×

Harrison County renews child support enforcement contracts

T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM Harrison County Commissioners Dale Norris, left, and Paul Coffland sign a proclamation at Wednesday’s regularly scheduled meeting.

CADIZ — Harrison County is renewing its contract with the Child Support Enforcement Agency, which provides financial aid and services to needy families with children.

Judge Matthew P. Puskarich will be submitting the contracts between the Harrison County Child Support Enforcement Agency and Harrison County Court of Common Pleas, Juvenile Division. Prior to submission, Puskarich discussed the renewal with the Harrison County Board of Commissioners at Wednesday’s regularly scheduled meeting.

“I’m submitting the renewal of IV-D contracts for the magistrate and the clerks, which is the same basic form we’ve done for the past 17 years,” Puskarich said.

The contract, which complies with Title IV-D section of the Social Security Act, provides aid for custodial parents who are receiving some sort of assistance from the state’s Child Support Enforcement Agency. The contract is for magistrate services and states the unit rate is $230.50 per hour of time devoted solely to IV-D issues, including to actual hearing time, preparation time, research time and time spent on drafting and signing entries as supported by the time sheet. The total contract cost is $123,049.92 to be met by the CSEA.

One-third of the cost is paid by county dollars, while the remaining two-thirds is reimbursed by the CSEA, Puskarich explained.

“It’s a really good deal, versus us trying to ask the county for the entire portion,” he added.

The contract has been approved by the state and prosecutor, he said. The only remaining step is to have a resolution signed by commissioners to complete the approval.

Commissioner Don Bethel thanked Puskarich for “staying on top” of the program. Commissioner Dale Norris motioned to approve the contract, Commissioner Paul Coffland seconded the motion. The motion was unanimously approved.

In other news, Administrative Assistant Brandy Simmons will be leaving her position at the end of the week, Norris announced.

“Our administrative assistant is leaving at the end of the week. I would like to applaud her for the 18 years she’s put in with the county commissioners, and (I) want her to know that we all miss her,” Norris said.

Simmons will continue working inside the courthouse, though, as she accepted a new position in the engineer’s office.

“We’ll still see her, but we’ll miss her in the office,” Bethel added.

County Prosecuting Attorney T. Owen Beetham then requested an executive session with commissioners to discuss county property. Coffland made the motion to enter into executive session in order to discuss property matters with Beetham. After a brief recess, commissioners returned and announced that no action was taken on the matter.

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today