09-19-2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

Commission Minutes--September 19, 2003 2655 DEPARTMENT HEADS-PLEASE POST IN A CONSPICUOUS PLACE FOR STAFF TO READ SPECIAL MEETING OF CASS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING IN BUDGET SESSION SEPTEMBER 19, 2003 MEETING TO ORDER Chairman Scoff Wagner called the budget meeting to order at 8:00 AM on September 19, 2003, in the Commission Room, Cass County Courthouse, with all members present as follows: Robyn Sorum, John Meyer, Vern Bennett, Darrell Vanyo and Scott Wagner. Also present were County Auditor Michael Montplaisir, County Coordinator Bonnie Johnson, Accountants Deb Ness and Mary Matheson, several department heads and employees. BUDGET REVIEW FOR 2004, Additional reductions made Mr. Montplaisir summarized the budget changes made to date and provided a hand-out with various budget items suggested by individual commissioners for further review and discussion. According to an earlier goal set by commissioners, Mr. Montplaisir suggested an additional reduction of about $240,000. He also provided information on pay grade steps and a history of the number of positions in each county department since 1996. Jail Glenn Ellingsberg, Jail Administrator, provided a memorandum prioritizing all new staff positions and other items requested in the 2004 jail budget. MOTION, passed Mr. Meyer moved and Mrs. Sorum seconded to remove two of the four requested relief deputies from the jail budget. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. Concerning the request for an A12 Commissary Clerk, Sheriff Don Rudnick said the commissary fund brings in money and this position can be paid from the proceeds. Also, he is trying to eliminate the non-jail duties of the line staff by assigning those to clerical positions. The board discussed terminating the security contract with an outside agency because the inner facility is secure and the inmate visitation hours can be handled by a clerk, as is done in the evenings, for a savings of $9,400. MOTION, passed Mr. Meyer moved and Mr. Vanyo seconded to transfer $32,600 for a new commissary clerk, whose salary and benefits will be paid from revenues, and assign the jail security duties to an A12 clerical position instead of a private security company, for an additional reduction of $9,400. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. The budget includes additional part-time nursing staff, and Sheriff Rudnick would suggest requiring that all medications be dispensed by nurses rather than jail staff. The board talked about changing the nurses' hours so they are available to dispense all medications within the jail. MOTION, passed Mrs. Sorum moved and Mr. Vanyo seconded to eliminate one new registered nurse (RN) position, from the two requested, and review the contract further to see if a Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) could fill the position instead of an RN. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously.