At-a-glance: Commissioners approve multiple routine appropriations, equipment purchases and ordinances
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Summary
At the meeting commissioners approved a slate of routine appropriations and purchases — including election equipment, jury funds, tree removal and several departmental line transfers — and passed three ordinances on salary, tax rates and solid-waste appropriations.
Warrick County commissioners voted on a series of routine appropriations, equipment purchases and four ordinances during the meeting. Most items carried without extended discussion. Key outcomes included:
- Election equipment and pull pads: County Clerk Mike Wilson requested $58,965 from the rainy-day fund to purchase new pull pads (the current devices are no longer supported by software updates) and to spread voting‑machine payments over additional years. Motion approved unanimously.
- Jury funds and court expenses: Superior Court 1 and Superior Court 2 requested additional appropriations for juror fees and related costs. A $10,000 appropriation for jury expenses in Superior Court 1 and a combined request (including $10,000 and $5,000 items for juror fees and per diem/interpreter costs) for Superior Court 2 were approved; motions carried.
- Sheriff utilities and commissary reporting: Sheriff Mike Wilder requested additional utility funds to cover increased bills. Commissioners approved the request and accepted a plan to move money among line items as needed; motion carried unanimously.
- Parks tree removal: Parks director Ben Lab requested funds to remove 12 large or hazardous trees; commissioners approved the contract and noted parks staff will handle cleanup.
- Buildings, grounds and communications: Appropriations were approved for courthouse utilities ($10,000), building maintenance ($5,000), grounds and parking ($1,000) and communications ($10,000) to cover rising costs and outstanding invoices.
- Various departmental transfers and small appropriations: The board approved a set of transfers and appropriations listed on the agenda (11a through 11e, 11g), covering warranty payments from rainy‑day funds, sheriff vehicle reimbursement, salary/vacation sellbacks, probation transfers and other routine items.
- Emergency Management Agency item (11f) was pulled for separate discussion; the board approved the $1,995 annual mass‑notification subscription during that separate item (see separate story).
- Ordinances: The board held a public hearing and approved ordinances on the salary/wage schedule (Ordinance 2025-03), the county appropriation and tax rates for 2025, and a Solid Waste District appropriation (motion carried; one commissioner recorded opposed on the solid-waste vote).
Most motions were approved unanimously; when votes were recorded the clerk noted the result in the minutes (e.g., “motion carries 6 0”). Several items were referred to staff for routine follow-up and reporting.