No replacement for Awwad slated
Francis to be named highway head
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

Carroll County Commissioners' president Loren Hylton revealed a revised staffing plan for the county highway department at the Friday morning council meeting. The plan included the elimination of the position currently held by highway supervisor Ramzi Awwad, who has resigned, putting current highway superintendent Ron Francis in charge and establishing three foremen positions. Two current employees would be promoted to foreman and the third would be a new hire.

"We've seen some great strides in the highway department," Hylton said. "We want to see these things continue."

Hylton and Francis explained the new employee would be paid from the highway supervisor salary. Money not used for the foreman position would be divided equally between the two foremen positions. No foreman will be given compensatory time or county-owned vehicles for their offduty use. Francis will stay at his current rate of pay.

"I think it's a good idea," Nancy Cripe said.

"I appreciate the creativity," Jerry Hendress said.

However, some council members expressed caution about the re-alignment plan. Hylton did not provide a written proposal with monetary figures to support the possible cost-saving plan.

Ann Brown noted that although the measure would eliminate one takehome vehicle to support, it would most likely lead to an increase in overtime pay for the foremen as well as the potential to inherit costly additional medical family benefits not planned for in the budget.

"I would have like to have seen some figures before we did this," Steve Ashby concurred. "We are not going to save a bunch of money," he added after taking time to do a rudimentary mathematical calculation while Hylton and Francis made their presentation.

A motion to approve the hire of one new employee for the county highway department was unanimously approved. However, Francis was directed to provide a written document with budgetary figures to support the plan.

Additional appropriations

A request by Carroll Circuit Court Judge Donald Currie for $6,000 was denied. The request was for money to pay the county to produce court transcripts for public defenders who are progressing through an appeals process after the defendant is found guilty.

Currie explained due to the volume of recent jury trials and the conviction rate, the budget line item for the task was exhausted. The judge said he understood the county was in a potential financial crisis and offered to transfer money from other accounts to support the fund if needed.

"However, I can assure you that I will be down here asking to replace those items," Currie predicted.

"It doesn't make sense to rob Peter to pay Paul," Carl Abbott said, suggesting council grant half of the requested amount.

"I understand he will have to come back," Hendress replied. "That doesn't bother me."

Ashby asked if the county charges defendants for transcripts or required restitution for the cost. Currie explained he is developing a protocol to order those with public defenders to provide reimbursement to the county for a portion of that expense.

"We will work with you," Baker told Currie after the vote.

Currie was granted a transfer of $160 from the expert witness account to the transcripts account to pay outstanding statements.

Approved were $41,312.66 for the Carrollton Bridge and $7,341.60 for bridge inspections was approved. The monies were received into county general from federal reimbursements. The additional appropriations were moving the money from county general to the correct line items in the budget.

The next council meeting is set for May 31 at 8 a.m.