Carter County moves petty cash, pop fund and public-administrator funds to credit union; treasurer to study postage meter

Carter County commissioners voted Oct. 16 to move the county's petty cash, pop fund and public-administrator accounts out of Summit National Bank and into Community First Credit Union in Ekalaka, citing recurring monthly service charges at the bank and concerns about the bank's balance requirements.

Judy DeGeoff, who presented the account details to the commission, said Summit began assessing monthly service fees of about $10 after a software update and told county staff the charges occur when account balances do not meet a $500 minimum. "The reason that these 3 accounts are getting those charges is because we don't have a balance of $500 in it," DeGeoff said. She asked permission to close those Summit accounts and move the pop fund, petty cash and public-administrator funds to the credit union, keeping the public-administrator money in a savings account and transferring $10 from the clerk and recorder's fund to meet the savings-account minimum.

A commissioner moved that Carter County transfer the pop fund, petty cash and public-administrator fund from Summit Bank to Community First Credit Union in Ekalaka and put the public-administrator fund into a savings account; the motion was seconded and approved. The minutes show the chair and commissioners affirmed the motion on voice vote and recorded "Aye."

During the treasurer's financial review, Treasurer Jesse Pushing reported September cash figures and explained that some program funds—such as immunizations—often show negative balances on the county ledger until grant reimbursements arrive. He also noted certain federal reimbursements have been delayed and cannot be requested because of the federal government shutdown affecting grant-processing windows.

Separately, staff and commissioners discussed state postage fees associated with mailing license plates and ballots. The treasurer's office said that a postage meter could reduce per-mailing costs over time; commissioners moved that the treasurer's office look into purchasing a postage machine and work with other departments that would use it. Staff agreed to have a designated employee review state recommendations before any purchase.

The meeting did not record further conditions or timelines for transferring the bank accounts or for purchasing a postage machine.