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.