The Vanderburgh County Council met in session this 3rd day of March, 2010 in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex. The meeting was called to order at 8:32 a.m. by County Council President Russell Lloyd, Jr.

President Lloyd: I’d like to go ahead and get started with the meeting of the Vanderburgh County Council March 3^rd, 2010. Could we have the attendance roll call please?

COUNCILMEMBER	PRESENT	ABSENT
Councilmember Sutton		X*
Councilmember Bassemier	X
Councilmember Shetler	X
Councilmember Goebel	X
Councilmember Raben	X
Councilmember Kiefer		X*
President Lloyd	X

President Lloyd: I’d like to ask Councilman Bassemier to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

President Lloyd: Okay, item number 4, approval of minutes for February 3^rd, 2010. I’ll take a motion for approval or is there any changes?

President Lloyd: Second Mr. Bassemier. Any discussion? All in favor signify by saying aye.

President Lloyd: Okay, item number 5, appropriation ordinance. I’ll turn that over to Mr. Shetler, the finance chair.

Councilmember Shetler: First we have the Election Office and that’s to the tune of $228,850. There was a change in that as requested by the County Clerk last week. I don’t think the County Clerk is here to answer any questions if anybody has any. But anyway, the proper amount is $228,850, and I move for approval on that.

President Lloyd: Okay, second Mr. Bassemier. And we had extensive discussion on this last week, so that’s probably why the County Clerk is not here. Jim, there is also a late transfer for this. Did you see that?

Bill Fluty: Let me correct myself. The transfer is in here for this meeting, not next month. Sorry.

President Lloyd: Okay, is there any other discussion? I guess Ms. Lukeman is questioning whether we’re putting it in there twice, because we’re doing an appropriation and then we’re doing a late transfer. It’s going into the Election Office account?

Councilmember Raben: Yeah, I think we need to zero out the first item and just take the transfer.

Councilmember Shetler: Sorry, for the confusion. Because of the late transfer, we were trying to work these things out at the last minute here to avoid on the requirements of advertising and everything, so what was worked out late was to transfer the money from the Energy Savings Contract, which we will get to later, into the Contractual Services. If we go with this appropriation, we would end up with $557,000 in that account rather than the $228,000 which is being requested. So I withdraw, whoever seconded, ask that we withdraw that on the $228,850, and make that level at zero, so that we can transfer the funds into that and we reappropriate later.

President Lloyd: Okay, so the new motion is for 1210-3530 Contractual Services set in at zero. And that’s a motion from Mr. Shetler, is there a second?

Councilmember Shetler: It’s on Weights & Measures, and the request is for $2,764: 2,334 is for the Deputy Inspector and the FICA and PERF that are associated with that, so a total of $2,764, and this is because they have such a small office that they’re operating with that they need to get somebody on board quickly to replace those funds, in order to do that. So Loretta is here if anybody has any questions. If not, put this in the form of a motion for approval.

Councilmember Shetler: We have, we can do the one transfer and then we have some late ones and we can do those separate. The transfer request is for the Cum Bridge, for Materials to Union Overtime, and obviously because of the bad weather associated with it. If anybody has questions, I don’t see anybody here from the garage, but I put that in the form of a motion for approval for the transfer request.

President Lloyd: Okay, motion Mr. Shetler, second Mr. Raben. Any discussion? Roll call vote.

Councilmember Raben: Just a general comment that, you know, the garage was hit with hopefully the last snowfall, but with all the bad weather that we’ve had, I think they did a great job this year keeping the roads safe and clear and hopefully it’s over for them now.

President Lloyd: Okay, I would second that. Any other discussion? Okay, can I get a roll call vote please?

Councilmember Shetler: A couple of late transfers that have come in and basically we’re talking about the Cooperative Extension, which is a part of the Popcorn grant that is done routinely every year. Weights & Measures from Rent to Utilities. Riverboat, that has been withdrawn, that was Economic Development that the Commissioners want to come back at a later time. County Highway from the Assistant Mechanic $7,500 to Union Overtime, again because of weather related issues. And then as we talked about earlier, the $228,850 coming out of the Energy Savings Contract going into Contractual Services for the Election Office out of the Commissioners budget from CCD. So those are the late transfers and unless anybody objects, I’d put those all in one motion for approval.

President Lloyd: Okay, for clarification, on the Riverboat, that would be set in at zero or it’s withdrawn? No action?

Councilmember Shetler: I think we can just withdraw that because it’s not an appropriation.

President Lloyd: Okay. All the others as requested, and the Riverboat, Government Reorganization, set in at zero. And that was a motion?

President Lloyd: Second Mr. Raben. Any discussion? Just a point of information: I got to talk to all three Commissioners yesterday about the government reorganization, so they wanted to withdraw that and they’re still gathering some information on that and working to coordinate with the city as well. So I guess those that argue for government reorganization, I could have talked to one metro mayor instead of three Commissioners, but that’s something down the road. So anyway, any other discussion? Okay, we’ll take a roll call vote please.

Councilmember Raben: Yes, with a general comment. Under that reorganization request, I hope when it does come back before us, there is a complete itemized listing of what they plan to spend $100,000 on prior to coming in for a vote.

President Lloyd: Yes. The motion passes seven-zero, and I agree with Councilman Raben that I think that was part of it. They were looking to come up with a general itemized budget on the spending of the taxpayer money, although I believe the state law says that the county and the city are supposed to provide support to them. So that’s why I think the request was going to be made. But anyway, we’ll see what happens at a later date.

President Lloyd: Okay, item seven, Repeals, none. Item eight, Old Business, none. Item nine, New Business, A, Legal Aid request to fill proposed vacancy. Any questions? And we had, once again, we had some discussion last week on this. And this was kind of the second half of the request to fill the secretarial position. No discussion? I think we had extended discussion on this. So I’ll entertain a motion to approve the request.

President Lloyd: Okay, so this would be to allow Legal Aid to fill the secretarial position, and I believe that would be all the vacancies at Legal Aid at this time, is that correct? Okay. Roll call vote please.

Councilmember Shetler: Let me give clarification on that because there was some extensive confusion on that the last time, and is that matter clear as far as we are concerned that, where we transferred the Junior to the Senior, and that’s resolved and this is then for the Junior? Let me just...secretary position, is that correct?

Sue Hartig: The two steps are number one, to move the existing Junior Secretary to the Senior Secretary position. And that’s from line item 1190 to line item 1150. And then the second half is to let us hire a full-time person in that now empty Junior Legal Secretary 1190 position, and that would be on your new reduced scale, at the initiation rate.

Councilmember Shetler: I guess my point was, did we resolve that part over the last two meetings as far as the Junior going to the Senior? And that our motion today is just to fill the Junior?

Sue Hartig: I haven’t seen the minutes, so I – I think the motion was simply to approve, so when we looked at it in retrospect, we didn’t really know which part it was approving.

Councilmember Shetler: Okay, let me, I guess, make my motion clear then that we will be allowing the Junior to go to the Senior, Junior Secretary to go to the Senior position, and that we will fill the vacancy of the Junior Secretary with a full-time employee.

President Lloyd: Okay, that makes it clearer. Is there any other questions on that? We’ve got a motion, is there a second?

President Lloyd: Second Mr. Bassemier. Jim already seconded? Okay. Any other discussion? Okay, I’m sorry, Mr. Raben seconded. Roll call vote please.

President Lloyd: Item B, Prosecutor request to fill vacancy, and we have the Prosecutor here. Good morning.

Stan Levco: I’m here on a different tack than I thought I was going to be. Originally, I had an employee who resigned from the office at the beginning of the year and with his benefits, his salary ended a couple of weeks ago. And from the last meeting I had, Mr. Shetler, when we were here, and you talked about isn’t there a possible way I could try to do without another attorney, I thought I would try, and I thought what I was going to do is come here this morning and say that I got this vacancy and what I want to do is, go a little while, maybe a couple of months, and make a good faith effort to see if we can do without that person. Then at the end of that time I was going to ask you today to approve that position if, after consulting with everybody on that staff and reviewing it, see whether we really needed it. Unfortunately, yesterday I had an unexpected resignation from a long-term employee, so the situation has changed pretty dramatically for me; I feel very strongly I need to fill this position immediately. And the other one, I guess what I’m here today asking is, for the other one, what I was going to ask for this first one. The other one would be vacation and sick time, I won’t be able to, even assuming you approve it, I won’t be able to fill it for, I think, at least three months. So by necessity, I’m going to have a trial period of three months without another attorney. I had a meeting yesterday with all the staff and discussed what I originally was talking about, seeing if we could do without another attorney, and I didn’t take a vote, but I would say there was a very strong feeling among the staff that they didn’t think this was a good idea on my part at all to try do without this. But they agreed in the sense they’re going to have to whether they like it or not, we’re going to have to go for a few months without another attorney. What I am requesting is this, permission to fill that vacancy that was two weeks ago, immediately. And for the other one, I still would ask you for permission to fill it when the time comes. I will tell you, I will do this, I will discuss with everyone whether they really feel whether or not we can do without it. I didn’t want them to vote yesterday. If they had of, I know how they would have voted yesterday. And also, you know, I want to not just simply say the reason not to do without it, that we feel like we’re overworked, but specific, you know, give me specific examples like this really is causing us a problem. So that’s my request.

Councilmember Sutton: Mr. Levco, you and I have had discussions about your request and I know you’ve gotten around and you’ve talked to several of the Councilmembers. I think that during these times that we are facing as a Council and as a county, as we’ve tried to revisit where we are, what things we can and cannot do, I mean, it’s really appreciated your candor and forthrightness in really taking a step back and evaluating whether you can or cannot do without a position. We don’t have very many offices – we don’t have any officeholders who have stood in the place where you’re standing who’ve presented that same type of prospect to us as a Council. So we appreciate your efforts to at least take a look at your office and seeing where there might be ways where you can change, alter, find efficiencies in manpower. And obviously, you didn’t anticipate another change coming down the pike. I’m supportive of your request today in filling that, and it will be a good opportunity over the next three months, whatever the time is that it takes to use the employee’s time to evaluate the workforce that you have, and give an opportunity to come back and consider your request at that time.

Stan Levco: Okay, but what I meant I was asking for, is that you approve it today, if that’s possible.

Councilmember Sutton: Right, actually there isn’t anything on the agenda for today, you would have to come back for that position itself.

Councilmember Raben: I think we can because there’s not a – it’s not a matter of additional funds.

Stan Levco: And for what it’s worth, and I don’t know what it’s worth, the difference in salary would be pretty dramatically less.

President Lloyd: Let’s see, try to get order here. Are you finished, Mr. Sutton?

Councilmember Kiefer: Mr. Prosecutor? Just to clarify, can you in layman terms explain the two positions you’re asking to be filled? The attorney positions.

Stan Levco: Well, the attorney positions, they don’t really have like, you know, the last time there was an opening for a child molesting prosecutor, they don’t have a specific designation. I’d say, I can’t think of the number right now, let’s say a little less than half of the attorneys would have (inaudible) mixed duties, trying cases, doing misdemeanor court, doing research, things like that. They would just be deputy prosecutor positions.

Councilmember Kiefer: So they have a variety of tasks, they don’t do specific, certain type of trails, but they do a variety?

Stan Levco: They appear in court, do court hearings, do misdemeanor court, and try cases.

President Lloyd: I mean, just counting here, it looks like twelve full-time attorneys and six part-time, does that sound right?

Councilmember Goebel: Good morning, Mr. Levco. You’re asking today for the one vacancy that you’ve requested prior to last week’s meeting, is that correct?

Councilmember Goebel: I don’t, I’m not sure if we can even move on the second one. But you’re maneuvering regardless, in a cost neutral situation for us, as far as not increasing your budget to hire people now?

Stan Levco: Well, and it’s going to be a cost negative in that the incoming salary in three months, just roughly is at least 30 or more thousand less, at least 30 or $40,000 less than what this salary would have been.

Councilmember Goebel: You have three months, though, to work on the second position, is that correct?

Councilmember Goebel: Right. I mean, as far as maybe giving us more information. I know you’re caught short-handed and this happened basically over night, but we’re kind of caught off guard, too.

Councilmember Raben: Just so I understand, but your initial thought was when you only were down one was to make every attempt to do without?

Stan Levco: Right, my plan was to come in here today and say, in talking to my staff where I’d say we’re going to go the next two months whether you like it or not, we’re going to go without one employee. And at the end of the two months, I want to go back – actually, I was hoping to get approval in advance of this, you know, I go back to the Council or the Council has already told me I can at the end of the two months, see whether we really need it. Now I’ve got to tell you, from the response I’ve gotten, other than that they know they have to do it if we’re going to do it, there seems to be a pretty strong feeling that they don’t think this is a very good idea. But they, they’re at least going to try it. That was my original thought, that I wanted to go roughly two months without it. Now, from my perspective, I can’t go two months without filling either of these. The other one is able to be filled this minute, which was able to be filled a couple of weeks ago. And now there’s going to be the situation in roughly three months or more where I’m going to have another vacancy.

Stan Levco: Well, I don’t have an official vacancy because the person is being paid. I have a person not there.

Councilmember Raben: So you actually have two – you’re operating today two people short?

Stan Levco: Right. Yesterday I was one person short. Now, today, I’m two people short.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, the one person you can’t replace until you’re finished paying out of that line item.

Councilmember Kiefer: Question. Mr. Prosecutor, what’s the, what have you found in your experience, I mean, how long does it take to fill one of these positions to find the quality person that you need? I mean, is this a – you got a stack of people waiting in line or does this take you two or three months to even get through the interview process?

Stan Levco: I have a large stack of people right out of law school waiting in line. I don’t have a lot of people with a lot of experience, so I would prefer to find people with experience, but sometimes you can’t. You know, I, because of the first position, I wasn’t thinking I was going to be filling it very quickly until yesterday. You know, in a sense, an emergency. I want to fill those as quickly as I possibly can. I imagine it, assuming I get permission, I imagine I’ll fill that within a month, and hopefully less. This other one, I’ll have three months or more to potentially fill it so I don’t think there’s any reason that I couldn’t fill it when it’s available if I get the permission to fill it. So if you can’t consider that other one today, I’m just thinking out loud here, I think what I would probably do, at some time at the end of two months or so, maybe a month before it’s ready, I’ll have that talk. And, you know, like I said, I’m not optimistic that the result will be, I think that I’ll voluntarily do without the other person. Another factor is, the judges have told us they want us to add five misdemeanor sessions a month, which, you know, is just an extra burden on us. So I guess what I would do, assuming you can’t fill the other position today, is bring this up again roughly a month or more before, you know, if I were to determine that I would want to ask for it, I’d bring it up a month or so before it’s vacant.

Councilmember Raben: Just as a matter of clarification, just so long as you did not hire anybody before that other line item was finished paying out, we could approve both today. You just, I mean, we can give you the go ahead today knowing that, until you’re finished paying out of that other line item, you can’t bring somebody in.

Stan Levco: Right, I, and that would, if I may, that would be my request. I can understand maybe you don’t want to do it, but that’s at least my request. I can tell you, I will give it a good faith effort and talk to everybody, and I will also tell you that the likelihood is I would probably would come to the conclusion that I want to fill it. But I’d at least be open minded about not.

Councilmember Raben: And one last question, just so we’re clear, on this line item, the initial one, the 1080-1030 line, nobody is being paid out of that line item now. So that one is free and clear.

President Lloyd: So in your meeting, you’re asking your attorneys to do more work with less resources and they don’t seem to like that too much. Welcome to America. Yeah, welcome to county government.

Stan Levco: Right, it’s just a question of how much of a burden it’s going to be. You know, and the reality is, you could cut everybody a certain percentage and we’d function, we just wouldn’t function as well. And it’s just a question of how much less quality functioning you’re willing to accept.

Councilmember Bassemier: Mr. President, I don’t think we – I think this is a legal question here. I’m not against hiring this person, but there’s no paperwork on it, on this second person and can we do that, Jeff?

Jeff Ahlers: Well, technically, since the money is already in place, if it’s not an appropriation request, I don’t think there’s any requirement that there had to be any prior advertising or anything like that. So I think, you know, from a legal standpoint, you guys could certainly do whatever your pleasure is. The issue would just be treating all these officeholders and these requests, if you’re going to have a procedure of protocol, whether you want to deviate from it. But legally, it’s certainly your prerogative, because he’s not asking for additional money as I understand it. Now I guess if the person he wanted to hire, you were wanting to bring in or there was a request to have a step increase or something like that and it was going to require some sort of an appropriation, that would be different. But if it’s somebody coming into an existing position where there is sufficient funds, you know, there is no reason to have legal notice.

President Lloyd: For the vacancy, do we know what line item that is in the budget?

President Lloyd: We’ve got the one that’s open now, but we don’t have the new one that you’re –

Councilmember Sutton: While she’s looking, but isn’t the reality, what we’re doing through this is we’re making a decision whether we’re going to – we already have a list of positions in the various offices and we’re deciding whether we will keep those lines in the budget, essentially is what we’re doing. So if we do nothing, the position is still there, the line is still there, so really on the second opening he’s got, I don’t see there’s really a need for us necessarily to act. We’re not affecting that adversely or positively no matter how you look at it. So when that position is really, when he actually can fill it with, once that person has exhausted their time, then we can actually begin to act. So, I mean, I think really the only recourse we have today is really to act on what we have before us and that’s the initial position, the first position, and the second position, we still have an opportunity to – because he can’t fill the position anyway.

President Lloyd: The letter we have from Mr. Levco states he is requesting permission to fill a full-time deputy prosecutor for the vacant position, and that’s kind of what’s on the agenda here. Mr. Shetler is next.

Councilmember Shetler: I was just wondering, when you go to hiring this request, if you would do it with, keeping in mind that you’re going to have the more experienced higher level position that’s becoming vacant very shortly or already has. And if you do that, then in three months, that person perhaps could roll into that higher position and then we could entertain your earlier thought that I really liked, of trying the trial for a couple months of seeing if we could reduce the staff. And I do appreciate it. I think what’s happening here is really, Mr. Levco is really coming before us to comply with our request, which is the hiring freeze, and then seeking our permission to hire someone even though it’s all legal and possible, and there’s the line item sitting there, he’s asking for that permission based on our hiring freeze. And that’s what it really boils down to. So that’s, I think if we go about it in that process, that maybe if you’re able to hire someone at this level today, fill that, and then maybe it’s a more qualified person than would normally take that position in hopes that they’ll be able to be the one rolling over to that higher position later on. It might work for you. I don’t –

Stan Levco: But it’s really, unfortunately for me, I guess, the fact that it’s a higher position gives me no benefit because it becomes an entry level position and I can potentially go before some committee to get them their longevity raise up to five years or something, but this particular position is one of the longest longevity so that I won’t be able to hire an experienced person for this position or experience anything close to what this person has. So I’m looking at hiring essentially two entry level positions. From my perspective, I don’t see any difference other than anybody who comes in and applies, if they’ve had a lot of experience, I might be able to go through one of your committees and get them a small bump, you know, a five year bump, but this is like, way more than five years. So again, it’s going to be way less in salary no matter what experience they have and very possibly be an entry level position, both of them.

Councilmember Kiefer: It sounds like to me that either way we go, it’s going to save the county money because it’s going to be a person hired in at a much smaller salary.

Councilmember Kiefer: Yeah. From my viewpoint, I would see that you’re probably going to struggle along anyway, even if you had both new positions filled because they’re not going to be as productive as your senior people, but with that said, you’ve got three months, I think some of the Councilmembers want to wait until maybe next month’s meeting to vote on this other position, which, from your standpoint, that shouldn’t hurt you in your interviewing time line because you’ve got a stack of people waiting. So with that, I’d like to move that we approve the one request that he has and call for a vote.

President Lloyd: Okay, there’s a motion, and that would be to fill position 1030, which is the Deputy that left in January. Any other discussion? Is there a second?

President Lloyd: Mr. Shetler seconded. Any other discussion? Roll call vote please.

Stan Levco: Okay, thank you. And I think what I’m going to do is, I’m going to set a time, roughly two months from now and go over this, and if it’s my guess, we feel like we need the other position, I’ll be back, at least try to be back at least a month before that salary runs out. And if not, I guess I’ll let you know I’m not coming back.

Councilmember Sutton: One more question before you take off. What is your expected time table in filling this position that we’ve –

Stan Levco: As soon as I can. I don’t have anybody in mind, so I’d say within a month.

President Lloyd: Nine C, Sheriff Eric Williams, two contracts: Operating Community Corrections and Compensation In Lieu of Statutory Fees between Sheriff Williams and Vanderburgh County, and I think Mr. Ahlers has reviewed these contracts as well. The Sheriff is coming to the mic.

Jeff Ahlers: Yes, I’ve looked at those and at the last meeting I had asked the Sheriff, and he confirmed, I thought they looked familiar, they’re the same as they’ve been in the past years, I think we just changed the dates on them. And the Commissioners and County Attorney have already looked at them. The Commissioners have already approved, so they’re the same as we’ve had in the past, so unless there is any substantive changes that anyone wants, procedurally, they’re in order.

President Lloyd: Second Mr. Goebel. Any questions? We have Sheriff Williams here. Good morning.

President Lloyd: Any questions about the contracts which are the same language as we’ve had in the past? What’s the term on those? One year?

President Lloyd: Okay. Mr. Bassemier, was your motion to approve both contracts or just one?

President Lloyd: And the seconder agrees with that? Okay, Mr. Goebel agrees. Any other discussion, questions for the Sheriff? Okay, roll call vote please.

President Lloyd: Yes. The contracts are approved by the County Council. Appreciate it.

Eric Williams: While I’m up here, just so you know, this statute on the sheriff’s salary changes effective the first of next year, so that whole system will change and there will be a different way of handling it. So just so you’re aware of that. And if I could have one minute of you all’s time, I’d like to hand you something. Real quickly, what I handed you is a copy of a national publication that comes out. It’s the second edition of a magazine that’s published by the National Sheriff’s Association, it goes to every sheriff in the country. But it’s also, they produce two magazines, one called The Sheriff and one called Deputy and Court Officer. And I just thought you’d like to see that the second edition of Deputy and Court Officer, the cover features one of Vanderburgh County’s deputy sheriffs and there’s a five page article about our office. So I think it speaks volumes about the quality of people we do have. So I thought I’d share that with you.

President Lloyd: Okay, Deputy and Court Officer, I’ll have to start reading that.

President Lloyd: We’ll move to item D under item nine, request to fill part-time vacancies. We have Burdette Park here. Mr. Craig.

Steve Craig: Steve Craig, Manager of Burdette, and I am appearing here today to ask permission to start hiring my part-time and seasonal help for 2010. And this will be done according to the guidelines in the Burdette Park part-time salary exhibit G.

President Lloyd: Okay, is there any questions for Mr. Craig? What time do you normally start hiring them? I mean, is it in March?

Steve Craig: Yes, I’ve actually had some meetings with my management people already for the summer, it was not on the payroll, but we’ve already met and we will start bringing people in for maintenance at the pool and start planning for the summer.

President Lloyd: Do you know what the balance is in that line item for the part-time?

Steve Craig: Approximately $450,000, maybe a little bit more. The one thing that I did want to bring to your attention was that when we had our raise, the federal minimum wage raise, that we went from 5.85 two years ago to 7.25. And in that time, the amount of monies that I have received in my other employee’s account has not raised, so it will be something I’m trying to deal with, but the substantial amount, last year we actually had 72,500 part-time hours, so take that times $1.40 raise, there is going to be some kind of adjustment needed to be made later in the year, but I’m going to try to deal with it the best I can as of now.

Councilmember Goebel: Steve, you’re going to follow basically the same procedure you’ve had in the past as far as your hiring goes?

Steve Craig: Yes, the exhibit G tells me how much I can pay them per hour and how many people I can have in each position and it’s all laid out. And it is, the whole thing, we’ve ran off of that, I guess, for 25 years.

Councilmember Goebel: And most of your hires are college, high school age for the summer time?

Steve Craig: I’ve got them in all different ages. I hire several retirees, they work for me three or four months out of the year, and then they head to Florida in the winter. But I do have some retirees, they make excellent employees, have good work ethics, always there on time.

Councilmember Shetler: Things like commissary or concessions, and different things, those are all paid out of a separate deal?

Steve Craig: Yes, sir, they come out of a reverting account, what they’re all paid out of, the money that we make off of that account.

Councilmember Shetler: Okay, and those kind of run independently, that money doesn’t go through the general fund and those expenses don’t go through the general fund at all.

President Lloyd: Motion Mr. Sutton, second Mr. Shetler. Any other discussion? Roll call vote please.

President Lloyd: Item E, Coroner, request to fill part-time employee. Mrs. Groves is here. Questions, comments? Mr. Raben?

Councilmember Raben: No questions, just a comment that this is one I don’t think we can do without. We need to go ahead and approve.

Annie Groves: It’s all out of the same line item. It doesn’t matter if I have ten or twenty.

Councilmember Goebel: I knew that, I just wanted to make sure everyone else did. Thank you.

Councilmember Bassemier: Annie, you and I talked, you’ve already got that employee in place and we almost tried to swear him in last week, but a week delay, was he okay with that?

President Lloyd: Other questions? And I understand from the Auditor, you are in the process of getting the wage increase?

Annie Groves: They approved that last month and the State Board approved it yesterday, so that’s been approved.

President Lloyd: We’ll move to item F, travel requests. Number one is the Health Department.

Gary Heck: Gary Heck, Vanderburgh County Health Department. I’ll be happy to try to answer any questions you may have. There is several travel requests. We get requests and we’re trying to live with the 30 days advance notice. We’ve given the State Department of Health notice that we need to have as much advance notice, hopefully, 30 days so we can honor the County Council’s request. We don’t always get that amount of time. Some of the requests are fulfilling parts of a grant requirement, others are for training or to attend a workshop to maintain certification. One example would be, there is a pest applicators training request that’s in front of you. Occasionally, there is a request to attend one of the professional associations, the Indiana Environmental Health Association has meetings on a quarterly basis, so there is just no telling how many requests we have. Some of these are quarterly meetings, and I think the staff submitted them for each quarter throughout the rest of the year. There was one date change on the one in May where they moved it up a day from the one that you had originally and we filed a correction with it.

President Lloyd: I think, mechanically, if we approve something and the date changes, I think it’s still approved. That doesn’t really matter.

President Lloyd: But I appreciate the...the majority of these are state called. There are some that are, I guess, discretionary, but it’s state associations, basically.

President Lloyd: So we’ve got thirteen from the Health Department, is there a motion to approve?

President Lloyd: Okay, motion Mr. Shetler, second Mr. Sutton. Any other discussion, questions? Mr. Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Just a question. Is this it for the travel, then, for the year?

Gary Heck: That’s it for this month. This doesn’t come out of the general fund. This comes out of the Health Department’s either travel line item or – but we have no idea how many additional travel requests we could have, state called meetings because the state sends them out whenever they get them scheduled. It’s not unusual for us to have this many each month.

Gary Heck: Most of these dates are – well, there’s a lot for March but there’s some for May, August and November, I believe, in here as well, just like I said, they submitted, at least three of them were for quarterly meetings. But I don’t want to mislead you, we have almost this many every month, requests.

Councilmember Sutton: Well, this is one of the offices where they’ve got federal, state, local requirements from a health standpoint, from a safety standpoint, so you guys have a number of different things that you have to stay up on unlike any of our other offices. And if you are behind on new regulations and new laws that come forward or new procedures that are put out and put you at a –

Gary Heck: It can certainly have a negative impact on the citizens of Vanderburgh County and their health, and we certainly wouldn’t want that.

Councilmember Sutton: I’d like to see more of those meetings down here but there’s a little trouble getting the northern part of the state to come down to the southern part of the state.

Gary Heck: We have web conferences and we take advantage and use those whenever they are available. But we wouldn’t be submitting a request to you for that. These are just the ones where there’s actually physical travel required.

Councilmember Goebel: Yes, I notice a couple or at least one in here at zero cost to us, which that’s a no- brainer, but do you, basically, does your department attend every meeting that’s called because you have so many requests, or do you turn some of those requests away?

Gary Heck: Oh no, there’s no way we could go to every meeting that we’ve been invited to. These are just the ones that in the opinion of the management supervisor staff, it’s required in order for them to remain current with either their certification or professional licenses, or whatever. No, there’s several that you’ll never see because I won’t send them to you. These are just the ones that work their way to the top that there is some value for us to be able to attend them.

Councilmember Goebel: I understand that. Maybe you could give us a reflection each month when you come in with this number, how many you decided not to attend so we could get a little bit of a sense of balance. But, I don’t know, that might be too much work, too.

Gary Heck: Well, it would be busy work, but I’d be happy to try to do it if you’d like.

President Lloyd: Or maybe we could just get that for one month just to see what it is.

President Lloyd: I mean, it could just be on a sheet of paper, just a summary. Any other questions? Okay, we’ve got a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying aye.

President Lloyd: Item number 2F, DADS, Drug & Alcohol Deferral Service. Is anyone from DADS here? One of them is three day training, cost of the trip is $78. The other one is two overnights and it would be $450. Any questions or comments from Council?

President Lloyd: Okay, motion to approve Mr. Sutton, second Mr. Bassemier, unless we wanted to not approve since they didn’t show up. Any comments? Mr. Raben?

Councilmember Raben: I don’t know, because this is a recent shift on to our desk, I mean, it may be customary for the last several years that they didn’t have to show. So...

President Lloyd: Okay, nobody communicated to them is what I’m hearing. Okay. Alright, we’ve got a motion and a second. Mr. Kiefer?

Councilmember Goebel: Have plans been made, I guess, to attend because it’s March 10 and 11, it would be hard to reject it at this point, maybe.

Councilmember Kiefer: Perhaps we can send them a letter saying for the future (inaudible – microphone not turned on)

President Lloyd: Alright, we’ll ask Mrs. Deig to send a letter to them requesting that. I’d be happy to sign that. Okay, any other discussion? All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

President Lloyd: Those opposed? I’ll say aye, I oppose since they didn’t come. Six to one, it passes for approval of both.

President Lloyd: Okay, the next item would be County Commissioners road school. Any questions from Council? Actually, I did talk to all of our Commissioners yesterday and Commissioner Melcher did mention the road school and indicated that they received a lot of good information there and he thought it was a worthwhile endeavor. So you can point that as, that the commissioners have communicated, they requested we would approve this. Any questions from Council? Total budgeted cost $2,000, and this is an annual thing at Purdue, but it’s not state called, it’s an optional thing but a lot of vendors there and services for highway projects. Any questions? Alright, is there a motion to approve?

President Lloyd: Okay, motion Mr. Shetler, second was Mr. Bassemier? Okay. All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

President Lloyd: Request for American Planning Association National Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana. And this comes out of Area Plan Commission budget?

President Lloyd: I didn’t know if you were volunteering to accompany Mr. Mills.

Brad Mills: And this will just be for the travel and the hotel. You all don’t give me budget to pay for the registration, so I have to pay for that separately.

Brad Mills: I go to the conference annually or if I don’t, I send someone from my staff. So we get a lot of valuable information.

Brad Mills: We get all sorts of stuff from things like the road diet project that we did on Lincoln Avenue was something that we heard about and talked about at conference. I get both Area Plan Commission information and some stuff that’s valuable for the Metropolitan Planning Organization as well. It’s a vast array of information.

Councilmember Kiefer: I’d be interested in hearing back on some of the things you picked up that might be beneficial to the county upon return. That would be great.

Councilmember Sutton: Councilman Kiefer, if you look back in the material, there is information on some of the sessions. One of the sessions I think that would give great benefit to us, there is one that talks about planning for regional mobility and then there’s one that deals with rural land use and transportation coordination that could use some thought regarding some of the issues that we’re focusing around transportation here locally and some of the limitations that we have and how to address them, in particular public transportation still continues to be an issue and moving people from place to place. So that might be something worth –

Councilmember Kiefer: Councilman Sutton, I agree with you that these programs are great. I just think it would be nice if the various departments that go on these could just come back with hey, share some of the great ideas they picked up, you know, so we know that there’s something being learned at these conferences.

President Lloyd: Motion Mr. Bassemier, second Mr. Sutton. Any other discussion? It’s in your regular budget which is the budget funded by city and county and this is something that you budget for every year wherever they have the national conference.

President Lloyd: So I want to clarify that, it is tax dollars, it’s part of your budget but it is something that’s been approved in the past.

President Lloyd: Any other questions from Council? Okay, we have a motion and a second. All in favor signify by saying aye.

President Lloyd: Okay, item number 9F5, County Assessor, IAAO course. Okay, I guess one point of information here, this is training, so we’ve kind of gone back and forth, but I guess you could argue that it’s not state called, but it is training for the level.

Jonathan Weaver: It’s state sponsored, I guess, and that’s where we got into the little conversation here about that. Good morning, I’m Jonathan Weaver, your Vanderburgh County Assessor.

President Lloyd: Okay. And we have, I guess, one of the questions, and we had a phone conversation as well, that the requirements are increasing for those working on real property. That’s kind of what your information is telling us as well. In the past, you could hire anybody off the street and they could be trained, but now what we’re seeing is, I guess some period of time, that employee would have to have training at least to be a Level II.

Jonathan Weaver: A Level II right now and then eventually Level III, that’s correct. Yes.

President Lloyd: You had indicated, I guess the people in your department that work on real property, there’s like, approximately 15?

Jonathan Weaver: It’s about 17. And then we have people that deal with the trending, so we’re estimating about 25 eventually will have to earn this Level III.

Councilmember Sutton: So right now, of those 17 or 25 potential, how many do you have right now that have the Level III?

Councilmember Shetler: And everyone, regardless of if they’re supervisors or not, the way you’re interpreting it right now, that you’re going to have to have that –

Jonathan Weaver: Well, we’re looking at the real estate division, the trending and then it probably would be good for all the department heads to have it also.

Councilmember Shetler: Okay, so like, I was kind of reviewing your plan the other day that you had submitted to us last year. I don’t think that was included in there, but so if that were a part of it, you would say that your plan in the future would be to have 25 people certified with that Level III.

Councilmember Shetler: Is this class offered at other times of the year or is this –

Jonathan Weaver: They’re offered quarterly, the state pays for two people from each county for the course.

Councilmember Shetler: And you have the three, currently you have the Level III?

Councilmember Shetler: And I know some of this is by statute, what’s the difference between III and the II? I mean, can you quickly or briefly tell us what –

Jonathan Weaver: There’s going to be a drastic difference. It’s really going to weed out a lot of people. The Level I and Level II courses, Level I was residential, week- long course. Level II was commercial and industrial, it was a week-long course. Now to earn your Level III you need to take four week-long courses, and then another course that’s about two days, and then there’s an exam at the end of those courses, and you have to pass them.

Councilmember Shetler: Well, I guess my question was really more in terms of substance, I mean, is there higher levels of calculations or do you have to take on more responsibility? I mean, what kind of details are involved there?

Jonathan Weaver: The first course is fundamentals of real property, I believe, and then you have the income approach to value is the second course. Then you have USPAP, rules of appraisal, basically, and then you have a mass appraisal course, and then you have assessment administration.

Councilmember Shetler: Right now, there’s nothing that calls for in the statute to pay additional for the Level III, that’s –

Jonathan Weaver: I thought it was $500 per person, but I’d have to check that for you.

Jonathan Weaver: Yes, and they’re actually looking at maybe giving the Assessors who earn a Level III a bigger raise at the state house right now.

Councilmember Kiefer: Mr. Assessor, did you say that the state pays for two employees every quarter to do this?

Councilmember Kiefer: So every quarter we could send two employees and it wouldn’t cost the county anything? They would get this paid for by the –

Jonathan Weaver: Well, the course is $375, they’re going to pay the cost of the course, but the hotel reimbursement and mileage will come out of our, we have to pay for that.

Councilmember Goebel: Good morning, Jonathan. With the number of people who are involved in this and the number of people in this area, I notice that the training sessions are mainly at Ivy Tech branches?

Councilmember Goebel: But not in our Ivy Tech branch. Is there a chance that we can request from the state that they put on this seminar here? It would cost, I think, a lot less for them to send the instructors here than for us to have to make that type of travel especially using the mechanism of Ivy Tech.

Jonathan Weaver: No, I can do that. Last month, in January, I actually hosted a course here for my staff.

Jonathan Weaver: They get continuing ed credit hours for their Level II’s, yes.

President Lloyd: You know, we had also sent an email to the DLGF, I guess, asking about this and Barry Wood said that we would like to see all deputies have their Level II since this would give taxpayers confidence that person is competent in property assessment matters. At a bare minimum, I think that in addition to the elected Assessor, the Chief Deputy should have a Level II, and anyone else responsible for setting values, eg supervisory level would be a Level II, so that would be the supervisors in the property department. There’s clerical people there, but they don’t really set values, do they?

Jonathan Weaver: Well, what I’m reading here is after June 30^th ‘09, an employee of the county assessor who performs real property assessing duties must have a level of certification that the county assessor is required to attain under I.C. 3-8-1-23.

President Lloyd: Okay, but if someone answers the phone for real property, they don’t have to be a Level II or a Level III, they’re not setting values.

Jonathan Weaver: Well, I think, anybody that’s in the real estate department is dealing with real property and needs to be certified.

Jonathan Weaver: A lot of people in the office are dealing with values on a daily basis.

Councilmember Raben: What about field workers, people that are just measuring, taking photos, stuff like that. We’re not –

Councilmember Raben: Okay. But I’m just trying to figure out how we can get out of this bag that we’re in on getting everybody certified to Level II or Level III. I think what Russ was asking is, you know, that you’re not actually calculating values and stuff like that, if you’re just gathering information, do those people need to go further than where they’re at today?

Jonathan Weaver: The way I understand it is all employees, at some point, that are dealing, and they’re all dealing with this in the real estate division, you know, need to have the correct certifications.

Councilmember Kiefer: Mr. Ahlers, could you check? I mean, because this language is confusing to me. I mean, I read what he provided us and it seems pretty clear that, you know, must have a level of certification that the County Assessor is required to obtain. And I’d like to get your, you know, maybe you can do some research on that and get an opinion because I know state law sometimes can be confusing, how it’s written.

Jeff Ahlers: Oh, I don’t have that, I don’t think. I was looking at the actual statute itself that talked about if they’re going to perform assessing duties, if that’s what you’re requesting. I don’t know if I have the sheet –

Councilmember Kiefer: Well, it clearly states in this first paragraph and he’s –

Jeff Ahlers: Okay, that’s the same thing I’ve got, it’s just in a different format. So you’re asking, I mean, I guess the question is, it’s just simply who is performing real property assessing duties and we have, I don’t know if you have it in front of you, Mr. Kiefer, there is a letter from Barry Wood.

– my thought is, I’m more than happy to call him, but my thought is that is probably about as much clarification as you’re going to get in terms of defining assessing duties to a certain extent. I mean, you’re going to be free to do that yourself, I guess, until the state tells you otherwise. It’s just a matter of, you know, are you going to go through each position, I suppose where someone would need to work with the assessor, I guess, and determine at what point some of the employees, if what they do is information gathering as opposed to actually assessing and setting real property values. And so, I mean, that legally is, I think, your distinction. The question is, who is going to work with the Assessor and go through those positions, I guess, and if there is a disagreement, make that determination. I mean, ultimately, that is your call and if the DLGF or someone says something different, then I guess we address it then. But, I mean, I guess that’s what I read this to as saying, I’m more than happy to call the guy, but the statute says what it says. And it’s, you’re right, like a lot of statutes there’s, you know, maybe not as much detail as you’d like, but I think Mr. Wood makes the attempt to distinguish that.

Councilmember Kiefer: Well, the way I read his email was that, really, the staff only has to be Level II, I mean, that’s the way I interpreted his email, except the Assessor needs to be a Level III.

Jeff Ahlers: Oh, I see what you’re saying. If that’s your question, I agree with that. I thought that your question was on the Level II in terms of who has assessing duties.

Councilmember Kiefer: No, what I’m questioning is, the one paragraph says an employee of the County Assessor performs real property assessing duties must have the level of certification that the County Assessor is required. Well, it clearly says the County Assessor now has to, as of, in 2014, you know, he’s going to have to be a Level III.

Jeff Ahlers: And I think I would interpret that, of course, a lot can happen between now and 2014, or whatever the legislature or DLGF does. But I guess I would say that then that means by 2014 you’re looking at some of these people having to ratchet up to a Level III.

Councilmember Kiefer: And I guess then the question would be, how many can we ratchet it up, how quickly could that be ratcheted up? Maybe it all gets done in six months, I don’t know.

Jeff Ahlers: I mean, one of the things I would suggest, and I don’t know if he’s done that or I’m not sure who the liaison is for the Assessor, but I guess if you could get some sort of a matrix to determine at least from the Assessor’s point of view, I guess, what specific positions it is determined perform actual assessing duties as opposed to information gathering that would fall under the requirement to get some of these certifications. And ultimately, I suppose if the Council is going to have some job descriptions or reviews of various offices, that may be something that will occur between now and 2014 in terms of, perhaps, you can actually define in the job description which ones are going to perform assessing duties and which ones aren’t, perhaps, might be the way to do it. But going forward, I understand that it doesn’t help you today, but going forward –

Councilmember Kiefer: So the only downside to having Level III’s, I mean, obviously, the upside is they’re better educated, they understand what they’re doing more because of their training. The downside is $500 extra per year is what they get paid plus the cost of the travel expenses because the state actually pays for the registration, two per quarter. Am I understanding that correctly?

Councilmember Shetler: Well, plus, once you sanctify that and put it into a line item and make that a requirement of the job, let’s say, it makes it harder to replace, which drives up the cost of the employee, so then you end up putting them in higher classifications as far as county employees are concerned. So, I mean, we’re talking about a cost that on the surface appears to be $500, but in the long run, I mean, it could -- and I think education is a good thing. I think trying to educate your workforce and making them a whole lot more efficient and to be able to operate the office is a good thing for everyone to do. But there can get to be a point where it starts, first of all, making, because of competition, in the private sector, working its way towards the public sector and stealing employees and causing you then to elevate people a lot higher pace than what other offices might be. So, I mean, I think there’s a lot of questions and issues that we might want to get into. I believe that going from these two employees today is probably a good thing and I think that we might need perhaps even a couple more. I don’t know if we need 25. That scares me off a little bit here. But, you know, that’s something we can evaluate later.

Councilmember Kiefer: It’s definitely something we need to explore in further detail. I agree with that.

President Lloyd: Point of information: Mr. Kiefer is the liaison from the County Council.

Jeff Ahlers: Well, that’s what I was going to say is, one of the things that you might consider doing as you’re doing these job classification reviews, is I guess it would be similar to, now just if you said in the Prosecutor’s office, does everybody in that office have to be an attorney or have a law license? No. Are there paralegals that gather information that do certain tasks to help the lawyers or perhaps even prepare some drafts of documents, but ultimately, if it is, you know, a lawyer that perhaps has to review and make the final approval or changes, maybe that’s the person that has to have that level of licensure. And so, in part, to answer some of these questions, whenever you say, how many do we need, you know, perhaps that’s how you have to fit that in the framework and say, how many do you have to have to ultimately look over.

Councilmember Kiefer: And that gets back to what we said a few weeks ago or a few months ago, why it might be important to review this office, do that study, you know, to look at the processes and how they operate, you know, which the Assessor agreed to allow us to do that. So all the more reason why that might important to do that review. And I, Councilman Lloyd, Mr. President, I can’t remember where we were at on that. What was the next step on – somebody was going to come down and make a presentation to Council, I believe.

President Lloyd: Right, that has not been scheduled. I guess it’s on hold but we can certainly look at that.

President Lloyd: Just a quick question, I know, I like to match these up in the salary ordinance. You’ve got Mr. Gowen, his title is Deputy Assistant Personal Property Data Analysis Tech, and then Mr. Samples, his title is Network Supervisor. Is that a computer position or is that related to real property?

Glen Koob: Excuse me. Mr. Samples helps me with trending. He’s the one that runs the programs and develops databases to help do trending, so it’s important for him. Jim has a couple of hats. Right now, he is working with the GIS. Also he’s been, GIS training. You really can’t put the Assessor’s office in categories. We’ve got so much stuff to do, the data collectors, and you were talking about earlier, they also come in and data enter because we don’t have enough people to do that. So yes, they are setting values, the ones that go out in the field and data collect. Just to answer that question for you. But anyway, Mr. Gowen, what I would like for him to do is when we go into Reassessment, he goes in and puts the assessed values into neighborhoods so you can look at a map and say, in GIS, so you can look at the map and say, okay, this is what the values are in this neighborhood. Why is this value lower over here or higher? That’s what Mr. Gowen does and Mr. Samples helps develop the databases also. And if I might answer Mr. Goebel’s question about, we do use Ivy Tech and the state has hired a company called Briljent, and they come down here four times a year, each quarter, and teach us classes for free. The state hires them to come down and do that. But we also, besides getting our Level I, II or III, we also have to have 45 hours of continuing ed every year or they will take that away from us. And that’s the reason why they offer those classes for free. Now, that is through the state. What the level, just so I can explain some of this to you, what we do to attain the Level III, it is put out by the IAAO, which is an organization that goes into income approach. You can go into that website if you’re a member and you can look at any property in the United States that might compare to yours. For an example, if I can use this, Whirlpool. How many plants do you know in town that compares to Whirlpool to set a value on it? You know, so that’s an example of what they do. They teach income approach, they teach all kinds of formulas, it’s a very, for me, a traumatic experience. I started in 1987 getting this, took a hiatus for a few years and finally got my Level III. When they said that those are the requirements, they just set those requirements for a Level III, I think it was last year, wasn’t it, Jonathan? Yes. So, and I had already had three of those classes and needed two more, so that’s a week long class and then at the end, what did Jonathan say, it’s a closed book test. And it probably could be a six week class, but they have to put it in there to get the people that are working, the assessors, you know enough time to get these courses. So they just offer them for a week. So they are traumatic to take those, for me it was. I’m sorry, Mr. President, did you need anything?

President Lloyd: Well, no, I just, when I looked at the title Network Supervisor, it sounded like the person was handling computers, and I’m not sure that would be related to real property. And what you’re saying, is based on the trending, it is.

Glen Koob: Yes, he is. He’s the one that runs the – we have to price everything. He has to give the narrative to the state. Then they will come, the state works through him. The computer, David Schwab and Jeff Volz, they come back and work through the computer person because of the fact that he does the narrative and that kind of stuff. If there is something wrong, if they could see sales chasing or if they see some neighborhood that they think is out of whack, it comes back to him and then we go through and look and see what the problem is.

President Lloyd: Based on this state law, it sound like you want to get the supervisors before you get the other people. I mean, is that the plan?

Glen Koob: That would be great. I mean, it would be great to have them all because in the state, there’s only 68 Level III’s in the state. You know, so what Mr. Shetler said is totally right. Last year, as a matter of fact, they took two of our computer tech people, one of these, Tyler, because they’re wanting – of course, they didn’t have Level III’s, but they’re capable of getting them. But somebody else has to pay for it now. But, they took two of our people, our computer people, last year, a vendor, I guess, you’d say.

President Lloyd: 92 counties, so some of these counties are out of compliance unless they – I guess if they have elected officials, they’re grandfathered in maybe.

Glen Koob: No, only 68 people in the state have that Level III. So if a vendor or whatever happens to have one, I guess, well then, they could hire them, but we have our own and we’re saving thousands and thousands of dollars as you know by not hiring vendors.

Councilmember Raben: Just for clarification, so of the entire staff, which you do have a very large office today, how many are you, how many do you aim to seek the Level III?

Councilmember Raben: Twenty-five, and everybody else doesn’t need a level certification?

Jonathan Weaver: No, they’re not going to need their Level III at this point in time.

Glen Koob: Personal property people, transfer departments, maybe some of those. People that work on Sales Disclosures, they don’t necessarily set values. We need their information in the real estate department because we use all that information except for maybe personal property.

Councilmember Raben: Twenty-two, so there’s three today that have the Level III.

Jonathan Weaver: So we already have four percent of the Level III’s in the state, so we’re pretty proud of that.

Councilmember Raben: Are any of those 25 part-time individuals? They’re all full-time, okay. You know, and I think everybody is saying the same thing, we, you know, your office of all offices needs to have the best tools, the most educated workforce we can put out there, so we don’t want to hold anything back in that manner, but I do think if we can take a little time getting there, we need to do that because there’s also the unforeseen threat of turnover of staff. So, you know, you try to hurry up and get 25 individuals their Level III, and you lose six of them in the next year or two years, that’s –

Glen Koob: I think it will take two, two and a half years, maybe two years for any one person get that because they don’t only offer them at –

Glen Koob: Sorry, – I thought I had a big mouth. I don’t think it – they offer them all over the United States and Kansas, and we’re just fortunate enough that the people in Indiana are starting to sponsor these classes. Indianapolis sponsored several, Lafayette or Tippecanoe County, Evansville, we had one, you know, last week, and Valparaiso, Greensburg, Indiana, that little town, you know, they’re all starting to sponsor these because all the people in Indiana need their Level III – not all of them, you know what I mean, the ones that need it. And that’s the reason why the state of Indiana is starting to do that. We even have an Indiana chapter of the IAAO that helps to sponsor those classes.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, and I do like Mike’s idea of possibly coordinating something with the local branch of Ivy Tech to possibly bring that course here. I have one last question, I see on, like, as an example, these two are going to the same class at the same time, both requesting mileage. Can we not –

Jonathan Weaver: Oh, they’re going to car pool. Are they requesting separate miles?

Councilmember Raben: Okay, so that would be, the mileage reduces the total request by $222.40 then.

Jonathan Weaver: Just to give you an idea, it took me, we started this in 2008, in May of 2008. It took me from May to December to earn my Level III. So that was being vigilant about getting out there and getting educated from the DLGF Commissioner, the rules that were set.

Councilmember Shetler: I’d like to make a motion for approval. I do have a couple of things, though, that do concern me. I am, and I don’t mean to be sitting in the position that I know everything about your office or trying to be running it or anything, but I am alarmed to have 25 people, and while I’m very supportive of people being educated, I am a little bit concerned to have that large of a staff that would have a Level III. And I’m a little skeptical, a little leery about that and I’d like to caution us to proceed on that a little slower. I think Mike’s idea of utilizing local services to keep the cost of travel down, it would help immensely on that. I’m concerned about the long run costs, though. And the second thing that I do have concern on is that it would seem to me that the chief deputy, that that would be a highest priority because of them being in a supervisory role where everybody, if you’re not present, pretty well reports to that person and I would think that having that certification would be most essential for that particular position. But other than that, I think that we need to get on the road with this and get more people certified, so I’ll make a motion to approve the two that we have in front of us today.

President Lloyd: Do you want to subtract the one mileage? The request was $1,600, if you subtract $222, that’s $1,378.

Councilmember Raben: I’ll second with one last comment. In the future, for future travel requests like this, if you would, put those under Reassessment and not General Fund unappropriated. And Glen, tell your nephew thanks for putting us in all this.

Glen Koob: Now you know what he went through for years. Well, as long as he’s been there. I mean, it’s never been easy, I know.

President Lloyd: Okay, we have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

President Lloyd: Next we have a travel request, County Clerk, Southern District Clerk’s Association. Is the County Clerk here? I had talked to her a couple weeks ago, she mentioned this briefly. It’s something that they normally go to. Total of $60. Any questions from Councilmembers?

Councilmember Sutton: It’s more than 60. That’s just the registration fee. It’s 288.

President Lloyd: Oh, 288, I’m sorry. You’re right, the second page. Okay, 288. Mr. Bassemier made a motion to approve, is there a second?

President Lloyd: Second Mr. Shetler. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying aye.

President Lloyd: Total $300. Motion Mr. Raben, second was it Mr. Shetler or Mr. Bassemier?

President Lloyd: Mr. Shetler, okay. Any other questions? All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

President Lloyd: Okay, we’ll go to item number 10, Amendments to Salary Ordinance. I’ll turn that over to Mr. Shetler.

Councilmember Shetler: I think everybody was handed a copy of the Salary Ordinance amendments, so I would like to put this in the form of a motion for approval for the amendments to the Salary Ordinance.

President Lloyd: Okay, there is a motion to approve the amendments to the Salary Ordinance. You’ve got eight departments: Weights & Measures, Legal Aid, County Highway, Cum Bridge, Prosecutor, Burdette Park, Coroner, Cooperative Extension. Motion Mr. Shetler, is there a second?

President Lloyd: Second Mr. Raben. Any discussion? Oh, second Mr. Goebel. I’m sorry. Since it’s a Salary Ordinance, we’ll do a roll call vote please.

President Lloyd: Item 11, Public Comment. Is there anyone from the public that wishes to address the County Council?

Councilmember Sutton: Mr. President? If there aren’t any public comments, there is something I would like to share.

President Lloyd: Okay, anyone coming forward to comment? Questions for Council? Okay, we gave you your chance. Item number 12, first we’ll go to Mr. Sutton.

Councilmember Sutton: If you will allow me the opportunity, I want to read something here. Recently, I accepted a new professional opportunity with my company, Fifth Third Bank, that will require me to relocate my family to the St. Louis area. This is a tremendous opportunity for my family and I did not want to pass on it. And with this great professional opportunity, however, comes the uneasy reality of leaving my family, friends and the place that I was reared and nurtured. Evansville is where Lori, my wife, and I have raised our children and it is here where I’ve been given the opportunity to serve in a wonderful place to worship, serve the community, lead new initiatives, and a chance to make a difference in the community, in so many ways. Since 1992, I have been blessed to serve this community as its Third District County Councilman. I was re-elected four times and in 2006 was successful in garnering 64% of the vote. During my tenure on the Council, I led the implementation of the Initiative Based Assistance Program, that has provided vital childcare assistance to over 4,000 working families since 1997. Working moms and dads with modest incomes have greatly benefitted from this wise use of riverboat gaming revenue. My efforts with former Councilman and present County Commissioner Lloyd Winnecke to create an affordable dental clinic became a reality in 2006. The clinic has aided over 3,000 families who need dental care, but who lack insurance. In the community, I’ve been fortunate to lead or been an instrumental part of organizing key initiatives like the Joshua Academy, the United Negro College Fund initiative, the Urban League Study Group, Front Door Pride and Bank on Evansville. I would have never imagined that this community would have afforded me the chance to serve in public office for over 17 years, when I entered politics in 1991 as an unknown City Council candidate. And over the years I found a conscientious and cooperative spirit on this County Council that has enabled me as one of the Democrat minority members to strategically work with the Republican majority party members to keep property tax rates low, expand economic development opportunities and ensure that the county is fiscally sound. And in this, it makes me confident in the county’s future. However, I do firmly believe that the county benefits from a periodic, natural turnover in its leadership. It is with this turnover that allows new, fresh ideas to advance and bold visions to be cast. So, it’s with some degree of mixed feelings that I realize that I will be unable to complete my other platform that I developed for the coming campaign, yet I am excited about the prospects of continuing my community service in a different city. I have tried to lead with integrity, honor, respect, honesty and with a goal of making things a little bit better for those who would follow. So today, I am officially announcing that I will no longer be a candidate for the Third District County Council seat, and that effective May 31^st, I will resign my position on this Council. I’ve truly enjoyed the experience and I pray blessings upon our great community. And, Mr. President, thank you for the opportunity to share the words, and Councilmembers, I thank you for the opportunity. And you guys are the first ones really to, that I’ve shared this information with.

President Lloyd: Well, it’s somewhat sudden because you were filed as a candidate so, I mean, you were fully intending to run for re-election.

President Lloyd: But obviously, the Lord works in funny ways and you have opportunities come before you. So, I think all the Councilmembers probably want to have some comments. We’ll just go down the row, start with Mr. Goebel.

Councilmember Goebel: Well, Royce, I thank you personally, and I think this Council does for all your leadership and the work you’ve done. This is quite a shock. I think, without a doubt, Vanderburgh County’s loss will definitely become St. Louis’ gain and I wish you very, very much luck and if you just keep being Royce Sutton, you’re going to have good fortune ahead. And thank you for everything.

Councilmember Sutton: We both had black hair when we first started on this Council.

Councilmember Raben: Well, I was going to make a little further comment. I know when I was a young lad, pretty much a kid when I came on and Royce was a kid, and, you know, the only difference is, he still looks like a kid today, where I look like a fat old gray-haired man. But it’s been a huge honor to serve with you. This is quite a kick really, it really is. And I’ve served with Royce the longest of anybody here and it’s been a great journey, and, you know, the intellectual values that you’ve carried to this room every month have been huge and outstanding and it will be missed, believe me. And I appreciate the fact that the announcement came here because it would have really been a shock to have heard it, getting a few shocks here lately on what’s happening here. So, thank you, and man, the best of luck. I’m sure you’re going to be a huge success in St. Louis like you were in Evansville, Indiana.

Councilmember Sutton: My former, he’s one of two opponents that I actually had, I’ve run against.

Councilmember Kiefer: That’s what I was getting ready to say, that I feel blessed to be able to have served this last year with you on the County Council, because I really started my career, you know, although we were opponents, we ran somewhat side by side. You know, we worked together during that campaign and I think the community was served well with your election and hopefully, the community was served with me then moving on to the City Council. But I feel very blessed to have served this last year with you and gotten to know you over the years, and developed a friendship with you. And hopefully, you’ll come back now and then at Thanksgiving and we can pick up that game of basketball again. But anyway, best of luck to you. God bless you and thank you for your service.

Councilmember Sutton: For those who don’t know, Councilman Kiefer and I ran, it was his first campaign as he indicated and I was running at that time, and I don’t know whose kids were the worst at the campaign events, mine or his. We tore up a lot of public spaces here in trying to corral kids and make speeches at the same time.

Councilmember Kiefer: But it was a great opportunity to get to know you and I’m very thankful for that.

Councilmember Bassemier: Royce, it’s been an honor serving with you. You and I served together on the Council for 13 years. I ran against you once and you kicked my rear end and you was a gentleman about it and congratulated me for my hard work and everything. You was a real gentleman when I ran against you and we ran a good campaign together, and it’s just been a shock to hear this today. But we’re all going to miss you. And we all have learned a lot from you and appreciate everything you’ve given to the taxpayers and the County Council.

Councilmember Shetler: First, just let me say congratulations, and it has been truly, as everyone has indicated, an honor. You mentioned that you’ve tried to be a man of integrity. Well, I don’t think there is any question or doubt about that. My experience has been, you’re definitely a man of honor and integrity and I’ve appreciated, even the limited work that we did on the dental clinic a few years ago and you have, I think, been a soul and conscience of this group, and I greatly respect your opinions on a great deal of matters. And I appreciate what you’ve offered to us. So thank you.

President Lloyd: And I would say also, my second stint on the Council, appreciate serving with you. I think you’ve taught me many things and I think your list of accomplishments are many and it just shows the difference one person can make in our community, a person that is dedicated to certain things. So we’ll miss you after May and good luck in the new position. It’s been a pleasure to serve with you.

Councilmember Sutton: Thank you. One quick little story on our former mayor and president of our County Council. He was the only mayor that I can ever remember, and I’ve see a few of them come through here, that when there was a public event, he would get there early and he would stay all the way to the end. I was, like, how does he do it? I mean, two hour programs, three hour programs, because he was just that kind of person who was interested in hearing, being there and supportive of different community events and I’ve always respected that. Thank you.

President Lloyd: Thank you. And some of those were services at your church. Those were long. Any other questions, comments, concerns from Council? That’s certainly big news and we’ll let that filter through.

Councilmember Raben: Just one last comment before closing, we’ve got our first balance sheet today or financial statement. Everybody needs to look at that. We don’t need to go over it today, but, you know, we knew it was going to be a tight year and earnings on investments and stuff, I’m sure, are down significantly, so we’re going to have to be really tight budgeted this year. We’ve got plenty of surplus funds, you know, for any emergencies, but it’s not going to be as easy as what we’ve seen in the past. So everybody come in here with a game face on, ready to be frugal for the next ten months.

Councilmember Kiefer: I’d like to echo what Councilman Raben said, because I don’t know if everybody had a chance to read the morning Courier, but obviously, the state of Indiana is in dire straits and we all know how what happens at the state ultimately reflects back, what happens here in the county and the city. And it’s going to put some pressure on us.

President Lloyd: It all flows downhill and the state’s problems will be reflected in our local budgets. Is there a motion to adjourn?

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

1210-3530	Contractual Services	286,500.00	0.00
Total		286,500.00	0.00

1302-1120-1302	Deputy Inspector	2,334.00	2,334.00
1302-1900	FICA	179.00	179.00
1302-1910	PERF	251.00	251.00
Total		2,764.00	2,764.00