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Board of Commissioners February 28, 2000
President Jerrel:
At this time I would like to call the Vanderburgh County Commissioners'
meeting to order and welcome all of you. At this time I would like to introduce
to you the people before you. On my far right is Tony Greubel, who is the
Superintendent of County Buildings; County Attorney, Joe Harrison, Jr.,
is next to him; Commissioner Pat Tuley; my far left, Charlene Timmons,
is the Recording Secretary; next to her is the County Auditor, Suzanne
Crouch; and my name is Bettye Lou Jerrel and I would like for you to join
me in the Pledge of Allegiance.
President Jerrel: The first action item on the agenda is the approval of the minutes of the previous meeting. Commissioner Tuley: I'm sitting here waiting on Richard and I don't think we're going to hear him from Bolivia. President Jerrel: I'm sorry, I didn't mention that. Commissioner Mourdock is out of the city, out of the county, out of the state and out of the country tonight. Commissioner Tuley: I'll move approval then at this time for the approval of the minutes from the February 14th meeting. President Jerrel:
I'll second and say so ordered.
President Jerrel: The next item on the agenda is the certification of the Executive Session. Commissioner Tuley: I'll move approval of the certification of Executive Session which began at 5:15 and ended at approximately 5:35 which the only item of discussion was a personnel matter. President Jerrel:
And I'll second and say so ordered.
President Jerrel: The first agenda item, opening the bids on VC00-01, St. Joe and Commercial Court intersection. Is there a motion to open the bids? Commissioner Tuley: So moved. President Jerrel: And I'll second. Tony, do you have the bids there? Tony Greubel: Yes. President Jerrel:
And say so ordered. We'll go back to those later in the meeting.
President Jerrel: Item D is the County Co-op Extension Office and there is an agreement in the folder concerning the acceptance of the agreement with Purdue University. Commissioner Tuley: Joe, you reviewed it and there are not any changes to speak of really is there? Joe Harrison, Jr.: No, it looks fine. Commissioner Tuley: Exactly as it was. I'll move approval of the agreement between the Co-op Extension Office through Purdue University and Vanderburgh County. President Jerrel:
I'll second and say so ordered.
President Jerrel: Cable company...Capital Cable has an agreement in here that increases that county's percentage, is that correct, Tony? The consent and approval? Tony Greubel: Well, really that is for transferring the ownership for the franchise agreement, but then they also told us that they would increase the franchise fee from three to five percent. President Jerrel: There are two items. We do receive five percent on the others, so is there a motion regarding those? Commissioner Tuley: Move approval- Joe Harrison, Jr.: Is Mr. Townsend here? President Jerrel: Yes. Joe Harrison, Jr.: Why don't you come on up. President Jerrel: Hi. Unidentified: Hello. Actually, what they were wanting- President Jerrel: Would you want to give us your name? Mark Townsend: Okay, my name is Mark Townsend. I'm the chief tech over in Wadesville. What they were wanting to do was wait until Charter actually takes over to up the rate to five percent if that would be okay? President Jerrel: Well, the first order of business is to transfer- Commissioner Tuley: Is to transfer. President Jerrel: Yeah, is to transfer that now. Mark Townsend: Right. Commissioner Tuley: And I'll move approval of the transfer. President Jerrel: And I'll second and say so ordered. So you have now the franchising transfer in your hands. Mark Townsend: Okay, thank you. President Jerrel: Uh-huh, you're welcome. Commissioner Tuley: Did he have a question? I thought he had a question about holding up on the five percent. Joe Harrison, Jr.: One thing I wanted to ask him. Sir, when will Charter take over then? Mark Townsend: It was supposed to be the 31st of April. They're now possibly going to be the 30th of March. Joe Harrison, Jr.: Oh, it's going to be even sooner? Mark Townsend: We still don't know yet. Joe Harrison, Jr.: Okay, so it will be hopefully within a month or so? Mark Townsend: Right. Commissioner Tuley: And then the change in the percent will be effective with that change, is that what you asked for? Mark Townsend: Yeah, that's what Capital- Unidentified: We need to verify a couple of things there. President Jerrel: Would you want to come up and give your name? Unidentified: Yes. President Jerrel: These are verbatim minutes and she needs to know who is speaking. Barry Moore: My name is Barry Moore. I'm the area manager with Capital Cable for the Illinois, Indiana area. Normally when we increase the franchise that is normally done at the time of a franchise renewal. I think the franchise expires for Vanderburgh County in 2001. President Jerrel: Uh-huh. Barry Moore: It's 2004, isn't it? Joe Harrison, Jr.: Yes, it is 2004. Barry Moore: 2004, I believe. The renewal process is a 36 month process altogether different than a transfer. You guys will receive a letter of notification that we wish to renew the existing franchise. On normal operations that's when negotiations are done on increasing franchise amounts and that sort of thing. The corporate office tells us that they have no problem increasing the franchise amount up to five percent, but we do want to make it understood that the increase is passed through to the subscribers so basically if you go ahead and do that now most all the time when we renew a franchise there is an increase in the amount paid of the franchise fee. We just wanted you to understand we don't have a problem doing it now as Capital although it is a little abnormal to do it without the renewal of a franchise. That is usually part of the renewal process. We just wanted you to be aware that the increase would be passed through to the subscribers. They're the ones that will suffer...or not suffer, it will effect their bill. President Jerrel: But you will have the franchise. Joe Harrison, Jr.: They have the franchise right now. President Jerrel: I know that. That's what I am saying. You will have the franchise. Joe Harrison, Jr.: They have it right now. Barry Moore: You just transferred to Charter. Charter Communications will have the franchise. President Jerrel: Absolutely. Barry Moore: The franchise is the very same as the one that we're operating under. Nothing has changed. The renewal process and all will have to come up. President Jerrel: But the only side of it that we have spoken to is the fact that if we receive that from the other providers one provider should not be treated differently than the others. Commissioner Tuley: Is that what they- President Jerrel: Yes, that's what they...Insight and SIGECOM. Joe Harrison, Jr.: They are being treated differently now. Commissioner Tuley: That three percent- Joe Harrison, Jr.: Whereas the other two are paying five percent. Barry Moore: Right, but did you not just recently renew franchises with SIGECOM and Insight? Joe Harrison, Jr.: No. President Jerrel: Well, SIGECOM is a new one. Joe Harrison, Jr.: SIGECOM is a new one. Barry Moore: Right. Joe Harrison, Jr.: And Insight was increased several years ago. It wasn't a renewal. Barry Moore: It wasn't during the process? My experience has been that normally those sort of things are done as a franchise is renewed. Of course, back when this one was signed cable operators asked for 20 and 25 year agreements and any more we're down to an eight or ten year period that we ask for. Joe Harrison, Jr.: That's right. President Jerrel: Well, I don't...I'm not objecting to any amounts, I'm just saying that every franchise is going to be treated the same in Vanderburgh County. Barry Moore: Yes, ma'am. President Jerrel: That's my feeling. Commissioner Tuley: I don't have a problem with that. I would like though when we are moving on to the next item that it be clear. Are we asking them to go ahead and do the five percent now or are we going to wait until two thousand- Joe Harrison, Jr.: No, I think you may want to do it and I would have a motion to that effect if that is what you want to do. Barry Moore: That will be fine. Commissioner Tuley: Then I'll move at this time with the understanding you did say that would be passed on to the homeowners. Barry Moore: Yes, (inaudible) has sent a letter out Friday saying that they would do that which they would rather have waited until Charter acquired the systems and then the renegotiation go on with Charter. They kind of hate to speak for Charter in this short-term that they've got before they close this deal here, but in this case they said they would. President Jerrel: Well, all we have before us is the letter from the general manager saying- Barry Moore: Yes, ma'am. President Jerrel: -that's what you would do because that is what the others do. Barry Moore: Right, right. President Jerrel: Okay. Commissioner Tuley: Then I'll move approval of the change from three percent to five percent as per the letter and the discussion you just had. President Jerrel: And I'll second and say so ordered. Thank you. Barry Moore:
Okay, thank you.
President Jerrel: The next item on the agenda is approval of the contracts for instructional services for the DADS program. This is something that we typically renew every year and it is basically the same- Joe Harrison, Jr.: That's correct. President Jerrel: -service. Joe Harrison, Jr.: That's correct. Commissioner Tuley: Yeah, I was going to say the amount per session and the studies and all look the same as it was the previous years, so I'll move acceptance and approval at this time. President Jerrel:
I'll second and say so ordered.
President Jerrel: The next item on the agenda is ARAMARK and it's the approval of the second amendment to the Management Operation Agreement. Joe Harrison, Jr.: I believe the Sheriff is here. He may want to speak to this. This is an agreement with the food service provider for the jail. Previously I think they were known as Szabo and now they're known as ARAMARK. They are willing to continue providing food service for the jail, is that correct, Sheriff, and also add the SAFE House and reduce the price that the county is now paying for the jail meals and that same price would also be at the SAFE House? Brad Ellsworth: Brad Ellsworth, Sheriff, and that is correct. They are going to reduce it to $1.12 for both the jail and the SAFE House. Joe Harrison, Jr.: And also a part of this the employees, the two employees that are cooks at the SAFE House, will continue in that capacity and be under the management...well, they're still under the direction and control of the Sheriff, but they will work in connection with ARAMARK for the food service duties. Brad Ellsworth: That's correct. Joe Harrison, Jr.: And I think they have trustees, I think, up in the jail that help with that currently. Brad Ellsworth: That is correct and they are also going to rely on a like amount of inmate help over at the SAFE House which drives the cost down obviously. Commissioner Tuley: Okay. I'll move approval for the second amendment to the management operation agreement between ARAMARK Corrections Services and Vanderburgh County. President Jerrel: I'll second and say so ordered. Brad Ellsworth: Thank you. President Jerrel:
Uh-huh.
Commissioner Tuley: Did we forget SEMA? President Jerrel: Huh? Commissioner Tuley: SEMA? SEMA flood mitigation. Joe Harrison, Jr.: I've got an original. Commissioner Tuley: That was on the agenda above this one. I don't know, we just missed it. President Jerrel: Oh, yeah I did. The next item is the award of the contract for environmental services for SEMA flood mitigation. Joe Coleman: Good evening. Joe Coleman, Department of Metropolitan Development. We sent out a request for proposals for this service which is to do the environmental survey and write up the specifications for the abatement contractor. We received three responses: Hinderliter Services at $3,300; Environmental Management Consultants at $3,700 even; and Environmental Consulting and Engineering Company at $4,690. At this time I would like to recommend to you that we accept the low bidder, Hinderliter Environmental Services. President Jerrel: Are there any questions? Commissioner Tuley: No. You had a chance to look at it too, Joe? Joe Harrison, Jr.: I had a chance to review the submittal that he submitted and they were the low bidder and you got three quotes, so it's fine. Commissioner Tuley: Okay, then I'll move approval at this time with a contract for $3,300 with Hinderliter Environmental Services as outlined. President Jerrel: I'll second and say so ordered. Joe Coleman:
Thank you.
President Jerrel: The next item on the agenda is the justice system proposal and agreement. Brad, would you want to come up to the mike because in a way you and Pat were involved with this. I did attend the jail meeting and I just had one point to make and it wasn't made the other night at your meeting, but you might want to relay some of those that Richard made when you all were talking about negotiating this. The only comment that I would make about this study of the system and it's an interesting review of the entire system, both the jail, the court system, the Prosecutor's Office, the role of arrests to final disposition. The one thing about this particular proposal that I want to congratulate those of you that were the ones to select them, it's a company that does not build anything. So they're not making any money for themselves and they're not...you know, it's not going to be to their advantage to pick a size or not pick a size. They are not architects. They're going to evaluate the system and I think it will be done in a way that will benefit everybody because this is not something that any one person or organization is solely responsible for, it's all of us. Brad Ellsworth: I agree and that is one thing if we learned one thing in some of the seminars we attended they said beware of the architect or the consultant that is the front man for the architect. Nothing against our friends that are architects, but we're not at that point yet. We need to analyze and adjust our system for future needs before we lay a brick on the ground. So we're really confident. I know that Commissioner Tuley, Mourdock and I and Councilman Raben had a rather lengthy meeting with this individual. I think we're all pretty comfortable with him and his method of coming in and helping us with this. I echo what you say is this is an entire system and everything I've read, and I've gotten new documents every day, talk about the entire system working together. You know, the judiciary, the Prosecutor's Office, to solve...you know, to keep it from happening in the future two years down the road and five years down the road regardless of what we do that we have to do that first, so this is that step. Commissioner Tuley: The only thing I want to add to it is I did not actually get to attend the actual meeting with the individuals due to a prior commitment, but I have met with Brad, I've met with Richard and I have met with Jim Raben. Brad, and Jim, and I, and Chief Williams, all attended that conference, as you know, back last November in Colorado. They were equally impressed with these folks as anybody that we dealt with out there or met with. As you guys have both pointed out the important thing is they are not going to sell us on building us a new jail. They don't want anything to do with that part of it. They want to just come in and analyze us and they recognize and we recognize by virtue of having gone to Colorado that this is a system wide problem. No one group or individual caused the problem. No one group or individual is going to solve it and I think this is a step in the right direction to get us to meet and solve the problem that we have and I would recommend approval at this time. Brad Ellsworth: I think just another point is the fact that they are from Indiana and are familiar with Indiana laws and the Indiana court system that it is going to be a big benefit that they are somewhat local because there are differences from state line to state line of what they can actually do and ways they can improve, so I think it's going to be an added benefit. President Jerrel: I will second that motion and say so ordered, but I do know there are some people probably in the audience that would like to see a copy or have a copy and if Charlene could pass among you we can get some copies made and see to it that you're welcome to have a copy. Yes, you know. I'm sure everybody in here isn't interested in a copy, but there will be some people that would like to have one so if you would just...you want to raise your hand if you want a copy and we can kind of get...about ten or 12. Thank you. Thank you very much. Brad Ellsworth: Thank you. Commissioner Tuley: Did we want to enter into the record the letter that Sheriff Ellsworth submitted to us tonight and Councilmen and Commissioners...I know we have at least one Councilman here tonight so I am sure he is quite capable of speaking for the Council, but on behalf of the Commissioners I would like to thank the Sheriff for his letter here that says, I will authorize the payment of up to $40,000 from the Vanderburgh County Jail Commissary Account to partially fund the study that we just approved. Sheriff Ellsworth and your crew, we really appreciate that. President Jerrel: Phil, do you...this will actually...we're going to put a line item called jail improvement line item and pay the balance out of it. Phil Hoy: My name is Phil Hoy, County Councilman at Large and I, as I have often said, never attempt to speak for the Council, but in our discussions I think you'll find us very receptive and personally I appreciate what you are doing because in my opinion we do need to look at the whole system before we start with brick and mortar because it's my opinion if you built 1,000 cells we would probably fill them and I think we need to approach it another way. I appreciate you doing this. President Jerrel: Thank you. Phil Hoy: And I'll give you my vote when it ...it does come our way, doesn't it? President Jerrel: Oh, yeah. Well, no it really won't have to right away because that's what I wanted to say. I think that's...I want to commend you, Brad, for using commissary money for this. I think it is very well spent. We had the money in place- Phil Hoy: Wonderful. President Jerrel: Go back and tell them. Phil Hoy: That makes it even better. Commissioner Tuley: There will be a point where we'll come to you though, I'm sure. President Jerrel: Yeah. Phil Hoy: I'm sure of that, yeah. Commissioner Tuley: You know, if it is nothing more than improvements to our current facility, but at some point we're going to have to come to you and ask for help. Phil Hoy: Well, I think you'll find the Council receptive. President Jerrel:
Okay, thank you.
President Jerrel: The next item on the agenda is the approval of the holiday schedule for the year 2001. It's a non election year and I think they added a presidential...Lincoln's birthday. Commissioner Tuley: Right. Everything else looks to be the same and I'll move approval of the holiday schedule as outlined. President Jerrel:
I'll second and say so ordered.
President Jerrel: Okay, is there anyone here at the meeting that would like to speak to the board about any particular issue? Richard Helzerman: My name is Richard Helzerman. President Jerrel: Thank you. Richard Helzerman: We are delighted that you have taken some action to try to deal with the overcrowding problem, but essentially what you have done is postpone for six months dealing with the issue. Now, the analysis of the problem of the overcrowding in the jail is poor felons awaiting trial. Think with me for a moment. If you were arrested and put in jail how long would you be there? If the bond amount was $500 you would not be there very long. If the bond amount was $5,000 you could probably raise it in a few days, but if the bond were $440,000 you might be stuck in there for a long time. The time you would spend in jail is completely dependent upon whether or not the judge sets for you an excessive bond. There are people in Evansville who are rich enough to raise $440,000 for bond, so they could be out. As of 2/9/00 Michael Dullum had spent 165 days in the jail because he could not raise his $440,000 bond. The only reason most of the people are in jail is because they are too poor to raise their bond. The Indiana Constitution says excessive bond shall not be required. As of 2/9/00 Stephen Hale was sitting in your jail under a $40,000 bond for theft from residence or building, $50 to $199. Aaron Johnson was sitting in your jail under a $15,000 for theft under $50, shoplifting. Michael Jones had sat in your jail for 295 days under a $500 bond for theft/shoplifting, $50 to $199 dollars. George Payne had sat in your jail for 212 days under a $1,500 bond for theft/shoplifting, $50 to $199. The Indiana Constitution says penalties shall be proportioned to the nature of the offense. For stealing less than $200 we have bonds set at $40,000, $15,000, $1,500 and $500. Of course, bond is not supposed to be a penalty, but it is functioning as a penalty. As of 2/9/00 the jail had 59 more prisoners than it should of had. The reason for the overcrowding is not because more crimes are committed because the number of serious crimes in Evansville last year dropped from 7,814 to 6,214. This is 1,600 fewer crimes which is a drop of 20 percent. The reason for the overcrowding is not because of the 57...there were 59 people overcrowded. There were 57 people who were picked up because they failed to appear. They don't account for all of the overcrowding. The reason for the overcrowding is not the 46 who were charged with narcotics. The reason for the overcrowding is not the 34 who have been there three days or less probably waiting to raise their bond. The reason for the overcrowding is not the 12 who were charged with child abuse. The reason for the overcrowding is not the seven who were charged with murder. If all the prisoners were given a reasonable bail, which means simply one that they or their friends and relatives could pay, the prison as of 2/9/00 would have contained the seven who were charged with murder, although only two of them didn't have a bond, the one who was in contempt of court, the 57 who failed to appear, the 51 who are being held for other authorities and the 34 who have been there three days or less. This would be 150 which is nowhere near the 268 maximum. The overcrowding in the jail would end if the prisoners were given their constitutional right to be free of excessive bond. The reason the jail is overcrowded is failure to give poor defendants their right to reasonable bond and failure to give them their right to a speedy trial. Now, you...last time I was here I gave you an option that would clear the jail out in about a week. Tonight I am going to give you an option that you could clear the jail out tomorrow. You may end your responsibility...now we said this is a systems problem and we're all responsible for it. You may end your responsibility for the overcrowding tomorrow by taking the following action today. The Vanderburgh County Commissioners accepts the suggestion of the Indiana Department of Corrections, which they suggested that you set a cap on the jail, and hereby authorizes the Sheriff whenever the population of the jail exceeds 85 percent of its capacity to use his discretion and release prisoners until the population reaches 75 percent of capacity. The Sheriff is already using his discretion to limit the number of people in the prison because he has approximately 9,000 arrest warrants that he has not executed. In other words, he is sitting there and he has decided that there are 9,000 people that the judges and the courts have said should be in jail, but he is using his discretion to say I'm not going to put these guys in jail because it is overcrowded or whatever his reason is you can call him up and ask him. Now all this thing does is give the Sheriff discretion over 9,300 instead of only 9,000. I'm sure that we can trust him. The Sheriff has rightly deserved and earned the honor and respect of the whole county and I believe that if you would do that that he would go home tonight or tomorrow morning first thing and the overcrowding would be ended. It's a simple, simple thing. Now I got a letter Friday I would like to read you. A copy of it is in your thing. "Dear Reverend Helzerman, How are you doing? Fine I hope. First of all my name is Keith Odom. I have been arrested and are presently imprisoned in the Vanderburgh County Jail." Now you'll have to excuse his grammar because it's not all proper. "I was arrested back in April 15, 1999 for allegedly selling cocain to a police informant unknown to me. Back on January 19, 1999 is when the case first stayed. They waited two months before they arrested me. The reason I writing to you is because I just wanted to use me for an example speaking on the overcrowding of the jail. My bond is too high. It's $25,000 for selling to a policeman who was tempting him, entrapping him into committing a crime. Twenty-five thousand dollars cash. I had a Class A felony, but as I took a plea agreement, a lessor included offense which is now a Class D felony and my bond is still the same, $25,000." Now he thought...he sat in jail for so long that he finally agreed to plead guilty to something that he doesn't really think he is guilty. He knows he uses drugs and he has got a drug problem, but he doesn't remember this charge or whatever. But because he is sitting in the jail so long he pleads guilty and he...to a lessor offense, Class A to a Class D and he thought...now, he wasn't smart enough to negotiate that when you drop the one thing you drop the other, but he thought in his mind if I agree to plead to a Class D they'll drop the bail and I can get out of here. But they didn't drop it. But I want you to hear the rest of this. "I took a plea to a lessor included thing." Now this is what he says: "It doesn't make sense as far as the bond that is up to the judge and the prosecuting attorney if a defendant doesn't have a paid attorney he is in here for a long, long time." Now here he says he is too poor to afford an attorney and so he is stuck there unless he gets a reasonable bond. "As you see public defender works against the defendant, but he tried to show that he for you, but he is really not and that not right." Now what he is saying is that as a poor person he has a right to a defense, but the public defender that he was given he does not feel is working in his interest and he is saying that he is not even getting that right to a proper defense. "He is really not and that not right. He playing with everyone life. As you may not know I suffer from diabetes and have respiratory problems. I have filed for Social Security disability benefits because of my health problems. Thank the Lord the jail has been willing to give me my medicines, but being on the outside would be much healthier for me physically and spiritually. We can only attend church once every two week. For one half hour on Monday nights. I am a family man and a member of Memorial Baptist Church. My pastor, Reverend Brooks, a righteous man. Bring that my bond is set too high it is denying me the ability to be with my recently wed wife and children. If allowed a reasonable bond possibly I can unburden the state of the responsibility and cost of care for my health problems. I am willing to atone for my drug problems." Now the Constitution says that the goal of the penal system should be reformation and not vindictive justice. Now he is willing to atone, he says. "Which I have had for some time. I was reading the newspaper where you asked Mr. Mourdock to visit four inmates each week and look them in the eye and tell them that you are sorry for the overcrowding. Please, sir, I would love to be one of those inmates. If you can get that to happen and thank you very much for taking your time in reading my letter." I won't read the rest of it here for time. Now I would like to have you write down on a piece of paper a couple of facts. When you sat at the jail meeting you said you liked facts. Okay. President Jerrel: I have a couple for you too. Richard Helzerman: Okay. There is no need...if you've decided you're going to build a new jail you don't have to pay any consultant $98,000 to tell you how much because right now you could build an infinitely large jail and it wouldn't be big enough. There has to be a systems change before it is, so if you'll just write down these numbers. Twenty-five hundred cases per year. That is the number of cases that were filed, criminal cases last year. If you divide 2,500 by 50 weeks in a year that is 50 cases a week. If you divide that by five working days in a year, five into 15 is ten. Now there are ten cases that come in every single day. Now unless your system can take ten out it's going to grow, and grow, and grow, right. Now you have eight judges. Well, there are seven judges, but there are two that try. In the Circuit Court there is the judge and the magistrate and there are six judges in the Superior Court and there are three senior judges but they only work 40 days a year. So you have eight judges. Now, one of these judges finally talked to me. You asked me to talk to the judge. I called in to Judge Heldt and to Judge Bowers and requested an appointment and they have not even bothered to return my call. But there are eight judges and all eight of those judges work full-time on doing nothing but getting rid of these cases and giving these people their right to a trial. Keily, who is the magistrate of the Circuit Court, told me that the average time of a trial is two days. Now Jeff Lantz told me the average is three days. Now I don't know which is...whether it is two or three or if it is something else because you haven't given me the authority to look at the filing systems or talk to anybody, but it wouldn't take more than an hour or two looking at their records to say whether it is two or three, but let's say it's two. We'll take the shortest one. If eight judges were full-time and it takes two days to have a trial they could dispose of four cases a day. Do you get that? Okay, so you've got ten cases coming in and you've got four cases going out so you've got six a day that are growing on you. So without hiring at least up to 16 judges working full-time, and none of the judges work full-time on the cases, you have a system that will grow infinitely according to queuing theory. Now if you want to take another way so from queuing theory study of what I can find out from what is in the paper and who will talk to me when most people won't it is impossible to build a jail big enough. It's not possible. Now I told you my thing and the Sheriff is here, you verify it for me. If you built a jail...if the jail had 9,000 beds in it he could fill them tomorrow or as soon as he could get around. He's got 9,000 arrest warrants, okay. Now this is what it's saying, for years and years the capacity hasn't been right and the cases are building up to infinity. Now let's look at another side. There are over 250,000 people in jail in the United States. That works out to about one percent of the population. Okay, now Evansville is a typical city. It's like Peoria. They do studies here because we're like everybody else. The population of Vanderburgh County, I called the Chamber of Commerce and they told me it was 165,000. If one percent of those people are in jail that is 1,650. And if you're going to build something you should build double of what you need. That's the rule of thumb for the queuing theory. The queuing theory you've got to have capacity double of what you need or you're going to run out of space, so you should if you're going to solve the problem by building jails 3,300 is the number of beds. You should let the bids out today because it's going to take three to six years to build it. President Jerrel: Mr. Helzerman? Richard Helzerman: Yes. President Jerrel: Let me stop just a minute. Richard Helzerman: Okay. President Jerrel: Because we're going to have a difficult time proceeding because every week you've got a lot of interesting ideas. There is no question that they are interesting and your dedication is not questioned in any way at all. I want you to know I know you care about human beings. Let me correct a few things so that you can get it in the proper perspective. These weekly reports of who is in the jail frequently have just one charge written when there may be numerous charges so you only got a snapshot picture. If someone has a $40,000 bond that bond was established by the judge because that person was viewed as a flight risk and they probably had five or six other charges. The first one you mentioned I believe does have. Richard Helzerman: He had two charges, but both were $40,000. President Jerrel: And he had numerous- Richard Helzerman: His total bail was $80,000. President Jerrel: Yeah, I know but there were numerous charges that were not listed. Now I'm agreeing with you that there are issues and I'm going to cite just a few for you to think about that you can't easily fix. I mean, it's not only systemic, but it requires cooperation to make it happen. After a person is arrested and the decision to file the charges are made there are issues that begin there. You alluded to some of them. Lots of charges may be to get a plea bargain, but those are not the Commissioners' decision. We don't have that right under the criminal code. We don't do those things. The case moves to the judge. The judge at that point has to take a lot of things under consideration, but just assuming that everything went right we know that the time in jail if it exceeds 60 to 80 or 90 days is too long unless there is some extenuating circumstances. Now I say that because everything just doesn't work exactly as it should. There may be another reason why that person is being detained on a higher bond. Again, that is not our call. We have to look, and that's the reason we hired this company, because they're very adept at this side of it. They have to look at the reasons for the normal delays that we can improve and that includes the judges moving the cases along without excessive continuances. That's just one aspect and it is not our call what is excessive. That's not only a public opinion call, but it's a judicial call based on the circumstances. After a public defender is appointed if we can improve that system we should and this will help us to see where it needs to be improved. We're not criticizing any public defenders. We know that there are...in many cases we may need additional public defenders. In the case of when a public defender starts they must first get a case file from the Prosecutor's Office. Maybe we can help speed that along. It runs about 45 days now. Maybe we can get it compacted to 30 or whatever, 20, but that is not my call either. We Commissioners do not determine when the defense gets the case file. That's the Prosecutor's Office, not ours. After a person gets sentenced they frequently have to wait a month before the penalty is determined. I mean, get convicted, they wait a month for sentencing. Maybe we can speed up that process of gather the long or short probation form or whatever that form that they fill out is and then they can proceed to determine in a faster manner. The abstract that gets done by the Clerk's Office and goes to the judges for their signature. Maybe there are things that stay on desks for some length of time. Maybe we can compact that so after conviction the sentencing can occur maybe in two weeks. Right there we have accomplished something. All of this will have to be worked out with the people that deliver these services. Pat and I don't do any of that and we're not going to do any of it. It's not...our role is to see that the jail is provided in the county. I'm going to ask my attorney to talk to you just a second about the criminal part of our responsibility. Joe Harrison, Jr.: Well, we don't have any responsibilities as far as the criminal aspect is concerned. Commissioner Jerrel is correct. The Commissioners are charged with establishing and maintaining a county jail, period. Bond is set by judges. Sentences are imposed by judges and the duty that the Commissioners have is strictly to establish and maintain a jail and I know that they're working to see that they continue to comply with that statute. I think the Sheriff may have some comments also that he may want to make, but as far as you did make a comment earlier about the Commissioners haven't given you the authority to look at files. You can look at files. All you've got to do is go to the Clerk's Office, the County Clerk's Office. President Jerrel: Or the public computers. Joe Harrison, Jr.: And look at any file. They're public records. President Jerrel: Pull them up and look at the docket sheets. Joe Harrison, Jr.: So the Commissioners can't tell you what to do or not to do as far as looking at files. I think you've got some information that has been provided to you and certainly you could follow-up on that information in the Clerk's Office on charges and status of cases. Richard Helzerman: Is it your opinion that the constitutional guarantee against excessive bail is a completely meaningless phrase? Joe Harrison, Jr.: No, but it has nothing to do with this body. Richard Helzerman: Well, did not- Joe Harrison, Jr.: It's a meaningful phrase to those who are in the judicial system and those that are charged with crimes, and their attorneys, and to prosecutors it's a meaningful phrase, but as far as this body is concerned unless they are charged with a crime I don't think they concern themselves with that particular issue. Again, their duty is simply to establish and maintain a county jail. President Jerrel: We have eight minutes to finish this meeting. Richard Helzerman: Okay. President Jerrel: And we have our engineer, and I don't want to shut you off, but we welcome your comments. You can call me any time and you can come down here any time and I would be happy to direct you to any information, but it isn't our call. Richard Helzerman: I appreciate your letting me speak to you. President Jerrel:
Thank you.
President Jerrel: County Engineer. Joe Harrison, Jr.: Did you formally go ahead and approve the contract? President Jerrel: Yes, we did. Joe Harrison, Jr.: Did you say so ordered? Commissioner Tuley: Yeah. Joe Harrison, Jr.: Okay. John Stoll: The first item I've got is a soil agreement with Alt & Witzig Engineering to get some soil borings on Seminary Road Bridge No. 1961. This is for an amount not to exceed $2,320 and this is a bridge that Valerie is currently working on a design. President Jerrel: Is there a motion? We need a motion. Commissioner Tuley: I'm sorry. Motion to approve the- John Stoll: Soil agreement. Commissioner Tuley: Soil, okay I was trying to remember what you said. This is the one you and I talked about last week, John? John Stoll: No, this is for Seminary Road Bridge. Commissioner Tuley: Seminary Road, I'm sorry. This is a different one. Okay. John Stoll: You're thinking about Fulton Avenue. Commissioner Tuley: Exactly, like everybody else. John Stoll: We've already signed off on that soil agreement. Commissioner Tuley: Okay. John Stoll: It's just we don't have a design situated just yet. Commissioner Tuley: I'm sorry, okay. So this is with Alt & Witzig, is that how you say it, Engineering? John Stoll: Correct. Commissioner Tuley: Okay, and it's your recommendation that we approve this then? John Stoll: Yes. Commissioner Tuley: I'll so move. President Jerrel: Second and so ordered. John Stoll: Next I've got a supplemental agreement with Bernardin Lochmueller for the reconstruction of Gregory Court. This is for an amount not to exceed $8,500. This is the agreement that will result in the need to rebuild the embankment on Gregory Court and get the street rebuilt in conjunction with the lawsuit filed out there for that street collapse. The agreement calls for Bernardin Lochmueller to prepare a design and specifications over the next 40 days. It's recommended that this be approved also. Commissioner Tuley: So moved. President Jerrel: Second and so ordered. John Stoll: Next I would like to recommend that the county hire American Consulting for the construction inspection services for the Burkhardt and Morgan intersection project. This is the project that was recently bid last week. Commissioner Tuley: John, is that phase three? John Stoll: Correct, phase three. Commissioner Tuley: Okay. I think we took in bids several weeks ago or whenever it was. All of us reviewed those bids and I know there was a lot of stress or a lot of importance put on who was going to be the site manager. United has done, I think, did the design work and inspection work on phase one and phase two, correct? John Stoll: Correct, and they did the design on phase three as well. Commissioner Tuley: In phase three, okay. Did we have any problems whatsoever with Stewart May or whoever was assigned to that that you are aware of? John Stoll: No. Commissioner Tuley: Everyone okay with him? John Stoll: Yeah, it all went smooth. Commissioner Tuley: Richard is not here so I can't ask him why he doesn't want to be consistent, but in talking with different ones I think the three of us couldn't agree to who we wanted to have do this. My first choice would have been to keep it with United, but I don't want to delay this so I want to go ahead and make the recommendation that we go ahead and use American Consulting so we can go ahead and keep going on this. But you're comfortable with American Consulting? John Stoll: Right. Commissioner Tuley: And what you've got. And I know the company so they were my second choice, but I want this thing to keep going forward so I am going to go ahead and make a recommendation that we take your recommendation and go with American Consulting on this one. John Stoll: The reason we need a consultant on this job is we just don't have sufficient in-house staff to take care of this, so we definitely need the service consultant. Commissioner Tuley: Oh, we would of had to of had somebody. John Stoll: Right. Commissioner Tuley: That's not what I am asking about. My question was the consistent part, but, again, we've got three Commissioners all looking at it from three different points of view. It looked like to me that we probably wouldn't agree...I don't think any one of us had our number one choice the same, so therefore, you know, to keep this moving I'm going to go ahead and go with you and go with American Consultant. That's my move. President Jerrel: And I concurred with you. Commissioner Tuley: Yes, you did. President Jerrel: So I'll second and say so ordered. John Stoll: As a result of that I've got a letter to send to INDOT that would forward all the agreements to INDOT for their review and approval. The agreement that I contacted American to have them prepare is for an amount not to exceed $253,993.30. We don't sign the agreements now. We would just submit a letter to INDOT saying here they are, please review it and make any changes you see necessary. Once they review and approve it then they would return it to us for final signatures, so I would like to get a letter forwarding this information to INDOT for their review. Commissioner Tuley: You need a motion to approve that? So moved. President Jerrel: Second and so ordered. John Stoll: That project, the bids were received last Thursday, but all the bids came in over the engineer's estimate. It will be rebid in March as far as we know and that bid date is March 21st. I didn't have an official word from INDOT just yet that it is definitely on the March 21st bid letting, but I spoke with Steve Dilk at INDOT and he felt that it would go on that March 21st date. Next I've got a street acceptance. This is for 1,131 linear feet of Virginia Street. This is in Cross Pointe Subdivision. This is for the portion of Cross Pointe that was built when the county's portion of Cross Pointe was built last year. It's just we just now received the as built for this section of the road and the developer has asked us to accept this portion now. Commissioner Tuley: Does that need a motion or do we just need to sign it? Joe Harrison, Jr.: Need a motion. Commissioner Tuley: Okay, I move at this time then for the acceptance of the street road improvements in Cross Pointe Section 5, Virginia Street, .21 miles. President Jerrel: I'll second and say so ordered. John Stoll: The next three items are also street acceptance requests. The first one is for an extension of Riverside Drive in Carneal Commercial Subdivision. This is in Section 2A of that subdivision. This is a short segment of Riverside off of Green River Road as it leads into an apartment complex that was built over the past year. It's 265 linear feet and it's recommend that it be accepted also. Commissioner Tuley: So moved. President Jerrel: Second and so ordered. John Stoll: Next I've got a request for acceptance of Fickas Road in Riverwind Pointe Subdivision, Phase 1. This street acceptance is a correction to one that was done on June 7, 1999. At that time the developer had proposed that the whole subdivision was going to be recorded, so we accepted the entire street on the basis that the right-of-way would be dedicated. Now the developer is submitting a letter of credit that only covers the first five lots of this subdivision, so he is only going to be dedicating enough right-of-way to pick up the street across those first five lots so this supersedes the acceptance from last June. This is for 535 linear feet of Fickas Road in Riverwind Pointe. Commissioner Tuley: I'll move approval. President Jerrel: Second and so ordered. John Stoll: The final acceptance request is for Spring Park Subdivision, Section A. This is for 970 linear feet of Periwinkle Drive and 130 linear feet of Daffodil Court. It's recommended that these streets be accepted as well. Commissioner Tuley: So moved. President Jerrel: Second and so ordered. John Stoll: That's all I've got unless you've got any questions. Commissioner Tuley: I've got a couple of things for you. I got a call from a Ron Happe. I think you talked to him too last week. John Stoll: Out on Mt. Pleasant? Commissioner Tuley: Up on Mount Pleasant. John Stoll: Yes. Commissioner Tuley: I guess the concern which anybody living along there if a lot of that widening was going to come out of their yard is going to be asking questions about it. John Stoll: Right. Commissioner Tuley: The point he made after he explained to me we were widening it so wide and there was going to be quite a bit of the back of his yard, I guess, along with about eight other residents out there was that in the original design there would have been a lot of wrecks maybe because of when...was it Clearcrest? Not, Clearcrest, what is the...? John Stoll: Clearcreek. Commissioner Tuley: Clearcreek, there was a big hill there and maybe some views were being blocked and now they have taken that down. Where are...I guess basically the question I am trying to get to is where are we in the design and approval and is it too late or is it even necessary to really go back and look at the design? John Stoll: The draft set of plans was sent over from Morley's office probably about a week and a half ago, two weeks ago or something like that. It's still a draft set of plans so changes can still be made. I've heard from several of the residents along the south side of Mt. Pleasant in Copperfield Subdivision and the question has always been why is the road being so wide? Basically, it's going to be a three lane road 41 feet in width at that point. We've got it set up to provide left turn lanes into all the subdivisions, Deerfield, Copperfield, Clearcreek and then left turn lanes at Old State as well. The intent on the left turn lanes is to get the left turning vehicles out of thru lanes so that way it will lessen the chance of more accidents because of somebody coming through at higher speeds and rear-ending somebody making a left out of a thru lane so that's the intent on why three lanes. As far as any changes, changes can still be made because we haven't gotten to the point where we are starting to buy right-of-way as of yet. I need to finish a review of the plans and then I was needing to talk to each of you to show you what we've got and then see what changes if any we needed to make before we have Morley and Associates finalize the plan and proceed to right-of-way acquisition. Commissioner Tuley: Okay, are there any neighbors? Unidentified: My name is- Commissioner Tuley: Come up the mike if you would please. John Griffin: My name is John Griffin. I live at 8635 Greendale Subdivision...in Copperfield Subdivision. The north side of my property borders the south side of Mt. Pleasant Road and I'm not against the widening and straightening out and getting the dips out of Mt. Pleasant Road. It's necessary. But my question is like the road now, I don't know if you know the exact figures, but the road now from the center of the road to the edge is like nine to ten feet wide and they're going to put another ten to 12 feet on each side. That's why. I mean, that just seems way too wide to me. I mean, granted, it's going to take some of my property and that is what I am fighting for or fighting...or what I am talking about, but a perfect example is Old State Road from Mt. Pleasant Road to city limits going in towards town there are like three or four subdivisions most of them on the left side of the road and several cross streets and there is only one turn lane and that is if you're heading back north, you know, a right-hand turn lane and that road handles traffic fine and there is a lot more traffic on that road as opposed to Mt. Pleasant. I can see the deceleration lanes may be lengthened. I can see that. If somebody is turning left into Clearcreek then you can go around the right of them with a deceleration lane there, but why have a turn lane, a left turn lane, for just three streets? I just don't...I'm not an engineer, but I mean I just don't see- President Jerrel: Well, have you two had a chance to talk? John Griffin: I came down here about a week ago. President Jerrel: And you looked at the plans? Well, if...I think maybe what we need to do, I'm not trying to delay your discussion now, but I think, you know, I know the reason that we are doing Mt. Pleasant is because it's an opportunity to do it right and do it for safety's sake, but obviously these are draft plans and we need to take a look at what...how much of your property will be needed in right-of-way? John Griffin: What, six feet? John Stoll: I don't remember. John Griffin: Six to eight feet, I think. You know, it has been a while. President Jerrel: If you don't object, may we have your phone number, Mr. Griffin? John Griffin: 867-2309. President Jerrel: Okay, well let us give you a call this next week. John Griffin: I mean, I can see widening it two or three feet on each side, but keep it two lanes. I mean, there have been some accidents there, but they haven't been...my house is right at Clearcreek Subdivision across the street, but they haven't been because people have been rear-ended. It's just turning and cutting in front of each other or, you know, whatever. I would appreciate that because I think it is a waste of taxpayer's money and just overkill to have a three lane road when you only have two...three turns off of Mt. Pleasant. Commissioner Tuley: Yeah, do you know how many homes are currently in the new subdivision across the street from you guys? John Griffin: Three hundred and- Commissioner Tuley: That's planned for 360. John Griffin: I don't know how many is in there now. Commissioner Tuley: Do you know how many is in there, John, off the top of your head? John Stoll: No. Commissioner Tuley: Nobody knows? Yeah, because that is one of the things that we have to be aware of. It's not just meeting the needs of what is there today. It is a concern for the taxpayer's money. If we do just a little bit to meet now and then it continues to grow like we believe it is going to and it was plotted to grow, I mean that's the reason I just said I wanted to look into it a little closer and get with John and see if there is room where we can still meet you guy's concerns, those of you that live on the south side, plus also meet the needs for future traffic plans. So we'll take a look and meet with John. I wanted to make sure tonight, and I just wanted to hear it in a public meeting, that we weren't so far at this point in time that we can't at least take a look at it. John Griffin: One more question. How long will it be before these are finalized? A month or two months? John Stoll: I still need to talk to the Commissioners and then I guess we all need to get in touch with you and the other residents it is going to affect. John Griffin: Okay. John Stoll: So there is no set time table. John Griffin: So it will be at least a month probably? John Stoll: It's hard to say. John Griffin: Okay, I just don't want to let it, you know, get past. John Stoll: No, I still got your number. Commissioner Tuley: I was going to say we could just ask John that any time there is going to be any discussion particularly if it comes to this meeting with any kind of recommendation or something that you guys at least maybe you be the point of contact and we notify you and you can let anybody else that is concerned. John Griffin: Or Mr. Happe? Commissioner Tuley: Or Mr. Happe. I've got his number here. John Griffin: Okay, because he is home. He doesn't work. Commissioner Tuley: He is retired, yeah. John Griffin: And he is home more than I am. Commissioner Tuley: We can use Mr. Happe then as the point of contact. John Griffin: Okay. Commissioner Tuley: He'll probably be easier to get hold of. John Griffin: Okay, thank you. President Jerrel: Uh-huh, thank you. John Stoll: I was going to say I heard from, I believe, five or six residents on the south side of Mt. Pleasant in Copperfield Subdivision. John Griffin: One of the big things we're concerned about is it will lower our property values, you know, and we just moved in there a year and a half ago. President Jerrel: Having a bigger road? John Griffin: Well, it's just going to take our property, you know, some of our property. Commissioner Tuley: This is all your backyard? John Griffin: Yeah, we didn't have much backyard anyway. Really, that is not a county problem either, but still I just think it is something that doesn't need to be that wide. Commissioner Tuley: We're willing to look at it. John Griffin: Okay, thanks for your time. President Jerrel: Thank you. Commissioner Tuley: The only other thing I have for John I got another call on Number 6 School Road can you or someone in the Engineer's Department take a look, I don't remember if it is actually the north side or the south side of the road, the ditching along there has maybe been filled in with some pipes and some of them may have been requested and authorized and some of them maybe not so that when we get a good downpour the water does not stay on that side. It sheets over onto the south side. Erik is nodding his head like he knows exactly what I am talking about. John Stoll: I was going to say, do you know what the approximate address was or anything or is it just in general? Commissioner Tuley: I would just say it's Number 6 and just start going west off of 65 up to about Henze. John Stoll: Fairly common problem. Commissioner Tuley: Yeah. John Stoll: That we've seen all over the county. Commissioner Tuley: I said that when they called. I said, I got a feeling. I mean, you guys have all heard this and you are probably even aware of it, but what we do I don't know, but if you can just kind of take a look and at least let me know what you think has happened out there. John Stoll: Okay. Commissioner Tuley: That's all I had. John Stoll:
Okay, thanks.
President Jerrel: County Garage. Erik Bentle: Erik Bentle, County Garage. You've got my reports for the last two weeks. A report for this week and my work schedule for this week. The other thing is we have...me and the Engineer has got together and issued the list of roads to be paved this year. We've given them to you for you to look at before we release it to the public. If there are any additions you would like to add to it or anything that we missed please let us know. I think the hearing is the 13th or something like that. President Jerrel: Right. Erik Bentle: The last thing I have is the County Garage has established their goals for 2000. Is there anything that you wish to cover on that? President Jerrel: I think maybe we'll take some time next week and Richard will be back and give us a chance to review those because we're going to do the same thing with Burdette Park, but like we said we're on a tight schedule tonight. Erik Bentle: Okay. President Jerrel: We're running ten minutes late, but we'll do it and thank you for getting those ready. Erik Bentle: Alright. President Jerrel: We're going to be posting...have we...yeah, we've posted them and...is that this years? Commissioner Tuley: The 2000 goals? President Jerrel: Okay, alright 2000 goals are on the board and we'll get yours and we'll put yours up there also and Burdette's, so we'll know what we're going to do. Erik Bentle: And I did talk to John about that road and it is on the contract list. Commissioner Tuley: Oh, okay. President Jerrel: We didn't go far enough. Commissioner Tuley: Oh, okay, I missed it. I'm sorry. President Jerrel: Thank you very much. Commissioner Tuley: I appreciate that. Erik Bentle: Okay. Commissioner
Tuley: So do the people that live there.
President Jerrel: County Attorney. Joe Harrison,
Jr.: I've got a couple of items. The first are the bids that came in on
VC00-01, St. Joseph Avenue and Commercial Court intersection. There were
three bids and they are as follows:
I would ask that you take these three bids under advisement and review them for their responsiveness. Commissioner Tuley: I will so move. President Jerrel: Second and so ordered. Joe Harrison,
Jr.: The next group of bids is for the demolition of seven pieces of property
for SEMA flood mitigation. There were five bids submitted and they are
as follows:
And I would ask that you take these bids under advisement and review them for their responsiveness. Commissioner Tuley: I will so move. President Jerrel: Second and so ordered. Joe Harrison, Jr.: The last item I have has to do with a blue claim that is in your file. It's a settlement proposal to be paid by the county in the sum of $30,000 on behalf of the Area Plan Commission in connection with a lawsuit filed by Tim Major several years ago. I believe it was filed in 1998 against the Area Plan Commission. This particular lawsuit the county or the Area Plan Commission lost at trial level about a $130,000 judgement. On appeal it was reversed and it now goes back to remand and the parties have agreed to a settlement of $30,000. This was the exact same amount, if you may recall, that was offered before the trial several years ago. So there is a blue claim in the file and I would ask that be approved in the sum of $30,000 on behalf of the Area Plan Commission for a judgement against them. Commissioner Tuley: I will so move. President Jerrel: I'll second and say so ordered. Joe Harrison,
Jr.: That's all I have.
President Jerrel: Okay, Superintendent of County Buildings. Tony Greubel: I'm submitting a 501(c)(3) application on behalf of Burdette Park for approval and signature. That's it. President Jerrel: Is there a second...a motion? Commissioner Tuley: I will move approval of the submitting of the 501(c). President Jerrel:
And I'll second and say so ordered.
President Jerrel:
You do have your other reports.
President Jerrel: I would like for Burdette to come up now. Steve Craig: Steve Craig, Manager of Burdette Park. The first thing I would like to ask the Commissioner is to sign the variance for the parking at the O'Day Discovery Lodge. President Jerrel: We'll need a motion on that. Commissioner Tuley: I'll move that we sign the request before BZA. President Jerrel: And I'll second and say so ordered. Steve Craig: Thank you. The second thing I have is the proposed Burdette Park rates for 2001 as suggested by the Burdette Park Advisory Board. President Jerrel: Is it alright with you if we take these under advisement until next week when Richard is back? Steve Craig: Yeah, that's fine. President Jerrel: Is there- Commissioner Tuley: I would move that we delay this for one more week. President Jerrel: I'll second and say so ordered. Steve Craig: The last thing that I have is the 1999 year end report and cost analysis for Burdette Park. President Jerrel: Well, it looks like you're making more money. Steve Craig: Yeah, expenses were up a little bit, too, but- President Jerrel: Yeah. Steve Craig: -we try to keep ahead of the game. President Jerrel: Well, it looks good and I appreciate this. I want to sit down and digest it a little bit. Commissioner Tuley: You want to digest it and you said they actually made money? President Jerrel: Yeah, well, their revenue was up. Commissioner Tuley: Revenue was up. President Jerrel: Over $2,452. Commissioner Tuley: Okay. I'll move acceptance of the reports as submitted. President Jerrel: And I'll second and so order. Steve Craig:
Thank you.
President Jerrel: The remaining items are consent items. Is there a motion to approve? They relate to travel and employment changes. Commissioner Tuley: Okay, I'll move approval of the consent items and I also want to move approval of acceptance of the reports by Soil & Water Conservation and the Ozone Officer. President Jerrel:
And I'll second and say so ordered.
President Jerrel: Is there any old business to come before the board? Commissioner
Tuley: No old business.
President Jerrel: We do have one new business item. Commissioner Tuley: Yes, at the request of Shirley James or the recommendation of Shirley James would like to submit the name of Jane Manis to the Greenway Committee. President Jerrel: And I'll second that and say so ordered. We do have before we close some comments from the Sheriff. Brad Ellsworth: As much as I think the $40,000 I offered for the use on the study is a good use of those funds I just wanted to let the Commissioners know that I will be approaching the Council for an appropriation in March to repair the roof at the correction complex so in case we need to move inmates. We currently have some housed in the jail are petitions to revoke from the SAFE House. You know, with some minor adjustments and some bed building we should be able to put some more inmates, at least the people who belong in the SAFE House out there and some were petition to revoke so I am going to ask to spend a little money to try to get some numbers down in the jail, so I just wanted to let the Commission know about that. We'll be coming to you with that and the Council. President Jerrel: What did you do, did you solicit? Brad Ellsworth: Well, we're going to solicit new bids. The current bids that I went off of last time were the old bids and they gave additional bids on the section that is currently tarped, so we'll ask for new bids from the same companies, but it looked like the bid last time that would have won was about $17,000. We can probably figure pretty close to that. President Jerrel: Okay. Brad Ellsworth: Thank you. President Jerrel: Thank you. Any other business to come before this board? Hearing none... Commissioner Tuley: Motion to adjourn. President Jerrel: Second and so ordered. The meeting was adjourned at 6:48 p.m. Employment changes: County Clerk Burdette Park Coroner's Office Pigeon Assessor Health Dept. Circuit Court Prosecutor's Office Sheriff's Dept. Superior Court County Clerk County Council Travel requests: Auditor Area Plan Comm. Pigeon Assessor Burdette Park Health Dept. Treasurer: Submitting monthly report Weights & Measures: Submitting monthly report Prosecutor: Permission to
declare terminals/keyboards surplus
Those
in attendance:
Vanderburgh
County
Bettye Lou Jerrel, President Patrick Tuley, Member Recorded and transcribed by Charlene Timmons.
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