Though they approved their budget for 2001, the Kosciusko County Commissioners know it won't be as high once it goes through the county council's approval process.

And the budget they approved (approximately $4.5 million) is estimated at $280,000 more than last year due to expenses not necessarily within their control, county administrator Ron Robinson told them Tuesday.

Robinson said salaries for county employees were proposed to be raised 10 percent, knowing they will be cut.

With the 10 percent raise, commissioners would receive $15,744 each, while Robinson's salary would be $61,821. The systems administrator would receive $54,712 while the Geographical Imaging System director would receive $52,106.

A new account for part-time work was added at $20,000.

In the operating supplies category, $20,000 was allotted for computer cartridges for county departments. The commissioners already have an account for all county copy machines supplies. By the commissioners also buying all computer cartridges for county computer printing needs, the county can save by buying in bulk, Sue Ann Mitchell, county auditor, said.

The commissioners also have monies for various area nonprofit organizations. In their proposed budget, the commissioners allotted $43,000 for the Kosciusko County Fair Association; $500 for Arrowhead RC&D $50,000 for Kosciusko Development Inc.; $117,000 for Cardinal Center, which includes a one-time amount of $37,000 for roof repairs; $100,500 for Juvenile Justice Center; $23,000 for the Kosciusko County Historical Society; $27,500 for Beaman Home; $35,000 for Kosciusko County Council on Aging; and $60,000 for the Animal Welfare League.

Mitchell said the nonprofit organizations will present their budget requests to the Kosciusko County Council Aug. 3. The council must approve the commissioners' budget, including the requests from the nonprofit groups.

In other business:

• Kosciusko County Highway Superintendent and Engineer Rob Ladson told the commissioners that after the last meeting, in which a quote for the county highway department salt was accepted from Morton for $34.70 per ton, he received another bid from IMC at a price of $1.80 per ton less than the Morton bid.

He suggested the commissioners also accept the bid from IMC so the county has two different vendors to buy salt from this year. He said they would be agreeing to a price only and not to any set amount. The commissioners approved.

Due to safety and maintenance concerns, Ladson also recommended the commissioners vacate the maintenance of a cut-off between CRs 500W and 100S. According to the plat, there is no right of way there and the neighbors have no problems with it being vacated, he said.

"We'd bring in a payloader and scrape off all the gravel that we can and spread it on CR 500W," Ladson said.

Commissioner Eddie Creighton said he would abstain from voting because he's an adjacent property owner.

The cut-off is on the state inventory map and the county currently maintains it, said Ladson. To get it off the map, a motion has to be approved by the commissioners. Avis Gunter, commissioner, and commissioner president Brad Jackson approved the maintenance vacation.

Guidelines, prepared by Ladson, for county guard rails, were discussed by Mike Miner, the commissioners' attorney.

"I would suggest that we have (Fort Wayne attorney) Bob Keen review it," he said.

Although he saw no problem with the guidelines, Miner said, it is best to get a second opinion on the guidelines in case of a lawsuit over an accident involving a guard rail. Keen is the attorney the county's insurance company refers to when needed. Miner said it will cost "a few hundred" dollars for the second opinion.

Ladson said the guidelines are an attempt to document the approach the highway department takes on guard rail installation.

"A guard rail in itself can be an obstruction and a hazard," Ladson said. "We want to make sure that when we put guard rails in, we have a specific reason."

Creighton said he thought the guidelines were a step in the right direction. The commissioners directed Miner to let Keen review the policy.

• An ordinance that sets the amounts for county employee mileage reimbursement, hotel room rates and other travel expenses to attend conferences was approved. Mileage will be reimbursed according to what the state legislature and Internal Revenue Service mandate. County pay/reimbursement for hotel rooms will not exceed $125 per night.

Kosciusko County Commissioners are Eddie Creighton, Brad Jackson and Avis Gunter. [[In-content Ad]]