VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES

MAY 5, 2004

The Vanderburgh County Council met in session this 5^th day of May, 2004 in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex. The meeting was called to order at 3:30 p.m. by County Council President Ed Bassemier.

President Bassemier: I’d like to welcome everyone to the May 5^th, 2004 County Council meeting. Attendance roll call please.

President Bassemier: Would everybody please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance?

(Pledge of Allegiance was given)

President Bassemier: I need a motion for approval of the minutes from April 7.

Councilmember Sutton: So moved.

Councilmember Hoy: Second.

President Bassemier: Motion and a second. Any discussion? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

TREASURER

President Bassemier: Now we’ll get into the appropriation ordinance and I’ll turn everything over to our Finance Chairman, Mr. Raben.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, thank you, Mr. President. First, before we get directly into the appropriations, I wanted to first thank all the offices, officeholders, department heads that prepared a list of additional appropriations that they find necessary that they’ll be coming back to us over the course of the balance of this year. Again, I want to thank them for getting those in to us in a timely manner. And I guess everyone has had an opportunity to look it and they see that, you know, if all requests are granted, that we’d be digging ourselves in quite a hole, so I’ll move on. First on the agenda today, Mr. President, is County Treasurer, account 1030-1200-1030, 1030-1900, 1030-1910 in the amount of $797. I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Hoy: Second.

President Bassemier: We’ve got a motion and a second. Any discussion? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

TREASURER                                                         REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

SHERIFF

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next under Sheriff’s Department, 1050-1130-0114, that has been withdrawn. I’ll move that that be set in at zero and the Sheriff has put in for a late transfer which we will deal with after the appropriations.

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

President Bassemier: We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

SHERIFF                                                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

JAIL

Councilmember Raben: Okay next, under Jail, I’m going to make this in two motions. First, account 1051-1130-0339 down through 1051-1950-1051, move that those be set in at zero.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

Councilmember Raben: We’ll take the Medical line next.

Councilmember Sutton: Are we in discussion phase yet?

Councilmember Raben: We’re in discussion, yes.

President Bassemier: Who was the second?

Councilmember Winnecke: I was.

Councilmember Sutton: The request was for six detention officers there. Is there a thought, a plan, because obviously, we know that we need to do something at some point in time with those positions. What’s the thought process of the plan to give the lead time we need to get those positions in place?

Councilmember Raben: Well, and its not just my intent, but from speaking to many others on Council, I would recommend that we revisit this again in August during our budget hearings, and again possibly in September when we have a better picture on what our unappropriated balance is going to be. You know, I think if possible, we need to try to put as many people in place at some point this year, that would be my intent.

Councilmember Sutton: Well, I know they have put in a lot of time in gathering the information through the study that made us several recommendations based on the facility as it will be, the new jail facility, and I think as much as possible, I think that the efforts have been gone through to try to narrow that down even from what is recommended from the study. And I think what was shared with us last week was the lead time required to train – to adequately train the staffing that’s going to be required out there so that’s why I wanted to hear maybe what the plan was on that. If the intent is to wait until budget time to address this, then we’re talking about the possibility of, if we’re doing something, any positions being in place the earliest would be January. Well, the dollars in place in January, but actually hiring the positions, posting and all that process he needs to go through with training, you are really pressing that pretty far down the list of things for next year. So just as we’re talking about, give some thought, I’m thinking that we really probably need to revisit this a little bit earlier than maybe budget time and really look at doing something this year. Recognizing we do have some limited resources available to us, we’re going to have to narrow and cut back on some things but this is obviously an area we’ve already invested 35 million dollars in, we surely don’t want to short it on the staffing side of this.

Councilmember Tornatta: And they’re talking about, though, revisiting the opportunity to do it in September as opposed to waiting for the budget.

Councilmember Raben: Right. And its probably not going to be feasible to look at all six in September, but hopefully, you know, if we’re tight enough with the funds here, there will be limited funds available, I’m sure, but you know, maybe we can insert one or two or three people for the balance of the fourth quarter of this year and they can begin the process, you know, and hopefully in January add more personnel at that point. And again, I’m open to any other comments that any other Council people have on this issue, but that’s my intent.

President Bassemier: Mr. Hoy.

Councilmember Hoy: Go ahead, Mr. Sutton.

Councilmember Sutton: I was just going to just say, I mean, I know we can’t do probably six right now, I mean, given the number of requests we’ve got on our desks just today, but I really would like to see us at least do two today. I guess that’s more so what I was kind of thinking. At least get us at least started in the process because we all, like I say, we know its coming anyway.

President Bassemier: Mr. Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: I have two questions. We have $980,540 in the Cumulative Capital Development fund. I don’t know if any of that is pledged yet or needed for some budget. My understanding, – the first question I have is, have we pledged the money, the second question is to our legal counsel, I’m trying to keep you busy, Mr. Ahlers, as you know. But seriously, my understanding of that fund is that it can be used, in addition to construction and repair, it can be used for public safety. As I recall, we used that fund a few years ago to fund the prover for Weights & Measures because the prover, which checks the fuel at the airport, touched on a safety issue. The weight of an airplane is a safety issue and we were able to appropriate money from that fund for that piece of equipment. That might be a source, I don’t know. If you would check that, I’d appreciate it. I don’t want to vote on this today. I want to look at our options.

Councilmember Raben: I might, and I apologize, not knowing this question was going to come up, but its my understanding that currently right now, the energy savings contract is coming out of that, which the debt service on that is like $450,000 a year. There is another project that some of that has been earmarked for, if someone remembers what that is. I don’t offhand, but there was a second project.

Councilmember Tornatta: I’m not real sure but I know that we’ve got the project to look at in the Civic Center. I mean, the Civic Center project is one that’s coming up as far as a construction project for capital development. So, I mean, that’s coming down the road, too, so I’d hesitate to pledge a lot of funds from that account.

Councilmember Hoy: I agree with you, it’s just that it would seem to me, at this point the jail would come first. I know that project and I know that there’s more to that project than just revamping the former Health Department quarters because there are some thoughts about revamping the whole ex-jail. And you’re looking at a lot of money.

Councilmember Tornatta: How about a question to the Sheriff’s office on approximately...this might be vague, –

Brad Ellsworth: So will my answer.

Councilmember Tornatta: Yeah, right, that’s fine.

Brad Ellsworth: Brad Ellsworth, Sheriff.

Councilmember Tornatta: What is the time line on implementing these folks into the new jail and is there going to be computer systems they can work on at this time or what procedures, I guess what I’m trying to figure out is the drop dead date when we get some of these people on. I know you say its six months ago, but you know the situation we’re in.

Brad Ellsworth: Right. Absolutely. I’m in tune with the situation. What we look at is why we’re asking now and like I said, I don’t make these numbers up. It comes from information from the experts that we hire as well as people that have been through this situation before and built jails. St. Joe County is an excellent example, they built an 800 bed jail and said this was the staffing needs and they said we’ll give ten a year for three years out and they didn’t give any, and the jail sat vacant for eight months before they could open it and they got adequate staffing. We’re looking at, like I said, nothing in the current jail is going to be used. It’s going to be touch screen systems, new computer systems and all that, as well as security type things. And, like I said, we have to go through scenarios, I can envision these – everyone going through, including the current employees, for at least months while we’re still running that jail, you know, its not like we can stop and take them all over there and train them all in one or two days and then run them back, so its going to take several months to train them. I’m talking about just the hard equipment when we start getting a pod open out there and we start getting the computer systems set up. We’ve picked a lot of that stuff out so they are probably programming that possibly now, as we speak. So we’ll have units like that available, but until we get that pod built its going to be impossible to actually go out there and run scenarios and that. But until that time, the reason its critical now, say we did go with six, when they come in there is a learning curve for them, training before I can move the six people back out to take their place. Those six go through at least, you know, three or four months of training to be comfortable before I could then feel comfortable pulling six veterans out and putting them on this transition team. You know, could we do it with five or four, I mean, we could start with that, its just a number. I guess my question is, and I agree with Councilman Sutton, we’re going to need a plan because my most conservative number is 34 new hires and we’re talking about six, you know, Al Bennett & Associates says 66, I guess we need to know if we’re going to open this facility, are we going to get 34, 24, 22? I can’t open a facility, and I won’t open a facility that’s not ready to be opened. It wouldn’t be fair. It wouldn’t be fair to the employees, if we can’t do it for the safety and security. So we’re going to have to meet. I’ve funneled a ton of information to you all, and what we received, it’s been brought to countless meetings, so we even needed to go beyond the six and talk about the six, and what we’re going to do to staff this new facility. Its going to be double the size, double the inmates. I can’t do it with less employees, and I can’t do it with the current number of employees. So we need to think past the six. That’s immediate, but –

Councilmember Tornatta: Two things. When are they talking about you being able to enter the jail?

Brad Ellsworth: Right now, and the agent told us yesterday that they were a little bit ahead of schedule, so if everything goes right and the weather permitting, to September of 2005.

Councilmember Tornatta: Okay.

Brad Ellsworth: So that’s what we’re going to do the 2005 budget based on, if this thing opens.

Councilmember Tornatta: Right, and that equipment is in place at that – I mean, at what time do they say – do you have a time line when the equipment is in place at that – I mean, at what time do they say, do you have a time line when the equipment is in place and when that’s –

Brad Ellsworth: I don’t have that information in front of me. When I can actually get a model or a mockup of that and bring it down here for training or get a pod to train in –

Councilmember Tornatta: And at some point we did talk about this jail should be more efficient so hopefully we can look to – I know we’re going to have to add workers but we might not necessarily have to add as many as what we’re –

Brad Ellsworth: Well, we’re not doubling – you know, we’re doubling the amount of beds. At least we’re not doubling the amount of employees. Its an efficient jail and its an easy to run jail, but it’s the way jails are being built now with more supervision than a linear, bull-pen type facility. So it does require more people stations and positions. And then, of course, the relief factor, you know, we do that. And they keep telling us our relief factor is low and Chief and I are trying to be as conservative as we can on that.

Councilmember Sutton: Mr. President, what would you think about this idea? You know, obviously, we’ve been talking about this whole jail process for quite some time and some of the information stays with us, some of its probably, you know, disappeared and the study has been put together, we really haven’t had a chance to really talk about that, perhaps maybe at our next month Council meeting, if we could have a presentation maybe from the Sheriff’s office that really lays out what they are looking for, for this facility, what the needs are, so that we can really see that and hear from them and really begin in our minds to crystalize what the plan ought to be or what it can be for the county. And we have other groups and whatever come in and make presentations for things but we’ve never really had a presentation before Council.

President Bassemier: Well, whatever is your all’s pleasure, but I guess I’m one of the oldest ones, I’m probably the only one in this room that’s been through a transition from an old jail to a new jail. And I know, back in `69, it took us 30 days to train in a new facility even though it was a 263 bed facility, and I really, personally, feel like we’re way ahead of the game. I know the experts say that – I’m not disagreeing that we don’t need any training in a new facility, but over at the jail here now, we didn’t open the doors until about 30 days in advance. Sheriff Riney was the Sheriff back then, he had us all go over and we played like it was open and we had cards instead of prisoners and we just worked through the system for about 30 days. And we’ve got to remember, when we open this new facility, it won’t be all brand new guys because the Sheriff will add some of his old timers and work in with the new, so I really think we’re way ahead of the game. It’s a year and a half away and you want to hire new deputies, and we’re not using simulators or anything, so they’re just going to train in an old facility until the new facility gets there. That’s my own personal opinion, but if you want the Sheriff to have – you know, get together and speak before us, right now we don’t have any money left. I think the requests for the rest of the year from everybody was about three million dollars. We don’t have any money to put two deputies on, or two detention officers. But if you guys want to have the Sheriff come and, if its your pleasure, to come and give a speech on the plan to open this new facility when it won’t be here for a year and a half, that’s up to you guys.

Councilmember Sutton: Well, I mean, that’s a good thought process, but it doesn’t cost us anything to hear a presentation. I mean, we don’t have to spend a dime, don’t have to make any appropriation to hear about what the –

President Bassemier: And I agree with you but I think its going to take, I mean, there’s going to be a lot of time from the time he gives his presentation until we open the jail, and a lot is going to change before now and the time we open it and I know the Sheriff’s time is valuable. You guys’ time is very valuable. So do you all want to have – its up to you guys.

Councilmember Tornatta: The only thing I want to say is, is I really hate to mention it and get anybody into another group, but it might not be bad to have a three person group that filters in with the Sheriff’s office, and I know we have liaisons, but maybe this would be more heads to put together, but a group that kind of goes along and finds out all these parts, brings it back to the Council, I mean, we can have a full blow out projection deal, but maybe we can also have a group of three that would get together and talk about timing and get some of the things organized.

Brad Ellsworth: I guess one thing I’d ask him, with all due respect, Councilman Bassemier, I appreciate when you worked in the jail, but I would ask that the rest of the Council not compare opening this to a jail 30 years ago. If you’d call jails that were built more recently in the last five to ten years and get their plans as opposed to this one when we were with 3 X 5 cards and that, it’s a whole new ball game. And like I said, with all due respect to you and your years on, I would ask that we – and I can get a list of those that are open and what they had to go through in the last ten years. And like I said, this isn’t stuff I make up, these are things that the ACA and the AJA that tell us how to do it correctly. Like I said, we didn’t make this stuff up and 30 years ago is not a fair comparison, I don’t think.

President Bassemier: Its probably more – its going to be a lot more efficient now, I’m just saying. It was probably harder back then than it will be now since we’ve got everything so sophisticated and the technology now will be more simple than what we did 30 years ago. But all due respect to you, sir.

Councilmember Hoy: Mr. President?

President Bassemier: Yeah. What do you want to do on this, Phil?

Councilmember Hoy: I like the idea of having you come and make a presentation and I also like linking that, Mr. Tornatta, with your idea. I think both of them would be a good idea, to have a small group meet with the Sheriff and also have the Sheriff make a presentation here. And I’ll tell you why I say that, –

President Bassemier: Okay, you want to –

Councilmember Wortman: The only thing I’ve got to say, if we don’t have the money, there isn’t no use to getting excited right now until we know we’ve got the money to supply one or two or whatever we’re going to do. We’re going to have to wait a while because we don’t know what we’re going to have. We’ve got so many bills coming up here, and so many projects, we may not be able to fund any.

President Bassemier: That’s true, but if we want to keep the doors open, the information coming in at all times, it won’t hurt. So, Troy, it was your idea, did you want to go ahead and be one that serves on this three group and –

Councilmember Tornatta: Okay, I’ll do that and pick another two on the committee and we’ll report back.

President Bassemier: That will be fine. Is that okay with everybody? I’m sorry. Okay. Is that okay? You’ll just get, later on after our meeting in the next week or so, –

Councilmember Tornatta: Before next week we’ll come up and get some meetings going.

Councilmember Winnecke: I would think the Finance Chair absolutely needs to be on that.

Councilmember Tornatta: That’s fine.

Brad Ellsworth: Is that going to be a multiple person committee or just one person?

Councilmember Tornatta: It will be three.

Brad Ellsworth: I was going to say, if you do one person, give me somebody who everybody trusts that is going to bring back good information so –

Councilmember Tornatta: That’s why we have three.

President Bassemier: Well, I really trust all the Councilmembers to bring back – Troy, why don’t I just pick right now and just get it over with so we can get started. And actually, you’re wanting to do it and, Jim, you’re Finance Chairman, kind of like you’re –

Councilmember Raben: Ed, I can. I tell you, quite honestly, I’ve participated in a lot of meetings with the Sheriff and his Chief over these issues. I’m pretty familiar with the whole concept. It might be best that some others are given the same opportunity and maybe they’ll have a better understanding, but as Finance Chairman, if I need to be, I’ll be there.

President Bassemier: And I tell you what, why don’t you two get together and you decide on your third one since we’ve got one from each party here to be fair, like the Sheriff says, and I tell you what, it’s going to be open and other Councilmembers can sit in on if we want to, right? Tell us where we meet?

Councilmember Tornatta: Well, –

President Bassemier: Not more than –

Councilmember Tornatta: Right, right. Okay, we’ll come up with something the next meeting.

President Bassemier: Okay, moving right along.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Mr. President –

Councilmember Winnecke: There is a motion and a second on the floor.

President Bassemier: Read back the motion.

Teri Lukeman: The motion was to set in lines 1051-1130-0339 through 1051-1950-1051 at zero.

President Bassemier: All set in at zero. And we had a motion and a second.

Teri Lukeman: Yes.

President Bassemier: Anymore discussion?

Councilmember Tornatta: Should we defer this as opposed to setting it at zero? Because we kind of said something about somebody not coming back for these issues.

Councilmember Sutton: Once its denied.

Councilmember Raben: Once its deferred its set in at zero. I mean, there is – there has been a question for a number of years as to whether or not in fact you do have to take final action at this meeting. And did we not find at some point over the past several years that to defer simply meant –

(Inaudible – several speaking at once)

Councilmember Raben: And that could have even been before your time. It could have been Joe Harrison, Jr.

Jeff Ahlers: It might have been. I don’t recall that. I mean, I think that we had direction whenever Ms. Crouch was the Auditor that from her perspective in terms of, I guess, clearing the deck, so to speak, that you would start anew and they would just, I think what we had done was to set it in at zero and then they would re-file because it needs to be re-advertised rather than having this hanging out there, as I recall it being the issue. And maybe I’m wrong, maybe somebody else recalls better. I don’t remember there being particularly necessarily a legal –

Councilmember Raben: And I’m fine deferring it. It doesn’t matter. Mr. President, in fact, I’ll amend my motion to defer account 1051-1130-0339 through 1051-1950-1051.

Councilmember Winnecke: I’ll amend my second.

President Bassemier: Okay. Everybody in favor of that say aye.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Jeff Ahlers: It will still need to be re-advertised and you kind of end up with the same thing, you’re right. I mean, you know, its got to come back so it just depends on how you want to do it.

Councilmember Raben: It isn’t quite as striking a blow when you say defer as to zero. Maybe that’s what it is, it’s a mind set. Okay, Mr. President, next is –

President Bassemier: We need to vote.

Councilmember Raben: Well, I thought we just voted.

Councilmember Winnecke: To change it.

President Bassemier: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: No.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: No.

JAIL                                                                       REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion carried 5-2/Councilmembers Wortman & Bassemier opposed)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next, 1051-2240 Medical, Mr. President, at this time I’m going to move that that be set in at $100,000.

Councilmember Hoy: Second.

President Bassemier: Set in at $100,000. Who seconded?

Councilmember Hoy: I did.

President Bassemier: Okay. Any discussion on that?

Councilmember Winnecke: I have a question. The line above it, was that included in the deferment?

President Bassemier: Yes.

Councilmember Winnecke: Okay, I’m sorry.

President Bassemier: Roll call vote please to set it in at $100,000.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

JAIL                                                                       REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

PROSECUTOR

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next, the Prosecutor. We have a request in the amount of $7,602, which are lines 1080-1190-1080 through 1080-1910. I’ll move approval.

President Bassemier: Do I have a –

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Bassemier: Got a second, Mr. Winnecke. Any discussion? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

PROSECUTOR                                                      REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE

Councilmember Raben: Co-op Extension Service, 1230-3530 in the amount of $1,210. I’ll move approval.

President Bassemier: Need a second.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Bassemier: Second by Mr. Winnecke. Any discussion on that? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: No.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes. It passes 6-1.

COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE                REQUESTED     APPROVED

(Motion carried 6-1/Councilmember Sutton opposed)

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

Councilmember Raben: Okay, County Commissioners, 1300-3050 in the amount of $800,000; 1300-3870 Computer Facility Management in the amount of $43,750, for a total request of $843,750, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Bassemier: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion?

Councilmember Raben: This is for clarification on this, Facility Management, that rate of $75,000 was for the year. This actually doesn’t take effect until June 1, so that’s the correct figure.

President Bassemier: Okay, I have a motion and a second. Roll call vote please.

Councilmember Sutton: Just a second. I had a question I was going to ask. We had a pretty lengthy discussion about this subject last week and I know we expressed an interest in talking with Judge Niemeier and seeing if there would be some alternatives. I didn’t know if anyone had gotten any feedback from –

Councilmember Raben: In fact, I did. I know Councilman Tornatta did. I met with him and he is making some changes. He’s been able to negotiate with the Office of Family & Children as far as some of the cost for housing juveniles that are not housed in secured facilities can come out of their funds today. And that’s going to be a significant savings over the course of the year and, in fact, this $800,000 will probably get us close, although we may be looking at another couple hundred thousand for the balance of the year but this will do what we need to do this year, I’m very hopeful.

Councilmember Sutton: This year?

Councilmember Raben: Yeah.

President Bassemier: Anybody else? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

COMMISSIONERS                                                 REQUESTED     APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Community Corrections 1361-1140-1361 through 1361-1850, for a total request of $36,309. I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Hoy: Second.

President Bassemier: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS                               REQUESTED     APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

SUPERIOR COURT

Councilmember Raben: Superior Court 1370-3994 in the amount of $7,379, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

President Bassemier: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

SUPERIOR COURT                                                REQUESTED     APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

DRUG & ALCOHOL DEFERRAL SERVICE

Councilmember Raben: Drug & Alcohol Deferral Services 1371-4210, I’ll move –

Councilmember Tornatta: Defer.

Councilmember Raben: I was going to set it in at zero, but okay.

Councilmember Tornatta: And we’re checking on some numbers on possibly going different directions so he gave me the right to defer that while we’re in –

President Bassemier: For information purposes – are you through, Troy?

Councilmember Raben: Let me finish the motion. The motion is to, and be kinder to defer.

President Bassemier: Set in at zero, right? Okay, any discussion? I was told that there is a typewriter in Bill Fluty’s office. You’ve got a nice one, good one, that you don’t mind parting with it and there’s also a good typewriter down in the basement from the Prosecutor’s office. It’s in good shape. Food for thought.

Councilmember Tornatta: And I’m sure that they could use that for now. What we’re looking for is to try and get some things situated so they can get everything automated on computers and that way everybody, all the counselors – right now, the counselors can’t tap in to all the clients that they have and its very inefficient in that capacity. They’re as efficient as they can be right now but they’ve run the office the same way for the past 27 years and technology has moved along and we need to get them on board.

President Bassemier: You feel like what you’ve seen so far, you can get him completely, 100% away from the typewriters?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yeah.

President Bassemier: Okay. Great. We’ve got a motion and a second to set it in at zero?

Councilmember Tornatta: That’s with the Council’s approval at the time when they come in with –

Councilmember Raben: Next Troy is going to move to get them off the chisenbop on to calculators.

Councilmember Tornatta: The abacus, they’re throwing them out tomorrow.

President Bassemier: That will kind of confuse Curt. Okay, we ready? Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

DRUG & ALCOHOL DEFERRAL SERVICE          REQUESTED      APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

CUMULATIVE BRIDGE

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next Cum Bridge 2030-3930 Other Contractual in the amount of $125,000, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Bassemier: Second by Mr. Wortman. Any discussion on that? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

CUMULATIVE BRIDGE                                          REQUESTED     APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

Councilmember Raben: Okay, last Mr. President, County Health Department 2130-1500-2130 through 2130-3000, for a total request of $34,505, I will move approval.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Bassemier: We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Roll call vote please.

Councilmember Tornatta: Hold on. How do they come about? Is this accrued money or this money that --

Councilmember Raben: This is money out of their fund.

Councilmember Tornatta: Out of their fund? Okay.

President Bassemier: Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Hoy?

Councilmember Hoy: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.