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Council meeting roundup: sheriff updates, CatchRide report, permit changes and routine budget approvals
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Summary
Sheriff Morrow reported on commissary funds, a weapons purchase and deputy hiring; CatchRide presented a year‑end service update; building permit deposit and commercial fee enforcement were announced; the council approved several supplemental budget items and encumbrances.
At its regular meeting, the Decatur County Council heard departmental reports, approved routine budget additions and discussed personnel and facilities planning.
Sheriff Morrow reported the commissary ending balance was “just short of a $104,000” and said rifles recently ordered arrived early. He told the council the department plans to purchase suppressors to complete the rifle purchase with commissary funds and gave the price: “So the suppressor is gonna cost $20,009.80.” The sheriff also requested clarity and permission to hire a deputy at a 2026 base rate of $61,007.21 to address recent turnover; commissioners indicated support and the hiring pay recommendation was approved in session.
Michelle Bridal, director of CatchRide, delivered a year‑end update on the county’s public transportation provider. She said CatchRide operates across six counties including Decatur County, served 145 individuals in 2025 (up from 133 in 2024) and performed 7,721 one‑way trips; she noted a minivan airbag recall reduced fleet availability during 2025 but the vehicles were repaired and returned to service.
County building staff announced a permitting-policy clarification: single‑family building permits will be charged $410 plus a $100 refundable deposit (returnable if the work is completed within one year). Staff also said a previously omitted commercial square‑footage surcharge will be enforced going forward, which can substantially increase permit fees for very large projects.
The council approved several budget motions: a sheriff CIT coordinator additional ($169,303.43 reimbursed from grant funds), soil and water salary supplements ($22,648 total), an IT hardware/software additional ($5,000), and encumbrances of roughly $280,562.28 for late invoices. Motions for each item were moved, seconded and carried.
Mister Wenning updated the council on a newly formed long‑range facilities planning committee focused on maintenance and capital priorities (including the annex, fairgrounds and parks); the group will meet twice monthly while it develops a prioritized plan. The parks board president asked the council to allow the salary committee to review job descriptions and compensation for parks staff ahead of budget season. The HR office requested a review of two hire‑rate anomalies for employees who began under the 2024 pay schedule; staff estimated the shortfall at about $1,245 for 2025 and $1,282 for 2026 and asked the salary committee to review the paperwork.
The meeting concluded with a brief report on a regional arts plan presentation to Lilly and the IEDC and routine adjournment.
