The Starke County Council members approved several transfer requests Monday night.
The Starke County Coroner’s transfer request for over $3,300 was tabled. Coroner Dannie Hoffer, Jr. told the council that his line item for autopsies is currently $3,300 over budget. To make matters worse, every suspected drug overdose requires an autopsy in case formal criminal charges could be filed in a particular case. To the knowledge of Hoffer, no drug charges have been filed locally as a result of an autopsy investigation.
With that, Hoffer is expecting more than $11,000 in charges yet to be submitted. He noted that 46 autopsies have been conducted as of Monday, Nov. 19. The request was tabled so Hoffer and the council can find the proper way to transfer the right number of funds to make up the shortfall.
Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler asked for a transfer of $2,802 in order to pay the new office manager to train with Rachel Oesterrich for a month. The other part of that money will help pay a new person for data entry and other office work. Ritzler said four part-time positions will be eliminated to create this position which was approved by the commissioners in a previous meeting. The transfer and new position were approved by the county council members.
The council members also approved the transfer of $500 for the Veteran’s Service Office for travel expenses, $309 was approved to help pay what is required for the copier machine contract for the Purdue University Extension Office, and $1,350 was approved to purchase a new computer for the surveyor’s office. The computer will run the new printer in the office. The county council members also approved the transfer of $980 for meals for poll workers on Election Night.
