By Carol McIntire
Editor
December 29, 2009
Carroll County Commissioners received another request for financial assistance in 2010: this time from an agency that has not requested funds in the past.
John McCall, director of the Carroll County Family and Children First (FCFC) and three board members visited commissioners Monday to request a minimum of $2,500.
Dave Schaffer, who will be FCFC chairman next year, spoke for the group.
“Our mission is to rally support to ensure the continuing operation of the Council,” he said. “We are asking each agency represented to provide $2,500 and since commissioners have one member on our board and act as fiscal agent, we are asking the same of you.”
Kate Offenberger, director of Carroll County Job and Family Services (DJFS), and a member of the council board, noted FCFC receives $16,000 in funding from the state (the 2009 allocation was $20,000). “FCFC provides a great service to the community and we are all going to have to pull together and do a little because none of us can do a lot.”
Offenberger noted FCFC has eliminated the cost of rent and utilities by moving one section into DJFS and the staff into the Carroll County Health Department building.
When commissioners asked what kind of support they had provided in the past, they learned a couple years ago they provided $1,500, but normally FCFC does not have to request funds.
Commissioners said they would take the request under advisement. Later, when asked about the progress on the 2010 budget, commissioners said they learned from the Auditor’s office last week the figure they have work with is $5.5 million. When asked how much the budget requests totaled, they answered over $6 million. President Larry Garner said there is nearly $900,000 in fixed cost increases that must be dealt with before any departments are appropriated funds.
In another money matter, Commissioner Tom Wheaton said he received a letter from State Auditor Mary Taylor outlining the cost of a proposed performance audit to be conducted in their office along with Auditor E. Leroy VanHorne’s office. Wheaton said he planned to talk to VanHorne this week about the proposal.
The areas to be audited include Staffing and Compensation, Operations, Financial Management and Human Resources Practices. Cost is estimated at $23,600 for the audit.
“It may seem like a lot of money at this time, but it could save us that amount and more,” Wheaton stated. “Our office and the auditor’s office are the nucleus of the county and the idea is to make operations better, but we are too close to it to do the audit ourselves.”
In other business, commissioners:
-AGREED to accept bids for the purchase of a tandem dump truck body for the Carroll County Highway Department. Bids will be accepted until 9:30 a.m. Jan. 21 and opened at that time.
-RECEIVED the dog pound report for the period of Dec. 21-26 showing 28 dogs impounded, 30 tagged and one redeemed.
-WERE visited by Orange Twp. resident Larry Walker and Duane Evans who expressed their complaints about the Conotton Valley Sportsman Club, which is located adjacent to their properties.
-WERE visited by Harry and Lisa Stansbury who complained about access on Hackatorn Dr., a private road leading to their home in Union Twp., when the weather is bad. |
