Latest effort to amend St. Clair Township Road District budget fails

Another attempt to have enough money allocated for five employees in the St. Clair Township Road District failed last week.

Highway Commissioner Skip Kernan submitted a proposed budget amendment to allocate enough money for five employees. Township trustees discussed the proposal on Friday, but the budget amendment died for a lack of a motion, Kernan said.

“They’re not budging on the budget,” Kernan said.

Kernan and most of the trustees have been at odds over how many employees the road district should have. Kernan wants five, but trustees have only allocated enough money for 3.5 employees.

In total, Kernan’s proposed amended budget moved $300,000 out of the road construction line item, according to township documents.

Kernan said that money was spread to employee wages, as well as supplies such as concrete for township crews to carry out smaller road repair projects that are not contracted out.

“This is how important it is to me to have five employees, so I could be proactive rather than reactive,” Kernan said.

Last month the township board did not approve a change to Kernan’s budget, when there was no proposal for the board to vote on. Supervisor Dave Barnes pointed out Kernan had spent 20 percent of his budget for wages within the first two months of the fiscal year, as he still has five employees.

“We’re continuing ... seeking advice from others,” Kernan said. “I’m hoping to have some answers in the near future.”

Two days after the regular June meeting Kernan submitted his proposed budget change.

Barnes then scheduled the meeting for Friday. He was out of the office the previous week and a half on vacation.

In March all five of the road district employees were laid off for about two weeks when the road district ran out of money in its wages line item for the 2015-16 fiscal year.

Kernan brought forward his formal proposal after residents who attended a special meeting in May voted overwhelmingly in favor of having five employees in the road district.

Barnes said he was concerned about money being taken away from road construction.

“I’m sure there is still work being done, but it went for salaries and retirement, and (social security) taxes,” Barnes said.

Kernan’s proposal would have left the budget for road construction at $250,000, with an estimated $125,000 being needed to open up Mine Haul Road, Barnes said.

“It doesn’t leave that much,” Barnes said. “I have to look at the whole township, not just a few people.”

This story was originally published July 11, 2016 at 3:29 PM with the headline "Latest effort to amend St. Clair Township Road District budget fails."