Sheriff discusses K-9

Despite a shortfall in donations, Sheriff Dwane Ford is still determined to pay for the entirety of his department’s new K-9 without any county funds.
Sheriff Dwane Ford gave Jay County Council an update Wednesday night on the department’s new K-9 and council appropriated $12,350 into the sheriff donation fund for costs relating to the dog.
At its previous meeting, council tabled appropriating the donated funds until Ford came to discuss the overall cost.
Ford said Wednesday the total cost of the K-9 is around $20,000 and that he is still working on getting additional donations to bridge the gap.
“As I told you before, I don’t expect any of the money for this dog to come from the county. I’m still acquiring donations and stuff like that,” Ford said.
He added that one of the main companies that pledged donations backed out of its original commitment. Instead of donating $16,000, Ford said it ended up giving just $1,000.
During his remarks, Ford said the new dog has been an asset in trying to combat the county’s drug epidemic.
“I think we are going to see the benefits in the dog already over the other dog that we’ve got,” Ford said.
He said with two dogs the department now has a K-9 available whenever needed and added that they can can work together as well.
During discussion, council member Gary Theurer asked about the paying for additional expenses of the dog. Ford said his department has a fund dedicated for such expenses.
Meanwhile, Ford also informed council about a recent car accident involving one of his officers and a department vehicle.
As the officer was making a left turn onto county road 800 West from Indiana 67, Ford said another vehicle attempted to pass the Chevrolet Impala and struck it.
Indiana State Police investigated the accident and Ford said they determined it was the other drivers’ fault.
He said the vehicle has been looked at by adjustors and Arm’s Auto Body, which said it’s totaled.
“There’s no doubt in my mind it’s a totaled vehicle,” Ford said.
He is unsure what type of vehicle will replace the wrecked one.
“A lot of that will have to do with expenses and how you guys feel about it,” Ford said, adding that nearly all the equipment from the crashed Impala will be able to be transferred to a new vehicle.
In other business, council members Mike Leonhard, Mike Rockwell, Bob Vance, Houchins and Theurer, absent Cindy Newton and Ted Champ.
•Approved additional appropriations from the general fund in the amount of $1,150 for the surveyor’s office for uniforms and copier maintenance, $2,000 for part-time wages for the veterans service office and $43,500 for Jay County Jail for medical and hospital expenses, meals and compensation.
•Approved transferring $2,100 from the election board’s computer program line-item to wages-precinct boards, $5,000 from the highway department’s gas, oil and lubricant line-item to contractual services, 1 cent in adult probation’s travel expenses line item to probation supplemental to correct a rounding error, $670.50 from the cemetery funds wage-clerical line-item to maintenance of cemetery stones and $75 from office supplies to maintenance of cemetery stones.
•OK’d additional appropriations from the infrastructure fund of $20,713,80 for parking lot paving at the county retirement center and $2,000 for a line item for Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. Council also approved splitting costs with Waste Management on a completed project to rectify a drainage issue in front of the landfill. The county’s share of the expenses total $9,780.75.
•Approved an ordinance adopting the county’s salary schedule and compensation polices as well as an amendment to the Jay/Portland Building and Planning Interlocal agreement.
•Heard from auditor Anna Culy that council members will have to undergo internal controls training. They decided to schedule a training for 6:15 p.m. Dec. 14 prior to next month’s council meeting.