Position funded from 'rainy day'

The end of the year is a time to tie up financial loose ends.
And for two situations in Jay County, it meant figuring out how to pay salaries in the coming year.
Jay County Council approved Wednesday evening appropriating $44,098.11 from the rainy day fund to pay the salary and benefits for a new paramedic position for Jay Emergency Medical Service. It also approved $894.40 in additional funds to equalize pay for Sheriff Ray Newton returning to his original position as merit deputy.
Council members weighed the options of where to find funding for the new JEMS position, but also considered rescinding their original agreement to allow a new hire.
The agreement was approved at council’s November meeting, allowing JEMS director Pat Frazee to hire one new paramedic beginning January 2015 to cover the additional runs the service is taking to bring in revenue. The additional employee plus a rearrangement of shifts will be monitored quarterly by the council to see whether it’s helping or hurting the department’s financial situation.
With the only option being an appropriation from the rainy day fund, as JEMS’ account has no cash reserves, council members argued whether it was prudent to take more money from the fund that already saw $400,000 used to cover JEMS’ expenses through 2015.
“I’m nervous about what we did last month,” said member Gary Theurer. “We put her in a bad position where we might fail.”
The council already told Frazee that they’d try the new situation for a year, said council member Jeanne Houchins, who wanted to fund the new position.
“I want to see if what we told her to do works,” said Houchins, adding that council can change what’s been done before the year is over if it turns out to be a financial problem.
Members agreed, with Ted Champ debating whether it’s better to take the risk or to renege what’s been agreed upon.
“I don’t like going in the hole, but I don’t like going back on my word either,” said member Ted Champ.
Council members Mike Leonhard, Bob Vance, Mike Rockwell, Cindy Newton, Theurer, Champ and Houchins unanimously approved the appropriation.
Newton approached council Wednesday about his transition at the beginning of the year to a merit deputy after serving two terms as sheriff.
Part of the merit program is his entitlement to return to the position he had before his election as sheriff. A deputy recently left the department, and the office left the spot open for his return Jan. 1.

Newton explained to council members that he’s asking the additional $894.40 for his salary to put him in line with another officer who has served for the same amount of time — 24 years. The deputy’s salary was frozen before the implementation of the county’s new pay scale, but still accrues longevity.
His salary would total $36,816.
“I’m just trying to get what I think I deserve,” said Newton. “I deserve an answer on where I’m going to be.”
Looking at the situation, Champ told fellow council members to think of it in terms of positions instead of people, to take Newton out of the equation.
“If it’s the same position … would they be getting the same pay?” said Champ. “That’s the way I look at it.”
Council members approved the additional funding, with Cindy Newton, the sheriff’s wife, abstaining from the vote.
County attorney Bill Hinkle and auditor Nancy Culy will write an amendment to the county’s wage ordinance to be presented to council at its next meeting.
In other business, council:
•Approved $20,000 from infrastructure funds to repair the foundation of Jay County Retirement Center’s barn.
Commissioner Faron Parr told members that a 100-foot area on the north side of the barn is deteriorated and broken in three places. Center employees are afraid if the foundation isn’t fixed, the barn may collapse with the freezing and thawing of another winter.
Parr said other issues with the barn, including broken doors, rotting wood and bowed beams, will need to be addressed soon and that members should think about how much money the county will need to invest.
“It’s a shame it’s in that kind of shape,” said Faron, adding that he believes it’s one of the biggest and most beautiful in the county.
•Heard from Newton about the jail’s recent state inspection. He said that it went well with the inspector commenting that the jail is “extremely clean and well organized.”
•Approved an ordinance allowing highway superintendent Ken Wellman to acquire a three-year, $147,750 loan from First Merchants Bank to purchase a Case frontloader for the highway department.
•Thanked Milo Miller Jr. for his years of service as a Jay County Commissioner.
“You can carve your initials on the door,” said Leonhard. “You’ve deserved it.”
Members also heard a party will be given in Miller’s honor from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Dec. 22 at Jay County Courthouse, and also that Christmas dinner for county employees will be noon on Dec. 15.
•Reappointed Richard Whitesell, Dunkirk, to the alcohol beverage commission for another year.
•Approved additional appropriations of $6,000 from county general to the coroner’s office to cover autopsy fees; $9,000 to emergency management agency from a 2009 contribution from Sprint/Nextel to update the county’s frequency range; $20,000 to Jay County Jail to cover utilities, compensation time and medical coverage; $12,153.65 to the clerks perpetuation fund to cover summer help wages; $3,538.65 from funds generated by inmates prescription payments to go toward medical services; $600 from recorder fees to pay for elected official training; $5,700 to infrastructure for repairs on north side of Portland; and $3,475 to superior court from substance abuse program fees to pay Meridian Health Services.
•Approved transfers of $450 to auditor’s office to replenish legal forms; $5,000 to sheriff’s office for holiday pay; $8,500 to commissioners; $200 to superior court to pay overtime for night court; $3,000 to public defender for retirement fund of secretary; $21,735.08 to the retirement center to cover the retirement of Rob and Teresa Smith and pay for fertilizer; $17,856.60 to election to pay for electronic poll book; $4,000 to local option certificate shares to pay for insurance coverage; $19,665.44 to JEMS for payroll through the end of the year; $1 to the health department; and $20,000 to the highway department for tractor and equipment.