Notes -- December 2012 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
12/11/2012
Present:  All Council members present, Secretary Crystal Raub.

The council reviewed and approved meeting minutes from both October and November with slight amendment. 

RE-APPROPRIATIONS: (All approved with exception of part of Prosecutor request noted below.)
Auditor (Chris Large):
Requested $240 from Office Supplies to Training to cover a training webinar for new staff.

Prosecutor (Kent Eastwood – filling in):

Requested shift of roughly $4000 total among a variety of lines.  Several questions arose regarding the propriety of transferring between different line series numbers, including an overtime line.  The council balked at re-appropriations from salary lines to non-salary lines, as well as a request for $2000 from Extradition to Office Supplies — Criminal. A motion was passed to approve all but that $2000 request without further information.  Whether some of the transfers from different categories were allowable was left for the auditor’s office to determine.  If state regulations do not allow them they will simply be voided and no transfers made.

Highway (Rick Carney):

Requested $20,000 from Calcium Chloride to New Equipment.  Carney wishes to purchase a truck lift to enable the department to do more maintenance in-house.

Commissioners (Karen Lasley):

Requested $1944 from Postage to Insurance to pay for employee flu shots.  Several questions arose about using that line – which had been created to build up for future health insurance costs. 

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:

Jail Maintenance (Ken Campbell):
Requested $66 transfer of reimbursement from Comcast for cancelled cable contract.  Approved.

Sheriff (Ken Campbell):

Requested a total of roughly $950 in reimbursement transfers from inmate Medical and Postage, as well as from Part-time for sheriff’s sale work.  Questions were again raised regarding the propriety and consistency of the accounting process.  Approved. 

Auditor (Chris Large):

Requested $3000 for Plat Book repairs.  The motion would actually create a line within the Plat Fee fund to pay for rebinding of old plat books.  Approved.

Highway (Rick Carney):

Requested $5000 from MVH fund for tires and tubes to cover remainder of the year.  Approved.

NEW BUSINESS:

Judge Rebecca McClure addressed the council regarding an increase in salary for her court’s small claims commissioner.  In the council’s deliberations and decision last summer to raise full-time employees’ salaries by 2% did not include that position, as the council understood it to be a part-time contract employee.  Judge McClure explained that it is in fact full-time county position.  The council agreed to correct the oversight and moved to amend the salary ordinance to reflect that at the first of the year.  An additional appropriation (totaling less than $500) after January 1^st will be required to cover that increase. 

Council President Jacob addressed the issue of board appointments required of the council, and the lack of a consistent policy for advertising and filling these positions.  County Attorney Bob Clutter affirmed that the county commissioners are in the process of crafting a policy regarding appointments.  Jacob and others expressed their desire to implement such a policy to mirror that of the commissioners, to include among other things at least 30 days of advertisement of openings for appointments.  The council today was scheduled to make an appointment to the Lebanon Library Board, while several other board terms expire at the end of the year. The council decided to go ahead with appointments to fill the terms beginning January 1, and to implement a policy geared more toward advertisement of the positions in future.  Those appointments – all re-appointments – were:

          Alcoholic Beverage Board:  Bob Miller

          Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals:  Charles Ewing and Carol Nist
          Redevelopment Commission:  Greg Slipher and Marcia Wilhoite
          Mapleview Home Board:  Debby Shubert

Kay Martin, Director of the Lebanon Public Library, presented information on behalf of Karen Galvin, the board’s current appointment to the board.  Ms. Galvin was unable to attend due to illness.  Ms. Martin was asked by the board to recommend Ms. Galvin’s re-appointment to the position.  Aaron Smith of Lebanon also addressed the council requesting appointment to the position.  After much thoughtful discussion of the two excellent candidates, Karen Galvin was re-appointed.

County Attorney Bob Clutter addressed the council regarding the 911 contract agreement with AT&T.  Because this is a 10-year contract, it requires the approval of both the commissioners and the council.  Major Mike Nielsen answered some questions regarding the contract.  With thanks to Major Nielsen for all his work on this project over the past year-plus, the council approved the contract.

Council President Steve Jacob raised the issue of encumbrances by departments for year-end bills.  He re-iterated the proper procedure and asked that department heads be diligent in following them as the end of the year approaches.  Gene Thompson asked for some clarifications, and it was affirmed by the auditor’s office employees that the policy has not changed, but a recent email to county employees was simply intended to remind everyone of the details of the procedure.

Jacob also raised the issue of the county’s policy – or lack thereof – toward filling vacated positions.  Though not required by a specific policy, Cindy Murphy, Health Department, requested and received the council’s approval to hire a full-time health inspector to replace an employee who has recently resigned. 

OLD BUSINESS:

PUBLIC COMMENT:
Aaron Smith addressed a comment made earlier by Steve Jacob regarding governor-elect Pence’s proposal to lower the state income tax.  Some discussion followed regarding the legislation being proposed for the General Assembly’s upcoming term and its possible impact on the county’s County Option Income Tax revenues in 2014 and beyond. 

Sheriff Campbell notified the council that he would be replacing employees in his communications and corrections divisions. 

Sheriff Campbell also addressed the council regarding the ongoing efforts toward inter-operability among multiple counties regarding data related to jail and arrest records and other issues.  These data issues parallel the voice sharing issues addressed by the AT&T contract on which Maj. Nielsen has been working.  Recent developments in this effort have created a possibility that the county could receive a $100,000 grant toward pursuing this project (which will have a total cost of over $500,000).  Maj. Nielsen presented more details on what the system is and how it would work, as well his view that the state would be mandating a move to such a system in the near future.  Nielsen also stated his belief that the county could roll this additional piece into the

10-year AT&T voice contract, with the additional cost covered by the new 911 funding formula. 

DOCUMENT SIGNING:

Meeting had not adjourned when I had to leave at 11:00.

Next regularly-scheduled council meeting will be Tuesday, January 8, at 8:30 a.m.

Notes -- November 2012 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
11/13/2012
Present:  Council President Steve Jacob was not present (he is visiting a new grandchild in Colorado), so Vice President Marcia Wilhoite presided over the meeting. Secretary Crystal Raub.

The council had not received last month’s meeting minutes, so their approval was tabled until next month’s meeting.

RE-APPROPRIATIONS: (All Approved.)

EMA (Rachel Hansen):

Requested $851 from uniforms to Gas/Oil/Lube.

 

Circuit Court (No one present):

Requested $100 from Office Supplies to Judges Pro Tem.

 

Superior Court I (Kay Cox):

Requested $1100 from Med/Psych to Office Supplies.  Requested $770 from various lines to Overtime.  The council asked for clarification in both areas.  The supplies budget will primarily be to cover paper and envelopes for jurors due to a change in procedures.  The overtime will be paid to Ms. Cox to reduce the accumulated “comp time” she has accrued over the past year-plus.  (While this particular comp time issue is not notable, it did lead to comments from the council about concerns with the county’s comp time obligation and our inability to budget appropriately for it. Those concerns have gone unaddressed in the past.  It was again suggested during this discussion that the commissioners, perhaps with input from HR consultant Dennis Dunlap, craft a policy to limit or at the very least track the accumulation of comp time by employees.)

 

Sheriff (No one spoke):

Requested $300 from Community Corrections Training to CC Jail Uniforms.

 

 

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:

Sheriff (Ken Campbell):

Requested roughly $2800 in reimbursements to various accounts such as inmate medical, postage, supplies, etc.  The two largest (about $1700) were for fuel reimbursement, one from the prosecutor’s office funds for an extradition and one from an INDOT grant.  Some questions were asked regarding the ongoing necessity of transferring these funds through the Additional Appropriations process, which requires monthly advertisement and accounting.  Council members Gene Thompson and Marcia Wilhoite questioned the necessity and consistency of budgeting lines at a level that does not reflect their reimbursement.  Approved.

 

Circuit Court (Kandi Killin):

Requested $6500 in transfer of state grant money to payroll for Guardian Ad Litem.  The program will see a drop in state funding next year due to the decline in number of children adjudicated as Children in Need of Services in the past two years.  Approved. 

The council also noted that Kandi will be retiring at year’s end, and that she was recognized last night by the Boone County Chamber of Commerce as this year’s Children’s Champion.  Ms. Killin received an ovation from the crowd and the thanks of the council for her service.

 

Commissioners (Jeff Wolfe):

Requested $6000 for Publications. Commissioner Wolfe explained a few factors which led to this request.  First, the council had cut this budget line last year in hopes that more digital advertising could cut costs, but that change has not yet been approved by the state.  Second, due to multiple issues with the Zionsville Times-Sentinel failing to publish notices the county had paid for, which in turn led to multiple problems for county government, the commissioners have switched their advertising to the Indy Star, which is more expensive.  Finally, this past summer a series of flood plan notifications were required, with cost of roughly $2000.  Approved.

 

Surveyor (Ken Hedge):

Requested $6000 for Engineering Services.  Surveyor Hedge explained that these monies represent reimbursement for contracted services.  Approved.

 

Auditor (Melody Price):

Requested $17,500 to cover the remaining installment on the CYMA software contract. Some discussion as to whether the software was currently installed and in operation confirmed that it was not, though it is expected to “go live” in January.  The current provider has not yet been given notice of termination, pending the successful implementation of the new program.  There were also suggestions that the money could be taking out of multiple funds, having been advertised out of both Cumulative Capital Development and Rainy Day, with the Riverboat Gaming Fund also available if the council wished to re-advertise for next month’s meeting.  In the end the council chose to use the Rainy Day fund.  Approved.

 

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Count Attorney Bob Clutter asked for council approval of an ordinance authorizing the recently-created Boone County Economic Development Commission to approve the TIF bonds to be issued for the Duke expansion and spec building project in the Anson development area in Whitestown.  These bonds will roll in an earlier bond issue in the same area. The bond payments not covered by revenues in the TIF district will be Duke’s responsibility.  The ordinance contains specific language stating that the bonds cannot become General Obligation Bonds – the county can have no financial responsibility for these bonds.  The council asked some further questions for clarification.  Mr. Clutter noted that the public hearing for the bonds had been completed earlier this morning.  Approved.

 

Sue Ritz, Director of Boone County Senior Services and thus the Boone Area Transit System, introduced Ehren Bingaman of the Central Indiana Regional Transportation Authority (CIRTA) to familiarize the council with CIRTA’s history and role.  Ms. Ritz has been the county’s representative to CIRTA for the past several years.  Among other things, CIRTA administers express busses running between Carmel, Fishers and Plainfield and downtown Indianapolis, and works with employers around the region to connect employers and workers to transportation possibilities.  CIRTA currently has more than 100 commuters registered in Boone County looking for rides to Indy, as well as a roughly equal number coming to Boone County from Marion County. 

Ms. Ritz also informed the council that Boone County has been awarded a grant to implement an express bus from downtown Indy to the Lebanon Business Park, with a possible stop in Anson.  Ritz has been meeting with various stakeholders, including business owners who are short on workers.  The grant’s implementation will require local matching funds totaling $47,500.  Ritz has been in contact with Lebanon, Whitestown, United Way and others about providing some of those funds. Council members asked several questions about the grant and the proposal, including the likelihood that employers would buy into the program and support it financially.  Boone EDC Director Dax Norton also addressed questions and explained that the dearth of workers is a growing problem for Boone County businesses.  The general (though not unanimous) consensus of the council was that we would support the project given more specifics.  Ms. Ritz will return early next year with more detailed numbers and a request for additional appropriations from the Food & Beverage Fund.

 

OLD BUSINESS:

On the recommendation and motion of Council Member Brent Wheat, who represents Lebanon, the council appointed Lori Monns to the Lebanon Public Library Board.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Aaron Smith, Lebanon, commented that he had questions about the propriety of using tax dollars to bus in workers for “low-wage” jobs in Boone County, though he also stated that he had not reached conclusions on those questions.

Dax Norton addressed the issues raised by Mr. Smith, stating that while lower-wage jobs were not the ideal, they often were the gateway to better-paying jobs, both for workers to move up the economic ladder and for businesses to invest in creation of higher-wage jobs.  Norton also updated the council on the EDC’s efforts to recruit and retain businesses to Boone County.  In response to a question about the ASI building in Anson, Norton explained that ASI itself ceased to exist early in the year and a “shell” company created to finish ASI’s commitments to a project in New Jersey is wrapping up work.  The building is currently on the market, and Norton expects it to be filled fairly quickly, as building space continues to be at a premium in central Indiana.  Norton was also asked about the issue of companies hiring “temporary” workers.  Norton noted that the EDC does work to attract companies who will hire only or at least primarily “permanent” employees, such as DA Lubricants and Skojt-Barrett.  He also noted that companies’ job reporting numbers in receiving incentives should include only “permanent” employees. 

 

DOCUMENT SIGNING:

Gene Thompson asked for clarification regarding the 2013 Salary Ordinance Resolution as adopted on October 9.  A discrepancy with the date on the form, as well as the implication that signing the resolution signified voting for the ordinance as written, were corrected before approval.

Amendments were also made to the minutes of the Budget Adoption meeting on October 9 before they were approved. The budget hearing minutes were also approved.  

 

 

Meeting adjourned at roughly 10:15.

Next regularly-scheduled council meeting will be Tuesday, December 11, at 8:30 a.m.

Notes -- October 2012 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
10/9/2012
Present:  All Council Members. Secretary Crystal Raub.

RE-APPROPRIATIONS:

Circuit Court (Judge Jeff Edens):

Requested $2000 from Med/Psych to library.  Judge Edens also had an additional request (see below) which the council handled at them same time.  Approved.

 

Clerk (No one present):

Requested $200 from Supplies to Absentee Ballots & $890 from supplies to Janitors for election expenses. See note below in Additional Appropriation for explanation. Approved

 

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:

Circuit Court (Judge Jeff Edens):

Requested $15,000 to cover shortfall in Pauper Attorney Fees.  Approved.

 

Sheriff (Brittany Hicks):

Requested just under $900 in reimbursements to various accounts such as inmate medical, postage, supplies, etc.  Approved.

 

Sheriff/Jail Maintenance (Mike Vaughan):

Requested $35,000 for utilities.  The summer heat wave cost far more than had been budgeted.  The 2013 budget includes an increase to this line.  Approved.

 

Area Plan (Rachel Cardis):

Requested $654 for repairs to a 2005 truck which is now being used by the Coroner’s office.  This action had been discussed repeatedly in previous months.  The original request had been for a much higher cost, based on an estimate from a dealership.  The county highway department made the repairs at a significant savings.  Thanks to both the APC and the Highway Dept for their cooperation in making this work at as little cost to taxpayers as possible.  Approved.

Requested $6500 for purchase of a new truck, as discussed at previous meetings.  The council had previously approved some funding for the purchase, but not enough to cover the entire cost, and asked Ms. Cardis to evaluate the department’s needs and options further before coming back with this request. Approved.

 

Highway (Rick Carney):

Requested for $150,000 for Gas & Oil. The department was able to do considerably more work this summer in both overlay paving and chip & seal than had originally been budgeted.  This comes from the highway department’s budget, not the county general fund.  Approved.

 

EMA (Rachel Hansen):

Requested $3616 as a reimbursement from a grant fund for new equipment.  Approved.

 

Surveyor (Kathy Clawson):

Requested $500 for Repairs.  A 2006 truck used by the department is in need of electrical repairs.  This request would cover those repairs and leave some funds in the line to carry through to the end of the year.

 

Auditor (Melody Price):

Requested $13,300 for the county’s contractual tax sale.  This should be reimbursed from the sale’s proceeds.  Approved.

 

Commissioners (Charles Eaton):

The commissioners submitted a request for $500,000 to re-fund the Bridge #220 (Ford Rd Bridge) project.  Mr. Eaton read from prepared notes to review the potential risks of not restoring funding to this project.  Following those remarks, Council Member Gene Thompson made comments regarding his understanding of those potential risks.  Several other questions were asked of both Commissioner Eaton and Highway Superintendent Carney by Mr. Thompson and Council Member Marcia Wilhoite.  Commissioner Jeff Wolfe stated that he felt it would be irresponsible simply to repair the current bridge and push the final decision down the road.  Council Member Brent Wheat made a motion to approve, seconded by Butch Smith.  With a 3-2 roll call vote and Marcia Wilhoite abstaining, the motion failed to carry. (Steve Jacob, as president, did not vote, as the motion would have fallen short of the required five votes needed for approval regardless of his position.)

 

Clerk (Penny Bogan):

Ms. Bogan requested $36,100 to pay for fall elections.  (The original request had been advertised at $65,000.) This money had originally been budgeted from the federal HAVA fund for federal elections.  A new interpretation from the Secretary of State of the allowable uses for that fund indicates that poll worker expenses are not included.  Approved.

 

NEW BUSINESS:

Treasurer Deanna Willhoite requested and received approval of a Resolution outlining an investment policy.

 

The council was asked by Major Nielsen of the Sheriff’s Department, who is leading an effort to examine the security of county buildings, to appoint a representative to a committee investigating those issues.  Council Member Butch Smith has been asked unofficially and has volunteered to serve.  Some discussion of the make-up of the committee currently including only law enforcement members ensued.  (Mr. Smith is a retired officer.)  The council discussed the possibility of making more than one appointment, including a member of the public at-large.  As Major Nielsen was not present, and no official request had been submitted, no appointment was made.  The issue will be re-visited next month.

 

The council was asked to appoint representatives to a committee investigating best use of the newly-acquired building on West Washington Street.  Council Member Brent Wheat and Debbie Ottinger (who is running unopposed for Boone County Treasurer) agreed to serve.

 

Cindy Murphy of the County Health Department addressed the council regarding a recent full-time vacancy and asking the council to approve filling that position at the same salary.  The council voted to approve, with the understanding that the new hire would come in at the increased salary set to be approved for 2013. 

 

OLD BUSINESS:

Laurie Gross of the Lebanon Parks Board addressed the council again, requesting that the council not eliminate the county park tax.  This opened a great deal of discussion from council members on both the issue of a county park levy itself and the process by which the council arrived at this point in its deliberations.  Both Lebanon Mayor Huck Lewis and former Clerk-Treasurer Debbie Ottinger addressed the council as well.  Lebanon residents Kathy Flanary and Aaron Smith also addressed the council, with Ms. Flanary supporting continuation of the county levy and Mr. Smith opposing.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

None beyond the earlier discussion of the park levy.

 

Regular meeting adjourned just past 10:30.  Following a short break, the council re-convened to address adoption of budgets in a separate meeting.    I will attempt to post a separate summary for those discussions later.

 

Next regularly-scheduled council meeting will be Tuesday, November 13, at 8:30 a.m.

Agenda -- October 2012 Council Meeting

BOONE COUNTY COUNCIL
BUSINESS AGENDA FOR OCTOBER 9, 2012
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 11, 2012 Minutes

Re-Appropriations – Circuit Court and Clerk

Additional Requests:   

Sheriff, Area Plan, Clerk, Highway, EMA, Surveyor, Auditor, Circuit Court, Highway (Commissioners Request)

New Business: 

Deanna Willhoite – Resolution No. 2012-2 Regarding County Funds

Sue Ritz and Ehren Bingaman with CIRTA
Consider appointment for the new Building Committee
Appointment to Lebanon Library Board
Re-Appointment to Thorntown Public Library Board

Old Business:

Laurie Gross with the Lebanon Parks Board

Public Comment

 

Document Signing: 
Additionals, Re-appropriations, Thorntown Certificate of Appointment, Resolution No. 2012-2, and September 11, 2012 minutes

                           

Adjournment

      

Immediately following the regular Council meeting, the Council will consider the adoption of the 2013 budget and salary ordinance.

 

This agenda is subject to change.

                                          

Notes -- September 2012 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
9/11/2012
Present:  All Council Members present except Brent Wheat. Secretary Crystal Raub.

President Steve Jacob noted that today’s council meeting conflicted with the county’s 9-11 Memorial Service this morning, and asked for input on the preference for adjourning until that service’s conclusion or continuing with our meeting as scheduled. Because of the council’s agenda for its non-binding reviews following the regular meeting, the consensus was to continue with our meeting and observe a moment of silence at 8:46.

RE-APPROPRIATIONS:

Re-Assessment (No one present):
Requested transfer of $10,000 from PTBOA to Consulting.  The Assessor’s office has been working through property tax appeals in an “informal” process with a consultant rather than with the entire board in an effort to save money.  Some questions were raised as to whether this was in fact saving money or just shifting it to a consultant.  Approved.

Prosecutor (Megan McQuern):

Requested $1000 from Extradition for Travel Expense, $1000 from Extradition to Library/Research, $1000 from Office Supplies to Trial Expense.  Approved after some discussion.

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:

Commissioners (Jeff Wolfe):
Requested $14,000 from CCD to Consulting as part of the acquisition of the downtown office building.  This comes from an original request of $350,000 with a purchase price of $225,000.  Approved.

Coroner (Jerry Harris):

Requested $25,000 for autopsy fees.  The council had reduced the budget for 2012, but both fees and number of autopsies have increased.  Harris noted that much of the increase has come from two sources: auto accidents and drug use.  Approved.

Community Corrections and Probation (Kari Ragsdale):

Requested $13,000 from Project Income Computer System and $3000 from Probation User Fee Computer System for a new database program to replace the county-funded Courtview system.   Approved.

Sheriff (Ken Campbell):  

Requested roughly $1000 in transfers of reimbursement of six different funds including postage, inmate medical, part-time, jail building, drug awareness and inmate supplies.  Council member Gene Thompson asked several questions regarding the budgeting of medical expenses and their reimbursement, including the end-of-year encumbrances.  Approved.

Highway (Rick Carney):

Requested $14,133 for covering remaining expense of new truck purchases not covered by the lease agreement.  This had been discussed at previous meetings.  Approved.

NEW BUSINESS:

President Jacob noted that several young audience members were in attendance.  He welcomed the members of Zionsville High School’s Advance Placement Government class and asked them to introduce themselves into the record.

Perry Township resident Craig Triscari addressed the council regarding his concerns about ongoing construction at Whitestown Crossing, in particular the construction of a new road and a truck stop at that I-65 interchange.  Triscari asserted that the truck stop and road were not a part of the original development plan approved by the county, but rather were allowed by the Town of Whitestown after it took over planning jurisdiction for the area.  Triscari is particularly concerned with the lack of a berm along the edge of the development.  President Jacob asked Triscari to clarify that the property in question was in fact in Whitestown and not in the county.  Triscari agree that it was, but expressed concern that the properties adjacent to the construction – owned by a firefighter, a WWII veteran and a state police officer – were in the county’s domain and had been threatened with eminent domain proceedings to remove their property.  Triscari asked council members to contact Whitestown leaders and express their concerns, as well as encouraging Worth Township to consider these events when discussing consolidation with Whitestown. 

Kathy Clawson of the Soil & Water Board asked for establishment of a part-time line item to supplement the office staff, which recently lost a full-time employee.  The line will require a re-appropriation next month to fund it.

Greg Inman of the Health Department requested creation of a new line for Sharps Program to separate it out of the Environmental Division.  Approved.

OLD BUSINESS:

Rachel Cardis from the Area Plan Commission returned with updated quotes for last month’s tabled request of funds to purchase a new truck for her building inspector.  Last month’s discussion had involved trading in two older trucks.  One of those has now been repaired and given to the Coroner’s office for its use, so the trade-in value is less than the tabled Additional Appropriation.  The council eventually voted to approve the original $7400 request, with the understanding that Ms. Cardis will likely return next month to request enough funding to cover the remaining cost of the new truck.

Commissioner Marc Applegate addressed the council regarding the Commissioners’ resolution passed yesterday asking the council to re-fund the Bridge #220 – the Ford Road Bridge over Eagle Creek.  Applegate addressed various concerns he has heard from the council and others regarding the bridge, as well as his view of repercussions of failing to fund the current bridge project.  During the extensive discussion, attorney Greg Zubek, representing Eagle Creek Nature Conservancy and Preservation, Inc., was introduced as having written the original draft of the resolution the commissioners passed yesterday.  (I may not be entirely accurate on that name – the group owns property adjacent to the project and wishes to preserve greenspace.) MUCH discussion from Applegate and many questions from council members ensued.  Little new of note was raised.  One thing I don’t think I’d heard in a public meeting before:  Applegate floated a ballpark (“off the cuff”) estimate of $300,000-$400,000 to repair the current bridge and extend its life up to 15 years.  Council President Jacob noted that while Applegate on behalf of the commissioners was asking the council to re-fund the project, no Additional Appropriation request had been submitted or advertised.  Applegate asked for some form of vote on the issue so that he could confirm with INDOT that the county is still interested in the bridge. As no additional appropriation request had been filed, the council had nothing upon which to vote.  No action was taken.

Tonya Thayer, Lebanon City Clerk-Treasurer, addressed the council on behalf of the City and in particular its Parks Board, concerning the council’s plan to eliminate the county park tax and its corresponding distribution to the city, which amounts to roughly $40,000.  Thayer asserted that the city has no recourse to recover those funds.  The council has discussed eliminating the county park levy for the past three years, working under the assumption that cities, towns and other entities could recoup those losses through their own tax levies.  Lebanon Parks Board President Laurie Gross asked the council if it was too late for any action to be taken, and was told that the council will make its final 2013 budget approval at next month’s regular meeting.  Ms. Gross emphasized that the park is used by people throughout the county and the region, and that without this county-funded money programs would have to be cut and fees would likely have to be charged. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:
Attorney Greg Zubek (see above) addressed the council regarding the Bridge #220 project, reiterating the concerns spelled out by Commissioner Applegate and focusing on the council’s fiscal duties. 

Commissioner Jeff Wolfe addressed the council to dispute one factual assertion in the commissioners resolution regarding when the commissioners “determined” that a wider bridge would be acceptable.

Council member Marcia Wilhoite suggested that the council seek input from outside council regarding its duties in respect to bridge funding.  Extensive further discussion regarding the current status of the commissioners’ various resolutions regarding the bridge, south curve and 96^th Street intersection to the north involved County Attorney Bob Clutter.  Eventually, president Jacob suggested that with nothing before it to vote on the council should move on and seek further clarification before next month’s meeting, at which an additional appropriation request from the commissioners was expected.  Both Cindy Lamberjack and Peter Kunz further addressed the council regarding the same issues.

Sherriff Ken Campbell asked for clarification regarding the pay raises included in the proposed 2013 budget.  The current proposal includes a 2% across-the-board raise plus a 1% raise to be applied at the discretion of department heads.  The administration of the 1% raised questions from the auditor’s office regarding such issues as part-time department heads, vacant positions and particularly of recent hires.  A meeting of council members Thompson, Jacob and Wheat with the Auditor’s office attempted to address these questions.  Sherriff Campbell shared concerns about limiting office holders’ discretion in applying the 1% additional increase to new hires.  Campbell also asked about discussion of office holders’ raises which will be on the October agenda. 

The council then moved to review of local taxing entities’ budgets as required by state statute.  Other than the Boone County Solid Waste Board, all those reviews are non-binding.  

Next regularly-scheduled council meeting will be Tuesday, October 9, at 8:30 a.m.

Notes -- August 2012 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
8/14/2012
Present:  All Council Members present. Secretary Crystal Raub

Council president Steve Jacob suggested implementing a new practice of assigning a council member to review the meeting minutes each month in detail before their distribution to the entire council.  The council approved the minutes of the July regular meeting as well as the special meeting on July 20.

 

RE-APPROPRIATIONS:

Circuit Court (No one present):
Requested transfer of $198 from Equipment to Library and $115 from Office Supplies to Library.  Approved.

Clerk (Penny Bogan):

Requested $600 to meals and $500 to room rental from the HAVA fund.  The council questioned the appropriateness of moving these funds as a re-appropriation rather than an additional, as HAVA is accounted as a separate fund, as well as whether the HAVA funds could be used at all.  In the end, all agreed to revisit the issue next month as a larger additional appropriation request.

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:

Area Plan (Rachel Curtis):
Requested $7400 for replacement of two pick-up trucks (2005 & 2007) for one new truck rather than spend $4300 for repairs.  The office has only one inspector, so can get by with one truck.  Curtis believes that a new truck would save money long-term for repairs.  Several council members asked questions about the current trucks (one of which is not running) and about the proposed new trucks.  Commissioner Jeff Wolfe also indicated that the Commissioners have discussed making the older truck available for the use of the County Coroner.  Eventually the council voted to table the request until its next meeting pending exploration of other options.  Tabled.

Highway/CCD (Lisa Ping)

Requested $20,000 from the CCD fund to Building Repair to replace two Air Conditioning units which are leaking Freon.  Final bids have come in at $14,000, so the council approved $15,000 rather than $20K.
Requested $20,000 from the MVH fund to Professional Services for contract services with Appian, which is the county’s consulting agent assisting with finding and securing federal highway dollars.  The commissioners had budgeted for only a six-month contract, giving the new highway superintendent the option to continue the service.  Approved.

Surveyor (Ken Hedge):

Requested $1300 for Repairs, with unanticipated expenses including a truck and a Kubota tractor.  The line is currently in the red; Hedge hopes this new funding will carry through the end of the year.

Requested $3,600 for Travel/Fuel, as good weather has actually allowed his office to do more work than anticipated, using more fuel than was budgeted for.   Council members asked about the possibility of using ditch maintenance fees for some of these expenses.  Hedge explained that those funds can only be used within each watershed for maintenance and repairs to legal drains.  Approved.

Commissioners (Jeff Wolfe):

Requested nearly $1,700 be passed through to the Boone County Trails line from federal grant money.  Approved.

Sheriff (Ken Campbell):  

Requested over $900 in transfers of money collected from inmates for items such as Postage, Medical and other Inmate Supplies.  Also requested transfer of $312 for Part-time Clerical related to sheriff’s sales.  Approved.
Requested$38,000 for the AT&T Trunk Line for the 911 system monthly fees until a new contract – in the works since late 2011 – is signed and implemented.  Approved.

NEW BUSINESS:

Council Member Gene Thompson updated the council on highlights of the State Board of Accounts annual meeting for county councils.  Among new legislative changes and other new policies to affect budgeting for 2013: addition of auditor and treasurer to eligibility for the Elected Officials Training Fund, exclusion of commissioners and councilors from the state’s nepotism law, notice of the phase out of the Inheritance Tax, electronic meeting attendance (but not voting), submission of fiscal body budgets to the council by August 31with council review by October 2.  The state has now combined all 911 financing under council control with a new fee collection structure; the Board of Accounts recommended tracking all 911-related expenses closely to demonstrate that the fees will not be sufficient to cover them.  Sheriff’s Pension Plans were also addressed, with a recommendation that counties examine more closely the future funding obligations of the plans as employees retire.

OLD BUSINESS:

In the changeover of staff in the auditor’s office, a few months’ of Re-appropriation ordinances went unsigned.  As members were unsure how they had voted on all the requests involved, council secretary Raub will be reviewing the tapes and reporting back next month.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Sheriff Campbell asked for clarification regarding what information he would be asked to provide and when for the pension plan questions raised at the state meeting Mr. Thompson presented.

Sheriff Campbell also introduced Chris Calloway of Morgan Stanley to explain some changes to the sheriff’s pension plan payments.  Morgan Stanley is the trustee of/adviser to the county’s plan.  With regulatory changes, Morgan Stanley will now contract with Comerica Bank to issue payments to retired officers.  Thus, the county’s contributions to the plan will now go to Comerica rather than Morgan Stanley.

Dax Norton, Director of the Boone County EDC, updated the Council on attempts to create a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) centered on developing the I-74 interchange in Jamestown.  A preliminary discussion meeting was held last month with representatives from four neighboring counties which Norton helps lay the groundwork for moving ahead in the process.  Norton also updated the council on the probability of economic development projects in both Zionsville and Lebanon, as well as some ongoing project possibilities in Lebanon. 

Meeting adjourned at roughly10:10

Next regularly-scheduled council meeting will be Tuesday, August 14, at 8:30 a.m.

Notes -- July 10, 2012 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
7/10/2012
Present:  All Council Members present except Debbie Shubert.

The council approved the minutes of the June meeting (for which I was not present).

Council president Steve Jacob opened a Public Hearing to consider a proposed increase to the Cumulative Capital Development (CCD) Fund levy rate.  Brittany Wingerter of Umbaugh gave an overview of what the fund rate change would mean in terms of revenue collections for the county, as well as the impact on taxpayers at various home values and in various relationships to the 1-2-3 tax caps.  Several council members asked  questions about the possible impact of the change.  Jacob then opened the floor to comments from the public, limited to five minutes:

• Aaron Smith of Lebanon asked the council to table the increase and then spoke primarily to encourage the council to adopt a resolution supporting changes to the state’s gas tax fund use for non-transportation funding before returning to his request to postpone the CCD increase at least until after the legislature has acted on the transportation funding plan. 
• Anthony Theophanus of rural Lebanon asked for clarification about the impact on residents in non-incorporated areas of the county.    
• Sheriff Ken Campbell spoke in support of raising the rate, arguing that the cuts his department has made in recent years have left him with no alternative but to cut employees and therefore services if further budget cuts are required. 

After president Jacob read the proposed ordinance aloud into the record, several council members spoke against the increase – Brent Wheat, Marcia Wilhoite, Steve Jacob, myself.  Jacob called for a motion to approve the resolution increasing the rate, but no one made such a motion and so the proposal failed. 
 
RE-APPROPRIATIONS:
Highway (Rick Carney): Approved.
Transferred $200 from telephone to meeting
Transferred $300,000 from bridge #70 to three other bridges. 
Transferred roughly $341,000 from four completed bridges and bridge #70 to CR 400 S bridge construction.

Re-Assessment (Lisa Garoffolo): Approved.

Transferred $600 from supplies to printing to print door hangers for the upcoming beginning of “rolling” re-assessment.

Prosecutor (Todd Meyer):

Withdrawn.

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:

Sheriff (Ken Campbell):   Approved.
Requested just over $1000 in transfers of money collected from inmates for items such as postage, medical supplies and commissary.
Requested transfer of roughly $350 to Part-Time for money collected for clerical work on sheriff’s sales.

Assessor (Lisa Garoffolo): Approved.

Requested $116,000+ from the re-assessment fund to cover the early start of the “rolling” reassessment contract as approved by the legislature in its session earlier this year.  Some questions were raised as to whether this would cover the entire contract’s cost for the remainder of the year, and what would happen with the previous year’s designated re-assessment funds which are no longer relevant with the new rolling format. Garoffolo will meet with the Auditor and Treasurer to clarify and report back. 

Commissioners (Jeff Wolfe):

Requested $2500 for publications.  Several times in the past year the county has submitted (and paid for) legally required advertisements to be published in the Zionsville Times-Sentinel which the paper then failed to publish.  As a result the county now publishes in the Indianapolis Star*, which is much more expensive.  The county was also required to publish its new flood plan which alone cost more than $1000.  Approved.

*State law requires the publication of many county actions in two “local” print periodicals.  Several council members and commissioners have raised this issue with state legislators requesting that electronic publication of such notices be permitted as at least one of the two publications, which would not only put government in line with the modern digital era but also save taxpayers thousands of dollars each year.   The council also asked Wolfe to investigate having the county’s IT department being such publications regardless of the law for taxpayers’ convenience.  Wolfe agreed to do so, though such requests of the IT department have been made several times in the past several years to no avail.

NEW BUSINESS:

None.

OLD BUSINESS:

The council discussed the proposed “negative additional” to remove funding from Bridge #220, the Ford Road bridge over Eagle Creek.  Some progress has apparently been made toward widening the current proposed truss bridge, and altering the design of the curve onto 96^th street has been accomplished to the satisfaction of both the commissioners and Zionsville. Mr. Thompson moved to de-fund the project in its current form (using the steel truss bridge).  Councilwoman Wilhoite asked Tim Haak of the Zionsville Town Council to speak.  He commended Commissioner Applegate for his willingness to continue discussions and to seek solutions.  Commissioner Jeff Wolfe, as the only commissioner present, was asked to speak as well.  As he has not been involved in the discussions, Wolfe stated he had little to add to the discussion.  President Jacob also asked County Attorney Bob Clutter to speak on the state of the truss bridge’s availability.  INDOT has agreed to hold the bridge through August 1^st, with the possibility of a 30-day extension if the county requests one in writing. 

Thompson moved to remove funding from the bridge, and I seconded.  After some further discussion, council voted 4-2 to approve the motion and de-fund the project (Thompson, Rodgers, Wilhoite and Jacob for; Wheat and Smith against).

Jacob led discussion of hearings of the 2013 budget.  The Council will plan to hold workshops led by the budget committee (Thompson, Wilhoite, Rodgers) following its regular council meeting on Tuesday, August 14^th, and continue them on Wednesday the 15^th.  The public budget hearings will begin Monday, August 20^th, at noon. 

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Sam Sutphin of Zionsville spoke again supporting the bridge project the council had just de-funded. Mr. Sutphin also addressed the “alternative” truss bridge which had been discussed.  Cindy Lamberjack of Pike Township (96^th Street) spoke again criticizing the council’s decision to de-fund the bridge project.  Robert Guernsey, former County Commissioner from Harrison Township, stated that he left the Commissioners in 1996 and that the Bridge #220 project was a controversial topic on the county’s priority list at that time.    

Mr. Guernsey also spoke regarding the shifting nature of property taxes, noting that in recent years property tax caps and assessed valuations have tended to transfer more and more of the property tax burden from residents – who use services – to business and agriculture – which do not, at least at the rate residents do.  Guernsey expressed concern that these changes, along with the state’s investigation of “productivity” taxes, will create an unfriendly climate to business and an unfair burden on agriculture. He encouraged the council to look in the future to funding from income taxes as a more equitable way to distribute the taxation burden. 

Peter Kunz, Pike Township (Moore Road), again spoke in support of the steel truss bridge the council had just de-funded.  Randy Price of Northern Boone County also spoke critically of the handling of the bridge.

Meeting adjourned at roughly10:30.

Next regularly-scheduled council meeting will be Tuesday, August 14, at 8:30 a.m., with a special meeting to approve an additional appropriation request from the commissioners on Friday the 20^th at 11:00 a.m.