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The Grant County Record
in Grant County · County Council, budget hearing night 4, August 27, 2026 · 2026-08-27 · full transcript
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    0:00  hearings. Uh we will reconvene from the recess and uh first on our agenda is uh the convention and visitors bureau.
    0:09  Hello. Good evening. I have not had the pleasure of meeting a lot of you, but my name is Abby Wilkinson and I am representing Simply Grant, formerly
    0:16  known as the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Haley, our executive director, was unable to come cuz she had a scheduled vacation. So, thanks for
    0:23  letting me be with you. Um, as a reminder for those of you here in the room and online, I wanted to let people know that we are funded through
    0:32  inkeepers tax. And so that's folks who are visiting Grant County for under 30 days staying in an Airbnb or a hotel. So
    0:39  not our county people, but people passing through and staying with us, which we love, and we appreciate those Airbnb host. So I want to say that
    0:47  publicly as well. Um, our mission is to have people visit more than once to be a place that they enjoy being. And so we
    0:55  have a phrase around the office that we like to say that what is good for livability is good for visitability. So
    1:03  if you enjoy it as someone who lives here, then visitors will love it as well. So our goal is to spend as much money in Grant County as possible. And
    1:11  so 80% of our budget goes straight back to the county and 20% is for our overhead costs and operations. So you
    1:19  all have the budget in front of you. I wanted to point out just three lines to you and then obviously take any
    1:26  questions that you might have. But commission and administration that has gone up this year and that's solely to provide food to our board when we ask
    1:35  them to meet over lunches, printing materials for them so that they can see what's going on. We've not in the past really done much with our board, but
    1:43  we're trying to really engage well with them. So that is that uh attractions and development that's specifically for
    1:50  sponsorship not marketing. So there's no marketing dollars in that line. That's solely to sponsor 1812 uh the Gas City
    1:58  Performing Arts Center, James Dean Days, the Cultures Hall of Fame, etc. The list goes on and on. That's solely for sponsorship. And then finally, dues and
    2:07  subscriptions has also gone up this year. And the reason for that is that all of our dues are up. So, we are a
    2:14  part of the Indiana Tourism Association, ITA for short. Um, they have a yearly conference and then they actually do
    2:21  quarterly events that we attend. So, we learn best practices as well as tips and tricks to help market Grant County to the world. And then food ways, which
    2:30  promotes food trails across the state of Indiana, and then also the East Region Tourism Association. So, we were conservative in our budget, but if you
    2:38  have any questions, I'd love to try and do my best to answer them.
    2:43  Where are you guys physically located now?
    2:45  We are physically located upstairs. It's in the Chamber building, but it's actually the United Way building. So, right down a block, two blocks down from
    2:53  you guys on the upstairs, right in front of Craig Persinger's office as well. But it's um 215 South Adams, Sweet 200. But
    3:02  we are moving in January to I never this the Bloom Blumenthal. I never pronounced it correctly. the Bloom and the Bloom
    3:10  and Thaw Building on the west side of the square uh that's being renovated currently. So, we will be on the first floor there and be working with
    3:19  partnerships for all the residents in that building as well as then obviously county visitors.
    3:26  Is the tax still 5% you're getting revenue? It is. Yes.
    3:30  And what was the reason you decided to drop the amount you're budinging for sponsorships or attraction development?
    3:36  Yeah, that's a great question. It's more of an allocation. So, we've moved a bit um more into advertising and I can't answer 100% but it has been reallocated
    3:45  and we are giving more to the marketing side of things than we are to sponsorship. So, we're telling people about it more than we have previously.
    3:56  Is the expended budget a typo? Just all of miscellaneous?
    4:00  I'm not really sure why it shows who spent $0. Um Well, it shows $714.
    4:06  Oh, yeah. I'm not I don't fully understand what that is. So that honestly that column probably should have just been left off for tonight for
    4:13  the purpose of the budget, but I can get you more information if you need it. I would like to see a financial report.
    4:21  You like maybe calendar year 25, what was the you revenue and expenses?
    4:26  We had hoped to do that. We actually have transitioned our accounting from a previous entity now to a new one. And because of that, there's been some
    4:34  logistical issues, but I can try and get that to you by early next year.
    4:38  I'd like to have one for the year of 256. You got it. Yep.
    4:46  That is not a problem.
    4:48  How many people are in the salary category?
    4:50  There are two people. Haley's our executive director and then myself. But that that covers more than our salaries.
    4:56  That allocates money for contracted services as well. I will say we've actually saved quite a bit of money in the salary area because I have been able
    5:05  to do a whole lot of our marketing that we had been paying people previously to do. So, but that does include contracted services as well.
    5:21  Where does the marketing show up on the budget?
    5:26  Advertising line is it? Yes. Uh about halfway down was like the third section advertising.
    5:36  Sorry, I was looking for an M. It's kind of what I was doing.
    5:49  Mr. You ready for a motion?
    5:51  Yes, sir. I will move for approval of this entire funds budget categories 1, two, and three as requested.
    5:58  All right. Yes, sir. Second. All right. Thank you, Mr.
    6:06  Living.
    6:09  Have a motion and a second to approve basically all categories and this budget. Anybody have any further questions, comments?
    6:19  Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Those oppos same sign. Motion carries. Thank you.
    6:25  Thank you. Appreciate y'all's time. Next we have services.
    6:39  Good evening. I'm president CEO for services. Um, thank you for the opportunity to be here this evening to
    6:47  present and I just want to thank you for your support for Terry services to keep turning abilities into opportunities.
    6:54  Um, that is our mission. Last year I shared about the impact we're making with our new power academy and additional affordable and accessible
    7:02  housing units that we developed to open community. Our vision is to create a world where all people are empowered and
    7:11  equally valued in the community. This year with grant funding we're able to renovate our art studio learning center and add more learning labs for job
    7:19  training in our building on the bypass across from Lowe's. We're in search for great funding for more affordable and
    7:26  accessible housing to build up to 26th Street between South Kerry Street and South Land Street.
    7:34  Since last year, we've had staff at Carrie Services who have earned national state awards. Uh Carrie Services is
    7:41  facilitating community conversations to increase transportation access in Grant County, especially in the rural
    7:49  areas of Grant County. We're working hard to build a community of inclusion here in Grant County. And tonight I'm
    7:57  coming before you for our annual community intellectual disability financial assistance request. And our appropriation request is for 178,223.
    8:07  That's in line with the most recent growth portion. And in support of the hundreds of people with disabilities we
    8:14  support and the nearly 200 employees we employ with our services here in Grant County. Thank you for your consideration
    8:22  and I'm happy to answer any questions you have.
    8:29  you know how many housing units that you guys presently own? Yeah, we have 15 duplexes there between South Labus and
    8:37  South Kerry and then we own six houses up on the northwest uh side Spencer Landis up here and Spencer
    8:47  Spencer Lynfesty rather up in that area up there.
    8:50  Okay. I just curious curious on the financial page you know you have your revenue show total support
    8:57  revenues and the total expenses the net $454,000.
    9:01  Yeah. Is there other revenue that's not shown here? I mean you deal with the deficit like that.
    9:06  Certainly certainly these are the cost centers where we uh tend to use the county support that we get the most from the community.
    9:13  Okay. So there are other categories that financial Oh absolutely. Okay.
    9:21  I saw our revenue shown there on the line item. Yeah. Right.
    9:24  That's not the entire year ago. There's must be more that get shown as well because I think some other programs. Right.
    9:32  So our contribution, the county's contribution of $178,000 goes to support the community intellectual disability
    9:41  program. Yeah. Talk a little bit about what that specifically does. Absolutely.
    9:46  Yeah. So carry services, we really have two different divisions. We would we do early childhood education. So we're the early head start provider for both
    9:54  grants in Blackford County as a federal grant. None of the the county money goes into that programming. That's for
   10:01  prenatal moms through age three. Uh and then we have a wide array of disability programming that we offer from
   10:09  transportation as you see in the financial report to supported employment where we have people helping to train and and get jobs in the community and
   10:17  then follow them along with employment services. Uh we have day services where we're providing skills training,
   10:24  meaningful day opportunities, job training inhouse at our building on the bypass and that empower academy. We also
   10:32  have a creative arts art studio where we've used art training and education as a a medium to get people with disabilities more involved in the
   10:41  community and eventually maybe into some entrepreneurship jobs uh in the community. We do a lot of residential
   10:48  support so that the housing um that that President Kiss talked about a moment ago, we're supporting people after hours
   10:55  of their home, sometimes up to 24 hours a day, 7 days a week when they need that kind of support. So was that all what
   11:03  Care Services does or was that specifically the community intellectual disability? The disability side of that is the community intellectual disability side. Yeah.
   11:15  What was our contribution last year? Let's see. 168 135 168 135. Is that on here?
   11:24  It's on the council budget. Okay.
   11:28  And this amount is 6% higher increase the 178 223 which is the growth factor piece.
   11:43  And just as a guess to the levy we're giving or the amount we're giving this levy we're able to raise above our cap
   11:52  so it doesn't go against our cap. Now there is some impact or could be on the stop losses that we have the cap losses
   11:59  but uh the levy is actually what we can do as a maximum so it does not affect us there.
   12:18  I move for approval to ready for a motion. Yes, sir. Thank you, Mr. Report. Second. Thank you, Mr. Lming.
   12:26  Any other questions or comments from Mr. Hall?
   12:33  Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I.
   12:37  I. Another approach same sign motion carries. Thank you so much. Thank you. You as well.
   12:47  Next on our agenda, I believe you now just go by Radiant Health.
   12:58  Good evening. Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you this evening. My name is Stacy Losi. I'm the president and CEO at Radiant Health.
   13:07  Radiant Health is a community mental health center and a ser a certified community behavioral health clinic model serving Grant and Blackford County
   13:16  primarily. The largest bulk of our services occur here in this community in Grant County. It includes things like
   13:23  crisis response services where teams go out into our county 24/7 365 when people
   13:30  are having a mental health crisis. We have a stabilization unit as well that individuals, both youth and adults, can
   13:38  come to if they need mental health services immediately. That is also open 24/7,
   13:45  365 days. Um, some additional data from financial year of
   13:53  2026 uh is that we have served well over 4,000 individuals in Grant County. We
   14:01  are running between 185 to 190 employees and we have provided in LA this
   14:08  financial year that just completed over $560,000 in uncompensated care. So free care for
   14:16  individuals in need. Um we have served in that rapid response crisis continuum
   14:23  that I shared a bit about over 2100 individuals. Um 490
   14:31  um individuals were seen of that 2100 on our stabilization unit. The others were served in that mobile crisis response.
   14:40  As a result of the support of those county funds and under our CCBHC designation, we continue to provide same
   14:48  day access to care so individuals in need of help for mental health or substance use can be seen the same day when they walk in. So that's a little
   14:58  about um Radiant Health and what we have been doing over the last year. I'm here to for the request for the mental health tax appropriation funds for 2027.
   15:09  Um that document was submitted and based on the growth quotient through request is the $530,436.
   15:21  I'd love to take any questions.
   15:24  One one question I have. you noted 560,000 of free care and I don't know if it really matters but I was curious was
   15:33  that intended free care or did it end up being free care due to a lack of ability to pay?
   15:40  Um the majority was the inability to pay through our sliding fee scales. Part of it was also intended free care. So, the
   15:50  way our crisis system works is most commercial insurance will not pay for that crisis response in our community.
   15:58  Um, many we serve do not have insurance.
   16:01  So, we have committed to serve those folks intentionally without turning around and billing them. Um, we're
   16:08  really committed because the concern is if you send individuals in a mental health crisis, a bill for that crisis response, they're less likely to respond
   16:17  or call in the future when they need help. So, in the interest of saving lives, those are the services we
   16:24  intentionally go into understanding there's likely not reimbursement for the services rendered.
   16:32  How many employees did you say you had?
   16:34  It fluctuates from week to week based on orientation, but we're running 185 to 190 employees. Is that all this building here?
   16:44  It is not. We have five locations in Grant County. Um, our 505 W bash building, which is our crisis
   16:51  stabilization unit. some um we have I'm not even sure how many are operating out of there, but we have two buildings
   17:00  towards the south of town that is our med clinic and our addictions program.
   17:05  And then downtown is our mental health treatment building as well. And then our admin is on River Road.
   17:12  I believe you have three locations.
   17:18  You can do the math, you'll see that their increase from 26 to 27 is not quite 6%. It's 5.27 plus. And what if
   17:28  the state does this one differently for some reason they do they have a formula they use to calculate what the maximum they will allow you to put in your levy
   17:35  for that purpose. And where this is the max they would give us without charging, so to speak. So for some reason, it's not quite the growth bush. It's always something a little at least it's been
   17:44  something a little less than that most times. So it's 5.27 this time.
   17:51  I've seen that formula, but it's pretty complex. I could explain it right now.
   17:58  It's been a while since I've seen it, but I have seen it.
   18:05  Should entertain a motion regarding this request? Thank you, Mr. McCord.
   18:14  Second, I heard Mr. Looney first. So, right hand.
   18:20  And um I want to note for the record too, since my wife works at Radiant Health, I'll abstain from any vote on this.
   18:33  Um any other questions or comments for Miss Lucy?
   18:38  Hearing none, all in favor, please signify by saying I. I. And those opposed, same sign. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you. Have a great evening.
   18:46  You too. Um, next on our agenda, we have uh EMS.
   18:58  Good evening. Are there any questions before?
   19:08  I did allow um speaking on the salaries just to explain what I did. Um I have to
   19:14  cover 17,520 hours a year for the paid full-time and part-time employees.
   19:22  Part of the part-time people include covering the vacations and sick time of the supervisors.
   19:30  I did allow for that, but I understand sick time is not always all taken. So
   19:38  there I have 55 vacation days for my four supervisors next year, 46 days and eight personal days. So I add that into
   19:45  the part-time cuz those are the people that cover for them.
   19:49  Um I did ask for a 6% raise. Um the supervisor's full-time, I again figured it on the 80 hours per pay. Right now they're averaging 78.7 hours per pay.
   20:02  And we allowed 75 in our discussion last year. We change it up from what it was. It was smaller. And I'll be I'll be short this year.
   20:10  We thought they're close. It's close. Yeah.
   20:13  I mean, right now, as of pay 18, they were 78.7. So, it's close. It's kind of middle. Wouldn't you say?
   20:21  Yeah. I guess I'm thinking in my mind, should we be on the short side or on the long side is what I'm thinking. It's 911's unpredictable.
   20:30  Did you take the ball health director out? No. Oh, no. We put him to contractual. Okay.
   20:36  He doesn't he doesn't want a payroll draw. He does a invoice. 1,500 bucks.
   20:43  Uh-huh. That's Yeah.
   20:53  What's the uh I guess in your mind, what's the impact? We keep it at 75 hours.
   20:57  I have to ask for more at the end of the year. I will this year. No, I'll be 78. So, I mean, there's some other transfer possibility.
   21:04  I I will definitely have some transfer money this year as well. So, if we if we lock it at 80, you're going to be paying the 80 or I mean, in other words, if it's still could be just 75.
   21:15  I correct. I only pay when they work over and or have to cover someone else.
   21:22  So, it could be less than they The reason like my overtime is out of control this year. And I think I talked
   21:29  to you guys about this in April. I lost three of my part-time people that were we've used heavily and and then a fourth
   21:38  one was hurt. That killed me on overtime because there was no one to replace those people except my supervisor.
   21:45  Correct. Yeah.
   21:47  Now that's been made up. We hired several new people that are experienced EMTs. Maybe took two or three training days and that was it. So we've covered
   21:55  that. But boy, April was rough. But if we move it to 80, it doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be 80. It could be less.
   22:02  Oh yeah. I there's for some reason I don't know the end of the week is busier than the beginning of the week 911 wise. I I don't know. It's kind of a trend.
   22:12  Well, we knew going in with 75. It was going to be close. We thought Yeah, that was the intent. We wanted to move it up to be more reasonable.
   22:20  And that's we're talking about fulltime line item 1400. Okay. Who's the doctor's salary? Who's that?
   22:29  That's the one we zeroed out.
   22:31  Oh, that's the It's still listed in there, but it's zero with That's the one we moved to contractual services for Dr. Cornwell 1500.
   22:45  You see there like adopted budget in 2026.
   22:49  That's what the former medical director was getting, but he doesn't charge that much. Plus, he doesn't want it through payroll. He wants your contractual services.
   23:00  So he's on contractual on right under he's the very first line. That's why blank except the 1500 under the 27.
   23:10  You see it on there. Which one? Uh under other services and charges. Oh there. Okay. Yep.
   23:18  Looks like a reduction in cost.
   23:21  Well, it certainly was anyway based on, you know, the 70 what? 7,800 we had in there before. Yeah.
   23:29  She was just paid on payroll like everyone else. He doesn't really he doesn't want $1,500 on payroll for one thing and it's contractual for him. He
   23:38  he does I don't know some 60 services throughout District 6. So, he was the perfect choice for us since we're in
   23:46  District 6. So, I guess it's just kind of given back by only charging. He's made up with it. He likes it.
   23:54  He does dispatch EMS. He does it all.
   24:03  How does the part-time driver EMT things work?
   24:06  Part-time people, that's the other part of the time that the supervisors can't cover. So, like I said, the the year of
   24:14  two 12-hour shifts per day is 17,520 hours.
   24:20  Um, the four supervisors scheduled at 72 hours is 8,320 hours. So, someone has to make up the other 9,200 hours.
   24:33  These would be the driver's EMTs. Uh-huh.
   24:37  99% EMTs would be like at sea or upland.
   24:42  No, they're at my office, but this is the paint truck. You're on a hold. That's a volunteer situation. Okay.
   24:52  So, when 911 dispatches, how many trucks or ambulances? It
   25:00  It depends on what the dispatch is. um if it's uh and they use what's called EMD, which is emergency medical
   25:09  dispatching. They determine if it needs a paramedic or EMT. Um if it's clear in
   25:16  say Ferton, which is our area, we go and they also send a paramedic truck with them if it's paramedic worthy.
   25:27  Uh, nine times out of 10, our two paid trucks are the only ones in service during the day. We have a truck that
   25:34  works 6A to 6P and a truck that works 4 A to 4P.
   25:39  Occasionally, we have a volunteer unit in service during the day, but and I I don't really have those statistics for you, but I can get it for you. They just
   25:48  don't usually work during the day because those volunteers are at work, right? And and so I I guess what I'm asking too is like the call comes across
   25:57  from 911 dispatch, they're telling you what to dispatch.
   26:01  They're telling they'll tell us which truck to go because they know who's in service. So if you're a volunteer unit, say in Fairmouth, you you call dispatch
   26:09  and say I'm in service. So they know if it's a call in Fairmont to send Fair. It's the closest truck. Yeah.
   26:17  Thank you.
   26:19  John, talk to us about the run reimbursement account. What all is involved with that one?
   26:23  Okay. The run re the run reimbursement account is what we covered or the commissioners uh up that this year per ordinance to $70 per run.
   26:33  We talked about that before the month that Yeah. Yeah. Um that is a stipen that are paid to the volunteers that are in
   26:42  service on the truck that take a run when they're in service. Yeah. So those are volunteers being they it's a stipen.
   26:51  I mean that's how the state refers to it as a stipen.
   26:54  Got I can recall that was I remember we talked about the fact you dropped that rate just to make it more fair the people that are doing it at Yeah. Just to keep up.
   27:04  So those people could be paid out of part-time drivers and EMTs or the run reimbursement. Well, um, according to
   27:11  state board of accounts, the volunteers that work for all these fire stations and independently are not part of Grant
   27:17  County. They're they're contractors. The cities run them. So, we pay I pay Gas
   27:25  City Fire the entire amount. I pay sees the entire amount. What they do with it is up to
   27:33  them. State Board of Accounts considers them like contractors to Grant County.
   27:38  And those are different people that are in the EMT basic salaries as well. Those are they are those are just volunteers a different salary.
   27:45  These are actually paid on those two trucks that are in my office. Yeah.
   27:49  How much money are you going is going to the trucks now per front? 70. 70. Mhm.
   27:54  And it's their it's their choice how they want to divide that up.
   27:57  Yeah. And you know they all do it different. You've you've been involved.
   28:02  Some of those EMTs and drivers and accounting may also work for her. They do.
   28:09  And so they would be part of that full time, part time.
   28:11  They do, but I have a lot of them that cross over. I have a lot of them that don't volunteer at all, but I have a lot of them that do all work for me all day
   28:19  and go home, work for me all night, basically.
   28:22  And those basic EMTs, the ones that are up there in that EMT basic car, they're getting paid an hourly rate. Mhm.
   28:27  On the schedule there for their services when they're working in that capacity.
   28:31  And the I mean I think it was 2002 we started one paid truck and the only reason for that was because the
   28:40  volunteerism was not there during the day. At night we're good. During the day it wasn't.
   28:56  So the only time you're going to go out is when you're dispatched then? Yeah.
   29:02  I mean there I think they're really it's supposed to take accounts, right? Unless it's unless it's a heart attack or something paramedic. Is that kind of the general rule?
   29:11  There are zones. We don't we try not to say territory anymore because we do mutually aid each other. We go into the
   29:18  city of Marian all the time. Um they go into the county all the time. Um it should be the closest appropriate truck.
   29:27  Are you building your trucks to C city now?
   29:30  Yeah, your paint trucks are built there.
   29:32  That's about the dead center of Grant County about a mile off dead center.
   29:40  So I can tell you we if we were to rely on Marian Health for amid service in the county, we'd be in trouble.
   29:47  Nothing against them, but they just don't have a staff. No. And and we but and vice versa.
   29:53  Yeah. True. We couldn't cover the city of Marian without overhauling the entire office. Yeah, it's pretty good situation.
   30:01  I think I talked to Mr. Kits and Mr.
   30:04  McGuart a week or so ago about actually mutually aiding with Blackford right now when they were going through their
   30:11  issues and not having or fixed contract negotiations. Let's just say that. And uh they didn't have a
   30:20  truck there. And so if we had enough trucks here, we would take a run in Hartford City or wherever in Bifford County.
   30:29  Now, how do you get reimbured for that? I build a patient. Okay. Yeah. So it's a Medicaid patient.
   30:36  They get nothing out of it and I get to bill the patient. Yeah. Or their insurance, you know.
   30:43  It's it's not very much. I I 20 maybe since the beginning of the year. It's not very many.
   30:51  So you'll have to harvest.
   30:53  They do they do they did negotiate a contract with lifeline and by you?
   31:00  I didn't look at this. I usually look at a little bit before I get to this meeting. U we a lot of times look at what our revenues been compared with our expenses. How's that looking at this
   31:09  point? Revenue uh through July we collected 900 or 79,201 through July. Okay.
   31:17  So our projections and we lowalled it. We should collect around 1.13.
   31:24  Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
   31:26  Usually I look at that. I didn't do that.
   31:27  I hate to you hate to. It's a projection. I mean, there was a cyber attack a couple years ago of the um United Healthcare and it didn't affect
   31:36  us except we couldn't send any bills cuz they had to shut down their whole system. It was a timing issue. You had to wait till later to get this.
   31:43  Yeah. Yeah.
   31:47  Our run volume's up a little bit, too.
   31:53  According to last July, we're up about 130 runs than we were last July.
   32:01  What percent of those did one take?
   32:03  Roughly, you um I don't know if I can tell you a percent. Uh we the volunteers took uh
   32:12  1456 this year. 1456. How many runs will I get?
   32:19  Whatever the math is here. 1456 plus 9.85 cuz the paid trucks took 985. So your volunteers still took more.
   32:27  They did this year. Last year it was different. This year through July they've taken more.
   32:34  And to be honest with you, we um I have a financial report of what we collect on just the volunteer transports.
   32:43  And first quarter, just first quarter, January, February, March of this year, they've already collected 130,000, which
   32:50  is almost their entire ask for their stipen. So, I don't have
   32:58  those because I I have a financial analysis, but we're working on getting that monthly. So, they're they're
   33:05  bringing in paying uh patients.
   33:11  Don, the biggest change that jumps out as far as the expenses go here for the budget would be garage and motor. Is that just fuel cost? Fuel. Fuel's up 50%. Uh 50.5.
   33:20  I know that's on the increase. I thought it was probably fuel.
   33:24  Now, we don't I mean, who knows what it's going to be, but I increased it because of that. But that could always be remedied and renegotiated next next year.
   33:35  The rest of the increases, the smaller ones are just inflation as well. We get charged a fuel fee for our uh oxygen
   33:44  delivery. So, when their fuel cost goes up, it goes on our bill, too. So,
   33:52  We're all handsome is gas. We don't have any diesel.
   33:54  I have one diesel left. That's our special ops truck now. Yeah, thank goodness with diesel prices.
   34:02  I know. I just got gas myself.
   34:08  Chair would entertain a motion regarding uh supplies category 2 uh other services and charges category 3 and capital outlays category 4 as presented.
   34:19  So, Mr. President. All right. Thank you, Mr. RLE. Second.
   34:22  Thank you, Mr. Cutel. Any other questions or comments?
   34:29  Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. And those saying not. Motion carries. Thank you.
   34:43  That was a little supplies. I'm sorry. All right. That was easy. same personel. Thank you.
   34:51  Appreciate it. Thank you all. Next, we have a treasurer.
   35:01  Our budget is short and sweet.
   35:04  I did raise um a few of the lines um not by much um
   35:11  and that's just due the cost of things of supplies going up. You will see the postage line is
   35:19  the expended amount. However, um I am receiving a check back from Master's Touch in the amount of $30,677
   35:29  and some change that they have held credit for the past 4 years.
   35:34  So, they continue to send bills even though we had credit that I was unaware that we had, but we would have to let
   35:42  them know to use that credit instead of paying.
   35:47  So, I spoke with them today and that check will be in the mail. One question on the green sheet.
   35:57  I'm not sure which one's for is clerical basic at 1540 and part-time deputy 1878.
   36:03  Yeah, the clerical basic is if I would have somebody come in at tax time, which I have not. Okay.
   36:11  Um and then the part-time is um my part-time deputy that works 28 hours.
   36:19  And and then I guess just reading across it then for 27 I assume clerical basic is supposed to be $1,540 and part-time deputy supposed to be $19.
   36:30  Oh yeah.
   36:31  I went just pays
   36:39  um you'll see I did not ask for a raise for the chief deputy position. um that position the person filled it is um
   36:46  hasn't been here for not even 3 months yet. Um I don't feel that
   36:53  um a raise would be necessary for her at this point since she doesn't in the position. The position already pays pretty well.
   37:02  You have a fairly young or new staff. Yeah. Yes, I do.
   37:07  25 March 25 just this year. July this year.
   37:18  Hearing no further questions, the chair would entertain a motion regarding supplies category 2, other services and charges category 3 and capitals category 4 is presented.
   37:29  So moved. All right. Thank you, Mr. Cau. Thank you, Mr. Lming.
   37:35  Any other questions or comments for the treasurer?
   37:40  Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Those oppos same sign. Motion carries. Thank you.
   37:51  Next uh we have EMA and we're running early. Good evening.
   38:00  Good. Good evening. Uh so not not a lot of changes. A couple in here I want to
   38:06  talk about. Um, contractual services was an item that I asked to add. Uh, what we would really like to do is, uh, we know
   38:15  that there are a ton of opportunities for grants out there. Uh, so I've talked to some folks that, uh, do grant
   38:22  writing, grant management, uh, writing grants. We've been pretty successful with doing that and and being awarded, but the management of those sometimes is
   38:31  timeconuming. So, um that's why I've asked for that that particular line item in there. Um
   38:40  vehicles is the other one which I was here earlier this year. We talked about that and that number is somewhat in the air cuz we are still uh waiting for the
   38:48  highway department to uh determine what vehicles we can acquire from them yet this year. Uh they're looking so we're
   38:55  hoping to uh to get that done, but that's a that's an unknown uh number for me at this point.
   39:05  So would the grant writers write in their cost and expense into the grant and get rewarded that or not since
   39:11  they're getting so some we can uh usually federal uh grants state grants we cannot they won't allow to pay grant
   39:19  writer with those but uh we really um you know private foundations those kind of things are way more profitable and
   39:27  and they do allow for that. Um so it just depends. Yes.
   39:32  What what's your other equivalent of 30,000?
   39:36  Uh so last year we used that um I think to we had some vehicle issues we we spent on that last year. I don't
   39:43  remember exactly what we uh we did. Uh so we did buy a Durango last year. We did buy a vehicle. We we put that toward
   39:50  that. Um in the past we really hadn't touched that fund. So far it's not been touched this year too.
   39:56  Both those two lines are basically vehicles. That's your biggest Yes.
   40:01  Yes. Uh in equipment. So, we've had uh we've had radio purchases in the past that there again we we were able to
   40:08  acquire some donations and other things that we didn't have to touch the uh the equipment fund. So, anytime I can stay
   40:16  out of your pocket, I I'll try to do that. Um and actually if you saw in the report we did last night I sent out uh
   40:23  we've been very successful in uh donations and grants uh over the years.
   40:28  So um I still think uh that's a that's a good viable option for us.
   40:36  How much of the budget is reimbured?
   40:39  We get a so yeah $30,000 in salary uh through the state. Um there again
   40:46  there's uh there's delivery deliverables we have to meet with that uh for preparedness those kind of things we've always met them hands down we we've been
   40:54  good with that uh you know bank except for the years in co when that got a little goofy uh we've received the 30,000 every year
   41:02  okay so the reimbursement just covers salaries it doesn't cover the correct okay correct that particular one does
   41:10  that vehicle line you got under the budget the 46538 that's pretty specific specific number is that is there a reason it's that number?
   41:17  Yes, we looked at and that was part of the conversation we had earlier this year about the vehicles that uh we want to replace. By the way, one of those was
   41:24  total out on the interstate just uh a few weeks ago. Uh so there may be some insurance money with that, but uh that was specific to the vehicles um we want
   41:33  to replace yet this year. I'm sorry, this is next year. So this we're looking at what we would do next year there.
   41:39  Again, that could very well change depending on uh this year depending on the highway department. We're still in in talks with the uh sheriff's
   41:48  department. Uh seemed like their program is a lot better maintain their vehicles.
   41:53  So, the opportunity to I think acquire uh some hand-me-downs that are that are viable is is better than it has been in
   42:01  the past. Um but I will tell you um we go out in the worst conditions. It's dark, it's cold, it's raining, it's
   42:10  snowing, it's doing whatever. Uh I I don't feel comfortable. I I won't put people out in vehicles that aren't safe.
   42:16  So, you make sure we're we're good there.
   42:19  Did you say one of your new pickups was still poor?
   42:21  Uh one of our Thank goodness it was an older Impala that Yeah. hit by a a semi pickup yet.
   42:28  We We do not. Um it's ordered. It's coming. I talked to this. It's been built, but it hadn't been delivered yet.
   42:36  So that was the money well that was that was put in this year's budget
   42:44  by this by the earlier this year the additional appropriation we know correct here in a few years you'll have tacos you'll be able to get your hands
   42:53  so they take good care of them absolutely his garage and motor is there fuel in that or is that just repair and oil
   43:02  changes it's repair and everything so we did take a hit this year uh the command bus. Um that was about a $5,000 repair
   43:09  we had to uh cough up this year for that. Um there again, one of those pieces of equipment that um
   43:18  when you need it, you need it. It's worked its way when when it's needed, but most of the time it sits there at the ready. So uh and it was overdue for
   43:26  some much needed maintenance there. Again, that's not only used by that's actually used by other
   43:33  departments more than it is mine. We take care of it. We maintain it. We provide it to them when they need it.
   43:38  But, uh, law enforcement, fire, EMS, whoever needs that vehicle. Big events, city uses it.
   43:46  They do, do they? Yeah, they have. They got their own now.
   43:49  So, not asked for it this year, but in the past they had. Okay.
   43:57  So with that additional appropriation on vehicles plus what's in budget for 27, does that turn over your entire fleet in those two years?
   44:07  No. So we we set up uh I think it was actually turned out to be like a 7-year plan. Each year we would do a couple vehicles.
   44:16  So we're looking at actually a couple the first in the first couple years we would do two and then after that was really down to one vehicle uh year until we could
   44:25  You imagine that fleet uh going forward uh will be uh higher on the ascended than what had been
   44:34  a lot cheaper when you maintain my opinion.
   44:46  Is at this time the chair would entertain a motion regarding supplies category 2 other sources and charges category 3 and capital outlays category 4 as presented.
   44:59  Thank you Mr. Scott.
   45:03  Thank you Mr. Brinkle. Any other questions or comments for Mr. Jackson?
   45:11  Hearing none. All in favor please signify by saying I. Those are the same signs. Thank you very much. Thank you.
   45:20  I think we also heard too that nobody was hurt thankfully when that car correct was gas um semi hit and kept
   45:28  going. I guess PD was able to track them down. Uh and so we'll make we'll make them back. Yeah.
   45:37  Thank you so much. Thank you.
   45:41  We on our agenda now for a break. I don't know if anybody needs one otherwise keep rolling on to break or rolling on.
   45:53  Okay. So, let's take a break.
   45:59  All right. This is really kind of a light knife compared to some of the other.
   46:03  Yes, it is. Well, it might be harder now.
   46:08  Okay. You say so. All right. We'll move along.
   46:12  Um, I requested a $3,000 increase for the full-time and 3% for part-time.
   46:19  I, um, am requesting a reduction in overtime with a small increase to part-time and a small increase or no
   46:28  change, actually, no change to meeting compensation.
   46:33  That's all I have to say about personnel.
   46:37  Um, there was a small reduction if I'm moving on to supplies of $2,000 to my supplies because I will utilize more of the IHF funds for supplies.
   46:49  Um, a small reduction to the codifying expenses. Just looking back in the
   46:56  history, I I see that it's just overkill for that. So, I reduced it by $1,000.
   47:04  Um, no change to legal, a small increase of $500 to the travel and conference and
   47:10  that's just because of cost increasing software support. You've got the um
   47:18  the budget for LA to show what they're going to charge next year for the software that we have.
   47:26  And that's it.
   47:32  All right. Anybody have any questions?
   47:45  I'll move to approve categories two and three as requested.
   47:48  All right. Thank you, Mr. McCord. We have a second. Second. All right. Thank you, Mr. Living.
   47:56  Any questions or comments?
   48:02  I guess it was easy. Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I oppose. Same sign.
   48:10  Motion carries. Thank you. Yes. Say all right.
   48:19  Next. Uh that's fully salaries. Um I'm a portion
   48:26  of salaries. So
   48:42  just a little change as far as who gets the breakdown on that one.
   48:47  No, I when I did the elimination of the full-time position, it reduced the salary line and the bike per
   48:54  So there was no change in the breakdown between how they split. Okay.
   49:01  Now, we have the uh ineligible homestead fund. Again, a $3,000 increase to the salary.
   49:10  Um no other changes portion of the salary is also paid for the general fund. So, you won't see the full $3,000 here.
   49:21  And there were no other changes to any of the other accounts.
   49:27  So just because the only question I have is there's a quite a large balance in there.
   49:34  Where do you see that going?
   49:37  Well, Jim and I have talked about it. Um there's a formula at the end of the year
   49:46  and you can explain that a little bit better. If you look at the receipts versus the expenses for the 81 calendar year for that fund, if it exceed if the
   49:55  um the uh amount that revenue exceeds expenses is $100,000 or more, that difference automatically goes to the
   50:02  general fund. Okay. And doesn't talk about below 100,000. And we've asked more of a council, you know, this fund's
   50:10  getting some money, so we just uh transfer more of those dollars in the general fund. We haven't received a good answer about that yet, but I'm thinking
   50:17  at some point we ought to move some of that to the general fund at this point. I can't give you a good answer yet.
   50:22  We have in the past transferred money from this fund. You know, we've been able that was the uh
   50:29  excess of the $100,000 uh balance for one year. We've done that before, but we never done it for less than that or the actual cash balance. I don't think so.
   50:39  But we need to get a good answer for that. But I'd say at some point it ought to be a general fund transfer. And I have asked is the state board of the council about it and I'm hoping when we
   50:46  have our exit conference that's coming up maybe they'll have an answer.
   50:50  We asked the answer we got and I haven't tried to call talk back to at this point but the answer we got is really a a vague answer. I mean you couldn't really
   50:59  you couldn't draw a conclusion from the answer very well. Need an attorney and figure it out.
   51:05  So we need to get some clarification on that. I should probably know this. What is this fund used for?
   51:10  It's the ineligible homestead um deduction fund. It's where we research for people that have filed for a homestead but do not qualify.
   51:21  Meaning you have two homes.
   51:23  Not necessarily, but you you could say you live here but actually reside in Florida. Um so you are claiming a
   51:32  homestead here. And we we have a uh we investigate. We do tracers. We do um BMV
   51:39  researching. Um we have different avenues to figure out if they're telling the truth, I guess, if you want to say.
   51:48  And we can um we can back charge them for 3 years if we can prove that it's
   51:57  been 3 years or more, whatever. 2 years, 2 or 3 years, whatever. Um,
   52:06  Roger. Well, when it first started years ago, there was a lot of them going on. So, you get a lot.
   52:11  So, the full amount of tax less and less now, right? The full amount of taxes that would have been charged to that parcel
   52:18  without the homestead is what they get charged. So, they have to pay the full amount.
   52:24  And if, you know, they're they're given an opportunity to come in and pay that before we actually put a lean on the property.
   52:31  But the I guess the event number of times you find out it's not as common as it used to. It's not used to be really common and a nice deduction out of things back then.
   52:41  Yeah.
   52:43  It's changed. So I mean basically you're you're getting a deduction illegally. So when those come across tracers and he looks all that up, you find out they
   52:51  shouldn't have that deduction. So then they got paid back. I just said two homes. If you own one here and you one in Florida, you say, "Oh, you're going to get homes that have both of those.
   52:59  Well, you can't live here. One place you have to live 6 months in a day. So, you have to one of them has to be your home.
   53:05  Then they have to show, you know, documentation that they actually do reside here. You know, a driver's license with the address, uh, W2s or
   53:15  any, you know, filings with the federal government. Just we have different items that we can request. Gotcha.
   53:26  Is that requested at the time they file for one also for the homestead?
   53:31  When they've come in and personally file for a homestead then they're we ask that their driver's license reflect the address of the property that they're filing on. Yes.
   53:40  So things can change after they file or you know getting car insurance just long enough.
   53:51  Yeah. 30 days.
   53:54  That's a big difference. I think the price of insurance in Florida versus the price in Indiana. Oh, yeah. Yeah.
   54:04  All right. Uh chair would entertain a motion regarding supplies category 2, other services and
   54:11  charges category 3 and capital outlays category 4 as presented. So move. All right. Thank you, Mr. L. Thank you, Mr.
   54:20  Kado.
   54:24  All right. Second. Any other questions or comments?
   54:30  Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Those opposed, same sign. Motion carries.
   54:39  Next, we have the county elected official training fund.
   54:50  is exactly what it is. It's it pays for the um the auditor and chief deputy
   54:59  can be um their conferences can be paid from this fund. It's a fee driven fund.
   55:05  It's a collection of monies that's taken in by the recorder for when they take in their documents.
   55:16  Do we kind of look at that? Make sure you use that board instead of general.
   55:23  And the current balance I usually have the fund balance on here, but the fund balance of June 30th was $79,996.
   55:32  Doesn't look like the surveyor has ever at least has gone since 2024. Just keep it in there just in case.
   55:40  Just in case it's there to be used. Yeah.
   55:43  might get a new surveyor. And this is this is the fund that's generated from fees actually through uh the recorder.
   55:49  Yeah, through the recorder. I was going to say that or the courts, but it comes through
   56:01  all right to entertain a motion regarding uh this entire fund as presented. So move.
   56:08  All right. Thank you, Mr. Ble. Second. All right. Thank you, Mr. Lim.
   56:16  Motion to second. Any other questions or comments?
   56:20  Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying, "I post same sign." Motion carries.
   56:28  Now, we should probably take a break.
   56:38  Council council And two lines you've already approved
   56:49  tonight, the developmental center line and the mental health line. We just approved those. Yes, we did.
   57:01  The uh communication equipment lease and Aaron, you were asking a few meetings back how long that lease schedule is.
   57:09  It's actually a 10-year lease and it started in 21. It pays off in December of 30. And this is where this rep $80,36
   57:18  represents a portion of the principal in 2027. The rest of it comes from our uh 911 fund.
   57:34  Anybody else have any questions or comments?
   57:46  What is it? Our contractual that pays for legal services for um the
   57:54  council attorney. It also pays for data pit stop dates for our um
   58:03  yeah financial analysis some of the things analysis our um website
   58:12  which we didn't have him in here this year to talk to us of course he didn't have really much to tell us probably because of uncertainties and some of the
   58:19  changes is he paid for services rendered or is he on retainer paid ahead of time or anything?
   58:29  It's just been an ongoing He's like 10,000 a year. $10,000 a year.
   58:34  10,000 services that he does and fixed assets as far as we dealt with. I know there are several other categories.
   58:41  Yes, he does our fixed asset website for sure. It's going down.
   58:50  Entertain a motion regarding uh supplies category 2 and other services and charges category 3.
   58:57  So move. All right. Thank you, Mr. Scott. Second. Thank you, Mr. Ling.
   59:05  We have any other questions or comments?
   59:09  Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Those opposed same sign. Motion carries.
   59:18  Next we have our LIT fund 112.
   59:26  And we we covered a lot of that really went through our health insurance fund.
   59:29  You see the budget kept up the same and 27 as it was in 26.
   59:35  1,886,000 is going toward the our health insurance program. the employer share we transferred into the uh health insurance
   59:44  fund and the other 14,000 is to pay that energize east central Indiana the dues annual dues we have for that organiz
   59:51  organization so you still feel there's a good fit there I mean I I was never really involved with this I really can't say I know she was involved with it
 1:00:00  quite a bit in the past representing the council and as commissioner I I've never really been closely involved so I really
 1:00:06  can't speak to it too well as we've been doing it for you for service.
 1:00:11  So there's other counties like multiple counties.
 1:00:13  Yeah, I think it's Grand, Blackford, uh Delaware, Randolph maybe there's like five counties involved in that group and
 1:00:22  I and I can't speak to the benefits really. So we don't know is the bas,000.
 1:00:28  Yeah, we do you know what the invoice says on that? You know, I can't remember. I don't know. I'm sure it's some to size. How much exactly?
 1:00:40  Yeah, we've been pay a little less than that, but that's there I guess to come in case something happens to change. I don't know.
 1:00:46  Yeah, that that's you see the amount 11509 actually. But that's to cover in case something happens to bump it, I guess. Hold it.
 1:01:02  chair would entertain a motion during this LIT fund.
 1:01:12  All right. Thank you, Mr. Living. Second. Thank you, Mr. Scott.
 1:01:19  Any other questions or comments?
 1:01:22  Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I sign. We're call right be is it ei income tax? All right.
 1:01:36  All right. Move. Next. Uh is our debt service fund.
 1:01:46  The budget that's shown there is exactly what we need to have to accommodate the bond payment that we have coming up in 2027.
 1:01:55  And the schedule there shows it pays off. December 36 will be our last payment. That was the bond we issued in back in 17.
 1:02:04  So we're kind of halfway through the schedule now. Principal will be 520,000.
 1:02:14  Let's see. 520,000 principal and the interest is 170,000 95250. So round up to 53 to cover that.
 1:02:22  That was primarily on the jail.
 1:02:24  That's Yeah, it was like an $8 million issue and 6 million plus was jail and the rest of it was I think some was over the de home maybe maybe some of this
 1:02:32  building too. I'm not sure but most of it was jail relationship the bondage is 8 million 505 that was the total bonds issue.
 1:02:45  We have a motion to approve this um debt services fund approved. Thank you, Mr. Second.
 1:02:53  Thank you, Mr. Motion. Second. Questions or comments?
 1:03:01  Hearing none. All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Those oppos same. Motion carries.
 1:03:12  We have rain fun which is zero balance in that zero as well like $130,000 something like that.
 1:03:26  No request or no necessary action. Keep it for actually the amount would be on your for the amount should be on your
 1:03:35  for $13,7913,3
 1:03:49  portion of a cash balance at the end of the year go into here for a rainy day. I know you appropriate out of the general
 1:03:58  fund, but I have information on that cuz I know Shane was really looking at that also, but there's a formula that you have to
 1:04:06  go by that dictates to you how much you can actually transfer. Yeah, there's a cap.
 1:04:12  I've been that personally I hope they have the cash because you just funds you guys in
 1:04:20  to me it was unnecessary. For some people I've never been that's always been my opinion. Some schools like to transfer anything. In my mind there's no
 1:04:29  need to I mean long as you use it the way it needs to be used it's fine but you can still use for the same thing. So there's really no reason to move it.
 1:04:38  Some people think well there's hidden you know there's no need to do that.
 1:04:50  And I think that we would actually adjourn this meeting. So motion to adjourn.
 1:04:59  All right. Thank you, Mr. Scott. Do we have a second? All right. Thank you, Mr.
 1:05:06  Anything else for the hearing? None. All in favor, please signify by saying I. I. Those same sign.
 1:05:15  Motion carries. We are break. Thank you all.