VANDERBURGH COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MAY 1, 2007

The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners met in session this 1^st day of May, 2007 at 3:30 p.m. in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex with President Cheryl Musgrave presiding.

President Musgrave: Good afternoon. I would like to call to order the May 1, 2007 meeting of the Board of Commissioners. It’s approximately 3:30, and we will start with introductions on my right.

Marissa Nichoalds: Marissa Nichoalds, Superintendent of County Buildings.

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

Commissioner Nix: Bill Nix, County Commissioner.

President Musgrave: Cheryl Musgrave, Commissioner.

Commissioner Tornatta: Troy Tornatta, County Commissioner.

Madelyn Grayson: Madelyn Grayson, Recording Secretary.

Bill Fluty: Bill Fluty, County Auditor.

President Musgrave: Would you please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

(The Pledge of Allegiance was given.)

President Musgrave: Our first action item today is the proclamation for Mental Health America. We welcome Ms. Jennifer Wigginton back, are you, would you like to tell us anything about mental health awareness today, Ms. Wigginton?

Jennifer Wigginton: Oh, well, let me get this attendance sheet to the next person. Like you said, I’m Jennifer Wigginton, I’m the board of directors on Mental Health America. This is Maryann Joyce, and she’s the executive director. We mainly wanted to invite everyone out to Mental Health Awareness Day next Tues...Wednesday, on the 9^th. It goes from 11:00 to 1:00. It will be on the walkway at 4^th and Main. There’s going to be some entertainment, some free ten minute massages, they’re going to sell some hot dogs, and, basically, just bring awareness to the mental health issues. We’ve also asked churches and a lot of other organizations to ring their bells at noon, along with that. So, did you want to add anything?

Maryann Joyce: Just to add to that, we’re doing a variety of different mental health screenings; depression, anxiety, and there will be one for gambling and stress as well.

President Musgrave: Oh?

Maryann Joyce: We thought with what’s going on in Vanderburgh County with the suicide rate, we really want to outreach to employees in the downtown area, just to help people become aware of their mental health and check out if there is any concerns.

President Musgrave: Well, thank you very much. I know that we have a proclamation here that Commissioner Nix has volunteered to read.

Jennifer Wigginton: Thank you.

Commissioner Nix: Good afternoon. This is Mental Health May 2007, “Mind Your Health”;

“Whereas, mental health is essential to everyone’s overall health and well being; and, Whereas, mental health problems can affect all areas of a person’s life, including school, home and work; and, Whereas, mental health problems will strike one in five adults each year regardless of age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion or economic status; and, Whereas, nearly 30,000 American lives are lost each year to suicide and mental illness; and, Whereas, all Americans from combat veterans to hurricane victims are vulnerable to chronic mental health problems associated with trauma and can benefit greatly from early identification and treatment; and, Whereas, people can recover from mental illness and lead full productive lives in the community; and, Whereas, an estimated two thirds of adults and young people with mental health problems go without the help they need; and, Whereas, the cost of untreated and mistreated mental health and substance abuse problems to American businesses, governments and families has grown to $105 billion annually; and, Whereas, each business, school, government agency, health care provider, organization and citizen bears the burden of mental health problems and has a responsibility to promote mental wellness. Therefore, we, Cheryl Musgrave, Bill Nix and Troy Tornatta do hereby proclaim May 2007 Mental Health Month in Vanderburgh County.”

President Musgrave: Is that in the form of a motion?

Commissioner Nix: That is in the form of a motion.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: Thank you for your work on this issue.

Commissioner Nix: Let me just read, there’s one additional paragraph here:

“As the County Commissioners, we also call upon the citizens, government agencies, public and private institutions, businesses and schools in Vanderburgh County to recommit our community to increasing awareness and understanding of mental health, and the need for appropriate and accessible services for all people with mental illness.”

President Musgrave: We’ll go ahead and sign this now, so that you can take it. Make sure you leave us a copy before you go. Good luck.

Jennifer Wigginton: Thank you very much.

President Musgrave: Is there a motion to open the bids, what are those bids for?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Food for Burdette Park.

President Musgrave: For food for Burdette Park?

Commissioner Tornatta: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

President Musgrave: Now, I’m pleased to welcome Jennifer Nagy to give the Commissioners the minority/women in business board update. This is one of the boards that the Commission appoints to. Are you our appointee on this board, Jennifer?

Jennifer Nagy: I am not. I’m a Mayoral appointee, but we do have one of your appointees, Darrell Ragland, is here with us.

President Musgrave: Hello, Darrell.

Darrell Ragland: Hello.

Commissioner Nix: Darrell.

Jennifer Nagy: Thank you for having us, on behalf of the board and Debbie Spalding, I’m pleased to give you every report on what we are doing and have been accomplishing over the last year. As I mentioned, Darrell is with us, Frankye Calloway and Carolyn Walters are your other appointees, who weren’t able to be here today. They send their regards, of course. We have accomplished an awful lot in 2006 and the years prior, but I wanted to just give you a briefing of what has changed. At the beginning of 2006 we had 56 certified vendors, meaning we have certified them as a minority or women business enterprise, able to do business under this program. At the end we had 68, so, we added 12. We are very pleased with the growth in that. More importantly, we gave many more opportunities for the MWBE’s not only to participate as the major vendor, but also as sub-contractors. That increased greatly. We are now finalizing the exact dollar figure for the growth. I’m going to give you some estimates, but, again, we are finalizing it, and you’ll get a written report on this at some point very soon. It looks like we had about 3.8 percent growth in 2006 over previous years in spending with MWBE program. The vast majority, it’s really split evenly between MWBE and women business enterprises. The Vanderburgh County portion of the spend was about $190,000. The total spend for city and county was about $595,000. The growth came evenly through the, for minority and women business enterprises. I think, one of the things that you asked that we provide is some of our goals for the coming year. We have, certainly, the goal to continue to increase the opportunities for the MWBE’s. We’ve had some challenges in actually getting a spend analysis report. We aren’t able to easily quantify right now what percentage of the total city/county spend is spent with minority or women business enterprises. However, the Purchasing Department has engaged some, a firm to do some of the programming that was required, and, we hope at some point it will be an automated report. But, right now, we aren’t able to. So, that is certainly a goal. Another goal is that we would like to start a mentoring program with either major contractors or successful MWBE’s. Helping them connect with new minority and women business enterprises and spread the best practices. We also would like to have a little more board involvement. Many of the people on the board either are involved as small business owners, or they’re involved with organizations who help them. So, we would like to do some visitation and some mentoring from board to members on the list. Last, but not least, certainly, we would like to collaborate with organizations that work with small businesses more. The past year we developed strong ties with the Indiana Business Diversity Council. That’s been a great partnership. We want to extend that to other organizations who are like minded, not only providing opportunities to MWBE’s, but also in the education of good business practices and how to be successful. I think that probably is a brief overview of what we have accomplished and what we plan to do, but I would welcome any questions.

President Musgrave: How does somebody interested in the services that you have to offer, or interested in partnering with one of your vendors, how do they reach you?

Jennifer Nagy: Well, as far as the services that we offer through the MWBE program, they would talk to the Purchasing Department. We have a website. We also host some meetings where they can meet Ruth Ann Adams or Debbie Spalding who step them through the process. As far as connecting with others that they can do sub-contracting work with, we host a minimum of one, sometimes two or three events a year, which we call the connecting events, where they can meet larger contractors, learn about their processes and policies.

President Musgrave: What is that web address and phone number?

Jennifer Nagy: The web address would be from the city, or the county, I think it’s a link, it’s that correct, Debbie? It’s a link from the city or county address. The phone number is 812-436-4958.

President Musgrave: The web address is, for Vanderburgh County, vanderburghgov.org. So, and, you would follow the links to the Purchasing Department? Or does MWBE have it’s own link?

Jennifer Nagy: I believe you can get there either way.

Debbie Spalding: Doing business with the county.

Jennifer Nagy: Doing business with the county is the appropriate link.

President Musgrave: Alright, are there other questions? Comments? Well, thank you for coming, Ms. Nagy.

Jennifer Nagy: Thank you very much.

President Musgrave: We appreciate the update.

President Musgrave: We now have Joanne Alexandrovich to give us an air quality update. Dr. Alexandrovich is the county’s employee working through the Health Department.

Joanne Alexandrovich: That’s right. Thank you. It’s also National Air Quality Awareness Week. So, that’s why I asked to be here to give a little update and make the community aware of the state of our air quality. Today also is the first day of ozone forecast season, so, I thought it was a good time to do it. I think most of the news I have for you is good news. One down side, Vanderburgh, Warrick , Dubois, and three townships in Gibson, Pike and Spencer Counties remain in non-attainment for fine particulate matter, PM2.5. On the other hand, all of the monitoring data that we’ve collected through 2006 shows that those counties and townships are in compliance with the new standard, with the old standard and with the new standard that went into effect last year. So, although we’re officially in non-attainment, we’re in compliance. Those numbers, I’m kind of double checking here on my end and working with IDEM to get those numbers published soon. Bottom line is, with both particulate matter and ozone, our air quality has improved dramatically over the last ten years, the last 20 years. So, it’s a good thing. In addition, I expect most of these trends to continue, because we can expect more pollution controls to come on-line. Controls such as cleaner diesel fuels and trucks, SCR’s and scrubbers on utilities. Also, there will be controls or cleaner products, consumer products, paints, lawnmowers, weed whackers, weed blowers and all of that. So, we can expect emissions reductions in the coming years due to those kinds of changes. Along with technology changes come improvements in our knowledge, medical knowledge, for one, compared to 20 years ago. Health researchers know quite a bit more about the effects of air pollution on human health and the environment, and as a result of that knowledge and provisions of the Clean Air Act, the EPA, the USEPA, has made air quality standards more stringent. Back in ‘97, also in 2006 we expect probably some more changes, more stringent standards in 2008. That’s with respect to the ozone standard. The EPA is reviewing the health studies, and they are due to release a proposal for standards next month. All indications are it will probably be more stringent. So, if we have an air quality alert, it will probably be because of even cleaner air than we have now. But, before they change those standards, we are going to keep the protocol for calling an air quality alert, particulate matter and ozone the same as we are currently, which is based on the established standards. So, the Evansville EPA and myself will work to call an air quality alert if we expect pollution levels to exceed those standards. Once the standards are finalized and changed, we’ll adjust our program to those standards. One main reason why we use those standards is because of the voluminous health studies and public process that setting those standards goes through, and the Clean Air Act requires that they must be protective of public health with an adequate margin of safety. So, that’s why we use those standards, but, recognizing some people may be more sensitive to lower levels of air pollution. Also, some people feel that our alert program is maybe not stringent enough. We’re improving our forecasting program this summer. We’re going to, hopefully it will work, provide forecasts a day ahead of time of numerical levels of ozone. In the past we just provided, if it was good, moderate or unhealthy per the USEPA air quality index, or green, yellow and orange. Now, we’re going to be providing for ozone values of parts per billion. That you can see on the website, which is vanderburghgov.org/health or it’s also linked at the Evansville site evansvillegov/epa. We hope they’ll be useful, and then by the end of the ozone season I’ll put together a little summary of how well we did. Another thing today, air quality awareness week in the news is that the American Lung Association released their 2007 state of the air report. They’ve done this for many years, at least the last six or so. Vanderburgh County received a C for ozone, and an F grade for particulate matter. I know those don’t sound so good, but the C is an improvement, we failed in previous years. I expect next year that we’ll at least have a passing grade for particulate matter. The report is based on 2003-2005, and now we know that 2006 has even cleaner data. It’s worth noting the contrast between compliance and attainment with the air quality standards and the American Lung Association’s report card, and that has to do with exceedances. The air quality standards allow for an exceedance, now and then, every couple of, you know, a couple of days a year of these standards. So, we can have an ozone alert, particulate alert and still be in attainment of the standard. The American Lung Association doesn’t allow for any exceedances. So, they have a more stringent grading system. But, the health studies show that, you know, it’s okay now and then, and that’s why we have the alerts to alert people to maybe, you know, change your activities to avoid the exposure, especially for sensitive groups. I guess, unless you have any questions, I would just like to close and recognize and thank all of my formal clean air partners, and that would be; Dona Bergman and the Evansville EPA, local air agencies in Indianapolis and Louisville, of course, IDEM, the USEPA and NOAH and the National Weather Service.

President Musgrave: You mentioned that you expected us to get a better grade the next time the report comes out because it will be based on different data, different years worth of data?

Joanne Alexandrovich: Uh-huh.

President Musgrave: What has changed to allow us to have cleaner data?

Joanne Alexandrovich: Well, 2005, which is included in both the ALA report and our calculations for compliance numbers currently was, for some reason, and we haven’t figured it out yet, a particularly bad year for particle pollution across the United States, at least the east coast. There’s a lot of hypothesis’ flying around out there what the problem was, but we really don’t know. So, this year when our levels are down, that’s why we’ll have cleaner, better numbers. But, largely if you track emissions, what are called regional emissions, power plants, they’ve gone down tremendous amounts in the last six to ten years, and they will continue to decrease. So, I could probably pinpoint some numbers that show decreases in those emissions of NOx and SOx. But, there are other programs, anti-idling programs and clean air busses and diesel trucks, so it’s not alone, it’s everything combined. So, I can’t really pinpoint it.

Commissioner Nix: I think one thing that diesel fuel just took effect, what, in the last six months or so? The low sulfur.

Joanne Alexandrovich: Last October.

Commissioner Nix: Yeah, last October, so, that’s a big thing in itself right there.

Joanne Alexandrovich: Then, I think it’s 2007, trucks will also have additional particle traps and catalytic converters on them. So, they’ll be even cleaner. That’s why they have to have the cleaner fuel.

President Musgrave: Any questions, comments? Thank you very much for the update.

Joanne Alexandrovich: Thank you.

President Musgrave: Are you ready to, well, we have next on the agenda the permission to award the Burdette Park beverage bid. Ms. Spalding, or Mr. Craig, whichever, oh, Ms. Spalding? Then we can talk about whether you’re ready to read into the record, okay?

Debbie Spalding: Good afternoon. At the last meeting we opened bids for the beverages, and you will recall there were two bids, one that was received from Pepsi Cola, and the other one that was received from Royal Crown. We did here from Coca-Cola prior to the bid, they said they would not be able to provide a bid this year for the beverages. Based upon the bids that were provided, and, again, there was some time that had to be done, because they were not offering the same product, looking at the bids. But, both Steve Craig, Joyce Moers, and myself would agree that RC Cola was the lowest bid. In addition to the products, the beverages that they would be providing, they also offered advertising that totaled, in their estimates, $47,000 worth of free advertising for Burdette and it’s facilities and events that are going to be happening. So, we would recommend that it be awarded to Royal Crown Cola.

Commissioner Tornatta: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

Debbie Spalding: Thank you.

President Musgrave: Mr. Ziemer?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Well, get ready, Debbie, because you’ve got the same problem on the food bids. We had four bidders, Weber Foods bid $2,000; CRS One Source just has numerous, itemized items with quotes, with prices by them and no total. Fischer Candy Company did the same as CRS, that is numerous, itemized food items, but no total. Then, Earth Grains Baking Company, Inc., bid $3,878.

Commissioner Nix: Move we take the bids under advisement.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

President Musgrave: We have some quit claim deeds and tax code consolidation forms for the properties located at North St. Joseph Avenue, which comprise, I believe, the County Garage, which was set on multiple codes; Ingle and Market Streets, and East Sycamore Street, and, I believe, that property, all those names refer to the Coroner’s office. This is just basically a clean up, to put those on a single tax code. Is there a motion?

Commissioner Tornatta: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

President Musgrave: We move now to contracts, agreements and leases. Bernardin Lochmueller and Associates, Green River Road supplemental agreement. Do you care to speak to that, Mr. Stoll? Commissioners, you’ve received the e-mail for that, if it’s alright, I’ll read them as a group, the Superior Court Misdemeanor/Probation Department agreement for professional services with Deputy Sheriff Ryan Barrett. The right-of-way acquisition, that right-of-way acquisition, I believe that I will skip that and ask for a motion on the first two.

Commissioner Tornatta: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries. As for the right-of-way acquisition agreement, I would like to delay that for one week while Mr. Stoll researches some issues. I don’t believe we need a motion to delay it.

President Musgrave: We move then to the department head reports. The first on my list, and maybe the only one on my list is the County Engineer, but I know that the Health Department would like to make a report. Are there any other department heads who would like to make a report? You come up first, Mr. Stoll.

John Stoll: I need your approval on some right-of-way purchase offers for the Baseline Road bridge project over the CSX railroad. The parcels are, and the offered amounts are as follows; parcel one, Farney Farms, Inc., the offer amount will be $35,600; parcel two, Ralph and Imogene Rexing, $35,050; parcel four, Azteca Milling, $2,600; parcel five, Frank and Brenda Farney, $14,500.

Commissioner Nix: Move approval.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

John Stoll: I also have some right-of-way purchase offers for the Green River Road-Millersburg Road intersection project. These are parcel six, Jo Ann Fields, $20,000; parcels seven and 25, Ronald and Jean Titzer, $27,000; parcel eight, James and Karen Martin, $25,000; parcel nine, Dianne Kowaleski, $21,750; parcel ten, Warren and Rita Roettger, $16,750; parcel 18, Greg and April Jones, $15,400, for a total of $125,900.

Commissioner Nix: Move approval.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

John Stoll: The last item I have is the notice of intent must be filed with the Department of Environmental Management. This is for the Rule Five land disturbing activities. I need your approval to, on the application, to send to IDEM, this is for the Baseline Road bridge project.

Commissioner Tornatta: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

John Stoll: That’s all.

President Musgrave: And, we already did the Green River Road agreement.

John Stoll: Right, and I’ll bring the Oak Hill one to the next meeting.

President Musgrave: Okay, thank you.

John Stoll: Thanks.

President Musgrave: Mr. Gary Heck of the Health Department.

Gary Heck: Gary Heck, Vanderburgh County Health Department. It’s my understanding that you’re aware that the Indiana State Department of Health recently held a workshop on model legal codes for trying to prevent lead health hazards. One of our environmental health supervisors, Dwayne Caldwell, attended a workshop that they held last week, and with your permission, we would like to begin to explore the opportunity to have a lead code here for Vanderburgh County. He would like to work on that and then eventually get it to County Attorney Ziemer for his review and to bring back to you all for your all’s consideration.

Commissioner Nix: This would parallel the city’s ordinance? Or what you’re proposing, are there changes within the city right now?

Gary Heck: The city currently has one. We would certainly have to have that discussion with them as well, but, that’s what we would certainly hope that could happen.

Commissioner Nix: Move approval to move forward with that.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

Commissioner Tornatta: I would like to see the city and the county be on the same page on that, whatever we come up with.

Gary Heck: We’ll certainly pass that along too. Thanks so much for your blessing.

Commissioner Nix: As long as they agree with us, right, Gary?

President Musgrave: Well, Gary works for both the city and the county, and, so, I think that his relationship is such that we can, he can manage that process. One of the, Mr. Ziemer, do you have any items?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: I do.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: I have the proposed trending agreement to be entered into between the county and A & S Associates of New Albany, Indiana on behalf of the assessors and the County Assessor.

President Musgrave: I know that the Assessor is here. Is a representative from A & S here? Yes? I believe that there’s at least one member of the public who would like to address this issue, is that right, Mr. Rogers?

Jack Rogers: I only have a brief sentence.

President Musgrave: Alright. I would invite the Assessor and A & S up to put any remarks on the record that they would like.

Jonathan Weaver: Good afternoon, Jonathan Weaver, Vanderburgh County Assessor. I would like to introduce to the Commissioners our commercial/industrial trender, I guess, you would want to say, Chuck Simons with A & S Associates.

Chuck Simons: Good afternoon. I don’t know what, I had a long conversation this morning, so, I don’t know, are there questions of me? Or, I believe, Mr. Rogers, did you have a question of me.

Jack Rogers: I–

President Musgrave: Mr. Rogers, you have to come to the microphone and state your name for the record.

Jack Rogers: Jack Rogers. I have some concerns, but none of them are related to Mr. Simons specifically, they are only a concern that the process is one that’s transparent to people that have the capability to understand the process. That is people that normally work in the industry, and take the data that they’ve used and be able to understand how it was interpolated into valuation grids. That’s two sentences, but, that’s all I have to say.

President Musgrave: And, by transparency, I take it that you mean you would like to see the, in this case, the Excel spreadsheets that arrive at the square foot, front foot, other values?

Jack Rogers: I would like to see any and all supporting data work, just as my surveyor would show me how he found the points on my property, the same way as I would look at that, so that I can follow the process entirely, and hopefully understand it.

President Musgrave: Have you obtained that information for the current trending?

Jack Rogers: Partially, the Assessor’s been helpful. There are some things that are not included here or are in hidden columns that I haven’t been quite able to divine yet, but, I haven’t visited with him about that. I think that once I do, that he’ll be able to help me out on that.

President Musgrave: What response do you have regarding the work papers and the data that Mr. Rogers is discussing?

Chuck Simons: I told Mr. Rogers and Mr. Matthews both that anything that is compiled by A & S Associates for Vanderburgh County assessors is public record, and I’ll be more than happy to meet with them and explain anything that they want explained. In fact, I offered to meet with him, I said subject to being approved, to meet with him Friday and go over what his concerns are from a trending that I had nothing to do with. But, what I want to get a handle on is, in the profession Mr. Matthews and himself seem to have some concerns. I need to know what those concerns are before I start my work. That’s basically what we’re trying to do. What my concern is, is where does he feel the concerns are, and what the problems are? I’m working for the assessors and for Vanderburgh County, he’s a taxpayer in Vanderburgh County, so, it’s my obligation to work with him.

Commissioner Nix: Mr. Rogers, is it your opinion that this is something that should be standardized then, so that everyone knows, has that information available to them?

Jack Rogers: Well, I think the assessors office, in recent history, has worked hard to make that, all processes transparent. I think that, hopefully, continues.

President Musgrave: I would like to see that data posted on the website so that anyone can download it, not just someone who has the access to sit down, and the time to sit down and meet with you. Do you have any issues with that?

Chuck Simons: Not once it’s turned over to the county, no.

President Musgrave: Okay. Can you, relay a little bit about your experience in this field and your other clients in Indiana?

Chuck Simons: Well, I’ve had a total of 12, 14 counties that I have completed reassessments in successfully. I’ve been in the business since 1968. I’ve been in business on my own since ‘78-‘79. Have never not completed a contract. Have completed contracts timely. Have never been sued or kicked out of a county, or a contract revoked. Work record is excellent, and the quality of the product that I deliver is excellent. The only county in the state in the last reassessment to have zero factors applied to it, and you being a County Assessor knows what that means, was a county that I did.

President Musgrave: Which county was that?

Chuck Simons: Floyd County.

President Musgrave: Floyd is where you reside?

Chuck Simons: Right, right. That is the only county that had absolutely zero factors applied to it in the whole state, out of 92 counties. There were two other counties that, three other counties that I bid on, and I bid on several here, but I was high bidder, so, I didn’t get them. They all recognize the fact that, most of them that I deal with are people that I’ve known for 20-25 years. They know of my abilities.

President Musgrave: When you say that you have ten or 15 counties, is that over a period of time, or was that last year?

Chuck Simons: Over the last 15 years. I’ve completed, I believe the total counting Jefferson County, which is Madison, was 14. Every one of them were completed on time, every one of them were successful. None of them were rejected, no lawsuits. It’s basically because of cooperation with the, you know, you have to work together. Everybody works together, we get a good product.

President Musgrave: When you say that Floyd had no factors, that’s generally, you’re speaking of residential property then, did you do only the residential, or did you do commercial/industrial and residential as well?

Chuck Simons: Commercial, industrial, residential.

President Musgrave: For this contract it’s only speaking to commercial and industrial, correct?

Chuck Simons: That’s correct. That’s correct.

President Musgrave: I would like to ask the Assessor a question. Thank you, sir. Did anybody have any more questions for Mr. Simons? Could you describe the process that you used to bid this out?

Jonathan Weaver: On the advice of Mr. Ziemer, we bidded it out.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: I think what Mr. Weaver means is that we advertised for bids, and then Mr. Weaver selected certain companies that do trending work to whom to send copies of the contract that comprised the specifications, and those were selected, I think, from a list that had been approved by the State of Indiana. One that he did not send information to was Appraisal Research Company, who had the contract last, from 2005, and they, on their own, saw the advertisement and chose to bid. So, I think that’s the process you’re describing.

Jonathan Weaver: Pretty cut and dry, yeah.

President Musgrave: So, you didn’t send packets to the entire state list, you only sent packets to some, however, you did put an ad in the newspaper, but you didn’t take the effort to let everyone know that there was an opportunity?

Jonathan Weaver: I consulted with Mr. Ziemer, we went about it the way that we thought we should have went about it, and it was advertised, and everyone had an opportunity.

President Musgrave: Mr. Simons, I don’t know if you remember, but, it’s been quite some time, I served on the, it was called the Board of Review in 1990 and 1991, which reviewed the appeals from the work that you did at that time.

Chuck Simons: Uh-huh.

President Musgrave: So, I do remember quite a lot about that. I remember that Mr. Hatfield was one of the tax representatives, whereas now he is the assessor, and I remember that being quite contentious and difficult period of time. A number of newspaper articles. So, are there any other questions? Is there a motion?

Commissioner Tornatta: Motion to accept the agreement.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

Commissioner Nix: Aye.

Commissioner Tornatta: Aye.

President Musgrave: And I vote no. Show the motion as passed.

Jonathan Weaver: Thank you, Mr. Ziemer, for your help.

President Musgrave: We move now to new business. One item of new business is to make sure everyone knows there is no Commission meeting on May 8^th, that’s the primary election, nor on the 29^th. May 29^th is the fifth Tuesday of the month, and the Commission does not meet on the fifth Tuesday. So, mark your calendars accordingly. Is there any other new business?

President Musgrave: Any old business? I have a report on the Old Courthouse parking. If you’ll recall, last week during the Drainage Board, I mentioned to the Commissioners that I was going to talk to the City Clerk about patrolling the little parking lot that’s right outside the Old Courthouse. I have spoken with her deputy, and she herself has indicated that she is agreeable to monitoring this parking lot. She’s advised us to go to the Safety Board. We’re checking into that process. We’ve been told that we will need to get a sign to suggest two hour parking, and so we’ll go to the city sign department. As those details become available, I’ll let you know.

Commissioner Nix: Do you know how many spaces we have over there?

President Musgrave: Eight?

Commissioner Nix: Like seven or eight?

President Musgrave: Something like that.

Commissioner Nix: Okay.

President Musgrave: I’ve already directed the employee of the Old Courthouse to not park there routinely, and to park behind the Coliseum, which is the county lot.

Commissioner Nix: Do we need a representative to go to the Safety Board?

President Musgrave: Yeah. Are you volunteering?

Commissioner Nix: Well, I could, yeah–

President Musgrave: Oh, super.

Commissioner Nix: I could get down here to do that.

President Musgrave: Okay.

Commissioner Nix: I need to find out, if you could let me know when their next meeting is, we’ll come down and–

President Musgrave: Is there any other old business?

President Musgrave: Is there any public comment? I see no one.

President Musgrave: We have a list of consent items. Is there a motion to approve them?

Commissioner Tornatta: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries. Is there a motion to adjourn?

Commissioner Tornatta: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

(The meeting was adjourned at 4:10 p.m.)

CONSENT ITEMS:

Commissioners:

Approval of April 24, 2007 Commission Meeting minutes.

Approval of May 1, 2007 Executive Session Summary minutes.

AMR Monthly Report.

E-mails regarding Old Henderson Road complaint.

E-mails/letters regarding animal control ordinance.

Department Head meeting notes: April 24, 2007

Employment Changes:

Health Department (1)              Sheriff Department (1)              Public Defender (2)

VCCC (2)

Travel Requests: Health Department (1)

County Engineer: Pay Request No. 24: Burkhardt-Green River TIF Projects.

Treasurer: Monthly Report: March 2007.

Auditor: Surplus request: bookcase.

County Council: Surplus request: telephones.

County Clerk: Monthly Report: March 2007.

Department Head Reports:

Burdette Park                           County Engineer                       County Highway

Ozone Officer                           Supt. Of Bldgs.                         Veterans Service

Those in Attendance:

Cheryl Musgrave                      Bill Nix                                      Troy Tornatta

Bill Fluty                                    Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.          Marissa Nichoalds

Madelyn Grayson                     Jennifer Wigginton                    Maryann Joyce

Jennifer Nagy                           Joanne Alexandrovich              Debbie Spalding

John Stoll                                  Gary Heck                                Jonathan Weaver

Chuck Simons                          Jack Rogers                             Others Unidentified

Members of Media

VANDERBURGH COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Cheryl A.W. Musgrave, President

Bill Nix, Vice President

Troy Tornatta, Member

(Recorded and transcribed by Madelyn Grayson.)