County Council Joins Business League
Posted
Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
Kosciusko County Council approved several budgets and an entrance into a business league at its monthly meeting Thursday night.
The council approved a request to enter the OrthoWorx business league for a $10,000 fee.
OrthoWorx previously gave a presentation to the county commissioners as well as the county council.
Things like economic development and public policy would need to be funded through the business league and not the foundation that funds OrthoWorx.
Councilman Bob Sanders asked if the business league would compete with Kosciusko Economic Development Corp.
Brad Bishop represented OrthoWorx Thursday night and said he saw the two entities as complimenting each other.
“Our role is to make the conditions in the county as attractive as possible,” said Bishop.
The membership was approved by the council 6-1.
Councilman Jim Moyer said he didn’t believe taxpayers should pay for it and voted against the membership.
Ben Shively, from Lake City Bank, went over the Kosciusko County Police Retirement Plan with the county council.
The council eventually approved an amendment to the plan. The amendment was mandated to include certain language from the IRS.
The fund is managed by Lake City Bank, 1st Source Bank and Farmers State Bank.
Shively said the charge of the three managers is to create a balanced portfolio with 50 percent stocks and 50 percent bonds.
Kosciusko Coalition on Drug Education had its budget approved after some discussion.
Heather Desenberg from KCODE answered questions from the council.
Councilman Larry Teghtmeyer asked if the drug education program would focus more on meth education.
Desenberg said that local law enforcement has worked to provide education to the Amish community in the county as well as homeschooled children.
The Kosciusko County Convention, Recreation and Visitors Commission had its budget revised to $400,000 from $470,000 Thursday night.
Dave Taylor represented the commission and said the budget is determined from a county tax.
Since revenue is expected to be down, the commission wanted to revise its budget.
Taylor said one project the commission is working on is a county-wide trail system for both visitors and residents to use.
The prosecutor’s office was approved for an additional appropriation of $5,600.
The council also approved several transfers.
The health department was approved to transfer $5,000 into its group medical insurance group.
The sheriff’s department was approved for $776.50.
The prosecutor’s office was approved for a transfer of $415.
The county council will next meet Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.
Moyer asked the council if they would considering moving the start time of their meetings up in 2012.
Moyer said county employees have to work all day then wait around until 7 p.m. for the council meetings.
The council decided to look at it further next month.
