County Council approves over $1.3 million in additional appropriations

The Marshall County Council approved additional appropriations totaling $1,382,158.64 for departments in the county’s General Fund during Monday evening’s meeting.

Council President Tim Harman read the list of additional requests for transparency.

The Sheriff’s Department asked for $20,750 for vehicle accessories, and the County Council requested $325,008.64 for the Public Safety Grant. The grant funds included $50,000 each for the Plymouth Fire Department, Bremen Fire, Culver Fire, North Township Fire Territory, $25,008.64 for Polk Township, and $100,000 for special equipment or projects.

It was clarified during the meeting that Polk Township had already received half of its funding.  They also said all eight fire departments in the county received $50,000. 

Other additional appropriations approved were $225,000 for stone and aggregate for the highway department, along with $761,236.85 in bituminous, and $13,763.05 for the Community Crossing matching funds.

The County Council also approved $15,000 additional funds for the County Board of Zoning Appeals for legal services, $15,000 for the County Plan Commission to pay for property cleanup, and $6,400 for Circuit Court Administrative wages.

These General Fund additionals were unanimously approved.

In the county’s Special Funds, the council approved $38,585 in Public Health Services.  The Countywide Striping Initiative funds appropriated included $54,000 for preliminary engineering and $396,000 for construction for a total of $450,000.

The Court Reform Grant appropriated $1,500 for equipment maintenance and repair, $3,760 for office equipment, and $40,000.  Harman said the judge sent a letter to council members explaining the request.

County Council members also approved the April invoice for Marcel Lebbin for $1,770, thus sending a favorable recommendation to the commissioner to pay the claim.