ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – Delta Conservation District Board Chair Joe Kaplan continues to deny allegations made by one county commissioner.
In March, Commissioner Bob Barron said Kaplan directed a technician with the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) to “get clearance” before working on county projects. Kaplan said he had inquired about the county’s involvement in MAEAP, never obtaining any confidential documents and refuting Barron’s claim that he potentially violated confidentiality.
On April 9, Barron once again brought the issue to the County Board of Commissioners.
“The MAEAP Program is to help with environmental issues for land owners,” he said. “…I believe that the question about whether the county is being singled out as a landowner or not at the Soil Conservation District hasn’t been answered. No landowner is supposed to be singled out.”
The Board of Commissioners voted to send a letter asking the Conservation District if it has “singled out the county as a landowner.”
At the Delta Conservation District’s April 12 meeting, Kaplan told WZMQ 19 he has not yet received a letter. However, he says the answer to Barron’s question is “a resounding no.”
“Commissioner Barron is the liaison to the district,” said Kaplan. “I invited him during public comment to contact us directly, but they’re just choosing a different route to pursue this. I understand the commissioners are embroiled in a recall election. We are a local unit of state government. We’re happy to honor that separation, but it’s up to them to make the decisions of what relationship they want with the district, if any.”
Kaplan reiterated that there has been “no breach of confidentiality” or discrimination against the county by the Conservation District, saying the district cannot disclose any information about a private landowner. He says he is working with Administrator Ashleigh Young to ensure the county has all records, agreements, and plans that have been developed for county lands.
