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File Photo of County Council
- County council made changes to the proposed 2024 budget. They will hold a public hearing on the budget on September 26, 2023 at 7:00 pm and will vote to approve the budget on October 17.
- Council will consider adopting a new income tax to fund fire departments.
- The county park will accept online campsite reservations in 2024.
- Council approved additional spending mostly for repairs and for more park department staffing. They also authorized spending grant money.
- Councilmember Carroll Lanning participated remotely by Zoom.
Public Safety Income Tax Spending for 2024
Council held a required public hearing about how to spend roughly $849,000 in Public Safety Income Tax (PSIT) in 2024. There were no public comments. Thereafter, Council approved PSIT spending as follows:
- Public Service Answering Point (countywide dispatch of emergency services) - the greater of $200,000 or 27% of the amount collected.
- Emergency Medical Service Contract - up to $500,000.
- Volunteer fire departments - $8,000 each for five fire departments.
Spend Cash Reserves to Balance the 2024 Budget
Council voted in favor of changes to the 2024 budget recommended by Reedy Group, their financial advisor. The county will spend some of its cash reserves and pay some expenses with income taxes instead of property taxes to balance the budget. There were no major cuts made. A total of $500,000 will be allocated for repairs to low water crossings in 2024.
Considering New Income Tax To Fund Fire Departments
The Indiana legislature passed House Bill 1454 this year that allows for a local county income tax to fund both emergency medical service and fire protection. Councilmember Mary Strong suggested that council consider adopting the new income tax to fund fire departments. Council will request information from their attorney and their financial consultant. No decision was made.
Campsite Reservations Going Online
There is good news for campers who previously had to line up in person months in advance to secure a campsite during the Antique Machinery Show. The Franklin County Park Board voted in June to go online with campsite reservations.
Because the park will now be complying with Councilmember Brian Patterson’s request for automation, he offered to restore some money for park staffing that he pushed for cutting from the park’s 2024 budget. Councilmember Patterson suggested an extra $5,000 for staffing in 2023 and $10,000 for 2024. Council authorized the park board to use some of the park district’s cash reserves to pay for more part time help.
Park Board Member Dennis Kolb said that the board wanted to transform the park office from the 1980 era of no computer and no internet to today’s modern equipment. He also mentioned hiring an office manager in 2024.
Additional Spending to Repair Lightening Strike
Council approved $60,000 in additional spending for building repairs through the end of the year. Some of this money is currently being used for repairing damage from a lightening strike to the government center on July 28, 2023. Affected were fire alarms and wiring that operate the elevators and the automated handicapped access doors.
Emergency Radio Repairs Authorized
Jon Hundley, 911 Supervisor, requested $39,000 to hire Mobilcomm for replacing the low band radio communications tower that was damaged in a recent storm. He said that the tower was at the end of its useful life. Council authorized using cash reserves in the 911 fund to start the project while also pursuing an insurance claim.
Money Needed For Emergencies
Council approved Emergency Management Agency Director Amy Lindsey’s request to establish a special fund with $5,000 to buy items such as water, ice, meals, protective equipment or other supplies in case of an emergency. The need for money for supplies became obvious when 60 people, mostly volunteers, were searching for victims washed away in the Wolf Creek flash flood in July.
Director Lindsey also brought money into the county. She secured a $10,000 grant from the Duke Energy Foundation that will pay for a drone with thermal imaging and for user training. The drone would be used to search for missing people.
Finally, Director Lindsey presented a draft copy of the county’s new emergency operations plan that departments have been working on since April 2023. She asked for council’s feedback on the document.
Richland Creek Road Proposed to Get a New Bridge
Commissioner John Heis requested transferring $555,000 from three other bridge projects to pay for emergency repairs to the Richland Creek Road. It was washed away in flooding on July 28 and a new bridge is being planned. Council will vote on this request next month after the spending is advertised as required.
Spending Federal Grant Money
Council approved spending federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grant funds of $66,800 for resurfacing parking lots and another $18,000 for a matching grant to buy a portable generator costing $38,000. The generator would be versatile enough to power a firehouse as an emergency shelter during an outage or to provide power in a remote location. The paving and the generator are the 29th and 30th expenses paid for by ARPA.
Of the $4.4 million ARPA grant money, the county has approximately $400,000 remaining for spending now. There is also $1 million set aside for special projects in the Hoosier Enduring Legacy Program (HELP).
The next council meeting will be Tuesday, September 26, at 7:00 pm at the government center. Go the county’s website for information about remote viewing by Zoom.
Reported by Sara Duffy
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