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DeKalb County Council approves $2.8 million in transfers, funds coroner, emergency plan and road overrun
Summary
The DeKalb County Council approved a package of additions and transfers Nov. 13 that included a $20,000 coroner appropriation, $20,304 for an emergency‑management plan update, $57,918 for a highway overrun and $2.66 million in ARPA reclassifications to cover insurance, grant matches and operations.
The DeKalb County Council on Nov. 13 approved a series of additional appropriations and internal transfers to cover unexpected medical‑exam costs, a required hazard‑mitigation plan update, a highway project overrun and the reclassification of federal ARPA funds into specific line items.
The council voted unanimously by voice to approve a $20,000 supplemental appropriation from County General (Fund 1001, account 32800) to pay medical fees tied to increased coroner cases, including autopsy and toxicology costs. Liaison Rick Collins told the council that “since the paperwork was submitted…she's had 12 additional cases including 3 suicides, an accident, and an OD,” and the council approved the request after a motion by Collins and a second by Bob Kraft.
Councilors also approved $20,304 from a hazard‑mitigation grant (Fund 8105) to pay Christopher Burke Engineering LLC for a required update to the county’s multi‑hazard mitigation plan; Rick Ring confirmed the plan is a mandated update and the motion carried by voice vote.
Highway department officials asked for $57,918 from the Local Road and Bridge Matching Grant to cover a community crossing project that came in over bid. Council members discussed nationwide increases to construction costs and local soil issues that raised the project price; the appropriation passed by voice vote after a motion and second.
In addition to individual appropriations, the council approved numerous transfers across funds. The council moved smaller transfers to cover office reconfiguration, courthouse vehicle purchases and health‑department account corrections, and it approved two Central Communications transfers totaling $35,000 to cover overtime and maintenance shortfalls. The council also approved a $5,150 transfer within the Statewide 9‑1‑1 fund to pay vendor contractual services.
The largest item was an ARPA cleanup package that reclassified $2,665,741.92 of previously spent ARPA money into specific line items (insurance, operating supplies, grant match, repair and maintenance and other categories). Council discussion centered on using ARPA to shore up the county’s self‑insurance fund and to assemble grant‑match dollars for road projects; a motion to approve the package was seconded by Rick Collins and carried by voice vote.
Votes at a glance: - Coroner appropriation: $20,000 — approved (motion: Rick Collins; second: Bob Kraft) - Hazard mitigation (Emergency Management): $20,304 — approved (motion: Rick Rang; second: Bill Van Wy) - Highway overrun (Local Road & Bridge match): $57,918 — approved (motion: Bob Kraft; second: Amy Prosser) - Central Communications transfers (overtime/maintenance): $35,000 — approved (motion: Rick Ring; second: Bill Van Wy) - ARPA transfers and reclassifications: $2,665,741.92 — approved (motion: speaker 4; second: Rick Collins)
Next steps: Most items were one‑time corrections or contingency appropriations. The council’s approvals will be reflected in the county’s amended 2024 appropriations and accounted for in the next financial reports.
(Reporting: Council meeting Nov. 13, 2024.)
