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Steuben County Council approves several mid-year appropriations, tables some revenue decisions
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Summary
At its April 14 special session the council approved supplemental appropriations for a part-time public defender ($3,000), sheriff uniforms ($5,000), Maple Street engineering ($10,500) and a judge's psychiatric evaluation line ($5,000); it also approved the county applying for a TANF pilot grant and tabled discussion of a Local Option Highway User Tax.
The Steuben County Council on April 14 approved several mid-year budget adjustments and administrative items during a special meeting in Angola.
Hugh Taylor, Chief Public Defender, asked for a one-time $3,000 pay adjustment for part-time Public Defender Ben Nordmann to compensate for extra work on a longstanding felony murder case; Jim Getz moved to approve the payment and the council approved the $3,000 additional pay by a 5–1 vote.
Sheriff Tim Troyer requested an additional $5,000 to replenish the uniforms line after hiring four deputies; the council approved that request unanimously. Troyer also described an incident in which the local shelter declined to accept animals found by deputies, prompting the sheriff to seek a process and possible funding mechanism to pay other facilities when necessary.
Highway Engineer Jennifer Sharkey won approval for a $10,500 supplemental appropriation to cover additional engineering and design work on the Maple Street project in Orland after INDOT imposed extra design requirements.
The council unanimously approved a request to allow Community Corrections and CAVA to apply for a TANF pilot grant that would fund Safe Exchange and Safe Haven visitation-center services, family and individual therapy, parenting and employment-preparation services for TANF-eligible clients in Steuben and LaGrange counties.
Judge William Fee requested and received approval for an additional $5,000 for psychiatric and medical evaluations in pending cases; the council approved that appropriation unanimously.
President Richard Shipe brought up whether to proceed with adopting a Local Option Highway User Tax (LOHUT) by the July 1 deadline; Jim Getz moved to table the LOHUT discussion indefinitely and the motion passed 5–1.
Other routine business included approval of the Auditor/Treasurer monthly financial report and signing February and March minutes.
The council will revisit items still under consideration at its next regular meeting.