MINUTES OF THE INFORMAL MEETING OF THE JOHNSON COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS:

FEBRUARY 18, 2005

Chairperson Stutsman called the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to order in the Johnson County Administration Building at 8:30 a.m. Members present were: Pat Harney, Mike Lehman, Terrence Neuzil, Sally Stutsman, and Rod Sullivan.

DISCUSSION: FISCAL YEAR 2006 COUNTY BUDGET

Budget Coordinator Jeff Horne said that at this point if the Board adds anything to the FY 06 budget something has to be taken out somewhere else.

The Board discussed that the Auditor’s Office is going to fund $50,000 to deal with the back log of the GIS system in the FY 05 budget.  Neuzil said that the message from the Board to the Auditor’s Office is that the Board will fund the Map Delineator in the Auditor's Office’s but take away the real estate part time help.  Harney said that the Auditor’s Office needs the same level of part-timers that they had before the Board funded the extra part-timers to help catch up GIS. The Board agreed.

Neuzil asked if the Board could afford to fund the night dispatch position in the Jail for part of the year with the removal of the part-time hours in Auditor's Office’s and the removal of the part-time cook in the Sheriff’s Department.  Horne said yes.  Harney said that he isn’t ready to fund the night time dispatch position and suggested that County Sheriff Lonnie Pulkrabek bring a budget amendment to the Board.  Stutsman agreed. Neuzil said that he isn’t in favor of budget amendments for the hiring of personnel.  Stutsman said that she would be more comfortable if Pulkrabek had time to look at the organization of the Sheriff’s Department and she therefore wouldn’t be against a budget amendment.  R. Sullivan said that staff at the Jail is very concerned about the night dispatch.  The Board agreed not to fund the night dispatch position.

Stutsman said that if Iowa City hires a consultant to study a joint communications system it would be a good idea for the County to contribute to that, which hasn’t been talked about during the budget process.  The Board agreed to help fund the consultant for the joint communications system.

Neuzil asked if $400,000 is going to be adequate for jail alternatives in FY 06.  Horne said that he would rather see $500,000.  Horne said that they will be cutting it close this year with $400,000.

The Board decided not to fund health insurance for the contract employee at the Soil and Water Conservation Service until a formal request is made.

Adjourned at 9:30 a.m.

Attest: Tom Slockett, Auditor

By Casie Kadlec, Recording Secretary

Sent to the Board of Supervisors on March 22, 2005 at 4:00 p.m.