"I think the people I represent would rather stand in line at the courthouse than lay on the floor waiting for an ambulance," County Council Member Ron Slavens

Carroll County Council members could not agree about a request to replace a departing worker in the auditor's office at Monday morning's council meeting. Auditor Beth Myers requested replacement of a fulltime position. She said an employee plans to take a position in the county assessor's office.

As was the case many times in the past year, the finance committee, which was established to investigate the county financial situation and make recommendations to the full council, voted one way and all other council members voted differently.

Council and finance committee member Ann Brown suggested the position be reduced to part-time. She said the move would save four hours each week plus the cost of benefits for the county.

"Every time something like this comes up, we have to consider it," she said.

Ron Slavens agreed. He said given the real possibility there would be additional county employee layoffs. He said not replacing the position was a "gift horse." The county could downsize without putting someone out of a job. The measure would also save unemployment expenses.

"Our office is the main office in Carroll County," Myers said in disagreement with Slavens. "You can't find someone to work a part-time position for what we pay."

Rob Baker agreed with Myers. He said there would be an increased workload given to the auditor's office when the new personnel policy manual is adopted. Each employee would then have a folder kept in the office.

"Everything that goes on reverts back to the auditor's office," he said.

Brown said the hiring resolution was adopted to give the council an opportunity to look at each position to determine if it was needed and/or if the county could afford it.

"We keep saying we have to cut back, but we don't," she stated.

"I think the people I represent would rather stand in line at the courthouse than lay on the floor waiting for an ambulance," Slavens responded. He cited a report about a Carroll County resident who waited 40 minutes recently for an ambulance to respond.

Carl Abbott, Jerry Hendress and Baker voted to replace the full-time position. Steve Ashby, Slavens and Brown voted against the motion.

The decision to maintain the status quo was made by council president Nancy S. Cripe in favor of the motion. After the meeting Cripe said she based her decision in part on what was required by law for the auditor's office.

"I'm not convinced more layoffs will be needed in the county," Cripe said in a followup interview. "I think the auditor's office needs the position - I really do. I don't think the auditor can run that office without another full-time person."

Auditor's report

It was announced from the auditor's report county income for 2008 was $7.2 million as compared to $5.9 million in 2007. It was noted much of the reported $1.3 million extra was due to one-time income and could not be counted on in the future.

Ashby told the Comet Tuesday inter-fund loans for $1,670,591, a tax anticipation loan for $513,500, although considered "income," was not true county revenue.

Slavens said an additional $47,000, an adjustment by the Indiana State Board of Accounts to balance the county books to the bank, plus $234,590 Department of Correction money captured by the sheriff, was reflected as income. However, it is only onetime income.

Those amounts total $2,465,681 and when subtracted from the $7.2 million figure reported, the 2008 county income is closer to roughly $4.7 million.

Slavens advised that although draws were made on fall property taxes, all of the tax revenue has yet to be added to the 2008 county income total.

Ashby said the council must also consider dwindling county investment interest. He said the county realized $120,000 less in income from Nov. 30, 2007, to Nov. 30, 2008, due to less money invested.

Myers was unavailable for comment Tuesday.

Sheriff's department

Sheriff Tony Burns was given, by consensus, permission to proceed with a purchase of two Chevrolet TrailBlazers from Mann Chevrolet-Buick in Flora. They will replace two Tahoes currently in use. Burns' request was to purchase a total of four vehicles. He proposed the other two would come from an out-of-county Dodge dealership to save money. He said the Dodge cars were cheaper than others available.

Council members suggested Burns solicit price quotes for two additional vehicles from in-county dealers. Consensus was an additional 15 percent above the state car bid amount could be spent on them.

"Income tax income (including LOIT) in the future is iffy," Brown said.

"I'd rather error on the safe side," Ashby said.

Burns will also research replacing his own unmarked unit which was totaled last week in a weather-related crash. He said the insurance company issued a check for more than $8,000 for the vehicle.

Other business

County prosecutor Tricia Thompson will replace a fulltime secretary. Thompson said the IV-D Child Support worker was not able to provide support in the prosecutor's office.

Myers was given the authority to make year-end transfers for less than $100 without a council meeting. She said all 2008 claims will be paid by Dec. 31.

Myers reported ambulance service 2008 income was approximately $433,000, which is roughly $10,000 less than 2007 income.

She said Carroll Manor has utilized donation income of $32,000 to supplement 2008 appropriations. It was reported that income increased approximately $25,000 in 2008 from 2007.

Memorial bricks were given to outgoing council members Baker and Ashby as tokens of gratitude for their service to the county.

Transfers approved:

• Parks department - $400 for utilities;

• Custodian - $869.70 for utilities and $3,337.50 for building repair;

• Treasurer - $750 for printing/ paper toner;

• Superior Court - $90 for conference/travel and $250 for maintenance contracts;

• Commissioners - $1,909 for unemployment and $48,034 for the cost of keeping juveniles;

• EMS - $100 for building repair, $400 for copier supplies, $250 for training; $75 for printing, $600 for the Yeoman building lease, $1,831 for fuel and $2,200 for utilities;

• Health department - $50 for environment supplies, $550 for advertising and $5,370 for flu vaccine (transfer not requested);

• Highway department - $2,410 for tires, $5,000 for repairs, $116 for garage and service building, $56 for safety supplies, $10,520 for road salt, $19 for office supplies, $1,459 for equipment and building repair, and $1,355 for foremen overtime; and

• Prosecutor - $150 for telephone.

Encumbrances approved:

• Reassessment - $4,500 for trending and $6,280 for AdValorem;

• Custodian - $4,589 for building repair; and

• Highway - approximately $238,000 into the cumulative bridge fund for ongoing bridge projects.

Additional appropriations

Denied:

• Reassessment - $300 for mileage, $3,146.17 for computer and software, $400 for clerical help, $172.84 for MLS comp books;

• Custodian - $700 for extra help;

• Health department - $10,635.72 for 2009 augmentation funding for nurse and sanitation worker salaries and $5,370 for flu vaccine.

The next meeting will be Jan. 20 at 8:30 a.m. A special meeting will be Dec. 29. The time is yet to be determined.