VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES

SPECIAL MEETING

DECEMBER 16, 2002

The Vanderburgh County Council met in special session this 16^th day of December, 2002 in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex, to discuss and take action on an additional appropriation. The meeting was called to order at 8:08 a.m. by County Council President Lloyd Winnecke.

President Winnecke: Good morning. I’d like to welcome everyone to this special meeting of the Vanderburgh County Council on December 16^th. We’ll begin with attendance roll call please.

President Winnecke: Would you please stand and join me in the Pledge of Allegiance?

(Pledge of Allegiance was given)

REASSESSMENT/COUNTY ASSESSOR 

REASSESSMENT/ARMSTRONG TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR

REASSESSMENT/CENTER TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR

REASSESSMENT/GERMAN TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR

REASSESSMENT/KNIGHT TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR

REASSESSMENT/PERRY TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR

REASSESSMENT/PIGEON TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR

REASSESSMENT/SCOTT TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR

REASSESSMENT/UNION TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR

President Winnecke: Okay, we are here this morning to consider stipend requests from the Assessors based on the reassessment efforts to date and we’ll open it up to Mr. Raben.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Mr. President, this ought to be quick today. First on the agenda is the County Assessor. I’m going to move that this request be deferred. The second is Armstrong Assessor, and what I’m going to do as we go through these is give you corrected figures and I guess to give you some rationale as to what these numbers will represent. If everyone recalls earlier in the year when we were discussing Extra Help with regards to reassessment, the majority of the Assessors expressed more interest in paying or getting a stipend to their Chief Deputies, allowing them to do most of the extra work or play the supervisory role for the extra time and efforts. So some of these figures will represent 50 cents per parcel for each township. Some of them will represent 25 cents a parcel where Chief Deputies didn’t work the extra time and the weekends and the nights and what have you. So it will be up to the Assessors where 50 cents a parcel is paid to make sure that they do the correct thing with their Chief Deputy in regard to splitting it or compensating the fairest way they see. So first is Armstrong under account 2492-1100-1960 Special Stipend, the correct figure is $293, FICA $23, PERF $16, for a total of $332. Next, Center Township Assessor, 2492-1110-1960 $3,465, FICA $266, PERF $182, for a total of $3,913. German Township Assessor 2492-1120-1960 for $946, 73 FICA, 50 PERF, for a total of $1,069. Next, under Knight Township Assessor, $6,340, $486 FICA, $333 PERF, for a total of $7,159. Perry, account 2492-1140-1960 $5,486, $420 FICA, 289 PERF, for a total of $6,195. Pigeon Township, 2492-1150-1960 $9,490, 726 FICA, 499 PERF, for a total of $10,715. Scott Township 2492-1160-1960 $1,004, 77 FICA, 53 PERF, for a total of $1,134. And last Union, 2492-1170-1960 $171, 14 FICA, $9 PERF, for a total of $194. And I make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Bassemier: I make a motion.

President Winnecke: Second from Mr. Bassemier?

Councilmember Tornatta: Can you run through Scott’s again please?

Councilmember Raben: I would be glad to. Scott was $1,004, 77 FICA, 53 PERF, for a total of $1,134.

Councilmember Tornatta: Okay.

Councilmember Bassemier: Jim, German Township please, could you go over that?

Councilmember Raben: Okay, German Township, $946, 73 FICA, 50 PERF, for a total of $1,069.

Councilmember Bassemier: I have a question –

President Winnecke: For clarification, did you second Mr. Raben’s motion?

Councilmember Bassemier: You did.

President Winnecke: No, I didn’t, I thought you did.

Councilmember Tornatta: Second.

(Inaudible – several speaking at once)

Councilmember Bassemier: I’ve got a question, though. Jim, why did we defer the County Assessor?

Councilmember Raben: I would like further discussion on that one. I guess we need to arrive at a – I mean, we can act on it today if that’s the pleasure of this body, but that’s one that we can deal with after the first of the year. We had to act on these because we advertised these for the purpose of taking care of Chief Deputies, where we had to take care of Chief Deputies. In the case of that one, there’s not a Chief Deputy involved and we can deal with that in January or February.

Councilmember Bassemier: Could I ask Ms. Musgrave, do you have anything to say, ma’am?

Cheryl Musgrave: This is Cheryl Musgrave, County Assessor. I’d just like to express my confusion, confusion as to why the townships would be recognized for the efforts that they have made in the reassessment and I would not be, when in the past the Council always recognized the efforts of the County Assessor at the same time as the townships.

Councilmember Raben: Again, the original call for this meeting was for the purpose of taking care of the Chief Deputies before the end of the year, so we can do what we need to do. There’s not a Chief Deputy involved as part of the stipend here with this office, so I’ll leave that open to what this body wants to do.

President Winnecke: Mr. Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: I guess I’m trying to get this right. I’m under the impression that Pigeon and Perry, their deputies have worked overtime and no other deputies have worked in the other townships, is that correct?

Councilmember Raben: That’s our understanding, yes.

Councilmember Wortman: And then each one of them we’ve paid 50 cents a parcel where Pigeon and Perry will split that, is that correct, too?

Councilmember Raben: Correct. That’s what we think is the appropriate thing to do, is that the Assessor would split that 50 cents with their Chief.

Councilmember Wortman: Okay, that’s all.

President Winnecke: Any other questions or comments? Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yeah, I have some questions about the County Assessor and I think we should include that but to move it along, I’ll vote yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

COUNTY ASSESSOR                                           REQUESTED APPROVED

ARMSTRONG TWP. ASSESSOR                         REQUESTED       APPROVED

CENTER TWP. ASSESSOR                                   REQUESTED     APPROVED

GERMAN TWP. ASSESSOR                                 REQUESTED     APPROVED

KNIGHT TWP. ASSESSOR                                    REQUESTED     APPROVED

PERRY TWP. ASSESSOR                                     REQUESTED     APPROVED

PIGEON TWP. ASSESSOR                                   REQUESTED     APPROVED

SCOTT TWP. ASSESSOR                                     REQUESTED     APPROVED

UNION TWP. ASSESSOR                                      REQUESTED     APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Mr. President, next is the amendment to the Salary Ordinances. I’ll move that we amend salary line – well, is that really a salary line, these...

Sandie Deig: No, stipend.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, I’ll move that we amend stipend line 2492-1100-1960 Special Stipend as the motion was previously adopted for Armstrong Township; Center Township Assessor Special Stipend line 2492-1110-1960 as the motion was previously adopted; German Township 2492-1120-1960 Special Stipend as previously adopted; Knight Township Assessor 2492-1130-1960 Special Stipend line as previously adopted; Perry Township 2492-1140-1960 Special Stipend as previously adopted; 2492-1150-1960 Special Stipend as previously adopted; Scott Township 2492-1160-1960 Special Stipend line as previously adopted; and Union Township Assessor 2492-1170-1960 Special Stipend as previously adopted.

Councilmember Hoy: Second.

President Winnecke: Motion and a second. Questions or discussion? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: 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 Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

(Motion unanimously adopted 6-0)

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, one last thing, I know that we’re kind of at the Assessors’ mercy at this point once we set these funds forward, but I would request as a body that, again, the purpose of this meeting was solely for the purpose of Chief Deputies, that all Assessors not withdraw any funds in regards to themselves until all data is turned in and stamped off by the County Assessor. So, you know, again, I think that the Assessors themselves, until this project is completed, I don’t think that any funds should be pulled, okay? Is everyone agreeable to that?

President Winnecke: Jim, I don’t think – once we make the appropriation – we can’t make the appropriation with any stipulations –

Councilmember Raben: This is maybe just a request, you know, again, I said we’re at their mercy, but I think that’s the only fair thing to do, that their responsibility is to see this complete and I don’t think that the Assessor should be paid before the project is done.

Cheryl Musgrave: May I ask a question or make a statement?

President Winnecke: Yes.

Cheryl Musgrave: This is, again, Cheryl Musgrave. The process of finishing at the township level really won’t be done until Nexus is done at the end of January 31^st. So unless the Auditor can carry that money over until January, I don’t think that your request can be fulfilled.

Councilmember Raben: In the case of reassessment, that can be, right, because that is a non-reverting fund?

Suzanne Crouch: I’d have to check. They have in the past. I’m not sure we really can. I’ll have to check.

Councilmember Raben: That would just be my request because I think it’s important that they not only be compensated for their extra work, but I think the extra work should be completed before they withdraw from this account for the purpose of themselves.

President Winnecke: Mr. Wortman and then we’ll come back around.

Councilmember Wortman: Would that be – are you directed to that, to be certified, everybody, when they’re done, in your recommendation?

Councilmember Raben: Well, when you say certified are you talking about in regards to the state?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes, Sir.

Cheryl Musgrave: They will turn over their data to me on December 31^st. It will not be considered certified at that point in time. Then Nexus will do the independent audit as required by state law. They will recommend changes and the Assessors will have the opportunity to make those changes or Nexus will make the changes and then I, as County Assessor, will certify the final data over to the Auditor. The data will not be certified from township to Auditor, but from County Assessor to Auditor.

President Winnecke: Mr. Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yeah, what if they’re not finished on December 31^st?

Cheryl Musgrave: We will take their data and turn it over to Nexus.

Councilmember Tornatta: Then what will Nexus do with it?

Cheryl Musgrave: Analyze it, compare the figures that are in the database to the sales price that the sales database indicates should be arrived at in that neighborhood and we’ll apply factors either up or down.

Councilmember Tornatta: Do you have any idea on how many of those Nexus will have to do?

Cheryl Musgrave: No.

Councilmember Tornatta: I guess my question is, what if there are quite a few that they’ll have to do? Where do we stand if that happens?

Cheryl Musgrave: They’ll do quite a few.

Councilmember Tornatta: And still get their job done like they were saying?

Cheryl Musgrave: It’s a process of statistical analysis. They will get their job done.

Councilmember Tornatta: With the workload that that would entail and his amount of staff that he has, how is that going to be possible?

Cheryl Musgrave: He’s accepted the terms of the contract and he is obliged to perform.

Councilmember Tornatta: Okay, did we ever get a copy of the contract?

Cheryl Musgrave: One is on file with the Auditor’s Office.

President Winnecke: But we typically wouldn’t, but the Auditor’s Office would have one if you wanted to get a copy.

Councilmember Tornatta: The only thing I’m saying is, we talked with the gentleman before. He was telling us of what scope he was going to handle and that he was going to do analysis of the numbers that were given to him by the Assessors. I did not know that he was going to be doing any of the assessment and reassessment procedures from the County Assessor. So that’s why I didn’t know how he would have the staff to be able to do that, that type of work.

Cheryl Musgrave: I’m really not sure what type of work you’re referring to. He’ll be doing statistical analysis, various types, in order to bring the assessed value up to market value or down to market value where appropriate.

Councilmember Tornatta: But they have to be assessed at that time. I mean, he has to have numbers that he can work with at that time and from what you’re telling me, if the Assessors don’t have their jobs done or don’t have their numbers in to the point to where he can take that over, then he’s going to have to go back and go to the parcels and do the Reassessment on these parcels –

Cheryl Musgrave: No, he will take the data that they have resident in the computer and factor it up or down to meet what the market calls for.

President Winnecke: Mr. Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: How big is this contract? How many pages?

Cheryl Musgrave: Oh, it’s not very long – 20, 25 pages?

Councilmember Hoy: Okay, would you mind supplying a copy for our Council Office and then –

Cheryl Musgrave: Okay, one copy –

Councilmember Hoy: One copy, and then anybody that wants to look at it...

Cheryl Musgrave: Sure.

Councilmember Hoy: I don’t have an interest in reading it, but then it would be available.

Cheryl Musgrave: Okay.

President Winnecke: Any other questions? We stand adjourned.

(Meeting adjourned at 8:28 a.m.)

VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

President Lloyd Winnecke                 Vice President Ed Bassemier

Councilmember James Raben            Councilmember Phil Hoy

Councilmember Curt Wortman            Councilmember Royce Sutton

Councilmember Troy Tornatta

Recorded and transcribed by Teri Lukeman.