Ways and Means approves routine borrowing resolution, contracts and budget amendments; denies one pension purchase request

EATON COUNTY — The Eaton County Ways and Means Committee approved a set of routine fiscal and operational items at its January meeting, including continuation of delinquent‑tax borrowing authority, renewal of a workers’ compensation contract and several contract renewals for the county’s remonumentation project. The committee also approved hiring an accountant for the controller’s office and voted to deny a request from a member of the sheriff’s nonsupervisory unit to purchase five years of service credit from the Municipal Employees’ Retirement System (MERS).

The actions were largely procedural or budgetary. Controller Ben Sobe and staff described the delinquent tax borrowing resolution as a precaution that the treasurer can use to provide interim funds to local governments if necessary; the committee passed the resolution without recorded opposition. The committee also approved two remonumentation resolutions — continuing a contract with Ron Lester and approving agreements with surveyors for the county’s re‑monumentation project — and passed them together.

The committee approved a three‑year renewal of the county’s workers’ compensation administrative services contract with ASU/Midwest risk management services after removing optional loss‑control services to secure a price lock. The committee’s motion authorized the controller’s office to execute the renewal.

On personnel, Ways and Means voted to authorize filling an accountant position in the controller’s office, a position board staff described as critical for grant accounting and audit support. The motion to hire was moved, supported and carried.

The meeting also considered a request from a sheriff’s department employee to purchase five years of service credit through MERS. Administration advised against the purchase, citing precedent, financial risk to the county if market assumptions prove incorrect and retention concerns for essential senior staff; the committee voted to not accept the request. Detective Heather Stefan spoke in favor of the request, saying she had consulted legal counsel and the union and believed past practice supported her case. The chair and administration cited prior denials and the county’s fiscal exposure.

Committee members approved a budget amendment transferring indigent‑defense grant administrative costs into the general fund where allowable, and approved carryover (rollover) spending for several Parks & Recreation projects budgeted in the prior fiscal year. The committee reviewed and approved board bills, electronic funds transfers and payroll items covering routine vendor, intergovernmental and payroll payments.

Votes were recorded in the meeting audio as unanimous among members present for the items carried; the transcript does not list a numeric roll‑call tally for each motion. The committee discussed but did not change the county’s personnel freeze policy and other standing practices during the meeting.