Howard County 34-1

Jurisdictions: Howard County, City of Kokomo

Topic: Two jurisdictions sharing an office

Date: 1994 April

Purpose: To provide for a greater understanding between City and County relating to the operation of the City Plan Commission and the County Plan Commission joint office and staff.

Function: Support functions, Office space

Type: Collaboration

Organization: Joint agreement. Governed by The Conference Committee of Kokomo and Howard County Plan Commissions ("the Committee"). Joint supply: City handles administrative duties of the office and County supplies office space free of charge. (p. 9) City pays greater percentage of costs.

Duration: 3 years, starting January 1, 1994. Automatically extended for successive 3 year terms unless terminated. (P. 2)

Financing: City, through the City Controller's office, shall receive, disburse, and account for all fees collected by the joint office. Expenditures of joint office will be processed according to City accounting procedures. City shall bill the County quarterly for County's share of the expenses. Billings sent to County on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 30. Payment by County made within 30 calendar days. Any fees collected attributable to County shall be credited against the County's share of the expenses; same holds for City. In addition to above, County agrees to pay City for the expense of the administrative functions an additional amount equal to 5% of County's share. County's share is 40% of total cost. City's share is 60% of total cost. (Pp. 2-4, 9-10)

Administration: Budget for operation of joint office, including salaries and benefits for the Director and employees, will be included as an element of the annual City budget. (P. 3) Each jurisdiction maintains its own plan commission with its own area of responsibility; no "joint area" plan commission is created. (P. 4) Committee shall consist of 3 members each of the City and County plan commissions, to be appointed annually by the respective presidents thereof. Duties of Committee:

(A) Personnel matters: To recommend the appointment of an Executive Director of the joint office; to recommend the filling of all other employment vacancies from a pool of eligible applicants. Executive Director is responsible for maintaining discipline. Committee is responsible for disciplining Director. Employees of the joint office are classified as employees of the City for the purpose of determining employee benefits.

(B) Budgetary matters: Executive Director is responsible for preparing separate budget proposals for each plan commission; items to be included are listed (salaries, life insurance, equipment, etc.). (Pp. 4-7) Budgetary Procedure: Specific annual dates are included for the completion of budget preparation, review, and approval. County and City councils are authorized to form joint conference committees to reconcile differences as to the proposed budget. (Pp. 7-9) Committee also authorized to make recommendations relative to fee structure associated with zoning activities; respective governing bodies are under no obligation to act upon such recommendations. (P. 9)

Property: Upon termination: Files become property of the party to which they pertain. Property purchased prior to this agreement shall be appraised and shall revert to City and County on a 50/50 basis. Property purchased subsequent to this agreement shall be divided on a 60/40 City-County basis. If parties cannot agree as to division of property, it shall be sold and proceeds divided as per the above percentages. (P. 11-12)

Termination: Can occur if written notice given at least 90 days prior to third anniversary of agreement (or third anniversary of any extension). (P. 11)