Commissioner President Bob Conley signing meeting claims and minutes.

KOSCIUSKO — County Auditor Michelle Puckett asked commissioners to approve changes to the Kosciusko County Grant Policy at the Kosciusko commissioners meeting held Tuesday, Nov. 13. If approved, Puckett said the new policy would be effective starting today.

“The big change in this is that the departments asking for a grant will have more accountability in making sure those grants are balanced,” said Puckett. “The new grant policy will ensure that the departments applying for a grant are also balancing those financials monthly and filing those reports with us to make sure we are in compliance with the Indiana State Board of Accounts’ audit requirements.”

In the past, once a grant was adopted and approved, for the duration of the grant it was up to the department head to file and balance their financials.

“We would just check it at the end of the year,” said Puckett. “Now we’re checking it on a monthly basis to make sure we have all the information the state board of accounts is requiring.”

“It’s not more restrictive than it needs to be?” asked Commissioner Brad Jackson. “I want to make sure we’re not going from one extreme to the other.”

“It’s not more restrictive than it needs to be, but it is more restrictive than it has been,” Puckett responded.

“There is going to be a lot of working with the departments to get them to understand truly what their entire responsibility is,” said Puckett. “It’s not apply, approve and then process claims.”

“There are lots of checks and balances and information that should be shared that simply has not been in the past,” Puckett explained. “We had a grant policy – it worked, but it did not have all the steps in place to make sure we were passing an audit.”

Commissioners unanimously agreed to adopt the Kosciusko County Grant Policy as presented 

County Highway Superintendent Scott Tilden informed commissioners that money has been appropriated for two single axle dump trucks and one tandem axle dump truck.

“I’d like to ask commissioners to set a bid letting date,” said Tilden, proposing the date be set for  9:15 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 22. 

“It takes so long to get trucks that even when we bid them that early we may not get them until the end of next year,” Tilden explained. This request was approved.

Sealed bids for county highway supplies were opened toward the end of the meeting. Over 20 bids were received. Commissioners approved Tilden’s request to take the bids under advisement and return with his recommendations at the next regular meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 27. 

Other News:

• Sidney resident Max Charles Leiter was honored as veteran of the month.
• County Administrator Marsha McSherry presented an annual Metasys building automation system contract with Johnson Controls for renewal. Commissioners approved the contract. 
• The next regular meeting will be held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27.