[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6303320,"mediaKeyId","2473166-85ce1a319283f38636decdf148ae92c3","parentId",2473166,"title","Votes at a glance: Monroe County Council actions and outcomes from Feb. 25 meeting","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",9688000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473166-85ce1a319283f38636decdf148ae92c3&start=9688&end=9688","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473166-85ce1a319283f38636decdf148ae92c3/thumbnail_9688000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6303320/Monroe-County/Indiana/Votes-at-a-glance-Monroe-County-Council-actions-and-outcomes-from-Feb-25-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303320-9bf8e8a815773a0e49d09a0eeb58ed5d/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929624&Signature=dvkbdG0aVnxElzr2ZQSVyWntz99Hx9MmvyCyi4hOaTakT~yScSsShGiTKtxTPOV4hzULe2llG4nLiQlykhR0cOuRbkr8cvLRew2D4DpgmU4OccpvS-cJKr1VwwepXrDYwR2-HEz4S2NgbDsANRKdCZ5PIs-pVaUxhJNuLyMHcBxAh1mmVaiQuYcyPCJu9Ct5HdPMBfwN4G4Sdr6LmwIDKNmz37Lfo3ilM15DeFZ9n6DgvBqwLOtByOYeaHT00pfEutt1BVaArO-v65Mr7qbGubLQfdgQwgKWTn~CPX7~42oPpWwSTZGY1DPmAw-a5bqZR9PcLvIDxPUmSOVrW3Dg6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Monroe County IN","date","2025-02-27T16:55:47Z","article","This article summarizes formal motions, appropriations and resolutions acted on by the Monroe County Council at the Feb. 25, 2025 meeting. Below are the items taken, outcomes and key details.

Consent agenda: Approved (voice). The council approved consent items that included small fund transfers and account creations for health, courts and probation grant accounts. Outcome: motion carried by voice vote; all members present voted in favor.

Prosecutor — High‑Tech Crimes Unit appropriation: Approved (roll call). Motion to appropriate grant funding in Fund 9159‑9624 (High‑Tech Crimes Unit) and create new account lines; additional appropriation of $153,744.49 in the services category. Funding source: state grant via Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council. Vote: unanimous approval by roll call (6 yes, 1 absent).

Courts — job description and salary ordinance updates: Approved (roll call). The council approved court job‑description updates and an amendment to the 2025 salary ordinance with an effective date of Feb. 9, 2025, following a second reading; the deputy court administrator update was approved separately. Both passed by unanimous roll call vote.

Resolution — county payment for council training: Approved (roll call). Resolution authorizing payment for council member attendance at AIC training on Feb. 4–5 from the elected official training fund; the council confirmed fund balance and approved the resolution unanimously.

Resolution — council donation fund (in memory of Cheryl Munson): Approved (voice, amended). Council amended the resolution to specify that donations be used to support the Sofia Travis community service grant program and unanimously approved creation of a dedicated non‑reverting fund; the item will be forwarded to commissioners for ordinance establishing the fund.

Resolution — assignment of judgments to Waste Reduction District: Tabled (motion to table to March 11). Council tabled a late‑added resolution that would permit assignment of judgments in enforcement cases to the Waste Reduction District to allow additional review and consultation; motion to table passed.

Resolution — opposing Indiana SB1: Approved (voice, amended). The council amended the draft to include updated fiscal impact figures and adopted the resolution unanimously; copies to be sent to the governor, House, Senate and AIC.

Notes and next steps: The council recorded unanimous votes in several roll calls; Councilor Hawk left the meeting prior to some votes. Items requiring further action (for example, the council donation fund) will be forwarded to the commissioners as ordinance requests; the tabled Waste Reduction District item will return March 11 for further consideration.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Monroe County Council, February 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved routine consent items and several appropriations and personnel updates; a high‑profile resolution opposing Senate Bill 1 passed and an administrative resolution about assignment of judgments to the waste reduction district was tabled to March 11.","taxTitle","Monroe County, Indiana","taxId",3534,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6303324,"Monroe County Council adopts resolution opposing Senate Bill 1, cites multi‑year revenue hit",1195,8133000,9328000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473166-85ce1a319283f38636decdf148ae92c3&start=8133&end=9328","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473166-85ce1a319283f38636decdf148ae92c3/thumbnail_8133000.jpg","/articles/6303324/Monroe-County/Indiana/Monroe-County-Council-adopts-resolution-opposing-Senate-Bill-1-cites-multiyear-revenue-hit","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303324-7d014999e4e1bd49750c5aaa7dd0dec2/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929624&Signature=j9X2cf8UCYHva3JZNKwwAfyQUB~5uueaT-9ZLMgpUu7iPsA2pSFUeax~bh9BncoenQWTYbAV7uOZiJv6SbcoOG9TgUGA8ZCV1Ngqj1Jmr0aPa1TpZMArmQXJz1fRmznYXn3hV-aAmZEZwuBldoWSx8gBhdFz2Fxt-bTwHghrQxO9XPkCQVBID-JuuCISKuQaY4T2J9hEeGLvDgf6K58YFqsC3CwyXK5zgpOkwlB6WQjcetlwb7beYcTKIcvbI4~T5L1pr5nu4MBRDWn8Ul11iPiTRJa1dmhKa01yT0DX4M1Q3XTOb8r9n2MOKgUosqxkj2v6lTBYnAwu2VIF1PfW1Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Monroe County Council unanimously adopted a resolution Feb. 25 opposing Indiana Senate Bill 1 as amended in the Senate, saying the bill would have significant negative impacts on the county budget and asking that copies be sent to the governor, both legislative chambers and the Association of Indiana Counties (AIC).

The resolution was presented by county legal counsel Molly Turner King. The council amended draft language to reference the most recent fiscal‑impact estimates and then approved the resolution by voice vote. The amended whereas clause cites the bill’s projected earlier fiscal impacts for Monroe County: a reduction of $7,654,000 in 2026, $14,676,000 in 2027 and $20,135,000 in 2028.

Why it matters: Councilors said the projected cuts would directly affect local services, including public safety, emergency response and other county operations. Several councilors urged community members—and state legislators representing Monroe County—to communicate the local consequences of Senate Bill 1 to state leaders.

Council action and distribution: Council President Crossley and members agreed the resolution should be sent to the governor’s office, the Indiana House and Senate leadership and AIC. The resolution passed unanimously in the Feb. 25 meeting.

Council comments: Speakers urged constituents to contact state lawmakers and to explain local consequences if the bill becomes law. Councilor Henry pressed for added specificity in the resolution’s whereas clauses; the council worked from recent fiscal estimates provided during the meeting before adopting the amended language.","The council voted unanimously Feb. 25 to adopt a resolution opposing Indiana Senate Bill 1 as amended in the Senate, citing estimated local revenue reductions over 2026–2028 and directing copies to state leaders and AIC.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6303329,"Council discusses renewing WIS classification contract; asks staff to negotiate term and reporting",1403,6707000,8110000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473166-85ce1a319283f38636decdf148ae92c3&start=6707&end=8110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473166-85ce1a319283f38636decdf148ae92c3/thumbnail_6707000.jpg","/articles/6303329/Monroe-County/Indiana/Council-discusses-renewing-WIS-classification-contract-asks-staff-to-negotiate-term-and-reporting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303329-a0053fe67b743cff099a4bfc90ceb930/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929624&Signature=P7yL-sWW~gNNQUmU5sf2sdRKVerclfoE78iNfR-2TyWRbqDJRBy1wG3PTKDtDGCGOzQI-cvGHDeIjrnyA1XNRzAIpIVYDyOC2pm~QutabCO8dr8YwKY2OKKPkKCiSGT3QpphpYr7~FX5qVg3luz1fijHt-WiqgM0K1PQmu8Cw963EQRRLZLLFvwWZRpAg-LS9hI8kQpwwrNsjvUeV3fG-RLi2sKRlmUWWm8rje3wlaFkh4KkbGD0fbcm-jufO1vhE0G66dAhBTBE5qzq4ulvakIfoWiOhczdGkUa2gQMn8Jo4lVN7i2KYT6swCw36ufN6RClJ4Jufaq2uFq01lGISw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Monroe County Council discussed a draft consulting agreement Feb. 25 to continue work with Wagner, Erwin & Shealy (WIS), the external firm that performs job classification, salary analysis and related human‑resource consulting for the county.

Molly Turner King, county legal counsel, presented a draft engagement and said she left the term and amount blank intentionally for council direction. Councilors debated a one‑year versus two‑year term and whether to set a per‑year not‑to‑exceed amount. Councilor Iverson favored a two‑year term to allow the firm time to follow department workflows; several colleagues proposed a $28,000 annual cap tied to the county’s budgeted line for consulting.

The county auditor reviewed recent invoices for WIS work and said the county paid about $7,546 in 2022, $12,588 in 2023 and roughly $15,002 in 2024 for classification and related services. The auditor also noted one recent three‑month invoice sequence that totaled about $5,700. The auditor said itemized billing showed work on courts, probation and other department classification requests.

Why it matters: WIS provides central classification and compensation expertise the county lacks in a fully staffed internal HR model. Councilors said they want clearer cost‑per‑project guidance so departments know expected charges before requesting a major study.

Council direction and next steps: Councilors asked staff to meet with WIS, consider a two‑year term that ends Dec. 31, 2026, and return to the council with a contract that includes: (1) a per‑year not‑to‑exceed amount (council discussion centered on $28,000), (2) periodic check‑ins or review points so the council can assess performance and costs, and (3) language clarifying expected per‑project costs for department classification requests. The item will return to a future agenda after negotiation.","Counsel and councilors reviewed a draft services contract with Wagner, Erwin & Shealy (WIS) for classification and salary consulting, discussed term and annual not‑to‑exceed amounts, and asked staff to meet WIS and return with a modified agreement.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6303334,"Financial adviser warns Monroe County against treating high 2024 interest income as sustainable",1337,1773000,3110000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473166-85ce1a319283f38636decdf148ae92c3&start=1773&end=3110","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473166-85ce1a319283f38636decdf148ae92c3/thumbnail_1773000.jpg","/articles/6303334/Monroe-County/Indiana/Financial-adviser-warns-Monroe-County-against-treating-high-2024-interest-income-as-sustainable","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303334-db842de74e64973ebbe7609b5d092773/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929624&Signature=TRBDGhrPOFiXKYK6xE0QlB7AF9ytDl1WhMzjPgaCcRoEt10ZImSqn~0c8LcKRLOJjh17r30iYv3NHdN5yCf~vz8zw3lOEJ7xiL9Wj4ejKWbv~TREbctbMAKYRUyjehTSpF56MOK0GRJN-anf6xbouu73DG4jHD6jcW8LEeVhd8l-AcdFWexRVw9SkLspPRyh3ZGNZlTD0L73OQ32r4pz8tuIFHHEOEmjDFZ2nDQaFKPCFwRjipvdwRk4yeD5NWsJ6VWJHnoKHvOw5sbc9OkDXS9nLJdYROg4xh7cIM3wP08mcqmAQALB5AN6tLMrrozSiWEbwGs2Ngmldad3ZrgNyQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The county’s municipal advisor told Monroe County Council on Feb. 25 that the county’s strong balance sheet in 2024 should not be treated as a durable revenue source and urged conservative budgeting and new controls on appropriations.

Greg Garritas of Financial Solutions Group, the county’s municipal advisor and certified public accountant, said the county finished 2024 with an unusually high interest income and a strong ending general fund balance. “We have a very strong $30,000,000 — 30.1 million dollars ending balance,” Garritas said, but he warned that interest income that pushed totals higher in 2024 was driven by elevated short‑term interest rates and could fall sharply if rates decline.

Why it matters: Garritas said the county’s one‑time gains from interest and pandemic (ARPA) funds cannot be relied on for ongoing operating costs. He urged the council to plan now for lower revenue assumptions in the 2026 budget cycle.

Key points and recommendations reported to the council:
• Interest sensitivity: Garritas said if interest rates fall—he cited a hypothetical 2.5% Federal Reserve rate—interest income could drop substantially from 2024 levels and the county should not assume similar receipts going forward.
•Budget discipline: He recommended a near‑term pause on nonessential additional appropriations and suggested departments be asked to identify durable reductions and travel or noncritical spending to delay.
•Salary and staffing scrutiny: The advisory recommended separating mandatory step increases from discretionary raises when projecting salaries for 2026 so the council can see which portions are recurring and which are policy choices.
•Reserves and insurance: Garritas advised building the self‑insurance reserve (the county’s internal fund for claims) toward a target many counties set near $3 million and to monitor stop‑loss and other health‑insurance costs.
•Capital financing: He recommended use of GEO (lease‑rental) bonds as a long‑term tool for capital financing and noted the county’s equity funds (bridges, major projects) can serve as an “equity” portion alongside bond financing.

Councilors asked several follow‑up questions about the timing of possible state and federal changes, the effect of annexation on tax distributions and whether the county’s current fund mix (general fund, EDIT, jail correctional facility tax and ARPA) was being used optimally. Garritas said the county should run a first‑quarter annualized comparison of receipts and expenditures and a midyear review to detect early signs of revenue deterioration.

Council direction and next steps: Councilors asked staff and the auditor to circulate Garritas’ recommendations and the auditor’s reversion trend reports to all department heads; Council President Crossley asked that departments look for nonessential travel and other near‑term cuts and that PAC (the personnel advisory committee) and the council coordinate on any proposed salary actions.","Financial Solutions Group told the council the county’s strong 2024 ending balance and elevated interest income are unlikely to persist; advisers recommended conservative budgeting, a review of salary commitments, and building self‑insurance reserves.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_46":116,"_48":117,"_50":118,"_52":119,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":120,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":121,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6303338,"Monroe County hears schedule, milestones for new justice center; residents press concerns about jail site and future use",401,719000,1120000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2473166-85ce1a319283f38636decdf148ae92c3&start=719&end=1120","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2473166-85ce1a319283f38636decdf148ae92c3/thumbnail_719000.jpg","/articles/6303338/Monroe-County/Indiana/Monroe-County-hears-schedule-milestones-for-new-justice-center-residents-press-concerns-about-jail-site-and-future-use","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6303338-fe1d4342c9c5a21094be9ea06e9d9d19/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929624&Signature=dBtQrysgwyhDna--W1ZsPIEub5Ow-hHUasRy6loS76WRgBMKahHTslADGbu3jZgSR96kbYaS3YL0RIHOfQ8f3BDNDRi5U24cp4e7Thzh849ZFL2mfUCVaVBvZe9gq82r14MFeCWI6Pnx7~daxa24Sdm1QKFBcVg0L-VmXrqvNYXtKHfX9x1e-I8JOgDWN3XkdK9OnMpdHhGBsG9SFBWTq-CKMf79AevkqS3L6O-XaT0EMF7NCtMiVFzrK3SGZsmlHaaabyojGF6TOf7MDd6iVnTyL9FOgT6OggzYIaZ2Woek63P61tuTRXOxS8GVFM7fmv~Qh60-BfftJXpeXE0A0A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Monroe County Council heard a timeline update Feb. 25 for the proposed combined sheriff’s office, jail and justice center and received public comment urging the council to reconsider building details, site selection and bed count.

Scott Carnegie, project manager with DLZ, told the council the project has completed early site and environmental work and is moving from predesign toward schematic design. “We started the predesign phase for the justice facility on April 17,” Carnegie said, and he listed near‑term milestones: presentation of the predesign package to the combined commissioners and council on Feb. 27, a planned close on the North Park property in February 2025, schematic design in April 2025, a construction bid period in May 2026, construction start in July 2026 and substantial completion targeted for March 2029.

Why it matters: the project is one of the county’s largest capital undertakings in years and will shape operating costs, staffing needs and long‑term debt. Council members said they need clearer data on construction and operational cost risk before committing to later budget steps.

Councilors pressed the project team for clarifications. Councilor Iverson called the handout “fantastic” and asked that the schedule be filed in the meeting minutes; he said the council will need detailed answers on potential overruns, staffing and long‑term operational costs at Thursday’s follow‑up presentation. Carnegie and Chris Scioli of Weddell Brothers (construction management) said the team anticipates roughly 30 months of construction for the scale envisioned and described a plan to run the jail and justice center work concurrently to share a labor force and shorten overall duration.

Resident comment: Seth Muchler, a Monroe County resident, used the public‑comment period to oppose the new jail and to urge councilors to reassess the North Park site. “I continue to not support the new jail,” Muchler said. He urged council members to consider how any facility could be used in the future and to think about whether the site would place the jail out of scale with downtown and community access.

Council direction and next steps: the council and project team agreed to present the predesign package again at a joint meeting with the commissioners on Feb. 27 and to return to the council with updated cost estimates at each design milestone. Councilors asked staff to keep the schedule updated at each milestone and to provide focused answers Thursday on workforce, pre‑bid assumptions and operational staffing projections.","County project manager presented a multi‑year timeline for a combined sheriff’s office, jail and justice center; councilors pressed on costs and operations and a resident urged reconsideration of the North Park site and bed counts.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Monroe County Council actions and outcomes from Feb. 25 meeting

Monroe County Council adopts resolution opposing Senate Bill 1, cites multi‑year revenue hit

Council discusses renewing WIS classification contract; asks staff to negotiate term and reporting

Financial adviser warns Monroe County against treating high 2024 interest income as sustainable

Monroe County hears schedule, milestones for new justice center; residents press concerns about jail site and future use