President Abell: I’d like to call to order the March 7th, 2007 meeting of the Vanderburgh County Council. We apologize for the delay. We’d like everyone to please stand and I’d like to ask Councilman Shetler to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

(Pledge of Allegiance was given)

President Abell: Could we have the roll call please?

President Abell: I’ll entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the special meeting of January 31st, 2007.

Councilmember Winnecke: So moved.

President Abell: Do I have a second?

Councilmember Leader: Second.

President Abell: All in favor say aye.

All Councilmembers: Aye.

President Abell: Opposed?

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Abell: Could I have a motion to approve the minutes from the regular meeting of the February 7th, 2007 meeting?

Councilmember Leader: So moved.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: All in favor say aye.

All Councilmembers: Aye.

President Abell: Opposed?

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Abell: Thank you. Its time for the appropriation ordinance and I’ll turn that over to our Finance Chairman, Mr. Raben.

SHERIFF (TWO REQUESTS)

Councilmember Raben: Thank you, Madam President. First on the agenda today, under Sheriff, 1050-2680 Weapons in the amount of $45,000, 1050-2700 Other Supplies $6,000, 1050-3530 Contractual, I’m going to move that we set that in at zero, and we’ll come back with this as we address how we may approach this county wide, for a total appropriation request of $51,000. I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

SHERIFF                                                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Next, under Sheriff 1050-1540 and 1050-2760 for a total of $7,500, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

SHERIFF                                                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

PROSECUTOR

PROSECUTOR IV-D

Councilmember Raben: Okay, under Prosecutor, 1080-1450-1080 Investigator, 1080-1900 FICA, 1080-1910 PERF, for a total of $5,706. This is an existing employee that was transferred in. What was budgeted was a lower rate. And we have the same thing on Prosecutor IV-D under 1081-1290-1081 through FICA and PERF, for a total of $3,183. I’ll move approval of both requests.

Councilmember Leader: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

PROSECUTOR                                                      REQUESTED       APPROVED

PROSECUTOR IV-D                                              REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Table continued next page)

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

WEIGHTS & MEASURES

Councilmember Raben: Weights & Measures, 1302-1140-1302 and FICA along with PERF for a total of $2,915, I will move approval.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Excuse me, Councilmember Raben, what was the total on that?

Councilmember Raben: The total – we need to correct the PERF, I should have made mention of that. PERF should be $172, for a total of $2,915.

Teri Lukeman: Thank you.

President Abell: Could we have the seconder –

Councilmember Winnecke: I’ll amend my second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

WEIGHTS & MEASURES                                      REQUESTED       APPROVED

PUBLIC DEFENDER (THREE REQUESTS)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next we have three requests for Public Defender. The first request, Juvenile Court Public Defender, with FICA and PERF, for a total of 50,754; Administrative Assistant, with FICA and PERF, for a total of $31,109. Next, the account 1303-3053 Juvenile Contractual Services, the request was for 90,000, that should be set in at zero. Deputy Public Defender, the correct amount should be 24,939, FICA 1,908, PERF 1,684, for a total of 28,531, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Councilmember Sutton: Before we –

President Abell: Sorry, Mr. Sutton, go ahead.

Councilmember Sutton: Since we did make some pretty significant changes on that, Jim, on that last area, when we initially had the, under Contractual Services, that line, now we’ve changed that account. There’s been, obviously, a lot of discussion with others in the court area along with the Public Defender, if we can maybe give a little bit of explanation on what we were doing there.

Councilmember Raben: I might ask that Steve Owens step forward.

Steve Owens: (Inaudible)

President Abell: Mr. Owens, would you please turn your microphone on?

Steve Owens: Is it on now? What we’ve done was, we withdrew or basically changed the request for the contractual public defenders under the amended proposal as we presented it at the Personnel & Finance Committee meeting, is we’re going to maintain the three part-time PD’s that are down there and this would add a fourth part-timer to handle the civil juvenile cases. And then the other positions will be taking over the juvenile delinquency and some support staff.

Councilmember Sutton: The questions that was posed was, those that are in the position now on that juvenile side, whether they would be on the same par with the other part-time individuals regarding benefits?

Steve Owens: That is correct. And the fourth person that we have budgeted or we’re asking for approval will have that same benefit package.

Councilmember Sutton: Thank you.

President Abell: Any other questions of Mr. Owens? Thank you. Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

PUBLIC DEFENDER                                             REQUESTED       APPROVED

PUBLIC DEFENDER                                             REQUESTED       APPROVED

PUBLIC DEFENDER                                             REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Table continued next page)

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

BURDETTE PARK

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next Burdette Park, Madam President, I’m going to move at this time that this request be deferred or set in at zero, and I’d like to come back and readdress this issue next month.

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

BURDETTE PARK                                                 REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

CUMULATIVE BRIDGE

Councilmember Raben: Okay, that’s it for the General Fund, now we’ll move into Cum Bridge. We have University Parkway in the amount of $58,000. I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Councilmember Sutton: I had a couple questions on that.

President Abell: Sorry, Mr. Sutton, I didn’t see your light come on. Go ahead.

Councilmember Sutton: You’re rolling fast today. Is John Stoll or one of the Commissioners here? Okay. Good morning, John.

John Stoll: Good morning.

Councilmember Sutton: John, on the University Parkway segments here, I know there’s been some prior discussions or ongoing discussions about funding that project. Can you tell us maybe specifically on these two requests here, where that puts us and where these are actually located?

John Stoll: This request, I should say these requests for the Road & Street and the Bridge money would provide the final design plans for the section from Marx Road to Diamond Avenue. Right now, Bernardin Lochmueller is under contract to only provide final plans up to Marx Road. Right now, we don’t have all the funding secured to get everything built up to Diamond Avenue, but before we can ever get commitments on INDOT’s end, we’ll have to have final plans done, all the right-of-ways secured before we can get firm commitments on the construction...construction funding, I should say. So basically, by proceeding with the design now, this would allow us to at least be ready when we can come up – when INDOT will come up with the funds available to build the remainder of it. We’ve got a pretty good idea as far as the available funds needed to finish the section up to Marx Road. Its from Marx to Diamond is where it gets a little sketchy.

Councilmember Sutton: What’s our funding gap on that Marx to Diamond portion of this project?

John Stoll: If I remember right, based on the preliminary estimates, it was in the neighborhood of 2.3 million. Those were preliminary estimates, too, that were based upon the figures from the public hearing that was held last summer and we have been seeing some significant cost increases on all construction projects, so that gap could be greater, it might be pretty accurate. Its just too early to tell as of yet.

Councilmember Sutton: Well, I mean, this is a project that has drawn a great deal of interest and its an important project for the community and obviously, we don’t want to see a project that we get partially done and are unable to complete it, so – and I know the Commissioners are obviously looking for any sources possible to try to find, to fund this. But if there is a way that you can keep us posted or some things that we can do on the Council side to try to keep this process moving along so that we don’t end up with a project where we are unable to finish it. Now the design portion of this, how long do you anticipate that this will –

John Stoll: I don’t remember off the top of my head exactly how long the consultant estimated that would take. Since they’ve already set the preliminary alignment and they’ve started some of the environmental process, I’m making a ballpark guess, I would say around a year or so, they should have it all wrapped up. But I can update you on that when we get to the point where we’re actually getting a signed contract.

Councilmember Sutton: You know, one of the other questions, too, is at the major intersections, the concerns about just from a safety standpoint and the flow of traffic in making those overpasses as opposed to grade level intersections, how much additional does that add to the project by looking at some overpasses as opposed to grade level?

John Stoll: It would be millions. Back in, I believe it was 2004, is when the Lynch and 1-64 Interchange was opened up, and the construction cost on that was about seven and a half million. So, and that was a partial cloverleaf design which was a little more expensive than a, probably a diamond-type interchange would be what would be feasible out on University Parkway, but I’d still say per interchange, you’d be looking at five to ten million dollars in construction costs alone, excluding the right-of-way. And given the fact that there are some houses up close to all those at grade intersections, the right-of-way cost would probably be pretty substantial too, because you’d have to relocate a number of people. Based on the traffic numbers, the interchanges weren’t warranted at any of the intersections, so that’s why they were designed the way they were. Basically, they would be through, University Parkway would be through traffic and then the side streets would stop. The next step, although nobody would want to hear it would be installation of traffic signals, and then once those became in effect, then the next step beyond that would be the construction of an interchange.

Councilmember Sutton: Thank you.

John Stoll: You’re welcome.

President Abell: Any other questions? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

CUMULATIVE BRIDGE                                         REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

LOCAL ROADS & STREETS

Councilmember Raben: Local Roads & Streets, University Parkway in the amount of 170,000, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

LOCAL ROADS & STREETS                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

REASSESSMENT/AUDITOR

Councilmember Raben: Okay, under Reassessment Funds, first we have under Auditor, Extra Help and FICA in the amount of $10,765, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

REASSESSMENT/AUDITOR                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

REASSESSMENT/COUNTY ASSESSOR

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next under Reassessment/County Assessor we have a request on Contractual in the amount of $120,000. I saw the Assessor was in the audience. If I can, Madam President, he and I played phone tag for the last couple of days and I did have a question or two on this line.

Jonathon Weaver: Good morning, Council.

Councilmember Raben: Good morning. The first question is, how far will this $120,000, will this take you through the whole process? This is for commercial and industrial trending, is that correct?

Jonathan Weaver: Correct, commercial and industrial trending, we’re going to do residential ourselves, the townships will. So we’re just asking for help. There’s some concerns, this past process, we had three different categories where it was hard to get it accomplished. So I guess the biggest complaints and worries with the township is time and the know-how of how to do commercial. And we really would like to learn how to do it so we can eventually do it, because I feel like, as Assessors, we should be able to do our job.

Councilmember Raben: Yeah, I mean, this isn’t, don’t get me wrong, this isn’t an unusual request. I mean, we’ve paid to have trending for commercial and industrial in the past but I was just curious, I don’t recall spending maybe quite this much. So this will be, probably, the only appropriation we’ll see to complete the commercial trending, is that...

Jonathan Weaver: Last year’s price, I believe, was 127,900, so –

Councilmember Raben: Is that what it was?

Jonathan Weaver: So it is pricey. Can we beat it down? I don’t know, I’d like to try to. You know, personally, I don’t know if its worth that much, but I’m just taking the steps to get permission first, I guess.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, well, I think they’re necessary steps. Okay, that’s the only questions I have.

Jonathan Weaver: Great. Thanks.

President Abell: Mr. Goebel? Wait a minute, Mr. Weaver. I think there’s more questions.

Councilmember Goebel: This will be an annual request?

Jonathan Weaver: We hope not. Last year, I guess maybe that was brought up, too, townships still don’t feel that confident. The problem is we just don’t have as many sales in commercial and industrial, so its tough to learn it. The townships really don’t have time to do field investigations. We’re probably going to have about 4 to 5,000 appeals here coming up in the next couple of months, so there’ll be a mountain of that to accomplish. You know, we’d like to get this done by July 1st, so there’s extra pressure there. And, you know, we want to learn. I want to learn, I want to be hands-on, and I want to know what’s going on, so we hope not.

Councilmember Goebel: We appreciate that, but I thought two years ago when we made a similar appropriation, we were told then that we would be capable of handling our own assessment.

Jonathan Weaver: We’re doing residential. I wasn’t here two years ago. You know, I’m just listening to the concerns of the township assessors.

Councilmember Winnecke: Jonathon, who will do the trending work on the commercial side?

Jonathan Weaver: I don’t know yet. Last year we had Appraisal Research do it. The two people that worked for Appraisal Research left and started their own company.

Councilmember Winnecke: Are they local?

Jonathan Weaver: No. I have three people in mind, three different companies, so at this point I don’t know who is going to do it.

Councilmember Winnecke: Are any of them local?

Jonathan Weaver: I am leaning toward one who has done Warrick County and they were on time, it was done correctly, and yeah, they live in Newburgh.

Councilmember Winnecke: For commercial trending, does it make sense to have local knowledge?

Jonathan Weaver: Probably. But I guess there’s no local company that does trending as far as I know. Of course, we’re going to, I guess, bid it out and we’ll find out, but...

Councilmember Winnecke: Okay, thank you.

President Abell: No other questions from the Councilmen?

Councilmember Shetler: Marsha?

President Abell: Mr. Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: You mentioned that you would like to get the Assessors trained in doing this, but are we taking any steps towards that? I mean, in this Contractual money, will we be training our people in any way or taking that next step?

Jonathan Weaver: Well, the contract hasn’t been set yet, but, you know, I would – yeah, I like to be hands-on. I like to know what’s going on, and, you know, personally, I’d like to be part of that process and I’m sure I can get the townships to do that.

Councilmember Shetler: Alright. Thank you.

President Abell: Any other questions? Mr. Weaver, I have a question. Does the state not offer any training for Assessors? I know we pay some Assessors extra money for different levels that they acquire. Not having been an Assessor, I don’t know what those levels entail, but do they not offer any training for this commercial trending?

Jonathan Weaver: Well, we have that huge book. You know, they do offer a level I and a level II certification. You know, the complaint, just, you know, not to call anybody out, but I guess the knowledge isn’t there with some of the townships to assess. They don’t know how to do a T J Maxx or a Whirlpool or a Berry Plastics. So that’s what they need to learn.

President Abell: Yeah, I think we’d all agree that they need to learn so that we won’t be spending this kind of money. I don’t think we’re going to recoup this in taxes. Thank you.

Councilmember Goebel: Is this money already set in in the Reassessment fund, so its not actually going to raise taxes at all, right?

President Abell: I think that’s -- yes, its not coming out of tax money, no.

Jonathan Weaver: Is that it?

President Abell: Any other questions? Thank you, Mr. Weaver. Mr. Raben, I don’t think, did you put that in the form of a motion? I don’t think we had a second.

Councilmember Raben: Well, I will make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: No.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: No.

REASSESSMENT/COUNTY ASSESSOR            REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion carried 5-2/Councilmembers Goebel and Abell opposed)

SURVEYOR CORNER PERPETUATION

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next under Surveyor, we have PERF – it’s the Corner Perpetuation Fund, in the amount of $660, I move approval.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

SURVEYOR CORNER PERPETUATION             REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

SHERIFF MISDEMEANOR HOUSING

Councilmember Raben: Sheriff Misdemeanor Housing, we have a request for Civilian Overtime in the amount of 5,000 and Union Overtime in the amount of 5,000, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Leader: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

SHERIFF MISDEMEANOR HOUSING                  REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

PUBLIC DEFENDER

Councilmember Raben: The Public Defender, the request for repeal has been withdrawn, I’ll move that that be set in at zero.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

PUBLIC DEFENDER                                             REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS                              CUMULATIVE BRIDGE

DIVISION OF FAMILY & CHILDREN                    LOCAL ROADS & STREETS

REASSESSMENT/COUNTY ASSESSOR            SUPERIOR COURT (LATE)

DRUG & ALCOHOL DEFERRAL (LATE)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next, Madam President, I’m going to move that we take all the transfers as listed including the two late transfers, one for Superior Court and one for Drug and Alcohol Deferral. I move that we accept it as listed.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS                              REQUESTED       APPROVED

CUMULATIVE BRIDGE                                         REQUESTED       APPROVED

DIVISION OF FAMILY & CHILDREN                    REQUESTED       APPROVED

LOCAL ROADS & STREETS                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

REASSESSMENT/COUNTY ASSESSOR            REQUESTED       APPROVED

SUPERIOR COURT                                               REQUESTED       APPROVED

DRUG & ALCOHOL DEFERRAL                          REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: And last, Madam President, we have the amendments to the Salary Ordinance. Our Executive Assistant just passed around all the amendments, its quite lengthy. If you would, please turn to page two, under Burdette, and cross that out. That was not approved today. And I’ll move that we accept pages one through four and be entered into the minutes. I make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Abell: Under Old Business, you will note that we have the Ordinance Approving the Acquisition of Real Estate, we are still waiting, I think, for some information on that. So we will keep it on the agenda so that it can come to vote when you have that ready for us, Commissioner President.

President Abell: Under New Business, we have the BKD contract. I think everyone has seen it. I certainly hope you have. We’ve been looking at it several times. Mr. Ahlers has worked with BKD on this contract to make sure the wording is correct and I understand this is fine, the final? So I would entertain a motion to approve.

Councilmember Winnecke: So moved.

Councilmember Raben: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Councilmember Sutton: Question.

President Abell: I’m sorry, Mr. Sutton, go ahead.

Councilmember Sutton: On page three of this, there is a clause that, it’s the third paragraph from the bottom, and that is the termination of services. And what is indicated for here is asking for a 90 day advance notice if either party decides they wanted to go their separate ways on this and I guess when I’m comparing that up to a clause earlier where in that first paragraph, same page, where if they aren’t paid within 30 days, they could suspend or terminate services and so forth. Ninety days just seems to be – seems like thirty days would be adequate as opposed to ninety. Or do I have a different one?

Jeff Ahlers: Mr. Sutton, there should be on your desk, the latest version. That was one of the things that I had them change was, instead of a ninety day notice, it’s a thirty day termination notice. And then the other thing that we had them take out is in the first draft there was a couple of paragraphs asking the county to indemnify them for any mistakes or errors, and I had them remove that. So those things have been corrected.

Councilmember Sutton: Well, good.

Jeff Ahlers: But you have a good eye.

Councilmember Sutton: Okay, I’ve got an old copy here. So I just wanted to make sure we were consistent there. It just seems like that would be fair to the county, that that would be in line with the other parts of the contract.

President Abell: Any other questions? Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Abell: Next is the Convention & Visitors Bureau resolution on pending legislation raising the room tax and I see Marilee is here. Would you want to address this?

Marilee Fowler: Good morning. I’m Marilee Fowler with the Evansville Convention & Visitors Bureau. And as you know, last summer we conducted a sports study to analyze the facilities that we currently have and what we need to do to either improve them, build new, so that we can attract more sports championship tournaments. Now when we do this, it’s a win-win, because all of our children get to enjoy these on a day to day basis but it also is a great opportunity to bring these tournaments to Evansville. And we’ve certainly seen that success with Goebel Soccer Complex. So the hoteliers passed a resolution to support raising their industry tax to make this happen, that we’d have the money to do this. So we’re asking your support to do that same thing, to support the legislation that would help us raise the Innkeepers Tax by two percent which would be dedicated to our Tourism Capital Development, which is a fund that only goes to brick and mortar projects, that would give us the resources to build some new sports facilities. We’d probably be starting with baseball and softball fields. So I ask for your support today.

President Abell: Would anyone like to ask any questions?

Councilmember Goebel: I’d just like to make a comment. I think your work and the hoteliers to bring this about for our community, its definitely a very positive step in the right direction, wholesome activity and makes Evansville a more attractive place, and I don’t see how we can do anything but say yes to this. Thank you, Marilee.

Marilee Fowler: Thank you.

President Abell: Mr. Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Have we been given a copy of the legislation that’s –

Marilee Fowler: The way the resolution we’ve presented is, the way it was written, it was very simple, it was just to increase the Vanderburgh County Innkeepers Tax by two percent, which would go to Tourism Capital Development, which then, in turn, would go to build these sports facilities. Its House Bill 1263. As it happens in Indianapolis, this has gotten very complicated because several other communities wanted to amend our bill to add an increase in their Innkeepers Tax as well. And unfortunately, that bill did not get read because of that, so at this point in time, we’re working with our Indianapolis constituent to see if they can amend a bill either another House Bill or a Senate Bill, to see if we can get that legislation in there. So its gotten very complicated, but we’re still positive in hoping that this can get passed in this session. But it was a very simple bill.

Councilmember Raben: Well, I guess my concern, and I addressed it in our meeting, is that we remain the authority for which distributes those taxes and how they’re split and what they’re dedicated toward. So, I mean, I’ll support this resolution so long as the language within the bill hasn’t changed substantially or has any impact on our control of those funds.

Marilee Fowler: Correct, that’s exactly how it will be worded, its very simple, and you will be the deciding group that will make that vote, when we finally get the money in place and determine that we will build these sports complexes. We will be back to you for that support.

President Abell: Any other questions? Did you meet with everyone? Did everyone have the opportunity to review everything?

Marilee Fowler: Yes.

President Abell: Okay, so everyone knows everything that’s on the table. I’d just like to say, as I told you in our meeting, I have not always been in favor of some of the things that we’ve done here in Evansville, but I’m always in favor of things for children, and I think this is a great project and I commend you for your work on it. Thank you.

Marilee Fowler: We feel very strongly about that also.

President Abell: We need to take a vote in support of this resolution and I would entertain a motion.

Councilmember Leader: I so move.

President Abell: Do I have a second?

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Abell: Next, the Museum Board appointment, Lisa Foster has agreed to serve on the Museum Board for us this year. And we still need an appointment for the West Side Home Improvement. I am hoping Mr. Raben can come up with some ideas for an appointment for that. Since I don’t live on the west side, I don’t know a lot of people on the west side.

President Abell: And that takes us to the preliminary resolution of the Vanderburgh County Council Declaring an Economic Revitalization Area for Tax Phase In for the Vanderburgh Industrial Park, Lot 10, Creative Press, Inc. And as the audience should know, we had extensive discussion on this last week and we welcome the parties back to our meeting this morning. Welcome, gentlemen.

Phillip Enoch: Good morning. I’m Phillip Enoch, this is Todd Wahl, the controller, Creative Press. We met with the finance committee, as you guys well know, and our business is being relocated much like that of Brake Supply. We’re here to answer any questions you might have.

President Abell: Does anyone have any questions? I would like to comment that I did request from you or your attorney last week, an estimation of what the property tax impact is regarding this, and thank you for providing me with these. I’d like to share them with the Council, that their current taxes, if they stayed where they are would be substantially less than what their taxes are going to be at the end of a ten-year period with this new increase. In fact, over the ten-year period, they will pay probably another $75,000. So I appreciate those figures. Thank you so much. And if no one else has any questions, I’ll entertain a motion.

Councilmember Winnecke: So moved.

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Can I ask what we’re actually moving on? Are we moving on the length of ...

President Abell: Just a moment. It is the same as...

Jeff Ahlers: What she is referring to is on paragraph four, the latest version that should be on your desk should have March 31, 2009. I think the prior one said 2008, is that correct?

Rob Schaefer: (Inaudible -- comments not made from the microphone)

President Abell: Would you come to the microphone please and clarify that for our record? Thank you.

Rob Schaefer: The resolution did say December 31st, ‘08, and it was changed to March 31st, ‘09. And that is not the length of deduction, that is the amount of time that that parcel is considered an economic revitalization area. You do need to determine the number of years for the personal property and real estate length of deduction.

Jeff Ahlers: Do that on confirming or now?

Rob Schaefer: You can do it now. There’s a blank on the preliminary resolution.

Jeff Ahlers: I just didn’t know if you wanted two separate votes. Okay, is everybody clear?

Councilmember Raben: No, I don’t know that I am. So this vote is for...

Jeff Ahlers: To declare it an economic revitalization zone, and the only point was that Sandie wanted to clarify and make sure everybody understood they had the latest version that had the date of March 31, 2009 as opposed to the prior one, was the initial comment. Secondly, what you’ll have to do is, after voting on this, then you’ll need to set in the number of years.

President Abell: That’s in section five of this.

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

President Abell: Okay.

Jeff Ahlers: Where were we in the voting? Do we want to start over, or is everybody clear?

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Abell: And now I’d like for someone to set in the years that they would like to have this. Mr. Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Madam President, I would move that we set in the personal property phase-in for nine years and the real property for ten years as recommended in the scoring guideline.

President Abell: Is there a second to that?

Councilmember Shetler: I’ll second.

President Abell: Does anyone have any questions? Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: That was nine years on the real property?

Jeff Ahlers: Well, there’s only one place on section five that needs to be set in.

Councilmember Sutton: Yeah, that’s what I was looking at here, you just have one –

Jeff Ahlers: Does Rob need to comment on that? Just make sure everybody is clear what they’re voting on?

Rob Schaefer: Right, section five lists real estate improvements and acquisition of equipment, but there is only one line. That can easily be changed to two lines and make the real property length ten and the personal property nine, if you want to, or if you want to make both ten...its whatever you want to do. It scored ten for real property and nine for equipment.

Councilmember Sutton: Yeah, we should be consistent with our scoring so that we don’t have any problems later on down the road with that.

Councilmember Winnecke: So just for clarification, my motion was nine years on personal property and ten years on the real property.

Councilmember Sutton: Who was the seconder on that?

Teri Lukeman: I think Tom was the seconder.

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Abell: Just one moment. Do you need that signed? Can we...

Teri Lukeman: This actually is just signed by the Council president, so if you have Mr. Schaefer amend that, then he can get it to you for your signature.

President Abell: Mr. Schaefer, can you amend it and get it to me for signature then?

Rob Schaefer: Yes.

President Abell: Okay. Thank you. Is there any other business to come before the County Council?

Councilmember Shetler: Madam Chair? I’d like to check to see, on everyone’s calendar if April the 25th would work. I’d like to try to set up the Personnel Study Committee on a more regular basis if we can. And I was hoping to do this on a quarterly basis, but time has kind of gotten away a little bit here and then you’ve got Easter, and then there’s a few other things going, and April the 25th appears to be the earliest date possible at this moment, so I’d like to do that following our regular Personnel & Finance Committee meeting. If that’s not a problem.

President Abell: That’s fine. Sandie, would you notify the people that need to know?

Sandie Deig: Yes.

President Abell: If there’s no further business, I’ll entertain a motion to adjourn. I think Mr. Raben moved.

Councilmember Sutton: I’m sorry, before we adjourn, there is one small thing, Madam President. There is a local church around here that is Line Street Church of Christ, they are adding a new education and recreation facility onto their existing building, and they had written me a letter asking if in some way or form, if the Council could write a letter of commendation or just recognizing that commitment to the community. And what I’d like to do, if I could prepare that and if we could have some signatures on that maybe from yourself and maybe myself as well, on that letter that recognizes what they’ve done in terms of adding value with youth programming to the community. They’ve got a big conference that’s coming in and they wanted to make sure that the public officials were duly recognized in that, so I just wanted to bring that to your attention.

President Abell: Where is this church and what are they – can you give us a little information about it?

Councilmember Sutton: The name of the church is Line Street Church of Christ. Their pastor has been here about three years, and done a phenomenal job with adding, like I said, just the number of programs there to really help youth kind of get on track and they’re going to have an after school tutoring program as a result of having this new addition onto it. And they just felt like it would be a good thing to have the community as a part of it, and along with elected officials supporting what they’re doing. And they’re not asking for any dollars, just merely a letter of support.

President Abell: I think that would be a great idea. If you’ll prepare that, we’ll do that.

Councilmember Sutton: Okay, well thank you.

President Abell: Now could we have another motion to adjourn?

Councilmember Raben: So moved.

President Abell: We’re adjourned.

(There being no further business to come before the board, the meeting was adjourned at 9:27 a.m.)

VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

        President Marsha Abell               Vice President Lloyd Winnecke

       Councilmember Jim Raben           Councilmember Mike Goebel

        Councilmember Tom Shetler         Councilmember Royce Sutton

        Councilmember Donna Leader

Recorded and transcribed by Teri Lukeman