Owen County commissioners warn of budget shortfalls, approve appointments, and repeal shooting-range ordinance

Owen County commissioners on an extended agenda on March 20 discussed multiple budget and audit problems, confirmed new hires and vendors, and moved to rely on existing state law rather than a new local shooting-range ordinance.

County Auditor Sheila told the board she will start flagging and sending to commissioners each month any fund or line item that is in the red so departments can arrange transfers or additional appropriations. Sheila said the State Board of Accounts’ most recent audit showed “multiple funds that ended the year in red,” and that some findings from the 2023 audit carry into 2024 and may recur on the next audit. She urged departments to enter transactions into Gateway and to watch reimbursements from grants closely.

The auditor also described a negative balance in the election and registration fund tied to lower settlement receipts: “I came in with a realistic budget, and DLGF had it over $28,000,” she said, referring to the Department of Local Government Finance. She said that loss reduced available cash for elections and that she would bring a request to the council.

Nut graf: The meeting combined routine administrative items with several policy issues that affect county finances and public safety — from audit findings and staffing changes to multi‑million‑dollar decisions about a proposed jail and whether to regulate shooting ranges locally.

Appointments and IT vendor The commissioners announced and voted to accept several staffing appointments and a one‑year IT contract. The board confirmed Jeffrey Stevens as building inspector/code enforcement officer and Heather Huntington as building administrator; Jason Parker was selected as county mapper/GIS. The commissioners also selected AME Group as the county’s IT firm and said the arrangement is a one‑year contract to allow a transition from the previous vendor.

The motion to accept the appointments and to engage AME Group passed by voice vote, recorded as 2–0. (Motion details in "Votes at a glance" below.) Orion Saft of AME attended the meeting and said AME would provide boots‑on‑the‑ground support during the transition; the commissioners asked departments not to overwhelm the new vendor with requests while the handoff occurs.

Radio project and ARPA funds Commissioners reported they have set aside $1.3 million of ARPA funds for a county radio project intended to improve county communications. A state radio oversight body, IPSC, recently asked the county to use some of those dollars to add an 800‑megahertz tower to the statewide system; commissioners said they were not in favor of reallocating the committed funds without more information. The county will continue to report the funds as committed on an April report until the board decides otherwise.

Shooting range ordinance, public complaints and legal options After an extended public discussion involving neighbors, gun-club representatives and attorneys, the board voted to repeal an ordinance that had been proposed and to rely on state criminal statutes and existing nuisance law in the near term. Residents had described property damage and safety concerns arising from bullets or projectiles landing off range facilities; other speakers said established local clubs such as Sycamore Valley Gun Club follow stringent safety practices.

Attorney and resident Matt Carpenter and others told the board that Indiana criminal statutes (including criminal recklessness) and the state nuisance statute already provide criminal and civil remedies for people who allow projectiles to leave their property. Carpenter said the nuisance statute can support civil suits and that the county may, in some cases, direct the county attorney to file nuisance actions on behalf of affected residents.

Commissioners encouraged affected neighbors to meet voluntarily and said the county attorney would review legal options. The board recorded a 2–0 vote to repeal Ordinance No. 2025003 and to pause adoption of additional county rules until county legal staff and sheriff’s deputies complete a policy review. The board also asked staff to review established club policies and consider whether county policy should adopt elements of existing, accepted safety procedures for new ranges.

Jail project, property tax outlook and flood‑plain concerns Commissioners said they will delay major decisions on the proposed new jail until after April property‑tax figures are available. The county reported a commonly cited construction figure: roughly $24.6 million as a baseline construction cost, rising to about $32 million when contingency, soft costs and utilities are included. Commissioners said the final plan must be sized to what the county can afford and that they will convene a roundtable on finance options after the April tax report.

Staff also discussed whether the county property they purchased for a potential jail sits in a FEMA flood plain or flood fringe. County staff said the maps are under review at the federal level and that the county will pull FEMA maps and coordinate with the Department of Natural Resources and county staff to confirm whether sites are buildable and what engineering measures would be required.

Highway and roads: ditching, culverts, and road additions County highway staff reported routine winter repairs and a need to prioritize ditching, culvert installation and tree clearing before additional blacktop is laid. Commissioners repeatedly said they will not spend money to surface roads that remain vulnerable to washouts; they asked the highway department to present a staffing and equipment plan for expanded ditching and culvert work.

The board voted to take two roads into county maintenance: Ridgeline Road (up to the turnaround at the top) and Eastview Lane. Commissioners said they will notify nearby residents, assess culvert needs and add temporary traffic or safety signs where necessary while long‑term repairs are scheduled. The motion to accept the roads passed by voice vote, recorded as 2–0.

Other administrative and financial items - The board approved a contract renewal with AEC for post‑closure landfill support in Patricksburg — scope includes groundwater monitoring, methane monitoring and semiannual inspections. The motion passed 2–0. - The county’s insurance broker reported a proposed 9.5% renewal premium increase driven in part by payroll and vehicle exposure; the broker said the county’s loss‑control partner IPEP has agreed to provide services and that the county’s experience modification is improving. The broker asked the county to review the vehicle list; correcting an inaccurate vehicle count could reduce premiums. - The board approved an Intertek pest‑control contract for county properties. The motion passed by voice vote. - County staff need to complete a capital‑asset inventory and an asset‑management plan; the auditor said a vendor will provide in‑person training March 27 and that items should be entered before the next audit or state penalties could follow. - The commissioners and sheriff discussed county plans for a training/qualification shooting range on county property; commissioners said the county must follow the same safety, permitting and environmental review steps required of any private range before construction begins. - The county will offer CPR/AED training to department heads first and aims to have all county employees certified by the end of the year; the initial classes are scheduled March 13–14 and the county will subsidize certification equipment through an EMS fund.

Ending: schedule and public outreach Commissioners asked staff to provide a clear schedule and public notices for road work, the radio project and the planned meetings about the jail site and neighbor disputes. They encouraged neighbors involved in disputes to meet with county officials and the county attorney to explore mediated solutions before litigation.

Votes at a glance - Appointments and IT vendor: motion to accept appointments (building inspector, building administrator, mapper) and to engage AME Group as IT vendor — outcome: approved, recorded voice vote 2–0; mover/second: not specified in transcript; notes: one‑year contract. - Ordinance No. 2025003 (shooting‑range ordinance): motion to repeal — outcome: approved, recorded voice vote 2–0; notes: board directed county attorney to review state statutes and nuisance remedies. - AEC landfill contract (2025 post‑closure support, Patricksburg): motion to sign/approve — outcome: approved, recorded voice vote 2–0. - Intertek pest control contract: motion to approve — outcome: approved, recorded voice vote (recorded as passed in meeting). - Road additions: motion to adopt Ridgeline Road and Eastview Lane into county maintenance — outcome: approved, recorded voice vote 2–0.

What’s next The board plans to reconvene work on the jail and radio projects after April property‑tax figures are available. The auditor will circulate monthly fund‑status warnings. Highway staff will prepare a ditching/culvert staffing and equipment plan for the commissioners. The county attorney will review legal options relating to shooting ranges and nuisance claims.