The Barry County Board of Commissioners first denied Barry County Sheriff’s Office employee Robert Horrmann’s request to purchase one year of generic service credit with the Municipal Employees Retirement System for $26,846 that would allow him to qualify for a full pension.

 

A motion to allow it was tied 3-3, with Commissioner David Jackson absent, so failed.

 

Reading from Roberts Rules of Order, Commissioner and Chairman Ben Geiger said in this particular case, the board could reconsider its decision.

 

Commissioner Howard “Hoot” Gibson said it has been done in the past for others, “Why not now?” Commissioners Jon Smelker and Heather Wing wanted more information, leading to an agreement to table the issue until the Oct. 21 meeting.

 

It will be a closed hearing at Sheriff Dar Leaf’s request since it is a personnal matter. The request was sent to the full board by the committee of the whole last week.

 

In other business Tuesday, commissioners

*approved applying for an EPA assessment grant to fund environmental assessment projects for potential brownfield redevelopment sites in the county,

 

*approved contracting for auditing services from Gabridge & Co. for a fee not to exceed $26,060 a year for the next three years, with option for an additional two years at the same cost.

 

*set a public hearing on the proposed 2019 budget and to recommend its approval on Oct. 23 at 9 a.m.