NOTES – MAY 2016 BOONE COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING
All members present except Steve Jacob; Secretaries Carla
Newcomer and Chelsea Young.
Meeting was called to order just after 8:30 a.m. by Vice President
Marcia Wilhoite, as President Steve Jacob is ill today and unable to attend.
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council approved the minutes from its April meeting
without amendment.
RE-APPROPRIATIONS:
None.
ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:
Prosecutor (Todd Meyer):
Requested a series of small additionals in the salary
lines to correct an error in the budget submission. The salary ordinance was
also amended to reflect the updates. Employees are being paid appropriately;
this will simply ensure enough money is available in the lines to cover the
year. Approved.
Ms. Wilhoite also asked Mr. Meyer and County Attorney Bob
Clutter to discuss and investigate the distribution of fees collected from the
state for town courts, the rules for which have recently changed. They will
look into the matter and report back on options to use the funds to defray some
costs for towns with a town court.
NEW BUSINESS:
Highway Engineer Craig Parks addressed the council
regarding Bridge 41, near the Clinton County line over Sugar Creek, which is a
designated historic structure. Mr. Parks would like to access available federal
funds for work on the bridge, which will require a local match of 20% (roughly
$600,000). To apply for the funds requires a written pledge from the council to
support the local match. The council unanimously approved the letter.
Paige Sansone of Umbaugh presented a proposal for
services to update the county’s financial plan, as created and proposed last
year. The council unanimously approved a letter of engagement for those
services. Ms. Sansone also presented information on legislative changes to the
local income tax structure. Effective July 1st of the year, all
local option income taxes will be grouped as one tax, rather than the wide
variety of special purposes taxes available under previous legislation. The
overall maximum rate for local income taxes was also raised significantly.
Boone County currently only has a single County Option Income Tax of 1% (among
the lowest in the state), so this will mean no changes for our current
situation, but any future changes will have to be structured differently than
in the past. Additionally, Ms. Sansone updated the council on changes to the
non-binding review of local taxing units which will take effect this August.
Ms. Wilhoite also asked for clarification of the
distribution of the additional funds from the state for road and street
repairs.
OLD BUSINESS:
County Attorney Bob Clutter and Commissioner Jeff Wolfe
presented again a proposed ordinance authorizing issuance of a bond to purchase
the Key Bank Building. The ordinance was presented and voted upon in April, but
because the approval was not unanimous, a second reading and vote was required.
Councilor Tom Santelli spoke in support of the purchase, noting the growth of
the county and the expansion of county offices, including Community
Corrections, which currently occupies the entire second floor of the building.
The ordinance was approved by a 4-2 vote.
Mr. Clutter then presented a second ordinance, for an
additional appropriation to budget for the bond, some of the proceeds from
which will be used for renovations both at the Key Bank Building and the
courthouse. Councilor John Hume asked for clarification on what might happen if
the purchase fell through after the bond was issued. Mr. Clutter noted that the
county could then hold a series of new hearings to reallocate the bond proceeds
to a new project, or could pay the bond off immediately with a modest
pre-payment penalty. Commissioner Wolfe also noted that he would like the
council to create a non-reverting fund for the bond proceeds to be dedicated to
maintenance and renovation. The council eventually approved the ordinance 5-1.
Councilor Wilhoite asked for discussion of the council’s
budget hearing schedule in September. After much discussion, the council
tentatively set the hearings for September13-15, and adjusted the start time of
its regular September meeting to 5:30 p.m. instead of 6:30. The dates and times
are open to adjustment if information changes.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
Ben Worrell of the Boone EDC presented (in lemon head
costume) information about the upcoming Lemonade Day program on May 21st.
Events in Lebanon and Whitestown, as well as locations throughout the county,
will encourage young entrepreneurs to learn about business through setting up
their own lemonade stands. The EDC encouraged the council and the public to
support these efforts and enjoy some lemonade.
Councilor Tom Santelli noted some of the recent
legislation which will impact county operations and costs. He is working on a
summary of highlights for the council.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:45.
Next regularly scheduled meeting will be an evening
meeting, Tuesday, June 14, at 6:30 p.m.
