Council holds the line on spending
By Debbie Lowe Staff writer

To the chagrin of some department heads, Carroll County Council not only examined in detail each spending request presented to them at the Friday morning meeting, they also delayed, changed or denied some due to money worries. Department heads appeared before the council to explain the need of their transfers and spending requests. They were respectfully met with questions about need and ways to avoid spending at this time. Different council members expressed contrasting views on how to best address the current financial crunch being felt by the county.

Auditor Beth Myers announced that the Department of Local Government Finance notified her that a recent $18,000 additional approved by the council was not going to be approved by the state office, adding a bleak reality to the situation at hand.

Veteran's death benefit

Commissioners' ordinance 2007-07 to reduce the reimbursement of veterans' burial benefits from the current $1,000 per death to $250 was not approved. Council member Jerry Hendress moved to approve the ordinance, but there was no second and the motion died.

Slavens moved to pay $100 per death effective immediately, but there was no second although Ann Brown said she supported that amount.

"This thing is so broad, we haven't hit the bottom yet," she said. "It cannot be business as usual anymore."

Carl Abbott clarified that the county did in fact pay $1,000 each for 40 deaths in 2006. Myers reported that two more deaths occurred last year, but the fund was depleted so the burial expenses were paid out of 2007 funds.

Abbott moved to deny the ordinance request. Nancy Cripe provided the second and the denial motion was passed in a three to two vote. Slavens and Jerry Hendress voted against the motion. Steve Ashby was not present for the meeting. Council president Rob Baker did not vote.

Employee compensation

Assessor Doris McLeland requested an amendment to the county salary ordinance be made to allow her to pay a worker in her office, who is now a part-time employee due to attending Purdue, at the full-time rate. She said the person would work approximately 25 hours per week and would receive no benefits.

"I think you are opening a huge can of worms," Cripe said.

"I think it would be fine to start a 'first'," McLeland said.

"You realize that if it's a 'first' it won't be the last," Baker commented.

McLeland explained the worker has floated from office to office in the courthouse to help other departments with computer issues and facilitating an improved flow of reporting data between the offices.

"I think this courthouse needs part-time/full-time employees who will go from office to office," Slavens said in support of the request.

"I think you've got a valuable asset and should consider this request," audience member Kip Brady said.

The request was denied in a three to two vote. Hendress, Abbott and Cripe provided the no votes.

Highway department

A request from county highway superintendent Ron Francis to purchase material needed to complete the 2007 Phase II road plan prior to receiving the second installment of Major Moves funding was tabled. Francis reminded council members in 2006 they allowed the department to purchase, in advance of the receipt of the money, to save costs for stone and supplies for road work. He admitted the state money had not been received by the county nor has a definite confirmation of that action been received.

"We can't spend money we don't have," Brown said.

Francis' plan to transfer $32,000 from the Lancaster Bridge project to complete funding for a deck replacement project on a bridge on CR300E south of CR200S was denied.

Slavens asked Francis how much money was in the cumulative bridge account, noting there was a negative balance in June or July. Francis was not able to provide the requested information.

Myers said her balance sheet indicated there was approximately $900,000 as of Sept. 6 in the fund. She added that the balance in the treasurer's office might not reflect the same number. Slavens said that amount was encumbered from the 2006 budget and would have to be subtracted from the balance to know a true account balance.

When asked, Francis said he did not know if a school bus traveled the road or not. However, resident Galen Perry said residents usually do not use that section of the road and no school buses use it.

"We're going to have to pull from other funds to pay our bills," Brown said explaining why she was not in favor of the request.

Sewer district

Council members refused to take action on a request by commissioners to financially support a lawsuit to remove most of Jefferson Township from the Twin Lakes Regional Sewer District because no specific amount of money was requested.

"In 2000, a mistake was made in this room," commissioner Bill Brown told council members in a plea for the financial backing needed to pursue the matter in court.

He explained the mistake deprived property owners of rights and the chance to be represented by elected officials. He said Carroll County became the "proverbial red-headed step-child" to the sewer district board.

"If we don't back the citizens of Carroll County, who will?" Brown posed. "Had the sewer district not responded in a dictatorial manner, we would not be here today. I respectfully ask you to provide funding for this suit," he concluded.

"It's just a bad time," Abbott said. "There's no way."

He encouraged those concerned to send him letters and emails to help guide him in this decision.

"We didn't ask to go into Carroll County," sewer district board treasurer Art Anderson told council members.

Slavens asked Anderson why sewer district boundaries were moved from just around the lake to farther inland, extending to the east of US421 in some places.

"We didn't do the boundaries," Anderson replied.

Slavens said at the time of inclusion in the sewer district, the township advisory board was not informed of the action and there were no public hearings to involve property owners. He suggested current property owners might have a valid lawsuit against the county commissioners for "giving away their property rights."

Baker said the council was neutral on the matter and reiterated a dollar amount was needed for them to make a decision.

Sewer district opponent Pat Robertson asked council members to look beyond the present to realize the negative impact the situation would have on all Carroll County residents.

"If they can't depend on their elected officials," she said, "who can they depend on? Please find a way."

She urged quick action was needed because Phase IIIB customers received sewer district bills during the week and are expected to begin paying a monthly fee as construction gets underway.

"I have $15,000 pledged right now," she said. "I think citizens would be willing to pay a onetime fee to rid themselves of the sewer district."

Commissioner Brown was directed to set an amount for the request and return to the council.

Council member Brown requested that financial reports be distributed prior to or at the beginning of the meeting for the council to consult when making financial and spending decisions.

Slavens requested council vote on matters as they are discussed rather than the current method of discussion of all matters and then reverting to the beginning of the agenda and voting on requests after department heads have left. Brown agreed with the request.

Baker said he did not believe in change for change sake and the decision about how to conduct the meeting was his to make.

Baker urged council members who vote against motions to state reasons for their vote when in the minority. He said their reasons might shed light on the issue other council members did not consider.

It was decided tax rates would be a topic for discussion and a vote at the next regular council meeting scheduled for Sept. 26 at 8 a.m.