VANDERBURGH COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

NOVEMBER 18, 2008

The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners met in session this 18^th day of November, 2008 at 5:00 p.m. in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex with President Jeff Korb presiding.

President Korb: Good evening. It’s 5:00, we’re going to commence the meeting of the November 18^th County Commissioners. Introductions please to my right.

Marissa Nichoalds: Marissa Nichoalds, Superintendent of County Buildings.

Kathryn Schymik.: Kathryn Schymik from the office of the County Attorney.

Commissioner Nix: Bill Nix, County Commissioner.

President Korb: Jeff Korb, County Commissioner.

Commissioner Nix: Wait, wait, Commissioner, hang on.

President Korb: Oh, I’m sorry, we have guests.

Taylor Speciale: Taylor Speciale from Harrison High School.

Katie Clevidence: Katie Clevidence from Harrison High School.

President Korb: Welcome, ladies.

Commissioner Nix: Go Warriors!

President Korb: Oh, one more.

Leah Edge: Leah Edge from Memorial.

President Korb: Great, thank you.

President Korb: We’ll wait for Commissioner Tornatta.

Commissioner Tornatta: Commissioner Troy Tornatta.

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: Action items. The first thing we have is Commission to End Homelessness update by Luzada Hayes. Good evening.

Commissioner Tornatta: If we could make, just a real quick mention of Majestic Place. We’re not–

Commissioner Nix: It’s off for this evening.

Commissioner Tornatta: The rezoning for Majestic Place will be January 20^th, as I have read it. So, if you’re here for Majestic Place and don’t want to wait, because we’re not going to address some of those issues, you’re free to go, or you’re free to stay.

President Korb: Works for me. Go ahead.

Luzada Hayes: Welcome, and thank you for allowing us to come and give you our annual update from the Commission to End Homelessness, which is a joint city-county commission. Commissioner Tornatta actually chairs this commission currently, so, please feel free to add anything that I’ve left out of the report.

Commissioner Tornatta: I’m sure you’ll do fine.

Luzada Hayes: In your packet you received a two page progress report, and I’m just going to point out a couple of those things to you. There is also a matrix on the different committees and all of the different groups that are participating. The Commission to End Homelessness actually oversees the implementation of the plan to end homelessness in Evansville and Vanderburgh County, known as Destination Home. So, there are many people that actually are working behind the scenes to actually implement the roughly 33 strategies that are outlined in the plan. So, the matrix just kind of gives you an overview of the different activities that are going on. Then there are a couple of endorsement sheets, this is one way that we try to promote the plan. All of the Commissioners have signed an endorsement, and we just want to thank you for that. There are extra copies though, if you know of anyone else, please feel free to pass those along. Then there’s an invitation to the 4^th Annual Celebration, which will be December 11^th, which is where we will do a greater in depth overview of the progress that we’ve made this year. A couple of highlights, this group is always good to ask me how will we know when we have actually ended homelessness? Commissioner Nix, that’s usually your question.

Commissioner Nix: That’s correct.

Luzada Hayes: So, we are actually making progress on that. The majority of the homeless assistance services use one central database, and we refer to that as HMIS, or Homeless Management Information System. So, we have increased the number of agencies that are actually participating in that, and over the four years we have really tried to improve the data quality that is in that system. Shortly into ‘09 there will be, actually a state report on homelessness that will be issued, and Evansville-Vanderburgh County will be included in that. We are region 12 for the State of Indiana for homeless services, and we will be able to use, once all of those figures are compared, the ‘07 data, year long data will actually become our baseline. So, we will be able to measure everything we do from here forward, based on the ‘07 data, because we feel like we have finally gotten it to the level that it is valid and reliable. So, we’re very pleased about that. A couple of the other highlights are housing, and we can in no way end homelessness without increasing the housing opportunities that we have in our community. We have received a grant from the HUD Continuum of Care that was funded last year for this year to start. That will provide rental assistance for 20 individuals with disabilities over a five year period. So, that rental assistance money coming into the community will be used for existing apartments, existing housing that’s already available, and over the next five years that will add about $500,000 to our local economy. There’s also another 20 units that has been approved rental assistance for families with disabilities. That program will be starting in the next couple of months, and over a three year period that will again be almost another $500,000 for existing scattered site rental units. We have also applied for another grant that we hope to receive funding for next year, and it will be a three year project to house 25 families per year, not only with rental assistance, but also with supported services. Over a three year period that grant will equate just over a million dollars. So, we’ve been very....trying, 30 units, 40 units doesn’t sound like a lot, but we’ll take that and continue to work on the housing. One of our local agencies too has also taken on housing. It’s not what they usually do, but Aids Resource Group has realized that housing is very important to their clients, and they are actually trying to raise money for housing projects. We also want to thank them for their efforts in adding to the housing options. One of the other efforts to end homelessness is in prevention. The commission actually has a staff person, it’s our Discharge Planning Coordinator, and her sole role is to work with the institutions that release folks, and that would include the jails, community corrections, state prisons, hospitals, nursing homes, foster care system, any institution that is actually releasing people. The whole goal of that is to make sure that they are not released into homelessness, so that when they leave there will be wrap around services, including housing, that will be provided in an effort to actually keep them from returning back to those services, or those institutions. So, it’s a win-win. It keeps people from becoming homeless, and it keeps those individuals from returning to those institutions. So, we’re very pleased with that program. We have a raising incomes committee that is just begun over this last year. We know that raising incomes is a major piece to helping people sustain their housing and not rely on subsidies. So, that group is, has been busy researching best practices and career planning, assessment and training, coordination of existing services that already exist, pipeline supply programs, social entrepreneurship and work supports. We have a play space program, which is a prevention program for homeless children zero to five. That has been established in six of our seven family shelters, and we have actually found a sponsor to take on total support of that program. If you come to the celebration event on December 11^th we’ll be able to tell you who that funder is and announce more of that partnership. So, we’re very excited. They will supply 100% of that funding. Awareness, public awareness is always important to an effort like this. We have a website that has drawn national attention. We’re continuing to get calls from across the country wanting to know what we are doing and how we are doing and how we are progressing with our ten year plan. We’ve also this year run 30 second ads on the South Central advertising service about Destination Home and the different events that have taken place throughout 2008. Then, looking ahead to 2009, we have a special project we just want to give you a glimpse of, and Commissioner Tornatta actually visited Indianapolis and participated, or observed their Project Homeless Connect, and, so, Evansville will be hosting Vanderburgh Homeless Connect on March 12^th in our area. Troy, do you want to just say a few words about that?

Commissioner Tornatta: Well, one of the things that we thought we could do is to bring all of the providers in for a one stop shop type of thing. It’s a one day, one stop setting where people who are homeless, or potentially could be homeless, could come to this place and find out are there services that can be made for me? Are there services that are out there that I don’t know of that could work for me and my family? I think it’s, I’ve worked with Kat quite a bit, Kat Isbell, and she’s been wonderful to bring the players to the table. Everyone is excited about it, and that would take place at the Coliseum. So, whether you are homeless, you’ve been homeless, or potentially could be, we want to provide this so that it is open to the general public, so it’s open for the people that have that type of need, whether it’s veterans services or other services that one would need. It’s just one stop shopping for everybody. It’s going to be open, you’re not restricted to go anywhere, you’re not restricted to do anything. You can come check it out and walk right out the door, or you can stay and try and take in all the services that are to be provided. It will be a great asset to Evansville. It’s the first time we’re going to do it, but a lot of cities have done it. Some 34 big cities, and most of them are on their fourth or fifth round of this. It’s been very successful in those cities.

Luzada Hayes: I’ll be happy to answer any questions you have, or further concerns. If not, I remain available, if you have any questions about what’s going on, we would be glad to assist you.

Commissioner Tornatta: Thank you.

Luzada Hayes: Thank you.

President Korb: Next on the agenda is a late addition. It’s not published on the agenda, is the County Auditor is asking for permission to advertise the 2008 tax sale properties that did not sell at the tax sale. The Commissioners will take title to these properties. Kathryn Schymik is here to field any potential questions we might have.

Kathryn, do you want to say anything, just an overview please?

Kathryn Schymik: What this is, for the last few years the county has elected to take title to properties that didn’t sell at tax sale, and then we turn around and auction those. That’s been a very successful undertaking. The first step in that process is to identify any lien holders or persons that own an interest in the property that we’re seeking to take title to and notify them of the fact that we are going to petition to take title or get a deed for their property. For some of the properties, we might know the identity or name of a lien holder, but cannot locate an address for them, so we are required to then publish notice in the newspaper for those particular persons on those properties. So, that’s what this request is for to publish notice for that purpose.

President Korb: Great.

Commissioner Tornatta: And, just to kind of clarify what successful means. It has been very successful in getting the properties back on the tax roll, however, we are not at a profit position.

Kathryn Schymik: No.

Commissioner Tornatta: Where we feel like we’re taking advantage of these properties. So, just to set that clear.

Kathryn Schymik: No, this was definitely not a money maker for the county, but was successful in that we sold 100 percent of the properties that we took title to, and hopefully got them back into the hands of productive property owners. But, no, it was not a money, definitely not a money making activity.

Commissioner Tornatta: Thank you.

President Korb: I need a motion.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

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.

President Korb: Next we have a contract agreement between GAGE. I know that we have representatives from GAGE here this evening. The agreement is identical to the 2008 grant agreement, except for the scope of economic development activity. The amount for this grant is $150,000, which is the same as 2008. The funds have been appropriated by the County Council. Gentlemen, do you have any questions for the representatives from GAGE?

Commissioner Tornatta: Libbie, I know you’ve been working on this. Could you just give the brief overview?

Libbie Au: Certainly. For the record, Libbie Au, I’m the Research Coordinator with the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville. Really, as Commissioner Korb stated, the contract is the exact same except for the scope of economic development services. The reason behind changing that section is we’ve had a lot of additions in this past year. An example would be our relationship with Crane, and we really wanted to capture all of those changes and additions in services and reflect that in the contract agreement.

Commissioner Tornatta: Thanks.

President Korb: Any other questions? I need a motion.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Korb: Discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor say aye.

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. The motion passes. The next one is with RenoSys warrant, other repair of the pool liner at Burdette Pool. The documents related to the repair of this pool liner at Burdette in the event that the warranty does not cover all or part of the repairs. The cost to the county will not exceed $6,600. I need a motion please.

Commissioner Nix: Move approval.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Korb: Discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor say aye.

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. The motion passes.

President Korb: Department head reports. Any department heads in the audience? Mr. Stoll?

John Stoll: I have two change orders for the Burdette Park projects that we have been working on. The first is contract number VC08-09-03, the Burdette Park drainage repairs. This is for an increase of $300 to add a clean out on a run of plastic storm pipe.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Korb: Discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor say aye.

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. The motion passes.

John Stoll: The other one is a change order on VC08-09-04, the Burdette Park rock check dam. This is for an increase of $205, and that results from an increase quantity of 4.1 tons of rip rap.

Commissioner Nix: Move approval.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Korb: Discussion? Hearing none, 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: Thanks, John.

Commissioner Nix: Thanks.

John Stoll: Thanks.

President Korb: See you later. Have a good night. Any other department heads in the audience? Seeing none.

President Korb: Moving on, new business? Gentlemen, any new business to appear before the Commissioners tonight?

Commissioner Tornatta: No, sir.

President Korb: Old business?

President Korb: Public comment? Anyone in the public wish to make a comment? Yes, sir.

John Eickhoff: Real quick. My name is John Eickhoff. Just a quick comment.

Commissioner Nix: Mr. Eickhoff, can you give your address also?

John Eickhoff: 10540 Hogue Road.

Commissioner Nix: Thank you.

John Eickhoff: I realize that two of you are going off the board here soon. I congratulate you on your good job in the past. I am one of those people that do watch you sometimes late on Sunday night.

President Korb: It scares me how many people actually do watch this.

John Eickhoff: You know, it is scary.

Commissioner Nix: It beats Nytol, right?

John Eickhoff: I know you postponed what I was majorly here about. You know, I feel like I was going to be a referee in a pit bull contest, because I know every dog in that fight that’s coming up. You two may have dodged a bullet, literally, because we’ve got neighbors out there that are mad at neighbors. So, it’s going to be a very interesting thing. People on the west side like some change, but not a drastic change like what’s heading down the road there. So, I just wanted to thank you for this little bit of time. Alright, I’ve got another meeting at 6:00, so, thank you guys very much, and good luck to you two in the future.

Commissioner Korb: Thank you.

John Eickhoff: Troy, you too. Mr. Tornatta, it’s going to be hard for me to call you guys Mr.

Commissioner Tornatta: Troy is fine.

Commissioner Korb: Jeff works for me too. Have a great night.

John Eickhoff: Some day I would like to meet you. You’re one of the only ones I haven’t met in this whole mess. So, come down to Franklin Street some day and we’ll go to lunch.

Commissioner Korb: Great. Thanks a lot. Appreciate it. Anybody else for public comment?

Commissioner Tornatta: Paul’s Menswear.

Commissioner Korb: Oh, yeah, okay, great.

Commissioner Tornatta: Okay.

Commissioner Nix: Do you have bow ties there?

John Eickhoff: We’re going to work on that.

President Korb: Okay. Just buy a couple of them on line. I’ll come in and buy them from you. That’s not a problem. Anybody else from the public for public comment?

President Korb: Great, seeing none, gentlemen, we’ve got consent items to vote on this evening.

Commissioner Tornatta: Motion to approve.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

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

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Korb: Opposed same sign. The motion passes. I need a motion for adjournment please.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Tornatta: Second.

President Korb: The meeting is adjourned.

(The meeting was adjourned at 5:20 p.m.)

CONSENT ITEMS:

Commissioners:

Approval of the November 11, 2008 Commission Meeting Minutes.

Road Pictures, Inc: Permission to Film in Old Courthouse.

Evansville ARC: October 2008 Report of Activities.

Public Defender Request for Reimbursement: 7/1/08-9/30/08.

November 11, 2008 Department Head Meeting Notes.

Employment Changes:

County Clerk (1)                       Center Assessor (2)                VCCC (1)

County Assessor (1)                 Co-Op Ext. (1)

Travel Requests:

Health Department (1)              Commissioners (1)                   Auditor (1)

County Engineer: Pay Request No. 65: Green River-Burkhardt TIF Projects.

County Clerk: October 2008 Monthly Report.

Department Head Reports:

Burdette Park                           County Engineer                       County Highway

Ozone Officer

Those in Attendance:

Jeff Korb                                   Bill Nix                                      Troy Tornatta

Bill Fluty                                    Kathryn Schymik                      Marissa Nichoalds

Madelyn Grayson                     Luzada Hayes                          Libbie Au

John Stoll                                  John Eickhoff                            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.)