Fees to change at Pulaski County Health Department

As the Pulaski County Health Department is cutting the current budget and preparing to spend less next year, employees are also looking at how to generate more funding.

During a regular meeting on Monday, Pulaski County Health Department Director of Environmental Health Terri Hansen approached the commissioners with the idea of changing the fee schedule.

Hansen said it has been about 15 years since most of the fees have changed.

“I just brought this tonight to discuss it,” Hansen said.

She mentioned a number of fees that could be changed including death certificates, new permits for septic systems, annual food permits and permits for tattoo parlors.

“Genealogy research — we talked about this for a long time. We have people who come in and want to do genealogy all day,” Hansen said. A large amount of time is being spent by employees helping those who are researching the past.

Part of the problem is that the county handles the antique records and makes copies.

She has spoken with other counties that charge every half hour. She suggested charging $5 per hour. After the commissioners discussed the issue, it was decided that the department would charge $10 per half hour.

The public health nursing aspect of the department is breaking even, according to Hansen. She said a little money is made to purchase needles.

Commissioner Larry Brady suggested that the fees be reviewed on a regular basis.

Hansen said she would change the suggested fees and have the schedule signed by health department officer Dr. Rex Allman. She will present it to the commissioners again for final approval.

Hansen also requested permission to attend a fall conference. Her request was approved.

In other business:

• Maintenance supervisor Jeff Johnston said several issues have been repaired at the sheriff’s office. He also gave an update on several other projects happening at the county buildings. Johnston attempted to receive bids for work at the annex job. He said the work was advertised in four different papers and no one responded. Johnston contacted someone to hopefully do the work. He requested whether the commissioners wanted to schedule a special session with the council to hear from architect in regards to the renovations of the county buildings, specifically the courthouse. “I have heard back from the architect firms that we have talked to and the costs that they have given me — there’s huge differences.” Commissioner Terry Young suggested a special meeting be scheduled with the county council to discuss it. Commissioners will try to schedule a meeting with the council.

• Recorder Christi Hoffa introduced the idea of electronically recording (E-recording) to the commissioners. “Title companies and banks are getting more pressure to get things to us quicker, so they are pushing us to E-record. They want to electronically send the documents to us to be recorded.” She would like to use Simplifile that works with the software the recorder’s office already uses. “Initially, I only want to take documents that the recorder has to see.” There are other documents that are processed through the auditor’s office and the assessor’s office, but Hoffa doesn’t “want to push that” on those offices. She would like to work with the company and then introduce it to the other offices. There is no cost to the county. Simplifile charges the consumer not the county. The commissioners approved using the company with the pending approval of county attorney Kevin Tankersley.

• Building inspector Dave Dare requested the approval of a demolition order of the unsafe two-story building at 201 W. Main St. in Winamac. The house was owned by Clara Roudebush. Dare said there are a number of interior issues with it. “I know it’s an old building but it has never really been maintained. There is really no history behind it. It is just one of the oldest buildings in the town.” The order to demolish the building was approved. The order is to be completed by Oct. 16. Dare also gave an update on the collapsed Monterey building and on a building in Medaryville. The collapsed building is being cleaned up. Dare showed the progress of the Medaryville building in a few photos.

• Pulaski County Sheriff Jeff Richwine requested for the commissioners to sign two sheriff’s office vehicle titles. The titles were signed. Richwine said the vehicles will be auctioned.

• Conference requests for the treasurer’s office, auditor’s office, recorder’s office, clerk’s office, health department and EMA department were approved. Several conference requests regarding EMA director Sheri Gaillard were approved.

• A motion to sign documents regarding the commissioners’ auction of seven lots in the Monterey Property area was approved.

• Auditor Shelia Garling gave information to the commissioners regarding past discussions about moving the fairgrounds.

• Minutes from the regular commissioners’ meeting on Aug. 17, joint sessions on Aug. 10 and Sept. 2, and executive session on Aug. 28 were approved.

• Payroll and claims were approved.

Pulaski County Journal

114 W. Main Street
Winamac, IN 46996

(574) 946-6628
 

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