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
10/11/2011
Present: All Council Members present, Secretary Heather Barton.
The council approved the minutes of the September meeting with several corrections.
RE-APPROPRIATIONS: All approved
Circuit Court(no one present):
Requested $2100 from Juvenile Counseling to Library.
CCD/Courthouse Maintenance (Mike Miller):
Requested $2140 from Equipment to Courthouse/Annex. This is simply moving the funds allocated last month for the new generator and fence into the appropriate line.
ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:
Sheriff (Mike Nielsen):
Requested $23000 to the Part-Time line to cover jailer and communications officer positions (full-time) which have been empty and not yet filled. Most of the full-time positions were/are being paid out of the Rainy Day Fund, so that money, while still available in that fund, cannot be used to pay from this general fund part-time line. We’ll actually be spending less money than originally budgeted, but less from Rainy Day and more from the General Fund. (As council president Steve Jacob said, “Gotta love government accounting!”) Approved.
Also requested $168 to Part-Time to cover employee work on sheriff’s sales. Approved.
Requested roughly $900 in various transfers for Inmate Medical, Postage and Supplies for inmate reimbursements. Approved.
Commissioners/Trails (no one present):
Requested reimbursement of nearly $3000 for rail-to-trail grant money. Approved.
Jail Maintenance/Vehicle (Mike Martin):
Requested $1000 for fuel costs for the jail truck, as that line has been depleted. Approved.
Jail Building/CCD (Mike Martin):
Requested $15,000 for building maintenance costs. Approved.
Community Corrections (Kari Ragsdale):
Requested $30,000 for GPS tracking to pay a vendor for increased monitoring, including increased juvenile offender monitoring. This will be paid through offender fees. Approved.
Highway (Rick Carney):
Requested $15000 for tires and tubes to cover that line’s expected expense for the remainder of the year. This is Highway Fund money, not general fund. Approved.
NEW BUSINESS:
Tonya Thayer from the Prosecutor’s Office requested an amendment of the salary ordinance to reflect personnel shuffles in the Chief Deputy Prosecutor position, an additional deputy prosecutor position and the CAC Director. Much confusing discussion followed, and in the end a motion to make the change carried 4-3.
Major Nielsen and County Attorney Bob Clutter presented a series of amendments to the sheriff’s retirement fund required by new IRS regulations on recent legislative changes. Clutter stated the amendments were all technical in nature and would make no substantive changes in our current retirement plan. The council voted to authorize the changes.
Dax Norton, Executive Director of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation, updated the council on a busy couple of months. One major project has placed a Boone County location in its final three site list and will likely decide soon. Two companies in the Lebanon Business Park are in discussions regarding expansion, both in space and in employees. The EDC continues to work on its “gardening” project of finding small companies in the incubator stage and help them to grow while staying in Boone County. The EDC will be hosting a “Boone EDC 101” in Lebanon on November 4th, as well as a development summit workshop in Advance at a TBD date.
Auditor Melody Price presented the monthly financial update, as well updates on the upcoming tax sale and surplus funds. Price also asked the Council to consider purchase of a software package called CYMA, which her office and the Treasurer have been evaluating with GUTS, the county attorney and the commissioners. Our current provider will cost just under $50,000 next year between needed upgrades and annual maintenance ($26,000). This new software will be about $47,000 for the first year, then $12,000 annual maintenance.
OLD BUSINESS:
None.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Marcia Wilhoite noted that issues regarding the 911 upgrade, as well as addressing radio issues with the sheriff’s and highway departments, will be discussed at the November meeting.
Gene Thompson took the podium to update the council on an award presented to the county and the town of Zionsville from the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns commending the county’s cooperation with the town in regards to the Zionsville/Eagle/Union consolidation.
Clarification was made that our next meeting will be on Wednesday, November 9th, as the regular Tuesday meeting date will be election day.
Discussion also followed regarding the agenda for the joint council/commissioners meeting November 16th. Among the items which may be on the agenda will be the software contract discussed above, the outcome of the budget process and its ongoing issues, the RDC update on the I-65 TIF bond, drainage issues on 865 and the Ford Road bridge.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:40.
Following a brief recess, the council reconvened its hearing on the 2012 budget. Following the cuts made in our regular hearings in August, the council asked department heads and elected officials to make an additional 5% in cuts to their general fund budgets to move us closer to a balanced budget. After extensive work by most of the departments and council members Gene Thompson and Marcia Wilhoite in particular, a new set of numbers amounting to a total budget of $14,316,762 from the general fund (with projected revenue of $12,528,888) was presented and adopted. The difference of just under $1.8M will be drawn from the county’s General Fund operating balance, unlike last year, when we drew $1.85M from the Rainy Day Fund. Several other fund budgets and levy rates were also approved to finalize the overall budget. One point of discussion was the county park levy, which was reduced slightly last year after much discussion, with the understanding (at least on my part) that it would be gradually phased out. No notice of a reduction was given to the towns who rely on that revenue, however. In the end, the council opted to leave it where it is, but with plans to eliminate the levy altogether for 2013.
Next regularly-scheduled council meeting will be 8:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 9th, in the Courthouse Annex, Lebanon. The following week, Wednesday, November 16th, the council and commissioners will conduct their “quarterly” joint meeting at the Zionsville Town Hall.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Agenda -- October 2011 Council Meeting
BOONE COUNTY COUNCIL
BUSINESS AGENDA FOR OCTOBER 11, 2011
LOCATION: CONNIE LAMAR MEETING ROOM, ROOM 105
116 W Washington St
Lebanon, IN 46052
Call meeting to order – 8:30 a.m.
Approval of September 2011 Minutes
Re-Appropriation Requests:
Circuit Court, CCD
Additional Requests:
Sheriff, Commissioners, Jail Maintenance, Community Corrections – PI, Highway, CCD
New Business:
Prosecutor – Salary Ordinance
Signature for Sheriff Retirement
Dax Norton, Director Boone EDC - Update
Melody Price, Auditor - Financial Update
Old Business:
Public Comment:
Document Signing:
Re-Appropriations, Additionals, September 2011 Council Minutes
Adjournment
This agenda is subject to change.
BUSINESS AGENDA FOR OCTOBER 11, 2011
LOCATION: CONNIE LAMAR MEETING ROOM, ROOM 105
116 W Washington St
Lebanon, IN 46052
Call meeting to order – 8:30 a.m.
Approval of September 2011 Minutes
Re-Appropriation Requests:
Circuit Court, CCD
Additional Requests:
Sheriff, Commissioners, Jail Maintenance, Community Corrections – PI, Highway, CCD
New Business:
Prosecutor – Salary Ordinance
Signature for Sheriff Retirement
Dax Norton, Director Boone EDC - Update
Melody Price, Auditor - Financial Update
Old Business:
Public Comment:
Document Signing:
Re-Appropriations, Additionals, September 2011 Council Minutes
Adjournment
This agenda is subject to change.
Notes -- September 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.
I should also note that my computer was in the process of dying during this meeting, so I apologize to my loyal reader for any holes, and for the delay in posting. By the time everything was transferred over to the new laptop, posting had slipped my mind.
Boone County Council
9/13/2011
Present: All Council Members present except Brent Wheat, Secretary Heather Barton.
The council approved the minutes of the August meeting. Council also approved a change to today’s agenda based on two items from those minutes which have been added to Old Business.
Council President Steve Jacob addressed the Council and the audience regarding the budget situation. Last week, representatives of GUTS approached Jacob and the Commissioners questioning the accuracy of some of the budget numbers the county has been working with, suggesting that a significant of revenue has not been included in the calculations. As this would make a major difference in our budgeting, the council will hold a workshop with GUTS and the Auditor’s office to discuss this new information before going forward with the budget process. The meeting was scheduled for Thursday, Sept 22, 3:00.
RE-APPROPRIATIONS:
Sheriff (Mike Nielsen):
Requested $7000 from dispatchers to part-time. The department has been down two dispatchers for the past two months, and using part-time help to cover the job. Approved.
Re-Assessment (no one present):
Requested $4750 from Ariel to Appraisal for appraisals on four properties in downtown Lebanon. Council believes this money was already approved as an additional in June. Clarification was sought from the Assessor; in the mean time, no action was taken. After some clarification, the request was withdrawn.
Clerk ( ):
Requested $300 from Equipment Repair to Travel Expense for additional state meeting travel. Approved.
ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:
Sheriff (Mike Nielsen):
Requested transfer of $1464 from Sheriff’s Sale fee moneys to part-time to pay the person who oversees the Sheriff’s Sales. Approved.
Requested roughly $1100 from various lines as reimbursements for things like damages, postage and inmate medical expense. Approved.
Enhanced 911 (Mike Nielsen):
Requested not quite $8000 for FICA and not quite $8300 for PERF contributions to cover a miscalculation in last year’s budgeting. Approved after some discussion.
CVB (no one present):
Steve Jacob (who serves on the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board) explained that the CVB board plans to hire a consulting firm to conduct a study to guide the CVB’s strategy going forward in attracting visitors to Boone County. The money comes from the “innkeeper’s tax” and can only be spent by the CVB. Questions as to the propriety of the expense (the CVB board supports it, though it is high) and whether the council even has authority to approve or deny (probably not, but the CVB wanted the process to be public). Lebanon Mayor Huck Lewis (also on the CVB board) spoke to the goals of the CVB in terms of economic development. A motion to approve did not pass, but was not apparently necessary.
Highway (Tom Kouns):
Requested $2200 to vehicle repair for insurance reimbursement.
Requested $35000 to vehicle repair. Approved.
Cum Bridge (Tom Kouns):
Requested $70,000 to replace a small bridge on Hamilton County Line Road north of SR 47. Kouns brought pictures of the damage to the current bridge. Construction costs will require reappropriation of funds, probably next month. Approved.
CCD (Jeff Wolfe):
Requested $15,000 for cost of a generator and safety fencing. The Health Department received a grant to purchase a back-up generator for their vaccines, and the commissioners opted to join the purchase and get a bigger generator, big enough to power the Courthouse Annex in an emergency. This additional includes the commissioners’ share of the generator, plus required fencing around the installation. Approved.
NEW BUSINESS:
The council was asked to make an appointment to the board of the newly-opened Child Advocacy Center. Councilman Brent Wheat was not present today, but had expressed an interest in serving, and was appointed.
Lebanon Mayor Huck Lewis addressed the council regarding the proposed county-wide water needs project he is spearheading. Mayor Lewis had addressed the council during its budget hearings in August. The council voted during those hearings to cut $10,000 from Commissioners’ proposed budget for a feasibility study. Lewis asked Lebanon Utilities Director Mike Martin to address the need for the study and why the county should be a part of the resulting planning. Boone County Economic Development Commission Director Dax Norton also addressed the council on the importance of water in attracting economic development to the county. The council asked several questions and made several comments. Commissioner Jeff Wolfe stated that the commissioners support the project, and while the council denied the additional funding for the study in next year’s budget, the commissioners will continue to support the project through other line items as possible.
Highway Superintendent Tom Kouns reminded the council of its discussions during budget hearings regarding the replacement of a furnace at the highway garage. Council agreed with Kouns’s recommendation of how to pay for the furnace and the installation in a timely manner.
Councilman Gene Thompson asked Kouns and Major Mike Nielsen about the possibility of requesting a waiver from the FCC for the upgrading of radio equipment to narrow band technology. both Kouns and Nielsen agreed to explore the possibility and get back to the council.
Kouns updated the council on his research for a leasing rate for the highway trucks the council approved earlier this year. Key Bank agreed to a rate of 2.65%, a significant savings over the initial proposal.
Dax Norton, Director of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation, updated the council on the ongoing efforts of the EDC. Norton and his office will be traveling extensively this fall to various site consultant conventions and other EDC networking opportunities. Norton also stated that one of the major site consultants who had previously looked at Boone County for a project and rejected it due to water issues who has again requested information from the EDC regarding a new project tied to the I-74 corridor. Dax is optimistic about the EDC’s recruitment efforts, and has been pleasantly surprised by positive reports from corporations already in the county regarding retention. Norton stated that his office will be following up on meetings held in recent weeks with Jamestown and Thorntown, and is looking to begin a program for small businesses and entrepreneurship.
Auditor Melody Price presented a financial update to the council. I commented that except for two additional appropriations required because of bookkeeping errors on the council’s part, ALL of the additional were for reimbursements. I appreciate the effort it has taken for the various county offices to stay within their budgets in this difficult year.
OLD BUSINESS:
County attorney Bob Clutter addressed the council on variety of issues.
First, the Redevelopment Commission has arranged to refinance development (TIF) bonds along I-65 through State Bank of Lizton at a rate of 2.1%. The Bank requested the support of the council behind this plan. The council voted unanimously to support the refinancing.
Second, Clutter updated the council on the request of residents along 525 S to have the speed limit lowered on the half-mile stretch of road. The residents have addressed the commissioners and stated that traffic study would be unnecessary if the county declared the road an urban district. As the road is actually in the “rural” portion of Zionsville, such a declaration raises all sorts of legal questions. The commissioners are continuing to look into the ramifications of any decisions changing the road’s status.
Third, Clutter addressed the ongoing confusion regarding the Zionsville library board appointments. The State Library Board and the town of Zionsville have stated that they are satisfied with the current appointments. Council member Gene Thompson asked Clutter if, in his legal opinion, the council had a valid appointment to the Zionsville library board. Clutter stated that he was comfortable relying on the written opinion of the state library. Zionsville Library Director Jake Speer addressed the issue as well.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Meeting adjourned at approximately 10:30.
Next regularly-scheduled council meeting will be 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 11, in the Courthouse Annex, Lebanon.
I should also note that my computer was in the process of dying during this meeting, so I apologize to my loyal reader for any holes, and for the delay in posting. By the time everything was transferred over to the new laptop, posting had slipped my mind.
Boone County Council
9/13/2011
Present: All Council Members present except Brent Wheat, Secretary Heather Barton.
The council approved the minutes of the August meeting. Council also approved a change to today’s agenda based on two items from those minutes which have been added to Old Business.
Council President Steve Jacob addressed the Council and the audience regarding the budget situation. Last week, representatives of GUTS approached Jacob and the Commissioners questioning the accuracy of some of the budget numbers the county has been working with, suggesting that a significant of revenue has not been included in the calculations. As this would make a major difference in our budgeting, the council will hold a workshop with GUTS and the Auditor’s office to discuss this new information before going forward with the budget process. The meeting was scheduled for Thursday, Sept 22, 3:00.
RE-APPROPRIATIONS:
Sheriff (Mike Nielsen):
Requested $7000 from dispatchers to part-time. The department has been down two dispatchers for the past two months, and using part-time help to cover the job. Approved.
Re-Assessment (no one present):
Requested $4750 from Ariel to Appraisal for appraisals on four properties in downtown Lebanon. Council believes this money was already approved as an additional in June. Clarification was sought from the Assessor; in the mean time, no action was taken. After some clarification, the request was withdrawn.
Clerk ( ):
Requested $300 from Equipment Repair to Travel Expense for additional state meeting travel. Approved.
ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:
Sheriff (Mike Nielsen):
Requested transfer of $1464 from Sheriff’s Sale fee moneys to part-time to pay the person who oversees the Sheriff’s Sales. Approved.
Requested roughly $1100 from various lines as reimbursements for things like damages, postage and inmate medical expense. Approved.
Enhanced 911 (Mike Nielsen):
Requested not quite $8000 for FICA and not quite $8300 for PERF contributions to cover a miscalculation in last year’s budgeting. Approved after some discussion.
CVB (no one present):
Steve Jacob (who serves on the Convention and Visitors Bureau Board) explained that the CVB board plans to hire a consulting firm to conduct a study to guide the CVB’s strategy going forward in attracting visitors to Boone County. The money comes from the “innkeeper’s tax” and can only be spent by the CVB. Questions as to the propriety of the expense (the CVB board supports it, though it is high) and whether the council even has authority to approve or deny (probably not, but the CVB wanted the process to be public). Lebanon Mayor Huck Lewis (also on the CVB board) spoke to the goals of the CVB in terms of economic development. A motion to approve did not pass, but was not apparently necessary.
Highway (Tom Kouns):
Requested $2200 to vehicle repair for insurance reimbursement.
Requested $35000 to vehicle repair. Approved.
Cum Bridge (Tom Kouns):
Requested $70,000 to replace a small bridge on Hamilton County Line Road north of SR 47. Kouns brought pictures of the damage to the current bridge. Construction costs will require reappropriation of funds, probably next month. Approved.
CCD (Jeff Wolfe):
Requested $15,000 for cost of a generator and safety fencing. The Health Department received a grant to purchase a back-up generator for their vaccines, and the commissioners opted to join the purchase and get a bigger generator, big enough to power the Courthouse Annex in an emergency. This additional includes the commissioners’ share of the generator, plus required fencing around the installation. Approved.
NEW BUSINESS:
The council was asked to make an appointment to the board of the newly-opened Child Advocacy Center. Councilman Brent Wheat was not present today, but had expressed an interest in serving, and was appointed.
Lebanon Mayor Huck Lewis addressed the council regarding the proposed county-wide water needs project he is spearheading. Mayor Lewis had addressed the council during its budget hearings in August. The council voted during those hearings to cut $10,000 from Commissioners’ proposed budget for a feasibility study. Lewis asked Lebanon Utilities Director Mike Martin to address the need for the study and why the county should be a part of the resulting planning. Boone County Economic Development Commission Director Dax Norton also addressed the council on the importance of water in attracting economic development to the county. The council asked several questions and made several comments. Commissioner Jeff Wolfe stated that the commissioners support the project, and while the council denied the additional funding for the study in next year’s budget, the commissioners will continue to support the project through other line items as possible.
Highway Superintendent Tom Kouns reminded the council of its discussions during budget hearings regarding the replacement of a furnace at the highway garage. Council agreed with Kouns’s recommendation of how to pay for the furnace and the installation in a timely manner.
Councilman Gene Thompson asked Kouns and Major Mike Nielsen about the possibility of requesting a waiver from the FCC for the upgrading of radio equipment to narrow band technology. both Kouns and Nielsen agreed to explore the possibility and get back to the council.
Kouns updated the council on his research for a leasing rate for the highway trucks the council approved earlier this year. Key Bank agreed to a rate of 2.65%, a significant savings over the initial proposal.
Dax Norton, Director of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation, updated the council on the ongoing efforts of the EDC. Norton and his office will be traveling extensively this fall to various site consultant conventions and other EDC networking opportunities. Norton also stated that one of the major site consultants who had previously looked at Boone County for a project and rejected it due to water issues who has again requested information from the EDC regarding a new project tied to the I-74 corridor. Dax is optimistic about the EDC’s recruitment efforts, and has been pleasantly surprised by positive reports from corporations already in the county regarding retention. Norton stated that his office will be following up on meetings held in recent weeks with Jamestown and Thorntown, and is looking to begin a program for small businesses and entrepreneurship.
Auditor Melody Price presented a financial update to the council. I commented that except for two additional appropriations required because of bookkeeping errors on the council’s part, ALL of the additional were for reimbursements. I appreciate the effort it has taken for the various county offices to stay within their budgets in this difficult year.
OLD BUSINESS:
County attorney Bob Clutter addressed the council on variety of issues.
First, the Redevelopment Commission has arranged to refinance development (TIF) bonds along I-65 through State Bank of Lizton at a rate of 2.1%. The Bank requested the support of the council behind this plan. The council voted unanimously to support the refinancing.
Second, Clutter updated the council on the request of residents along 525 S to have the speed limit lowered on the half-mile stretch of road. The residents have addressed the commissioners and stated that traffic study would be unnecessary if the county declared the road an urban district. As the road is actually in the “rural” portion of Zionsville, such a declaration raises all sorts of legal questions. The commissioners are continuing to look into the ramifications of any decisions changing the road’s status.
Third, Clutter addressed the ongoing confusion regarding the Zionsville library board appointments. The State Library Board and the town of Zionsville have stated that they are satisfied with the current appointments. Council member Gene Thompson asked Clutter if, in his legal opinion, the council had a valid appointment to the Zionsville library board. Clutter stated that he was comfortable relying on the written opinion of the state library. Zionsville Library Director Jake Speer addressed the issue as well.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Meeting adjourned at approximately 10:30.
Next regularly-scheduled council meeting will be 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, October 11, in the Courthouse Annex, Lebanon.
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About Me
- David Rodgers
- Lebanon, IN, United States
- I am a life-long resident of Boone County and a 1989 graduate of Western Boone High School. My wife Rylin and I, along with our children Matthew and Laura, live southwest of Lebanon on the old family dairy farm that has been in my family nearly 70 years. I am a graduate of Purdue University, and for the past 20+ years have taught history, government and English at Zionsville High School. I have a Master's degree in American Studies from Purdue and am working -- slowly -- toward a Master of Public Affairs degree at IUPUI. Before being elected to the County Council in 2008, I served six years on the Jackson Township Board, having first been elected in 2002. I also serve as the Council's representative on the board of the Boone County Economic Development Corporation.
