The Daviess County Council held its first meeting of 2025 on Wednesday morning. The first order of business was the election of officers, and the Council chose Marilyn McCullough to serve as president and Tony Duncheon as vice president. In regular business, the Council held a public hearing on the details of the tax abatement request from Kratos Defense and Security Solutions for their company’s proposed expansion at WestGate. With no objections from the public, the Council approved the Confirmatory Resolution approving a regular decreasing 10-year abatement on real and personal property taxes. In other business, the Council approved the encumbrance of funds for expenditures made under the 2024 budget, but to be paid in 2025. The Council also approved amendments to the salary ordinance due to changes in certification in the Assessors office and an adjustment for experience at Community Corrections. The Council approved additional appropriations of incoming and projected funds for the Health Department. Daviess County Health Department Administrator Kelli Streeter told the Council that the Health Department projected receiving $102,690 in user fees through the Immigration Clinic. The County charges each individual $350 per appointment, with the Civil Surgeon receiving $300 and the County keeping a $50 fee. The clinic provides examinations and medical requirements for immigrants in the process of applying for citizenship. The Council also appropriated funds received by the Health Department through Health First Indiana and the LHD School Liaison Grant, providing school nurse liaison services. At the end of the meeting, the Council approved an additional appropriations request from Circuit Court Judge Greg Smith for funds to cover a retiring employee’s unused vacation and sick days and unused comp time.
