01-21-1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

14. 15. Commission Minutes--January 21, 1997 1575 Section 3. Effective Date This ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage, approval and publication pursuant to the Cass County Home Rule Charter. DATA PROCESSING/TELEPHONE SYSTEM, AT&T settlement agreement for phone fraud Mike Steiner, Data Processing Coordinator, provided copies of a proposed settlement agreement between Cass County Government and AT&T for toll fraud from the Cass County Juvenile Detention Center which occurred last June in the amount of $10,666.64. The agreement specifies a settlement whereby Cass County would pay $6,933.32, which is 65% of the disputed charges, and AT&T will credit the county in the amount of $3,733.32. Mr. Steiner recommended authorizing the chairman to sign the settlement agreement, pending State's Attorney approval, and to pay the 65% cost from the county's telephone trust account. MOTION, passed Mr. Koenig moved and Mrs. Quick seconded to authorize the chairman to sign the settlement agreement with AT&T Corp. for fraudulent telephone charges from June, 1996; subject to State's Attorney approval. On roll call vote, motion carried unanimously. STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE, Additional staff approved Assistant State's Attorney, Stephen Dawson, asked to withdraw his request per letters to the Commission dated January 9 and January 16, 1997, from today's agenda. John Goff, State's Attorney, provided Commissioners with a letter dated today regarding budget requests for 1997, including a compilation of budget manpower forecasts since about 1993. He has set of a goal of $10,000 from the existing State's Attorney's budget to be used to help fund two additional legal secretaries and one file clerk. He recommended the County Commission provide the balance. In a memorandum from County Auditor Michael Montplaisir, dated December 31, 1996, it was estimated that it would cost $65,000 to hire these three new positions effective February 1, 1997. He estimated it would cost $54,000 to hire one clerk and one secretary on February 1st, and an additional secretary July 1, 1997. In a memorandum dated January 14, 1997, Mrs. Schneider suggested approving $16,000 from the Commission's 1997 contingency line item to be transferred to the State's Attorney's Office for hiring additional staff after receiving Mr. Golfs recommendation. Mr. Koenig said the staff in the State's Attorney's Office is in full agreement that these three new positions are needed in order for them to get out from under the burden of work that has accumulated in that office. He has been looking at other budget sources, such as contingency fund and inheritance tax, in an effort to provide the additional funds to supplement the $10,000 from the State's Attorney's current budget. Mr. Montplaisir said the Commission needs to determine which positions they want to hire, and he will then review county budget funds and come back with a recommendation for funding. Mr. Koenig recommends hiring two legal secretaries and one file clerk as soon as possible. MOTION, passed Mr. Koenig moved and Mr. Meyer seconded to authorize the hiring of two additional full-time legal secretaries and one file clerk effective immediately; the funding to be $10,000 from the existing State's Attorney's budget, and direct the County Auditor to prepare a budget