VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES

OCTOBER 1, 2008

The Vanderburgh County Council met in session this 1st day of October in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex. The meeting was called to order at 8:35 a.m. by Council President Marsha Abell.

President Abell: I’d like to call to order the October 1^st, 2008 meeting of the Vanderburgh County Council. I apologize for the delay. Could we have the attendance roll call please?

President Abell: Councilman Sutton, would you lead us in the Pledge?

(Pledge of Allegiance was given)

President Abell: I would entertain a motion for approval of the minutes from the September 10, 2008 regular meeting and also the September 10, 2008 final budget hearing, unless there are any corrections to either one.

Councilmember Leader: So moved.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

SHERIFF

President Abell: We’re here this morning for the appropriation ordinance, and I will turn the meeting over to our Finance Chairman, Mr. Raben.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, thank you, Madam President. First on the agenda today under 1050-1210 College Incentive in the amount of $700, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Leader: Second.

President Abell: Questions? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

SHERIFF                                                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

ELECTION OFFICE

Councilmember Raben: Next Election Office, 1210-1910 PERF in the amount of $300, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

President Abell: Questions? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

ELECTION OFFICE                                               REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

SUPERINTENDENT OF COUNTY BUILDINGS

Councilmember Raben: Superintendent of County Buildings, 1310-3200 Utilities in the amount of $36,000. I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

President Abell: Questions? Someone on Council requested some information from the County Commissioner’s Office. I can’t remember who did. If you remember who you are, did you get the information you wanted? Someone asked about some savings and whether they had – what their...

Councilmember Shetler: Well, I wasn’t asking for additional information, but just kind of that they ought to have maybe put out some kind of memorandum informing everyone to raise up the temperature during the winter or the summer and lower it in the winter – whatever. Anyway, try to save some money. And to shut off the 50% of the vacant rooms that we have, to shut those off so that we don’t pay any additional dollars out. And I think they had already been in the process of doing that, it started back in June. So....

President Abell: Thank you. Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

SUPERINTENDENT OF COUNTY BUILDINGS   REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

SUPERIOR COURT

Councilmember Raben: Superior Court, Juvenile Home Detention in the amount of $4,500, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Leader: Second.

President Abell: Questions? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

SUPERIOR COURT                                               REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

BURDETTE PARK

Councilmember Raben: Burdette, 1450-2210 Gas & Oil in the amount of $4,000, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Questions? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

BURDETTE PARK                                                 REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

REASSESSMENT/KNIGHT TOWNSHIP ASSESSOR

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next under Knight Township, Extra Help and FICA in the amount of $8,612, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Questions? Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

KNIGHT TWP. ASSESSOR                                   REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

JAIL PROJECT

Councilmember Raben: Next under Jail Project in the amount of $920,000, I’m going to move approval to get it on the floor.

President Abell: Do I hear a second?

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Abell: Mr. Rector?

Dave Rector: Good morning, Dave Rector, Building Authority.

Jeff Korb: Good morning, Jeff Korb, County Commissioner.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Dave, you and I have had some dialogue and I apologize for pulling you away from your meeting last week.

Dave Rector: Not a problem.

Councilmember Raben: Madam President, one of my concerns has been with this appropriation request, is that the county is taking the onus for the whole enchilada on the tearing down of that space, not knowing what the real space allocation is going to be when the project is finalized, whether the city uses X percentage of that space and we’ve taken on the responsibility for whole tear down. I have had some dialogue with Commissioner Nix on this project as well as your board’s attorney, Joe Harrison, and I understand that there is – you’re in a bit of a quandary that there is an expiration on the bids that you need to either accept or not accept. So, Madam President, one of the suggestions made was to possibly treat this as somewhat of a loan to the Building Authority until such time at which they have time to secure outside financing for this part of the project or the entire project, and then at that time, reimburse the county for the full sum. I’m okay with that, I would just like to somehow have that caveat in this motion or in the action we take today that this is only subject to an agreement, a written agreement from the Building Authority, that they will reimburse the county once they secure their financing.

President Abell: And I understand that your meeting is tomorrow, Mr. Rector, or you are having a special meeting, --

Dave Rector: We had a meeting yesterday and then we can’t award until the money is actually approved and then we can award the project. We can bid it without funding in place, but we can’t award it without funding in place. And we opened the bids on August 26^th with them good for sixty days. I think for the county’s benefit, all of our benefit, we don’t want to let that lapse, we got very good bids in and we won’t see those bids again if we have to rebid it.

President Abell: How much is the demolition bid?

Dave Rector: $380,000, plus we had an alternate of about $84,000 for the roofing on the old rec yard that we’ve got to rip off. So it was that portion of it and then we had design engineering fees in for the build-out of what that space would be on the second floor and also $125,000 is in there for Circuit Court video arraignment. That’s what comprises the 920,000.

President Abell: Okay. I think what our concern is at this level is, I think that the Superior Court is ours. I mean, we’re county and we fund the courts. The rest of it, I think our concern is that it be properly distributed, if I’m understanding you, Mr. Raben, among the county and the city, based on who takes what particular portion. And with that caveat and this being on the record, I feel comfortable with approving this money today. You can take it to your board and tell them that we’re making it as a loan, you can back it out against us on our rent, or however we can work that out later, but I think the main thing is, to get the money appropriated so you can make the award and not lose this low bid that we have out here.

Dave Rector: Yes, and what we do, we back the 125 out then for the video arraignment, and not knowing definitely what that space is going to be yet, and build-out, we don’t know proportionately occupancy-wise, what departments that would fall to. I’ve had conversations with ONB right now and we’ll go to the other banks and bid the loan process. But that’s going to take a few weeks to get in place, and really, we don’t need that in place until we all decide definitely what that space is going to be. Commissioner Korb is here today, Commissioner Nix asked me to apologize, he was out of town on business, so Jeff is here if you’ve got any questions for the Commissioners. The city may or may not use some of that space, so if they do, of course, some of that would go to them, the demolition part of this amount proportionately to how much space they occupy. So I understand what you’re saying, its just kind of a convoluted way to get there right now with the need to award the bid.

President Abell: I understand. I think we have a little conversation regarding the amount – bear with us.

Councilmember Goebel: President Abell?

President Abell: I’m sorry, Mr. Goebel, yes?

Councilmember Goebel: Mr. Rector, you’re satisfied, though, that if we would let the bids lapse at this point, that we’re not going to get a comparable bid in the future?

Dave Rector: Undoubtedly. We will not see this bid again. I’ll be happy to talk with you if you’d like at some point, and I’ll explain, but we will not see this bid again.

Councilmember Goebel: I have been in contact with the Commissioners, so–

Dave Rector: Okay, so you understand.

Councilmember Goebel: I understand, so I think we do need to move on this.

President Abell: Mr. Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: So we should consider this like a bridge loan and not a bail out. We want to get that clear.

Councilmember Raben: I would ask that our County Auditor, you know, this fund, we’re really, technically, I mean, the funds aren’t leaving this fund, we’re saying it’s okay to spend X. So I would ask the County Auditor not release any of these funds from these lines until the agreement, whatever that agreement is between the Building Authority’s board and this body is in place. So you say, again, you’re going to meet –

Dave Rector: Next Tuesday we’ll meet and award the bid and I can have Joe get with Jeff and they can work out some kind of agreement that it would proportionateley be allocated by the departments occupying the same way we do the rent.

Councilmember Raben: The cleanest way, right off the bat, is just complete reimbursement and then we’ll work out the rent side.

Dave Rector: Because it’s going to be some time before we get it demo’ed and built back out.

President Abell: Right.

Councilmember Raben: Are you good with that, legal Counsel? Complete reimbursement initially, and then we’ll work out the allocations?

Jeff Ahlers: Yeah, that’s fine.

Dave Rector: And without getting into it, I’ll let Joe and Jeff figure it out and get with Bill. But I think the additional appropriation is actually to go into the Commissioner’s budget, we’ll pay for it, we’ll bill them, and then it will have to go back either to the set aside fund or to the Commissioners, however you all decide that works.

President Abell: I think its best to let the two attorneys work this thing out for us.

Councilmember Sutton: And I guess that’s – I understand what we’re trying to accomplish, but I don’t know if we really have the authority to make a loan per se, but we could make an appropriation with some restrictions or some covenants that go along with it, which is what we’re doing. So really in the context of making this appropriation, we probably should rephrase it as just simply an appropriation with some contingencies that go along with the appropriation.

President Abell: I agree, to leave the verbiage “loan” out of it is correct. I think you’re correct. Any other comments or questions among the Council? Does everyone understand what we’re doing?

Councilmember Sutton: I was going to say, is there a way we can get some idea of when we might get a list of what those contingencies are and what these timetables are that we’re shooting for? I don’t know if that’s something our counsel is going to put together in cooperation with the Building Authority? When will we actually receive this list of contingencies?

President Abell: I think Mr. Harrison and Mr. Ahlers are going to get together and they’ll do the contingencies and then we can all be provided a copy of it. And I suppose that you’ll be wanting to do that in time for your next Tuesday meeting so we should be getting this –

Dave Rector: That would be good if we could, then they could approve that at the same time when we award the project.

President Abell: Is that –

Dave Rector: Joe and Jeff can get together.

Jeff Ahlers: Yeah, and I mean, we’re probably going to need to get the county attorney involved, too, because the Commissioners, you know, as the executive are involved. I mean, really, we’re just an appropriating body, so , I mean, its probably equally or more important that we get Mr. Ziemer involved. I mean, because they’re going to be the ones that are going to oversee the improvements as the executive and –

Dave Rector: I’ll call Joe as soon as we’re done today and tell him what’s going on and have him get with you and Ted.

President Abell: And I know Mr. Ziemer emails all of us on a regular basis so we’ll make sure that by email, if that’s okay with everyone, you can get a copy of the contingencies and if there’s any questions on them, maybe we can get that handled before next Tuesday’s meeting.

Dave Rector: Sure.

President Abell: Does that – is that okay with you, Mr. Sutton? Anyone else? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

JAIL PROJECT                                                      REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

JAIL BOND

Councilmember Raben: Okay next, Jail Bond, 3661-3993 in the amount of $800, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Sutton: Second.

President Abell: Questions? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

JAIL BOND                                                            REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Does anybody have any questions or problems with any of the transfers as they are listed?

Councilmember Sutton: Oh the – I did have a question on the second transfer request from the Commissioners where we’re taking 40,000 from Southwestern Mental Health and allocating it to two different line items: Travel & Mileage and then Telephone. Is Commissioner Korb, did he take off?

President Abell: He should be coming back. He has to be here.

Councilmember Sutton: Well...

Councilmember Raben: I tell you what, do you want to – we’ll come back to that. Let’s go ahead and just take them one at a time.

Councilmember Sutton: Or just skip around that one and then just – you can come back to that.

JAIL

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Jail, in the amount of $37,000 I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Leader: Second.

President Abell: I’m sorry. Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

JAIL                                                                       REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

CIRCUIT COURT

Councilmember Raben: Next, Circuit Court in the amount of $1,675, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Questions? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

CIRCUIT COURT                                                   REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

SUPERIOR COURT

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Superior Court in the amount of $3,000, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Abell: Questions? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

SUPERIOR COURT                                               REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

FAMILY & CHILDREN

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Division of Family & Children, Madam President, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Leader: Second.

President Abell: Questions? I see Mr. Buckman is here. Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

FAMILY & CHILDREN                                           REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Table continued next page)

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

REASSESSMENT/COUNTY ASSESSOR

Councilmember Raben: The Assessor/Reassessment has been withdrawn. That telephone line item is in the Commissioners’ budget, but I think we do need to set that in at zero so I’ll move that we set that transfer request in at zero.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

REASSESSMENT/CO. ASSESSOR                     REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

COUNTY COUNCIL (LATE)

Councilmember Raben: County Council in the amount of $485,580, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Questions?

Councilmember Sutton: Did we want to have any – I mean, that’s a pretty large amount. Did we want to have some discussion?

President Abell: Yes, Mr. Sutton, go right ahead.

Councilmember Raben: That’s, you remember last week we took action, or last month, on the software. We’re doing it in lieu of that action as a transfer and the amount actually went down significantly, almost in half.

Councilmember Sutton: I mean, I knew what it was, I just wanted to make sure everyone else knew. That’s a pretty large amount. So, yeah.

President Abell: Everyone else okay with that? Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

COUNTY COUNCIL                                               REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

COUNTY HIGHWAY (LATE)

Councilmember Raben: Okay, and last, County Highway in the amount of $375,000. This was maybe the only one I had a question on. It seems like – are we buying simply what we think may be what it takes to get us through the winter? For one winter, that seems like a lot.

Jeff Korb: That is correct. I’m going to pass this information out real quick.

President Abell: Mr. Korb, please give your name when you go back to the microphone. Before we get started maybe we need a motion and a second to put this on the floor for discussion.

Councilmember Winnecke: So moved.

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Abell: Now, Mr. Korb.

Jeff Korb: My name is Jeff Korb, I’m a County Commissioner. I asked Mike Duckworth, the Superintendent of the Garage to put this information together for us. A small historical lesson: in 2007, our price per ton was $43.68; in 2008, we paid $45.27 and you’ll notice in 2008 and 2009 we are looking at prices in around the $125 mark. We have, as I understand it, approximately 700 to 1000 tons in storage already. As you take a look at what we have used in the past, that’s pretty well right in line. I guess the important thing to understand here is, at least from our perspective, we put a bid out for salt in June, the Purchasing Department did, and there were – we got no bids. Nothing. And there is a shortage of salt going on in the United States as we know it. Mike has been able to find some salt for us in Delaware and so we’ll have to have it trucked in or shipped in by barge. Very little domestic salt is available at this point in time. The other bid that we had come in was for $150 per ton. As a result of what we’re asking for is, I realize that we don’t need the salt today, but if we wait until November or December to purchase the salt, I’m afraid there will be no salt available to be purchased and that’s a concern that we have. Obviously, if we don’t use it all, we will have it for next year, sort of what we’ve done in the past. But its one of these things that I don’t feel like – I mean, we can wait if you want to, just to transfer these monies. And my understanding is, Councilwoman Abell, that Mr. Duckworth has had conversations with you about the transfer from University Parkway. I don’t understand the dynamics of all that and where we are with that at this point. All I know is that, if we miss this opportunity to purchase salt, and it has been a hard row to hoe, here we are in October, and we’ve been looking for it since June, we get into November, I’m afraid we won’t find it. I’m not saying we won’t, I don’t know what it will cost us and I don’t know if it will be available. The only comforting thing with this is the fact that, fortunately or unfortunately, Ed Ziemer is going to have to have the exact same conversation with the City Council and asking for the same amounts of money. So, Mike, would you come up? If you have any questions, you can ask me or Mike. Really, Mike would be more the person on this. And again, trust me, this is not something – a conversation I want to have with you all. But I just don’t know that we want to take the risk of not having salt on hand if we get hit two or three storms in a row, we’d be, basically, up a creek. Any questions?

Councilmember Raben: I’m fine with it, I mean, this one page report answers all my questions.

Mike Duckworth: Can I just make a couple of quick comments? First of all, let me just clarify a couple of things. The supply and demand situation is such that we had a very harsh winter last year across the country so the salt supply is low and then we’ve had a couple major mines either close or be completely destroyed by Ike. And Jeff alluded to you where we’re getting the salt from. We were looking in Delaware, we’ve looked everywhere to tell you the truth, and if we hadn’t had such a good working relationship with the Indiana Department of Transportation, I think we’d still be looking or paying $150 a ton. But I will tell you that Delaware, that was unavailable. This is coming from a chemical company out of Pennsylvania, but it is being imported by ship to their facility and then barged along the different waterways to the different communities in need. And they’re all paying this much if not more all pertaining to the cost of delivery. And I would tell you that one of the reasons that we’re at – our actual cost for the salt is $118 a ton and then there is about a seven dollar – five to seven dollar charge for offloading on the barges for Mulzer, which gets us to the $125 mark. But because we’re on the Ohio River, because we need to do this if we’re going to do it now, because as you know, waterways freeze up. Last year, we had that problem and it had to be trucked in and that just equates to nothing else but a rise in the cost. So my recommendation to you is to – I know it’s a tough pill to swallow, but it’s available and I think we should act on it at this point.

President Abell: Any questions? Mr. Sutton and then Ms. Leader and then –

Councilmember Sutton: Mike, how much salt do you have on hand right now?

Mike Duckworth: About 750 – 800 ton right now. Last year we used, with what we had, somewhere around 3,200 – 3,500 tons, so this will give us 3,700. All the forecasting that I’ve seen, all the predictions are calling for a harsh winter. And, you know, we’ve got 560 miles. We will brine, we will mix it with salt, we will ration this as we need to, according to the type of event that we get. But I don’t want to get into the middle of February and be low and be hit with a 22" snow, or a 6 or 7" snow and then really be in a bad way. I think this is a conservative way to do this and, you know, if we have a mild winter, we’ll have a lot left over. But I don’t – from what I’m reading, and the research I’ve done, it doesn’t appear that that’s going to be the case.

Councilmember Sutton: And I guess my last question, with what you have on hand and then what you’re talking about ordering here, do you have a place to put all this?

Mike Duckworth: Well, we’re going to make a place. We’re probably going to put it outside. We’re going to fill our salt barn up, which will take about another two or three hundred ton, and then we will stockpile it on our property and tarp it, and that’s what many of the municipalities are doing, they just keep it out of the weather the best you can.

Councilmember Sutton: That’s a huge tarp.

Mike Duckworth: Its going to be costly, yes. And these are all conditions that we’re not familiar with and so we’re doing it step by step. But getting it here is our number one concern at this point.

President Abell: Ms. Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Mr. Duckworth, this $45.27 price in 2008 going to $125, did that $45.27 also include shipping and you just said the 125 does include – its all inclusive?

Mike Duckworth: That’s getting it to the port. The $45.27 included the offloading as well.

Councilmember Leader: So that was everything?

Mike Duckworth: Yes. Our 125 is getting it to the port and offloading it from the barge to the yard. And then our vehicles and our labor will have to load it and transport it to our facility.

Councilmember Leader: And where does this company – where did you say it was, Pennsylvania, you ended up?

Mike Duckworth: Yes.

Councilmember Leader: Where do they import this salt from?

Mike Duckworth: Overseas. I really don’t – you know, it used to come from the Bahamas and Ike just completely wiped out a salt mine in the Bahamas that provided about a million ton a year to the United States. Detroit was a major producer and they closed their mine, which took care of about a third of the country’s salt. So with last year’s increase in use and the depletion of the supply, of course, it raises the price.

Councilmember Leader: Thank you.

President Abell: Mr. Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yeah, the $285,000 coming from University Parkway, is that capital money?

Mike Duckworth: I’d defer that to Mr. Fluty.

Bill Fluty: That’s Local Roads & Streets.

Councilmember Shetler: Is that money to be used for the construction –

Bill Fluty: It’s all within the County Highway. I’m sorry, I thought that was in Local Roads & Streets.

Councilmember Shetler: This is money that was earmarked to use for capital in the extension of that present highway? And, I guess, basically, then, how are we going to replace that next year or is this...

Bill Fluty: Appropriation next month to replace the money. I talked to John Stoll. What they needed today was a transfer to put that money in place so they could go ahead and purchase the salt. And I talked to John and he does not need that $700,000 now, so he, with you putting the money back in, the 285,000 next month, he’s fine with this.

Councilmember Shetler: Alright, thank you.

President Abell: Any other questions? Mr. Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: I have two questions. Back to Councilman Sutton’s question, you usually have about 3500 ton at the beginning of the season?

Mike Duckworth: Well, normally what we do is, we have leftover, which can be anywhere from 500 to 1,000 ton. We then order somewhere around 2,000 ton and then during the season, as we use it, and as its available and the cost is attractive, we buy according to what our budget allows. So on mild winters, we may use only 2 to 3,000. And in heavy winters, its 3 to 4,000.

Councilmember Goebel: How do you protect that amount if the building itself handles 1,000 ton, how do you protect –

Mike Duckworth: It handles 1,500 ton and in addition to that, what we do is, we tarp it and we put it in our aggregate holders and just cover it –

Councilmember Goebel: So we really have the means to cover it, right?

Mike Duckworth: We have the means to cover a small amount, but, I mean, you’re talking about stockpiling probably close to 2,000 ton, so we’re going to have to figure out a way to cover it and protect it, and we’re looking at that right now. It won’t arrive here for another, if things work well, two to three weeks, so we’ve got some time to work on that.

Councilmember Goebel: Are predictions in the future going to bring the cost of salt back down? The Detroit mine, I don’t know anything about that, but is that going to reopen or is that out of salt or what’s –

Mike Duckworth: Past practice has shown that they’ve sold, whenever they’ve gotten down to a certain point, I had one of the contractors tell me that they were blasting for salt, that they’ve quit doing that, but the city of Detroit only does it for their own use. I’m really not that familiar with any other information, other than exactly what he’s told me. It depends on the usage, I think, this winter. It depends on how they are able to import it. At $125 a ton, it’s a commodity that a lot of these chemical companies want to get a hold of. My estimation is, like fuel, once it got over the three dollar amount, is it going to go below that some day? You know, its dependent upon the availability. It also would depend upon another material being developed that we could use instead of that which would drive the cost down, I think. But right now, we’re not at that point.

Councilmember Goebel: I understand that. I was just thinking maybe that, with the hurricane damage in the Bahamas, that will be repaired and we’ll be able to get that supply and maybe the cost will come down accordingly, or do you think its going to be like fuel, period, once it’s there, it’s there?

Mike Duckworth: I anticipate that being the case, because some of these mines, I don’t know of the abundance of their supply. So if they’re able to produce more and make it more abundant, then I think that will drive the cost down. If not, then I think we’re in for at least this amount, if not, you know, even higher at a later date.

Councilmember Goebel: Thank you.

President Abell: Mr. Winnecke, did you have a question?

Councilmember Winnecke: I did. I just wanted to clarify how the University Parkway fund would be reimbursed and what’s going to come from the COIT windfall line item, just so we know.

President Abell: Mr. Fluty, go ahead.

Bill Fluty: Yes, I think I talked to you, Marsha, I guess, last week and felt that there was money in the COIT windfall that would replace this.

Councilmember Raben: Okay. Just one last comment. You know, I urge that you exercise caution. When you speculate – I mean, you know, we’re banking on whether we have a hard winter, not so hard winter, we’re speculating price, usually, you speculate when the price is low. This price is about 200% higher than it was last year so the last thing we want to do is get caught with 1,500 ton going into next year and the price is $45 again. So exercise caution here.

Mike Duckworth: I think my comment to that is, I’m giving you the estimates of what I think it would – in past practice of what it would take to get this community through this winter. I can’t guess as to whether we have a mild winter or a harsh winter, and I would say to you that I feel comfortable in the responsibility that I have in ordering this amount that it will be used. I would much rather have it and not use it, than need it and not have it.

Jeff Korb: I think also, to address that, Jim, this stuff needs to be shopped for immediately after the season because that’s when its going to be the least expensive. And then I think going forward, we ask Mike to continue to monitor purchase availability and prices at that point in time. I hope it comes back down, but I’m afraid, like fuel, it’s not going to. So I respect what you’re saying, it’s just, I feel like, at this point, we’re sort of backed into a corner. Do I mind waiting? I mean, I would prefer to wait to see if it comes back down from the 125. Even it came down to a hundred, that would be great. But gee whiz, the last thing we need is to wait and then not even be able to get it. That’s the concern that I have. The other flip side of that coin is, I’ve instructed Mike to begin searching for alternative ways to put solutions down that may not have anything to do with salt. If this is happening to us in Vanderburgh County, it’s happening throughout the United States, wherever we have weather related events. So hopefully, we’ll be able to come up with some new chemical usages for roadways and how we keep them clean going forward.

President Abell: Any other questions of Council? If not, there’s a motion and a second on the floor. Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

COUNTY HIGHWAY                                              REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

COMMISSIONERS

Councilmember Raben: Okay, and last, under Commissioners, we had a transfer in the amount of $40,000, I’ll move approval.

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Abell: Mr. Sutton, did you have a question about that?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes. Mr. Korb?

President Abell: Mr. Korb?

Councilmember Sutton: Before you take off...on the Telephone line item, we were budgeted 223 on that, can you give us some explanation of what’s going on there, what caused the –

Jeff Korb: Be happy to give you the update on that, because when we were talking during budget hearings, your question specifically was really, what are our monthly costs and where are we going to be with this. That request was made of information to Mr. Arvay and I’ve yet to receive any information with regards to what those monthly figures are. And my understanding is that the conversations that we’ve had– to answer your question more directly, Royce, we’re averaging, as it says, for us, about $18,000 a month. I, personally, want to have a much better and finer grasp of what that cost is. An average of $18,000 a month is not an acceptable answer to me, because from a budgeting standpoint, we just can’t do that. And in that monthly cost, I’m going to find out what the breakout is in terms of the cost per line, the cost per department, so we understand where the cost differentiations are.

Councilmember Sutton: Well, I’m just trying to get an idea because when we set this line item in, the thought was that we were in step with what the cost would be, so just trying to get an idea if there is something that’s causing this figure to fall out of whack like this because I did mention the telephone back during budgets, so just trying to get an idea because thousands here, thousands there, and then we’ve got a lot of money.

Jeff Korb: And it does, and that’s why I’m trying to nail down with Matt, because it’s really, we don’t have much control over that but I think out of respect to the Council, because you all are trying to set your budgets, we’ve got to have an understanding of where that comes from, and that includes more conversations with AT&T. So I’m right there with you, we need to know exactly where we are, going forward at this point. I wish I could give you those numbers, but they have not been made available.

Councilmember Sutton: So this will cover it through the end of the year?

Jeff Korb: My understanding is, that is yes, however -- Marissa, our Administrative Assistant, is nodding her head and saying yes. That’s the best answer that I can give you at this point.

Councilmember Sutton: Thank you.

Jeff Korb: And just so you know, we did have conversations with John Browning of Southwestern Indiana Mental Health, and he was comfortable with that transfer. He had indicated that was money that he would not be requiring or needing, which we thought was helpful, too. So we didn’t just arbitrarily pull that out and say we want to take this money from this individual’s account. We had conversation, dialogue, and he was willing to work with us on that. So we were grateful for that.

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

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

COMMISSIONERS                                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Jeff Korb: Thank you, everybody.

Councilmember Raben: Okay, and last under Amendments to the Salary Ordinance, I’ll move that we amend salary line 1050-1210 College Incentive as previously adopted; under Knight Township I move that we amend salary line 2490-1130-1990 Extra Help as previously adopted; Jail, salary line 1051-1850 Union Overtime as previously adopted; and we have a correction to the Public Defender, I move that we amend salary line 1303-1620 Chief Public Defender setting the 2008 salary in at 113,083 effective July 1, 2008. The Chief Public Defender’s salary is based on 90% of the Prosecutor’s state approved salary of $125,647. I make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Abell: Questions? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Abell: Thank you, Mr. Raben.

President Abell: Under old business, we have the resolution of the Vanderburgh County Council confirming the declaration of an economic revitalization area for property located at 12900 Warrick County Line Road, Veolia Solid Waste Midwest, LLC. Would you like to come forward?

Julie Gorman: My name is Julie Gorman and I’m representing the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville. This is the confirming resolution for Veolia ES Solid Waste Midwest, LLC. Veolia is requesting the tax phase-in for real estate improvements for property located at 12900 Warrick County Line Road. The County Council passed a preliminary resolution for this project on September the 10^th. The total cost of the project is 1.4 million and will employ an additional eight people within the next five years. There are representatives here if you have any other questions.

President Abell: Council, do you have questions? I think we’re going to handle this as two motions. We will entertain a motion to accept the revitalization area and then, due to the difference of opinion regarding the amount of years, I will entertain a second motion regarding the number of years of the tax phase-in.

Councilmember Shetler: So moved --

President Abell: Do I hear a second?

Councilmember Raben: I’ll second.

Councilmember Shetler: – on the first motion.

President Abell: On the resolution declaring it an economic revitalization area?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

President Abell: And, Mr. Raben, do you second that?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

President Abell: And could I have a roll call vote on that please?

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: This was – the first one was – I’m sorry.

President Abell: This is just to make it a revitalization area. This does not set the years. We’re going to – this is the confirming resolution just making it a revitalization area.

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Abell: I will now entertain a motion for the number of years that the Council would approve for a tax phase-in for Veolia.

Councilmember Shetler: I’d like to make a motion to set that at seven years.

Councilmember Raben: I’ll second that motion.

President Abell: For seven years? Discussion? Mr. Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: If we defeat the seven, we can come back with five, is that correct?

President Abell: Is that correct, Mr. Ahlers?

Jeff Ahlers: That’s correct.

Councilmember Raben: Julie, again, your recommendation was...

Julie Gorman: It was seven originally, and the bonus information that they provided added more points that moved it up to nine years. But originally, it was seven.

President Abell: Any other questions or comments? Anyone? I just have one. I took some – used this form that we all were provided last week and found that the difference between a five year and a seven year tax phase-in for this company would be $35,020, that they would be to the better if we go seven years as opposed to the five. And as I recall, Mr. Elpers, correct me, didn’t you indicate that your sewage and your wastewater system would cost close to 30,000 by the time you got both systems in?

Dan Elpers: I’m Dan Elpers with Veolia. Yes, roughly that.

President Abell: Okay. That is my reason for wanting to go with the seven because I think they’re going to be spending money that we normally don’t see other companies spending. In fact, I don’t know of a company we’ve ever had that spent it because we’ve always got the sewer lines run out to the property already, that they’re developing. And here we have a company that’s willing to develop in an area that has no sewer lines. So my comments are that I like the seven for that purpose. Any other comments?

Councilmember Raben: Such is the case with VIP. I mean, we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars for infrastructure and yet we still grant abatements to most anyone that comes there. This company is actually doing most of that or doing all that themselves, so I concur with you. This is deserving of seven.

President Abell: Mr. Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Dan, I know I asked this last week or last month and I don’t recall the answer, is the amount of the sewage treatment system, the 30 or $35,000, isn’t that included in the 1.4 million dollar cost of the overall project that’s in the application?

Dan Elpers: Eighteen of it is.

Councilmember Winnecke: Eighteen of the thirty-five or whatever? Okay.

President Abell: Any other? Mr. Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: As we left it last week, was it set at five?

President Abell: Yes, it was.

Councilmember Goebel: Thank you.

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

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: No.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: No.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: No.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: No.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion fails 3-4/Councilmembers Sutton, Leader, Goebel & Winnecke opposed)

President Abell: I will entertain any other motion that...

Councilmember Winnecke: Madam Chairman, I would make a motion that we confirm the tax phase-in for Veolia at five years.

Councilmember Leader: I will second.

President Abell: Questions? Discussion? Roll call vote.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: No.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion carried 6-1/Councilmember Sutton opposed)

President Abell: Thank you, Mr. Elpers.

President Abell: Next is a resolution of the Vanderburgh County Council confirming an economic revitalization area for tax phase-in for redevelopment and/or rehabilitation of real property and for acquisition of manufacturing equipment located at 2415 Locust Creek Drive.

Julie Gorman: Again, my name is Julie Gorman, representing the Growth Alliance for Greater Evansville. This is the confirming resolution for Berry Plastics OpCo., a subsidiary of Berry Plastics Corporation. The Council passed a preliminary resolution on September the 10^th, 2008. The total cost for the real estate component is 1.1 million, and 1.8 million for the manufacturing equipment. Upon completion, the project will employ 25 people full-time within the next five years. And the project scored 100 points and ten bonus points that was equivalent to eight years, I believe, that the preliminary resolution was for seven years for real property, nine years for personal property.

President Abell: I need a motion.

Councilmember Winnecke: Okay, Madam President, I will move that we confirm the tax phase-in for Berry Plastics at seven years on real property and nine years on personal property as previously passed.

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Abell: Questions? Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Abell: Thank you.

Julie Gorman: Thank you.

President Abell: Mr. Sutton, I think under new business, you wanted the floor?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes, I’m going to pass something out to you. I have a couple of people coming forward. Let me give you the right thing. I want to share with you just where we were. I did make some mention of the property tax express payment center that we have been working on. Its an idea that I brought forward a couple of months ago that helps to address the issue that our Treasurer, Z Tuley, has mentioned about the long lines. In fact, she’s got some video that shows the long lines during the installment periods. And we’ve been kind of bouncing this around and put together a team with the express purpose of trying to see if we can alleviate some of the delays, the lines, that slow down not only the staff in being able to be efficient, but the length of time that people have to wait to actually pay property taxes. And we should be able to make that process as convenient as possible, being that that helps to help us do what we do right here on Council. So I’ve got a little explanation of kind of what we did and the project team that was involved with it and the considerations that we -(Tape reversed)- on looking at and evaluating other options for paying the property taxes other than just at the Treasurer’s Office. And so we looked at the project costs, the efficiency and customer convenience, the ease of access to the payment site, parking, security, technology, waiting areas for customers as they come, privacy of each client as they come to pay their property taxes, the ability to set up and tear down the site, and then the program length itself. So looking at a couple of different options, initially, when I first proposed the idea was with the idea that we would look at trying to do this at the Centre, because of all the space and being that that is a publically owned building and close to the Civic Center here. But as we began to evaluate several different options, it did not appear to be the most feasible way of going about it. It’s a good location but as we explored it here, right here in the Civic Center, we found a space that would be very suitable, and that’s room 307, or as we know it, the old Commissioners meeting room is a site that we’ve identified for this particular location. I want to – Z Tuley is here and want to give her a chance to kind of talk about some of the things that they addressed and the issues they confront and how this particular system mitigates some of those issues that she’s been seeing for the past several years.

Z Tuley: What we’re hoping, I’m sorry, I forgot to address myself. Z Tuley, Vanderburgh County Treasurer. What we’re hoping that this will accomplish is make the traffic flow line a little bit better so that they’re not so bunched. If someone does have a problem, they have the potential to get it solved up here or if it’s a little more in depth and there are reports or something that needs to be grabbed, then they can still go down to my office and have that checked out. We are for that purpose and for the purpose of mail, going to go ahead and leave two cashiers open downstairs, and we’re going to bring four up here. We’re also going to have a third cashier on standby in my office if need be due to potential heavy mail or something like that. But hopefully what this will do is make it so that when a gentleman or a lady comes up to the counter and they’re ready to pay, if they have a really short question, it’s going to be able to get that done. Right now, they have to stand in two different lines because they have to address the counter if they have an issue and then they have to go and then stand in the cashier line. And so its causing a great deal of frustration and confusion, and sometimes the line gets botched and little kids get drug in here, and they get very anxious about being stuck in here. So we’re hoping that that will do that. And I think that with four cashiers up here and those people that know that they don’t have any issues, and they just want to pay and for some reason they don’t go to the bank, they don’t want to go to the bank, or they were already here to vote, or they were already here to get a copy of something from the Recorder, or to file something with the Assessor, or to file something with the Auditor, if they were already here in the building, it does seem kind of silly that they couldn’t go ahead and pay, and this would get them through with ease and some speed. And hopefully, some privacy as well.

Councilmember Sutton: Okay, the IT area was very much involved with this and I wanted to at least give them a chance to discuss just what items were included in on this to make this a smooth operation for those coming to pay property taxes.

Mark Rolley: Mark Rolley with computer services. We looked at like the Centre, you know, as Councilman Sutton said. And although we have connectivity to the Centre, we do not have any cabling infrastructure within the Centre, and we was looking at 5 to $10,000 in build out costs just to use a room in the Centre for this purpose. We starting looking around at rooms in this building where we already have cabling in place and we found a good room. We’ve contracted with Lieberman to do additional programming to the program that Z uses to accommodate the additional cashiering stations. Phone lines are to be moved from her office or additional ones put in place to enhance the additional room. We’re going to be going through a lengthy test period with this addition from a computer services standpoint. The additional programming and everything gets put in place, sometimes there’s bugs and stuff, so we want to make sure none of that happens to her during her production period, so we’re going through extensive –

Z Tuley: Lieberman is done.

Mark Rolley: Outstanding. We’re also obtaining other equipment such as computers, scanners, printers, etcetera to accommodate this.

Councilmember Sutton: And then, as well, just to try to accommodate the ease and flow for those coming to pay taxes, we’ve heard issues where people come up, wait in a long line, and then they come back out and they’ve got a ticket sitting on their car once they get down, so we’re trying to address that as well. And, Mr. Rector, if he could kind of give us an update on where we stand on that.

Dave Rector: Dave Rector, Building Authority. Actually, we don’t have that resolved yet. The parking committee has somewhat addressed that. City Clerk Matlock was not available to meet with Commissioner Korb and I. We met with Lynn Buhr. Logistically, we’re trying to figure out where and how many we’re going to put this. Are we going to have them stamp something, they come in to show they came in to pay taxes so it’s not abused and everyone else parks there and says I was here to pay taxes. Does it take 15 minutes to come up and pay your taxes or is it going to take an hour. So we’re working to resolve that. I don’t have an answer for you yet. We were able to clear 307 for those two weeks of all meetings and move them to other rooms. And we came up with a queuing plan that will accommodate 40 to 45 people in that room without it spilling out into the lobby. But honestly, we are still working on the parking and hope to be able to report back on that.

Councilmember Sutton: The queuing plan that Dave makes mention of is that map that you see here that allows the traffic to flow through the room rather efficiently. So hopefully, we won’t have parking issues but if we do, we want to be prepared to respond to that. And then, of course, security is another concern that we want to make sure we’re taking care of and the Sheriff’s Office has agreed to provide support in that regard. Total cost on the project, we were able to lop off a great deal of cost by bringing it here as opposed to having it at the Centre, and so we’re talking right at $12,000. We don’t have the final figure yet because there are a few supplies that we’re still waiting on, but the dates for the event will be October 24^th through November 11^th, and then, of course, there’s some testing that goes on before that. So a great job on the team and we should have a request coming before Council at our next Council meeting specifically dealing with this request. But the Building Authority is handling all of the equipment and supplies on this.

President Abell: Thank you, Mr. Sutton, you’ve done a good job on this. We appreciate that help. I have a question, Ms. Tuley, maybe more of a comment than a question. You might want to get with Mr. Rector and maybe you have already thought about this, of making sure there’s a sign downstairs that says, if you are going to just pay your taxes, go to the third floor, and if you have a problem, go to the second floor. Otherwise, you’re going to have people even madder if they’re standing in line and finding out they’re going to have to go to another floor.

Z Tuley: Yes. I am going to be upstairs with the rest of the staff. I’m not going to have a cashier drawer. I am going to be up there to try to answer questions as people come in. Hopefully, it will be mostly cashiering going on. This gets the money in, it gets it turned into the bank quicker. Downstairs they are prepared to handle any major problems and we will make sure that that is noted somehow in the lobby. Signage really isn’t all that costly and it’s already, I can probably already cover that in my budget, so I don’t see any need to tack it on to this.

Dave Rector: I had – part of the cost I had included was for signage, so I’ll work with Z and see what she had in there. I’m trying to think, too, how the staff at the information desk can help with this. If they could be the ones that maybe stamp the parking or somebody that says I’m paying the taxes, so they don’t come all the way up, all the way back down. So, as I said, we’re still working through that.

President Abell: Good. I think you’ve done a commendable job, Mr. Sutton, and your team. Thank you.

Councilmember Sutton: Thank you. So when you come to drop off your taxes, all of you, it will get through a lot quicker, if you aren’t mailing it or you aren’t using some of the other means that she’s made available.

Z Tuley: And if you’re out and about, go ahead and use the bank.

President Abell: Thank you so much.

President Abell: The next item of business on our agenda is the conflict of interest form. We don’t normally do this, and so I’m going to let Mr. Ahlers explain what we’re handling here.

Jeff Ahlers: Yeah, this is the routine Uniform Conflict of Interest Disclosure Statement. I know that most of you filed them here. The reason it’s coming before Council is because Mrs. Tucker is an appointee of this body to the Convention Bureau and the statute indicates that if you’re not an elected official, but an appointed official, that there ought to be an approval of the Conflict of Interest form by the appointing body. And because the Convention Bureau, I guess, you know, from time to time may do some business with Tucker Publishing, they want to get that disclosed. So it’s just for a vote for Council to approve that so it can be signed and sent up.

Councilmember Leader: So moved.

Councilmember Winnecke: Second.

President Abell: Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Sutton?

Councilmember Sutton: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Leader?

Councilmember Leader: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Raben?

Councilmember Raben: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Winnecke?

Councilmember Winnecke: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Abell?

President Abell: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

President Abell: Thank you. Mrs. Tucker, I see, is in the audience. Thanks for coming.

President Abell: The final thing on our agenda is the Convention & Visitors Bureau appointment. Due to the resignation of – Mr. Winnecke, help me out. I can’t remember the name of the young man who resigned. Oh, Mr. Niemeier –

Councilmember Winnecke: Yeah, Fred Niemeier.

President Abell: I was having a blank moment there. And we have reappointed Mr. David Dunn and everyone is aware of that.

Councilmember Winnecke: Correct.

President Abell: Okay. Mr. Buckman, did you have something you wanted to discuss with us? I saw you move up to the front –

Councilmember Winnecke: We did his transfer earlier.

President Abell: I know we did, but he moved from the back to the front, so I thought he might have a question or something.

John Schroder: Actually, I’m John Schroder, Assistant Director with the Department of Child Services. And due to legislative changes, the financing for our agency will be moving over to the state and I’ve been working in the financial aspects of our agency for twenty-four years, and working with you and your predecessors in the financing for what was the Welfare Department and the Division of Family & Children, now the Department of Child Services. I wanted to thank you for all of your efforts and considerations for the financing for the services for our agency. I may be back on another transfer or something, but I won’t be working much with you in the future, and I just really wanted to thank Mrs. Lukeman for keeping me up to date on the time frames of things and budgets and Mr. Fluty for keeping us to the penny on our issues, and all of you for your efforts and consideration in doing so. It has been very good working with you all and I just wanted to thank you very much. As a side note, I also was a college instructor, teaching American Government and after boring my students to death, Mr. Winnecke can provide a very interesting perspective of politics and the media and their combination. So I wanted to thank you all for all of the efforts and things that have happened over the years, and Mr. Raben for the financial perspective, too. Thank you.

President Abell: Thank you, and I apologize, I’m having a name problem today, obviously.

John Schroder: Actually, Mr. Buckman retired in March.

President Abell: I’m just having a bad name day. It’s one of those fifty things. Is there any further business to come before the Council? We stand adjourned.

(There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 9:41 a.m.)

VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

        President Marsha Abell               Vice President Lloyd Winnecke

       Councilmember Jim Raben           Councilmember Mike Goebel

        Councilmember Tom Shetler         Councilmember Royce Sutton

        Councilmember Donna Leader

Recorded and transcribed by Teri Lukeman.