Council considers complicated transition in Sheriff's office

Sheriff-elect Les McFarland came before the Marshall County Council seeking additional appropriations in a complicated transition to a new administrative assistant.

Along with McFarland taking over for current Sheriff Matt Hassel, the department will have a new Administrative Assistant as the previous holder of that office has decided to take retirement in December. McFarland asked the Council to fund six to eight weeks of training for the new Assistant.

McFarland was told that in other departments in the county, two weeks of training were the norm. McFarland explained that the job in the Sheriff's Department was more complicated, involving the reconciliation of commissary funds, Sheriff's Department funds, and payments to the Indiana Department of Revenue involved with the Sheriff's tax sales.

The situation is further complicated because the current Assistant is training the new Assistant and will be retiring, requiring a change to the county salary ordinance to allow two people to hold that position during the training period.

McFarland was questioned about cross-training by Councilman Jim Masterson, who felt that should be an ongoing process in the department.

Auditor Angie Birchmeier also told the Council that there would need to be an additional appropriation for the training as well that wasn't tasked for in time to advertise for November, so it will be on the Council's next agenda.

In the end, the Council voted unanimously to change the salary and will take up the additional appropriation at their December meeting.