President Jerrel: I'd like to call the Vanderburgh County Commission meeting to order, please. At this time I'll introduce those before you. On my far right is Tony Greubel, the Superintendent of County Buildings; Joe Harrison, Jr., County Attorney, is next to him; Commissioner Pat Tuley; on my far left, Charlene Timmons, the Recording Secretary; Suzanne Crouch, County Auditor; Commissioner Richard Mourdock; and my name is Bettye Lou Jerrel. Would you join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.
 

President Jerrel: Thank you. The first item on the agenda is the approval of the minutes of the last meeting.

Commissioner Mourdock: I'll move approval of the minutes of June 21, 1999.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.
 

President Jerrel: The next item is the certification of the Executive Session.

Commissioner Mourdock: I'll move approval of the summary minutes of the Executive Session which began at 4:40 and ended at 5:40 and it was in regard to pending litigation and county personnel matters.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.
 

President Jerrel: The next item is the grant of public right-of-way/construction agreement for frontage road for Southern Indiana Properties. John.

Commissioner Mourdock: Have we named this road yet?

John Stoll: No. It goes with all the other unnamed streets that the state built as part of the 164 project. That was just a dedication between Replas and the Azteca sites and the agreement that says that Southern Indiana Properties will fund up to $150,000 for construction of that road so it's the final documents we needed in order to get that road constructed.

Commissioner Mourdock: Here, here. I think we first started dealing with SIFI on that...or SIPI whichever is appropriate, SIPI, what...18 months ago? At least two years, so they finally came through.

John Stoll: Right.

Commissioner Mourdock: I'll move approval of the acceptance of the grant of public right-of-way for where the frontage road as it is known near the Azteca plant.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.

Joe Harrison, Jr.: And also would you approve the agreement between SIPI and the county regarding the funding sources?

Commissioner Mourdock: So moved.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.
 

President Jerrel: The next item on the agenda is the opening of bids for the frontage road at Baseline, Phase 2. 

Commissioner Mourdock: Yeah, this is the same project that we were just discussing.

President Jerrel: Okay, well then--

Commissioner Mourdock: I'll move we open bids 99-06-03 for the frontage road near Baseline.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.
 

President Jerrel: The next item on the agenda is a final hearing for the vacation of easement at 5020 North Posey County Line Road. If you recall, we had that last week and this is a final tonight. Is there anyone here representing Mr. Raber?

Jason Guthrie: My name is Jason Guthrie. I'm an attorney with Kahn Dees Donovan & Kahn. 

President Jerrel: Is there anyone else here that wishes to speak to this issue? Any questions from Commissioners?

Commissioner Mourdock: No, I think it was pretty clear last week.

Commissioner Tuley: Yeah.

President Jerrel: Okay, is there a motion to this effect?

Commissioner Mourdock: I'll move approval of the vacation of the easement at 5020 North Posey County Line Road. 

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.

Tim Raber: Thank you.

President Jerrel: Thank you.
 

President Jerrel: The next item on the agenda is the recommendation for the Airport Board, yes, Richard Shymanski to serve on that board. 

Commissioner Mourdock: I'll move the appointment of Richard Shymanski to the Evansville-Vanderburgh Airport Authority District Board. That's a three year appointment.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.
 

President Jerrel: The next item on the agenda is the Welfare to Work Planning Council, approval of the demonstration project request.

Tim Suenram: I'm Tim Suenram. I'm the chair of the Local Planning Council for Welfare to Work. I have a couple of other items for you to add to your packets that you should have received. These are just further letters of recommendations to be attached. I did want to call your attention to two items. One is that I understand from Tony Greubel that we have a low estimate on the salary for the IV-D program person that this demonstration project would fund. I believe Tony told me it should be really including a package for insurance would be $34,870. Is that right? So we're low on that estimate and we realize this demonstration project is not due until September 30th, so we would want to tweak that and make that salary reflect what a person at that level would be making. The other item is to request--

Commissioner Mourdock: Excuse me, Tim.

Tim Suenram: I'm sorry.

Commissioner Mourdock: Let me clarify something with that because I'm a little confused here. Thank you, Charlene. That amount, Tony, is for one person, is that right?

Tony Greubel: Yeah, that's the salary for one person and then they were proposing to hire three of them.

Commissioner Mourdock: Okay--

Tony Greubel: Including with matching grants from the state.

Commissioner Mourdock: So effectively the state would do two and we would do one?

Tim Suenram: That's right. 

Commissioner Mourdock: Okay.

Tim Suenram: And the two would be counted as an in-kind match.

Commissioner Mourdock: Okay.

Tim Suenram: My understanding is that it is federal money that the IV-D office could apply for.

Commissioner Mourdock: Okay.

Tim Suenram: The other item that we need to call to your attention is related to matching funds. We're required in order to be able to exact this demonstration project to have local funds in the amount of 15 percent match. The recommendation of the Local Planning Council was to take unused funds from the Riverboat money that had been allocated for the IBAP program, especially those out of training that probably at this point will not get used through the IBAP program. The feeling of the Council was since this will involve training and job placement that it would still be a use of the funds applied towards job training, so our recommendation was that the County Commission consider amending the bill that allowed...or the ordinance that called for dispersal for the IBAP program. 

Commissioner Mourdock: I'm trying to track down a bad mike here.

President Jerrel: Do you think it's this one? 

Tim Suenram: So essentially we're asking the County Commission to approve moving that money from the IBAP program to provide a 15 percent match for the demonstration project. 

Commissioner Mourdock: Just guess I'll lead off the discussion here. I think, and speaking as one Commissioner so I am looking for opinions here, I think the greatest concern is simply with the possible additional staffing levels through the Prosecutor's Office to track down the deadbeat dads, if you will. I know from other grant requests that come before us there is always that sticky question of when we hire someone and the grant disappears how do those people continue to be funded and that has nothing to do with this program per se, but with all the programs we roll out because inevitably it becomes an additional burden back on the General Fund and county government as a whole. I guess my interest right now is in the thought of the other two Commissioners here as far as if, in fact, that grant request is tweaked, to use Tim's words, to be brought up to the level where it would take care of that one employee is this Board interested in going forth with, in fact, three employees with the state doing two and us doing one if, in fact, there is some stipulation in the minutes of this body that says those positions are only there as long as those grant funds specifically are there from whichever branch them come from, DOC or it isn't DOC, but whoever it would be? 

Tim Suenram: It's the Division of Family & Children, is that right? FSSA? That's where this money is. 

Commissioner Mourdock: Right.

President Jerrel: If federal funds support this would you be in contact with the Prosecutor's Office?

Tim Suenram: Oh, yes.

President Jerrel: Will you be sure that you mention the differential in terms of funding?

Tim Suenram: Right.

President Jerrel: And perhaps maybe make it clear to them that they should include in their grant request money to cover everything because if, in fact, they hire two people and then this grant money dries up that will be expected...they'll be expected to inform the people.

Tim Suenram: Right.

President Jerrel: We do have them apply on different forms that go through. We have different colored forms now to designate grants, but I think it's fair to the people to know when they're hired, that they're told.

Tim Suenram: Right, we'll be sure that takes place.

Commissioner Mourdock: Are you comfortable with that, Bettye Lou, I mean going forward? I know that is a continuing concern of yours and justifiably because of the way past history has told us those positions are not terminated when the grants run out. 

President Jerrel: One department in the county follows the procedure to the letter and that is the Health Department. To the letter, with benefits and everything else. If they hire someone and when the money runs out that is the end of the position, but that is the only department and a number of people have been added through the years because of that.

Tim Suenram: Well, IV-D has been involved in this conversation since we've started this demonstration project application and they're aware of the limits, that it is a grant, so I'm sure that won't come to them as a surprise. I'll be sure to reiterate it.

Commissioner Mourdock: Isn't part of the theory, and I recall this from one of the Welfare to Work planning meetings fairly recently, but wasn't part of the theory here that as these folks came onboard some of the funds that they are otherwise recovering could make these positions self supporting? Wasn't that discussed?

Tim Suenram: That's my understanding. I'm not sure how that works, but apparently the county is allowed to keep a certain portion of the recovered funds.

President Jerrel: The IV-D money, one third of it goes back to the Prosecutor's Office. There is...am I correct, Suzanne?

Suzanne Crouch: Uh-huh.

President Jerrel: But it doesn't reach the level of supporting the new people, but it does help. 

Commissioner Mourdock: So with the introductory statement you made regarding taking this back and tweaking it is there anything this Board, in fact, needs to do this evening then if you're going to go ahead and bring those numbers up-to-date?

Tim Suenram: Actually, no. We'll need to come back with a finely tweaked proposal, actually. Actually, this was given to us in its form like this because PIC's contract is through with us June 30th so the committee will take responsibility for doing the tweaking.

Commissioner Mourdock: Okay.

President Jerrel: Thank you very much.

Tim Suenram: Thank you.
 

President Jerrel: The next item on the agenda is anyone that wishes to appear before this group at this time.
 

President Jerrel: Seeing no one we'll go back up to...have you opened the bids?

Joe Harrison, Jr.: I'm still working on them. I'll just do them during my report.

President Jerrel: Okay, County Engineer.

John Stoll: First I would like to recommend that we accept streets in Phase 1 of Ashwood Subdivision for maintenance. These are Rosewood Avenue, 125 linear feet; Kenmore Drive, 521 linear feet; and Elmridge Drive which is 658 linear feet. These are concrete streets that were constructed in Ashwood Subdivision which is located between Lynch and Bergdolt east of Oak Hill.

Commissioner Mourdock: I'll move approval of the acceptance of the afore named streets.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.

John Stoll: Next I've got a right-of-way dedication that was supplied by Lowe's for their west side store. This is for the widening of University Drive associated with their signal installation and road improvements. This needs to be accepted by the Commissioners. There is no line for the Commissioners to accept...sign acknowledging acceptance, but this is just to run it through the meeting and acknowledge we did receive the right-of-way we needed. 

Joe Harrison, Jr.: Motion to accept.

Commissioner Mourdock: I'll move we accept the public roadway and utility easement granted to us through Lowe's Home Center as of this document.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.

John Stoll: Next I've got two permits we've got to get signed for the Broadway Avenue Bridge out near Rollett Lane. This is bridge number 272 that we're in the process of getting replaced. I've got an IDEM permit and a Corps of Engineers permit. The Corps of Engineers permit is for placement of fill and the IDEM permit is for water quality certification. It's recommend these both be signed.

Commissioner Mourdock: I'll move signing of the permits as requested.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.

John Stoll: The final item I've got is a request for street plan approval for Virginia Street, the portion that the county's got out for bid as well as a portion of Virginia Street in Cross Pointe Section 5. This will be a three lane cross section road. It's an asphalt street and we've reviewed the plans and recommend that the Commissioners approve them.

Commissioner Mourdock: I'll move approval of the plans for Virginia Street as submitted.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.

John Stoll: That's all I have unless you've got some questions. 
 

President Jerrel: Joe.

Joe Harrison, Jr.: Am I next? 

President Jerrel: Yeah.

Joe Harrison, Jr.: Oh, Erik is here, isn't he?

President Jerrel: Oh, Erik. 

Commissioner Tuley: Yeah, Erik is here.

Commissioner Mourdock: You're on, Erik. 

Erik Bentle: You guys got my weekly work reports.

President Jerrel: Right.

Erik Bentle: And the inventory of the cribs, absentee reports and we've got an accident report. One of the foreman had an accident in one of the trucks and we don't know right now whether it is totaled out or not. The adjuster is going to get back to me on it. He was sitting out on Boonville-New Harmony Road, on the bridge, talking to one of the county engineers and left the truck running and was out of it for about 20 minutes and all of a sudden the truck took off and rolled over in a ditch. You have my report on how I handled it with him and the police officer's report on it. 

President Jerrel: Just to comment, Penco will be here I think it's the 12th and 13th...it will be the 13th and 14th. 

Erik Bentle: Okay.

President Jerrel: So they'll be out to check on everything that, you know, you said you had everything in order or just about in order.

Erik Bentle: We've got a couple of things left that we've got to do, so it should be done.

President Jerrel: Okay.

Joe Harrison, Jr.: Can I ask one thing? Was it my understanding that the truck when it was inspected in the ditch that it was still in--

Erik Bentle: It was in park.

Joe Harrison, Jr.: It was still in park?

Erik Bentle: Yeah.

Joe Harrison, Jr.: Okay.

Erik Bentle: And I have contacted the Chevrolet dealer to find out if there has been any recall on the transmissions or any problems with them. I've got no response back on it yet. 

Joe Harrison, Jr.: Thanks.

Erik Bentle: Anything else?

President Jerrel: Is there a motion to accept?

Commissioner Mourdock: So moved.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.
 

President Jerrel: County Attorney.

Joe Harrison, Jr.: Regarding the bids that were opened, it was project VC99-06-03 the frontage road project:
 

I would ask that you take these under advisement and review them for their responsiveness.

Commissioner Mourdock: So moved.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.

Joe Harrison, Jr.: That's all I have.
 

President Jerrel: Superintendent of County Buildings.

Tony Greubel: I don't have anything.
 

President Jerrel: Burdette Park.

Steve Craig: All I have is I want to give you kind of a rundown on what we've been doing. Our chalets have all been rented out. They're full. All the cabins this weekend in the park was rented. The pavilion was rented three days this week. The campground was full, they had no vacancy. The Day Camp is full. They have no vacancy. We had a 28 team baseball tournament that started Wednesday and ran through Sunday that was played out at Burdette. And the pool was very slow due to the erratic weather. 

Commissioner Mourdock: I'm sorry?

Steve Craig: The pool was slow due to the erratic weather.

President Jerrel: We commiserated today on this and don't know what to do about it.

Commissioner Tuley: There ain't much you can do.

President Jerrel: I know it.

Steve Craig: I mean everything that we have is rented. I mean, completely rented. You can't get anything. The Day Camp is full, we're turning people away. As long as the weather is the indicating factor at the pool we're at the mercy--

President Jerrel: Wouldn't it be nice to have a just like get hot tomorrow and stay that way all the way?

Steve Craig: The five day forecast was it was supposed to be 100 by the weekend.

Commissioner Tuley: Yeah, 96 I saw for Friday. 

President Jerrel: We'll you'll just have the whole pool full.

Steve Craig: It would be the first forecast they had right this summer! 

President Jerrel: Would a doppler help that or not?

Commissioner Mourdock: No, I don't think so.

Steve Craig: Yes!

Commissioner Mourdock: Yeah, the 90 day forecast is for cooler than normal.

Steve Craig: I know, I heard.

President Jerrel: We've got to get all of our business in though by the 10th of August.

Steve Craig: I know because the kids go back to school.

President Jerrel: Is there anything else? Is there a motion to accept the report?

Commissioner Mourdock: So moved.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered. Thank you very much.

Steve Craig: Thank you very much.
 

President Jerrel: You have your other reports, so is there a motion to accept them?

Commissioner Mourdock: I'll move acceptance of the additional reports from the Soil & Water Conservation District and the Ozone Officer.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.
 

President Jerrel: Under consent items there are no changes. Suzanne is this a late one?

Suzanne Crouch: It made it into the final.

President Jerrel: Oh, okay, so it's in there?

Suzanne Crouch: Yes.

Commissioner Mourdock: I'll move approval of the consent items as filed.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.
 

President Jerrel: You've got your attached scheduled meetings. Don't forget, we do not have a meeting next Monday night. 

Commissioner Mourdock: I doubt that I would have forgotten that.

Commissioner Tuley: Yeah.

Suzanne Crouch: Really, I'm glad you reminded us!
 

President Jerrel: Under old business, anything to come up under old business?

Commissioner Tuley: None.

President Jerrel: You're preparing a draft ordinance for us for the SAFE House?

Joe Harrison, Jr.: I've had a conversation with Sheriff Ellsworth and we're going to be talking again hopefully this week or early next week and I'll report back next meeting.

Commissioner Mourdock: At that initial discussion, Joe, was there anything as far as specific items that are of concern that you see where they may be some intense negotiations? 

Joe Harrison, Jr.: Um--

Commissioner Mourdock: Maybe intense isn't the right word. 

Joe Harrison, Jr.: No, I think I could use some items, some other thoughts that you would like for me to convey to him. I've got thoughts and he has got questions and concerns and thoughts, but I would appreciate some more information so I can provide that to him.

Commissioner Mourdock: Okay, on that subject I had put a memo together to Pat and Bettye Lou and I will also forward a copy. I presume you did not get a copy?

Joe Harrison, Jr.: No.

Commissioner Mourdock: Okay, of things that I feel we need to address with the Sheriff as far as how that needs to be discussed and just some things we can lay out maybe in the contract.

Joe Harrison, Jr.: That's fine.

Commissioner Mourdock: It isn't meant to be all inclusive, but there were--

Commissioner Tuley: Starting.

Commissioner Mourdock: Starting points, yeah. Things that I think we would all like to see dealt with and certainly in addition to that some of the Executive Session items tonight on classifications as to who is doing what I think is pretty important.

Joe Harrison, Jr.: That's fine. 
 

President Jerrel: Okay. Any other new business? Motion to adjourn?

Commissioner Mourdock: So moved.

Commissioner Tuley: Second.

President Jerrel: So ordered.

The meeting was adjourned at 6:10 p.m.

Those in attendance:

Bettye Lou Jerrel

Richard E. Mourdock

Patrick Tuley

Joe Harrison, Jr.

Suzanne M. Crouch

Charlene Timmons

Tony Greubel

John Stoll

Jason Guthrie

Tim Raber

Tim Suenram

Erik Bentle

Steve Craig

Others unidentified

Members of the media
 

Vanderburgh County
Board of Commissioners

Bettye Lou Jerrel, President

Richard E. Mourdock, Vice President

Patrick Tuley, Member

Recorded and transcribed by Charlene Timmons.