One of my New Year's
Resolutions was to return to posting notes from our monthly County
Council meetings consistently. So far, so good!
Note: These are my personal notes from the council meeting. They are NOT the official minutes, nor should they be construed as an official record of any kind.
Boone County Council
1/14/2014
Present: All Council members present except Brent Wheat, Secretary Chelsea Young.
The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m.
The council reviewed and approved meeting minutes from its December meeting with slight. The council re-organized for the year, re-electing Steve Jacob as president and Marcia Wilhoite as vice-president.
RE-APPROPRIATIONS: None.
ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:
As agreed upon during the budget hearing process last summer and fall, the council had budgeted nothing for pauper attorney fees for the county’s three courts in order to move the budget closer to balance and relying upon allocated funds being available at 2013’s end to support those expenditures in 2014. To that end, the council approved additional appropriations for all three courts in the following amounts:
Superior I: $150,000
Superior II: $184,250
Circuit: $200,000
Boone County Senior Services Incorporated (Anita Bowen):
BCSSI requested creation of a new line for passing through money ($1512.50) from a federal grant (Job Access Reverse Commute – JARC) that funded bus service from downtown Indianapolis to the Lebanon Business Park last fall. Approved.
County Maintenance (Mike Martin):
Requested creation and funding of a new full-time position for Custodian, to be used primarily at the jail. Mr. Martin agreed to oversee a consolidation of maintenance and custodial of operations at the jail and other county buildings last summer in an effort to streamline service and supervision. He believes the current staff under that new system is insufficient. After some discussion, the council declined to act at this time, but did state an openness to re-evaluating the issue once the current staffing has been in place longer. No motion was made.
Community Corrections (Kari Ragsdale):
Requested a salary ordinance change to move a community corrections Case Manager position from part-time to full-time to compensate for increased work load. This position – as the entire Community Corrections budget – is paid by user fees and therefore has no impact on the county’s property or income tax funds. Approved.
Sheriff (Maj. Mike Nielsen):
Requested multiple small additionals for reimbursements for inmate supplies (damages), postage and medical expenses totaling just over $1,500. Council member Gene Thompson again discussed the nature of these transactions and the feasibility of continuing this transfer process each month. Motion failed 2-3.
Requested $1325 to the Sheriff’s Salary line to make that line and the new salary ordinance commensurate with the increase approved at the council’s November meeting. Approved 5-1.
NEW BUSINESS:
Prosecutor Todd Meyer and Deputy Laurie Schein requested a series of changes to part-time rates in the salary ordinance for three fee-based positions, as well as the re-naming of two lines in the Prosecutor’s general fund budget to reflect new positions. Approved.
Gene Thompson raised questions about the transfer of funds from salary lines (1000-series) into other lines.
The council approved a change to the salary ordinance to reflect the Community Corrections position change approved above.
The council had expected to hear from Mr. Mike Nielsen (no relation to the Major) about the appraisal of fixed assets belonging to the county – including buildings, vehicles, roads, bridges, etc. Auditor Deanna Willhoite stated that Mr. Nielsen was unable to attend but plans to address the council next month. Much discussion followed involving Auditor Willhoite and Commissioner Jeff Wolfe about the commissioners’ position on the need for the appraisals, though some report of those values is required by statute. Willhoite will confer with Mr. Nielsen and the Commissioners about the appropriate amount for an additional appropriation request next month.
OLD BUSINESS:
Kerry Green, new director of the Hussey-Mayfield Library in Zionsville, addressed the council about filling the vacancy on their board. Last month the council had delayed voting on the position despite having a qualified applicant (Kim Abel) and asked the library to advertise the position publicly. Having done so, an additional applicant (Ed Cambra) has stepped forward for consideration. Gene Thompson, who represents the library’s territory, noted the current make-up of the board and its diversity of experience and talents, as well as the commending the two candidates for their willingness to serve and their excellent qualifications. As applicant Ed Cambra was present at the meeting, he was asked to address the council about his background as an accountant, which includes extensive work in forensic accounting. After some discussion of the council’s role as the fiscal body and the desire for our representatives to reflect a fiscal background when possible, Mr. Cambra’s appointment was approved unanimously.
Gene Thompson raised the issue of expenditures from the Misdemeanant Fund being used to address broader needs, including the Safekeeping expenses discussed the past several months. Steve Jacob noted that Sheriff Campbell, who was unable to be present today, plans to submit a budget for the fund at the council’s February meeting. Mr. Thompson offered some suggestions of money budgeted from other funds being budgeted instead from the Misdemeanant Fund.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Aaron Smith, Lebanon, noted that the county’s bond rating has been raised to AA+.
I raised the issue of last month’s discussion of salary increases for some part-time employees, which had originally been on today’s agenda. The item had been withdrawn, but Auditor Willhoite and Commissioner Wolfe stated that they plan to present an additional appropriation request at the February meeting.
DOCUMENT SIGNING
The meeting adjourned just after 10:00. (Wow!)
Next regularly-scheduled council meeting will be Tuesday, February 14th, 2014, at 8:30 a.m.
Note: These are my personal notes from the council meeting. They are NOT the official minutes, nor should they be construed as an official record of any kind.
Boone County Council
1/14/2014
Present: All Council members present except Brent Wheat, Secretary Chelsea Young.
The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m.
The council reviewed and approved meeting minutes from its December meeting with slight. The council re-organized for the year, re-electing Steve Jacob as president and Marcia Wilhoite as vice-president.
RE-APPROPRIATIONS: None.
ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:
As agreed upon during the budget hearing process last summer and fall, the council had budgeted nothing for pauper attorney fees for the county’s three courts in order to move the budget closer to balance and relying upon allocated funds being available at 2013’s end to support those expenditures in 2014. To that end, the council approved additional appropriations for all three courts in the following amounts:
Superior I: $150,000
Superior II: $184,250
Circuit: $200,000
Boone County Senior Services Incorporated (Anita Bowen):
BCSSI requested creation of a new line for passing through money ($1512.50) from a federal grant (Job Access Reverse Commute – JARC) that funded bus service from downtown Indianapolis to the Lebanon Business Park last fall. Approved.
County Maintenance (Mike Martin):
Requested creation and funding of a new full-time position for Custodian, to be used primarily at the jail. Mr. Martin agreed to oversee a consolidation of maintenance and custodial of operations at the jail and other county buildings last summer in an effort to streamline service and supervision. He believes the current staff under that new system is insufficient. After some discussion, the council declined to act at this time, but did state an openness to re-evaluating the issue once the current staffing has been in place longer. No motion was made.
Community Corrections (Kari Ragsdale):
Requested a salary ordinance change to move a community corrections Case Manager position from part-time to full-time to compensate for increased work load. This position – as the entire Community Corrections budget – is paid by user fees and therefore has no impact on the county’s property or income tax funds. Approved.
Sheriff (Maj. Mike Nielsen):
Requested multiple small additionals for reimbursements for inmate supplies (damages), postage and medical expenses totaling just over $1,500. Council member Gene Thompson again discussed the nature of these transactions and the feasibility of continuing this transfer process each month. Motion failed 2-3.
Requested $1325 to the Sheriff’s Salary line to make that line and the new salary ordinance commensurate with the increase approved at the council’s November meeting. Approved 5-1.
NEW BUSINESS:
Prosecutor Todd Meyer and Deputy Laurie Schein requested a series of changes to part-time rates in the salary ordinance for three fee-based positions, as well as the re-naming of two lines in the Prosecutor’s general fund budget to reflect new positions. Approved.
Gene Thompson raised questions about the transfer of funds from salary lines (1000-series) into other lines.
The council approved a change to the salary ordinance to reflect the Community Corrections position change approved above.
The council had expected to hear from Mr. Mike Nielsen (no relation to the Major) about the appraisal of fixed assets belonging to the county – including buildings, vehicles, roads, bridges, etc. Auditor Deanna Willhoite stated that Mr. Nielsen was unable to attend but plans to address the council next month. Much discussion followed involving Auditor Willhoite and Commissioner Jeff Wolfe about the commissioners’ position on the need for the appraisals, though some report of those values is required by statute. Willhoite will confer with Mr. Nielsen and the Commissioners about the appropriate amount for an additional appropriation request next month.
OLD BUSINESS:
Kerry Green, new director of the Hussey-Mayfield Library in Zionsville, addressed the council about filling the vacancy on their board. Last month the council had delayed voting on the position despite having a qualified applicant (Kim Abel) and asked the library to advertise the position publicly. Having done so, an additional applicant (Ed Cambra) has stepped forward for consideration. Gene Thompson, who represents the library’s territory, noted the current make-up of the board and its diversity of experience and talents, as well as the commending the two candidates for their willingness to serve and their excellent qualifications. As applicant Ed Cambra was present at the meeting, he was asked to address the council about his background as an accountant, which includes extensive work in forensic accounting. After some discussion of the council’s role as the fiscal body and the desire for our representatives to reflect a fiscal background when possible, Mr. Cambra’s appointment was approved unanimously.
Gene Thompson raised the issue of expenditures from the Misdemeanant Fund being used to address broader needs, including the Safekeeping expenses discussed the past several months. Steve Jacob noted that Sheriff Campbell, who was unable to be present today, plans to submit a budget for the fund at the council’s February meeting. Mr. Thompson offered some suggestions of money budgeted from other funds being budgeted instead from the Misdemeanant Fund.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Aaron Smith, Lebanon, noted that the county’s bond rating has been raised to AA+.
I raised the issue of last month’s discussion of salary increases for some part-time employees, which had originally been on today’s agenda. The item had been withdrawn, but Auditor Willhoite and Commissioner Wolfe stated that they plan to present an additional appropriation request at the February meeting.
DOCUMENT SIGNING
The meeting adjourned just after 10:00. (Wow!)
Next regularly-scheduled council meeting will be Tuesday, February 14th, 2014, at 8:30 a.m.
