By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — Marshall County will add a public defender and increase the salary paid to two current public defenders.
Speaking on behalf of Superior Court I, II and Marshall Circuit Court, Judge Dean Colvin approached the Marshall County Council last month about the situation and asked for an additional appropriation of $45,000 to make the necessary changes. Colvin stated that in tough economic times the case load in the courts increases and stated the case load in his court alone had doubled from last year.
The money will pay the salary for a part time defender to take some of the case load and increase the pay of the two current defenders.

In other business:
• The council tabled a request by Neal Heack of the Marshall County Highway Department to add $24,000 to the line item for overtime pay.
Dealing with severe weather had depleted the department’s overtime budget. The line item still contains a balance of funds for overtime pay.
“I understand and respect what Neal’s trying to do but I think we should wait and see what the weather does,” said Council President Matt Hassel.
Councilman Fred Lintner made the motion to table the item.
• Family and Children’s Services for the county received an appropriation for around $656,000 to pay bills from last year. The fund for the DFCS has a balance of $699,000 to finish out paying bills from 2008.
On January 1 the state of Indiana took over operation of the DFCS but the county is still liable to pay all bills incurred through Dec. 31, 2008. What will happen with any excess money in the fund for the office after all bills are paid is still in question.
• County Assessor Deb Dunning is making arrangements to help farmers fill out their tax forms for the coming year. Dunning came before the Council to seek an appropriation of around $4,000 to have former Township Assessors maintain office hours to help in the filling out of tax documents.
Dunning had budgeted around $11,000 for the project at the beginning of the year.