Starke County Council’s Concerns with Coroner Brought to County Commissioners

Posted on October 27, 2017
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKVI

Salary increases for the Starke County Coroner’s Office were again discussed during Monday’s county commissioners meeting. Coroner Dannie Hoffer has been looking for a raise for himself and possibly his deputies in next year’s budget. While the final decision would be up to the county council, council members weren’t ready to approve the raise until Hoffer worked out a few concerns with the commissioners.

One of them had to do with Hoffer’s response time. “I guess there was a question, it took me an hour to get to a call in Judson,” he explained. “Well, I’m sorry. When I leave Judson come to Knox to pick up the rig to go back to Judson, I don’t know how much faster I can make it.”

To solve the problem, council members reportedly suggested that Hoffer take the vehicle home with him. Commission President Donnie Binkley was agreeable to the idea. “I don’t have a problem with you having the vehicle, but I don’t want you out shopping and stuff in it,” Binkley said. “To go to your house don’t bother me. I don’t know if it does you two. I don’t know that we’ve ever even told you to keep it in the thing. We just don’t want you out gallivanting.”

But County Attorney Marty Lucas said there are a few issues to consider when it comes to taking the coroner’s vehicle home. “The only question on the car was the deal with the IRS rules on whether that’s going to have to be included as part of your compensation,” Lucas said. Now it wouldn’t seem to add up to very much.”

There were also concerns about Hoffer’s use of deputies. County officials have suggested that instead of using a deputy on every call, he should first see if there are other emergency responders on scene, who could help lift bodies.

Additionally, council members would like to see Hoffer outfitted with an 800 MHz radio, to communicate with Starke County dispatchers. But Commissioner Kathy Norem didn’t think it was the council’s place to make those requests. “I don’t want to, like, be rude or anything here, but really, whether or not he gets the 800 MHz radio is not their decision,” she said. “That’s the commissioners’ decision. Their decision is whether they’re going to pay for his deputies or not. They either pay for them or they don’t pay for them. They’re going to pay his salary or they don’t pay for him. They’re either going to pay for the radio or they’re not.”

Norem called for Hoffer, Binkley, and Council President Freddie Baker to meet privately to discuss the issues, rather than sending Hoffer back and forth between the council and commissioners.

Starke County Coroner Seeks Additional Funds

Posted on July 20, 2017
Author Anita Goodan, WKVI

Starke County Coroner Dannie Hoffer approached the Starke County Council Monday night seeking additional funds to help pay autopsy fees.

Hoffer explained that three cases of accidental overdoses have caused additional expenses that his budget doesn’t allow. The cost of an autopsy is $1,600 and sometimes more depending on the forensic pathologist used. Hoffer said he typically uses the service of a forensic pathologist south of Indianapolis as his fee is $1,500 while the fee in South Bend is $3,200 and $2,800 in Fort Wayne.

He noted that it’s hard to judge how much funding is needed for fees at budget time as the number of autopsies fluctuates from year to year. An outstanding balance of $10,000 for autopsy fees has yet to be billed to the county.

Hoffer is also looking to pay for supplies.

The council suggested looking at the invoices next month and then making a decision how to pay for them at that time. Rainy Day funds may be able to get the coroner’s office out of this round of debt.

Work to Start Soon on Building for Starke County Coroner

Posted on October 15, 2016
Author Mary Perren, WKVI

The Starke County Coroner’s Office will soon have a permanent location. The county commissioners Thursday voted to hire Royal Star Builder to construct a pole barn-style structure with a poured concrete floor near the Starke County Jail for a cost of $35,000. The contractor agreed to pour the floor and lay the posts right away in case the weather turns bad. He advised the project should be complete by Dec. 1.

The 24x32x10 foot structure will be tall enough to accommodate any vehicles the coroner may use for body retrieval. The commissioners agreed it is the best option to meet the county’s needs. The structure will be located near the jail east of Knox and will be used for office space, viewing and body storage.

The need for space became an issue two years ago when a non-funeral director was elected coroner. The commissioners previously discussed several options and ultimately decided building a basic structure was the best.