County attorney’s duties are clarified
By Debbie Lowe

A claim presented to Carroll County Commissioners by the county council raised some eyebrows at the special commissioners’ meeting held Dec. 27. The purpose of the meeting was to approve claims and payroll, sign contractual employees agreements and elect officers for 2007.

However commissioners stopped short when presented with a $1,000 claim for legal services by the council. They refused to approve it until clarification was provided.

That clarification was first presented in contract wording for county attorney Barry Emerson, and then by Emerson himself.

Emerson’s contractual duties read, “Attorney shall advise and represent the Board of Commissioners of Carroll County, Indiana as to all legal matters concerning said Board, Carroll County, Indiana and Carroll County Drainage Board.”

Emerson said it was prudent for the council to consult an expert in the matter of the recent judicial mandate. He said Indiana statute allows for the council to retain legal counsel and advised the $1,000 fee was reasonable for the service provided.

That the money was claimed out of the commissioners’ budget caused additional concern for county leaders.

County auditor Beth Myers clarified the council does not have a budget.

She said the legal counsel retained by county council also represented her in the matter. She said when she followed the personnel policy, she understood there was likely to be legal action taken by the judge, which put her in an uncomfortable situation.

With that clarification, the commissioners’ approved the claim.

Employee contracts approved:

• Mike Durr - emergency medical services director, $42,330;

• Ron Francis - highway superintendent, $37,373;

• Justin Darling - emergency management director, $35,525;

• Ramzi Awwad - highway supervisor/engineer, $34,714 with vehicle;

• Jay Dee Cree - E-911 coordinator, $31,236;

• Charles Appleton - courthouse custodian, $27,861;

• Russell Smith - transfer station operator, $26,119;

• Diane M. Brown - assistant superintendent Carroll Manor, $25,508;

• Sheryl Shockley - courthouse assistant custodian, $23,756;

• Dr. Marc Estes M.D. - EMS medical director $20,600;

• Barry T. Emerson - county commissioners’ attorney, $13,804 (base pay); and

• Rex Gangloff and Phyllis Gangloff - county parks custodians, $3,892 (total).

Commissioners appointed themselves to the solid waste district board of directors, appointed Ralph Hughes, Pat Clawson and Jay Bush to the Carroll County Redevelopment Commission, and approved an agreement with the Rossville Volunteer Ambulance Service for $9,124.
                        2007 meeting schedule
    Commissioners will meet twice monthly on the first and third
Mondays of each month in the commissioners’ meeting room on
the second floor of the courthouse. The Feb. 19, April 16, June 18,
        Aug. 20, Oct. 15 and Dec. 17 meetings will be at 6 p.m.
                      All other meetings will be at 9 a.m.

Commissioner Loren Hylton

Claims and payroll was elected president of the commissioners for 2007 and George Mears was voted second-in-command.

Highway claims for $458,884.53, county operating claims for $519,531.03 and payroll for $182,935.69 were approved.