Notes -- July 2011 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
7/12/2011
Present: All Council Members present except Marcia Wilhoite, Secretary Heather Barton.
The council approved the minutes of the June meeting. Council also approved the meetings from the joint meeting with the commissioners held June 22.

President Steve Jacob convened a public hearing to consider the Cumulative Bridge Fund levy, which would otherwise be scheduled to drop by $500,000 (.0173), which is currently being diverted to the 4-H building fund. This hearing process will maintain the Cum Bridge Fund at its current rate without the $500,000 being designated specifically for 4-H, though the council could then use it for that purpose or any other by transferring it to the county’s general fund. Highway Supervisor Tom Kouns addressed the council with concerns about the level of the Cum Bridge Fund, particularly in light of the recent addition of the three bridges in the former State Road 334, which recently passed to county control. No members of the public spoke on the issue. The council approved an ordinance to maintain the fund, and closed the hearing.

RE-APPROPRIATIONS:
Re-Assessment (Lisa Garoffolo):
Requested $14,894 from printing to Form 11. After last year’s budgets were set, the line for printing and Form 11s (notice of assessment) were separated on directive from the state, so this will move money to the appropriate line. Approved.

Highway (Tom Kouns):
Requested $1000 from Uniforms to Communications to cover maintenance contract with RayCom. Approved.

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:
Sheriff (Ken Campbell):
Requested roughly $742 be transferred from the general to medical, training and postage funds for reimbursements. Approved.

Commissioners (Jeff Wolfe):
Requested $6554 for Boone County Trails from a federal grant. Approved.

Jail Maintenance (none present):
Requested $36 for reimbursement from damage caused by an inmate. Approved.

Highway (Tom Kouns):
Requested $67,214 for reimbursement from the federal grant funding the extension of 146th St. Approved.
Also requested $50,000 for Gas & Oil to fund the summer road maintenance program. Approved.

NEW BUSINESS:
Cindy Murphy of the Boone County Health Department asked for creation of a new unappropriated fund to house monies from the “Trust Account” for the county’s portion of the Tobacco Master Settlement. This had previously been in the department’s general budget, but the state now requires the monies go into their own fund with more accountability. The council moved to create the fund.

The council considered a hiring freeze policy which had been recommended by the personnel committee at the joint council/commissioners meeting in June. The policy as written is nearly identical to the proposal discussed last fall by the council, with the addition of a requirement that no offer of employment could be extended without the approval of the Council. MUCH discussion followed, with several elected officials and department heads objecting to various aspects of the proposal. In the end, Attorney Clutter advised that revisiting the document and policy before enacting it would be wise, and the several department heads asked – again – that they be allowed further input. As a result, the personnel committee will be holding another meeting to discuss this policy recommendation specifically. Department heads and elected officials were invited to attend and also asked to submit concerns and proposals to committee chair Brent Wheat before the meeting so they could be circulated and evaluated in preparation for the meeting.

Highway Supervisor Tom Kouns asked for guidance in submitting his budget proposals regarding CCD fund requests and the federally-mandated radio upgrade.

Dax Norton of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation gave his monthly update, including inviting the council to attend tomorrow’s fund analysis meeting. Norton observed that national economic climate seems to be losing momentum, but Boone County continues to do well attracting business investment, particularly in the Lebanon Business Park.

Auditor Melody Price gave the council a financial update. Several positive items surfaced recently, including a continuing increase in tax collections, particularly from the Food & Beverage Tax. The state also recently allowed the county to transfer more than $575,000 from the excess levy fund to the general fund, which had a significant positive impact on our operating balance.

OLD BUSINESS:
Attorney Clutter advised the council that the Sheridan School Board has submitted paperwork for a referendum this fall. Previously the council had to certify any such referendums, but a change in state statute now makes that notice to the council advisory only.

PUBLIC COMMENT:
Jane Myers of the Lebanon Library Board (as the Council’s appointee) and Director Kay Martin addressed the council on the library’s expanding services and usage. Among other things, the library will be housing the Boone County Learning Network for the coming year.

Fair Board President Jim Love addressed the council on the improvements made to the fairgrounds, in part through the county’s contributions, as well as planned improvements. The county also contributes to the fairgrounds’ maintenance fund, and Love asked that those contributions continue.

Tom Kouns reminded the council that the Cum Bridge Fund balance of $5.1M does not reflect commitments for bridge repairs already made. Actual non-committed funds available is just over $2M.

Dax Norton urged the council to drive around Lebanon, Zionsville and Anson to visit the multiple economic development projects underway. Norton also reported on his recent trip to Meijer corporate headquarters in Michigan, where he and others from the EDC met with Meijer officials to encourage them to build their planned store in Anson.

Meeting adjourned at 10:35.

Next regularly-scheduled council meeting will be 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, August 9, in the Courthouse Annex, Lebanon.