Officials request additional personnel

Putnam County commissioners Gene Beck, Jim Baird and Kristina Warren discussed a problem with pigeon droppings at the courthouse and heard requests from county employees to hire additional help in their offices.

Putnam County Planning Director Kim Hyten talked to commissioners about an ongoing issue with pigeons and their droppings around the courthouse.

"They are causing all kinds of damage to the roof and the screens especially. The awning on the south side of the building may be ruined," Hyten told the group.

Currently ARAB is being paid $115 a month for pigeon control. Hyten has obtained a bid from a local company for $100 per month.

"We just need the problem addressed. I don't care if you (the board) cancel this contract or not. That's up to you guys," added Hyten.

County Attorney Scott Huff suggested he and Hyten look over the current contract and send a letter to ARAB asking them to address the issues or allowing the county to discontinue the contract.

More information will be available at the next meeting about the issue.

The three commissioners also heard requests from several county offices for additional staff to be hired. These offices included the Assessor's office, Soil and Water Conservation, Recorder and superior and circuit courts.

Putnam County Assessor Wanda O'Neal presented the board with information showing her office could save $40,607 per year by hiring two people full time for an entire year opposed to spending $49,150 for two people working for five months. Last year Township Trustee and assessor salaries cost $93,607.

Changes in the duties of the Township Assessors mandated by the state of Indiana increases the duties of the deputy's in the Assessor's office. They will be handling 13 townships with approximately three times as many returns. These people are dedicated mostly to doing personal property assessments of mobile homes that often require site visits. They will also still be answering questions about assessments plus completing other related duties.

Additionally, Teresa Parrish asked that probation users fees be used to fund a part time position for a current volunteer in her office.

"We have quite a bit of probationers fees, and we are supposed to use it for this," Parrish told the group.

County Recorder Jeanette Summitt asked the county to pay for the maintenance in her office so she could use money from the Perpetuation Fund to hire a new position.

"I would like you to consider paying for the maintenance in our office like you do in all the other offices. I would then use that money to pay for a new position," said Summitt.

A member of the audience, Opal Sutherlin, voiced her objection to the county picking up the maintenance from the Recorder's office from the Perpetuation Fund.

"I don't think the county should use the Perpetuation Fund. As a taxpayer, I have a concern about doing that," said Sutherlin who claimed to have done research on the number of microfilm documents processed by the Recorder's office.

Summitt defended her office and their work, stating that they do much more than just microfilm documents. After some further discussion, Commissioner Gene Beck stopped the discussion by tabling the item along with all the other requests to be reviewed at a special meeting next week.

In other business the group heard from Hyten that Prosecutor Tim Bookwalter would be paying $8,669.80 for safety vests for highway, utility, public works, pars, cemetery, emergency management, emergency services, police, fire and sheriff departments.

Hyten commended Greencastle Fire Chief Bill Newgent for negotiating a good price for the vests that are now being required by new state regulations.

"Bill really did a spectacular job getting the cost lowered for all the vests. He really negotiated the price for us," added Hyten.

Putnam County Commissioners will meet at a special meeting Monday, Nov. 10 at 9 a.m. at the county annex to consider the increased staff, changes in budget and discussion of 2009 salaries.