By David Slone
Times-Union

WARSAW — Because of the quality of work Veteran Service Officer Darryl McDowell has been doing since he was hired, the Kosciusko County Council Thursday night, Aug. 10, approved to make his position full time.

McDowell was hired by the county in September 2021 as a part-time veteran service officer.

Thursday, McDowell told the council, “I would say when I initially interviewed for the job, part-time was all that was on my mind. And over the course and doing some analysis, the good part is that I’m still doing my project management masters.” Some of the topics that he’s done as a veteran service officer he’s made a part of his masters work.

“As I got into those, I started realizing that when you do the analysis, I can’t sit back and just say part-time, I have to bring it somebody’s attention and at least bring it up and say, I’ve got to do my veterans the right service. There’s more than many can believe out there that have never, ever even applied for VA. They didn’t know. I’ve got to get the word out,” he said.

McDowell asked the council to move the veteran service officer position from part time to full time because there’s so much more he needs to do, including outreach to veterans in townships that aren’t being represented.

The annual wage for full time would be $45,065. The council unanimously approved the salary ordinance amendment, as well as an additional appropriation from county general for $4,000 so McDowell can be paid as full time beginning Monday.

Councilwoman Joni Truex told him, “Thank you for doing such a great job. We hear nothing but good things.”

Councilman Tony Ciriello said, “I’ve seen Darryl’s work out in the field with a member of the American Legion and his involvement with our veterans. It’s far beyond what we’ve seen in a long, long time in this county.”

Adding her 2 cents, County Administrator Marsha McSherry told the council, “Thank you for approving that, Darryl moving from part time to full time. He’s a great asset to the county. He’s a great asset and a good person to work with our veterans and help them with the needs that they have.”

Near the end of the council meeting, Council President Mike Long read a letter to all Kosciusko County taxing units from the council regarding their non-binding review of budgets.

The council is charged with reviewing each taxing units’ levy limits and the effect of property tax credits on each unit annually at the first council meeting in August.

The letter states the council supports each taxing unit’s efforts to collect what is needed for the unit to operate successfully with the least impact to taxpayers. The council does not support taxing units having large reserves with no plan, purpose or intent to spend.

The council recommends the taxing units, as they finalize their 2024 budget, review their 2022 year-end cash balance; review their 2023 certified budgets for each fund, along with their June 30, 2023, balances; and verify the expected property tax caps for each of their funds.

Additionally, the letter states that if a taxing unit has more than 2.5 times the amount of their 2023 certified budget in their June 30, 2023, cash balance and made no large increases to their 2023 budget, have no large increases planned for their 2024 budget and have no purpose or plan to spend the money, “You may want to consider reducing the rate to a minimum or eliminate the rate for those funds.”

In other business, the council:

• Approved an additional appropriation of $800,000 as requested by Kosciusko County Highway Department Superintendent Steve Moriarty. The funds out of the Motor Vehicle Highway Unrestricted Fund will be used to cover the Restricted Fund for bituminous material until the highway department receives additional funds.
• Approved two transfers for the highway department for $10,000 from truck driver account and $14,000 from the overtime pay to the part-time fund, as requested by Moriarty.
• Approved an additional appropriation by a vote of 6-1 from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) fund for $2.4 million for the Justice Building renovations. The ARPA Committee, county commissioners and council previously approved the money for the renovations and the additional appropriation was the last step in the process to use those dollars for the renovations. Truex voted against the additional appropriation.
• Approved an additional appropriation for $20,304 from the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program for contractual services, as requested by Emergency Management Director Kip Shuter. The purpose of the grant is to update the county’s multi-mitigation plan for flood plain management, which is updated every five years. The county’s match is $6,769.
• Approved a salary ordinance amendment request from Michelle Hyden, Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office matron, for an Emergency 911 lead dispatcher for a 10-year employment pay bump so the dispatcher’s annual salary will be $55,869. A transfer request of $6,245 also was approved to help cover the pay increase.

Another transfer request for $35,029 was approved from 911 longevity to 911 dispatch overtime for the 911 Dispatch Center as they’re out of overtime pay.

• Approved Oscar Hernandez to be reappointed to the Milford Public Library. His term expires Oct. 31, 2027.
• Heard a quarterly report from Live Well Kosciusko.
• Reviewed the sheriff’s office commissary report as presented by Sheriff Jim Smith.