Suzanne Crouch: Good afternoon. I don't see a deputy here so we will go ahead and start the meeting, the first meeting of the Vanderburgh County Council for 1999. I'd like to ask the Council Secretary to take attendance, please.
 

Suzanne Crouch: Please join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

(Pledge of Allegiance was given)

Suzanne Crouch: The chair will now entertain nominations for the President of the Vanderburgh County Council for 1999.

Councilman Lloyd: Madam President, I have a nomination. I'd like to nominate Curt Wort- man for President. He's the most senior member of the Council and seniority should count for something.

Councilmember Smith: I second that motion.

Suzanne Crouch: We have a motion and a second. Is there any discussion? May I have a motion to close nominations, please?

Councilman Lloyd: So moved.

Councilmember Raben: Second.

Suzanne Crouch: Madam Secretary, would you take a roll call vote?

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Suzanne Crouch: And now I'd like to make a speech, a five minute speech! Congratulations.

President Wortman: I'll be with you in just a minute.

Councilmember Raben: This is a big day for the town of Darmstadt.

President Wortman: I thank you, ladies and gentlemen, people in the audience, and officeholders, and all that. The next order of business is to elect the Vice President. I'd like to have a motion to that effect for the Vice President of the County Council for 1999.

Councilmember Bassemier: Mr. President, I'd like to make a nomination.

President Wortman: Go ahead, Mr. Ed Bassemier.

Councilmember Bassemier: This man has done such a good job as President, I think he deserves a shot at being Vice President, so I nominate Russell Lloyd for Vice President.

President Wortman: Nomination from Mr. Bassemier from the floor is Mr. Russell Lloyd and --

Councilmember Raben: I'll second.

President Wortman: And the second from Mr. Raben. Is there any other discussion? Do I have a motion that the nomination be closed?

Councilmember Smith: So moved.

President Wortman: Do I have a second to that effect?

Councilmember Raben: Second.

President Wortman: Would you call the roll please, Madam Secretary?

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: 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 Lloyd?

Councilman Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Wortman: The next order of business will be the appointment of the County Council Attorney. I'll entertain a motion to that effect.

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, I move that we continue to be serviced by Jeff Ahlers.

Councilman Lloyd: Second.

President Wortman: I have a motion from Mr. Raben and a second from Russell Lloyd. Is there any other discussion? No other discussion? I move for the nomination to be closed on that.

Councilman Lloyd: So moved.

President Wortman: So moved and a second. Okay, call the roll, please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Wortman: Next on the agenda, I would like to have our outgoing President for 1998, Mr. Lloyd, to step forward and see that we've got something to do with him. Russ Lloyd, I'd like to present that to you so that -- of the job well done. I think it's the agreement of all the Councilmembers and you did a tremendous job in 1998. Congratulations and keep up the good work.
 

President Wortman: Next on the agenda we'll set the motion for approval of the minutes for December the 2nd on the special meeting and December the 2nd on the regular meeting. Do I have a motion to that effect?

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, I move approval.

President Wortman: I got a motion by Mr. Raben. Do I have a second? Mrs. Smith? Okay. Call the roll, please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Wortman: The next order of business, I'd like to make appointment of the committee chairpersons please and I appoint Councilman Ed Bassemier as Personnel Chairman and Councilman Jim Raben as Finance Chairman.
 

President Wortman: The next order of business, we'll start with the appropriation requests. Mr. Raben, would you go through the requests, please?

A) TREASURER

Councilmember Raben: I'd be glad to. Mr. President, I'll move approval of 1030-3530 Contractual Services in the amount of $2,500.

Councilmember Hoy: Second.

President Wortman: Got a second from Mr. Hoy. Okay, thank you, Mr. Hoy. Okay, any discussion? Don't hear none, don't see none. Call the roll, please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

TREASURER REQUESTED APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

B) COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

President Wortman: Next, Community Corrections. Mr. Finance Chairman, would you take the Caseworker separate before doing the others, please?

Councilmember Raben: I can certainly do that. Mr. President, I move 1361-1570-1361 be set in at zero.

President Wortman: Do I have a second to that effect?

Councilman Lloyd: Second.

President Wortman: Okay, any discussion? No discussion? Call the roll, please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: I have a question. I am sorry.

President Wortman: That's alright.

Councilmember Smith: Is this -- this isn't the one that we okayed during budget time is it?

President Wortman: No, this is one we didn't approve at budget time.

Councilmember Smith: Then, yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: No.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS REQUESTED APPROVED

(Motion carried 6-1/Councilmember Bassemier opposed)

President Wortman: Mr. Raben, would you proceed?

Councilmember Raben: Okay, I'll move approval of 1361-1620-1361 in the amount of $2,287; account 1361-1800 in the amount of $18,900; 1361-1900 FICA in the amount of $3,300; 1361-1910 PERF in the amount of $2,600; and 1361-1920 Insurance in the amount of $4,000. I make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Hoy: Second.

President Wortman: Jim, that might need corrected because that would be for two positions, see? So we'll have to take that off on the FICA and the PERF and the Insurance.

Councilmember Raben: That is correct, that will need to be adjusted.

President Wortman: So if you want to amend your motion to make that adjusted accordingly?

Councilmember Raben: Okay, 1361-1900 and 1361-1910, FICA and PERF, will be adjusted accordingly.

President Wortman: Okay, do I have a second?

Councilmember Hoy: I'll second that.

President Wortman: Mr. Hoy seconded it. Any discussion on that?

Councilmember Smith: What is the bottom line total? You don't know yet?

President Wortman: No.

Councilmember Raben: Not with the adjustments.

President Wortman: Okay, any other discussion?

Councilmember Bassemier: That was approval of the rest of them right?

President Wortman: Yes.

Sandie Deig: Can you come back?

Suzanne Crouch: Yes, can you come back to that while they're working on that?

President Wortman: Go ahead and then we'll keep the record straight, okay.

Councilmember Raben: We'll come back to that.

President Wortman: Yes, let's just hesitate a minute.

Councilmember Raben: We can go ahead and take the vote. Betty just wants the total, correct?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

President Wortman: Okay.

Councilmember Lloyd: Right now, the total would be $31,087, but that is going to be changed.

Suzanne Crouch: Yes.

Councilmember Lloyd: $31,087, but they are going to change it.

Suzanne Crouch: Do you want to vote on it and then come back with the numbers?

President Wortman: Okay, would you call the roll, please?

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes. Okay, it passes unanimously.

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS REQUESTED APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

*See continued discussion on page 11.

C) SUPERIOR COURT

President Wortman: We'll go on to Superior Court and, if I recall, that was --

Councilmember Raben: That's been withdrawn.

President Wortman: Withdrawn, you've got to set it in at zero.

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, I am going to move that the entire Superior Court request be set in at zero.

President Wortman: Do I have a second?

Councilman Lloyd: Second.

President Wortman: Mr. Lloyd seconded. Any discussion? No discussion, call the roll please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

SUPERIOR COURT REQUESTED APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

D) CUMULATIVE BRIDGE

President Wortman: We'll proceed on to the Cumulative Bridge. Mr. Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, I'll move approval of 2030-4375 in the amount of $375,000.

President Wortman: Do I have a second?

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

Jeff Ahlers: 4374. I think he said 4375.

President Wortman: Jim, did you say 2030-4374?

Councilmember Raben: I'll repeat the motion. Account 2030-4374 in the amount of $375,000.

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

President Wortman: And you got a second. Okay. Any discussion on that? If not, call the roll, please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

CUMULATIVE BRIDGE REQUESTED APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Wortman: Okay, continue on and finish up the Cumulative Bridge and then we'll go back to the correction center.

Councilmember Raben: Yes, Mr. President, I'll move approval of 2030-4389 in the amount of $2,700,000.

President Wortman: Do I have a second?

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

President Wortman: Second, Mr. Sutton. Any discussion? No discussion? Call the roll please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

CUMULATIVE BRIDGE REQUESTED APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

B) COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS (continued from page 8)

President Wortman: Okay, now we will go back to the Community Corrections and, Mr. Raben, have you got that corrected figure?

Councilmember Raben: Yes, Mr. President, the correct figures for FICA would be $1,625; PERF $1,272, and Mr. Lloyd is running the tape on it right now.

President Wortman: Insurance would be zero.

Councilmember Raben: And Insurance would be zero, correct. $24,084.

President Wortman: $24,084. Do I have a second to that?

Teri Lukeman: You've already voted.

President Wortman: It's already took care of. Okay, that's fine. So that's the correction that went with the motion.

E) BURDETTE PARK/CCD FUND

President Wortman: Burdette Park, Mr. Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, I'll move approval of 2031-1450-4120 Buildings in the amount of $500,000.

President Wortman: Do I have a second?

Councilmember Smith: Second.

President Wortman: Second Mrs. Smith. Any discussion?

Councilmember Hoy: I just want to -- since this is not going to fund this building fully because I think we're looking at $2,000,000, I just want to go on record as saying I still hope that the Commissioners will reconsider the multi use of this building, multipurpose use and include a skating facility because we can do it for $2,000,000 and we can also do what they want to do and I think it's tremendously important that we spend that money in that manner. Thank you.

Councilmember Sutton: I was going to ask -- well, Suzanne is a little busy right now. Suzanne, on our unappropriated balance in the General Fund, the way we ended up last year, what was the total on that? I know it was somewhere around the range of about...

Suzanne Crouch: What we did not expend?

Councilmember Sutton: Yeah, what we did not expend.

Suzanne Crouch: $740,815.

Councilmember Sutton: With that amount that we did have left over from last year, I mean, I'd like to see us continue to -- at some point in time we were -- we had a discussion about continueing to add to this total. And with that unappropriated balance, I would like to see at least a portion of that, somewhere in the neighborhood of the $250,000 range from last year be used toward -- continue to work toward this particular facility here on this multipurpose building here rather than just having funds sitting there that we just continue to reappropriate every year. But just as Councilman Hoy indicated, it's obviously not near enough to even initiate really a facility. I know we've looked at some grants and we're waiting to hear some word on that but it really would be nice if we could continue to add toward this total that we have here on buildings. I don't know what thoughts you, Council, may have on that but I think it would really be a good gesture on our part. It doesn't really affect anything that we're doing this year.

President Wortman: Mrs. Smith?

Councilmember Smith: I agree with you and I think that's needed out there and I think we all talked about that at the time when they took the $500,000 and put it in another line item and then agreed to put it back. So I think the majority of us would like to see a building out there that could be used for skating and different things.

President Wortman: I think the Commissioners with this, there is supposed to be a matching grant somehow or another, and they're --

Councilmember Smith: But it doesn't include a skating rink, either.

President Wortman: Oh, no --

Councilmember Smith: But this is what I am saying. There is enough need for it and I think there is enough people interested in it. I know at the time Councilman Bassemier was really pushing for it, so I think if it came to a vote we could probably get the four votes that we need.

Councilmember Sutton: The grant that they are requesting, even if they do get the grant successfully, it still won't pay for the total amount of the cost on that so I think anytime you're submitting a grant application, it does look really good if, from local sources you've got a pretty good bank of dollars there that you're working with rather than looking for some other source to pay for the whole thing. So like I say, if we could find a way to do that with that unappropriated balance, I think that would really help.

Councilmember Smith: Are you putting it in the form of a motion to add some money to it?

Councilmember Hoy: We can't do that today.

President Wortman: Beings you, Mrs. Smith and then Royce, I am going to make a note here and I'm going to talk to the Commissioners about that and see how they think about that.

Councilmember Hoy: I tell you, Mr. Wortman, we have my motion on the floor which we need to vote on, but what we could do, Mr. Sutton could do, is make a motion that we overture the Commissioners because that's the source where this request would have to come from, I believe, is from the Commissioners. And there's another source -- you may consider me a sore loser since I lost the vote six to one on $250,000 for the Signature School -- but if you got the mailing from USI on their new -- it's not a newsletter, it's an expensive booklet -- I still have trouble believing they needed that $250,000 for that business center. They've got a business center out there. So I have to get that in because I really think we made a mistake, but I think we ought to also go after hotel/motel money for Burdette Park. That BMX track, you talk about putting heads in beds, that puts a lot of heads in beds in those hotels and that park generates a lot of money for that fund and I think that an application ought to be made there as well and put some more local money into it.

President Wortman: Okay, we've got a motion on the floor for $500,000 and we've got a second from Mrs. Smith. Any other discussion? If not, call the roll, please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

BURDETTE PARK/CCD REQUESTED APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

F) CIRCUIT COURT SUPPLEMENTAL ADULT PROBATION

President Wortman: Okay, next is Circuit Court Supplemental Adult Probation.

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, I'll move approval of 2600-1800 in the amount of $11,200, and account 2600-1900 FICA in the amount of $100. I make that in the form of a motion.

President Wortman: Do I have a second?

Councilmember Smith: Second.

President Wortman: Second Mrs. Smith. Okay, any discussion? No discussion, call the roll, please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

CIRCUIT COURT SUPP. ADULT PROBATION REQUESTED APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

A) TREASURER

President Wortman: We go to the General Fund Repeal requests. Mr. Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, this is one that we rarely see and I think the officeholder deserves a congratulations on this repeal so I'll move approval of 1030-1210- 1030 in the amount of $21,477.

Councilmember Hoy: Second.

President Wortman: Mr. Hoy seconded it. Any discussion?

Councilmember Sutton: Mr. President, I do think it really does take a special effort to extend this type of courtesy toward the county. I mean, it would be very easy for them just to continue to stack up people in the office and for the Treasurer, Jayne Berry-Bland, to do this there is definitely -- we appreciate the generosity and really thinking about the better half of the entire county.

President Wortman: Thank you, Mr. Sutton, for your (inaudible). Mr. Lloyd?

Councilman Lloyd: I would like to echo what Mr. Sutton had indicated. For the Treasurer to reorganize the work in that office to eliminate an employee really is commendable and it's a good thing for the county. Thank you.

President Wortman: Thank you, Mr. Lloyd, for your comments. Any other discussion? If not, call the roll, please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

TREASURER REQUESTED APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

A) COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

President Wortman: Now we'll have the transfer requests, please.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Mr. President, there is just one, Community Corrections. The second account 1361-1980, should read $749, the last account 1361-1140-1361 should read $749. All others as listed and I make that in the form of a motion. And the total on that is $2,249, by the way.

President Wortman: Repeat that, Mr. Raben.

Councilmember Raben: For a total of $2,249.

President Wortman: Okay, everybody got that? Do I have a second to that effect? Mr. Hoy. Any discussion? No discussion? Call the roll, please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS REQUESTED APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

A) COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS (2)

B) SUPERIOR COURT

C) TREASURER

D) CIRCUIT COURT SUPPLEMENTAL ADULT PROBATION

President Wortman: Now then, number 12, Amendment to the Salary Ordinance, please.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Mr. President, first we'll start with Community Corrections. I move to amend the salary ordinance as approved from both appropriation and transfer requests; appropriation would be Sergeant Stipend, Shift Differential, FICA and PERF accordingly, and transfer of funds as previously approved. Let's just go ahead and take them all: Circuit Court Supplemental Adult Probation, I move to amend as previously approved; and last would be the repeal, and I move to delete 1030-1210-1030 Counter & Posting Clerk from the Salary Ordinance. I make that in the form of a motion.

President Wortman: Do I have a second to that effect?

Councilman Lloyd: Second.

President Wortman: Mr. Lloyd. Any discussion? No discussion, call the roll, please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Wortman: Next is old business. Any old business? Nothing come up, we'll start on new business.

Councilmember Hoy: Mr. President, I don't know where this is -- someplace -- the Coroner asked me to read this to you. You know we discussed morgue user fees, so if it's okay I'll go ahead and --

President Wortman: Yeah, that's fine. Go ahead, proceed. Yeah, that's fine. Thank you.

Councilmember Hoy:

"The Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office makes every reasonable attempt to provide a facility that has a wide range of diagnostic possibilities.

Over the last two years the expenses incurred by Vanderburgh County have increased approximately fourfold just for the disposal of biohazard waste. The costs associated with x-rays have increased dramatically. The cost for chemicals, equipment and supplies associated with the forensic autopsy examinations also continue to rise.

As a result, this office must increase certain fees --"

And he thought Council would like to hear this because we charge other counties.

"Effective 1 January, 1999 the morgue user fee for any physician, corporation, agency or county using the facility will be $100 per case. Also effective 1 January, 1999 the fee for x-rays will be $25 per x-ray. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Dennis Buickel

Coroner"

But that is in response to our request that they seek higher fees.

President Wortman: Thank you, Mr. Hoy.

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, we jumped over item 13. I need to make a motion there that we accept the amended 1999 Salary Ordinance.

President Wortman: Okay, Mr. Raben wants approval of the amended 1999 Salary Ordinance. Do I have a second?

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Wortman: Any discussion on that? Call the roll, please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

A) MICHAEL C. JARVIS - 11751 OLD STATE ROAD

PRELIMINARY RESOLUTION

President Wortman: Okay, on 15, the preliminary resolution for Michael Jarvis for the property located at 11751 Old State Road out in the promised land, that's Darmstadt Area, he wants to withdraw that.

Sandie Deig: Defer?

President Wortman: Defer, defer it. I'm sorry. Defer, not withdraw. So deferred. We'd better have a motion to that effect so it's on record then.

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, I'll move that we defer this preliminary tax abatement.

President Wortman: Mr. Hoy, you seconded it. Any discussion on that? Okay. All those in favor raise your right hand. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

B) LIAISON APPOINTMENTS

President Wortman: Now the appointment of liaisons as you've got it before you there, a listing of it. Everybody's got their list then.

C) PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS

President Wortman: So we'll proceed on down to appointment of Personnel Administrative Committees and we got a list there, too, of Personnel Administration Job Study there. And we'll proceed with that. You've got a list of that.

D) APPOINTMENT TO ABC BOARD

President Wortman: And the next is personnel members -- on the appointments to the ABC Board and Mr. Frank Daugul is the present member and may I have a motion to that effect that he would be reappointed?

Councilman Lloyd: I'd like to make a motion to appoint Frank Daugul Alcoholic Beverage Commission Board.

Councilmember Smith: Second.

President Wortman: Second Mrs. Betty. Any discussion on him? If not, call the roll, please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: 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 Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

E) APPROVAL OF 1999 COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULE

President Wortman: Now we want to go over the approval of the 1999 meeting schedule if everybody agrees with -- I'll entertain a motion to that effect.

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, I'll move approval.

Councilman Lloyd: Second.

President Wortman: Second, got it from Mr. Lloyd. Any discussion?

Councilmember Raben: Nothing other than, Mr. President, I've stated this I think practically every year since I've served, I'd still like to see us move our full Council meetings to a later time. I still think we'd get a bigger audience from the public and we wouldn't be taking officeholders and employees away from their jobs, their work schedules here and I still think that it's worked well for the City Council when you look at the audience and whatnot that attends their meetings, and the Commission meetings, and I'd still like to do that, but I'll go along with this.

President Wortman: Thank you for your idea.

Councilmember Raben: Whatever is the pleasure of everybody.

President Wortman: Alright, thank you. You're very cooperative. Okay --

Councilmember Hoy: Just to add a little weight to that and I know that means that employees here would have to stay, but I know Mr. Raben has to run a business and I have to run a food bank and it does, it hits at a bad time for some of us who do that as well, but we'll see what happens.

President Wortman: Thank you, Mr. Hoy. Mrs. Smith?

Councilmember Smith: I think the general public would have an opportunity to come where most of them work at this time in the afternoon. I mean, it doesn't make any difference to me but I feel like that there's a lot of people that would like to attend and can't without taking off from work. And when you're talking about the employees coming back in or coming in later, that's their job. And that's one of the things that they have to do. And I sat on the City Council for 13 years and we had it at 7:30 at night and it worked out fine. So...

President Wortman: Thank you, Mrs. Smith.

Sandie Deig: You have to think about the availability of the room. We cannot get it on the first --

President Wortman: Oh yeah, I have just been informed by our secretary that the availability of the Council chambers sometimes is a problem and that would have to be negotiated and scheduled prior to us changing this. Am I understanding? Is that correct? Okay. So it's something to think about. Your comments are real taken -- good. And I think it's something to think about. Okay, we got a motion and a second on the floor, so I guess we better call the roll, please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Now are we looking at all the appoints here?

Teri Lukeman: The meeting dates.

Councilmember Sutton: The meeting dates, okay. Yes.

President Wortman: Meeting schedule, Mr. Sutton.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

F) RESOLUTION TO SUSPEND HIRING ADDITIONAL COUNTY EMPLOYEES

President Wortman: Okay, now then, you have a resolution on a hiring freeze. Has everybody got a copy of that?

Councilmember Raben: Yes sir, Mr. President, and I would like to move approval.

Councilman Lloyd: Second.

President Wortman: We got a motion and a second. Who was the second there? Mr. Lloyd? Okay, now -- in reference to, if you look down there it has no additional full-time employees. You might want to change that to part-time employees, too. I mean, for the part-time employees, they might want to hire additional help, is what I am trying to say, I guess. That would be in reference to full-time. Does that -- anybody want to comment on that?

Councilmember Smith: I wonder why we even need a resolution. They have to come in front of the Council and explain why they need an employee or why they need a part-time employee and why do we need a resolution to that effect because we are the one that controls it anyway, whether they get it or not.

President Wortman: I think that's --

Councilmember Smith: And you have to listen to what they say. There might be an emergency come up and they need somebody.

President Wortman: I think that's very good and that would be weighed, but if you don't have something in writing, some of them don't know. They just automatically keep coming up, I think.

Councilmember Smith: Well, they wouldn't come up if you turned them down enough times.

Councilmember Sutton: Well, with our new rules, you couldn't come back.

Councilmember Smith: In a year.

Councilmember Hoy: We probably need a motion on the floor to discuss this, but since we're discussing, my problem with this resolution, I, in some measures support it but if by chance we should go into, for instance, the GIS program which is a very extensive computerized program and something that we need to do in the county, I would hate to have a resolution on record saying we wouldn't hire anybody during the year.

Suzanne Crouch: I think that's going to be budgeted next year --.

Councilmember Hoy: It may be, but there may be something come up that comes on the scene earlier, and I agree with Councilwoman Smith -- we can say no.

President Wortman: Thank you, Mr. Hoy. Mr. Ahlers, would you like to comment?

Jeff Ahlers: Yeah, I would suggest based upon the comments that you consider amending and adding the wording that there would be no additional full-time employees because I guess at Burdette we'll need to hire part-time and there may be through other things we need part-time, so I would suggest that somebody may want to make a move to amend the resolution just to add the word full-time before employees in the last paragraph in the "Now Therefore" paragraph. And I'd also point out that the resolution does provide that in the case of an emergency or extraordinary circumstances, there could still be full-time employees hired, it just would cause somebody to have to justify the extraordinary circumstance and coming in. But anyway, just to address the full-time versus part-time, the resolution just says essentially -- would imply all employees now, and I'd suggest you make that amendment if you don't want it to apply to part-time.

Councilmember Sutton: Just as a -- I don't know -- a resolution I guess seems a little strong, I guess. Couldn't we accomplish the same thing by drafting a -- the President draft a memo essentially saying this and send it to all the department heads? Don't we communicating essentially the same message out there among the department heads to help them recognize what we're trying to do here?

Councilmember Raben: Other than this makes it very clear that we're taking this strong stance that under no circumstances, unless as paragraph three states,

"-- except in the case of an emergency or extraordinary circumstances."

We're sending a strong signal that, you know, don't even come before us. If it's not an emergency or extraordinary circumstance, don't even bring it to us. So I like the idea of a resolution and I'd certainly move to make that amendment.

President Wortman: Do you second that to go along with that, Mr. Lloyd?

Councilman Lloyd: Yeah, I'd like to make that and the other comment I would have, I mean, we've seen it time and time where departments come with requests or employees. It comes a lot at budget time, but emergency or extraordinary circumstances, we could make that exception, but I think this would send a message to county government to operate within your means and the people that you have. Thank you.

Councilmember Hoy: My other objection to it, I'll just lay my cards on the table, is that the Commissioners have approved a position and they're going to be putting it on our desk for an employee at the Soil & Water Conservation District and I'd hate to vote yes on this when I know that's coming up and it's a position that I think is very effective, very needed. We are increasingly dealing with drainage issues, the issues that department handles as this county grows, and I mean, that's one that needs to come before the Job Study and very soon. And we're not talking about a lot of money. We've already budgeted some money, and the Commissioners have already laid that on our desks, so to speak. And then, I don't know that you could put that in the category of an emergency situation, but we've got a young person there who does excellent work, it's been recognized all over the world, in fact, this whole district of ours is known all over the country as being one of the best. And as this county grows in terms of covering land up with buildings, we need more personnel out there. I can tell you, they're shorthanded. And that's why I would just rather not vote on it and consider them individually.

Councilmember Sutton: The direction, I guess, I was thinking is more along the lines of two things and that's -- you know going through this -- I am on this jail/assessment committee. And the thought is that, based on, you know, Harris has been before us several times and basically we have kind of come to the point where we want to wait until a final report or something comes forward before we make any other personnel decisions. So he's kind of waiting for that to take place before he comes back before us. But we do recognize there likely would be some additions there. Whether you call that an emergency, I don't think we necessarily need call it an emergency. Then we've also got The Centre that is well on its way and obviously there is going to be -- there is going to have to be some staff over there. So that's why I was thinking more of a memo communicating this out would still say the same thing. If people come before us with unnecessary -- or what we might deem as unnecessary or positions that we're not ready to undertake at this time, we just point them back to that memo that we've got, whereas a resolution just seems like -- you know, it just seems so strong, I guess. But those two situations are more or less what I had in mind when I was thinking about the strength of a resolution as opposed to a memo.

Councilmember Smith: A resolution is just as good as the paper it's written on. It's just a request. But I think that request can be voted on if people come up here and ask for it because during budget times we go through it pretty strong then, and like you say, there is an emergency that comes up, we have to. And you're going to have to go against your resolution then, so why not take it one case at a time?

President Wortman: I think we've got to -- this here resolution would reaffirm our position, the Council's position, hopefully --

Councilmember Smith: Our votes would, too!

President Wortman: Yeah right, that's true. But on the budget, they've got a budget and they should live by it. And they should have thought of this -- sometimes you can't, I realize that -- but should have thought of this when they submitted their budget in August, see. Now that's what I think and this kind of reaffirms it. They've got to live within their budget, otherwise, they'll be up here every month, some of them, see. And some of them have, see. Some of them can't help it, don't get me wrong, you know. But I think this kind of reaffirms it, to --

Councilmember Hoy: In the case of the position I am mentioning, that was brought before us and we denied at budget time. And since then, the Commissioners have approved this position. And it's got to go to Job Study next, but it needs to go to Job Study next. And then we're going to be looking at a situation saying well, is this an emergency, or not, and etcetera? And I think we just need to look at each one on their own merits and that alone. There is a cost to growth and we are laying down more pavement, we're putting up more buildings, we lie in a county that has four major watersheds and we act as if we can just slap mother nature in the face and worry about the water later. And what is going to happen in this county is what happened in Daviess County, Kentucky. If you go south on Frederica Streets, you will see new buildings there that get flooded every year because they are building in the flood plain. We have got to take this issue seriously. I just think that this kind of resolution would block that so easily and it's already something in process and I'd hate to see that. I don't think the Council would say well, it's an emergency. They will if their house gets flooded, but not until.

President Wortman: Okay, excuse me, we've got to change the tape.

(Tape changed at 4:15 p.m.)

President Wortman: Okay, we've got a motion on the floor and a second. Mr. Lloyd?

Councilman Lloyd: Mr. President, I think what Mrs. Smith indicated was correct, that the legal effect of this resolution, it would be to send a message to county government, but if Council wants to override it, it just takes four votes. Is that correct?

Jeff Ahlers: It takes five.

Councilman Lloyd: Five votes? Okay. And then the second thing on The Centre that Mr. Sutton had mentioned, the employees for that, I believe, would be Building Authority, so that really wouldn't affect the county other than they may raise the rent.

Councilmember Hoy: But Mr. Sutton's point about the jail, etc., what we may be facing, that would be -- might be considered an emergency.

Councilmember Sutton: We had, what, five or six? It was eight positions I think they requested back at budget time. Obviously, we didn't approve all those.

President Wortman: Okay, any other discussion? If not -- Mr. Bassemier.

Councilmember Bassemier: Thank you, Mr. President. I'm going to agree with Jim. If I vote yes on this, I know I voted that I wanted Mr. Howerton to get that extra caseworker, and the reason why I wanted him to get it is because I thought it was extraordinary circumstances because of their workload, so I don't want to sound like if I vote yes with you, that it's a two-face. Here I vote one way --

Councilman Lloyd: Is your mike on, sir?

Councilmember Bassemier: And that's not the reason why, I think it covers it. It's not an emergency situation, the reason why I voted for -- wanted Harris to get that extra manpower. I voted because it was extraordinary circumstances because of their caseworkers' workload. So if I vote yes for this, that's not saying -- that's the reason why I am going to vote yes on this.

President Wortman: Mr. Ahlers, do you want to comment? Thank you, Mr. Bassemier.

Jeff Ahlers: The only thing I want to do is to make sure to clarify for the record that it's my understanding that the resolution has been amended to reflect that this is full-time county employees. Is that correct? That's being careted in, in all three places that the employees are referred to? Just to clarify it for the record?

President Wortman: Okay, any other discussion? If not, we'll call the roll call vote for the passage of the ordinance...resolution.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith?

Councilmember Smith: No.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: No.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: No.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Wortman?

President Wortman: Yes.

(Motion carried 4-3/Councilmembers Smith, Sutton & Hoy opposed)

President Wortman: Okay, it passes, so we'll do that and then we'll see how it does and hopefully it will work out and then if it --

Councilmember Smith: One of these days we're going to get that fourth vote.

President Wortman: Betty, thank you. Boy, she's determined. She's a good Council lady. Okay, if there's no other business, I'll --

Councilman Lloyd: Mr. President, I have one other item.

President Wortman: Yes sir, Mr. Lloyd.

Councilman Lloyd: I apologize for this. One of the last duties that was requested of me as President was to explore the possibility of the Council Executive Assistant's Office, looking at expanding that and I've got -- I wrote up a phone conversation I had with Mr. Utley on this. He indicated this has been brought up before and he indicated some of the problems that you run in to. The brick walls that are the borders of Mrs. Deig's office are both supporting walls for the building and you really can't move them. He indicated it would be thousands and thousands of dollars to try to move those. And then also the wall to the south, which is the wall that borders the hallway, has electrical wiring through it, which it would be additionally expensive to try to move that out. He also indicated that the Board of Directors of the Building Authority has tried to keep all the areas that are available to the public with the same approximate square foot that they've had whenever this building was opened in 1969. And we're talking about this room which is Council chambers, room 303 is designated as a caucus room on the original plan and that has got the same area that it has had, and then you're also talking about the break rooms on each floor. He said they've had numerous requests to like put storage closets in the break rooms, cut down the size of the break rooms, cut down the size of the caucus room, and the Building Authority Board of Trustees has tried to resist that, so he just wanted to bring all that up. The other point that he made was, if we would look at even making Mrs. Deig's office longer and cut that doorway down, that we need to watch the ADA requirements because the way that's set now, you need enough room for a wheelchair to spin around or to turn around. And he was concerned that if we brought her front window out, that you might encroach on that, so he brought up all these problems and as we all know, the Commissioners are in charge of the building space so he suggested maybe one of us would want to talk to them or he'd be happy to talk to someone from Council and I've got his phone number. But, I had that discussion with him and I didn't really go beyond that. He just brought up all these problems, so I'd be happy to --

Councilmember Hoy: Who was that you spoke with?

Councilman Lloyd: Mr. Utley, two days ago.

Councilmember Sutton: Is there any other space in the building available?

Councilman Lloyd: Okay, the other thing he brought up was, they had looked at possibly room 318 as the Executive Assistant's Office and I believe there is more square footage there. That's down by the Evansville Urban Transit Office. The problem for us would be she wouldn't be close to this chamber where a lot of times she has to run back and forth to her office during our meetings. So that's something we need to consider.

Councilmember Smith: I don't think that would be feasible either because we share a person, which is Sarah, and there's not -- that's too far away and this -- and I know Mr. Utley, but look at the walls they're taking out down the hall. Go down on the second floor and you can give all kinds of excuses if you don't want to do something, but they could also make a storage area from that closet door up and then she could also have a place to put that, that would clear out her office. So I think we still need to do something and as far as that room down the hall, that's way out of the area.

Councilmember Hoy: But the other thing is that I know they don't want to take some space away from this room here, but I've been in a lot of meetings there and to take a small amount of space from that room wouldn't hurt and you can also, with a supporting wall, you can cut a doorway in it and make her a workroom and have a little more room. You don't have to move the wall necessarily.

Councilmember Smith: Have a room for her file cabinets and all of her supplies in there. There's no reason that it can't be done.

Councilmember Hoy: Exactly. I wish that a lot of people in this building had to put up with the kind of crowded conditions that she has to put up with. It's not right. Everybody else, most everybody else -- the Health Department, and then they don't have elbow room at all -- but it's taken me six years of harping on that and maybe in two more years we'll get that done. Get the Health Department in decent quarters outside this building where people can access those offices much more easily and that ought to be on the street level anyhow.

Councilman Lloyd: The other thing that I asked him about was, back in the Commissioner's Office behind Sarah Nunn's office is that storage room, if there could be any way to swap that and make that larger, and that's backed up against the freight elevator, so there's really no way to move that either. But, I don't know, he showed little enthusiasm for that, but that's something I think we need to kind of continue to look at.

Councilmember Hoy: Well, at one time we had some storage space in there and -- did we not? In that room in the Commissioners...I mean, Sarah was in that room and we had some storage in there. And that room is strictly used for storage. Originally, when that change was made, we were told that the attorney for the Commissioners was going to use that room as an office and it's never been used for that. I think that's some dead space, too, that wouldn't be too far away that could be used for some storage or something.

Councilmember Smith: Well, I think if anybody worked in there very long you'd get claustrophobia, but the amount of book work and things that she has in there, there's no space at all, so I think we have to come up with something whether Mr. Utley likes it or not.

President Wortman: Okay, anything else? Thank you, Mr. Lloyd, for your comments and your research. Appreciate it. Okay, any -- no other discussion before the Council at the beginning of the year here? So I'll entertain a motion for adjournment.

Councilmember Smith: So moved.

Councilman Lloyd: Second.

President Wortman: Mrs. Smith and then a second from Mr. Lloyd. All those in favor raise your right hand. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. Thank you, have a good day and be careful.

(Meeting adjourned at 4:31 p.m.)

_____________________________             ____________________________

President Curt Wortman                             Vice President Russell Lloyd, Jr.

_____________________________             ____________________________

Councilmember JamesRaben                     Councilmember Phil Hoy

_____________________________           _____________________________

Councilmember Ed Bassemier                     Councilmember Royce Sutton

_____________________________

Councilmember Betty Knight-Smith
 
 
 
 
 

Recorded and transcribed by Teri Lukeman