Commissioners elect officers, confirm annual appointments and hear treasurer’s investment report

Daviess County commissioners elected officers for several statutory boards and approved annual appointments and routine county financial items during their January meeting.

The board opened the drainage board meeting and approved Nathan Gabbard as president, Mike Keith as vice president and TC Cook as secretary; the motion carried on a recorded 3‑0 vote. Commissioners later repeated those appointments for the board of finance and then elected county commissioners’ officers with the same slate (motion made by Commissioner Mike Keith; second by Commissioner TC Cook; vote recorded 3‑0).

Jamie Chapman, from the treasurer’s office, told the board that the county solicited investment bids from public depositories and currently has roughly $3,000,000 invested; she noted that rates have fallen from earlier levels and that interest earned is typically swept back into the appropriate fund. "In your packet, I think it shows the breakdown of that 3,000,000," Chapman said.

The board approved a set of annual appointments to county advisory boards and commissions, accepted the annual gross wage report, and approved a one‑year contract for county legal services (no changes to the contract compared with recent years were reported). Commissioners also approved the December 23 meeting minutes and payroll claims; all recorded motions passed by a 3‑0 vote where a vote was recorded.

Commissioners discussed conflict‑of‑interest disclosure forms and contact information sheets to be completed by elected officials. County Attorney Grant answered questions about billing practices under the county attorney contract and said additional billable matters must be presented for approval before being charged to the county.