Kosciusko County Council approved making an exception to the countywide hiring freeze at their monthly meeting Thursday night.
Sheriff Rocky Goshert requested and was granted an exception on the county's hiring freeze to look into hiring a new deputy.
Goshert told the council that since the death of Sgt. Jeff Shaw, the department is running thin. Goshert said he has taken officers off the drug task force to fill in.
No applications for the job have been taken for the new deputies position, and Goshert said they will be looking for candidates who have already attended the state's police academy to get a new hire up and running quicker.
There have been no new deputies hired since Goshert has been sheriff.
The council also reached an agreement with County Assessor Laurie Reiner to pay five of her employees out of the reassessment fund rather than the general fund.
Council President Harold Jones noted that employees in the sheriff's department are paid out of different funds.
Councilman Larry Teghtmeyer and Bob Sanders agreed the move would provide more flexibility.
Funds in the reassessment fund can be used to pay for things like payroll. However, the general fund is restricted in what it can be used for.
Reiner said she would give the council a list of five employees.
While County Administrator Ron Robinson had no business before the council Thursday night, he informed the media present that the 911 board recently convened and there would be an upcoming announcement concerning the dispatch center.
Finally, the council made the following appointments for 2010: Kenneth Johnson, Alcoholic Beverage Board; Bob Sanders, Kosciusko Development Inc.; Susan Myrick and Brock Ostrom, Property Tax Assessment Board Of Appeals; Larry Teghtmeyer and Bill Warren, Redevelopment Commission; John Kinsey, Solid Waste Board; Brad Tandy and Larry Teghtmeyer, Wage Committee.
In other business, the board:
n approved a transfer for the health department of $2,000 from furniture and fixtures to environmental health services to help cover the cost of condemning a video this summer.
n approved Goshert's request to take $25,000 out of the general fund to put in medical for prisoners.
n tabled K-CODE's budget request until a representative was present.
n signed two interlocal agreements, one for the Solid Waste Board and the other for the county visitors bureau.
n approved a year-end transfer resolution that allows County Auditor Marsha McSherry to make transfers to keep budget balances from going into the red.
The board will next meet Jan. 14 at 7 p.m. in the old courtroom.
