Commission meetings see little action
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By Christa Jennings
Senior Staff Writer
The County Commission had two shorter meetings this month, with few agenda items and little action taken.
During its reconvened meeting held September 30, the commission unanimously approved budgets for each department, as well as annual contracts. At that reconvened meeting, the commission also unanimously approved tabling the commission absorbing the health insurance cost increase and appropriations, with those two matters being revisited during a meeting held October 22.
It was stated that county employees’ insurance rates increased 4.75%. Of that increase, the commission approved the county absorbing 3% of the increase, with employees being responsible for the remaining 1.75% of the increase.
Additionally, the commission did not give raises across the board for the upcoming fiscal year. Instead most, but not all, employees will received a 3% pay raise. Some of the ones exempt from the pay raise are elected officials and contract employees.
Also at the October 22 meeting, related to the budget, the commission unanimously approved appropriations totaling $27,700 for eight agencies.
Ultimately the county budget is mostly the same as last year, with no significant increases or decreases. The primary increases to the budget for the upcoming year were made in the line items for the employee insurance increase absorption and the employee salaries to reflect the raises.
Other action taken at the meeting included approving and adopting a resolution for workman’s compensation, as it does each year; and for the Sheriff’s Office to apply for two grants, the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant and for the Community Traffic Safety Program, or CTSP, for the Click-it or Ticket campaign.
Also at the October 22 meeting, Sheriff Michael Howell notified the commission that Capt. Mike Mull will be retiring as jail administrator on October 31. He added that Shelia Thomas, office manager, will be the new jail administrator.
During its regular monthly meeting held October 8, the commission took action on only three agenda items.
The commission unanimously approved for County Engineer Tad Eason to sell a backhoe at auction and approved hiring one full-time security guard for the courthouse.
That means the courthouse now has two part-time employees and one full-time employee, with Butch Buttram being the full-time guard. The commission also hired Mike Roseman as a new security guard to fill a vacancy.
In other business at the October 8 meeting, the commission unanimously approved increasing the rental fee the county pays to polling locations from $25 to $100 each. This is the rental fee paid to each polling location to help cover the cost of utilities and other expenses.
At the reconvened meeting September 30, the commission also approved matters relating to courthouse security.
After discussing security procedures, the commission unanimously approved purchasing two handheld detectors. The commission also unanimously approved for all bags and purses to be checked and inspected when entering the courthouse.
The commission also unanimously approved for Commissioner Bertha K. McElrath to remain as an RC&D Board member to represent the commission.
The next regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the County Commission will be held at 9 a.m. November 12.
