Vermillion County Council approves grants, budget transfers and salary-resolution corrections

The Vermillion County Council on a unanimous voice vote approved a series of additional appropriations, transfers and a correction to the county salary resolution, actions council members said were needed to align budgets with new grants, final invoices and line-item needs.

The council approved a $20,304 grant appropriation for emergency management to update the county mitigation plan; a juvenile diversion (peer court) grant of $82,253; a $34,688.54 additional appropriation to cover ambulance service invoices; grouped health-department reappropriations totaling $295,087.33 that roll forward 2024 funds into 2025; two small surveyor requests ($476 to equipment/maintenance agreements and $600 for publications); two highway appropriations to cover increased liability and workers'-comp costs ($2,126.35 and $3,886.80); and a $25,000 transfer from the commissioners' budget to the solid-waste fund. Council members also approved an amended salary resolution (Resolution 2025-02) to correct hourly-rate entries and exempt-status listings that had been mis‑recorded on the earlier payroll schedule.

Votes at a glance

- Emergency management mitigation plan grant, $20,304 — motion to approve made by Mr. Costello, seconded by Mr. Weir; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Juvenile diversion (peer court) grant, $82,253 — motion to approve made by Mrs. Furry, seconded by Ms. Brown; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Surveyor: increase to equipment/maintenance (line 33500), $476 — motion to approve made by Mrs. Murray, seconded by Mr. Bose; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Surveyor: publications (line 30270), $600 — motion to approve made by Mr. Weir, seconded by Mr. Costello; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Ambulance/public safety additional appropriation, $34,688.54 — motion to approve made by Mrs. Hurry, seconded by Mr. Costello; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Health department grouped re‑appropriations (Pfeiffer emergency preparedness $25,343.08; health fund 1159 $179,771.22; school liaison $50,873.03; local health maintenance $16,400.29; local health department trust $23,599.71) — motion to approve made by Mrs. Furry, seconded by Mr. Bose; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Highway department insurance/workers' comp increases: liability/casualty $2,126.35; workers' comp $3,886.80 — motion to approve made by Mrs. Furry, seconded by Mr. Weir; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Transfer of $25,000 from commissioners' budget to solid-waste fund — motion to approve made by Mrs. Curry, seconded by Mr. Weir; outcome: approved (voice vote).

- Amendment to salary resolution (Resolution 2025-02) to correct hourly-rate and exempt-position entries — motion to approve made by Mrs. Furry, seconded by Mr. Bose; outcome: approved (voice vote).

Council members discussed process and tracking for some items. On the mitigation grant for emergency management staff explained the county would front the work and be reimbursed by the grant; council asked staff to assign a specific fund/line number for easier audit tracking. On the ambulance appropriation, council members said the commissioners had previously advertised $50,000 but the final invoice was $34,688.54 and the council approved the lower actual invoice amount to match the billed total.

Councilors asked the highway department to provide additional written explanation for large increases in insurance and workers' compensation costs before the next meeting. The council directed staff to coordinate with department managers and auditors where new grants or midyear line items are added so those accounts appear in future budget documents.

Ending

All items on the agenda described above were approved by voice vote during the meeting. Several department heads or their designees were present to answer questions; other items were deferred to staff follow-up or to appear with documentation at future meetings.