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Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners March 8, 1999
President Jerrel: We had a Solid Waste
District Meeting and there was a new proposal presented and we had a lot
of questions that we need to ask, so that was the part for the delay, so
as soon as Pat gets here we’ll go ahead and begin. The agenda, I think
there are copies if you didn’t get a copy, they are over here on the side.
If there is anyone that wishes to speak...I notice there is a crowd and
I am assuming that there will be speakers. We would like to have anyone
that speaks to at least present a position and then keep from repeating
it if it is something that needs to be. At this time, I’m going to go ahead
and begin and call the meeting to order. I would like to introduce to you
the people before you. On my far right, the gentleman with the easel is
Tony Greubel, Superintendent of County Buildings; Joe Harrison, Jr., our
County Attorney, is next to him; this is Pat Tuley’s Commissioner seat;
on the far left, Charlene Timmons is our Recording Secretary; next to her
is Suzanne Crouch, the County Auditor; Richard Mourdock, County Commissioner,
is to my left; my name is Bettye Lou Jerrel. I would like to invite you
to join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.
President Jerrel: The first item on the action agenda is the approval of the minutes of the previous meeting. Is there a motion? Commissioner Mourdock: I’ll move approval of the minutes of March 1, 1999. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: So ordered.
President Jerrel: Next, Jerry Bryan, the Purchasing Department Director. Jerry Bryan: Okay, I’m here to give Joe Harrison the three packages that we received on VC99-15 which is the Jail Management Application. President Jerrel: Is there a motion approving opening the bids? Commissioner Mourdock: I’ll move the opening of the bids for that. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: So ordered.
President Jerrel: Moving on, Bill Cottun, from SCT. Bill Cottun: Good evening. I have four items before you today, three of them are for maintenance...annual maintenance for network or applications. The first item is approval of the contract to Cabletron for two specific items. One is for LANCare Standard which is support and maintenance for the network Cabletron switches. That is a 50/50 split between the city and county. The county’s portion...excuse me, the total is $3,227.11. The county’s portion is $1,613.56. The second part of that is for Spectrum Platform which is to support the switch management software. That is also a 50/50 county split. The total on that is $687.50 of which the county’s portion is $343.75. The total of the contract is $3,914.61. The county’s portion is $1,957.31. If I may, the city, through the Board of Public Works, has already approved their portion of this. President Jerrel: Are these one year contracts? Bill Cottun: Yes, ma’am, these are one year through the end of this year. President Jerrel: Okay. Are there any questions? Commissioner Mourdock: Just formally the Data Board is recommending approval, correct? Bill Cottun: Yes, sir, on all the things I’ve brought before you. Commissioner Mourdock: I’ll move approval as requested. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: So ordered. Bill Cottun: The next item is from Tiburon and that is two parts also. The first is Computer Aided Dispatch, that’s our 911 support. This is a reverse city/county split. The total amount is $18,479 of which the county pays $6,876.04. The second part is from the RMS, or records management package, that is for tracking and maintenance of police criminal records. The total $20,654. The county’s portion $12,968.65. The total of the contract $39,133. The county’s portion is $19,844.68. President Jerrel: And this is a one year contract? Bill Cottun: And this is a one year contract, yes ma’am. President Jerrel: Is there a motion? Commissioner Mourdock: I’ll again move approval. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: So ordered. Bill Cottun: The next item is to Digital. That is for support and maintenance of our network hardware and software operating system. Total, $45,206. This is a regular split, city/county split, the county paying $28,384.85. President Jerrel: Any questions? Motion? Commissioner Mourdock: Motion to approve. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: So ordered. Bill Cottun: The fourth and final item that we have is for acceptance of the new pricing list and to be able to continue to use The Computer Center as our computer supplier. They are currently providing us with Compaq Computers. They have given us a new price list which will be good through 1999. I would like to point out that this price list is adjusted every two to four weeks, so we’re not being locked into prices on an annual basis. We’re getting very, very competitive pricing at a not to exceed price at all times. Since we started this contract with The Computer Center last year about this time we have had a 23.1% decrease in the cost of our computers that we’re purchasing through this contract. When we started buying computers our base computer was a Pentium 166 with 16 meg of ram. Currently we’re getting Pentium 350 with 64 meg of ram, 10 gig hard drive. It’s just a substantially more powerful machine at a significantly reduced price over what we were paying last year. President Jerrel: Mr. Cottun is to be complimented because Compaq gave us those prices because they found they had Dell...is that the agreement? Dell was going to underwrite them and they found they had a little clause there where they could meet or better Dell’s prices, so that’s the reason. Commissioner Mourdock: But some of their computers come in such ugly colors, the one on your desk for example. President Jerrel: Right. That’s Apple. Bill Cottun: So I do request that you accept the pricing and also extend the contract for one more year. Commissioner Mourdock: I’ll move approval as requested. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: So ordered. Bill Cottun: Thank you very much. President Jerrel: Thank you.
President Jerrel: The next item on the agenda is the public hearing for the petition to vacate easement at 1114 Indy Court. Kip Husk: My name is Kip Husk. I’m a primary partner for Husk/Ellis Partnership which owns the property. I have green cards to turn in for the record. Charlene Timmons: That would be me. Kip Husk: Okay. President Jerrel: Is there anyone here that wishes to speak to this vacation of this easement? Joe Harrison, Jr.: This is the public hearing, so this is the time. President Jerrel: It is a public hearing, so if there is anyone that wishes to speak to the vacation of this easement. Any Commissioner questions? Hearing none, is there a motion? Commissioner Mourdock: Is this on first? Joe Harrison, Jr.: Yes. Commissioner Mourdock: It is, right? I’ll move on first reading the approval of the ordinance to vacate a platted public utility easement and without reading the full legal just the 10 foot wide public utility easement platted along the north line of Lot 7 in 41 North Business Park Subdivision, Vanderburgh County, Indiana and then the full description is attached off of Lot 7, so I would move approval of that vacation. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: And I’ll say so ordered on first reading. Do we have the second hearing date, final hearing? Joe Harrison, Jr.: The second reading will be next Monday at 5:30. President Jerrel: Next Monday, final. Kip Husk: Okay, thank you. President Jerrel: Thank you.
President Jerrel: The next item I’m going to have to move back up because I did not have a final agenda in front of me and we do have a final reading for the Community Corrections Fund ordinance. Harris Howerton: Good afternoon. As you know each year Vanderburgh County opts to accept $161,000 from the Department of Corrections for housing and/or otherwise working with the misdemeanor offenders in our community and I would ask that you on this second reading approve that ordinance today. President Jerrel: Is there anyone here that wishes to speak to this ordinance? This is also the second reading and final reading. This is a yearly process that we go through to authorize this grant. Hearing none, is there a motion? Commissioner Mourdock: I’ll move approval of the Community Correction Fund ordinance on final reading. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: So ordered and I’ll call for a roll call vote on the final reading. Commissioner Tuley? Commissioner Tuley: Yes. President Jerrel: Commissioner Mourdock? Commissioner Mourdock: Yes. President Jerrel: And I vote yes. Harris Howerton: Thank you.
President Jerrel: The next item on our agenda is our EUTS Director, Rose Zigenfus. She has some information that she has prepared for us that is in your folder. Thank you, Rose, for coming. Rose Zigenfus: You’re welcome. Good evening. I have an update on some of the things that we talked about last month. The Green River Road corridor preservation initiative, we had a second meeting, or more than a second meeting, and Mr. Mourdock was there. We are looking at some things as development continues. North of Pigeon Creek the plan will address needed improvements of the local collector facilities and I think we talked about that, but they are not limited to Heckel, Millersburg or Kansas. There are other roads in the area. Traffic projections for Green River Road, floodplain and floodway areas are to be identified for our next meeting. We’ll also be looking at safety issues with regard to accident frequencies between Morgan Avenue and Lynch and the number of access points. This is all part of your request to look at the Green River Road area. The other thing, the other big issue that we haven’t really settled yet is the issue of median versus continuous turn lanes throughout that corridor from Morgan to Lynch. A lot of what we’re going to be collecting will determine what we recommend for that area. I don’t know if I have forgotten anything. State Road 62/Schutte Road. You received a letter, I believe, from INDOT on that so you’re up-to-date. Today I had a meeting with the representatives from INDOT from the Lynch Road project. They were enlightened to look at the area and Morgan Avenue and they want to come to some decision in the next couple of weeks, so we should be hearing something more from them on that. President Jerrel: Is there anything that we can do to communicate with Chris Klicka or anyone to help this process? Rose Zigenfus: I’m waiting...I sent the letter to Chris, and I think you got a copy of that as well, so I am waiting on a response from her so at this time I don’t think so, but there might be in the next week or so. President Jerrel: So there is no...this isn’t something that you try to help move along in any way? Rose Zigenfus: Well, they were going back today, Frank Nierzwicki and Clem Ligocki, to talk with Chris about the project and I think at that time they’ll be looking to meet with the local officials. President Jerrel: What was their attitude towards that project to you? Rose Zigenfus: They think it’s a good idea. They want to talk about relinquishment of some county...of some state roads to the county. I told them that would be something you all needed to discuss. I certainly couldn’t commit to anything. President Jerrel: But they were open? Commissioner Tuley: This was on Lynch? President Jerrel: Lynch. In other words we had talked about...previously talked about taking over some state roads if they would-- Commissioner Tuley: Take Lynch. President Jerrel: And get on with the project. Okay, that’s good. Rose Zigenfus: The other project is the Millersburg/Green River Road is going to be reviewed again for perhaps including turn lanes at the approaches, so we’ll be undertaking that. President Jerrel: Okay, are there any questions of Rose? Commissioner Mourdock: I would just make a comment, not a question, but during the meeting last week on the Green River Road review I would have to say it was kind of eye opening for me because I thought a lot of the land from Pigeon Creek north clear to 57...I thought more of it might have more development potential than I now believe it does simply because of some of the floodplain issues and it may yet prove to be another one of those areas where the impacted drainage situation could help us in better developing that area. The other question I would have from that or the question I would have would just be what the date would be for the final presentation of that plan to us, Rose? Rose Zigenfus: Oh, it’s probably going to take us a couple of weeks to collect the accident data and take a look at those things. Commissioner Mourdock: Maybe just roughly 30 days, something like that? Rose Zigenfus: I would say it is probably more like 60 before we bring it to the Commission, but we would want to have another meeting again before that to kind of get your input. Commissioner Mourdock: Okay. Well, stay in touch and I’ll be glad to be there. Rose Zigenfus: Okay. Commissioner Tuley: That’s fine. President Jerrel: Thank you very much. Rose Zigenfus: Thank you.
President Jerrel: Next, I had spoken with Barbara Cunningham, Area Plan Director, because we’re in the process of the census and that is very, very critical to us and it is important that we find 17,000 people. Barbara Cunningham: Whew! Whew! Thank you. President Jerrel: Well, I think there are some people out there. We just-- Barbara Cunningham: Okay, everybody in here. We’ll start with that. Mrs. Jerrel said that it was a nice quiet meeting, that we could give you some information on this and I am delighted to have a crowd that will hear that the census is so very important. Everybody here had better turn in their census application because it really means money to the community. The 2000 census is coming up next year. It’s the largest peacetime effort ever taken in the United States both private or public. It’s an actual count of the population every ten years. From 1970 to 1990 the Evansville-Vanderburgh County population declined. We have...it’s important that we get these figures up because you’ve got $100 billion in federal funds distributed based on census data throughout the country and we certainly want to get our fair share. We need a complete census county and we’re here tonight because the elected officials have so graciously seen the need to promote the 2000 census and they want to talk about it and I’m sure we’ll be talking about it again. We sent you all a pass out that you have that tells some of the things that need to be done and it’s a partnership. It’s not just elected officials, it’s public that has to be involved and with the public you have to involve all community...all parts of the community, the churches, the clubs, the groups, to get out the message that the census is really important. We need a partnership and that is something that needs to be done soon. Now the 1998 population estimates and recent trends, that’s your pass out number one that you have. That shows you the population and housing units of 1970, 1998, the City of Evansville and Vanderburgh County. It shows you the changes in population and the projected changes. The Comprehensive Plan that is before you shows where the growth has occurred. The Comprehensive Plan is the thing on the bottom, the drawing on the bottom, and that shows you where the growth has occurred. The county map shows you the Area Plan Commission’s 1998 population estimate. The estimates indicate that we’ve gained over 12,000 in population, that’s in the total county not the incorporated, the total county, since 1990 and this represents a 7.3% growth. This is based on housing permits. The estimates are based using census methodology and based on permits and demolitions for housing units and it assumes that new units indicate population increase. We know this is not always true, that household size is declining. For example, in 1970 it was counted three people per household was the figure used. In 1990 it was 2.4 and Ken and I were talking and I think in the year 2000 it’s probably going to be 1.6 per household is the average household size now. That can play havoc. The numbers can work in a lot of different ways, and numbers are just numbers. The bottom line is the census and we have to be assured that we have a good census. In this information the migration is the unknown factor and that’s what we don’t know is how many people have move and what we’ve gained on the in and out, how many people have moved into Vanderburgh County. I’ll tell you from the activity in our office and the number of subdivisions we’re giving we hope a lot of people have moved into Vanderburgh County. So I also wanted to keep you up-to-date on recent Area Plan Commission activities that we’re doing in preparation for the year 2000 census. The Area Plan Commission office has done an update of the boundary and annexation survey maps. We’ve done a local update of census addresses, which is the LUCA program, and I think there are a lot of communities in the state that did not participate in this and it was a lot of work. John Ansbro and Blaine are here and some of the others in the office they worked very, very hard on getting all the addresses and we added more than 2,680 new addresses to the list that the Census Bureau had. We added 150 new streets and street names to their list. We corrected 1,300 inaccurate addresses because they do a mail out first and we want to make sure they have the right address to send this to. We deleted 500 addresses that no longer exist and we deleted over 35 street segments and railroads. So we’re working hard to make sure that they have the information to do a good census and an accurate census. We also worked on the...we were participants in the Statistical Area Program. We reviewed all the census tract and block groups that no longer conform to the census population criteria and we held a meeting with some local agencies, the School Corporation, someone from Mr. Robinson’s office, all the people...we invited people that we thought would be interested in using the census information and to review the boundaries and we sent those boundary recommendations to the Census Bureau. I think one of the main emphasis, unless you have some questions on the figures that I’ve given you, one of the main emphasis of the whole thing is we need to emphasize the need for the complete census count and we need to promote it. We really need to promote it because the Census Bureau is taking the census all over the country and, me, I am interested in Evansville, Indiana. I’m interested in Vanderburgh County, so we want to make sure that we really can raise our counts in Vanderburgh County from last time and from the time before. I think, looking at Mrs. Jerrel, I think one of the places that we can do this and I think you’ve got an in with them is with the School Corporation because I think if you go to the kids and you teach the kids that the census is really important and mom and dad had better send it in, you know, I think that’s when it is going to happen, so we really need to work with the schools as well as with church groups to get the message out, clubs, all kinds of things like that. We’ll keep you informed about what is going on with the census and we’ll continue to monitor their maps and give them address changes and do everything we can to make sure that they get the technical assistance from Vanderburgh County that they should have. One thing I did want to ask is Mrs. Jerrel asked about the Evansville Metropolitan Statistical Area and so I have given you that on a chart. Gibson County, you’ll note, is not on this chart right now, but that does not mean after the census that it could not be included in our Metropolitan Statistical Area. Estimates and figures...all these figures and estimates are really no good. They’re just estimates and what we have to do is get...it’s the census that counts and that’s the message that we have to get across. President Jerrel: Just a point of information, the Mayor and I are working on a plan to get this word out. We thought rather than do two plans we would do one. We’re in the process very soon...we’re interviewing and working with a potential chairman. Barbara Cunningham: Wonderful. President Jerrel: We have a number of things in the works. Just one little thing just to leave you with, we’re eligible to count all of the students that live at the universities, but getting them to turn in the cards is a very complicated-- Barbara Cunningham: Because they don’t think they live here. President Jerrel: No, and they’re busy, but they do live here. They are part of our census count, so we’re trying to select someone who can help us get this word out because it is critical to us. If we can just find those people we’ll be a Level 1 community and get another million dollars a year. Barbara Cunningham: That’s right. Commissioner Mourdock: Do the numbers that you reflect here, do those have any input at all from USI or UE? Barbara Cunningham: Well, they did and then we took it out and then we put it back in. It’s questionable. The 12...where you have population change in the county we did have 12,485 and then we took out about...what did we take out, 500? We didn’t take that out? Unidentified: (Inaudible comments made from audience.) Barbara Cunningham: We didn’t take it out so it does reflect that. We took out the group population count, so USI is in there. Do you all have anything that we need to add? One thing was...that’s why I have to say it’s all numbers. The 1997 estimate versus the 1990 census that is on your list, too, it showed Knight Township of losing in population. Now we all know that Knight Township did not lose in population in that period of time. So that’s why I say the most accurate count is when we get the census figures back and the most important thing we do is make sure every map they have, every list of addresses, every complete count committee, all that, that we’re right there taking charge of it because we have more of a vested interest in it than they do. President Jerrel: We’re going to ask for your help. Barbara Cunningham: My help, but, God, I’m glad you’re not making me chairman. I just couldn’t do that! Commissioner Mourdock: Oh, you haven’t heard? Barbara Cunningham: No thank you, no more hats. Commissioner Mourdock: I would respectfully disagree with something you said though. You said twice we want to get the numbers up. No, we want to get the numbers accurate. Commissioner Tuley: Accurate. Barbara Cunningham: That’s right. Commissioner Mourdock: I understand, that will probably mean up. Barbara Cunningham: To get them accurate is up. Commissioner Mourdock: Yeah. Barbara Cunningham: Yeah, and that really is...and to get the kids involved, that’s important, too. President Jerrel: Well, that’s in our plan. Barbara Cunningham: Okay, thank you. Any questions? President Jerrel: Thank you for coming,
Barbara.
President Jerrel: Next on our agenda, Ken Robinson on multi-county development strategy that we talked about last week. Ken Robinson: Good evening. President Jerrel: Good evening. Ken Robinson: It’s a pleasure to be here. I would like to reinforce my testimony here with a handout that I would like to pass out. I’m here to talk about the regional strategic planning effort that the State of Indiana is promoting through the Indiana Economic Development Council which is an opportunity for areas of the state to make themselves even more competitive to attract jobs and investment. I want to say first and foremost that Vision 2000 and its Executive Director support this effort of regional strategic development planning. What I handed you is a excerpt of a report by the Deloitte & Touche Fantus Consulting group we brought in a couple of years ago. I just want to read for the record one of the recommendations under regionalization: President Jerrel: Thank you. Are there any questions? Commissioner Mourdock: I don’t have any questions for Ken, but I would refer you to the draft letter that is in your packet. The letter we received that Ken Robinson referred to...I guess, not the letter specifically, but the program, the Indiana Economic Development Council sent, I think, each of us a letter. I know I saw one with your name. Okay. Given that one of our goals on that board behind us is to try to find some ways to work more regionally with the County Commissioners of the surrounding counties. I drafted that letter for your review last Saturday and thought it might be a starting point for these discussions, so I would just refer you to it. I, for no particular reason other than it seemed to make sense, included Warrick, Posey, Vanderburgh and Gibson, the four counties into the area which I think coincides with what the letter had proposed from the state. President Jerrel: When we get ready to move on this maybe, Tony, you can contact the agency to see, you know, what sorts of information they need in that grant if we choose to do that as a group. Commissioner Mourdock: It would seem to me the next logical step, if we can come together on the text of what this letter should say, would be to try to schedule a meeting with those Commissioners perhaps on a week night. We all know it is difficult for us to get together, but if we can do that and also have on the agenda several potential issues to speak of, I listed there and I have no pride in authorship here, but as suggestions the issues of cross county line sewer or water development; joint policies for access road development from one county into another for industrial park development; air quality monitoring issues; and potential cross county development districts as issues. There could be others and those are deliberately broad, some might say ambiguously vague, but something to get the discussion started. President Jerrel: I think it sounds fine. Commissioner Tuley: Me too. President Jerrel: If you would like to...what is your plan though on how are we going to...are we going to send out a little survey and say which night of the week is best? Commissioner Mourdock: We could do that or my thought was to have Tony call them. President Jerrel: Tony call them. Commissioner Mourdock: With some calls and do that. I don’t know that we need to necessarily present a date to them right now. Just say sometime in the next...not sooner than 30 days and not later than 60 days try to find a date when we could all get together and do it that way. Certainly leave that to Tony for scheduling. Having said all that, I would move that we approve in final form the letter in your packet to the surrounding County Commissioners. Commissioner Tuley: I’ll second. President Jerrel: So ordered. Thank you, Ken, we’ll keep you posted. Ken Robinson: Thank you. President Jerrel: Appreciate your
coming.
President Jerrel: The next item on the agenda is the approval of a flood mitigation contract for demolition. I don’t believe there is anyone here. The information is in your packet. Joe Coleman presented it last week and is there a motion regarding that? Commissioner Mourdock: I’ll move approval of the DMD request...actually it is with Koberstein, but move a motion of approval for the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners’ contract for services with Koberstein Trucking. President Jerrel: In the amount...include the amount. Commissioner Mourdock: In the amount of $24,970. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: So ordered.
President Jerrel: The next item on the agenda is for any group or individual that wishes to address the Board and I know there are a number of you here. Yes. Unidentified: May I speak? President Jerrel: Certainly. Steve Folz: I’m Steve Folz, I’m a representative for the Laborer’s Union. I represent working families here in Vanderburgh County. We’ve got roughly 400 members that are laid off right now drawing unemployment and trust me, they don’t want to be. They want jobs. I brought these people here really to show you what the faces of working families look like. They look just like everybody else. These people want jobs, they’ve got families to feed, they’ve got rent, house payments, utilities just like everybody else. Except these people here, they pay taxes here in Vanderburgh County. They vote. They’re part of the community. You know, this is what we’re all up here for is, you know, what are we going to do to make the community better? We would like to see jobs stay here for the community. We came to you back September, October, I don’t exactly remember the month it was, before you let the Daylight Sewer project. It was an important job to us. We’ve seen other jobs, you know I’m going to kind of veer off a little bit, branch out. You had a project out in Daylight, the Phoenix Commerce project. It got started. There has been several hundred thousand spent on it and all of a sudden it stops. It is just growing weeds now. We don’t know why the job is not going. It went to a company that was based out of Florida. After working with them they finally agreed...they hired a contractor that was going to hire local people and all of a sudden the job stops. You know, nobody got a job off it except for the people out of Florida that did the excavating on it. Now the job sits. The job right here behind us, the Vanderburgh Auditorium. I had to fight that issue there. Somewhere, somehow somebody thought that you could take a $15 million job and break it down into small enough portions and say these portions don’t need prevailing wages on them or common wage, what it is called today. It took the Governor’s Office to come back down here and educate somebody, I think in this department right here, that, yeah, every phase of $15 million job does require the common wage. We lost three quarters of the work to an out of state contractor that came in and beat local contractors that traditionally pay the wages and that’s what common wages are set for is what is traditionally paid in this area and they beat these contractors because they was told you don’t have to put the prevailing wage on or the common wage on and they beat them out because they were paying...who knows, $10 an hour versus a living wage with health care and pension. After the Governor’s Office came down we did get a portion of the work, but it was a small portion. The contractor didn’t want to come back. They let the local union contractor...the local contractor that traditionally works in this area and works the people in this area, let him finish the job. Now we’ve got the Daylight sewer project. We came here before you let the project. We brought a stack of evidence of safety violations, wage violations. There was a federal wage violation as recent as three months before this job was let to them that they was fined on. You ignored it. Now I’ve got people that’s without work. I want to remind you, all of you didn’t vote, some of you listened. Pat vote...did vote no if you remember right. He listened to what we was saying. He was thinking of the Vanderburgh County residents that are tradesmen. You know, these are their skills. You can sit and think, well, McDonald’s is hiring. You know, there is other jobs out there, they can go get a job. These are tradespeople. Some people go off to college and they’ll learn different careers and different stages and then there is an apprenticeship program for tradespeople. It’s equivalent to college, it’s just we do it with our hands. Really, that’s the only difference. I really wanted to put faces on working families. That’s the biggest issue. That’s what these people here are all about. They want you to see that these are the working people. I can bring more if you really want me to. I’ve got 400 laid off right now. You know, this is 40, 50. I could, you know, we don’t want to do that. I met with Peters Contracting several times basically to get them to hire local workforce. I’ve went out, I met with them several times. I’ve been to Owensboro, I’ve met with them and the whole time I’ve got working people that are laid off asking me, Steve, we’ve got jobs going on out there why are we not working? Really at wit’s end I said, I’ve done everything I can do with Peters, he don’t want to work with us. Go and put an application in. If he hires you that’s great. Go put an application in with Peters Contracting. Anything. We went out for them to put applications in. The Superintendent on the job said well, I don’t have any applications but I’ll call the office. So he called the office. The men stood out in the cold for an hour and a half, two hours, finally John Sunderman comes up. We’re not accepting applications out here. We don’t want any laborers, and I am quoting, we don’t want any laborers. We only take applications from Owensboro. Now this is Vanderburgh County. Did you know that these people that is drawing unemployment they take taxes out on that money. That money is paying for that job to be done. They are looking for work. These are all tax dollars and you’re thinking a few thousand dollars, let’s go with the low bid at any cost. But you know safety costs. It is cheaper to run an unsafe job. You know, if we dig a trench here six foot let’s don’t put a box in it, I can get more lineal foot on a trench. Commissioner Mourdock: May I interrupt you for a second, Mr. Folz, to ask a question? Steve Folz: Sure. Commissioner Mourdock: Joe, that quote that Mr. Folz just had regarding a representative of that company saying that they do not hire anybody...what did you say, outside Daviess County or outside Owensboro? Steve Folz: He said we only take applications from Owensboro. Commissioner Mourdock: Okay, thank you. Given that they are doing work for us is there any statute that applies to a geographic locale from which they can deliberately restrict themselves? In other words, can they do that is what I am asking? Joe Harrison, Jr.: Yes. Commissioner Mourdock: Okay. President Jerrel: Are there-- Steve Folz: Uh-- President Jerrel: Excuse me. Steve Folz: Yeah. President Jerrel: Are there no Vanderburgh County people working that job? Steve Folz: Everybody there is from Owensboro. President Jerrel: And how is this determined? Steve Folz: Pardon? President Jerrel: How is this-- Steve Folz: They brought the people in and put them to work. I mean-- Commissioner Mourdock: That wasn’t her question. President Jerrel: No. Commissioner Mourdock: Her question was how do you know that everyone there is from Owensboro, I think that was the question. Steve Folz: The Superintendent told me there is nobody here from Vanderburgh County. President Jerrel: Okay, that is what I wanted to know and that was Mr...? Steve Folz: I got that from Danny, I don’t know his last name. President Jerrel: Okay, I need to...you know, when you go back and talk to somebody you need something positive about them. Steve Folz: There is no minorities on that job and I know in Vanderburgh County we have a law there has got to be...at least our contractors have to be enforced with the law for minorities. I asked him about minorities. He stuttered a little bit, he was trying to think of an answer...well, I’m not going to put words in his mouth, but he stuttered a little bit before he told me, no I’m sorry there is none out here. President Jerrel: This was Danny again? Steve Folz: No, this was John Sunderman this time. President Jerrel: John Sunderman, okay. Commissioner Tuley: That begs a legal question, too. Is there not a requirement when you are using tax dollars? I don’t want to say a quota, but five percent or...? Joe Harrison, Jr.: I believe there may have been a...there is always a requirement in our jobs that are bid out by this Board that they not discriminate practices as far as minorities are concerned, but I’m not too sure there was a quota. We don’t have, to my understanding, I don’t know if this Board has ever had a quota requirement. Steve Folz: Vanderburgh County residents would be nice to be on that job. Joe Harrison, Jr.: But as far as a legal requirement, I mean there is not statute in the state of Indiana that requires preferential or permits preferential treatment for the award of any bid, but I’m sorry, I’ve interrupted you. Steve Folz: Traditionally in this area when a contractor comes into the area...and I mean this is the history of Vanderburgh County, when a contractor comes to the area they’ll bring in some of their key people and then they hire the local workforce to continue. JD Construction just picked up a $11 million portion of a tunnel project let by the city. He met with us before the meeting, before he went in there, to make sure we had the manpower to supply him. He is going to bring in his key people, the local workforce takes care of the job. Without any requirements in the spec books for these jobs and these requirements can be put in there to hire local residents, local Vanderburgh County workers. We’ve got a skilled workforce here. We need to use them. A few bucks on the low bid is not necessarily the best job. President Jerrel: Do you know what Danny’s last name is? Steve Folz: No, I don’t. He is the Superintendent on the job out there. It’s cheap to work unsafe. I was saying this a minute ago. It’s cheaper to work unsafe. If a contractor is digging a trench without the safety box in it he can get more lineal foot. If he puts the safety-- President Jerrel: Is this-- Steve Folz: --box in he is going to get less. By hiring contractors, and I brought the evidence in to show you all that Peters Contracting is a unsafe contractor. I have showed that they broke wage laws, common wage laws and they broke federal wage laws and you ignored it. It’s time to listen. It’s time to listen to working families of Vanderburgh County. If we allow contractors to come into this area and do this job, do these types of jobs, what it is going to do is force the local workforce to weaken their safety standards so they can compete against those contractors therefore you are putting the local workforce in unsafe situations. President Jerrel: The description of the unsafe...what you’re identifying as an unsafe trenching procedure-- Steve Folz: I’ve not seen any unsafe practices on that job how...well, I won’t go into that, a minor thing, but I had evidence of unsafe jobs where OSHA had fined them. I had also the same thing where the Kentucky...it’s a Wage & Hour Division in Kentucky had fined them from wages and the Federal Wage & Hour had fined them also. That fine was a recent as three months before you gave this job to them. They have not stopped their practices or at least up that point they had not. President Jerrel: Steve, are you telling us though that you’re not charging unsafe practices right now? Steve Folz: I’ve not seen nothing on it right now. President Jerrel: Okay, what-- Steve Folz: What I’ve seen is they’re not hiring local work people. President Jerrel: Okay, I want to make sure that we-- Steve Folz: And they refuse to even accept an application from them. Commissioner Tuley: John, was there not initially a problem, too, with payroll? It seems like the first payroll they submitted was not in compliance with the common wage and had to be kicked back to them. John Stoll: I don’t recall that. I can check, but I don’t recall a problem with the payroll. Commissioner Tuley: Okay, it may be my memory, but for some reason I thought there was initially a problem because I think we contact...who is overseeing that? Is anybody representing us overseeing that? John Stoll: Three I has got the inspection. Steve Folz: I could put a man on it with a camera if you like. President Jerrel: I just reviewed that. I’ve got it right in there, the contract today. Commissioner Tuley: It just seemed like maybe initially and I may be wrong, but I thought there was. I haven’t heard anything since then. That’s the reason if it was it was a one time shot on this job. Joe Harrison, Jr.: For your information, what he is referring to is they are required to pay common wage and I will ask that-- Steve Folz: Is this certified payroll? Are you getting a copy of the certified payroll? Joe Harrison, Jr.: It is my understanding that has been requested by the County Engineer, is that correct? John Stoll: Right. Joe Harrison, Jr.: So that will have to be submitted to the County Engineer before they get paid. It has to be certified. In fact, I think the state requires that. Steve Folz: I think...but this is a county job here. Joe Harrison, Jr.: Well, I know, but it doesn’t matter-- Steve Folz: It’s the county that requires the-- Joe Harrison, Jr.: Yeah, but we have to comply with state law. Steve Folz: Yeah, okay. Where could we see a copy of the certified payrolls? That is public record isn’t it? Joe Harrison, Jr.: Whenever we get it. Steve Folz: Okay. Joe Harrison, Jr.: The County Engineer will be receiving it and then he’ll submit it to the Auditor for appropriate payment. Commissioner Tuley: But don’t we get that on a regular basis? Or shouldn’t we? Joe Harrison, Jr.: I think they probably submit it when they want to get paid, okay? Commissioner Tuley: Which is? Joe Harrison, Jr.: Whenever they want to get paid. Commissioner Tuley: Well, excuse my ignorance, but I like to get paid every two weeks. Do they get paid every two weeks or they get paid quarterly? Joe Harrison, Jr.: I don’t think that’s the way-- Commissioner Mourdock: There are probably milestones in the contract and they probably get paid on the milestones. Commissioner Tuley: As a percentage of the work is done or something? Commissioner Mourdock: Right. Commissioner Tuley: So the contractor pays it and we’re more or less reimbursing him. Commissioner Mourdock: And usually there is a lump sum at the beginning that part of it is held for retainage. It’s not based on the hours worked or anything. President Jerrel: Are there-- Steve Folz: This job...excuse me, go ahead. President Jerrel: Go ahead. Steve Folz: This job and like many others before and many coming Vanderburgh County workforce really want to do the work and it’s not out of line for these workers to come in and ask for their jobs. It’s plain and...it’s that simple. President Jerrel: Joe, would you...I want to get that contract from Three I. Perhaps we can have...since they’re our representatives I would like to have him meet with John and some of us and let’s review these allegations and some of the information that we’ve been given and I think since they are our representative in this I think we need to talk to them about that. Joe Harrison, Jr.: That’s fine. Commissioner Mourdock: I would concur. I think that’s a wise move. Steve Folz: At any time you are welcome to give me a call. President Jerrel: John, will you make those arrangements? Okay. Steve Folz: That’s all I’ve got. President Jerrel: Okay, is there anyone else that wishes to speak? Unidentified: Can I speak, please? President Jerrel: Yes, sir. David Yates: My name is David Yates, and I’m a member of the Local 181 Operating & Engineers. There are several jobs down there on this contract that fit our local, too, and our craft and which the Labor craft the Operator’s craft work together simultaneously with these jobs here, you know. We have people here in our county...I’m a member of our county. I send my children to school here. I pay taxes in this county and this state and I could use one of those jobs out there to be working and I have 20 plus years of experience operating this equipment. Mr. Peters, when I was...or his representative for Peters Construction Thursday when we were out there, they never...they offered us applications that we never seen unless we go to his office in Owensboro. I don’t know why the applications can’t be brought forth here, but, you know, we have plenty of people in our craft that can work on these jobs and be as productive as his people are and we need these jobs too for us as members of this county and to my knowledge there is nobody down there working from this county, as Steve said. Also I asked his representative if he had a set of specifications to do the job, which that is the way they take these bids out and if they were an equal opportunity employer. Most jobs or construction jobs that have funded money have boards out by their office trailers. They don’t even have an office trailer to my knowledge or boards out there that show what these wage classes are for different crafts. I seen nothing of the kind and I would just like to say one thing as representing all the craft people in this area is that sometimes dollars and cents don’t always make dollars and cents. President Jerrel: Okay, it’s David...? Commissioner Mourdock: Yates. David Yates: Yes, ma’am, David Yates. President Jerrel: Alright, I want to be sure and give these names so when we ask them to meet with them. Barry Russell: I won’t take much of your time. My name is Barry Russell. I’m with the Laborer’s also. With your counsel here there are things that you could do for the future. Like there is an ordinance that you can pass on construction coming up in the next year or whatever that covers drug testing programs. Have your contractors that bid on this have an approved drug testing program. They can have apprenticeship training programs established. There is things that you can do to put in some of this for the work that is coming up that would help the people in this room and the people in Vanderburgh County, Warrick and all the counties surrounding also that would help us because we do have responsible workforce. That is they go through OSHA training so they know safety. They go through drug testing programs so they’re a drug free workforce which is good, I believe, for the county. Just more responsible type workforce and that’s what we would like for you to look at. I am a Vanderburgh County resident and I pay taxes here, too. Commissioner Tuley: Do you know some of the counties where they’ve done this so we can get copies? Barry Russell: Up in Vincennes, Mayor Hatcher. You could probably talk to him. He adopted an ordinance and I would be more than happy to get one to you and let you look it over. It’s simple. Commissioner Mourdock: Just happen to have! Commissioner Tuley: Got one, good. Barry Russell: It’s not hard to do. If you want to be responsible and do your jobs...I’m not saying you’re not, I’m just saying there is a way of doing it so you don’t have problems like this. That’s all I have. President Jerrel: Alright, we’ll get back with you, Steve. Alright, any other questions? Commissioner Mourdock: No. Jim Shank: Hi, my name is Jim Shank, I’m with the Carpenters. I don’t want to go over anything. Everybody has pretty well covered everything, but the people here, the working families, they spend about 100% of their paycheck every week and that rolls over seven times. The merchants and businessmen in this community can use that money, too. You know, if it all goes over into Owensboro that helps their community, but it doesn’t do Vanderburgh County work in this area. President Jerrel: Thank you. Okay, we’ll be back with you, Steve, as soon as John can make those arrangements. Okay, thank you very much. Commissioner Mourdock: Okay, thank you. Commissioner Tuley: Thanks all of you for coming out. President Jerrel: Do you want to stay for the rest of our meeting? You’re welcome to. Unidentified: I want to thank you for backing us, Mr. Tuley. I’ve got 12 members in my family and you’ll get our vote next time. Commissioner Tuley: Thank you. Unidentified: And financial support. Commissioner Tuley: Thank you. There
won’t be a next time (inaudible).
President Jerrel: The next item on our agenda is the department head reports. County Engineer. Commissioner Tuley: I need to tell Bettye, Steve Folz is the only one I knew was coming. He said I’ve got some problems I want to talk about and I said fine. Commissioner Mourdock: (Inaudible.) I’ve got one here, is that the same? President Jerrel: Yeah, he made some copies for us. Commissioner Mourdock: Copies for us. Here, do you need one for the record? We got you covered, thank you. President Jerrel: Oh, yeah, thank you. John Stoll: First of all I’ve got a change order on the Petersburg Road culvert installation project. This was contract number VC98-07-01. It was with Southwest Engineering. The change order is for an increase of $991.16, but in this change order we’ve got $1,216.67 of overruns that are attributed to extra riprap and some gabions that we had to put in to avoid a water line relocation and the Water Department has agreed to reimburse us up to $1,500 for those modifications so we will get that much money back so overall we really did underrun the project, but because of those two items that puts it over, so it is recommend that this change order be approved. Commissioner Mourdock: I’ll move approval of the change order as requested. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: So ordered. John Stoll: Next I’ve got an acceptance form for Cross Pointe Boulevard. This is for 338 feet of Cross Pointe south of Morgan. This was the portion of Cross Pointe that we built in the Cross Pointe and Morgan intersection project. Commissioner Mourdock: Okay, I’ll move acceptance...or move approval of the acceptance of the street report. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: So ordered. John Stoll: Next I’ve got a stack of appraisals for the Burkhardt Road, Phase 3 project. I’ve got three copies of each of the appraisals for that project. Parcel 13 is for the Cook Organization and that appraisal amount was $13,500. Parcel 14 is Burkhardt Two Incorporated and that appraisal amount is $10,000. Parcel 15 is with Wedeking Investments and that is $1,200. Parcel 16 is Deep Hole Investments and that parcel appraisal is $39,500. I would like to recommend that these appraisals be approved. I’ve looked over them. Joe Harrison has looked over them and we need to approve the appraisals so we can proceed with the purchases...not purchase, but make the offers and hopefully get the purchases resolved on these four parcels. Commissioner Tuley: This is Oak Grove north of Morgan? John Stoll: Correct. President Jerrel: It’s $64,200 and we have that funding available? John Stoll: That funding is available in the bond. We’ll have a surplus in that after the Phase 1 project is complete. President Jerrel: Is there a motion? Commissioner Mourdock: I’ll move approval of the appraisal forms as reported and requested. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: So ordered. John Stoll: Also I would like to request that you authorize me to sign off on all these so that way you all won’t have to. Commissioner Mourdock: So moved. President Jerrel: That’s a very good idea. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: So ordered. John Stoll: The final item I’ve got pertains to the Daylight sewer. We’ve got an issue out there where the sewer was designed using data off the county’s topographic maps and the actual...the difference...there was a difference in elevation between those topographic maps and the actual crowned elevations up to three feet, so now that there has been some additional survey work done out there this discrepancy was found and there is a part of the sewer that needs to be lowered by three feet in order to serve a greater area out there. The price that was submitted by the contractor was $5,369. I’ve talked with the Sewer Department and they are willing to pay that additional cost since it really wasn’t a design error or anything like that. It was just the difference between the topo map elevation and the actual ground elevation, so the Sewer Department has agreed to fund this change order and I would like to request that the change order be approved to our contract for up to $5,369 conditioned on the Utility Board approval of this reimbursement and they are planning on taking that to their Board tomorrow. Commissioner Mourdock: I’ll move as stated so that the condition is based on the Utility Board. Commissioner Tuley: Okay, and to make sure I understand it, the money is going-- Commissioner Mourdock: We’re agreeing to the change as long as the Utility Board pays for it. John Stoll: Right, and the money would go to Peters Contracting. Commissioner Tuley: But we’re not paying? President Jerrel: No. John Stoll: Right, it would be passed through us. We would basically write the check. Commissioner Tuley: But it’s not our money? John Stoll: But then the Sewer Department will in turn reimburse us. Commissioner Tuley: Not our money, I’ll second. President Jerrel: Okay, so ordered. John Stoll: Last week, Pat, you brought up a pothole out at Schutte and 62 and that was on state right-of-way and Dave Franklin contacted the state and that is getting taken care of. Commissioner Tuley: That came out of that Westside Improvement meeting. John Stoll: Oh, okay. That’s all I have. President Jerrel: Thank you.
President Jerrel: County Garage. Erik Bentle: Erik Bentle, County Garage. You have my weekly work schedule for this week coming up. You have a letter in there from our Safety Director, Jack Crawford, that I think as all of you know is pretty persistent when it comes to things. I don’t think it ought to be approved, but I’ll leave that final judgement up to you. It’s about him. He has a degree or something in locksmithing and he would like to purchase new tools to get in locks where keys are lost and vehicles that are locked up out at the garage and things like that. I think it would be better just to go ahead and have a locksmith come out and do it. President Jerrel: Can we talk about that tomorrow when I am out there. Erik Bentle: Uh-huh. Commissioner Mourdock: Yeah, let me be sure I understand. What he is asking for in this letter is that we purchase the tools? Erik Bentle: No, he purchases them but he has to have approval to do that. Commissioner Tuley: Why does he want to do this? Erik Bentle: I have no idea. President Jerrel: That’s what I was going to find out tomorrow. Commissioner Tuley: Why don’t we defer this a week so that you can meet with them out there tomorrow. President Jerrel: I’m going to do the-- Commissioner Mourdock: Yeah, that would be good. President Jerrel: I’m going to the disaster training tomorrow. Erik Bentle: I told him I would turn it in to you. You know how he is, he is really persistent. Commissioner Tuley: Well, you did. Commissioner Mourdock: You did your job. Commissioner Tuley: You did your job. Erik Bentle: That’s all I have. Oh, we do have two new hirees coming in this week. Tomorrow our new Assistant Superintendent will be hired in, Mr. Mark Taylor, and Thursday we have a new laborer coming, Mr. John Hauschild. I think you’ve already got the employment changes on them. Commissioner Tuley: It’s in the packet. Erik Bentle: That’s all I have. Commissioner Tuley: One quick question for you, and it is probably in the city. Where is the division line on Red Bank Road between city and county? Commissioner Mourdock: Depends where you are on Red Bank. Commissioner Tuley: Let me give you an area and maybe that will help you. North of the Expressway down in the hole there by-- John Stoll: That’s county. Erik Bentle: That’s county, yeah. Commissioner Tuley: You need to get a patch crew out there. Erik Bentle: Okay. Commissioner Tuley: It’s beat up pretty bad. Right before you get to the apartments as you’re coming-- Erik Bentle: Yeah, that is on our paving list for this year, too. Commissioner Tuley: Is it? Erik Bentle: Yeah, we’ll have the reports next Monday night. Commissioner Tuley: Yeah, we have our public hearing next Monday night, correct? President Jerrel: Right. Commissioner Tuley: Yeah, it’s pretty bad. Erik Bentle: Okay. Does it need a patch crew out there now or is it something-- Commissioner Tuley: I would say you need a patch crew before you get to paving it. Erik Bentle: Yeah. Commissioner Tuley: Because there is a stretch there that is probably eight or ten feet in length that is pretty beat up. It will be on the east side of the road. Erik Bentle: Okay. The goals sheet that you wanted me to get-- Commissioner Mourdock: Uh-huh. Erik Bentle: I’ve got it ready for you, too, and I’ll have it Monday night. Commissioner Mourdock: Okay, I will not be here this coming Monday. Erik Bentle: It figures I would have it ready and you wouldn’t be here. Commissioner Mourdock: Good planning on your part. Commissioner Tuley: You can tell he is getting comfortable in his job just a little bit. Commissioner Mourdock: Yeah.
President Jerrel: Okay, the County Attorney. Joe Harrison, Jr.: The only thing I wanted to mention was last week there was a...you all asked me to check on the Koch Label situation and I did find out who their attorney is. They have an attorney in Indianapolis and I’ve got a call into him regarding the status of the permit from the state which allows them to emit 915 tons of VOCs annually and I’ve got a call into him. Hopefully I will know something by next Monday. It’s also my understanding that the bankruptcy proceeding is closed now. As a matter of fact the county received a check out of that proceeding for some taxes that were owed. So anyway, I’ll find out the status of that permit. It may have been an asset of the bankruptcy court and may be gone, but we will...I will find that out. Commissioner Mourdock: I would think the permit itself would be dependent upon solvency. That as soon as the bankruptcy occurred I would have thought the permit might of become void. Joe Harrison, Jr.: Maybe. President Jerrel: We talked about that, we don’t know. Joe Harrison, Jr.: Maybe, but that is what I have got to find out. President Jerrel: So we didn’t-- Joe Harrison, Jr.: Hopefully I’ll get an answer. President Jerrel: We didn’t do anything until we can nail this down. Is there anything else? Joe Harrison, Jr.: No, that’s all
I have. Thank you.
President Jerrel: Superintendent of County Buildings. Tony Greubel: I submitted a list of the computers and keyboards that CAPE would like to take. All the stuff basically is literally worthless. There is only...there is actually only two computers on your list. The rest of it is keyboards and monitors and one old dot matrix printer. The two computers, one is an IBM 5150 and the other is a DTK and I doubt if they even have the equivalent of a 286 chip in it, a Pentium chip in it. President Jerrel: Right. Tony Greubel: Everything...their hard drives have been erased, so I don’t really see any problem with declaring any of this stuff surplus or worthless, actually. President Jerrel: There is a difference. It is already surplus. So we need a motion to say that this equipment is without value. Commissioner Mourdock: I’ll move that the equipment on the list supplied by Tony Greubel of March 8th be consider obsolete and without monetary value and thus be donated to CAPE. Commissioner Tuley: Sounds a whole lot better than worthless, but I’ll second. President Jerrel: So ordered. Is there anything else? Tony Greubel: No, that’s it.
President Jerrel: Burdette Park. Steve Craig: Good evening. President Jerrel: Good evening. Steve Craig: The first thing I wanted to go over was the insert into your packets from Morley and Associates. I was wanting permission to proceed with this since the money is now in place by the state. I was wondering if you had any questions on what it entailed or what the purpose of it was. President Jerrel: Just to help you out, the money that was rolled over that we had in place for Burdette had to be reappropriated and that is what Steve is referring to. We went to Council and asked to have it reappropriated and that is what he would like to use $4,500 of that to do this-- Commissioner Tuley: You’re talking about the half million? President Jerrel: Uh-huh. Commissioner Tuley: Okay. President Jerrel: I think we need to review it and give him the authority to go ahead if you approve. Commissioner Mourdock: I’ll move approval. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: So ordered. Steve Craig: Okay, the other one did you get your update on your computer program that Joyce had put in the...? President Jerrel: No. Tony Greubel: Was that in last weeks? Steve Craig: She might of had that in last week. Commissioner Mourdock: She had the comments last week about not being happy with the vendor. Steve Craig: Okay, I wasn’t here and she stuck it in my bag. Commissioner Mourdock: Oh, that’s right. Gary was here last week. Joe Harrison, Jr.: She sent me some information for my review. President Jerrel: Okay. Commissioner Tuley: Right. Joe Harrison, Jr.: I just have not had a chance to digest it yet. Steve Craig: They’re in like total chaos right now. We can’t take reservations and they are double booking and stuff. We had that last summer where we had two family reunions-- Commissioner Tuley: Same day. Steve Craig: --standing here wanting the same building and the computer had booked it over the top of each other. They told us it was impossible to do that and I’m sitting there looking at, you know, 400 people, you know, wanting to have their family reunion. They both had receipts and everything. Commissioner Mourdock: Joe, would you put a rush on reviewing that? Joe Harrison, Jr.: Yeah, I’ll get with you this week and we’ll send out a letter to them in the next day or two. I did get that information, I think, Friday from Joyce. She sent a nice narrative digest to me about the whole thing. Steve Craig: Yeah, they are all getting pretty frustrated with it. President Jerrel: Oh, yeah. A letter would be good, but I think a telephone call would be more expeditious and we might tell them that the Commissioners acted in our meeting and you’re talking about Lieberman, right? Steve Craig: Yes, ma’am. President Jerrel: So we can just...I think if we can follow it up with a letter, but I think if they get a telephone call tomorrow morning that it was raised two weeks in a row in our Commissioners’ meeting. Commissioner Tuley: They had gotten a phone call last summer from me. Steve Craig: Oh, yeah. President Jerrel: Uh-huh. Joe Harrison, Jr.: I’ll be glad to follow up my letter with a phone call, but we’ve got to send a letter. Commissioner Mourdock: Yeah, you’ve got to put them on notice if we are thinking of terminating the contract. Joe Harrison, Jr.: Okay. Commissioner Mourdock: Which would be a good thing to add to the letter, that discussion. President Jerrel: Have they been paid in full? Steve Craig: I can’t answer that question. President Jerrel: I was going to say, if they have been paid to do it then that’s a little bit different-- Commissioner Tuley: Than just terminating their services. President Jerrel: --then terminating their services because they have been paid to do it they’re going to do it. Commissioner Tuley: I don’t know. President Jerrel: If they want to continue doing any business with us. Steve Craig: I have one more question for Joe, I guess. Did you meet with the people over the putt-putt? Joe Harrison, Jr.: That is still ongoing. You’re talking about the lawsuit? Steve Craig: Uh-huh. Joe Harrison, Jr.: That is still ongoing. Steve Craig: Because if I am not mistaken-- Joe Harrison, Jr.: I’ll talk to you about it. I don’t want to...but I’ll talk to you. Steve Craig: Okay, that’s all I have. President Jerrel: Okay, thank you. I’m waiting for some purchase orders. Steve Craig: On the boats and the filters? President Jerrel: Yeah, uh-huh. Steve Craig: We got the filters done and the boats we were trying to get three prices and find different sources and we literally went all over the United States trying to find an alternative to it because we weren’t that pleased with it, but we talked to Holiday World, Disney World and everybody else and they use the same thing we do and they had basically the same complaints, but we’ve got all three bids in now and you’ll have them within a day or so. President Jerrel: Okay. Steve Craig: We’ve got them there, we just don’t have them wrote up but we’ve got all the prices. President Jerrel: Okay. Steve Craig: Any other questions? President Jerrel: Thank you. Steve Craig: Thank you.
President Jerrel: Go back to the County Attorney for the bids. Joe Harrison, Jr.: Yeah, I’m sorry.
I forgot to read these into the record. There were three bids that were
submitted on the Jail Management Application system. It’s VC99-15.
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.
President Jerrel: The next item on the agenda, you do have reports from Soil & Water District and Ozone Officer, and I would ask that you approve those. Commissioner Mourdock: So moved. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: So ordered.
President Jerrel: Under consent items there are a number of employment changes, travel requests, Substance Abuse Council, EMA tornado drill memo, the financial cash expenditure reports and the two VAX terminals are to be declared surplus by the Assessor. Commissioner Mourdock: There was just one last addition there from the packets we got on Friday, so with that addition I would move approval of the consent items. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: And I’ll say so
ordered.
President Jerrel: The next item on the agenda, the scheduled meeting list are attached. Now, you’re not going to be here? Commissioner Mourdock: I will not be here next week. President Jerrel: Okay, alright. Well, then it’s you and me. Commissioner Tuley: And the public hearing. President Jerrel: And the public hearing. I can just see some of those roads that are going to be requested. Commissioner Mourdock: I’ll think of you! President Jerrel: Please do.
President Jerrel: Okay, under old business is there any old business to come before the Board? Commissioner Mourdock: None here. Commissioner Tuley: I don’t have any.
President Jerrel: Is there any new business? Commissioner Tuley: Not from me. President Jerrel: Okay, now let me think because I had...oh, I know what I wanted to tell you. When Erik was up here speaking and we talked I am looking at somebody, I don’t know that they...they work in this building...they are a computer expert to give a few hours...well, we’ll have to pay them. Commissioner Tuley: Yeah. President Jerrel: We’ve got some funding there to go out and actually train Erik and our new Assistant Superintendent. We need some backup capability with our computer systems. Not only Kronos, but the billings and that information and Erik is very willing to learn as is Mark and I think that would be money well spent. We can’t get SCT. They don’t...I mean, they are so strapped here in this building and they only have, I think, six people that are available and they are tied down with that court’s package, so if we could get this person to go out there and help I think it would be well worth it. Commissioner Mourdock: Is that a...I just want to be clear, are you saying we have a person who is a county employee that we would otherwise be hiring on a contract to go out and do this? President Jerrel: No, he works part-time and sets up a lot of Assessor programs. Does the software and-- Commissioner Mourdock: But he would be working...I mean, does he have a business that he is doing? President Jerrel: No. Commissioner Mourdock: We would be hiring him as an independent contractor? President Jerrel: No, he would just be a part-time employee. Commissioner Mourdock: Okay, but he would still-- President Jerrel: He would be a part-time employee. He would be paid hourly for, you know, 27 hours. Commissioner Mourdock: When you say he is an employee that’s something different. Commissioner Tuley: That’s different, yeah. Commissioner Mourdock: Are you saying we are hiring this person in which case we would run it through as a consent item to hire him to put him on the payroll or we would hire him for so many hours of work to go out and do this training? Joe Harrison, Jr.: It could be an independent contractor arrangement. President Jerrel: Either way. I haven’t even talked to him. Erik Bentle: He is already hired doing some work already isn’t he? In another office. Joe Harrison, Jr.: Yeah, but that is being paid out of a different budget. President Jerrel: Yeah, different budget. Commissioner Tuley: And then we run into too many hours and then full-time. President Jerrel: He is just...it’s Brent Harris is who it is. He is really good. He has been...you know, he did the whole setup for the Township Assessors. I haven’t even spoken to him. Commissioner Mourdock: I don’t have any problem doing it, I just-- Joe Harrison, Jr.: We’ve just got to make sure we comply with-- Commissioner Mourdock: It sounds to me like he is a contractor. Joe Harrison, Jr.: --wage an hour deals. Commissioner Mourdock: We’re not going to have benefits on him and all those kinds of things. President Jerrel: Oh, no, no. Commissioner Mourdock: Okay, so he would be a contractor. President Jerrel: Just for the training with those guys because I think it is something, you know, if-- Commissioner Mourdock: Is there a certain amount of money that we need to allocate out of the budget? President Jerrel: No, we don’t need to do anything now. Commissioner Mourdock: This is just an advisory. President Jerrel: It’s just a-- Commissioner Tuley: It’s a thought process in the early stage. President Jerrel: Yeah, we’ve got to talk to somebody. Commissioner Mourdock: I can support that. I certainly want everybody computer literate. Erik Bentle: While we’re on that subject can I put a bug in your ear about maybe an internet package out there? The one reason why is I can monitor the weather. Commissioner Mourdock: That is a very good idea. Yeah, you need to have an internet connection. Erik Bentle: I can only see the news every four or five hours on the t.v. President Jerrel: Well, we’re in the process of developing an Infonet and I don’t think we want to set up something away from and out of the normal process that the county is doing, but that’s a very good idea. It could just be included in what we do. I think it would be important to do it with Liv. Commissioner Mourdock: Okay. President Jerrel: Any other business? Commissioner Mourdock: Motion to adjourn. Commissioner Tuley: Second. President Jerrel: So ordered. The meeting was adjourned at 7:07 p.m. Those in attendance:
Vanderburgh County
Bettye Lou Jerrel, President Richard E. Mourdock, Vice President Patrick Tuley, Member
Recorded and transcribed by Charlene
Timmons.
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