Clash of the Commissioners
MARSHALL COUNTY — at the tail end of the report given by Highway Department Superintendent Jason Peters, Commissioner Mike Burroughs asked Peters a series of questions regarding his fellow Commissioner Stan Klotz.
“In a recent post through the, I think it was both the, it might have been the newspaper and social media, President (Kevin) Overmyer and myself were accused of not backing the road program. and so, to publicly clarify, have the commissioners denied any request that you have made of us?” “No,” Peters replied.
Burroughs continued asking if they did not support the department in obtaining equipment and/ or property.
“No,” Peters said again. “anything I’ve came to the commissioners, per se, they have embraced, pretty much, with open arms. Or, at least, to take that to the next pay phase. Personally, it’s been a great working with both parties because I think that relationship has been very good between Highway, Commissioners, and Council. Public included.”
Burroughs then referenced minutes from the Oct. 5, 2020 Marshall County Commissioners meeting. The minutes he referred to were: “Commissioner Overmyer stated two Council candidates are supporting a more aggressive road plan and questioned Commissioner Klotz what the plan entails. Commissioner Klotz indicated there would be more information coming in January. Commissioner Burroughs questioned how this plan differs from the current road plan. Commissioner Klotz stated the key is funding.”
“Has Commissioner Klotz come to you with a specific road plan that is different than your road plan at any time between Oct. 5, 2020 and now?” asked Burroughs.
“No,” Peters replied. “Nothing more than conversations that have went on, but anything as far as papers, information to present or anything like that, no.”
Burroughs asked Peters if the road plan the commissioners are presented with is the plan that Peters has designed.
Peters replied that was the case. “But with that being said, I always take into consideration anything that the commissioners have suggested or added too. They’ve never added to the road program, they’ve always voiced their opinion. So, as far as any of them that has ever been put out, nothing has ever been taken off and, of course, we always try to add some of those as we go on if need be.”
Commissioner Klotz defended himself by stating, “I will say one thing, it was two meetings ago I suggested with the ARP (American Rescue Plan) money putting $5 million towards roads. I did not say a word about that to Jason before I said that in this public meeting. But I did call him the next day and explain to him what I said and what kind of thought I had on that. And that was adding, trying to add, a bump increase the road plan for two years by 120 miles in chip and seal and obviously with the increase in the oil that doesn’t pencil out for the $5 million. But, I did call him the next day and say this is kind of what my thought process was. It was just a conversation. I’ve had conversations like that before because I don’t want to drag Jason into a public meeting and put him in the hot seat in front of everybody, but when I make conversations here sometimes he knows ahead of time, sometimes he doesn’t. But if he doesn’t, I call him afterwards and let him know where it’s coming from. So, it’s always above board. I’ve always tried to treat him with the upmost respect and support the job that he’s done and think he was the right choice for the candidate. But, I try to keep him also apprised of what my thought process when I do make comments here if he doesn’t know about them ahead of time. I have called him, but if you’re talking about formal paperwork, no, you’re right.”
After the meeting, this reporter asked Commissioner Burroughs about the post that sparked this back and forth. The commissioner did not have the information on hand, but did email a screenshot of the social media post. While the screenshot did not show the original post, it did show a comment made that specifically mentioned Commissioners Overmyer and Burroughs. The comment was not made by Commissioner Klotz.
“Exactly right. I don’t understand Overmyer and Burroughs obsession with doing everything they can to limit the money available for roads for the last 18 months. We don’t need to buy a building right now,” the comment read.