Sheriff contract will be pursued (1/26/04)

Since initiating a discussion last week with Jay County Sheriff Todd Penrod about a possible contract that would change the way he is paid, Jay County Commissioners have received plenty of feedback.

And the commissioners said this morning they plan to continue efforts to negotiate an agreement with Penrod, who had a net income of $100,330 in 2003 — a figure that included about $38,000 in salary and $62,000 in savings from meal money for inmates in the Jay County Jail.

The current system allowing sheriffs to keep the difference between the amount allocated per meal and the actual amount spent was established in Indiana when most sheriffs lived in the jail and their wives and/or paid help cooked the meals for inmates.

Penrod was noncommittal when the subject was brought up last week by commissioners’ president Milo Miller Jr., saying he would be willing to talk.

Miller and fellow commissioners Gary Theurer and Mike Leonhard said they plan to explore whether an executive session can be held to negotiate a contract.

Also this morning, the commissioners and county treasurer Robin Alberson met as the county’s board of finance to receive a report on the county’s investments.

Alberson said a total of $195,855 in interest was earned by Jay County last year, including about $160,000 for county general.

The county’s investments must be placed in secure accounts such as certificates of deposit, checking and savings.[[In-content Ad]]