VANDERBURGH COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

FEBRUARY 3, 2009

The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners met in session this 3^rd day of February, 2009 at 5:00 p.m. in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex with President Troy Tornatta presiding.

President Tornatta: Alright, we would like to call to order the meeting of the Board of Commissioners, February 3, 2009, room 301. It’s a little bit after 5:00. We have a call to order, roll attendance call, please.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Winnecke?

Commissioner Winnecke: Here.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Melcher?

Commissioner Melcher: Here.

Madelyn Grayson: President Tornatta?

President Tornatta: Here. While we’re here, why don’t we talk about our shadows. Steve, you have a shadow there.

Commissioner Melcher: Yes, would you like to get up and introduce yourself, in the microphone.

President Tornatta: It’s Carolyn Jones, right?

Carolyn Jones: Yes.

President Tornatta: Where are you from, Carolyn?

Carolyn Jones: Day School.

President Tornatta: From Day School, okay.

Commissioner Winnecke: And, we have Chris Casson. Chris was here last week. Chris is a sophomore at Central High School, part of the Teen Advisory Council. Happy to have both of them.

President Tornatta: Okay, thank you. Thanks for coming.

President Tornatta: Okay, we’re going to be led in the pledge of allegiance by Lauren Bathauer. She’s from Youth First.

(The Pledge of Allegiance was given.)

President Tornatta: Thank you, Lauren.

President Tornatta: With us today from Youth First is Parri Black and Carol Lynch, the Chairman of the Board. Welcome.

Carol Lynch: Thank you very much. It’s a pleasure for us to be here. We just wanted to thank you, President Tornatta, and Commissioner Melcher and Commissioner Winnecke for allowing us to come and be a part of that and share a little bit about Youth First. Cindy Bathauer is here with us also, and she’s one of our program people and a community representative. I also wanted to introduce Parri Black who’s the President and CEO of our board. We just wanted to share a little bit about Youth First. We thought we would have some fun with it and kind of bounce around some questions real quickly. So, we’ll get started. Parri, tell me a little bit about Youth First.

Parri Black: Well, in case you didn’t know, Carol, which I know you know, Youth First is a homegrown organization focused on making our region a better place for children and families.

Carol Lynch: Well, tell me, Parri, how did it get started?

Parri Black: Youth First was founded 11 years ago by Dr. William Wooten, a local physician and other community leaders, including Carol, who’s one of our founding board members. They recognized the need to do more to reduce substance abuse in our region, and that’s how Youth First got founded.

Carol Lynch: Well, and how are we helping the community?

Parri Black: Through Youth First programs and services, Youth First provides the support necessary for today’s young people to succeed in school and in life. We provide Strengthening Families programs, school social work programs, and other programs like; Reconnecting Youth and Most of Us. Independent evaluations and outcomes show what we do is working. We’re glad to report that substance abuse is declining among our youth. Youth First achieves lasting results and we’re helping raise productive citizens.

Carol Lynch: How can the community help Youth First?

Parri Black: We hope that parents, kids, and schools, and churches will take advantage of the programs that Youth First has to offer. With the conclusion of two major federal grants this year, we have an urgent need, however, and that is to continue providing Youth First social work services to the EVSC schools. That’s a big dollar amount that we’re working very hard to secure through public and private funding sources. So, we hope our community will rally around this need and help our kids through Youth First and the services we provide at the EVSC. Upcoming events in which people might enjoy participating would be our Men About Town style show which benefits Youth First. That’s Friday, February 13^th at Casino Aztar. On Thursday, April 23^rd, our Passport to Adventure benefit auction, and we hope to see all of you there. If you would like more information, you can contact Youth First by calling 421-8336, or going to our website, youthfirstinc.org. Thank you.

President Tornatta: Thank you.

Carol Lynch: We just wanted to say that in 11 very short years, we think Youth First has grown into a really tremendous organization, and one that the community and the county should be really proud of. We feel like we’re one of the leading providers of mental health, promoting strong mental health among our young people and our families, and also a leading provider in substance abuse prevention. We really feel like we’re contributing to making Vanderburgh County and the surrounding areas a wonderful place for us to grow families and to just, a special place to live. So, thank you very, very much for the privilege of being here.

President Tornatta: Any other questions? Thank you so much for coming up. This might turn into an extortion dinner set up. Anyway.

President Tornatta: Action items, Girls in Bloom update. Is Anne, Anne Topper is with Girls in Bloom. Anne, you’re going to have a little announcement tomorrow.

Anne Topper: Oh, we had it today.

President Tornatta: Today?

Anne Topper: Uh-huh. I bet we missed, did our calendars misconnect?

President Tornatta: Yeah.

Anne Topper: Oh, that’s okay. With the storm, everybody’s really misconnected.

President Tornatta: I was going to call you guys. Could we change it to Girls Snowed In?

Anne Topper: We might, we might. I’ve got a couple of my committee members here. President Tornatta, thank you, and on behalf of Girls in Bloom, we would like to thank you for the opportunity to come and speak to you. I’m Anne Topper, I have taken on the new directorship, our former director, Patty Avery, has stepped into some new shoes. So, I picked up her shoes, which are very big ones, I must say.

President Tornatta: Very much so.

Anne Topper: The snow has created a couple of new challenges this year. Today we did have our kick off press conference. Girls in Bloom is in its sixth annual year of presenting at the Centre. This year we’re going to be presenting on February the twenty, or, excuse me, February 28^th at the Centre downtown, with a theme this year, as you can see, I’ll let them show you here. Our theme this year is called The Community and You. In the past, our past themes have been, we’ve celebrated girl power and talked about dreaming for the future. This year we decided to challenge the girls to be part of the future and to look into the future and find out ways that they could get involved in the community, and to have a little fun along the way. The theme, the reason why we chose this theme is because our goal as an organization is to build self esteem. And, volunteering is a very empowering act, and it builds self confidence and self esteem. It is one tool that we feel girls can use to fight against negative messaging that tries to erode their ability to make authentic choices. So, we are going to try to encourage them to develop and share talents that they have in the community. One of the features we’re going to have this year is we’re working with United Way at lunch time, the 211 program, they actually have a program that had volunteers that girls can get hooked up with. What we’re going to do is have a volunteer fair at lunch, and they can meet with these organizations at lunch and find out ways that they can actually get involved in the community and figure out where they can kind of get involved and give back. So, we’re pretty excited about that opportunity. Another feature that we’re very excited about is that we’re going to make our day a day of giving back also. We’re going to ask each of the girls who participate to donate a canned food item, so that we can give back to the Tri-State Food Bank, who will be benefitting from that generosity. So, and, I think, after the snow storm and everything, they are probably going to need a little assistance on that–

President Tornatta: Right.

Anne Topper: –because I know a lot of people lost a lot of refrigerators and a lot of other goods, unfortunately. So, I would like, on behalf of our organization and our committee, I would like to thank you for our continued support. If it would be okay with you, after the event, and barring no more snow storms, we would like to have the opportunity to come back and report out about the progress we made, how many girls we touched, and the success of our event, obviously.

President Tornatta: That sounds great.

Anne Topper: Are there any questions that I can answer?

Commissioner Winnecke: You might just, for the benefit of everyone watching at home and those in the audience tonight, reiterate the date, the time–

Anne Topper: Okay, absolutely.

Commissioner Winnecke: –and how young ladies can participate.

Anne Topper: Okay, and I apologize. The date is, again, February the 28^th, and it’s at the Centre. Registration begins at 8:30, the event runs until 2:30 in the afternoon. The registration forms are now in the schools. I luckily got them there the Monday before school got out the rest of the week, but they are in the schools now, and I’m finishing up the rest of, some of our parochial and other schools, those deliveries will be made tomorrow. They also can go to our website, which is information, www.girlsinbloom.us. Go dot us, don’t go dot com, believe me, dot us, please. Let’s just say it took us a while to find, to get that venue set up. So, girlsinbloom.us.

President Tornatta: Okay.

Anne Topper: Other than that, that is about all I have for you at this time.

President Tornatta: Okay, and all I can do is say I’m sorry for missing the–

Anne Topper: Please, don’t apologize.

President Tornatta: This was the second attempt, I know, and I just put in the wrong date.

Anne Topper: I know, and, please don’t apologize. I have to tell you with the snow storm we are all playing catch up. So, in fact, we found out from the press, I guess, that we were kind of bugged out from some other things that were going on too. So, even the press has been a little distressed too. So, but we appreciate all the support we’re getting. So, thank you.

President Tornatta: Thank you, Anne.

Anne Topper: Thank you.

President Tornatta: Appreciate it.

President Tornatta: Okay, first reading of CO.02-09-004, amendment of street solicitation ordinance. An amendment to an ordinance to require that charitable organizations apply for permits to be based in, have an office or a chapter in Vanderburgh County or a contiguous Indiana county. That doesn’t read too well, but that being said, the Commissioners have had this in their e-mail and on their desk.

Commissioner Winnecke: Mr. President, I’ll move that we approve ordinance CO.02-09-004.

Commissioner Melcher: I’ll second.

President Tornatta: Okay, and that’s a first reading. Any questions of the board? From the audience? Roll call vote.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Winnecke?

Commissioner Winnecke: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Melcher?

Commissioner Melcher: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Tornatta?

President Tornatta: Yes.

(Motion approved 3-0)

President Tornatta: Okay, the next action item, permission to award VC-52-2009, trending services. Debbie Spalding? Or Jonathan? Good evening.

Jonathan Weaver: Good evening. Jonathan Weaver, Vanderburgh County Assessor.

President Tornatta: Anything we need to know with this? Is it standard?

Jonathan Weaver: No, basically, it’s the same contract as the last two years. We’re just contracting out–

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Excuse me, Jonathan, I think they’re first addressing the issue of awarding the contract.

Jonathan Weaver: Oh, okay. We had three bids come in, I would like to ask you to award the contract to our current contractor who’s been doing it the last two years. I’ll take any questions from there.

President Tornatta: And that contractor is?

Jonathan Weaver: A&S Associates, Chuck Simons. He’s in the back. Do you want to wave? There he is.

President Tornatta: Okay. If we’re in agreement, if we could have a motion on that.

Commissioner Winnecke: Before we–

President Tornatta: Sure.

Commissioner Winnecke: –if I may? How would you compare the bids, just for–

Jonathan Weaver: A&S’s was $98,000, we had another bid of $96,600, and then $94,500, I believe. In those lower bids, there was the potential for additional costs. For example, the $96,600 bid included, did not include appeals support, and that was an additional $750 a day. We had a thousand commercial/industrial appeals for seven pay eight. If you do 20 a day, times, you know, divided by a thousand, that’s, well you get the point, seven times 750, it’s a lot of money.

President Tornatta: Okay.

Commissioner Winnecke: And the other, the third?

Jonathan Weaver: That was a $600 a day in addition. They did include support, appeals support, but being that we have a good working relationship with A&S, we feel that the $3,600 difference there, we still think A&S is the lowest responsible, responsive bid.

Commissioner Winnecke: Is A&S, they’re bid of, I’m sorry, ninety eight?

Jonathan Weaver: $98,000.

Commissioner Winnecke: Even?

Jonathan Weaver: Yes.

Commissioner Winnecke: Is that an “all in” number? Or are there additional fees on top of that?

Jonathan Weaver: There’s no additional fees. Is that correct? That’s correct.

Commissioner Winnecke: Mr. President, I would move that we award the contract to A&S in the amount of $98,000.

Commissioner Melcher: I’ll second the motion.

President Tornatta: A motion and a second. Discussion? From the audience? Roll call vote, please.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Winnecke?

Commissioner Winnecke: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Melcher?

Commissioner Melcher: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Tornatta?

President Tornatta: Yes.

(Motion approved 3-0)

Jonathan Weaver: Thank you so much.

President Tornatta: Thank you.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Mr. President, it would be considered slightly out of order, but we do have, here today in your packets, a contract with A&S, which we have prepared in our office in accord with a model contract, specified by the Department of Local Government Finance. It is satisfactory for execution from a legal perspective. It would be for the $98,000. So, if you wish, you could, at this time, while we’re discussing this, approve that contract.

Commissioner Winnecke: So moved.

Commissioner Melcher: Second.

President Tornatta: A motion and a second. Any discussion? From the audience? Roll call vote please.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Winnecke?

Commissioner Winnecke: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Melcher?

Commissioner Melcher: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Tornatta?

President Tornatta: Yes.

(Motion approved 3-0)

Jonathan Weaver: Thanks again.

President Tornatta: Thank you. Alright, that kind of precluded our contracts, agreements and leases, but that’s okay. The County Prosecutor, forfeiture certifications. The Prosecutor’s office is required to prepare these agreements and certifications annually related to, relative to receipt, expenditures and balance of federal funds paid to the office in connection with the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Drug Task Force. One certification covers the funds available to the Task Force, the other certification covers the funds available directly to the Prosecutor. What we might do is just take all three of these at one time. The next one is the Sheriff’s agreement with ABK Alarms for GPS offender monitoring services. An agreement with ABK for electronic monitoring devices with GPS. The third one is the Sheriff Nextel Sprint agreement for cellular phones. Ted, if you want to talk on that, if you have anything, other than what you sent.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Well, nothing in addition to what I told you earlier, but I will say that this is a one year agreement, the monthly cost of the agreement is $2,091.93, of which the Sheriff advises me is less than he is currently paying under the current Nextel agreement. Under the agreement, a number of the hardware items, telephones and so forth will be updated or replaced. So, he’s going to get actually better hardware for a lesser monthly amount. Under those circumstances, I understand also that the funds have been appropriated for this by the Vanderburgh County Council. So, all that being the case, we find it satisfactory for execution from a legal perspective.

President Tornatta: Okay, I’ll take a motion on all three of these contracts.

Commissioner Winnecke: So moved.

Commissioner Melcher: Second.

President Tornatta: A motion and a second. Discussion from the Board? From the audience? Roll call vote, please.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Winnecke?

Commissioner Winnecke: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Melcher?

Commissioner Melcher: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Tornatta?

President Tornatta: Yes.

(Motion approved 3-0)

President Tornatta: Okay, any department head reports? John Stoll?

John Stoll: I’ve got one item that needs your approval here this evening. It’s the street plan approval for section four of Deerfield Subdivision. This is an extension of the existing streets that will run the streets out to tie into Eissler Road. We’ve reviewed the plans and the consultants have made the changes that we’ve requested. So, I would recommend that you approve the plans and sign the Mylar.

Commissioner Winnecke: So moved.

Commissioner Melcher: Second.

President Tornatta: A motion and a second. Any questions? Roll call vote, please.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Winnecke?

Commissioner Winnecke: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Melcher?

Commissioner Melcher: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Tornatta?

President Tornatta: Yes.

(Motion approved 3-0)

John Stoll: That’s all I have.

President Tornatta: Thank you, John.

John Stoll: Thanks.

President Tornatta: Okay, short and sweet.

President Tornatta: Alright, let’s go to board appointments. PTABOA, property tax board of appeals. I believe we have two appointments, Aaron Kendall and Donald Gibbs. I would take that in a motion.

Commissioner Melcher: So moved.

Commissioner Winnecke: Second.

President Tornatta: A motion and a second. Any questions? Roll call vote, please.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Winnecke?

Commissioner Winnecke: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Melcher?

Commissioner Melcher: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Tornatta?

President Tornatta: Yes.

(Motion approved 3-0)

President Tornatta: Alright, any new business?

Commissioner Melcher: Yes, Mr. President, we have a resolution tonight. It’s CO.R-02-09-002, a resolution regarding partial funding of an events center. Ted, were you going to say something on that?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Yes, to avoid using property tax funds to pay for the contemplated new downtown events center, it’s recommended, or will be recommended by a bill in the legislature that a part of the funding for that come from the funds now dedicated to the Vanderburgh Auditorium and Convention Centre from the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau, and that the excess of those funds not needed to retire the bonds on the Centre be used to apply toward the funding for the new events center. The resolution further provides that while that excess would be applied in that manner, that would not include the current non-appropriated fund balance, and that that would stay and continue to be applied toward maintenance needs of the Centre. The resolution further provides that the Innkeepers Tax, which was set to expire in the not distant future would be continued for not less than six years, and to delay any reduction in revenue by extending that for up to six years. So, all of that is the proposal of the City Council, I believe has approved that resolution, the Redevelopment, the Evansville Redevelopment Commission has approved that resolution, it will be before the Vanderburgh County Council, and it’s here tonight before the Vanderburgh County Commissioners. All that, these are resolutions going to the legislature in support of this partial funding of the events center.

President Tornatta: Do you have a motion?

Commissioner Melcher: Yes, I’ll make a motion to approve.

Commissioner Winnecke: Second.

President Tornatta: A motion and a second. Any discussion in the audience? Roll call vote, please.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Winnecke?

Commissioner Winnecke: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Melcher?

Commissioner Melcher: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Tornatta?

President Tornatta: Yes.

(Motion approved 3-0)

President Tornatta: Okay, under new business, I would like to bring up, we are having ongoing talks with Allied Waste about the debris pick up for those in the county. This is probably the only time that we’ve had a situation like this has been the tornado in 2005. We’re talking with Allied about potentially having either curbside pickup or some type of pick up mechanism to get that debris out of the roadways, off of the side of the roads, and out of one’s ditches and what not. I’m sure Mr. Jeffers likes to hear that there will not be debris in ditches. With that being said, the program will not be out for a couple of days, and we won’t have the details of that program, but it is something we’re working on and having ongoing talks with Allied. So, with that being said, any questions? I did want to mention that we would like to thank law enforcement in Vanderburgh County, our Vanderburgh County Highway Department in whole for all the work they did in this time of emergency. I really think that Vanderburgh County stepped up and worked in great tandem with Evansville to provide the most safety, and the best of what could be in a situation as bad as it was. So, my hats go off to all the hard workers in Vanderburgh County and definitely to law enforcement and all the events coordinators that helped to make it as passable as possible, and that went to help out with all the people in Vanderburgh County. I don’t know if anybody else has anything to say, but I do appreciate all the work from, not only this body, but from others.

Commissioner Winnecke: Yeah, I would concur. I made it out to the County Garage one day, and I can tell you that was one hard working group of folks. I do appreciate what they did, as well as law enforcement, not only in the county, but in the city as well.

Commissioner Melcher: I did get some phone calls about how good we were doing in the county and that. In fact, one person told me drive down Oak Hill, you can see the line difference between the city’s and the county’s. So, we must have did a pretty good job out there, considering the stress all of our people were on. So, we do need to thank the Sheriff’s Department and the Highway Department for working around the clock and working this past weekend. I understand the city didn’t work this past weekend, but we did in the county. So, thank you.

President Tornatta: And, so, just for an update, we are in talks with Homeland Security about what our State of Emergency process has done for us as far as any type of reimbursements. We’re not real sure we do qualify in the reimbursable portion of those dollars. We have to meet a threshold, and that threshold has to be met also at the state level to require those federal fundings. So, we are talking at this time about what that would require. Hopefully, we will be getting some assets back and some resources back to replenish what we spent. So, we are in ongoing talks about just that.

President Tornatta: Alright, any old business? I believe we have an approval of an additional ten million dollars in earthquake coverage. We talked last week to ONB, Dennis Feldhaus, and he told us what that contract would be. Ted, did you get a contract on that?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: I did not.

President Tornatta: Okay. Bill, did you get knowledge on that?

Bill Fluty: I worked with Dennis on the numbers. I guess, last week you were concerned if we had the extra $23,000 to up the ten million. I said that I would go forward, and we do have that $23,000 if you would like to. I think, really, you okayed everything last week, with the exception of the $23,000, depending on funding, which we do have.

President Tornatta: Okay.

Bill Fluty: So, I think that’s all that’s left to do.

President Tornatta: I guess, it comes to this Board. Is it the feel of this Board that we would like to take advantage of the ten million dollars in extra coverage?

Commissioner Winnecke: Mr. President, I think it’s a great idea. I guess, although the folks at ONB Insurance gave us some great information about our coverage versus the city and the school corporation’s, we’re certainly in much, the county is in much better shape in terms of potential exposure in the event of a catastrophic earthquake. We’re still only a third of the way covered. So, I think it’s a wise expenditure of an additional $23,000. Just for the folks at home, we have about $190 million, I think was the number, in assets, and we’re covered to the, this will give us coverage to the tune of about $76 million. So, I do think it’s wise, and I would make a motion that we expend the additional $23,000 to increase our coverage by ten million dollars.

Commissioner Melcher: And, I agree with that, so I will second the motion.

President Tornatta: A motion and a second. Any questions? Discussion? Roll call vote, please.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Winnecke?

Commissioner Winnecke: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Melcher?

Commissioner Melcher: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Tornatta?

President Tornatta: Yes.

(Motion approved 3-0)

President Tornatta: Alright, any public comment?

Bill Jeffers: Good afternoon. Bill Jeffers, Vanderburgh County Surveyor. One of my side interests, I’m a member of the Master Gardner’s Association here locally, and I get a lot of e-mails from Larry Caplan. I thought this one was a timely e-mail that I would share with you and with the t.v. audience. There’s a lot, due to the influx of descending, or of people descending on the Evansville area to help clear trees damaged by last week’s ice storm, City Arborist, Shawn Dickerson, and Larry Caplan, the Purdue horticulturalist have agreed to hold a special tree ordinance compliance seminar, this Friday, February 6^th, starting at 6:00 p.m. in the Evansville-Vanderburgh Civic Center, room 301. That’s this room. Okay, the concern is that a lot of folks are coming in from all over, there’s a company in here from Missouri, there’s people in pick-up trucks with ladders, etcetera. You have to remember that it’s against the Evansville tree ordinance to prune or remove trees within the city limits of Evansville without a tree trimmers license. That’s inside the City of Evansville. That does not apply to people working on their own private property. It does not apply to neighbors coming over and helping people work on their private property, so long as they’re not doing it for pay. If you are receiving pay or barter, you must have a license. But, rather than spend time chasing people around to levy $300 to $1,000 per incident fines, Shawn Dickerson and Larry Caplan are going to spend their resources on this seminar Friday to give everyone who happens to be in town trimming trees without a license the opportunity to acquire a license by going to this class and then acquiring a license. To residents, just be sure that the person that you have working for you for pay is licensed. Make sure that they’re insured, so that anything that happens on your property, their liability covers any accidents. Then, keep in mind that a lot of these trees and the limbs are still in a bind, they’re not all the way off the trees. So, if you’re cutting them yourself, they can spring back and injure you. Please know what you’re doing, and if you have any questions whatsoever, call the Purdue Extension office, 435-5287, or call Shawn Dickerson at the Urban Forestry office, 475-1426. Please be safe and follow these two guys professional advice. Thank you.

President Tornatta: Thank you, Bill.

President Tornatta: Okay, Madelyn, if you’ll read our consent items, please.

Madelyn Grayson: The consent items for the February 3, 2009 Commission meeting are as follows; approval of the January 27, 2009 Commission meeting minutes, employment changes from the various offices, travel requests, there’s one for the Health Department and one for the County Clerk; the County Engineer, approve pay request number 71 for Burkhardt-Green River TIF projects in the amount of $592,466.29; the Commissioners, Herschelman eminent domain settlement; the County Clerk, monthly report for December 2008; a request to transfer 61 surplus computers to the City of Evansville; the Sheriff’s request to hold auction; the Commissioners approval of an agreement making technical changes to a collective bargaining agreement between the County and the Teamsters on behalf of the confinement officers and civilians originally approved on December 16, 2008 and having an effective date of 1/1/09; and department head reports from the County Engineer and the County Highway.

President Tornatta: Okay, before we get something, I would like to, Sheriff, do you know if this, were you supposed to be in that 61? Do you know? Surplus computers?

Eric Williams: The only thing I know, Sheriff, Eric Williams. The only thing I know is John Staples from MRC–

President Tornatta: Right.

Eric Williams: –sent a message yesterday asking if any county offices still needed any of the surplus computers, prior to them being surplused to the city. I responded saying that we would take up to 30 of them, if they were going to be made available to us, because that’s what we’ve been operating on for the last two years. So, I don’t know.

President Tornatta: Okay, let me amend that request to say 61, after, well, I don’t know how many we started with, do you?

Marissa Nichoalds: 67.

President Tornatta: 67? Okay.

Marissa Nichoalds: (Inaudible. Not at microphone.)

President Tornatta: Okay, I would probably like to make sure that the Sheriff’s Department got his. So, at this point we would probably just move that to 31 surplus computers to the city, at this time. If there’s any more, or if they have already accounted for those, then we’ll approve up to 61.

Commissioner Melcher: Let’s just approve up to 61, and that way the Sheriff could get them–

President Tornatta: Okay.

Commissioner Melcher: –and then that way 30 still covers it.

President Tornatta: We’ll approve up to 61 of the ones that are needed.

Commissioner Winnecke: But, just to be clear, the Sheriff has the first option on 30.

Commissioner Melcher: Right.

President Tornatta: Right.

Commissioner Winnecke: 30 computers of this surplus. That’s the intent, right?

President Tornatta: Correct. We need a motion.

Commissioner Melcher: Bill.

Bill Jeffers: I’m sorry to interrupt. I just got that e-mail either yesterday or the day before. I guess it was yesterday, and it said that we were, we had until Friday to reply if we wanted a computer. Did I read that incorrectly? I might have read that incorrectly, but I know that Chief Deputy, Linda Freeman was wanting at least one to replace a computer in our office.

President Tornatta: I tell you what, we’re going to give them up to 61, with the caveat that the county still has the right to take any of those.

Bill Jeffers: Okay. Thank you.

President Tornatta: Okay. Motion to, I need a motion.

Commissioner Melcher: So moved.

Commissioner Winnecke: With the amendment?

President Tornatta: With the amended, on the computers.

Commissioner Winnecke: Second.

President Tornatta: A motion and a second. Any discussion? Roll call vote, please.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Winnecke?

Commissioner Winnecke: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Melcher?

Commissioner Melcher: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Tornatta?

President Tornatta: Yes.

(Motion approved 3-0)

President Tornatta: And we need a motion to adjourn.

Commissioner Winnecke: So moved.

Commissioner Melcher: Second.

(The meeting was adjourned at 5:32 p.m.)

CONSENT ITEMS:

Commissioners:

Approval of the January 27, 2009 Commission Meeting Minutes.

Approval of Herschelman Eminent Domain Settlement Agreement.

Request to Transfer Up to 61 Surplus Computers to the City of Evansville.

Sheriff Request to Hold Auction.

Technical Change to Confinement Officer/Civilian CBA with Teamsters.

Employment Changes:          Sheriff’s Office (1)

Travel Requests:                    Health Dept. (1)                        County Clerk (1)

County Engineer: Pay Request No. 71: Green River-Burkhardt TIF Projects.

County Clerk: Monthly Report: December 2008.

Department Head Reports:    County Engineer                       County Highway

Those in Attendance:

Troy Tornatta                            Stephen Melcher                      Lloyd Winnecke

Bill Fluty                                    Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.          Madelyn Grayson

Lauren Bathauer                       Parri Black                                Carol Lynch

Anne Topper                             Jonathan Weaver                     Eric Williams

John Stoll                                  Bill Jeffers                                 Others Unidentified

Members of Media

VANDERBURGH COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Troy Tornatta, President

Stephen Melcher, Vice President

Lloyd Winnecke, Member

(Recorded and transcribed by Madelyn Grayson.)