Staff writer
Marion County Attorney Susan Robson and Sheriff Rob Craft met with county commissioners Monday to discuss the possible creation of a detective position at the county level.
Craft said having someone to investigate ongoing cases would give deputies more freedom to tend to day-to-day duties.
A detective would work closely with the county attorney, especially on particularly big cases. Robson mentioned recent child molestation cases, as well as a string of burglaries in Hillsboro. She said having a single point of contact on a case would simplify prosecution.
Commission Chairman Dan Holub asked where funding would come from. Craft and Robson said their departments could split costs.
Craft said a detective would likely be paid a little more than a starting deputy. Equipment would be an additional cost, but a detective would not require a pursuit-capable car.
Commissioners expressed interest in the idea but said budget concerns would have to be considered.
In other business:
- Deputy Matthew Vogt resigned from the sheriff’s department.
- Commissioners approved salary changes for corrections officers Kevin Carter and Larry Cushenbery. The officers were transferred from a monthly salary to hourly wages. Both officers previously made $1,785 per month. The new pay scale is $10.30 per hour.
- Senior Citizens of Marion County will have its annual meeting Oct. 15 at Hillsboro Senior Center. All senior citizens are invited, Marion County Elderly Department Director Gayla Ratzlaff said. Booths will be open starting at 9:30 a.m., registration for the meal begins at 10 a.m., and the program will begin at 10:45 a.m.
- Commissioner Randy Dallke asked for a full reporting of a revolving loan fund used to encourage new businesses after Economic Development Director Teresa Huffman told commissioners the fund has enough money left for one more loan. Huffman said she would prepare a report on the fund.
- Huffman asked for 15 minutes of closed session to discuss personnel, but Dallke asked to limit it to 10 minutes. No action was taken on return to open session.
- Commissioners met at separate times with Leslie Lalouette and Rex Siebert to discuss road and bridge issues.
- Noxious Weed Director Rollin Schmidt reported the county has completed spraying for Sericea lespedeza and is nearly done spraying bindweed.
- Commissioners approved hiring Regulator Time Company of Manhattan to spend a day training county employees about maintenance of the clock tower at the courthouse. The clock was last restored 12 years ago, County Clerk Carol Maggard said.