The Carroll County Council finance committee engaged the Indiana State Board of Accounts (SBOA) in dialog in 2007 prior and during the audit of the 2006 financial records. It was the understanding of committee Ron Slavens, Ann Brown and Steve Ashby after that experience they would be afforded the same opportunity in 2008 for the 2007 audit. However, that did not happen.

Council president Nancy S. Cripe announced at a Thursday morning council meeting SBOA representatives recently visited the county and completed the 2007 audit without input from the finance committee. She said she attended an exit interview and learned SBOA indicated they found no issues with the treasurer and auditors' offices. Cripe said a written report would be issued in four to six weeks.

"The finance committee had questions," complained chair Ann Brown. "We expected a supplemental report to help the council."

Slavens concurred with Brown. He said he was disappointed and concerned that the committee was left out of the review process. He said he was told by Tammy White of SBOA last year the finance committee would have an active role in the 2007 audit this year.

"I'm very disappointed," he said. "This is inexcusable."

"I'm like Ron," Steve Ashby said. "I'm very concerned. "We've got a long way to go. We've got a lot of things fixed but we've got to get everything fixed."

"I would like an opportunity to ask SBOA questions," he added.

Cripe said one of the auditors, Sandy Gerlach, would be at the courthouse Tuesday. She said the finance committee could visit at that time to ask questions.

Yeoman Community Center/EMS Garage grant

Emergency Medical Services (ambulance) Director Mike Durr presented the department's 2009 budget request. Additionally he explained the need to request an additional appropriation for the accounts recovery service fee and fuel.

He further reported bids for the Yeoman Community Center and EMS Garage joint project were well over the engineer's estimate, which is what grant funding was based upon. The engineer's estimate for the project was approximately $380,000 but bids started at roughly $439,000. He said town leaders would meet to discuss the situation.

Due to the nature of the grant request, Carroll County Commissioners became the grantee for funding. Bids were formally received at the last commissioners' meeting by Yeoman town engineer Ken Smith.

Other business

Highway superintendent Ron Francis was granted permission to fill a truck driver vacancy. He said the department was currently shy three employees with only 10 working. Francis explained that one resigned, one was terminated and one is on short-term disability. He was encouraged by council members to resolve the disability issue before snow-plowing commences.

The Local Option Income Tax workshop scheduled for the meeting was tabled.

According to assessor Doris McLeland, The Andersons missed the deadline to apply for a 2007 tax abatement. A public hearing will be held to provide currency for the matter to allow the abatement to proceed.

A $16,000 additional appropriation from the Riverboat Gambling Fund for an update to the personnel policy manual was approved.

Transfers approved:

• Commissioners - $4,830 from Social Security to the cost of keeping juveniles (an additional $3,059 claim was tabled for further review);

• Treasurer - $283.82 from mileage and meeting expenses to printing paper and toner;

• 4-H Building - $900 from repairs to custodian;

• Soil and Water - $200 and $223.10 from copier maintenance to mileage and postage respectively; and

• Cumulative Bridge Fund - $68,000 from Bridge #36 to Bridge #81.

Both Slavens and Ashby expressed concern about the bridge transfer request. Slavens said with an uncertain future coming from the Hoosier Heartland Highway, the highway department should be prudent now in spending bridge money. He said the county would inherit eight bridges when the state abandons SR25 in Carroll County. He warned that the county would need money in the near future for those bridges.

"We just need to be careful about what we're spending money on now," he cautioned Francis.

"I'm real concerned about relinquishments from the Hoosier Heartland Highway," said Ashby. "We're going to inherit a lot of stuff."

"We're sitting pretty good bridge-wise," Francis responded to the warnings.

The transfer request was approved although Slavens voted against the action.

The next council meeting will be Sept. 25 at 8:30 a.m.