President Winnecke: At this time I will hear approval on the minutes from the December 1st meeting.

Councilmember Wortman: So moved.

President Winnecke: There’s a motion and do I hear a second?

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

President Winnecke: 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 Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

SHERIFF

JAIL

President Winnecke: Okay, at this time I would like to turn the appropriations over to the Finance Chair, Jim Raben.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, thank you very much. Mr. President, let me real quick outline a few things as we address the appropriations. And I have already shared my concerns with most of the Councilmembers but I think going in, at least for this January meeting, that its probably best that we, as a body, do not appropriate any General Fund monies until we get our certification back on our 2005 budget. So with that being said I’ll begin with the Sheriff’s Office and first on the agenda is 1050-1130-0199 on down through 1050-1130-0215. I’ll move that those be set in at zero.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Winnecke: Motion and a second. Discussion?

Councilmember Raben: I know that today generally is not the day for questions but Chief Deputy Williams did want to discuss a few of these matters and give us an update. I had asked him to give us an update as to how soon and what the plans were in regards to the court screener, so Mr. President, if that’s okay, I’d like to call him to the podium.

Eric Williams: Forgive my voice. Chief Deputy Eric Williams for the Sheriff’s Office. I did speak with Councilman Raben today realizing that you were probably not going to appropriate funding out of the General Fund for any new positions. We were already behind the eight ball on the Court Screener and the Deputy if that court is to open mid-year, so another one or two months is not going to make a huge difference in how we move forward so we were okay with that. While I am up here, so I don’t take all of your time, we realize this is going to be a very trying year and so we’re looking forward to working with you on getting the budgets together for the jail, getting the staffing to where it needs to be and we’re willing to entertain questions and meetings. I think I am privileged to know who our liaison is going to be and we would like to go on and withdraw our requests for all the 1051 items for the Jail until we have sufficient time to bring our new liaison up to speed and get them on board so that they can help relay that information and our needs to the Council in the appropriate manner. So on behalf of the Sheriff, I’d like to go on and pull all those from the agenda.

President Winnecke: Questions or comments for the Chief Deputy?

Councilmember Raben: I don’t really know that this question would be for Eric as much as possibly at some point in time I’d like to see what the real plan is for the screening area, you know, how that’s to be designed and what type of effect its going to have on the main corridor through the building here.

Eric Williams: If, in the future, I have a copy of the plans for those changes. The Building Authority may be the appropriate people to address the actual layout. But we did have a hand in laying out the security area of it so that we could make it work as efficiently, but those changes will make a dramatic change to the view of the first floor of the Administration Building. It will be a big change.

Councilmember Raben: Well, it might be, Mr. President, if you wouldn’t – it may be your call but I might ask that you would send a letter to –

President Winnecke: I’ll send a letter and ask them to come to the next meeting and bring a copy of the plans. Any other questions for the Chief Deputy? Thank you.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next under Prosecutor, I guess I’ll go ahead and give a sermon on this one, too, Mr. President, it would be my intent when we do –

President Winnecke: Jim, we did not vote on that.

Councilmember Raben: Oh, excuse me. I’m sorry.

President Winnecke: There is a motion and a second on the Sheriff’s being set in at zero.

Councilmember Raben: Well, can I amend my motion to also include the Jail, all the 1051 accounts be set in at zero as well?

President Winnecke: He’s withdrawn them so...

Councilmember Raben: They still need to be set in.

President Winnecke: Okay. Who made the second?

Teri Lukeman: Curt.

President Winnecke: Curt, is that okay?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

President Winnecke: Okay. Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: I don’t know if necessarily – like a reason if it gets listed as a withdrawal or its listed in at zero, either way – but I’ll vote yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

SHERIFF                                                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Table continued next page)

JAIL                                                                       REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

PROSECUTOR

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, under the Prosecutor, if you recall back in December at our prior meeting we had discussed this somewhat in depth. This request is part of a matching grant. There were two employees, two Deputy Prosecutors, one was being picked up by the grant side, the County General side. It would be my intent when we do begin appropriating money from our General Fund that we would go ahead and continue this individual. But for now I’m going to move that we set this in at zero.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Winnecke: Motion and a second. Questions or discussion?

Councilmember Sutton: I believe at the Personnel & Finance meeting last month when we mentioned or had discussions about this particular position, there was a timing situation and I don’t know if the Prosecutor wants to speak to it, that if we didn’t act on this and those persons would lose their jobs, so if we’re maybe waiting until March, this gap here, I don’t know if we end up losing these staff members here. Can you speak to that, Stan?

Stan Levco: Stan Levco, I’m Prosecuting Attorney. I would prefer to have the person right now. But really, if I were assured that I would get the person in March, that wouldn’t cause me any undue hardship.

Councilmember Sutton: So you would be able to carry over until March?

Stan Levco: One of the persons I have in mind is planning on having an operation and would be out for at least a month anyway. So it really wouldn’t cause me undue hardship if I – I would be pleased if I were to get it in March.

Councilmember Sutton: So the time period where they will actually be there, outside of the time when they’re off, there is adequate funding that you can make available to carry that person through?

Stan Levco: No. She just wouldn’t be carried through up to then.

Councilmember Sutton: How much time period are we talking about there?

Stan Levco: Well, March...I’m not sure what you’re asking me.

Councilmember Sutton: How long would it be when that – outside of the period when they would be off on this leave – would they actually be off work because there isn’t funding in place?

Stan Levco: Oh, I would think it would be a matter of weeks. I, you know, I would prefer to get it now but I...

President Winnecke: But to clarify, it does not put your office in a hardship if we delay it until March?

Stan Levco: Not an undue one.

President Winnecke: Okay, other questions or discussion? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Well, I would prefer to go ahead and get it now, but according to his statements, if he’s fine with it until March, we can wait until then so I vote yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

PROSECUTOR                                                      REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

COUNTY ASSESSOR                                 CENTER TWP ASSESSOR

KNIGHT TWP ASSESSOR                          PERRY TWP ASSESSOR

PIGEON TWP ASSESSOR

Councilmember Raben: Okay next, Mr. President, we have County Assessor, Center Township Assessor, Knight Assessor, Perry Assessor, Pigeon Assessor...I’ll stop there. I’m going to move that these requests be set in at zero and well, let me get that on the floor and then I’ll further explain.

President Winnecke: There’s a motion, do I hear a second?

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Winnecke: And a second. Questions or discussion?

Councilmember Raben: Okay, I think I spoke with most of the Councilmembers today in regards to this but it would be my intent, Mr. President, that we pick up enough in the Reassessment end or the Reassessment budget to allow for their extra help through the first quarter of this year. I had stated last month that I’m not comfortable spending from Reassessment this early so I’m not going to suggest that we appropriate all the monies that are requested today. I think when we find out what our real situation looks like in March we’ll make that determination whether we pick up the balance in General Fund or Reassessment. So I’ll address the amounts when we get into the Reassessment side.

President Winnecke: Any other questions or discussion relative to the General Fund request? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: 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

CENTER TWP ASSESSOR                                   REQUESTED       APPROVED

KNIGHT TWP ASSESSOR                                    REQUESTED       APPROVED

PERRY TWP ASSESSOR                                     REQUESTED       APPROVED

PIGEON TWP ASSESSOR                                   REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

SUPERIOR COURT

Councilmember Raben: Next under Superior Court, I’ll move that this request also be set in at zero. I am going to address the salary correction when we do our amendments to the Salary Ordinance. And again, we’ll pick up the additional funding here after March.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

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

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

SUPERIOR COURT                                               REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

REASSESSMENT/PTABOA

REASSESSMENT/CENTER TWP ASSESSOR

REASSESSMENT/PIGEON TWP ASSESSOR

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, back to the County Assessors and the township assessors, first, under Reassessment you see Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals, I’m going to move that that be set in at zero. In fact, just as a matter of clarity I’m going to move that Center Township Assessor be set in at zero, and Pigeon Township Assessor’s request be set in zero, then I’ll read in the correct figures.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Winnecke: Motion and a second, questions or discussion?

Councilmember Tornatta: Run that by me one more time. Do you want to take out a line item, reset a line item?

Councilmember Raben: I can do that. I tell you, part of the problem is, is not all the Assessors that had Extra Help requests filed appropriation requests in Reassessment, so I was going to actually just single those Extra Help lines out under those budgets but if you don’t like that motion I’ll withdraw it and we’ll do it this other way.

Councilmember Tornatta: I don’t – does that work with the accounting side? I mean...okay. That’s fine.

President Winnecke: Okay, so the motion is to set in PTABOA and Center at zero, all those lines? Is that correct?

Councilmember Raben: Along with Pigeon.

President Winnecke: Along with Pigeon, all those line items in at zero. Okay, any other questions or discussion? Roll call vote on that.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

PROPERTY TAX ASSESSMENT

BOARD OF APPEALS                                          REQUESTED       APPROVED

CENTER TWP ASSESSOR                                   REQUESTED       APPROVED

PIGEON TWP ASSESSOR                                   REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

PTABOA                                            CENTER TWP ASSESSOR

KNIGHT TWP ASSESSOR                PERRY TWP ASSESSOR

PIGEON TWP ASSESSOR

Councilmember Raben: Okay, under Reassessment Fund, and I think as you look at this list it just makes it a little clearer doing it this way because we’re not zeroing out lines and adding lines, and again, some of these aren’t even on paper there to follow. First under Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals, I move that that be set in at zero, we’re following our sheet here. Center Township Assessor 2490-1110-1990 Extra Help $5,000; 2490-1110-1900 FICA $383, for a total of $5,383. Knight Township Assessor 2490-1130-1990 Extra Help $5,000; 2490-1130-1900 FICA $383, for a total of $5,383. Perry Township Assessor 2490-1140-1990 Extra Help $3,000; 2490-1140-1900 FICA $230, for a total of $3,230. Pigeon Township Assessor, 2490-1150-1990 Extra Help, $5,000; 2490-1150-1900 FICA at $383, for a total of $5,383. I make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Winnecke: We have a motion and a second. Jim, could you clarify the PTABOA portion of that motion?

Councilmember Raben: Yes, that should be set in at zero.

President Winnecke: Okay, there’s a motion and a second. Questions or discussion? Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

PTABOA                                                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

CENTER TWP ASSESSOR                                   REQUESTED       APPROVED

KNIGHT TWP ASSESSOR                                    REQUESTED       APPROVED

PERRY TWP ASSESSOR                                     REQUESTED       APPROVED

PIGEON TWP ASSESSOR                                   REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

SUPERIOR COURT SUPPLEMENTAL ADULT PROBATION

Councilmember Raben: Okay, and last under Superior Court Supplemental Adult Probation, I’ll move that 2620-1220-2620 and account 2620-1900, 2620-1910, for a total request of $5,273 be approved.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

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

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

SUPERIOR COURT SUPPLEMENTAL

ADULT PROBATION                                             REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

SHERIFF                                            COMMISSIONERS

COUNTY HIGHWAY

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next Mr. President, we have the transfers, there are three today, the Sheriff, Commissioners and County Highway. Everyone has copies of these. Is everyone clear on them? Can we lump these together?

Councilmember Wortman: I’d rather exclude that one.

Councilmember Sutton: On County Highway, the Assistant Supervisor to Accrued Payments?

Councilmember Raben Okay, that is, as you may or may not be aware, the County Commissioners last night appointed a new superintendent of the Highway garage. The outgoing superintendent has vacation time, probably sick days and personal days and what have you, this is to pay him what he’s due. Mr. President, I’m going to back up on what I’ve said. Councilman Wortman would like me to separate the Sheriff’s request, so first I’m going to move that the Sheriff’s transfer be approved as listed.

President Winnecke: There’s a motion on the floor, do I hear a second?

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

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

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: No.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

SHERIFF                                                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion carried 6-1/Councilmember Wortman opposed)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next under County Commissioners and County Highway, I’ll move that those transfers be approved as listed.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

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

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

COMMISSIONERS                                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

COUNTY HIGHWAY                                              REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, last are the Amendments to the Salary Ordinance. First is Superior Court, I move that we set salary line 1370-1290 Court Reporter in at $51,000. The current employee is a PAT V, Step 7. Center Township Assessor/

Reassessment, set salary line 2490-1110-1990 Extra Help in at $5,000 as previously adopted. Knight Township, salary line 2490-1130-1990 Extra Help in at $5,000 as previously adopted. Perry Township Assessor/Reassessment, 2490-1140-1990 Extra Help in at $3,000 as previously adopted. Pigeon Township Assessor 2490-1150-1990 Extra Help in at $5,000 as previously adopted. Superior Court Supplemental Adult Probation, set salary line 2620-1220-2620 Probation Officer as previously adopted. The salary line will be listed as $8,385. This is to meet the state’s guidelines. Under the Sheriff, approve salary line 1050-0199 Part-time Clerk as previously approved. Set the hourly wage in at $8.8314 per hour. County Commissioners, set salary line 1300-1120 County Attorney line in at zero as previously approved in the transfer. And county garage, set accrued payments line 2010-1971 as previously approved. I make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

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

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Winnecke: Okay, at this time we move on to new business. I’d ask that County Recorder, Betty Knight-Smith, she has a 2004 collections report for us.

Rick Davis: Good afternoon. My name is Rick Davis, I’m the Chief Deputy at the County Recorder’s office. We, in the Vanderburgh County Recorder’s office have some exciting news to share with you today. Although the Recorder’s office narrowly missed its third consecutive million dollar year in user fee collections during 2004, we still submitted a total of $627,668 to the Vanderburgh County General Fund. I am also extremely proud to announce that during Betty Knight-Smith’s first four-year term in office, her staff collected a total $4,106,004.70. We did so while recording a total of 200,214 documents. As most of you know, for two straight years the County Recorder’s office topped the million dollar mark in fees collected, fueled with a record-breaking pace in refinanced mortgages. While mortgages are still offered at historically low interest rates, people have simply had several years to take advantage of the low interest rates and have already taken advantage of the ability to refinance. That’s why our recordings dropped from an all-time high of 58,640 in 2003, to 45,125 documents in 2004. While that is a drop of 13,515 documents, 2004 was the third highest number of documents recorded in more than a ten-year span. We deposited a record $1,272,992.20 in 2003, which was nearly $300,000 more than we did in 2004. We missed the million dollar mark in 2004 by $26,704, collecting a total of $973,296, the third highest total ever brought in by our office. As many of you know, fees in our office are distributed into three accounts, the General Fund, the Surveyor’s Perpetuation Fund, and the Recorder’s Perpetuation Fund. We submitted $43,510 to the Surveyor’s Perpetuation Fund and $302,118 to the Recorder’s Perpetuation Fund. It is worth noting that we took in $164,565 in copy fees during the 2004 year, all of which was deposited into the Recorder’s Perpetuation Fund. We recorded 9,063 deeds, 13,744 mortgages, 17,377 releases and assignments, and 4,941 other documents in 2004. Thank you for your time this afternoon. We’ll be happy to come before you again this summer and give your our 2005 forecast for your budget hearings. Its also worth noting that our office came within $9,704 of predicting this year’s total deposit. Not bad considering we basically lost a day and a half due to the blizzard and another half a day of business due to the jail fire in June. We averaged $3,956.49 a day during the year, not counting the one day the Civic Center was closed due to the inclement weather in December. So we likely would have nailed our forecast had it not been for those unfortunate events. If you have any other questions I’d be glad to answer them.

President Winnecke: Questions or comments for Rick?

Councilmember Sutton: Are you guys...when was the last time you guys had a fee increase?

Rick Davis: That’s a good note. Its been several years since we’ve had a fee increase, up until January 1 of this year. A new mortgage fee was implemented on January 1. Mortgages were nine dollars for the first page and two dollars for each additional page. There has now been a three dollar fee added to each mortgage on the first page, so the first page is now twelve dollars and two dollars for each additional page. That’s the only fee increase we have this year and the only one we’ve had in several years. The three dollars is going to the state, but most of it, a dollar twenty-five, is going to fund what is called the Home Ownership Education account, and another one dollar and twenty-five cents of that three dollars is going to the Homeowner Protection Unit. Fifty cents of the three dollars stays with the Recorder’s Perpetuation account, and we’ve already set up a new fund in our computer for the $2.50 that will be sent to the state, and the fifty cents that goes to the Recorder’s Perpetuation account.

President Winnecke: Other questions or comments?

Councilmember Sutton: Thank you.

Rick Davis: Thank you.

Councilmember Raben: Good job.

President Winnecke: Missing your projection by only $9,700 is pretty close. At the bank, we consider that right on the money.

Rick Davis: We were very consistent. Luckily, the averages held out through the year and it should be that way this year, too. But with a three dollar increase we may top a million again if we stay consistent.

President Winnecke: And to your point, we’d welcome you back in the mid-year to look at forecasts for next year. Thanks, Rick. Thanks, Betty.

Rick Davis: Thank you.

President Winnecke: Okay, next we need to consider the salary ordinance for 2005. Do I hear a motion to that effect?

Councilmember Raben: So moved.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

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

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Winnecke: You have before you the liaison appointments for the new year made in conjunction with discussions around the table. I would just, those are, I believe, my appointments to make so...consider them appointed.

President Winnecke: Appointments to the Personnel Committee, you also have that before you. Councilman Wortman will be the Chairman, also members: myself; Councilman Raben; Councilman Sutton; Judge Trockman; Commissioner Crouch; County Clerk, Susie Kirk; Betty Knight-Smith; Doug Bell; Steve Woodall from the Sheriff’s Department; Wallace Corbitt and Cheryl Lawrence, I make those appointments as well. We have one on your list of County Council appointments –

Marsha Abell: You said Doug Bell, did you mean Doug Brown?

President Winnecke: I did mean Doug Brown. There’s someone at the bank named Doug Bell. Sorry about that. Doug dyslexia today.

President Winnecke: Okay, we have an appointment to the ABC Board, that is on your sheet of appointments like this, but one that we have to vote on individually is our appointment to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission and we are nominating Bettye Lou Jerrel to that position. I’ll make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, I’ll second that motion, I guess I can.

President Winnecke: Okay, motion and a second. Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Winnecke: Also on that list are all the rest of the appointments and if you’d like I’ll note the ones that are new ones for the year: Area Plan Commission, Mr. Wortman; Area Plan Commission, Mr. Foster; Paul Farmer to the Property Tax Board of Appeals; Khris Seger to the same board; Bob Swallows for the Burdette Park Advisory Board; Michael Harp for that board; myself to Central Dispatch; Councilmember Abell to the Data Processing Board; Al Umbach, Jr. to the county’s Economic Development Commission; myself to EUTS Policy; Councilman Raben and Councilman Sutton to the Jail Overcrowding Assessment Committee, Ellis Redd to the M/WBE Utilization Board along with Kathy Decker; Nancy Drake to the Museum Board; Councilman Wortman to the Solid Waste; Councilwoman Abell to the Southwestern Indiana Regional Development Committee; Commissioner Crouch to the same; Rolland Eckels to the same and Fred Kitch to the Vanderburgh County Redevelopment Authority. Those are all new appointments for the year.

Jeff Ahlers: I think you need to approve the list.

President Winnecke: Right, I was just noting which ones are new for the year. We need a motion to accept those.

Councilmember Wortman: I make a motion we approve.

Councilmember Raben: So moved.

President Winnecke: 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 Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

President Winnecke: The final order of business today, approval of our meeting dates for the new year. Just a note that the budget hearing dates, I think, worked well for generally everyone last year. They are nine to noon on the Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of those two weeks. And so we’ll need a motion to approve the meeting dates.

Councilmember Wortman: I make a motion for that.

Councilmember Raben: Second.

President Winnecke: 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 Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Winnecke: Councilman Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yeah, just a couple of items. I had a chance to meet with the Initiative Based Assistance Program officials today and I was given a report on their allocations or appropriations during the course of 2004. I had encouraged them that in the course of their dialogue that they get an opportunity to come before the Commissioners but also come before the Council as well to give an update on their progress and report on those allocations. I’ve got a copy of the report if anybody would like to see a copy of that, but they’ve come before us in the past. It might be good idea here at the beginning of the year if they also come before us again just to give us an idea of just how things are going.

President Winnecke: I’m sorry, I was distracted.

Councilmember Sutton: Long story short: encouraging officials from the Initiative Based Assistance Program or Welfare to Work, as we commonly refer to it, to come before us sometime here in the next couple of months to give us a report on or update on how things are going, how things went last year and what they expect this year.

President Winnecke: Okay, I’ll make that.

President Winnecke: I did overlook one item on the agenda. We do need to approve the tax abatement compliance and I believe Teri has got that for us to sign, so I guess I need a motion to approve the compliance report.

Councilmember Tornatta: So moved.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Winnecke: Motion and a second. Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Abell?

Councilmember Abell: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Winnecke?

President Winnecke: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Winnecke: Anything else? If not, I’ll entertain a motion to adjourn.

Councilmember Wortman: So moved.

Councilmember Raben: Second.

President Winnecke: We are adjourned.

(Meeting adjourned at 4:09 p.m.)

VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

                                                                                                                                             President Lloyd Winnecke                  Vice President Marsha Abell

       Councilmember Jim Raben           Councilmember Mike Goebel

                                                                                                                                         Councilmember Curt Wortman        Councilmember Royce Sutton

Councilmember Troy Tornatta

Recorded and transcribed by Teri Lukeman.