PLYMOUTH — Marshall County Commissioner Jesse Bohannon asked the board to add an item to their agenda for their next meeting to look at the division of powers between the Commissioners and the County Council.
Saying, “This will be a long-term discussion’, Bohannon asked the Commissioners to look at an option that he stated was created by the state of Indiana (Indiana Code 36-2-3.5-1 (2)) to offer “a better” division of powers between the two bodies that would give more authority to the Council.
County Attorney Sean Surrisi said that the change would be more like the federal government in that the Commissioners would serve as the executive body and the Council would be the fiscal and legislative body.
The legislative body has the ability to enact ordinances in the county. Only Lake and St. Joseph counties currently operate under this system.
Bohannon said he felt that the legislature passed the option at that time and had wanted all counties to operate under that system. He said that he “was guessing” that the Commissioners had not wanted to give up their legislative authority and so it was made optional.
Bohannon said he felt it was a matter worthy of discussion to see if the Council would be willing to take on the additional responsibility. Joint resolutions by both bodies would be necessary to initiate any change.
He said the questions to consider would be whether or not it was a good idea and when that transition should take place.
The item will be on the Commissioner’s agenda for their April 21 meeting.
