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Minutes May 3, 2000
The Vanderburgh County Council met in session the 3rd day of May, 2000 in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex. The meeting was called to order at 3:42 p.m. by County Council President Curt Wortman. President Wortman: We'll proceed right
on with the opening of the meeting and have a roll call.
President Wortman: Would we all stand and pledge allegiance, please, the audience and the Council? (Pledge of allegiance was given.)
President Wortman: Number four will be the approval of the minutes from the April 5th meeting, 2000. Do I have a motion to that? Councilmember Raben: So moved. Councilmember Hoy: Second. President Wortman: Mr. Raben and Mr. Hoy seconded it. Any discussion? All those in favor raise your right hand. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. (Motion unanimously approved 7-0)
COUNTY ASSESSOR President Wortman: Okay, we'll get right into the Appropriation Ordinance and the first on the agenda is the County Assessor. Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, I am going to move approval of 1090-3530 in the amount of $8,000. Councilmember Sutton: Second. President Wortman: Got a motion and a second. Any discussion? Call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. COUNTY ASSESSOR REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 7-0) VOTER REGISTRATION President Wortman: Next on the agenda Voter Registration, Mr. Raben. Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, I'll move approval of 1220-3370 Computers in the amount of $2,500. Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: Got a second Mrs. Smith. Any discussion? Call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. VOTER REGISTRATION REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 7-0) AREA PLAN COMMISSION President Wortman: Next on the agenda, Mr. Raben, is Area Plan Commission. Councilmember Raben: I'll move approval of 1240-4230 and 1240-4250 in the amount of $28,500. President Wortman: Do I have a second? Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: Any discussion? Call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?
Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. AREA PLAN COMMISSION REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 7-0) COUNTY COMMISSIONERS President Wortman: Okay, next will be the County Commissioners, Mr. Raben. Councilmember Raben: Okay, Mr. President, 1300-1300-1300, 1300-1900, 1300-1910 for a total request of $2,547. President Wortman: Do I have a second? Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: Got a second from Mrs. Smith. Any discussion? Call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 7-0) SUPERINTENDENT OF COUNTY BUILDINGS President Wortman: Next will be the Superintendent of County Buildings. If anyone from the audience wonders why we are going through fast, we had a discussion last Wednesday and that's why we are proceeding. We hope we thrashed all those things out. So proceed, Mr. Raben. Councilmember Raben: Superintendent of County Buildings, 1310-1750, 1310-1900 and 1310-1910 for a total of $340. President Wortman: Do I have a second? Councilmember Hoy: Second. President Wortman: Mr. Hoy seconded. Any discussion? No discussion, call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.
Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. SUPERINTENDENT OF CO. BUILDINGS REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 7-0) SUPERIOR COURT President Wortman: Superior Court, Mr. Raben. Councilmember Raben: Okay, Mr. President, 1370-1920, there was some discussion on this last week about there being an ample balance in that account for the present time if not for the next several months, so I am going to move that that be set in at zero. Councilmember Sutton: Second. President Wortman: Motion and a second, Mr. Sutton. Any discussion on that? Call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. SUPERIOR COURT REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 7-0) THE CENTRE President Wortman: Now The Centre, Mr. Raben. Councilmember Raben: Okay, 1440-1750, 1440-1900, 1440-1910 for a total appropriation request of $4,112. President Wortman: Do I have a second? Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: Got a second. Discussion? No discussion, call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. THE CENTRE REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 7-0) COUNTY COUNCIL President Wortman: County Council, Mr. Raben. Councilmember Raben: Okay, 1480-3370 Computer in the amount of $3,825. President Wortman: Do I have a second? Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: Any discussion? Call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. COUNTY COUNCIL REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 7-0) 911 EMERGENCY FUND President Wortman: That completes the General Fund requests, now we'll go into the 911 Emergency Fund appropriation request. Mr. Raben? Councilmember Raben: Account 3290-3530 Contractual Services in the amount of $23,000. I'll move approval. President Wortman: Any second? Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: Got a second from Mrs. Smith. Any discussion? Call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes.
Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. 911 EMERGENCY FUND REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 7-0) CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU TOURISM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT President Wortman: Now the Convention & Visitors Bureau on the special matching grants. Mr. Raben? Councilmember Raben: Okay, 3570-3994 Special/Matching Grants in the amount of $15,000; then I am going to go ahead and take the Capital Development Fund which is 3600-4064, these are the improvements for the 4-H grounds in the amount of $248,418 and I'll move approval of both lines. President Wortman: Do I have a second? Councilmember Hoy: Second. President Wortman: Mr. Hoy seconded. That last request going to the great town of Darmstadt, so I thought I'd bring it up. Any discussion? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. One question, what balance would be left in that Capital Development Fund, Capital Improvement Fund after this request? President Wortman: State your name please. Dolli Kight: Dolli Kight with the Convention & Visitors Bureau. I believe it's right around $750,000. I don't have it in front of me but I'd be happy to get that for you. Councilmember Sutton: Thank you. Councilmember Hoy: My question is, are they building a pedestrian mall in downtown Darmstadt? President Wortman: No sir, this improves the road so everybody can get there. Councilmember Hoy: Thank you. President Wortman: Okay, that completes that. Now then, Legal Aid. Oh, we haven't voted. I am getting in a hurry here. Now then, any discussion on that? If not, call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Smith: When you mention Darmstadt, he gets so excited he can't even think. Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.
Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. Poor Darmstadt. Okay, thank you. CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU REQUESTED APPROVED
TOURISM CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 7-0) LEGAL AID/UNITED WAY President Wortman: Okay, now Legal Aid. We'll get on the right track. Councilmember Raben: Okay, Mr. President, I will move approval of accounts 4290-4210 and 4290-3730 for a grand total of $13, 000. President Wortman: Do I have a second? Councilmember Hoy: Second. President Wortman: Mr. Hoy seconded. Any discussion? Call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. LEGAL AID/UNITED WAY REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)
REASSESSMENT/PIGEON TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR President Wortman: Okay, we've got three transfers. The Assessor and the Auditor and Area Plan. Do you want to take that, Mr. Raben? Councilmember Raben: I can certainly do that. First is the Pigeon Township Assessor's Office and it's a transfer of $3,300 from Printing Plat Sheets to Radio/Pagers and Travel/Mileage and then we have Legal Aid which would be Examination of Records to Office Furniture in the amount of $700, along with a late transfer for the County Auditor - Councilmember Smith: Are we taking those all at one time? Councilmember Raben: I can split them up. Councilmember Smith: I think we want to split them up. Councilmember Raben: The first two together okay? Councilmember Smith: That was one that I had a question about. That's for the Reassessment. Was we not going to okay any more money? I know that's a transfer, but until we knew something else from the state. Councilmember Raben: Okay, let's stop with the Reassessment. Mr. President, I'll make that in the form of a motion and we'll come back to Legal Aid. President Wortman: Okay, you're going to make the Reassessment from Pigeon Township by itself? Councilmember Raben: Uh-huh. President Wortman: Okay, and you made a motion. Now have we got a second? Councilmember Smith: I'll second it. President Wortman: Okay, now discussion. Councilmember Smith: But we had talked about, we had given them six months' money, but we wasn't going to okay any more or anything until after we found out something from the state. Is that still standing or is that your - Councilmember Raben: No, I mean, I for one am all for it outside of the fact that this isn't an appropriation, it's a transfer. But I would certainly entertain not approving this if - Councilmember Smith: I don't have a problem with it, but you had said we weren't going to okay any more until we knew something else. President Wortman: Okay, I might insert this - Councilmember Raben: I was speaking in terms of appropriations, but I mean, if this body would like to throw in transfers, I'll certainly support everybody on that. President Wortman: Okay, now there was a memo sent out. They're going to let it play out for six months, what they've got and that's it until we get direction from the state, no more money. If people have to be laid off or everything stops, when they're done, they're done. They can go on; if it takes them an extra month and they've got the money, that's it. Otherwise, it's Katie bar the door. Jim, you talked to Mr. Hatfield didn't you or not? Councilmember Raben: No, but I - Betty, - Councilmember Smith: I mean, it's just a transfer within but I didn't know we were going to make any changes. Councilmember Raben: Okay, I certainly never interpreted it as excluding transfers. Councilmember Smith: Okay. Councilmember Raben: You're exactly right, Betty. I mean, they are going to have to take some control over their budgets and at some point they're going to have to stop spending this money because once we're ever given a direction on exactly how and what we're going to do as far as Reassessment, they're going to need every penny they get if there's any major changes in the work that they've gone through to this point. Councilmember Bassemier: I think they're just trying to - Councilmember Hoy: Who is liaison to Pigeon Township? I just wondered if - Councilmember Smith: And see, I didn't know anything about it until I see it here. Councilmember Hoy: I was just looking for clarification and there's nobody here from the office. Councilmember Smith: It's a transfer and I don't have a problem other than I thought we were going to stop after that. And no one told me anything about this. Councilmember Bassemier: I think they're just wanting some money just to shift around and to do their job better, what we appropriated for. I just think - Councilmember Raben: Yeah, but what Betty's point is - Councilmember Bassemier: I agree, but it's not costing us anything. Councilmember Raben: We discussed no further appropriations and I think that's still the intent of this body - Councilmember Bassemier: I understand, I agree. Councilmember Raben: - but this is
a transfer.
President Wortman: Yeah, this is strictly a transfer, so there's no new money involved in it, see. Alright, we've got a motion and second. Any discussion? Call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. REASSESSMENT/PIGEON TWP ASSESSOR REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 7-0) LEGAL AID/UNITED WAY President Wortman: Now Legal Aid. Councilmember Raben: Okay, Mr. President, I'll move to approve the $700 transfer as listed. President Wortman: Got a second? Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: Okay, any discussion on that? Call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. LEGAL AID/UNITED WAY REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)
AUDITOR President Wortman: Now the County Auditor, Mr. Raben. Councilmember Raben: Okay, I'll approve the transfer as described on the late transfer sheet. President Wortman: Okay, do I have a second? Councilmember Winnecke: Second. President Wortman: Got a second. Any discussion on this? Councilmember Smith: I have a discussion. I thought we only took late transfers if it was an emergency and Suzanne filed this this morning. She said she had an okay from you. Are we going to take them up to the day from now on from everybody or are we showing partiality? Now this is not an emergency and I've got a problem with it. President Wortman: Yeah, we approve a lot of emergency transfers - Councilmember Smith: But an emergency. This is not an emergency. President Wortman: This is for the Council to decide if it is an emergency, that way we'll get it on the floor and then it's up to... Councilmember Hoy: I don't speak in opposition, but this came out of the most recent Job Study and it's my understanding that, and, Mr. Bassemier, you chair that committee, that there was a fairly sizable list of changes coming out of that Job Study which we will consider, I would assume, next month. I would like to see this considered next month with all the rest of them. I don't see it as an emergency and, like I say, I am not speaking in opposition, I'd just like for us to do all of those at the same time as a point of an orderly way of doing business, that's all. President Wortman: Anybody else got any special - Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. We were, I think, the Auditor's Office, they were trying to get this before. We kind of held up this Job Study meeting for another department because they were being delayed and I wanted really to have this meeting a lot sooner than we had just a few days ago and I think it's justifiable to go ahead and have this late transfer because we're holding this up and I just want to point out to everybody, this did pass the Job Study and I don't see why we should delay it another month. I appreciate it. She waited several months here to get this through Job Study and I think we need to go ahead and get it over with if you don't mind. Councilmember Smith: Why couldn't we do it all at one time because, like I said, there's several of these people that wasn't on the Job Study committee and why appropriate this money or transfer this money when it hasn't been okayed by the Council? And it was filed this morning. Councilmember Bassemier: I really think in the past we've taken other departments and we called it emergency transfers. It's really crucial I think to her department to go ahead and get her books and get this over with. I see the Area Plan also is on here and I don't see this as really what we're calling an emergency. It's just in order for her to run her department more efficiently is the reason why she's asking for this right away. She's got to move these people into these positions and give them their job assignment. Councilmember Smith: She can't move them into those positions until they have been passed by the Council. Councilmember Bassemier: I know, but she's wanting to do this - Councilmember Smith: And I'd like to ask when she filed the Area Plan Commission report? When did you file that, Miss Cunningham? Barbara Cunningham: (Inaudible - comments not made from microphone) Councilmember Smith: But it wasn't filed today? Barbara Cunningham: No, it was not. Councilmember Smith: Okay. That's the reason I wanted them taken separate. President Wortman: Okay, let me ask you this. Suzanne, would it mess things up if it was deferred a month? Would that mess you up in your department? I know you want to get to going. Suzanne Crouch: No, it wouldn't mess me up and certainly what is an emergency to a lot of offices may not be viewed as an emergency by Council. We have taken late transfers in our office up to an hour before meetings and perhaps Council would like me to go back and come up with a list of all the late transfers so that you can kind of examine it. When I looked at your jobs and regulations, you know, your kind of study guide that you had, there wasn't anything about late transfers other than it needed to be approved by either the president, the vice president or the finance chair so I called Mr. Wortman this morning because these are some major changes. I've been in contact with most of the Councilmembers because I didn't want it to come as a surprise and I would like to go ahead and move forward and get my office people in their positions and get it done. I didn't mean to cause - Councilmember Smith: Suzanne, we haven't even okayed the position on the Council yet, so why couldn't that all be done at the same time? Suzanne Crouch: I am on here. I don't know if the Prosecutor is from Job Study or not. It's on for today on the amended agenda for the amendments to the salary ordinance and we both were at the Job Study. Councilmember Winnecke: Mr. President, in my mind maybe compromise might be too strong a word here, but I would think we could approve this today and going forward sit down and clarify what exactly a late transfer consists of, what an emergency transfer consists of in the eyes of the Council and we know going forward what the parameters are. I would see there is some prudence to moving on with what the Auditor has presented for us today and try to clarify it going forward. President Wortman: I think most of my decisions have been based on judgement, you know. And I guess use these words, you try to keep peace in the family, you know what I mean? A lot of people make mistakes, some of them come late, some forget and we all do that. If we're going to work and we're cornered, we're going to make mistakes. If we don't work we ain't going to make a mistake, so we won't doing nothing, you know what I mean? So that's the way I kind of clarify it. But it's up to the Council. There's six others of us here and I make seven. Councilmember Hoy: My concern about it has to do with orderly procedure only and that's all. And I'd fear, and I would like from the Auditor a list of those late transfers. I've been bothered by a lot of them and probably should have spoken up sooner. I am not so much bothered by the lateness as I am about the process. I would like to see us look at all of what the Job Study presents to us, at the same time have the job descriptions before us and then vote and that has been our procedure. If we've violated that and I voted, then I would be critical of myself and maybe should be, but that's how I am feeling right now and that we should follow the procedures we have laid out. We've paid a lot of money and we've worked very hard to have the Job Study that we have and the categories that we have. We hired an excellent firm to do that and the purpose of that was so that when we made changes we proceeded in a good, well-informed orderly process and I don't think another month will hurt this. And that if we follow that we'll be much happier with ourselves and should we vote yes on this, that should make every officer in this building happier that we are sticking to our processes. Otherwise, there are a lot of department heads who might want to do the same thing and I don't want your committee deluged with this kind of thing, Mr. Bassemier, and that worries me. That's all I have to say. President Wortman: We've got a motion on the floor and a second on that. And that was for approval of this. Now, anybody want to comment any more on it on this discussion? And Mr. Hoy, he mentioned the transfer so - Councilmember Bassemier: Well, I am kind of afraid here. I supported this on Job Study and I am really kind of afraid if - the way Mr. Hoy - I really feel like he's - I just don't want to hurt the vote here by not waiting for 30 days. I am just kind of worried here. I sure don't want to change anybody's opinion today against it because they want a little bit more time to study it, I am just - Mr. Raben, can you help me out here? Councilmember Raben: I might also, I mean, I am sure the Auditor's Office is probably willing to work with us in any form, but again, everybody else that was approved yesterday that is taking their request in the form of a transfer had the same opportunity. The reason there is probably not a lot of others is because they are going to require appropriations which take - you don't make an emergency appropriation, you have to file those by the 15th of each month and had there been a lot of other requests that went through Job Study yesterday that are as simple as a transfer, I am sure there would have been several other departments here today as well. And the reason this one does not require an appropriation is because there is a position that has been basically eliminated. There is a position that's not filled, that's not going to be filled. Councilmember Bassemier: Well, I know one of the main reasons I support it was it was going to save the taxpayers $35,000. Is that number correct? Yeah, it's going to save money, it's not going to cost us. Councilmember Raben: I know when I served as president, it wasn't uncommon to approve a transfer the day before or the day of and I can't recall what departments. I certainly don't recall what politics the departments were, so I mean, really and truthfully, there is no reason not to approve this request today. Suzanne Crouch: And would you, on the salary ordinance amendments, the Sheriff, the Auditor and the Prosecutor, we would all just be withdrawn until next month? Sandie Deig: Not the Sheriff. Suzanne Crouch: Well, the Sheriff was the week before. Sandie Deig: This is a longevity... Suzanne Crouch: So the Prosecutor and the Auditor would just be pulled off the salary ordinance amendment? Councilmember Bassemier: No, I think we're going on with it, aren't we? We've got a motion. Councilmember Raben: I see no reason not to go and act on all the requests. Councilmember Bassemier: Have we had a motion and a second? President Wortman: Yeah, motion and a second. We're in discussion. Councilmember Bassemier: Okay. President Wortman: Anybody else got any comments? Call the roll please for approval of the Auditor's transfer from and to. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: I voted for this in the Job Study meeting but I don't consider this an emergency. We haven't okayed the positions for the full Council and I vote no. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: No. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes, so it passes. AUDITOR REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion carried 5-2/Councilmembers Smith & Hoy opposed) AREA PLAN President Wortman: Area Plan. Councilmember Raben: Okay, Mr. President, I move approval of the transfer in the amount of $300 as listed and I make that in the form of a motion. President Wortman: Do I have a second? Councilmember Winnecke: Second. President Wortman: Okay, got a second. Any discussion on this? Call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. AREA PLAN REQUESTED APPROVED
(Motion unanimously approved 7-0) President Wortman: Now we go down to New Business. Councilmember Sutton: Mr. President, before you move on to New Business, real quickly, I think Betty does bring up a very good point. The request was good. I think it's a good thing, but I think in terms of the point that she's really trying to make is communicating that message to the officeholders in terms of what we term an emergency transfer or what is urgent. I think we need to maybe address that. We have a number of things that we have on our desks that we have to try to address and I think we were aware of the process in terms of what the Auditor was trying to present to us in terms of what it would ultimately do, but maybe the swiftness of when it was presented to us on this meeting. I think maybe we anticipated it would be the next meeting. So maybe when we think about emergency transfers, emergency requests, defining maybe what emergency is. If no one is bleeding, no one is dying, no one is limping or crying, then maybe we don't call that an emergency request. So just maybe food for thought. I don't know if we think about a memo that we issue out to the department heads. They are clearly aware of when our deadline is and I think they respect that for the most part. But like I said, just the word emergency or urgent, maybe we need to give some, need to address that. President Wortman: And in the past they have always gotten hold of me. Seems like I am always available, they catch me one way or another and I make a kind of a judgement and I show no partiality from a political standpoint or anything and some just forget and you almost have to get it in right quick, see. Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, I don't know where the term emergency transfer even entered into this today. I don't know whether Curt said it or Betty said it, but I always treated these, I mean, there are emergency transfers and there are such things as emergency appropriations, but I mean, if you so much as look at your agenda, there is an asterisk behind two requests and at the bottom it states late transfer. It doesn't say emergency transfer, just late transfer. We've always accepted late transfers under a number of circumstances. I mean, this really isn't anything different than - Councilmember Smith: Jim, you make up your rules as you go along. If it's an emergency, it's an emergency and I feel like if it's an emergency, there's a hole in the street that has to be fixed or something like that, not something that hasn't been okayed beforehand by this Council. Councilmember Raben: Again, Betty, we've had late transfers as long as I've been on this Council and there's been transfers that have been termed as emergency or appropriations that have been termed as emergency but I don't, again, this isn't even footnoted as being an emergency transfer, simply a late transfer. Councilmember Smith: You always get out-argued when you're the minority member and I realize that. Councilmember Hoy: Mr. President, I want to make clear my no vote has to do with the fact that the job committee just met and I just feel, I'll say my point again, that I don't see this as, aside from the word emergency or anything else, I just think it's a procedural matter. What we've done too often as a Council is to push our rules and to push our procedures and this probably, I haven't had a chance to look at it, I happened to be very heavily involved yesterday as some folks were in a primary election and that occupied a lot of my hours. So I really haven't had a chance to look at it. I haven't looked at job descriptions and that's my only objection. It is not an appropriation, I realize that. It looks like it's going to eliminate a job. It may be the best thing since sliced bread, but I don't think it's good procedure and we've set up a procedure book and I think we probably need to develop some more procedures and that's my objection and I just - and then we'll pass these things and say well, the next time. And I've seen us do it on tax abatements left and right. Well, the next time we won't grant this or something or other, and there's no next time on that issue. And that's my only objection. Councilmember Bassemier: Mr. President, yeah, I'd just like to say though, I don't think any of us went in in the dark on this out of the Auditor's Office. I know Ms. Crouch contacted every one of us, kind of explained, gave us handouts, and then everybody had the opportunity to go to the Job Study meeting which was Monday to ask any questions and I appreciate what Mr. Hoy is saying, but to be honest with you, I was more up to date on this one than I have been on the other ones that I served as the chairman of the Job Study and I know there was a lot of work that went into this. I tried to get hold of Mr. Deisher to see if he could sit in on this one just for any questions, but anyway, I think we all were pretty well informed on this one. I am not saying we wasn't in the dark and I appreciate what you're saying, Phil, but there was a lot of - Councilmember Hoy: Well, I was contacted by the office. I did not know until after that that we were going to get a late transfer on it. I assumed, when I first heard about this, that it would come up with all the rest, and again, Mr. Bassemier - Councilmember Bassemier: I understand. Councilmember Hoy: That's why I really
wish we had waited because I don't like voting no on something that I might
like to vote yes on later.
President Wortman: Okay. With that all settled now, we'll go to number seven, the Salary Ordinance amendments. Mr. Raben. Councilmember Raben: Okay, we have several today: first is County Commissioners Overtime line 1300-1300 be set in as previously adopted in the amount of $2,250; Superintendent of County Buildings Clothing Allowance line 1310-1750 be set in as previously adopted in the amount of $292; The Centre Clothing Allowance line 1440-1750 be set in as previously adopted in the amount of $3,540; Sheriff Community Corrections salary line 36z-1380 be set in at $4,569, and the correction is due to the longevity upgrade; County Auditor, set salary line 1020-1310 in at the rate of a PAT IV Step 3 in the amount of $29,592 and change the position title to Administrative Assistant/Public Information Facilitator, set salary line 1020-1320 in at an annual salary rate at Pat IV Step 2 in the amount of $28,215, and change the position title to Systems Supervisor, set salary line 1020-1390 at an annual rate at COMOT VI Step 4 $28,140 and change the position title to TIF/Tax Sale Clerk; Prosecutor's Office, amend the salary ordinance to Prosecutor DLEP Federal Grant 108T Deputy Prosecutor Mike Perry in at $49,320. That's all I have and I make that in the form of a motion. President Wortman: Do I have a second? Councilmember Sutton: Second. President Wortman: Got a second. Any discussion on the salary ordinance? Call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. I'd like to make one comment, though. I just want to say I just don't want people who voted no for this to feel bad, but I've served on the Job Study as chairman for a couple of years now and this is the first time that anybody has ever came before us and saved tax dollars. It has saved tax dollars, $35,000. And most of the time when they leave that room over there, it usually costs the taxpayers, but this time it actually saved tax dollars. I vote yes on it. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. (Motion unanimously approved 7-0)
President Wortman: Okay, number eight,
any Old Business?
President Wortman: We'll proceed into new business and John Schroder, he was here last Wednesday, is there any questions on the financial report from the Division of Family & Children's Services? PRELIMINARY RESOLUTION OF THE VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL INDIANA TUBE CORPORATION: PROPERTY TAX ABATEMENT FOR REDE-VELOPMENT OR REHABILITATION AND INSTALLATION OF NEW MANUFACTURING EQUIPMENT OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 2100 LEXINGTON AVENUE President Wortman: Okay, if not, we'll move on to B, Preliminary Resolution of the Vanderburgh County Council Property Tax Abatement for the New Manufacturing Equipment Located at 2100 Lexington Avenue, Indiana Tube. Joe Coleman: Good afternoon. My name is Joe Coleman and I am the Program Services Coordinator with the Department of Metropolitan Development. The matter before you is an abatement for the Indiana Tube Corporation and I have a short summary here. The Indiana Tube Corporation is seeking a tax abatement to construct a 23,000 square foot building. They are also going to purchase and install new manufacturing equipment which consists of a serpentine bender, mechanical gear markers, Vickers hardness testers and a Haven cutoff system. I, myself, only recognize one of these pieces of equipment. This new equipment will be housed in a new building. This equipment will be used to fabricate a finished rolled condenser from coiled tubing and strip steel. The entire project has a budget of $3,127,041. They project the number of employees to be hired upon completion as 15, with 199 that will also be retained. The proposed salary ranges for the new position is between $12.94 and $13.33 an hour and they do show in their application that they provide benefits and health, life, and also vacation, holiday and pension benefits. Mr. Gordon Sides who is the Controller with Indiana Tube Corporation is here today also to ask any further questions. President Wortman: Joe, let me ask you a question. Last week Mr. Winnecke proposed that if you could give these tax abatements in advance at our Personnel & Finance meeting which is the last Wednesday of the month, we could kind of rehash that, see, because there's two hearings on them, see. The first of the month we vote on it and then the following month. If you could present that to the Council people I think they could digest it a little better. Does that sound possible? Joe Coleman: I can certainly carry that back to my - President Wortman: Fine, I appreciate that. Thank you. Councilmember Hoy: Mr. President, I'd like to ask Mr. Coleman something, too, not in connection with what was just asked. Are you all making a recommendation on this? Joe Coleman: No, I was given no direction on a recommendation. Councilmember Hoy: I know that Mr. Robling mentioned at the last abatement that came before us that he was not going to make recommendations anymore. Joe Coleman: And that is the instruction I was given. Councilmember Hoy: And I would like - I am not here to shoot the messenger, you're a good friend - but as a Councilman, I object to that because Mr. Robling and your department know the rules for abatement and we know them too, but you deal with them all the time and it's really helpful to us when you all come in and say well, this doesn't really meet what tax abatement was set out to do. I have no dislike for Mr. Robling, he's a friend of mine and my message to him, I thought he might be here today, but I know you'll deliver it, - Joe Coleman: That's exactly right. I'll faithfully deliver it. Councilmember Hoy: I know that. And that is what we would appreciate having those back again because we find those helpful even when we disagree with them. I don't know that we've gone against the recommendations that often. I may have more than anybody else as you well know. But as a Council, I don't really think that's the case. So that's something if you would do that, I would appreciate it. Joe Coleman: I certainly will. Councilmember Sutton: And related to that point, Mr. Coleman, I think that we would like to see those. I echo Councilman Hoy's remarks and in particular, it's not really an issue of whether we may agree or disagree - President Wortman: Mr. Sutton, we're going to interrupt you one more time. (Tape changed) President Wortman: We'll let Mr. Sutton go first. Councilmember Sutton: And the point I was going to make is I think the issue that Mr. Robling has is more of a personal nature, not necessarily related to the business of the county. I think that we all work for the county and represent the county's interests and I think it's in the county's interest that we do have those recommendations from the department that is responsible for and that is very much in charge of economic development from a public perspective. So that particular opinion whether we agree or disagree still needs to be made as a matter of record. So like I said, we would strongly urge that he would not discontinue that because, like I said, we serve at the pleasure of the public not ourselves. Joe Coleman: I just regret that this is a new arena for me and I'm not as fully versed in this as I am in the other arenas that we have dealt with. President Wortman: Well, you can handle it. Just a minute, Joe. The County Council Attorney is going to make a few comments. Jeff Ahlers: Yeah, I was just going to point out in light of the comments that Mr. Winnecke and Mr. Hoy and Mr. Sutton and various Councilmembers have made over the past couple of meetings, there is a resolution of the Vanderburgh County Council re-authorizing a tax abatement program and establishing guidelines that was passed in 1992. And I would note for your reference for your office that under Section 1, Subsection C, it's called staff review and it says that the Department of Metropolitan Development is directed to solicit and review comments from appropriate departments and agencies. The staff shall review each application for completeness and accuracy, gather and provide additional information needed by the Council to make an appropriate decision, analyze the application and supplemental material and comment generally on the acceptability or unacceptability of the request for economic revitalization area declaration. The Department shall also prepare information concerning the projected tax savings for the projects. So just to let you know that this issue obviously was dealt with by this Council and is in a written ordinance passed in `92 which basically encompasses what I hear all of you saying you want. And so you might refer your office to review that resolution. It goes on and tells about all the other procedures that your office has been delegated to review for the accuracy and prepare all the ordinances and that, and I guess as Mr. Hoy said, that's your department's expertise. But I was just going to point out that you might want to review that resolution. It's five or six pages long that sets out the procedure. President Wortman: Anybody else got any questions? If not, thank you, Joe. I'll entertain a motion. Councilmember Smith: So moved. President Wortman: Mrs. Smith. Have I got a second? Councilmember Winnecke: Second. President Wortman: Mr. Winnecke. Any discussion on this? Councilmember Hoy: Are we voting on the abatement itself? President Wortman: Yes sir. Councilmember Hoy: I do have a couple of questions of the applicant. President Wortman: State your name please, sir. Steve Ringeman: Steve Ringeman, Director of Operations at Indiana Tube. Councilmember Hoy: I like your wage range very much, I have no questions about that. On number nine on healthcare insurance, do you pay - Steve Ringeman: This is Gordon Sides, he's our Controller. President Wortman: Would you state your name, sir, in the microphone and have it for the record? Gordon Sides: Gordon Sides, the Controller for Indiana Tube. Councilmember Hoy: Yeah, if you don't speak in the mike, we don't get it on the minutes. Tell me about your healthcare insurance. Does that cover just the individual employee, the family, what are their options and how much do they pay? Gordon Sides: It covers the employee, the family, they pay ten percent and we pay 90%. Councilmember Hoy: Okay, and the second question has to do with what kind of pension fund do you have, sir? Gordon Sides: We have a union contract with Teamsters 215 and it's based on the years of service, how benefits are calculated, okay? We also then have a pension plan for the office people that's funded by our corporate headquarters which is in Rye, New York. Councilmember Hoy: All of your employees are covered under both of these then. Gordon Sides: All our employees are covered under a pension plan, yes. Councilmember Hoy: Thank you very much, appreciate that. President Wortman: Anybody else got any questions? Councilmember Sutton: I guess I am assuming with you guys' size that you guys do have an affirmative action policy in place? Gordon Sides: Yes. Councilmember Winnecke: Could you give us an idea of current sales and sort of where you see the future of this company going? Where your sales are today and how this abatement can help. Steve Ringeman: Okay, Indiana Tube, basically to start with, we have three plants: one in Kolding, Denmark, one in Ft. Smith, Arkansas and this one here in Evansville. The one here in Evansville approximately again, we have about 190 something to 200 employees, that's up and down. We have sales here in the U.S. of something in the neighborhood of 39 million and that is, next year, hopefully, is going to grow. Obviously as the years go by we have projections. We also have a strategic plan that shows in the next five years that our plant is to double its size of Indiana Tube whether that is here in Evansville or part of the Ft. Smith operations or somewhere else. But our plans, we'd like to be here in Evansville. That's why we're here today asking for the abatement for equipment and building. President Wortman: You said you had a building in Denmark? Steve Ringeman: Yes. President Wortman: Do they give tax abatement? Steve Ringeman: I don't have the slightest idea. I'm new with the company. I've been here two years now. Gordon Sides: There were various incentives to go to Denmark, yes. Councilmember Winnecke: Steve, when you say you, the plan is to double the size of Indiana Tube in five years, do you - Steve Ringeman: Double in revenue, that is our corporate goal that has been placed on Indiana Tube. Councilmember Winnecke: So when you say your sales in the United States are in the neighborhood of 39 million dollars, what will they be here? Steve Ringeman: What will they be here? Right now it's about 36 million here in Evansville and again, our plans are to grow that. Councilmember Hoy: You have been before us before for - Steve Ringeman: That was before my time. Councilmember Hoy: But my information is that when you have outlined the number of employees that you were going to hire you have always met those goals or exceeded them. Gordon Sides: We were here I think in 1996 and yes we have met those goals. Councilmember Hoy: And even gone beyond them, I believe. Gordon Sides: Yes we have. Councilmember Hoy: Well, as you know, that's one of the things we're interested in. Gordon Sides: Well, we try to be very conservative when we make these abatements. Councilmember Hoy: And you're looking at 15 well-paying jobs here. Gordon Sides: That's correct. I think the average pay is about $14 and something cents an hour. These new hires are around $12.15 or $12.50, something like that. Councilmember Hoy: Yeah, it's actually, you're projecting even better than that, $12.94 for the new hires up to $13.33. Thank you very much, sir. Councilmember Smith: When did Indiana Tube, Jerry Lamb owned the first Indiana Tube and that's been - when was... Steve Ringeman: It was 26 years ago. Councilmember Smith: So this has been in business here for 26 years. Steve Ringeman: That's correct. Councilmember Smith: So it's not a new business and it has been a viable business as far as I know. Steve Ringeman: It is today, I do know that. Councilmember Smith: I think we need to give them the incentives they can have to stay here and to take care of our people here. Councilmember Hoy: You're still an Evansville owned firm? Steve Ringeman: Evansville owned? No, we are a division of Handy & Harman which is located out of Rye, New York and Handy & Harmon is owned by a company called WHX which is on the New York Stock Exchange. Councilmember Hoy: But that's a U.S. company, too? Steve Ringeman: Yes. President Wortman: Okay, any other questions? We're getting quite an education from this gentleman. Okay, if not, - Councilmember Hoy: We want to see the tubes next. Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, I wanted to make this comment earlier. The remark was made about bringing the abatements to our Personnel & Finance meeting. I think that's also going to require us advertising a change in the way we advertise our Personnel & Finance meeting as well. I just want to make sure everybody was aware of that. President Wortman: We won't vote, we'll just have discussion. Jeff Ahlers: I think as long as you don't vote...I don't know. I mean, I'll check on that, but as long as there is no voting. That's, the problem is, if you try to vote you won't be able to. Councilmember Hoy: You'll let us know on that then? Thank you. President Wortman: It's kind of an information thing like we're doing with everybody else, really. Councilmember Hoy: I don't want to be part of the jail overcrowding, Mr. Wortman, that's all. Councilmember Sutton: Just one question, just kind of an FYI for my purposes. What is your market share here in Indiana and then related to your primary business line? Steve Ringeman: We really serve two different markets here in North America and one of them is the small diameter tube and we are a player in the neighborhood of 50-60 percent, in that range. And then the other side of the business is making condensers and again, we're in the 50-60 percent range in North America making condensers. Obviously, we make a lot. Part of the condenser is a tube serpentine and then there's wire that is welded to that tube serpentine. We make 100 percent of those serpentines for Whirlpool. In fact, we are now expanding our operation in Ft. Smith because of Whirlpool. They are outsourcing making the complete condenser to Indiana Tube in Ft. Smith. We make 100 percent of the Frigidaire condensers which is something like 2.7 - 2.8 million. Whirlpool makes about 2.6 million refrigerators, so we're in that 50-60% neighborhood in our two major markets that we do serve. Councilmember Sutton: And that's just here in Indiana or you're talking about nationally? Steve Ringeman: That is in North America, U.S. & Canada basically. Councilmember Sutton: Thank you. Councilmember Winnecke: One brief question. Could you outline for the Council the time line, you have begun construction of your addition, could you outline for the Council what the time line is for entire project? Steve Ringeman: Within the appliance business normally what happens is you work for many months, maybe even years for some of these contracts and as soon as you sign them the Frigidaires, Whirlpools, the General Electrics of this world expect you to act and act very quickly so we are actually involved in building the building today as Mr. Lloyd has observed the other day. So the time line for most of this is involved in sometime the end of May, June through actually July or August, we should be completed with this whole expenditure. Again, the time line that we had to sign contracts with those major suppliers was to get it done and get it done today. So the time line to get it done here in Evansville is basically August to get everything completed which is very quick. President Wortman: That's fine. Okay, well I think we've asked all the questions so I am going to call for the vote as soon as our Madam Secretary gets over here. She's having a little discussion over there. Councilmember Hoy: We're going to ask Mr. Sutton to talk so we can change the tape. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes.
Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Well, as you all know I am Dr. No on these, but when I see these kind of jobs and what you've done, this is what I like seeing and you'll get my yes today. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: I think, as I discovered the other day, this is one of Evansville's hidden secrets. What they do there is pretty incredible and how they do it is even more incredible. In my mind, this is probably what the legislature had in mind when it gave local authority for tax abatement and I vote yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. Definitely yes. Thank you, gentlemen. Appreciate your appearance and you, too, Joe. (Motion unanimously approved 7-0) RESOLUTION DENYING COUNTY OPTION INCOME TAX DISTRIBUTION TO SOLID WASTE DISTRICT President Wortman: Now then C, Resolution Denying County Option Income Tax Distribution to Solid Waste District. I'll need a motion to that effect. Councilmember Bassemier: I'll make a motion to get it on the floor. President Wortman: I got a motion from Mr. Bassemier. I've got to have a second. Councilmember Hoy: Second. President Wortman: Mr. Hoy seconded. Any discussion on this? We've denied it before. Call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. Okay, it passes unanimously. (Motion unanimously approved 7-0) RESOLUTION PROPOSING AN ORDINANCE OF THE VANDERBURGH COUNTY INCOME TAX COUNCIL ESTABLISHING THE PERCENTAGE CREDIT ALLOWANCE FOR HOMESTEADS FOR 2001 President Wortman: Resolution Proposing Ordinance Of the Vanderburgh County Income Tax Establishing the Percentage Credit Allowance for Homesteads for 2001. I'll entertain a motion to that effect. Councilmember Bassemier: I'll make a motion. Councilmember Hoy: Second. President Wortman: Got a second. Okay, any discussion on this? Call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.
Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. (Motion unanimously approved 7-0) ORDINANCE OF THE VANDERBURGH COUNTY INCOME TAX COUNCIL ESTABLISHING THE PERCENTAGE CREDIT ALLOWED FOR HOMESTEADS President Wortman: Now E then, Ordinance of the Vanderburgh County Income Tax Council Establishing the Percentage Credit Allowed for Homesteads. I'll entertain a motion to that effect. Councilmember Raben: So moved. Councilmember Smith: Second. President Wortman: Motion and a second. Any discussion? Call the roll please. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Smith? Councilmember Smith: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton? Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier? Councilmember Bassemier: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben? Councilmember Raben: Yes. Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke? Councilmember Winnecke: Yes. Teri Lukeman: President Wortman? President Wortman: Yes. (Motion unanimously approved 7-0) President Wortman: Okay, that completes all that. Is there any other discussion? Councilmember Sutton: Yes, Mr. President, there is something the Councilmembers, if you could give me a little bit of assistance on this. There is a mission group working out of Patchwork Central that is going to El Salvador next month and one of the things that is in very short supply down there is paper, pens and pencils, of that nature. So if you have any paper like that we have here that you would like to discard of or get rid of they would treasure that. So if you could, with your cooperation and Sandie's cooperation, they are going to take down a load of paper and pencils and things like that when they go down next month so if I could ask your assistance and if there are some things you want to throw away, don't throw them away, they're going to take them on down. Councilmember Hoy: I've got a whole box full of pencils and pens. Councilmember Sutton: Okay, even like this computer paper, like I said, the back of that, that's even good, so just anything that you might want to get rid of. Councilmember Hoy: County Council minutes and things. Suzanne Crouch: You might want to, they have the WOW boxes where they collect that stuff and I don't know if that's something, you can even check with the Building Authority and see if just for that short period of time if they would set it aside for you. Councilmember Sutton: Okay yeah, I'll do that. REQUEST FOR LIST OF SAFE HOUSE RESIDENTS FROM SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Councilmember Hoy: Mr. President, I conferred with the Sheriff's Department, Mr. Williams, and I didn't want to spring any surprises on him, he said this would be quite fine to bring up before the Council. As you know, the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department has been presenting us with a list of who is in the jail and how come, and I would like for us to extend that service and get a list from the SAFE House, a similar list. I think probably we should, I should make this in the form of a motion but he did not see any problem with it and he didn't think the Sheriff would have any problem with it. That way we would be looking at both our detention centers, so may I make such a motion? Councilmember Raben: I'll second that motion. Councilmember Hoy: Okay, I make that motion. President Wortman: Yes sir. Mr. Hoy makes a motion that we get a list from the SAFE House. Councilmember Hoy: Yes, and you have a second. President Wortman: Raben seconded. Any discussion on that? All those in favor - Sandie Deig: Are you talking about just the residents of the SAFE House, the ones that live there? Councilmember Hoy: Yes. The ones that are under the Sheriff's jurisdiction. President Wortman: The residents who live there. Any discussion on that? All those in favor raise your right hand. One, two, three, four, five, six, seven. (Motion unanimously approved 7-0) President Wortman: Any other discussion? PRESENTATION BY CONVENTION & VISITORS BUREAU REGARDING ECONOMIC IMPACT OF TOURISM BUSINESS Dolli Kight: Dolli Kight with the Convention Bureau and if I could take a few more moments of the Council's time. I want to wish you good afternoon. In Vanderburgh County's tourism business, things are very good indeed. During the next few minutes I am going to show you why that's true and why our best days are still ahead. Next week is National Tourism Week and it's being celebrated across the U.S. to raise awareness of the economic impact tourism has on communities, states and the nation as a whole. I'd like to start with a short video produced by the International Association of Convention & Visitors Bureau that tells the story of that impact and then I have a short verbal presentation if that's okay. President Wortman: Okay. (Video presentation) Dolli Kight: Sorry about the waviness on that. The tracking must have been off a little bit. I am here to represent a very large constituency namely, the more than 4,000 men and women who make tourism happen in our community. They are some of the best friends Vanderburgh County has. I am also here to report about the work your Convention and Visitors Bureau is doing to let you know about our goals and challenges that lie ahead and to ask your continued enthusiasm for the role tourism plays in our local economy, and above all, to say thank you for your support of the Evansville CVB. Let me ask you a question, during the past 12 months, how many of you traveled for pleasure or business? Now think about the different things you spend money on when you travel. There's transportation to your destination: airfare, bus fare, gasoline for your car. Then you probably spent some money on a hotel room unless you stayed with friends or family. You may have spent money for taxis, buses or car rental at your destination. You certainly spent money on food and drinks, whether at restaurants, grocery stores or snuck in your in-room mini bar or any combination of the three. If your trip was for business, you may have entertained clients, perhaps at a cultural activity such as a music concert or play or at a sporting event. If your trip was for pleasure you probably spent money to visit historical sites, amusement attractions, or participated in recreational activities. On most trips you probably shopped for souvenirs, clothes, artwork or other special treats. I think you get the picture. These are typical travel spending patterns we can all relate to and they are being repeated every day by visitors to our community. The result is a tremendous economic impact. Today tourism is the largest service industry in the world and the third largest in Indiana. Tourism generates nearly 250 million dollars for our community in direct spending. These expenditures do three important things: they support jobs for our local residents, they generate income for our businesses, and they raise government revenue at both the city, county, state and federal levels. Through payroll taxes, innkeeper's taxes and sales taxes revenue is generated. The state and local taxes alone in Evansville and Vanderburgh County reduce the tax burden of each resident by $400 per year. Many industries in our community improve their momentum and growth due to meetings, such as the construction industry building The Centre, new hotels, restaurants, and retail stores and manufacturing, filling those new facilities with furniture, appliances, and goods. Alfred Hitchcock had a unique way of ironically understanding the obvious. He once said "I have no regard for money. Aside from its purchasing power, it is completely useless." Well perhaps we should paraphrase Mr. Hitchcock and say that aside from its purchasing power, tourism is completely useless to Vanderburgh County. I am joking, of course, but tourism is no joke in Vanderburgh County, it is serious business, yet too often it is minimized or taken for granted. Your CVB has an aggressive campaign to promote our community under the theme "Where the Midwest Meets." This program includes advertising in major publications such as Midwest Living, Better Homes & Gardens and Woman's Day, increasing awareness of tourism's impact to local residents and government officials, tours for travel writers, exhibits at targeted trade shows, and site visits for meeting and convention planners. Our staff of six and our annual budget of $1,066,000 is relatively small compared to the nearly 250 million dollars Vanderburgh County generates each year from tourism spending, but we work hard every day to make a big impact. Our goal is to bring more leisure travelers and meeting and convention business to Vanderburgh County by increasing awareness and developing partnerships to enhance our efforts and our dollars to keep driving the engine that is tourism in our community. You have heard how tourism is truly a golden goose for Vanderburgh County but we need to feed and nurture that goose so that it keeps laying golden eggs. That's the job of the Evansville CVB, but it is also the job of each Councilmember and citizen of Vanderburgh County. Tourism is big business in our community and drives our economy. Without it our community will not realize its full potential for job growth and a robust local economy. While you may not remember everything I have said, I hope you remember the vital role that tourism plays in Vanderburgh County and in the lives of our citizens. I've left information at your desk on our activities for National Tourism next week. I'd appreciate it if some of you can attend those events. I've also left some talking points, so if you're out in the community talking I hope you will throw in some information about tourism and also a flow chart on how that dollar the visitor leaves behind flows through our community. I thank you for your time and attention and your continued support. Thanks. President Wortman: Thank you, Dolli. Appreciate it. Okay, anybody else got anything before I ask for adjournment? Councilmember Smith: Motion to adjourn. President Wortman: Motion to adjourn, got a second and a third, and the meeting is adjourned as of 4:55 p.m. (Meeting adjourned at 4:55 p.m.)
Recorded and transcribed by Teri Lukeman. VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL _____________________________
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