Shelby County Commissioner proposes new interlocal agreement for emergency services

Shelby County Commissioner Nathan Runnebohm appeared before the Shelbyville Common Council Monday requesting a budget increase from the city to help with Shelby County’s emergency services budget.

An interlocal agreement was signed in 2010 with the city responsible for 35% of the budget. The remaining 65% of the budget was covered by the county.

The city paid less at the time because it housed emergency management vehicles and equipment and paid for telephone services, according to Runnebohm.

The city no longer houses the equipment, which was stored at several sites around Shelbyville. All of the equipment is now at 1310 N. Michigan Road at the county’s 11,000 square foot building that has been renovated.

Some of the equipment stored includes river rescue boat, drone deployment vehicle, SWAT vehicle, Hazmat trailer and mass casualty gear, according to Shelby County Emergency Management Director Dennis Ratekin, who also attended the council meeting.

The projected 2026 budget is $318,000. Runnebohm proposed a 50/50 split between the city and county.

Runnebohm, now seven months into his first term as a commissioner, just learned of the 15-year-old agreement. The timing of the request comes after the city has already had 2026 budget planning, according to Shelbyville Mayor Scott Furgeson.

Based on the current agreement, the city would be responsible for $111,300 of the budget. The county is asking the city to raise that amount to $159,000 – an increase of $47,700.

“I would suggest at this point is that I meet with (city clerk treasurer) Scott Asher and we try to figure out where we are at financially with this and report back to (the council) and let you know what we think is the best way to go forward,” said Furgeson.

The council agreed and no further action was taken.

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