Vanderburgh County
County Council
June 2, 1999
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| The Vanderburgh County Council met
in session the 2nd day of June, 1999 in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex.
The meeting was called to order at 3:36 p.m. by County Council President
Curt Wortman.
President Wortman: Vanderburgh County
Council is now in session this June the 2nd. We'll open up the meeting.
Would the secretary please call the roll?
President Wortman: Mr. Raben is out of town, so he won't be here today. Okay, would we all stand, the Council and attendants, and pledge allegiance to the flag, please. (Pledge of Allegiance was given)
President Wortman: Number four is the approval of the minutes for April 28th, a special meeting, and May 5th of the regular Council meeting. Do I have a motion to that effect? Councilmember Hoy: So moved. Councilmember Sutton: Second. President Wortman: Mr. Hoy and over here Mr. Sutton, we've got a second. Any discussion on those? No discussion. All those in favor raise your right hand. One, two, three, four, five, six. (Motion unanimously approved 6-0)
A) COUNTY CLERK President Wortman: Okay, we'll go right on into the appropriation ordinance. Number A would be County Clerk. Please come forward please. Marsha Abell: I'm Marsha Abell, County Clerk. President Wortman: Okay. Councilmember Lloyd: Mr. President. President Wortman: Go ahead, Mr. Lloyd. Councilmember Lloyd: For County Clerk I would like to make a motion 1010-2600 Office Supplies $39,043 and Cash Fund 1010-3360 $100. Total $39,143. That's a motion. President Wortman: Do I have a second to that effect? Councilmember Bassemier: Second. President Wortman: We've got a second. Now discussion, any discussion on that? Councilmember Hoy: What was that first amount? Councilmember Lloyd: It's $39,043. President Wortman: $39,043. Any discussion? If not, call the roll please. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Here. Yes, I'm sorry. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Lloyd? Councilmember Lloyd: Yes. Charlene Timmons: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. Okay, thank you Mrs. Abell. Marsha Abell: Is this divided any certain way or do we just use it as we need it to get by? President Wortman: I guess-- Councilmember Lloyd: I could go through what you gave us and kind of tell you where it was divided. For the support checks one lot, so you would subtract $11,500. The others would be as is on that page. The order books subtract $3,000 and then the fee books subtract $1,000 and then the last page, miscellaneous office supplies subtract $4,000. And then, I mean, if you know if you need to come back to Council for that we'll be happy to see you. Marsha Abell: Okay, I'm sure we will. President Wortman: Okay, thank you. Marsha Abell: I'm sure Judge Heldt would like his orders in an order book. COUNTY CLERK REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 6-0) B) SHERIFF President Wortman: Okay, the next on the appropriation would be B. Would the Sheriff please come forward. Councilmember Lloyd: Mr. President. President Wortman: Mr. Lloyd. Councilmember Lloyd: I would like to make a motion Sheriff's Department 1050-1540-1050 Process Server for $5,000. Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: Got a second, Mrs. Knight. Any discussion? No discussion, call the roll please. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Lloyd? Councilmember Lloyd: Yes. Charlene Timmons: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. Thank you, Sheriff, appreciate it. Sheriff Ellsworth: Thank you all very much. SHERIFF DEPARTMENT REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 6-0) C) CORONER President Wortman: Next on the agenda will be the County Coroner. Mr. Lloyd. Councilmember Lloyd: County Coroner account 1070-2600 Office Supplies $4,100. I would request approval for that amount. President Wortman: Do I have a second? Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: Mrs. Smith second. Any discussion? No discussion, call the roll please. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Raben? Oh, I'm sorry. Councilmember Lloyd? Councilmember Lloyd: Yes. Charlene Timmons: President Wortman? President Wortman: Thank you, yes. Dennis Buickel: Thank you. CORONER REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 6-0) D) PROSECUTOR President Wortman: Okay, the next on the agenda will be the County Prosecutor. Councilmember Lloyd: Mr. President, County Prosecutor account 1080-3901 Witness Fees I would request $15,000 as a motion. Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: Second, Mrs. Smith. Okay, any discussion? No discussion, call the roll please. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Lloyd? Councilmember Lloyd: Yes. Charlene Timmons: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. Thank you very much. PROSECUTOR REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 6-0) E) CIRCUIT COURT President Wortman: Next on the agenda is Circuit Court. Councilmember Lloyd: Mr. President, account 1360-3943 Pauper Expense I would request $65,000. Councilmember Sutton: Second. President Wortman: Got a second, Mr. Sutton. Any discussion? No discussion, call the roll please. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Lloyd? Councilmember Lloyd: Yes. Charlene Timmons: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. Okay, thank you, Judge, appreciate it. CIRCUIT COURT REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 6-0) F) SUPERIOR COURT President Wortman: Next is Superior Court which you want to set that in as zero, Mr. Lloyd. Councilmember Lloyd: Superior Court 1370-3934, set that in as zero; that's a motion. Councilmember Sutton: Second. President Wortman: Got a second. Any discussion? Call the roll please. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Lloyd? Councilmember Lloyd: Yes. Charlene Timmons: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. SUPERIOR COURT REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)
A) WEIGHTS & MEASURES President Wortman: Okay, that completes the appropriations and we've got three, four transfers and one was from the County Coroner listed. Would you take those, Mr. Lloyd? Councilmember Lloyd: Yes. First transfer request, Weights & Measures. I would move that we approve that as submitted a total from seven accounts to Computer Data Management for a total of $4,205. That's a motion. Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: We've got a second. Any discussion? Call the roll please. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Lloyd? Councilmember Lloyd: Yes. Charlene Timmons: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. WEIGHTS & MEASURES REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 6-0) President Wortman: Continue, Mr. Lloyd. Councilmember Lloyd: The next transfer, Weights & Measures from 1302-3120 Postage to 1302-3140 Telephone $100. Make that in the form of a motion. President Wortman: Do we have a second? Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: Mrs. Smith second. Any discussion? Call the roll please. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Lloyd? Councilmember Lloyd: Yes. Charlene Timmons: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. Next on the agenda is Pigeon Township. Councilmember Lloyd: The last one-- Loretta Townsend: May I say something? President Wortman: Yes, ma'am. Loretta Townsend: We may have made a mistake that I didn't know about on this last transfer. President Wortman: Okay. Loretta Townsend: What this all pertains to is the computer in one way or the other and we've had a problem getting a little bit of cooperation from the computer data outfit and I just talked to him again down there. This may...this last $100 may not go into Telephone. We were not aware that they have an Internet account that is separate from Telephone. If it is, that's where we need to put that, not into Telephone. I was just going by what I had at home, you know, so what can we do? Put it in the Telephone and then-- President Wortman: Transfer it out. Loretta Townsend: There is another-- Suzanne Crouch: Does she have the account number? President Wortman: Yeah, you work with Sandie and we can work that out. Loretta Townsend: Okay. Councilmember Lloyd: Unless you have that account number with you. Loretta Townsend: I didn't even know we had one until a little while ago. Suzie, are you not on the Internet? Suzanne Crouch: Uh-huh. Loretta Townsend: Do you have any idea what that account could be? Suzanne Crouch: I don't off the top of my head, but I can call down and get it if you don't mind setting it aside. President Wortman: Yeah, we'll set that aside. Loretta Townsend: That would be fine. It's our mistake, but we wasn't aware of it. President Wortman: You just sit tight and she'll come back with it. Loretta Townsend: Okay. Councilmember Lloyd: We can change that account number on the floor, so as long as we get the right number. Loretta Townsend: That's fine, thanks. President Wortman: Alright, I tell you what. We'll need a motion to set it aside to redo it, so if you'll make that in the form of a motion. Councilmember Lloyd: Okay, I'll make a motion that we set aside that 1302-3140 until we get the correct account number. Councilmember Hoy: Second. President Wortman: Got a second, Mr. Hoy. No discussion. All those in favor raise your right hand to that effect. Thank you very much, there are six. Now Pigeon Township. Councilmember Lloyd: Six to zero. B) PIGEON TOWNSHIP Councilmember Lloyd: Pigeon Township from 2492-1150-3310 Training to 2492-1150- 3370 Computers in the amount of $1,000. Make that in the form of a motion. Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: Second Mrs. Smith. Any discussion? Call the roll please. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Lloyd? Councilmember Lloyd: Yes. Charlene Timmons: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. PIGEON TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR/REASSESSMENT REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)
C) CORONER President Wortman: Now the County Coroner, late transfer. Councilmember Lloyd: Account 1070-1170-1070 from Deputy Coroner to 1070-1200-1070 Deputy Coroner $2,322.26. Make that in the form of a motion. President Wortman: Do I have a second? Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: Mrs. Smith second. Any discussion? Call the roll please. Excuse me. Dennis Buickel: I know normally the transfers take affect like the next business day. Is there any way that the Council can legally hold the transfer off until the 11th of June? The reason is that the figures that you see here are based on what will be left in the 1070-1170 line item account. It's based on what would be left in the account after the paycheck is issued on the 11th of June. President Wortman: I see. June the 11th then? Jeff Ahlers: Well, what does it matter? You don't have to spend it until then. President Wortman: You don't have to spend it until then actually. Dennis Buickel: Okay, that's fine. President Wortman: You're in good shape. Dennis Buickel: Okay. President Wortman: Okay, thank you. Call the roll please. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Lloyd? Councilmember Lloyd: Yes. Charlene Timmons: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. CORONER REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 6-0) President Wortman: Okay, thank you, Mr. Buickel.
President Wortman: Okay, amendments to the Salary Ordinance. Mr. Lloyd. Councilmember Lloyd: Okay, amendments to the Salary Ordinance for the Sheriff, amending the Salary Ordinance as previously approved set line 1050-1540 Process Server Vacation in at $5,000. Knight Township Assessor, I would like to make a motion to allow hiring an additional part-time employee at the rate of $7 per hour. Councilmember Smith: Is that a motion? Councilmember Lloyd: That's a motion. Councilmember Smith: I'll second that motion because you can't find someone to do the job for much less than that if you are lucky enough to get them at $7 an hour. Councilmember Sutton: What do they want them to do? President Wortman: Did you want to do the County Coroner in that, too? Councilmember Lloyd: Well, the Coroner is to amend the salary ordinance as transfer previously approved. President Wortman: Okay, I got a second to that effect Mrs. Smith. Okay, any discussion? Councilmember Lloyd: I have a question on Knight Township. Councilmember Sutton: Mr. Folz-- President Wortman: Does everybody want to be clear what we're voting on? Councilmember Sutton: Just for clarification sake if you could maybe come up. I have a question about that summer help. What all are you going to have this summer help do? Al Folz: Okay, I've got one out measuring schools now. That's one of the guys that I've got. He is a sophomore at Purdue in engineering. Anything that comes through on additions and such we have to be able to pick all this up and I've got about 5,000 business personal property records that are in that we've got to beat a deadline, so that is what the other two will be doing and are doing, let's put it that way. Councilmember Sutton: So skill level wise how much experience or skill does a person need to fill these positions that you're looking at? Al Folz: Well, you need to be able to be quickly trained in being able to read all these forms, 103's, 101's and so forth as business personal property schedules. Since we do have and were able to give businesses an extra 30 day extension on these they are starting to pile in now. We've got boxes sitting around like you wouldn't believe. So this will relieve this in being able to meet the deadlines, of course, that we have to meet. By the way, the legislators have moved up the deadlines on us so that, you know, it is pretty hectic right now. Councilmember Sutton: I guess I'm just trying to gauge in relation to the pay scale and the requirements-- Al Folz: Oh, certainly. Councilmember Sutton: --of the position. I'm just trying to get an idea. Al Folz: Every one that I have is nothing less than a sophomore in college. In fact, one is a student teacher and she is getting ready to graduate out at USI, so they are very, very efficient. Councilmember Sutton: And how many weeks are you going to need them? Al Folz: They'll probably work till I would say August. Maybe a little bit before August. Councilmember Sutton: Okay. Al Folz: One will be going back into Purdue I would think, oh, probably the first week in August. Councilmember Sutton: Okay. Al Folz: And two of the others that go out to USI. President Wortman: Any other questions for Mr. Folz? Councilmember Sutton: Thank you. Al Folz: You're welcome. President Wortman: Okay, thank you, Mr. Folz. Okay, we've got a motion and a second on the floor, so now call the roll please. Yeah, a little clarification to make sure everybody understands the motion, Mr. Lloyd. Councilmember Lloyd: The motion is to allow hiring an additional part-time employee at the Knight Township Assessor at the rate of $7 per hour. President Wortman: Okay, any questions? Call the roll please. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Now, you say hire an additional person. I thought it was just increasing the...okay. Just increasing? Councilmember Lloyd: Increasing that part-time person to $7. Councilmember Sutton: Right, so it's not adding a person it's just increasing. I think that's what you said in your motion. Councilmember Smith: They're adding one, aren't they? President Wortman: No, increasing the salary I think. Councilmember Sutton: That's what I thought. It was just an increase in salary not adding a person. It's just increasing the pay only, it's not adding a person, correct? Before I vote here I want to make sure because in our motion we said-- Al Folz: It's to be able to pay so that all are on the same scale of $7 an hour. Councilmember Sutton: So it's not adding a person it's just increasing the pay? Al Folz: Well, I have added a person and that's why I want to be able to do this. Councilmember Sutton: Okay. President Wortman: Go ahead, Sandie. Sandie Deig: Aren't you paying this employee $5.15 an hour? Al Folz: I sure am. We slipped up on this thing because I thought the Salary Ordinance that we had before covered this. If I can't she is gone and I sure hate to lose them. Councilmember Sutton: I guess that's a long yes. Yes. Councilmember Lloyd: The person is already there. President Wortman: Okay, alright. Everybody understand? Call the roll please. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes, the second time. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Lloyd? Councilmember Lloyd: Yes. Charlene Timmons: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. (Motion unanimously approved 6-0)
President Wortman: Now we'll go back to the Weights & Measures. Loretta Townsend: We need from 130.2 and you have 3140, it should be 3141 which is Communications instead of Telephone. Councilmember Lloyd: Okay, we'll amend the motion from 1302-3120 Postage to 1302- 3141 Communications $100. Make that in the form of a motion. President Wortman: Do I have a second? Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: Any discussion on that? If not, call the roll please. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Lloyd? Councilmember Lloyd: Yes. Charlene Timmons: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. WEIGHTS & MEASURES REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 6-0) President Wortman: Okay, thank you Mrs. Townsend. Loretta Townsend: Thank you.
A) APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE TO WORK WITH CITY ON TAX ABATEMENTS President Wortman: Okay, old business. Council's last meeting, the 28th, they asked me to appoint two members to the tax abatement to share with the city and Betty Knight-Smith and Jim Raben is the two and we'll get with them and see how they're going to do it so we can report back to the Council. B) DISCUSSION REGARDING OPERATING COSTS FOR THE CENTRE President Wortman: And then on the construction over there I'm assuming that would be Steve Utley in charge of the construction. I haven't got a hold of him, but on the budget on the Commissioners they are working with Ogden and they haven't got no figures due to the fact that they've got to see what is income and what is expenses and all that to work that out, so if any Councilman wants to call the Commissioners they said feel free to. Any questions on that? We'll go from there. I think that was requested by Mr. Hoy there. Okay, if there are no other questions. Jeff Ahlers: Did you do the Coroner? We didn't do the Coroner did we? President Wortman: Yeah, we did the Coroner. Now then first on the new business Jeff Lake which reported last week if you'll recall. Councilmember Sutton: Mr. President, before you move on. President Wortman: Yes, sir. Councilmember Sutton: We're asking the department heads to begin to prepare budgets and the request last week on The Centre, Councilman Hoy requested some figures or budget of where we stand. How far away are we from getting something prepared? President Wortman: The report I got, the information I got, that they're working on it and they've got to work some details out because they've got to figure their expenses and expenditures and they are working with Ogden to work this out. It will be ready at budget time. I said, just feel free if any Councilman wants to call them and get it straight from them they can do that. Feel free to, okay? Councilmember Sutton: Well, I guess I'm wanting to try to know whether I am going to find out in August what the budget is going to be or whether I'm going to, you know, something we'll hear pretty soon as the other departments begin to submit their budgets. Along that time we'll find something out as well. President Wortman: They'll submit at the same time as the rest of the departments so we can have plenty of time for review. Councilmember Sutton: Well, we want to stay on top of that so if we can get that information as soon as possible since that is a really totally new budget and expenses we haven't seen before and things maybe we haven't anticipated. I just want to get a real good feel of what we're getting into here on that. President Wortman: Okay, thank you. Councilmember Hoy: Yeah, and I just want to make sure the record is clear. I did make the motion, but it was a unanimous vote to ask for this. It wasn't just my personal request. It was a Council vote. I'm still having trouble understanding why they can't get these figures to us fairly soon. It seems to me it has been a long enough time. President Wortman: Okay, thank you.
A) JEFF LAKE, EVANSVILLE SMALL BUSINESS CENTER (Discussed during May 26, 1999 Personnel & Finance Meeting) President Wortman: Other discussion, I would like to say that Jeff Lake appeared. B) RECOMMENDATIONS FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES' SALARIES FOR 2000 President Wortman: We'll go on to the next. It would be B, salaries for the county employees for the year 2000. If the Council would be agreeable to have Sandie Deig to send a memo and the county department heads could submit a salary of four percent, would that be agreeable with the Councilmembers? Is everybody kind of interested in that? Does anybody have any questions on that if she sends a memo to department heads? Councilmember Sutton: Mr. President, I guess last week I guess when we had some initial discussion on this-- Betty Hermann: There are several of us here, may I come up? President Wortman: Yeah, okay. Let Mr. Sutton here respond and then we'll...go ahead. Just stand up there and then we'll get to you. Councilmember Sutton: It won't take me long. I was hoping that we could shoot for a five percent figure. I think the county employees deserve a figure of that size. You know, I know last year that we looked at a variety of different figures to try to come up with what was most doable, most feasible for the county and I think if we can I think I would be willing to revisit it, revisit my thoughts on that if we could look at that four percent figure. I think I could be convinced to go along with that figure. I think when you look at industry around and the CPI index and everything I think four percent might be a good figure for the department heads to work with. President Wortman: I might add this, as far as the expenses coming up for the county, of course, we've always got to think number one of the taxpayer. You've got the auditorium over there, you've got roads, you've got the jail, you've got all these factors to consider so when you take that into consideration and I think I spoke to you last time that the AIC Chairman said that the state is considering lowering the freeze. Not this year, I think the budgets are already set, but for next year maybe from five percent down to four or four and a half. Now the reason for that we've got all these user taxes like the county option income tax, the two cents on the motel tax, the food and beverage tax. All these taxes add up, see, so that's why they said it. We've got all these taxes and before, if you remember, we almost had to beg, borrow and steal to give anybody a raise here years ago, so I think we've got to consider that. But being a conservative I think that's that. Does anybody else want to comment? Mr. Bassemier. Councilmember Bassemier: Without seeing any numbers yet as you know we haven't seen anybody's budget for next year, I have no problem right now of okaying a four percent. You suggested that, right? President Wortman: Yeah, I think-- Councilmember Bassemier: I have no problem with that. President Wortman: --if the Council is agreeable. Four percent, no guarantee, but I mean it may come to it. Maybe we can and maybe we can't. Councilmember Smith: Last year we tried for five and then we tried to negotiate down to four and we ended up with three. That's been three percent since 1993 and I know we've got the auditorium, but it always has been a white elephant and will continue to be and I think that to keep employees, the right kind of employees, we need to give them a decent salary. I lost 33 employees for better salaries when I was in the County Clerk's Office. I didn't fire those 33 that was implied, 33 went for better jobs. It's hard to get employees to work when they can get better jobs somewhere else. I'll go with the four percent. Hopefully, when we get through we can give them five, but four percent is better than three. President Wortman: Thank you, Mrs. Smith. Councilmember Hoy: Well, my...go ahead with Mrs. Hermann. President Wortman: Mrs. Hermann, okay. Betty Hermann: Betty Hermann, Vanderburgh County Recorder. Mr. President and members of the County Council, I am here today representing the employees of Vanderburgh County, Chuck, I'm not trying to take your job, including the Sheriff's Department. I'm asking for a consideration of a five percent raise. It has been many years since the employees of this county have received more than a three percent raise. They deserve it. The employees work very hard and I think all of you would like to keep the wonderful employees that we have. Now you all think about it very seriously, how could you replace Sandie Deig? I want to keep the ones that I have. Each office...many offices have come to me because I was a representative one other time for a five percent raise, so I would really like some consideration for a five percent raise for our employees. Thank you. President Wortman: Mr. Hoy now. Councilmember Hoy: Yes, I agree with Mrs. Hermann. Speaking of The Center, the Auditorium and Convention Center, this is why I wanted that figure early so that we could see how big of an impact that was going to have on the total budget. My estimate is when you couple what we usually budget for that with the Innkeepers Tax that is allocated to that also we're not going to have as big an impact there as we've imagined. I reemphasize I sure wish we had those figures now. I think we should have them now. I can't understand why Ogden and the Commissioners and the Building Authority cannot come up with those figures now. We expect everybody else to be timely, but I agree with Mrs. Hermann. I believe that we should do more than just a little bit above a cost of living. You know, COLA, cost of living is sometimes deceptive anyhow. If you've got a young person who is just starting out in employment and they're buying housing for example, they're going to pay a whole lot more than what the cost of living would indicate because houses cost more money than they did five years ago or ten years ago. You know, once you lock a payment in on your major purchase which is generally your living quarters that makes the cost of living more acceptable it seems to me than somebody starting out fresh. The second thing I would say in connection with that is that these employees deserve more than three and more than four. I sure hope we don't go back to three percent again. That would disturb me greatly. Thank you. President Wortman: I think the 2.1, I believe, midwest is the cost of living if I understand or read it right. Councilmember Smith: Isn't that a national figure? President Wortman: Midwest. Midwest, I think. I don't know what the national is. That might be higher or lower, I have no idea, but I know the midwest. Mr. Lloyd. Councilmember Lloyd: That's what I was going to say. I had given Council that Federal Reserve survey that indicated that inflation 2.1 percent in 1999 and the forecast was 2.3 percent in 2000. You know, the increase for the county employees it has been three percent for what, seven or eight years? Private industry are running two to four percent so we'll have to see where the budget ends up. We've got to remember our goal of we need to cut the budget requests enough so that we can lower the property tax rate for all taxpayers. I mean, that's what my goal would be during the budget process, so we have to balance, you know, with the employee increases versus cutting that budget to do that goal. Councilmember Sutton: I don't think anyone is advocating doing something that we can't afford. I don't think anybody is...even with the five percent I don't think if the county cannot undertake an increase of that nature no one is going to get on the Council floor and push for something that is beyond what the county...I think we're already assuming what the county can and cannot do before we've seen any budgets. I think we need to allow that process to work itself out before we start ruling out what the county can and cannot do. I think we just really need to look at this carefully and really think about what our employees do for us on a daily basis here in the county. When I do say a daily basis that is 24 hours because we've got the Sheriff's Department that never does shut down, so we've got to just keep that in mind in terms of what we're doing there. When we talk about cost of living type of things there are a number of different measures you can use for a cost of living. You can look at the CPI, the Consumer Price Index, which the most recent year over year figures puts it right at about 2.8, but that's nationally based so you look at a number of different things. Housing costs, food costs, it varies from area to area. However, if you are keeping someone at the same salary and the cost of a loaf of bread goes up, you know, it just makes it awful tough. I think we just really need to look carefully at this. Councilmember Hoy: Mr. President. President Wortman: Mr. Hoy. Councilmember Hoy: A couple of other points. One is I know that you view yourself as a taxpayer's friend which means you've got to be a friend of mine because I pay taxes, too. Everybody around the table pays taxes. Every county employee and city employee and state employee pays taxes. I run a non-profit agency. We pay taxes on our employees. Everybody pays them. So we all represent the taxpayers, but I think it's important to remember that our employees pay the same rate of tax as anybody else. They also pay property tax. They also pay county option income tax. If they stay in a hotel they pay the Innkeepers Tax and so on. It's not as if we have taxpayers versus non taxpayers. The second thing is I'm like anybody else, I like for my taxes to go down, but to be honest with you with the way property taxes are figured if there is a small percentage decrease in my property taxes, and I don't pay a whole lot I'll be honest with you because I have an inexpensive home, but I don't see much reduction in my tax bill. It's hardly noticeable when that happens. I know it's a popular thing to say, but a small percentage decrease in my tax doesn't mean a whole lot. One more point, there is a person sitting in this room that I think deserves a lot of credit for our taxes staying the same and that's the Assessor who has done a very assertive and aggressive job on ensuring that taxes are more fairly distributed to some entities that weren't paying taxes before. Then we also have the addition of new buildings and new industry and so on that is bringing in more taxes, so while I would like to take credit for keeping property taxes level I have to be honest and say there are a whole lot more people responsible for that than me or this County Council. Thank you. President Wortman: Okay, Mr. Bassemier. Councilmember Bassemier: Yeah, I would just like to add I talked with Mr. Whobrey and we were kind of trying to get some numbers out and he is out there now, he can verify this. Of course, his people would like...the people he represents would like to get a five percent raise, but he says, you know, that he feels like his people would be happy with a four percent. I just wanted to add that. I know we've got a five percent here. We've got a four percent. Councilmember Smith: I think they would be a lot happier with five, I agree, but the four is something that-- Chuck Whobrey: Just for the record my name is Chuck Whobrey. I'm president of Teamster Local 215 and Ed I said four is better than three, is what I said. I certainly think I said, thank heaven we're getting off three and that's what I said and what I mean. Certainly, I don't want to turn it into any circus, I prefer five over four, but I did say and stand by it, four is a heck of a lot better than three. I have something that I consider an even more serious note than the raises that I want to touch on. I've mentioned probably to every member of Council we've got some real concern over what is taking place at The Centre. I have attempted to head this problem off in quiet ways by talking to people and say, hey, let's not have any fight over there. We're going to have a nice facility. We're part of that. We've represented those folks since 1972. I had some meetings with County Attorney Harrison concerning the situation. I first was picking up some rumors, strictly rumors, through our members that we represent at Roberts Stadium who are supervised by Ogden that the county initially did not intend to rehire those five people who were laid off a year or so ago when the auditorium underwent its renovations. Through that I initiated some conversation and said, look, those folks have recall rights under our contract with the county and we finally got to the point where they said they'll recall them. Now the Commissioners have signed a contract and they're saying that those folks are only going to do custodial work and all the work that our members did before in terms of setting up for events or setting up for events if they had something in the Gold Room and all of that type of work they're going to hire full-time Ogden employees. Folks, we believe that is a violation of our contract. I don't really want to have a fight. This is, I think, the easiest problem we've got out there to solve, but if the county insists on trying to take our jobs away where we would grow, you know, whenever we had....whenever there had to be a layoff our folks took the lumps and five people for the last year plus have been laid off and haven't had the county health insurance and haven't had the benefits. When there was no work to be done we took the lumps. Where there is going to be additional work to do we think we should grow with this county. We're part of it. We try to be a cooperative part of it, but if we go down this route and I know you folks don't have total control over that, I understand that. This is in the Commissioners' bailiwick, but you folks have a way of inserting yourself in labor contract matters and you have to fund contracts and I am just trying to head off a problem that if the county insists on saying these are going to be Ogden employees we're going to be for a fight because we're not going to have an operation where we have represented those folks for 25 plus years right across the street from our union hall where they're going to say now it's a non union operation and we're going to take those jobs and you're not going to grow with it and all you folks are going to be custodians. We're not just going to accept that lying down. Back to your comments about the raise, I am pleased to hear the Council talk this way that you're saying that employees should be a priority because, quite honestly, for too many years I feel that this body has said, well, whatever we have left over we'll give in the form of raises, so I'm glad to hear the comments from the various Council people saying that the employees deserve a raise because we have been just fixated on this three percent and it's a good thing to get off of it. I'm asking for cooperation from the county. I've thrown out a suggestion that we could even work out something with the county where they could utilize the employees from Roberts Stadium and the Victory that are managed by Ogden if the city is agreeable with it. We often want to talk about how we will have the cooperation between city and county government. The Teamsters Union is not going to stand in the way on that if we can facilitate that to make that operation work we'll do it and we'll do anything within reason other than just watch our jobs go away. I hope we're not in September or October when they have a grand opening in the middle of a fight. We've got plenty of time to resolve any differences, but it takes time and effort and it can't just be a one way street. It can't just be me attempting to try and solve a problem. President Wortman: Thank you. Chuck Whobrey: Thank you very much. Councilmember Bassemier: Thank you, Chuck. President Wortman: Okay, anything else then? We'll go onto the-- Jayne Berry-Bland: President Wortman. President Wortman: Okay, Mrs. Bland. Jayne Berry-Bland: Hi, Jayne Berry-Bland, Vanderburgh County Treasurer. I would just like to comment on behalf of the employees basically what Ms. Hermann has stated, but I would also like to say I for one as a taxpayer I do appreciate very much your concerns about watching our tax dollars and as a county employee I appreciate that even more because I work hard to earn a lot of interest for the county so hopefully that you will have extra money from year to year because I don't always put in the budget what I earn. I always exceed the budgeted amount of income. I'm thrilled to death to hear you get off of the three percent and talk about four. Obviously, we would like to hear you talk more about the five percent. There is a couple of concerns that I have. One you've touched briefly with earlier about the part-time help. I have eliminated one position this year. I would love to get a very good dependable part-time person in there that I could rely on. I can't find one. They come and go and I've not had a lot of luck, so I really hope that you will look at the part-time pay as well. The other thing is I've been around probably long enough, 1993 I became an officeholder and that's the year we got a five percent raise. Since that time we have gotten three percent. What that has done for myself, as an officeholder because I'm at a higher rate, I keep expanding so much further from the chief deputy and, you know, the main county offices the chief deputy and the officeholder were all paid at the same level. The officeholders are all paid at one level and the chief deputies are paid at one level. During this time I've seen it spread farther and farther apart. My suggestion would be, and Lord knows I haven't talked to anybody about this because I was afraid I might not make it up here today, but I feel like that my chief deputy is as important to that office or very close to as important to any office as the officeholder. They're almost the heartbeat of that office and I would be willing and I hope a lot of my counterparts and my peers would be willing, too, to forego my raise to help give the other county employees their raises. That would also help...in a small office like mine it would help considerably. In the larger offices it's not going to help, but in the big picture you're going to see where the chief deputy in my personal opinion should not have that type of spread from the officeholder. President Wortman: See, that happened years ago that's why the $500 across the board to keep things in line and the office small. Three percent on $20,000 is $600. Jayne Berry-Bland: Certainly. President Wortman: Well, $40,000 is double that, see, and that's why. We're getting...like I say, the officeholder...we've got one appointed position here that is getting in the $50's, see, and making probably more than anybody, elected official, see, on that. Jayne Berry-Bland: I think maybe while we're looking at all this this would be a good time to even look at those percentages. You know, there is a lot of good to percentage raises. I still have a real problem with percentage raises. In my opinion the Job Study it was wonderful because it put so many of the offices to the same level. You had different levels in your offices and they were all basically you had some in each level. What has happened now over the years is, you know, you've had this big spread, you've had a lot of people change. I think it has probably spun out of control on increasing some of these job classifications and my feelings get hurt. I'm not saying this is political at all, but what I'm saying is I've sat here since 1993. I have never gone over my budget. I have reduced employment. I use used copy machines. I use...believe it or not I've used used copy paper. I've just received two used PCS from Cheryl Musgrave's office. I don't ask for a lot. You know that because you've been here longer than I have and you know that I don't come up here. A lot of you know that I don't ask for anything extra. In my personal opinion I feel like when an officeholder tries to meet or even reduce their budget from year to year they need to be rewarded for that. I just feel like we can't continue to take it out on the employees to hold at a three percent raise. I don't think it's fair. President Wortman: The only thing is if we get all these budgets in and all these increases we've got to put it all together and see what's left. We've got to operate, see. Like you take security. It's very important with the Sheriff's Department out there, see. Now we're hearing this school business carrying on and that's going to increase their load, I'm sure. There are going to be more requests to be careful, see. Jayne Berry-Bland: But as maybe Mr. Whobrey had said earlier-- President Wortman: Excuse me, we're out of tape please. Tape change President Wortman: Thank you very much, continue. Jayne Berry-Bland: Maybe it's time that we not put the employees last when we start talking about budgets. Maybe it is time that we put them first and start trying to reduce heavily in some other areas. I don't think the employees should always take the brunt of what is left over for the budget. President Wortman: I agree with you. We've got some good employees and I agree, but the government normally cannot compete with the private sector, see, because basically it's all this going on now, see, and I think we've got to consider that, but I think the Council can take into consideration, no guarantee, but I think we'll consider it with an open mind. We've all got a job to do and sometimes it gets rough, I know. Jayne Berry-Bland: One final comment, just keep an open mind to the five percent. President Wortman: Thank you for your comments. Okay, Mr. Lloyd. Councilmember Lloyd: Well, if Jayne could take no increase and then put that money to her Chief Deputy in your budget request if that's what you're wanting to do. Jayne Berry-Bland: I would be happy to do that. Councilmember Lloyd: Okay. President Wortman: Okay. Going to move on down to the resolution on the-- Jayne Berry-Bland: Wait a minute, wait a minute. President Wortman: Okay. Jayne Berry-Bland: My office can't be treated any different than the next office, so every other office would need to do that also. That's what I'm telling you. I would be more than willing not to take a raise next year. I do not have a problem with that if it would help not for you to spend money somewhere else down the road, but to give it to some of my employees. My employees deserve it, you're absolutely right, whether it be the Chief Deputy or any one of the other 12 employees in that office. But my office cannot be treated any differently than any other office. President Wortman: Right. Councilmember Lloyd: I mean, that was your suggestion. Jayne Berry-Bland: Right. President Wortman: Thank you. C) RESOLUTION CORRECTION PRELIMINARY TAX ABATEMENT FOR ANCHOR INDUSTRIES, INC. President Wortman: Now we've got this resolution correction here for a preliminary tax abatement on Anchor Industries. Does everybody understand that and if it does why I'll entertain a motion to the correction to the resolution. Mike Robling, does anybody want to question him first? Mike Robling: I think the resolution fairly well explains the situation. President Wortman: Anybody got any questions for Mr. Robling? Everybody understand? Councilmember Sutton: That's, as I understand it, 40 additional new positions with this increased investment in their facility? Mike Robling: Yeah, the primary thing is approving the September 24th statement of benefits instead of the September 15th statement of benefits. The September 15th statement indicated $12,900,000 in salaries instead of $11,000,000 because they had counted their Florida payroll in the original number, but I believe that employees are the same or were the same on both. Councilmember Sutton: Thank you. President Wortman: Okay, anybody else? I'll entertain a motion to accept this correction to the resolution. Councilmember Lloyd: I'll make a motion to approve the correction. Councilmember Smith: I'll second it. President Wortman: Mr. Lloyd and Mrs. Smith seconded it. Okay, no discussion? Call the roll please. Councilmember Hoy: Uh-- President Wortman: Mr. Hoy. Councilmember Hoy: --we're just approving the correction, is that correct? Mike Robling: That's right. Councilmember Hoy: Thank you. President Wortman: Call the roll please. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Charlene Timmons: Councilmember Lloyd? Councilmember Lloyd: Yes. Charlene Timmons: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. Okay, thank you Mr. Robling. (Motion unanimously approved 6-0) President Wortman: No other business to come before us I'm going to hear a motion for adjournment. Councilmember Sutton: So moved. President Wortman: So moved, do we have a second? Councilmember Lloyd: Second. President Wortman: Got a second. All those in favor say aye. The ayes have it. Thank you. I appreciate your time and effort here today. (Meeting was adjourned at 4:25 p.m.) VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL _____________________________ ____________________________ President Curt Wortman Vice President Russell Lloyd, Jr. ____________________________ ____________________________ Councilmember Betty Knight Smith Councilmember Phil Hoy _____________________________ ____________________________ Councilmember Ed Bassemier Councilmember Royce Sutton Recorded and transcribed by Charlene Timmons |
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