Board to appeal budget cut
Secretary to leave position
By Debbie Lowe

The Carroll County Drainage Board is displeased with the county council's decision to decrease their 2007 budget and they plan to formally object. An appeal will be filed at the Nov. 3 council meeting.

Drainage board president Loren Hylton reported the department's budget was decreased about 35 percent overall. The largest decrease was in the salary for the secretary, Wanda Duff. Her salary was cut more than 50 percent.

Hylton said he presented the budget to the council during budget time and there were no questions about Duff's duties, the amount of time she spent on the job, or what her expenses were for the year.

Duff said she was not bitter about the decision, however because of the action, she will leave the position at the end of 2006.

"I have to say, I am a little bitter about it," drainage board m e m b e r and county c o m m i s - s i o n e r s ' p r e s i d e n t Bill Brown said. "I feel this is ridiculous. This decision is a disaster for our drainage board."

County surveyor Wayne Chapman reminded board members the first-deputy position in the surveyor's office was downgraded to a clerk position by the council in the 2006 budget.

"For no reason, they just did it," he said.

County attorney Barry Emerson said the drainage board secretary must be knowledgeable about drainage issues and legal issues as they relate to notification to property owners when an action is pending.

"What we have accomp l i s h e d , we couldn't have done witho u t Wa n d a , " Ch a pma n said.

"It was very poor management to make this drastic cut," Brown said talking about longterm economic effects of having someone less qualified in the secretary's position.

"I think it will be impossible to find a competent replacement for Wanda," he concluded.

Other business

Chapman said he has heard nothing about a drainage plan from the proposed Boerman Carroll dairy, to be located in Democrat Township.

He reported the department addressed waterway issues during September.

"Things are getting busy out there," Chapman said.

The next meeting will be Nov. 6 at 8:30 a.m.