The Marshall County Commissioners discussed the Courthouse project appropriation during their last meeting.
Midwest Maintenance workers recently returned to repair the east outdoor stairs where a drain was installed where the exterior goes into the inside. The steps were removed and concrete poured in lieu of leaving limestone there and repairing it.
The change order was previously approved for the stair replacement at a cost of $137,017. The commissioners approved the expense out of the Commissioners line item in the General Fund budget.
When the additional appropriation request went before the Marshall County Council during their meeting June 8, Councilman Will Patterson thought that appropriation should be spent out of the LIT Special Purpose Fund that focuses on expenses of criminal justice facilities. Councilwoman Nicole Cox thought it should be done that way.
Councilman Tim Harman believed that was the appropriate fund.
“The statute is clear,” stated Harman. “It states that we can renovate or equip jail facilities, other criminal justice facilities – and court is a criminal justice facility, and other related buildings. It’s at least a related building.”
The Marshall County Council’s Attorney Marcellus M. Lebbin commented he spoke with Harman about the statute and concurred with Harman’s interpretation of the statute.
As a result, the council unanimously voted to deny the initial request and kicked it back to the commissioners to reconsider recommending the additional appropriation out of the LIT Special Purpose Fund.
During the commissioners meeting last week, Commissioner Michael Burroughs commented that the State Board of Accounts said it could not be done that way, but he seconded the motion made by Commissioner Kevin Overmyer to present the additional appropriation to the Marshall County Council through the LIT Special Purpose Fund. The motion was approved unanimously.
