COLUMBIA -- Two state highway commissioners signaled Monday they want the state Department of Transportation to be more open in its release of information.

Their comments came after The Greenville News reported the agency was not answering questions about why a former top agency executive had been hired for a high-paid, temporary post.

Keith Bishop, who formerly served as deputy director of finance and administration for the giant agency, is being paid $51.90 an hour, the agency divulged to the newspaper in response to a state Freedom of Information Act request. That rate would equal $107,000 annually.

Neither DOT Executive Director Elizabeth Mabry nor other officials at the agency have responded to questions posed by The News as a result of the FOI, including the type of work he is doing, who he is assisting and why he left the agency at the end of last year.

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Bishop couldn't be reached for comment.

"It's troubling for me when any reporter has difficulty getting information from the DOT," said Commissioner Bob Harrell Sr. "I just have a problem with that. If they are not trying to hide information, it makes it look like they are. I will address this at the proper time and the proper context."

Commissioner William "Bud" Turner of Greer said he doesn't feel the agency "should place itself in a position either to attempt to hide anything or appear to be hiding anything."

Several board members said they were unaware of Bishop's hiring, until Friday or Monday.

Bishop started his job on Jan. 2 and is based at headquarters with "many duties performed off site," according to the FOI response. The agency describes his job title as a special assistant but doesn't state whom Bishop is to assist.

The newspaper began asking questions about Bishop leaving the agency in November and filed an FOIA this month.

Bishop is listed as a temporary employee, meaning that his job isn't guaranteed for any length of time and doesn't include benefits.

Harrell, the father of House Speaker Bobby Harrell, said Mabry told him Friday that Bishop was working on a project that should end soon.

"The information that I got was that he was doing some report that he had the most knowledge of anybody, and it was expedient to have him do it, and it was over or about to be over," he said.

He said he knew no other details.

DOT Commission Chairman Tee Hooper said Friday he was unaware of Bishop's return to the payroll.

Bishop was promoted to deputy director in 2004.

As deputy director in charge of finance and administration, Bishop oversaw the agency's $1.2 billion budget, one of the biggest in state government, and management of the department's more than 5,000 employees.