During their meeting last Thursday, March 9th, the Marshall County Council considered the approval of an annual agreement with Cender/Daulton Municipal Advisors of Merrillville for financial consulting services. A copy of the agreement was emailed to each council member about two weeks before the meeting.
The 9-page agreement shows hourly rates of $275 for partners, $160 for directors, $145 for senior associates, $125 for associates, $100 for consultants, $90 for analysts, and $75 for an administrative assistant. The council will also be responsible for printing, necessary mileage, and travel expenses.
The scope of services includes maintaining the 2023-2029 Fund Projections including circuit breakers, review and advice on County debt obligation, assistance with ARPA appropriations and compliance, assistance with rating reviews, continuing disclosures, capital planning, and budgeting as requested. They will also assist the County Council in developing Capital Improvement Plans and determining funding methods, assistance to county departments in projections, compliance, and pro forma analysis as requested, attend, and assist in moderating department-level budget workshops, and preparation of revenue projections. Cender/Daulton will also provide county wage and compensation advice by assisting in the analysis of proposed staffing levels and when requested assist in wage and organizational chart recommendations for departments.
Councilwoman Nicole Cox motioned to approve the agreement and the motion was seconded by Will Patterson. The motion passed with a 7-0 vote.
The County Council also appointed Jim Kephart to the Marshall County Board of Zoning Appeals by a vote of 7-0. Councilwoman Deb Johnson made the motion, and it was seconded by Adam Faulstich.
Council members also heard the quarterly report of the Marshall County Museum from Director Sandy Garrison and Historical Society board President Mike Miley. As part of their quarterly report, Sandy shares some county history. This time she gave the history of the Izaak Walton League Clubhouse in Argos. The league was founded in Chicago in 1922 by a group of fishermen. Instead of just having a club they created a conservation movement. The organization’s namesake was a 17th-century writer known as the Father of Flyfishing.
In 1926 a local chapter was organized, and their clubhouse is still a treasurer in Marshall County architecture. Finished in December 1938 using fieldstone and was one of the last projects completed by local, well-known stonemason William Folker.
Garrison said the two-story building has a double fireplace, stone pillars, a large front porch, and a kitchen on each floor. Also on the property is a stone gateway, two artesian wells, 3-stone picnic tables, and a sleuth which all date to the New Deal Construction period. In 1939 the Argos Chapter had the first women’s auxiliary to form a charter for the national headquarters in the entire country and that achievement earned them a mention in the L.A. Times.
