The Marion County Board voted 12 to 2 Tuesday night to reject a new administrator or coordinator position.
Many county board members say they needed more information and were not ready to vote, but Board Chair Debbie Smith pushed a vote saying the county officeholders who suggested the position wanted a vote before next year’s budget was completed.
The questions started with what position they were voting on, administrator and coordinator. Board members were also confused about the vague job description. Most also noted opposition from the public.
One of the two yes votes came from Board Member Steve Whritenour who agreed the job description was vague, but needed.
“We just approved 3-plus million dollars tonight in bills. Who is following through to make sure every dollar we approve and the money that comes in and goes out. It’s that glue between the elected officials, this county, and the dollars we talk about at the beginning. Are we paying out the money we are supposed to be paying out? Are we being over or under-billed? I think that is a key part of this position.”
Whritenour emphasized the position was not to oversee the county board or take over personnel in individual offices, but to make sure the wishes of the county board are carried out.
Board Vice-Chair Dr. Creighton Engel says the board has already hired companies to assist in overseeing building and budget at a reasonable cost. He asked for the companies to be given a chance.
“We put in AMERESCO which is basically a backloaded situation. It’s not costing us any upfront money. They already had projects on the books that they are going to be bringing forward and AMERESCO gives us a quote on a job. If there is an override or bill that comes in that is them, we pay the bottom line. Bellwether is in charge of our budget. That is something you said the city administrator would do. We’ve already got a professional group that is already doing that and has made us about $700,000 in their return.”
Board Chair Debbie Smith agreed with Engel. She noted with additional study, the issue could be brought back for another vote next year.
