be equal, salary only, and without any future option for a health care benefit.

“That’s something that we’re going to have to pass and make public prior to the election in November,” Majewski said.

In her report to the board, Pitchford said she was glad that the road commission process is all done.

“Hopefully, you guys can get something accomplished and everybody can work together for the best interest of everybody in this county,” Pitchford said. “I know a lot of people are not happy with some way that things are happening at the county, but hopefully you guys can make everybody happy.

“It’s never going to happen, but if you can make the majority of people happy, that’s all I ask for.”

Strouse hints at possible step-down:

In his report to the board, Leonard Strouse started out by saying he doesn’t take any pleasure in being the oldest person on the board.

“I was on Facebook this morning looking at when I served on the Board of Review in Sheridan Township back in the ’70s,” he said. “Now I’m the old guy in the room. This is a job, I think, for younger people – I’m just sharing that.”

Strouse said he takes quite a bit of responsibility for where the county is now, financially.

“There are all these issues, good or bad,” he said. “I take no joy in knowing I’m a part of the problem here.”

He then referenced the recent budget meeting held in the basement of the Clare County Building, and comments presented by the county prosecutor.

“The prosecutor made a comment that we’re struggling quite deeply,” he said. “And what kind of a show we’re putting on here. I had to reflect on that, knowing that, Leonard Strouse, you’re part of the problem.”

He reiterated that he takes no joy in that, and that he is looking forward to the future and a smarter, younger person in his position on the board.

When Commissioner Jeff Haskell asked directly if that meant Strouse was not running again, Strouse replied, “I just say I’m looking forward to the future with a younger, smarter commissioner.”

Majewski followed that with comment about the difficult task of being a commissioner.

“I’ve got to say, Leonard, a lot of people don’t understand the difficult decisions we have to make,” Majewski said. “Decisions that we make affect people’s lives. The employees here, if we decide to cut, it affects their lives. So, it’s a very difficult job to do, as far as some of the decisions we make.”

Majewski reiterated that making those decisions was what people voted commissioners in to do.

“I appreciate working with you [Leonard], that’s for sure,” he said.

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