New commissioners’ assistant starts, then sent home

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Updated: February 21, 2012 8:25AM

CROWN POINT — Confusion abounded over the new special assistant to the Lake County Board of Commissioners’ start date during the board’s Wednesday meeting, with Commissioner Fran DuPey chastising commissioners attorney John Dull for paying an employee.

Trammel Raggs, son of Gary Clerk Suzette Raggs, was appointed in December to the position formerly held by Deputy Gary Mayor Delvert Cole, but wasn’t supposed to start working until the County Council approved the position. Nevertheless, he worked a few days before he was sent home.

Dull said he paid Raggs $28 an hour out of his own pocket for the work, for which DuPey said Dull “needs a reprimand.”

“What about income tax, PERF, vacation and health care?” DuPey said. “There’s a lot involved here, and John shouldn’t pay it, nor should he have to.”

Dull said the County Council had requested the position be posted even though the position is a supervisory post and as such could be filled at the commissioners’ discretion. He posted the position anyway, which in turn brought in several applicants who now need to be told the position was filled.

The council tabled until the next meeting assigning Raggs’ official duties.

The commissioners also voted 3-0 to join the Lake County Shared Ethics Advisory Commission, of which Highland, Munster, Schererville, Whiting and Crown Point are already members. The group provides training and advice on ethics matters.

The entry fee to be part of the group is $5,000; dues and training material cost $1,500 per year afterward.

In other business, the commissioners voted 2-1, with DuPey dissenting, to meet every first and third Wednesday in order to shorten the agendas. It also voted 3-0 to install Gerry Scheub as president and Roosevelt Allen Jr. vice president.