County council gets a new leader
Martha Lake elected president; sheriff department short-handed; grant funds go the health department and courts
Today's article is brought to you by the men and women of Carpenters Local 615. Professional carpentry is one of the oldest and most respected trades in the world. If you like seeing your work produce immediate results, and if you have a good work ethic, you have the fundamental tools to build the career of a lifetime.
Entering the Carpenters apprenticeship is the best way to start a career as a carpenter, millwright, pile driver, or floor coverer. They take an “earn-as-you-learn” approach to apprenticeship, ensuring a good, living wage with benefits right from the start.
For more information about becoming an apprentice Carpenter, call (574) 527-9352 or click the link below the Carpenters logo.
The Howard County Council voted unanimously to elevate Councilwoman Martha Lake to the position of president at its Aug. 23 meeting. Lake, a fixture in leadership in county government since 1996, becomes the second woman the lead the council, following the departure of Councilwoman Jamie Bolser.
Bolser’s last meeting was in July, and she was replaced via Republican Party caucus on Aug. 12 by Frank Faulkner. Faulkner previously served as a member of the Howard County Board of Zoning Appeals as the council’s appointee.
“I am humbled and honored to be president,” said Lake. “It is not something that I planned to do, but I will willingly serve.”
Helping fight the lead problem
The personnel shuffle kicked off a full council agenda of appropriations and funding transfers. The Howard County Health Department led off the afternoon with director James Vest asking the council to appropriate funding from a state Health Issues and Challenges grant.
“The money will be used over the next two years to help pay for case management and environmental inspections for children with elevated lead levels in their blood,” said Vest. “It is reimbursable from the state as we spend the money. It is strictly for professional services.
“Nurses will do case management for each child with an elevated blood lead level, and there will be an environmental inspection in each case. We’ll do dust wipes throughout the house to find where the lead is coming from to try to alleviate the blood lead level.”
Vest explained that the state legislature recently lowered the acceptable blood lead level limit, and both the county and state anticipate an uptick in cases as a result. The grant is intended to offset the associated costs. The legislation also requires that universal blood lead screenings be offered by all healthcare providers. Previously, only children enrolled in Medicaid were required to be tested at 12 and 24 months.
Lead exposure is known to cause development issues among children, slowing their growth and causing behavioral and learning problems. More severe side effects from exposure include hearing loss and gastrointestinal problems. The primary source of lead in Indiana comes from lead-based paint in homes built before 1978.
A question of authority
Howard Superior Court I William Menges approached the council with an unusual request. He asked for appropriation of grant money while declining to recognize the council’s authority to do so.
“Historically, the Indiana Supreme Court receives grant money that it doles out to problem-solving courts,” said Menges. “They have given Superior Court I $8,000 to use for drug court and $8,000 for use in the re-entry court.
“The State Board of Accounts recently took the position that this needs to be appropriated by the council. There are people in the Office of Court Services who point out that the county council has no authority to tell the Indiana Supreme Court how they are to spend their money.
“In the interest of not fighting over $16,000 and spending a lot more time and effort than that, I have requested that you make what I am going to call a courtesy appropriation without conceding that I recognize your authority to appropriate it.”
Menges said his refusal to recognize the council’s authority in the matter satisfies the Indiana Supreme Court, while requesting the appropriation satisfies the State Board of Accounts.
Shortages plague sheriff
Howard County Sheriff Jerry Asher requested a transfer of funds to pay overtime for the county’s emergency dispatchers.
“We are still struggling,” said Asher. “We are four dispatchers short, though we did have two interviews today. I don’t know if that is the light at the end of the tunnel. It could be the train. We’re still short, so we’re asking for a transfer from dispatcher salaries to dispatcher overtime. Being four short out of 16 full-time dispatchers gets a little tough.”
Councilman Bryan Alexander asked the sheriff whether the shortage can be attributed to the job or if it is the same problem facing many businesses and organizations today when searching for employees.
“I think it’s part of the larger problem,” said Asher. “The jail is short-handed. Dispatch is still short. We had people apply through the sheriff’s department app, but only one out of 20 who submitted their application responded when we reached out. I think we’re a lot of fun to work for, but not everybody does.”