Funding arrangements for Highway Department equipment and jail repairs were considered by the Pulaski County Council last week. Council members agreed to transfer money within the Cumulative Bridge Fund to allow the Highway Department to continue to rent a mini-excavator until the end of the year.
Interim Highway Superintendent Gary Kruger said the department has gotten plenty of use out of the machine. “It has done a tremendous job cleaning out a logjam in the Tippecanoe River last Thursday,” he told the council. “Big logjam.”
Kruger previously told the county commissioners that the rental costs the Highway Department $3,800 a month, but 80 percent of that goes toward the purchase price. He added that money is set aside to purchase the excavator in next year’s budget.
Council members also agreed to advertise another additional appropriation request out of the Sheriff’s Department’s Misdemeanant Fund. Sheriff Jeff Richwine reminded council members that the money is in the fund, but he needs permission to spend it, since it isn’t included in the budget. Council Member Kathi Thompson asked if it might be easier to budget some money in the future, rather than paying to advertise an additional appropriation whenever the need arises.
The Pulaski County Council also agreed to transfer a total of $6,100 within the Soil & Water Conservation District’s budget to cover the cost of a pay raise for District Support Coordinator Heather Rogers and make up a shortfall in the district’s printing line item.
