Commission Votes for Pay Raise

The Jasper County Commissioners Monday wasted no time as they took action on what they had agreed on in the “extended work session” Saturday (see related story).

The commissioners signed a resolution Monday that would increase their compensation from $300 a month to $600 a month, and the chairman’s pay would go from $400 to $800 monthly.

The motion passed unanimously. (Commissioner Carl Pennamon was absent from Monday night’s meeting.)
In addition, the resolution calls for non-specific reimbursement from county funds for actual expenses. The policy for reimbursement would be set by the commissioners.

Currently, commissioners can only receive 10 cents per mile reimbursement because that rate was set by legislation in 1986, and has not been changed. In addition, the reimbursement is limited to travel, meals and lodging outside the county.

As written, the resolution, and pay increase, would take effect at a date specified in the legislation, most likely the day it is passed, according to County Manager Greg Williams.

Rather than putting a rate of remuneration in the legislation, the Commission will set its expense policy locally so that the legislature does not have to convene for it to be changed.
{{more}}
During the agenda comments portion of the meeting, Mary Patrick questioned if there would be a first reading and second reading of the expense reimbursement proposal. She also questioned the use of the county car. She asked if there was a log showing who used the car when and for what.

Mrs. Patrick also questioned whether the county needed to pay the Regional Development Center to review the zoning ordinance. She wondered if it was a necessary expense.

Planning Director Chris Anderson said there are some issues in the county, like eventually raising house sizes that need to be addressed. He indicated he thought the RDC review was a good thing. He said if the money’s in the budget, why not do it?

Commissioner Greg Johnson said he was not ready to vote on it. Chairman Jack Bernard said if it’s in the 2005 budget, “we need to do it now.” He said the attorney could do it, but do we get the attorneys to do it at $160/hour or the RDC to do it at $75 per hour.

Two representatives of Advanced Disposal Services were at the meeting to talk to the commissioners about a contract revision. The proposed contract presented Monday has a “right to cure” section, which would give the county recourse if it is not satisfied with the service.

The contract would separate the city of Monticello from the county, which the issue has been from the beginning. A citizen questioned why Monticello could be locked into a set rate, and Jasper County still face increases. Kyle Lieberman, manager of ADS, said that the objective of the new contract is to separate the city and county. He said that ADS could service the nearly 1,000 households in the small area that defines the city more efficiently than those throughout the county.

The proposed contract calls for a two year extension in the contract, carrying Jasper’s obligation to 2009. Attorney John Nix had issues with that and some other items. He said that he felt like between Monday and the next Commission meeting, he and Mr. Williams could clarify and negotiate a suitable contract. The contract presented Monday represents a step in the right direction, commissioners agreed.

Also on the agenda was an item to reduce the Board of Assessors to a three member board from a five member board, and an item to appoint members to the BOA. However, during agenda comments, the question was raised if the one sitting member on the BOA was serving legally. Mr. Nix advised the board not to take any action until the next meeting. The next two regular meeting days are holidays, so the Commission will meet on Tuesdays in January. The first meeting, where the chairman is elected, will be held Tuesday, Jan. 3, and the second will be held Tuesday, Jan. 17.

To comply with audit standards, the commissioners approved the 2005 and 2006 budgets for debt service and special revenue funds. This would include funds that previously were not included in the audit, such as the law library, drug education fund, and several others. Mark Hardison, who presented the county’s audit December 5, told commissioners that those budgets were needed.

Commissioners approved December 30 to be the “floating” holiday for 2005, and July 3 to be the extra holiday in 2006. Independence Day, July 4, is a national holiday, and the county employees will get the Monday before so they can have a long weekend.

The personnel policy calls for 11 holidays, 10 of which are set, and one of which is “floating.” The floating one had not been used in 2005, so county employees get a long holiday weekend for New Year’s as well as Christmas.

During the general comment segment of the meeting, Joe Lewis praised the commissioners, “You guys have done a good job,” he said.

Doug Sorenson again approached the commission about moving forward on approving a plan for tennis courts at the county recreation complex so he can pursue grant monies.

Grumblings
In the general comment portion of the meeting, commissioners heard from several agencies whose budgets had been cut.

David Owens, CEO for Jasper Health Services, read a letter to the commission about funding of Jasper Memorial Hospital. He said that last January, Brian Riddle agreed to the county reducing its funding by $25,000. However, no one anticipated the county cutting an additional $96,000. He said taking away $121,000 cash will hurt the hospital immensely.

He reminded the commission that the hospital is also one of the largest employers in the county. The letter closed by asking the County Commissioners to reinstate the JHS funding at the level of $480,368 as previously agreed.

After he read the letter, he and Mr. Bernard got into a verbal confrontation. Mr. Bernard asked Mr. Owens why he didn’t tell the Hospital Finance Review Committee that the hospital showed a profit last year. He said that the minutes of the January 18 meeting show no vote was taken on accepting the $25,000 reduction in funding.

Carole McElheney spoke for the library. Shes said that in September she and Mr. [Steve] Schaefer came to the commission meeting and were assured the library would be funded at the same level as before—$14,500.

What exactly is a contingency fund, she asked.
She said when she learned of the budget cuts a letter was delivered to them, before the last meeting. Two weeks is long enough to wait for a response, she said.

Joan Bell, representing Family Connection, spoke on behalf of that agency. She said they were so disappointed their budget was cut. Niki Adams-Morris, executive director, presented a letter to the commissioners outlining the concerns of Family Connection.

Paul Holmes said he represented the Development Authority of Jasper County (DAJC) one of nine groups whose funds were cut. He said that DAJC representatives have always attended budget sessions, and “we thought we had an agreement.”

Then we get this letter identifying the 20 percent cut. “We think we’re doing it on the cheap now,” he said.

The letter from the DAJC gave the commissioners some suggestions on other places to cut or other ways to generate revenue.

Mr. Bernard responded for the board. He said they didn’t take any pleasure in cutting the funds. But, he said the commission overspent $880,000 last year, and it is up to this board to be fiscally responsible. He said, “we were elected to balance the budget.” He referred to a 50 percent increase in taxes over the last five years.