VANDERBURGH COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SPECIAL MEETING
FEBRUARY 26, 2009
The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners met in special session this 26th day of February, 2009 at 8:50 a.m. in room 307 of the Civic Center Complex with President Troy Tornatta presiding.
Call to Order |
President Tornatta: Good morning, we’re going to commence the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners meeting. It’s a special meeting, February 26, 2009, about ten till nine. Roll call, please.
Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Winnecke?
Commissioner Winnecke: Here.
Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Melcher?
Commissioner Melcher: Here.
Madelyn Grayson: President Tornatta?
President Tornatta: Here.
Pledge of Allegiance |
President Tornatta: We’ll have the pledge of allegiance.
(The Pledge of Allegiance was given.)
Approval of Letters to Senators Bayh and Lugar & Congressman Ellsworth for FY ‘10 Federal Appropriations Requests |
President Tornatta: Alright. We’re going to have, as our only action item today, a review of the listing of the prospective earmark projects for the Indiana Senators and Congressman Ellsworth’s offices. Kind of to go down a quick list, I’m not going to go into great detail, and then we can have some discussion on the Board. The University Parkway project, this is a project that has been in the hopper for quite a few years, but, obviously, this is one of our top priorities in Vanderburgh County. So, that is one of our projects for the FY ‘10 Federal appropriations list. That’s for the construction of University Parkway between Marx Road and State Road 66. Then, next, is University Parkway-State Road 62 interchange project at USI. The interchange at USI. It’s requesting $1,000,000 for the FY ‘10 Federal appropriations for the study, design, engineering and/or construction of an interchange, reconfiguration of the intersection and University Parkway at State Road 62. Alright, and the next one is Interstate 164-Millersburg Road interchange study. We are requesting $200,000 in FY ‘10 Federal appropriations to prepare an interchange justification report, and, if viable, to use any remaining funds for design, engineering and/or construction of a new interchange at the intersection of Interstate 164 and Millersburg Road. Then, the final project for submittal is the Civic Center Complex security improvement project. The county is requesting $900,000 in FY ‘10 Federal appropriations to install and upgrade security measures at the county Civic Center Complex, and to design, engineer and construct a sally port addition to the complex. The only number that we did not get on there, and I will update, is the University Parkway project, and we are asking for $300,000, or, sorry, $3,000,0000 in FY ‘10 Federal appropriations. If we have a motion, and then we’ll have discussion.
Commissioner Winnecke: So moved.
Commissioner Melcher: Second.
President Tornatta: A motion and a second. Discussion from the Board?
Commissioner Winnecke: I would just offer that three of these four are obviously important transportation and economic development projects for the community. The extension of University Parkway is arguably one of our community’s most important major thoroughfares that is now under construction. I’m pleased that we’re pursuing money that will explore the future of the USI entrance to that interchange. It’s, I think as a community we’re fortunate that we have not had a catastrophic accident at that scene. So, and with the impending development along University Parkway over the years, I think that’s important. Obviously, Millersburg Road offers, the study of a possible interchange at Millersburg Road, really offers us the opportunity to create a new economic development corridor in that part of the county. So, I’m pleased that we’re moving in this direction.
Commissioner Melcher: Yes, I would just like to add about the Millersburg Road, I think that’s one of our most important ones is the Millersburg Road and the widening and the interchange. What I’m being told by INDOT is that Highway 57 and 41 is number five in the State of Indiana for accidents. Once this ever gets accomplished, all these accidents should be dissipating and not being as much. So, that’s one thing I’m really for. This Civic Center security, I probably have a couple of questions on some of it, but I do know we need a sally port, I know we need something for that. But, I’m for these projects, you know, there’s a lot of other projects we probably should have listed. Carpentier Creek is one, that’s city and county. Baseline Road, I wouldn’t mind seeing some money toward the study of that, since the School Corporation is going to be building their new schools out there. We’re going to have to be doing something with that. Sitting on the MPO, I’ll continue to push that project.
President Tornatta: One of the things that the county has taken on is to have their focus, and I appreciate everyone having the focus of University Parkway, and getting that loop, semi-loop, around Evansville-Vanderburgh County and with the hopes of going to Interstate 64. Talking about the interchange project at USI, we have listened to the people in Vanderburgh County, and have been responsive, not only to the people in Vanderburgh County, but also to our University out there and know of the needs. This is a project that really was not in existence, was not being thought of, and this Commission got together and decided that we’re going to get ahead of the fires, so to speak, instead of putting out fires, and decided to do that, along with the Millersburg Road. The one thing I will say on the Civic Center improvements and the issues with the Civic Center, that was brought up by our Sheriff and our Chief of Police, and, both believe that there should be more security in this building. So, we take from those people who provide the security to try and address some of those along with Dave Rector in our audience today. So, any questions of anybody in the audience? Did you have anymore questions on the Civic Center project, Steve? Okay, with that being said, we have a motion and a second. 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: With that, we will have three documents signed and sent off to Senator Lugar, Senator Bayh and Congressman Ellsworth. Motion to adjourn?
Commissioner Winnecke: So moved.
Commissioner Melcher: Second.
(The meeting was adjourned at 8:55 p.m.)
Those in Attendance:
Troy Tornatta Stephen Melcher Lloyd Winnecke
Joe Gries Kathryn Schymik Madelyn Grayson
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.)