27 April 2004 County Council Meeting Notes

Members present: Charlie Fehrman, Chairman, Bo Lansing, Tom Cheek, Bill Ullrich, Mark Mitter. Arrived at 8:10 PM- Aaron Negangard.
Cary Pickens, Auditor also present.

[Note: Item #6 contains info regarding questions surrounding a possible ethical conflict for the Health Board’s Attorney.]

1. Dave Lusby- Sheriff – presented the proposal by RQAW to conduct a study to plan for the jail expansion. Expansion to include courthouse offices also. RQAW’s $43,500 fee will be refunded to the county if the county selects them to do the design work for the jail once the study is completed. Council questioned the possible conflict here and Charlie Fehrman asked if another company was selected to do the design, would they want to use the criteria from RQAW’s study. $300,000 is currently in the jail fund now.
Tom Cheek asked if this was duplicating info from Crowe Cizek’s (sp?) study on the capital improvement plan. Charlie Fehrman asked about storage needs. Dave Lusby informed them that RQAW was original jail designer and that they had contacted the county to do this. He said Lisa Lehner said it is legal to not get bids for services. Tom Cheek said- “It’s legal, but is it prudent?” Dave Lusby stated that a year has gone by and there has been no progress- getting too crowded, etc. He also told then they’d be coming in again for additionals of $80,000 for medical and $60,000 for meals, after they advertise.
Kraus motioned, Cheek 2nd, to request competitive RFPs with a 45 day time limit to get them. Ullrich abstained. Passed.

2. Randy Hillenbrand – Family Services and Bill Ritzmann, UCB proposed a loan from UCB against the county’s $2.9 million on deposit there for the $1.5 million that Family Services needs because of taxes not being collected yet. The loan is short term at 1.5% till about August. Lisa Lehner had prepared a resolution for this proposal that Bill Ritzmann gave to the council.
Lansing motioned, Kraus 2nd to approve the $1.5 million loan at 1.5%. Passed.

3. Travis Miller- Planning and Zoning presented 4 items:

1. Attorney fees of $9,000 for the year won’t be enough. Requested $12,000. There are lawsuits, pending that might go higher. Kraus asked if enforcement officer was driving the county looking for violations. Miller stated no- it was primarily complaint based enforcement.
Kraus motioned and Cheek 2nd – to allow $6,000 now and table $6,000 for later for att’y fees. Passed.

2. Mileage for enforcement officer when he has to use his own vehicle. $600.
Cheek motioned, Ullrich 2nd for $600 for mileage. Passed.

3. Request for additional to increase salary for enforcement officer to $35,000 for 04 and to keep it at that level for 05 budget. (This would mean $3350 for balance of the year plus $500 SS and PERF) Rationale was that that was the median salary for that position in Indiana and also that Council had said he could request it after 6 months. Discussion heavy on NOT increasing salaries mid year. This was stressed - that it was not about performance- only about competitive wage. Will revisit at budget.
Mitter motioned, Ullrich 2nd to increase $3350 plus PERF this year and maintain at $35,000 for o5 budget. Cheek, Kraus, Negangard, and Fehrman voted Nay. FAILED.

4. Part time intern position $12850 at $12/hour. Info on the superb job and large amount of labor obtained in this fashion for a good price was supported by other council members on the master plan. I gave info on Purdue students experience with college intern jobs supporting the $12/hour for junior and senior level interns.
Kraus motioned, Ullrich 2nd to approve $12850 Passed.
Mitter motioned, Ullrich 2nd to amend the salary ordinance to allow up to $12 per hour for college interns. Negangard Nay. Passed.

4. Benevolent Fund – Kim Tucker – Miss Indiana project- absent.
Terry Luhrsen – South Dearborn Pee Wee Football – requesting $15,000 for a scoreboard. They serve 150 – 200 kids. Negangard said there is a disproportionate amount of money going to South Dearborn and Aurora in this fund and that it is going for parks we don’t own. Also stated we are giving more than Aurora city is. Was concerned that the role of government was being distorted. Fund raisers should be handling these needs. Referred to Robert Bird in his discussion with Cheek on this (a reference to gov’t pork projects) [Note: Later in the evening Negangard apologized to Cheek for his comments and for being unprofessional in the heat of the argument. Cheek said he understood and accepted it.]
Cheek motioned, Lansing 2nd to approve $5,000 to Pee Wee Football in Aurora. Mitter and Negangard Nay. Passed.

5. BJ Ault- Solid Waste- updated the council on the recycling center news and produced the promissory note that they requested last month for their $150,000 loan at 0% interest and 2% interest if default.
Kraus motioned, Lansing 2nd to approve with the loan from UCB to be increased to cover this so as not to use county funds that might be needed. Passed. Papers signed at 0% -The 1.5% rate will not apply to Solid Waste- the county will absorb this ????
Requested again- Tax levy increase for solid waste at .03 rate not to exceed $520,000. Solid Waste has not been asking for the possible 5% they could get each year- and have been fiscally responsible.
Kraus motioned, Lansing 2nd to approve the rate increase resolution. Negangard Nay. Passed.

6. Doug Baer and Rodney Dennerline- Health Department – brought in Xerox company rep to explain the multi purpose copier, fax, scanner, printer they wish to purchase eventually. Costs and maintenance were discussed.
Tabled by Ullrich and Cheek motions and council agreed.
Overtime expenses due to sewer board start up. Requested $40,000. They’d asked for $50,000 at budget and got $10,000 then.
Kraus motioned and Cheek 2nd to approve $10,000 now and table the rest. Passed.

Mitter asked Baer and Dennerline if they were aware of the Health Board Attorney’s suits against the county planning department. Dennerline stated that he was aware of Richard Butler’s actions and “told him it was stupid.” He wasn’t sure if the other board members were aware of it. Dennerline also stated that he’d “ talked to his att’y son who told him it was legal, but it was extremely unethical!” Dennerline thinks he should be working for someone else if he wants to sue the county.
The Health Board is not condoning this type of system (mound) at Soaphill. Fehrman stated that he was concerned about it in light of the increased legal fees being requested by the planning department for this and stated that if your board is in agreement, then Butler needs to choose who he wants to work for. Dennerline will bring this up at the Health Board.

7. Lorie Howard – County Administrator-
YES Home mound system has failed on both mounds. Dils has been working on it and will do the repair. They have to excavate and remove the contaminants and replace pipes. Filters will be installed so that it will hopefully last another 20 years.
Ullrich motioned and Kraus 2nd to approve $15,000 out of Riverboat Fund 146 and tabled the other $15,000. Passed.
Computer services for the Adm. Bldg. Have been evaluated by the tech committee and the pricing committee and then consensus was reached. The tech differences were varied, pricing was similar. They need $25,000 for the rest of the year. There is $3800 left in the account. Commissioners will award bid at their next meeting.
Kraus motioned, Mitter 2nd to approve $21200 to complete the money needed for services for 04. Passed.
Negangard commended Lorie and stated he met with her throughout the process.
Lorie Howard reported that she’d met with Kramer of Pinnacle and that we were on target with the budget on health care. She’s updated on the HIPAA requirements and is considering taking our big cases to MED Ben to let the employees work through lifestyle and drug benefits to help cut costs.
Howard has been looking for space for 911 because they want to move out of the building on the hill due to expense. They are trying to be sure they can lease additional space on the tower anyway.
She has developed a bid/contract template with Mike Davis to streamline the bidding process.
They are proceeding with a job description for a highway engineer and council is invited to the 10AM executive session on Thursday to discuss this.
FX- the company that manages the county website has updated it and Davis has a highway site also.
Seitz insurance files are not updated. All dept. heads are reviewing inventory to be sure insurance is covering appropriately and fees reflect correctly insured items.
Council minutes will be posted on the web in approved form- not draft version.

8. Mike Davis- Hwy Dept. Director- passed out info on the GIS system and what it could do. Asking for $26,000 for small structures inventory by United last meeting and needs a total of $66,000 for this eventually.
$182,000 needed to pay for gravel and salt in 04.
Ullrich motioned and Cheek 2nd to approve $182,000 out of contingency fund for gravel and salt. Passed.
Feelers have been sent to colleges looking for interns to enter the GIS data that has accrued since last summer to keep the Transportation Assessment Study up to date and accurate. Kraus is opposed to this. Final discussion on this GIS and United’s inventory was that Negangard was concerned that privacy was being invaded with all the GIS info.
Mitter motioned and Cheek 2nd to approve $5,000 for GIS intern. 3 Nays and it required 5 for a salary ordinance and so failed.
Union Ridge Rd. slip used $11,000 out of $12,000 requested.
Kraus motioned and Cheek 2nd to approve $11,000. Passed. $40,000 contract for small structures inventory from United was unfounded apparently. Discussion ensued- Vera Benning reminded them it was signed by all three commissioners because they were of the understanding from the former Hwy. Director that it was funded. Grants were also mentioned.
Concern that the work was done in good faith and a vendor needed to be paid.
Ullrich motioned and Lansing 2nd to pay $40,000. Negangard, Kraus, Mitter, Nays. Passed.
Road list for 2004 Paving and Chip and seal was approved for $787,700 total. This includes fixing Schantz because of a mistake in gravel being added to a road that was chip/seal. Kraus discussed Ester Ridge improvements and Angie Batta was there to represent Schantz Rd. and her son who is asthmatic.
Ullrich motioned and Mitter 2nd to approve $628,000 from the 147 account and $160,000 from the 203 account to finish the 2004 Road paving and chip/seal list. Passed.
Triple Whipple bridge back up for discussion per Mike davis and the White’s Hill work is ready to start in June. They are still working around one ROW issue.

9. EMS Funds were finished out giving $10,000 to Dillsboro Fire Dept. and $5365 to Hogan Fire Dept.
Ullrich motioned Cheek 2nd. Passed

10. Judge Michael Witte called and left a message for Charlie Fehrman which was played into the meeting tape. He requested paying his court reporter out as a 100 level item rather than as self employed so that she’d get her taxes withheld. [Note: This also means the county is paying the SS share as they do for regular employees.]
Cheek motioned and Ullrich 2nd to move the pay to the 100 level per Judge Witte’s request. Passed.

11. $74,000 in the Benevolent Fund was earmarked for Community services.

Minutes approved with Cheek and Ullrich’s motion and Kraus and Lansing abstaining.

Cheek and Kraus motioned to adjourn at 11:35 PM.

Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township

26 April 2004 Plan Commission Meeting Notes

Notes from April 26, 2004 Plan Commission Meeting

Plan Commission members present: Mark Mitter, Chairman, Rick Pope, Tarry Feiss, Mike Hall, Nick Held, Dave Schmidtgoesling, and Roger Woodfill. Absent: Karen Shell and Patrick deMaynadier. Attorney Arnie McGill present as was Travis Miller, Planning Director and Mark McCormack, Enforcement Officer.

Soaphill Road Subdivision- 25 lots from Rollander Enterprises - was tabled after nearly two hours of testimony and discussion. Mike Hall removed himself from the board for this because he was the surveyor for the development. Attorney for Rollander was Richard Butler who is also the attorney for the County Health Dept. [Note: Because there are issues surrounding the type of sewage treatment being sought on this land and because the Health Dept. has indicated that they will require a 2nd leach site, it appears that there may be some ethical conflicts for the attorney. This was brought up by one of the residents in the area.]

Approximately 35 residents attended.
Issues to be resolved for the next meeting include but are not limited to: roadway width, evaluation of intersections at both ends of Soaphill Road, traffic counts with regard to the seasonal activity of Elk Run Golf Course, conflicting info on the traffic counts from the developer’s previous study two years ago and the current counts, fire hydrants, water line pressure and line size, septic considerations and the future connectivity to a sewer line.

The developer presented plans for a fitness trail at the meeting- this was not included in the application. The trail appears to access the 10.7 + acres reserved for leach fields and the greenspace area. It should be noted that the 10.7+ acres has a little less than half of it as a reasonably flat area for leach fields. According to the topographical map that area is surrounded on 3 sides by fairly steep slopes, so that the leach fields will run off to the surrounding properties and creeks. It should also be noted that the 25 homes in this development will send all their septic tank effluent thru a pump and high pressure lines to this field of about 5 acres.

Sewer Board was approached about providing oversight. They cited several reasons why they couldn’t- timing as well as it not being in the current geographical area they service at this time. The board is still getting the original district set up- and don’t want to add to it till they get this part right. [Note: see minutes of the previous sewer board meeting on this site for details.]

Applicant’s attorney- Richard Butler, presented his letter from two years ago restating why he thought the board had to accept the subdivision. He also stated that IDEM has the authority over the septic issues and that, in his opinion, the Plan Commission has no authority to deny based on septic issues.

Item tabled and will come back in May for consideration with more facts at that time. [Note: It was apparent that the applicant was not ready at this meeting- if all items are not in place the Planning Department should not schedule a hearing.]

Several technical items concerning roads and results of the transportation assessment study were discussed for two hours and approved for review and approval by the commissioners at their June meeting. These will update the code books.

The Plan Commission scheduled a working session May 12th to begin the review of the draft master plan. Copies were passed to members for their review prior to that meeting.

Meeting adjourned 11 PM.

Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township

20 April 2004 Sewer Board Working Meeting

The sewer board had 100% attendance. Present were: Mike Hankins, Chair, Pat Hanlon, Brett Fehrman, Greg Vollmer, Pat Holland, Barry Pruss, and Rodney Dennerline. Also present were Lisa Lehner, Attorney, Joe Tierney, GRW consultant, and Vera Benning, Special Advisor.

1. Minor changes were made to the wording of the easement document requiring restoration of property after maintenance and repairs to the sewer equipment and lines. Approved by vote.

2. Mike Hankins conducted a detailed item-by-item review of the FAQ sheet to be given to homeowners prior to the May 19th meeting.
Approximately 15 homes are greater than 400 feet from the line per Joe Tierney. The board opted to keep the language the same as the state law regarding the 300 ft. from the property line rule. If a home is greater than 500 feet from the line- there may be other options to consider.
The sewer board will have to pay prevailing wages because federal dollars are being used to subsidize the district. Homeowners will not have to follow those rules for their part of the construction from the shut off and grinder pump to the home. The service agreement will include an abuse clause in the event that homeowners do damage to the pumps. Grinders will have a standard 50 ft. cord and the outside electric service is a 220 line. There will be a gravity connection from the house to the pump in most cases. Homeowners will have to locate their lines and tell the district where to locate the grinder pump.
At the suggestion of Brett Fehrman, the board decided that connection fees of $800 would be waived if the easements are signed and the land is donated by June 25th. A federal document will be given out to homeowners advising them that they are entitled to payment for easements. Survey costs and legal fees will likely eat up those payments, and the district costs would be passed on to all the sewer customers. The $800 cost will be recouped in $2-3 monthly fees on the sewer bills rather than an up-front outlay of expense to hook-up for the customer. This only applies to those who meet the June 25th deadline.
There are 25 homes that have new septic systems less than 5 years old. They have the option to wait 3 years to hook up, HOWEVER they will incur all the expense of hook-up fees, pumps, etc. If a homeowner will be there long term it is economically smarter to hook up for “free” now.
Dennerline motioned and Holland seconded to approve the FAQ revisions. Approved by vote.

3. Doug Baer updated the board on the status of the funding sought from Lawrenceburg. It was decided that they would submit the application for $100,000 to the Lawrenceburg Municipal fund managed by the Community Foundation before July 1. Dennerline will make a personal contact with Mayor Cunningham regarding this request also.
Seitz Insurance blanket bonded everyone except the Treasurer and Doug Baer who handle district money. They will get separate bonds. Doug is checking to be sure the advisory committee members are covered as well.
They have a federal tax ID number now and no worker’s comp, because they have no employees yet.

4. Doug Baer brought up two subdivision requests, the Old Gabbard Property on US 50 needing service by Fall 2005 and also the Soaphill Road project from Rollander Enterprises that is going before the Planning Commission April 26th.
Discussion on Gabbard property included the following comments:
Mike Hankins – Likes to focus on doing one thing right first before moving on. The primary focus is to get service to the 300 homes the district has taken on right now.
Pat Hanlon- this will affect the grants and funding because low-income status would change.
Lisa Lehner – We are still waiting on IDEM’s response to the grants.
Joe Tierney – We’re looking at 2006 before these people will be on sewer lines. Gabbard wants to start in 2005.
Lisa Lehner – Sewer districts are not in the development business. They exist for safety issues.
Rodney Dennerline – The developers will provide all their own lines and pumps and pay to join plus pay for plant expansion of plant capacity. No further discussion till May 4th meeting.

Discussion on the Soaphill property included the following comments:
Doug Baer- It is a mound system on Lot 14 and the POA will have private ownership of the “utility.” I told them we might take it over later, down the road. IDEM is in charge of it. They are no longer using a drip irrigation system for this- it is a mound system.
Rodney Dennerline – It is NOT in our district! I don’t like the POA owning it – problems.
Mike Hankins – That’s a bad location for a subdivision.
Pat Hanlon – I don’t think it’s irrational to put one there though.
Greg Vollmer – A package plant would be better if the sewer board were to ever take it over.
Rodney Dennerline- we’re opening a Pandora’s box – we’re not up and running – and we would end up with a whole bunch of these.
Pat Hanlon – I’d like to see our sewer board take over the whole county eventually, so we’d approach things in a responsible, engineered way.
Rodney Dennerline – The purpose was to take over the whole county eventually. We can’t give an answer now- we’re not ready! If we say yes and if we fold, he sues us.
Doug Baer- I’m going to require a secondary site for this mound field.
Lisa Lehner - We’re not prepared to offer him anything now. This is partly by IDEM’s order.
Mike Hankins – I’m strongly against this. He hasn’t been “kissed by everyone else yet” – Planning and Zoning hasn’t kissed it yet, so we aren’t either.
Doug Baer- I have to give him an answer tomorrow.
Consensus was that they wouldn’t (couldn’t) provide service.
5. Vera Benning- Advisory Committee- report – Meeting for homeowners to get easements will be May 19th 7:30 PM at the Starlight Reception Hall on US 50. Invitation letters and FAQ sheets will be mailed out. Hankins and Lisa Lehner will review the letter. They will also include a short description of who and what the advisory committee is. Audio-visual aids and pump demonstrations plus maps of the lines will be available that night for viewing. Holland motioned and Dennerline seconded to approve this. Approved by vote.

6. Doug Baer suggested a “last chance” meeting for June 22 at 7:30 PM at the Reception Hall also. This was approved by consensus.

7. Joe Tierney will mail the rural development grant applications now. This has to proceed before the DOC grants. (Board thought he’d done that from last meeting.)
Joe also passed out answers to the capacity questions from last meeting for the board to review.

8. Pat Hanlon reported that he’d contacted Bruns at the Seymour office and Mark Brunner from INDOT to be certain the district could use the US 50 ROW. Drawings will be submitted to INDOT for line placement.

9. Brett Fehrman will hand deliver the list of questions to the Mayor Hastings of Aurora- they “lost” the last one.

Meeting adjourned at 9:20 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller Lawrenceburg Township

Highlights of the 19 April 2004 County Commissioner Meeting

Present: Karen Shell, Vera Benning, and Dan Batta. Also Lisa Lehner, Attorney, Cary Pickens, Auditor, and Lorie Howard, County Administrator.
Denise Freitag, Register Publications also covered the meeting.

1. Bill Black reported on the status of the grants that Emergency Management is seeking.
2. Mike Davis – Transportation Director - reported on the three district’s roadwork status.
3. Ester Ridge Road residents filled the room (approximately 40+) and with their spokespersons (Bruce Smith, Joe Grote, and Diane Sullivan) expressed the desire to have their entire road paved rather than mostly chip sealed, as is currently planned. They cited drainage issues, safety of the kids and school bus route, health concerns with the dust, and wear and tear on vehicles. They also stated that they did not want it paved for development but just for the needs of the families who are there. The chip seal 3 years ago did not hold up. They also stated that gambling dollars were promised to go to paving all the roads in the county.
Karen Shell stated that she’d been out to se the entire road. She wants a good base and drainage with culverts put in. She wanted them to know that there were three grades of chip seal- and they would be using a better grade than the last time. They would probably widen the road in areas as well.
Dennis Kraus, Sr. told the commissioners that the ROW already has been dedicated so that widening should not require extra easements or ROW acquisition.
Dan Batta stated that commissioners failed the residents on that road and this needs to be addressed. Dollars were spent fastest in some districts so that others didn’t get theirs in time.
Vera Benning stated that she wants to stick to the plan and that maybe this could be added to the second draw in July or August. They need to get approval from Council.
No vote was taken, but commissioners seemed to indicate that they were going to stick to the plan so far and consider paving the rest of Ester Ridge when they see how the improvements in the site hold up after a year or so.
4. Angie Batta appeared with Ben Batta for Schantz Road, which is the connector to East Central for Ester Ridge. Gravel was put over the top of their chip-sealed road and now the dust is causing problems for her asthmatic son.
Commissioners discussed and then agreed to amend the road list to ask Council to approve chip-sealing Schantz again for an estimated $30-50,000. Dust control can no longer be done- the EPA shut that down.
[Note: it appears that someone is graveling and grading roads in the county without supervision or a plan. This road and Hogan Creek were both “changed” by highway workers this spring and residents are complaining about them.]
5. Locust Road- Priscilla Probst discussed notification requirements for vacating alleys with the commissioners. Lisa Lehner cited IC 8-1-8-1 as being the guide. She recommended consulting Senator Nugent if they wanted the laws changed to require newspaper notifications and not just adjoining property owners. [Note: Commissioners did not vacate this alley and the applicant removed his request last month.]
6. Planning and Zoning- Lorie Howard represented Travis Miller. The changes to the wording for chairman and vice chairman were approved for the zoning codebook to match up with state law language.
7. Lorie Howard – County Administrator reported on signing the IHFA agreement, attending the MED BEN seminar on HIPPA rules, that Dr. Scudder will be the county privacy officer, and that she is gathering info on the jail expansion plans. She viewed the Hillsboro, OH GIS system, one of the best in the area, and Highway Dept. is trying to get a GIS intern for the summer to update and keep our GIS info current. Computer proposals were reviewed and she will go to council to get funding approved, before committing to selecting a company. She is also working on forms to consolidate proposals so that they can become agreements if accepted. Lisa Lehner is also involved with this.
8. Cary Pickens introduced the new and improved claims forms with different account numbers to match the state’s codes. They have a cheat sheet to convert old fund numbers to new ones until everyone gets used to it. Minutes were held over for Dan Batta to review before approval.
9. Vera Benning added that the Housing Assessment Study meetings are being held and invited the commissioners to attend if they would like to.
Adjourned at 9:15 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township

Meet the Candidate Night

The Manchester Area Civic Association is sponsoring a 2004 Dearborn County Primary Candidates Night. Thursday, April 22, at 7:00 p.m. at the Zion Lutheran Church of Manchester. The meeting will take place in the basement. The church is located on State Road 48 just past Manchester Market.

All opposed Dearborn County Candidates running in the primary have been invited to meet the citizens of Dearborn County to answer our questions.

Candidates expected to attend so far are:

Commissioner District 1

Karen Shell vs. Jeff Hughes

Commissioner District 2

Richard Fox vs. Mark Hall

County Council

Bill Ullrich and Mark Mitter

Treasurer

Amanda Pickens vs. Gayle Pennington

Surveyor

Dennis Kraus vs. Roger Woodfill

School Board Candidates

District 1
Mark Manford vs. Tim Whiteford

District 2
Terry Luhrsen

District 3
Karen Loveland


ARISTOTLE --
"If liberty and equality, as is thought by some, are chiefly to be found in democracy, they will be best attained when all persons alike share in the government to the utmost."

THOMAS JEFFERSON --
"Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government."

6 April 2004 sewer Board Meeting Highlights

Highlights from 6 April 2004 Sewer Board Meeting

Members present: Brett Fehrman, Pat Holland, Pat Hanlon (Acting Chairman), Barry Pruss, Rodney Dennerline, Greg Vollmer. Absent: Mike Hankins, Chairman, who arrived near the end of the meeting.
Att’y Lisa Lehner, Doug Baer, and Vera Benning, Special Advisor, also present.
Minutes of 4 meetings approved.

Special Speaker, Connie Stevens, postponed until May meeting.

Old Business:
1. Joe Tierney- GRW- provided clarification of project cost differences in various areas in an attempt to explain why Cole Lane’s cost differed so much from Stewart Lane and the main area. He stated that with 40 mobile homes on Cole Lane that already were connected to a central system, there was no need for individual grinders for each home. The entire system would be attached to the main. They only have to upgrade the main pumping system. [Note: Does this also apply to the other trailer courts in this district?]
Pat Hanlon wants the figures to be put on the back page to clarify.
Greg Vollmer wanted to be sure all 40 were considered in the effluent treatment figures though. Tierney said yes.
Greg Vollmer wanted them to consider gravity fed for parts of the area- some looked suitable for this - like High Ridge.
2. Lisa Lehner and Joe Tierney presented a reworded easement, which changed the language from plural to singular to reassure owners that only their system was being granted easement rights. References to adjoining properties were eliminated and returning land to proper grade with seed and fertilizer was added.
Pat Hanlon presented several other possible low cost options, but most were ruled out for practical considerations and long-term potential costs. Board seems to desire standardization so that they can easily repair and replace units as needed.
Brett Fehrman wondered if the owner’s own att’y could draft an easement. Lisa Lehner replied that it would have to satisfy the board’s engineering.
3. Advisory Committee- Vera Benning- Committee further discussed easements. They plan to have an easement gathering for all residents in the district at the reception hall on US 50. Space was donated free as well as refreshments, by the owner who lives in the district. Dave Emsweiler will take the easement to his company att’y to get a second opinion, so as to have more back up for the new version possibly.
Much discussion centering on the committee members feeling like they needed more concrete facts to take with them to the residents when requesting the easements. They may use a script so as to standardize what everyone is told and reduce liability issues for the board. Ed Yelton suggested that they use pictures and diagrams to illustrate.
Lisa Lehner stressed that title searches had been done and it was imperative to get the easements ASAP before that work was obsolete. Costs would increase if they have to do that again as land changes hands etc.
Board voted to move forward with the Rural Development grant application with the understanding that the scope of the work could change or be modified later if necessary. They also voted to move forward with the Advisory Board members to get easements as quickly as possible.
Joe Tierney will get Mike Hankins to sign the application and send it to Rural Development.
Joe and Lisa will attend the next advisory committee meeting to assist with the easement plans.
Tierney stated that they would have to see how things play out with Aurora and Dillsboro to determine if the county will have to build it’s own plant. [Note: Building a plant seems to be a recurring theme with Tierney and GRW]
4. Doug Baer- reported that the Lawrenceburg Bond Bank and Community Grant program, info was in their gray folder and they can discuss it at the next meeting after they have time to review the material. “We are slowly running out of funds,” per Doug. He also noted that Lawrenceburg has $100,000 in the Municipal Development Fund that they can apply for by July for 2005.
5. Doug Baer – Insurance is with Seitz Ins. Co. They also have Workers Comp to consider if they hire clerical staff. Binding and liability is purchased and the papers will be forthcoming for Mike Hankins to sign. Lisa will review them first.
6. Doug Baer- Regional Sewer District space in the large closet in the Health Dept. has been OK’d by the Commissioners this week. He will rehab it with a desk, phone, and computer wiring.
7. Joe Tierney – Letters to Aurora and Dillsboro. No decision yet from Randy Turner or Scott Fortner.
8. Pat Hanlon – Petitions against the district were reviewed. Most were concerned with cost issues. “We’re beyond these now.” Per Pat Hanlon.

NEW BUSINESS:
1. Sewer 101 postponed for another meeting possibly due to lateness of the hour.
2. Rural Development and DOC (Dept of Commerce) grants covered under old business.
3. Preliminary engineering report was questioned: Answers- Only High Ridge and Walston Trailer Court were on private plants. Only minor commercial facilities were in this district and on US 50. Flow rates for 4,6,and 8- inch lines will be given at the next meeting by GRW. Doug Baer will make some calls to determine what happens to the abandoned plant and lagoon at High Ridge- i.e. clean-up issues. Doug Baer thought that IDEM might release Superfund money to take care of it. Pat Hanlon gave a history of High Ridge’s sewer woes and the plant owner’s lawsuits and bankruptcy issues. IDEM had apparently proposed another permit on the failed plant in 1999 and the Health Dept. told them no way – they’d have to be “crazier than a pet coon.” Per Hanlon.
4. More clarification of pump costs and Tierney detailed piping details at the board’s requests.
Pay back of 40 years is figured in the study and Pat Holland suggested that they get a long term commitment from whoever they send the sewage to so as to be set and not have to change pipes etc. at some future date. He also suggested that they get expansion set up also so as to accommodate future growth anticipated in that area with several properties up for sale.
Tierney is hoping to make improvements so that Aurora will accept Cole Lane.
Doug Baer informed the board that they were proceeding slowly with out of compliance businesses that are trying to cooperate so that they can solve their problems with this sewer district. That’s why it was imperative that the district move forward in a timely manner.
Questions concerning Rodney Dennerline’s trailer park on Cole Lane – Rodney told the board that it was a non- grinder system with a 4” line from the trailer park to Aurora. The bills were about $50 per month for the residents of the trailer park.
Tierney stated that they were going to put modular units to help at the plant and extra pump stations to help with expansion near the sites for growth possibilities.
Doug Baer stated that no more septic permits were being issued in that area. He also stated that when a new development comes in- it won’t be approved by him on tech review for the Plan Commission unless they have sewage OK’d. That puts the Sewer Board in the driver’s seat.
5.Lisa Lehner gave a brief talk on the Open Door Law and that it applied to both the board and the advisory committee. She illustrated it with examples. Dennerline commented that newspapers were responsible for this law. And that the ”penalty is just that you have to have another meeting.”
6. Working sessions – the board decided to use the second meeting each month as a working session- open to the public- BUT no public comment during these sessions.
Meeting adjourned 10:30 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township

Highlights of 5 April 2004 County Commissioners Meeting

Present: Karen Shell, Vera Benning, Dan Batta (arrived at 10AM), Lorie Howard, County Administrator, Lisa Lehner, County Att’y, and Cary Pickens, Auditor.

Brief reports from Veteran’s Officer, Animal Control, Transportation Dept.

Randy Hillenbrand- Division of Family and Children received the OK to go to Council to request another loan – this one for $1.5 million due to lack of funds from assessments and taxes not being completed yet.

Health Dept.- Doug Baer gave update on YES home problems with their mound type septic system. Lorie Howard is approved to sign off on repairs for the commissioners. He also received the OK to use a portion of the Health Dept. space to set up a regional sewer district office with phone and computer. Eric Hartman may provide funding for this from maintenance funds or else it will come from Regional Sewer District funds that Council loaned them.

ELECTION NEWS!
Gayle Pennington, Clerk of Courts- requested moving two voter precincts. Miller 4 at old firehouse in Bright will move to Miller 2, the new firehouse. Lawrenceburg 1 at Central Elementary will move to Lawrenceburg 2 at Tate Street Adult Center. OK’d.

Lorie Howard- County Adm.- reported that Animal Control is checking with the Dearborn County Farm Committee to use additional acreage for the Animal Shelter expansion. She met with Mike Kramer of Pinnacle regarding the Med Ben contract, which looks stable for 2004 and is on target with the budget at this time. They will be offering training on HIPPA (privacy) rules April 13th, which she and several others will be attending. Lorie is also looking through the insurance schedules to be sure coverage is appropriate and not duplicated. They are hiring an intern to help manage the GIS data collected as part of the transportation assessment study. A Computer Use Policy was adopted which she and Lisa Lehner developed. This will address internet issues that have arisen in the county buildings.

GOOD NEWS!!
Lorie presented the 2004 highway priority list including bridges, road slip repair, guard rail installation, maintenance schedules, striping, and paving plans. North Dearborn realignment and White’s Hill top the list.

Lisa Lehner – County Att’y – presented the CMHC lease amendment. The Animal Control ordinance revision with penalties was approved and will be effective upon publication.
Conflict of interest statements were signed off on for Greg Vollmer and Pat Holland for the Sewer Board, though commissioners have not signed off on the other two that are in the clerk’s office (Pat Hanlon and Mike Hankins). All state that they have no conflicts.
Lisa reminded the commissioners that she wants to be involved in the jail expansion project and they are to notify her of meetings etc.
Snow alert ordinance was tabled till Bill Black could be present. Batta wants it coordinated with the tri-states definitions, because of the media announcing it.
Zoning book change tabled till next month. Med Ben agreements signed. Bridge 15 contract with Schneider Corp. needs a scope of services to be attached.

Long discussion on the the Locust Road vacating request- it was subsequently dropped by Mr. King- the applicant. Fire Dept. wants the road to stay open. (Wilmington area)

Commissioners:
Batta brought up the Chamber of Commerce meeting on April 14th where the lobbyist the county council hired is presenting. Apparently there is a fee to go to the talk- and so the county will be in the position of having to pay to hear their own lobbyist. [my note] (already paid for by county tax dollars)
Commissioners are not getting the emailed updates from the lobbyist. Council members are though…
BIG PLANS TO EXPAND COUNTY JAIL!!! (Note- this project is expected to be in the tens of millions of dollars)
Earlier in the meeting Sheriff Lusby presented the commissioners with a proposed agreement with RQAW, the company that designed the original jail. The agreement is to do a study to figure out a scope of work for the jail expansion. The $43,500 fee for the study will be waived by RQAW, IF THEY GET THE DESIGN CONTRACT FOR THE PROJECT!!!
Commissioners discussed this further. Batta was opposed to meeting with just RQAW – wants it bid out. Lisa said that by law they are not required to bid contracts for services like this.
Batta was opposed to the arrangement, as it seems that RQAW will be given an unfair advantage over the other bidders ultimately, particularly with their fee waiving arrangement.
Benning stated that RQAW has more experience with our jail and understands the security system.
Shell thought that it would be best to have the meeting in the afternoon still at 2 PM, but to not have RQAW present.
Lorie Howard agreed that it might be CLEANER (fairer) to keep any contractors out of the meeting at this time. [my note –RQAW did not attend the meeting at 2PM.]
Meeting adjourned at 12:30 PM

Christine Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township