Notes -- February 2014 Council Meeting

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
2/11/2014
Present:  All Council members present, Secretaries Crystal Raub and Chelsea Young.

The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m.

The council reviewed and approved meeting minutes from its January meeting with slight amendment.  

RE-APPROPRIATIONS: None.

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:

Superior II (Judge McClure):

Requested $1675 for Med/Psych evaluation. This line had been removed from the budget in previous years as it had not been used, with the understanding that if a need arose an additional would be submitted.  So far this year Judge McClure has already required two evaluations, and expects more will be forthcoming. Approved.

Probation (Kari Ragsdale):

Requested $4689 for Probation Officer due to a miscalculation of a salary increase as an officer moved up the pay scale. This additional will put the budget in line with the salary ordinance, which was also approved to reflect the change. Approved.

Auditor (Deanna Willhoite):

Last month the council approved additional appropriations for the three county courts in order to fill their Pauper Attorney lines. Following that meeting, the county received word that the county budget submitted for 2014 had been reduced, which left insufficient unallocated funds to cover those appropriations. As a result, the defense attorneys’ claims for January were unpaid. After some discussion, the council approved a new additional from the Rainy Day fund in the same total amount ($532,000). This will leave a Rainy Day fund balance of roughly $3.2M. Approved.

Sheriff (Sheriff Campbell):

In continuation of a process begun last fall to budget the Misdemeanant Fund, Sheriff Campbell submitted three additionals to create new lines: Jail Operations ($5,000), Jail Programs ($20,000), Jail Safe Keeping ($3,000).  Approved 6-1.

Requested transfer of roughly $2000 in Inmate Medical and Postage. Much discussion over the appropriateness of transferring this money in the COIT fund (where this year’s budget is located) when the expenses were paid out of the County General Fund (where last year’s budget was located). Motion failed 3-3.

County Corrections (Sheriff Campbell):

Requested transfer of $63.63 in reimbursement for damages to inmate supplies. Approved 5-2.

Auditor (Deanna Willhoite):

Requested $750 for Dues & Subscriptions to correct an oversight in the budget. Approved.

Cum. Bridge (Rick Carney):

Requested $30,000 for a bridge inspection contract. This line is currently in the red, awaiting payment from the state. Approved.

Requested a new line and appropriation of $400,000 for Bridge 314 (on Main Street in Lebanon at Oak Hill Cemetery). The bridge no longer meets the weight requirements for Lebanon Fire Department’s larger trucks, leaving a few homes inaccessible to them. Approved.

County Highway (Rick Carney):

Requested $50,000 from the MVH fund to Overtime. This winter has already been brutal on our budget. Approved.

Veterans Service (Dennis Williams):

Requested $100 and a new line for a required training school.  Approved.

Auditor (Deanna Willhoite):

Requested $15,000 from Rainy Day or COIT to fund a contract with Government Fixed Asset Services (GFAS) to update the county’s capital assets (buildings, roads, bridges, rights-of-way, etc.) for financial reporting purposes.  Ms. Willhoite introduced Michael Nielsen of GFAS (no relation to the Boone County Sheriff’s Major) to address the need for and scope of the service. Much discussion followed about the necessity of completing this update, be it for state accounting, insurance or bonding purposes. County Commissioners Donnie Lawson and Jeff Wolfe were also asked to weigh in, and noted that the commissioners have struggled with the issue as well in terms of how to go about any update and what use such an update would be.  Ms. Willhoite noted that her understanding from the State Board of Accounts is that she is required to report accurately the county’s capital assets annually.  While a report has been made for the past several years, the BOA has noted that the numbers submitted were likely not accurate. Some discussion about where any funding should be drawn and whether the issue should be addressed at this summer’s 2015 budget hearing. Eventually, no motion was made.

NEW BUSINESS:

Brent Cardin of the Arc of Boone County presented the Arc’s annual report, as well as a summary prepared for the commissioners and council.  The county provides just under 10% of the Arc’s annual funding, having been in that range for many, many years.  Mr. Cardin will be retiring in March, and introduced his successor, Steve Savage. The board both welcomed Mr. Savage and thanked Mr. Cardin for many years of valuable service to the community.

Curt Emmanuel of Purdue Extension introduced himself as the new County Extension Director and Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator for Boone County. 

The board made several appointments and re-appointments to various boards as follows:

Alcoholic Beverage Commission: Bob Miller

PTA/BOA: Charles Ewing and Carol Nist

Convention and Visitors Bureau: Debbie Shubert

Redevelopment Commission: Brent Wheat and Marcia Wilhoite

Solid Waste: Marcia Wilhoite

OLD BUSINESS:

Council Member Marcia Wilhoite asked for discussion of a resolution from Tippecanoe County shared by Councilor Thompson which stated their goals in establishing a cash management policy and target minimum fund balances. President Jacob suggested that the council pursue such a resolution in consultation with the county auditor and treasurer. Thompson noted that the council has had peripheral discussions on these issues repeatedly over the years, and would do well to engage some professional assistance. After discussion, Jacob and Commissioner Jeff Wolfe agreed to reach out to their contacts in Tippecanoe County, as well as to Umbaugh Associates, and have the issue on the agenda for further discussion at next month’s meeting.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Cindy Murphy, Boone County Health Department, shared a letter from the Indiana State Health Commissioner extolling the virtues and value of public health departments, as well as outlining priorities to improve state health outcomes.

Sheriff Ken Campbell presented the 2013 Annual Jail Report, as well as an independent analysis of jail staffing he had commissioned to evaluate staffing levels. 

DOCUMENT SIGNING

The meeting adjourned at approximately 10:45.

Next regularly-scheduled council meeting will be Tuesday, March 11^th, 2014, at 8:30 a.m.