Umbaugh will help county with standards

The county will get help to implement its internal control standards.
Jay County Commissioners approved signing a contract Monday morning with H.J. Umbaugh and Associates for its assistance with putting the measures in place.
Commissioners passed an ordinance on June 6 that adopted minimum levels of internal control standards developed by the Indiana State Boards of Accounts. The standards are intended to create a system of accountability and transparency within local governments.
The ordinance passed by commissioners tasked county auditor Anna Culy with developing and implementing the standards. Culy stressed Monday the process is a large and complicated undertaking, which she described as similar to drafting a budget.
“I can’t do the whole internal controls by myself, and other counties have committees and now I am the one who is supposed to do all by myself,” said Culy, who presented the contract to commissioners.
Umbaugh anticipates the fees for its work to be approximately $5,000.
“Again, everyone I have talked to said go to them,” Culy said of the firm.
All political subdivisions are required to pass the levels of internal control standards prior to June 30.
“Just another example of another unfunded mandate,” said county attorney Bill Hinkle.
Commissioner Doug Inman asked if the county should look into forming a committee to help implement the standards, but Hinkle suggested waiting to see what Umbaugh advises.
Meanwhile, commissioners heard from Mike Wright of Redkey Town Council about issues the town is having with stray dogs.
He said a dog was recently hit in town and that it had to be put down. Additionally, he said three or four children have been bit.
“If we have someone bit bad, it’s going to be a big mess,” he said. “Our main thing is protecting the kids before someone gets hurt bad.”
The problem, he explained, is that the town neither currently has a dogcatcher nor funding to hire one.
The town reached out to Dunkirk about possibly teaming up, but Wright said the proposal was rebuffed.
He described the county as a “last resort.”
Wright came before the commissioners to see if the county contract with Bill Fields, who serves as its dogcatcher, could be reworded to allow Fields to work in incorporated areas.
Hinkle told Wright the issue is really a budgetary matter for Redkey, but Wright stressed that the town is currently cash-strapped. Wright said he has spoken with Fields, who would charge Redkey a certain amount per dog if it individually contracted with him.
Commissioners president Faron Parr said commissioners would think over the issue.
“We’ll brainstorm on it,” he said. “I know it’s a problem.”
In other business, commissioners:
•Cancelled their meeting scheduled for 9 a.m. July 5.
•Passed and adopted Resolution 2016-04, which amends the capital cumulative development fund to increase the tax amount of 5 cents per $100 of assessed valuation payable in 2017 and thereafter.
•Discussed last week’s request from Jason Schmiesing for a four-way stop at county roads 300 East and 700 South. County engineer Dan Watson said he didn’t think a four-way stop was appropriate, but said he’d spoken with Schmiesing and will look into working on the visibility at the current two-way stop.
•Briefly discussed with courthouse superintendent Roger McBride the possibility of holding an auction to sell old county equipment.