|
|
Commissioner's Office
440 Third Street • Columbus, IN 47201
Phone 812 379-1515 • Fax 812 379-1797
About Us
What do Commissioners
do?
County governments
were originally created as administrative divisions of the states.
Each state government in the country has designed, through its constitution
and statutes, the authorities and powers that counties may exercise.
Bartholomew
County has three Commissioners who are the administrative arm of
County Government. The terms of office for County Commissioners
are four (4) years on a staggered basis. The prospective Commissioner
must reside in a certain district but elected by a majority vote
of the County. Commissioners represent all citizens of Bartholomew
County. The County Commissioners are empowered to set county policy,
adopt laws, implement them, and, except for the responsibilities
of other elected officials, carry out day-to-day operations of the
County.
The County Commissioners
position is a part-time job. But in reality as an elected official
you are on duty and on call 24 hours a day.
The most important
thing that a Commissioner does is stay in touch with constituents.
Daily, a Commissioner speaks with citizens about what they want.
A particular vote on a particular issue, a complaint about taxes,
a problem with a road or bridge, are just a few things that Commissioners
address daily.
To effectively
carry out the role of Commissioner requires making decisions. To
make good decisions, a Commissioner needs good information. Gathering
the necessary data and statistics requires time by the Commissioner
or staff.
Meetings are
a major part of every Commissioner's role. Regularly scheduled Commissioner
meetings, special sessions, and public hearings are a part of the
job. Attending community functions such as neighborhood meeting,
business openings, school activities, socials and club meetings
is also required.
Issues that
Commissioners face
Routinely, Commissioners
are faced with the task of raising sufficient revenue to run the
government and provide the services expected by their constituents.
Taxes and fees are the most common way that governments raise revenue
and increases are not generally popular with citizens. An effective
Commissioner educates citizens about the need for increases to continue
service delivery as they expect and to maintain the quality of life
in the county.
Powers and
Duties of the Commissioner
- Hiring
and Appointment of Individuals - The County Commissioners
may hire an individual to perform a duty required of a County
Officer by statute or on a commission or percentage basis if such
arrangement is found by the County Commissioners to be necessary
to the public interest.
- Administering County Funds and Financial Management -
The County Commissioners may approve bills against the county
and oversee the raising of money necessary for county expenses.
- Transactions Involving County Property - The County
Commissioners may authorize the following:
- the sale of the county's public buildings and the acquisition
of land upon which to build new public buildings; and
- the acquisition of land for a public square and the maintenance
of that square
- Licenses and Permits - The County Commissioners may grant
licenses, permits, or franchises for the use of county property
if they:
- do not exclude any individual
- only last for a definite period of time
- are assignable only with the consent of the County Commissioners
- Maintenance of Courthouse, Jail, and Other Public Offices
- The County Commissioners must establish and maintain a County
Courthouse, County Jail, and public offices for the County Clerk,
the County Auditor, the County Recorder, the County Treasurer,
the County Sheriff, and the County Surveyor.
- Administration of Powers - Responsibilities and Duties
- Control, maintain, and supervise county property, including
the Courthouse, Jail, Governmental Office Building, Annex
Building, Youth Services Center, County Highway Garage, and
Court Services Center.
- Audit and authorize claims against the County.
- Receive bids and authorize contracts.
- Supervise construction and maintenance of roads and bridges.
- Authorizes the preparation of county road maps
- Exercise the county's power of eminent domain.
- Performing certain election functions including the establishment
of precincts, the providing of polling places (with an effort
to make accessible to physically challenged), and the necessary
equipment.
- Prepare that part of the annual budget over which County
Commissioners exercise direct control.
- Issuing bonds or notes in connection with the borrowing
of money for the county (subject to approval of county council).
- Establish county dog pound, county rabies control projects,
and county landfills.
- Recommendations to the county council as to the amount
of salary to be paid to each county officer, the number of
deputies and other employees which each official may hire,
as well as compensation to be paid.
- Fixing and posting speed limits on street, road, or highways
within their jurisdiction
- Adopts fire prevention ordinances
- Make appointments to boards, commissions, and other agencies
as provided by law.
- Acts as a court for Poor Relief Hearing.
- Serving, with the county Surveyor, as members of the County
Drainage Board.
- Contracting with private persons or corporations for ambulance
service.
- Serving as members on the Solid Waste District Board.
- Providing services to veterans.
- Furthering redevelopment of land.
- E-911 and Emergency Services
- County Commissioner Meetings - The Bartholomew County
Commissioners hold weekly scheduled meetings every Monday at 10:00
a.m. If Monday should be a holiday, the meeting will be held the
next day on Tuesday at the same time. The meetings are held in
the Commissioners' Chambers, Government Office Building, 440 Third
Street.
- Public participation at Commissioners Meetings
Agenda
An agenda is prepared weekly for the Commissioners meeting.
The purpose of the agenda sessions is to allow the public to address
the Bartholomew County Board of Commissioners on agenda items
for Board consideration/adoption to the extent allowed.
Citizens wishing to place an item on the Commissioners' Agenda
should plan to submit the information to the Commissioners' Chief
Deputy one-week prior to the Agenda Session date. Agenda items
must be turned into the Commissioners' office by 12 noon on Wednesday
in order to be placed on the Monday morning agenda session. Any
supporting documents should be submitted at that time. If the
documents are not available, the item will be placed on the following
agenda session. Any exceptions will be at the discretion of the
Chairman.
Public Hearings
The purpose of public hearings is to allow the public to provide
input/testimony to the Board of County commissioners on a particular
subject.
All public hearings will be scheduled and heard in the order in
which they are listed on the agenda, unless otherwise arranged.
Audience Comments - Procedure for Participation
When recognized:
- State your name, address, and whether you are representing
only yourself or others. All remarks/comments should be addressed
to the Board as a body and not to any specific member. Questions
should be addressed to the Chairman.
- Please limit your comments on public comment items to five
(5) minutes if you are representing others and three (3) minutes
if you are representing yourself.
- Submit all written comments to the Commissioners' Chief
Deputy.
Duties of
Chief Deputy Commissioner
- assist in
the administration and enforcement of policies and resolutions
of the County Commissioners;
- supervise
activities of county government subject to the control of the
County Commissioners;
- attend meetings
of the County Commissioners;
- recommend
measures for adoption to the County Commissioners;
- prepare and
submit reports that be considered advisable or that the County
Commissioners require;
- keep the
County Commissioners fully advised on the financial condition
of the county;
- assist in
the preparation of the budget for each fiscal year and submit
to Auditor;
- perform other
duties as requested by the County Commissioners.
|
