Council approves a package of appropriations and transfers covering public safety, highway and probation accounts

At its Feb. 10 special session the Steuben County Council approved a series of budget adjustments, transfer requests and routine items across county departments.

The council approved several Public Safety LOIT fund appropriations submitted by Kristy Clawson and Gary LeTourneau to move previously cut general-fund items into the LOIT budget: $500 to 1170-080-3000.80 (EMA Public Awareness); $1,500 to 1170-080-4000.05 (EMA Computer/Equipment); $3,200 to 1170-080-4000.06 (EMA Equipment); $32,628 to 1170-303-3000.55 (E-911 Service Agreement); $20,000 to 1170-303-3000.61 (E-911 Tower Rental); and $25,000 to a new line for E-911 radio repair. Ruth Beer moved to approve the listed amounts and line items; Wil Howard seconded and the motion carried with five ayes.

Highway Engineer Jennifer Sharkey secured approval to transfer $50,000 from fuel savings (1176-533-2000.20) to road repair (1176-533-3000.70) and $50,000 within Major Moves to the Orland Maple Street construction account (1172-008-4000.01) to cover higher INDOT-driven design costs; Dan Caruso moved, Ruth Beer seconded and the motion carried with five ayes. Sharkey also corrected a claim entry by transferring $1,440 to a county park improvement project account.

Pam Feller, Chief Probation Officer, explained that drug-testing supplies were paid from the wrong account last year due to an ordering/billing mix-up. Ruth Beer moved to appropriate $934 to 2517-000-3000.04 (Drug testing/DFS Grant) to correct the accounting; Dan Caruso seconded and the motion carried with five ayes.

Weights & Measures requested $699.25 for a Prover purchase; Dan Caruso moved and Ken Shelton seconded transfers to fund the purchase and the council approved. The Treasurer/Auditor monthly report and the January County Council minutes were approved by unanimous votes.

A separate motion by Ken Shelton to approve a $3,000 supplemental appropriation for public defender attorney fees failed for lack of a second; council members asked the requester to provide more detail at the March meeting. Gary LeTourneau said his department will return in March to request additional appropriations to cover expected overtime.

The council recorded correspondence (Eddy Awards invitation, EMS year-end report, 2015 Capital Improvement Plan, Humane Society letter, Indiana Historical Society materials, Soil & Water minutes, a thank-you note) and adjourned.