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Steuben County Council approves appropriations, authorizes public defender postings and grant applications
Summary
At its July 8 meeting in Angola, the Steuben County Council approved multiple appropriations and inter-fund transfers, appointed two members to the PTABOA, authorized grant applications (including a NIPSCO public safety grant), and approved posting staff for a new Public Defender office after state grant selection.
The Steuben County Council on July 8 approved a series of funding moves, appointments and staffing steps as the county moves to stand up a Public Defender office and support public-safety and health programs.
Sheriff Rodney Robinson asked the Council to approve an additional appropriation of $12,242.50 from a pension fund to cover extra pension fees for the Merit Deputy Pension Fund; the Council approved the request unanimously. County Assessor Kim Anderson asked the board to appoint Marvin Holman and Pat Monroe to the Property Tax Board of Appeals for 2025–2026; the appointments were approved unanimously.
Chief Probation Officer Pam Feller presented an application for the Justice Partner Addiction Response Grant, which she said helps fund public defenders for pre-trial hearings; the Council voted unanimously to approve the Probation Department’s application. County EMA Director Lee Greenamyer requested approval to apply for the NIPSCO Public Safety Grant 2025, saying grant funds would be used to distribute radios to vulnerable residents so they have access to public-safety warnings; that application was also approved unanimously.
HR Administrator Erin Schiffli told the Council that Steuben County had been selected as one of nine Indiana counties to receive state grant funding to help open a Public Defender Office. Schiffli said initial funding covers 18 months and could be extended up to four years if the county meets forthcoming agreement stipulations. The Council voted 5–1 to authorize posting a Chief Public Defender position with a proposed annual salary of $183,500 (Council Vice President Christina Cress voted no). The Council then voted 5–1 to allow posting three additional full-time positions related to the office: two paralegals and one receptionist (Cress again voted no).
WIC Administrator Debbie Lewis requested a funds transfer of $10,000 from a part-time payroll line to clinic/admin staff; the transfer was approved unanimously. Commission Board President Wil Howard asked the Council to appropriate $13,475 from vehicle-sale proceeds for vehicle-related expenses; the Council approved that appropriation unanimously. Auditor Kelli Johnson submitted two inter-fund transfer requests—a $21,376.24 transfer and a larger $202,462.48 transfer to consolidate insurance funding—which the Council approved unanimously.
In other business the Council approved Additional Appropriation Resolution No. 07-2025-01, accepted the June 10, 2025 meeting minutes, and reviewed the June 2025 monthly comparison report and financial statement. Council President Dan Caruso asked that the Local Income Tax (LIT) structure be placed on the August agenda for further discussion. Caruso also reported that the Steuben County EDC recently met with NIPSCO and that the EDC plans continued outreach, including a meeting at Trine University to discuss local energy needs.
The board briefly met with student delegates from the Indiana Youth in Government program and discussed updated campaign finance filing requirements. Commissioner Rick Shipe noted an upcoming Budget & Finance II meeting and several Council members expressed interest in attending. Council Vice President Christina Cress moved to adjourn; Councilman Eric Prall seconded and the meeting ended.
