Harrison County Council approves multiple appropriations, transfers and appointment; SRO MOU passes with chair abstaining

Harrison County Council members on April 28 approved a package of appropriations and transfers to cover equipment purchases, building repairs and operational needs and appointed a replacement to the county park board.

The council unanimously approved a $100,399.14 additional appropriation for equipment in the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund. Councilman Jake Blackman moved the measure and Councilman Kyle Nix seconded; the motion carried 7–0 and was entered as an ordinance. The council also approved transfers under Public Law 54—including $9,699 moved from telephone-communications to contractual services in the commissioners’ budget and multiple reassignments within the planning & zoning budget (including $46,974 and $9,738 shifted to the director line and $10,000 to contractual services); those transfers passed 7–0.

County Auditor Chad Shireman told the council a $93,414.67 insurance check had been receipted into the riverboat fund and moved to appropriate that amount to repair county buildings damaged by earlier hailstorms. Shireman also requested a $60,000 appropriation from the statewide 911 fund for dispatch-console upgrades; he said a vendor had quoted $55,226.34 but the larger figure was advertised to cover any price increases after a 2024 appropriation reverted.

Highway Superintendent Glen Bube sought two additional items in the local road and street fund—a $100,000 request for a part-truck and tractor and a $25,000 request for parts and road equipment—saying the department has increased in-house maintenance and is stocking parts ahead of mowing season to avoid downtime.

Parks Superintendent Larry Shickles announced Park Board President Teresa Sutton had resigned. Councilwoman Holli Castetter moved to appoint Lori Miller-Clark to complete the remainder of Sutton’s term; Councilman Joe Kellum seconded and the appointment was approved 7–0.

The council approved a memorandum of understanding to provide a school resource officer for the Lanesville Community School Corporation. Councilman Joe Kellum moved the MOU and Councilman Richard Gerdon seconded; the motion passed with six ayes and one abstention, with Chairman Donnie Hussung recorded as abstaining.

Auditor Shireman presented an amended salary ordinance reducing the public defender deputy’s annual amount from $97,500.00 to $71,474.16 because the new employee started March 24 and the office intends to increase pay later in the year as caseload justifies; the amendment passed 7–0.

Council members also agreed to table approval of the April 14 minutes to allow corrections. The meeting adjourned at 7:38 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Park-board appointment of Lori Miller-Clark: motion by Holli Castetter, seconded by Joe Kellum; outcome 7–0 (approved). - Motor Vehicle Highway Fund appropriation $100,399.14: motion by Jake Blackman, seconded by Kyle Nix; outcome 7–0 (approved). - Transfers under Public Law 54 (multiple line-item moves in county general and planning & zoning): various motions; outcome 7–0 (approved). - Riverboat fund building repair appropriation $93,414.67: motion presented by Chad Shireman; outcome approved (vote recorded as carried in meeting minutes). - E-911 dispatch console appropriation advertised at $60,000: presented by Chad Shireman; appropriation request recorded for council action. - School Resource Officer MOU with Lanesville Community School Corporation: motion by Joe Kellum, seconded by Richard Gerdon; outcome 6 ayes, 0 nays, 1 abstention (Chairman Donnie Hussung). - Salary ordinance amendment (public defender deputy): motion by Jake Blackman, seconded by Richard Gerdon; outcome 7–0 (approved).

The council recorded the appropriation ordinance and transfers in the meeting minutes and directed corrections to the April 14 minutes before final approval.