SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2007
PRESENT: W. SCOTT
BIAS, PRESIDENT
ROBERT
L. BAILEY, COMMISSIONER
NANCY
CARTMILL, COMMISSIONER
WILLIAM
T. WATSON,
STEPHEN
ZOELLER,
SHARON
ROSS, ASSISTANT
FOR
BILLABLES AND PAYABLES
CHRIS
TATUM, ASSISTANT
FOR
PURCHASING AND PERSONNEL
W. Scott Bias, President, called
the Special Meeting of the
RE: PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION
REGARDING 2007-2008 BUDGET
REQUESTS
BY ELECTED OFFICIALS
VICKI MULLINS FOR OSCAR ADKINS, ALTERNATIVE SENTENCING
Vicki Mullins, Alternative Sentencing Administrative Assistant, informed the Commission the 2007-2008 Alternative Sentencing proposed budget had been reduced from last years budget, however, depending on the number of inmates in the program, the budget could fluctuate. Mrs. Mullins stated that two employees had been laid off, which made the salaries and benefits line items lower. Mrs. Mullins went over the budget by line item with the Commission. Mrs. Mullins and the Commission also discussed the policy of refunding for indigent inmates as opposed to the cost of incarceration. The requested budget was $402,064.
KIM WOLFE LAW ENFORCEMENT, SHERIFF KIM WOLFE
Sheriff Wolfe informed the Commission he was requesting six additional deputies, an increase in salaries and three new vehicles.
George Kisor, retired Deputy, stated the Law Enforcement’s budget was $130.00 more then last year’s budget and that was due to longevity pay. Mr. Kisor further stated the proposed budget did not include salary increases or the additional six deputies, however, a cost sheet was provided for the Commission to review. The requested budget was $2,117,088
COURTS AND PROCESSING
Mr. Kisor stated the Courts and Processing’s proposed budget’s increase would be for longevity. The requested budget was $92,812
THURSDAY, MARCH 6, 2007
PAGE TWO
FRANK SIMPSON - COURTHOUSE SECURITY
Frank Simpson, Courthouse Security Director, stated in the proposed budget he was requesting a $2.00 per hour raise for the Security Guards, however, the raise was not included in the proposed budget but there was a 7% pay increase for the Director of Security included. The requested budget was $258,229.
TOM BELL – CHIEF TAX DEPUTY
Tom Bell, Chief Tax Deputy, informed the Commission the collection of taxes was ahead of last year and the delinquent property collection had improved from last year.
Mr. Bell stated there were no major changes in the proposed 2007-2008 budget. Mr. Bell further stated there were still problems with the Committee people and problems when the Sheriff was made Administrator of Estates. The requested budget was $395,916
Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, asked Sheriff Wolfe if had considered reducing the number of deputies from 40 to 38 in order to raise the deputies salaries. Sheriff Wolfe stated it was very hard to cover the county with 40 deputies, therefore, he could not reduce the number of deputies.
Sheriff Wolfe informed the Commission that St. Mary’s Hospital was providing a counseling service that would cost $20.00 per employee. Sheriff Wolfe went on to say he believed this would be beneficial for all county employees.
CHRIS
Chris Chiles, Prosecuting Attorney, stated he was requesting a 2½ % salary increase and a small increase in some line items. Mr. Chiles further stated the increases would put his budget back to the 2005/2006 budget.
Mr. Chiles informed the Commission that due to the increased number of indictments, which leads to more discovery and now there must be discovery on misdemeanor cases, he was requesting an additional employee for the position of secretary. The requested budget was $927,450.
ADELL
Adell Chandler, Circuit Clerk, stated in her proposed budget there was a small increase in dues and subscriptions, $1,000.00 for order books and next year she would need $2,287.00 for an additional copy machine. Ms. Chandler further stated she would like to make a part-time employee full-time, which would cost an additional $8,000.00 plus benefits.
Mrs. Chandler also requested a 7% salary increase for her employees which she included at the end of the proposed budget.
TUESDAY, MARCH 6, 2007
PAGE THREE
Adell Chandler, Circuit Clerk, informed the Commission she was very concerned about some of her records not being stored properly and also the lack of space to store the records. The requested budget was $729,401
The Commission discussed applying for a grant for imaging and microfilming and the possibility of using the old jail for storage of records.
W. Scott Bias, President, recessed the meeting at 11:25 a.m., until Tuesday, March 13, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.
SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2006
PRESENT: W. SCOTT
BIAS, PRESIDENT
ROBERT
L. BAILEY, COMMISSIONER
NANCY
CARTMILL, COMMISSIONER
STEPHEN
ZOELLER,
SAHRON
ROSS, ASSISTANT
FOR
BILLABLES AND PAYABLES
CHRIS
TATUM, ASSISTANT
FOR
PERSONNEL AND PURCHASING
W, Scott Bias, President,
reconvened the special meeting of the
KAREN COLE –
Karen Cole,
Ms. Cole and the Commission discussed an imaging system which was needed for her office. Ms. Cole also informed the Commission she had run out of storage space for all the records she must keep pursuant to state law.
Ms. Cole stated the microfilm machine was broken and could not be repaired and Ms. Cole suggested applying for a grant for the imaging system.
Ms. Cole presented a bid from CSSI for an upgrade for the computer system in her office that would include Accounts Payable, Probate, Vitals and Indexing. The requested budget was $780,913.
TUESDAY, MARCH 13, 2007
PAGE FOUR
OTTIE ADKINS –
Ottie Adkins,
DISCUSSION - COMMISSION BUDGET
Stephen Zoeller,
Mr. Zoeller stated the Worthless Check Fund, which include two part-time employees, had decreased tremendously and he believed the hours should be cut. The Commission instructed Mr. Zoeller to ask Barbara Wills, Court Coordinator, to cut the hours immediately.
The Commission and Mr. Zoeller discussed several departments under the Commission.
The Commission requested a meeting with Sheriff Wolfe to discuss a salary increase for the deputies be set for Thursday, March 15, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.
W. Scott Bias, President, recessed the meeting at 12:01 p.m., until Thursday, March 15, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.
SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2007
PRESENT: W. SCOTT
BIAS, PRESIDENT
ROBERT
L. BAILEY, COMMISSIONER
NANCY
CARTMILL, COMMISSIONER
WILLIAM
T. WATSON,
STEPHEN
ZOELLER,
SHARON
ROSS, ASSISTANT
FOR
BILLABLES AND PAYABLES
CHRIS
TATUM, ASSISTANT
FOR
PERSONNEL AND PURCHASING
W. Scott Bias, President, reconvened the Special Commission Meeting at 10:00 a.m.
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2007
PAGE FIVE
Barbara Wills, Court Coordinator, stated Chief Judge O’Hanlon was in court and could not attend the meeting regarding the Worthless Check Clerks. Ms. Willis went on to say they were requesting their carry-over be placed back into the Worthless Checks budget. Ms. Wills stated the clerks were also doing background checks for gun permits and were very much needed and if the hours were cut they would need to cut back on service.
W. Scott Bias, President, stated he believed it was the intent of the Commission that the carryover be placed back into the Worthless Check Fund.
Stephen Zoeller,
Mr. Zoeller stated he had talked
with
Sheriff Wolfe stated that
Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner,
stated he believed if the Sheriff would reduce the Security staff by half, it
would give the deputies a $2,000.00 raise.
Commissioner Bailey further stated that he believed it was unnecessary
to have security at the
Sheriff Wolfe stated he would take this into consideration.
Sheriff Wolfe stated that since he took office he had collected a considerable amount of delinquent taxes and 17% of that money would go back into the county’s budget.
Sheriff Wolfe also stated that he knew the jail bill was going up and he believed if the county had a holding facility it would reduce the jail bill and save the county money.
W. Scott Bias, President, stated the counties that had holding facilities were closing their facilities because it did not work, but he would discuss this with the Sheriff at a later time.
Commissioner Bailey suggested the Security Director work as a backup guard to help save money.
President Bias stated he did not believe the Courthouse needed more than one guard on duty during nights, Sundays and holidays.
Sheriff Wolfe stated he would like for Judge Cummings to be in on any discussion regarding security issues. President Bias said he would meet with Judge Cummings and the Sheriff to discuss security.
THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2007
PAGE SIX
Stephen Zoeller,
Commissioner Cartmill asked about a carry-over and Mr. Zoeller replied he believed it would be approximately $300,000.
W. Scott Bias, President, recessed the meeting at 10:40 a.m., until the next schedule meeting on Tuesday, March 20, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.
SPECIAL COMMISSION MEETING
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2007
PRESENT: W. SCOTT
BIAS, PRESIDENT
ROBERT
L. BAILEY, COMMISSIONER
NANCY
CARTMILL, COMMISSIONER
STEPHEN
ZOELLER,
SHARON
ROSS, ASSISTANT
FOR
BILLABLES AND PAYABLES
CHRIS
TATUM, ASSISTANT
FOR
PERSONNEL AND PURCHASING
W. Scott Bias, President, reconvened the Special Commission Meeting at 10:00 a.m.
Stephen Zoeller,
W. Scott Bias, President, stated he would like to see the encumbered money for the jail bill be placed into the contingency fund, with the understanding the possible jail settlement may still be there.
Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, stated she was not concerned about the jail settlement, if the Commission had to pay the settlement and had the money they would pay and if no money was available, the Commission could make payments. Commissioner Cartmill further stated she was more concerned about the lack of money in the contingency fund.
Mr. Zoeller stated he believed they could save $25,000 by not having a Health Care Consultant in house.
Commissioner Cartmill stated she was not sure the fee could be taken off as the fee was on each employee’s policy, however, if the Commission agreed to this they needed to follow through and make sure the fee was deducted.
Mr. Zoeller stated he had spoken with Acordia Representative, Debra Johnson, and she said the fee could be taken off.
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2007
PAGE SEVEN
The Commission agreed to remove the consultant fees.
W. Scott Bias, President, stated he was very disappointed that Sheriff Wolfe had decided not to reduce the Courthouse Security. President Bias went on to say that Sheriff Wolfe informed him he had talked with Frank Simpson, Courthouse Security Director, and Mr. Simpson said he could not work with a reduced staff. President Bias stated he thought the decision should have come from the Sheriff and not the Security Director.
W. Scott Bias, President, asked Mr. Zoeller if he had removed the uniform allowance from the budget and Mr. Zoeller replied he had. President Bias instructed Mr. Zoeller to put the allowance back into the budget.
Stephen Zoeller,
Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, asked if the $100,000 for a boiler and $50,000 for an imaging system was in the budget and Mr. Zoeller replied they were included.
The Commission and Mr. Zoeller discussed the revenues and expenditures in the 2007-2008 budget.
Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, stated she was concerned about Nick Ciccerello’s salary of $24,000 as he was a part-time employee. Commissioner Cartmill asked if he was working more then 20 hours because if he was, he should be in the retirement program. Commissioner Cartmill went on to say $13.00 per hour was too much for a part-time employee.
Mr. Zoeller stated Mr. Ciccerello was getting no benefits nor was he in the retirement program, however, FICA and Worker’s Compensation were being paid.
Robert L. Bailey, Commissioner, stated he believed Mr. Ciccerello was making enough money to pay his salary and he was upset over full time employees who were at home and still collecting paychecks.
W. Scott Bias, President, stated Mr. Ciccerello was checking out the complaints and the fills in the county so that Mrs. Gray could stay in the office.
Commissioner Cartmill stated she would like a report from Connie Gray, Administrator of Grants, Planning and Permits, showing what work Mr. Ciccerello was doing and the amount of revenue it was creating. Commissioner Cartmill further stated she would like to see if there was an increase in permits or was the increase due to the permit fees being increased.
Stephen Zoeller,
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2007
PAGE EIGHT
Nancy Cartmill, Commissioner, stated she would like to see the final budget with the proposed amounts before approving the 2007-2008 budget.
W. Scott Bias, President, instructed Mr. Zoeller to remove the $100,000 for the boiler and the $50,000 for the imaging system from the budget.
Mr. Zoeller asked if the Commission wanted $300,000 placed in the contingency fund with money taken from the jail settlement and lower the revenue interest, from $175,000 to $150,000 and the Commission agreed they did.
Commissioner Cartmill stated she
wanted a break down from Mrs. Gray and the same for the
Stephen Zoeller, County Manager, informed the Commission that the Correctional Officers at the Regional Jail maybe getting a 10% raise, which would cause the daily rate at the jail to increase. Mr. Zoeller stated it could go up to $50.00 a day. Mr. Zoeller recommended funding at that rate.
After discussion Commissioner Cartmill stated she thought the per diem rate should not be more than $43.00 a day. President Bias instructed Mr. Zoeller to lower the rate for the regional jail to $43.00 per day.
Stephen Zoeller,
W. Scott Bias, President, adjourned the meeting at 11:15 a.m., until the regular Commission meeting on Thursday, March 22, 2007, at 10:00 a.m.
__________________________________________
PRESIDENT,
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