Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
Following an hour-long executive meeting with State Board of Accounts representatives, members of the Kosciusko County Solid Waste District board of directors convened their regular meeting.
The first piece of business was to welcome county auditor Sue Ann Mitchell as district accountant and Michelle Puckett of the auditor's office as assistant.
Mitchell indicated Puckett would handle most of the district's accounting through an inter-local agreement.
The district's charges will be $6,000 per year for the service.
Mitchell replaces CPA Kevin Ousley, who served the district for one month. Prior to Ousley's hiring, finances were organized by former district director Marsha Eikenberry from 1997 until she left the office in March 2001.
Chairman Joe Thallemer said the district approached Mitchell a year ago about overseeing the accounts and was told by the State Board of Accounts it wasn't possible.
Recently the state office reversed that decision.
Board members Thallemer, Avis Gunter, Ron Truex, Maurice Beer and Rolly Ortega voted to purchase the 220 S. Union St. property for new offices after a year of study.
The building will serve as new offices and as a permanent collection point for recyclables and household hazardous waste.
The property will cost $200,000 and will be funded through a bond issue.
When claims were presented, close scrutiny was paid to the amounts disbursed for the director's and educator's salaries.
The director's salary of $35,200 is paid on a 26-week basis. Gross amounts should be $1,353.85 per paycheck or a total of $2,707.70 for two checks per month for the director's salary.
In January salary disbursements were given as $4,896.77; $3,766.84 in February; $3,495.47 in March and $3,6782.44 in April.
The educator's salary fluctuated in a similar fashion.
Sue Studebaker, director, was district educator from January through March and said her paycheck was always the same amount.
In other business the board:
• Made several changes to the personnel policy regarding accumulation of compensatory time, vacation time and travel, retroactive to January 2000.
• Approved was a resolution to transfer funds from the recycling services to several other accounts in the amounts of $10,800 and $5,750 from Recycling Services to purchase a portable loading dock for the Union Street facility.
The district meets the second Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m.
Board of directors are Joe Thallemer, Maurice Beer, Avis Gunter, Ron Truex and Rolly Ortega. Mayor Ernie Wiggins was absent.
