John made the motion to pay the Quad Lakes Solid Waste Management District Dues of $1,240.00. Trent seconded the motion. All vote yes. Motion carried. No opposition.
Sheriff Chad Anderson came in for his scheduled meeting. In attendance were Chief Corbin, Detective Stockdale, Detective Fishbaugh, Deputy Jackson, Deputy Covington, Adrian City Administrator Ryan WestCoat, County Clerk Jami Page and Mid-America Live News Review Doug Mager. In question is an invoice Chad has submitted 4 weeks ago for $10,500.00 for the Rodeo Company to put on The Sheriff's Office /Sheriff's Posse Rodeo in the fall. It has not been approved and suspects it has been denied. He would like to find out why? This is the 5th year and the last 4 have been funded the same way. Why is it inappropriate now? Jim states “one thing I want you to understand, I have nothing against the rodeo. My issue is the way it’s being funded.” Jim further explains that his problem is that there are other funds that Chad has available to use for the Rodeo instead of the what the US Marshalls are paying him to use it on. Jim stated that the Auditors have said over and over that those funds cannot be used for these types of operations. The attorneys that they have talked to have said you can’t be paying for it now. Jim questioned why the county should pay for it out of taxpayer’s dollars when The Sheriff’s Office has the Posse group that is a 501C3 that gets the proceeds from the Rodeo. Chad went on to explain that this falls under a Community Policing program. Which provides a good and positive interaction between law enforcement and the community. Instead of at their worst and most emergent times. Chad stated by not funding the Rodeo he feels that the Commission is not honoring their agreement to “The Blue Shield Program” where they clearly stated they would support community policing initiatives. Chad explains that the statutes are vague on expenditures for public functions. To find an answer he talked to several attorneys. They have stated to him that this falls under the public purpose doctrine. Check the State Constitution, State Statutes and court case rulings. Chad feels this would end up decided by court case precedence. He listed several cases where public purpose doctrines had been applied. Chad stated the Commission donates to the Children’s Center and Mercy Hospital. As well as distributed the Federal ARPA funds following guidelines to public entities. Chad explained that the ARPA money was given out the way it was because of Public purpose Doctrine otherwise it went against the State Constitution and the State Statutes as well. It became county money and the county must abide by those articles regardless of being a Federal grant. Chad also stated that his budget was approved in the fall, and it should have been understood he would be funding the Rodeo. As he has in the past 4 years, therefore the Commission has already approved the funding of the Rodeo. He stated that as an elected official he is the decider on how his approved money is spent. The Commission does not have line-item veto capability. It was asked later for clarification if his Budget has a specific line item on the budget for the Rodeo and he stated no but it should be assumed. The Commission has spent several hours looking into how other counties and cities fund their public functions. The result was many ways are used. From outright funding with taxpayer's money to donations and selling tickets. Ryan spoke on what the Rodeo means for the City of Adrian and how they have put money into improving the arena used. He also stated they donate the electricity used for the Rodeo. John also stated that this benefits more than the Sheriff's office. This is a huge community event and he is all for it. Chad asked what the rift was with the Rodeo. Jami stated that the rift was the Sheriff’s Posse being funded by the proceeds from the rodeo when the county is paying for the rodeo with taxpayer's money. The Sheriff’s Posse sells advertisements space during the Rodeo. They also offer their membership and sell T-shirts for the Rodeo. There are other vendors, and the Optimist Club does concessions. Chad states he has stopped all other funding of the Posse that he has done in the past. Chad feels that the auditor’s opinion has been skewed by people who hate everything the Sheriff does. He further states that the Sheriff's Office Audit has not been released. The county was Audited by the state in 2024. During the County’s Audit the Sheriff’s Office was moved to its own Audit. The findings are still pending. One deposition was made. Chad went on to state continual issues with invoices being either held and or questioned since 2023. He also asked Jami about the Family Fun Day the Sheriff’s office held years ago as she had organized it. He stated the kids that go to these events are those kids that can’t afford to go to things like worlds of fun. She stated yes, she remembers, and she knows it was paid for by the taxpayer’s money. However, she has learned a lot as the County Clerk and how things need to be accountable to the taxpayers for the use of their money. Ryan spoke on how the City of Adrian matches what is donated to the city for the firework display they do every year. He would really like to see the Rodeo continue for the people and his city. Chad asked Jami if she had talked to her attorney and she stated that in his opinion generally things like the rodeo are funded by donations from the community. Chad feels that the Sheriff's office has the money and should be able to pay for it and not ask for civic donations. Chad feels that this is a control issue by the Commission. He feels as an elected official he should be able to spend his approved budget as he sees fit. He stated from the per diem issue to the rodeo what next? He states he has bent over backwards and kept it peaceful. He states if they don’t approve the invoice, he wants the word that it is canceled to come from the Commission. Chad stated, “The Commission needs to be responsible for notifying the public that the rodeo is cancelled.” Ryan states that if the Commission does not approve the invoice and cancel the Rodeo that they let him know 2 months ahead of time so he can look at other avenues to fund it. John stated he doesn’t want to control the Sheriff's Office. John stated he has learned a lot and did talk to a few auditors and feels the audit is “just a witch hunt” John stated the county spent $35,000.00 for the audit. Jim stated we haven’t had an audit in 8 years Note this correction, there have been 2 audits over the last 3 years, one independent audit, required for federal money received and disbursed, and one state. A financial audit is required every 2 years and possibly more under certain circumstances. The state audits generally every 4 years. The independent audit was the only one paid for by the county $25540.00. This was paid out of ARPA money. Financial audits are paid for by the county. Jim states we really appreciate everything the Sheriff's Office does regardless of what he thinks or hears. We will work over this afternoon, and we’ll let you know Monday afternoon.
Work in progress
Policy Regarding Indigent Cremations given 8/25/2023 nothing since April
Rattlesnake Hill Roads 11/06/2023 evening meeting 6/11/25 still gaining signatures
Policy Regarding Computer, E-Mail, Devices and Social Media given nothing since 2/14/2024
Telephone Contracts 3/11/2024 bids out 6/25 opening 6/30/25
Opioid Settlement Resolution 10/2/2024 (Judge Highley)
EEZ Board 3/26/2025 Proposal Fee with scope of work received $12,000.00 fixed fee 6/11/25
