All council members present; Secretaries Crystal Raub and
Chelsea Young.
Meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m.
Council approved the meeting minutes from its December meeting
without amendments.
Council President Steve Jacob welcomed new members
Stephen Gentry, John Hume and Tom Santelli to the council.
The council unanimously re-elected Steve Jacob as council
president and Marcia Wilhoite as vice-president.
RE-APPROPRIATIONS:
Prosecutor (no one present):
Requested $2200 from Deputy Prosecutor #4 (Part-time) to
Consulting. Former Judge Rebecca McClure (who was also formerly Boone County Prosecutor)
has agreed to work part-time for the prosecutor’s office, and requested that
she be paid as an independent contractor rather than through payroll. Approved.
ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS:
Auditor (Chris Large):
Requested $9170 to Tax Sale Redemption to cover claims
from GUTS for services in the October tax sale. More parcels were involved than
anticipated in the August budget request. Approved.
NEW BUSINESS:
County Attorney Bob Clutter addressed the council for an
appointment to the Boone County Economic Development Commission (not to be
confused with the Economic Development Corporation), which technically will be
a recommendation to the commissioners. Steve Jacob has served on the council’s
behalf the past several years, and was unanimously re-appointed.
The council set the calendar for its regular meetings for
the remainder of the year. The meetings
will continue to be held on the second Tuesday of each month, with the last
month of each quarter being held at 6:30 p.m. and the rest at 8:30 a.m., all in
the Connie Lamar Meeting Room of the county annex building on Washington
Street.
The council approved the 2015 Salary Ordinance, which
reflects a 1.5% across the board increase for nearly all full-time employees,
plus another 1.5% increase at the discretion of the department heads/elected
officials. An amendment reflecting the change to the part-time prosecutor’s
lines mentioned above was included in the motion for approval.
The council made a series of board appointments as
follows:
Child
Advocacy Center: Tom Santelli
Convention
and Visitors Bureau: Debby Shubert
Redevelopment
Commission: John Hume
Solid
Waste: Marcia Wilhoite
OLD BUSINESS:
County Highway Superintendent Rick Carney was asked for
an update on the agreement with Whitestown for reimbursement of
right-of-way-costs on the Whitestown extension of 400 S. As of now, Carney and Attorney
Bob Clutter report no response from Whitestown.
PUBLIC COMMENT:
County Highway Superintendent Rick Carney asked the
council for guidance on naming of budget fund lines. In particular, Carney
would like to rename the “Stone & Gravel” lines to reflect the broader road
maintenance materials which are paid for from that line. Extensive discussion followed
of how to name the line to reflect the broader needs while maintaining clarity
for tracking purposes. Eventually the Auditor’s office suggested and all
parties agreed that creation of an additional line to track other Road
Maintenance materials.
Carney also asked for guidance in clarifying the exempt
vs. non-exempt status of an employee. He was directed to the Commissioners for
more information.
Sheriff Mike Nielsen presented the council with a report
of the receipts and disbursements of the Jail Commissary Fund. Councilor Debby
Shubert commended Sheriff Nielsen, his department and all the county’s
emergency responders for their efforts during the recent difficult weather.
Meeting adjourned at approximately 9:30.
Next regularly scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, February
10, at 8:30 a.m.
