The Pulaski County Council wants more information before agreeing to a salary change for the victim’s assistance coordinator. During last week’s meeting, Prosecutor Dan Murphy explained that the position is funded primarily by federal grant money distributed by the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
Continue readingPulaski County Council Votes to Give Chief Deputy Coroner a Pay Raise
After months of discussions, the Pulaski County Council has finally agreed to give the chief deputy coroner a pay raise. Council members voted six-to-one Monday to pay the chief deputy coroner 82 percent of what the coroner makes. That will amount to almost $8,100 a year, which is more than four times the current pay level. Mike Tiede cast the lone opposing vote.
Continue readingPulaski Circuit Court Judge Prepares to Leave Office
One of the local officials leaving office as 2018 comes to an end is longtime Pulaski Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn. Over the past month, he’s been updating the county council and commissioners on the transition process.
Continue readingPulaski County Highway Superintendent Continues Seeking Clarification on Starting Pay Rate
Confusion remains over how much money new Pulaski County Highway Department employees are supposed to make. Highway Superintendent Terry Ruff brought the question to the county council Monday. “We hired two new guys,” he explained. “What’s the deal on their pay? What do I tell them they’re getting paid right now? I don’t know if it’s $13.77. Is it for six months, a year? What are we doing?”
Pulaski County Council Mourns Deaths of Christi Hoffa, Owen Abbott
The Pulaski County Council took a few moments Monday to mark the recent loss two members of the local community. Council Vice-President Mike Tiede began the meeting with a moment of silence for County Clerk Christi Hoffa. She passed away last month, after a battle with leukemia.
Pulaski County Commissioners Still Working to Fill Upcoming Plan Commission Vacancy
The Pulaski County Commissioners are still looking for a Democrat to replace Jim Thompson on the county’s advisory plan commission. No recommendations had been received by Monday’s commissioners meeting.
Pulaski County Chief Deputy Coroner’s Resignation Leads to Heated Wage Discussion
The Pulaski County Coroner’s Office is facing a staffing shortage, following the resignation of the chief deputy. Coroner John Behny told the county council last week that his lone deputy Jon Frain had “had enough.” “I not only lost my chief deputy,” he said. “I also lost a facility for which to check the bodies over and do our autopsies and so forth. I’ve lost all of that. I’ve lost storage of our files. I’ve actually gone backwards. I’ve gone from having an office. I got displaced. I have nothing. Our building isn’t going to be ready for some time.”
Pulaski County Council to Discuss Assessor’s Budget, During Tonight’s Public Budget Hearing
How to balance the Pulaski County Assessor’s budget is expected to be a topic of discussion when the county council holds its public budget hearing tonight. Assessor Holly VanDerAa has been asking council members to think about raising the reassessment tax, to help keep up with rising costs. But they had decided to wait for an analysis of the county’s finances that’s currently under consideration.
Pulaski County EMS Staff Put on County Salary Matrix, Despite Opposition
Some members of Pulaski County’s EMS staff are getting significant pay raises, following a salary matrix update approved by the county council Monday. That was in spite of some harsh criticism from EMS Director Bryan Corn. “Before you vote, I just want to ask you guys, each and every one of you, do you guys fully understand and are you guys fully okay with what’s going to happen when you do this?” he asked council members.
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.
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
Pulaski County Council Debates Asset Management Plan Funding
Making sure the Pulaski County Highway Department will be able to update its asset management plan and continue to qualify for Community Crossings grants was the goal of a lengthy conversation during Monday’s county council meeting. The highway department’s $2,500 budget for asset management services was apparently cut out of this year’s budget. To resolve the issue, Highway Superintendent Terry Ruff asked council members to transfer $10,000 into the line item from his department’s salt budget.
Pulaski County to Hire Attorney to Help Update Wind Turbine Regulations
The Pulaski County Commissioners have agreed to hire an outside attorney to help update the county’s wind turbine regulations, but not before discussing the issue with residents for over an hour Monday. The extra legal help was recommended by County Attorney Kevin Tankersley and Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer.
Pulaski County Commissioners Seeking Members for Community Corrections Advisory Board
Cass-Pulaski Community Corrections needs some Pulaski County residents to serve on its advisory board. Pulaski Circuit Court Judge Michael Shurn told the county commissioners last week there are several openings to be filled, in order to reach equal representation from both counties.
Pulaski County EMS Considers Paying for Paramedic Training for Current Department Employees
Pulaski County officials are looking at ways to boost the number of paramedics at the county’s EMS department. During Monday’s joint county council and commissioners meeting, council member Mike Tiede said he felt it’s ridiculous that there aren’t certified paramedics staffing both sides of the county at all times. “Well, I think that if you don’t have paramedic service in Pulaski County, you might as well just throw Pulaski County to the wolves,” he said.
Pulaski County Council Considers Request for Pay Raises for Sheriff’s Department Staff
Pulaski County Sheriff Jeff Richwine is seeking pay raises for some of his employees. During last week’s county council meeting, he asked if part-time dispatcher Susan Hemphill could be bumped up to a higher pay level. “She was a full-time dispatcher, left, and then came back as a part-time person,” Richwine explained. Continue reading
Pualski County Maintenance Supervisor Seeks More Money for Part-Time Help, Building Repair
2018 may have just started, but some Pulaski County officials are already preparing for shortfalls in this year’s budgets. Maintenance Supervisor Jeff Johnston told the county council last week there isn’t enough money for part-time help. “I guess the numbers were taken off of last year, when I only had two part-time people, and I’ve got four,” he said. “So I’ve only got enough for two of my part-time people. In order to pay them the rest of this year, that additional is $42,360.”
Pulaski County Council Makes Commission Appointments, Elects Officers
The Pulaski County Council’s leadership will stay the same for another year. Jay Sullivan was reelected council president for 2018, while Mike Tiede was reelected vice-president.
Pulaski County Health Department Faces Funding Challenges
Funding challenges are causing concerns for the Pulaski County Health Department. “In doing our year-end reports for our health board meeting, it’s come to our attention that we only received about $40,000 in settlement this year,” Department Office Manager Terri Hansen told the county council Monday. “We usually get at least double that.”
Pulaski County Officials Weigh Options, After Head Highway Department Mechanic Demands Raise
Pulaski County officials are trying to figure out how to keep the county’s salary matrix intact, while also ensuring the smooth operations of the Highway Department.
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