By By JOHN EBY / Dowagiac Daily News
CASSOPOLIS - In a final flurry of year-end budget moves, Cass County commissioners positioned the drug enforcement team voters strengthened by approving a half-mill, four-year millage request at the August primary to step up the war on methamphetamine in January.
On a motion by Commissioner Minnie Warren, D-Pokagon Township, a 2005 budget for the drug enforcement team the county shares with Dowagiac was approved.
Sheriff Joseph Underwood and Chief Tom Atkinson prepared a spending plan for the new millage showing $615,000 in revenue against expenses of $513,169.
County Administrator Terry Proctor "pointed out one precaution," however, that because of the county converting its fiscal year from the calendar year to the state cycle of Oct. 1-Sept. 30 with a one-time nine-month budget, Taylor's apparent "excess" is 12 months of revenue, nine months of expenses, "and will catch up to you in a future fiscal year."
Commissioner Robert Ziliak, R-Niles, offered a motion to advance $69,000 from the general fund to the motor pool fund to make cash available to purchase three vehicles that will be leased and used by the drug enforcement team.
A similar arrangement in Dowagiac will furnish two vehicles.
Commissioner Debbie Johnson made a motion for the lease-purchase of a copy machine for the drug team from U.S. Business Systems for $155 per month for 48 months, or $7,440 total.
Commissioner Mike Raab made a motion to approve the purchase of three drug team vehicles as recommended by Sheriff Underwood for $65,593.58 total.
The vehicles include a Chrysler Town and Country mini-van from Pat Abiney for $22,559, a Chevy Impala from C. Wimberley Chevrolet for $21,737.28 and a Ford Explorer from C. Wimberley Ford for $21,162.30.
Commissioners on Thursday also established the budget for a $450,000 federal grant Judge Susan Dobrich obtained from the U.S. Department of Justice for a Family Drug Court.
In other year-end business commissioners:
Approved an agreement with the Van Buren/Cass District Health Department for primary and preventive health care services at the county jail. The agreement, effective Jan. 1, replaces the current contract with Borgess-Lee Memorial Health Group.
Bought 21 Panasonic Toughbook laptop computers under the 2004 Homeland Security Grant from CDWG of Vernon Hills, Ill., for $88,914, as recommended by Information Systems Director Kerry Collins. The equipment is being allocated to fire and ambulance services.
Passed Carl Higley's motion to accept a $17,725.18 bid from Siemans in Bridgman for a 2005 F-250 four-wheel-drive pickup truck with plow. Maintenance Supervisor David Dickey said the new vehicle replaces a 1995 Ford F-150.
Approved Jack Teter's motion to buy a John Deere lawn mower/tractor/snow blower from Klug Farm Equipment in Eau Claire at the state bid price of $20,443.03.
Reimbursed Clerk-Register-elect Barb Wilson $282.65 for training, including hotel registration and meals, she attended Nov. 30-Dec. 3 in Grayling. Her training included accreditation new county clerks must obtain before conducting an election. Cass County did not incur any cost for mileage because she rode with Van Buren County Clerk Tina Leary.