The Porter County
Board of Commissioners approved changes to the procedure for reporting
status changes for County employees at its meeting Tuesday.
County Auditor
Vicki Urbanik noted that under current policy for reporting an employee
status change, department heads are required to report status changes
“promptly,” which has proven too vague, as her office is often notified of
changes too close to the end of a pay cycle. Her suggested changes to the
policy were requiring department heads to report changes, such as
terminations, resignations, demotions, promotions, and salary changes, to
her office within one business day. She also recommended that new employees
start work at the beginning of a pay cycle, and returning employees fill out
new paperwork.
Urbanik also
presented a new status change form. She reported that she studied the way
other counties handle status change forms to make Porter County’s version
more straightforward and concise. Urbanik noted that the changes would help
her office stay organized and would ensure that all County employees get
paid on time. “I’d like our payroll weeks to function like a well-oiled
machine, and on the non-payroll weeks, we deal with any changes,” she said.
County Attorney
Scott McClure voiced approval, noting that Urbanik and others in her office
are often left double-checking information at the last minute to make sure
everyone gets paid. “Department heads don’t understand how important it is
to get the new information to the auditor as soon as possible,” he said. “We
can’t have people working without I-9s. We can’t have people working without
the proper documentation.”
The Board approved
Urbanik’s policy changes and the new form.
Other Approvals
In other business,
the Board approved two requests by Facilities Director Matt Stechly to
accept quotes for building repairs. They were: roof repairs to the Highway
Department office building in Valparaiso, $22,151 from Ross Roofing; and
renovations to the Porter County Auditor’s office, $78,250 from Gough Inc.
Expo Center
Director Lori Daly presented quotes for fence repair to the Board. After a
semi-truck driver damaged part of the Expo Center’s fence along Ind. 49,
Daly solicited three quotes for repair. Fence Master’s didn’t turn in a
quote, Northern Indiana Fence Company quoted the job at $1,350. The Board
voted to go with Wunder Company, out of Lake Station, for the low quote of
$975.25. Daly said she is in the process of requesting damages from the
trucking company.
Chris Buyer and
Dawn Pelc of the Substance Abuse Council also brought the Council’s
comprehensive community plan to the Board for approval. Buyer reports that
every substance abuse coalition is required to form a comprehensive plan to
address risks and form plans to meet the needs of its particular community.
The Board approved the plan.
The Board approved
a request as well by Clerk Karen Martin to renew a contract with the Caring
Place for advocate services. Caring Place Advocates help citizens file
protective orders and are paid $40 for each protective order they work on.
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