Pulaski County Council May Look at Property Taxes to Resolve Budget Shortfalls

The Pulaski County Council is working to make sure the maintenance department has enough money to pay its part-time employees through the end of the year. Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston reminded council members Monday that they’d cut money for part-time pay when they put together this year’s budget. “You guys, at that time, told me to come back halfway through the year and request enough to cover the rest of the year,” he explained. “It’s for $30,016 for Part-Time Help.”

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Pulaski County Council to Consider Bond for Monterey Library Improvements

The Monterey-Tippecanoe Township Public Library is looking to make up to $400,000 in building improvements, and it’s planning to issue a bond to pay for them. Library Director Renita Potthoff discussed the project with the Pulaski County Council Monday. “In the old Carnegie building, which will be 100 years old this year, we’re having a lot of moisture and water damage,” she explained. “That needs to be all water-proofed. And that’s in the hundred-year-old building that we’re just trying to preserve.” A new well may also be added.

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Pulaski County Courthouse Elevator Project Ahead of Schedule

The Pulaski County Courthouse’s new elevator may be done ahead of schedule. That’s what Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston told the county council Monday. “If you guys remember, it had a deadline of October, to be complete by the beginning of October,” he explained, “but we’re looking at the middle/end of August to the beginning of September, and we’ll be done. So really good progress there.” Johnston said all the block has been delivered to start building the new shaft.

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Salary Issues to Continue to be Discussed during Tonight’s Pulaski County Council Meeting

Pulaski County’s salary matrix will continue to be discussed during tonight’s county council meeting. A salary ordinance revision will be up for the council’s approval, while Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston is expected to request a budget transfer and additional appropriation to help cover the wages of part-time employees.

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Pulaski Council Makes Funds Available to Pay Five Sheriff’s Department Staff Members

Making sure money is available to pay Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department employees was the goal of a couple budget items approved by the county council this month. To help balance the county’s General Fund budget, council members had previously moved several staff members’ salaries into other parts of the budget. But that’s led to some new issues.

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Pulaski County Council Finalizes Local Funding Match for Arens Field Upgrades

Funding arrangements for upgrades to Arens Field are back in place, following action by the Pulaski County Council last week. The airport is in the process of getting more than $200,000 worth of improvements. Pulaski County only has to pay five percent of the cost, since the rest will be covered in state and federal grants. However, much of the local match was apparently cut from this year’s budget.

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Pulaski Council Votes to Correct Improper Payment Made to Highway Department Employees

Confusion about checks paid to two Pulaski County Highway Department employees led to a heated debate during last week’s county council meeting. The first had to do with $2,500 paid to Secretary Jessica Rausch for her duties as asset management coordinator. Last month, council members agreed to transfer that amount into the department’s asset management services line item. Auditor Laura Wheeler then apparently paid the money to Rausch as part of her paycheck. She asked council members last week to adjust the salary ordinance accordingly.

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Pulaski County Commissioners Approve Budget Transfer to Pay Elevator Project Bill

Pulaski County Commissioners: Mike McClure, Jerry Locke, Kenny Becker

The Pulaski County Commissioners have approved a budget transfer to try to keep the courthouse elevator replacement project on track. They agreed Monday to use nearly $28,000 out of their budget to cover a construction bill, until the county council can finalize an additional appropriation.

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Coroner’s Office Fees Considered by Pulaski County Council, Commissioners

The Pulaski County Coroner’s Office continues to explore the possibility of charging for copies of certain reports. Coroner John Behny and Chief Deputy Jon Frain presented a few fee collection options to the county council and commissioners last week. “We’re talking about the autopsy report, the toxicology report, the coroner’s summary, or the coroner’s verdict,” Frain explained. Continue reading

Some Pulaski County Employees Asked to Give Back Pay Raises, Council Adopts Written Salary Guidelines

As the Pulaski County Council tries to clarify the county’s pay structure, department heads continue to express frustration over how it’s been implemented so far. Last month, Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston complained that while two of his part-time employees got a pay raise after working for 630 hours with the apparent blessing of the council, the same increase wasn’t given to a third staff member. Now, he says the Auditor’s Office has not only taken away the raises from the first two employees, but that they’re now being asked to pay that money back.  Continue reading

Pulaski Council to Consider Written Salary Guidelines, Funding for Courthouse Elevator Replacement

A set of written guidelines on Pulaski County’s pay structure are expected to be approved during tonight’s county council meeting. An 11-page draft document was presented to council members last month, and department heads were given a chance to offer input. The guidelines are designed to clarify a number of issues, including the pay rate for part-time employees and the process of amending the pay structure going forward.

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Pulaski Commissioners Schedule Hearing for Upcoming Deed Sale, Make Appointments

Pulaski County Commissioners: Mike McClure, Jerry Locke, Kenny Becker

The Pulaski County Commissioners are planning to auction some county-owned land. They’re looking to hold a commissioners deed sale on August 1, but before that, they’ll hold a public hearing to set a minimum price and officially schedule the auction. The public hearing will take place Monday, June 11 at 5:30 p.m. at the Pulaski County Highway Garage, before the commissioners’ joint meeting with the county council.

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