Steuben County Council approves multiple appropriations, transfers and three ordinances; $255,947.73 moved to local opioid response fund

Steuben County Council members on March 11 approved several budget actions, moved restricted opioid settlement funds to a local foundation and adopted three ordinances affecting county staffing and pay.

Superior Court Judge William Fee told the Council he needed additional translator funds and that a translation-related trial had been shorter than expected; the Council approved an additional appropriation of $12,000 (reduced from the $20,000 requested). The Council also approved a $6,000 appropriation for EMA to be reimbursed by the 2025 HME Grant and a $40,538.55 funds transfer requested by County Sheriff Rodney Robinson to cover a promotion-related reallocation from confinement to corporal salary lines.

The Council declined an Additional Appropriation request from NICC Surveillance Lead Todd Pfaffman totaling $44,770.06 after the item received no motion and therefore was not advanced.

Chief Probation Officer Pam Feller obtained approval for a $7,277.76 inter-fund transfer to carry unspent grant dollars into calendar year 2025 per IDOC guidance, and Pre-Trial Services Coordinator Ashley Bretes won approval to submit a 2026 PTS grant proposal. Auditor Kelli Johnson secured a $200,000 transfer to cover unexpected liability insurance premium increases and a $1,686.60 appropriation for plat-book paper. The Council also approved a $5,750 appropriation from vehicle-sale proceeds and a $60,000 appropriation to cover federal audit expenses.

The largest single appropriation at the meeting was a $255,947.73 transfer from Fund #1237.40106.00000.0000 proposed by Commissioner Andy Laughlin to be deposited with the Steuben County Community Foundation. According to Jennifer Danic, president and CEO of the foundation, the funds will be placed in the newly created Steuben County Substance Abuse Response Fund with half deposited into a permanent endowment and half reserved for immediate local grantmaking. Danic described a five-member oversight committee — including representatives from the county health department, the City of Angola, Cameron Memorial Hospital, a local law-enforcement representative (not employed by the Steuben County Sheriff or the City of Angola) and one person in recovery — that will oversee allocations and provide updates to the Council. The motion carried unanimously.

The Council also approved three ordinances presented by Auditor Kelli Johnson: Ordinance No. 1041, amending the 2025 salary for the assistant director in the EMS Department; Ordinance No. 1042, amending the number of corporals and confinement officers at the Steuben County Jail; and Ordinance No. 1043, amending the 2025 salary of one public defender. For each ordinance the Council moved to suspend the rules where noted and approved the 2nd and 3rd readings; all motions carried 7-0.

Council President Dan Caruso asked that a discussion of Lohut tax procedures be scheduled for the Council's April meeting after Commissioner Rick Shipe noted any changes must be enacted before July 1, 2025. The Council approved meeting minutes for Feb. 11 and Feb. 24, reviewed the February 2025 financial comparison report and received several routine correspondence and annual reports.

Votes at a glance: • Additional Appropriation — Translator (Fund #1000.30005.00000.0201): requested $20,000; approved $12,000. Motion: Ruth Beer; second: Wilburn "Bill" McClanahan; outcome: approved, 7-0. • Additional Appropriation — EMA HME reimbursement (Fund #8155.30001.00000.0000): $6,000. Motion: Eric Prall; second: Christina Cress; outcome: approved, 7-0. • Funds transfer — Sheriff (Confinement to Corporal Salary): $40,538.55. Motion: Bill McClanahan; second: Christina Cress; outcome: approved, 7-0. • Additional Appropriation — NICC Surveillance: $44,770.06. Outcome: no motion — request died. • Inter-fund transfer — Probation (per IDOC): $7,277.76. Motion: Ruth Beer; second: Eric Prall; outcome: approved, 7-0. • Grant proposal — 2026 PTS (Pre-Trial Services): approved. Motion: Christina Cress; second: Renee Carper; outcome: approved, 7-0. • Addl. Appropriation — to Steuben County Community Foundation (Fund #1237.40106.00000.0000): $255,947.73. Motion: Christina Cress; second: Renee Carper; outcome: approved, 7-0. Half placed in permanent endowment; half for immediate local grantmaking under restricted-opioid fund rules. • Funds transfer — Insurance (to cover liability premium increases): $200,000. Motion: Eric Prall; second: Bill McClanahan; outcome: approved, 7-0. • Addl. Appropriation — vehicle sale proceeds: $5,750. Motion: Ruth Beer; second: Eric Prall; outcome: approved, 7-0. • Addl. Appropriation — federal audit costs: $60,000. Motion: Ruth Beer; second: Christina Cress; outcome: approved, 7-0. • Addl. Appropriation — plat-book supplies: $1,686.60. Motion: Ruth Beer; second: Christina Cress; outcome: approved, 7-0. • Ordinance No. 1041 (EMS assistant director salary): motion and suspension of rules approved; outcome: approved, 7-0. • Ordinance No. 1042 (jail corporals and confinement officers): motion and suspension of rules approved; outcome: approved, 7-0. • Ordinance No. 1043 (public defender salary amendment): motion and suspension of rules approved; outcome: approved, 7-0.

What happens next: The Council asked staff to place Lohut tax procedures on the April agenda; the Community Foundation will provide allocation updates on the Steuben County Substance Abuse Response Fund. The meeting adjourned after routine correspondence and report reviews.