Marshall County Commissioner Stan Klotz made a motion Monday morning to move forward with asking the County Council for $2 million to fund the 2021 road program.
Klotz stated, “Based on the fact now we have the top highway superintendent in the state and we have one of the top highway departments in the state, I make a motion that we reconsider, with council’s approval, to make a plan – you know what would a couple million dollars worth of more road funding would look like and what we could do with it. Lend our support to at least look at a plan.”
Klotz brought up the possibility of putting more money to fix more roads in the county at the commissioners’ last meeting after his “Better Roads Ahead” campaign was questioned by Commissioner Michael Burroughs. At that time, Klotz commented that the county has $4.2 million in Rainy Day funds and other millions in the General Fund that could go to roads, but Auditor Julie Fox noted that a lot of those funds are budgeted for other projects and cautioned about spending especially since the impact of COVID-19 has not been felt yet in the budget.
Commission President Kevin Overmyer asked Klotz Monday where he proposed getting the funding. Klotz indicated that it could be discussed in a work session between the commissioners and county council scheduled for Thursday, February 4 at 9 a.m. He added that there are multiple options where they could get the money to fund the program in the county’s budget.
Burroughs said he could not second the motion.
“Here’s my problem” stated Burroughs. “While I agree that our roads need improved, I don’t want to create a problem somewhere else by solving one problem. I don’t think that’s fair or responsible to the taxpayers to say, ‘okay we’re going to fix your roads, but then we’re going to create a tax over here to increase the revenue.’ So, until we have a plan on how we’re going to do items, I can’t second it.”
Klotz said taxes would not need to be raised if the road program is funded, but did not elaborate on it.
Overmyer did not second the motion so it died for a lack of a second.
Thursday’s work session with the council, initially intended to be focused on improved communications between both entities, will be held in the second floor meeting room (Room 203) in the Marshall County Building at 112 W. Jefferson Street in Plymouth.
