By HOLLY GASKILL
Preparation of the 2024 county budget kicked off Wednesday with a series of meetings between the Wells County Council and department leaders. Pending council review, budget requests total $23,562,190.
The following are highlights from Thursday’s hearings:
Insurance
Liability insurance was quoted at $120,000, a 22.45 percent increase from previous years. Commissioner Blake Gerber stated they attempted to make the most cost-effective changes for the county, but re-evaluation of the courthouse and other items have increased the quote.
“Maybe it’s time to look at some other companies that might do the same thing we’re getting now, but at a better price,” said Council member Vicki Andrews.
Similarly, Highway Department Supervisor Shawn Bonar noted the department’s building insurance is also expected to rise. While this is partially due to the new building, however, Bonar and County Engineer Nate Rumschlag claimed they have been unable to get a cost breakdown of their quote. “It’s worth an audit,” Rumschlag said.
Highway Department
In addition to insurance increases, the Highway Department expects increased costs in utilities with the new facility. The current building partially uses well water, but a well was not added at the new building due to the specific construction and property needs. Bonar and Rumschlag budgeted an additional $102,300, a 46.14 percent increase, but said it was only an estimate.
Bonar requested $10,000 for software maintenance, hoping to invest in programs to track materials and vehicle repairs within the department. Long term, Bonar anticipates this helping determine their efficiency and common issues.
Bonar said there are several equipment and employee needs within the department, but he wants to implement those over time. Currently, Bonar requested permission for an additional equipment operator, with the funds coming primarily out of the budget for road conversions.
County Commissioners
The commissioners requested the council continue to fund a personal information officer, which was approved with 2023’s budget. Commissioner Blake Gerber, who was present for the hearing, said PIO Leanne (Gibbs) Wyss has been keeping the county’s social media pages updated with relevant information and working with department leaders.
In May, the commissioners also approved $25,000 in funding toward Imagine Early, a group formed by the Adams-Wells Early Childhood Coalition, which aims to address childcare access within the two counties. This item joined the commissioners’ budget requests for 2024.
Additionally, Gerber drew attention to their annual $110,000 request to support Wells County Economic Development. Gerber stated there is an anticipated vote to change the bylaws regarding seats on the board for the group, and he does not wish to continue financial support without representation on the board. Gerber and Council member Vicki Andrews both serve on the board.
“I’m not in support of funding something that we don’t have a say in,” said Council member Steve Huggins. “We have every right to have a seat at the table if we’re giving taxpayer dollars to an organization,” added Council member Seth Whicker.
Superior Court and
Circuit Court
Both judges noted a growing need for translation services in Wells County courts. Judge Andrew Antrim said judges have been recently advised to employ in-person translators instead of Language Line, a telephone translation service. Antrim stated he tries to identify translators for guilty pleas, sentencing and felony cases.
Because of this, Antrim is requesting $5,000 — $4,500 more than 2023 — for the Circuit Court budget and anticipates he may need more than double that amount. However, Antrim said he expects some granting funding will be available. For the Superior Court, Judge Kenton Kiracofe requested $2,000, double this year, for translation services.
Additionally, either court is seeking more funds for drug testing and urinalysis.
Kiracofe is also seeking $20,000 for digitizing records. “Right now, there is no backup,” Kiracofe said. He also requested $5,000 for an assistant chief of probation.
Prosecutor
Prosecutor Colin Andrews requested a part-time investigator, a new position for his office. This role, he said, would primarily act as a law enforcement extension of the office, assisting in trial preparation, serving subpoenas and filling in other gaps as necessary. Andrews proposed the position be compensated at $21,840.
“If the council were inclined to say, ‘Hey, let’s wait on that,’ I completely understand,” Andrews said. “I want to put it on your radar. It’s something I will certainly continue to ask for in the future. Our county is growing … and growth is good, but growth brings problems.”
Sheriff’s Department
and Jail
Sheriff Scott Holliday made a series of requests, including raising the base salary of the deputies and jail staff. Holliday requested $60,000 for the starting deputy salary to match that offered by the Ossian Police Department and $46,214.38 for the starting jail salary to keep the two within a certain percentage of the other.
“We’ve been trying to get our jail pay to competitive, and I think we’re almost there,” Holliday said.
Holliday then requested the budget for two additional jailers to follow staffing guidelines. The jail is currently understaffed, but Holliday stated, “I think it’s good to ask for that because that’s what is required to run our facility.” Holliday also asked for one of the two courthouse security positions to be made full-time.
Assessor
To keep up with current demands, Assessor Laura Roberts requested $6,930 to pursue another ESRI License for the department’s real estate deputy.
Public comment was heard from Roger Thorton, who asked the council to consider property assessments by examining the property’s five-year history. “It needs to be resolved at the state level,” he said. “However, with local input — people who’ve experienced call calls from frustrated taxpayers — I think you could carry a lot of weight.”
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Additional meetings have been scheduled for 6 p.m. on Aug. 23, 24 and 29. The public hearing for the 2024 budget will take place at the council’s regular meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 5. Adoption is scheduled for the council’s October meeting, 7 p.m. Oct. 3.
holly@news-banner.com
