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Kosciusko County Auditor Sue Ann Mitchell touted the job of Peggy Shively, social services director of the Division of Family and Children for Kosciusko County for the Family and Social Services Administration, at the county council meeting Thursday.
She said the county should be proud of the job Shively is doing for the department.
H.J. Umbaugh & Associates conducted a study comparing the welfare funds of Indiana counties. While other counties have maximum levies in the millions for their welfare departments, Shively's maximum levy is going to be $247,000 and Mitchell said Shively "can live with that. ... I think that's simply amazing."
Part of the reason she is able to do that, Mitchell said, is because of the group of people that work with Shively to take care of the family and children in the county.
In another matter, Mitchell asked that the grant-writing procedures be enforced. She said there's been "enormous" misunderstanding of grants and how county employees can apply for them. The county council approved grant-writing forms in 2002, but no one has ever used them.
In some grants, the grants provide for more salary than the county schedules. Then there is a question whether the employee under the grant gets paid by county standards or by what the grant provides. Anyone in the county can apply for a grant.
Mitchell requested the county proceed with the procedure for grants the council already approved, which requires the county commissioners and county council to approve a grant in advance of the grant being sought.
She said she wants to have a training class for the county employees on grants and the county procedure. Using the procedure, the county council will be more aware as to if the grant sought is actually a positive or a negative for the county.
The grant procedure already was approved, but just needs enforced.
The council agreed.
Later in the meeting, council chairman Harold Jones suggested that when an employee leaves county employment, that position should be re-evaluated before any new hiring. That's not to cause any department any hardships, but it would provide the county with an opportunity to re-evaluate positions.
John Kinsey, council member, said he thought re-evaluation of employees would be to the department head's advantage because of budgeting.
There needs to be a chance for the council chairman to make an immediate decision on some county employee positions, council member Larry Teghtmyer said, just in case the position is needed to be filled quickly instead of waiting for the next county council meeting.
With new technology, Teghtmeyer said, job descriptions are changing. Jones agreed, saying some positions may no longer need to be full-time positions.
Charlene Knispel, council member, said though some positions may be able to be eliminated due to new technology, some technology will require more work or a new employee.
