VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL

SEPTEMBER 7, 2011

The Vanderburgh County Council met in session this 7^th day of September in room 301 of the Civic Center Complex. The meeting was called to order at 8:30 a.m. by County Council President Joe Kiefer.

President Kiefer: I’d like to call the Vanderburgh County Council meeting to order for September 7th, 2011. I’d like to ask Commissioner Lloyd Winnecke to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

(Pledge of Allegiance was given)

President Kiefer: Thank you very much. Today’s agenda, we’ll start with a roll call please.

President Kiefer: We have six members here so we have a quorum.

President Kiefer: Is there a motion to approve the minutes?

Councilmember Lloyd: Motion to approve minutes.

Councilmember Terry: Second.

President Kiefer: We have a first and a second. All in favor say aye.

(All Councilmembers voted aye)

President Kiefer: Opposed? None.

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

WEIGHTS & MEASURES

President Kiefer: Okay, we’ll move right along into the appropriation ordinance and it looks like the first thing we have here is Weights & Measures. And a lot of this, some of this stuff, we talked about last week, but it looks like to amend the salary ordinance as follows, line 1302- 1120 Deputy Inspector, requested $508, line 1302-1130 Deputy Inspector $508, and then the same for 1302-1150 – they’re all the same line item numbers, FICA and PERF, so I don’t see anything unusual about this.

Councilmember Shetler: Move approval.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Kiefer: Roll call vote please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes.

WEIGHTS & MEASURES                                      REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

SUPERINTENDENT OF COUNTY BUILDINGS

President Kiefer: Next is under Superintendent of County Buildings, Utilities, $50,000. I see Commissioner Winnecke is here.

Lloyd Winnecke: Good morning. I think this is a pretty self-explanatory request asking for $50,000, although after the bill we received this week, we’re not sure that it’s going to be sufficient to cover us for the balance of the year. The August bill that we just received was for almost $21,000. Typically, our monthly bill averages about $15,000 a month, gets a little higher in the winter months, but because of the excessive heat it was clearly up in August.

President Kiefer: So this is basically your Vectren bill then.

Lloyd Winnecke: More or less, yes. But it does include other – it includes all utilities, but that’s the big -

President Kiefer: The big chunk of it. Okay, Councilman Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Have we done any kind of study to make sure that our rent is appropriate considering our expenses? Because I understand it’s 85% occupied.

Lloyd Winnecke: It is. Not lately, I’m not sure that we’ve done it since we’ve employed the use of an outside realtor to help lease the space, but it’s probably a good idea that we could employ.

Councilmember Shetler: Thank you.

President Kiefer: Okay, any other questions? Is there a motion to approve?

Councilmember Shetler: So moved.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Kiefer: Okay, we have a first and a second. No further discussion? Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: I think the delightful 70 degree weather we’ve had will help the September bill. Hopefully, we’ll have milder weather the rest of the year. I’ll vote yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes, approved. Thank you.

SUPERINTENDENT OF COUNTY BUILDINGS   REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

SUPERIOR COURT

President Kiefer: We’ll move right along to Superior Court, Judge Dietsch is here to talk about this, the Petit Jurors for $10,000.

Terry Dietsch: Good morning.

President Kiefer: Good morning, Judge.

Terry Dietsch: In this account, in preparing the budget for 2011, we looked back over the previous years and we noticed that, actually, we were getting by on less than the amount that we asked to be appropriated. So, in a cost cutting measure, we reduced our request for 2011 by $10,000. Lo and behold, this is the year that we ran out, so we’re asking for an additional $10,000 to get us through the remainder of the year. We have no funds available at present.

President Kiefer: Any discussion?

Councilmember Shetler: So moved.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Kiefer: Okay, questions? Councilman Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: This is the account for Superior Court where you just pay the jurors? I mean, is that just jury duty pay?

Terry Dietsch: Yes, they have to be paid.

Councilmember Lloyd: Okay, and you’ve got jury duty trials going on right now?

Terry Dietsch: Yes.

Councilmember Lloyd: So we don’t want to give them IOU’s, right?

Terry Dietsch: No, I think not.

President Kiefer: Okay, so we have a first and a second. If no further discussion, roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes, approved. And Judge, I didn’t know if you wanted to make any comments about –

Terry Dietsch: Well, I have one more item if you don’t mind. Mr. President, did you happen to notice perchance how shabbily our tigers were treated last Friday? Isn’t there something you could do about that?

President Kiefer: Well, our quarterback was injured, I’m sure the outcome might have been different. Wishful thinking.

Councilmember Shetler: Judge, there was some redemption for us monarch fans in that we got to go to an all school reunion the next night, so that was some satisfaction.

President Kiefer: Well, at least it was a fellow catholic school that trumped us. Okay, we’ll move on.

SUPERIOR COURT                                               REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

BURDETTE PARK

President Kiefer: Next is Burdette Park and Utilities for $30,000.

Steve Craig: Steve Craig, manager Burdette.

President Kiefer: Good morning. I’m assuming this is probably the same story that Commissioner Winnecke gave.

Steve Craig: Yeah, we had spoke last week about the hot summer and that, you know, has put us as it did last year and the year before, it looks like that we will run out. I went back after Tom had asked me if that was more than I needed or not, and with the August bill in, it looks like we will be either right on it or even a little bit short. But like you told me, and I knew the December we pay next year, so I think that’s an honest assessment of what I’ll need to make it through the rest of the year.

President Kiefer: Okay, I appreciate you reiterating that, and Councilman Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: What do you guys run, utilities, a month? Roughly.

Steve Craig: It goes from $12,000 down to $8,000 - $7,000. It just, you know, the spring months are a lot lower and the summer is just off the charts it seems like. But we’re running, like I told them, we run six 30 horsepower motors at the pool to run the pumps in the summer. Our Discovery Lodge is used almost every day of the summer by our day camp, and then the weekends, both days are rented. So the summer time, it pushes up to probably 15 - 16,000, but then in the spring and then in the fall, it drops quite a bit.

Councilmember Lloyd: Is it mainly electric or is it also water?

Steve Craig: The water is very minute. I couldn’t give you a cost on it compared to the electric, and we do have gas in part of the park and we still even have some propane in parts that we couldn’t run the gas lines to when we installed it to the park.

Councilmember Lloyd: Well, gas prices are pretty reasonable, so that helps.

Steve Craig: Yeah, I wish we had it all through the whole park because the electric is what’s went off the chart in the last several years. But, as I told them last week, every time we replace a new furnace or something we get the most energy efficient one we can. We had changed to the energy efficient light bulbs five years ago when we built the lodge. You know, it was unheard of to use these expensive light bulbs, but most of the light bulbs that we put in it six or seven years ago are still in it and they’re still burning. And they’re like 19% of what you’d use on a 100 watt bulb, you know, it burns 19%, so we’ve done everything that I possibly can see. I keep reading about it, if anybody has got any ideas with new energy efficient ways, I’m game for it because we’ve tried everything. My night watchman turns off our utilities at night in buildings, turns off the heaters, the air conditioners, and they’re not turned back on until the facility is rented. So like I said, if I get any suggestions, I will take them.

Councilmember Lloyd: Is the pool still open or is that –

Steve Craig: It closed Monday, Russell.

President Kiefer: Okay, Councilman Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Good morning, Steve.

Steve Craig: Good morning.

Councilmember Goebel: You did mention that you closed down the utilities to each of the lodges of the rentals as they’re not used. I’m just curious if that is a proper way to handle it or do you keep a minimum amount so it doesn’t cost so much to kick it back in, if you know what I mean, to make it usable.

Steve Craig: We looked at that, and when my crew, I have somebody, if a building is rented on a day, we have somebody go check it in the morning, and they will turn the air conditioner on to make sure that it is running properly and that, but if it’s been off for six days, you know, it’s definitely a savings that we had not used that air conditioner for six days. And these are usually, basically, rental cabins and not like the chalets and that. But we do turn them on in the morning and when the people arrive an hour or two later, they are cool. So I know that it ran for that hour or two, but it’s been off for four or five days, I think it’s a savings to the park.

Councilmember Goebel: Okay, I’ll leave that to you and I know you’re trying. Do you absolutely need this amount or, I know you enjoy coming before us, would you want to come back later?

Steve Craig: I have no problem coming and talking to you, but I think this is an honest assessment of what we do need. I mean, if you give me less, I’ll see you around the holidays, I think, but other than that...I went back and looked, and we sat down and I thought it was a pretty honest number.

Councilmember Goebel: Okay, well, it would revert back regardless if you don’t use it all, is that correct?

Steve Craig: Yes Sir.

President Kiefer: Okay, we’ll look for a motion then.

Councilmember Shetler: Motion for approval.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Kiefer: Okay, we have a first and second.

Councilmember Shetler: I have one question or point, maybe, to ask Commissioner Winnecke, and I don’t mean to put you on the spot here, but we have a contract with one of Vectren’s entities, the Commissioner’s office does, --

Lloyd Winnecke: The energy systems group?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes. And I can’t recall exactly the specifics of that contract, but it’s supposed to be to help us save –

Lloyd Winnecke: At the Old Courthouse, ironically.

Councilmember Shetler: Only there?

Lloyd Winnecke: Yes.

Councilmember Shetler: Okay, I didn’t know if it was comprehensive for the whole systems or not.

Lloyd Winnecke: No.

Councilmember Shetler: Alright, but it is at the Old Courthouse, so can we I guess double check and make sure we’re getting the most efficient –

Lloyd Winnecke: I made a note of that when I saw that the Vectren bill had come in.

Councilmember Shetler: Great. Thank you. Great minds.

President Kiefer: Okay, thank you very much. We have a first and a second. Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes. Congratulations.

Steve Craig: Thank you very much.

BURDETTE PARK                                                 REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

CCD/COMMISSIONERS

President Kiefer: We’re going to move down to CCD fund appropriations, 2031-1300-4130 Park & Playground. Commissioner Winnecke, I guess this is for $107,500, transfer.

Lloyd Winnecke: This is the money that was previously transferred out of this line item to buy the election equipment in order to provide the voting centers for this fall’s election.

President Kiefer: Okay, it seems pretty simple. Any discussion?

Lloyd Winnecke: Just as a point of reminder, this is money that will be used to help construct the infrastructure around the new property that we acquired for Burdette, I think, last year. That’s how that money is sort of earmarked.

President Kiefer: Okay, I look for a motion, please.

Councilmember Lloyd: Motion to approve $107,500.

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Kiefer: Okay, we have a first and a second. If no further discussion, roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes, that’s six-zero approved. Thank you very much.

CCD/COMMISSIONERS                                        REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

LOCAL EMERGENCY PLAN COMMISSION

President Kiefer: The next page, we look at the Local Emergency Plan Commission, Emergency Management requesting $2,500. And is anybody here to discuss that?

Councilmember Shetler: Motion to approve.

President Kiefer: We’ve got a motion to approve, is there a second?

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

Councilmember Goebel: Was anyone here last –

President Kiefer: No.

Councilmember Goebel: Did we not request that someone show?

President Kiefer: Yeah, we sent out a letter to everybody, didn’t we, Sandie?

Sandie Deig: Yes, we did.

President Kiefer: Okay, what this is, in the explanation, they had an unexpected expense and reduction in their yearly funding and grant reimbursement from the state, and that’s what it was. It would be good and duly noted that we need to have somebody here to give us an explanation of these expenses. We can hold off on this and we can wait until the next –

Councilmember Goebel: It’s not a lot of information as to, are the funds needed right now or can they wait a month or –

President Kiefer: I say we put it off until the next month then.

Councilmember Shetler: I’ll withdraw my motion.

Councilmember Lloyd: Withdraw my second.

President Kiefer: Okay, we’re going to put this off –

Councilmember Lloyd: We’re just deferring this.

President Kiefer: Deferring this until our October meeting and, Sandie, if you’ll contact them and ask them to show up at our Personnel & Finance meeting the last Wednesday of the month, and then we’ll readdress that at that point. Thank you, Councilman Goebel.

LOCAL EMERGENCY PLAN COMMISSION       REQUESTED       APPROVED

HIGHWAY (TWO REQUESTS)

President Kiefer: Highway Department, is there somebody here to address this?

Lloyd Winnecke: Good morning, Mr. Duckworth had a family emergency and asked that I present his transfer request. I believe all but one have to do with storm related activity early in the year, which we’ve spent from line items in order to respond to snow and ice, flooding and other wind damage events. This is money we anticipate recovering from FEMA through a reimbursement, but we obviously have to pay the bills in order to get the reimbursement and these transfers just simply replenish some accounts that we’ve spent down as a result of these natural acts.

President Kiefer: Okay, while we have you up here then, on the second Highway item, 2010-1061 Assistant Mechanic $7,087.

Lloyd Winnecke: I’m less familiar with that in all candor. Apparently, PERF and FICA were not figured earlier and so there is a line shortage of $83, if I’m reading it correctly.

President Kiefer: Yeah, I’m reading the same explanation, so if there’s no questions about that, we can go ahead and vote on that.

Councilmember Lloyd: Motion to approve the two requests from Highway as submitted.

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Kiefer: Okay, further discussion? Roll call please. And this is for both line items, 2010-3010, and 2010-1061 and 2010-1046.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes. So that’s approved 6-0. Thank you, Commissioner.

HIGHWAY                                                             REQUESTED       APPROVED

HIGHWAY                                                              REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

CUMULATIVE BRIDGE (TWO REQUESTS)

President Kiefer: Okay, the Cumulative Bridge.

Lloyd Winnecke: Essentially, the same explanation on this and the Local Roads & Streets, and these are all items that we have documented. All of our expenses have been well documented in order for us to receive federal reimbursement.

President Kiefer: Okay.

Councilmember Shetler: So moved for both Cumulative Bridge.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Kiefer: Okay, first and second. Further discussion? Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes. That’s 6-0, approved. Thank you.

Lloyd Winnecke: Thank you.

CUMULATIVE BRIDGE                                         REQUESTED       APPROVED

CUMULATIVE BRIDGE                                         REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

LOCAL ROADS & STREETS

President Kiefer: Okay, and the last thing, I believe, on this is Local Emergency Plan Commission.

Councilmember Lloyd: Mr. President, you’ve got Local Roads & Streets.

President Kiefer: I thought we did those all together.

Councilmember Lloyd: No, we just did the two Cumulative Bridge.

President Kiefer: Okay, my apologies. We have Local Roads & Streets, Equipment Lease & Rental, Road Equipment, Tires & Tubes and Equipment Repair. You might as well stay up here for a while.

Lloyd Winnecke: I’m sorry, I thought they were together, too. Same story. We’ve, obviously, went through a lot of tires and just garage equipment during the course of responding to these events. So we’ve simply asked, this transfer will replenish these line items and allow us to make sure we have plenty of necessary equipment for the balance of the year.

President Kiefer: Okay, is there discussion?

Councilmember Shetler: So moved.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Kiefer: Okay, we have a first and a second. Further discussion? None? Roll call, Teri.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes, approved 6-0.

Lloyd Winnecke: Thank you.

President Kiefer: Don’t go away, you never know when you’re going to be called back up.

Lloyd Winnecke: Quit while I’m ahead.

LOCAL ROADS & STREETS                                REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

LOCAL EMERGENCY PLAN COMMISSION

President Kiefer: Local Emergency Plan Commission.

Councilmember Lloyd: Mr. President, I would submit that since the individual is not here that this is another one that I think the Council should defer since they’re not here to explain it.

President Kiefer: Yeah, I agree with that, so this will be deferred until the October meeting and, Sandie, again, request that they be here, otherwise, we can’t vote on this.

LOCAL EMERGENCY PLAN COMMISSION       REQUESTED       APPROVED

HIGHWAY

President Kiefer: Okay, look at late transfer requests and we have some from the Highway department, Health department, again, Highway, I guess, Garage & Motor and Solid Waste Disposal, we’re going to transfer $16,450 from Garage & Motor to Solid Waste & Disposal. Commissioner Winnecke, did you have any comments about that or...

Lloyd Winnecke: (Inaudible – comments not made from the microphone)

Councilmember Lloyd: The notice says contaminated sand bags.

Lloyd Winnecke: Yeah, this was affiliated with the flood cleanup.

President Kiefer: Yeah, I remember reading about this in the paper that there was – I was surprised, I didn’t realize that sandbags became contaminated and had to be disposed of in a certain way.

Lloyd Winnecke: Yeah, the federal government has a very lengthy procedure of disposal.

President Kiefer: Okay, are there questions amongst Councilmembers?

Lloyd Winnecke: And again, this is a reimbursable item that we’ve documented well during our cleanup effort.

President Kiefer: That’s good. Thank you.

Councilmember Lloyd: Motion to approve $16,450 transfer.

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Kiefer: Okay, further discussion? Teri, if you could do roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes, approved 6-0.

Lloyd Winnecke: Thank you.

HIGHWAY                                                             REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

President Kiefer: And next, Health Department. I see Gary is here to go through this with us.

Gary Heck: Gary Heck, Vanderburgh County Health Department. Thank you. Sorry for the lateness, but we had a resignation, a surprise resignation from our Vector Control Supervisor, and the first request will be to transfer funds into Accrued Payments for the time that he would be owed so that we could replace the position as soon as possible because the Vector Control is a critical position to the Health department, especially at a time of year when we’ve had several positive lab confirmed pools of West Nile mosquitos, that we’ve been out doing adulticiding operations. Last night I was out until 11:30 with the crews just to make sure that we can continue to protect the community. And then the second request would be to put some additional funds into extra help for the mosquito extra help line item for the same reason. We’ve depleted the funds that we had because of all the activities since the early flooding this year to combat the mosquito population in Vanderburgh County. I’d be happy to answer any questions. The funds are available in other line items to accommodate both of these requests.

President Kiefer: Okay, so this really ties into your request to fill the Vector Control Supervisor vacancy that’s showing in the new business section.

Gary Heck: And plus of the recent – yes, that one does. But the extra help mosquitos is just because we’re still combating positive pools of West Nile virus mosquitos and we just need the help to go out and do that in the community.

President Kiefer: Okay, since these two are obviously tied together, what, this position, beyond doing this West Nile control and mosquito control, do they, like what do they do during the winter time when we obviously don’t have that concern?

Gary Heck: This position also coordinates our public health preparedness and response efforts which is an ongoing, around the year preparation. We work closely with the emergency management agency and with all the other first responder agencies, the fire departments, law enforcement, ambulance services, hospitals, and we’re constantly planning, testing our plans, modifying those plans so that should an emergency occur, we’d be prepared to handle that. And this supervisor’s position also coordinates that effort for the Health department, and they also take the lead roll in the GIS system for the Health department where we also use the GIS system to document all of the other types of works that we’ve done in the environmental areas, mapping, septic systems, the catch basins that we’ve treated for mosquitos, just to name a few.

President Kiefer: Okay, Councilman Lloyd?

Councilmember Shetler: Where did that individual go?

Gary Heck: It’s my understanding that he was approached and that he’s going to work in the private sector for a company that deals with boilers. He’s not doing anything in public health, per se. He just had an opportunity to go into the private sector and make more money for his family.

Councilmember Lloyd: Nothing to do with bugs?

Gary Heck: Not that I’m aware of. Nothing to do with bugs at this time.

Councilmember Lloyd: Okay, I mean, it just so happens that this year has been a very wet, early summer, so I guess mosquitos are not, I mean, it’s a big problem.

Gary Heck: It is and we do a lot of testing where we actually set traps to gather mosquitos that can then go in for testing to see if we do have positive – if any of them test positive for the West Nile because that will change some of the methods that we do and that’s why there’s been a lot more adulticiding this year with the fogging where you see the trucks out. The adulticiding is probably one of the least effective methods of combating it. The most effective, of course, is if the public will drain any excess water sources on their property, regularly change bird bath water, empty tires, flower plants that retain water when not in use, you have clogged gutters that holds water, retains water, all of those are just prime sources for mosquitos to populate, and that’s what causes a lot of the problems.

Councilmember Lloyd: What area of the county did they find the West Nile virus?

Gary Heck: It’s been all over, it hasn’t been isolated in any one particular area. Last night we were between the Lloyd Expressway and Diamond, between Heidelbach and Weinbach, so previously we were on the west side. Earlier this spring we were honoring requests to go out on some of the public golf courses and some of the areas where there was going to be outside activity for little leagues and soft ball and so we’ve been all over the county, but it hasn’t just been in one specific area, it’s been fairly widespread.

Councilmember Lloyd: So the public, they just need to make sure and not have any stagnate water on their property, try to drain that.

Gary Heck: That’s one of the best things that they can do, make sure that they wear DEET if they’re outside. Most of the activity is when we’re out, spraying is going to start at about 8:00 at night, so if they can try to be indoors when we’re making that initial pass, that would be very helpful, too.

Councilmember Lloyd: Where do you guys spray?

Gary Heck: Anywhere where we find a reason to, and it’s usually where we have found positive cases of the West Nile virus, so it’s public streets, alleys, and when invited on golf courses or any places where the public would be out in large numbers.

Councilmember Lloyd: Okay, thank you.

Gary Heck: You’re welcome.

Councilmember Lloyd: Mr. President, motion to approve Health Department transfer, 2130-1520, 2130-3600, 18,324 and 2,016 to the Accrued Payments and FICA accounts.

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Kiefer: Alright, we have a first and a second. Further discussion? Seeing none, Teri, roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes, congratulations, 6-0.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT                                       REQUESTED       APPROVED

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

President Kiefer: We’ll move right along here. There are no repeals, no old business, we’re into new business. Solid Waste Management District budget, public hearing. I see, Joe, you’re out in the audience. I saw your budget here and your letter. We’re just having a public hearing on this today and not an actual –

Joe Ballard: That’s correct. The state has decided that not only do you need to adopt our budget which we did the last couple of years, but that I must come before you for a public hearing as well. That’s what this is, no vote is needed or anything like that, so with me is Susan Jeffries, the administrator of our staff, and I guess let me make a couple of comments and then Mr. Lloyd is on our Solid Waste board also. First of all, I would say that no tax money funds the Solid Waste District. We’re completely funded by money that we receive from a fee of waste dumped into the landfill. We’ve raised our budget this year 3.8% from 392,000 to 407,000 or $15,000. The last three years we have reduced our budget. At one time it was $505,000, but with the economy and different things there’s been less money coming from the landfill. A couple of years ago we did cut one staff member so it’s a staff of two at this point and the landfill at one time was short – well, it was short for a couple of years. It’s now started to increase this year and so the money has been a lot better, but as I said, we’ve increased it $15,000. So if there are any questions, I can take them.

President Kiefer: Questions from Councilmembers? Joe, I mean, what is the primary, I think I know this, but for the public’s sake, I mean, can you just state what the primary mission of your Solid Waste –

Joe Ballard: Sure, we have some environmental and waste reduction recycling programs. For example, this Saturday, we have what we call the ToxAway Day or household hazardous waste collection day, and we do that by one day programs a lot. We do two electronics recycling days for computers, a couple of tire days, and I will say the vector control person had always gone out on a Saturday and collected about 50 tires for us, too, spots that he knew about. We do 21 drop off recycling days at different locations throughout the county where the public can bring in plastic milk jugs and aluminum cans, newspaper, cardboard, and the like, mixed paper, and then we speak to schools and other civic groups about waste reduction and the like. I will say, as I’ve told other people, our job is to reduce the amount of waste going in the landfill. But, I get my money from the landfill, so I want to have money to do my programs. So the idea is for you to generate waste and put it in the landfill, which then I can use to tell you not to put it in the landfill.

President Kiefer: I understand. It’s like Vectren telling you to reduce energy consumption.

Joe Ballard: Yeah, basically.

President Kiefer: Councilman Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Did you say that this Saturday, this coming Saturday is Tox Away Day?

Joe Ballard: That’s correct.

Councilmember Goebel: And that’s at the stadium?

Joe Ballard: It’s at Roberts Stadium for now. This year, it’s there.

Councilmember Goebel: Thank you.

Joe Ballard: Probably be there for a couple years.

President Kiefer: Any other discussion points?

Councilmember Lloyd: A lot of your budget goes to programs and you generally employ outside contractors to assist in the recycling efforts.

Joe Ballard: That’s correct. We do some things, well, we work with the contractors, but for example, the ToxAway Day, I have a contractor from Cincinnati, Environmental Enterprises, Incorporated, that’s done a great job, with our drop off

recycling days we contract with Wesselman Woods to do that. On the electronics day, we use a company called C & I Electronics, which is a local company that’s grown and gotten larger and they contract with the EVSC, Old National Bank, places like that, so they’re a local company. The tire program is also with a local company, actually out of Chandler. So yes, we use private contractors on all that.

Councilmember Lloyd: How long has electronics been going on?

Joe Ballard: Seven or eight years, maybe. That has grown by leaps and bounds, tremendously.

Councilmember Lloyd: So many people have an old PC or an old monitor or old TV in the garage or whatever, and this is a great way to –

Joe Ballard: Yeah, the very first year we did tires, which we did that when we first started about seventeen or eighteen years ago, we collected 4,000 tires. I didn’t think there would be that many tires out there. Who’s got tires? But lots of people do. But now we get about 1,000 to 1,500, which is still a significant number, but the computer day, it’s just really grown. And last year, I will say, we take TV’s, too. Last year, we filled three semi’s full of TV’s, including the old five foot by six foot projection monitor TV’s, there’s ten or twelve of those.

Councilmember Lloyd: The other point I’d like to make is the trash does kind of follow the economy, so a couple of years ago, your budget was hit pretty hard, and tipping fees fell by what, fifteen percent or something like that?

Joe Ballard: Yeah. Oh, it was down quite a bit, like low of $300,000, we’ll probably collect about $440,000 or so this year.

Councilmember Lloyd: But I think this agency not using any taxpayer dollars, it’s funded by fees, it really provides a good service.

President Kiefer: Well, Joe, there’s one public hearing.

Joe Ballard: Thank you.

Councilmember Goebel: May I ask another question?

President Kiefer: Yes.

Councilmember Goebel: When you downsized a couple of years back, was that in direct relation to the lower amount being sent in and the success of the program of recycling? Or does it have anything to do with, are they not related?

Joe Ballard: Well, possibly. But I think it has more to do with the economy and less waste going into the landfill and we had a lot less money coming in for a couple of years, so it has really to do with that.

Councilmember Goebel: Thank you.

President Kiefer: Thank you, Joe, appreciate it.

Joe Ballard: Thank you.

President Kiefer: Okay, next we’ll ask Prosecutor Nick Hermann to come up here. Nick, I see you’re looking to fill an Investigator vacancy that’s recently occurred.

Nick Hermann: Yes, good morning. We’ve been notified, one of our Investigators is leaving, he got hired by the FBI, and just by popular reports, I guess, the federal government has more money to throw around than county government. But we’re happy for him, exciting to see him move on and go on a new career path. Our problem is that we’re adequately staffed, but close to understaffed to begin with. We can’t let this position sit empty. In a different year I’d probably be here asking the Council to buy out his remaining time. Given the financial circumstances of the county, we’ve pulled some money together and what we’re doing is we’re offering to pay the buyout as opposed to wait, I want to say it’s nine or ten weeks until we can fill the position. But he is leaving on September 16^th, we would like to fill the position on September 19^th, and then not have that lapse. And what we would propose to do would be to pay his buyout out of our infraction deferral program.

Joe Gries: President Kiefer? Sorry, I just wanted to make a point that we’d want to make sure that the person would start at the beginning of a pay period and I don’t know if that’s the 19^th or, I mean, I’d have to look at the calendar.

Nick Hermann: I’m not sure, either.

Joe Gries: It might be.

Sandie Deig: He doesn’t get bought out until the (inaudible – microphone not turned on)

Joe Gries: Unless that payment would be made out of a different line? If it would –

Sandie Deig: Well, he’s not leaving until the 16^th.

President Kiefer: Sandie, if I understand you correctly, you’re not asking for any buyout money. You’re paying for that from your deferral program.

Nick Hermann: Yes.

President Kiefer: But what Joe is saying is, he’s got to start at the beginning of a pay period, which –

Joe Gries: That, and I think Sandie’s point is that we can’t pay two people out of the same line, but if we’re paying the buyout out of a different line, would they be able to start earlier than that?

Sandie Deig: He will be bought out on the 16^th, and he’s leaving on the 16^th, so he’ll get a paycheck as of the 16^th.

President Kiefer: Can you coordinate with Joe or Sandie on the start date of, you know, when the pay period begins that way we get him started –

Joe Gries: We’ll make sure all that gets coordinated.

President Kiefer: Councilman Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Are we allowed to have other means of funding buyouts?

President Kiefer: This is opening a new door.

Nick Hermann: My impression was the Council would take money from wherever they could get it.

Councilmember Lloyd: Mr. President?

Councilmember Goebel: Well, let it ride out until the time expires.

Councilmember Lloyd: If the buyout is coming from a different fund, it seems like that could be done on the 16^th. You know, you get the regular county paycheck out of that line, maybe the buyout out of a different line on the same date, then you could start them on the 19^th. And I’m just thinking out loud here.

Joe Gries: That would be up, I think, to the Council.

President Kiefer: I mean, it would be okay with me but I just want to make sure he starts not in the middle of a pay period.

Nick Hermann: Obviously, what we’re trying to do is we’re trying to avoid, with the way that they get paid for, not only for whatever vacation time they have plus last year or whatever they’ve accrued, it gets to be a lengthy time and then we have another investigator that we know is retiring, would be retiring during the time that we’d be paying out, and we’re just trying to not have that gap.

President Kiefer: Okay, Nick, just for the public, can you tell a little bit about qualifications for this investigator position and what exactly their responsibilities are?

Nick Hermann: Our investigators do a wide variety of things. They deal with the public, they are the ones that initially come in contact with the public after they’ve filed a police report. They come down, they meet with our investigators when they want to file charges. We have other investigators that work with the felony cases that come from the detectives. They work through those toward getting charges filed. It’s a wide variety of things. It is a higher level position in our office and based on the applications that we’ve gotten so far, we have people with college degrees, masters degrees, you know, some people with decades of experience, and so it’s, like I said, it’s a higher position in our office and mainly it deals with the filing of charges and dealing with the public.

President Kiefer: Okay, thank you very much. Okay, any other comments? Councilman Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Did you say you’ll have another one retiring during this time period?

Nick Hermann: We’re having another one retire. Part of the question on her is how much vacation time she uses between now and then, but I believe she’s retiring in October or November, and I believe his, if we let it run out, I think he’s got nine or ten weeks by the time you figure getting someone trained and acclimated, we’re trying to avoid a situation where we’ve got two people leaving and not be ready to go.

Councilmember Goebel: Okay, and this individual, you don’t have a person for that position yet? Or do you have someone you’re going to move in –

Nick Hermann: We have interviews starting in fifteen minutes.

President Kiefer: Nick, starting salary versus exiting salary? I mean, I’m sure there’s some savings here on what we’re going to be paying.

Nick Hermann: The person exiting, I believe, has over five years experience, so that would be a step three, right now it looks like the new person is going to be new to the county, so there would be some savings there. But I don’t know an exact number.

Councilmember Shetler: I think it’s around $3,500.

President Kiefer: Okay, Councilman Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: That’s what I was going to point out, that there’s approximately $37,000 is what he’s getting paid now, and the new one would be about 33,000.

President Kiefer: So there’s a little bit of savings there. Okay, well, thanks for the help on doing the buyout, appreciate that. I would ask for a motion to approve.

Councilmember Lloyd: Motion to approve as submitted, approval to hire a full-time investigator.

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Kiefer: Any further discussion? Teri, if you could do the roll call, please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes, six-zero, congratulations, Mr. Hermann, Prosecutor Hermann.

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

President Kiefer: Next is the Health Department, request to fill the Vector Control Supervisor vacancy. Although we talked about this a little bit under the transfer, this is obviously a different line item to fill the vacancy.

Councilmember Lloyd: Mr. President, motion to approve the request from the Health Department to fill the vacancy for Vector Control Supervisor.

Councilmember Goebel: Second.

President Kiefer: Okay, we have the first by Councilman Lloyd, second by Councilman Goebel. Any further discussion? Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes. See, Gary, we took it easy on you.

Gary Heck: Appreciate that.

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

President Kiefer: Next is the resolution of the Vanderburgh County Council approving an interlocal agreement between the City of Evansville, Indiana and Vanderburgh County, Indiana. You’ll see on your desk we have this CO.R-09-11-008. Mr. Counselor, do we need to read this resolution into the –

Jeff Ahlers: No, it’s not necessary to read it in unless you want to. It’s rather, well, I guess the resolution is not lengthy, but there’s the interlocal agreement that’s also in your packet, so you’ll be passing a resolution approving the agreement so that the officers of the Council can sign it. It’s already been passed by the Commissioners.

President Kiefer: Right –

Jeff Ahlers: I mean, I guess it will also be passed by the City Council.

President Kiefer: Right, that’s for that Building Commissioner consolidation work that we had talked about earlier and everybody has got this on their desk. Is there comments or any other discussion, otherwise I’d ask for a motion to approve.

Councilmember Lloyd: I would just ask our counselor, what’s the purpose of this?

Jeff Ahlers: The purpose in what respect?

President Kiefer: The resolution.

Jeff Ahlers: Well, the resolution is just for Council to sign the agreement, is that what you mean?

President Kiefer: I think it’s a requirement because next we’ll have the actual agreement, that’s right behind.

Jeff Ahlers: Well, I think all you need to do is pass the resolution, and you can just vote on it at one time. I mean, really, that’s what the resolution is doing, it’s just approving the agreement.

President Kiefer: So what you’re saying is, the next item on the agenda is the actual interlocal city-county Building Department agreement, so we can pass these two together?

Jeff Ahlers: I’d just pass them together with one vote.

President Kiefer: Okay, I like that. Discussion from Councilmembers?

Councilmember Lloyd: Well, it looks like these are agreements between the Building Commissioner and the city and county, is that correct?

Jeff Ahlers: Well, it’s just between the city and the county. The Building Commissioner, it has to do with the Building Commissioner, that would be the department head.

President Kiefer: It didn’t look like we actually sign on this agreement.

Jeff Ahlers: Yeah, on the agreement there is. There’s a signature for the president of the County Council to sign. As you’ll see, the Commissioners have already passed this, so –

President Kiefer: Yeah, it’s already got the – I was looking at the last page. Yeah, it’s already got the signature of the –

Jeff Ahlers: It’s a two year agreement.

Councilmember Lloyd: So it’s for the joint operation of that Building Commissioner working in both the city and county.

Jeff Ahlers: Right, it’s just like we have with the joint purchasing department or –

Councilmember Lloyd: Central Dispatch.

Jeff Ahlers: Yeah, some of the other agencies.

Councilmember Lloyd: Okay.

President Kiefer: And this is a good deal because it’s saving the county money, saving the city money. I think what they’re doing, by consolidating and reorganizing, they’re going to save local government money which in turn saves taxpayer money, so I’m in favor of this. I’d look for a motion from somebody to approve this. We’ll do both of these together, the resolution and the interlocal agreement city-county Building Department agreement.

Councilmember Terry: Quick question, is there already an assistant Building Commissioner or would this be a new position created with this joint agreement?

President Kiefer: I think it’s already existing, already in place, yeah.

Jeff Ahlers: Also the financing of this, the city pays 75% and the county pays 25%.

President Kiefer: Which is really a little bit better deal than what we’ve had before in the past from the county’s perspective.

Councilmember Terry: So there’s already an assistant Commissioner?

Jeff Ahlers: Yeah, this is already in the budget, I believe.

Councilmember Lloyd: Mr. President, I make a motion to approve a resolution of Vanderburgh County Council approving an interlocal agreement between the city of Evansville, Indiana and Vanderburgh County, Indiana regarding the – also a motion to approve the interlocal agreement of the City-County Building Department.

President Kiefer: Okay, we have a motion, is there a second?

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Kiefer: Second by Councilman Shetler. Further discussion? Roll call please.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes, so it passes six-zero, and so it’s approved. And is there a document that you’re going to pass around for signature?

Teri Lukeman: Yes.

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

AREA PLAN

HEALTH DEPARTMENT

TREASURER

President Kiefer: Next on the agenda is travel requests. We have travel requests from Area Plan, Health Department, and the Treasurer, and it looks like Area Plan is looking for $500 attending the American Planning Association. Is there somebody here from Area Plan? It’s not a state called meeting. I’d ask that we postpone this or deny it because if there’s nobody –

Sandie Deig: (Inaudible – microphone not turned on)

President Kiefer: Yeah sure, if they’re available.

Councilmember Shetler: I’ve got a question here in general. It really kind of stuck out at me on the Treasurer’s request, noticing on the form, you know, it’s asking if breakfast is provided: checked off yes, and if lunch is provided: check off yes, and then dinner provided: no. Well then you look at the per diem, and I’m just wondering, that $26, is that per diem set, and is that across the board for all and is there differences between if you got meals provided?

Gary Heck: There is.

Councilmember Shetler: There is. Okay, so what’s the standard when there’s not meals provided?

Gary Heck: It’s like 5.50 for –

Councilmember Shetler: It’s broken down by meal?

Gary Heck: Right, but I think dinner might be $13, is what I sort of believe. I don’t have those exact figures, but there is an amount that’s allowed for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Twenty-six would be for the whole day if no meals were provided at all.

Councilmember Shetler: Okay, well, and because I thought that was very high for $26 for dinner only, is what this is allowing for, per person, and I thought that was a bit excessive.

Zach Heronemus: To be honest, I’ve never seen any figures that have been broken down with respect to how the per diem (inaudible – comments not made from the microphone).

President Kiefer: Could you please come to the podium? We need to get this for the record. Name and...

Zach Heronemus: Zach Heronemus, Chief Deputy Treasurer. To be honest, I’ve never seen the breakdown analysis or however that goes. I’m assuming maybe I could get that from you, Joe, or –

Joe Gries: I believe so.

Zach Heronemus: This is the only travel request that I’ve ever submitted where we actually had the breakfast and the lunch provided by the conference. So it’s a new one on me, if you need to make adjustments on that, I have no problem doing that for you.

Councilmember Shetler: The other thing that we might want to do is somehow reflect on the form, if certain hotels provide breakfast type things in the mornings and sometimes even heavy hors d’oeuvres in the evening and stuff, but we might want to make some kind of note of that because if they’re getting a breakfast, the government ought not be reimbursing them for that when that’s included in the cost of the hotel itself. So I know that the conference itself is providing that, but in some cases they may not be paying for that, but the hotel is providing it and we paid an extra charge for it anyway.

Joe Gries: I also know in the past that Council has asked the Auditor’s office to require receipts to be brought back, and a lot of times we won’t reimburse folks without receipts, so that may be another way that we can look at the cost for meals as well.

Councilmember Shetler: Alright, thank you, Joe.

Zach Heronemus: Would that be just sticking with the per diem or would it be that actual amount of the dinner because I think $26 for a day seems like a lot but if you’re having to eat three meals, you know, most likely you’re not really getting that all covered with a $26 per diem, continental breakfast or not, for the most part.

Councilmember Shetler: Well, I’m certainly not the CPA in the room but I’m thinking that the IRS doesn’t really allow you to take off 100% anyway to be reimbursed, typically speaking. I think that there’s a percentage of that because they figure that you would have spent something at home or whatever for that meal, so they don’t allow you the full 100%. I’m talking about in the other world there.

Zach Heronemus: I understand.

Councilmember Terry: I think we do need to establish what the standard is going to be for all departments in per diem rates.

Joe Gries: And I agree, and the Auditor’s office would be happy to take anything that Council wanted to do into affect and make those appropriate changes.

Councilmember Lloyd: I mean, in tax law, the IRS gives per diems, I guess it’s based on geographic area, but there’s standard per diems that you can use. Mr. Shetler, are you saying we need to adjust this request then?

Councilmember Shetler: Well, it sounds like it, based on perhaps what Mr. Heck has pointed out and two meals are being provided, so the standard 26 for the day would not be, I think that might be a bit excessive and it sounds to me like if Gary is correct on it, and we’re talking $13 per dinner meal, which would be about half of this request, so it would be $52 instead of $104. I know that’s only a drop in the 64 million dollar budget here, but –

President Kiefer: Thirteen dollars, so that’s what they’d be allotted to spend for dinner?

Councilmember Shetler: For dinner, yes.

Gary Heck: That’s what you would get reimbursed –

President Kiefer: It’s hard to buy lunch for $13, nevertheless dinner.

Gary Heck: That’s just the way the system works.

President Kiefer: Okay.

Councilmember Shetler: I think let’s check out the state, let’s check out what the federal government allows, typically speaking, and let’s just put a couple things together there, Joe, and kind of analyze that and see if we’re pricing it appropriately. My point is that I don’t want to reimburse somebody when it’s being either covered through their hotel expenses or through the fees that we’re paying for the conference. So I don’t think they ought to get twice out of it, we ought not be paying twice.

Joe Gries: We’ll definitely look into that.

Councilmember Lloyd: So are you saying lower this by $52?

Councilmember Shetler: Well, if those numbers are correct, yes.

Councilmember Lloyd: So that would be 303.60.

Zach Heronemus: And this is adjusting, just to be clear, the per diem for both days? It would be $13 per day since it would be one dinner one night and one dinner the next?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Zach Heronemus: Okay.

President Kiefer: Okay, so is there a motion – Councilman Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Are we covering all these at once?

President Kiefer: Yeah.

Councilmember Goebel: I have questions on Area Plan.

President Kiefer: Okay, we’ll hear Area Plan. John? If you want to talk about yours, $500, travel to this flood resilient communities conference. My question is, what role does Area Plan play versus like the Water & Sewer Department on flooding or the County Surveyor? Seems like he –

Councilmember Shetler: City and County Engineer.

President Kiefer: Yeah City and County Engineer. What role does Area Plan play in the flooding aspects of it? And who would be attending? Would that be you?

John Ansbro: Yes, it would be me. And it’s being put on by the American Planning Association with other people and so the American Planning Association is the national association for city and county planners, so I think there’s a connection there. And the Area Plan Commission is the national flood insurance CRS contact, which is the communication rating system which gives residents a 10% discount on their flood insurance in the city and county. And as these programs evolve, there is land use tie in, so I see there is a connection.

President Kiefer: When you come back then, do you then put on a presentation for the rest of your department or –

John Ansbro: Yes.

President Kiefer: Or the other departments, you put on a –

John Ansbro: Yeah, as you know, we’re in the midst of updating the national flood insurance multi-hazard mitigation plan and there might be elements learned on how to progress the implementation of that plan. I’m not sure how it’s going to evolve yet.

President Kiefer: Well, it sounds okay with me as long as you’re bringing back useful information and then sharing that with your, not only your department but other departments. I think Bill Jeffers and his group and –

John Ansbro: Sherman.

President Kiefer: Yeah, all the different groups, it would be good to share that information. Councilman Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: I have no doubt about the value of the meeting, I’m curious about the amount. It’s $500 rounded off pretty nicely, and it’s a one-day seminar, is that correct, in Nashville?

John Ansbro: Registration and one night hotel room.

Councilmember Goebel: Well, I was looking through and I couldn’t find the registration fee. Does that include hotel or is that separate?

John Ansbro: Separate. Registration is separate from hotel.

Councilmember Goebel: Okay, unless I can’t read very well.

Councilmember Terry: It’s on the – there’s a little map and there’s a registration, workshop registration. Are you a member of the association?

John Ansbro: Yes, I am.

Councilmember Terry: And so the member rate is $295.

Councilmember Goebel: I saw that, I didn’t know if that included the lodging or not.

John Ansbro: No, it’s separate.

Councilmember Goebel: That will do it.

President Kiefer: Okay, thank you very much. Is there any other discussion or a motion to approve less the dollar amount for the Treasurer’s office?

Councilmember Shetler: I’ll move approval with the changes on the Treasurer’s office.

Councilmember Lloyd: So it’s $500 for Area Plan and $303.60 for the Treasurer, and then I believe it was zero for the Health Department. Gary, can you just make all of yours zero in your future requests?

Gary Heck: I can try.

President Kiefer: Okay, so we have a motion and a second. Roll call please.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes, so that’s approved six-zero, with a minor change in the amount for the per diem. Thank you very much.

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

President Kiefer: The next is amendments to the Salary Ordinance. Councilman Lloyd is going to do this.

Councilmember Lloyd: In the absence of Councilman Raben, let me read this. You have in front of you the amendments to salary ordinance for September 7^th, 2011. Weights & Measures, amend salary ordinance as follows: line 1302-1120 Deputy Inspector $34,386. Line 1302-1130 Deputy Inspector $38,131. 1302-1140 Deputy Inspector $37,061. These three lines were underbudgeted for ‘11, did not include the salary increase. Health Department, amend salary ordinance 2130-1290 to allow filling the vacancy Vector Control Supervisor, this is a PAT V position, initiation salary $37,764, at a Step 1 salary $39,578 after six months. And this is the buyout from the existing employee paid for after our approval for the transfer of funds from account 2130-1520 into Accrued Payments. Also Health Department, amend salary ordinance to allow transfer of additional funds in the amount of $1,872. Line 2130-1990 Extra Help for Mosquito Truck Driver. Additional funds required for Mosquito Truck Driver due to laboratory confirming West Nile virus in Vanderburgh County. Prosecutor, amend salary ordinance to allow filling vacancy of an Investigator in the Prosecutor’s office, PAT IV position, initiation salary $33,716, Step 1 after six months, $35,330. The position becomes vacant September 16^th, the buyout of the existing employee paid out of Infraction Deferral account after Council approval. I’ll submit that in the form of a motion.

Councilmember Shetler: Second.

President Kiefer: Okay, we’ve got a first and a second. Discussion please? Roll call please, Teri.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Terry?

Councilmember Terry: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Bassemier?

Councilmember Bassemier: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Shetler?

Councilmember Shetler: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Goebel?

Councilmember Goebel: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: Councilmember Lloyd?

Councilmember Lloyd: Yes.

Teri Lukeman: President Kiefer?

President Kiefer: Yes, so it’s approved six-zero, congratulations.

(Motion unanimously approved 6-0)

President Kiefer: Dates to remember, September 22, 2011, 8:30 a.m. budget hearing, September 28^th, 2011 8:30 a.m. Personnel & Finance, 9:00 a.m. non and binding resolutions, 9:30 a.m. final budget hearing. So mark that, September 28, 2011 final budget hearing at 9:30 a.m. October 5^th, 8:30 a.m. County Council meeting and then 9:00 a.m. non-binding resolutions. Also, I’d just like to note that although it seems like we’re analyzing and sometimes micro-managing, we go through these costs because we have to find every dollar possible when it comes to operating our local government and with next year’s budget being as tight as it is, we need to be careful not to spend any dollars, so I appreciate Councilmembers noting even if it’s only $13 per diem, you know, those dollars are important to us and we need every dollar we can get to finance local government. If there’s no other comments –

Councilmember Goebel: I have one piece of business. Mr. Ahlers, you brought up the Innkeeper’s Tax. I did speak with the Treasurer, and they are now working with the legal representation of the CVB, so they’re going to come forward later with their resolution, but they are seeking to recover those Innkeeper taxes that haven’t been paid. Thank you.

President Kiefer: Thank you, Councilman Goebel for being diligent for that. If there’s no public comment, then I would ask for a motion to adjourn.

Councilmember Shetler: So moved.

Councilmember Lloyd: Second.

President Kiefer: We’re adjourned.

(There being no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 9:37 a.m.)

VANDERBURGH COUNTY COUNCIL