VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES

AUGUST 4, 2004

 

The Vanderburgh County Council met in session this 4th day of August, 2004 in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex. The meeting was called to order at 3:45 p.m. by County Council President Ed Bassemier.


President Bassemier: I’d like to welcome all of you to the August 4th, 2004 County Council meeting. Attendance roll call please.


COUNCILMEMBER

PRESENT

ABSENT

Councilmember Tornatta

X

 

Councilmember Sutton

X

 

Councilmember Winnecke

X

 

Councilmember Hoy

X

 

Councilmember Raben

X

 

Councilmember Wortman

X

 

President Bassemier

X

 


President Bassemier: Would everyone please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance?


(Pledge of Allegiance was given)


APPROVAL OF MINUTES


President Bassemier: I need a motion for the approval of the minutes, special meeting June 30, 2004 and the regular meeting July 7, 2004.


Councilmember Winnecke: So moved.


Councilmember Raben: Second.


President Bassemier: Got a motion and a second. Roll call vote please.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?


Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?


Councilmember Sutton: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?


Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?


Councilmember Hoy: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?


Councilmember Raben: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?


Councilmember Wortman: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?


President Bassemier: Yes.


(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)


APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE


TREASURER


President Bassemier: Now we'll move into the appropriation ordinance and I'd like to turn it over to our finance chairman, Mr. Raben.


Councilmember Raben: Okay, thank you, Mr. President. First on the agenda is the County Treasurer, and as everyone is aware of, last week we did not have a meeting because we did not have a quorum, so, Mr. President, we're really kind of holding two meetings in one here today. So we'll have to keep our discussion at a minimum to get through this today. So the County Treasurer is stepping towards the podium. If anyone has any questions, we'll discuss the requests and then we'll make a motion after that.


President Bassemier: Z, would you identify yourself?


Z Tuley: Z Tuley, Vanderburgh County Treasurer. Will this discussion include the estimate to additional appropriations for 2004 or not?


Councilmember Raben: I'm sorry?


Z Tuley: Will this discussion include the estimated additional appropriations for 2004 as submitted in the budget?


Councilmember Raben: No, this discussion is really just pertaining to your office furniture request for $264.


Z Tuley: Okay, I came prepared for both because I wasn't sure.


Councilmember Raben: Z, if you could give a brief explanation as to the request.


Z Tuley: I'm requesting an ergonomically correct chair for a specific employee along with a headset. With the duties that this employee has, there is a great deal of phone conversation. They take care of all of the escrows, so there are numerous hours spent with either tax servicing agents or bankers and lending companies direct.


Councilmember Hoy: Mr. President, may I?


President Bassemier: Yes.


Councilmember Hoy: Mrs. Tuley's office is one of my assignments and we've discussed this. This is per a doctor's order, and I think, I'd like to speak for (inaudible) first of all, the humane thing to do when you've got someone who needs this, as this person does, I checked that out. And we would be certainly mistaken, at least, to not comply with ADA guidelines, and I think this is a place where we can do that reasonably and we should do it. Thank you.


President Bassemier: Anybody else got any questions?


Councilmember Raben: Okay, Mr. President, I'll entertain a motion to approve account 1030-4210 in the amount of $264.


Councilmember Hoy: So moved.


President Bassemier: I have a motion and a second by Mr. Hoy. Anymore discussion? Roll call vote please.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?


Councilmember Tornatta: No.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?


Councilmember Sutton: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?


Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?


Councilmember Hoy: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?


Councilmember Raben: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?


Councilmember Wortman: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?


President Bassemier: Yes. It passes 6-1.

 

TREASURER                                                         REQUESTED       APPROVED

1030-4210

Office Furniture

264.00

264.00

Total

 

264.00

264.00

(Motion carried 6-1/Councilmember Tornatta opposed)


SHERIFF


President Bassemier: Okay, Jim, the Sheriff.


Councilmember Raben: Okay, next is the Sheriff. And Sheriff Ellsworth is in the audience if anyone has any questions. Following this request we also have some for the Jail that I'm sure he'll be happy to speak on.


President Bassemier: Okay, Sheriff, would you identify yourself please?


Brad Ellsworth: Sheriff Brad Ellsworth.


President Bassemier: Okay, you're asking for some new officers, right? You're asking for Patrolmen, Corporal, Civilian Overtime, would you...


Brad Ellsworth: How do you want to...


President Bassemier: Is that the one you...


Brad Ellsworth: I put in for three deputy sheriff's and a court screener. It's our understanding that the courts will be moving a courtroom over into the front building of the Civic Center Complex and although we weren't a major part of those negotiations, its my understanding we will be obviously charged with securing that building also and if that's the case, then we would request three deputy sheriffs and a court screener to fulfill those security needs at the new court facility in the Civic Center Complex. I believe the court screen machinery is the X-ray machine and the metal detectors will be included in the budget of the Building Authority. And I'd be glad to answer any questions I could.


Councilmember Winnecke: Are you aware of the timing of the opening of the court facility in the, what is now the Health Department?


Brad Ellsworth: The only thing I know, Councilman, is I that I heard spring of next year and as you know, deputy sheriffs go through an FTO program. They go through basically 12 months of probation and they go to the academy for over three months now, so we may have to eat them for a while, but that would get them in place later next year.


Councilmember Hoy: That's the old Health department space and the Health department, as you know that's another one of my assignments and it looks like we're hopeful that we'll be moving them sometime next month. Of course, we have some remodeling so that's part of the timetable.


Councilmember Sutton: Sheriff, the people that you're proposing to bring on here for this new space that's being made available for courts, its not, I guess the assumption would be if the people who you are requesting here would move into those positions, but couldn't anyone actually who had an interest in working in that particular, couldn't they, if you have someone existing on staff now who wants to work there, they could by virtue, also apply for those posts as well?


Brad Ellsworth: Yeah, we always, based on seniority, we offer that to anyone who, an existing deputy sheriff with seniority would be eligible to move in there. But several of the ones that are in courts now are there by their own request. So its sometimes not the most desirable job on the agency, but the ones that do want to go, we let them go there and then after that, we make the young guys go.


Councilmember Sutton: So its not necessarily by assignment first, but more so by those who have expressed an interest in being there.


Brad Ellsworth: Yes.


President Bassemier: Anybody else got any questions? We're not too sure if our mics are on.


Jeff Ahlers: I think they're just all soft spoken.


Councilmember Raben: Okay again, Sheriff, you had stated earlier that the projected move or completion of renovations as far as juvenile taking over the space down there is when?


Brad Ellsworth: I've just heard spring of next year, so I can't really say. Like I say, I've not been privy to exact details, but from what we're hearing through the halls, its May, maybe something like that.


Councilmember Raben: Okay, and these requests, they are in the budget that we're going to be reviewing starting next week, right?


Brad Ellsworth: Yeah, I think we put them in – oh, we have not.


Councilmember Raben: They are not?


Eric Williams: Eric Williams, Sheriff's office. These requests have come about since the preparation of our budget so that's something we'd have to factor in. But no, they did not make it to the budget as it was submitted.


Councilmember Raben: Okay, alright. Mr. President, obviously we're concerned with finances for the balance of this year. I would recommend that we not do anything today on these particular requests. I think we need to visit this, well, we're going to have to visit this starting next week during budget session. As far as the Civilian Overtime, though, that's for existing employees or is that for these?


Brad Ellsworth: No, that's existing employees.


Councilmember Raben: Okay, so that's the only request that in my eyes we need to work with today and I'd like to make a motion that we approve 1050-1301 Civilian Overtime in the amount of $6,000. All other requests set in at zero.


Jeff Ahlers: Set in at zero or defer them?


President Bassemier: Set in at zero or deferring them?


Councilmember Raben: Setting them at zero.


President Bassemier: Okay, I have a motion, do I have a second?


Councilmember Winnecke: Second.


President Bassemier: I have a second by Mr. Winnecke. Anymore discussion on this?


Councilmember Sutton: Well, obviously since we are going to take it up next week, this new scenario with the additional positions, in all likelihood this will probably be coming back before us here within the next probably month or two, I assume, if we're talking about trying to do something this year as well, but I guess looking at the budget first and determining where we stand I guess will help us to get an idea of where we're at this year if we're going to do anything. I don't think Councilman Raben's assumption is that it didn't do anything this year. I guess I'm not assuming that.


Councilmember Raben: Right, I mean, my intent would be not to do anything this year but to work with it for the budget for next year.


Councilmember Sutton: Can you, Sheriff, as maybe a help to us and maybe we can make a call to the Building Authority, get maybe an idea, a better idea specifically when that space is going to be available and ready to go over there? That might help us as well, so if we do need to come back this year or if its an '05 thing, then we'll have a better understanding of where we stand.


Brad Ellsworth: Sure, and just, I've said it before, just please remember that this deputy doesn't even count for that first year until I can replace him that first year, and that's why we're asking this year to go ahead and get that process started based on we being told this is being done. And I don't have a lot of – I don't consider that I have any fluff in the current security to man this and send them down the way. There's a lot involved in moving inmates through the Civic Center to this area, the metal detector, the person that mans that, the X-ray machine, and then the deputy that secures in the courtroom and then the two that would actually move inmates and float back and forth. If this is – I put it in now, its not like I've got all these extra people running around the old courts to do it. We can try because we just learned about this and when it might open, so that's why we put it in now.


President Bassemier: Anybody else? I had a motion and a second to set it in at zero, all but Civilian Overtime put in at $6,000. Roll call vote please.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?


Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?


Councilmember Sutton: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?


Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?


Councilmember Hoy: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?


Councilmember Raben: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?


Councilmember Wortman: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?


President Bassemier: Yes.

 

SHERIFF                                                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

1050-1301

Civilian Overtime

6,000.00

6,000.00

1050-1130-0068

Patrolman

4,955.00

0.00

1050-1130-0091

Patrolman

4,955.00

0.00

1050-1130-0104

Corporal

4,955.00

0.00

1050-1130-0230

Court Screener

3,475.00

0.00

1050-1900

FICA

1,403.00

0.00

1050-1910

PERF

192.00

0.00

1050-1920

Insurance

4,000.00

0.00

1050-1911

Sheriff Retirement

1,041.00

0.00

Total

 

30,976.00

6,000.00

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)


JAIL


Councilmember Raben: Okay next, under Jail, we have four requests, I think most all of us are aware of we've had, I think counting back two months ago we deferred this matter. Last month we approved a request initially for two people and at that time some of us had stated that we'd like to revisit this at another point later on in the year. So I'm going to move that these be set in at zero.


Councilmember Wortman: Second.


President Bassemier: I have a motion and a second to set it in at zero. Any questions?


Councilmember Winnecke: I would just for discussion purposes reiterate my position from last month. I think once we get through the next two weeks of the budget hearings I'll have a better feel for where I stand and I think its probably what we need to do.


Councilmember Raben: And again, I think that was the intent of several. We'll see how far this million three takes us over the next month or two and see how we look for the latter part of the year.


Councilmember Tornatta: And since we're so close to budget, I mean, I don't have a problem with that in two weeks, but I hope that when we get done with the budget hearings that we'll have a clear cut answer that we can give the Sheriff on about the number of employees we're looking at because as he said, we're going to have to have some time to train new employees, get them in the system so we can get some things, so we can get everybody settled with the new jail.


President Bassemier: Okay, I had a motion and a second to set it in at zero, roll call vote please.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?


Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?


Councilmember Sutton: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?


Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?


Councilmember Hoy: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?


Councilmember Raben: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?


Councilmember Wortman: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?


President Bassemier: Yes.

 

JAIL                                                                       REQUESTED       APPROVED

1051-1130-0341

Detention Officer

11,175.00

0.00

1051-1130-0342

Detention Officer

11,175.00

0.00

1051-1130-0343

Detention Officer

11,175.00

0.00

1051-1130-0344

Detention Officer

11,175.00

0.00

1051-1130-0345

Nurse

14,161.00

0.00

1051-1130-0346

EMT

10,229.00

0.00

1051-1900

FICA

8,468.00

0.00

1051-1910

PERF

9,409.00

0.00

1051-1950-1051

Teamsters Edu. Fund

276.00

0.00

Total

 

87,243.00

0.00

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)


President Bassemier: I'd like to, on this, Jim, I'd kind of like to refresh everybody's memory on this particular issue. Back in April 2, 2003, this body voted on, and I'll read it to you, the headlines, it says establish policy regarding repeat requests for salary appropriations, salary transfers and salary adjustments or reclassification. And, of course, on this, we've heard this a couple of times now. This was passed by all of us, I'll read it to you. A motion was made by Councilman Winnecke, and says:

 

"Mr. President, one other item, if I may. Earlier in the meeting we talked about a request that had been before this body on several occasions and I said that I would address that. At this point, I'd like to make a motion if I may, that any request for a salary appropriation, a salary transfer, a salary adjustment or a reclassification that has been considered by this body, not be reconsidered for a minimum of six months from the date of the original action."


It was seconded by Councilman Tornatta and it passed, so what I'm reading here, that if something does not pass, it cannot be brought before this body for six months. Is that the way you all take it? So that's just a food for thought.


Councilmember Sutton: Councilman Bassemier, can you give me a little bit more clarification? Which item on the docket for today are you referring to? Are you talking about the one we just discussed or is there another one? Which one are you referring to with this?


President Bassemier: Well, if you remember a few years back we kept having one department head just kept bringing back the same issue, the same issue, and I don't have to mention it, so it was brought to this body, we discussed it. After the meeting I can give you this, it won't –


Councilmember Sutton: Well, I'm just saying, on our agenda today, which item are you referring to?


President Bassemier: Well, the Detention Officers, that was brought last month and on these same Detention Officers and it was denied, and then we brought it back today. I was just going to go ahead and let them vote, I wasn't going to say, I thought we all would feel the same way with the budget, but we need to kind of address this probably from this point on, that we all voted that unless we change it and vote a different way, that we're not supposed to be hearing these things after six months.


Councilmember Tornatta: Whether it was, maybe should have been in here this month, I might question, but we did say after budget hearings, so we would expect that to be next month that we'd see that. So I don't know if the reference would hold true to this one because we said after budget hearings, whether it was just thrown in there as just to have it in there, I'm not sure, but I don't know that it pertains to this. Now if it comes after, then you might have a question and that would be understandable.


President Bassemier: I just wanted to bring it to everybody's attention.


Councilmember Sutton: Remember, too, as we've kind of had ongoing discussion about this, the Sheriff has shared with us a timetable and then they've also requested on our end, just tell us what the number is, so we haven't gotten to that point yet. Obviously waiting till budget time, so we are going to be reconsidering this, I guess, at some point in time here very soon, so I mean, that situation that you referred to, I recall that situation very well. A little bit different maybe than this one here, based upon what we know with this facility that's going to be opening up. We have to come back and reconsider this in an earlier than six month time window.


President Bassemier: Anybody want to add to that?


Councilmember Wortman: Mr. President, I might add to that. I think we ought to let the discretion of the president, under unusual circumstances add to that, see. That would be his discretion, he finds out something that keeps coming back, it will come back. We don't want to keep doing this because its costly and time consuming and everything else. Thank you.


Councilmember Raben: Just a quick, I don't know if this is a question or a comment, but aside from this particular request, Mr. President, is your question do we want to reaffirm the vote that we took two years ago on other request? I mean, is that still – are you asking is that still our position?


President Bassemier: Well, I was going to say, I'd throw that at our counselor here. I think the way it reads is – the body has stayed the same here. You know, we all voted on it, the same faces here voted on it –


Councilmember Raben: But I guess the question is, is this body still comfortable with the decision we made two years ago or was it three years ago?


Jeff Ahlers: April 2, 2003, I believe is what the minutes is dated.


Councilmember Raben: Okay, so it was just a year ago.


Councilmember Hoy: I think, first of all, that we have agreed on a course of action to look at this during budget hearings and I would certainly continue to commit to that. I remember that discussion, and I can't remember what office it was and that really doesn't matter.


President Bassemier: Community Corrections.


Councilmember Hoy: Its our rule, I don't think that we're legally bound to it. Our counselor might –


Jeff Ahlers: Well, as a matter of course, I mean, by statute it takes a simple majority to suspend a rule, so with four votes you could suspend that rule and as a practical matter, since you're asking for the request, if the request is for employees, once you get four votes, you're going to have to have five votes to get it anyway, so I mean, as a matter of semantics, you're going to end up in the same place, but –


Councilmember Hoy: And my – thank you, because that was my impression is that it is something that we indeed could suspend. I like the rule. I think in this case we might want to suspend it since we have to move the project ahead but I think we ought to just take it a step at a time. We're on a pretty good course and lets see how we do on budget hearings.


President Bassemier: Jim?


Councilmember Raben: Thank you. My point was simply that aside of this issue, which I agree with, I think it was Royce or Troy made the comment that this is a different issue, but in the future, on other issues non-related to this one, is it still our intent to hold with what we voted on a year ago? That was my question.


Councilmember Tornatta: I think it is.


President Bassemier: Phil, I want to stand corrected on that. When I said Community Corrections, it led up, the Sheriff out here wasn't in charge of it at that time. And that's what led up to it, so I don't want to point the finger at the Sheriff, but that's, remember that one issue came up about four times and almost wore us down. But okay, moving on.


CORONER


Councilmember Raben: Okay, Mr. President, next is the County Coroner, we have a request for Diagnostic Studies in the amount of $15,000, Autopsies in the amount of $40,000. I'm sure Don will give us an explanation as to why we need those funds. I guess my question would be, Don, is there a possibility that we could get by with less?


Don Erk: Don Erk, Vanderburgh County Coroner's office, for the record. I have no way, Jim, of knowing what the rest of the year holds for me. I can only tell you that I think if you look back, I requested $150,000, I thought that was a reasonable figure. It would be close to what I would need. I think that's going to turn out to be very close. The $40,000 is what I believe it will take to get me through this year. Obviously, I understand the Council has problems financially. I have no objections to coming back once a month. I do have to pay these doctors and there's not much I can do about that. Any unexplained death, I have a duty to investigate it and that's where I'm at.


Councilmember Hoy: Mr. President, I was assigned to this department for a long time, until this year, in fact, and one of the things I appreciate about Mr. Erk is that when he comes to us at budget time, he does not come to us with inflated budgets and I want to put that on record because that's one of the offices that you can look at his figures and say those are realistic, accurate, and he's doing his best to keep within his budget. And so this is a – with that experience, I know that this is probably a realistic request. If we need to trim it a bit, I'd be okay with that, but its something we have to do, as we all know.


Councilmember Wortman: You've been very agreeable with us through the past and you did reduce it and I think its with your cooperation, and I think you deserve it.


Don Erk: I thank you and I appreciate it. Like I say, I'll work with the Council any way that I can. If that's in a smaller amount or whatever, I think what I've given you is a realistic figure of what it will approximately run for the end of the year. We can hope for the best and I hope that I don't have any more the rest of the year, but I don't think that's realistic.


Councilmember Hoy: Mr. President, I'm going to move that we set 1070-3640 Diagnostic Studies in at $15,000 and 1070-3650 Autopsies in at $40,000.


Councilmember Raben: I'll second.


President Bassemier: Second by Mr. Raben. Roll call vote please.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?


Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?


Councilmember Sutton: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?


Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?


Councilmember Hoy: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?


Councilmember Raben: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?


Councilmember Wortman: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?


President Bassemier: Yes.

 

CORONER                                                             REQUESTED       APPROVED

1070-3640

Diagnostic Studies

15,000.00

15,000.00

1070-3650

Autopsies

40,000.00

40,000.00

Total

 

55,000.00

55,000.00

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)


Councilmember Raben: Okay, thank you.


COMMISSIONERS


Councilmember Raben: Next under County Commissioners, and Tammy McKinney is in the office, I did receive an email from Commissioner Fanello, she was here last week but we didn't have our meeting and she is unavailable this afternoon, so Tammy is here to represent them. Tammy, I guess the only question, I'm okay with the unemployment, I'm familiar with the request for Hillcrest-Washington and the rent, the postage, do you have any feel for that as to how much that could possibly be cut back for the balance of the year?


Tammy McKinney: Tammy McKinney, Superintendent of Buildings for the County Commissioners. This is, this figure came from the Purchasing department. I asked them to estimate a figure that they think they would need and this came from them.


Councilmember Hoy: Is this a figure that will carry us through the year?


Tammy McKinney: Yes.


Councilmember Hoy: That's their estimate?


Tammy McKinney: Right.


Councilmember Sutton: How does that seem to compare with what we've, if we approve this appropriation, will that put us in line generally with what we've spent say, over the last couple of years on the postage?


Tammy McKinney: With last year, it will put us right in line with what we did last year. I think right now the current, what I have left in that account is around $47,000.


Councilmember Wortman: See, I think all these figures are in line, what she's requested here, thank you.


President Bassemier: Okay, anymore questions? Jim, you want to go ahead and make your motion?


Councilmember Raben: Excuse me, Mr. President, I was looking for an up to date balance on that account but it will probably take me longer to find it than we have here today.


Tammy McKinney: I think it's right around $47,000.


Councilmember Winnecke: Forty-seven six.


Councilmember Raben: Okay, I think what we have today in our yellow folder is probably a little more up to date than what we're looking at here. Okay, Mr. President, I'm fine with that. I guess I'd like to make one statement, that this is a big one that we know every year is going to come back to hit us and I do hope, though, that we're doing everything we can to curtail unneeded postage which, its been an ongoing problem. When the existing Commission walked into the office it was a problem and, you know, its been a problem for years and years, and I don't know how we can ever slow this down, but it keeps getting bigger and bigger.


Tammy McKinney: I think a lot of it has to do with the certified mailings that have to go out by the courts.


President Bassemier: Mr. Hoy?


Councilmember Hoy: I think you're right on that. I think one thing, I don't know, –


Tammy McKinney: Increased child support checks that go out.


Councilmember Hoy: Well, the comment I'm about to make is, Computer Services has made mailboxes available for us, those of us who have email, not all of us do, but there is a lot of things that come in, you know, that could be sent by email. I don't need a hard copy of certain things. If we could get that across and those of us who have computers at home had a mailbox, we do with the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals, I finally learned what that acronym stands for, PTABOA, what we do with that, what the Assessors office does is, they send all of that stuff by email and then we can review it on the screen and then make decisions as to how much ink we want to waste at home or in our office on that. And you don't need to print all that. You know, you just need to look at some of it. I don't know a way to cut the bill but its certainly a modern way of doing things and it would get some things to me quicker anyway.


Tammy McKinney: I know as far as all offices, I think that Patty tries to email as much as she can and everything else we put in the box down in Purchasing.


Councilmember Hoy: Yeah, she's very good about doing that.


Councilmember Raben: And like I said, I know your office didn't create this problem, you inherited it, but it would be nice to see this thing at some point working in the other direction.


President Bassemier: Jim, is there a motion in there?


Councilmember Raben: Yeah, some place. I'm going to move that we approve 1300-1930 through 1300-3600 in the amount of $165,850.


Councilmember Wortman: Second.


President Bassemier: Okay, I've got a motion and a second. Anymore discussion on this? Roll call vote please.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?


Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?


Councilmember Sutton: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?


Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?


Councilmember Hoy: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?


Councilmember Raben: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?


Councilmember Wortman: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?


President Bassemier: Yes.

 

COMMISSIONERS                                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

1300-1930

Unemployment

15,000.00

15,000.00

1300-3021

Hillcrest-Washington

23,000.00

23,000.00

1300-3120

Postage/Freight

120,000.00

120,000.00

1300-3600

Rent

7,850.00

7,850.00

Total

 

165,850.00

165,850.00


SUPERINTENDENT OF COUNTY BUILDINGS


President Bassemier: Okay, next under Superintendent of County Buildings, we have 1310-1990, this line I'm going to set in – or I move that we set this in at $4,228 and along with that, insert a line 1310-1900 FICA in the amount of $322, and 1310-3200 Utilities $30,000, for a total request of $34,550, and I make that in the form of a motion.


Councilmember Wortman: Second.


President Bassemier: We have a motion and who seconded? Do I have a second? Mr. Wortman? Okay. Any more discussion? Roll call vote please.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?


Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?


Councilmember Sutton: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?


Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?


Councilmember Hoy: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?


Councilmember Raben: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?


Councilmember Wortman: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?


President Bassemier: Yes.

 

SUPERINTENDENT OF CO. BLDGS.                  REQUESTED       APPROVED

1310-1990

Extra Help

4,550.00

4,228.00

1310-1900

FICA

0.00

322.00

1310-3200

Utilities

30,000.00

30,000.00

Total

 

34,550.00

34,550.00

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)


Councilmember Raben: Next under Drug and Alcohol Deferral, I know Bill Campbell is in the audience –


Tammy McKinney: Jim, can we do the appropriation for the Miscellaneous Equipment?


CCD/COMMISSIONERS


Councilmember Raben: Sure, okay. Let me back up just a moment, Bill. Keep your seat. Mr. President, under County Commissioners CCD Fund, line 2031-1300-4250 Miscellaneous Equipment I'll move that that be set in at zero and along with that, well, we'll deal with transfers when they come, so I make that in the form of a motion.


Councilmember Winnecke: Second.


President Bassemier: I have a motion and second, and that's another one that's been before us. Roll call vote please.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?


Councilmember Tornatta: I'd just like to make one comment and that is, I think, and I've heard this on this Council, that we do want as much open government as possible, and we would like in better times to have this, I speak for myself here, but I think the sentiment is there, but I think that at this time with the budget like we've seen it, I don't think its appropriate to be spending money when we could possibly use some money out of the CCD to pay a bill. So I vote yes to setting it at zero.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?


Councilmember Sutton: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?


Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?


Councilmember Hoy: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?


Councilmember Raben: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?


Councilmember Wortman: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?


President Bassemier: Yes.

 

 CCD/COMMISSIONERS                                        REQUESTED APPROVED

2031-1300-4250

Misc. Equipment

63,000.00

0.00

Total

 

63,000.00

0.00

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)


Tammy McKinney: Now, Commissioner Fanello gave me a letter that she wanted me to read into the minutes.


President Bassemier: What's it in reference to?


Tammy McKinney: Its in reference to the televising of the Commissioner and Council meetings. There should have been a copy on your desk.


President Bassemier: You won't have to read it. We have copies.


Tammy McKinney: Okay.



DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEFERRAL SERVICE


Councilmember Raben: Next is Drug and Alcohol Deferral, the request is for computers and some software in the amount of $19,000. I'll probably defer all these questions or allow Councilman Tornatta, I know he worked with Bill on coming up with a package to try to get you guys into the –


Bill Campbell: Well, last time I was here I just wanted two typewriters and five or six, I think cabinets, but at your urging I'm ready to join the 21st century and ask for $19,000.


Councilmember Hoy: Well, are we going to put a historical marker on this in brass or something, Bill?


Councilmember Tornatta: It's the seal that costs a lot, certifying him into the 21st century. But no, Bill was gracious to let me come in there and look through some of his things and check out how he was doing business. Although he is very efficient in the way he does business, at times its not as effective as it could be possibly by upgrading his system. And everybody is on his side and really works well with his system, but when we got in there and discovered a couple of ways that we could maybe further his office along, they were all real happy with looking at it and I really appreciated just working well with him. We kind of looked at some different opportunities to get this thing moved up. Had some prices and weren't real satisfied with them. Went to ACS and had them go about finding out exactly how they could best serve us and they came in with a price almost half of what we looked at. And then it was a $19,000 figure. They whittled it down a little bit more. The actual figure that we'd like to look at today is $16,232 and that was all done by ACS working with the systems and the people at Greg Baker, the new director, just trying to come up with a great opportunity to move this office on. They are getting some upgrades with the new system out of the courts. And so with this tie in, he should be all up to snuff and then the next, you know, the next time a director would come in, they would have this system all there ready for them. So I think it's a great opportunity to move this office forward. And you've done such a fantastic job of always keeping your budget low and keeping things in line –


Bill Campbell: I'm glad you noticed.


Councilmember Tornatta: – need to pick it up.


Bill Campbell: Thank you.


President Bassemier: Jim, you think before we approve this appropriation, we ought to see something in writing or something, what we're getting for our buck or –


Councilmember Raben: Well, let me offer a quick comment or a suggestion here and I think – I don't know if it was my esteemed colleague to my left that suggested this or which member suggested this, but I think there is a great need for doing just what Troy is talking about doing, just trying to get them somewhat modernized. But its been suggested that we look at some of the existing computers that we have in fact already pulled from other offices and are going to be. January 1, I think we get new Kronos software and, as an example, the two computers that our Executive Assistant and her assistant uses will not run that software and I think the Commissioners replaced like two or three computers this year that were only like a year and a half or two years old. So we may have some equipment that we can install this new software on.


Councilmember Tornatta: We kind of reviewed that. We're going off the specifications that have to be set up by Courtview and so with those specifications, we had to have these computers. Now the computers that he had, I had when I was a kid, so I'm just saying that they've kind of went through all the computers that they've had an opportunity to, to get this going. I mean, they've done a fantastic job, but I think in this case, we probably need to do, I think it might be $600 a unit. So we're not talking about elaborate...$1,000, $1,600, $2,500 a unit. Six hundred dollars a unit gets him to where he needs to be on this and so I really don't think we're going that far out on a limb.


Councilmember Hoy: Yeah, we've been through this. I'm not sure what I said, although I am to the left of Mr. Raben, that's a joke. That's true. Raben understands. Anyway, but we do have to make it compatible with Courtview. So I think maybe we need to go ahead. Since I have the mic, though, I've worked with Mr. Campbell for a long time, you know, before you did, Mr. Tornatta, and you're quite right – I got the bell. Long time.


President Bassemier: Yeah, change the tape.


(Tape changed)


 President Bassemier: We're ready, Mr. Hoy.


Councilmember Hoy: It's a contest between the preacher and deacon. It's a preach off and they say in certain churches. But I admire the work that you do in your counseling which is really what you're there for and you've kept your records well, but I'd have to support shifting this over.


Bill Campbell: Well, as I'll say next month, I appreciate your all's support.


Councilmember Hoy: Put enough money in your budget for paper, though, because I assure you, your computer will not save paper. As I quote my good friend Jim Daniels, it will be an aphrodisiac for it.


President Bassemier: Anymore questions?


Bill Campbell: With the pine tree, I'm on the endangered species list.


President Bassemier: We need a motion and a second. Jim, we need a motion.


Councilmember Raben: Yeah, Mr. President, our Executive Assistant had just mentioned that Sarah's computer is hooked up to Courtview or set up for Courtview –


Councilmember Sutton: Could you speak up just a little bit? I couldn't hear you.


Councilmember Raben: That one of our computers is already set up for Courtview, that I was talking about possibly moving over. I'm going to make the motion to approve this 1371-3370 in the amount of $16,232, but would only ask that before we do anything, that we do look at that existing equipment and where we can, please use equipment that we're otherwise going to have to replace to run a software package –


Bill Campbell: I might add parenthetically, I still need some filing cabinets.


Councilmember Raben Don't spend it on file cabinets. We're approving computers. But again, I would only ask that – and Councilman Tornatta, if you would please look into that because its quite possible that we do have three or four other computers that would run this software.


Councilmember Tornatta: We can do it.


President Bassemier: Troy, was that $16,234 or 32?


Councilmember Tornatta: $16,232.


President Bassemier: Okay, thank you. Okay, we've got a motion and a second. Roll call vote please.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?


Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?


Councilmember Sutton: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?


Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?


Councilmember Hoy: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?


Councilmember Raben: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?


Councilmember Wortman: Yes.


Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?


President Bassemier: Yes.

 

DRUG & ALCOHOL DEFERRAL                          REQUESTED APPROVED

1371-3370

Computer (Data Mgmt)

19,000.00

16,232.00

Total

 

19,000.00

16,232.00

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)


Councilmember Sutton: Mr. Bassemier, though its not on, its just kind of a related matter, training wise, how are you guys intending to kind of pursue that as you get updated here with your equipment? Is there some cost going to be associated with that, that we should anticipate coming our way?


Bill Campbell: I would certainly hope that the contract provides for that, because certainly we're going to need that. Now a couple of people are pretty well up to speed in regard to Courtview, obviously, interact with it a number of times a day, but as we coordinate the process, we're going to need some help.


Councilmember Sutton: If that does become an issue, obviously you want to –


Bill Campbell: Pardon me?


Councilmember Sutton: I said if that does become an issue, where there's some additional costs that were unanticipated, if you could get back with us on that, but if we – we may have enough wiggle room where you might be able to squeeze the training dollars –


Bill Campbell: Well, I appreciate that.


President Bassemier: Thank you.


BURDETTE PARK


Councilmember Raben: Next is Burdette Park. We have a request under 1450-1180-1450 Other Employees in the amount of $40,000 and FICA for a total of $43,060. Mr. President, this is a standard request that we see about this time every year. These funds are quietused back into the General Fund through the float stand cash cards. So its pretty much a wash. I make that in the form of a motion.


President Bassemier: Any questions?


Steve Craig: Steve Craig, Manager of Burdette Park.


President Bassemier: Jim, did you make a motion?


Councilmember Raben: That was a motion, yes.


President Bassemier: Okay. Any questions?


Councilmember Sutton: Yes, while he's here, how are we looking on revenue this year for the pool?


Steve Craig: The middle of June, I went through the receipts and that, and we were up about $77,000 for the whole park for the year. And the pool was up at $35,000 at that time. But since then we've had a little strange turn of weather for July having the cold that we did and rain on weekends, so I'm not guaranteeing you that number is correct. It could be the same or it could be a little bit lower just because of the way the weather's been.


Councilmember Sutton: And anticipating when kids go back to school or college kids, do you still plan on kind of pursuing the same plans like you've done before, adding a little bit of additional incentive to get a few kids to come back? What's the thought there?


Steve Craig: Yeah, for the life guards and the day camp and that, there is an incentive for them to work to the end of the year because in the past we've got to the point where no one would come bac