VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES

APRIL 1, 2009

The Vanderburgh County Council met in session this 1^st day of April, 2009 in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex. The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. by County Council President Tom Shetler, Jr.

President Shetler: Good morning. It’s April the 1^st. I don’t know if that’s appropriate or not, but it is April the 1^st and we welcome everybody to the County Council meeting this morning. If we could have the attendance roll call first, please.

*Arrived just after roll called.

President Shetler: There being six present and one absent, we have a quorum. Next, I’d like to ask Councilman Lloyd to please lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance, please. I would like to make note that Councilman Sutton has entered the room and so we have all seven present.

(Pledge of Allegiance was given)

President Shetler: Next is a motion for approval of the minutes of the regular meeting of March the 4^th and the special meeting that was done on March the 18^th.

Councilmember Lloyd: Motion to approve.

President Shetler: We have a motion. And a second?

Councilmember Raben: Second.

President Shetler: Any questions? Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Shetler?

President Shetler: Yes. There being seven ayes and no nays, the motion carries for approval of the minutes for both meetings.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

AUDITOR

President Shetler: Appropriation Ordinance, Councilman Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Okay, thank you, Mr. President. First on the agenda today under County Auditor, 1020-3530 Contractual Services, I move that that be set in at zero and we’ll pick that item up later in the agenda.

Councilman Sutton: Second.

President Shetler: Its been moved and seconded. Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Shetler?

President Shetler: Aye. Seven ayes and no nays, the motion carries.

AUDITOR                                                               REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

PROSECUTOR

PROSECUTOR IV-D

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Mr. President, next I’m going to – we’ll take Prosecutor and Prosecutor IV-D together. We have under Prosecutor 1080-1030-1080, 1080-1190-1080, 1080-1900, and 1080-1910; under IV-D, 1081-1160-1081, 1081-1900 and 1081-1910. I would like some discussion on this. I’m going to move to approve to get it on the floor.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Shetler: Its been moved and seconded. Questions?

Councilmember Raben: Just a brief comment. During challenging times like this, my gut says delay these until budgets which is, for sure, the more appropriate time to look at increasing individuals pay and it was even suggested by Councilman Goebel yesterday that we do so. I tend to agree with that, but I guess its been brought to my attention a few of these were requested several months ago: one going back as far as June or July, so I stick with my motion to approve this because of that condition. But I do think that from this date forward, we need to screw any requests down and postpone everything until August.

Councilmember Bassemier: Mr. President?

President Shetler: Yes, Councilman Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: This was approved by the twelve member Job Study Committee? Okay, thanks.

President Shetler: Alright, other comments, questions? Yes, Councilman Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: I know we had had some emailed discussions on this and as president of the Personnel Administration, I mean, I would agree that some of these were held over and I think these need to be approved, but I would agree that we should hold off on any further personnel committee meetings until after budget hearings. And that’s probably a better time to look at some of these.

President Shetler: Alright, thank you. Councilman Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: So the Job Study probably won’t consider any other cases until after budget, is that –

Councilmember Lloyd: That would be my intent.

Councilmember Goebel: I do think that we should be across the board on it. There is no doubt there is merit and these are probably well deserved. But there may be others that come forward with requests, and I think we should probably treat them all the same.

President Shetler: Councilman Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: I’m glad that, Councilman Goebel, you brought this up about maybe holding off on this, because I know a lot of private sector companies are giving wage freezes or some companies are even taking pay cuts. I’m, personally, uncomfortable giving out pay increases when we’re in this type of economy and would favor holding off until the budget time.

President Shetler: I think, and I guess, yes, it is a pay increase, but in the Prosecutor’s office, for example, in those situations, I believe what we were talking about are people who were just coming underneath the gun of actually changing positions within the department, and so it wasn’t – they’re actually being compensated for work, an increased workload or responsibilities within that department that they had actually started as much as nine months ago, I think, in one case. So, yes, it’s a pay increase, but it’s also a different job than what they had done before. So that’s why I think the Job Study decided that it deserved to be looked at and also, too, basically, reviewed it and said it was okay. Now I can’t speak specifically, but the Judge is here and perhaps he can speak to the other later, on that position there. But I know in those positions there, we were dealing with people who were actually working with additional responsibilities and workload, and that’s why the increase. So it wasn’t like they simply got a five percent or ten percent wage increase because they continued to do the same thing they had always done. Councilman Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: I’d like to reiterate, I think there is definite merit, I’m just worried about the times right now and also other cases where we may be burdened with trying to handle, so I think it would be a fair approach to not consider until budget time, across the board.

Councilman Sutton: There was a question that arose last month kind of concerning these Job Study issues around the period when it was decided when no additional Job Study requests were going to be considered, and so the Job Study didn’t meet for a while as the whole process is being reworked. One, do we know when that is going to be completed?

President Shetler: Mr. Deisher could not be here today. He is planning to come at the end of April to give us an update on where he is on that. The last conversation that I had with him was that things were on schedule, in fact, I think, a bit ahead of schedule, and that he fully expected I think to start on the Sheriff’s department. Has he begun that?

Eric Williams: We’re exchanging information.

President Shetler: Right. Okay, so I knew he was in the process of beginning that. And I think the Sheriff may have been about the last of the groupings that he had to get involved in. So I think it’s about ready to wrap up and the impression that I – I think that we had been told that the deadline on it would be somewhere in the neighborhood of September around budget time, and I think he feels as if he’s going to easily meet that deadline, if not sooner.

Councilman Sutton: And I guess my second question is, do we know for sure if these were the only requests received before this moratorium on Job Study requests? Are these the only ones? I mean, I know the Clerk, at one point in time had some requests and I think there were some discussions about some requests in the Treasurer’s office. Do we know if these are the only ones that were received prior to that time when no other requests were going to be –

President Shetler: Yes, Mrs. Deig?

Sandie Deig: The Treasurer’s office was completed over a year ago. Its been completed. Maybe she didn’t agree with everything, but it was completed. Then the other one –

Councilmember Lloyd: Turn your microphone on.

Sandie Deig: But the rest of them had all been processed before the deadline. They have been received.

Councilman Sutton: And all these that were being considered here were received before that deadline?

Sandie Deig: As far as I know.

Councilmember Raben: Everything that had been requested up until the last Job Study meeting has been heard, right?

Councilmember Lloyd: The Job Study heard four and approved three, I mean, as of January 1, that was the only ones that I saw. So there’s none in the tank right now.

President Shetler: Alright, any other questions? Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: I concur with Councilman Goebel on some of his concerns and thoughts and I’m going to vote no on this.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: No.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: While I think these people are all deserved of a raise, I think with this economic climate, we should wait until the budget, so I vote no.

Teri Lukeman: President Shetler?

President Shetler: Yes. There being four ayes and three nays, the motion carries.

Councilmember Raben: Actually, I don’t think it does.

Jeff Ahlers: Yeah, they changed it, you’re probably thinking of the law that was in effect until a couple of years ago that said it took two/thirds to increase a salary. They’ve changed that now where it’s just a majority except with the exception of the officeholder.

President Shetler: Thank you.

PROSECUTOR                                                      REQUESTED       APPROVED

PROSECUTOR IV-D                                              REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion carried 4-3/Councilmembers Sutton, Goebel & Kiefer opposed)

SUPERINTENDENT OF COUNTY BUILDINGS

Councilmember Raben: Okay next, Superintendent of County Buildings, 1310-1120-1310, 1310-1140-1310, 1310-1900 and 1310-1910 PERF for a total of $2,074. These are not like the previous requests, these are just adjustments that were missed at budgets. These are part of the union contract, so I move approval.

Councilman Sutton: Second.

President Shetler: Do we have any questions? Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Shetler?

President Shetler: Yes. There being seven ayes and no nays, the motion carries.

SUPERINTENDENT OF COUNTY BUILDINGS   REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

RIVERBOAT

Councilmember Raben: Next, under Riverboat, 1490-3116 Homeless Connect in the amount of $2,500, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Bassemier: Second.

President Shetler: Any questions, comments? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Shetler?

President Shetler: Yes. There being seven ayes and no nays, the motion carries.

RIVERBOAT                                                          REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

REASSESSMENT/AUDITOR

Councilmember Raben: Auditor/Reassessment, Contractual Services in the amount of $7,250, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Shetler: We have a motion and a second. Any questions? Auditor Fluty, do you have any comments or questions?

Bill Fluty: No. I think I presented all the information and Joe spoke to that last week. We reduced it from 15,000 to 7,250. We do have a contract from Crowe Horwath and we’ll be moving that on to the County Attorney and signing that at a later date. And then tentatively we have this scheduled for July.

President Shetler: Alright, thank you.

Councilmember Goebel: And you did work with the County Assessor as far as funds are okay with?

Bill Fluty: I sent all that information to the County Assessor, the same information that you received.

Councilmember Goebel: And I think he’s in agreement with that, as well. Thank you.

President Shetler: Any other questions?

Councilmember Lloyd: I have a question. Do we want to change this to $7,250?

President Shetler: Yes.

Councilmember Lloyd: Instead of 15?

Councilmember Raben: Yes, that’s the motion.

Councilmember Lloyd: Oh, I’m sorry. I guess I wasn’t listening.

Councilmember Bassemier: Is that 215 or 250?

Bill Fluty: 250.

President Shetler: Okay, any other questions? $7,250 is the motion. Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Bill, I just want to thank you for getting this done at a lesser cost than what you estimated earlier. Thank you and I vote yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Shetler?

President Shetler: Yes. There being seven ayes and no nays, the motion carries.

Bill Fluty: Thank you.

REASSESSMENT/AUDITOR                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

JAIL PROJECT

Councilmember Raben: Okay next, 3660-4196 Facility Improvement in the amount of $130,000. I’ll moved approval.

Councilmember Bassemier: Second.

President Shetler: Questions, comments?

Councilmember Goebel: When will this project begin again, immediately?

Dave Rector: Good morning, Dave Rector, Building Authority. It’s part of the ongoing project in the old jail. We hope to wrap up the demolition part within the next two to three weeks. We’re trying. But the window portion of it now, with your approval, we’ll go ahead and go out for bid for that and get it going concurrently with the rest of it.

Councilmember Goebel: Thank you.

President Shetler: Alright, thanks, Mr. Rector. Any other questions, comments? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Shetler?

President Shetler: Yes. There being seven ayes and no nays, the motion carries.

JAIL PROJECT                                                      REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

CLERK

Councilmember Raben: Okay next, the Clerk has a transfer from 1010-1160-1010 into 1010-1320-1010 in the amount of $1,131. I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Bassemier: Second.

President Shetler: Questions, comments? Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Shetler?

President Shetler: Yes. There being seven ayes and no nays, the motion carries.

CLERK                                                                   REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

CORONER

Councilmember Raben: Okay next, under Coroner, and I will mention that, while she may have forgotten to put the rationale in with the appropriation request, we did get a quite detailed rationale sent to all of us a few days ago. Mr. President, I’m going to move that, there’s several of them under Coroner, that those transfers be approved as listed.

Councilmember Bassemier: Second.

President Shetler: Its been moved and seconded. Do we have any questions or comments?

Councilman Sutton: Just one question.

President Shetler: Yes, Councilman Sutton?

Councilman Sutton: Ms. Groves, I think it was back in January you provided a list to us that reflected some of the larger ticket items that need to be addressed in your office and they aren’t necessarily all covered under this request here, but we had discussed at the end of last year that there were some ongoing issues with the facility there that we needed to really make ourselves aware of and including possibly the Building Authority in with that. Just wanted to make sure we stay on track with keeping those on the front burner with your office in terms of what you’re looking at from a time horizon standpoint, and addressing some of those issues, or are you intending to come back at some point in time with a request to –

Annie Groves: I’ve been working right now with the Commissioners to see if they can get some funding for me. However, I’m not making any progress, I’ll be real honest with you. We started out that, you know, I thought the roof was a priority. Somehow, then it became my vehicles for a priority. They had granted me one vehicle. I do feel I need two. Then we went to the alarm system because we had an incident where we needed to update our security. I still am looking at the roof. They’re talking about building on to the facility and in order to do that, they asked for sketches. I have no money in an architectural budget to do that, so I’m kind of back at square one needing your help on where I move from here.

Councilman Sutton: You know, that building is, what, --

Annie Groves: Nineteen years old.

Councilman Sutton: Nineteen years old, and it is at the point where a lot of the – just the overall wear and tear is beginning to show on the building.

Annie Groves: Correct.

Councilman Sutton: And we don’t want to get ourselves in a position where the expenses end up being much greater than they are already. So if we can find a way to stay on top of this, keeping us abreast of where things are going on this because, at least from the Council’s standpoint, we’d much rather do maintenance than overhauls of large areas of the building. I know you’d mentioned about the refrigeration system and the issues that are going on with that, so –

Annie Groves: I have given all those priorities to the Commissioners. They’ve only acted on two of them so far.

Councilman Sutton: Okay, and you’ve got those listed out. We’ve got to find a way to make sure those things happen.

Annie Groves: You know, I agree with you. And I would like to also mention that since 1991, we have generated over $400,000 worth of revenue. I don’t know, I’m going to have to turn to Councilman Raben, if there is any way that we could earmark, I know we can’t have a non-reverting fund. But I don’t know if we could put that into a special account to where that money is always used to update that building.

Councilmember Raben: Well, that’s something we’d have to address. I can’t give you an answer on that today, but by the time that fund would build the monies that it would need to address these needs, you know, particularly a roof that sounds like it’s somewhat immediate, I think we need to do just like Councilman Sutton has suggested, keep the list working. As soon as you get estimates on the actual roof repairs, I’m not –

Annie Groves: Who do I need to go to, do I come to the Commissioners, I’m, you know –

Councilman Sutton: Most of your requests are CCD type of items, which that’s the Commissioners, under that. And I don’t know what the balance is – what’s the balance looking like in that, Bill, in that CCD fund?

Councilmember Raben: There would be funding available for roof repairs, but to spend from that account, it does require their approval. So –

Annie Groves: Well, I’m back at square one is where I’m back at because they’ve now asked for me to go ahead and do this with, you know, added on space. I don’t have any money in my budget to get an architect to do that.

Councilmember Raben: I’m, until this morning, I’ve not heard about any additions to that facility.

Annie Groves: That was at the last meeting because we’re running out of storage, you know, we’re running out of storage. They said go ahead and get prices. You know, when you do the roof, make for sure the roof line would match the new if we add on.

Councilmember Raben: Annie, what type of storage are you referring to? Without getting too –

Annie Groves: I need some for files, etcetera. I do need them for, we have to keep paraffin blocks and slides, is what we have to keep. They have to be temperature controlled because the paraffin would melt. So that kind of stuff.

Councilmember Raben: The actual files, you know, it’s quite possible, I mean, if that’s the lion share of the space, which it probably is, with –

Annie Groves: Well, we have those right now all up in our attic and we’ve been told we can’t put any more weight upstairs.

Councilmember Raben: But we have a contract with an outside firm for file storage. We’ve got this space that we’ve just appropriated another $130,000 for today that, at some point, could serve as, I’m sure there’s an area that could be set for file storage. I don’t think we really need to be looking at an addition to that building so much as, you know, maybe we need to help you with your storage issues in other facilities within the county.

Annie Groves: Well see, I’m kind of in an odd situation here. I’ve been asked by the Commissioners to do this by adding on to the building and now it’s kind of like, I don’t think we need it. I’m just asking – I want a roof, is what I want.

Councilmember Raben: I’ll be happy to contact the Commissioners and, I mean, with everybody’s blessing here, but I’m of the opinion that I don’t think we really need to be looking at any additions to that facility when we’ve got the third floor here, about 30,000 feet that – yeah, between the two floors, that we’re really not sure what we’re going to do with. So I think we need to stay on tap with the roof repairs and put off any additions. And I’ll contact them if everybody is okay with that.

Councilman Sutton: Yeah, and I’d be more than happy to be involved with that as well, especially, you had mentioned, that’s a great idea on the storage issue. I mean, we’ve got a fantastic storage system that we utilize through the Clerk that, you guys have some of the same type of needs in terms of securing your records that they have –

Annie Groves: Yes, we do.

Councilman Sutton: – that we could utilize that space. We’re already paying for it anyway. So maybe, Jim, if we could get with –

Councilmember Raben: We might have to get up there ourselves –

Annie Groves: I’ve already patched it once by myself, so – and there’s a lot of other things that we need and I would like to get back on to that task. I would like to. And I would also like to say, though, I’m more than willing to find new ways to get more revenue if that money can be somehow put back into the building. I know that you said we can’t, but if I come and keep begging, is what I’m trying to say, could you realize that we are generating revenue? I am looking at new ways to try to generate some more revenue, so it isn’t always such a burden, you know. Last year we turned in 35,000. That’s probably what I’m going to need for a roof. It would take care of that, you know. I just want to let you know, I’m trying to balance out here, and look for ways.

Bill Fluty: Many offices generate revenue, it goes into the General fund, and it does support your budget kind of on the back side, but it’s a slippery slope to generate revenue and put it into a fund to be used totally for that department, so it’s not –

Annie Groves: Then I have another question. If I want to increase some fees, which board do I go to?

Councilman Sutton: That’s the Commissioners.

Annie Groves: Commissioners? Okay, thank you.

Councilmember Raben: I don’t know that she even has to do that. I mean, --

Councilman Sutton: Well, don’t they have to annually submit in the listing of fees for the county? I know they do it for all the Health department fees and a couple of other departments, I wouldn’t see why she wouldn’t have to do the same.

Councilmember Raben: Okay. The fees that you’re collecting are from other counties. You’re really not collecting any fees within the county, are you?

Annie Groves: No.

Jeff Ahlers: It really depends on which fees. If they’re statutory fees, some of those require approval of either the Commissioners or the Council. Now if these are fees that are not statutory fees, like Councilman Raben said, that perhaps what you’re charging other counties for services, that probably doesn’t need to be approved. So, I would suggest that you get with the County Attorney or me if you have specific fees. In other words, if the fees you’re talking about are already in an ordinance, then those will need to be passed by the body who is responsible for that ordinance to increase it. If they’re fees that are not statutory fees or part of a current county ordinance, which those are published, you know, then you’re –

Annie Groves: Those are not part of the ordinance. They’re not part of that at all.

President Shetler: Yes, Councilman?

Councilmember Raben: I mean, if everybody is okay, we might, because its probably been a long time since we’ve really circled what and how your fees are generated, but it’s my understanding, and correct me if I’m wrong, but, you know, part of being the tri-state regional medical hub, if someone passes in Deaconess Hospital, as an example, here in Vanderburgh County and they’re from Posey County, and it should result in the need for an autopsy, we are the responsible party for performing that autopsy, right?

Annie Groves: Well, if the accident occurred in Posey County and they were transported up here, we can bill Posey County back for the entire investigation. However, if it happens in Kentucky or Illinois, we cannot, we have to absorb it all. And the fees I’m talking about generating are morgue fees. Anyone that uses our facility, 35 other counties in Indiana and Illinois use our facility and we charge them a $100 morgue fee, is the type of fees I’m talking about.

Councilmember Raben: You’re going to work with her on that?

Jeff Ahlers: Yeah, I mean, what you need to do is, there should be an – there is an ordinance that sets forth, you know, like copy costs from the Clerk’s office and certain items like that, that statutorily have to be passed in an ordinance, so what you need to do is determine whether the fees that you’re talking about are currently subject to statute or ordinance. And if they are, we will need to amend them here.

Annie Groves: Neither one of them are.

Jeff Ahlers: Okay, and feel free to call –

Annie Groves: They were read into –

Jeff Ahlers: – me or Ted Ziemer if you have questions on that.

Annie Groves: In 1991 when they built the facility, they just read the fees into the Commissioners’ minutes and that’s how it stayed.

President Shetler: I guess, first of all, I just want to get it kind of clear here, so what you’re saying is, you really don’t feel, yourself, that you need additional room if we can resolve the storage file –

Annie Groves: I would like storage room. It doesn’t matter to me where it’s at.

President Shetler: Okay, so as long as that’s resolved, there isn’t any need for additional – okay, I just want to clarify. I’m concerned a little bit on that autopsy, because it seemed to me that was put at bare bones last year at budgets, that we figured up about how many autopsies we were doing. To the best of my recollection, it was 150 –

Annie Groves: It was 180,000.

President Shetler: Well, 150 autopsies a year, roughly, or 200. And we were paying out roughly 1,000 - 1,200?

Annie Groves: Last year, we did 160.

President Shetler: Okay.

Annie Groves: And then I was able to encumber $54,000 to go into the budget for this year.

President Shetler: Okay, so you have about 230 in that account.

Annie Groves: 234,000.

President Shetler: Okay, and you’re expecting that there will be roughly 160, keeping on par from last year and the years past.

Annie Groves: Well, we’re already up 25 cases from last year, so I don’t have any – but I feel very comfortable with the numbers that I have due to all the past years. Somehow, we end up evened out.

President Shetler: How much does it cost for an autopsy?

Annie Groves: Well, right now, it costs 1,200. However, we’re getting ready to go into a contract, the Commissioners are in the process of doing a contract and it’s probably going to go up 1,300 with that then including their own supplies. We won’t be furnishing their scalpel blades, etcetera anymore. They will furnish that. So we will save in one area, but it’s going to cost in the other.

President Shetler: The 25 that you say you’re up, is that by the quarter or is that projected out through the year?

Annie Groves: That’s as I stand here right now. We had 25 more people die in 2009 at this time than what we did in 2008.

President Shetler: That required autopsies?

Annie Groves: Not all of them did, no.

President Shetler: Okay. So you’re looking at something around $178,000 or something like that, if it goes to 1,300 and you do 160 autopsies?

Annie Groves: Uh-huh.

President Shetler: So then you should have adequate money in that line item. Okay. That’s what my concern was.

Annie Groves: Yeah, right now –

President Shetler: Transferring money out and then coming back later on.

Annie Groves: This is, usually I would never think of transferring out of that account.

Councilmember Raben: I might interrupt, too. She had called me several weeks back on this and I had suggested she do a transfer. And we’ll, if we need to replace these funds later in the year, we will, but chances are, we won’t, so this was saving the possibility of an additional appropriation.

President Shetler: Yeah, and it sounds like, based on that transfer of money, that $54,000 that you should have adequate supplies there. The contract, is that with an out of town firm or a local firm or –

Annie Groves: It’s going to be with a local, it’s going to be with an individual doctor for the autopsies. It will be an individual person.

President Shetler: Right, okay.

Annie Groves: Well, he has a corporation, but he’s an individual.

President Shetler: Right, because before, we were using an out of town firm and sometimes they would – I don’t know how regularly they came in town, but –

Annie Groves: Well, we weren’t actually using an out of town firm.

President Shetler: I thought that guy was from Bloomington, Illinois or Bloomington, Indiana, or something.

Annie Groves: He has a home here and he has a home in Bloomington.

President Shetler: I see.

Annie Groves: Yes.

President Shetler: Alright, thank you. I have no other questions. Anybody else have any questions or comments? Alright, roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Shetler?

President Shetler: Yes. There being seven ayes and no nays, the motion carries.

CORONER                                                             REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

COMMISSIONERS

Councilmember Raben: Okay next under County Commissioners, transfer from 1300-3533 to 1300-3700 Dues & Subscriptions in the amount of 300. I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Shetler: Questions, comments? Roll call, please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Shetler?

President Shetler: Yes. There being seven ayes and no nays, the motion carries.

COMMISSIONERS                                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

CIRCUIT COURT

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Circuit Court, another transfer from account 1360-1240-1360 to account 1360-1390-1360 in the amount of $1,150. I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Bassemier: Second.

President Shetler: Its been moved and seconded. Do I have any questions? Judge Heldt is here if anybody does or if you have a comment, Judge.

Carl Heldt: Good morning, Carl Heldt, Circuit Court. This is for a head Bailiff position that was applied for last year and was approved by the Job Study committee, because of the increase in her duties. And I appreciate the concerns that you’ve all expressed on the prior vote. I can only say in this case, that this transfer is the result of a long-time probation officer who has retired, so we’re saving a lot on his salary and transferring some to this, so it’s not – it’s a net gain, really, at this point, for what that’s worth. But other than that I’ll be happy to answer any questions.

President Shetler: Do you have any questions? Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: And I think, again, it’s probably a very worthy request, but just to be consistent with what I voted earlier, I’m going to vote no on this.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: I’ll follow suit. No.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: No.

Teri Lukeman: President Shetler?

President Shetler: Yes. There being four ayes and three nays, the motion carries.

CIRCUIT COURT                                                   REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion carried 4-3/Councilmembers Sutton, Goebel & Kiefer opposed)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, and last are the amendments to the Salary Ordinance. First, under Prosecutor, I move we amend salary line 1080-1030 Deputy Prosecutor as an Executive II, Step 3, with an annual salary of 62,373; line 1080-1190 Deputy Prosecutor at the rate of $57,633; under Prosecutor IV-D salary line 1081-1160 Deputy Prosecutor as an Executive II, Step 3, at the rate of $62,373. Superintendent of County Buildings, I move that we amend salary line 1310-1120 at $39,391; line 1310-1140 Maintenance at $36,624, this is according to the union contract. Under County Clerk, move we amend salary line 1010-1320 Small Claims Clerk as previously approved, the current employee is a COMOT IV, Step 3 with an annual salary of $30,338. The hire date was March 19^th of ‘03. Under Circuit Court, move that we amend salary line 1360-1390 Head Bailiff as previously adopted. The current employee is a COMOT VI, Step 1 with an annual salary of $31,618. And under County Clerk, line 1010-1330 Bookkeeping Clerk, setting the 2009 salary in at $33,306. The current employee was previously a joint city/county employee with a hire date of October 12^th, 1993. I’d like to make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Shetler: It’s been moved and seconded. Do I have any questions or comments? Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Shetler?

President Shetler: Yes. There being seven ayes and no nays, the motion carries.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Shetler: I don’t have any old business. The only new business I might bring up is that the May 6^th meeting has been changed to May 5^th, which is a Tuesday and that will be at the same time, at 8:30 in the morning in the same chambers here. So that will be a Tuesday morning at 8:30 rather than the Wednesday, May 6^th meeting. So if you can make changes on your calendars for that, please.

Councilman Sutton: And the reason for that change?

President Shetler: I actually have a personal conflict. I asked to check around to see if that was a problem, and if you (inaudible) I apologize if that’s going to create a problem.

Councilman Sutton: Well, just, not necessarily a problem, but just, you know, we kind of consistently have the meetings at a certain time, and we advertise and people who want to see or hear, when we kind of change them, it does kind of affect others, other than just ourselves. So, just, if we can at any way possible, stick to our regular meeting schedule. I know that from time to time we all have personal or business items that maybe we have to attend to that may prevent us from participating, but that’s why there are seven of us. You know, and hopefully we don’t have things when the majority of us are going to be out. But if we could do that.

President Shetler: Alright, any other questions, comments?

Councilman Sutton: One other thing. This is for the Auditor. Do we have a – you prepare a monthly, a layout of our different budgets and the appropriations, and the balances on those. Is that ready for us yet?

Bill Fluty: I do that as soon as I have a certified budget, and I don’t have that back from the DLGF yet. But it should be within the next month. So, hopefully, you’ll have it by the May meeting.

Councilman Sutton: Okay. Alright.

President Shetler: Okay, motion for adjournment?

Councilmember Lloyd: So moved.

President Shetler: It’s been moved. Thank you all very much and the next meeting is at the end of April. Thank you.

(There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 9:14 a.m.)

VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

Recorded and transcribed by Teri Lukeman.