DeKalb County Council approves multiple additionals, transfers and grants including $109,800 Pokagon trails pass‑through

DeKalb County Council approved a package of supplemental appropriations, transfers and grant appropriations during its public meeting, carrying multiple motions by voice vote.

The measures cover routine software and personnel payouts, grant pass‑throughs, and one larger coalition appropriation. Susan (staff member) presented the items and answered questions from council members about budget timing and whether amounts had been included in the annual budget.

Why it matters: the appropriations restore or reclassify funds that either were mistyped in the original budget paperwork, were newly received grants, or are pass‑through funds the county holds as fiscal agent for multijurisdictional projects. Council members pressed for clarity about timing and whether expenses were recurring.

The council approved the following items (motions and recorded outcomes as shown in the meeting transcript):

- Software maintenance (County General Information Systems, Fund 10001, account 34140) — $319,500. Motion to approve by Bob Craft; second by William Van Wyne. Council discussion noted the original budget entry omitted zeros; the appropriation was described as recurring in practice but was marked "no" in the packet because the line item was mistyped. Motion carried by voice vote.

- Bailiff appropriation (Superior Court 1, General Fund 10001, account 11421) — $13,700 for PTO payout and overlap costs for replacement training. Motion by Rick Ring; second by William Van Wyne. Council asked whether the retirement had been announced before budget adoption; staff said the judge notified them in January and the overlap had not yet occurred. Motion carried by voice vote.

- Pokagon/Trails (Pokabos Task Force fund #4900 acting as fiscal agent) — total appropriation $109,800 to be split among multiple accounts (operating supplies $10,000; software maintenance $20,000; lease $5,000; other service fees $60,000; equipment $1,800). Susan said the county is the fiscal agent and funds are assessments from 11 municipalities/counties; council approved a single motion to appropriate the full $109,800 so the county can pay bills when receipts arrive. Motion carried, recorded as 5–1 in the transcript.

- DeKalb County Community Corrections discretionary grant (Fund 9130) — $8,868. Packet included a spreadsheet breaking the total into categories (drug enforcement supplies, incentives, supplies, training, equipment). Motion by Rick Ring; second by William Van Wyne. Motion carried by voice vote.

- Multiple transfers for Local Public Health (Fund 1161) — $17,900 in transfers to align partner funding and subgrants; packet listed a detailed breakdown across equipment, incentives and other service lines. Motion by William Van Wyne; second by Rick Collins. Council discussed the use of incentives (gift cards for clients to promote participation and access) and uncertainty about future state funding. Motion carried by voice vote.

- Several smaller transfers and one $150 transfer for weights and measures (County General) to repair or service a county vehicle. Motion by Rick Collins; second by Amy Prosser. Motion carried by voice vote.

The council confirmed that many of the items were nonrecurring or pass‑through funds; multiple council members asked staff to ensure funds are in hand before spending (particularly for the Pokagon coalition pass‑through). Susan said the appropriation places the funds in the correct accounts so they are ready to expend when receipts arrive.

Ending: The council moved on after approving the appropriations; several members urged continued vigilance around budgeting because of pending statewide changes that could affect county revenue.