MIAMI COUNTY COUNCIL
25 NORTH BROADWAY
PERU, INDIANA
SEPTEMBER 19, 2006

Councilman Stephenson called the monthly meeting of the County Council to order.

AUDIENCE
Sheriff Roland thanked the Council on behalf of the department for taking the big step to adopt the Matrix for the Sheriff Department. Since the 1800’s only one has retired with 20 years of service. He said that he knows there are other departments that deserve higher wages and may be upset with the Council taking this step but he feels the wage study will correct most of those issues. He said they are not any better than any other department, just different.

TRANSFER FOR SHERIFF DEPARTMENT
A motion was made by Councilperson Mull to allow the transfer funds from 008 to 009 in the amount of $6,500. The motion was 2nd by Councilman Click and passed 5-1(Robertson abstained).

HEALTH APPROPRIATION
A motion was made by Councilman York to approve the additional appropriation for Tobacco Awareness in the amount of $21,050.66. The motion was 2nd by Councilman Click and passed 6-0.

PUBLIC DEFENDER ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION
Bryan Michaud explained to the Council that the Board had made the decision to opt out of the State program for reimbursement due to the lack of funding. The additional $100,000 is to complete the cases hanging out there for the rest of this year. The Board and Judges will re organize the Public Defender Board for next year. A motion was made by Councilman Click to approve the request for $100,000 from the Public Defender Fund. The motion was 2nd by Councilman Robertson. The motion passed 6-0.

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS GRANT
It was noted that Judge Burke read a statute stating the County Council has no jurisdiction over these budgets so the Board will not take action on any of Community Corrections budgets nor additional appropriations.

HIGHWAY ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS
After Sam Waltz and the Council discussed the deductions and additional appropriations, a motion was made by Councilman Click to allow the transfers. The motion was 2nd by Councilman York and passed 6-0. The deductions were as follows: BR#28I $40,000, BR#66I $24,962.50, BR# 251I $9,500, BR# 111I $47,600. The additional appropriation for the highway is for BR #46I in the amount of $7,400.

C.E.D.I.T. additional appropriation for the Highway Department
Commissioner Hawley explained that the $100,000 appropriated previously for the department was used for reimbursement purposes instead of road materials. When the reimbursements come in, the C.E.D.I.T. fund and the LRS fund will be reimbursed from the amount. The purpose for the additional appropriation at this time is strictly for road materials. Ken Einselen explained that there is a glitch in the reimbursement process. This has held up the reimbursements and the State is working to correct the problem.

Councilman York wants an accounting of the short fall and all documentation concerning the reimbursement. Virginia Bennett said that she has been working on this and it goes back to 1993. Ken Einselen stated that this project on 675E started as a Federal Project and then moved to a State project which has caused the problem. Part of it was reimbursed at 100% and some less. A motion to approve was made by Councilman York with the request of an accounting. The motion was 2nd by Councilman Click. The motion passed 6-0.

AUDIENCE
Beverly Brown spoke on behalf of the employees. She thanked him and the Council for the 2% raise. She also invited those who will be here for next years budget hearings to visit each and every office to see what they do. Mrs. Brown said she also felt with the large raises they gave others she and others felt slapped in the face and it is hard to overcome. She just asked that all are treated fairly.

Councilman Stephenson said they try to be fair and there is no partiality on his or others part on the Council. Councilman Cook said he said they treat everyone as equal as they could. He also stated that the State is over what they do and there is nothing they can do about that.

A motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Cook. The motion was 2nd by Councilperson Mull. The motion passed 6-0.

Adjourned

Respectfully Submitted,

Brenda Weaver, Auditor