Gas guzzling sheriff's dept. fuel budget

High fuel costs continue to plague everyone, and the Putnam County Sheriff's Department is not exempt. Additional gas money was among several issues the Putnam County Council discussed during its Tuesday meeting.

Sheriff Steve Fenwick came before the council with fuel bills for the months of October and November. The cost for the month of October was estimated around $15,000 and it is expected that November will also be within the same range.

"We've cut back," explained Fenwick. "I've cut the reserves out. If you see a reserve patrolling he's buying his own fuel."

The sheriff's department was tentatively approved for $30,000, but will again come before the council during the December meeting when it has more exact numbers.

With the increased cost of fuel, it has been an ongoing issue for the Sheriff's Department. In July, the council approved the department for an additional $35,000 for fuel costs.

J.R. Scott of the Airport Board appeared before the council with an update on fundraising efforts that will soon be in effect to help raise money for a new runway.

It is expected that the airport will be selling sponsorships where people and businesses can donate $5 per foot of runway.

Along with the fundraising effort the Putnam County Community Foundation recently awarded the airport board a $10,000 grant.

"That's exactly what we were going for," Scott said. "We've got the line kind of drawn now."

In total there has been $12,700 collected for the project out of the $311,000 needed by May 2013.

Scott noted there is a possibility to sell one of the buildings on the property for an additional $30,000. The owners would continue to pay the remainder of the four or five years left on the lease on top of the $30,000.

"I think we have some real potential donors as far as corporate," Scott said.

In other business:

* Teresa Parrish of adult probation was granted an additional $2,880 to help with those doing home visits. The money will be taken out of probation funds.

* The highway department was granted an additional appropriation of $40,000. It was noted that the money was already there and will be transferred from another account.

* The Board of Health was approved to hire a part-time data entry clerk as it is hoping to have the database brought back to 1882.

* Auditor Stephanie Campbell came before the board with money that was left over from a 2007 Homestead Credit Rebate. The council decided that the money left in the fund, $627.58, would be put into the rainy day fund.

* The council amended salary ordinances in order to give employees a one-time bonus. The funds, $110,000, will be taken from the rainy day fund to cover the bonuses and will be paid on Friday, Dec. 7.