About face…Ashby takes the lead to face the audience
No additional appropriation for highway department
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

When Carroll County Council President Rob Baker asked if there were additional items for the agenda before the Wednesday morning council meeting began, he received a request from Steve Ashby to change his location at the meeting table. Ashby has been sitting with his back to the audience, facing other council members for the two years he has been on the council.

However he decided it was time for a change and asked to be able to face the audience. Jerry Hendress, who normally sits across the table from Ashby, agreed to change seats with him.

The reality of the county's financial situation was felt by highway superintendent Ron Francis as the meeting progressed.

Francis requested a $14,935 additional appropriation to hire a mechanic. Due to a mathematical error when the department's 2007 budget was submitted and approved, one position was omitted. The position was not funded and council members decided to continue that trend.

"Why would we give the money for the person now and then cut it later?" asked Ron Slavens. "Waiting would be most fair to everyone."

Francis said the lack of the position "has put us in a bind" and the department was falling behind with mowing and patching. He also said the same amount of funding was being received from the state gas tax and no money would be taken from the general fund for the position.

However those comments did not sway the opinion of the council as they unanimously voted to deny the request.

It was a different story when Carroll Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Smith requested a $2,000 additional appropriation for vacation time compensation. Smith said one of the court's employees was leaving and had accrued 95 hours of vacation time, for which she will be paid. Smith said that payment would deplete that fund and would prevent him from replacing the lost employee until her anniversary date was reached.

Smith said the money requested would come from the alcohol and drug fund, paid for by user fees and not from the general fund.

Ann Brown suggested the judge investigate the possibility of hiring from an employment agency to eliminate benefits offered to a full-time county employee. She also suggested he hire part-time employees to fill the void and reduce the amount needed for benefits.

Smith gave a detailed description of workers' duties in his court to emphasize the hardship that would be present if the position was not filled immediately and by a full-time county employee.

The request was granted. Finance committee

Slavens distributed report forms the treasurer and auditor will be asked to complete on a regular basis. The packet included a monthly financial statement and balance sheet, which would give current information about bank balances. Slavens expressed the need for the treasurer and auditor's offices to balance weekly.

"We're trying to get everything to balance properly," he said.

He also advocated working more closely with the state to develop tax rates for the county.

Jerry Hendress reported that he and Baker attended a Tippecanoe County Council meeting to observe their proceedings. He said the Tippecanoe County Council begins every meeting with a formal report from both the auditor and treasurer.

He reported the neighboring county hired a financial consultant to address revenue issues because approximately 40 percent of its income is generated from revenue. He recommended stricter user fees for services.

Hendress said when faced with a similar financial problem as is being experienced in Carroll County, Tippecanoe County began eliminating non-essential services and then addressed revenue issues. He said the county commissioners were involved in all phases of the solution to their financial problems.

Hendress advised the Tippecanoe County Council holds a special meeting with sheriff Tracy Brown one time each year to review and address issues particular to that department.

"We routinely meet one time a year before the council meeting and it is worthwhile," Brown said Tuesday. "I believe in truth in budgeting. I don't believe in padding my budget, but I want the council to know that what I ask for is what I believe I really need. It is a way for us all to be on the same page."

Brown said two council members are assigned to meet with him throughout the year in an effort to enhance knowledge and communication.

Animal control

Hendress expressed concern about eliminating animal control services. He said he was contacted by residents and police officers not in favor of deleting the service from the county budget.

The council voted to notify all township trustees and municipalities to put money in their 2008 budgets to help fund animal control if they desired the service in their area.

Other business

Slavens reported special funds, controlled by department heads but not monitored by the auditor's office, are to be reviewed by the council at least twice each year, according to the State Board of Accounts.

It was decided the finance committee would perform those duties. A commissioner may be asked to participate in the review.

Council member Carl Abbott provided preliminary results to inquiries about the cost to bid out mowing and snow removal rather than to pay for county employees to perform the tasks and maintain necessary equipment.

Abbott said his objective was to gather information to aid council members when weighing the decision about replacing worn-out equipment.

"This is just food for thought," he said.

Council member Nancy Cripe reported that Carroll County pays more for public defenders and pauper attorneys than some neighboring counties. She compared Carroll County's budget for the service of approximately $153,000 to the White County budget of $5,000.

Transfers

+ Highway - $672 from supervisor to mechanic and $17,753 from supervisor to truck driver;

+ Park board - $4.55 from repair equipment to housekeeping supplies;

+ Carroll Manor - $1,209 from miscellaneous to disposal services; and

+ Joint courts - $1,500 from psychiatric and expert witnesses to translators.

The next meeting will be July 31 at 6 p.m.

A special meeting to discuss the county's hiring resolution will be July 5 at 8:30 a.m.