From the Dearborn County website, County Commissioners
OUR PURPOSE
The Board of County Commissioners serves as the executive and administrative authority for the county. The board consists of three persons elected in their specific district for a four (4) year term. Your Commissioners are responsible for day-to-day executive and administrative oversight of the unincorporated areas of Dearborn County.
For a more detailed overview of the responsibilities of your Board of County Commissioners, see below
OUR PHILOSOPHY & GOALS
FOCUS AREA 1: Economic Growth & Development
Support the growth and development of a strong and vibrant economy.
FOCUS AREA 2: Fiscal Responsibility
Demonstrate a commitment to understanding and contributing to the fiscal health of the county; working closely with County Council on funding challenges, capital projects planning, and identifying opportunities to reduce expense.
FOCUS AREA 3: Communication, Collaboration, & Accountability
Encourage involvement and improve communication to our citizens, internally across departments, with our municipal partners, with and through the boards we appoint, and within the community in general.
FOCUS AREA 4: Managing Risk & Public Safety
Identify opportunities to reduce risk and liability for the county through a culture of safety and proactive management. Also, work as a partner to Fire & EMS, Disaster Preparedness Teams, and other community entities keeping the safety of our citizens a priority at all times.
FOCUS AREA 5: Capital Projects
Anticipate and plan for capital improvements and ensure the Commissioners meet their statutory obligation to provide appropriate facilities for government operations.
FOCUS AREA 6: Roads & Bridges
Perform strategic transportation planning, utilizing resources at the local, regional, state, and federal level to prioritize road and bridge projects as well as seek sources of revenue to fund infrastructure projects to support growth and maintain existing systems.
ALSO: More detailed list
From a link on Commissioners page on county website.
Commissioner's Responsibilities
GENERAL POWERS AND DUTIES
Examples of the powers and duties exercised by the Board of Commissioners include, but may
not be limited to:
1. Controlling, maintaining, and supervising county property including the courthouse, the
county home, hospitals, library, jail, and the equipment and facilities thereto.
2. 3. 4. Auditing and authorizing of claims against the county.
Receiving bids and authorizing contracts.
Supervising construction and maintenance of roads and bridges, including the power to
establish a cumulative building or sinking fund to provide for the building and repair of
bridges, to establish county highway right-of-way widths, and to authorize the
preparation of maps of county roads and the installation of road signs where there is no
County Plan Commission to exercise this authority.
5. 6. Exercising the county's power of eminent domain.
Performing certain election functions including the establishment of precincts, the
providing of polling places (with an effort to make accessible to physically handicapped),
and the necessary equipment.
7. Appointing county and township officials as authorized by law, including the filling of
vacancies.(However, most vacancies in elective offices are filled according to IC3-13-7.)
8. Preparing that part of the annual budget over which county commissioners exercise
direct control.
9. 11. Serving, with the county surveyor, as members of the County Drainage Board.
10. Altering of township boundaries.
Recommending to the County Council the amount of salary to be paid to each county
officer and also the hiring (number and compensation) of their deputies and other
employees.
12. Issuing of bonds or notes in connection with the borrowing of money for the county
(subject to approval of County Council)
13. Supervising admission of indigent persons to county homes upon application of the
township trustee. In counties where the operation of a county home has been
discontinued, the Board of Commissioners is authorized to contract with private
institutions or county homes in other counties for the maintenance and care of indigents.
14. Granting financial aid to hospitals owned and operated by benevolent institutions within
counties that have no county hospital. In any county not having a licensed hospital, the
county commissioners may appropriate funds to be contributed toward the construction,
equipping or operation of a county-owned and county-operated hospital in an adjacent
county. The citizens of such contributing counties are to be accorded the same rights
and privileges in such a hospital as are the citizens of the county in which the hospital is
located (subject to approval of County Council). In counties which have first-class or
second class cities, the commissioners may exercise power of condemnation to acquire
land for general non-profit hospital corporations. The commissioners may also contract
with not-for-profit hospital corporations. The commissioners may also contract with not-
for-profit corporations for health and community services not specifically provided by a
governmental agency or department.
15. 16. 17. Leasing county-owned land for the purpose of mining gas and oil.
Establishing animal shelters and rabies control projects.
Fixing and posting speed limits and yield or stop signs on any street, road, highway, or
dangerous railroad crossing within their jurisdiction.
18. Authorizing financial assistance to non-profit community psychiatric clinics or other
community facilities and services for the mentally ill.
19. Passing ordinances incorporating towns.
20. Establishing minimum standards for plumbing and plumbing systems. Serving in a
consultant capacity to the Board of Commissioners in this function is an advisory
committee which includes the county health officer or a health department employee and
representatives of the plumbing and construction industries.
21. Establishing and maintaining an adequate system of books and records of the county
highway department as prescribed by the State Board of Accounts.
22. 24. Designating preferential county highways and erecting stop signs at intersections.
23. Adopting fire prevention ordinances.
Contracting with private persons or corporations for ambulance service. Fees may be
collected for such service. Fees may also be collected for ambulance service provided
through fire or police departments.
25. Establishing solid waste districts and serving on the district boards, which are
responsible for developing 20-year plans for the disposal, recovery, and reduction of
solid waste. Those responsibilities include implementing recycling programs, operating
disposal facilities, and developing financing mechanisms to meet state-imposed solid
waste reduction goals.
26. Enacting ordinances to require persons who own or lease property outside the corporate
limits of any city or town, on which is located a building or buildings used for residential
or business purposes, to connect to available sewer systems, and to regulate the
manner and method of disposal of domestic or sanitary sewage by private methods.
27. Providing highway construction and maintenance on behalf of cities and towns within the
county, if so authorized.
28. Adopting ordinances and regulations to control the location, construction or repair of all
wells within the county.
29. Making appointments to boards, commissions and other agencies, as provided by law.
30. Providing park and recreation facilities.
31. Furthering economic development.
32. Providing services to veterans.
33. Furthering redevelopment of land.
34. Providing county fair and 4-H projects.
35. Preserving cemeteries having no resources.
36. Providing housing and building regulation.
37. Assisting public transportation facilities.
38. Providing zoning and planning.
