County Meets for Budget, Other Items on Agenda

The Jasper County Commission met for another budget work session Monday, as well as for a public hearing on the Short Term Work Program, part of the Comprehensive Plan.

The county was adding a line saying develop a county community resource center (including food bank) to increase the odds of the county receiving a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for a new food bank location.

The only person who spoke at the public hearing was Mary Patrick who was against the change, saying she is not in favor of the county spending taxpayer dollars on a private entity. She said she didn’t question that the Food Bank does good for the community, but said it is no different than giving to a local church or another entity. The county has applied for a CDBG grant for the Food Bank, but estimates say the $750,000 would not be enough and the commissioners agreed last month to fund the remaining balance.

Mrs. Patrick questioned if the grant is received, who owns the property, who owns the building. She said public funds should not be used for private businesses under any circumstance.

After the public hearing, commissioners embarked on their regular agenda, which included citizen comments. Mrs. Patrick spoke about the Chief Magistrate, who the commissioners were to meet with later. She said she has been very disappointed in his use of funds, and the need for constant increases on funds. “When he ran for election, he said he would work part time and save the county money.” This year he is asking for a $8,500 budget increase, and she said “don’t reward him with a budget increase.”

She went on to talk about how property values have increased over the last several years, so homeowners are seeing bigger tax bills, she said. She urged commissioners to reduce the budget, rather than giving everybody what they want. She said the budget does not have to go up every year.

{{more}}

Bill Daugherty spoke to the commission, questioning if public records were being provided, and was told the problem was with the city, not the county.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to amend the Short Term Work Program to include the food bank addition.

Commissioners heard from insurance broker Kelly Fox, who had good news for the county. The insurance is being renewed this year with no changes. Employees will stay with the same company, and premiums will remain the same.

Commissioners heard from Chief Appraiser Lynn Bentley about shopping for a vehicle after the tax assessors’ vehicle was destroyed by a fallen tree last Wednesday. She mentioned a used vehicle, and said she could use 4-wheel drive. Then, she said she had looked at an all-wheel drive Subaru.

Commissioner Gerald Stunkel said the Chevy Blazer is also all wheel drive. Sheriff Donnie Pope said that many dealers have good government deals. Commissioner Stunkel made a motion for her to proceed with a replacement vehicle not to exceed $32,000. She is supposed to come back to the commissioners with options.

The commissioners then went into the budget review process, again, and County Manager Mike Benton showed the job description and salary range for a new finance person the commission had recommended at its last meeting.

They talked about the growing need for help, and the fact that the American Rescue Plan funds will require even more bookkeeping. There is also a need for a grant writer, and a new person could handle those duties. They also talked about where this new person would be housed, with Finance Director Dennis Pate being in close proximity. Nita Hardwick, who handles accounts payable also helps out with phones and visitors in the commission office, so she would likely stay physically where she is.

Mr. Benton spent considerable time talking about a part-time, seasonal worker for the recreation department. They had discussed hiring a full time person to share between recreation, public works, and Courthouse maintenance. After a meeting with those department heads last week, Mr. Benton said he thought it would be better to go with the seasonal help.

Commissioners heard from Chief Magistrate Tim Lam who was asking for a $3 an hour raise, from $14.80 to $17.80 for his administrative assistant Danyale Hardwick. He said she hasn’t had anything but a cost of living raise since 2017, and she deserves more, he said. He said the raise would put her more in line with others who do a similar job. Ms. Hardwick gets a separate rate of pay for serving as a part-time Magistrate Judge than she does for her admin job. The raise is for the admin time. Commissioners did not approve or disapprove at Monday’s meeting.

He was asking for more, but after meeting with the county manager last week, he reduced his request, but was adamant that Ms. Hardwick deserves the raise. He said, “she hasn’t had one in four years, she keeps the office current, and keeps his paperwork current. She is worth every bit of $17.80 an hour,” he said.

Mr. Lam also addressed Commissioner Gerald Stunkel and said if you have a problem with me, come to me. “I uphold the law; going over budget is not a crime.” Commissioner Stunkel had made some disparaging remarks about the judge going over budget during a previous work session.

Commission Chair Bruce Henry said other positions in the county also haven’t gotten anything but COLA in the last four years.

Mr. Benton showed the commissioners the cost to the county for a one, two and three percent cost of living raise. They discussed the funds being divided by each department, and the department head will determine the best way to dispense the funds. Some employees could only get a one percent raise, and others may get four percent. The department head and human resources director will sit down together and figure it out.

Near the end of the meeting, Commissioner Stunkel made a motion to move the CARES Act money into the capital expenditures budget. He also presented a new capital expenditure list, separate from what the commissioners had been working with. Then, he made a motion to fund the capital improvements. The capital expenditures include two tankers for Fire/Rescue, four patrol vehicles, a new ambulance, several pieces of public works equipment, a senior center van, and a vision screener for the Health Department.

Commissioners will meet again next Monday, May 24, to further discuss the budget.