VANDERBURGH COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

JANUARY 3, 2006

The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners met in session this 3^rd day of January, 2006 at 3:32 p.m. in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex with President Cheryl Musgrave presiding.

President Musgrave: Good afternoon. I would like to call to order the Board of Commissioners of Vanderburgh County meeting of January 3, 2006. I will start with introductions to my far right.

B.J. Farrell: B.J. Farrell, Superintendent of County Buildings.

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

Commissioner Nix: Bill Nix, County Commissioner.

President Musgrave: Cheryl Musgrave, County Commissioner.

Commissioner Shetler: Tom Shetler, County Commissioner.

Madelyn Grayson: Madelyn Grayson, Recording Secretary.

Bill Fluty: Bill Fluty, County Auditor.

President Musgrave: If you will, join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

(The Pledge of Allegiance was given.)

President Musgrave: We move to the approval of the prior minutes. We have two sets of minutes, one on December 20^th, the regular Commission meeting minutes, and then the jail dedication summary minutes on December 27^th.

Commissioner Nix: Move approval.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

President Musgrave: The first action item under County Commissioners is the election of board officers for 2006. Is there a motion?

Commissioner Nix: I would like to entertain, or I would like to make a motion that we approve Cheryl Musgrave as President of the Commission for this year.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: I’ve got a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor?

Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: Is there a motion for Vice President?

Commissioner Shetler: I would like to move that Mr. Nix be Vice President for next year.

President Musgrave: I’ll second. Any discussion? All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

President Musgrave: We then move to the ordinance CO.01-06-001 concerning meetings. We have distributed the meeting times for next year. Our meetings will remain at 3:30 on Tuesday afternoons, not meeting on the fifth Tuesday of any month, and then several selected other dates. This will be the first and final reading. Is there any discussion of this? A motion?

Commissioner Nix: Do we need to waive the first reading?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Yes.

Commissioner Nix: I make a motion that we waive the first reading.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Pardon me. We waive the second reading.

President Musgrave: Waive the second reading.

Commissioner Nix: Excuse me, the second reading, I’m sorry.

President Musgrave: And does your second?

Commissioner Shetler: Yes.

President Musgrave: Okay. All those in favor? And that’s a roll call vote. Commissioner Nix?

Commissioner Nix: Yes.

President Musgrave: Commissioner Shetler?

Commissioner Shetler: Yes.

President Musgrave: And I vote yes. And now we make a motion to approve the ordinance.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: Any discussion? All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: Roll call. Commissioner Nix?

Commissioner Nix: Yes.

President Musgrave: Commissioner Shetler?

Commissioner Shetler: Yes.

President Musgrave: And I vote yes. So, our meetings will go forward for the advertising process? Is that correct, B.J.? Or have they already been advertised?

B.J. Farrell: I will defer to Madelyn on that.

Madelyn Grayson: It’s an ordinance, so it will just be–

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: It’s not necessary to advertise.

President Musgrave: Great.

President Musgrave: The road hearing dates is the next item on the agenda. As previously announced, I believe we’ve previously announced it, the third district road hearing date will be January 18^th from 5:30 to 7:00 at Helfrich Park Middle School. I look forward to the dates for the district one, district two.

Commissioner Nix: I should have a date next week for that.

President Musgrave: Okay, and we would like to conclude them within a couple, three weeks after January 18^th so that the Highway Department can move on with their planning phases for the next year’s paving, or this year’s paving now that it’s 2006. It’s hard to believe.

President Musgrave: We need to hold an executive session on Tuesday, January 10^th at 2:00 p.m. Do I announce that, Mr. Ziemer? Or do we need a motion to do that?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: You should have a motion.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

Commissioner Nix: We did mention the time on that? 2:00 p.m.

President Musgrave: 2:00 p.m., and this will be to discuss pending litigation.

President Musgrave: Although it’s on the agenda for today, the engagement letter for Barnes and Thornburg is not available and it will be on next week’s agenda.

President Musgrave: We now come to Debra Bennett, the urgent need grant. As Ms. Bennett is coming forward, Commissioners, you’ll recall that Ms. Bennett is working on the need for a new fire station in Knight Township because of the destruction of the current south station by the tornado of November 6^th. Ms. Bennett?

Debra Bennett: Good evening. Thanks for allowing myself and Chief Wathen to be here again this evening to bring you up to date on where we stand on the grant application. I believe you have an agenda to follow in front of you that I forwarded to you. First of all, to tell you briefly, we had our site visit with the Office of Rural Affairs approximately two weeks ago. Ms. Musgrave was with us that day. They did encourage an application to receive $500,000 for 100 percent financing for a new fire station. Since that time the department’s been busy working on their RFP’s for their grant administrator and for their architect, since both will be paid out of grant funding. Those were completed last Friday. They were due last Friday, and they have chose, is it Mike Ewald?

Chris Wathen: Michael Ewald.

Debra Bennett: Michael Ewald as the architect to do the design of the building, and they have chosen our firm to be grant administrator for the grant project. The next thing to talk about is we have scheduled two public hearings, which are required by the federal government prior to the grant application that we will submit on or about January 31^st. The first public hearing will be held on the tenth at the company station number six on Burkhardt Road. It will be held at 7:00. It is open to the public. It will be allowed to talk about the project and the budget, and to allow for citizen comments. An additional public hearing will be held on January the 17^th, again at 7:00 at company number six on Burkhardt Road. I also included for you this evening a copy of the proposed time table and the proposed budget for the grant application. To briefly go through it, the time table states that you have made your letter of intent to the Office of Rural Affairs, and you have conducted your official site visit, and they have asked for you to bring in the application. The solicitation of the RFP for the architects and the grant administrators is complete. We have set the two public hearings and began the environmental review process. We anticipate the application being submitted by the county on behalf of the department on or about January the 31^st. They said they would score it immediately and let us know in February one way or the other whether it’s funded. At that point, we anticipate the environmental review being complete by March the 1^st, and having the final design sometime in March, and advertised for bids late April, getting released the funds in May and starting construction in May, completing it by December of next year. Or this year now, December of 2006. Are there any questions about the time table? Please feel free to interrupt as I go. I have a tendency to go quickly. The other is the project budget. Again, these are not to exceed numbers. We are asking for a half a million dollars. That’s, we will get what you ask for. From that we’ve sort of worked backwards. We are setting aside $35,000 for grant administration, $1,000 to conduct the environmental review, $5,000 for labor standards, and labor standards involves making sure that people on the job site are paid according to their job classification. It’s a HUD requirement because we are using federal funding. I put in a figure of $59,000 for professional fees. That includes your architect, any soil borings or site surveying or any attorney fees that are incurred by either the Commission or the department, because of the grant application. That leaves approximately $400,000 for the site work and to actually build the building. One thing I did not include in your packet that I brought, if you would like to have, I’ll give it to Chris, is a map that shows where the new site is located, and also, I apologize, the picture’s not very good, but it’s a picture of where the new site location is. It is on Pollack Avenue. There’s I think five there, one of each. So, that you have an idea of where the new building is going to go. It is on ground that is owned by the fire department at this time. Last, to talk about, at the beginning of the agenda is the local match. We met and we are showing a need that, at this time, we do not have money for a local match. So, there will not be a requirement for local match in this grant application. That is eligible. Okay, does anyone have any questions about everything we just...I know we went through it quickly, that we just discussed? As you can see from the picture, there was previously a building there. There are two aprons leading in to the site. I believe it was a concrete mixing facility that helped when the Lloyd...the bypass or the Lloyd?

Chris Wathen: 164.

Debra Bennett: 164 was being constructed. If not, then we’ll run through the other documents that you have before you. I’ll ask you, do you want me to explain those? Or have they been reviewed enough to go ahead and take action on? Or what would you like?

President Musgrave: I think the attorney has reviewed them enough and has communicated that by e-mail–

Debra Bennett: Okay.

President Musgrave: –so you can just list them, if you would like.

Debra Bennett: Okay. The first that you need to, and I have the originals here, which I will give to you. The first document is a letter allowing for WTH to take the minutes of the meeting, the public hearings, and to post the necessary legal notices. The second is a cooperation agreement showing your support and cooperation between the county and the fire department, and also showing the liability of the grant passing through to the department. The third is a resolution by the Commission submitting the grant application. Those are the first three that require action.

President Musgrave: Is there a motion to–

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: Any discussion? All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

Debra Bennett: Okay, the second ones that need to be voted on to include in the application is a displacement plan and a displacement assessment. There will not be any, there will be no displacement in this project, but we still have to have a plan in place in case there is. Also, the budget that I’ve presented to you, the time table that I just presented to you and the forms of the public notice, which were posted, or advertised in the local paper.

President Musgrave: Is that all?

Debra Bennett: At this point.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: That would be a motion to include those items in the application.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

Debra Bennett: Then the last document is, no it’s not the last, there’s three, I’m sorry. Assurances and certifications that a boilerplate information provided in the grant document. There’s also a CDBG disclosure report, which at this time will be disclosing nothing, because that will be updated as we hire contractors for the project. The Civil Rights certification. The citizens participation report showing when you advertised, the dates and times of the public hearing, and last is a readiness to proceed certification stating that you are ready to proceed with the project.

President Musgrave: Okay, and for these we need a vote to allow the President of the Commissioners to sign these documents?

Debra Bennett: Yes.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

Debra Bennett: That’s all I have to cover, unless you have any questions. We again are very grateful to the Commissioners for all the short notice that we’re giving you due to the urgent need application. But, it’s a wonderful thing for the county.

President Musgrave: I appreciate all the work that you’ve done over the holidays to get ready for this meeting.

Commissioner Nix: One question I had.

Debra Bennett: Yes.

Commissioner Nix: On the building, how many square feet?

Chris Wathen: It’s somewhere around 70 by 80 in round numbers.

President Musgrave: Will it be handicapped accessible?

Chris Wathen: Yes.

President Musgrave: And suitable for a polling place?

Chris Wathen: I think it will be.

President Musgrave: That would be delightful if we could make it happen that way. There’s no place to vote out there.

Chris Wathen: Right.

Commissioner Nix: Thank you.

President Musgrave: We move now to the County Engineer, permission to open quotes. We have VC05-12-03.

Commissioner Nix: Move approval to open VC05-12-03.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries. It looks like we have four quotes to open there. While they are opening the quotes we can move to the Health Department.

President Musgrave: There are two ordinances on the agenda tonight for first reading. Is there a motion for both first readings?

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: Does that need to be a roll call vote? Yes, it does. Commissioner Nix?

Commissioner Nix: Yes.

President Musgrave: Commissioner Shetler?

Commissioner Shetler: Yes.

President Musgrave: And I vote yes. So, we will have second reading next week on the 10^th.

President Musgrave: Next on the agenda is the waiver of fees for the Centre. Is there a motion.

Commissioner Nix: Move approval.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: I wanted to make sure that your motion does not waive any overtime fees.

Commissioner Nix: That is correct.

President Musgrave: And your second does not as well? Okay. All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: Department head reports. Attorney Ziemer, I see that you are busy opening those right now, so, I’ll come back to you.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Thank you.

President Musgrave: Mr. Stoll, County Engineer?

John Stoll: The first item that I have is a street plan revision approval request for Hirschland Boulevard, which is a frontage road that will parallel Burkhardt Road north of Columbia Street. I’ve submitted a revised plan that was prepared by Morley and Associates. There will be a raised median installed out there just north of Columbia Street in order to restrict left turns in and out of a driveway that’s being proposed out in that location. The median will be approximately, I believe it’s 88 feet in length, and once we get past that driveway the median will be dropped and it will just be a two way left turn lane from that point northward. I’ve taken a look at the plans and I would request approval of the modified plan.

Commissioner Nix: Move approval.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

John Stoll: Next I have a storm sewer acceptance request for sections six and seven of Stonecrest Subdivision. This is for 916 linear feet of storm sewer pipe that is located outside of street rights-of-way. The developer has paid the $1,832 fee for those off right-of-way pipes. So, I would request acceptance of the pipes.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

John Stoll: Next, I have a street acceptance request for section one of Eagle Ridge Estates Subdivision. This street acceptance is for 793 feet of Flagstick Boulevard, 240 feet of Talon Place, 784 feet of Hawk Ridge Road, and 987 feet of Scouts Way.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

John Stoll: Next, I have two design agreements with Bernardin Lochmueller and Associates for bridge repairs. The first is for bridge deck repairs on Allens Lane, and the agreement amount is $19,900. I had the County Attorney review the agreement, and he saw that the insurance provisions were acceptable. So, I would request approval of the agreement.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

John Stoll: The other agreement was for bridge deck repairs on Kuebler Road, and that agreement amount was $19,700.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

John Stoll: That’s all I have unless you have questions on anything. Thanks.

President Musgrave: Thank you.

President Musgrave: I see that Mr. Ziemer is still occupied. Are there any other department heads with reports? I see none. So, we’ll move down to board appointments.

B.J. Farrell: Excuse me?

President Musgrave: Oh, I’m sorry.

B.J. Farrell: I didn’t get my mic. on fast enough. The Health Department did come in today with a late travel request. I ask that you amend the consent agenda.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: We have a motion and a second. All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries. Did I skip anyone else? Okay.

President Musgrave: We have several board appointments. For the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals; Khristian Seger and Paul Farmer. Is there a motion?

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

President Musgrave: For Emergency Management, currently serving are Brad Ellsworth, John Buckman and Keith Kahre, and those appointments would expire on December 31, 2006.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: I would like to make sure that the record reflects that the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals, those are also just one year appointments. They’ve typically been one year. Does the Auditor feel that we need to make a motion to include that expiration date?

Bill Fluty: That’s fine.

President Musgrave: Okay. Convention and Visitors Bureau, is there a motion?

Commissioner Nix: I approve Joe Vezosso. His term would expire 12/31/06.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The Redevelopment Commission. Mr. Shetler is currently the appointee and cannot hold both those Commission appointments. Is there a motion to reappoint the current members and name a new one?

Commissioner Nix: Motion to approve Tim Deisher, Ross Rudolph, Jake Fulcher and Dave Abbott, and Jeff Korb, that’s the new appointment.

Commissioner Shetler: I’ll second.

President Musgrave: Those will also expire on December 31^st of ‘06?

Commissioner Nix: Yes.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The final four?

Commissioner Nix: Motion to rescind Commissioner Musgrave and appoint Commissioner Shetler to Vision-e.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: That carries.

Commissioner Nix: I’ve got a few more here. I would like to make a motion that we approve Commissioner Musgrave to Area Plan, Central Dispatch, EUTS and SWIRDC. (Inaudible. Microphone cutting out.)

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: A motion and a second. All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: That motion carries.

Commissioner Nix: Also, DRCC, Domestic and Sexual Violence, Vision-e and Coalition to End Homelessness to Commissioner Shetler.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: If you could do these.

Commissioner Shetler: To move to appoint Commissioner Bill Nix to Community Corrections, EARC, Old Courthouse Foundation.

President Musgrave: I will second. All those in favor.

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: That motion carries. So, it looks like everybody is going to be fairly busy throughout the year.

President Musgrave: We have other new business. I see that listed under here is the urgent need grant public hearing of January 10, 2006 at 7:00 p.m. at the Knight Township fire station. So, this is a further announcement that that urgent need grant public hearing will take place. So, we hope to see the public there to express their support for the new fire station. I hope the Commissioners can go as well. I intend to try to be there myself. Is there any other new business? Commissioner Shetler?

Commissioner Shetler: Yes, back on I think it was December 20^th there was a public hearing on Millersburg and Green River Road intersection. At that time many of the residents were talking about the speed limit out there being 50 mph. I think that’s excessive, and they felt as well. I would like to see us move the speed limit down to 45 mph starting at probably Boonville-New Harmony Road, and go south on Green River at a point to where I think it does end up being 45 mph. We’re dealing with a dark street that has no curbs, that has drainage ditches on both sides, has many driveways backing in and out of Green River Road. I think it’s a pretty dangerous situation at 50 mph. In addition to that, Millersburg Road is currently at 45, that’s a very narrow, much narrower street than what even Green River Road is, again, with drainage ditches on both sides. I feel like that would be safer at maybe 40 mph or five miles less than what it currently is. While we’re at it, since it’s in the neighborhood, Oak Hill Road being curvy, dark, narrow, and also the drainage ditches on both sides, I would like to see us reduce that speed limit from 45 down to 40. So, that’s a recommendation that I would like to make for us to tackle with the engineer.

Commissioner Nix: Do we need a motion? Is that a motion?

Commissioner Shetler: That is a motion.

Commissioner Nix: So moved. Second, excuse me, second.

President Musgrave: Okay, and this motion is to direct the County Attorney to draft an ordinance changing the speed limits on those roads?

Commissioner Shetler: That’s correct.

President Musgrave: Okay. All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries. I know that Mr. Ziemer is trying to do more than one thing at a time. So, you may want to touch base with him afterward. Is there any other new business? None?

President Musgrave: Are you ready?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Ready.

President Musgrave: Okay, do you want to go and do the bid openings?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Yes.

President Musgrave: Okay.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: These are bids for the Newman Road Culvert #1209. The first bid is from CCC of Evansville, $38,797.37, plus an optional bid of $15,377.14, for a total bid of $54,174.51. A bid by Koberstein for $39,042.50, plus an optional bid of $21,730, for a total bid of $60,772.50. Bid by Blankenberger for $33,131.11, plus an optional bid of $11,057.77, for a total bid of $44,188.88. Finally, a bid by Deig Brothers for $40,218.50, plus an optional bid of $18,592.60, for a total bid of $58,811.10.

VC05-12-03: Newman Road Culvert #1029 Removal and Replacement

Commissioner Nix: I move we take these bids under advisement.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries. And we move to your report, Mr. Ziemer.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: I just have one item. As the Commissioners are aware, following an objection to the order of the, an objection being filed to the order of the Indiana Election Division confirming the precinct changes ordered by the Vanderburgh County Commissioners on August 23, 2005, there was a meeting of the individual filing the objection, that’s Dennis Avery, plus Larry Aiken as Chairman of the Vanderburgh County Democrat Central Committee, plus Tom Shetler, a member of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners, and B.J. Farrell as a member of the committee, and Gregg Utley as a member of the committee. A compromise was reached whereby the agreement was to eliminate three of the precinct changes, leaving the other fourteen precinct changes. Pursuant to that compromise, a stipulation of compromise has been executed by Larry Aiken, again as Chairman of the Democrat Central Committee, and by Dennis Avery as the filer of the objection. It’s in form to be executed, if approved by you, by the Commissioners. I have four copies of that which I would like back after they’re signed. In addition, in order to make the changes final, so far as the Indiana Election Division and the Indiana Election Commission are concerned, we’re asked to have the Commissioners adopt a new order regarding these precincts to adopt the changes in the fourteen precincts that we’ve agreed to, leaving out the other three precincts. You have in your file a copy of that order, should you determine to approve it. Then, finally, we’re asked to submit to the Indiana Election Division a letter, which I have prepared, and sent to Commissioner Musgrave to review. The intent of that letter is to agree that the prior order of the Commission, of the Division, the Indiana Election Division, entered on January 3, 2006 will no longer be applicable, in favor of their adoption of a new order following the order of the Commissioners today, should you make that order. The new order will then approve the fourteen changes that are recommended. There will then be a ten day period from the publication of that order, which be on Friday, the 6^th of January. If no objections are filed by the 16^th of January, then the fourteen precinct changes will become official. It’s not contemplated that there would be any objections filed during that period.

President Musgrave: So, first you need a motion to adopt the stipulation of compromise?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Yes.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: That motion carries. Second, you need?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: A motion to adopt the order establishing precincts.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: That motion carries. Third?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: A motion to authorize Commissioner, or President Musgrave to sign the letter to the Indiana Election Division.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Okay, that’s it. We do have, we’re going to Fed Ex the documents to the Election Division immediately after this meeting, and they asked that we fax a copy of the order establishing the precincts as soon as it can be signed. So, if we could perhaps get that done right now, maybe you could go fax that to–

President Musgrave: Mr. Ziemer and Mr. Shetler, and I see Mr. Gregg Utley and Ms. Farrell, thank you for the efforts that you made to reach a compromise, to bring these precinct changes into being. We hope that the Indiana Election Division will accept this and move forward. I understand that this is a new process for them as well. We appreciate all the efforts that the Indiana Election Commission is making, but, we also appreciate the spirit of compromise that brought us to this moment, and we know that it will save money. We will not have to buy as many voting machines as we would have had to without it. It will save money in terms of the number of people who need to be hired to conduct the election itself, and in the rental of places to have as polling places. I know that it took place during the week between Christmas and New Years, a time when typically everyone would prefer to spend time with family and not at the negotiating table. So, I do very much appreciate the hard work that went in to this. Thank you.

B.J. Farrell: Commissioner Musgrave, if I may? Including the signature of those documents, I would like to have permission to file that appropriation request for the voting machines with the County Council.

President Musgrave: That would be a number and an amount to be determined.

B.J. Farrell: I have received an e-mail from Mr. Winnecke about that account.

President Musgrave: Okay, is there–

Commissioner Shetler: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: Motion approved.

Commissioner Shetler: Commissioner Musgrave, I might point out too, you know, in years of old, situations like this when you dealt with precincts and boundary lines and where the polling places were going to be were done in smoke filled rooms. This was done in a very clean room that I think was very professionally handled, and it was in that spirit of cooperation. I think Mr. Utley is to be commended for the work that he’s put together, because these guys put tons and tons of hours and time into it, along with B.J. and the efforts that they put forward. I think they are to be commended on that. Years ago there would have been one single party that would have just put their foot down and said, no, this is the way that we’re going to do things, and it wouldn’t have been a pretty sight. I think the outcome was good. I think it was one that we can all live with. The voters of Vanderburgh County I think are the ones that are going to benefit from the hard work that you all did. Thank you.

President Musgrave: Thank you.

President Musgrave: I believe we are now at old business. Is that correct? Is there any old business?

Commissioner Nix: I have none.

President Musgrave: No old business.

President Musgrave: Is there any public comment here tonight? Any member of the public wishing to address the Commission regarding Commission business? There is not.

President Musgrave: Consent items. Do we have a motion to approve the amended consent items?

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: Unless there is any further business to be brought, a motion to adjourn?

Commissioner Nix: Motion to adjourn.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: We are adjourned.

(The meeting was adjourned at 4:04 p.m.)

CONSENT ITEMS:

         Employment Changes:

         County Clerk (1)                       Circuit Court (1)              Election Office (1)

         Health Department (2)

         Travel Requests:

         Health Department (4)              Commissioners (3)

         Commissioners:

         ARC Settlement Agreement: O’Day Discovery Lodge

         Fence Agreement with Broadway Summit, LLC

         Insurance Services Letter: RSUI Group, Inc.: Property Wholesale Broker

         Automated Direct Deposit Authorization Agreement: FSSA

         Department Head Meeting Notes (12/20 & 12/27/05)

         Evansville ARC Monthly Report: November 2005.

         Treasurer: Monthly Report: November 2005.

         Department Head Reports:

         Burdette Park                 County Engineer             County Highway

         Ozone Officer                 Supt. Of Bldgs.               SWCD

         Those in Attendance:

         Cheryl Musgrave                      Bill Nix                            Tom Shetler, Jr.

         Bill Fluty                                    Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.          B.J. Farrell

         Madelyn Grayson                     Debra Bennett                Chris Wathen

         John Stoll                                  Others Unidentified         Members of Media

VANDERBURGH COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Cheryl Musgrave, President

Bill Nix, Vice President

Tom Shetler, Jr., Member

Recorded and transcribed by Madelyn Grayson.