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County council had a full house for the public hearing about the 2023 budget and other pressing business. Only council members commented about the budget. Two items sparked debates with several councilmembers stating their views about
- Raises for part time employees and
- Money for hiring a 911 director.
COUNCIL DEBATED PART TIME RAISES & DECIDED
“IT’S NOT OUR JOB.”
Council debated raises for part time employees and ultimately dropped the issue.
Councilmembers Glenn Bischoff and Joe Sizemore wanted to give raises to 21 part time county employees, who were not included in the 5% raises in 2023 for full time employees and elected officials. Councilmember Bischoff said, “I thought they should get money too.” He proposed raises in a range of 50 cents per hour to $1 per hour.
Auditor Bauman remarked that with raises of $1 per hour some part time employees would be paid more than full time employees. She suggested council set a minimum rate above the current $12 per hour, which she called “very low pay in today’s economy.”
Councilmember Scott McDonough said, “It’s not our job to decide pay rate, but to give them the money.” He suggested a minimum hourly rate of $14, but found no supporters.
Auditor Bauman and several councilmembers explained how the 2023 budget was established during three long days of meetings in August. Council provided funds for part time work in each department and the department head decided the hours and the pay rate - not council.
President Jeff Koch said, “That is what the budget meeting is for.” He noted that Councilmember Bischoff made no motion for part time pay raises at that meeting.
Councilmember Carroll Lanning said, “It’s not our job to micromanage every office.”
Councilmember Joe Gillespie said, “I’m not opposed to paying them what they are worth. I’m more concerned about balancing the funds.”
Councilmember Bischoff finally “retracted” his proposal.
Note: In October 2021, council revised the salary ordinance to allow for higher hourly pay rates for some part time county employees as follows:
$14 per hour - treasurer part time employee
$14 per hour - recorder part time employee
$16.17 per hour - auditor part time employee
No Money for 911 Director At This Time
While still discussing the 2023 budget, Councilmember Joe Sizemore motioned to appropriate $65,000 for the salary for a new 911 director and Councilmember Scott McDonough seconded the motion.
Barry Ritter, 911 consultant, hired by the county commissioners, advised that the county needs a director who is trained to manage the 911 workers and who has experience with 911 procedures. Currently, Sheriff Pete Cates is responsible for the 911/dispatch operation.
Mr. Ritter was frank in his assessment that the current 911 workers spend a majority of their time running the jail control board. He gave an example of the two workers on duty having conflicting demands: assisting a caller through a medical emergency, watching over the safety of a jail officer and answering a call from a patrol officer.
Council had questions about moving 911 out of the jail and especially the costs involved. County council voted 4-3 against approving money for hiring a 911 director. In favor of hiring a 911 director were Joe Sizemore, Scott McDonough and Glenn Bischoff. Opposed were Jeff Koch, Brian Patterson, Carroll Lanning and Joe Gillespie.
County Commissioner Tom Linkel favors hiring a 911 director when the operation moves to a new location. He said that the 911 operation must stay under the control of the sheriff as long as the 911 operation is in the jail building. He had a second concern: “How can I say this delicately? We are going to have insurance problems if we don’t fix our dispatch center. The liability for this county is not good.”
NEGOTIATING A PRICE
Commissioner Linkel announced that he would be meeting on October 4 or 5 with School Superintendent Tammy Chavis to discuss a price for buying 1020 Franklin Avenue as the new location for the 911/dispatch operation. This building currents houses the town of Brookville administrative offices. However, Brookville is planning to move to the former Zimmer Tractor building.
Councilmember Brian Patterson wanted to know what buildings the commissioners had toured while looking for a new location. In contrast, Councilmember McDonough said, “I have no interest in micromanaging the commissioners’ search for a proper building.”
Councilmember Joe Gillespie weighed in that he wants the commissioners to continue negotiations for buying 1020 Franklin Avenue. Councilmember Carroll Lanning said that council wants to know the entire cost. The building will require renovations and new equipment.
Council President Jeff Koch tried to get the budget hearing back on track by saying, “I don’t want to hear maybe… just let us know when you get more concrete information together.”
$200,000 LOAN TO LAUREL
Council voted to loan $200,000 to the town of Laurel for initial costs for water system repairs. Laurel will repay the interest-free loan in July 2023 when they receive an already approved $1.9 million grant from the Indiana Finance Authority. The county will use federal grant money from the American Rescue Plan Act to make the loan.
$733,000 IN PROJECTS APPROVED
John Palmer, President of the Franklin County Economic Development Commission, explained the list of projects, which council funded with $733,000 in federal money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
- $70,000 for painting the courthouse and annex buildings,
- $100,000 for cost sharing with EMS for a new ambulance,
- $100,000 for Metamora’s sewer project,
- $50,000 each for eight volunteer fire departments plus $50,000 for a new ladder truck for a subtotal of $450,000, and
- $13,000 for a public transportation van.
- Total approved was $733,000.
Mr. Palmer said that the volunteer fire departments requested over $1 million and they asked for $582,000 in expenses such as debt and pensions that are not allowable under ARPA.
ANIMAL SHELTER
In answer to a question from the audience, Mr. Palmer said that a new animal shelter “is not off the list” for grant funding. A $250,000 grant will be considered as part of a second round of community projects in January 2023.
$22.6 MILLION BUDGET PROPOSED FOR 2023
The 2023 budget for Franklin County is proposed to be $22.6 million. The proposed property tax levy is $5.3 million, which would be a 19% increase over the 2022 levy of $4.4 million. The proposed 2023 tax rates are not shown on Indiana’s Gateway system.
Council will vote to adopt the 2023 budget on October 18, 2022.
METAMORA SEWER DISTRICT PUMPS ARE FAILING
Metamora’s sewage grinder pumps are failing and the cost of repairs is $200,000, according to Councilmember Gillespie. He said, “We need the sewage treatment facility to be working” and the sewer district will have to raise its rates. Mr. Palmer said, “One of my goals is to find them more money” from other sources so that the citizens and businesses are able to flush their toilets. Two councilmembers noted that the county had “bailed out” the Metamora sewer district in the past by providing funds. They were not more specific.
MORE COURTHOUSE REPAIRS
The courthouse has water leaks and needs a new roof plus tuck pointing of the brick and limestone, said Commissioner Tom Wilson. He has not yet obtained a cost for the roof. Tuck pointing will cost $64,500, because “the mortar joints are gone.”
NEW PROPERTY TAX BOND PROPOSED
Council’s attorney Grant Reeves suggested that council issue a new property tax bond after the current bond is paid in January 2024. He will present a resolution at the next meeting that will allow the bond to reimburse current capital expenses such as the courthouse roof repairs.
MORE MONEY TO PAY REEDY GROUP
Auditor Bauman advised council that they need to appropriate an extra $40,000 to pay their financial consultant Reedy Group through the end of the year. Council voted to use their contingency fund.
Council usually pays roughly $4,000 - $7,000 per month to Reedy Group. During the month of August, Reedy Group assisted council with the 2023 budget. The monthly bill was $18,521, which was 12% higher than the August bill last year.
CEDAR GROVE & SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP BUDGETS
There were no comments during the required public hearings and council approved the 2023 budgets for the town of Cedar Grove and for Springfield Township. Council President Jeff Koch said the reviews were required by state statute, because a majority of the governing bodies were volunteer firefighters.
From Indiana’s Gateway System, the 2023 Cedar Grove general fund budget is $9,200 and most of the expenses are for street repairs and utilities. The proposed tax levy would be a 5.09% increase over last year.
The 2023 Springfield Township general fund budget is $35,750, and most of the expenses are for fire protection, fencing disputes and salaries. The proposed tax levy would be a 5.39% increase over last year.
The next council meeting will be October 18 at 7:00 pm.
Reported by Sara Duffy
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