Council Meeting May 12, 2009

Note: These are my personal notes from the council meeting. They are NOT the official minutes, nor should they be construed as an official record of any kind.

Boone County Council
5/12/2009
Present: All Council Members except Bill Soards (announced his resignation last week, effective June 1). Secretary Heather Barton, counsel Eileen Sims.
Approved minutes from April meeting.

RE-APPROPRIATIONS (none!):

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:
Sheriff (Ken Campbell):
Campbell asked for transfer of $66.44 to his postage fund from a reimbursement for an overcharge by a vendor. Approved.

EMA(Rachel ):
EMA received a grant for communications and equipment from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. EMA has purchased 16 portable radios and 3 back-up batteries; grant money was approved for this specific purchase. Concerns were raised that the money had already been spent without approval from the council. The state grant system (& federal grant system) and the state statute on appropriations of money seem to be in conflict in this case. Attorney Sims discussed that in future a pro forma invoice be used to get the grant money without spending until council approves the appropriations. Approved.

IT (no one present):
Kari Ragsdale spoke on IT’s behalf asking for the $10,100 for software licensing for the CourtView system. Total cost is roughly $31k, with various agencies. Approved.

Superior II Probation (Kari Ragsdale):
Ragsdale asked for $5000 to cover Probation’s contribution to the Courtview system. Lengthy discussion followed over some confusion in the budget line balance and expenditures. Ragsdale pointed out that her line has already budgeted for $5000, but she had hoped to use that money for installation of panic buttons. Judge Jeff Edens and Sheriff Campbell also spoke on the need for the system, and specifically the role the county general fund should play in implementing such a system. Edens thought it should help reduce future court staff needs. Approved.

Cum Bridge (Tom Kouns):
Asked for total of $104k for two bridge projects. Approved.


OLD BUSINESS:
Judge Edens returned with GAL Kandi Killin for approval of salary ordinance. The ordinance had not been advertised, so Killin will continue to be unpaid for another month. Council president Jacob will oversee the process to ensure appropriations & ordinance will be ready next month. Judge Edens also thanked the council for the opportunity to work with them, as Judge David will be returning next week.

NEW BUSINESS:
Space Study Report:
Commissioner Charles Eaton addressed the council concerning upcoming space needs and the recent committee report. The county will be required to add another court after the 2010 census, and courthouse space is already maxed out. Eaton pointed out the variety of requirements entailed in adding space. Jacob asked about the study report information not including projections of growth. Eaton clarified that the study has clarified that a need exists, and suggested that a new committee be formed to fill in the details, including one commissioner and possibly three commissioners. Jacob, Kries & Rodgers will represent the council. The space study report included only renovation costs estimates. Purchase price, appraisals, engineering fees, possible bonding will also need to be addressed.

Highway:
Tom Kouns presented numbers displaying the interest from the county Rainy Day fund and the Economic Development fund, which had been discussed at least year’s budget meeting as covering shortfall from state LRS & MVH fund projections. Kouns needed advice regarding how much to appropriate from other funds. Apparently, the state cut county contributions from food & beverage tax from the highway budget, so Kouns needs to craft an additional appropriation to cover the cost. The interest from the two funds may be required to cover the cuts. The council is unclear on what was cut from the state and therefore what needed to be made up through the additional. Former Auditor Gretchen Smith was in the building, and agreed to answer questions clarifying what had been cut and why.
Concerns over drawing from the rainy day fund led to a discussion over how to reach the proposed $1million total for county highway for the year. State is allowing only $350k from LRS & MVH. The council agreed last year to allow additional appropriations from the Rainy Day, Economic Development and Food & Beverage to reach the $1million total. $500k from Food & Beverage fund would bring total to $850k. Interest on Economic Development Fund from January 2008 totals roughly $150k, Rainy Day roughly $79k. Kouns will plan to return with requests for $500k from food & beverage and $150 from Economic Development.


PUBLIC COMMENT:
Sheriff Campbell invited the council to attend the Law Officers Memorial

Commissioner Lewis invited the council to attend the district commissioners association meeting in June at the Trophy Club.

The council discussed the scheduling for the August budget meetings. Discussion focused on timing the hearings to accommodate the auditor in preparing the various other budgets as well as later hearings for review. Sentiment steered toward the week of August 10-14, which would include the regular meeting on the 11th.

Meeting adjourned at approximately 10:30.

Agenda, May 12, 2009 County Council Meeting

BOONE COUNTY COUNCIL
BUSINESS AGENDA FOR MAY 12, 2009
LOCATION: CONNIE LAMAR MEETING ROOM, ROOM 105
116 W Washington St
Lebanon, IN 46052



Call regular meeting to order – 8:30 a.m.

Approval of April 2009 minutes

Re-Appropriations:

Additional Appropriations: Sheriff, IT, EMA, Superior II-User Fees, Cum Bridge

New Business: Commissioners – DLZ Space Study

Old Business: Judge Edens – Salary Ordinance & Re-appropriation for GAL/CASA

Public Comment

Document Signing

Adjournment

This agenda is subject to change.