VANDERBURGH COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

APRIL 3, 2007

The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners met in session this 3^rd day of April, 2007 at 3:30 p.m. in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex with President Cheryl Musgrave presiding.

President Musgrave: I’m going to call to order the April 3, 2007 meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Vanderburgh County. We will start with introductions to my right.

Marissa Nichoalds: Marissa Nichoalds, Superintendent of County Buildings.

Commissioner Nix: Bill Nix, County Commissioner.

President Musgrave: Cheryl Musgrave, Commissioner.

Commissioner Tornatta: Troy Tornatta, Commissioner.

Madelyn Grayson: Madelyn Grayson, Recording Secretary.

President Musgrave: Coming to his seat just now is attorney--

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Ted Ziemer, County Attorney.

President Musgrave: And to--

Bill Fluty: Bill Fluty, County Auditor. 

President Musgrave: And would you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

(The Pledge of Allegiance was given.)

President Musgrave: I’m afraid I overlooked one introduction. Please come to the microphone and tell us your name and what school you go to.

Jordan Brosmer: My name is Jordan Brosmer, and I’m from Harrison. Go Warriors!

Commissioner Nix: There you go.

President Musgrave: Welcome.

President Musgrave: The first action item that we have today is a proclamation that was brought to me late, and, so, did not make it to the printed agenda. This is the Public Safety Telecommunications Week Proclamation. Commissioner Nix, would you like to read it? The city is issuing a similar one.

Commissioner Nix:

“Whereas, the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Joint Department of Central Dispatch is responsible for answering 9-1-1 calls for emergency service from the citizens of Evansville and Vanderburgh County; and Whereas, in addition to telephone calls, Central Dispatch handles radio communications with and between the Evansville Police and Fire Departments, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff’s Department and the five Vanderburgh County suburban fire departments, as well as other local, state and federal agencies, including the City Animal Care and Control Shelter, Indiana State Police, Evansville-Vanderburgh County and Federal Emergency Management Agencies, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Secret Service; and Whereas, dispatchers represent the integral link between the public and the public safety response system. Dispatchers are trained to gather pertinent information from calls for service and to prioritize those calls for the public safety agencies; and Whereas, as 9-1-1 operators, dispatchers are often considered the first responder to the scene of an emergency; and Whereas, the media is encouraged to use this opportunity to provide the community with not only an awareness of the Public Safety Dispatchers, but to reinforce the value and proper use of the 9-1-1 system. Now, therefore, be it resolved, that the Board of Commissioners of Vanderburgh County does hereby recognize and proclaim April 8-14, 2007 as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.”

President Musgrave: Is that in the form of a motion?

Commissioner Nix: That is in the form of a motion.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: Thank you. I hope that we will not need any special help from Central Dispatch today. I know we have a lot of serious weather on the way. But, I would like to thank them for everything that they do all day, and everyday, with a special remembrance for what they did during the tornado.

President Musgrave: Next on our agenda is Sheriff Williams, the 2007 Vanderburgh County United Way campaign. Sheriff Williams, if you would like to come forward and say what you and your department will be doing?

Eric Williams: Sheriff Eric Williams. I can’t really tell you exactly what it is we’re going to be doing yet, because we’re in the planning stages. But, as the chairman, on behalf of the county, for government fund-raising for the United Way, we’re going to plan some things jointly with the Police Chief who’s going to be chairing it on behalf of the city. I just know that we’re going to need the cooperation from all the county employees and county office holders and department heads to make our drive a success on behalf of the county for the United Way.

President Musgrave: Thank you for taking on this effort.

Eric Williams: No problem.

President Musgrave: Next on our agenda is County Highway 2007 paving list. Highway Superintendent, Mike Duckworth is here to discuss that list.

Mike Duckworth: Good afternoon, Commissioners. I would like to recognize Mr. Ziemer back, rested, refreshed from his two month vacation, something like that. I’m here today, and I’ve provided the Commissioners with not only a listing of those roads prioritized by myself and our department, but also a map giving you some indication as to the proximity of these roads. They represent approximately $1.2 million worth of improvements, which fits within our budget. It also represents just a little over 22 miles, which is a significant amount less, and it is because of the increased amount of the base that we have to use for some of these roadways, as well as the increased cost in oil and gas prices. I would say to you that this still leaves approximately 13 or so miles that were requested. At this point, we would get these completed and see if that would represent all we can do this year. There is still the option, and, I think there is a meeting with the Council prepared to ask for any other funding that might be available to move into other roadways that need improvement. These represent what, like I said, our staff has indicated as to what we identified as the worst stretches of roadway. So, I bring those to you today as a proposal, and ask you to take them under advisement.

Commissioner Tornatta: Move to take them under advisement.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

Mike Duckworth: Do you want me to go into the couple of other things, so that I can get to my crews that may be handling some inclement weather? If that’s okay.

President Musgrave: Bite your tongue.

Commissioner Nix: Before we go to that, we’re looking at next week to bring those back, is that correct?

Mike Duckworth: Yes.

Commissioner Nix: For final approval on that?

Mike Duckworth: Yes.

Commissioner Nix: Okay.

Mike Duckworth: I think, and I don’t know, Pat’s going to talk to you about concrete street repair as well. I think, we’re trying to coordinate those so you look at them at the same time.

Commissioner Nix: Thank you.

Mike Duckworth: Okay. In addition to that, I do want to mention to you that upon some discussions with you, I did, in fact, send a letter to Solid Waste, to Joe Ballard, requesting a $25,000 grant for the cleaning of curbed roads in the county. This is a continuation of a program that we did last year through Solid Waste. The costs have gone up. It’s contingent upon the city coming to an agreement with Allied Waste, and then, once again, we would bump up next to their contract and get the same prices for those services. It includes the same 24 mile area that we had cleaned on a regular basis last year. So, I’m asking for your permission to follow through with that.

Commissioner Nix: Move approval.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

Mike Duckworth: I would also point out to you, briefly, that we’re requesting the permission to, and I don’t know if Debbie’s going to come up and talk to you about this, for bids for asphalt, pricing for our paving projects. We, this year, will include with these companies, a clause showing that the escalator will be done on a monthly basis, rather than at the end of the year, which caused us some difficulty last year. Also for D-limonene, which is the solution that we use to clean our trucks and our tools and our paver that cuts through the asphalt. As well as tack oil that we put down to do prep work for those street improvements. So, I would ask that you allow us to move forward on that bidding process as well.

President Musgrave: Alright, we will wait for Ms. Spalding to come up and–

Mike Duckworth: Okay.

President Musgrave: –let us know what her plans are in that regard.

Mike Duckworth: The only thing else I have is the approval of the hiring of an employee, and I think that’s included in the consent items.

President Musgrave: Is there a motion to approve Mr. Duckworth going to the Solid Waste board?

Commissioner Tornatta: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: We’ll see you at the Solid Waste board.

Mike Duckworth: Okay, thank you.

President Musgrave: Purchasing, permission to seek quotes on the moving of election equipment for both the primary and general, the Burdette Park food, Burdette Park shirts, Burdette Park beverages, D-limonene, tack oil and asphalt. Those last three things were not for Burdette Park, they were for the County Highway Garage.

Debbie Spalding: Great. Basically, I’m just seeking permission to seek the quotes, if they are within a certain dollar amount. The permission to seek quotes on the election equipment we’re fairly certain, because of the dollar amount we’ll be able to seek quotes, according to state statute. The food and the beverage items at Burdette Park, I’m also asking permission to formally advertise, if that needs to be done, after I speak with Burdette Park to get a better idea of the dollar amount they are expecting that to be. Then the Burdette Park shirts we would just need to seek quotes.

President Musgrave: A motion to do quotes and advertising as appropriate?

Commissioner Tornatta: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries. Anything further?

Debbie Spalding: Just the County Highway–

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Excuse me, the only thing you’ll need to do is coordinate with Madelyn, if we do decide to seek quotes, so we’ll know the advertising, I guess.

Madelyn Grayson: She generally sends the ads to the Courier herself in those instances.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Okay. So, we don’t need to check about what meeting it’s going to–

Madelyn Grayson: Yeah, she and I can coordinate that.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Okay, good, fine.

Debbie Spalding: I will at the same time that I send an advertisement to the paper send one to Marissa for the website, so people will know that there’s a bidding opportunity available.

President Musgrave: The next item on the agenda is something that you were handling, which is the Purchasing for the county car wash agreement. I understand that there are more quotes to be obtained for that, and that we’ll put that back until next week?

Debbie Spalding: Yes, we would like to request that that be tabled until next week.

President Musgrave: Alright. We will hear that next week then. Thank you.

Debbie Spalding: Thank you.

President Musgrave: The next item on the agenda is for the County Commissioners, an agreement with Don Schumacher and Associates, Incorporated. An agreement for consulting services for Hamilton Golf Course. This consultant, Mr. Schumacher, did a review of the parks for the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and that review did not include, I think because they did not remember that Hamilton was a park facility that would become available, or might become available. The Hamilton Park Golf Course committee that we set up is interested in having Mr. Schumacher review that property, and give advice to the committee, and, of course, then to the Commissioners. So, we have that agreement, it’s been reviewed, and we can move forward, if it’s your pleasure.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: I would just add that we requested an insurance certificate, which we have received, and I’ve given it to Madelyn. So, it’s in order.

Commissioner Tornatta: I would like to approve hiring Don Schumacher and Associates, Incorporated to do the consulting for the Hamilton project.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries. We move now to the Purdue Extension contractual services agreement. My understanding is that this is an annual agreement, and it comports to the statutory requirements, and that the funds which are used in the contract have been budgeted by County Council.

Commissioner Tornatta: The only thing that, I believe the funds have stayed, have maintained there, I think it’s been at $64,000 for about three years. That’s due to Council. I mean, we can request this, but, we might have to run that through Council to see if they’re willing.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: The current amount is $5,000 more. So, you’re saying that the appropriation may not be sufficient to cover that? Is that–

Commissioner Tornatta: Well, it wouldn’t, for this next budget year, I’m sure that’s what we’re talking. But, I will say that in the past two or three years, I know that that amount has been stagnant, even though the request has been to bump it up a certain amount of money. I think that’s probably a Council question.

Marissa Nichoalds: I did speak to Sandie Deig this morning on this issue, and she verified that $69,080 has been budgeted for 2007.

Commissioner Tornatta: Okay, good.

Marissa Nichoalds: So–

President Musgrave: Is there a motion to approve at this level?

Commissioner Nix: The $69,080?

President Musgrave: Uh-huh.

Commissioner Tornatta: I think, it’s been budgeted that way in the past. They bumped it down to the prior year’s level. So, I’m just saying that’s been the Council decision. So, I mean, we can approve it at whatever.

President Musgrave: Just to make sure I understand correctly–

Commissioner Tornatta: Uh-huh.

President Musgrave: –Council has appropriated $69,080, and that’s what the contract is for.

Commissioner Tornatta: They budgeted $64,000, but the Purdue Extension wants them to budget $69,000. In the past they put in the budget book $69,000, but the Council has only budgeted at the prior year’s amount.

President Musgrave: Apparently, this year they went with the full $69,000.

Commissioner Tornatta: Well, we’ve not gone through budget hearings.

President Musgrave: I’m talking for 2007, and you’re talking for 2008?

Commissioner Tornatta: Yes.

President Musgrave: Well, this is for 2007.

Commissioner Tornatta: Okay, well, then I don’t know, is that amount in the budget, you’re saying?

Marissa Nichoalds: Yes, it is.

Commissioner Tornatta: Okay.

President Musgrave: Is there a motion to approve?

Commissioner Tornatta: Yes.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries. We move now to the Sheriff buffer zone protection program sub-grant agreement. We have some notes here on this. It is a grant for the Sheriff’s department to assist in the enhancement of protection around critical infrastructure and key resources to deter threats or incidents of terrorism aimed at those facilities. It’s a four year grant. There are other notes on your agenda, if you have any questions, I’m sure the Sheriff could answer them. Or, is there a motion?

Commissioner Tornatta: Move approval.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries. We move now to Torian Hofmann Dillow and Flittner, Blue Chip renewal policy with Cincinnati Insurance. This is for the Sheriff’s pension plan. It is a three year term on this contract, but, like many of our contracts, it’s billed annually. The amount of money needed for the contract this year is budgeted, that’s my understanding. Is there a motion to approve?

Commissioner Tornatta: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The drug and crime control division grant agreement.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: The agreement provides, on its face, that the purposes of the agreement are described in exhibits A, B, C, D and E. No exhibits were attached to the document that was sent to me to review. We’ve checked with Lisa Whitehouse on that, she sent us a document, which I don’t have, Kristin has it, which says that they didn’t include those exhibits because they were part of the application for the grant. Well, I never see the application for the grant. So, I really can’t comment on that agreement. I think it needs to be put off until next week.

President Musgrave: Any problem with that, Sheriff? It’s not yours?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: No, it’s–

President Musgrave: Superior Court?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: –Superior Court.

President Musgrave: Okay, I’m sorry. Alright, we will just bring that back next week. Will your staff pursue getting the–

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: I will.

President Musgrave: Alright.

President Musgrave: Department head reports. Are there any...Mr. Seib, you are here today for County Engineer, John Stoll.

Patrick Seib: Good afternoon, Patrick Seib, Assistant County Engineer. The first item that I have is to submit the 2007 concrete street repair cost estimates. A couple of our inspectors have spent the last few weeks going out to the subdivisions that we’ve had requested to have contractual concrete work for this year. Eleven different subdivisions, our cost estimate is over $1.3 million. I believe, John said we have about $530,000 in the account, suggesting we set a contract amount, an initial contract amount for about $475,000. That will leave room for contingency. Invariably, when we get out to subdivisions, we’ll have, we’ll see that we have more work that needs to be done. So, I submit the list to you, breaking down each subdivision, what each one’s estimated cost. We can go back and start looking and see which are the most needed. If there’s places throughout that require more work than others.

Commissioner Nix: I had spoken to John this morning on this, and, basically, asked him to, and I understand we can get that maybe in the next couple of days by e-mail to give us a prioritized list of their feelings on that. Then we can incorporate this with the Highway Department’s paving list next week for approval at that time then. So, if we could get that in the next couple of days, maybe we could make, take a look at, you know, ride these areas and look at them, and, like I say, come up with a priority.

Patrick Seib: That shouldn’t be a problem.

Commissioner Nix: Okay.

President Musgrave: Is there a motion to take this under advisement?

Commissioner Tornatta: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries. Anything further?

Patrick Seib: The last item that I have is a request to accept Lynch Road. We went back through our fixed asset inventory, and we realized that we don’t have on file anything showing where the Commissioners ever accepted Lynch Road from Burkhardt out to the Warrick County line. So, we have a formal road acceptance form submitted.

Commissioner Tornatta: I make a motion to accept the continuation of Lynch Road to the Warrick County line.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

Patrick Seib: That’s all I’ve got unless you have any other questions.

President Musgrave: Alright, thank you.

Patrick Seib: Thank you.

Commissioner Nix: Thanks, Pat.

President Musgrave: Mr. Craig, Burdette Park?

Steve Craig: Steve Craig, Manager of Burdette. All I have today is I have two letters of support for the Burdette Park-University of Southern Indiana pedestrian bike and nature trail that I would want to submit. I will give a copy of that to Madelyn, so that she can have it on file.

President Musgrave: Would you read into the record who they came from?

Steve Craig: They are from PPG and GE. That’s all I have, unless you have any questions for me.

Commissioner Tornatta: Steve, we had talked, your Advisory Board does a fantastic job of working with different organizations that come in, and potentially giving them some free passes to the pool or the batting cages or whatever you have out there. Maybe a request from the Commissioners would be, if you would sum up about how many passes you give out in a year, and then maybe throw a couple of extra in there, and then use that as your kind of your stock, or your inventory of passes, and then they know that during a year’s time that they would give out a certain amount, and that would be it. That way you could kind of budget your passes. We could, we would like to just have some type of reference to how those passes are working. But, that would let your Advisory Board do what they do, which is try to promote the park.

Steve Craig: I can do that.

Commissioner Tornatta: I would make that in the form of a motion.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: I think that that will work very well to have the Advisory Board take care of that for the Commissioners.

Steve Craig: I think so too.

Commissioner Nix: Thanks.

Steve Craig: Any other questions?

President Musgrave: No.

Commissioner Nix: How’s Burkhardt Road coming? Your pet project out there.

Steve Craig: It’s coming along. We had a little glitch with the dirt. We’re having trouble getting the dirt out there. You have to be in line to get the dirt, and if you don’t take it all at once, they put you back towards the end. But, we’ve got a freeze coming up, five days in a row it’s supposed to get down in the low 20's, and I hope it don’t affect the plants any. But, I think it looks really good, and as long as we get enough rain it will be fine.

Commissioner Nix: Thanks.

President Musgrave: Thank you.

Steve Craig: Thank you.

President Musgrave: Wait, before you go, I know that you were mentioning to me earlier this week that your memorial tree project out at Burdette has really taken off. Did you want to tell us how many trees you’ve had donated so far?

Steve Craig: We’ve had six of them that we have planted, actually, and then I have five more that’s on order. Well, actually seven more now that I have ordered, which will make us at 13 trees. We haven’t really gotten all of the parameters laid out and that, but we are working....Rick Mitchell has donated his time to help design along the new trail that we’ll plant bushes and trees that are indigenous to this part of the country, and make different areas along there for wind breaks and that. It’s just getting off the ground, but Andy Schroeder of Fox is working with me. I look forward to working with him on it, and, like I said, we already have 13 trees donated to the park.

President Musgrave: I know you mentioned that you were going to try to get some brochures and letters out so that people know that they can plant a tree at Burdette, and it would have its own sign memorializing the family member or someone of their choice.

Steve Craig: We are looking into it. I have one of my employees looking into it about getting them put on the GPS, where you would be able to locate it and know exactly where it’s at.

President Musgrave: Okay.

Steve Craig: It’s coming along fine.

President Musgrave: Okay. Thank you.

Steve Craig: Thank you.

President Musgrave: Next item is one piece of new business. The Building Authority’s revised Centre capital improvement proposal.

Dave Rector: Good afternoon, Commissioners. Dave Rector, Building Authority. December 19^th you approved the initial five year CIP for the Centre, with the information we had at that time. I indicated that I would come back here as we got further information. I’m doing that now. Even with a couple of remaining items, and I’ll come back later, but, we’re pretty well through the list in getting it to the point of looking at next year. We have been working on a number of the items, those that haven’t been completed, we have purchase orders or quote requests out on, and we’ll be moving through the entire list this year, hopefully. I request your permission then, and approval to go ahead with the revised 2007.

President Musgrave: Questions?

Commissioner Nix: I was just wondering, is there, is there any way we could look at this for a week and approve this next week? Or, are there some things on here you need to get taken care of? I just received this. I think Commissioner Tornatta did too. If we could look it over for a week.

Dave Rector: Yeah, there’s nothing that is that urgent that we can’t wait a week on.

Commissioner Nix: Okay, good.

President Musgrave: Is that a motion?

Commissioner Nix: Yeah, to take it under advisement.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

Dave Rector: If you have any questions on it, just give me a call or e-mail. Thanks.

President Musgrave: Is there any other new business?

President Musgrave: Any old business?

President Musgrave: Any public comment?

President Musgrave: We have consent agenda. Does the consent agenda need to be amended for those two letters? No, because he presented them in person?

Commissioner Nix: Move approval of the consent agenda.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries. Is there any other business?

Commissioner Nix: Motion to adjourn.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

(The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m.)

CONSENT ITEMS:

Commissioners:

Approval of the March 20, 2007 Commission Meeting Minutes.

Waiver of Fees/Not OT Centre: Health Department, Indiana Supreme Court Judicial Technology and Automation Committee

Energy Systems Group 2006 Annual Report: Centre.

Veterans Memorial Coliseum: Common Construction Wage Scale.

Evansville ARC : February 21, 2007 Meeting Minutes.

Surplus Letters: Burdette Park (2), Treasurer (1), Juvenile Court (1), Circuit Court (1), County Clerk (1).

Taxpayer E-Mail Requesting Animal Control Ordinance for Vanderburgh County.

Department Head Meeting Notes: March 20, 2007.

Employment Changes:

Health Department (2)              County Highway (2)                  Area Plan (1)

Co-Op Extension (1)                 Public Defender (2)                  VCCC (3)

Sheriff Office (1)                       Election Office (1)                     County Clerk (1)

Burdette Park (1)

Travel Requests:                   Health Department (5)              DADS (1)

County Engineer: Pay Request No. 20: Green River-Burkhardt TIF Account.

Purchasing: Monthly Report: January 2007.

Department Head Reports:

Burdette Park                           County Engineer                       County Highway

Ozone Officer                           Supt. Of Bldgs.                         Veterans Services

Those in Attendance:

Cheryl Musgrave                      Bill Nix                                      Troy Tornatta

Bill Fluty                                    Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.          Marissa Nichoalds

Madelyn Grayson                     Eric Williams                             Mike Duckworth

Debbie Spalding                       Patrick Seib                              Steve Craig

Dave Rector                             Jordan Brosmer                        Others Unidentified

Members of Media

VANDERBURGH COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Cheryl A.W. Musgrave, President

Bill Nix, Vice President

Troy Tornatta, Member

(Recorded and transcribed by Madelyn Grayson.)