VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

MINUTES

OCTOBER 6, 2004

The Vanderburgh County Council met in session this 6th day of October, 2004 in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex. The meeting was called to order at 3:31 p.m. by County Council President Ed Bassemier.

President Bassemier: I’d like to welcome everybody to the October 6th, 2004 Vanderburgh County Council meeting. Attendance roll call please.

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

(Pledge of Allegiance was given)

President Bassemier: I need a motion for approval of the minutes from September 1st, 2004 regular meeting minutes. Take that one first.

Councilmember Raben: So moved.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Bassemier: I have a motion, second, 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)

President Bassemier: It passes. Now I need a motion to approve the minutes of the September 8th and 16th 2005 budget hearing minutes.

Councilmember Wortman: Motion for approval.

Councilmember Hoy: Second.

President Bassemier: I have a motion and a second from Mr. Hoy. 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)

President Bassemier: Now I’m going to turn everything over to our finance chairman, Mr. Raben.

SHERIFF

Councilmember Raben: Okay, thank you, Mr. President, first on the agenda today is the County Sheriff’s office, 1050-2210 Gas & Oil. I move that be set in at $30,000.

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 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: Mr. President, next under Jail, and I spoke with Sheriff Brad Ellsworth, he is going to try to transfer funds or do whatever he needs to do to make up the difference here. 1051-2200 Jail Expense $16,000, 1051-2240 as 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? 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. Thank you, Sheriff.

JAIL                                                                       REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

PROSECUTOR

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next under the Prosecutor, 1080-3900 Return of Fugitive as listed and 1080-3901 for a total of $8,000.

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 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)

PROSECUTOR IV-D

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next Prosecutor IV-D, 1081-1180-1081 down through 1081-3120 for a total of $10,520. I move approval.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Bassemier: I have a motion and a second. 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.

PROSECUTOR IV-D                                              REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

COMMISSIONERS

Councilmember Raben: Okay, next under County Commissioners, 1300-3050 I move that it be set in at $400,000.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Bassemier: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Before we go any farther, Jim, I’d like to say a little something about that. I’ve been checking on some figures and I know in the near future we’re going to have to address this because just this year alone we’ve spent over 2.3 million dollars on these offenders and maybe this is maybe where we could possibly use the old jail for the juveniles. I’ve got something even here local, we’re spending an average per month $60,071, so that’s a lot of money, guys. So like I said, in the near future we’re going to have to address the juvenile offenders. So that’s all I have to say. Thank you.

Councilmember Tornatta: I think Mr. Sutton has addressed some of those issues as well, so that’s something we ought to entertain and look for some future ideas on things to do with that old jail. And that’s an outstanding choice.

Councilmember Sutton: We had an opportunity – I had the opportunity to sit down with Judge Niemeier over here within the last few weeks to talk about some of those rising costs and he’s doing everything possible to try to reduce some of the burden and some of the cost upon the county and some of the new policies and procedures that they are now implementing or they have implemented will help to reduce some of that burden. But when you look at what we have spent this year, it is up there pretty high. Of course, that doesn’t necessarily include all of the resources that we’re spending toward this particular expense. When you look at the OFS, Office of Family and Children, that allocation we’re spending. So it’s even higher than what we see here.

President Bassemier: Well, I know, you know, we was talking about housing, you know, state and federal prisoners which I still think is a good idea but I think that average there was like $35 a day. Here local, we’re paying $172 per day on our juvenile offenders. So, and its not just this year, I’ve got figures from 2002, we spent $1,787,935. In 2003 we spent $1,884,746, so I think the new jail would be an ideal location and make it be regional, and I know there would be grants out there for that, I’m sure. And I think in the future that could be self-supporting, too.

Councilmember Hoy: The only comment I would make is that for humanity sake, we might want to lobby the legislature to do a better job of providing mental health. Half of these kids could use treatment and our beloved state right now is trying to close down our one children’s hospital here in Evansville by starving them out. Not a good idea and a far better way to approach the problem with these young people than incarceration. That doesn’t work too well. It’s a good place to learn crime and we need for some of these kids to experience healing.

President Bassemier: Thank you. Mr. Wortman?

Councilmember Wortman: I talked to the Commissioners and besides this $750,000, we’ve got another $56,000 bill, too.

President Bassemier: Oh yeah. Oh, it’s not going to end. And that’s why I say, we’re going to have to address it in the near future especially next year when the new jail is going to open. I’m sorry, Jim, got a little side-tracked here. I have a motion and a second. I need a 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)

CIRCUIT COURT

Councilmember Raben: Okay, Mr. President, next under Circuit Court, 1360-3260 I move that be set in at zero and Circuit Court is going to look into finding transfers to make up for those purchases.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Bassemier: I have a motion and a second. Any discussion? Of course not. 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.

CIRCUIT COURT                                                   REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEFERRAL SERVICE

Councilmember Raben: Okay, under transfers, if its okay with everyone, I’ll simply move that all transfers be --

President Bassemier: Drug And Alcohol?

Councilmember Raben: Oh, well, we’ll take care of that first, then. Drug and Alcohol 1371-2600 and 1371-3120 for a total request of $1,000, 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 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                          REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

JAIL                                                             ELECTION OFFICE

COMMISSIONERS                                      SUPERIOR COURT

COUNTY COUNCIL                                     REASSESS./KNIGHT ASSESSOR

CIRCUIT CT. SUPPLEMENTAL                  SHERIFF (LATE)

REASSESS./KNIGHT ASSESSOR (LATE)

Councilmember Raben: Okay now, Mr. President, I will move that all transfers be accepted as listed.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Bassemier: 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.

JAIL                                                                       REQUESTED       APPROVED

ELECTION OFFICE                                               REQUESTED       APPROVED

COMMISSIONERS                                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

SUPERIOR COURT                                               REQUESTED       APPROVED

COUNTY COUNCIL                                               REQUESTED       APPROVED

REASSESSMENT/KNIGHT TWP. ASSESSOR    REQUESTED       APPROVED

CIRCUIT COURT

SUPPLEMENTAL ADULT PROBATION              REQUESTED       APPROVED

SHERIFF                                                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

REASSESSMENT/KNIGHT TWP. ASSESSOR    REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 7-0)

Councilmember Raben: Now under the salary ordinance amendments, first I’ll move under Prosecutor IV-D, amend salary line 1081-1180 Receptionist as previously adopted. The employee is a COMOT IV/Step 6 with an annual salary of $30,089. Under the Jail, I move we amend salary line 1051-1850 Union Overtime as previously adopted. Election Office, salary line 1210-1120 Election Assistant as transfer previously approved. Knight Assessor, salary line 2490-1990 Extra Help as previously adopted. I make that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

President Bassemier: Got a motion and a second by Mr. Wortman. 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)

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, before we move on to other business, I just wanted to hit on something here real quick. After the appropriations today, our general fund balance is going to be in the area of 349,000, okay? And someone mentioned that we’re going to be looking or know that we’re going to be faced with further lodging of inmate costs and medical bills associated with outside housing. So everyone needs to know, really from this day forward that we’re probably not going to entertain other appropriation requests. So if it requires a letter coming from this body, I would ask that you make that call. But I think, once again, we need to send out a reminder that only emergency requests will be heard by this body for the balance of the year.

President Bassemier: I have no problem with that. Anybody got a problem with that? Sandie, would you draft up a letter please stating that?

Councilmember Sutton: Now I think that’s a good action but I don’t know how we might deem or classify emergencies, what’s an emergency to one person might be – you know what I mean? So I –

President Bassemier: I guess we have to decide, I guess.

Councilmember Sutton: So I don’t know if we may want to – I mean, if there are, well, like I said, we just may want to just make sure in our explanation that they clearly understand what the county’s financial position is and any and all requests would be scrutinized with a very close eye and if they aren’t deemed to be of a very great urgent need or safety is being compromised or jeopardized, then we wouldn’t consider them. So, like I said, I don’t know how we would get that message out clearly so that everyone understands that we really need to be very careful with our dollars here.

President Bassemier: Nothing listed –

Councilmember Hoy: (Inaudible – microphone not turned on)

President Bassemier: Okay, I see nothing under old business. New business, I’ve got an appointment here – 

Marsha Abell: Excuse us.

President Bassemier: I’m sorry.

Marsha Abell: We tried to jump in.

President Bassemier: Come on in here. I bet you we’re going to talk about elections.

Marsha Abell: Yeah. I just think that it would not be prudent of me to not advise the Council that we hope we’re going to be able to get by with just transfers but we may have to come for an appropriation for staff. We’ve added two more people yesterday, we’re adding two more people tomorrow. We’ve got 600 pieces of mail today and its every day like that. Both of the major parties have done major mailings for absentee ballots. The staff, we’re now working from 7:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. They’re working every Saturday and we’re going to have to pay overtime, so we are going to be hitting that budget pretty tough with what we’ve got. This transfer is going to get us through for a while but if this continues, I don’t know when we’re going to run out of money, but we might run out of money.

Councilmember Raben: Mr. President, I might offer one suggestion. Maybe it’s a challenge to both parties to look towards volunteers.

Marsha Abell: That would be fine with me. I haven’t seen any of them come forward and want to do that.

President Bassemier: Jeff, what are you doing that day?

Marsha Abell: Part of the problem is that the state statute says that we have to get the ballots out the day we get the applications in. That’s become an impossibility at this point. We can’t possibly, the staff is worn out today and they’re going to go home at 5:00, but I just want the Council to be aware of the situation that we’re in down there. We’ve already voted like 1,600 people and we only voted 2,000 through the whole last general election absentee. And we’ve only been open for absentee voting, this is just Wednesday, we only opened Monday. So that gives you an indication, we are going to have, if we stay all month like this, we may not have to open the polls November 2nd, everybody may have voted by then. But we are going to be in trouble. So I just want the Council to be aware of it.

President Bassemier: It must be because of the local candidates, right?

Marsha Abell: I can’t say, but I can say it’s pretty heavy.

Councilmember Sutton: I think that’s an encouraging sign. The last few elections we’ve seen turnouts that (inaudible – microphone not turned on)

Marsha Abell: Oh, I’m not disappointed in the turnout, I just want everybody to understand that when you get the paperwork, you’ve got to have the manpower to process it.

Councilmember Sutton: I’m pretty excited about the level of interest that we’re – what we’re hearing really around the state and the metro area (inaudible).

Marsha Abell: I just was in the Clerk’s meeting yesterday and they indicated the same thing across the state. All the Clerks that were here for the AIC conference went home yesterday, they’re not even staying because they are so busy. If any of you were in the building Monday, Voter Registration had over 700 people standing in the halls waiting to register the last day, so its heavy, its very heavy, and we’re going to run out of money if our staffing remains, you know, if we remain where we are. And I just wanted to let the Council know that so in light of what Mr. Raben said, I wanted to let you know I’m aware of the tight budget but I have got to get the election done by November 2nd. Thank you.

President Bassemier: Okay, thank you, Marsha.

Councilmember Sutton: We did kind of classify it for emergency purposes (inaudible) can you hear me? I was going to say, we did say emergency purposes. Maybe we ought to include in that, items that are state mandated as well that we obviously have to carry out in the election would be one of those and there would probably be some other situations that may place an officeholder in a situation where they have to carry out certain responsibilities and duties.

President Bassemier: Okay.

President Bassemier: Alright, I’ve got an appointment here, this is to the Southwestern Indiana Mental Health Center, Incorporated appointment. It’s a three year term. I understand this Mr. Gene Koch has held this for several years. He’s done a fantastic job and we called him today and he will accept it again. So I’m going to appoint Mr. Gene Koch to that position.

President Bassemier: Now I need a resolution for the Evansville Urban Transportation Study, resolution supporting the amendment of the EUTS Articles of Agreement. Can I have a motion and a second on that?

Councilmember Hoy: So moved.

Councilmember Wortman: Second.

Councilmember Winnecke: There’s somebody from EUTS here.

President Bassemier: Yeah, I’m sorry. Pam, I’m sorry.

Pam Drach: Yeah, just briefly, our articles of agreement, our previous or current one, we cover Evansville-Vanderburgh County, Newburgh and Warrick County, and the city of Henderson in Kentucky, and as a result of the 2000 census, our area has expanded and we need to amend our articles of agreement to include all of Henderson County, not just the city in Henderson, and that’s what the amendment is.

President Bassemier: Everybody got their – has the other bodies already passed it?

Pam Drach: We’ve had approval from Henderson city, Henderson County, Warrick County, and the town of Newburgh. And we are on the agendas for the other agencies.

President Bassemier: Anybody got any questions? Okay. Do I have a motion and a second?

Councilmember Hoy: Yeah, you’ve got a motion and a second.

President Bassemier: Anybody got anything else to say? 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)

President Bassemier: Before we adjourn, –

Councilmember Hoy: I have a – if you all don’t know it, the Health Department has moved. I would encourage you – they’re busy still setting up their office but if you get a chance just drop by and take a look and I think you’ll be happy with what you see.

President Bassemier: Okay, before we adjourn, is anybody out there – John, would you like to say something? You never come up here. Let us critique you for a – Sheriff, anybody? You okay?

Brad Ellsworth: Happy as I can be.

President Bassemier: Okay, do I have a motion to adjourn? Okay, let’s go home.

(Meeting adjourned at 3:57 p.m.)

VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

                                                                                                                                             President Ed Bassemier                   Vice President Lloyd Winnecke

                                                                                                                                    
     Councilmember Jim Raben                        Councilmember Phil Hoy

                                                                                                                                          Councilmember Curt Wortman                Councilmember Royce Sutton

Councilmember Troy Tornatta

Recorded and transcribed by Teri Lukeman.