County Council - Regular Meeting

Morning. Call to order the meeting of the Delaware County Council on Tuesday, January 27th, 2026. It's bit after 9:00, but I appreciate everyone's effort to make it in this morning. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance. Dan, will you start us off? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Roll call, please. Ed,

Mr. Brook, present. Mr. Langan, yes. Mr. Mgle, yes. Mr. Can yes. Miss Viper here. Mr. Wyatt present. Mr. KZ here. Mr. Hughes here. [laughter] Twice. Mr. Freeman here. Was the agenda posted? Yeah. Entertain a motion to approve the agenda. So moved. Second. Motion by Jessica, second by Dan. I would also entertain a motion to amend the agenda so that uh presiding judge Calhoun could speak after we uh review the minutes and uh so she can get back to her court.

I'll update my motion for to include the amendment. I'll second it. Roll call on approval of the agenda as amended. Mangan, yes. Mr. Wad, yes. Mr. Mogul, yes. Mr. Bookout. Yes. Piper. Yes. Mr. Can. Yes. Mr. Hughes. Yes. Approval of the December 16th council meeting minutes. They not been circulated. Motion to table. Second. Can we table the January 6th means as well? Okay. You include that in your motion? Yes, I would. Yes.

Okay. Second. Roll call on tableabling the minutes. Mr. Blanken, yes. Mr. Swag, yes. Mr. Mole, yes. Mr. Buck, yes. Mr. Spiper, yes. Mr. Can Yes. Mr. Hughes, yes. Judge Caluna.

Good morning, council. Um, it's not my pleasure to be here only because I have to tell you some sad news is that we came back in September. And in September, I told you that Emily Anderson and she'd implored you, implored you, and I implored you. We had to give her some help. We had to give her an assistant because she was going to leave. And we tried to give you all the reasons and tried to talk to you and told you this was not just crying wolf that everyone else needs an assistant. I appreciate that, but this was true. Judges don't come and ask four different times. We ask the time, which is budget time, and we ask each of you and told you all the things that Emily did. If you even watched during the the all the budget hearings and I watched some of in my office as well is it wasn't just Emily presenting the budget for us for the courts. She helped others. She helps people every day. That's not her responsibility. And I'll tell her and I've told Emily herself is that she's a victim of her own success. She never says no. But because of Emily, our courts run smoothly. Our courts clerks ask her for help every day. and we said she cannot continue to do this job by herself. Give her an assistant whether it was part-time and she had all the numbers. That was voted down. And I'm sorry to say today is that as of Friday she has turned in her resignation. The courts cannot survive without a court administrator. What I prefer that it's Emily Anderson. The answer is yes. Have I been trying even after you turned her down to try other avenues and I have on my own to try to figure out what else we could do to give her an assistant which has not come to fruition. So what happens today her decision is made and I'm sorry to hear that and we'll do something in her honor because I can tell you my life as a judge would be very different without Emily. I don't know what all she does. I'm figuring that out and it's going to be a dayby-day situation. The issue is really is finding someone to replace her. even though I think she may be irreplaceable, but someone to fill that position. Couple issues arised. The biggest of

which is we're starting the new year, and I don't think it was her decision to do this on purpose, but as of today, she has her last day will be February 20th. As of today, she has 55.23 days. You do the calculations like I did, that's through [clears throat] May 8th of 2026. I can tell you without a doubt there is no way the courts can function without a court administrator between February 20th and May 8th. The reports that she does, the funding that we do, the grants that we do, controlling the courts themselves, making sure that we're all ready to do our trials and do justice, we cannot do. So, what I'm coming to you before today is and ask for an appropriation to pay her out for her PTO time. I know that has to go be published and go a different route, but I'm just giving you a heads up. I would have loved to have told you back in September and I didn't know I could come back another time, but that's the reason we did it then. Budget time is the time to ask for additional help. And I appreciate that. Everyone every other office I appreciate that. I'm not trying to to downgrade their need for extra help. But we told you she was going to leave if she didn't get help. And I what I tell my litigants all the time, there's consequences to our actions. This is a consequence. this council did not give her the help she needed, did not give us the help she needed. She tried for the next few months, realized that and I I can't argue with her. Her mental health and her life at home is as more important than her job is. And we were running her ragged and she couldn't do everything and she's leaving. That part is true. She's not going to change her mind just because you come today and say, "But now we'll give her one." I don't think that will change her mind because then when's the next time she needs something. So, at this point in time, I'm just asking you in advance and I don't know the procedure, Mr. President. Um, as I said,

she has 55.23 days. We have just started. We posted the job description um today. It is full online. We're looking for some people. We have a couple people in mind. I don't know if they're even interested with this point in time. I don't know how quickly we can get someone in that position, but again, I can tell you one, who's going to wait around till May 8th to start their job. And two, the courts cannot be without a court administrator for the next 55.23 days. So, I'm imploring you at this point in time, if you didn't believe us in September what we needed, I'm telling you that I absolutely am asking for an appropriation to pay her out so that I can get somebody hired at least within the next 30 days. Miss Anderson, is there anything you want to say?

I just have uh one thing to say, which is I hope that you look at your employees as assets because I don't feel like one. And I've been told many times that I'm not worth what I am, but I am. And it's unfortunate because I thought I'd stay here forever. But here we are. And it's been my pleasure working here. I love my job, but I can't do it anymore. Thank you. Thank you, Emily. Um, any questions for me or on behalf of the other judges as well? If not, I don't know if all of you have my cell phone number and Bill, please feel free to share it or I'll give it to all of you. Um, Jessica has mine as well. If you need my cell phone, please reach out to me anytime. I am presiding judge as of this year and January started off with a bang. So, it's just been difficult. So, I'll answer any questions you have. Um, we're going through all the job description now and just deciding what she does. So, in addition to my court load, I'm sitting there and all the other judges as well trying to figure out what all she does in addition to try to find someone and I won't say replace because I'll be honest with you, we've had other court administrators, but in the 30 some years I've practiced law. I don't know anyone who has done as much as Emily Anderson for Delaware County.

I'd like to jump in if I could, please.

Emily, I don't know. Number one, thank you for all the you have done for us. I don't um as I'm sure I can speak on behalf of the council. U we fully recognize I hope that you understand that we recognize the job that you are doing and have done. Uh, with that in mind, we did give you, I think, a substantial raise a couple of years ago based on um, your performance and abilities. I apologize on behalf of at least myself and I'm sure the rest of the council as well. I don't know, uh, judge uh, your comment in regards to budget time was a great time to ask us for money for additional people. Um, unfortunately for this situation, we hear that from every department. We need more money. We need more people. And it really gets old. And it seems like the same people asking for those things that um when we're trying to do budget, it's and we hear all this repetition, it's very difficult to I think in my opinion feel the sincerity of what it is that is being laid before us. Um, I recognize the fact that you are a judge that you feel like if things need to be addressed, that's when they need to be addressed. I'm not disagreeing with that. However, in this particular situation,

I really um, what's the right word? I'm really caught off guard by uh as a council person, I'm not HR, but to find out after the fact that we have this huge problem that we must now address uh without any advanced notice given to any of us as far as I know that we have or or are going to have a major crisis on our hands. uh a has caught me off guard and uh b not that it's anybody's fault, but uh I just feel like there should have been more of a process involved that um if if judge you uh if we could have had a caucus u if you know uh the time to uh really be informed or reinformed med about a critical issue uh should not come in my opinion after the fact and um I don't know uh you've already indicated to us that uh Emily has uh given her notice and and thank you uh Emily for doing that. Um, I don't know. I I never like to say never ever. I'm throwing a lifeline on behalf of myself and hopefully the council that if by chance there is anything that we can do to um help

keep Emily on board. Just think about that if you would please. that um I mean I realize it here it is after the fact but um I have I have been in a position to hire people. I have lost people. I have uh had those people uh come back to me after they left four, five, six weeks later wanting their jobs back. And um I know that you have given us a lot of consideration. I know that you have other things in the works. I would hope that if there's any possibility at all that uh we could try to work something out. Uh the council I'm speaking on behalf of the council. I think that we would like to hear what it is. Again, I know it's after the fact, but we have to make we were in a position right now that I wish um as a council that we would have had a little bit more heads up on just exactly what was going on. And unfortunately, we weren't. So, I'll let uh any of the other council uh counselors speak on behalf themselves.

If I can respond to that, when I came in September, and I did, and the other judges said here too, that was our notice to you. And our belief that was the proper time because it was budget. If we're asking for additional people, that was the time. And in courts, you don't get two or three bites of the apple. So, in our mind is this was the time. This is budget. This is when you ask for the person. You don't go, "Oh, yeah. This was just a soft ask. I'm going to ask for a hard one later. And in all due respect, and I appreciate your comments, it is, trust me, it's a blow when I found out as well that she was going to leave. But to be all due respect for all of you, we told you this was going to happen. And not a single one of you, I don't believe, reached out to us. All of us judges are there every single day, a phone call away, whether it's our cell number or our office number, and not a single person goes, "Is this really a possibility? Is she really going to leave? told you she was going to leave. She said, "If I don't get help, I'm going to leave." And not a single person reached out. So, with all due respect, we did tell you. And that was, I believe, the proper time. And it could have been, "Hey, this isn't the right time. Come back in a month." And I would have been here every single month, every single month, and asking you for the exact same thing we ask you at budget time. In my belief, as a judge, that was the proper time to do it. She told you she was going to leave if she didn't get help. She tried to make it work, and she hasn't. I think we're past that at this point in time. And I appreciate it because we're going to be in the same position with and the next person in there is going to have to set some boundaries and not help everyone that Emily has helped. And I don't know to what detriment, but I don't know what else we should have done except come to you at budget time. And again, not a single person reached out. I don't speak lightly and other judges do either. When we say we need something, it's not because we come every year, every month, and ask for something. We meant it. That's when we said it. It was denied. And Emily has made her decision. and I respect her decision. I don't think it'll be easy to replace her. Um, we'll do our best, but I'm just saying I don't I definitely know I can

tell you now there is not a single way that we can wait until May 8th to hire someone new. Any questions? I'm always available by cell phone or my office. Come see me at any time. Any other questions or comments? I did I did uh discuss with uh Judge Calhoun uh as she indicated the needs to go to HR to look at that job description. Uh among the elements might be should that be considered a 40-hour job. We need to look at the structure of the court administrator's office, but does there need to be a part-time or full-time employee in addition to the court administrator? Um and the third thing we talked about was certainly if there's any other source other than general fund monies that would assist in putting the right structure in place, you know, that would be of of of significance to the council. So those are the things we need to look at. We need to get that process started. I'm the liaison with the judges and I'm available to meet and discuss at any time as well. uh so that we can come back in February, not with just an ask, hey, we need more money, but with a a a system in place that would would make the court administrator office functional and and serve the courts as it has.

I will get a plan together. Obviously, we learned this on Friday officially with the letter resignation and then we were closed yesterday. So, really was hard to do. So, I'll get it to you as soon as I can with a plan with regard to what we need. Okay. Any other comments? Yes, Mr. President, if I may. Emily, thank you for your service. Truly appreciated. Mr. President Hughes, do you remember at budget time whether you made the offer to the courts as far as an extra part-time monies to assist? I made the suggestion, but we didn't. It was not approved. Okay. Thank you. we would have taken it.

I think we were discussing the long-term effects of SB1 or SEA1 when we when he made the effect. We did have a serious discussion about it, but I think we kind of pulled our horns in because we're afraid of funding it next year. Any other comments? Judge, thank you for your time. Thank you for your time and thank you for taking me out of order. Again, I'm available at anytime anyone wants to speak. Um, he said, "Mr. Hughes has my President Hughes has my cell number. Emily has my cell number, my office number. Come see me at any time or all the other judges." Thank you very much.

Elizabeth, we're ready for transfer again.

All right. Starting off in County General uh 146 data JJ JS 101101 IT supervisor $5,000 168 vision 199 169 dental 2265 171 FICA 381 172 Perf 560 60 173 Health Insurance 24,912 311 contractual services negative 33,317 total transfer zero move

to approve second motion by Jessica second by Dan this is just to um correct the salary line and then correct the benefit lines Correct. Not add or replace or anything. Uh 101 101 is going from 80,000 to 85,000, but it's not to our special meeting that we had. Okay. Do you have any comments? No. Any questions?

Matt, are we sure all these numbers are correct. And what salary number is I mean I assume that the I'm just talking about the salaries. Yeah. Okay. Any further questions? Roll call. Miss Flangen. Yes. Mr. W. Yes. Spiper. Yes. Smok. Yes. Mr. Bookout. Yes. Mr. Can? Yes. Mr. Hughes?

Yes. 120 data IT 102101 IT network systems admin 5,000 168 vision 199 169 dental 2265 173 Health Insurance 24,912 311 Contractual Services -22,376 total transfers here. Move to approve. Second. Who's this health insurance for?

Um the two jobs within that budget. Uh last time she only budgeted for employee only. I told her she should probably a bit to family for all of them. This is for the open position. Yes. Oh, okay. Sorry. Oh, yeah. Network system. Uh, sorry. That's what I get for not being in finance anymore. Okay. Yeah, that's good. That's So, you're just placeholding this for this new position. Got it. Position been posted. Mhm. Yes. Okay.

I think they've got multiple interviews. I'm not really sure where they sit, but And in 146 and 120, where does that leave us with contractal services? We used all of that money. There's still some in there. But for now, this completes the restructuring of the it for now. Yep. Any additional questions, comments? Roll call, please. Mr. Langen, yes. Mr. Was. Yes. Fiber. Yes. Smoke. Yes. Yes.

Mr. Pants. Yes. Mr. Hughes. Yes. Thank you. Outside of County General 9220 Community Corrections Grant 112101 Surveillance Support Negative 4,48076 172 Perf positive 4,48076 total transfer zero. Move to approve. Second. Motion by Jessica, second by Dan.

Good morning. Jane Miranda, Community Corrections. This is an individual that was in a previous fund or another fund that we had. Uh he moved apartments and then we were in the process of restructuring our home detention and changing the job description. So we waited to move him to this fund until that was completed. [clears throat] So this is the difference. Um, and we would just like to move that from the salary line to the purge. Any questions? Ed, roll call, please. Miss Flangen, yes. Mad. Yes. Fiper. Yes. Mr. Mole. Yes. Yes. Scans. Yes. M. Hughes?

Yes. Thank you. Right. 1122 project income 1119 101 case manager 35,000 130 101 case manager 21,000 536 equipment 14,000 total transfer zero to approve. Second motion by Jesse second by Dan.

Uh this is the gentleman that I spoke about on the grant. he went from this fund to that one. Uh so we are needing to move the remainder of his salary from that line to the existing case manager and then we are needing to update our radios uh for our surveillance department. So then that's what the equipment is. The radio updates are they supposedly going to last us a while because you know little has the greatest lobbying force of mankind. Well I ordered a different brand. Okay. Based on the recommendation of the sheriff's department and my radios are about 12 years old. So, they have certainly got their money for

my old radios. I know that uh EMS sheriff's department both talked about the upcoming changes that they won't have to update in a few years. So, yes, it was suggested we get ahead of it. So, while we had the money, we thought we'll just get them all at the same time. That's what I wanted. Thank you. Yeah. How many radios? It's four. three. Uh we keep one in for emergencies and then the three surveillance officers.

Other questions? Roll call, please. Eden, yes. Sweedhead, yes. Miss Piper, yes. Smok. Yes. Smoke. Yes. Mr. Scans. Yes. M Hughes? Yes. Thank you.

Thank you. 2100 adult probation user fees fund 194101 pre-trial screening analyst 94 negative -200 198 101 part-time 98 uh -500 1381 135 stipens 2500 total transfer zero approved second motion by Jessica second by Dan Good morning.

Emily Anderson, court administrator, and I have Jeff Hanser, chief probation officer, here with me. The spreadsheet that I handed out before the meeting explains it better than I can. So, on the lefth hand column, in essence, we're moving people around and reassigning duties with a loss of an employee. So, um, in essence, on the left hand side, it shows what our current position is and how much that's costing in the budget. And on the right hand side, it shows our proposed, meaning there's a 300 or $600 increase on probation budget, but that may not come to fruition because uh part-time people we budget for the whole year. We don't include holidays in that budget. So, there's going to be some play in that uh fund. If they have to appropriate, it' be a minimal. Um they may not have to appropriate at all because it's part-time, so they don't get paid for holidays. So, in essence, we're taking our probation officer assistant position and and kind of getting rid of that position and doing out the duties. Um, one duty being the financial manager stipend is going to go on a support staff that's agreed to step up and do that with the addition in funding. And we increase that stipen just because financial is a lot on top of his duties. And then the other stuff is just moving around part-time. And then we're taking our pre-trial screening analysts from part-time to full-time in lie of that position that was full-time, but it's a lesser uh paid fund. It's um 42, I think it was for um no, it was 475, sorry, with the stipen for the probation officer assistant and the pre-trial screening analyst that we want to go full-time is 40,000 flat. So, we're just moving money around to reallocate duties. The pre-trial screening analyst will take on case management work that the probation officer assistant was doing, which was intakes. So, that'll be addition to her her current role.

Okay. So, all we're dealing with today really is a stipen. We're we're yeah we're trying to get that stipened up because that's and the [clears throat] increase in the budget would be down the road if at all. If at all if at all. I highly doubt it, but I want to put it on paper so you saw the the details. Uh in regard the current full-time person does not take county health insurance. The uh pre-trial officer that will become full-time also will not be taking health insurance. Do the job descriptions have to be rewritten per your proposals?

I I don't think so because it says any jobs assigned any duties assigned otherwise. And the current job description is for the part-time pre-trial screening list which just needs to be changed to full-time because all the duties are the same. So in addition to those duties, we're having her take on the intakes which is will fill her case load. [clears throat] She's already at 29 hours. She's going to go to 32 and a half. If you would make sure that HR though is aware of I I gave it to them last week. Excellent. And asked them to update it to their however standards they want, whatever format. Further questions? I appreciate this is helpful.

Yes. Sorry about my first spreadsheet. It was definitely not right. Uh Eugene noticed that. I'm like, "Yeah, you're right. This is a little off." So, hope that gives you more information on there. It does. Thank you. Thank you. You're welcome. And roll call, please. Mr. Fanken? Yes. Mr. Whead? Yes. Mr. Spiper? Yes. Mr. Mo? Yes. Mr. Moout? Yes. Mr. Can? Yes. Mr. Hughes? Yes. Thank you.

Thank you. 1195 high-tech crime unit 168 vision $50 169 dental 559 173 health insurance -4351 362 repairs and maintenance software 1742 550 other capital outlays 200 total transfer zero

October Second motion by Jessica, second by Dan, Chuck Zimmers, uh, director, High-Tech Crimes Unit. Um, this is just moving funds around, uh, the at budget time, the insurance numbers we had, that's how I budgeted, that has since changed and we don't have extra money. So, I'm not going to let money sit in lines where it doesn't need to be. So, a couple like vision and dental needed to come up a little bit. Health had a lot more than it needed. So, I just pulled it into lines where we can use it in the HTC to do our job.

Questions. Roll call, please. Mr. Fan. Yes. Mr. Wyatt, yes. Spiper, yes. Smoke, yes. Spookout, yes. Scans, yes. Yes. Thank you.

Right on to appropriations in County General 152 EMA 536 equipment 50,000. Second [laughter] by Jessica, second by Dan. Morning, Council. John Cino, Emergency Management. Uh, which one was this one? I'm sorry. The $50,000. Okay. That's a grant that we received from a last year. We were didn't make it on the agenda. It's for a tornado siren replacement down in Oakville. We just need to get the money appropriated into it line so we can use it this year. So, the grant went into county general. Was that?

Yeah. They just put it into a line to get the check cash get off their books at AAP and then we have to move it out of that line into one of our equipment lines to use it. So we didn't we didn't include that in the budget? No. No. It is included in our numbers for your chart though. Questions, comments? Roll call, please. Ed. Mr. Blanken. Yes. Mr. Wyatt. Yes. Spiper. Yes. Mr. Mogul. Yes. Mr. Bugout. Yes. Mr. KZ. Yes. Mr. Hughes. Yes.

Outside of County General 1152 236 LAPC right to know 311 contractual services 20,34 for a total of 20,34. To approve. Second motion by Jessica, second by Dan.

So, this is uh $20,000 for LAPC fund, which is a local emergency planning commission uh commission. Uh we did a multi-hazard mitigation plan update last year. Uh that money is reimbursed by the federal government. So, we paid the bills up front and then they reimburse us back. This money is just going back into the account that we uh spent the money from. It was a federal grant filled out on be our our behalf from the state to get this plan updated. is updated every 5 years. So we paid for the money up front and they reimbursed us. So the reimbursement will go back into the right to know fund. That's correct. Questions or comments?

Have you received any notices from anyone in regards to uh with all the budget cuts uh that we know are coming down the road that this is still going to be a viable entity? I mean, you talked about five years. Is there a fiveyear commitment? What's the It's just a plan that we have that they we have to update every every five years this plan. So, I'm not sure if I understand what what question you have in terms of the plan.

Just be Well, my question is just because it's been talked about and possibly approved, I think a lot of things, as I understand it, probably have been in the works as well. But uh per HB1, it seems like a lot of those items are being cut or some were done away with. Any feedback as to from anybody in regards to this? I haven't heard anything yet. Okay. Thank you. Other comments, questions. Roll call, please. Miss Flangen, yes. Yes. Spiper. Yes. Mr. Smoke, yes. Smokeout. Yes. Mr. Can. Yes, Miss Hughes.

Yes. Thank you, council. Thank you, John. 252 pre-trial diversion 19810 part-time 26,680 172 FICA 238 211 office supplies 5,000 342 workers comp insurance 376 391 dues and subscription 15,000 for a total of 49,364 Four. Move to approve. Second. Motion by Jessica, second by Dan. Lisa.

Good morning. Lisa Carr from the prosecutor's office. The part-time position is to fund our person for the rest of the year along with the benefits that we need to pay for the part-time. The um dues and subscriptions and office supplies previously had been in the county general budget. And at budget time, we were asked to move that to our pre-trial diversion budget. So, is this your annual ask for correct out of this fund? And that that part-time employees is there now.

Correct. Not a new position, but there was no part-time line initially, right? Correct. We just added it this year. Previously it was in another budget. Other questions, comments? Ed. Roll call, please. Mr. Flanken, yes. Mr. Tweed, yes. Mr. Spiper, yes. Mr. Mole, yes. Mr. Bow, yes. Mr. Can yes. Mr. Hughes, yes. Thank you.

Thank you. 1,200 247 supplemental public defender 322 postage and freight 3000 536 equipment 59 and 31 for a total of 3,5931. Move to approve. Second motion by Jessica, second by Dan. Shelley.

Hi Shelley Harvey, office administrator, public defenders office. uh we did not allocate money for postage uh at the beginning of the or last year's budget. So, we're taking this out of our supplemental fund um to put postage on the meter and the equipment was we have one um we have two office chairs that were broken and uh broken down and then we had a microwave that exploded. So, um, we wanting to replace those items, uh, out of our supplemental f fund, not out of county general.

So, we took postage out, but you're putting it back in because of the restructuring of the postage machine. Correct. Making it allocated properly. We've always even when we had to pay our own postage, uh, in years past, we uh, paid it out of our supplemental fund. [snorts] [clears throat] So, you bought two chairs? Yes. And a microwave? Yes. $500? Yes. Good job. Yeah.

Well, and these these chairs aren't like sturdy office chairs. We have two um side chairs in our office that the attorneys, they come sit down, talk to us about their cases, what they need to do with the cases. So, we could buy those off Wayfair. I you know I ordered a set for $400 then went to Walmart and the microwave was 81 I think so. Wow. Yeah. Office chairs were good office chairs are not inexpensive.

No, we would have got good office chairs through the through the you know Thomas or whatever. But yeah, these are just side chairs that the attorneys come and give us uh case updates and and instructions on what they want us to do on cases. So, other questions? Ed, roll call, please. Mr. Blanket, yes. Mr. Wyatt, yes. Fifer, yes. Mr. Mole, yes. Mr. Bookau, yes. Mr. KZ, yes. Mr. Hughes, yes.

Thank you. This is a major transfer 1122 project income to 81.99 opioid grant 1122451 138101 peer recovery 38 negative $52722 81.99 5101 peer recovery co coach positive of $527.22 total transfer zero. Move to approve.

Second motion by Jessica, second by Dan. Again, a major transfer is a transfer from one fund to another fund, not a transfer within a single fund. Correct. Yes. Jane, you want

Jane Miranda, Community Corrections. Um, this is our opioid grant that comes October to September and it was overspent because they fronted monies to us and then it was overspent on a payroll. So, this is just correcting part of that payroll questions. Roll call, please. Ed. Miss Flank. Yes, Miss Wyatt. Yes, Mr. Piper. Yes, Mr. Mole. Yes, Mr. Moout. Yes, Mr. Can. Yes, Mr. Hughes. Yes,

I'm up here for a bit. I got more [laughter] 9224 DCCC drug problem solving court 240 other supplies 2000. 310 professional services 3,500 311 contractual services 4,000 390 other services and charges 500 uh for a total of 10,000 move to approve second motion by Jessica second by Dan where's the funding come from for the drug problem solving court

this is a grant that is through the Indiana office of court services. They provide $10,000 grants to different problem solving courts, whether it's mental health, DUI, family recovery. Um, and so we apply for them every year. It's it's to purchase things or help out our clients within drug court. And what are the professional services and the contractual services? So, those would be our drug screen supplies. Those would be um we also help pay for individuals that are in drug court in uh programming if they're in a halfway house. Um a lot of those uh sober living and halfway houses have weekly fees and we can help out with that with the grant.

Other questions or comments? Roll call, please. Ed. Miss Lang, yes. Mr. Whitehead, yes. Viper, yes. Smoke, yes. Smokeout. Yes. Mr. Scans. Yes. Muse. Yes. 9223 DCCC Mental Health Problem Solving Court 393 Conferences and Training 2500 for a total of 2500. Move to approve. Second. Motion by Jessica, second by Dan.

This is the same thing. It's an Indiana Office of Port Services grant. Um, our mental health court is in the planning stages. So this amount is to uh help go to trainings for the team what we're working on implementing a mental health court. Questions or comments? Roll call, please. Ed. Miss Flangen, yes. Matt, yes. Fiber. Yes. Mr. Smoke. Yes. Mr. Bookout. Yes. Mr. Can? Yes. Mr. Hughes?

Yes. 9225 DCCC Veterans Problem Solving Corp. 240 Other Supplies 2000 311 Contractual Services 2500 390 Other Services and Charges 500 393 Conferences and Training 2500 for a total of 7500 to approve. Second motion by Jessica, second by Dan. This is the same thing but for our veterans court populations. And what type of contractual services does the veterans court provide?

Same thing. If um sometimes we get individuals within problem solving the veterans court itself that are not service connected. So they're allotted like the medical part of it but then things over that. So this helps uh pay for the same thing if they were in sober living. Who's the Who's the judge that oversees this? Judge Fe. Judge F. Yes. Other questions? Roll call, please. Ed. M. Fleet. Yes. Mr. Wad. Yes. Mr. Spiper. Yes. Smoke. Yes. Mr. Bugout. Yes. Mr. Canu. [clears throat]

Yes. Right. 1122 project income 135 stipens 2500 for a total of 2500. Move to approve. Second. Motion by Jessica. Second by Dan.

This goes along with our restructuring of the home detention department. We previously had two supervisors. Uh we had changed that to one supervisor and then an assistant. Um and so then with the differences in the duties, um my advisory board, uh approved for us to change that salary a little bit for the supervisor to make more. We decided to place it in our project income budget. So in the future, if someone coming in is maybe not at the level um of the individual in there now, she's been there approximately 20 years. So her salary would be different than a new person coming in and then we could just not budget for it or remove it in the future if we need to.

Questions, comments go ahead. Miss Blanken, yes. Mr. Wyatt, yes. Spiper, yes. Mr. Smoke, yes. Yes. Mr. Sc. Yes. Mr. Hughes. Yes. Thank you.

Thank you. 1195 high-tech crime units 211 office supplies 4,000 362 repairs and maintenance software 9,950 392 Education Certification Schooling 4,950 uh 536 equipment 11,438 for a total of 30,38 to approve. Second motion by Jessica, second by Dan.

Chuck Zimmer, director for the high-tech crimes unit. This is my January routine. Um the county budget is due in June, I believe, or July 1st. Uh we do know that IPAC, the state of Indiana, is going to give us $297,000 every year, but they take um a significant uh cost for our tools out. They purchase for all 10 units, so they get a discount and I do not know those numbers until December. So, I always go low in my county budget covering the things that I know are set expenses that I'm going to have to have. So, when the state money comes in, it's thank the Lord always more than I have budgeted. So, I just come in and appropriate that at the beginning of the year into lines uh that I know I'm going to spend out of, but it wasn't internet cost, cell phone cost, things like that. Questions?

Roll call, please. Ed Langen, yes. Yes. Spiper, yes. Smoke, yes. Yes. Mr. Canu, yes. Thank you. 1150 GIS electronic map 310 professional services 115,000 323 Transportation 5,000 331 Printing 5,000 391 Dues and subscriptions 5,000 393 conferences and training 5,000 536 equipment 15,000 for a total of 150,000.

Move to approve. Second motion by Jessica, second by Dan.

Good morning, council. Kylen Swackhammer, Plan Commission. So, this is our annual um ask for appropriations for these three funds. Um the first one is the GIS. Um the amount requested is 150,000. This account is used to pay for Arc GIS um online storage um credit and hosting. This is also used to update the county aerials for all the departments. Um we also use this account for road inventories and scoring for the county. Um and then Beacon online hosting for many of the county agencies. This account is 80% reimburseable but we do have to pay the costs in order to then um submit for the reimbursement.

And the reimbursement goes back into this fund. Is that correct? Yes. the ones that are paid out of this fund. Yes, the reimbursements go back to this fund. Questions, comments? So, you spend the money now and typically then when will we get uh when will you get the reimbursement? We do quarterly reimbursements. And the state responds how quickly? Um they are usually supposed to respond within about 15 days. Um, I have heard the longest it's taking now is about 45 days. Thank you. Other questions?

Roll call, please. Add Mr. Flangus. Yes. Mr. Wyatt. Yes. M Piper. [snorts] Yes. Mr. Mole. Yes. Mr. Bout. Yes. Mr. KZ. Yes. Mr. Hughes. Yes. 1180 comp plan fund 220 operating supplies 1,500 310 professional services 215,000 323 transportation 1,500 331 printing 2 536 equipment 5,000 for a total of 225,000 move to approve

second motion by Jessica second by Dan Okay, so this is our comp plan um fund. This is used for some special projects for the county. Um for example, last year we used this to pay for the ADA transition plan update. Um we use this for consulting services for any third parties we need to um consult with for pro for projects such as these. Um we use this to pay for any internships that we sponsor. Um and then specifically for 2026, we are planning on using this fund to um cover the cost of the zoning updates. Um we are doing a comprehensive zoning update for the county and the city um zoning ordinances. We are seeking some grants for that process. Um but it is the same thing. It is 80% reimburseable, but we do have to cover the costs upfront in order to submit for reimbursements. Um any other planning projects that come up throughout the year can also be um funneled through our office for for these reimbursements as well?

Questions?

Oh, and one more one more comment. Sorry. We do have a special project coming up in 2026. Um our MO is one of 14 in Indiana. Um, and we are scheduled to co-host the 2026 NO annual conference. So, the conference schedule flows through all 14 NPOs. Um, so it's our turn, but we are um lucky to be paired with Cooko and Anderson um to co-host with being um a smaller NO, not having the staff or the funding. Um we get to be paired to co-host. So, the 2026 NO annual conference will be in um the end of o August, beginning of September. Um, and physically it would be held in Cooko, but we are a co-host. So, we are going to be responsible for doing some sponsorships, planning, getting speakers, um, food services and all that for the conference.

And just for clarification, MO stands for Metropolitan Planning Organization. Thank you. So that is how we receive all the transportation funds and the reimbursements for these planning funds is that we are designated by the governor as the MO um for the Muny urbanized area and surrounding area which is is that all of Delaware County I believe. Yes, except for a small portion of Delville and Chesterfield. Okay, other questions. Roll call, please. Yes. Miss Lang, yes. Mr. Wyatt, yes. Spiber, yes. Smoke, yes. Smug out, yes. Scans, yes. Muse,

yes. Great. 1207, unsafe building. 211 office supplies 500. 310 professional services 84,500 for a total of 85,000. Move to approve. Second. Motion by Jessica, second by Dan.

Okay. Okay. So, this is our building commissioner's unsafe housing fund. Um, this fund is used for the demolition of any unsafe properties, um, securing any unsafe structures, um, cleaning up of any properties, etc. Um, 10% of the building fees we collect throughout the year are added to this fund each year. So, just to report, in 2025, um, we deposited $15,210 into this account, um, per the $152,000 that we collected in permits,

questions. Doesn't seem to me like tell me um unsafe building. How many requests, how many services are rendered through that on an annual basis? Seems awful low.

Yeah, currently Tom has about um 20 to 25 properties that he's looking into. Um I believe in 2025 we were able to tear down sixish six, seven is that yeah, five or six. um during 2025. Um a lot of times Tom works with the owners of the property to get them to be able to tear down the property or to connect them with someone that's willing to buy the property and pay to tear down. So that does save the county from having to do that. Um but there are some that the the county is responsible for. In 2025, he did a commercial building that was an old nursing home that had caught fire and was a very unsafe structure and um attracted a lot of unwanted um attention. So, I mean, that one was like $45,000. So, it just depends on what we have available and what's the top priority of the what needs to be tore down.

Are there more properties out there that need to be tore down that we don't have budgeted that you don't have budgeted? Yes, definitely. Yeah, he's got about 20 and 25 currently on his list. Um the average for one property if it's a if it's a residential is about5 to $15,000 for one. So you can see that last year we earned 15,000. So that one to two.

Does the county uh to your knowledge does the county not have uh at their disposal uh I mean I know we have a county attorney. Is this not something that they can handle to get reimbursed by the previous property owners if they're negligent in either a taking care of their property or b if it's ruled unsafe and and by chance has to be tore down. Why is the county on the hook to do that? I believe I don't exactly know their process, but I do know there is a process of putting leans and trying to get funds reimbursed. But but I don't exactly know what that process is. That would be more of a

Do those things show up in a tax sale if they are if they have leans against them. Yes. Seems like everything at the tax sale gets bid on I don't know that much about that process but I know I know we have tons of properties that have so b yeah yeah basically and it's the same way in the city there is a large number of properties that do not get bid I mean they go to tax sale but then they're back in it the next year and then that's when they be go to the deed sale but it's a process but

so goes through the deed sale. Is there nobody that steps in at that particular point, Tom, and offers $1,000 for a uh possibly an asset of eight to maybe $8,000 or more, nobody wants them. Is that right? I mean, because one one is the cost of tearing the if there is a structure on the on the property, the cost like like she said is5 to $15,000. And if there's other issues there, it could be higher than that. Um like the nursing home that was out on um Burlington um was close to almost $50,000 just to tear it down.

Yeah, I know I know that I uh Kylen I've shared with Tom Fouch before that, you know, I think this body would encourage our redevelopment commission appointments to you know support efforts to demolish properties. So, yeah, I I support that. I support what you're doing 100%. I think Tom's doing a good job. I I want him to be able to do more as he needs money to do that. So, I think redevelopment commission is a good place to go. I totally agree. Yeah, hence the name redevelopment commission. So, yeah. Okay. They got money to do things like that. All right. Thank you. And then I do know the commissioners contribute um to some of the costs for the demolition of unsafe structures as well.

Thank you. Other questions? Roll call, please. Is Miss Langan? Yes. Miss Wyatt? Yes. Fifer? Yes. Miss Smoke? Yes. Smokeout? Yes. Mr. Scughes? Yes. Thank you. Can had another uh engagement needed to get to. Go ahead. Okay. 1224 county assessor reassessment 322 postage and freight 20,000 for a total of 20,000. Move to approve.

Second motion by Jessica, second by Dan James. Um so we had budgeted for I believe $26,000 for this line item. It was not cut at council from what I understand, but when we got our final back, it only had 2,600 in it. So we're missing a zero or two here. So, um, and I'm going to need every bit of postage I'm going to be able to garner to get these notice of assessments out this year. That was out of the assessment, the reassessment budget. Your general

reassessment. It I do believe it was a mistake at budget before advertising where the numbers were missing. Yeah, I didn't know the details on that. Thank you. I remember that. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. So, that being said, as I looked at my numbers at the end of the year, there was an overage in there because reassessment it rolls back in if you don't use it. So, it's there. I just have to reappropriate it. questions. Roll call, please. Ed. Miss Langan, yes. Mr. Wyatt, yes. Spiper,

yes. Smoggle, yes. Mr. Bugout, yes. Mr. Scughes, yes. 1131 County sales disclosure 362 repairs and maintenance software 1,076 391 Dues and subscriptions 255 392 Educational Certification Schooling 4,300 for a total of 5,631. Move to approve.

Second motion by Jessica, second by Dan. Okay, this uh comes from the sales disclosure fund. Uh the first one 362 is for the software we use for annual mobile homes. Second one's self-explanatory. It's just fees for sub dues. And uh the third one is conference and training. We just attended a conference and I got people in for level two certifications and um we're required to have 30 hours every two years. questions. The sales disclosure goes to the general. You're just reallocating. Is that correct?

It's it's its own line item. Uh fee comes out of every transfer when somebody transfers a property and goes into that fund for specifically uh trading and hardware, software, and related.

Other questions? Roll call, please. Ed. Mr. Flangen, yes. Mr. Whead, yes. Fifer, yes. Mr. Mogul. Yes. Mr. Rookout. Yes. Mr. Gance. Mr. Hughes. Yes. Thank you, Dan. All right. Motion to approve financial transfers and to amend salary ordinance with like reductions. Second. Motion by Jessica. Second by Dan. Roll call, please. Yes. W. Yes. Mr. Mole. Yes. Mr. Bookout. Yes. M. Piper. Yes. Mr. Scru.

Yes. You have before you uh the back filling report for employees uh who are being replaced without any change in the budget line item. Entertain a motion to receive the back filling report. So moved. Second. Motion by J Jessica, second by Dan. Questions? Roll call. Miss Flagan. Yes. Mr. W. Yes. Spok. Yes. Spout. Yes. Spiper. Yes. Mr. Scants, Mr. Hughes.

Yes. We have no ordinance or resolutions pending at this time. No appointments or committee reports I'm aware of. Any old business? Seeing none new business. Okay. We will hear from elected officials and department heads. treasure. [clears throat] Um, I have a handout for you guys.

[clears throat]

Okay. Um, [clears throat] so Councilman uh KZ asked me to uh come up today basically to give the report that I gave. It's going to be a condensed version u to the board of finance last Tuesday. Um basically just on the investments uh and the interest earned this year uh is the first page there broken down by accounts that we have by quarter um for our total for the year um was $3.18 million. Um it's kind of self-explanatory there on the different accounts. Um so that all went to uh for the interest um with the exception of the um American Rescue Plan uh interest did and not um on the back page um is a 10-year history of interest earned for uh Delaware County. And so you can kind of see there the last last year or this past year uh as well as the previous nine years on that. So um still maintaining even though the interest rates are down a little bit. Um so I will take questions if you have any.

Thank you for this Brad. You did a good job. Thank you. All right. Thanks. And for the benefit of those watching, the tenure report shows that uh starting in 2016, the county was receiving less than $150,000 in interest. Uh and it stayed below a million dollars until the last three years, 2023, 24, and 25 each exceeded $3 million in interest earned. Okay. Any comments or questions?

What happened in uh calendar year 2024? That in calendar year 2023 your income was a little over uh 3.2 million. 24 it jumped to almost 3.8 and then in 25 u it backed off to basically 3.2. What what happened in 24 [clears throat] we had such a bump?

Yeah. So in 24 we uh I changed where we we're investing at. Um I could get better rates. I locked in um just shopping around basically. I locked in uh a comp a uh financial institution that we had a little bit of money at and I said and they were offering a better rate and I said well if I brought you this much would you lock that in or not really lock it in but lock in the rate for a specific time and uh they did. So um we got more money. So, um, and then also we changed the way that when we collect taxes before we, um, appropriate it to all the other taxing units. Um, we were holding it in, uh, a non-interest bearing account and now we change that. Um, talking with my bookkeepers, we could do that. They just transfer it into our uh, interestbearing account and so that has helped. Um I think last just this past November we received about an extra 65 to $70,000 by doing that. So about an extra 140,000 per year by doing just changing it and then we just change it back when we have to release the money to all the tax units. So,

calendar year 2025 versus calendar year 2024, uh, was general budget substantially higher in 2024 helping to get a more money because of a interest rates and be more money in the general fund and any art money included in that as well, please. Um yeah, I believe it was 24 and 25 that we did not the the our money went um to the commissioners, not to council. Council got it in 23, 24, and 25. Most of that difference um is the interest rates um if you look pretty much um they've gone down about 3/4 of a percent. And so they're projecting probably this next year we're going to lose probably another at least half percent or 3/4 of percent. So I'm watching the the kind of where we can put the money at um a little more, you know, obviously more closely uh and moving it quicker than than normal. Um you know, usually it's a couple day turnaround. I'm trying to get on it that that day. If I see a better rate or I'm changing it so we can get better interest on that.

Got a nice job. Thank you. Questions for Brad. Thank you again. Okay. I do have a question. Brad, if you for a moment, I just want to be very clear on it. The ARP interest went into general in 2023. In 2024, where did it go? Um I believe it went into back into the commissioners and then in 2025 where did it go? Same same back 100% of it those years. Okay. Just want to be clear. Thank you sir. Other questions. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Corner green.

Hello Gavin Green, Delaware County Corner. Uh just want to give the monthly statistics. Uh, I had to step away. We just had another case. So, we're currently at 55 um calls/cases for the month of January. So, we're averaging about two a day. Um, you might have one day that goes by and then you might have four in one single day. So, um, we're trending approximately, uh, the same that we have over the last two years. Um, and hopefully, um, in the month of February when I come to give my report, I'll be able to have a really cool display and dashboard. Delaware County was selected to be a pilot program for the states, uh, Indiana Department of Health's um, case management software that we're going to be able to be entering in all of our data. And the great thing about that is when we enter our data, the state then can see um how we're doing with cases and then they'll see the status of those cases. If we've closed them, if they're open, because then we can be as transparent as possible with um those families that are out there that are asking what the status of their cases are. They'll be a we'll be able to see that and log in immediately and I'll be able to show council that. um they're not to the point yet where a family could log in and see where they're at from the outside looking in, but um it's going to help us um really be able to communicate better instead of just making our own charts and all of our Excel sheets. So hopefully I'll be able to have that software up and running for our February meeting to show everyone. But uh so yeah, that's where we're at right now. Any questions? I checked your sheet. No one signed up for any public comment.

Thank you, Mr. President. Appreciate it. Thank you. Any other department heads, public officials? Anyone from the public who didn't sign up who would like to speak to the council at this time? Seeing none, comments from council. Emily, you will be sorely missed. I'd also like to thank the highway department. I made a mention this morning to Commissioner Bran that uh the highway department makes us look good for the work they did. There wasn't any place you couldn't go if you needed to on the county at the county roads looked a lot better than the highway in front of my house.

Other comments from council. I'll also second the uh we're going to miss Emily. As long as I've been on council, she's been around and I've learned a ton uh just from you. So, I appreciate everything you've taught me. You'll be missed. Our next regular meeting is Tuesday, February 24th at 9:00 a.m. Entertain a motion to adjurnn. So moved. Second. Motion by Jessica, second by Dan. Roll call. Miss [clears throat] Fleen, yes. Two, yes. Smokeout. Yes. Spiver. Yes. Stance Hughes. Yes.