During Monday’s Marshall County Commissioner’s meeting Bruce Smith from Redwood Road was on the agenda expecting to get some answers to the questions he presented three meetings ago.
Commissioner President Kevin Overmyer said, “In the case where there is litigation threatened, the County Attorney advises us not to answer any questions and so I’m not going to rebut the questions you brought to us.”
Smith said “What I asked for was, let me know where I could find the answers to the questions if you can’t give me the answer and I’ll do the research.”
Smith indicated that it wasn’t a truthful statement at gasoline tax pays for roads. He said, “From my understanding you collect property taxes and I’m under the assumption you guys send them down state and the State of Indiana disburses money to the county according to what their budgets are.”
Commissioner Overmyer said property taxes pay for the county’s budget and gasoline tax is what funds the highway department.
Again Smith asked where property taxes go and Overmyer suggested he check on the internet for his answers.
Mr. Smith told the commissioner that INDOT has classified his road, Redwood Road as a collector #5 road, meaning “that it’s pretty much a main road.” He continued, “That road that you guys tore up has a higher rating than any other road on that side with the exception of Oak and Tamarack Roads. Basically it’s a main artery that goes out to US 6.”
Smith told the commissioners, “I’m going to be on the agenda every month until I get some answers.” He then asked, “How do we know that the person who decided to tear up my road is even qualified to tear the county’s roads up?”
Overmyer’s comment was, “The decision is made by our highway department who is a function of the commissioners.” Smith said, “So you give him, I believe his name is Jason, complete authority to do as he wishes? See, I don’t think that’s being accountable, one person making a decision.”
Smith proceeded to continue talking for another 5 to 10 minutes or so occasionally asking additional questions and suggested using the county’s $3.5 million in the rainy day fund to repair roads before a tort claim is filed.
