Will make decision at December meeting
County Council discusses funding for insurance
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Ripley County Council members spent 45 minutes on Tuesday, November 16, discussing the commissioners' request for an additional appropriation of $250,000 from the Rainy Day Fund to be used for insurance costs.

Meeting in the Commissioners Room of the Ripley County Annex, President Donald Dunbar, Ed Armbrecht, William Dramann, David Simon, Juanita Bauer, Lawrence Nickell, and Dephane Smith discussed the intent of the Rainy Day Fund and whether taking the $250,000 from that fund was consistent with the intent.

County Attorney Neil Comer reminded the council members that the "proposed use of the Rainy Day Fund must be consistent with the intent of the ordinance, which at the time it was set up, was for capital projects."

Council Member Ed Armbrecht noted the Rainy Day Fund has $279,000. "If you take $250,000 out for insurance, you have only $27,000 left."

After discussing the situation and the fact that council has the right to determine the intent of the use of the money, President Dunbar reminded council that in order to solve the problem of paying the insurance, he would recommend a motion to amend the use of the Rainy Day Fund.

Council Member Dephane Smith made such a motion, but it died for lack of a second.

All we are doing, ladies and gentlemen, is robbing Peter to pay Paul," Armbrecht told his fellow council members. "The Riverboat Fund is in trouble; the County General Fund is in trouble; and the Rainy Day Fund will soon be in trouble."

Noting that in eleven months, "we're pretty close to a million dollars in insurance payments," President Dunbar continued, "I don't know where the money is coming from."

Commissioners John Little, Chuck Folz, and Robert Reiners told council members they are in the process of getting insurance bids. "We're trying every avenue we can to get the best coverage for the least amount," said Reiners.

A motion by Council Member Armbrecht to instruct Auditor Mary Ann McCoy to advertise an additional appropriation of $250,000 from the Riverboat Revenue Fund for insurance met with a second by Council Member Nickell and a 6-1 vote, Dunbar's being the dissenting vote.

Central to the problem, according to several council members, is the fact that if the money is taken from the Riverboat Gaming Fund, there won't be anything left for the paramedic program.

According to Armbrecht, "There is not enough money for this county to fund the paramedics as we are trying to do now. How are we going to fund it in '06?"

The lengthy discussion ended with a decision to discuss amending the Rainy Day Fund usage at the December council meeting.

Ripley County Commissioners received approval for an additional appropriation of $30,077.81 for Bridge #46, the Busching Covered Bridge. The Federal Government covers 80% of the cost of the bridge restructure, according to Commissioner Little.

Other additional appropriations approved included:

* $37,688.11 from the Riverboat Fund for insurance submitted by the commissioners.

* Three from the Ripley County Health Department: $6,365.90; $1.277.08; and $449.73 for health maintenance, supplies, equipment. All are funded through grants received by the health department.

* $20,000 for the Ripley County Highway Department for additional costs of gas and oil.

With a letter from County Prosecutor Ric Hertel concerning the salary of one of his employees paid from an Indiana Criminal Justice Institute grant, council members agreed to table the discussion until Prosecutor Hertel could be present for input.

A suggestion by Council Member Dephane Smith that the council
should have an executive session prior to the public meeting met with Attorney Comer's comment that "as long as there are four of you here, it becomes a public meeting."

The purpose of an executive session, according to Smith, would be to familiarize council members of items on the agenda and issues to be discussed. No official business could take place, however.

Alternatives were suggested, but no official action was taken.

Under new business, council members agreed to set Tuesday, December 14, as the deadline for all encumbrances. Council will meet at the regular time on Tuesday, December 21.

Noting that the State Board of Accounts wants the county to get on a delay basis with its pay periods, Attorney Comer and Auditor McCoy asked for a decision from council members.

After a lengthy discussion which included the belief that employees should not have to suffer, Council Member Armbrecht moved to hold one-half day's pay each pay period (there are 26) until the county is in compliance with the State Board of Accounts.

Council Member Simon seconded the motion, which resulted in a 6-1 vote - Council Member Bauer's being the dissenting vote.

A suggestion by Council Member Smith that a letter be sent to explain the process and the necessity to comply with the state statute will be followed by the auditor's office.