VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES

NOVEMBER 3, 2004

The Vanderburgh County Council met in session this 3rd day of November, 2004 in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex. The meeting was called to order at 3:34 p.m. by County Council President Ed Bassemier.

President Bassemier: I’d like to welcome everyone to the November 3rd, 2004 Vanderburgh County Council meeting. Attendance roll call please.

*(Councilmember Sutton arrived after attendance called)

President Bassemier: I’d like to have a motion to approve the minutes of October 6th, 2004.

Councilmember Wortman: So moved.

Teri Lukeman: Are you going to have the Pledge?

President Bassemier: We already did it. Do you want to do it again? The Pledge of Allegiance?

Councilmember Wortman: Its another meeting.

President Bassemier: Okay, would everyone please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance?

(Pledge of Allegiance was given)

President Bassemier: Do I have a motion to approve the minutes of October 6th, 2004?

Councilmember Raben: So moved.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

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

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: 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 5-0)

CLERK

Councilmember Raben: Okay, I guess you are waiting on me. Alright, first on the agenda is the County Clerk, 1010-3603 Record Storage in the amount of $15,000, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

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

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

CLERK                                                                   REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 5-0)

SHERIFF

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next under Sheriff, 1050-2210 Gas & Oil $20,000, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Wortman: 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 Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: 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 5-0)

BURDETTE PARK

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next Burdette Park, 1450-1180-1450 and 1450-1900 for a total request of $19,377, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Wortman: 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 Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

BURDETTE PARK                                                 REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 5-0)

REASSESSMENT/PIGEON TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR

Councilmember Raben: Okay, that’s it for General Fund, we’ll move into Reassessment Funds. Under Pigeon Township Assessor, 2490-1150-1990 and 2490-1150-1900 for a total request of $2,220, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

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

Councilmember Raben: Excuse me, it’s $2,220. I think I –

(Inaudible – more than one speaking at once)

President Bassemier: Any discussion? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

REASSESSMENT/PIGEON TWP. ASSESSOR    REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 50)

911 EMERGENCY SERVICE

Councilmember Raben: Okay, 911 Emergency Service, 3290-3890 Central Dispatch in the amount of $49,389, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

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

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

911 EMERGENCY SERVICE                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 5-0)

JAIL PROJECT

Councilmember Raben: Okay, under Jail Project 3660-2240 and 3660-3051 for a total of $215,000, I’ll move approval.

President Bassemier: I have a motion. Do I have a second?

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Bassemier: Second by Mr. Winnecke. Any discussion? Mr. Wortman.

Councilmember Wortman: Yeah, I don’t think we ought to get into that and save that for the jail first operating out there. We’re going to need that money (inaudible – microphone not turned on)

President Bassemier: You’re welcome, sir. Anybody else? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: No.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

JAIL PROJECT                                                      REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion carried 4-1/Councilmember Wortman opposed)

COIT WINDFALL

Councilmember Raben: Next, Mr. President, 4131-3630 in the amount of $67,099, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

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

Councilmember Winnecke: I would just offer one comment, last week I asked about whether there was existing money in the Election Office budget that we could transfer from to pay for this and there is not. We did transfer out money in that line item earlier in the year, so that money does not exist so this is imperative that we do.

President Bassemier: The chair recognizes Mr. Sutton. 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 Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

COIT WINDFALL                                                   REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, if its alright with everyone I’d like to move that all the transfers –

Councilmember Tornatta: No.

Councilmember Raben: No? Is there a particular one that you want me to –

CLERK

Councilmember Tornatta: We discussed it last week. We’re not doing anything in Extra Help next year for the Clerk, we might as well get started this year.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, so we want to single out the Clerk...Okay, Mr. President, first we’ll take the County Clerk account 1010-1420-1010 to account 1010-1990 for a total transfer of $2,200. I move approval.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Bassemier: Motion and a second. Any discussion?

Councilmember Tornatta: Yeah, my only discussion last week and I talked to was we’re not giving any Extra Help to this group next year and I don’t see any reason why we were offering Extra Help money. You did come before us and get Extra Help money already, I think it was last month and so I don’t know why we keep divvying up Extra Help money when we’re not going to have any next year.

Marsha Abell: Its not Extra Help money, these people are off on medical leave, I’m just moving some money out of their line item for their salary to cover their seat while they’re off on medical leave. It isn’t Extra Help. I’m not overstaffed so I can’t do without two people out on medical leave for six weeks.

Councilmember Tornatta: You have 54 people in your office and I think that’s adequate staff. If you’ve got to cross train them, move somebody over for that amount of time, so –

Marsha Abell: I don’t think you work in my office, you have no idea what’s adequate staff.

Councilmember Tornatta: The comment is, you have 54 people in your office, use them wisely, you will have no Extra Help money or the person that fills your office will have no Extra Help money for next year, we gave you some money last month, therefore, I don’t think that we need to give money to this for the rest of the year.

Marsha Abell: I have never had Extra Help. I only replace people who are off on medical leave. I have people that have been in that office that have six and eight weeks off counting all their time and their vacation time. You put that with giving somebody six weeks off for medical leave, I can’t do it and I can’t issue warrants and pull warrants if the person that does that is off right now and may not even be back until the first of the year.

President Bassemier: Okay, lets move on. Royce?

Councilmember Sutton: In terms of the two positions that you’re referring to here, you did talk about this a little bit last week, and how much time are you anticipating the two being off and the Extra Help that you’re wanting to or the assistance that you are wanting to fill into those roles, are they going to be there for the same length of time? What’s kind of the thought there?

Councilmember Raben: Can I interrupt real quick before you say this? Please exclude names from the conversation here.

Marsha Abell: Okay, one person is an appeals clerk. She is the only appeals clerk that I have. I have trained someone else to take her place, but while someone else is doing her appeals, someone else has got to do their work. She’s off on a six week medical leave approved by the County Commissioners. I am just asking to transfer money into an account to put someone in her seat the number of days that she’s gone. The minute she comes back, that person will be gone. That person will not be able to do nearly the workload that she does because they’re not trained to do clerical court work.

Councilmember Sutton: How far along is she in that leave?

Marsha Abell: How long has she been gone?

(Inaudible – comments not made from the microphone)

Marsha Abell: She’ll be back around Thanksgiving. The other person is off on medical leave approved by the County Commissioners. I don’t know that she’ll be back. She is approved for six weeks. She’s had surgery. I don’t know that she’s going to be back. She has a heart problem and she’s trying to get medical disability and she may leave the county employment if she can’t come back to work. She is the person who sits in Misdemeanor court and pulls all the warrants that are issued in Misdemeanor court, which is a crucial job. If we don’t pull the warrants when the judge orders them pulled, the police pick them up, you’ve been picked up on a bad warrant, you can sue the county. I’m not overstaffed, I’m totally understaffed, quite frankly. Fifty-four people is a minimal amount that I am getting by with in the courts and I am sure that every judge over there will tell you that that’s the truth. We are working – I, myself, worked 59 hours the week before last. You can’t work people day and night. And overtime, supervisors work overtime but they don’t get paid for it to fill in for these positions and...its just, I need the staff. That’s all there is to it. I have to have people sitting in those seats. If I didn’t need them I’d be overstaffed.

President Bassemier: Okay, can we move on?

Councilmember Tornatta: I want to know, how they are going to be paid next year? How are we going to pay for, what if this scenario comes about, how do we pay for it next year?

Marsha Abell: The line item is there. Its this person’s salary you approved for the budget for 2004. I’m not asking for extra money, I’m just wanting to use their money for their salary to pay for someone to sit in their seat while they’re gone.

President Bassemier: Are you alright with that, Troy? Let’s move on. Okay, thanks. I’ve got a motion and a second here. Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Tornatta?

Councilmember Tornatta: No.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

CLERK                                                                   REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion carried 5-1/Councilmember Tornatta opposed)

President Bassemier: Jim, before you go to the next one, since they’re both here, we had a democrat and a republican, I just want to congratulate them both yesterday on their win. So we’ll move on.

Councilmember Tornatta: Thank you, Ed.

SHERIFF                                                      SURVEYOR

ELECTION OFFICE                                     SUPT. OF COUNTY BUILDINGS

CIRCUIT COURT                                         COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

SUPERIOR COURT                                     THE CENTRE

LEGAL AID                                                  COUNTY COUNCIL

CUMULATIVE BRIDGE                               REASSESS./CENTER ASSESSOR

REASSESS./PIGEON ASSESSOR

Councilmember Raben: Next, Mr. President, all other transfers as they are listed and I make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Bassemier: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion on the rest of them? 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 Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

SHERIFF                                                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

SURVEYOR                                                           REQUESTED       APPROVED

ELECTION OFFICE                                               REQUESTED       APPROVED

SUPT. OF COUNTY BUILDINGS                          REQUESTED       APPROVED

CIRCUIT COURT                                                   REQUESTED       APPROVED

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS                              REQUESTED       APPROVED

SUPERIOR COURT                                               REQUESTED       APPROVED

THE CENTRE                                                        REQUESTED       APPROVED

LEGAL AID                                                            REQUESTED       APPROVED

COUNTY COUNCIL                                               REQUESTED       APPROVED

CUMULATIVE BRIDGE                                         REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Table continued next page)

REASSESSMENT/CENTER ASSESSOR             REQUESTED       APPROVED

REASSESSMENT/PIGEON ASSESSOR              REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

President Bassemier: No repeals.

Councilmember Raben: There are no repeals, so we’ll move into the Amendments to the Salary Ordinance and first is Burdette Park, I move that we amend salary line 1450-1180 Other Employees as previously adopted. The funds are to be repaid in the General Fund from the Float Stand account. That account number is 3590. Pigeon Assessor/Reassessment salary line 2490-1150-1990 Extra Help as previously adopted. County Clerk salary line 1010-1990 Extra Help as previously adopted. Community Corrections salary line 1361-1250 Correction Officer as the transfer has been approved. The base salary is $30,817 with longevity in the amount of $2,000, and that will be paid in four increments at $500. This employee is considered cross trained and was originally hired as a Detention Officer in the Jail, bid on the job as a Correction Officer in the Community Corrections department, with an annual salary of $32,817. And then we also have salary line 1361-1260 Correction Officer as previously approved. Again, this employee has been cross trained and this, according to the union contract, base salary is $30,817 with a longevity in the amount of $1,758. This will be paid in three increments at $500 and one partial increment at $257.58. The current salary is $32,575. And Prosecutor, amend the salary ordinance to pay one part-time employee at a rate of up to $9.00 per hour. This employee will be paid out of their infraction fund. That’s all I have and I make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Bassemier: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? No 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 Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

President Bassemier: Do we have anything under old business? Okay, new business. We need a motion to approve a resolution of the Vanderburgh County Council confirming the declaration of an economic revitalization area located at 3801 N. Green River Road/Cinergy Communications Company. Do I have a motion and a second?

Councilmember Raben: So moved.

Councilmember Wortman: 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 Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Bassemier?

President Bassemier: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

President Bassemier: I just want to remind everyone and set our Council meeting filing date is November 12, 2004.

President Bassemier: I see under new business we have a Miss Hayes from the task force to end homelessness in Evansville and Vanderburgh County. Is she here? Is five or six minutes okay for you?

Luzada Hayes: Yes.

President Bassemier: Okay, Great.

Luzada Hayes: I am Luzada Hayes with the Evansville Coalition for the Homeless, but for the last two years I have been serving as the facilitator of the task force to end homelessness in Evansville and Vanderburgh County. Two years ago we started this process and we attempted to gather a group of a variety of community leaders. So at that time, Councilman Sutton had agreed to serve on our task force, so he has been the County Council representative for this project. So today I just want to, on October 22nd we mailed you a draft of the current plan. I just wanted to update you on where we are with this project and get any feedback you have to take back to the task force so that we can complete this project and hopefully, in 2005, actually begin to end homelessness in Evansville and Vanderburgh County. The draft was made available to you. It was on our website for public comment, so if you have any comments about it I would be glad to take those or answer any questions you might have about the project.

Councilmember Sutton: Luzada, there’s been so many people involved with this and I know you had mentioned the committee but because of the comprehensiveness of time and efforts and energy that has been put into it and how this document has been put together, which is really part of a national effort along this line, I know I’d like to see the final draft of this on the new city/county website for people to be able to see and view exactly what we’re doing here in Vanderburgh County and Evansville, Indiana to end homelessness, so people who are from wherever they may be from or if they are here locally, they want to see what we’re doing, I think it would be a great example of an organization and community leaders coming together on a common cause and an issue.

Luzada Hayes: Great. We had over 200 participants that was broken up, not only the task force, but we had ten working groups that broke out homelessness in specific, the root causes. The whole premise behind the blueprint is to look at homelessness differently, it’s a paradigm shift. We have come to see that homelessness is a normal way of life for some of our residents. I don’t believe its normal, and we are creating a second generation of homeless. And the theory behind the blueprint is to actually look at the root causes, address those causes. The problem that we need to address is not homelessness. Homelessness is the result of a variety of other problems. So if we separate out those problems and invest resources in those areas, ultimately, homelessness will reduce because you are addressing each of these individual projects or problems. And that’s the theory and method behind the blueprint is to shift, currently, the majority of our services that are being provided are emergency and crises based. The blueprint suggests that we need to invest more in prevention, keeping families from becoming homeless and providing the infrastructure that they need, which the ultimate is affordable housing. And the group that we’re targeting is the 30% area median income, or roughly, the people that make $15,000 and below in this area, are the group that are at risk for homelessness. So it is part of a national model, there is a group out of Washington, D.C., the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Once our draft is finalized it will also be on their website and people all across the country that are interested in this will actually be able to access Evansville’s plan. Indianapolis is the only other Indiana entity that has completed a plan. We will be the second in the state of Indiana.

Councilmember Sutton: Well, I will make that request to make sure that we get that on our website if that meets the approval of the rest of the body here. I don’t know what you guys’ thoughts might be, but it would probably be an excellent document for us to have available for the community to see.

Councilmember Winnecke: I think it’s a great idea. I think one of the great things that ECHO has done is really reached out to the youth of the community. I mean, the project that you undertook with the Signature School during the Auto Fest was really a great tool to educate the young people about the issue. I think your efforts should be applauded.

Luzada Hayes: Thank you. Any other comments or questions? Okay, well if you do, I remain available and I welcome your input and your involvement hopefully once we begin to implement some of the projects and strategies. Thank you for your time.

Councilmember Sutton: Thank you.

President Bassemier: Anybody out there like to address the Council? Can I have a motion to adjourn?

Councilmember Wortman: So moved.

Councilmember Raben: Second.

(Meeting adjourned at 3:55 p.m.)

VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

                                                                                                                                             President Ed Bassemier                   Vice President Lloyd Winnecke

                                                                                       ABSENT                           
     Councilmember Jim Raben                        Councilmember Phil Hoy

                                                                                                                                         Councilmember Curt Wortman                Councilmember Royce Sutton

Councilmember Troy Tornatta

Recorded and transcribed by Teri Lukeman.