County to recoup flood costs, Elgin Berry is new engineer

The Hancock County Board accepted the resignation of county engineer Paul Sly with regrets and approved Elgin Berry as the new county engineer.

Sly's retirement is official on Friday, Oct. 31, ending over 21 years of service to the county.

“We appreciate all you've done for the county,” said Regan Ramsey, chairman of the County Highway Committee.

Ramsey said interviews for Sly's replacement were held Oct. 15, and Berry received a unanimous vote. Berry received a three-year contract of $63,000, $65,000, and $67,000 per year.

Sly reported on two bridge projects within the county. The bridge being replaced just south of Smokin' Gun Hunting Club on Connable Road is nearly finished. Another bridge project near Tioga is also nearly complete.

Ramsey reported that the county would recoup about 90 percent of its expenses associated with the flood this summer.

The board approved a budget amendment for the county's ambulance service and the county highway funds because of unanticipated expenses. The supplemental appropriation was required for the $75,000 acquisition of a building by the ambulance service to store and maintain ambulances. The appropriation also covered federal and state reimbursement of $300,000 for damage to roads from heavy truck travel during the flood this summer and $300,000 on a bridge replaced this summer on Connable Road.

The board increased the mileage reimbursement to county employees and board members, exempting Sheriff's Office employees, from 42 cents per mile to 48 cents per mile. The new rate takes effect Dec. 1. Board members Tom Scheetz and Randy White voted no. White specified his vote would have been ‘yes' if county board members were exempted from the increase. Joe Stephenson, Delbert Kreps and Cary Gray were absent.

A new $5 fee was approved to benefit the Children's Advocacy Center. The Center provides a neutral environment to interview children during investigations. The fee is applied to any court appearance, including traffic court. The fee was estimated to raise $3,000 to $4,000 per year.

The fee is collected by the circuit clerk who distributes it monthly.

The board approved a holiday schedule for the courthouse for 2009. Holidays for employees include Presidents Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas and Christmas Eve.

The board renewed the investment policy for the treasurers office that's been used since 2004. The county does not have investments in the stock market.

Supervisor of Assessments Dale Bolton asked the board to appoint someone to be in charge of the courthouse grounds.

“If it wasn't for the efforts of the treasurer (Kris Pilkington) giving up her Saturday, we would have had four foot high weeds on the day we were celebrating the courthouse being 100 years old,” said Bolton.

Pilkington and board chairman David Walker were thanked for their help in the 100 year old celebration of the courthouse.