Pushing the issue
Council to address personnel policy handbook issues with commissioners
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Carroll County leaders do not see eye-to-eye about how to manage some county personnel issues. Council members made it clear at their Monday morning meeting they are not happy with a recent decision by the commissioners and intend to work with the executive branch of county government to avoid conflict in the future.

The conflict arose when county highway supervisor Ramzi Awwad was granted an exemption, allowed for in the personnel policy, which forbids nepotism when hiring. The exemption was granted at the Feb. 19 commissioners' meeting.

Awwad told commissioners he received between 10 and 12 candidates for a vacant truck driver position. He said he felt one candidate interviewed, who is the brother of a current truck driver, was the best candidate, although there were two others qualified for the position.

At that meeting, Awwad cited a stipulation in the county personnel policy handbook, which permits commissioners to grant an exemption to the policy, which is what they did.

"We approved filling the position as long as it followed the personnel policy," council president Rob Baker said.

"Why would you choose somebody that went against the policy?" he asked Awwad. "You're making it so we have to have stricter restrictions."

Awwad insisted he followed the policy. He said his goal was to run the department the best way he could.

"If we disagree with the way the policy reads, we need to address it with the commissioners," council member Ron Slavens suggested.

"It's just not right for the other department heads," council member Carl Abbott added.

"As far as personnel issues," Awwad said, " I take my direction from the commissioners."

"I think you're pushing the issue," Baker concluded. "You know where we stand on this."

In other highway business, the council approved an additional $47,722.86 to the Carrollton Bridge project and $30,000 to Bridge #36.

The additional money for the Carrollton Bridge was a reimbursement by the state for construction, which was deposited into the county general fund.

Awwad explained the additional amount for Bridge #36 was budgeted for 2006, but not used due to the inability to reach an agreement with the design engineer in 2006.

Council members granted $3,500 of a requested $7,000 encumbrance into the cumulative bridge GIS project fund.

Historically, the highway department and E911 each paid the total amount, $7,000, for the GIS service every other year. However confusion arose in 2006 and the money was paid out of the county general fund.

To end the confusion, council members directed the highway department and E911 to split the cost of the service in 2007.

A plan to evaluate the need for the GIS service by other depart- ments and assign payment shares is planned for this year.

Sheriff's office

Another policy issue was discussed when sheriff Tony Burns informed council members the sheriff's office owes a credit card debt with late fees and finance charges. Council members voted 5 to 1 to pay the debt out of the commissary fund.

Slavens did not support the measure, but he was not the only council member to show reluctance.

"This is the last time I'll vote to pay for penalties and finance charges for any department," council member Steve Ashby said.

Ashby said the lack of a credit card usage policy had become a problem for the county.

Burns said the state board of accounts said the debt could only be paid out of the commissary fund by agreement between the county fiscal body and the sheriff.

"This is the only way I know to get rid of this debt," he said. "I didn't create this problem, but it is left to me to fix."

County auditor Beth Myers verified that some 2006 credit card claims were not paid in a timely manner. She said required expense documentation was not received by her office in time to allow them to be paid on time.

Burns said his office recently received a $5,000 invoice from PMSIinc. as the law enforcement obligation of the 2006 jail study. He said he was unaware of the payment arrangements made by the former sheriff.

A payment decision was delayed to provide the auditor and the sheriff time to investigate payment arrangements.

The consensus of the council was to allow Burns to pay an incoming deputy the rate of pay of a one-year deputy, if the new hire has graduated from the law enforcement academy. The new hire will not be awarded county longevity.

Burns said the interviewing process was not completed and he was not ready to hire someone, but there were three applicants who have successfully completed law enforcement training.

Burns said although $60,000 was budgeted for new cars in 2007, he will spend $40,173, plus trade-ins.

"I'm in very good shape," he said.

He said he plans to use budget surplus for electronic installations in the cars and other needed equipment.

The council adopted an ordinance increasing the cost to purchase crash reports from $3 to $8, effective immediately.

Burns reported that a twoyear old state statute required all reports to cost not less than $5, but Carroll County did not observe that law.

He said crash reports can now be purchased over the Internet. The company selling the reports charges more for each report and will reimburse the county $8 per copy. Burns said receiving the same amount from all parties was equitable.

County Park Board

Bob Burton, president of the county park board, reported eight items listed as problems on an insurance report regarding Deer Creek Park at the January meeting, were reviewed by board members. He detailed the plan to rectify each situation.

Burton said further investigation revealed lead on the grounds was most likely not an issue. He discovered skeet shot in earlier years landed away from county property, therefore posing no health hazard to park users.

Burton said the total cost for the repairs would be approximately $1,500, however the budget would not tolerate the extra expense in addition to the usual maintenance and upkeep costs.

"The board's mission is to try and regain users," he said.

Baker advised Burton to make as many repairs as possible by staying within the 2007 budget.

Finance report

Council member and finance committee chair Ann Brown reported the committee met "numerous times" in the past month. The goal was to determine if county financial resources were dwindling and if so, why.

She confirmed a deterioration of the cash balance. She said since 2002, county expenses have increased significantly and revenues significantly decreased.

Brown said she and the other committee members, Ashby and Slavens, determined the county employs an insufficient accounting system.

The committee was granted permission to contact the Indiana State Board of Accounts and request audit information. The audit would have to be paid for by the county.

"We have to get the top thing figured out first and then go down from there," Baker said in support of the recommendation.

County cell phone usage

Reminding council members that he was "sentenced to the cell phone detail several months ago," Ashby said he discovered one cell phone provider who would give a 25 percent group discount for service if the county joined with the City of Delphi.

He said when he began researching cell phone usage, the county was paying more than $2,200 each month for service. The amount paid per month has been reduced to approximately $1,818 and with the newest plan, the expected cost will be $1,462, according to Ashby.

He emphasized the situation could easily get out of hand again without a county-wide cell phone usage policy in place. Ashby said the savings is due to cooperation of all departments right now. However, he reported one department which indicated during budget hearings it would not have cell phones after a grant to pay for them expired, has now contracted to have four cell phones.

Other business

Stephen Wagner and Arnold Abbott were appointed to the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals.

The next meeting will be March 20 at 6:30 p.m.