Bell Library Director Advises County Council Of Bond Plans
January 29, 2021 at 2:20 a.m.
By Teresa [email protected]
The following officers for 2021 were elected: Ernie Wiggins, president, replacing Jon Garber; and Sue Ann Mitchell, vice president.
New Councilwoman Kathy Groninger was welcomed to the board.
Bell Memorial Public Library Director Stephen Boggs advised the Council of plans to advertise for a $500,000 bond to update the library building later this year.
Boggs said his and the library board’s list of upgrades include HVAC, roof and brick repair, exterior lights, changing the interior lights to LED, video security, installing windows that open and the addition of ceiling fans.
The bond would keep tax rates the same for Bell Library taxpayers. It will be advertised soon with a public hearing set. Boggs said he plans to return to the March 11 Council meeting to request the additional appropriation.
County Assessor Susan Engelberth’s request for the following salary ordinance amendments were approved: part-time deputy assessor to receive $15.37 per hour; assessor supervisor, $40,560 per year; and deputy assessor, $42,998 per year. These amounts will be reduced from the general fund, which was approved.
Additional appropriations were approved for the assessor sales disclosure fund to pay for the assessor supervisor’s annual salary of $40,560: gas and motor oil, $1,000; property liability insurance, $2,000; and repairs and maintenance, $2,000.
An additional appropriation of $42,998 was approved for the assessor’s reassessment fund to pay for a deputy assessor.
County Administrator Marsha McSherry’s request for the following salary ordinance amendment was approved: maintenance, $44,684 per year, with a budget reduction in the part-time maintenance fund of $15,000.
Mitchell asked about this position, saying with benefits the cost will be nearly $77,000 for the county. McSherry said this individual will perform maintenance at the Justice Building instead of hiring outside vendors for the work.
“My concern is, we know where we are budget-wise,” Mitchell said.
Council members Joni Truex and Jon Garber indicated the funds were approved by the wage committee.
The Council also approved additional appropriations for the general fund for maintenance, $44,684; and CARES Act wage reimbursements of $696,546.
The group insurance fund was reduced by $3 million with a corresponding $3 million additional appropriation to the economic income tax fund. Garber noted this was a carry-over from 2020.
McSherry also gave the council an update on various projects. She said the live broadcast equipment project is ongoing with final installations in the old courtroom, the Justice Building’s multi-purpose room, the sheriff’s conference room and the highway department to be completed Feb. 4 with training scheduled for Feb. 5.
The phone system replacement project will proceed office-by-office starting Feb. 8 and will continue week-by-week.
New scanners for court security should be installed by Feb. 19.
Surveyor Mike Kissinger’s request for a salary ordinance amendment for an assistant surveyor, $59,665, was approved with budget reductions of $29,983, or half the assistant surveyor’s salary.
An additional appropriation from the surveyor’s corner perpetuation fund, which is fee-based, of $29,983 for an assistant surveyor was approved.
Kissinger noted his office received more than $60,000 in fees in the corner perpetuation fund and that fund has a balance of $250,000.
County Sheriff Kyle Dukes’ request for the following salary ordinance amendments were approved: $39,234 per year for a work release officer and $58,235 for a work release director, accompanied by additional appropriations from the county general fund of $58,235 for a work release director and $149,743 for equipment from the COVID-19 emergency supply funds grant.
County Prosecutor Dan Hampton’s request for the following additional appropriations were approved for the Victim’s of Crime Act fund: a victim assistant caseworker, $37,678 per year; Social Security contributions of $2,883; retirement fund contributions of $4,219; and group insurance of $11,588.
Hampton’s request for an additional $12,000 for KCODE operating expenses also was approved.
County Auditor Michelle Puckett presented Emergency Management Director Ed Rock’s request for additional appropriation of $10,000 and $15,000 for hazardous materials emergency preparedness planning and training, which were approved, along with $133,000 in additional appropriations for Justice Building security updates from the strategic highway safety plan funds.
County Health Department Administrator Bob Weaver’s request for an additional appropriation to support the local COVID-19 test site, in the amount of $200,000, was approved. These funds are available from a CARES Act grant.
Weaver said 14,000 people have been tested for the COVID-19 virus at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds site since September. The county has partnered with the Bowen Center to provide this service.
The federal government has added an additional $80,640 to the CARES Act money to conduct a vaccination program.
County Highway Superintendent Steve Moriarty’s request for additional appropriations for the Community Crossings grant were approved. These funds will pay for the five miles of paving on CR 1050N, $213,608; CR 300E, $216,857.50; CR 352E, $187,360; CR 200W, $184,763.50; and CR 700S, $191,016. The state will reimburse the county 80% of these costs.
Moriarty’s request for additional appropriations for three bridge replacements in the amounts of $1,361,100 – bridge No. 161 at CR 200S and Ind. 15; $1,081,875 – No. 227 on Hand Street by the viaduct; and $1,896,200 – No. 30 on Beer Road in Milford; were also approved along with bridge inspection costs of $275,500.
Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation board member Suzie Light requested a $100,000 reappropriation for short-term business loans, which was approved. The county commissioners have set aside $250,000 for this loan program, however, the funds weren’t used in 2020.
Light also asked the loans be forgiven the third and final year of the lending period, which the council took under advisement.
Councilman Mike Long, who also is a KEDCO board member, said his original understanding was all the money would be returned. Funds are being distributed at 0% interest and are aimed at helping county business owners.
Long noted the funds are provided by the taxpayer and should be returned.
The next council meeting is 6 p.m. Feb. 11 in the old Kosciusko County courtroom.
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The following officers for 2021 were elected: Ernie Wiggins, president, replacing Jon Garber; and Sue Ann Mitchell, vice president.
New Councilwoman Kathy Groninger was welcomed to the board.
Bell Memorial Public Library Director Stephen Boggs advised the Council of plans to advertise for a $500,000 bond to update the library building later this year.
Boggs said his and the library board’s list of upgrades include HVAC, roof and brick repair, exterior lights, changing the interior lights to LED, video security, installing windows that open and the addition of ceiling fans.
The bond would keep tax rates the same for Bell Library taxpayers. It will be advertised soon with a public hearing set. Boggs said he plans to return to the March 11 Council meeting to request the additional appropriation.
County Assessor Susan Engelberth’s request for the following salary ordinance amendments were approved: part-time deputy assessor to receive $15.37 per hour; assessor supervisor, $40,560 per year; and deputy assessor, $42,998 per year. These amounts will be reduced from the general fund, which was approved.
Additional appropriations were approved for the assessor sales disclosure fund to pay for the assessor supervisor’s annual salary of $40,560: gas and motor oil, $1,000; property liability insurance, $2,000; and repairs and maintenance, $2,000.
An additional appropriation of $42,998 was approved for the assessor’s reassessment fund to pay for a deputy assessor.
County Administrator Marsha McSherry’s request for the following salary ordinance amendment was approved: maintenance, $44,684 per year, with a budget reduction in the part-time maintenance fund of $15,000.
Mitchell asked about this position, saying with benefits the cost will be nearly $77,000 for the county. McSherry said this individual will perform maintenance at the Justice Building instead of hiring outside vendors for the work.
“My concern is, we know where we are budget-wise,” Mitchell said.
Council members Joni Truex and Jon Garber indicated the funds were approved by the wage committee.
The Council also approved additional appropriations for the general fund for maintenance, $44,684; and CARES Act wage reimbursements of $696,546.
The group insurance fund was reduced by $3 million with a corresponding $3 million additional appropriation to the economic income tax fund. Garber noted this was a carry-over from 2020.
McSherry also gave the council an update on various projects. She said the live broadcast equipment project is ongoing with final installations in the old courtroom, the Justice Building’s multi-purpose room, the sheriff’s conference room and the highway department to be completed Feb. 4 with training scheduled for Feb. 5.
The phone system replacement project will proceed office-by-office starting Feb. 8 and will continue week-by-week.
New scanners for court security should be installed by Feb. 19.
Surveyor Mike Kissinger’s request for a salary ordinance amendment for an assistant surveyor, $59,665, was approved with budget reductions of $29,983, or half the assistant surveyor’s salary.
An additional appropriation from the surveyor’s corner perpetuation fund, which is fee-based, of $29,983 for an assistant surveyor was approved.
Kissinger noted his office received more than $60,000 in fees in the corner perpetuation fund and that fund has a balance of $250,000.
County Sheriff Kyle Dukes’ request for the following salary ordinance amendments were approved: $39,234 per year for a work release officer and $58,235 for a work release director, accompanied by additional appropriations from the county general fund of $58,235 for a work release director and $149,743 for equipment from the COVID-19 emergency supply funds grant.
County Prosecutor Dan Hampton’s request for the following additional appropriations were approved for the Victim’s of Crime Act fund: a victim assistant caseworker, $37,678 per year; Social Security contributions of $2,883; retirement fund contributions of $4,219; and group insurance of $11,588.
Hampton’s request for an additional $12,000 for KCODE operating expenses also was approved.
County Auditor Michelle Puckett presented Emergency Management Director Ed Rock’s request for additional appropriation of $10,000 and $15,000 for hazardous materials emergency preparedness planning and training, which were approved, along with $133,000 in additional appropriations for Justice Building security updates from the strategic highway safety plan funds.
County Health Department Administrator Bob Weaver’s request for an additional appropriation to support the local COVID-19 test site, in the amount of $200,000, was approved. These funds are available from a CARES Act grant.
Weaver said 14,000 people have been tested for the COVID-19 virus at the Kosciusko County Fairgrounds site since September. The county has partnered with the Bowen Center to provide this service.
The federal government has added an additional $80,640 to the CARES Act money to conduct a vaccination program.
County Highway Superintendent Steve Moriarty’s request for additional appropriations for the Community Crossings grant were approved. These funds will pay for the five miles of paving on CR 1050N, $213,608; CR 300E, $216,857.50; CR 352E, $187,360; CR 200W, $184,763.50; and CR 700S, $191,016. The state will reimburse the county 80% of these costs.
Moriarty’s request for additional appropriations for three bridge replacements in the amounts of $1,361,100 – bridge No. 161 at CR 200S and Ind. 15; $1,081,875 – No. 227 on Hand Street by the viaduct; and $1,896,200 – No. 30 on Beer Road in Milford; were also approved along with bridge inspection costs of $275,500.
Kosciusko Economic Development Corporation board member Suzie Light requested a $100,000 reappropriation for short-term business loans, which was approved. The county commissioners have set aside $250,000 for this loan program, however, the funds weren’t used in 2020.
Light also asked the loans be forgiven the third and final year of the lending period, which the council took under advisement.
Councilman Mike Long, who also is a KEDCO board member, said his original understanding was all the money would be returned. Funds are being distributed at 0% interest and are aimed at helping county business owners.
Long noted the funds are provided by the taxpayer and should be returned.
The next council meeting is 6 p.m. Feb. 11 in the old Kosciusko County courtroom.
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