Commissioners Put Brakes On Equipment Purchase
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Teresa [email protected]
Assessor Laurie Renier requested a $10,020 computer system, T-1 line for $1,200 for a one-time set-up, plus maintenance costs of $2,000 per month to send information to the state once a year.[[In-content Ad]]Renier said she had the funds in her budget - $58,400 for software and $50,000 for equipment.
"It seems to me," said county commissioner Ron Truex, after calling the idea another unfunded state mandate, "that you can put all that information on a CD and take it to Indianapolis."
Commissioner Brad Jackson asked why the county's high-speed cable modem wouldn't work.
The county's system administrator, Bob Momeyer, said the cable connection couldn't handle large files, that it was often down and only reliable at night.
He also said the township assessors would need to be tied into the system.
"It's so expensive because we have outlying township assessors?" Truex asked. "Couldn't they drive in here (meaning the courthouse) and input their data?"
Renier said her staff already inputs property information. She said except for the township assessors in Wayne, Plain, Tippecanoe and Turkey Creek townships, her staff enters all the data.
"The three outlying assessors have remote sites, do their own transfers and bring them in on a disc," she said. The assessors are responsible for filing new construction permits, property transfers, property splits and the like.
Momeyer said there currently are four separate data bases and they don't interface with one another.
"Is there a magic time?" Truex asked. "Do the transfers have to be recorded one day a week versus every day?"
Renier didn't answer except to say she just sent the property assessments, for personal property taxes in 2006, to be paid this year to the state last week.
"I'm hoping to start 2007, pay 2008, next week," she said.
"And when is that due?" Truex asked.
"It's supposed to be there (at the state) by Aug. 1," Renier said.
"So the state has no problem with us being six months late?" Truex asked.
"Well," Renier said, "there are other counties that still haven't turned in their information."
Wayne Township clerk Dick Mitchell and township investigator John Sprong appeared before the commissioners regarding Daniel Morrow's request for public relief funds.
Morrow had a $769.19 utility bill, which Sprong said had been paid. Combined Community Services gave $450 toward the bill and the disconnection action had been cancelled, according to a NIPSCO representative. The township would only give $150 in any case, Sprong said.
Sprong said Morrow committed a felony in 2000.
Morrow said while he filled out an application for assistance, the interviewer was handed a slip of paper. The interviewer read from this paper, and he was asked if he'd committed a felony in the last 10 years or a misdemeanor in the last 12 months.
He admitted to a felony in California in 2000 and was sentenced to three years of probation.
"There was no mention of prior applicants being asked about a felony," Morrow said.
Morrow was advised that the commissioners would check into the matter and they would get back to him in 10 days.
Township trustees may withhold public assistance if a person is convicted of welfare or Medicaid fraud (IC-35-43-5-7 and -7.5).
Morrow did not describe the California charges.
The commissioners tabled the request.
The commissioners also
n Signed an upgraded specifications regarding the streets in McClure Lake subdivision.
n Approved a vacation as requested by Steven Kelly of Turkey Creek Township.
n Approved a rezoning request by Stan Estes in Tippecanoe Township on the east side of CR 950E, north of CR 600N, from agriculture to residential.
County commissioners are Truex, Jackson and Bob Conley.
Assessor Laurie Renier requested a $10,020 computer system, T-1 line for $1,200 for a one-time set-up, plus maintenance costs of $2,000 per month to send information to the state once a year.[[In-content Ad]]Renier said she had the funds in her budget - $58,400 for software and $50,000 for equipment.
"It seems to me," said county commissioner Ron Truex, after calling the idea another unfunded state mandate, "that you can put all that information on a CD and take it to Indianapolis."
Commissioner Brad Jackson asked why the county's high-speed cable modem wouldn't work.
The county's system administrator, Bob Momeyer, said the cable connection couldn't handle large files, that it was often down and only reliable at night.
He also said the township assessors would need to be tied into the system.
"It's so expensive because we have outlying township assessors?" Truex asked. "Couldn't they drive in here (meaning the courthouse) and input their data?"
Renier said her staff already inputs property information. She said except for the township assessors in Wayne, Plain, Tippecanoe and Turkey Creek townships, her staff enters all the data.
"The three outlying assessors have remote sites, do their own transfers and bring them in on a disc," she said. The assessors are responsible for filing new construction permits, property transfers, property splits and the like.
Momeyer said there currently are four separate data bases and they don't interface with one another.
"Is there a magic time?" Truex asked. "Do the transfers have to be recorded one day a week versus every day?"
Renier didn't answer except to say she just sent the property assessments, for personal property taxes in 2006, to be paid this year to the state last week.
"I'm hoping to start 2007, pay 2008, next week," she said.
"And when is that due?" Truex asked.
"It's supposed to be there (at the state) by Aug. 1," Renier said.
"So the state has no problem with us being six months late?" Truex asked.
"Well," Renier said, "there are other counties that still haven't turned in their information."
Wayne Township clerk Dick Mitchell and township investigator John Sprong appeared before the commissioners regarding Daniel Morrow's request for public relief funds.
Morrow had a $769.19 utility bill, which Sprong said had been paid. Combined Community Services gave $450 toward the bill and the disconnection action had been cancelled, according to a NIPSCO representative. The township would only give $150 in any case, Sprong said.
Sprong said Morrow committed a felony in 2000.
Morrow said while he filled out an application for assistance, the interviewer was handed a slip of paper. The interviewer read from this paper, and he was asked if he'd committed a felony in the last 10 years or a misdemeanor in the last 12 months.
He admitted to a felony in California in 2000 and was sentenced to three years of probation.
"There was no mention of prior applicants being asked about a felony," Morrow said.
Morrow was advised that the commissioners would check into the matter and they would get back to him in 10 days.
Township trustees may withhold public assistance if a person is convicted of welfare or Medicaid fraud (IC-35-43-5-7 and -7.5).
Morrow did not describe the California charges.
The commissioners tabled the request.
The commissioners also
n Signed an upgraded specifications regarding the streets in McClure Lake subdivision.
n Approved a vacation as requested by Steven Kelly of Turkey Creek Township.
n Approved a rezoning request by Stan Estes in Tippecanoe Township on the east side of CR 950E, north of CR 600N, from agriculture to residential.
County commissioners are Truex, Jackson and Bob Conley.
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