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Topic: County Commissioners take on Road Commission
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

·

Archie Bailey: The McArthur Letter
November 29 at 8:59pm ·
The McArthur Letter
by
Archie Bailey
"PAY ATTENTION GENESEE COUNTY TAXPAYERS..."
(posted 11/29/2017 please share)

If you read tonight's Mlive article detailing the Board of Commissioners' plan to attempt to take control of the Road Commission...you should be terrified.
The take-over is being orchestrated by two county commissioners. They are the same commissioners who tried to slide through a $40,000 salary increase for the sheriff and $20,000 for themselves. Better known as the sheriff's choirboys, the raise was to have been approvided at the last minute, of the last hour of the last meeting of the Board of Commissioners unnoticed by all. No public present, no media. Only one person could prevent it from happening. Board chairperson Jamie Curtis, alone, had the authority to remove the planned raises from the board agenda.
But Chairperson Curtis was at the bedside of his dying father in Florida. The choirboys had the agenda with the raises printed and ready to go. They believed there was no way their plan could be stopped. But, Chairperson Curtis had been alerted to the choirboys' plan. He immediately boarded a plane in Florida and was met by a friend at Detroit Metro in the morning. Chairperson Curtis made it to the county administration building in the morning in time to withdraw the sheriff's and the choir boys' plan from the agenda. The plan died.
Now these are the two commissioners who want to take complete control of the Road Commission.
No question about it...fewer financial resources...and (unfortunately) fewer employees are the norm, but John Daly's management style and his ability to do more with less is exceptional.
But maybe if the choir boys' plan succeeds one of them will finally get his relative hired... yet...
Your thoughts?

##
The McArthur Letter LLC
TRANSFER OF ROAD COMMISSION DUTIES TO COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS – 2012 PA 14; MCL 224.6
The legislature amended the General Highway Law to allow the transfer of the duties of the board of country road commissioners to the county board of commissioners before January 1, 2015. The new legislation permits the transfer of Act 51 funds from road commissions to the county board of commissioners. In counties with an appointed board of road commissioners, the transfer may take place by resolution after two public hearings on the matter. In counties with an elected board of road commissioners, a resolution must be submitted to the voters in a county wide election for approval. The county road commission will dissolve as of the date of transfer.
Post Fri Dec 01, 2017 3:12 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Genesee County Road Commission boss survives attempted firing

Updated Nov 21; Posted Nov 21
Genesee County road commissioners Robert Johnson (left) and Cloyce L. Dickerson discuss the issue of Manager-Director John Daly at a Tuesday, Nov. 21, meeting of the county Road Commission.
Genesee County road commissioners Robert Johnson (left) and Cloyce L. Dickerson discuss the issue of Manager-Director John Daly at a Tuesday, Nov. 21, meeting of the county Road Commission.(Ron Fonger | The Flint Journal)

By Ron Fonger rfonger1@mlive.com
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- County Road Commission Manager-Director John Daly has survived an attempt to fire him after 18 years in charge of the agency responsible for more than 1,500 miles of area roads and bridges.

Daly said Monday, Nov. 20, that Cloyce L. Dickerson, chairman of the Road Commission, delivered a termination letter to him, but the remaining four members of the commission had never voted to fire him.


John Daly
"It says terminated ... (for) failure to perform my duties," Daly said Monday, declining to comment after a Road Commission meeting Tuesday, Nov. 21.

At the Tuesday meeting, an attorney for the county told road commissioners that Dickerson had no authority to take the action and the five-member panel appeared divided on Daly's future.

Genesee County commissioner: Road Commission manager-director's contract should end

No vote was taken on terminating the manager-director.

"I do have some concerns. I'm not going to voice those concerns," said Dickerson, who declined to comment further after the meeting.

Dickerson said he delivered what he also described as "a termination letter" to Daly, but attorney Thomas H. Derderian told the board that the five members -- not just one -- can make such a decision.

Daly was hired to run the county road system in 1999. A Texas native and former city manager of Three Rivers in southeast Michigan, he was a finalist to become Flint's city administrator in 2014, a job that eventually went to Natasha Henderson.

The falling out between some members of the Road Commission and Daly came to light the day after the county Board of Commissioners unanimously passed a resolution to explore dissolving the Road Commission and transferring its powers and duties to themselves.

"The action was a result of county commissioners receiving complaints over the last several years from residents and other elected officials about the condition of the county road system," Board Coordinator Joshua M. Freeman said in a statement to MLive-The Flint Journal.

"To resolve these issues, members of the Board of County Commissioners met with members of the Road Commission to discuss their concerns about the management and leadership of the Road Commision," the statement says.

"The Board of County Commissioners told the road commissioners that they needed to address those management and leadership concerns or the county board would explore all legal options they had to fix the problem for the residents, up to and including dissolving the Road Commission."


The Journal could not reach Mark Young, chairman of the county board, for further comment.

The resolution approved by commissioners says state law permits the board to transfer the powers, duties and functions of the Road Commission and to dissolve the governing body.

The resolution says taking such action would require at least two public hearings, and refers the issue to a public works subcommittee for discussion and review.

Freeman's statement says if road commissioners "find a resolution to our concerns about this organization, then the Board of County Commissioners will be more than happy to rescind that resolution and continue with the current Road Commission structure."

Road Commissioner David Miller said the push to remove Daly from his job has been heavy-handed and improper.

"It smells. It really smells," said Miller, who said he's yet to receive complaints in writing from county commissioners.

He said he and the other four road commissioners have recently been lobbied to dismiss Daly by county commissioners, who appoint members of the Road Commission.

For many years, county commissioners have periodically debated the idea of eliminating the Road Commission and replacing it with a countywide department of public works.

But Miller said Daly has received a rating of "outstanding" in every evaluation he has been given since his hiring in 1999.

Daly also still has nearly two years remaining on a contract he signed with the Road Commission, a deal that pays him $105,000 per year as well as a car allowance.

In 2010, former county board chairman Jamie Curtis said Daly should not be given a contract but should work as an at-will employee like other county government department heads.

The Road Commission has an annual budget of about $57 million annually and about 140 employees, Miller said.
Post Fri Dec 01, 2017 3:15 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Flintmatters 10 days ago
Daly. his wife along with other road commision employees were heavyweights in the mayor's recall petition drive and the recall election and the support for Scott Kincaid was overwhelming by staff!


Avatar for Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com
Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com 10 days ago
@Flintmatters Flint Mayor Karen Weaver was at the meeting Tuesday, Nov. 21, but did not speak.



Avatar for Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com
Ron Fonger | rfonger1@mlive.com 10 days ago
@Flintmatters So was Flint Councilman Eric Mays and Aonie Gilcreast, an unpaid advisor to the mayor.

(Actually John Daly does not get involved in politics and was not involved in the Mayors race. Since the Road commission only gets involved with state highways in Flint, why was Mayor Weaver and her lackeys at the meeting and how did they know what was to transpire)


Last edited by untanglingwebs on Tue Feb 13, 2018 6:17 am; edited 1 time in total
Post Fri Dec 01, 2017 3:22 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

TheOldeNutcracker 10 days ago
Wow, is this Parks and Rec episode or what... Reminds me of a certain cartoon "Hey what do you want to do today Ted, same thing we do every day Mark... try to take over the Road Commission.
Post Fri Dec 01, 2017 3:24 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

The Ted referenced by Oldenutcracker from M-Live is Ted Henry . During the first run at the Road Commission, as discussed by Archie bailey, there were allegations that Henry was involved because he was trying to create a position for a relative.
Post Fri Dec 01, 2017 3:28 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Meeting transcript shows county commissioners' frustration with Road Commission

Updated Nov 29; Posted Nov 29
Genesee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Mark Young (left) and Genesee County Road Commission Manager-Director John Daly are key players in the future of the Road Commission.
Genesee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Mark Young (left) and Genesee County Road Commission Manager-Director John Daly are key players in the future of the Road Commission. (Flint Journal file photos)

By Ron Fonger rfonger1@mlive.com
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- County Road Commission Manager-Director John Daly survived an attempt to fire him last week, but there's no guarantee the agency he leads will live on.

Members of the county Board of Commissioners have asked a subcommittee to consider all options for managing the county road system, including taking on the job themselves, and several commissioners said this week that the status quo is no longer acceptable.

"All we have truly asked for is a higher degree of accountability," said Mark Young, chairman of the county board. "I'm not trying to micro-manage that department (but) I really question what the Road Commission is doing."

A transcript from a Nov. 13 meeting between representatives from the Road Commission and the county commissioners shows tensions between the two groups rising, culminating with the attempted termination of Daly, who said this week that he remains on the job but would not comment further.


"It says terminated ... (for) failure to perform my duties," Daly said Monday, declining to comment after a Road Commission meeting Tuesday, Nov. 21.

MLive-The Flint Journal requested the transcript of the meeting from the county through the Freedom of Information Act.

The transcript says the meeting was attended by Young, county Commissioners Ted Henry and Bryant Nolden, county board Coordinator Josh Freeman, commissioners' attorney Brian MacMillan, and road commissioners Dave Miller and John Mandelaris.


"We have run into a position where we have gotten so many complaints ... I've got documented complaints back to 2013 when I first became a commissioner ...," Young says during the meeting. "I have been told that I can send my problems to John Daly.

"And do you know what happens when I send my problems to John Daly? The people never get called," the chairman says.

Young, Nolden and Henry complained during the meeting about slow or no response to complaints about potholes, special assessments and other road maintenance issues as well as Miller's performance and attendance as a road commissioner.

Miller defended Daly last week and refused to join in an effort to fire him or negotiate a buyout of his contract with the Road Commission.

County commissioners currently appoint the five members of the Road Commission, who hire the manager-director, but commissioners have options if they aren't satisfied with current results, including creating an elected Road Commission or a road department inside county government.

Whichever option is ultimately chosen, the organization will have responsibility for maintaining more than 1,813 miles of roads and streets, much of it rural, and doing so with a shrinking budget and number of employees.


According to the transcript from the Nov. 13 meeting, Young says the Road Commission "is not functional the way it is, that there (are) some severe problems ... and I am no longer willing to be the guy who is running interference for those problems."

Henry, who is leading the road subcommittee for commissioners, said he's starting the process believing change is necessary.

The Clayton Township Democrat said township officials tell him the Road Commission charges too much for services and takes too long to process requests like special assessments for road resurfacing.

"Commissioners are tired of getting all the calls" and seeing little action from the Road Commission, Henry said. "I think some parts (of the agency) are out of control."

The commissioner said he's expecting his committee to make a recommendation to the full county board in 60 days.
Post Fri Dec 01, 2017 3:34 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

When the commissioners are pushing their agenda, they provide a transcript to the Journal. BUt they try to placate the public with an abbreviated version of meeting minutes that says nothing, but hides so much.
Post Fri Dec 01, 2017 3:37 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

TheOldeNutcracker 2 days ago
I thought we lived in a democracy, not a dictatorship. This article only mentions three county commissioners, Nolden, Young and Henry. Are the other commissioners on board with this action by these three stooges? ...sorry Moe, Larry, Curly. I get the feeling that there are some politics involved in this. Perhaps Mr. Daly didn't give a donation to the County Commissioners Campaign funds and they are trying to get revenge. There are a lot of dirty politics going on here.

Avatar for spydermike72
spydermike72 2 days ago
@TheOldeNutcracker The committee of those 3 will make a recommendation to the full board of County Commissioners. Besides having a committee of 3 makes a dictatorship impossible by definition.
Post Fri Dec 01, 2017 3:40 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Bryant Nolden needs a good relationship with the Weaver administration because of his role as Director of Berston Field House and city finances.

Donna Poplar did work for the road commission and was very active in the recall efforts against Mayor Weaver and her adviser Aonie Gilcreast. Weaver, who told council that the election was a "mandate" has once again tried to hire Gilcreast for $120,000 a year. Must have been an interesting meal he was said to have had with Richard Baird in Grand blanc.
Post Fri Dec 01, 2017 3:43 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

West Flint Optimist Newsletter – 2/9/17
Feb 15, 2017

Anthony Branch & Cloyce Dickerson, both from the Genesee County Road Commission, spoke with us today about the difficulties of managing the needs of the many miles of County-maintained byways with “underfunded” resources: The “gas tax” basis for financing County Road work was initiated in legislation from 1951 with limited revisions since, and it has to provide for addressing “$2 Billion dollars in deferred maintenance, 120 miles of annual “chipseal” projects done on a 6-year rotation, with a diminishing work force (down to 73 from 300 employees/operators) and increased expense ($1 Million per mile of standard 2-lane road paving).
Post Fri Dec 01, 2017 3:56 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Mr. Dickerson is a long time resident of Flint, currently residing in Flint Township. He is a retired member of UAW Local 659, having served as International Representative for EAP, Health and Safety, as Jobs Bank Coordinator, and as a member of the CAP Council for 12 years. He is a past president of the NAACP, past board member of Big Brothers and Big Sisters, and is currently a member of the Genesee County Democratic Black Caucus and the Michigan Black Caucus. He is a former chairperson of the UAW Local 659 Black Caucus. He received the Walter Reuther Award in 2007. Active in sports since high school where he made All Conference and All State in basketball, and All Conference in basketball at Mott Community College, Mr. Dickerson was a member of the Championship Double A basketball team and participated in the Michigan Open Championship. He is a 2005 recipient of the Bruin Club Athletic Award and a 1998 Inductee into the Hall of Fame for basketball.
Post Fri Dec 01, 2017 4:03 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Dickerson, age 75, has had his term extended to 2022. His previous positions align him to ays, Gilcreast and the Stanleys. He lives in Burton and as I recall, Burton under mayor Smiley assumed most of the duties of the Road Commission. The Road Commission still controls the major state highways.

Last edited by untanglingwebs on Thu Feb 08, 2018 2:05 pm; edited 1 time in total
Post Fri Dec 01, 2017 4:08 pm 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

FLINT NEWS
Genesee County road commissioner resigns after threat of removal
Updated Dec 21, 11:18 AM; Posted Dec 21, 11:18 AM

By Ron Fonger rfonger1@mlive.com
GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- A county road commissioner has resigned from office after he was targeted for possible removal by the county Board of Commissioners.

David L. Miller offered his resignation last week and was replaced by former Atlas Township Supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones after commissioners were scheduled to act on a resolution that could have set a removal hearing for Miller, who was first appointed to his position in 2001.

County Board Coordinator Josh Freeman said a resolution to initiate a removal hearing against Miller "either for incompetency, official misconduct, or habitual or willful neglect of duty" was never acted on because of the resignation.

MLive-The Flint Journal could not immediately reach Miller, who had clashed in recent weeks with county commissioners over the future of the agency and the job performance of Manager-Director John Daly.



"And do you know what happens when I send my problems to John Daly? The people never get called," the chairman says.


Miller publicly came to Daly's defense in November, saying the push to remove him was heavy-handed and improper after the manager-director was presented with a termination letter by Cloyce L. Dickerson, chairman of the Road Commission.

A county attorney later told Dickerson he had no authority to fire Daly alone and other road commissioners never voted to carry out the termination.


County commissioners have also asked a subcommittee to consider all options for managing the county road system in the future, including taking over the job themselves.

County commissioners, who appoint road commissioners, have said they've tired of mounting complaints about road conditions and a lack of responsiveness by the five-member Road Commission.

Board Chairman Mark Young said he also questioned whether Miller could be effective in the future because he spends several months each year in Florida.

"When you're not here half of the year, I don't know if you can be doing your job," Young said Thursday, Dec.21.

The board chairman said Miller told him that recent controversies about he Road Commission had become more sustained and deeper than he intended.

"He asked me if I'd take his resignation and I said I'd be glad to," Young said.

Miller's letter of resignation, dated Dec. 11, makes no mention of problems between county commissioners and road commissioners.

"There is no greater calling than being of service to your community, and I believe that I represented my community well," the letter says in part.

Kautman-Jones said she's coming into the job with an open mind about what needs to happen at the agency.
Post Fri Dec 22, 2017 8:36 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

parksidedr 13 hours ago
best decision of our life was moving out of gen county. the county is basically bankrupt, corrupt, and imbeciles run everything


ScratchinMyNoggin 13 hours ago
This doesn't make sense to me, why now?. Whose agenda is this any way? Is this a money thing or power trip on a County Board members' parts? As a retiree of this county, I knew the last Chairman of the Board of Commissioners and he would never have caused so much chaos within the county system. I'm thinking Mr. Young or some other Commissioner is looking for a place to land when one of them loses the election from their cushy County job next year. Someone wants to fire the Road Commission Director and all the other managers and you have openings all over the place. Pretty bad practice to cause this much trouble among your fellow county co-workers.


Orangecrush2000 11 hours ago
@ScratchinMyNoggin Per Mark Young: "..."He asked me if I'd take his resignation and I said I'd be glad to," Young said....":



"I'd be glad to?".... Talk about a back-handed compliment... Wouldn't trust someone who spoke like that. Unprofessional, imo..



genenchampion 15 hours ago
Use caution. This is the first attempt by the BOC to take control of the Road Commission. Imagine the job opportunities and contracts. They'd better do it before the August primary election.
Post Fri Dec 22, 2017 8:40 am 
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untanglingwebs
El Supremo

Arthur Woodson
6 hrs ·
Shirley Kautman-Jones is the chairperson for the Road Commission board who was not vetted because she was hand-picked Picked by her best friend Genesee County Board Commissioners Mark Young and Ted Henry. This goes to show you that she will do anything, along with these commissioners. We must take a stand because they put their friends on these boards to benefit themselves.

The concern was first expressed during the Feb.19 board of trustees meeting. Township Clerk Tere Onica reported to the board a leased Xerox copier was sold by Supervisor Shirley Kautman-Jones to her daughter for $250, without the approval or knowledge of the board.
Post Fri Jan 26, 2018 2:10 pm 
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