Council pushes to collect court fees

A Jay County Council member made one suggestion for spending more money.
But not before he made a suggestion for bringing in a much larger amount.
Gary Theurer advocated for looking into the county’s uncollected court costs during Wednesday’s meeting before proposing higher salaries for the highway department’s truck drivers.
After county clerk Ellen Coats took office in 2009, she ran a report that showed $3.9 million in court costs that haven’t been paid. She brought the issue up again at a September council meeting.
Theurer wanted Coats and the county commissioners discuss possible solutions.
“I know you can’t collect it all, but at least have them look into seeing if there’s a collection agency or lawyers or someone interested in going after some of it,” Theurer said, adding that receiving just 10 percent of the uncollected money would make a difference.
Mike Rockwell said he had wondered about a collection agency as well, or garnishing wages.
Coats said some counties use collection agencies. Others set court hearings to check in with those who owe court costs on whether they have been paying.
This would not be the first time the county has gone after uncollected fees.
About three years ago, Coats said, she raised the issue of unpaid docket fees — yearly administrative fees for processing child support payments. A collection agency brought in at least $110,000 of the outstanding $365,000.
Theurer also brought up raising salaries for highway department truck drivers, noting a county-commissioned study by Waggoner, Irwin, Scheele and Associates consulting firm showing they are underpaid compared to other counties.

Jay County employee wages lagged in general, but truck drivers were especially behind.
The drivers made $28,267.20 this year, and will again next year if no change is made. The study showed that salary is $3,704 behind the “external midpoint” — an average of what employees in the same position make in comparable Indiana counties and cities.
While the county budget — which included no raises for any employees — has been finalized, council could pass a salary amendment in January.
Theurer said highway superintendent Ken Wellman is one or two drivers short of a full crew because it’s hard to find good drivers who will accept that salary.
“You can’t put just anybody in a $100,000 truck,” council member Ted Champ said.
Employees weren’t given raises because the county couldn’t afford it. And council didn’t want to upset employees by giving raises to just some, Champ said.
But the highway department is funded almost entirely by the state, and doesn’t have all the same challenges as offices funded by local taxes.
“We’re penalizing him and his department, and his fund is in fine shape,” Theurer said.
Rockwell said next time raises are on the table, the study’s findings should be looked at closely and increases should be made accordingly instead of giving everyone the same percentage raise.
Council also discussed the possibility of signing bonuses for new drivers. Auditor Anna Culy said she would look into that and the deadline for salary amendments.
In other business, council members Mike Leonhard, Cindy Newton and Bob Vance, Champ, Rockwell and Theurer, absent Jeanne Houchins:
•Approved transfers totaling $32,804.57 from several line items of the election budget into election voting machines. Coats plans to upgrade the county’s election machines. MicroVote gave the county $10,000 in credit for eight machines traded in. The county will receive $5,000 next week for two machines sold to Greene County.
•Approved an additional appropriation of $2,500 for jury fees. Circuit Court Judge Brian Hutchison said this will cover costs for the rest of 2015.
•Agreed the Economic Development Income Tax advisory committee will consider a request from Jay County Development Corporation director Bill Bradley to pay for this year’s WorkKeys testing at Jay County High School. The assessment provides test-takers with results about what jobs they are suited for.