Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget And Staffing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Dubois County Council approves multiple appropriations, salary changes and appointments
Summary
At its Feb. 24 meeting the Dubois County Council unanimously approved a package of appropriations and salary-ordinance amendments covering courthouse HVAC work, bridge rehabilitation, highway equipment, Community Corrections staffing and other items; a LifeSpring board reappointment also passed.
The Dubois County Council unanimously approved a series of budget moves and personnel changes at its Feb. 24 meeting in the Commissioner/Council Chambers.
The council approved minutes from the Jan. 21 meeting. It then approved an additional appropriation of $25,000 from the Clerk’s Perpetuation Fund for office furniture after Clerk Amy Kippenbrock requested the funding. The council approved a $70,000 transfer from the Misdemeanant Fund to cover jail operating ($10,000) and repairs ($60,000); that money will help offset anticipated costs related to a proposed sheriff body-worn camera contract. The council also approved a $1,586.60 appropriation from the Sheriff Donation Fund for training-room carpeting and $6,399 from the Firearms Training Fund for gun scopes.
County Engineer Brent Wendholt won approval for a $200,000 appropriation from the Cum Bridge Fund to rehabilitate two bridges and a $290,000 Highway Fund capital outlay request for equipment ($170,000 MVH and $120,000 restricted MVH). Wendholt also applied for a Community Crossings matching grant (discussed separately) and the council agreed to advertise a split match.
Auditor Sandra L. Morton secured a $99,608 additional appropriation from LIT-CR Personal Services to fund one full and one partial night-shift Community Corrections officer; the council also approved amended salary-ordinance language describing pay rates, benefit allocations and which funds will cover specified pay periods. Morton later requested a $24,931.57 transfer within the Opioid Restricted Fund to cover partial salary, benefits and health insurance for a night-shift officer; that transfer was approved, and the council approved a corresponding amended salary ordinance for pay-period funding splits.
Morton also received approval for a $260,000 LIT-ED Capital Outlay appropriation to fund an HVAC temperature-control project in the courthouse; she said a contract will be presented to the Board of Commissioners on March 3, 2025.
President Michael W. Kluesner recommended reappointing Alan Smock to the LifeSpring Health Systems Board of Directors for a three-year term beginning March 18, 2025; the council approved the reappointment. With no further business the council adjourned at 6:32 p.m.
Why it matters: The votes move spending and staffing plans forward for county operations including courthouse systems, bridge repairs and corrections staffing. Several items (notably the HVAC contract and the sheriff’s proposed equipment contract) include follow-up steps before final contracting or expenditure.
