09-17-1991 BUDGET - Laserfiche WebLink

Comm. Minutes Special Meeting--September 17, 1991 745 SPECIAL MEETING OF CASS COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SEPTEMBER 17, 1991 (TUESDAY) BUDGET MEETING CALLED TO ORDER Chairman Gene Shannon called the meeting to order about 4:00 PM to continue 1992 budget hearings with several county departments. All members were present as follows: Don Eckert, Alon Wieland, Sharon "Pepper" Toussaint, Steve Risher and Gene Shannon. CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT One full-time staff position, at pay grade 9, is being requested by Dorothy Howard, Clerk of District Court. She said she needs one additional staff because of an increase in filings and because of the hours that other staff spend in court and out of the office. She also talked about an increase in child support cases which prompted her to move one staff member to that area. Mr. Shannon asked if someone other than staff from her office could attend court hearings, but she said this is done at the District Court's discretion. Mr. Wieland asked if computerization could be done instead of hiring staff, and Ms. Howard said she needs some enhancements to programs and is considering a child support program but doesn't know when it will be available. Ms. Howard requires a guaranteed form of money for paying child support rather than accepting personal checks because the money coming in has to go out, and she thinks it would necessitate the county establishing a fund for handling those checks issued without sufficient funds. She said other counties are accepting credit cards for collection of child support payments, and she intends to look into this. Mr. Wieland asked who would pay the fees. Auditor Michael Montplaisir thinks any fees involved should be charged back to the user, if that is possible. He also talked about the possibility of automatic deductions from checking accounts. Mr. Shannon thinks some management procedures could be implemented to help with the work load, along with some automation, rather than adding more staff. Ms. Howard said she is working with the Data Processing Manager on a way to handle the volume of telephone calls to the child support division. It was the consensus of the Commissioners to leave the salary for one additional staff person in the budget in the amount of $12,661 plus fringe benefits, but with the understanding that the position will not be filled until the Commission receives a report on the cost of computer-answered telephones, adoption of a check-cashing policy that would allow for the use of personal checks with appropriate safeguards, and a report on using credit cards for collecting child support payments. COUNTY PLANNER County Planner Earl Haugen said there is an error in the benefits line item under North Dakota Public Employees Retirement System in his proposed budget. The Auditor will make the necessary correction. Salaries include money for a temporary intern, as in the past.