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Dubois County Council agrees to advertise two deputy sheriff openings but won’t fund them yet
Summary
Sheriff Tom Kleinhelter requested funding for two deputy positions to maintain minimum staffing; council members expressed budget concerns, a formal motion to approve funding failed for lack of funds, and the council reached a 6-1 consensus to advertise the positions and benefits while funding remains unresolved.
Sheriff Tom Kleinhelter told the Dubois County Council on Feb. 23 that two deputy sheriff positions created by the Board of Commissioners are needed to maintain minimum staffing standards and to address workload tied to crimes-against-children investigations and sex offender registry enforcement.
Kleinhelter presented service-call data and operational needs and said the request was not an expansion but intended to preserve public-safety standards. Council members asked budget-focused questions, including whether School Resource Officers could perform some duties; the sheriff said he would research which duties the civilian SRO could take on.
A motion by Alex P. Hohl, seconded by Deena J. Lewis, to approve funding could not be carried at the meeting because available funding was insufficient. The council nevertheless reached a consensus (6-1) to advertise the two deputy positions and benefits from the General and LIT funds to begin recruitment; Council member Doug Uebelhor cast the lone dissenting vote.
The sheriff said additional vehicles would not be needed and that uniforms and equipment would be funded by the jail commissary fund.
Next steps: The county will advertise the deputy openings while funding questions remain under review; recruitment can proceed but funding for salaries and benefits has not been approved.
