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Steuben County Council approves prosecutor staffing change, EMS transfer and $389,799.77 park loan in split vote
Summary
At its June 9 meeting the Steuben County Council approved converting a deputy prosecutor position to full time for the rest of 2026, transferred funds to cover EMS part‑time needs and youth summer programming, and approved a $389,799.77 Major Moves loan for park upgrades in a 4–3 vote.
The Steuben County Council on June 9 approved several funding moves including a temporary conversion of a deputy prosecutor position to full time, transfers to support EMS staffing and youth summer programming, and a $389,799.77 loan from the Major Moves fund for park upgrades.
County Prosecutor Travis Musser requested an additional appropriation and a transfer to convert a part‑time Deputy Prosecutor position to full time for the remainder of 2026 to allow training and succession planning; Musser said he intends to leave the prosecutor’s office and the current deputy is expected to assume the role. Councilmember Eric Prall moved to approve Musser’s two requests as submitted; Council Vice President Christina Cress seconded and the motion carried, 7–0. The items approved included line‑item adjustments for health insurance ($1,800.00), PERF ($4,390.24) and full‑time wages ($9,198.60) and a transfer of $30,000 into the Deputy Prosecutor line.
Trinity Wright, JDAI Coordinator, asked the council to move $3,100 in unspent grant funds from Fund 9171 (food and travel lines) to Fund 9172 to support the Steuben County Literacy Coalition’s youth summer programming. Councilwoman Ruth Beer moved approval; Bill McClanahan seconded; the transfer was approved unanimously.
Alicia Walsh, EMS Administrator, told the council the EMS part‑time account was operating with a negative balance and requested a $62,000 transfer from the EMS overtime account (14000) to the EMS part‑time account (14100) to cover personnel needs through the end of the year. Walsh said she likely will request an additional appropriation later to replenish the overtime line. Ruth Beer moved approval; Bill McClanahan seconded; the motion passed, 7–0.
Commission President Wil Howard proposed a loan to fund county park upgrades and improvements and submitted quotes totaling nearly $400,000. Councilwoman Renee Carper moved to approve the currently quoted amount of $389,799.77 from the Major Moves Fund (Fund 1172) rather than the full $400,000 requested; Bill McClanahan seconded. The measure passed 4–3. Ayes were Renee Carper, Bill McClanahan, Lisa Aldrich and Christina Cress. Nays were Eric Prall, Dan Caruso and Ruth Beer. Council members who opposed voiced concerns about competing with other venues and whether Local Income Tax (LIT) economic development funds were the proper source.
Commissioner Wil Howard also presented a final ESA invoice from NIPSCO for $151,617.13 and said the commissioners will submit an additional appropriation in July to appropriate receipted municipal funds for payment; he gave verbal approval for the commissioners to proceed with the payment process.
The council adopted Additional Appropriation Resolution No. 06‑2026‑01 (motion by Eric Prall; second Renee Carper) and acknowledged the May 2026 monthly comparison and financial reports (motion by Lisa Aldrich; second Bill McClanahan), both by unanimous 7–0 votes.
What happens next: Commissioner Howard said he will bring an additional appropriation in July to appropriate the NIPSCO invoice funds; EMS Administrator Walsh may request a further appropriation later in 2026 to replenish overtime funding.
