Steuben County Council approves grants, appropriations and salary ordinance amendment

Steuben County Council President Dan Caruso presided over a Feb. 10, 2026 meeting in Angola where the council unanimously approved a package of grants, appropriations and a salary-ordinance amendment that county officials said will close budget gaps and support public safety and infrastructure.

The council voted 7-0 to renew a Juvenile Detention Alternatives Initiative (JDAI) grant for $64,933.00 after Trinity Wright, JDAI Coordinator, submitted the request and Councilwoman Ruth Beer moved approval with Renee Carper seconding. The council also approved an IDNR Marine Patrol Assistance grant renewal for $35,475.00 (moved by Christina Cress; seconded by Eric Prall) and a $325.00 additional appropriation for Prime for Life training in the Alcohol & Drug Court Program (moved by Bill McClanahan; seconded by Ruth Beer).

Sheriff Rodney Robinson requested an additional appropriation of $1,330.00 to cover deputy wages and FICA/Social Security under the COPS Hiring Grant, noting that the 2026 budget did not fully cover the deputies’ annual salary. The council approved that request 7-0 (moved by Christina Cress; seconded by Bill McClanahan) and then approved Salary Ordinance Amendment No. 1063 — an amendment to Ordinance No. 1059 presented by Auditor Kelli Johnson — to correct salary funding for two deputies. Councilman Eric Prall moved to suspend the rules for second and third readings; Renee Carper seconded, and the council completed final adoption in the same meeting by unanimous vote.

Chip Porter, County Highway Engineer, sought two additional appropriations to fund road work: $17,000 from Highway MVH Restricted Fund No. 1173 and $250,000 from Highway MVH Fund No. 1176. Councilwoman Christina Cress moved to approve both in a single motion, seconded by Bill McClanahan; both passed 7-0.

Auditor Kelli Johnson requested year-end cleanup appropriations for 2025 totaling $84,044.57 and an EMS LIT fund appropriation of $28,392.14 to address a budget shortfall; both were approved 7-0 (moved by Ruth Beer; seconded by Eric Prall). The council also approved a Drainage Board operating-fund appropriation of $1,248.75 to pay invoices to Christopher B. Burke Engineering (moved by Lisa Aldrich; seconded by Bill McClanahan).

Other actions approved included Additional Appropriation Resolution No. 02-2026-01 (moved by Christina Cress; seconded by Eric Prall), Transfer by Resolution No. 12-2025-03 (moved by Eric Prall; seconded by Ruth Beer), a $300 increase to the Treasurer’s change drawer (moved by Bill McClanahan; seconded by Ruth Beer), a job-description change for the Communications/E-911 Director (moved by Ruth Beer; seconded by Lisa Aldrich), and the re-appointment of Kevin Stockwell to the Board of Zoning Appeals (moved by Ruth Beer; seconded by Bill McClanahan). The council approved the December 2025 minutes (Eric Prall moved; Lisa Aldrich seconded) with Councilwoman Ruth Beer recusing because she was not in attendance for that meeting, and later approved the January 2026 minutes unanimously.

The meeting record notes that all motions referenced above carried by recorded voice votes of seven ayes and zero nays unless otherwise stated, and that a fully executed copy of Salary Ordinance Amendment No. 1063 is on file in the Steuben County Auditor’s Office. The council received routine emailed reports, including excise and wheel tax distributions and EMS reports, and discussed scheduling and nominations for forthcoming meetings before adjourning.

Minutes, resolutions and the fully executed salary ordinance amendment are available from the Steuben County Auditor’s Office.