Published: May 13, 2008 11:21 am            

Clark County Sheriff’s Department spending $21,000 a month on fuel

Rising gas prices might make some people want to break the law to get around, but they’re also causing problems for the law.

Sheriff Danny Rodden requested and received approval for $110,000 out of the Clark County Council’s Rainy-Day Fund for gasoline Monday. Rodden was requesting the remainder of the $206,900 that had been approved last year by the council. The department is spending an average of $21,000 a month on gasoline this year.

Mark Meyer, 27, a sheriff’s department deputy who was shot after responding to a domestic-violence call, attended the council meeting Monday. Meyer was attending as a member of the Deputy Sheriff’s Alliance Negotiation Team, which negotiates benefits for deputies.

Rodden said Meyer was recovering well and hoped to return to his position as a K-9 officer with the department in July.



In other business

• Clark County residents should expect property-tax bills in July, if all goes as expected, according to county auditor Keith Groth. If residents receive property-tax bills in July, the county and municipalities should expect budget orders from the state in August.

• The council approved a salary-ordinance request from the Clark County Drug Court to hire a new drug court administrator at about $36,000 a year, to replace the current drug court administrator, Allison Juliot, who also works as a probation officer.

The court plans to split Juliot’s role as drug court administrator and probation officer into two separate positions.

• The council approved a $5,000 salary increase for Shelby Shaffer, who is in charge of veterans’ affairs for the county. Councilman Monty Snelling was in favor of the raise for Shaffer, saying, “compared to other counties, she’s underpaid. The veterans need all the help they can get and (Shaffer) is very dedicated.”

The council’s decision will bring her more in line with other county officials responsible for veterans’ affairs. Shaffer will be making about $20,000 a year, including money from the city of Jeffersonville.

• Clark County Drainage Board Engineer Brian Dixon was back before the council Monday requesting money to complete mapping and other requirements from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

The council approved $120,000 to complete mapping and other requirements to come up to regulations under the state’s and EPA’s codes.

        

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