VANDERBURGH COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MARCH 18, 2008

The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners met in session this 18^th day of March, 2008 at 5:04 p.m. in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex with President Jeff Korb presiding.

President Korb: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. I purposely took the clock off the wall, because I think we’re starting about four minutes late, for all those people who are anal retentive and want to be sure we start at 5:00 every night. So, what I would like to do is offer introductions first. Marissa?

Marissa Nichoalds: Marissa Nichoalds, Superintendent of County Buildings.

Clay Havill: Clay Havill, County Attorney.

Commissioner Nix: Bill Nix, County Commissioner.

President Korb: Jeff Korb, County Commissioner.

Commissioner Nix: We have a guest here.

President Korb: Oh, I’m sorry. Our guest?

David Butterfield: David Butterfield. I’m a sophomore at Castle. Go Knights!

President Korb: Go Knights.

Commissioner Tornatta: Troy Tornatta, County Commissioner.

Madelyn Grayson: Madelyn Grayson, Recording Secretary.

Bill Fluty: Bill Fluty, County Auditor.

President Korb: Join with me please in the Pledge of Allegiance.

(The Pledge of Allegiance was given.)

President Korb: We’ll start off with our action items. First on the agenda tonight is Jim Dye. Jim is from Humana, and he has a presentation. For those of you that are tuning in, the last time we were here, Humana is offering a retirement package for our retirees. I said, “Pinch me. It’s got to be too good to be true.” He’s convinced me it’s not too good to be true, because it is true. So, Jim, go ahead.

Jim Dye: Thank you very much. The last thing I read when I was here, we were here a couple of months ago, actually David Quandt read, was a legalistic document. So, I’m going to kind of briefly go through it. It’s already been read once, but Commissioner Korb asked me to put some bullet points and add a little color to it, more in layman’s terms as well. So, the script I am going to read, actually, it’s very boring. I would like to thank the Board of Commissioners for the opportunity to be here today. I especially thank Total Benefits Solutions and Gary Burdsall for their participation in our presentation. Again, my name is Jim Dye, with Humana. The proposal we’re bringing to you today enables Vanderburgh County to offer a zero cost medical and prescription insurance program to any Medicare eligible retirees who previously worked at any point, at any time for the county. The plan design that we’re proposing for the county is a private fee for service plan, our most popular Medicare plan design. I’m going to stop right here and give a little quick, just a briefing on Medicare parts and what each part means for everyone’s knowledge. Part A, Medicare Part A is hospitalization. Medicare Part B is what you sign up for when you hit age 65, when you retire, and it’s the one that’s automatically deducted from, you choose it, they deduct a premium from your Social Security check, somewhere in the $96 range. Part D is a prescription plan. Part C is what we’re here to talk about tonight. It’s Medicare advantage plans. It’s one of the bullet points that I wanted to point out. Before I begin, let’s give a little brief background on Humana. Headquartered just up the river in Louisville, Kentucky, Humana’s been offering public and private sector sponsored retiree programs since 1990. We have offices right here in Evansville and our state headquarters are in Indianapolis. We offer Medicare prescription drug and health plan products to nearly five million seniors across the country, and we’re currently the national leader for private fee for service programs, with more than 600,000 members. As I said, private fee for service is our most popular Medicare plan design, because it offers tremendous flexibility for seniors, allowing them to seek care at any health care provider that accepts Medicare, and agrees to Humana’s payment terms and conditions. The plan is an open access design with no limited provider network. I’m going to stop there. Basically, a lot of you know that health care plans have certain networks that you have to use. This Medicare offering is basically anyone that accepts Medicare fee payments, which is virtually every provider in this area. The plan we’ve also offered the county offers retail and mail order pharmacy services. It also offers free fitness center memberships at participating facilities through our incredibly popular Silver Sneakers program. Finally, Vanderburgh County retirees will have access to Humana’s industry leading consumer guidance tools, the on-line tools, basically, how to get through the plans and how to get your customers and get your employees healthier, and help them make well-informed health care decisions. Best of all, due to the government’s reimbursement to Humana, we can offer this plan to you at a zero cost to the county, and zero cost to your retirees. If I remember Mr. Korb’s comment last time we met, and the same way I was raised, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Well, this is very true. The advantage here is the federal government is the one footing the bill. The employees that choose this, Medicare pays primary, the employee pays secondary, the plan pays secondary. So, the reimbursement that the government is making is what’s making this free. This is why it has a zero premium at this point. It is important to point out that a provider’s acceptance of a private fee for service plan is up to each provider. Health care providers do have the right to choose whether or not to accept the private fee service plan payment terms and conditions each time a member seeks service. Legalistic information that’s required for me to read. If a provider decides not to accept the plan, the member would need to find another provider that will accept the plan. A member must utilize Humana’s broad network of pharmacies to obtain prescription drugs, except in emergency or urgent situations. Because the county doesn’t currently offer retiree health benefits, we worked with Total Benefits Solutions to develop a program that results in no impact to the county’s GASBE liability or administration costs. In fact, Humana will manage all of the administration, communication and enrollment activity for the county. The material you see before you is the plan design summary that outlines the benefits. Did everyone get a copy? I brought that by today. That outlines the benefits and also the agreement on the rate. I should note, and this is another legalistic thing I need to read through. I should note that, if for some reason future funding from the government was to change, or participants’ medical claims increase significantly, the zero dollar premium could increase. On an annual basis, we review that on an annual basis. It could increase, in this case the health plan could choose to either increase the premium, or decrease the benefit level to maintain that zero dollar plan. As long as we’re providing more benefits on the plan than the original Medicare to maintain a zero dollar premium plan. This level of benefits currently is a better benefit than I believe the employees currently have. In summary, it’s a fantastic opportunity for Vanderburgh County and the past employees. It allows the county to offer comprehensive retiree benefits at no cost to the county or to the retirees. No contract needs to be signed by the county. No cost to the county. It’s a voluntary retirement program for the employees. They can choose us, they can choose another vendor. The unique pricing really comes in the fact that we were able to offer you a group plan, so, a group plan, because there is safety in numbers, a group plan is always less expensive than someone going to get an individual plan. With that said, that’s the advantage. That’s where the reimbursements come in, and that’s why we’re able to give a zero dollar plan. Thank you again for your opportunity. I look forward to any discussion you may have.

President Korb: Gentlemen?

Commissioner Nix: We had met probably a few months ago and discussed this. There was a threshold of a number of people that had to be on board before this kicks in, is that still in effect?

Jim Dye: There’s a minimum of ten.

Commissioner Nix: Ten people?

Jim Dye: But, I think you have in excess of 300 eligible retirees.

Commissioner Nix: Right. Okay. In other words, those ten, the first nine are cued up, and then when the tenth one applies, then we, the policy takes effect, whatever policy they pick up, from that point.

Jim Dye: No. We’ll take the first one, because it’s a group plan and you have 300 eligibles–

Commissioner Nix: Okay.

Jim Dye: –we’re going by eligibles. So, if a husband and wife both sign up, that’s two.

Commissioner Nix: Okay.

Jim Dye: It automatically starts. If only two sign up month one, and we’ll discuss with your administration what month you would prefer to start this plan. We can start as early as May 1^st, May or June 1^st according to your comfort level, getting the information this week. We talked about getting information from the census, census and address type information.

President Korb: It’s my understanding, Jim, that once we provide you with that census information, Humana will bear the cost of mailing notices out to all of the retirees, explaining the options that are available to them through this program?

Jim Dye: Yes, sir. We’ll enjoy mailing them out to them.

President Korb: Sure you will. Okay, great.

Commissioner Nix: I’m just wondering, because this isn’t a contract, does this require, I mean, there’s really nothing binding here. This is a service you all are going to provide to the county.

Commissioner Tornatta: I would say it would. To initiate the program.

Jim Dye: What we’re looking for, basically, is the employee, I think we talked it over, is, when someone comes up to retire, whoever they see from a Human Resources standpoint, says here’s a letter, we’re sponsoring a retirement program through Humana. You don’t have to choose it, but here is a great opportunity, and it’s a great rate and a great benefit.

President Korb: Okay.

Jim Dye: That’s what we’re asking for.

President Korb: So, is this open ended? When does it end?

Jim Dye: It’s reviewed annually.

President Korb: Okay.

Jim Dye: But, it’s open ended, we’ll review every year as far as the cost.

President Korb: Okay.

Jim Dye: If the legislation stays the same, if the government continues to reimburse at the same level, the other reimbursement levels are at what, basically, the hospital reimbursement. Then, there’s a county tax number that fits into the calculation. Warrick County and Vanderburgh County both fit into the zero premium, at this point.

President Korb: Okay.

Commissioner Nix: We like zero.

Commissioner Tornatta: Are we, if we would vote down, or vote this up, May 1^st?

Commissioner Nix: That’s fine with me, if that gives you enough time to get it ready.

Jim Dye: It’s your option. You don’t have to give us, you could say June 1^st, May 1^st, it’s your choice. Whatever fits your time frame.

Commissioner Tornatta: The sooner the better, if we’re going with it.

President Korb: Our recommendation would be just to have you talk to Jane Laib in the Auditor’s office. She would be able to provide you with the census information.

Jim Dye: Absolutely.

President Korb: Okay.

Commissioner Nix: Move for approval.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Korb: Discussion? All those in favor say aye.

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. Great. Thanks, Jim.

Jim Dye: Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. Thank you guys.

President Korb: Next on the agenda we have the second and the final reading of CO.03-08-005, the health care co-payments for jail inmates. What we need is a motion to approve. Or, public comment, I guess, is what we need to ask for first. Seeing none. Gentlemen, I need a motion please.

Commissioner Tornatta: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Korb: Discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor say aye.

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. We’ll have a roll call vote on this. Commissioner Nix?

Commissioner Nix: Yes.

President Korb: Commissioner Tornatta?

Commissioner Tornatta: Yes.

President Korb: Commissioner Korb votes yes.

President Korb: The next item is second and final reading of CO.03-08-007, amending chapter 2.40, the Health Department fees. What we need to do is ask for public comment. Anybody in the public wish to comment about that? Seeing none. I need a motion, please.

Commissioner Nix: Move approval.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Korb: All those in, oh, discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor say aye.

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. The motion passes. Now we need a roll call vote. Commissioner Nix?

Commissioner Nix: Yes.

President Korb: Commissioner Tornatta?

Commissioner Tornatta: Yes.

President Korb: Commissioner Korb votes yes.

Commissioner Tornatta: Go up one.

President Korb: Up one?

Commissioner Tornatta: Second and final reading of 03-08-006.

President Korb: Yeah, yeah, okay, great. The Sheriff’s mortgage foreclosure sales project. I’ll ask for public comment on this. Seeing none. I need a motion, please.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Korb: Great. Discussion?

Commissioner Nix: Stereo.

President Korb: Seeing none. You guys are scaring me here. Seeing no discussion, we’ll go ahead and call for the vote. All those in favor say aye.

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. The motion passes. Roll call vote. Commissioner Nix?

Commissioner Nix: Yes.

President Korb: Commissioner Tornatta?

Commissioner Tornatta: Yes.

President Korb: Commissioner Korb votes yes.

President Korb: Finally, we have the contracts, agreements and leases. We need to make a motion to amend removal of the mobile/manufactured home tie down/anchoring agreement.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Korb: Discussion? Seeing and hearing none, all those in favor say aye.

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. The motion passes.

Commissioner Nix: Will that be on next week’s, or the agenda in two weeks? Does anyone know that? Okay, thank you.

President Korb: Marissa tells us yes. So, it must be true.

Commissioner Nix: It will be on the agenda in two weeks?

President Korb: Because we just made a motion to amend it?

Commissioner Nix: Okay.

President Korb: Can I have a motion to approve the contracts all at one time? Unless you want to go through them.

Commissioner Nix: That’s fine. Are you okay with that, Commissioner?

Commissioner Tornatta: Yeah, why don’t you, number one is assignment of CPL gas line agreement to Ameresco in Evansville. Number two is the Health Department cleaning services agreement with Albin-Barr. Number three is the Health Department purchase agreement with Xerographic Business Systems. Four is The Glenns right-of-way encroachment agreement, and five is the Daylight Business Owners right-of-way encroachment agreement. Six is the Building Commission mobile/manufactured home tie down/anchoring agreement.

President Korb: We moved–

Commissioner Tornatta: We took that out.

President Korb: Yep, took that out.

Commissioner Tornatta: I make that in the form of a motion.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Korb: All those in favor say aye.

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. The motion passes.

President Korb: Department head reports. Mr. Stoll?

John Stoll: The first item I have is a request to reject a counter offer on a Green River Road right-of-way acquisition parcel. This is a parcel owned by the Arvins. Their attorney submitted a counter offer of $7,500 on this parcel. The county’s original offer was $1,700. The attorney did not submit any documentation supporting the increase. After talking to some of the attorneys over in the County Attorney’s office, they recommended that we proceed with rejecting the offer, and then pursue condemnation, if necessary.

Commissioner Nix: Motion to approve denial.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Korb: Discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor say aye.

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. The motion passes.

John Stoll: The next item I have is a request for approval of a right-of-way purchase offer on the Cross Pointe Boulevard project. This parcel is owned by Greenhead Properties. The offer amount is $3,750.

Commissioner Nix: Move approval.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Korb: Discussion? All those in favor say aye.

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. The motion passes.

John Stoll: Next I have a set of street plans for an extension of a road west off of Highway 41 and then north into a new development site. The location of this is opposite of Boyle Lane and Highway 41 intersection. It, basically, consists of the extension of a 300 foot curb and gutter asphalt street, west off of 41, and then an 800 foot north-south road that will serve this site. In conjunction with this, the developer also has to go to INDOT to get approval for all the turn lanes they have to add. But, the street plans themselves meet all the county’s requirements, and I would recommend approval.

Commissioner Tornatta: Motion to approve.

President Korb: Second. Discussion? Seeing none, all those in favor say aye. Aye.

Commissioner Tornatta: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. Any abstentions?

Commissioner Nix: I abstain.

President Korb: Okay.

John Stoll: The last item I have is a request to go to County Council to transfer $200,000 from the Green River Road culvert account, which was account number 2030-4745, and transfer that to the Allen’s Lane bridge account, which is account 2030-4372. As you know, the culvert that the county was going to participate in on the INDOT project is no longer going to be installed. We had a half a million dollars in that account that is no longer needed. We have since gotten some cost estimates from the consultant on the Allen’s Lane bridge rehab, and we need some extra funding in there. So, that’s what the extra $200,000 would cover. So, I would request your approval to go to Council to take care of that.

President Korb: I need a motion.

Commissioner Tornatta: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Korb: All those in favor say aye.

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. The motion passes.

John Stoll: That’s all I have.

President Korb: Great. Thanks.

John Stoll: Thanks.

President Korb: Are you going to stick around, John? Okay.

President Korb: The next item on the agenda is board appointments. We have two this evening. The first one is Paul McAuliffe, former editor of the Evansville newspaper. Paul has agreed to join the Legal Aid Board that we have here. Also, Bryan Hayden, Bryan is a commercial loan officer with Old National Bank in downtown Evansville. Bryan has agreed to serve on the Old Courthouse Foundation Board of Directors. Gentlemen, I need a motion, please.

Commissioner Nix: Move approval.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Korb: Discussion? Seeing none. All those in favor say aye.

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. The motion passes. Thank you to Mr. McAuliffe and Mr. Hayden.

President Korb: The next item on the agenda is new business. Do we have any?

Great.

President Korb: The next item is old business. Whoa, that’s never going to happen again.

President Korb: Public comment, do we have anyone out there this evening? People that want to come and talk about anything going on in their minds? Ah, there’s Mr. Schmitt. Reed, come on up.

Reed Schmitt: I thought we would be here for a while. I called my dad earlier this afternoon and said we would have to have dinner about 6:30. I’ll have to call him back and tell him maybe 5:30.

Commissioner Nix: Where are we going?

Reed Schmitt: Hacienda.

President Korb: There you go. Chips and dip, buddy.

Reed Schmitt: Mr. President, Commissioner Nix and Commissioner Tornatta, I represent Fred Bumb. As we’ve expressed earlier this year, Freddy has some concerns with the project that’s designated as the University Parkway, I think it’s the phase three matter. Our concern is the taking of Freddy’s property. There is some concern that Fred has expressed. We’ve had discussions with Mr. Stoll a number of different times relating to an access on to Freddy’s property. So, I’m here just to express on behalf of Freddy that he, although we can’t come to a meeting of the minds with Mr. Stoll, as to his recommendations, Freddy has some very definite concerns and would like to at least express himself in a public forum, so that you understand where Freddy is coming from, and realize that for many, many years Freddy has been what one can only consider as the perfect community citizen. He’s been willing to work with the county. He’s been willing to work with the utilities. Freddy owns a number of acres of farmland, and he’s, at this point in time, he’s wanting really to have some of that recognized, and be able to express his feelings about the taking of the acreage off of Denzer Road.

President Korb: Hi, Mr. Bumb.

Fred Bumb: Thank you. Thank you, Chairman and the Board. It is my wish, just a little bit, to express myself on my feelings on the highway. It starts back, way back when we had the first hearing on the highway. At that time, I would like to say this, my wife is with me here, so I don’t have to repeat when I get back home just what all was said.

President Korb: That’s wise, Fred. I tell you, that’s a smart move on your part, Chief.

Fred Bumb: Well, anyway, she and I appreciate Reed coming in and helping me. As it was, some years ago, and I tried to figure out just how long ago it was when the first hearing was on that. The plans were laid out on the table and everything, so, my goodness sakes, that’s going to be getting on some of our farm. I don’t know how many are really aware of where the highway goes across New Harmony Road. I don’t know. Can I ask that as a question? Do you know where this is?

Commissioner Nix: Very well.

Fred Bumb: The location? Well, we’re right there in that area. Anyway, when the first approach was laid there, and I said, oh, this will be great, a great idea of a highway coming from New Harmony Road to Mt. Vernon Road. Anyway, I discussed it a little bit, why they said, I said, well, they said, where are you involved? I said, yes, right here. The acreage was kind of figured out about three acres. I thought, well, that’s it, we want to have progress, okay. I’ll go along with it, but, I said, what about this ground on the other side of the highway there? I said, you can’t get onto that highway, can you? Oh, there shouldn’t be any problem. Now, those were the words that came from somebody I approached, that’s quite a few years ago. None of you guys were involved, I know that. I know they weren’t. But, anyway, as things progressed along then, why the next thing that I heard was that they had moved the highway 200 feet, and it was more on our ground. Well, then it took an acreage of eight acres. Well, that still didn’t bother ME too much, due to the fact it was some of our choice ground. I farm, whether you’re aware of it or not. It was some of our choice farm ground, but that still didn’t bother me, because the highway was a good idea, but not for me, from the standpoint, I would just as leave they had the highway someplace else. But, anyway, the highway was in the progress of being made. I still kind of stressed that, and they still felt like that there was still going to be an outlet for our, oh, I would say 20 acres on the one side of the highway. Well, anyway, as things developed and everything, why, here we are now, and they have, the lady came from Indianapolis for the appraisal, and she was very accommodating and everything like that. We went along with it, and when I said something about it, and she said, well, I have nothing to do with that. She said, you’ll have to go to your Commissioners. Well, in the briefing that I found then, why they said, well, you’ll have to go to John Stoll. Well, I’ve done some of that. I haven’t met Mr. Nix before, but as it is, I have briefed on some of it to some of the other Commissioners. So, anyway, as it is, we’re asking for this, I don’t know what you call it, an outlet to our property. Or what I call landlocked. It can be defined a lot of ways. We’ve got an 80 acre field, and it’s taking 88 acres of it already, but part of that ground does boundary Denzer Road. But, there’s a creek between the, let’s see, That’s the southern part of this 80 acres, and the northern part. We cannot go through this creek. As it is now, your question will say, well, how have you been getting there now? We’ve been going through the neighbor’s property and getting on to this property that we had.

President Korb: For how many years, Fred?

Fred Bumb: I’m going to say ten to 12.

President Korb: Okay.

Fred Bumb: Eight to ten years, something like that.

President Korb: Okay.

Fred Bumb: I don’t know, maybe you know Mr. Betulius, George Betulius is the one that I had this oral agreement with, see. Now, this ground has changed hands–

President Korb: Right.

Fred Bumb: –and the individuals there, I haven’t approached them. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m going to tell you the way it is. Now, I haven’t approached them about getting a right-of-way or something like that to get to this property, for the simple reason I think they’re going to say no. That’s the reason, because they have their lane right close to it and everything like that. The area where this is approaching to Denzer Road is not a good place. In fact, I put Mr. Stoll on the block and I said, well, if I came to you and asked for an outlet or a county road, or a road to be approached right there, would you accept it? Well, he didn’t give me an answer, but I know it would be no, because it’s not. It’s not a good place, and it would just be out of the question. So, anyway, we’re just asking for one thing and that would be an opening to go to this property. I guess, I’m asking for questions from your group, if there is some. Or, if there’s any other comments. I don’t know if my wife wants to give any. She said no. So, but, that is our approach on it. We have got the figure, and I want to let everybody know that to the west of us the property has been sold and it was sold for $14,000 an acre. So, we feel like we’ve got some valuable ground there. But, I’m going to farm it the rest of my life, I think. I’m still farming whether you know it or not. So, if you have any questions, or where do we go from here?

President Korb: That’s pretty straightforward. Mr. Nix?

Commissioner Nix: You have not approached this family as far as an easement as of yet then?

Fred Bumb: No, I haven’t. I have not, no, uh-uh.

Commissioner Nix: It’s my understanding, I believe, Mr. Stoll might correct me here, but I think the only time we’ve allowed this on the Parkway is if the land was truly landlocked. In other words, easement, access off of University Parkway. Is that correct, John?

Reed Schmitt: That’s our understanding.

Commissioner Nix: Yeah.

Reed Schmitt: That’s also our understanding.

Commissioner Nix: I would like to feel that we’ve looked at all avenues before we grant this, because my concern is, if we were to do this now, where does this end by the time we get done? Everybody that’s got any, you know, you still have access to the property, now, the other side of this property where the creek is, is there not another way to come from the other way on that side?

Fred Bumb: (Inaudible).

Commissioner Nix: The other side of the creek?

Fred Bumb: No.

President Korb: How wide is the creek, Fred?

Fred Bumb: It’s about 15 foot deep, and about–

President Korb: But, how wide?

Fred Bumb: Oh, wide? About 30 feet.

President Korb: Okay, and you’re running what, combines and tractors over that?

Fred Bumb: Yeah, we’re going back around.

President Korb: Okay.

Fred Bumb: We’re going back around. We’re coming back around on the other property.

President Korb: Well, I don’t mean through the creek. Yeah, but, typically how many times a year are you doing that?

Fred Bumb: Oh, I would say ten times.

President Korb: Okay.

Commissioner Nix: Let’s say, if we could take just a minute. Let’s get this up on the screen and take a look at it so everybody’s aware of where we’re talking about. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot there.

President Korb: Sure you did.

Fred Bumb: Have you seen it, Mr. Nix? Photos of the land?

President Korb: Troy’s seen it. Troy knows it.

Commissioner Nix: Yeah, I’ve seen it. I would like to see it up on the, yeah.

Reed Schmitt: They’re trying to put it up on the screen.

Commissioner Nix: University Parkway, just south of, about two miles south of 463.

Fred Bumb: That’s it. That’s it. That’s (Inaudible).

Reed Schmitt: The creek is the diagonal through, going up through Denzer.

Commissioner Nix: I’m just curious, Mr. Bumb, how do you access that now? Okay, that’s what you’re saying, through....okay.

Reed Schmitt: It turns off, then you see that lane right there?

President Korb: Where does the road cut through? Right there? Okay. Well, I tell you what I think we ought to do. Instead of making a decision here tonight, I would like to talk to John Stoll about that, and I’m just going to be right up front with you, Fred, not real wild about curb cuts on the Parkway, but willing to take this into consideration and talk about it. Get back with you soon, because I know that you’re wanting to have a decision made pretty quickly. I mean, do you guys agree, or would you rather do–

Commissioner Tornatta: Well, I still think he needs to do his due diligence to talk to his neighbor.

Reed Schmitt: We’ll talk with them, and then we’ll call you.

President Korb: Yeah, would you? That would be great, Reed. That we’ll have, kind of know, because, I mean, really, yeah, would you do that for us? That would be really helpful.

Commissioner Tornatta: Just, I guess, what I’m looking at is, the percentage that you’re going to get that curb cut on the expressway, to me, is, you have a better percentage of getting that right-of-way from your neighbor. I guess, that’s where I’m, in my opinion. So, I guess, what I’m saying is, that would be a better situation than taking the chance that you could get this curb cut on the expressway.

Commissioner Nix: Mr. Bumb, I guess, a question I have, if we were to allow this, what would that just be rock for 30 feet and that would be the end of it? Would it just basically be rock and then you would offload or take your equipment up there, offload it, and then take off from there out? What would you envision that to be?

Fred Bumb: I didn’t hear you. I’m sorry.

President Korb: No, that’s okay.

Commissioner Nix: I’m sorry. If we were to allow this, how would you envision that to be? In other words, if we allow a cut there, are you going to put a road back a certain ways? Or are you just looking to put some rock, enough to unload equipment? What’s your intention? I mean, I know that you need, you feel like you need access from this point, but what will you, how do you envision that to be from the edge of the road on?

Fred Bumb: Well, it would just be a great increase from the standpoint of our operation, from the farming, right now.

Commissioner Nix: Physically, what would it look like?

Fred Bumb: Well–

Reed Schmitt: He wants to know how much you’re going to improve it?

Fred Bumb: Oh, improve my road that would go to there?

Commissioner Nix: Right.

Fred Bumb: Well, we would improve it to rock, I would say.

Commissioner Nix: But, how far back would it go? Would it be 30 feet, 50 feet, 100 feet? Or you would put a lane all the way back?

Fred Bumb: Oh, no. I think it only would be 50 feet, at the most.

President Korb: So, you could drive your vehicles, whether it’s a tractor or a combine or a truck to hold the, you would just drive it up the parkway?

Fred Bumb: Yeah, we would have to have enough room that we would, instead of just coming right up the road. So, we would have to have enough room to stable it.

President Korb: Okay.

Commissioner Nix: Just so that I understand, okay.

President Korb: Sure.

Fred Bumb: Yeah.

President Korb: Well, I think, we’ll talk about this, and how about if we do it this way, we’ll get a hold of Reed–

Fred Bumb: Okay.

President Korb: –when we come to a consensus, and, you know, probably even include him, or both of you in conversations if we’ve got questions.

Fred Bumb: I’ll make this statement and then I’ll quit. I know that you have done it on some of the road already. You’ve made some approaches and stuff like that. I just feel like this would be a big help to us, and I don’t think we’re going to be interfering with the operation of the highway at all, I don’t think.

Commissioner Tornatta: Mr. Stoll, is there an issue with this being a federal aid project? With that particular cut situation?

John Stoll: That would be something I would have to verify with Bernardin Lochmueller. I’m not sure if there would be or not. When we dealt with this on Lynch Road, the feds kind of stepped back whenever we dealt with all the issues of Heritage Park at the southeast corner of Lynch and Green River. They said that the decision to pursue limited access was a local one. So, if there were any changes to that, then that was local as well. So, we may not have an issue, but that’s something that I would have to verify with Bernardin Lochmueller.

Commissioner Tornatta: Yeah, we need to check that as well.

John Stoll: One other thing with regard to the development as well, as far as in the past when we’ve dealt with these breaks on right-of-way, I think once it’s granted, you can’t really restrict its use at some future point. We had had issues at Heritage Park where there were not supposed to be any traffic signals on Lynch Road, and we have this traffic signal at Cullen Avenue and Lynch Road. That was one of my concerns.

Commissioner Nix: That was the question I was going to ask you tomorrow.

President Korb: Great.

Fred Bumb: Thank you for your time.

President Korb: You’re welcome, Mr. Bumb. Thanks for coming.

Commissioner Tornatta: Would you be willing to sign, if something came about, just something to think about, would you be willing to sign a letter essentially saying that that would be used for farm use only?

Reed Schmitt: I’ll talk with Freddy.

Commissioner Tornatta: Okay.

Reed Schmitt: We’ll talk with the neighbors, and I’ll call, I guess, Troy?

President Korb: Just give me a call, or an e-mail would be fine.

Reed Schmitt: Okay.

President Korb: Mrs. Bumb, thanks for coming. Thanks for your patience. Appreciate it very much.

President Korb: Consent items, gentlemen, let’s just go ahead and do these all at once.

Commissioner Tornatta: Motion to approve.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Korb: All those in favor say aye.

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. Unless I hear differently, we are ready for adjournment.

Commissioner Tornatta: So moved.

President Korb: We have Rezoning.

Commissioner Nix: We going to do Drainage Board first?

Commissioner Tornatta: Yep. No, you’re adjourned.

President Korb: Yeah, move for adjournment.

Commissioner Tornatta: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Korb: Great. Motion passes. Wait a minute, Mr. Butterfield, hit that and say (gavel pounded), great, see, that’s been recorded on television so your teacher knows you were here.

(The meeting was adjourned at 5:40 p.m.)

CONSENT ITEMS:

Commissioners:

Approval of the March 4, 2008 Commission Meeting Minutes.

Knight Township 2008 Poor Relief Standards

Letters to Congress: Support of Highway 41 Overpass.

Waiver of Centre Fee/Not OT: Indiana Business Diversity Council.

Change Orders No. 1 & 2: Lichtenberger Construction: Wedgewood Room.

Evansville ARC Report of Activities: February 2008.

Approval of West Side Nut Club Letter of Request: County Highway.

Authorization for Legal Counsel to Proceed with Littlepage Settlement.

Authorization for Counsel to Proceed with Freeman Workers Comp Settlement.

Approval of Arthritis Foundation Request to Use OCH: Jingle Bell Run.

Department Head Meeting Notes: March 4, 2008.

Employment Changes:

Health Department (5)              County Highway (2)                  Burdette Park (1)

Sheriff’s Office (3)                    Election Office (2)                     County Clerk (1)

Travel Requests:

Treasurer (2)                            County Assessor (2)                 Auditor (1)

Health Department (2)

Auditor:

March 2008 A/P Vouchers.

KRONOS Maintenance Software Agreement.

Barrett Law Lien Releases: Oak Hill (1) & Westwood (1).

Report of Fixed Assets Held as of December 31, 2007.

County Engineer:

Surplus Letter: Two computers.

Pay Request No. 48: Green River-Burkhardt TIF Projects.

Armstrong Trustee/Assessor: Surplus Letter: Various Computer Items.

Circuit Court: Surplus Letter: Typewriters.

Department Head Reports:

Burdette Park                           County Engineer                       Ozone Officer

Those in Attendance:

Jeff Korb                                   Bill Nix                                      Troy Tornatta

Bill Fluty                                    Clay Havill                                Marissa Nichoalds

Madelyn Grayson                     Jim Dye                                    John Stoll

Reed Schmitt                            Fred Bumb                                Others Unidentified

Members of Media

VANDERBURGH COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Jeff Korb, President

Bill Nix, Vice President

Troy Tornatta, Member

(Recorded and transcribed by Madelyn Grayson.)