VANDERBURGH COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

MAY 24, 2011

The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners met in session this 24^th day of May, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex with Vice President Marsha Abell presiding.

Commissioner Abell: I would like to call to order the May 24, 2011 meeting of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners. Obviously, I’m not Mr. Winnecke, he is out of town tonight, and I will be trying to run this meeting. Could we have attendance roll call please?

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Melcher?

Commissioner Melcher: Here.

Madelyn Grayson: Vice President Abell?

President Winnecke: Here.

Commissioner Abell: Mr. Melcher, would you lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance?

Commissioner Melcher: Why sure.

(The Pledge of Allegiance was given.)

Commissioner Abell: Thank you, Mr. Melcher.

Commissioner Abell: Under action items, Cooperative Purchasing Organization, do you want to come forward, Mr. Raisor and explain this to us?

Mike Raisor: Good evening, Commissioners. I have three items to bring forward to you tonight, all janitorial cleaning supplies of one form or the other. For window cleaner, there were five products that were bid, and we bid these on a price per gallon. We would ask that you award the bid to Pro-Tex All of Evansville with their aptly named glass cleaner. For disinfectant, there were seven items bid. This was bid at price per use per gallon, and you’ll notice there’s quite a disparity among prices there. We bid this as a ready to dispense item, and some of the vendors bid it at a ready to use, which is an already mixed product. When price per use per gallon was figured, the GS Neutral product from American Sanitary at eleven cents per use per gallon, out of Evansville, we would ask that you award the bid to them for disinfectant. Finally, for general purpose cleaner, you see there were a multitude of bids, sometimes multiples from the same company, we looked at that for the average price per use that a custodian would need, and we ask that that be awarded to HP Products out of Indianapolis for their product , Hydrox.

Commissioner Melcher: I don’t have any questions. Do we need a motion? I’ll make a motion that we approve what was presented.

Commissioner Abell: I’ll second. I think we’re both in favor.

(Motion approved 2-0)

Commissioner Abell: I don’t think there’s any need for it.

Mike Raisor: Thank you very much.

Commissioner Abell: Unless Mr. Ziemer thinks we need to do that. Is someone here to...is Mr.--

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: I mean, the record will show, Madelyn, that both Commissioners voted in favor, correct?

Commissioner Abell: Okay. Mr. Lloyd are you here for the BKD? Do you want to come forward?

Gary Heck: I think there is a commercial fuel.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Yeah, there’s a second item.

Commissioner Abell: Oh, I’m sorry. Yes.

Commissioner Abell: Permission to extend the....Debbie, do you want to come forward? Sorry, I just skipped right over it.

Debbie Spalding: No problem. Good afternoon, I’m Debbie Spalding with the City-County Purchasing Department, and with me is Bryan Smith with Heritage Petroleum. Heritage is our current supplier of commercial fuel. They have three stations that we take various vehicles to when we need to fuel, including the Sheriff. We are here today to ask you to extend the contract that was awarded in December 2009 for the year 2010. We sent an extension to your attorney and he has approved it, the document.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Yeah, just a comment, when the bids were taken in 2009, there was a provision in the bids that all responders understood that the county would reserve the option to extend the term of the contract for 2010 for up to 24 months, which would take it through 2012, subject to the right of the county and the Board of Works to fix a date on which they would establish a price certain that would be then the price throughout the remaining term of the contract. The city and the county have indicated a wish to do that. The Board of Works has already approved extending the contract through 2012, and, I think, you’re going to explain this to us a bit more.

Bryan Smith: I would be happy to answer any questions.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Any questions, yeah, but, I think, my statement was correct, did you understand it?

Bryan Smith: Yes.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Right.

Debbie Spalding: We had asked Bryan to give us a price, what the market is today, and then possibly what a fixed, if we were to set the price today, what the price would be for June through December and then all of 2012 if we fixed a price for our unleaded fuel. So, do you have those?

Bryan Smith: I do, the June through December 2011 price, as of the close today, would have been $3.39, that’s for the 87 octane unleaded. The January through December 2012 would be $3.36. The current day’s price is $3.332. It’s one of the few times that you will see that the market is backward dated, cheaper going forward, the farther out it’s usually (Inaudible) going up as you go forward.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: What we have the option to do is to delay setting a price now, pay market price, and what did you say that was currently?

Bryan Smith: $3.332.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: $3.332, pay the market price, waiting to see if gas prices go down. If they do, I guess, working with you we could wait, right now, your extension price is slightly higher than...is that right?

Bryan Smith: It is slightly higher. The nearby months, the June, July and August on the Nymex, everything comes back to the Nymex, are actually pretty inflated. So, if barring that nothing unstable happens in our world today, which I can’t predict, I would think that in two or three months the prices should be a little cheaper yet.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: And, in the meantime, the risk is, Commissioners, that right now the market price is slightly less than the fixed price would be, so, we would want to take the market price. However, next month the fixed price could go up a dollar, and if it did it would have been more to our benefit to fix it this month.

Bryan Smith: First and foremost, I would just like to say, this should really be looked at as a budget tool. If you’re looking at it from a speculative position that you’re going to try to pick the bottom of the market or out guess this market in today’s world, that’s just not likely. So, if you’re happy with that number and if you’re happy with that total spend that represents for this agency going forward, then that’s what it’s designed to do.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Tell me what the price is, the fixed price, what would that be, $3.39, is that what you said?

Bryan Smith: For the rest of 2011, $3.39, and for all of 2012, $3.36.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Yeah, and so, if we fixed it today, those would be the prices, even if gas went up to five dollars, we would still be at those prices. So, and, how did we do that in 2009? Did we take advice from the supplier before fixing it?

Bryan Smith: If you’ll remember, in 2008 is when the market really plummeted.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Right.

Bryan Smith: Crude fell 98 bucks or something like that in a matter of 75-80 days. So, we presented pricing then that looked very attractive for 2010. A little different circumstance today, but very similar.

Debbie Spalding: Right, in 2010 our fixed price that we had set for February through December was $2.61. So, no matter where the market went we’re paying $2.61 for the certain amount of fuel that we had said guaranteed that we would be buying. The year before that, in 2009 our fixed rate was $1.719. So, we were able to see quite a bit of savings that year by fixing the price, but, as Bryan said, you can never tell, I guess.

Bryan Smith: Yeah, the savings is really reflected on taking the higher numbers out of the equation. Again, the market may move lower and you look back and think, well, I could have done this. Well, it’s always easier to look back and make those predictions than it is to look forward. In today’s world it’s a very unpredictable commodity.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: But, your recommendation, just given what you’ve seen, is that it might be expected to go lower in the next two or three months, but you don’t know that.

Bryan Smith: Don’t know, I think if I was going to put this position on, I would look at the fourth quarter of 2011 and the 12 months of 2012.

Commissioner Abell: So, we don’t have to do it for the...this contract doesn’t have to be for all of ‘11 and all of ‘12 right now?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: No, it is, excuse me, the contract would, the extension would go into effect, it’s just that we would defer fixing the price–

Commissioner Abell: That’s what I meant.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: –but the contract, the extension would take place. Currently, we would be purchasing at market, which is $3.32, right?

Bryan Smith: $3.332.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Yeah, $3.33, at such time as the Commissioners wish, now, next month, or the beginning of the third quarter of this year the prices are such that you want to fix it then, you may do that.

Commissioner Melcher: So, tonight our vote would be on?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Really on extending the contract and not, if I understand this, not fixing the price today.

Bryan Smith: Correct. At the time the contract was awarded for us to be the supplier, I tried to explain that by limiting yourself to select that week long window to pick your price for the...and that’s based totally on what the market is, to pick the price going forward for a period of time, is very limiting. Since we are right here, and this is what Heritage Petroleum does, we’re a fuel manager that manages large contracts in eight different states today. So, having us right here as a resource, we said, if you’ll award the contract, we can offer better timing, or better market opportunities to make this decision rather than just taking that one week period when there’s no telling what’s going on in our world. I continue to send updated pricing to Debra, Mike Raisor, the fellas over at METS, keeping them abreast of what’s going on in the market. Then when they feel comfortable with the number, then we can lock it in. They don’t have to lock the number in tonight.

Debbie Spalding: The county’s biggest user on this contract would be the Sheriff with all of their vehicles. Do you know how many gallons, approximately, per month they buy?

Bryan Smith: About 8,000.

Commissioner Abell: So, Debbie, you would be following this and you would calendar ahead and made sure we do get something in stone within the next three or four months or so?

Debbie Spalding: Yes, the Board of Public Works when they awarded it gave the Cooperative Purchasing Organization the ability to set the price when it is...along with the Police and the Sheriff, when it was amicable to do so. So, I don’t know if it’s this Commission’s desire to allow that as well. The problem is when we don’t have meeting dates that are the same day, the market changes hourly. So, we would have, we couldn’t have both the same price on both days. We wouldn’t have both the Board of Public Works and the County Commissioners awarding on the same day.

Commissioner Abell: I’m okay with letting it go. What about you, Steve?

Commissioner Melcher: I’m not sure about letting them pick the time, the day. I think if that’s going to be voted on, we should pick that time. So, I’ll make motion a that we extend the contract to ‘12 at the non-fixed rate. Is that right?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Yes.

Commissioner Melcher: At the non-fixed rate, and whenever you have it, you come back to us when you think it’s low enough for us to go on a fixed rate.

Debbie Spalding: Okay.

Commissioner Melcher: So, that’s the motion.

Commissioner Abell: I’ll second that. Any further discussion?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Just before, Madelyn, I think I heard Commissioner Melcher say ‘12, it’s an extension through December 31, 2012. Right, okay.

Commissioner Abell: All in favor, aye?

Commissioner Melcher: Aye.

Commissioner Abell: Aye. Okay.

(Motion approved 3-0)

Debbie Spalding: Thank you.

Commissioner Melcher: I have one question.

Bryan Smith: Yes, sir.

Commissioner Melcher: Maybe you could tell us, nobody else can. Gas goes up thirty cents and drops down three cents, is there a reason?

Bryan Smith: There’s a–

Commissioner Melcher: I mean, nobody understands this one.

Bryan Smith: There really isn’t a reason. The retail market, I’m not a retailer, and I don’t really follow that market. The retail market is very competitive in Evansville and Henderson. It’s one of the most competitive in the nation. Industry publications put the retail margins in this area as one of the lowest in the nation. So, there’s a couple of different variables that affect it, but Kentucky not having sales tax, they get quite a bit of a price advantage in Kentucky, but it always comes back to, for lack of a better term Twinkies. They want to get you in the store to buy the Twinkies. So, whatever they have to do to get the customer on the lot, they move the price up to restore trying to get margin, and they all fight, that’s why it comes back down, because they are all trying to fight for market share to get them back in.

Commissioner Melcher: I don’t know about us being the lowest. It seems like Indy’s been lower than us, and I know I left here and went to Paris, Tennessee and it was $3.99 and I got there and it was $3.65.

Bryan Smith: Lowest margin.

Commissioner Melcher: Okay, lowest margin.

Bryan Smith: Profit, not the lowest price at the pump. The lowest profit.

Commissioner Melcher: That’s it. I didn’t think, nobody knows that answer.

Bryan Smith: No, I wish I did know. You would have to call me from some place a lot nicer than this. Thank you.

Commissioner Abell: Thank you.

Commissioner Abell: Next, under contracts and agreements, Superior Court detention agreement.

Commissioner Melcher: You skipped–

Commissioner Abell: I skipped BKD. Sorry. Well, I called you up here once, Mr. Lloyd and you didn’t come up. So, I’m sorry, Russ.

Russ Lloyd: Thank you, Commissioners. Russ Lloyd, Vanderburgh County Council. I have with me Tim Deisher, representing BKD, LLP. First of all, congratulations on the Green River Road, great project for the county.

Commissioner Abell: Thank you.

Russ Lloyd: I’ll give you a little background and then he can explain the specifics of the study. This actually, we had had discussions about this back in 2010 when I was the President of the Council, bringing in someone to look at some of the county departments on an efficiency study basis, and BKD does have a staff, out of their Indianapolis office that actually does this in governmental situations. 2010 came and went, didn’t, wasn’t able to do that, but, anyway, this year we actually brought in Mr. Hanselman, who, I know, I think met with some of the Commissioners as well, from BKD, and he talked about work they had done in some other counties and cities in Indiana. The Council was impressed with Mr. Hanselman, and after some conversations, including conversations with you, we thought Burdette Park might be a good opportunity for the efficiency expert to look. The Council approved bringing BKD in on a 7-0 vote on May 6^th. The, obviously, subject to your approval of the contract. Councilman Raben said, since this would be Burdette Park, efficiencies there would be beneficial to tourism in Vanderburgh County. So, he thought it would be good if we asked the Evansville Convention and Visitors Bureau to assist in the funding. Council President Kiefer and I met with the Convention and Visitors Bureau, three of their board members last week, and they were agreeable to funding up to $10,000 on the contract, with the provision that they would like to see some kind of tourism related work done. Our feeling was, one of the things that the contract would do would be profitability analysis by activity. So, you would look at the chalets, you would look at the BMX, you would look at the water park where the county would see which one of these maybe is more profitable for the county, more profitable or doesn’t lose as much money, or generates revenue. So, we thought that that did have a tourism related mission. So, the Convention Bureau, it has to go before their board, but they seem to be okay with that concept. To kind of describe the study, I’ve got Mr. Deisher here. So, I’ll turn it over to him.

Tim Deisher: Tim Deisher, partner in the BKD office in Evansville. As Councilman Lloyd said, Herb has a background in efficiency studies, engineering background, and has done projects such as the Indianapolis Airport and various other facilities. The process would be that he would talk to key individuals with Burdette Park and any others that would be appropriate to sort of set a goal for the efficiency study process. He would come down and meet individually with each individual employee at Burdette Park and learn the facility, each of the facilities, look at the processes, listen to the staff as to what the processes currently are, and in conclusion recommend way of the processes being done differently. He would be looking at internal controls of each of the facilities. He would look at profitability by facility to give the county information, as well as Burdette Park good information in management decisions as, on a go forward basis.

Commissioner Abell: (Inaudible. Microphone not on.)

Commissioner Melcher: No, not really. I just, you’re just going to be looking at everybody’s job descriptions and stuff like that too?

Tim Deisher: We’re really going to look at processes. Part of that is processes are done by people, and job descriptions and what people do and the way things are done at each of the facilities in the goal of improving that efficiency, as well as internal controls and other aspects of Burdette Park.

Commissioner Melcher: Okay.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Just to remind the Commissioners that $7,000 of the cost of this project will be paid from appropriated funds, funds that are now appropriated by Council. The other $10,000 is contemplated to be paid by the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and while there’s been an indication that they’ll do that, I don’t think that has passed their board. So, I think your motion needs to, if you wish to approve this, to approve it conditionally upon the CVB finding that they will pay the $10,000.

Commissioner Melcher: Okay, I’ll make the motion to approve the contract as long as the CVB pays the $10,000, and the County Council is going to pay the balance.

Commissioner Abell: I’ll second. All in favor aye.

Commissioner Melcher: Aye.

Commissioner Abell: Aye.

(Motion approved 2-0)

Tim Deisher: Thank you.

Commissioner Abell: Provided this goes through, how long before we will get some results? Do you know?

Tim Deisher: Council had a discussion on that as to timing and whether to come in before the busy season, or after, and I think somewhat the feeling was when it’s operational–

Commissioner Abell: Oh, yeah.

Tim Deisher: – and just see the live processes.

Commissioner Abell: Okay, thank you.

Russ Lloyd: I mean, just as an example of all of the processes. You have a lot of cash flowing through during the busy season, so they would look at whether the controls are sufficient on the cash coming through. So, I would think that would be of benefit certainly to the county.

Commissioner Abell: Thank you.

Russ Lloyd: Thank you.

Commissioner Abell: Now we’re ready for contracts. The Superior Court detention agreement, an agreement with Muncie Reception Detention Center for children placed in the center by the Vanderburgh Superior Court, Juvenile Division. This replaces a prior arrangement under which such detentions were at Sugarcreek Detention Center near Muncie. Under the prior arrangement the cost of detention was $149 per detainee per day, not including transportation. Under this agreement, the cost per detainee will be $89 per night, including the cost of transportation. The agreement is for one year beginning May 6, 2011.

Commissioner Melcher: Move for approval.

Commissioner Abell: I’ll second. Mr. Ziemer, do you know is this the juveniles that we aren’t capable of handling here at the center that we have set up?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Yes, I think really actually it’s when our center here is full and they still need a place to put these young children, so then they send them to Muncie.

Commissioner Abell: Okay. All in favor.

Commissioner Melcher: Aye.

Commissioner Abell: Aye.

(Motion approved 2-0)

Commissioner Abell: Health Department breastfeeding peer counselor contract with Anya Thomas. Is that correct?

Gary Heck: Gary Heck, Vanderburgh County Health Department. That’s correct. This is an independent contractor agreement, and you’re absolutely correct that’s the individual. The County Attorney has reviewed this and it would still need to be approved by our board who would be meeting on June the 9^th, but we do need the Commissioners approval as well.

Commissioner Abell: Okay.

Commissioner Melcher: Okay, I’ll make a motion that we approve the contract as long as the Health Department Board approves it.

Commissioner Abell: You’ve looked at the contract, Mr. Ziemer?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Yes.

Commissioner Abell: Okay.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: We’ve had similar contracts to this in the past.

Commissioner Abell: Okay.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: So, yes, it’s routine.

Commissioner Abell: I’ll second that. All in favor say aye.

Commissioner Melcher: Aye.

Commissioner Abell: Aye.

(Motion approved 2-0)

Gary Heck: Thank you.

Commissioner Abell: Okay. County Assessor, 2012 reassessment contract. The Commissioners previously approved the 2012 reassessment services agreement. This is a revised agreement that contains changes in certain legal citations and indemnities that were requested by the Department of Local Government Finance.

Commissioner Melcher: I make a motion to accept.

Commissioner Abell: Second. Any comments? All in favor?

Commissioner Melcher: Aye.

Commissioner Abell: Aye.

(Motion approved 2-0)

Commissioner Abell: Department head reports. County Engineer’s office, Pat, did you have something for us?

Patrick Seib: Yes, Ma’am. Good afternoon, Patrick Seib, Assistant County Engineer. The first item that I have is for change order number one on the Burdette-USI bike path. This will result in an increase of $8,888.77, of which the county is responsible for 20 percent. The change order covers the cost of revisions to two concrete head walls, changing PVC conduit to steel conduit for the flashing light that will be installed at the Nurrenbern Road crossing, and adding an inlet that was shown on the plans, but omitted from the contract.

Commissioner Melcher: Motion to approve.

Commissioner Abell: Second. In favor?

Commissioner Melcher: Aye.

Commissioner Abell: Aye.

(Motion approved 2-0)

Patrick Seib: The second item that I have is to award contract number VC11-05-01, the concrete repair contract to JBI Construction, the low bidder, for $223,110. This will cover work in Greenbriar Hills, Copperfield, and Oak Ridge Subdivisions.

Commissioner Melcher: Move to accept.

Commissioner Abell: Second. In favor?

Commissioner Melcher: Aye.

Commissioner Abell: Aye.

(Motion approved 2-0)

Patrick Seib: The next item I have deals with USI sidewalk construction plans. They’re wanting to install sidewalk on the south side of Mahrenholz and up the west side of Schutte. As part of this, they are wanting to widen a little bit of Mahrenholz, which is going to require a little extra right-of-way dedication. We have yet to receive that, but that is in the mix, and we have gone through the plans, everything looks in order and recommend approval.

Commissioner Melcher: Now, is this something USI is doing also?

Patrick Seib: This is something that USI is constructing. They’ve just come to us to okay the plans.

Commissioner Melcher: Okay, so moved.

Commissioner Abell: Second. In favor?

Commissioner Melcher: Aye.

Commissioner Abell: Aye.

(Motion approved 2-0)

Patrick Seib: The next item I have is a right-of-way offer for the Baseline and 41 intersection project. It’s a $625 for Richard and Ruth Bengert. They are at the northeast corner of Boyle Lane and Baseline. This is the only right-of-way parcel that we’ll need for this project that we’ll be doing to accommodate the traffic to the new North High School.

Commissioner Melcher: Move to approve.

Commissioner Abell: Second.

Patrick Seib: And, the last item I have is a street plan approval request–

Commissioner Abell: In favor?

Commissioner Melcher: Aye.

Commissioner Abell: Aye.

(Motion approved 2-0)

Commissioner Abell: Okay, go ahead.

Patrick Seib: Apologies.

Commissioner Abell: That’s okay.

Patrick Seib: A street plan approval request for Interstate Crossing Subdivision. That’s the commercial site, it’s the old Busler’s site there at the southwest corner of 41 and 64. We have reviewed the plans and recommend approval.

Commissioner Melcher: So moved.

Commissioner Abell: Second. Is that, that project then is going forward at 41 and 64?

Patrick Seib: Yes.

Commissioner Abell: And, are they going to restore the traffic light, do you know?

Patrick Seib: I haven’t heard that yet.

Commissioner Abell: Okay. Anything else? Did you move to approve it? All in favor?

Commissioner Melcher: Aye.

Commissioner Abell: Aye.

(Motion approved 2-0)

Patrick Seib: And, that’s all that I have unless you have any other questions.

Commissioner Abell: I have a question, I don’t know if you....is there any update on the mudslide out at USI?

Patrick Seib: I know that John’s been....on University Parkway?

Commissioner Abell: Uh-huh.

Patrick Seib: I know that John’s been working on that. I don’t think he’s got anything yet. I know a lot of that hinges on INDOT and what they’re....what they look at as far as what’s going to be capped for the federal funds on that. Whether it’s by DES number, or if it’s the project as a whole.

Commissioner Abell: Okay.

Patrick Seib: I think he had asked, or was going to ask Ted to look into that too. I’m not sure if John’s contacted you about that.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: I don’t think so, but I will.

Patrick Seib: Fair enough.

Commissioner Abell: Find somebody to pay for it, Ted. Thank you.

Commissioner Abell: We don’t have any board appointments. Is there any new business? Oh, Steve, I’m sorry, come forward. You weren’t on my list of cheat sheet notes. I apologize.

Steve Craig: Steve Craig, Manager of Burdette. I just wanted to, even though we’re still cleaning up from the flood and that, that the park will be open. Everything in the park will be open this weekend for the Memorial Day weekend. The Aquatic Center opens Saturday for the summer. Next Tuesday our day camp will start and be running through the first week of August. Just wanted to invite everybody out and tell them that we will be ready, and the weather is supposed to be good. That’s about it, but just wanted them to know that everything is ready.

Commissioner Abell: Do you got all the lifeguards you need?

Steve Craig: We could still use some more lifeguards and a couple more EMT’s, if anybody is interested in a part time job for the summer, but we could use a few more of them.

Commissioner Abell: Okay, well, have a good summer.

Steve Craig: Well, thank you very much.

Commissioner Abell: Anything under new business?

Commissioner Abell: Old business?

Commissioner Abell: Public comment? Mr. Jeffers?

Bill Jeffers: You know on a short meeting you weren’t going to get by without a public comment.

Commissioner Abell: I just hadn’t thought about you as the public.

Bill Jeffers: I thought Commissioner Melcher’s question to the fella from the fuel company was very interesting, and I just wanted to make a comment on it. I watch CNBC every morning–

Commissioner Abell: Well, that’s your problem.

Bill Jeffers: –before I come to work. I watch it every evening when I get home sometime, and solely to check silver, gold, oil, and wholesale gasoline. I noticed Monday a week ago, when oil dropped, gasoline, wholesale gasoline came down to $2.91, and has been about $2.91 to $2.95 for the past eight or nine days. Okay? Now, if you add federal tax and state tax and other little things; sales tax, fuel tax, whatever, and I just confirmed it with the fella before he left, the mark up for taxes is 62 cents a gallon. So, if you add 62 cents to the wholesale price, before profit margin, gasoline has been $3.53 to $3.57 for the last eight or nine days in the State of Indiana. Generally, I track this, just like the retailers do, I go home on Oak Hill Road, and I see what Moto is selling it for, I see what Casey’s is, of course, you’ve got Thornton’s at Morgan and Boeke, they set the price, and then Buehler’s over there looks across the street and sees what Thornton’s is doing and they drop their price. Then, now you’ve got the new Fast Track down there by Vogel School, they get their binoculars out and see what Thornton’s and Buehler’s is doing and they drop their price, and then Casey’s runs out to the edge of the lot and looks down there and they drop their price. I’ve confirmed that with Casey’s. That’s where I buy my gas, and that’s what they do. They all watch to see what Thornton’s is doing down there. Just like that fella described, they are working on that margin. Now, generally, I’ve watched the wholesale price and added 62 cents and I noticed that retailers are generally just a few pennies or a nickel or so above that margin, or, you know, their margin is about three to eight cents. So, gas should have been selling all of this time for $3.60, or $3.59 to $3.63 a gallon for the last eight days. Now, what’s it been? The only place you can get that is in Tennessee, coming back from Austin, Arkansas, Missouri and Tennessee were all under that, at that or under. Getting back to Indiana it was $3.99. Just in the last couple of days it went to $3.83. So, they’ve been making four to eight nickels more than usual for the last ten days. I’ve posted this on my Facebook and other places, and I want to know, you know, over in Kentucky they’ve got a judge initiating an action for price fixing and price gouging. You cannot get anyone in the State of Indiana to respond to this. Now, what the heck is going on that they’re making 40, 50 cents a gallon over what they normally do any other year?

Commissioner Abell: I had someone write me an e-mail about that, and wanted the County Commissioners to do something about it. That’s not in our jurisdiction–

Bill Jeffers: Right.

Commissioner Abell: –but, I did tell him that it would be nice for him to write to the Secretary of State–

Bill Jeffers: Right.

Commissioner Abell: –and possibly he could get something done through that department.

Bill Jeffers: Well, I’ve wrote to the Secretary of State candidates, both of them, during the last election about price gouging, and one of them wouldn’t respond, and the other one was busy trying to decide which precinct to vote in.

Commissioner Abell: You didn’t happen to be the person who wrote me the e-mail are you?

Bill Jeffers: No, Ma’am. I wouldn’t expect the County Commissioners to do anything about it, because I know you don’t have any power to do that, but somebody in the State of Indiana should. But, I think you took a wise move today, because also on CNBC the Sheik of Arabi, or whatever his name is over there, the head of OPEC, he would like to see oil at $70 to $80 a barrel, because he says anything over that suppresses the use of oil and lowers OPEC’s gross profits. Even when it goes over a hundred they make less money than when it’s at 70. But, there was another analyst on there this morning that thought it might go as high as $140 or $150 a barrel in 2012. So, make your wisest move in the third quarter.

Commissioner Abell: You need to watch a different t.v. station, Mr. Jeffers.

Bill Jeffers: I know, it just drives you nuts.

Commissioner Abell: Is there anyone else that would like to make some public comment?

Commissioner Melcher: I just would like to make one comment. Monday is Veteran’s Day for all of our fallen veterans, and that’s what it’s about. It’s really about honoring the people that gave their lives for our country. As Commander of the Veterans Council here in Vanderburgh County, for our t.v. audience, there are going to be a lot of posts out on Monday and some Sunday at all of our different cemeteries having ceremonies. So, if you’re not doing anything, you might ride out by one and you might see one. It’s very interesting how it goes on. Thank you.

Commissioner Abell: Thank you. Under public comment, I will make an announcement that Mr. Sherman Greer came in to see the County Commissioners before we had the meeting tonight to tell us that he had just heard from the National Weather Service that there’s a possibility of extremely strong storms and tornados approaching Evansville around midnight tonight and through the morning tomorrow morning. So, you just might want to keep your weather radio on tonight as a precaution. It’s supposed to be the same weather system that came through Joplin, Missouri. So, just to make sure that everybody stays as safe as possible. The siren at Plaza School is not working. So, if you live on the east side of town, you may want to make sure you have on a weather radio.

Commissioner Abell: Madelyn, the consent items.

Madelyn Grayson: The consent items for the May 24^th meeting are as follows; approval of the prior minutes; there’s the joint County Commissioners-City Council workshop minutes from May 5^th and May 12^th, the May 10, 2011 Commission meeting minutes; employment changes for the Commissioners approval, there’s one for the Co-Op Extension, three for the Health Department, and three for Burdette Park, and one for the County Highway; the Commissioners have the Girls in Bloom request for waiver of Centre fees for February 24-25, 2012, and a report of the 2011 event; there’s a letter to the Bloomington MPO regarding removal of I-69 project from their 2012-2015 transportation improvement plan; there’s a Coliseum roof repair quote; Hamrick’s Towing notification of service increase due to gas price increase; the County Highway Department annual operational report; the County Engineer has pay request number 128 in the amount of $75,326.70 for TIF projects; the County Clerk has the April 2011 monthly report; Weights and Measures, April 16-May 15, 2011 monthly report; the Evansville ARC April 2011 report of activities, the IBAP Gatekeeper April 30, 2011 report; the Treasurer has the April 30, 2011 year-to-date report, and there is a department head report from the County Engineer.

Commissioner Melcher: I’ll move to approve the consent agenda.

Commissioner Abell: Second. All in favor?

Commissioner Melcher: Aye.

Commissioner Abell: Aye.

(Motion approved 2-0)

Commissioner Abell: So moved. Any more business to come before the County Commissioners? I’ll entertain a motion to adjourn.

Commissioner Melcher: So moved.

Commissioner Abell: We are adjourned.

(The meeting was adjourned at 5:39 p.m.)

CONSENT ITEMS:

Commissioners:

Approval of the 5/5 & 5/12/2011 Commissioner-County Council Workshop Minutes.

Approval of the May 10, 2011 Commission Meeting Minutes.

Waiver of Centre Fee: 2012 Girls in Bloom: 2/24-2/25/2012.

Letter to Bloomington MPO: Removal of I-69 from 2012-2015 TIP.

Coliseum Roof Repair Quote: U.S. Industries Group, Inc.

Hamrick’s Towing: Notification of Service Increase Due to Gas Price Increase.

Evansville ARC April 2011 Report of Activities.

IBAP Gatekeeper April 30, 2011 Report.

Employment Changes:

Health Dept (3)                         Burdette Park (3)                      Co-Op Ext. (1)

County Highway (1)                  County Clerk (3)                       Sheriff (2)

Circuit Court (5)                        Assessor (1)

County Highway: 2010 Annual Operational Report.

County Engineer: Pay Request No. 128: Green River-Burkhardt TIF Projects.

County Clerk: April 2011 Monthly Report.

Weights & Measures: April 16-May 15, 2011 Monthly Report.

County Treasurer: April 30, 2011 Year-to-Date Report.

Department Head Reports:              County Engineer

Those in Attendance:

Marsha Abell                            Stephen Melcher                      Brian Gerth

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.                    Kristin Comer                            Madelyn Grayson

Mike Raisor                              Debbie Spalding                       Bryan Smith

Russ Lloyd, Jr.                          Tim Deisher                              Patrick Seib

Steve Craig                               Bill Jeffers                                 Others Unidentified

Members of Media

VANDERBURGH COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Marsha Abell, Vice President

Stephen Melcher, Member

(Recorded and transcribed by Madelyn Grayson.)