NOTES – MARCH 2016 BOONE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING
All members present; Secretaries Carla Newcomer and Chelsea
Young.
Meeting was called to order just after 6:30 P.m. by
President Steve Jacob and opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council approved the minutes from its February meeting
with minimal amendment.
RE-APPROPRIATIONS:
None.
ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:
Facilities (Mike Miller):
Requested $4,690 for replacement of Courthouse audio
equipment knocked out by lightning strike last year. Insurance has now paid a
smaller portion of the claim than anticipated. This represents the remaining
balance. Approved.
Assessor (Lisa Garoffolo):
Requested $10,000 for Consulting and $15,000 for Property
Tax Assessment Appeal. The assessor’s office will engage, with commissioners’
approval, an appraisal consultant to assist the county in working through
disputed assessments for several “big box” stores in the county, including some
managed by Duke Realty Warehouse Properties. This is part of an ongoing concern
with multiple commercial properties statewide, with potential Net Assessed
Value loss to the county of over $1Million.
NEW BUSINESS:
Sharon Walker, president of the Purdue Extension Boone
County board, addressed the council about the Extension’s work, and was
followed by several speakers who shared their experiences in collaborating with
Purdue Extension in various settings around the county. She introduced Lisa
Cangany, extension educator for health and human sciences, who introduced Jenny
Wheat, transformational ministry coordinator for Love, INC. Ms. Wheat updated
the council on Love, INC’s efforts, and the transformational ministry’s goals
in particular, conducted in conjunction with the Extension Board. Extension
Agent Curt Emmanuel introduced county farmer Allen Mohler, who discussed
efforts of the Soil & Water Conservation District to promote cover crops
and improve soil and water quality. Youth Extension Educator Pandora Woodward
introduced 4-H alum Emma Mendez, a former 10-year member and current Purdue
freshman studying agriculture. Ms. Mendez spoke about the influence of her 4-H
experiences on both her personal outlook and her educational and career
choices.
OLD BUSINESS:
Council President Steve Jacob introduced Kent Irwin from
Waggoner, Irwin & Schelle to discuss the planned employee compensation study.
Having done some basic research into the information available from the county
and a general survey of the positions and employees which would be involved
since his initial appearance before the council in December, Mr. Irwin
presented a scope of work proposal and three options for different levels of
analysis in regards to which types of positions would be evaluated. The study
would use the Factor-Evaluation System guide charts developed by the U.S.
Department of Labor. The council asked many, many questions about the scope of
the work and the timing of any report. Councilor Wilhoite asked for input from
elected officials in the room. Surveyor Ken Hedge and Treasurer Debbie Ottinger
spoke for their desire to reward their employees with raises they felt
appropriate, while also noting the council’s desire to be able to justify those
raises to taxpayers, which the study would support. Health Department Director
Cindy Murphy echoed the earlier comments, and noted that keeping nurses
employed at a rate that is roughly $4/hour less than the state average than
their peers. Both Sheriff Mike Nielsen and Clerk Jessica Fouts voiced their
full support for moving forward with the study while also cautioning that if
the study shows several positions which are underpaid, the council may not have
the funds available to address the discrepancies.
Zionsville resident Steve Freeland (who is also running
as a Republican candidate for council) voiced his concerns about the study’s
inclusion of health care costs as part of compensation and the lack of formal
performance reviews in salaries. Lebanon resident Aaron Smith noted that the
compensation study does not include health insurance and other benefits beyond
salaries. When asked, Mr. Irwin noted that he could gather health information
fairly easily to be included with his report.
After well over an hour’s discussion, the council voted
6-1 to move forward with the most comprehensive of the options.
Mr. Jacob addressed the issue of council appointments to
various boards. Apparently, a mistake was made in making an appointment to the
Lebanon Library Board last month, as that position was not actually open until
the end of this year.
On Councilor Wilhoite’s recommendation, the council
appointed Ben Lawson, rural Thorntown, to the Redevelopment Commission.
No applicants have yet stepped forward for the position
on the Thorntown Library Board. Interested residents are encouraged to contact
the Auditor’s Office or Council President Steve Jacob.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Sheriff Nielsen presented copies of his monthly report.
The council and those in attendance commended him and his department, as well
as the many, many other agencies involved in the clean-up of a 68-car pile-up
on I-65 last month. The coordinated response was phenomenal.
Clerk Jessica Fouts shared information about early voting
times and locations beginning April 5, and noted that the approved voting app
is still under construction but expected by be active by that date.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 8:25.
Next regularly scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, April
12, at 8:30 a.m.
