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Budget Committee Approves Security Updates for Circuit Court Office

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HUNTINGDON (December 28) — New bulletproof glass and door will be installed at the Carroll County Circuit Court office following budgetary approval by the county’s Budget Committee.
Sarah Bradberry, Circuit Court Clerk, requested a local match of $3,200 for the $32,000 security enhancement project, which includes a camera to monitor the hallway, and bulletproof glass and door for inside the office to protect the personnel. A state grant of $28,800 was awarded to the county for the project. Bradberry said she requested the grant funding within days of taking office in September.
The county will pay the entire $32,000 and be reimbursed $28,800 upon completion.
County Mayor Joseph Butler said the county received a state grant of $35,000 to fund the entire cost of the a person to oversee the Prevention Coalition. The purpose of the program is to help those people in need and to prevent residents from using addictive substances. If the funding ceases, the program does as well, said Butler. The Committee approved establishing the program. The director will be housed at the Carroll County Technical School to eliminate any cost of office space.

Sheriff Andy Dickson, Chief Deputy David Bunn, Butler, and Lisa Norris serve on the Prevention Coalition.
County Mayor Butler is not accepting the $15,000 annual appropriation budgeted to the Purchasing Agent position. In the recent past, the county mayor has accepted his salary plus the $15,000. Butler said he did not feel it is appropriate to take the $15,000 in addition to his salary. He floated the idea of possibly equally splitting the funds to two employees who work in budgeting and accounting in the Mayor’s Office. After significant discussion, Budget Committee members chose to not act on the matter. They expressed concerns of a backlash from other county employees.
Commissioner Joel Washburn, who does not sit on the Budget Committee, addressed committee members and asked for quarterly updates on the budget instead of one-time, year-end massive adjustments. Washburn also requested committee members to require periodic updates from the county’s economic development board, including specific actions and budgetary expenditures. The county appropriates the funds to the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce to administer economic development projects. No action was taken on the matter since the board had already adjourned.
(Commissioner Washburn is the author of the this story).

Budget, Security, Updates, Circuit Court