Courthouse implements emergency procedures manual

Potential emergencies in the courthouse moved one step closer to being responded to in a uniform manner when Carroll County Commissioners adopted a courthouse employees emergency procedures manual at Monday morning’s meeting.

Developed by the sheriff’s department and presented by Sgt. Dennis Randle, the manual is a response to a cost-free 2007 U.S. Marshal’s review of courthouse security.

Randle said department heads are ultimately responsible for the safety of their workers during an emergency. An explanatory meeting for all department heads and their deputies will be held Friday at 10 a.m. in the commissioners meeting room.

Topics addressed in the manual are evacuations, elevator use in emergencies, power outages, tornado warnings, biochemical, bomb and telephone threats, and catastrophic events. How employees should respond and how to survive catastrophic events are also included in the manual.

Randle said although there are other areas in the courthouse that should be addressed for security issues, he advised there are security cameras, which record constantly, stationed throughout the building.

Health Department

Commissioners unanimously approved the recommendation from the county board of health to re-appoint Angie Brown and Dr. Marilyn Wagoner to four-year terms on the board and to re-appoint Dr. Jordan Dutter to another four-year term as county health officer.

Commissioner Bill Brown abstained from the action to re-appoint his wife to the board. Council president Ann Brown recommended that both Brown and his wife sign conflict of interest forms in the county clerk’s office as a public acknowledgement of possible conflict. Brown agreed and said he “had no problem” signing the form.

Brown then questioned Dutter about the need to employ fulltime workers in the health department when, based on the 2009 department statistics, there did not seem to be enough work for them to do. Dutter said although there are no other duties that can be assigned to a worker whose workload has decreased over the past several years, it is desirable to have someone to do the work when needed.

The other commissioners shared Brown’s sentiment.

“We’ve always done it this way, but who’s to say there isn’t a better way out there,” Pat Clawson said.

Brown explained that at the most recent commissioners conference, it was learned that a shortfall in state and county revenue is expected for 2010 and a more severe shortfall is anticipated for 2011.

“I’m really concerned about the hammer that’s hanging over us,” he said. “There isn’t enough being built out there for me to sell this to the taxpayers that this (county sanitarian) position is a full-time job.”

Health department clerk Joyce Sturdivant said department revenue for 2009 did not adequately reflect the amount of work performed. She said that there are services provided for which fees are not assessed.

Clawson explained that there is a public perception about how county leaders spend tax dollars and what employees are doing for the taxpayers and residents.

“We ask questions because we represent every taxpayer in the county,” he told health department board member Mary Blue. “Are we giving our taxpayers – our customer – the best service for the money?”

Blue said the staff is concerned about giving service to the health department customers. She said the staff “is good at what they do” or they would not be employed by the county. Blue said there is criticism from the council, specifically president Ann Brown, about department spending. She further stated that there is not enough positive reporting in the Comet about the work of the department employees and the board.

Ann Brown explained that council members are assigned to work with departments in an effort to streamline services and decrease expenses when possible. She requested the commissioners, in light of revenue projections, join the council in the effort to reduce expenses in every department.

“Times are changing and we all need to work together,” she added.

Commissioners requested the board of health evaluate the need for full-time health department positions and consider alternatives.

Other business

Commissioners approved submission of a $13,950 grant request to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security for upgrades to the county GIS system. Emergency management agency director Dave McDowell explained the upgrades will depict where houses, businesses and assets are located in the county. He said the software improvement will aid with damage assessment in the event of another natural disaster.

McDowell also provided a brief report of his January activities.

Delphi Business Women will use the courthouse lounge Feb. 22 from 7 to 9 p.m.

Beth Snoeberger was appointed to the Camden-Jackson Township Public Library Board of Directors.

Miriam Robeson was appointed to a three-year term to the Carroll County Economic Development Corporation Board of Directors.

Admission to Carroll Manor for Betty Jane and James Loyal Cripe was approved.

Commissioners will meet in joint session with the county council March 15 at 1 p.m.

The next meeting will be Feb. 15 at 9 a.m. An executive session will be held Feb. 15 following the regular meeting to discuss interviews and negotiations with industrial or commercial prospects or agents of industrial or commercial prospects.