Kosciusko Superior Courts II and III Judges James Jarrette and Joe Sutton see the need for two new positions in the county, and they're not going to change their minds about them anytime soon.

But the county council, working with a tight budget, didn't approve the new positions at the council's budget hearing Tuesday. In fact, Monday the council voted against the creation of both positions the judges want.

The judges want a bailiff for Superior Courts II and III and want a drug and alcohol probation officer assistant.

At Monday's budget hearing, the wage committee recommended, and by a vote of 6 to 1 the council approved, a wage increase of $300 to all full-time employees. If the county were to add any new positions, the council would have to rethink giving any raises at all, wage committee member and county councilman Brad Tandy told the council.

With the county employees' medical insurance rising 12 to 13 percent, to approximately $1.2 million, the raises were approved to offset the increase in how much the employees will pay for their insurance.

Tuesday, regarding the bailiff, Jarrette told the council it was his and Sutton's responsibility as judges to maintain decorum in the courts. They requested the bailiff last year, but it was not approved, and things have not improved.

He said his court has suffered disruptions and embarrassing incidents that could be handled if there was a bailiff. On several occasions, his female employees have had to take male prisoners to the bathroom, which, he said, is inappropriate.

By statute, Jarrette said, the judges have the authority to order a bailiff. If a solution is not found, Jarrette said, the judges will have to make a solution.

The two security guards in the courthouse are on the first floor, while the courts are the second floor.

"They're not readily accessible," Jarrette said, and the situation "is not working."

He said he understands the fiscal position the county is in, but if the situation is not addressed, he said again, the judges will address the matter.

Tandy said the council agrees what's happening is not working and they are disappointed it's not working. But they want more time to look into the matter.

"We need to have it addressed, but there comes a point when that should not occur," Jarrette said.

As for the drug enforcement assistant, the director of the program recently left for private business. The new director is coming aboard soon and Jarrette said he'll be behind a month. An assistant could help him catch up.

A difference between the assistant and the bailiff, Jarrette said, is that the assistant will be totally funded by probation user fees.

"We have $200,000 in our pocket that is court money," Jarrette said. The county won't incur a single cent of the salary for the position or the cost of benefits. The courts will use probation user fees for all that.

The need for the position is there - Jarrette said not only do the judges think so, but also the state thinks so.

The position won't take effect until January, Jarrette said, but they want the council to create the position now to give them time to find someone to fill the position.

Over the years, Jarrette said, the judges have given some of the probation user fees to the county for expenses, and the judges never asked the county to justify the expenditure. Now that the judges want to use their money for something they want, the county is making them justify their use.

"The only thing we are asking tonight is you let us spend the money for something we want," he said.

Members of the county council are Larry Teghtmeyer, Brad Tandy, Tom Anglin, Harold Jones, John Kinsey, Maurice Beer and Charlene Knispel. Their next meeting is Thursday at 7 p.m. [[In-content Ad]]