VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES

JULY 1, 2009

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

President Shetler: Good morning, it’s July the 1^st – June went awful quick and I hope July doesn’t go near as fast, but it’s nice weather outside. I’d like to ask – first of all I guess we want the roll call and then the Pledge of Allegiance, and ask Councilman Lloyd, since he’s dressed patriotically today, to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

President Shetler: There being six present and one absent, we have a quorum. And again, I’ll ask Councilman Lloyd to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

(Pledge of Allegiance was given)

President Shetler: Next I need a motion for approval of the minutes.

Councilmember Lloyd: So moved.

President Shetler: It’s been moved, do I have a second for the June 3^rd –

Councilmember Raben: Second.

President Shetler: Roll call please.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Shetler?

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

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

President Shetler: Next is the appropriation ordinance. Councilman Raben?

JAIL

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

Councilmember Raben: Okay, thank you, Mr. President. Good morning. First on the agenda today under the Jail, we have three Confinement Officers, positions, for a total request of $9,580, and then under Community Corrections, same request, three Confinement Officers in the amount of $7,185. I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Bassemier: Second.

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

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Shetler?

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

JAIL                                                                       REQUESTED       APPROVED

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS                              REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next under Health Department, 2130-1160-2130 and 2130-1170-2130 in the amount of $600. I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Kiefer: Second.

President Shetler: It’s been moved and seconded. Any questions? Comments? Roll call please.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Shetler?

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

HEALTH DEPARTMENT                                       REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

REASSESSMENT/COUNTY ASSESSOR

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next under Reassessment funds, under County Assessor, we have requests for a Level II Certification with FICA and PERF for the amount of $576, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Kiefer: Second.

President Shetler: Motion has been moved and seconded. Any questions? Comments? Roll call please.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Shetler?

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

REASSESSMENT/

COUNTY ASSESSOR                                           REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

TOURISM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Tourism Capital Improvement Fund 3600-4111 under Improvements in the amount of $232,000, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Bassemier: Second.

President Shetler: It’s been moved and seconded. Questions? Councilman Goebel?

Councilmember Bassemier: Tom, I’m sorry, sir. I think Marilee would like to say something if that’s okay.

Marilee Fowler: Marilee Fowler with the Evansville Convention & Visitor’s Bureau. Our commission met yesterday and they’ve asked me to put the maintenance repairs on hold until we can get the actual bids. What we came to you with were what we estimated those to be and so that part of this, the $130,900, we’d like to put that, as I said, on hold and have you just approve the renovation work, which is $101,100.

Councilmember Goebel: Marilee, the $101,100, now you’ll put that out for bid?

Marilee Fowler: The 101,100 has already been bid. Those are the actual costs to do that work. So if you approve that part of this request today, we will probably be letting those bids this afternoon. Now for the second portion of that, the maintenance work we need to do on that building, $130,900, what we had presented to you was what PCI had presented us with estimates. The board wants us to actually get those bids and come back to you with what those will be – what the actual bids will be and have you approve it at that point.

Councilmember Bassemier: So you want $101,100 and put the $130,900 on hold?

Marilee Fowler: Correct.

Councilmember Bassemier: I’ll rescind my motion.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Mr. President, I’ll amend my motion under Tourism Capital Improvements in the amount of $101,100.

President Shetler: Okay, we have an amendment and then the second has agreed as well, so we have a change to $101,100. Alright, Councilman Goebel, did you have any further questions?

Councilmember Goebel: No.

President Shetler: Councilman Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Well, this is money that’s in the Tourism Capital fund, so it’s not General fund money for additional appropriation.

Marilee Fowler: That’s correct.

President Shetler: How did you go about getting bids? Did you advertise for bids?

Marilee Fowler: The renovation work that we’re doing, the $101,100 was, we publicized those in the newspaper and those bids have come forth. We had Bill Gaisser, our architect that has worked on this building over all these years reviewed them and made the recommendations based on this figure and those were all the lowest bids.

President Shetler: So we went by normal procedures, and there wasn’t anything outside of the ordinary?

Marilee Fowler: Correct.

President Shetler: Any other questions, comments? We have a motion, roll call please.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Shetler?

President Shetler: Yes. There being six ayes and no nays, the motion carries. Thank you.

TOURISM CAP. IMPROVEMENT                         REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

CUMULATIVE BRIDGE

LOCAL ROADS & STREETS

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Councilmember Raben: Next under Cum Bridge and Local Roads & Streets, we have two transfers, one under Cum Bridge in the amount of $20,000 and Local Roads & Streets in the amount of $25,000. And along with this, in the audience today we also have our new superintendent, Chris Walsh, who might want to step up and introduce himself to everybody, but I’ll move approval.

Chris Walsh: Good morning. My name is Chris Walsh, Vanderburgh County Highway Department. I apologize it’s taken me this long to get here, to introduce myself to you. I wanted to get the paving off to a good start. I left each one of you one of my cards. If there’s any concerns or if there’s anything I can help you with, feel free to call on me. I’ll be more than happy to help any one of you. And if you had any questions on the transfer, I’m available for that. We’ve had some problems this year with – actually, the one gradall that gave us problems has never given us a problem. It’s about fifteen years old. So that’s the one I’ve gotten taken care of. The one that I think Mr. Duckworth had come before on is still having problems, but we’re dealing with them on an ongoing basis.

President Shetler: Don’t apologize for not coming forward before now. That means that you haven’t asked us for any new money. And not that we don’t want to see you, it’s just that we appreciate that fact. So, it’s good to have you on board. Mike?

Councilmember Goebel: Chris, this is the equipment or the repair of the gradall is going to be done in-house, is that correct?

Chris Walsh: On the second gradall, it is. The other gradall we have, it was the main pin, and a gradall has a telescoping arm and the main pin; it could only be done at Southeastern, we had to send that one out.

Councilmember Goebel: Okay.

Chris Walsh: We do as much in-house as we can possibly do and we have a really good mechanic staff there.

Councilmember Goebel: I hate to bring something else up right now but I’m going to. We’ve had numerous discussions here in the past over salt, and do we have ample supply now? And have we been able to buy that and –

Chris Walsh: Yes, we just got notified that the state bid has been awarded. Our region was awarded to American Salt and the price is $60 a ton which is dramatically lower than what it was last year, so we’re kind of excited about that and we shouldn’t have any problems with salt. We can go, I think Rockport is the closest destination. If, worst case scenario, they can’t get it to me, I can get my trucks to Rockport and get it back here.

Councilmember Goebel: So we’re set.

Chris Walsh: We are set.

Councilmember Goebel: And I think last year the price was about what, $120 –

Chris Walsh: One twenty. I was with the city last year and I want to say 120 - 125.

Councilmember Goebel: One forty-two to us, I believe.

Chris Walsh: Was it?

Councilmember Goebel: Yeah, so you’ve cut it well over fifty percent.

Chris Walsh: Yeah, it looks like it’s going to be an excellent deal for everyone.

Councilmember Kiefer: Chris, I was just going to comment that it might be worth checking into and it’s just a thought that crossed my mind, but there might be a future market on salt. You might be able to buy contracts for -- paper contracts to hedge a position against fluctuating prices. It would be something worth checking into. Because it’s not something you have to take delivery on, just, you hedge a position and then when you need it, you’re protected.

Chris Walsh: Okay, I’ll check into it.

Councilmember Goebel: I think the state does that, but I believe this is in line with what we paid in the past, prior to the last two years.

Chris Walsh: Yeah, it’s a little bit higher, but probably about where it would have been irregardless of last year. If it had gone up a little bit at a time, we’d probably be in the $55 to $60 range anyway, would be my guess.

Councilmember Bassemier: Chris, I know you’re new on board but have you had a chance to check out you all’s work week? I know you’re working ten hour shifts, four days a week.

Chris Walsh: Yes, I’m doing some preliminary study right now. We’re going to go back to the five-day work week, I believe the first of November. And we’re looking over, I’m trying to quantify what kind of savings we really did get out of that and I’d be happy to report back to you to see. You know, there’s some advantages and then again, there are some disadvantages.

Councilmember Bassemier: And that’s the reason why I asked –

Chris Walsh: Weather related. On a four day week, if it rains a couple of days, that’s only two days I’m paving instead of three. So we’re going to look at all of that.

Councilmember Bassemier: I was thinking about your snow days and overtime?

Chris Walsh: That won’t be affected if we go back to a five day week in November.

Councilmember Bassemier: Okay, and you are going back?

Chris Walsh: Yeah.

President Shetler: Yes, Councilman Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Chris, do you still live on Wilson Square?

Chris Walsh: Yes, sir.

Councilmember Lloyd: That’s my former neighbor. I moved out of the neighborhood, I don’t know why.

Chris Walsh: We’d like to have you back.

Councilmember Lloyd: You could always tell Chris’ house, he’s got all these political signs in his yard. A couple of questions on the gradalls. What is the approximate age of those?

Chris Walsh: The oldest one which has had the most problems, it’s two-fold, it’s not just the age because with proper maintenance, we can really get a long life. That one was purchased and it was only one of about two made. It was like a prototype. And those two had all the bugs and we got one of them, and we’ve been dealing with it over the years. And I want to say it’s about 15 to 18 years old. And then the one that we’ve got this appropriation for is about 14 years old and its been a great piece of equipment. It was just a piece in it that takes a lot of wear that’s quite expensive to fix, just happened to give out on us.

Councilmember Lloyd: And you guys use them pretty heavily?

Chris Walsh: We have three of them, and yeah, we do. We’re probably one of the only counties in the state to have three of those. So we’re pretty gifted and I go back to the tornado. We could bring to bear three gradalls on scene and it had a big impact.

Councilmember Lloyd: And then what is the cost of a new one?

Chris Walsh: $300,000 range, just off the top of my head.

Councilmember Lloyd: I think Mr. Duckworth was before this body before looking for new ones and we just never could justify that.

Chris Walsh: Yeah, I was hoping there would be a new one there when I got there.

Councilmember Lloyd: Well, there’s dreams – well, thank you.

President Shetler: Councilman Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Are you running on schedule on your paving in the county?

Chris Walsh: Yeah, we’re about 28 to 30% right now. I wanted to push and get as much done this month as I could because, you know, unlike in the past, now we only get a 30 day guarantee on the price, and I just had the feeling it was really going to jump up on us and I was trying to get as much ahead of the game as I could. So I feel confident we’re in a pretty good position.

Councilmember Bassemier: Thank you.

President Shetler: The gradalls, is it possible to rent those anywhere?

Chris Walsh: Yeah, they’re quite expensive and I haven’t recently checked into it. I did when I was at the city. The city didn’t have a gradall at the time when I was there and it’s quite expensive.

President Shetler: I guess what I’m thinking of, since we have one and a half or two that are functioning most all the time, and we have them in our possession and keep crews going on that, when we need the third one, would we – would it be more prudent just to rent those for the couple of months we actually need it?

Chris Walsh: It’s a definite possibility, and if you’d like, I’d get some figures for you and get you a better idea exactly where – we have an equipment rental account so it’s just a matter of me getting some pricing on it for you.

President Shetler: Thank you. I would appreciate that because it doesn’t make sense to me to put that much capital into something and particularly if you’re only using it for a couple three months and –

Chris Walsh: The one in question that’s down right now, and I’m talking off the top of my head, a couple thousand dollars, so it’s hard to not justify putting – but it is a band-aid on a problem, so –

President Shetler: Alright, thank you. Any other questions, comments? Alright, thank you, Chris, nice review.

Chris Walsh: Thank you.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, under Health Department, we have a late transfer for $500, I’ll move approval. Did we vote on that last –

President Shetler: No, we need a motion. Could we just do transfers all at once?

Councilmember Raben: I’d like to amend my motion to include the Health Department in the amount of $500.

President Shetler: Just get it all at one time.

Councilmember Raben: Who seconded?

Councilmember Kiefer: Second. I don’t know if there was a second.

President Shetler: And that’s for all the transfers?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

President Shetler: Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any other further questions, comments? Roll call please.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Shetler?

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

CUMULATIVE BRIDGE                                         REQUESTED       APPROVED

LOCAL ROADS & STREETS                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

HEALTH DEPARTMENT                                       REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, and the last order of business is the amendments to the salary ordinance. First, salary line 1051-363 Confinement Officer Supervisor as previously adopted setting the 2009 salary in at $42,540, the hire date for this individual is 8/28/95. Line 1051-364 Confinement Officer Supervisor as previously adopted at a 2009 rate of $42,163. The effective hire date on this one is 9/29/97. 1051-365 as previously adopted at an annual rate of – 2009 rate of $42,040, hire date on this employee is 10/4/99. 1051-366 setting the 2009 salary in at $43,540, the hire date is 12/24/88. Under Community Corrections, 1361-1240 Confinement Officer Supervisor as previously adopted setting the 2009 salary at $44,493, the effective hire date is 4/6/85. 1361-1270 setting the 2009 salary in at $42,040, the effective hire date is 8/9/99. 1361-1350 setting the 2009 salary in at $43,540, the effective hire date is 9/18/89. Under Health Department, 2130-1160 Director/Nursing Division as previously adopted, setting the 2009 salary in at $61,018, the effective hire date is 1/23/93. 2130-1170 Medical Lab Tech Supervisor in as previously adopted, setting the 2009 rate in at $41,641, the effective date is 8/18/93. 2130-1971 setting in the Accrued Payments as previously adopted. And under County Assessor, amend salary line 1090-1972 Level II Certification as previously adopted. The pro-rated Level II for Ken McWilliams and Cassie Ainsworth is $250 each for 2009. This will set the salary line 1090-1972 in at $19,000 for 2009. I make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Shetler: We have a motion and a second. Questions? Roll call please.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: Councilmember Kiefer?

Councilmember Kiefer: Yes.

Madelyn Grayson: President Shetler?

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

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

President Shetler: The next item is, underneath new business, Libbie Au with GAGE. Good morning, Libbie.

Libbie Au: Good morning. For the record, Libbie Au with GAGE. I’m here this morning to formally present the compliance information I have received thus far for 2009. The first spreadsheet contains the compliance information that compares the projected investment and employment with the actual investment and employment. And the second spreadsheet contains the estimated tax revenue as a result of these projects. Also attached are the letters of explanations from the companies that did fall below their investment and employment figures. I can now answer any questions or concerns from Councilmembers.

President Shetler: Councilman Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Libbie, do you have anything to add to this from the last meeting on any of these companies?

Libbie Au: I did contact the company that we were speaking about at the last meeting and they indicated that the project that was approved in 2008 is still in the process of being completed. Because of the economy, it was slowed down a little bit but they do still have every intention of completing the project and raising that investment figure.

Councilmember Goebel: Did they give you a time frame?

Libbie Au: I asked for that, and they have not, but I can continue to do so.

Councilmember Goebel: We’re granting the tax phase-in based on, I guess, good faith at this point. At what point would we review this and maybe think otherwise? I know the economy is sour right now. It’s pretty obvious and I think they have good intentions, just at some point, if we’re granting a phase-in for investment that’s not occurring, at what point will we ask for maybe a re-evaluation of the phase-in itself?

Councilmember Lloyd: Which company is this?

Libbie Au: I believe it’s Graham Packaging.

President Shetler: I guess it would probably be up to an individual Councilmember, if they want to bring forward some kind of motion to make a change in it. I currently, given the economic climate as you alluded to, I’d be a little reluctant now and try to, I guess, give them as much leeway as we possibly can. I know that the pharmaceutical market is fairly solid right now but there’s a lot of volatility as well, with their suppliers. And Graham could very well be caught up into some of that. I know that some local suppliers have been kind of shifting around because of bids and stuff, so there could have been some things that they had hoped to get business-wise that perhaps they weren’t successful in doing. I’m not certain of the specifics on this particular situation here but I know that they’re heavily involved in some of that packaging deal and it’s a matter of some of that, on food products and other, so I’m not sure exactly what the nature of it is, but I would suspect that that’s something that each one of us could bring up at any time and then try to, you know, if we’re concerned and would want to reverse that action we’ve taken before.

Councilmember Lloyd: When you think about it, we’re giving the – we’re allowing the tax phase-in on the projected amount, but they don’t realize any actual savings unless they spend the money, is that correct?

Libbie Au: That’s correct. It would be based on the acquisition or purchase acquisition of personal property.

Councilmember Lloyd: So, I mean, we’re hopeful that they will make the full investment, but as of right now, they haven’t, but I don’t think the county is not necessarily out anything. And actually, if they don’t make the investment in the next couple of years, they’re going to be the ones that are losing out because of the time frame of the credit, isn’t that correct?

Councilmember Raben: Their credit would expire.

Councilmember Lloyd: Right, their credit is going to expire if they don’t make the investment within a period of time, but the economic situation kind of dictates what they’re going to do. But I can agree with Councilman Goebel on this, and hopefully we’ve seen the bottom, things seem to be picking up in some areas, so I’m hopeful that they can spend and make the additional investment at some point in the near future.

Councilmember Goebel: I think it’s obvious that their intentions are good and they came forward in good faith. And, Libbie, I want to thank you again for keeping us posted and any information that you get from them, pass it on, that would be great.

Libbie Au: I will.

President Shetler: Alright, any other comments or questions? Thank you.

President Shetler: Next is, I did make an appointment, re-appointment actually, Bob Davies, who was on the Willard Library Board currently. They asked me if he could be retained, and I’ve known Bob for some time and a good community person and he’s been re-appointed to the Willard Library Board. Also, recommending to appoint as a liaison to the Evansville-Vanderburgh Public Library is Russ Lloyd, Jr. Again, that was a request made by the library to make sure that they have Russ Lloyd, as their – because there was some long-time close ties there, so –

Councilmember Lloyd: Well, I’m a reader, so, and I think they do a good job at the library. I’ve known Marcia Au for a long time and they have a top-notch facility. I think they’re an asset for our community and I look forward to working with them when they bring their budget before the Council.

President Shetler: Thanks, Russ. I do want to point out that there is a joint budget hearing scheduled for the City and County Councils, that will be on July 31^st at –

Councilmember Kiefer: That’s actually the 29^th. Yeah, that date is – well, it said July 31^st, Wednesday, when July 31^st falls on Friday.

President Shetler: That is the Wednesday, you’re correct.

Councilmember Kiefer: Right.

President Shetler: And that’s at 3:30 in the afternoon, the 29^th. When Sandie gets back in here we’ll just double-check and make sure it’s not Friday, the 31^st and that it is Wednesday. And earlier I was told it was going to be on that Wednesday. So I’m going to assume that’s correct. Any other business? Yes, Councilman Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: I think in light of the state further cutting back on the property tax replacement for next year and we’ve already asked, this body has already asked the various departments to set in zero salaries, I think it might be prudent at this time to ask each of those department heads to look further for cuts that they can make in each of the departments so we don’t necessarily have to go in not knowing nearly as well, having the expertise as they do running their own departments, maybe they can find further savings for the county for our upcoming budget hearings. Instead of asking for more money, maybe looking themselves, looking at their various departments, and trying to help us out to help them, because we have to work together. Next year is going to be, I think, a brutal year for the county and all local governments.

President Shetler: Yeah, good point and I concur. Any other comments or questions? Yes, Councilman Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: I’d like to, first of all, commend President Shetler on the letter regarding the local homestead tax percentage to City Council, and wanted to know, have you heard anything from the City Council?

President Shetler: I have not heard anything from them. Of course, the Mayor reacted pretty swiftly on that, I think, 15 minutes after we came up with the resolution or the letter to ask them to do it. And so, I think that everything is pretty much in sync and the city is recognizing that the taxpayers are demanding it as well as we are. So I don’t, I think it’s something that will get through; whether it’s going to be a full 8% or not, I’m not sure. But, and that’s another thing I did want to remind everybody – and that date, by the way, let’s go back on. It is the 29^th on that Wednesday at 3:30 for the joint City/County. But you’re going to have to kind of be on guard here a little bit, all of us, I’m not sure when the city will act on that homestead credit, but as soon as they do, we’re going to have to be calling a special meeting to act on it as well. We discussed the idea, Mr. Ahlers and I, about the possibility of going ahead and doing an ordinance. The problem is, it really must mirror the city’s ordinance. So if we pass something and an i isn’t dotted or a t isn’t crossed the same way that the city did it, we could end up having to redo it anyway. So it’s important for those to mirror. So it’s best, since they have 70% of the vote, for us to wait until theirs is done and then we’ll come into the chambers and vote on it.

Councilmember Goebel: I think the city acted very quickly because of the outcry and the way it was handled. I don’t think anyone, as I mentioned last time, feels good about the way the homestead credit was handled. And it, once again, it was a meeting evidently between members from different departments, and I think the Mayor has obviously made the comment that they’re going to reinstate, so we don’t need to take any action today.

President Shetler: Right.

Councilmember Raben: I would like to mention, though, that if possible, you might circle the wagons with them because while it seems like we’ve got a lot of time, we really don’t. You know, the deadline is August 1^st and once they take their action, you know, we’re going to need some time to prepare our resolution and advertise it, you know, we’re bound by law to advertise it for 14 days, so we’re going to be crowding the deadline. So you might encourage them to act as – or at least let them know we have to – we probably have to have 16 or 17 days to do what we need to formally do.

President Shetler: I think Councilman Lloyd and then Councilman Goebel.

Councilmember Lloyd: Well, I’m available any time in July, so maybe you can call Councilman Watts, the President of the City Council, and just find out what kind of date they’re looking at. You know, even if it’s one of their Monday evenings, we can come to that if we have to, to have a joint meeting. I don’t remember if I sent this to everybody. I talked to the Department of Local Government Finance and they sent a spreadsheet that shows all the local option income taxes. And out of the 92 counties, now you’ve got CAGIT, COIT, CEDIT, so you’ve got different types of taxes. Not everybody has COIT, but there was 59 counties that gave a local homestead credit and that includes a COIT credit, a CEDIT credit, and a Local Option Income Tax Credit. So out of the 59, it’s kind of funny, the state’s spreadsheet, they just drew lines through Vanderburgh, so we were the only one that repealed it for ‘09. But anyway, out of the 92, 59 gave some kind of credit on the local income tax. And I’ll make that available to the other Councilmembers.

President Shetler: Okay, thank you. Yes, Councilman Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Back to the other business as far as the special meeting. We can’t act until the city acts. Can we call a special meeting at our, is July 31^st our next –

President Shetler: Well, the Town of Darmstadt will need to act on this, too. Now they could – they could act as soon as the city has finished as well. Presumably they’ll do the same thing we would do.

Councilmember Goebel: August 1^st is the deadline, though.

President Shetler: Yes. Let me check and make sure that’s going to meet all the legal qualifications and as far as I’m concerned, that would be, you know, what we’d need to do, I would think that would be fine.

Councilmember Goebel: I think it’s pretty obvious we’re going to do what the city does.

President Shetler: Right.

Councilmember Goebel: So if they have their work taken care of, I think it’s a good idea that they have to give us time to make notification.

President Shetler: Right. Councilman Kiefer.

Councilmember Kiefer: I understand the General Assembly postponed the reassessment for a year. I don’t know if, Mr. Weaver, you want to speak to that? I mean, are you familiar with that, that the reassessment has been delayed?

Jonathan Weaver: Good morning, Jonathan Weaver, Vanderburgh County Assessor. Yeah, I found out last night that they are putting it off a year, which gives us more time to do a better job and, you know, we’ll work with it.

Councilmember Kiefer: Okay, I think that kind of helps us on the Pictometry thing, you know, takes some of the pressure off on that, but they can come back when the leaves are off the trees and take pictures.

Jonathan Weaver: Well, the images have been delivered.

Councilmember Kiefer: Oh, they’ve already been done and delivered?

Jonathan Weaver: The flight was taken pretty much immediately after that meeting we had. The notes I have and the last email I received was the oblique imagery and the standard orthos is delivered. They’re waiting on some information from computer services, which I believe they delivered to them yesterday in electronic format and then the ChangeFindr results will be delivered in September.

Councilmember Kiefer: So when will that be available on the Internet, that people can view those?

Jonathan Weaver: We’re going to have a training session in-house for my staff, I’m going to say at this point in time by the end of the year. I can’t give you a specific date at this point in time.

Councilmember Kiefer: Okay, thank you.

Jonathan Weaver: Anything else?

President Shetler: Were those pictures, they’ll be what, about 18 months old then by the time you really utilize them?

Jonathan Weaver: No, we’ll be able to utilize them immediately, so –

President Shetler: For the reassessment?

Jonathan Weaver: What we’re doing is a rolling reassessment. We’re doing a portion of the county. Instead of doing all 80,000 plus parcels at one time, we’re going to be doing a portion of it every year. So this is going to be quite the benefit to us.

President Shetler: Right. Okay. Any other questions? Yes, Councilman Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Is that because I guess a lot of counties are not on time with their reassessments? Is that why the state would do that?

Jonathan Weaver: You know, I don’t know the particular reason. I didn’t campaign to push it back so, you know, we were ready to go.

Councilmember Lloyd: Okay. On just another note, I’m glad the General Assembly did pass a budget. I know I talked to Auditor Fluty about what would happen to the local government if they didn’t pass a budget. And it would have caused some hardship, obviously license branches closing, state parks closing, so I commend our General Assembly for doing that and the Governor on pushing a budget that did not raise taxes and held the line on spending when their revenues were down ten to fifteen percent.

President Shetler: Okay, any other comments? Any other business? Motion for adjournment would be in order.

Councilmember Lloyd: So moved.

President Shetler: Thank you. Appreciate it.

(There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 9:10 a.m.)

VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

Councilmember Jim Raben             Councilmember Mike Goebel

Recorded by Madelyn Grayson. Transcribed by Teri Lukeman.