Notes July 2010 Council Meeting

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
7/13/2010
Present: All Council Members except Marcia Wilhoite. Auditor Melody Price, attorney Bob Clutter.
Approved minutes from June meeting.

RE-APPROPRIATIONS:
Sheriff (Ken Campbell):
Requested $1500 from Dept. Lawyer to supplies. Approved.

Health (Cindy Murphy):
Requested $20,000 from Group Insurance to Vehicle to purchase a van for the nursing division, to carry supplies and pull a trailer with additional supplies. Murphy has identified a cargo van at Lewis Ford in Lebanon with minimal mileage. Several questions were asked about the need for and purpose of the van, as well as the possibility of large expenses from the insurance line coming later in the year. Some members favored waiting until the next budget year, or at least until nearer the end of this year. Others suggested moving the money from funds other than insurance. The Council voted separately on this request, which passed as submitted by a 4-2 vote.

Re-Assessment (Lisa Garoffolo):
Requested a transfer of $16,500 from printing to Form 11, which is a notice of assessment to taxpayers of changes in their assessments. The Forms have been optional in the past and rarely sent, but the state now mandates that they be sent. Approved.

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:
Auditor (Melody Price):
Requested $2000 to cover overtime expenses, incurred largely in dealing with state-mandated homestead credit verification forms. Approved.

Prosecutor (Todd Meyer):
Requested $3000 to cover costs of extraditions, which are up considerably. Approved.

NEW BUSINESS:
Tony Carrell, 4-H Youth Extension Agent, presented information about the upcoming Fair as well as about the 4-H 60 Challenge, a program designed to encourage a healthy lifestyle. Mr. Carrell invited the council to attend the fair and to participate in the daily fitness activities each evening.

Commissioner Jeff Wolfe introduced HR consultant Dennis Dunlap, who has been assisting the commissioners in updating the county employee handbook. Mr. Dunlap answered a few questions from the Council. He stated that two major areas of concern in other counties he works with are changes to the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the growing use of job descriptions. The updates included in this new handbook address the FMLA, but Boone County does not yet use job descriptions for evaluation or salary purposes. Several council members expressed a desire to pursue that route, but that change must come from the commissioners. Commissioner Wolfe asked that the council review the entire handbook and pass a resolution of endorsement at our next meeting.

Karen Niemeyer, Director of the Thorntown Public Library, was present for the public hearing required for approval of the library’s Capital Projects Fund. The council has binding authority to approve/deny this budget because the library’s district covers multiple townships. Several questions were asked regarding the role of the fund within the budget. Ms. Niemeyer expressed that the fund was kept separate from the operating budget in order to maintain stability for the overall budget as well as to provide more transparency in budgeting. The Council approved the budget request 5-1.

Dr. Scott Robison, Superintendent of Zionsville Schools, along with CFO Mike Schafer and counsel Jeff Bingham, were present for certification of the Zionsville Schools referendum to be placed on the November ballot. County Attorney Clutter affirmed that the process had been completed in compliance with state law. The council certified the request. (As a Zionsville Schools employee, I abstained from the vote.)

Molly Riggs of the Convention and Visitors Bureau board was present to request an additional from the CVB fund of $19,500 to cover a full five-year audit required by the DLGF. The information was not submitted in time for the advertising deadline, so the board could not vote today, but discussion was held to explain the request. The CVB is funded entirely by innkeepers tax, but still must be approved by the council. Future audits will be done bi-annually and should not be as expansive or expensive. The request will be voted upon next month.

Cindy Murphy of the Health Department requested an amendment to the salary ordinance to reflect the splitting of job duties for the coordinator for Tobacco Free Boone County, which will now be two lines for co-coordinators. Motion approved.

OLD BUSINESS:
Linda Howard from the Humane Society for Boone County was present to provide information on the expenses of the HSBC and how the funds from the surplus dog tax fund would be used. Councilor Gene Thompson emphasized that this would be a one-time donation, as the source of funds is no longer available. Ms. Howard affirmed that that was their understanding, as well as their willingness to provide an accounting for any expenditures. Some discussion was raised as to whether the resolution authorizing the funds should require it to be used for capital expenditures, but that language was not in the final motion. The Council unanimously approved the motion to transfer the $7315 to the Humane Society to use as they see fit for animal care in the county.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
Gene Thompson updated the Council on his appointment to the Indiana Stadium and Convention Building Authority, which oversees the construction (not operation) of Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indianapolis Convention Center. The convention center is on time and on budget, and portions of the building are being turned over to the operating board. Boone County contributes nearly $300,000 per year through the food & beverage tax. Mr. Thompson noted several benefits of the new construction, both to Central Indiana in general and to Boone County specifically.

Steve Jacob informed the council that in discussions with the State Board of Accounts/DLGF he was informed that the county’s hospital cumulative capital development fund must be terminated in next year’s budget, as state law only allows it to exist for 12 years. The fund must be moved to a new line either in the council’s or the commissioners’ budget. This would mean little change in the fund other than the process of its administration. Attorney Clutter and Auditor Price will research the appropriate placement and structure of the new line in preparation for next month’s budget hearing.

Jacob also noted that the state recommended the council address the five-year contribution from the Cum Bridge fund to Boone County 4-H’s building program, which is set to expire after 2011.

Meeting adjourned at 10:10.