CRAM. News THE MYTH OF THE OVERPAID ROAD COMMISSION EMPLOYEE

Transcription

1 CRAM News County Road Association of Michigan Volume 245 November 2, Seymour, Suite One, Lansing MI THE MYTH OF THE OVERPAID ROAD COMMISSION EMPLOYEE There seems to be a little confusion and a lot of misunderstanding related to the salaries and benefits of road commissioners and road commission staff. The overpaid government worker is a misconception held by many. This belief also serves as a roadblock in discussions aimed at increasing the amount of money collected for use in maintaining our roads. It was suggested that road commissions got overly generous with benefits and salaries after the fuel tax increase in Opponents of the current fuel tax increase proposals claim that too much of those funds found their way to salaries and benefits. CRAM has been working closely with several legislators to help alleviate this misconception. When comparing commissioner salaries and benefits from 1998 against those reported for 2011, data suggests anything but the fattening of road commissioner salaries and benefits. While not every county has provided their 2011 data, we found that twenty counties continue to pay their road commissioners the same salary as they did in 1998 and two have reduced commissioner salaries. In seven counties, the only increase in road commissioner salaries came from the addition of two more commissioners as was allowed by recent legislation. Commissioner benefits have also come under fire, but the data shows that since 1998, 17 CRCs discontinued health care benefits for road commissioners, 19 discontinued dental, 12 dropped life insurance and 10 removed pension/retirement benefits for their road commissioners. It is important to note that road commissioner benefits and salaries are not directly under the control of the road commission, but they are instead set by the county board and are effective for the term of a commissioner. It is not only Commissioners who have had stagnant incomes. In a 2011 survey related to the prospect of raises for employees, several road commissions indicated that they had not increased employee salaries in 5 or more years. In almost every case where raises were planned they had been promised in contract language and were modest (under 2%). Almost across the board, road commission employees have seen reductions in their health, dental and retirement benefits. Recent legislation put targets on the backs of every public employee by capping the amount that public employers can contribute to healthcare coverage costs...meaning increased expenses for employees. Not only have employee wages and benefits been stagnant or eroded since 1998, they lag behind comparable categories in the public sector. Road commission employees are seldom limited to only one role as they are in the public sector, but on-line research provided some interesting comparisons for pay ranges. With an average salary of $18.78/hour (as reported through MIS-CRAM), CRC Heavy Equipment Operators make almost $6/hour less than the $24.70 hourly wage for Operating Engineeers (Class 1) reported by MITA. Similar comparisons were found for mechanics, clerks, and administrative position salaries. The facts of the matter remain that even though county road commission employees and their role in maintaining the State s transportation network are critical to Michigan s economy, there are fewer of them than ever and they are increasingly being asked to do more with less while earning less than they could in the public sector.

2 3RD ANNUAL TRADE SHOW A DIAMOND OPPORTUNITY The County Road Association was presented a Diamond Award for their Trade Show at the Michigan Society of Association Executives (MSAE) 11th Annual Diamond Awards Thursday, Sept. 27 at The Henry, Autograph Collection in Dearborn. The awards program recognizes excellence and innovation in Michigan s association sector. A total of 46 entries competed in 11 categories with two budget divisions. Entries were carefully reviewed and judged by a panel of established association leaders, specialists, and professionals within each category. The judges scores were averaged and the entry with the best score earned a Diamond Award in their respective category. "There are amazing things happening throughout the Michigan association industry, said Cheryl Ronk, CAE, president of MSAE. A Diamond Award represents innovation, achievement and excellence within the industry and honors the best of the best." MSAE exists to ensure a knowledgeable, professional, and successful association community. The organization has served the association management and meetings industries since Today it functions as an information resource and professional network for more than 700 executives in Michigan's association and nonprofit communities. The third annual trade show will be held in conjunction with the County Road Association Highway Conference (CRAHC) on March 5, 2013 at the Lansing Best Western Plus. The CRAHC Trade Show is an excellent opportunity for your road commission to learn more about the vendors that serve our industry. All road commission staff and commissioners are encouraged to attend. Associate Members, here is a chance for you to open the door of your business to county road commissioners and administrative personnel. In addition to participating in the trade show, there are several other sponsorship opportunities that can help get your name out there. Details are being finalized and more information will be sent as we draw nearer to the date. ATTENTION ASSOCIATE MEMBERS! MARK YOUR CALENDARS MARCH 5, 2013 More information related to trade show and sponsorship opportunities will be made available as details become available. If you have specific questions, please contact Monica Ware at , ext 417 or by to mware@localroads.net.

3 WE WANT YOU! Service on the CRAM Board of Directors Under the Association s Constitution and Bylaws, the CRAM Board consists of 16 elected members. Of those 16, 4 members are elected by their sectional association for a term of 1-year; and 3 members are elected from each sectional association for staggered 3-year terms. Service on the CRAM Board requires time and dedication. The members of your council/sectional association may consider your attendance and participation in Association activities, along with your experience and length of service, when making the decision to nominate you. If you would like to serve on the CRAM Board, there are two ways you can be elected. First, if you would like to serve a one-year term, these nominations and elections are held at the sectional association annual meetings. You should contact the Board of Directors for your sectional association to inform them of your desire to serve and determine their nomination process. If you would prefer to serve a three-year staggered term, you should talk to your sectional and submit your name to the CRAM Nominating Committee for consideration. The Association s Constitution and Bylaws provide that members vote for the candidates from their sectional associations. Nominating Committee Members: Chr. VC Gerald Peterson, Manistee Dirk Heckman, Mackinac Walt Schell, Macomb Ronald Wohlford, Jackson CURRENT BOARD MEMBERS (all terms expire March 31) Three-Year Terms Expiring 2013 Blair Ballou, Eaton (Southern) Deepak Gupta, Midland (Northern) Dennis G. Kolar, Oakland (Urban) Michael Maloney, Ontonagon (U.P.) Three-Year Terms Expiring 2014 John Daly III, Genesee (Urban) John Hunt, Huron (Southern) James Iwanicki, Marquette (U.P.) Burt Thompson, Antrim (Northern) Three-Year Terms Expiring 2015 Douglas Mills, Baraga (U.P.) Douglas Robidoux, Mason (Northern) Walter J. Schell, Macomb (Urban) William Watkins, Hillsdale (Southern) One-Year Terms Expiring 2013 Jon F. Rice, Kent (Urban) Kelly Smith, Newaygo (Northern) Richard Timmer, Chippewa (U.P.) Brian J. Wendling, Saginaw (Southern) CRAM Committees Much of the work of the Association is conducted with member input at the committee level. We rely on the expertise of our members to drive policies and actions related to their fields. Each year the incoming CRAM President selects members to serve on the committees that carry out the work of the Association. Similar to the process for establishing legislative priorities, each council is asked to discuss membership on committees and make recommendations regarding who will represent them. These council discussions are your opportunity to express your interest and gain the support of your peers. You may also send a letter of interest to the President-elect. If you have questions about the functions or time requirements of a committee, you should contact the Chair of the committee, or you may contact the CRAM office. If you would like to offer your expertise to serve on special projects or subcommittees, without being a member of the committee, you should contact the Chair of the committee to inquire about opportunities. As the old saying goes, many hands make light work. Several of the standing committees are required to be representative of the regional councils including: Commissioners ; Engineering; Finance and Human Resources; General Policy; Nominating; and Public Relations-Education. The Canvassing, Nominating and Resolutions Committees are representative of sectional associations, while the Legislative Review Committee consists of General Policy Committee members which represent each sectional association.

4 The 2012 general election is one of the most critical elections in the history of our State s transportation infrastructure. In order to muster the political will it takes to pass legislation that increases road funding, we must loudly endorse candidates who have expressed roads as a priority. CRAM s Rural and Urban Streets and Highways Political Action Commitee (RUSH- PAC) surveyed 370 candidates on their transportation-related positions. Surveys were mailed to candidates before, and after where needed, the Primary Election in August. This year s survey was one of the best responses to date. Approximately 180 of the candidates (almost half of all the candidates including nearly 75% of incumbents running) responded to our survey. After carefully considering the responses, the RUSH-PAC Board of Trustees endorsed fifty-seven candidates who indicated support of Michigan s county roads. RUSH-PAC endorsed candidates can be found in the yellow boxes in this story. RUSH-PAC endorsements are not made on the basis of political party, but by who has done or would do the best job of helping to improve Michigan s local and state transportation infrastructure. Deputy Director Ed Noyola and Administrative Assistant Cindy Reisig spent many hours compiling and analyzing candidate responses in preparation for the Trustee decisions. Ed Noyola (enoyola@localroads.net or , ext. 416) can answer any questions you may have related to the surveys or the endorsements. RUSH-PAC GENERAL ELECTION ENDORSEMENTS District Party Candidate 1 D Brian Banks 2 D Alberta Tinsley Talabi 5 D Fred Durhal, Jr. 6 D Rashida Tlaib 8 D David Nathan 9 D Harvey Santana 10 D Phil Cavanagh 11 D David Knezek 12 D Doug Geiss 13 D Andrew Kandrevas 15 D George Darany 17 R Anne Rossio 22 D Harold Haugh 24 R Anthony Forlini 25 R Sean Clark 26 D Jim Townsend 29 D Tim Greimel 31 D Marilyn Lane 34 D Woodrow Stanley 37 D Vicki Barnett 46 R Bradford Jacobsen 48 D Pam Faris 49 D Jim Ananich 50 D Charles Smiley 52 D Gretchen Driskell 54 D David Rutledge 55 D Adam Zemke 58 R Kenneth Kurtz *Incumbents in bold

5 ROADS AND BRIDGES IN THE BALANCE AS VOTERS HEAD TO THE POLLS VOTE NOVEMBER 6 District Party Candidate 59 R Matt Lori 60 D Sean McCann 62 D Kate Segal 65 D Bonnie Johnson 69 D Sam Singh 70 R Rick Outman 71 R Deb Shaughnessy 74 R Rob VerHeulen 75 D Brandon Dillon 79 R Al Pscholka 80 R Bob Genetski 82 R Kevin Daley 83 R Paul Muxlow 84 D Terry Brown 89 R Amanda Price 91 D Collene Lamonte 92 D Marcia Hovey-Wright 94 R Tim Kelly 95 D Stacy Oakes 99 R Kevin Cotter 101 R Ray Franz 102 R Phil Potvin 103 R Bruce Rendon 104 R Wayne Schmidt 106 R Peter Pettalia 107 R Frank Foster 108 R Ed McBroom 109 D John Kivela 110 R Matt Huuki CRAM needs you to vote no on Proposals 5 and 6 this November. While we typicaly refrain from voicing positions on statewide ballot proposals, these two items have troubling effects on Michigan s roads and bridges, and the ability to maintain them. Under Proposal 5, majority rule would be undermined by allowing just 13 senators to block legislation supported by the remaining 135 members of the legislature, by requiring a 2/3 majority of both houses. This proposal is being opposed not only by CRAM, but also by The Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Catholic Conference, Teacher Unions, Governor Snyder and many others. Proposal 6 is a thinly disguised attempt to protect a monopoly by adding layers to the already complicated process of constructing a bridge or tunnel. This proposal has been funded almost entirely by the owners of the existing Ambassador Bridge as they attempt to stall the proposed New International Trade Crossing project. The Senate Fiscal Agency reported in their analysis that The potential scope of Proposal 12-6 is another matter of uncertainty...arguably, the constitutional amendment could apply to all bridge and tunnel projects involving State resources, regardless of whether they were international, including bridges that are currently planned but not yet built. The ballot language for each follows: PROPOSAL 12-5 A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITUTION TO LIMIT THE ENACTMENT OF NEW TAXES BY STATE GOVERNMENT This proposal would: Require a 2/3 majority vote of the State House and the State Senate, or a statewide vote of the people at a November election, in order for the State of Michigan to impose new or additional taxes on taxpayers or expand the base of taxation or increasing the rate of taxation. This section shall in no way be construed to limit or modify tax limitations otherwise created in this Constitution. Should this proposal be approved? PLEASE VOTE NO PROPOSAL 12-6 A PROPOSAL TO AMEND THE STATE CONSTITU- TION REGARDING CONSTRUCTION OF INTERNATIONAL BRIDGES AND TUNNELS This proposal would: Require the approval of a majority of voters at a statewide election and in each municipality where "new international bridges or tunnels for motor vehicles" are to be located before the State of Michigan may expend state funds or resources for acquiring land, designing, soliciting bids for, constructing, financing, or promoting new international bridges or tunnels. Create a definition of "new international bridges or tunnels for motor vehicles" that means, "any bridge or tunnel which is not open to the public and serving traffic as of January 1, 2012." Should this proposal be approved? PLEASE VOTE NO

6 National Organization Membership Drive If you are a member of APWA, ARTBA, or NACE, you may find it cheaper to renew your membership through CRAM. We are finalizing the information for this year s round of renewals and we expect that National Organization Membership information will be mailed to road commission offices in the near future. If you have any questions related to these memberships, please contact Kristi Pena at kpena@localroads.net or , ext LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES If you would like to be an integral part of the process for reviewing and commenting on the priorities, please plan to attend the next rounds of council meetings where proposed Legislative Priorities will be discussed. Please schedule time for policy discussions at these council meetings: Blue Water Highway January Great Lakes January Paul Bunyan November/February Seven County January Southeastern November/February Southwestern November/February Straits Area November/February Vacationland December CRAM DECEMBER COMMITTEE MEETINGS As noted in the Road Ahead on page 8, the following committees will be meeting on Monday, December 3 at the Comfort Inn & Suites Hotel & Conference Center located at 2424 S. Mission St, Mt. Pleasant, MI The hotel phone number is in case you need to make reservations for a room. RUSH-PAC Board Engineering Committee Bituminous Weight Restrictions & Uniformity Audit Committee CRAM Board Meeting 9:00 am - 11:00 am Room E 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Room E 10:00 am - 12:00 pm Room F 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm Room F 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm Room F 11:30 am - 3:00 pm Room G In the past, these committee meetings had been held in conjunction with the Southern Association Conference. Since this event has been combined with the Northern Conference, stand alone meetings will be held.

7 Ottawa County Road Commission Wins Build A Better Mousetrap National Competition It is unlikely that Ottawa County Road Commission (OCRC) realized the mileage they would get out of recycling their used tires in a unique way. At the 2012 Superintendents Seminar, John Ryynanen had the pleasure of presenting the Ottawa County Road Commission the National LTAP/FHWA Build a Better Mousetrap National Competition first place prize for their innovative use for recycled tires. The road to first place began when OCRC submitted the idea of using sliced tires as cutting edges on plows as a 2011 CRAM Best Practices nomination. That nomination won recognition as a best practice and then caught the eyes of Michigan LTAP s John Ryynanen. OCRC developed an edge that uses two strips of sliced tires sandwiched between the plow and a used metal cutting edge. The estimated cost per cutting edge using this technique is about $36.00 per edge and the edges have a life of 1-1/2 to 2 seasons. Comparable commercial blades ranged from $102 to $1,400 and had lifetimes ranging from 1/2 to a full season. In addition to a greatly reduced cutting edge expense, the road commission also saved money on tire disposal costs. We congratulate OCRC on its award winning innovation. WHAT IS BUILD A BETTER MOUSETRAP? WE KNOW YOU HAVE SOME GREAT IDEAS FOR BEST PRACTICES... SEND US THEM WHEN WE SEEK NOMINATIONS FOR THE 2012 BEST PRACTICE AWARDS IN DECEMBER. The FHWA/LTAP National Build a Better Mousetrap competition is coordinated through ARTBA in Washington DC. Basically, the competition takes entries from each LTAP center (there are 52 of them) and a panel of judges picks first, second and third place finishers from the entries. The winners are announced at the National LTAP conference, which is usually in August. Every year ARTBA publishes a booklet that contains all the entries. The competition is a great way to share ideas among road agencies, and it's great PR for the agencies that submit entries.

8 THE ROAD AHEAD November 5 Southeastern Council Jackson County Road Commission 6 Straits Area Council Audies, Mackinac City 6 CRAM Office Closed - Election Day 12 CRAM Office Closed - Veterans Day 12 Southwestern Council Sturges-Young Auditorium, Sturgis CRAM Office Closed - Thanksgiving 29 Vacationland Council Comfort Inn & Conference Center Mt. Pleasant December 3 CRAM Board and Committee Meetings (see page six for more details) Comfort Inn, Mt. Pleasant To post job openings or to include other items in CRAM News, contact Tom Eldred at the CRAM Office BY Wednesday to be included in the edition. Openings/information should be sent electronically to: teldred@localroads.net 2013 February 7-8 UPRBA Winter Meeting Holiday Inn, Marquette County Engineers Workshop Kewadin Casino Hotel, Sault Ste. Marie March 5-7 CRAM Annual Highway Conference and Trade Show Best Western Plus, Lansing Michigan Bridge Conference Cleary University, Howell April Commissioners Seminar Little River Casino and Resort, Manistee NACE Conference Des Moines Marriott, Des Moines, IA May Finance and HR Business Seminar Bavarian Inn, Frankenmuth June UPRBA Summer Meeting Keweenaw Mountain Lodge, Copper Harbor JOB OPENING The Allegan County Road Commission is accepting applications for the position of Project Engineer. Applicants should possess, at a minimum, a B.S. in Civil Engineering, an E.I.T. certificate from the State of Michigan and a valid Michigan Driver s License. This is a career opportunity for an Engineer to be involved in all aspects of highway/bridge engineering design, construction, and maintenance. Salary commensurate to education and work experience with a complete benefits package. Submit application with resume by November 21, 2012, to the Allegan County Road Commission, 1308 Lincoln Road, Allegan, MI 49010, or rclarry@alleganroads.org. Telephone An Equal Opportunity Employer.