VANDERBURGH COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

SEPTEMBER 5, 2006

The Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners met in session this 5^th day of September, 2006 at 3:31 p.m. in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex with President Cheryl Musgrave presiding.

President Musgrave: I would like to call to order the September 5^th meeting of the Board of Commissioners of Vanderburgh County. It is 3:31. We’ll start with introductions to 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 Shetler: Tom Shetler, County Commissioner.

Madelyn Grayson: Madelyn Grayson, Recording Secretary.

Bill Fluty: Bill Fluty, County Auditor.

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

(The Pledge of Allegiance was given.)

President Musgrave: We have the minutes of August 22^nd to approve. Is there a motion?

Commissioner Shetler: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: I would also like to note, for the record, that we had an Executive Session today, discussing two items of pending litigation.

President Musgrave: Action items, we are going to take the economic development update first. That is coming under, I believe, old business, and I would like to welcome Connie Fowler, of the IEDC. Connie assisted the Commissioners on our Economic Development Workshop last week. We had a number of attendees, but Connie had some remarks to make about the meeting itself.

Connie Fowler: Yes.

President Musgrave: Welcome.

Connie Fowler: Well, good afternoon. Thank you, Cheryl, President, for inviting me to be here today. I did have the pleasure to work with Cheryl, and her associates, Marissa and Carla, on planning the Economic Development Workshop. It far, far exceeded our expectations. I think when we originally started to meet, we thought we would be very fortunate if we had 50 in attendance. I don’t know the final count, but it was well, well over 100, maybe 125, 150 or so. So, what that says to me is that there is certainly a lot of interest, strong interest in local and regional economic development. Certainly, the county and the city appear to be very ripe for change. I think there can only be good results if a city and county can come together on economic development purposes. I have had the occasion to work with the Department of Metropolitan Development, and most recently with the County Commissioners on several of our local and strong businesses. I don’t believe anybody made the point last week, but 80 percent of all of the new job growth will come from existing businesses. That is certainly one of the focuses of the IEDC on a state-wide basis, is to help our existing businesses in Indiana expand, retain those businesses that are already here, and always to attract new businesses to the community. I can also tell you from previous experience as an economic developer of 22 years, in another state, I did work very closely to help adjoining counties start their economic development agencies, if you will, and working with consultants and brokers on a national level. When those consultants come in to a community, they do not see the county lines. They see, and they want to know three things, and we’ll have the opportunity yet again tomorrow; (1) Can I get my workforce? (2) Can I get my raw materials to make my product? (3) and, then, Can I get my products out into my delivery area? That’s what they’re concerned about. They want to also know; Will I be welcomed in this community? Will my employees fit into the community? Will I be able to get those resources to make my company successful? So, I commend you on the opportunity to bring city and county government together on economic development.

President Musgrave: Thank you. Marissa, what was our final tally?

Marissa Nichoalds: It was 173 pre-registered, and we had about ten people register at the door the day of the workshop.

President Musgrave: Well, that’s an impressive number. I know you were very grateful to a number of people for helping us, including you and Carla Hayden, our other staff member. Laura Howell of the GIS Department ran all of the electronics and made sure everything worked just fine. Vision-e, the newly forming Economic Coalition of Southwest Indiana, which you are going to leave us shortly to go to their very first board meeting. I think we’ll even make you late, despite the fact that you’ll be leaving as soon as possible. We’re not sure why they scheduled the board meeting in the middle of the Commission meeting, but they did, and then they scheduled it at least a half an hour away, up in Princeton. So, Tom’s going to drive according to the speed limit.

Commissioner Shetler: I’m actually hoping for some indulgence by the Sheriff Department on this issue.

President Musgrave: Good luck with that. The IEDC, and Lieutenant Governor, Becky Skillman, she came down and gave the keynote address, and gave us some very good information about the economic activity here, and the contribution of Governor Daniels’ Major Moves program to road development is more than $300 million she said is coming to Vanderburgh County alone in the Major Moves initiatives. Commissioner Nix, did you have anything to say?

Commissioner Nix: It was a good turnout, and there was a lot of different types of people there. There were business people there, there were realtors, I saw a few people from the construction industry there. So, just a really good turn out and a good mix of people, and look forward to having something like that again soon.

President Musgrave: Mr. Ron Keeping from Vectren, I told him that he would probably be at the microphone at a quarter of, and so, he’ll be astonished to find that we moved a little further along, but he will probably be here shortly, and also to give an update. He was one of the presenters. Did you have some remarks?

Commissioner Shetler: Yeah. Cheryl, first of all, thank you, because you really did an outstanding job, put a tremendous amount of time and effort into making a huge success out of that. You know, I know the chamber has put on different events like this, and 25 to 40 people has been what they’ve expected over the years. To get 175 people there, it was just outstanding and stuff. So, it’s very impressive. I-69 is the single most important economic development opportunity our community will enjoy in my lifetime. It will create thousands of jobs for Hoosiers. While Major Moves provides the funding, work remains to ensure that I-69 remains on track. I have attended about eight meetings monitoring the I-69 progress, and I will continue to push the state to make certain that I-69 is constructed on schedule. The economic development benefitting our residents does not stop at the county line, as evidenced by the number of Vanderburgh County residents that are enjoying the benefits of Toyota. Future economic development requires a comprehensive, regional approach to economic development. Industry interested in Southwest Indiana does not want to talk with multiple groups as they determine which site is best for their needs. The County Commission recently joined with the Mayor to ensure a regional approach by promoting the formation of the Economic Development Coalition of Southwestern Indiana, of which I am a member, and will be leaving very shortly to attend the first meeting. I appreciate the opportunity to be working for the county to attract good paying jobs that will benefit Southwest Indiana.

President Musgrave: Good luck to you.

President Musgrave: We will move now, I guess, we now have two shadows, Rick Yeager, Rick, what year are you in school?

Rick Yeager: I’m a junior, and I go to Reitz.

President Musgrave: A junior at Reitz High School. That’s a good choice. And you?

Samantha Lorelei: I’m Samantha Lorelei, and I’m a junior at Reitz High School.

President Musgrave: Samantha Lorelei from Reitz High School. So, you’re both shadowing, you’re shadowing me, and Samantha you’re shadowing?

Samantha Lorelei: Tom.

President Musgrave: Tom? So, that means you’re going to drive up to Princeton with Tom?

Samantha Lorelei: No.

Commissioner Nix: She’ll drive. She’ll get the ticket.

Commissioner Shetler: That’s a good deal. I’ll work with that one.

President Musgrave: Well, welcome. I understand you’ll be attending, both of you, all of the meetings that we have here in September? Then we might even get new shadows next month? So, we’ll be shadowed. Okay.

Commissioner Shetler: Welcome aboard.

President Musgrave: And you don’t get a shadow?

Commissioner Nix: I think next week, or the following week, I’m pretty sure.

President Musgrave: Okay, well, alright. Well, we’ll look forward to it.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: I would like to have a shadow.

Commissioner Nix: Our attorney would like one too.

President Musgrave: Our attorney wants a shadow.

Commissioner Shetler: I think I’ll shadow you the next couple of weeks.

President Musgrave: He’s going on vacation.

President Musgrave: Alright, next on our agenda is Burdette Park. Mr. Craig, I understand you have some good news for us.

Steve Craig: Good afternoon. I’m Steve Craig. I’m the Manager of Burdette Park. I would like to present the County Commissioners of Vanderburgh County two awards, and these awards were given to Burdette, but , I think, that they should be given to every individual that works for Vanderburgh County government. They’re the prestigious Readers Choice Awards, and I say that because these are awards that are voted on by the people that are in the tri-state area, and I can tell the Commissioners all I want how good a job I’m doing, but they don’t have to believe it. But, when you kind of get these awards, I think, that it shows the cooperation between the Commissioners and the management and the employees of Burdette Park. That we’re giving the people what they want. At this time I would like to give them these two awards. One of them is for “The Best Place for a Family Outing”, and the other one is “The Best Place to Go on a Hot Day”. Both of them are platinum winners. One thing it says about these awards is some of the heavy weights that we were up against, and we beat some great competition in the tri-state. I’m just proud to present these to the Commissioners at this time.

President Musgrave: Thank you.

Commissioner Shetler: Alright. Thank you, Steve.

President Musgrave: We appreciate that. We’re going to move the agenda around a little bit from the written notice. Thank you very much. Are you going to display these out at Burdette?

Steve Craig: I’m going to have a copy made to put at Burdette, and we’re going to copy the Commissioners and the Council office.

President Musgrave: Okay, thank you.

Commissioner Nix: Thanks, Steve.

Steve Craig: You’re welcome.

President Musgrave: We have two ordinances to hear today. We have the public hearing, the first reading of vacation ordinance CO.V-08-06-003, the vacation of 15 feet of drainage easement at 501 Metro Avenue. This is requested by Morley and Associates for the petitioners Bruce and Karen Mortensen Family Trust. I understand that the County Attorney and others have reviewed this and that there are no issues with regard to it. Can we, do we have to take these individually? Or can I do both ordinances together?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Separately.

President Musgrave: Separately? Is there a motion on the first reading of this vacation ordinance?

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor? Commissioner Nix?

Commissioner Nix: Yes.

President Musgrave: Roll call. Commissioner Shetler?

Commissioner Shetler: Yes.

President Musgrave: And I vote yes.

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: Excuse me. Do you want to just see if there’s any, since it’s a public hearing, see if there’s anybody hear that would like to say anything?

President Musgrave: You know, that might be a good idea. Is there anyone here in the public to speak to this? There wasn’t, and we’ve already voted on it. So, that’s good. But, we’ll have a second hearing next week, and, again, if I remember, an opportunity to speak to it before we vote. I’m sure that your substitute attorney will assist me in that regard.

President Musgrave: Our second ordinance is CO.09-06-017, an ordinance amending section 10.28.010, concerning the prohibition of parking. Again, this is a first reading. Commissioner Nix, would you like to discuss this ordinance?

Commissioner Nix: Yes. Basically, there’s been a tremendous amount of interest in the University Apartments out there, I guess, it’s Eagle Village, on Schutte Road. The original ordinance for apartments stated so many vehicles per so many occupants. Or, for, there’s a number of parking for every unit in the building, and because these are student housing, we seem to have had quite a bit of overflow of traffic. I’d gotten a call last week from a couple of people that live in the area out there to discuss what could be done about it. I think part of the problem right now is that on Stellar Drive there, actually using that for parking. I contacted Mr. Stoll about what we could do, and we had discussed possibly just an ordinance to cover this for the time being. That’s basically what it amounts to.

President Musgrave: So, this ordinance will prohibit parking on Stellar Drive itself. Later on in the agenda, Mr. Mills will come forward and discuss a future possible ordinance, which the Commission might want to consider, to change the number of parking spaces required for student housing. But, that’s not what we’re voting on at this time. This is an ordinance for parking–

Commissioner Nix: Mr. Stoll?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: I just want to remind you that the ordinance is designed to be approved waiving second reading, and approval on first reading. You’ll need to have two votes on that.

President Musgrave: Okay. Mr. Stoll?

John Stoll: There were a couple of other changes on that ordinance as well. The old ordinance actually had a reference to Lynch Road between 41 and Oak Hill, and that’s been in the city for many, many years. So, that was deleted. And, also there was incorrect wording on some parking prohibitions on St. Joe Road. We corrected that as well.

President Musgrave: Okay. So, what we will do is have, first, is there any public comment on this? I see none. First, we would need to have a motion to waive the second hearing.

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: Commissioner Nix?

Commissioner Nix: Yes.

President Musgrave: Commissioner Shetler?

Commissioner Shetler: Yes.

President Musgrave: And I vote yes. And, now we will have a motion to adopt the ordinance. Is there a motion?

Commissioner Nix: Move approval.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: Commissioner Nix?

Commissioner Nix: Yes.

President Musgrave: Commissioner Shetler?

Commissioner Shetler: Yes.

President Musgrave: And I vote yes.

President Musgrave: There are a couple of other matters on the agenda. There’s an approval of expenditure of funds for the video meeting notice system. Mr. Rector, are you in audience? I do not see him.

President Musgrave: Mr. Stoll, I believe you have a bridge inspection agreement. Is that the only agreement that you have, sir? There are a couple of other letters as well?

John Stoll: The letter in regard to the bridge inspection is just to confirm your selection of Beam Longest and Neff to do the bridge inspection services. It’s for the amount of $129,300. Basically, that letter confirms that they’re being selected, due to the fact that we don’t have the qualifications to do the bridge inventory on staff, and they do have the qualifications. In conjunction with your approval of that letter, then I’ll send it to INDOT, INDOT will then review the final agreements, and once they have approved the agreements, they’ll return them back for your signatures for final execution.

President Musgrave: Okay. That does not require a vote then?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: I think I would.

President Musgrave: Alright, is there a motion to approve that letter?

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

Commissioner Shetler: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries. Do you have anything further that requires a vote?

John Stoll: There were just two letters. One to INDOT and one to attorney, Don Fuchs. Can we discuss those now? Okay. The letter to INDOT was in regard to the street plan approval for the improvements at State Road 57 and Ruston Lane, in conjunction with the Shoe Carnival warehouse site. INDOT received notification of your approval of the plans, but they wanted a separate letter indicating that the plans you had approved did not include a right turn lane for northbound traffic from Highway 57 onto Ruston Lane. So, the letter that I drafted for your signatures basically says that the plans that you approved did not include that lane, and I hope that will suffice as far as them being able to issue the permits on that project.

President Musgrave: Alright, is there a motion to sign the letter?

Commissioner Shetler: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

John Stoll: The other letter was a letter to Don Fuchs, who is an attorney who represents the Hirsch Family out on the east side. The letter was put together to confirm that the county would construct Cross Pointe Boulevard across the Hirsch property, in exchange for the Hirsch’s donation of the right-of-way needed for the project. The letter says that if the right-of-way was donated, there would not be any impact fees or any other mechanisms established to recoup the costs of the road project. It also asks for their concurrence with the proposed alignment of the project. We’ve asked for that concurrence or any changes they might want to see, notify us in writing of that by October 6^th.

President Musgrave: Is there a motion?

Commissioner Shetler: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries.

John Stoll: That’s it. Thanks.

President Musgrave: Then we have a series of contracts, leases and agreements. If I could ask your indulgence, if anyone has any comments on these, you can come forward, but I would like to take them all in one motion. The EMA agency planner and exercise coordinator agreement. It’s identical to the one that was last year, except the client has been changed to a different name. The County Commissioners, the BKD representation letter for the Centre audit that will take place after the turn of the year. The Health Department, WIC grant agreement. It is for the WIC program, and it has been reviewed by the department and the attorney, and all is found to be acceptable. The County Clerk lease agreement for Xerographic Business Systems, again, everyone has reviewed it and found it acceptable. Is there a motion to accept the leases, contracts and agreements?

Commissioner Shetler: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: The motion carries. Now, Madam Secretary, do you see anything else on this that requires a vote or signature or action that I may have overlooked. Perhaps the consent agenda?

Madelyn Grayson: The consent agenda, and then the request from the Building Authority about the expenditure of funds for the Centre.

President Musgrave: Again, the Building Authority is not here.

President Musgrave: So, I would ask for a motion to adopt the consent agenda, at this point.

Commissioner Shetler: So moved.

Commissioner Nix: Second.

President Musgrave: All those in favor?

All Commissioners: Aye.

President Musgrave: Mr. Shetler?

Commissioner Shetler: Yes.

President Musgrave: The motion carries. I’ve tried to get through the voting here. The expenditure of funds. I want to hold off on that until I hear the report of which bidder we are awarding that contract to.

President Musgrave: Is Purchasing, Debbie Spalding here for her report on the bid opening at the Board of Public Works, APA-041-2007? Debbie Spalding?

Debbie Spalding: Good afternoon. Before you, you should have a bid tabulation form from the road salt bids. They were accepted and opened by the Board of Public Works on August 31^st. You see the results of those bids in front of you. Cargill from North Olmstead, Ohio, their price per ton of road salt was $52.95. They did opt to vote for option one, which I will go over in a second and tell you what that is about. Detroit Salt did not provide a bid. International Salt did not provide a bid. Morton Salt is bidding $43.90 per ton. They are out of Chicago, Illinois. And North American Salt out of Overland Park, Kansas is bidding $43.68 a ton. You will notice at the bottom of the bid tabulation, I did look to see who the award was for last year, it was through Morton Salt, and the price that was paid last year was $42.17 per ton.

President Musgrave: And what are we paying this year?

Debbie Spalding: That’s $42.17.

President Musgrave: I thought that was last year’s as well. So, we just accept these by vote? Or just a report?

Debbie Spalding: We would like Mike Duckworth and Ed Ziemer to look over the bids before, so, we would like for you to take them under advisement.

President Musgrave: Is there a motion?

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

President Musgrave: I’ll second. All those in favor?

Commissioner Nix: Aye.

President Musgrave: Aye. We’ll take them under advisement. Thank you, Mrs. Spalding.

Debbie Spalding: Thank you.

President Musgrave: Marissa, did you have anything further on your report of the workshop?

Marissa Nichoalds: Nothing other than I do have the checks that we received for the lunches. I would like to submit those to the Auditor’s office. They totaled just over $1,900. Those should be in the Economic Development line item in the Riverboat Fund.

President Musgrave: So, we’re going to quietus those back into that, and then expend out the funds as necessary. We have a letter and a questionnaire going to the meeting participants. A late permission to travel for me and Burdette Park head, Steve Craig. We have a meeting in Indianapolis with the Department of Natural Resources on the 15^th to discuss the changes that they’re making to the application procedure for bike path funding, essentially, and to see whether or not there are any changes that can be made to this year’s funding process. So, if we could have a permission to travel, Commissioner Nix?

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

President Musgrave: I’ll second. All those in favor?

Commissioner Nix: Aye.

President Musgrave: Aye. The motion carries. Was there anything else?

Marissa Nichoalds: Just the other letter to the Junior League.

President Musgrave: Yes. We have a letter to the Junior League, which I know I have here in my papers somewhere.

Madelyn Grayson: Here’s an original.

President Musgrave: Thank you. This is a letter of recognition to be given to the Junior League–

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Musgrave, is your microphone on?

President Musgrave: It’s on.

Madelyn Grayson: I’m sorry.

President Musgrave: You’ve trained me very well. For the opening, it’s role in the opening of the Louis T. Koch Family Children’s Museum, at it’s inaugural gala. I will not read this, as we are still under a small time crunch. Commissioner Nix must go catch a flight, but this is to celebrate the Junior League’s 80^th anniversary, and all of the activities that they’ve done throughout their time, particularly helping to get this children’s museum started. If there is a motion?

Commissioner Nix: So moved.

President Musgrave: I will second. All those in favor?

Commissioner Nix: Aye.

President Musgrave: Aye. The motion carries.

President Musgrave: Mr. Ziemer, do you have a report?

Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.: I do not.

President Musgrave: Okay. And, none of the other department heads have a report.

President Musgrave: We have new business. I’ve invited Mr. Brad Mills from the Area Plan to come and discuss more about the situation of the parking problem at the apartments on Schutte Road, which were built, I believe the information we were given, and this Commission was not in place at the time that they were rezoned for apartments, but I understand that they were built with the intention of just being ordinary apartments, and they have since become student apartments with, is it four students per unit?

Brad Mills: Yes.

President Musgrave: Okay. I had a question, I believe, perhaps a year ago when Mr. Moore, the builder, came to update us on the changes between his original intention and what was finally built, and discussed it, I believe, with you and some other members of Area Plan about perhaps a new ordinance, or a changed ordinance that we could have that would specifically address student housing for universities. You have some more facts in that regard.

Brad Mills: Yes, that’s correct. We did discuss that at Area Plan Commission. We discussed it in the October meeting, and the November meeting, and, once again in January of this year. We had proposed some wording which would include off-campus student housing, as we were calling it, in Use Group Six, and with that, that would require one parking space per bed. Now, from the two meetings in October and November, we discussed it, we came up with some wording, we presented that to the Plan Commission members, there was discussion about forming a committee to help to define what off-campus would be. The Plan Commission kind of let it just go by the wayside. There was never any official action taken on it, and it’s just been kind of sitting in limbo. So, I would be happy to take it to Plan Commission, ask them to resurrect that, see if we can’t iron out some of the wording, and definitions of off-campus housing to meet some of the concerns of the Plan Commission members so that we could bring that to you.

Commissioner Nix: Mr. Mills, what’s the current ratio for apartments right now, parking per bedroom, per facility? How does that work right now, the ratio?

Brad Mills: It varies from one bedroom up to three bedroom. A three bedroom would be two spaces for a three bedroom, and one bedroom is only one and a half. Then, once you get over three apartments, then you have to have one space for visitors. So, if you had, with the student housing out at Eagle Village, if they have four bedrooms, they would only be required to have two spaces. So, you would only be at about 50 percent of what the demand would be if every tenant had a car.

Commissioner Nix: Okay. I guess, would you look at also, let’s just say that someone would renovate a building, and it was zoned for apartments, depending on the use of the building, that may fall into the same category, if it’s going to be turned into a dorm, if you will. Not necessarily a dorm, but student housing.

Brad Mills: I think we would like to take a look at that and see what we could do, so, if there is a change in the type of the use, if we need to make a different classification. Because, now an apartment is an apartment, and if it would then fall into this new Use Group Six, then a change of occupancy would have to be done, and then it would have to apply for that same parking requirements, yes.

President Musgrave: You had discussed with me that what we’re contemplating would never have any effect on USI, for example, because that’s a state university, and we do not regulate state facilities. So, state built student housing is out of reach of a local zoning regulation, is that correct?

Brad Mills: That is correct. We do not regulate state owned property. We have no jurisdiction in that area. So, USI, that wouldn’t apply at all. With this also, we were looking at off-campus, so, that would also allow U of E, for example, to fall into those same requirements, that they would not have to have one per bed. As you know, a lot of students that live on campus don’t necessarily have a car, so, they wouldn’t necessarily need to have a parking space for each of their beds as well. So, that would exclude the University of Evansville as well for University of Evansville owned property and dorms.

President Musgrave: So, this would apply to private developers–

Brad Mills: Correct.

President Musgrave: –developing off-campus?

Brad Mills: Off-campus, as we’re calling it.

President Musgrave: Alright, I do want this to be brought, I don’t know, what’s the opposite of “in limbo”? Back to life, perhaps?

Brad Mills: Resurrected, yes.

President Musgrave: Resurrected? That we’ve had a serious situation on Schutte Road.

Brad Mills: Alright.

President Musgrave: And, I understand though that Mr. Moore is in the process of building additional parking. Do you know how long that will take?

Brad Mills: We had a parking lot plan come through the site review committee, I believe it was August 9^th, and he’s adding a number of spaces. I think around 95 spaces or so. That is supposedly going to be done within a month and a half or two months, weather permitting, based on a conversation that I had with Mr. Moore. So, it should be soon.

President Musgrave: Is 95 spaces, will that be enough?

Brad Mills: Yes. He would have sufficient parking then to take care of the units.

President Musgrave: And, that would mean if we, our ordinance that regulates no parking on, is it Stellar Drive?

Commissioner Nix: Stellar Drive.

President Musgrave: So, those students would only be inconvenienced for a short time?

Brad Mills: Yes. He has put some gravel, I believe, in front of that area. There’s an existing home at the end of Stellar that he’s put gravel, to allow parking, but, it’s more convenient, obviously, to park closer to the ones right there by the apartments, than to go over there. So, your signs will push those people into an area that he’s already graveled, to allow them to park.

President Musgrave: Okay. Well, I look forward, as the Commission representative on Area Plan, to having this ordinance completed. Because I was made aware of another developer who did want to make a different application, separate from the one that was filed last year, and this was maybe two or three months ago now, on that piece of land at the intersection of the Lloyd and University Parkway. The one where it was just denied recently, but, I think that they will be coming back, I think we’ll be faced with this situation again, and I would like to have some more regulation in place, so that we don’t have this same situation occur, and to make it retroactive. Because, Mr. Moore did develop those apartments saying one thing, and then something else came into being, and I would like to be able to (inaudible) touch people who say one thing and then end up building something else.

Brad Mills: Alright. Thank you.

Commissioner Nix: Thank you.

President Musgrave: I see Mr. Keeping has joined us. Mr. Keeping, we took it first, and if you have some additional words, because Mr. Shetler had to leave to go to the coalition meeting, which, as you know, was scheduled at 4:00, right in the middle of our Commission meeting, without input from the Commissioners. Because, certainly, we would not have chosen that time. But, we would appreciate any remarks that you would care to make about the workshop that you helped present. Connie Fowler was here, and she contributed her thoughts earlier.

Ron Keeping: I would be happy to. I’ll be brief. I’m Ron Keeping. I’m Director of Economic Development for Vectren. I participated in the workshop last week on economic development, that this Commission helped start, or got off the ground. I’ll say one thing, to start off I’ll say that there is a regional effort to sponsor workshops like this all over the southwestern part of the state. It got some state grant money. I heard the coordinator for that program, I think she said it to me afterwards, “There’s no sense in us coming to Vanderburgh County. You did it better than we could have done it.” So, it was a great conference. You lead off with the two giants in economic development, Gary Malone and Buddy Downs. They are Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb when it comes to this kind of stuff. Great presentations on their part. The middle of the batting order was maybe not as good, but it was good to hear about the new automatic tax abatement, as some people are referring to it. I think I’m going to have to hear about it a lot more before I start to really grasp it. As you know, you wound up with the three locals who talked. Connie’s presentation was great. It talked about the state. Jim’s presentation was interesting, but I talk to Jim all the time, and everything he heard, he talked about, I had heard before. My presentation was real interesting, because I’d never heard any of that stuff before, because I was making it up as I went along. But, all in all, I think that the, as everyone who was there would say, the most interesting thing about that workshop, besides the content, was the turnout that we had. There is a huge interest in economic development, whatever it takes to grow our region, we all are interested in. I’m sure, as everyone here saw, there were people from all four counties there in attendance. So, good for you, Commissioners. It was a job well done. I look forward to helping to the extent I can in future workshops, in cooperation with the coalition as they get their legs under them.

President Musgrave: Alright. Thank you. Now, I know that Marissa Nichoalds has put many of the presentations that were made on power point on our website, and you can go to Vanderurghgov.org and select the Commissioners front page, and, I believe that’s on the front page there. So, if you were unable to attend and wanted to see some of the power points that were there, of course, we don’t have a video of your remarks.

Ron Keeping: Good.

President Musgrave: They will have to forego that pleasure. Thank you for your help.

Ron Keeping: Alright.

President Musgrave: I look forward to working with you on further workshops.

Commissioner Nix: Thank you.

President Musgrave: Very interesting.

Madelyn Grayson: Commissioner Musgrave, there is one other document here, and I don’t recall if you made a vote on. It’s a booking confirmation for the Centre, waiving the fee for that economic development workshop?

President Musgrave: We voted on that some time ago.

Madelyn Grayson: Okay.

President Musgrave: I would have to ask Marissa to look that up for you later.

Madelyn Grayson: Okay.

President Musgrave: We did do that. We already approved that. The tax certificate sale update is the last item that I see on the agenda, besides Mr. Rector’s report, and I’m afraid we’re going to have to table Mr. Rector’s report until our next meeting. Marissa, you have the sale update.

Marissa Nichoalds: Yes, I do. The next tax certificate sale is September 21^st. It will be in room 301, and it starts at 10:00 a.m. There are about 60 to 65 properties that will offered for sale at this sale. You can view all of those properties at the following website, taxcertificatesale.evansvillegis.com. The minimum bid is one dollar, plus any administrative fees, which are set at $75. There are a lot of legal stipulations when it comes to these types of sales, so all properties are sold with a disclaimer, buyer beware. The buyers are responsible for doing their own title searches, (inaudible) information (inaudible) properties.

Commissioner Nix: Is that link also on our website?

Marissa Nichoalds: Yes, you can link to that from the Commissioners home page.

President Musgrave: Just like last year, we’re having some help from the Sheriff’s Department. Ms. Kim DeWitt will be here to conduct the sale. The way Sheriff’s sales are conducted, but it is a tax certificate sale. The Commissioners hold the certificates, and we can offer them for sale. Our minimum bid again is one dollar.

President Musgrave: Is there any public comment? We’ve reached the point in our agenda for that. I see none. Does anybody notice anything that I have omitted from the agenda. Is there a motion to adjourn?

Commissioner Nix: Do we want to approve the consent items?

President Musgrave: We did.

Commissioner Nix: Okay, we approved those? So moved.

President Musgrave: Second. All those in favor?

Commissioner Nix: Aye.

President Musgrave: Aye.

(The meeting was adjourned at 4:08 p.m.)

CONSENT ITEMS:

Employment Changes:

Cumulative Bridge (1)               County Highway (1)                  Health Dept. (1)

Burdette Park (5)                      Centre (1)                                 County Clerk (2)

Auditor (1)                                 Prosecutor (1)                           Surveyor (1)

VCCC (2)                                  Area Plan Commission (1)

Travel Requests:

Commissioners (2)                   SWCD (1)                                 Health Dept. (5)

Legal Aid (1)                             County Engineer (1)

Commissioners:

Evansville ARC: Monthly Report: July 2006.

SMG Banquet Event Order: Economic Development Workshop

Department Head Meeting Notes: 8/22/06.

Treasurer: Year-to-Date Investments: July 31, 2006

County Clerk: Monthly Report: July 2006.

Auditor: August Financial Statement.

Public Defender: State Public Defender Commission Reimbursement.

County Engineer:

Pay Request No. 1: Integra Acct. 4314: Green River TIF Projects: $47,819.22

Department Head Reports:

Burdette Park                           County Engineer                       County Highway

Ozone Officer                           Supt. Of Bldgs.                         Veterans Service

Those in Attendance:

Cheryl Musgrave                      Bill Nix                                      Tom Shetler, Jr.

Bill Fluty                                    Ted C. Ziemer, Jr.          Marissa Nichoalds

Madelyn Grayson                     Steve Craig                               Debbie Spalding

John Stoll                                  Connie Fowler                          Ron Keeping

Brad Mills                                  Others Unidentified                   Members of Media

VANDERBURGH COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

Cheryl A.W. Musgrave, President

Bill Nix, Vice President

Tom Shetler, Jr., Member

Recorded and transcribed by Madelyn Grayson.