Ripley County Council approves dozens of transfers and several grant appropriations

The Ripley County Council approved a series of fiscal transfers and additional appropriations at its Jan. 20 meeting, moving funds across multiple county departments and allocating grant funding for juvenile behavioral services.

Council approved 22 specific 2025 transfers affecting Superior Court, Circuit Court, Health, 911, Highway, Assessor, Auditor and Sheriff accounts. The motion to approve the transfers was moved by Peg Ehlers and seconded by Stan Wiedeman and passed with six votes in favor and one absence. The agenda lists several individual transfer amounts by account, including items such as $4,112.80 (Superior Court pauper council), $4,102.54 (Circuit Court transcripts), and $19,807.62 (Auditor utilities), among others as recorded in the meeting packet.

The council also approved authority to pay up to $100 per Highway employee for a uniform/shoe allowance (noted as $2,400 total on the agenda). In separate motions, council approved transfers to move 2025 longevity amounts into payout lines for multiple sheriff deputies; each transfer motion was recorded as passed 6 yes and 1 absent.

On appropriations, the council approved a FIMR operating appropriation of $8,200 and multiple court services and juvenile behavioral grant appropriations. Items tied to the IN Juvenile Behavioral Grant included $9,792 for office supplies, $39,858 for professional services, $84,000 for contractual services and $3,862 for training; motions were moved and approved during the meeting. The meeting notes indicate grant funds or specified sources for these appropriations where recorded.

The council recorded votes on these motions as unanimous among those present for each item, with one member absent. No motions were tabled or defeated during the funding actions recorded in the minutes.