The decision to contribute up to 10 percent of the 2009 county budget to the Rainy Day Fund at the end of the fiscal year would probably be a routine matter in other Indiana counties. In Carroll County, where just three years ago it became necessary to secure a $2 million line of credit to pay monthly bills, the action taken at Monday morning’s county council meeting was a milestone in the county’s history. The council was able, for the first time in recent history, to contribute to the county’s savings account.

A recommendation from the council finance committee which met Monday morning, spurred the decision to contribute up to $560,000 out of the general fund to the Rainy Day Fund. County auditor Beth Myers advised the finance committee that it is improbable that amount of money will be left in the general fund at the end of the year, but as much as $350,000 could be available.

Council president Ann Brown said this was the first time since the Rainy Day Fund was established in 2008 that a portion of the general fund could be added to the account.

County clerk

Brown said that in the 2008 Indiana State Board of Accounts audit results, recently released to the public, it was noted that the internal financial books in the clerk’s office were not in balance. County clerk Nancy Mattox was summoned to the meeting to explain her plan to reconcile the situation.

“I’d like to see this taken care of ASAP,” Carl Abbott said.

He advised Mattox that 2010 is an election year and she will be busy with election duties.

Mattox said the roughly $3,000 overage occurred in 2008, the first year she was in office. She said that the other two workers in the clerk’s office did not know how to do the financial work needed to balance the accounts. Mattox said a request to the former clerk for help was denied as well. She said there was no one to help her do what needed to be done, although she contacted a former SBOA worker to assist with the project.

Mattox said when SBOA auditors were in the county last summer performing the audit, they were also unable to reconcile the accounts.

Mattox said she planned to use the last two weeks in December and the first two weeks in January to solve the problem.

Ambulance service

Emergency medical services director Mike Durr said he expected 2009 revenue to reach nearly $400,000, which is less than in previous years. He explained that the billing company’s work is inconsistent from month-to-month and the number of runs has decreased since the county is no longer routinely responding to calls in Jefferson Township. He said the loss to the county from that action is close to $50,000.

Durr said he will likely request permission from the county commissioners to change billing companies after the first of the year.

In a separate matter, the council sent commissioner approved ordinance 2009-13, which establishes a supplemental fund to receive township trustee donations to the ambulance service for operating expenses, back to commissioners for additions before approval by them. It was requested the ordinance be re-written to include the agreement extend to city and towns, be restricted to a three-year time period and include language which requires remaining funds to be disbursed amongst contributors pro-rated based on their contributions to the fund.

Highway department

The council voted to amend the salary ordinance and personnel policy and change the 2011 budget to include a line item for a seasonal worker. The action came after a recommendation by the council finance committee about the best way to handle the department’s need for a truck driver to plow snow.

Highway engineer Paul Couts explained in a past meeting that there is money in the budget for another full-time truck driver, but the position did not need to be filled throughout the year. Commissioners approved a contract to pay a seasonal employee for plowing at the Dec. 7 meeting. Upon further investigation, the council finance committee determined that the contract did not suit the situation.

The seasonal employee will receive no benefits and will work a specific amount of time in the winter only.

Other business

Ordinance 2009-14 to establish the Carroll Manor Operation Fund was approved.

Council members voted to suspend the rule to reorganize for officers and to establish the finance committee after the first of the year. They elected current officers and finance committee members to serve in 2010. Brown will remain the president, Slavens vice president and Brown, Slavens and Marion Huffer will serve as the finance committee.

Slavens was appointed to the Kankakee Iroquois Regional Planning Commission board of directors as council representative.

County treasurer Jane Brewington will be expected to appear at all monthly council meetings to present the treasurer’s report.

Council representatives will be assigned to county departments in January. It was agreed by consensus that representatives will present transfers and additional appropriation requests in the absence of department heads at council meetings.

Departments submitted numerous requests for transfers to balance line items in their budgets and pay bills before the end of the year. Council members approved $125 for the coroner, $15,000 for EMS, $32,181, $500 for the jail, $151 for Soil and Water, $980 for emergency management agency, $1,000 for the prosecutor’s office, $100 for the health department, $100 for the LEPC, $8,400 for E-911 and $26,500 for the highway department.

Additional appropriations of $6,400 for adult probation and $4,000 from the Riverboat Gambling Fund for the county personnel policy, none of which will come from the general fund, were approved.

The council will meet the third Thursday of the month at 8:30 a.m. in 2010. The first meeting will be Jan. 21. The finance committee will meet on the Tuesday of the same week at 9 a.m.