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County Council May 23, 2016
- The Highway Department may be without a mechanic. The only job applicant wants $25 per hour.
- Inconsistency on overtime pay was criticized.
- EMS asked for $165,000 for its 2017 contract with the county.
- The county is "going backwards" by returning to paper paychecks over direct deposit, said Councilman Keith Hall.
On behalf of the entire county council, President Becky Oglesby started the meeting by thanking veterans and active military for their service.
NO MECHANIC AT HIGHWAY GARAGE
Last month, council approved the commissioners' request to advertise for an additional and certified mechanic at the Highway Garage. This month, commissioners asked for $44,000 to cover the salary and benefits for a second mechanic.
Commissioner Tom Linkel reported that they had only one applicant for the job and that person wanted a starting salary of $25 per hour or approximately $52,000 per year. The applicant currently works as a certified mechanic for a nearby city and was said to be taking a pay cut to accept $25 per hour. The pay cut would be offset by a shorter commute to work in Brookville. Commissioners Linkel and Eric Roberts said they were satisfied with the applicant and his references.
To hire any certified mechanic would cost $25 to $28 per hour, said Commissioner Linkel.
Councilman Hall asked Commissioner Linkel if he could justify a total of $80,000 in salary and benefits for a second mechanic by reducing the repair expenses at the Highway Department. Commissioner Linkel said, "I don't know."
Commissioner Linkel went on say they may have no mechanic soon, because Shane Scalf, the current mechanic, has another job offer. Commissioner Linkel said that they must have a mechanic - certified or not - and he asked about offering Mr. Scalf more money to stay.
Councilman Leffingwell took issue with paying $25 to $28 per hour for a mechanic when other county jobs are paid much less. He quoted that elected officials are paid $18.46 per hour and road foremen, $15.49 per hour. The top rate for a sheriff deputy is $17.90 per hour. He was against having two mechanics, one of which is certified and paid at a rate of $25 per hour.
Commissioner Roberts noted that repair shops charge $75 per hour for labor. He pointed out that a certified mechanic is a skilled trade and cannot be compared to an office worker for hourly rate. Regarding money spent on repairs, Commissioner Roberts said that repair expenses have doubled over the last 5 to 7 years. The increase amounts to an additional $100,000 in costs to the county.
From the audience, Jana Selke asked two questions. Does the state set criteria for a county mechanic? Can a mechanic be required to sign a contract? She was told "no" to both questions.
Council voted to allow the commissioners to hire one mechanic at the current salary, if Mr. Scalf quits. Council tabled action on hiring a certified mechanic at higher pay.
ANOTHER $42,000 FOR ROADS
Council approved six requests for additional funding above the 2016 budget amount. The requests ranged from $62 to $42,000. After they voted for the additional funds, Councilman Hall commented about the commissioners' request for another $42,000 for local roads. He said that the Highway Department has a budget of $290,000 available for local roads but has spent "zero" so far in 2016.
SOME EMPLOYEES SHORTCHANGED ON OVERTIME
Council President Oglesby explained that several employees were underpaid for overtime due to complications in calculating the amount along with holiday pay or longevity pay.
Councilman Hall noted that there is no consistency in overtime computed by the Sheriff Department, 911 Communications, Jail and the Highway Department. He asked who does the calculations? Payroll
Clerk Kim Robinson said that each department head figures the overtime.
Commissioner Eric Roberts said that the same issue arose during his first term of office (2006-2010) and was resolved. He did not know how that information "was lost" by the Sheriff Department, 911 and the jail. He agreed with correcting the situation again. He stated that sheriff deputies do not qualify for overtime until they work over 171 hours in a 28-day period. He also explained that every employee has a different overtime rate. He suggested using a computer program to figure overtime.
Councilman Daryl Kramer asked why the payroll clerk does not compute all of the overtime.
Payroll Clerk Robinson replied that she does not the necessary information, because there are no punched time cards - only hand-written time sheets.
With obvious sarcasm, Councilman Aaron Leffingwell commented, "It's the way it has always been done. You are not allowed to question it."
From the audience Ms. Selke, suggested training for the department heads about payroll and overtime. To which Councilman Leffingwell replied, "That would make sense." He added that departments refuse to change what they are doing and follow guidelines from the payroll clerk.
Payroll Clerk Robinson suggested the county hire an independent company to do payroll.
Ms. Selke called the overtime inconsistency "ridiculous." Councilmen Hall and Leffingwell told her to complain to the commissioners who approve payroll and control the employee handbook.
Council will ask consultant Ken Irwin to review the instructions about how to compute overtime. Afterward, corrections will be made to the employee handbook and the salary ordinance.
GOING BACKWARD TO SLEEPY HOLLOW
Next, Councilman Hall asked why Commissioner Linkel supported direct deposit of paychecks as a safe method of paying employees and then "changed his mind" and went back to an option of paper checks. Councilman Hall said, "We are like Sleepy Hollow. We are going backwards. Everyone else is going forwards. We are going backwards in time." Paper checks are going to cost more money.
Ms. Selke spoke in favor of direct deposit and said, "We need to advance and move forward as a county."
EMS ASKS FOR $165,000 NEXT YEAR
Council received a letter from EMS President Roy Rosenberger officially requesting $165,000 for EMS services to the county in 2017. EMS asked to be paid from the new Public Safety Local Option Income Tax (PSLOIT). Currently, EMS is paid $150,000 per year.
Councilman Leffingwell quoted from the Indiana Code and objected to EMS asking for a specific amount. He said that EMS should have asked for a "distribution" of PSLOIT without stating an amount.
Councilman Hall replied that the dollar amount was up to the county commissioners, who will negotiate a new contract with EMS for 2017.
If the contract amount is over $165,000, Commissioner Eric Roberts said that the difference could by paid by using property taxes from the county's general fund.
Council authorized Councilman Leffingwell to consult with council's attorney Grant Reeves about the EMS request and report back at the June meeting. Council will take no action until the budget hearings in August.
MEETING MINUTES DIVIDED UP
It took 10 minutes to decide what to do with the April meeting minutes. Councilman Keith Hall wanted Auditor Steve Brack to listen to the tape recording and make corrections to the minutes. However, Auditor Brack was at a training class and absent from the meeting. Councilman Hall motioned to table the minutes until next month.
Councilman Daryl Kramer said that it was important to approve two paragraphs of the April minutes that authorized additional spending. He explained that the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF) must verify that the additional spending was advertised and approved by a majority of council before the county could spend the money.
Councilman Joe Sizemore recounted that once before council had approved an expense and the funding "was not there." As the result, DLGF denied the expenditure.
Council unanimously approved two paragraphs of additional spending and tabled the rest of the minutes until next month. They continued discussing the matter until everybody understood specifically what was approved and what was tabled.
DORMANT FUNDS
Council also voted to table action on what to do with dormant funds. Council President Oglesby will check with the state. Councilman Kramer had researched the issue and said the dormant funds could be moved to the rainy day fund.
LOAN FOR HEALTH DEPT. PAYROLL
The Health Department has a cash flow problem and is unable to make payroll. Council voted in favor of a temporary loan of $5,000. The loan will be repaid after property taxes are distributed to departments and other taxing units.
In a later interview, County Treasurer Veronica Voelker explained that on June 1 the spring 2016 property tax revenue will be divided among the taxing units including towns, townships, library, schools and the county. Information about the amounts will be sent to the state for approval. Once that approval is received, the tax money will be sent to the taxing units. Treasurer Voelker said that the money should be distributed a few days after June 1.
TWO NEW TRUCK DRIVERS
Council approved hiring two new truck drivers at the Highway Department. Commissioner Eric Roberts explained that one person resigned and one will retire June 10.
UNANSWERED QUESTION
When President Oglesby called for any other council business, Councilman Hall had questions for Commissioner Linkel, but he had already left the meeting. Councilman Sizemore quickly motioned to adjourn and the meeting was over.
After the meeting, Councilman Hall said that he wanted to ask Commissioner Linkel how he intended to pay for the new Wolf Creek Bridge and what the total estimated cost will be. In April, council had approved only the cost of the steel structure, not the contractor, paving or other work.
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