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Council approves moving $69,827 into non-reverting fund to pay part-time hazmat responders
Summary
The council approved moving $69,827.63 into a non-reverting fund so the Emergency Management Agency can fund a pool of part-time hazmat responders (estimated $41,400/year in wages) to provide backup for the county hazmat commander; council noted the commissioners must actually create the fund.
The Porter County Council voted to move $69,827.63 into a non-reverting fund to support a new pool of part-time hazmat responders that the Emergency Management Agency says is necessary to provide backup for the county hazmat commander.
EMA representative Lance Bella told the council the department has struggled for years to secure consistent backup and wants to capture recurring grant or reimbursement money in a non-reverting account to fund three-days-a-week, eight-hour shifts filled by multiple part-time employees. "My intention was to take the $69,827.63, put it into the non-reverting fund. I have no intention on spending the extra. Let it roll over because I'm not going to slit my own throat and not have money if something happens down the road," Bella said, describing the plan to use about $41,400 a year for wages and retain the rest as a reserve.
Council members pressed procedural questions about whether approving the transfer would immediately allow full spending and whether the county commissioners first must create the non-reverting fund. Staff and Bella confirmed the mechanics require a separate action by the commissioners to establish the fund; the council vote moves the money assuming that fund is created. Several members asked for clarity about caps and oversight; Bella said the intent was to create a reserve so the EMA would not have to return mid-disaster to request emergency spending.
The roll-call vote to move the $69,827.63 into the non-reverting fund passed unanimously.
What’s next: Council members noted a related form (a 144) would likely appear on the next agenda to reflect the fund mechanics once the commissioners act.
