ALAN MILLER OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCES CANDIDACY FOR JUDGE OF SUPERIOR COURT 2
A local attorney has made his candidacy for judge official. Alan Miller, attorney with Zerbe Garner Miller & Blondell in Lawrenceburg, filed the necessary paperwork Monday to make his candidacy for Judge of the Dearborn Superior Court No. 2 official.
"I am looking forward to meeting with the public and speaking with them about the problems with our system," Miller said. "I'm excited to discuss my proposed solutions and show them that we can do better."
Miller is currently running unopposed in the May primary for the Democratic Party nomination.
Miller publicly announced his intentions to run last September. He has been an outspoken critic of the county's proposed jail expansion project, arguing that the solution to the jail's overcrowding problem lies with changing the system itself.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Friday, January 27, 2012
Musician and Event Producer, Johnny Schott, Dies
Local event producer and musician, Johnny Schott, passed away suddenly. Johnny was actively interested in Dearborn County issues. He will be missed.
http://downtown-mtauburn.fox19.com/news/arts-culture/85388-musician-and-event-producer-johnny-schott-dies#.TyKnV5A7huU.email
John SCHOTT(1946 - 2012)
SCHOTT
John A. Schott, 65 , of Harrogate, TN. (originally of Cincinnati, OH.) passed away suddenly at home on Wednesday, January 25th. Johnny was a talented singer, songwriter and event producer with a career in the music industry that spanned 46 years. He was an avid outdoorsman, a brilliant gardener and a devoted husband of ten years to his wife Rachel (Sams) Schott. Johnny was born on March 21, 1946 and was preceded in death by his father John S. Schott and mother Maey (Bonnick) Schott. As the eldest of six his loss will be felt deeply by David and Libbie Schott of Tazewell, TN., Stephen and Lori Schott of Cincinnati, Michele Schott and Joe Morris of Boyd, TX., Chris Schott, and Terry and Peter Konrad of Colorado. Johnny's life will be celebrated at Vitt, Stermer and Anderson Funeral Home located at 4619 Delhi Pike, Cincinnati OH 45238 on Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 1 - 4 PM. www.andersonfuneralhomes.com
http://downtown-mtauburn.fox19.com/news/arts-culture/85388-musician-and-event-producer-johnny-schott-dies#.TyKnV5A7huU.email
John SCHOTT(1946 - 2012)
SCHOTT
John A. Schott, 65 , of Harrogate, TN. (originally of Cincinnati, OH.) passed away suddenly at home on Wednesday, January 25th. Johnny was a talented singer, songwriter and event producer with a career in the music industry that spanned 46 years. He was an avid outdoorsman, a brilliant gardener and a devoted husband of ten years to his wife Rachel (Sams) Schott. Johnny was born on March 21, 1946 and was preceded in death by his father John S. Schott and mother Maey (Bonnick) Schott. As the eldest of six his loss will be felt deeply by David and Libbie Schott of Tazewell, TN., Stephen and Lori Schott of Cincinnati, Michele Schott and Joe Morris of Boyd, TX., Chris Schott, and Terry and Peter Konrad of Colorado. Johnny's life will be celebrated at Vitt, Stermer and Anderson Funeral Home located at 4619 Delhi Pike, Cincinnati OH 45238 on Saturday, February 4, 2012 from 1 - 4 PM. www.andersonfuneralhomes.com
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Glennda Dennerline- former Democrat Party Chair Obituary
Glennda Dennerline
6/4/1951 - 1/20/2012
Glennda G. Dennerline, age 60, of Aurora, passed away Friday, January 20, 2012 at Christ Hospital following a long illness. She was born June 4, 1951 in Indianapolis to Gilbert Timmons and Marie Mahan Timmons. Glennda graduated from George Washington High School in 1969. She joined the US Air Force where she attained the rank of a TecSgt, with her last assignment a Wright-Patterson Air Force Base before retiring in 1985. While serving in the Air Force she met Rodney Dennerline, and they were married on May 19, 1979. Following her retirement from the Air Force, Glennda became active in politics, serving as Democratic Party Chairwoman of Dearborn County from 1989 until 1997. Glennda was employed by the State of Indiana as the Manager of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. in Lawrenceburg. She and Rodney were members of the American and enjoyed socializing at the Lawrenceburg Post. She enjoyed making jewelry, gardening and flying with her husband. She was especially devoted to her family, and loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. Surviving are her husband, Rodney Dennerline; 2 sons, Richard (Ann) Dennerline and Rhett (Debbie) Dennerline, 2 daughters, Nancy Gagnon, and Tonya Freeman, 3 brothers, Ronald, Walter, and Jim Timmons; 1 sister, Joyce Roach; 6 grandchildren; Meredith, John, Jenny, Jake, Owen, and Jack. A private memorial service for Glennda will be held at a later date. For a more lasting tribute, the family asks that you consider the American Lung Association as a memorial in lieu of flowers. You may donate to them at lungusa.org. Arrangements have been entrusted to Filter-DeVries Funeral Home in Dillsboro.
6/4/1951 - 1/20/2012
Glennda G. Dennerline, age 60, of Aurora, passed away Friday, January 20, 2012 at Christ Hospital following a long illness. She was born June 4, 1951 in Indianapolis to Gilbert Timmons and Marie Mahan Timmons. Glennda graduated from George Washington High School in 1969. She joined the US Air Force where she attained the rank of a TecSgt, with her last assignment a Wright-Patterson Air Force Base before retiring in 1985. While serving in the Air Force she met Rodney Dennerline, and they were married on May 19, 1979. Following her retirement from the Air Force, Glennda became active in politics, serving as Democratic Party Chairwoman of Dearborn County from 1989 until 1997. Glennda was employed by the State of Indiana as the Manager of the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. in Lawrenceburg. She and Rodney were members of the American and enjoyed socializing at the Lawrenceburg Post. She enjoyed making jewelry, gardening and flying with her husband. She was especially devoted to her family, and loved spending time with her children and grandchildren. Surviving are her husband, Rodney Dennerline; 2 sons, Richard (Ann) Dennerline and Rhett (Debbie) Dennerline, 2 daughters, Nancy Gagnon, and Tonya Freeman, 3 brothers, Ronald, Walter, and Jim Timmons; 1 sister, Joyce Roach; 6 grandchildren; Meredith, John, Jenny, Jake, Owen, and Jack. A private memorial service for Glennda will be held at a later date. For a more lasting tribute, the family asks that you consider the American Lung Association as a memorial in lieu of flowers. You may donate to them at lungusa.org. Arrangements have been entrusted to Filter-DeVries Funeral Home in Dillsboro.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
24 January 2012 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes
24 January 2012 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes
Present: Dennis Kraus. Sr., President, Dan Lansing, Jim Hughes, Liz Morris, Maynard Barrett, Bryan Messmore, and Bill Ullrich.
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor
ABSENT: Bill Ewbank, County Coordinator
Dennis Kraus was re-elected as President and Maynard Barrett as Vice president.
Council members made appointments:
Maynard Barrett- Redevelopment and CVTB
Kraus – as SEIRPC
Juvenile Advisory Board- Liz Morris
Plan Commission – Dan Lansing
Solid Waste Board- Jim Hughes
PTABOA- Shawna Gentry and Mary Booker
Alcoholic Beverage Board- Ray Shaffer
Personnel Adv- Maynard Barrett
Kraus, Hughes, Barrett – Classification Committee?
DC Regional Sewer District- Baudendistel talked to Frank Kramer- the DCRSD has always retained their money from sewer fees. He asked Council’s advice. Pennington said the DCRSD sec’y writes checks from that- Auditor does not handle it. They think no action needs to be taken.
RuthAnn Batta presented her pitch for the summer art program. They will try to do a college visit to Earlham College in Richmond this summer- they do one each summer. They will look at limestone quarries around Bedford. They are partnering with P&G to do surveys and raise money. There were 129 kids last year. This year looks like it will be a heavy year as it’s their 25th year and they are doing special stuff. As she does 4 different classes- they usually give $2,000. Approved.
Sheriff Kreinhop- funds needed to promote deputy to sergeant- $1493 from County General/Riverboat- Kraus said they were going to treat all hires and departments the same so he has to re classify this and come back.
REQUESTS FROM RIVERBOAT REVENUE
Sheriff- Security Automation Systems- retrofit- $292,000- Kreinhop thought this had already been approved from last month. They had discussed but not approved per Pennington because it had not been advertised. Ullrich chimed in about the difficulties with the system and repairs. Kreinhop said this was the original 20 year old system. Ullrich said this was to be part of the remodel of the existing jail after the new jail expansion was completed. This forced it to be done first. Approved for $292,000.
The sheriff asked about the canine deputy and Pennington said they had to advertise for next meeting.
Health Dept- vehicle to transport 2 emergency trailers- $35,000- tabled at Doug Baer’s request.
Health Dept- Vaccines- $12,000- Approved. This was taken out at budget- there was $100 left from before.
EMA- Emergency alert system by Rapid Notify- $7425- Bill Black said they’d been looking at reverse 911 system for some time. They were hoping on some funding. This system does not have all the bells and whistles- though it will use the data from 911 and we can notify all residents in a particular area. $7425 for first year includes setup and some training. If you don’t have a landline- you can register your cellphone to get notified. Comcast no longer has the ability to help notify as of July 2011. The second year is $6500. There is email capability also. This will be up and running quickly within a couple weeks. The rates go by population. This would help with severe weather warnings too. Morris noted that in her area it’s hard to hear the sirens – this would be helpful to supplement the siren warnings. It won’t replace the sirens. Council approved. This is annually renewable. They want it to be for just a year to start out.
Surveyor- Upgrade GPS- $2800- Dennis Kraus Jr. – These are necessary due to narrowband regulations. Council approved.
Commissioners- 2012 workers Comp Premium permission to transfer funds for insurance premiums- $1130- tabled.
JAIL FUNDING- Barrett said they couldn’t talk about funding without numbers.
Orschell said Commissioners appointed Bill Ewbank to do a Justice evaluation over at the Courthouse. He doesn’t think this will affect this project.
Kraus said there were various options that could affect the cost of the jail. Messmore agreed that it would be a good idea to look at this.
Barrett said he was shocked to see this on the agenda. He said a local contractor asked him how they could approve this if they don’t know the bids to see that they can get it for what they want. He doesn’t have the stomach for anything as high as $10million. We need to hire a project manager. "I want to table this until we have some firm numbers."
Orschell said the commissioners do not have any money to hire any construction managers.
Per RQAW - Standard is about 4-6% over the project cost for the construction manager. Architects are 6-8%.
Joe Mrak- RQAW- we are talking about chicken or egg. The study you have from Oct 12 – 2011- from RQAW- we gave you the construction cost range up to $9.4million. 5 phases. First phase is schematic drawings for $70-80,000. Construction earns 20% up front and 80% during process. 10% of fee would be spent now to get this started for construction management. RQAW’s fee is a lump sum fee. They get 15% in phase 1. Can’t go to Phase 2 until phase 1 is approved. RQAW is the architect. Commissioners seek RFQs to get one and then negotiate the fees.
Orschell said if you appropriate the money for a construction manager, then commissioners will get selection process started for a construction manager. Orschell said to budget $75,000 for architect and $50,000 for construction manager for this phase.
Lansing said they need a real number. The commissioners will bring it back at next meeting and advertise it. Tabled until then.
Gayle Pennington- Auditor- presented sheets for certification for Dennis Kraus’s appointment for SIRPC.
The next meeting will be Feb 21st at 6:30 PM. Third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM the following meeting planned is May 22nd. Budget meetings will be set at the next meeting so council members can plan vacations. Nov 20th is the last planned meeting for 2012. Council adds other meetings as needed.
Bookkeeping appropriation for Judge Humphrey from adult probation user fees ($3000 from there) to supplement salaries. This is to be retroactive to Jan 1 so they don’t have to amend salary ordinance. Approved.
Barrett and Morris asked if Pennington had sent the letters discussed at a previous meeting regarding 911 taxes. Pennington said yes.
Lewis Kappes funding for lobbyist- is to be reimbursed by local cities and towns. They reimburse based on population except for Lawrenceburg- they pay $24,000 as does the county. The county pays it all up front
.
Minutes were not received by Council- so they were not approved. Tabled.
They installed a new sound system. They will upload both the sound of the minutes and the minutes themselves to the county website. [NOTE: Now that will be interesting to listen to!]
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawenceburg Township
Present: Dennis Kraus. Sr., President, Dan Lansing, Jim Hughes, Liz Morris, Maynard Barrett, Bryan Messmore, and Bill Ullrich.
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor
ABSENT: Bill Ewbank, County Coordinator
Dennis Kraus was re-elected as President and Maynard Barrett as Vice president.
Council members made appointments:
Maynard Barrett- Redevelopment and CVTB
Kraus – as SEIRPC
Juvenile Advisory Board- Liz Morris
Plan Commission – Dan Lansing
Solid Waste Board- Jim Hughes
PTABOA- Shawna Gentry and Mary Booker
Alcoholic Beverage Board- Ray Shaffer
Personnel Adv- Maynard Barrett
Kraus, Hughes, Barrett – Classification Committee?
DC Regional Sewer District- Baudendistel talked to Frank Kramer- the DCRSD has always retained their money from sewer fees. He asked Council’s advice. Pennington said the DCRSD sec’y writes checks from that- Auditor does not handle it. They think no action needs to be taken.
RuthAnn Batta presented her pitch for the summer art program. They will try to do a college visit to Earlham College in Richmond this summer- they do one each summer. They will look at limestone quarries around Bedford. They are partnering with P&G to do surveys and raise money. There were 129 kids last year. This year looks like it will be a heavy year as it’s their 25th year and they are doing special stuff. As she does 4 different classes- they usually give $2,000. Approved.
Sheriff Kreinhop- funds needed to promote deputy to sergeant- $1493 from County General/Riverboat- Kraus said they were going to treat all hires and departments the same so he has to re classify this and come back.
REQUESTS FROM RIVERBOAT REVENUE
Sheriff- Security Automation Systems- retrofit- $292,000- Kreinhop thought this had already been approved from last month. They had discussed but not approved per Pennington because it had not been advertised. Ullrich chimed in about the difficulties with the system and repairs. Kreinhop said this was the original 20 year old system. Ullrich said this was to be part of the remodel of the existing jail after the new jail expansion was completed. This forced it to be done first. Approved for $292,000.
The sheriff asked about the canine deputy and Pennington said they had to advertise for next meeting.
Health Dept- vehicle to transport 2 emergency trailers- $35,000- tabled at Doug Baer’s request.
Health Dept- Vaccines- $12,000- Approved. This was taken out at budget- there was $100 left from before.
EMA- Emergency alert system by Rapid Notify- $7425- Bill Black said they’d been looking at reverse 911 system for some time. They were hoping on some funding. This system does not have all the bells and whistles- though it will use the data from 911 and we can notify all residents in a particular area. $7425 for first year includes setup and some training. If you don’t have a landline- you can register your cellphone to get notified. Comcast no longer has the ability to help notify as of July 2011. The second year is $6500. There is email capability also. This will be up and running quickly within a couple weeks. The rates go by population. This would help with severe weather warnings too. Morris noted that in her area it’s hard to hear the sirens – this would be helpful to supplement the siren warnings. It won’t replace the sirens. Council approved. This is annually renewable. They want it to be for just a year to start out.
Surveyor- Upgrade GPS- $2800- Dennis Kraus Jr. – These are necessary due to narrowband regulations. Council approved.
Commissioners- 2012 workers Comp Premium permission to transfer funds for insurance premiums- $1130- tabled.
JAIL FUNDING- Barrett said they couldn’t talk about funding without numbers.
Orschell said Commissioners appointed Bill Ewbank to do a Justice evaluation over at the Courthouse. He doesn’t think this will affect this project.
Kraus said there were various options that could affect the cost of the jail. Messmore agreed that it would be a good idea to look at this.
Barrett said he was shocked to see this on the agenda. He said a local contractor asked him how they could approve this if they don’t know the bids to see that they can get it for what they want. He doesn’t have the stomach for anything as high as $10million. We need to hire a project manager. "I want to table this until we have some firm numbers."
Orschell said the commissioners do not have any money to hire any construction managers.
Per RQAW - Standard is about 4-6% over the project cost for the construction manager. Architects are 6-8%.
Joe Mrak- RQAW- we are talking about chicken or egg. The study you have from Oct 12 – 2011- from RQAW- we gave you the construction cost range up to $9.4million. 5 phases. First phase is schematic drawings for $70-80,000. Construction earns 20% up front and 80% during process. 10% of fee would be spent now to get this started for construction management. RQAW’s fee is a lump sum fee. They get 15% in phase 1. Can’t go to Phase 2 until phase 1 is approved. RQAW is the architect. Commissioners seek RFQs to get one and then negotiate the fees.
Orschell said if you appropriate the money for a construction manager, then commissioners will get selection process started for a construction manager. Orschell said to budget $75,000 for architect and $50,000 for construction manager for this phase.
Lansing said they need a real number. The commissioners will bring it back at next meeting and advertise it. Tabled until then.
Gayle Pennington- Auditor- presented sheets for certification for Dennis Kraus’s appointment for SIRPC.
The next meeting will be Feb 21st at 6:30 PM. Third Tuesday of the month at 6:30 PM the following meeting planned is May 22nd. Budget meetings will be set at the next meeting so council members can plan vacations. Nov 20th is the last planned meeting for 2012. Council adds other meetings as needed.
Bookkeeping appropriation for Judge Humphrey from adult probation user fees ($3000 from there) to supplement salaries. This is to be retroactive to Jan 1 so they don’t have to amend salary ordinance. Approved.
Barrett and Morris asked if Pennington had sent the letters discussed at a previous meeting regarding 911 taxes. Pennington said yes.
Lewis Kappes funding for lobbyist- is to be reimbursed by local cities and towns. They reimburse based on population except for Lawrenceburg- they pay $24,000 as does the county. The county pays it all up front
.
Minutes were not received by Council- so they were not approved. Tabled.
They installed a new sound system. They will upload both the sound of the minutes and the minutes themselves to the county website. [NOTE: Now that will be interesting to listen to!]
Meeting adjourned at 7:35 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawenceburg Township
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
AGENDA for Jan 24th Dearborn County Council Meeting
AGENDA
DEARBORN COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
6:30 p.m., Commissioners Room
County Administration Building
215 B West High Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
I. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
II. CALL TO ORDER
III. REORGANIZATION
IV. DCRSD Ordinance
V. DISCUSSION OF Summer Art Program - Batta
VI. SHERIFF – Mike Kreinhop
Road Sergeant
Security Automation Systems – Security System Retrofit
VII. HEALTH DEPARTMENT – Doug Baer
VIII. COMMISSIONERS – William Ewbank
IX. EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY – William Black, Jr.
X. SURVEYOR – Dennis Kraus, Jr.
XI. HEALTH DEPARTMENT – Lois Franklin
XII. JAIL FUNDING
XIII. AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington
XIV. ADJOURN
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
17 January 2012 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes
17 January 2012 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes
Present: Jeff Hughes, President, Tom Orschell, and Shane McHenry
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor, Bill Ewbank, Acting County Administrator, and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.
OLD BUSINESS:
Private Real property Rights Preservation Ordinance Freedom for Options Form- Hughes said he has done a lot of research on this and he wants time to do some more. Tabled again. This has been tabled since April 2010.
Overtime Policy and Actual Hours worked Ordinance- Baudendistel prepared the ordinance changing the personnel policy section 3.17.1 per last meeting’s discussion. It was motioned on and seconded without Shane McHenry and he did not vote. No reason given. Approved.
Appointments BZA and County Farm Board- Orschell still wants to talk to Earl Dawson before appointing County Farm- Tabled.
BZA appointment- Hughes wanted Frank Linkmeyer and Orschell wanted to consider Phil Darling. The decision is left up to McHenry. He has talked to Phil, but not Frank and wants to table till he does. Tabled.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mark McCormack- Planning Director- Proposed Amendments to Article 2 Section 200, Article 3 section 300,325,330,355, and Article 25 Section 2570 of Zoning Ordinance- McCormack was out for a family issue. Baudendistel asked to table it and said that he doesn’t think the 90 day rule applies to this. He thinks the recommendation dies if they don’t act on it. Tabled.Proposed Amendments to Article 3 Section 305R and Appendix A of the Subdivision Control Ordinance- also tabled for reason above.
Donna Thacker- CASA-Citizens Against Substance Abuse- this is a yearly report on their budget and grants. Current budget is $66,660. This is used for grants to agencies in the county that help attain the CASA mission. They also have a Drug Free CommunityGrant form Lawrenceburg Foundation for $100,000 per year. They deal directly with the state now and not the consultant they use to have. They have had their funds gradually decrease. They finished their 5-year federal grant. The city of Lawrenceburg grant will still support them. Continue to work with youth- seem to have a perfect formula. They train 25 youth form each middle school as youth ambassadors. They took McHenry with them to the NW Alcohol conference in 2011. Orschell asked if their budget cuts will affect their community outreach. She said yes- as they will give less to local agencies. She noted that drug usage has decreased among youth here. They realize there is a need for treatment in the area. She said South Dearborn does not participate in their survey. Some schools are afraid that it may show a drug problem that will affect their school system negatively. Orschell expressed a desire to help CASA also. Hughes said South Dearborn was his alma mater- so he might try to get them to do the survey. CASA grant recommendations were accepted.
Sheriff Dept- Food Bids-Accepted as presented. Two bids.
Laura Priebe- Hoosier Hills Literacy League- permission to go to Council- as part of Black White Read- they will have a summer program on a Quilt Program that will relate to this. They will each make a quilt wall hanging themselves and a duplicate for a larger quilt that will be auctioned/raffled to raise funds at a gala this year. They also do the Dolly Partin Imagination Library. They have grants from Dollar General and they graduated 11 GED students this past year. Orschell said he was all in favor of reading programs in the county. She needs to go to Council for $2,000. This program raises money for other programs- even adult ones. Dearborn has 9 % of adults who are illiterate. Hughes said he thought the schools were doing a pretty good job already. McHenry and Orschell voted to do this Hughes didn’t vote. Approved to go to Council.
Appointments: Historic Hoosier Hills- Brad Dawson was recommended for this and he is a staff member of the Conservation Dept. They coordinate activities around conservation, natural resources, etc in SE Indiana. Approved.
Hospital Board- Robert Schroeder the chairman’s term is expiring on March 30th. Reappointed for a 4 year term.
Commissioner Hughes talked to a gentleman who was a judge executive from Boone County also on OKI with Hughes and who was on the board of St. Elizabeth. Hughes said we want to talk to the two board presidents. (St. E and DCH) Hughes wants to make sure that they are not approached by any means to be taken over. He wants to make sure that we have every possible procedure available to DC residents. He wants to bring it right out into the open. His mother in law works as a therapist there and she wants to know what’s going on too. Need to talk to Mr. Resnick first. Hughes just wanted to make commissioners aware of what he was doing.
Bill Black Jr- EMA- resolution to participate in the Great Central US Shakeout- Earthquake Awareness- They did some drills with kids- Drop-Cover- and Hold On. Feb 7th is the 200th anniversary of the New Madrid Earthquake.. He is not planning on going to the schools this year. They do have a website that the schools use. The resolution to participate was signed by Commissioners.
Baudendistel prepared an ordinance changing the emergency levels from numbers to colors. Red- most severe- requires an emergency declaration, Orange – watch- only essential services travel, Yellow- Advisory, White Caution- no restrictions- but be alert to changing conditions. Commissioners passed this as ordinance 2012-2.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: Todd Listerman, Highway Engineer gave the following report:Signature Sheet for Commissioners to sign on the North Dearborn road project.
INDOT LPA agreement for the Stateline Rd slip project for 100% of emergency repair as $4,024.33 and 80 /20 of $212,033 for the permanent fix. Hughes made the motion!!- says he can because they haven’t adopted Roberts Rules of Order so he can.
Orschell said he commended highway dept. and all new hires got their cdl.
Orschell also asked for a moment of silence for Tim Grieve’s wife passing away this week.
AUDITOR: Gayle Pennington- Covered Bridge certification- at Guilford- was signed.
Jan 3 minutes signed. Claims signed. Hughes asked if everyone had done a good job and so they could sign payroll – Hughes motioned again here with McHenry 2nd. Orschell hadn’t reviewed them. Passed. (Claims get passed in pieces.) Hughes also motioned to sign the utility bills and McHenry 2nd as Orschell hadn’t reviewed those. Passed.
Hughes wants Pennington to advertise so that the 3 commissioners can meet with our representative Frey to talk about county interests.
ATTORNEY: Andy Baudendistel- said that Council had asked about an ordinance for retaining fees from High Ridge sewer bills to pay for maintenance on the system. That will be advertised and on the next agenda.
COUNTY COORDINATOR: Bill Ewbank- In previous meetings he wants to create a “commissioners criminal justice report- a study and fact sheet” under the county administrator. This would replace commissioners having separate studies. This would get all statistics etc. on criminal justice in the county. Hughes says he is one of those law and order guys, but… Ewbank is going to speak with judges, sheriff, etc. He wants to get all the information in one place. Then they can disseminate it. Commissioners approved Ewbank doing this report.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS- McHenry said that Ewan will get a title search on the Moore’s Hill building.
LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- none
PUBLIC COMMENT- none- except Hughes praised a folder on how people get elected etc.
Meeting adjourned at 10:07 AM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Present: Jeff Hughes, President, Tom Orschell, and Shane McHenry
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor, Bill Ewbank, Acting County Administrator, and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.
OLD BUSINESS:
Private Real property Rights Preservation Ordinance Freedom for Options Form- Hughes said he has done a lot of research on this and he wants time to do some more. Tabled again. This has been tabled since April 2010.
Overtime Policy and Actual Hours worked Ordinance- Baudendistel prepared the ordinance changing the personnel policy section 3.17.1 per last meeting’s discussion. It was motioned on and seconded without Shane McHenry and he did not vote. No reason given. Approved.
Appointments BZA and County Farm Board- Orschell still wants to talk to Earl Dawson before appointing County Farm- Tabled.
BZA appointment- Hughes wanted Frank Linkmeyer and Orschell wanted to consider Phil Darling. The decision is left up to McHenry. He has talked to Phil, but not Frank and wants to table till he does. Tabled.
NEW BUSINESS:
Mark McCormack- Planning Director- Proposed Amendments to Article 2 Section 200, Article 3 section 300,325,330,355, and Article 25 Section 2570 of Zoning Ordinance- McCormack was out for a family issue. Baudendistel asked to table it and said that he doesn’t think the 90 day rule applies to this. He thinks the recommendation dies if they don’t act on it. Tabled.Proposed Amendments to Article 3 Section 305R and Appendix A of the Subdivision Control Ordinance- also tabled for reason above.
Donna Thacker- CASA-Citizens Against Substance Abuse- this is a yearly report on their budget and grants. Current budget is $66,660. This is used for grants to agencies in the county that help attain the CASA mission. They also have a Drug Free CommunityGrant form Lawrenceburg Foundation for $100,000 per year. They deal directly with the state now and not the consultant they use to have. They have had their funds gradually decrease. They finished their 5-year federal grant. The city of Lawrenceburg grant will still support them. Continue to work with youth- seem to have a perfect formula. They train 25 youth form each middle school as youth ambassadors. They took McHenry with them to the NW Alcohol conference in 2011. Orschell asked if their budget cuts will affect their community outreach. She said yes- as they will give less to local agencies. She noted that drug usage has decreased among youth here. They realize there is a need for treatment in the area. She said South Dearborn does not participate in their survey. Some schools are afraid that it may show a drug problem that will affect their school system negatively. Orschell expressed a desire to help CASA also. Hughes said South Dearborn was his alma mater- so he might try to get them to do the survey. CASA grant recommendations were accepted.
Sheriff Dept- Food Bids-Accepted as presented. Two bids.
Laura Priebe- Hoosier Hills Literacy League- permission to go to Council- as part of Black White Read- they will have a summer program on a Quilt Program that will relate to this. They will each make a quilt wall hanging themselves and a duplicate for a larger quilt that will be auctioned/raffled to raise funds at a gala this year. They also do the Dolly Partin Imagination Library. They have grants from Dollar General and they graduated 11 GED students this past year. Orschell said he was all in favor of reading programs in the county. She needs to go to Council for $2,000. This program raises money for other programs- even adult ones. Dearborn has 9 % of adults who are illiterate. Hughes said he thought the schools were doing a pretty good job already. McHenry and Orschell voted to do this Hughes didn’t vote. Approved to go to Council.
Appointments: Historic Hoosier Hills- Brad Dawson was recommended for this and he is a staff member of the Conservation Dept. They coordinate activities around conservation, natural resources, etc in SE Indiana. Approved.
Hospital Board- Robert Schroeder the chairman’s term is expiring on March 30th. Reappointed for a 4 year term.
Commissioner Hughes talked to a gentleman who was a judge executive from Boone County also on OKI with Hughes and who was on the board of St. Elizabeth. Hughes said we want to talk to the two board presidents. (St. E and DCH) Hughes wants to make sure that they are not approached by any means to be taken over. He wants to make sure that we have every possible procedure available to DC residents. He wants to bring it right out into the open. His mother in law works as a therapist there and she wants to know what’s going on too. Need to talk to Mr. Resnick first. Hughes just wanted to make commissioners aware of what he was doing.
Bill Black Jr- EMA- resolution to participate in the Great Central US Shakeout- Earthquake Awareness- They did some drills with kids- Drop-Cover- and Hold On. Feb 7th is the 200th anniversary of the New Madrid Earthquake.. He is not planning on going to the schools this year. They do have a website that the schools use. The resolution to participate was signed by Commissioners.
Baudendistel prepared an ordinance changing the emergency levels from numbers to colors. Red- most severe- requires an emergency declaration, Orange – watch- only essential services travel, Yellow- Advisory, White Caution- no restrictions- but be alert to changing conditions. Commissioners passed this as ordinance 2012-2.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: Todd Listerman, Highway Engineer gave the following report:Signature Sheet for Commissioners to sign on the North Dearborn road project.
INDOT LPA agreement for the Stateline Rd slip project for 100% of emergency repair as $4,024.33 and 80 /20 of $212,033 for the permanent fix. Hughes made the motion!!- says he can because they haven’t adopted Roberts Rules of Order so he can.
Orschell said he commended highway dept. and all new hires got their cdl.
Orschell also asked for a moment of silence for Tim Grieve’s wife passing away this week.
AUDITOR: Gayle Pennington- Covered Bridge certification- at Guilford- was signed.
Jan 3 minutes signed. Claims signed. Hughes asked if everyone had done a good job and so they could sign payroll – Hughes motioned again here with McHenry 2nd. Orschell hadn’t reviewed them. Passed. (Claims get passed in pieces.) Hughes also motioned to sign the utility bills and McHenry 2nd as Orschell hadn’t reviewed those. Passed.
Hughes wants Pennington to advertise so that the 3 commissioners can meet with our representative Frey to talk about county interests.
ATTORNEY: Andy Baudendistel- said that Council had asked about an ordinance for retaining fees from High Ridge sewer bills to pay for maintenance on the system. That will be advertised and on the next agenda.
COUNTY COORDINATOR: Bill Ewbank- In previous meetings he wants to create a “commissioners criminal justice report- a study and fact sheet” under the county administrator. This would replace commissioners having separate studies. This would get all statistics etc. on criminal justice in the county. Hughes says he is one of those law and order guys, but… Ewbank is going to speak with judges, sheriff, etc. He wants to get all the information in one place. Then they can disseminate it. Commissioners approved Ewbank doing this report.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS- McHenry said that Ewan will get a title search on the Moore’s Hill building.
LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- none
PUBLIC COMMENT- none- except Hughes praised a folder on how people get elected etc.
Meeting adjourned at 10:07 AM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Agenda for January 17th Commissioners Meeting
AGENDA
DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
January 17, 2012
9:00 a.m., Commissioners Room
County Administration Building
215 B West High Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
EXECUTIVE SESSION @ 8:30 a.m. - MED BEN APPEAL
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. ELECTION OF BOARD PRESIDENT
IV. OLD BUSINESS
1. Private Real Property Rights Preservation Ordinance Freedom for Options Form
2. Overtime Policy and Actual Hours Worked Ordinance
3. Appointments - BZA, County Farm,
V. NEW BUSINESS
1. Donna Thacker – CASA
2. Laura Priebe - Hoosier Hills Literacy League
- Permission to go to Council
3. Mark McCormack – Planning/Zoning
a) Proposed amendments to Article 2, Section 200, Article 3, Sections 300, 325, 330, 355; and Article 25, Section 2570 of Zoning Ordinance
b) Proposed amendments to Article 3, Section 305R and Appendix A of Subdivision Control Ordinance
4. Sheriff Department – Food Bids
5. Appointments
a) Historic Hoosier Hills
b) Hospital Board - Robert Schroeder
6. Bill Black, Jr. - Resolution to Participate in the Great Central US Shakeout
– Earthquake Awareness
VI. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT- Todd Listerman
VII. AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington
1. Claims/Minutes
VIII. ATTORNEY - Andy Baudendistel
IX. COUNTY COORDINATOR – Bill Ewbank
X. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
XI. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION
XII. PUBLIC COMMENT
XIII. ADJOURN
DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
January 17, 2012
9:00 a.m., Commissioners Room
County Administration Building
215 B West High Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
EXECUTIVE SESSION @ 8:30 a.m. - MED BEN APPEAL
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. ELECTION OF BOARD PRESIDENT
IV. OLD BUSINESS
1. Private Real Property Rights Preservation Ordinance Freedom for Options Form
2. Overtime Policy and Actual Hours Worked Ordinance
3. Appointments - BZA, County Farm,
V. NEW BUSINESS
1. Donna Thacker – CASA
2. Laura Priebe - Hoosier Hills Literacy League
- Permission to go to Council
3. Mark McCormack – Planning/Zoning
a) Proposed amendments to Article 2, Section 200, Article 3, Sections 300, 325, 330, 355; and Article 25, Section 2570 of Zoning Ordinance
b) Proposed amendments to Article 3, Section 305R and Appendix A of Subdivision Control Ordinance
4. Sheriff Department – Food Bids
5. Appointments
a) Historic Hoosier Hills
b) Hospital Board - Robert Schroeder
6. Bill Black, Jr. - Resolution to Participate in the Great Central US Shakeout
– Earthquake Awareness
VI. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT- Todd Listerman
VII. AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington
1. Claims/Minutes
VIII. ATTORNEY - Andy Baudendistel
IX. COUNTY COORDINATOR – Bill Ewbank
X. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
XI. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION
XII. PUBLIC COMMENT
XIII. ADJOURN
Friday, January 06, 2012
THE JAIL BUSINESS
THE JAIL BUSINESS
by Chrisine Brauer Mueller
Dearborn County appears poised to enter the jail business.
I’m in favor of running a jail in a business-like manner. I am not in favor of having taxpayers fund the growth of a jail business that seems unwilling to do some internal soul searching and remediation of the causes for jail overcrowding.
Decisions surrounding the jail expansion size and funding have become tainted with ethical conflicts of interest- which became alarmingly evident at the Dec 20th Council meeting. Council members who get their paycheck from the sheriff’s dept or prosecutor’s dept claim they have no conflict of interest.
Many years ago Bill Ullrich asked Judge James Humphrey about the legality of running for County Council and remaining employed by the county sheriff’s department. Ullrich reported that Judge Humphrey told him the law did not forbid it. Judge Humphrey, in a previous role as county attorney, would often state that officials were to avoid all PERCEPTIONS of impropriety.
The Council vote Dec 20th was widely perceived as ethically improper. Our state legislators repeatedly get asked to pass a law forbidding a government employee from holding office at the same time as he is employed by that governmental unit. The vote and process for this jail expansion illustrates one good reason to pass this law.
If your boss- the sheriff or prosecutor- wants a new or expanded jail and you vote against it, it is hard to see that your job duties, hours, or paycheck might not be affected. Your well being depends on pleasing your boss. If you are wearing numerous hats in county employment, your many allegiances could be affecting your performance. If you have family also employed by the county, you have to consider their jobs as well, particularly in this economy. These are natural survival and familial instincts. And these instincts will ethically compromise decisions that are to be made for the good of the people.
Despite all public comment at the meeting being against this vote, Liz Morris gave a pre-prepared motion seconded by Maynard Barrett to remove the unanimous consent of Council for spending money in the Riverboat Savings Account 197. Bryan Messmore and Bill Ullrich also voted aye. That account has remained untouched except for unanimous Council consent since 1998 - 13 years. This is the easy money- the low hanging fruit- and a way to avoid going to the taxpayers for the jail expansion funding. These four council members seem to forget this IS our money.
This savings account is the only cushion the county taxpayers have should some catastrophe occur. The doors are now wide open for anyone who can persuade four Council members to spend our savings account.
It is no longer something that would take consensus to insure that the vast majority of the public would approve Council’s choice. Four Council members made a serious mistake, in my opinion. These four set aside the wisdom of their predecessors for expediency.
Voters and taxpayers need to take a look at these four. Three (Ullrich, Messmore, and Barrett) are up for election in 2012. Perhaps then we can send them a message they actually hear.
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
by Chrisine Brauer Mueller
Dearborn County appears poised to enter the jail business.
I’m in favor of running a jail in a business-like manner. I am not in favor of having taxpayers fund the growth of a jail business that seems unwilling to do some internal soul searching and remediation of the causes for jail overcrowding.
Decisions surrounding the jail expansion size and funding have become tainted with ethical conflicts of interest- which became alarmingly evident at the Dec 20th Council meeting. Council members who get their paycheck from the sheriff’s dept or prosecutor’s dept claim they have no conflict of interest.
Many years ago Bill Ullrich asked Judge James Humphrey about the legality of running for County Council and remaining employed by the county sheriff’s department. Ullrich reported that Judge Humphrey told him the law did not forbid it. Judge Humphrey, in a previous role as county attorney, would often state that officials were to avoid all PERCEPTIONS of impropriety.
The Council vote Dec 20th was widely perceived as ethically improper. Our state legislators repeatedly get asked to pass a law forbidding a government employee from holding office at the same time as he is employed by that governmental unit. The vote and process for this jail expansion illustrates one good reason to pass this law.
If your boss- the sheriff or prosecutor- wants a new or expanded jail and you vote against it, it is hard to see that your job duties, hours, or paycheck might not be affected. Your well being depends on pleasing your boss. If you are wearing numerous hats in county employment, your many allegiances could be affecting your performance. If you have family also employed by the county, you have to consider their jobs as well, particularly in this economy. These are natural survival and familial instincts. And these instincts will ethically compromise decisions that are to be made for the good of the people.
Despite all public comment at the meeting being against this vote, Liz Morris gave a pre-prepared motion seconded by Maynard Barrett to remove the unanimous consent of Council for spending money in the Riverboat Savings Account 197. Bryan Messmore and Bill Ullrich also voted aye. That account has remained untouched except for unanimous Council consent since 1998 - 13 years. This is the easy money- the low hanging fruit- and a way to avoid going to the taxpayers for the jail expansion funding. These four council members seem to forget this IS our money.
This savings account is the only cushion the county taxpayers have should some catastrophe occur. The doors are now wide open for anyone who can persuade four Council members to spend our savings account.
It is no longer something that would take consensus to insure that the vast majority of the public would approve Council’s choice. Four Council members made a serious mistake, in my opinion. These four set aside the wisdom of their predecessors for expediency.
Voters and taxpayers need to take a look at these four. Three (Ullrich, Messmore, and Barrett) are up for election in 2012. Perhaps then we can send them a message they actually hear.
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
3 January 2012 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes
3 January 2012 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes
Present: Jeff Hughes, President, Tom Orschell, and Shane McHenry
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor, Bill Ewbank, Acting County Administrator, and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.
ELECTION OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PRESIDENT: Jeff Hughes re-elected.
RE-APPOINTMENTS:
Department Heads: (all the same as 2011)
County Attorney- Andrew Baudendistel
County Engineer- Todd Listerman
County Highway Supervisor- Tim Grieve
Building Inspector- Bill Shelton
Emergency Management-Bill Black
911 Director- charley Ashley
Veteran’s Service Officer- Mike Burgess
Maintenance Supervisor- Eric Hartman
Animal Control Director- Marlene Underwood
County Administrator (New Position)- Bill Ewbank- Acting County Administrator
Boards Commissioners Currently Serve (All serve on Solid Waste)
Jeff: Plan Commission, SIRPC, OKI, Personnel Advisory- all reapproved
Tom: County Farm, EMA, Redevelopment- all reapproved- Orschell hopes there will be some good news coming out of redevelopment in the next couple weeks.
Shane: Common Construction Wage, Juvenile Advisory- all reapproved
Citizen Boards:
Planning Commission- Mark Lehman and Russell Beiersdorfer both reappointed
Health Board- Dr Steven Eliason appointed
Alcohol Beverage Board- reappointed Jim Dole
Convention/Visitor’s Bureau- Ian Abdon, Marilyn Bower, Dee Hacker, Steve Hedges, and Ellen Perfect
PTABOA Board- Bill Hartwell, Mark Neff and Mark Hardenbeck reappointed
Board of Zoning Appeals- Nicole Dailey was hired by the Planning Dept. Commissioners will hold to look over candidates until next meeting. This one has to be an Independent or a Democrat per Hughes.
County Farm Committee- Mike Heffelmire retired and Commissioners want to talk to the board and Earl Dawson to see where they want to go with that board. Earl Dawson and Jerry Newman reappointed.
ADA Coordinator- Bill Ewbank reappointed- he is working on this already.
OLD BUSINESS:
Private Real Property Rights Preservation Ordinance Freedom for Options Form- Hughes wants to see it passed and let the Plan Commission work with it. Orschell asked about where the money would come from? The legal fees alone would be astronomical. He thinks we have the courts in place for this. Hughes said- no one is going to put a toxic dump next to anyone. He cited the property they were sued for by Wolgamot, Diehl, and some woman whose name he forgot as having all the infrastructure in place and yet it was denied. He said a court can call it capricious. Orschell didn’t want another layer of government. McHenry is worried about the significant legal fees. Orschell said Hughes needs to come up with some more specifics. Both Orschell and McHenry said the legal fees would be out of sight. McHenry doesn’t want it so open and vague. Orschell doesn’t want it to be a monetary issue. Hughes will continue to work on that. Tabled essentially.
Overtime Policy and Actual Hours Worked- Pennington said the committee sent an unfavorable recommendation – they want it to stay the same. They cited Fair Labor Standards. Orschell said- we’ve been doing it all along. Hughes and Orschell were inclined to go against the recommendation of the committee. This was only if pre-approved vacation time a week in advance. If they don’t have it pre-scheduled, then they don’t get the time and a half for the “overtime” that week. Comp time has to be used within 180 days of earning it. Comp time is limited to 5 days in a year. This happens during snow emergencies. Comp time is rewarded at time and a half at a mutually agreeable time.
Orshell motioned that overtime monetary reimbursement is based on actual time worked except for scheduled comp. personal, or vacation time. This will be effective retroactive to Jan 1st. Commissioner McHenry does not get paid out of this fund per Orschell – he wants that on the record. [NOTE: McHenry’s time with SCU is paid by a grant.] Baudendistel will prepare the ordinance for next meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
Ruth Ann Batta – Permission to go to Council for Summer Arts Program- approved to go to Council to seek funds for their 25th year.
Signatures for Public Official Bonds- approved all bonds for the following public officials- Barb Kaffenberger, Phil Weaver, Gayle Pennington, Glenn Wright. Hughes wanted Bill Ewbank to see if Commissioners and Council needed bonds.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: Todd Listerman, Highway Engineer- SR 62 was closed to Friendship due to a slip. The county can declare an unofficial detour and they can declare costs for this- they are declaring Farmer’s Retreat Road in the county. Commissioners signed off on this. Most people are using Friendship road in Ripley County as a detour.
AUDITOR: Gayle Pennington-utility docket signed. No claims signed as they don’t cycle for a couple more weeks. Payroll claims approved. Minutes were signed for Dec 6 and 20.
Pennington said the Beacon stats for GIS website- 667 requests a day and 68 users per day.
ATTORNEY: Andy Baudendistel- tort claims involving an inmate and medical claims. Bill Black’s changes in emergency levels ordinance will be ready for the next meeting.
ACTING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR: Bill Ewbank- asking to go to Council for transfer $10,164 from liability insurance to WC account, and an additional appropriation of $1130 in addition to pay 2012 WC bill. We had a reduction of over $10,000 for liability premium. Approved.
Bill Ewbank was authorized to vote the county’s proxy for the Conservancy District election.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: McHenry brought up the Moore’s Hill building that was derelict. Baudendistel discussed with John Watson, Moore’s Hill’s attorney, to get all the owners involved. Pennington said they could choose what they wanted to present for Commissioners certificate sale. They have not had any commercial ones. There are around 50 up for sale this time. Until we have a title search done- we can’t do this per McHenry and Baudendistel. Orschell met with Mark McCormack and Moore’s Hill officials to get a grant- perhaps with using it as a city building along with the old bank.
McHenry was concerned about the CMS study and the results. Ewbank said that they are sending out a second round with a stronger request. The commissioners could withhold their EMS funding until they get the information. Lawrenceburg is not participating as they are self- sufficient and wish the rest of us the best in this endeavor. They will send a firmer letter.
Orschell wished all a good new year.
LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- Bill Black- wants to get $7400 from Council for rapid notify- a reverse 911 and the communications board has looked at it and has seen a demo. Cost is $6500 for each additional year. Approved to seek this from Council.
PUBLIC COMMENT- none
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Present: Jeff Hughes, President, Tom Orschell, and Shane McHenry
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor, Bill Ewbank, Acting County Administrator, and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.
ELECTION OF BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS PRESIDENT: Jeff Hughes re-elected.
RE-APPOINTMENTS:
Department Heads: (all the same as 2011)
County Attorney- Andrew Baudendistel
County Engineer- Todd Listerman
County Highway Supervisor- Tim Grieve
Building Inspector- Bill Shelton
Emergency Management-Bill Black
911 Director- charley Ashley
Veteran’s Service Officer- Mike Burgess
Maintenance Supervisor- Eric Hartman
Animal Control Director- Marlene Underwood
County Administrator (New Position)- Bill Ewbank- Acting County Administrator
Boards Commissioners Currently Serve (All serve on Solid Waste)
Jeff: Plan Commission, SIRPC, OKI, Personnel Advisory- all reapproved
Tom: County Farm, EMA, Redevelopment- all reapproved- Orschell hopes there will be some good news coming out of redevelopment in the next couple weeks.
Shane: Common Construction Wage, Juvenile Advisory- all reapproved
Citizen Boards:
Planning Commission- Mark Lehman and Russell Beiersdorfer both reappointed
Health Board- Dr Steven Eliason appointed
Alcohol Beverage Board- reappointed Jim Dole
Convention/Visitor’s Bureau- Ian Abdon, Marilyn Bower, Dee Hacker, Steve Hedges, and Ellen Perfect
PTABOA Board- Bill Hartwell, Mark Neff and Mark Hardenbeck reappointed
Board of Zoning Appeals- Nicole Dailey was hired by the Planning Dept. Commissioners will hold to look over candidates until next meeting. This one has to be an Independent or a Democrat per Hughes.
County Farm Committee- Mike Heffelmire retired and Commissioners want to talk to the board and Earl Dawson to see where they want to go with that board. Earl Dawson and Jerry Newman reappointed.
ADA Coordinator- Bill Ewbank reappointed- he is working on this already.
OLD BUSINESS:
Private Real Property Rights Preservation Ordinance Freedom for Options Form- Hughes wants to see it passed and let the Plan Commission work with it. Orschell asked about where the money would come from? The legal fees alone would be astronomical. He thinks we have the courts in place for this. Hughes said- no one is going to put a toxic dump next to anyone. He cited the property they were sued for by Wolgamot, Diehl, and some woman whose name he forgot as having all the infrastructure in place and yet it was denied. He said a court can call it capricious. Orschell didn’t want another layer of government. McHenry is worried about the significant legal fees. Orschell said Hughes needs to come up with some more specifics. Both Orschell and McHenry said the legal fees would be out of sight. McHenry doesn’t want it so open and vague. Orschell doesn’t want it to be a monetary issue. Hughes will continue to work on that. Tabled essentially.
Overtime Policy and Actual Hours Worked- Pennington said the committee sent an unfavorable recommendation – they want it to stay the same. They cited Fair Labor Standards. Orschell said- we’ve been doing it all along. Hughes and Orschell were inclined to go against the recommendation of the committee. This was only if pre-approved vacation time a week in advance. If they don’t have it pre-scheduled, then they don’t get the time and a half for the “overtime” that week. Comp time has to be used within 180 days of earning it. Comp time is limited to 5 days in a year. This happens during snow emergencies. Comp time is rewarded at time and a half at a mutually agreeable time.
Orshell motioned that overtime monetary reimbursement is based on actual time worked except for scheduled comp. personal, or vacation time. This will be effective retroactive to Jan 1st. Commissioner McHenry does not get paid out of this fund per Orschell – he wants that on the record. [NOTE: McHenry’s time with SCU is paid by a grant.] Baudendistel will prepare the ordinance for next meeting.
NEW BUSINESS:
Ruth Ann Batta – Permission to go to Council for Summer Arts Program- approved to go to Council to seek funds for their 25th year.
Signatures for Public Official Bonds- approved all bonds for the following public officials- Barb Kaffenberger, Phil Weaver, Gayle Pennington, Glenn Wright. Hughes wanted Bill Ewbank to see if Commissioners and Council needed bonds.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: Todd Listerman, Highway Engineer- SR 62 was closed to Friendship due to a slip. The county can declare an unofficial detour and they can declare costs for this- they are declaring Farmer’s Retreat Road in the county. Commissioners signed off on this. Most people are using Friendship road in Ripley County as a detour.
AUDITOR: Gayle Pennington-utility docket signed. No claims signed as they don’t cycle for a couple more weeks. Payroll claims approved. Minutes were signed for Dec 6 and 20.
Pennington said the Beacon stats for GIS website- 667 requests a day and 68 users per day.
ATTORNEY: Andy Baudendistel- tort claims involving an inmate and medical claims. Bill Black’s changes in emergency levels ordinance will be ready for the next meeting.
ACTING COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR: Bill Ewbank- asking to go to Council for transfer $10,164 from liability insurance to WC account, and an additional appropriation of $1130 in addition to pay 2012 WC bill. We had a reduction of over $10,000 for liability premium. Approved.
Bill Ewbank was authorized to vote the county’s proxy for the Conservancy District election.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: McHenry brought up the Moore’s Hill building that was derelict. Baudendistel discussed with John Watson, Moore’s Hill’s attorney, to get all the owners involved. Pennington said they could choose what they wanted to present for Commissioners certificate sale. They have not had any commercial ones. There are around 50 up for sale this time. Until we have a title search done- we can’t do this per McHenry and Baudendistel. Orschell met with Mark McCormack and Moore’s Hill officials to get a grant- perhaps with using it as a city building along with the old bank.
McHenry was concerned about the CMS study and the results. Ewbank said that they are sending out a second round with a stronger request. The commissioners could withhold their EMS funding until they get the information. Lawrenceburg is not participating as they are self- sufficient and wish the rest of us the best in this endeavor. They will send a firmer letter.
Orschell wished all a good new year.
LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- Bill Black- wants to get $7400 from Council for rapid notify- a reverse 911 and the communications board has looked at it and has seen a demo. Cost is $6500 for each additional year. Approved to seek this from Council.
PUBLIC COMMENT- none
Meeting adjourned at 7:15 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Monday, January 02, 2012
Agenda for January 3rd Commissioners Meeting
AGENDA
DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
January 3, 2012
6:00 p.m., Commissioners Room
County Administration Building
215 B West High Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
RE-ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. ELECTION OF BOARD PRESIDENT
IV. RE-APPOINTMENTS
1. Department Heads
a) County Attorney
b) County Engineer
c) County Highway Supervisor
d) Building Inspector
e) Emergency Management
f) 911 Director
g) Veteran’s Service Officer
h) Maintenance Supervisor
i) Animal Control Director
j) County Administrator (New Position)
2. Boards Commissioners Currently Serve (All serve on Solid Waste)
a) Jeff: Plan Commission, SIRPC, OKI, Personnel Advisory
b) Tom: County Farm, EMA, Redevelopment
c) Shane: Common Construction Wage, Juvenile Advisory
3. Citizen Boards
a) Planning Commission
b) Health Board
c) Alcohol Beverage Board
d) Convention/Visitor’s Bureau
e) PTA Board
f) Board of Zoning Appeals
4. Other appointments
a) ADA Coordinator
V. OLD BUSINESS
1. Private Real Property Rights Preservation Ordinance
Freedom for Options Form
2. Overtime Policy and Actual Hours Worked
VI. NEW BUSINESS
1, Ruth Ann Batta – Permission to go to Council for Summer Arts Program
2. Signatures for Public Official Bonds
VII. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT- Todd Listerman
VIII. AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington
1. Claims/Minutes
IX. ATTORNEY - Andy Baudendistel
X. COUNTY COORDINATOR – Bill Ewbank
XI. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
XII. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION
XIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
XIV. ADJOURN
DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
January 3, 2012
6:00 p.m., Commissioners Room
County Administration Building
215 B West High Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
RE-ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. ELECTION OF BOARD PRESIDENT
IV. RE-APPOINTMENTS
1. Department Heads
a) County Attorney
b) County Engineer
c) County Highway Supervisor
d) Building Inspector
e) Emergency Management
f) 911 Director
g) Veteran’s Service Officer
h) Maintenance Supervisor
i) Animal Control Director
j) County Administrator (New Position)
2. Boards Commissioners Currently Serve (All serve on Solid Waste)
a) Jeff: Plan Commission, SIRPC, OKI, Personnel Advisory
b) Tom: County Farm, EMA, Redevelopment
c) Shane: Common Construction Wage, Juvenile Advisory
3. Citizen Boards
a) Planning Commission
b) Health Board
c) Alcohol Beverage Board
d) Convention/Visitor’s Bureau
e) PTA Board
f) Board of Zoning Appeals
4. Other appointments
a) ADA Coordinator
V. OLD BUSINESS
1. Private Real Property Rights Preservation Ordinance
Freedom for Options Form
2. Overtime Policy and Actual Hours Worked
VI. NEW BUSINESS
1, Ruth Ann Batta – Permission to go to Council for Summer Arts Program
2. Signatures for Public Official Bonds
VII. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT- Todd Listerman
VIII. AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington
1. Claims/Minutes
IX. ATTORNEY - Andy Baudendistel
X. COUNTY COORDINATOR – Bill Ewbank
XI. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
XII. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION
XIII. PUBLIC COMMENT
XIV. ADJOURN
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
20 December 2011 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes
20 December 2011 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes
Present: Dennis Kraus. Sr., President, Dan Lansing, Jim Hughes, Liz Morris, Maynard Barrett, Bryan Messmore, and Bill Ullrich.
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor and Bill Ewbank, County Coordinator and Andy Baudendistel, County Attorney.
Steve Renihan- DCRSD -Sewer Board- and Bob Hrezo, Engineer, passed out information to Council and an update on all projects and progress of DCRSD. He apologized for absence last month. He wants to get the contingency fund back up to $10,000. He gave an accounting of their expenditures and they only have $818 in it now. They need to have money available for things that come up during the year. Collected $99,000 from customers from Highridge Plant- so that is in a separate account at UCB. He thinks they should keep that money for future maintenance and repair on that plant. It is a county asset. They could turn it into the sewer account and then have to come back to council for it. Kraus said they can deal with that in January. $23,682 has been collected on Stewart road and Cole Lane. The West Harrison TIF is almost done. Hueseman Road is proceeding. Morris motioned and Ullrich 2nd to approve $9200 to that account. Messmore voted Nay- rest Ayes- passed.
Sheriff Kreinhop- wants to replace his civil process server. He wants the individual he has selected to be approved. He hadn’t even advertized it yet. Kraus said the committee recommends 7 days to advise council. No one backed Kraus up on this- and apparently the council doesn’t enforce the county policy to advertize positions and open them to the public. Council approved it anyway.
IRS requires an amendment to the police pension and it has no financial impact on the county. Baudendistel has reviewed- no problem. Merit board pres. And Kreinhop has signed. Council approved Kraus’s signature on these amendments.
Medical expenses for inmates- the fee schedule was amended and commissioners approved and now it needs Council president’s signature. Approved.
Liz Morris presented the 911 fee before in November and Pennington pulled off the fees for 2010. AIC (Association of Indiana Counties) suggested language for funding for gas tax revenues and 911 issues. Morris said this is asking our reps to approve legislation to addresses these issues. Council approved signing the 2 resolutions.
Pennington also asked Council to set their January organizational meeting for board appointments etc. . Council will meet the 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 in January.
Kraus said he will take the SEIRPC (SE Indiana Regional Planning Commission) spot now that they want an actual Council member and not Mark McCormack as before. Council approved Kraus Sr.
Council approved a 2.5% raise for county employees, with Bill Ullrich abstaining. [NOTE: Apparently he recognizes a conflict of interest since he is a county employee. Messmore-Victim’s Advocate Coordinator- did not abstain. Perhaps his and his boss’s positions are not paid by the county?]
Council approved the October Budget adoption minutes. Lansing and Hughes weren’t at the meeting so they abstained.
Andy Baudendistel- County attorney- searched ordinances- 1998- written motion indicating a 7-0 aye vote was to approve the riverboat savings. It was never passed as an ordinance.
Kraus found it reaffirmed in 2003 and 2006 minutes. It was also in newspaper articles.
You can change it even if it were in a written ordinance.
To change how it’s done now would be a simple vote. [NOTE: The county attorney also works in Judge Sally Blankenship’s drug court and his mother works in the probation dept. He’s juggling a lot of duties and allegiances here.]
Morris said- that even now we can vote to spend it as a simple majority.
Lansing said it was disrespectful to those who sat here for the last 15 years. Lansing doesn’t think it’s good to rely on the riverboat for everything.
Morris said that once we get economic development then we won’t be relying on riverboat. (Is she saying the jail expansion is economic development?)
Lansing noted ongoing yearly costs of the jail- what’s paying for that?
Morris said we can’t ignore the problem. It’s about safety.
Ullrich said the best case scenario you move the people thru as fast as you can. The judges are trying to do that. He said the programs to help people- we don’t have enough space for all of that. If they keep the sentences- then we can send them up state. We can house Ohio county prisoners again. We used to do federal prisoners. [NOTE: Ullrich works for the sheriff’s dept and transports prisoners. Should he be in this discussion or vote?]
Lansing brought up Gardner’s article and thinks that we are doing things differently than most other counties.
Morris said- we passed this last month.
Ullrich’s main concern is no additional impact to the taxpayers.
Jim Hughes would like to let the people vote on it.
Ullrich said the federal prisoners were the best ones you could have.
Jim Hughes said we shouldn’t be in the business of housing prisoners.
Messmore said the plan is not to house other prisoners. [NOTE: Then why do the sheriff and Ullrich keep bringing that idea up in campaigning and meetings?]
Ullrich said we need to do Ohio County.
Lansing asked RQAW rep what the 72 extra beds that would go to the empty shell built now would cost. He said a few 100,000s of dollars.
Tom Cheek former councilman of 12 years. He said at the bottom of every riverboat sheet at budget hearings the 7 vote requirement was written and signed. The charettes a few years back – the jail surfaced as the top project. The project was at $14 million. Now it’s whittled down. And it still says that won’t achieve the goal. He challenged Morris on why not put it to the voters? Why are we afraid to do that? There is a presidential election. He also said that 3 people are involved in these decisions that shouldn’t be- conflict of interest. [NOTE: He’s referring to Commissioner Shane McHenry, Councilman Bill Ullrich, and Councilman Bryan Messmore- all employed by the county sheriff and/or prosecutor. McHenry also has a mother (probation) and step- father (sheriff’s dept) employed there. He's also juggling a lot of allegances.]
Judy Howard- Aurora- Harmony Hills- spoke passionately and directly- I’m sick of hearing that it won’t cost the taxpayer. It’s a bold false lie and you know it. There is no such thing as a free lunch. I hope that if you learn nothing else- you learn that this is not the truth. Mr. Ullrich- you stated that this won’t cost anything additional to the taxpayer. What if you don’t have the base anymore? I’m 73 years old and I’ve gone thru hell and heaven in my life. I hope that you know what you are putting on the taxpayers. There a lot of inmates in this county. It isn’t free- that $15 million in the savings account- is the people’s money. It’s the citizen’s of this county. I want you to promise that you won’t lie again.
Liz Morris- I’d like the record to show that I resent being called a liar.
Stephanie Libbert- taxpayer. I have questions and I get now answers. Why do we have 2 bonds in this county? It makes it harder for people to get out of jail.
A surety bond is tacked on to cash bond when they are from out of county per Ullrich.
Libbert- why not show us you are trying something besides just adding jail space? What about first time offenders? What about crimes with victims?She told a story of a woman writing bad checks at several stores including hers and when she sought help with the prosecutor- it wasn’t done. You are not protecting us- and she was a victim at this point. Why did you not put it to a vote of the people? How can you represent us if you do not ask? I work every day- I pay taxes so that you can take them from me. Use survey monkey- and modern technology to get in touch with your people. Get your own blog. Grant money is tax money too. Government creates their own problem as you all demonstrate. I agree with the whole conflict of interest here.
Ullrich said he does not have a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest is when you have a monetary interest and I don’t have one in this project. [NOTE: YIKES!!!]
Jerry Jacobsen- Greendale- we have bad economic times and the Riverboat Revenue is used as a buffer against these times. It’s very important that you keep it. If you bond it you get 90 cents on the dollar. Do we need the jail expanded? If you are going to spend your cushion I think you need to put it to the people. That would be the politically expedient way.
Cindy Luchow- I think you should stick to the 7 or at least 6 to decide. I would be interested to see the statistics on the jail. Once charged with a felony or ending up in jail – they will lose their jobs. I think the conflict of interest is a valid point- you need to think about that.
Harley Ohmansiek - Aurora- has there been any discussion of a federal mandate if they force building a jail? It hasn’t happened yet.
Tom Cheek- clarification- DLGF looks at Riverboat money as a tax- a gaming tax. But it’s not a property tax.
Morris reading from a prepared motion said the current jail is a maximum security facility built by federal judge’s mandate. We should take matters into our own hands. I would like to put it in the minutes that the county attorney said this should be in our minutes. Morris and Barrett motioned to make the simple vote to get it out of 197 savings. Four ayes- Morris, Barrett, Ullrich, and Messmore ayes. Lansing, Hughes, and Kraus, Nay.
[NOTE: Morris clearly ties the change in vote for 197 savings account to the jail expansion. In this vote and prior discussion are two people who ethically should not be part of the jail expansion decision. Their paycheck and their boss’s favor is part of the system. If ever there were an argument about county employees also being elected officials- this is it.]
The actual funding of the jail project will be on the January agenda. The council will decide how MUCH of the Savings account will be spent on this. They could do portions of the savings and a bond or tax. They could do all savings.
Meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM.
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Present: Dennis Kraus. Sr., President, Dan Lansing, Jim Hughes, Liz Morris, Maynard Barrett, Bryan Messmore, and Bill Ullrich.
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor and Bill Ewbank, County Coordinator and Andy Baudendistel, County Attorney.
Steve Renihan- DCRSD -Sewer Board- and Bob Hrezo, Engineer, passed out information to Council and an update on all projects and progress of DCRSD. He apologized for absence last month. He wants to get the contingency fund back up to $10,000. He gave an accounting of their expenditures and they only have $818 in it now. They need to have money available for things that come up during the year. Collected $99,000 from customers from Highridge Plant- so that is in a separate account at UCB. He thinks they should keep that money for future maintenance and repair on that plant. It is a county asset. They could turn it into the sewer account and then have to come back to council for it. Kraus said they can deal with that in January. $23,682 has been collected on Stewart road and Cole Lane. The West Harrison TIF is almost done. Hueseman Road is proceeding. Morris motioned and Ullrich 2nd to approve $9200 to that account. Messmore voted Nay- rest Ayes- passed.
Sheriff Kreinhop- wants to replace his civil process server. He wants the individual he has selected to be approved. He hadn’t even advertized it yet. Kraus said the committee recommends 7 days to advise council. No one backed Kraus up on this- and apparently the council doesn’t enforce the county policy to advertize positions and open them to the public. Council approved it anyway.
IRS requires an amendment to the police pension and it has no financial impact on the county. Baudendistel has reviewed- no problem. Merit board pres. And Kreinhop has signed. Council approved Kraus’s signature on these amendments.
Medical expenses for inmates- the fee schedule was amended and commissioners approved and now it needs Council president’s signature. Approved.
Liz Morris presented the 911 fee before in November and Pennington pulled off the fees for 2010. AIC (Association of Indiana Counties) suggested language for funding for gas tax revenues and 911 issues. Morris said this is asking our reps to approve legislation to addresses these issues. Council approved signing the 2 resolutions.
Pennington also asked Council to set their January organizational meeting for board appointments etc. . Council will meet the 3rd Tuesday at 6:30 in January.
Kraus said he will take the SEIRPC (SE Indiana Regional Planning Commission) spot now that they want an actual Council member and not Mark McCormack as before. Council approved Kraus Sr.
Council approved a 2.5% raise for county employees, with Bill Ullrich abstaining. [NOTE: Apparently he recognizes a conflict of interest since he is a county employee. Messmore-Victim’s Advocate Coordinator- did not abstain. Perhaps his and his boss’s positions are not paid by the county?]
Council approved the October Budget adoption minutes. Lansing and Hughes weren’t at the meeting so they abstained.
Andy Baudendistel- County attorney- searched ordinances- 1998- written motion indicating a 7-0 aye vote was to approve the riverboat savings. It was never passed as an ordinance.
Kraus found it reaffirmed in 2003 and 2006 minutes. It was also in newspaper articles.
You can change it even if it were in a written ordinance.
To change how it’s done now would be a simple vote. [NOTE: The county attorney also works in Judge Sally Blankenship’s drug court and his mother works in the probation dept. He’s juggling a lot of duties and allegiances here.]
Morris said- that even now we can vote to spend it as a simple majority.
Lansing said it was disrespectful to those who sat here for the last 15 years. Lansing doesn’t think it’s good to rely on the riverboat for everything.
Morris said that once we get economic development then we won’t be relying on riverboat. (Is she saying the jail expansion is economic development?)
Lansing noted ongoing yearly costs of the jail- what’s paying for that?
Morris said we can’t ignore the problem. It’s about safety.
Ullrich said the best case scenario you move the people thru as fast as you can. The judges are trying to do that. He said the programs to help people- we don’t have enough space for all of that. If they keep the sentences- then we can send them up state. We can house Ohio county prisoners again. We used to do federal prisoners. [NOTE: Ullrich works for the sheriff’s dept and transports prisoners. Should he be in this discussion or vote?]
Lansing brought up Gardner’s article and thinks that we are doing things differently than most other counties.
Morris said- we passed this last month.
Ullrich’s main concern is no additional impact to the taxpayers.
Jim Hughes would like to let the people vote on it.
Ullrich said the federal prisoners were the best ones you could have.
Jim Hughes said we shouldn’t be in the business of housing prisoners.
Messmore said the plan is not to house other prisoners. [NOTE: Then why do the sheriff and Ullrich keep bringing that idea up in campaigning and meetings?]
Ullrich said we need to do Ohio County.
Lansing asked RQAW rep what the 72 extra beds that would go to the empty shell built now would cost. He said a few 100,000s of dollars.
Tom Cheek former councilman of 12 years. He said at the bottom of every riverboat sheet at budget hearings the 7 vote requirement was written and signed. The charettes a few years back – the jail surfaced as the top project. The project was at $14 million. Now it’s whittled down. And it still says that won’t achieve the goal. He challenged Morris on why not put it to the voters? Why are we afraid to do that? There is a presidential election. He also said that 3 people are involved in these decisions that shouldn’t be- conflict of interest. [NOTE: He’s referring to Commissioner Shane McHenry, Councilman Bill Ullrich, and Councilman Bryan Messmore- all employed by the county sheriff and/or prosecutor. McHenry also has a mother (probation) and step- father (sheriff’s dept) employed there. He's also juggling a lot of allegances.]
Judy Howard- Aurora- Harmony Hills- spoke passionately and directly- I’m sick of hearing that it won’t cost the taxpayer. It’s a bold false lie and you know it. There is no such thing as a free lunch. I hope that if you learn nothing else- you learn that this is not the truth. Mr. Ullrich- you stated that this won’t cost anything additional to the taxpayer. What if you don’t have the base anymore? I’m 73 years old and I’ve gone thru hell and heaven in my life. I hope that you know what you are putting on the taxpayers. There a lot of inmates in this county. It isn’t free- that $15 million in the savings account- is the people’s money. It’s the citizen’s of this county. I want you to promise that you won’t lie again.
Liz Morris- I’d like the record to show that I resent being called a liar.
Stephanie Libbert- taxpayer. I have questions and I get now answers. Why do we have 2 bonds in this county? It makes it harder for people to get out of jail.
A surety bond is tacked on to cash bond when they are from out of county per Ullrich.
Libbert- why not show us you are trying something besides just adding jail space? What about first time offenders? What about crimes with victims?She told a story of a woman writing bad checks at several stores including hers and when she sought help with the prosecutor- it wasn’t done. You are not protecting us- and she was a victim at this point. Why did you not put it to a vote of the people? How can you represent us if you do not ask? I work every day- I pay taxes so that you can take them from me. Use survey monkey- and modern technology to get in touch with your people. Get your own blog. Grant money is tax money too. Government creates their own problem as you all demonstrate. I agree with the whole conflict of interest here.
Ullrich said he does not have a conflict of interest. A conflict of interest is when you have a monetary interest and I don’t have one in this project. [NOTE: YIKES!!!]
Jerry Jacobsen- Greendale- we have bad economic times and the Riverboat Revenue is used as a buffer against these times. It’s very important that you keep it. If you bond it you get 90 cents on the dollar. Do we need the jail expanded? If you are going to spend your cushion I think you need to put it to the people. That would be the politically expedient way.
Cindy Luchow- I think you should stick to the 7 or at least 6 to decide. I would be interested to see the statistics on the jail. Once charged with a felony or ending up in jail – they will lose their jobs. I think the conflict of interest is a valid point- you need to think about that.
Harley Ohmansiek - Aurora- has there been any discussion of a federal mandate if they force building a jail? It hasn’t happened yet.
Tom Cheek- clarification- DLGF looks at Riverboat money as a tax- a gaming tax. But it’s not a property tax.
Morris reading from a prepared motion said the current jail is a maximum security facility built by federal judge’s mandate. We should take matters into our own hands. I would like to put it in the minutes that the county attorney said this should be in our minutes. Morris and Barrett motioned to make the simple vote to get it out of 197 savings. Four ayes- Morris, Barrett, Ullrich, and Messmore ayes. Lansing, Hughes, and Kraus, Nay.
[NOTE: Morris clearly ties the change in vote for 197 savings account to the jail expansion. In this vote and prior discussion are two people who ethically should not be part of the jail expansion decision. Their paycheck and their boss’s favor is part of the system. If ever there were an argument about county employees also being elected officials- this is it.]
The actual funding of the jail project will be on the January agenda. The council will decide how MUCH of the Savings account will be spent on this. They could do portions of the savings and a bond or tax. They could do all savings.
Meeting adjourned at 8:05 PM.
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
20 December 2011 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes
20 December 2011 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes
Present: Jeff Hughes, President, Tom Orschell, and Shane McHenry
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor, Bill Ewbank, County Coordinator, and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.
OLD BUSINESS:
Private Real Property Rights Preservation Ordinance Freedom for Options Form- Baudendistel researched into how a Comp plan was construed within the courts Ogden vs. premier properties- 2001 Evansville- comp plan was a GUIDE ONLY. It is one of several things to consider in rezones. Other case comp plan was a general long term blue print- and pay reasonable regard to the plan- a guide- rather than an instrument of land control. Nothing in statute that says gov’t HAS to follow the comp plan. He also read our intro to our comp plan in Dearborn County. Based on his research he thinks the comp plan is not binding- it’s a tool.
Hughes said this was helpful and not what a lot of people thought on the future land use committee. It is confusing- you have to take it into consideration- but it doesn’t stand alone. TABLED again for further review. This item has been tabled since April.
Ratify Life Time housing Payroll Authorization Letter- Bill Ewbank- a time sensitive document that was presented to Hughes- this is the payroll for rehabbing the homes we previously approved for a grant. Commissioners ratified the signature.
Overtime Policy and Actual Hours Worked- Shane McHenry- 3.17.1 overtime- Gayle Pennington changed a sentence to accommodate the vacation that is counted as scheduled as workdays. It has to be a pre-scheduled time to count towards overtime. Orschell said it should go to the personnel committee first.
Dennis Kraus, Sr. said the Personnel Committee that he is on had given an unfavorable recommendation – they had decided not to make any changes. He also said that anyone who would be a recipient of this money generated by overtime should NOT be voting on it. [NOTE:He’s referring to Shane McHenry having a conflict of interest on this issue, as he has a "pecuniary interest." Kraus is right about that, and McHenry stopped talking on the issue and did not motioon, 2nd, or vote. He did not abstain either.]
Todd Listerman was asked if this had to be decided before Christmas. He said not his year- no snow is expected.
Orschell motioned – Hughes 2nded and McHenry was silent on all of this after Kraus’s statement regarding recipient’s voting on the overtime pay rules. Two commissioners voted that this go to the advisory committee for review. Pennington will schedule that.
NEW BUSINESS:
Surplus Vehicle Ordinance- read by Baudendistel- any vehicle over $1000- all paperwork submitted to the county. Priority given to county depts. Second priority to agencies, like fire dept and life squads in the county, and third, they can be offered for sale to the general public. Commissioners approved the ordinance.
Proclamation Community Read Project- Dan Toon on Library Board with Jody Maples (Librarian) and Marilyn Hoffbauer (Dearborn Highland Arts Council) in attendance as support. This was started by Dolly Parton. Kids get a book a month to create a library of 60 books by the time they are in school. Adults will be reading great Gatsby and kids will read Black Beauty in the year long reading program. Hoosier Hills Literacy League in cooperation with several county agencies. 2012- Color Dearborn County Black White and Read. Proclamation approved.
Contract Agreement Hoosier Square- construction contract for Seyferth ( sp?) Co in Cleves. $277,732. This will also make the building ADA compliant. Signed after commissioners verified that Baudendistel looked it over. Hope to start this week per Ewbank.
Dilapidated Buildings in Moore’s Hill- Board member and clerk treasurer of Moore’s Hill presented pictures of the condemned building. It has been vacant 4 years. We have a letter from US Bank and also the adjoining neighbor. It was condemned for the pigeon droppings issue. They want county help
14942 Main St- Henry Alvin Brown- delinquent on $8,000 property taxes plus liens for 2 sewer for $7,000 =$15,000 in liabilities to a potential buyer. It was attempted to sell in 2009. It remains on eligibility for Commissioner’s sale. It is a negative liability. Lot may be worth $10-15,000. Only real prospect. We could assist them in finding redevelopment funds for demolition – if there is a public end use. Owner is unwilling and financially unable to comply with this property. Owner is in failing health- aged 79. We are at the point- we want to do something- even if it’s wrong. Bob Blue owns 1/8 of the building- he doesn’t care what happens per the board member. He said he’d give it away. Alvin Brown said he wanted $35,000 for it. He hates the government. Baudendistel said whoever demolishes this- has to own the whole building. Title work needs to be done on the property. Mitchell Brown- his son also had an interest in it- but may have given that back to his father in 2009 in a quit claim deed. Bill Shelton- Building Inspector said it’s beyond repair. It was an original science building for the college. They want to get the taxes forgiven or written off and the sewer lien dropped. More research to be done.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: Todd Listerman, Highway Engineer:
Mobilecom- new narrow band frequency radios to accommodate all the radios in the US by end of 2012. The chips are already in our radios bought in the last 4 years. They just open the radios and switch it over. The repeater tower has to be upgraded and that is already in the budget for this summer. Signed the paperwork for Mobilecom to get narrow band for the county.
Working with federal highway adm to get funds for rain caused slippages on Lower Dillsboro- $10,451 and change approved- and we get 100% on emergency and 80% on permanent repairs.
Are in process of purchasing ROW in Bright on Stateline. They were worried about signage that now will not have required setbacks. Commissioners signed resolution that their signage is grandfathered. This is just for area between 500 ft South of Salt Fork and 20 ft North of Jamison and already in existence and related to the Stateline project.
Hope within next couple weeks will have deeds secured to have Stewart St done this summer.
March or April letting for North Dearborn construction this summer.
Still working on Shortridge Rd to secure properties.
AUDITOR: Gayle Pennington- claims signed. Hughes said he hadn’t had time to review some of these. Minutes from Nov 15 approved.
ATTORNEY: Andy Baudendistel- letter from Liberty Roberts from jury trial- praising county staff for their help. Bill Black told him the warning levels are now colors instead of numbers. He will have that next meeting.
COUNTY COORDINATOR: Bill Ewbank- request from county Park Board- they were asked to mow the County farm area now that County Highway has moved. $4200 will be requested from council for YES Home and old County Animal shelter. Park Board wanted to be sure this was OK with Commissioners. Parks is storing their equipment there anyway. This will be an existing mowing contract- and added on to that. Commissioners approved Parks to approach council for this request.
ADA status- he attended training seminar in Greensburg from INDOT and state ADA coordinator. They are taking compliance effort seriously. June 30 2012 – INDOT will be inspecting reports from every county for roadmarks we have to achieve toward compliance. This will affect our scoring for any of our federal funds. He said the bar is fairly low for this first step so far- we could gain a competitive advantage by surpassing that standard and improving our scores. He suggested they add ADA coordinator to January appointments- and noted it was a non-paid position.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS- Hughes- wanted to make Bill Ewbank- coordinator- into the interim Administrator for 60 days to review resumes. Approved.
Hughes referenced an email on judicial issues and was wanting feedback from judges and prosecutors etc. he is looking for communication and new ideas.
Commissioners wished everyone a Merry Christmas AND Happy New Year.
LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- none.
PUBLIC COMMENT- Bill Black- trying to get everyone on the same page and now state has changed the codes to colors. Also the radios are being transferred same as Listerman referenced. Hughes also thanked him for the HVL Dam updates.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 AM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Present: Jeff Hughes, President, Tom Orschell, and Shane McHenry
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor, Bill Ewbank, County Coordinator, and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.
OLD BUSINESS:
Private Real Property Rights Preservation Ordinance Freedom for Options Form- Baudendistel researched into how a Comp plan was construed within the courts Ogden vs. premier properties- 2001 Evansville- comp plan was a GUIDE ONLY. It is one of several things to consider in rezones. Other case comp plan was a general long term blue print- and pay reasonable regard to the plan- a guide- rather than an instrument of land control. Nothing in statute that says gov’t HAS to follow the comp plan. He also read our intro to our comp plan in Dearborn County. Based on his research he thinks the comp plan is not binding- it’s a tool.
Hughes said this was helpful and not what a lot of people thought on the future land use committee. It is confusing- you have to take it into consideration- but it doesn’t stand alone. TABLED again for further review. This item has been tabled since April.
Ratify Life Time housing Payroll Authorization Letter- Bill Ewbank- a time sensitive document that was presented to Hughes- this is the payroll for rehabbing the homes we previously approved for a grant. Commissioners ratified the signature.
Overtime Policy and Actual Hours Worked- Shane McHenry- 3.17.1 overtime- Gayle Pennington changed a sentence to accommodate the vacation that is counted as scheduled as workdays. It has to be a pre-scheduled time to count towards overtime. Orschell said it should go to the personnel committee first.
Dennis Kraus, Sr. said the Personnel Committee that he is on had given an unfavorable recommendation – they had decided not to make any changes. He also said that anyone who would be a recipient of this money generated by overtime should NOT be voting on it. [NOTE:He’s referring to Shane McHenry having a conflict of interest on this issue, as he has a "pecuniary interest." Kraus is right about that, and McHenry stopped talking on the issue and did not motioon, 2nd, or vote. He did not abstain either.]
Todd Listerman was asked if this had to be decided before Christmas. He said not his year- no snow is expected.
Orschell motioned – Hughes 2nded and McHenry was silent on all of this after Kraus’s statement regarding recipient’s voting on the overtime pay rules. Two commissioners voted that this go to the advisory committee for review. Pennington will schedule that.
NEW BUSINESS:
Surplus Vehicle Ordinance- read by Baudendistel- any vehicle over $1000- all paperwork submitted to the county. Priority given to county depts. Second priority to agencies, like fire dept and life squads in the county, and third, they can be offered for sale to the general public. Commissioners approved the ordinance.
Proclamation Community Read Project- Dan Toon on Library Board with Jody Maples (Librarian) and Marilyn Hoffbauer (Dearborn Highland Arts Council) in attendance as support. This was started by Dolly Parton. Kids get a book a month to create a library of 60 books by the time they are in school. Adults will be reading great Gatsby and kids will read Black Beauty in the year long reading program. Hoosier Hills Literacy League in cooperation with several county agencies. 2012- Color Dearborn County Black White and Read. Proclamation approved.
Contract Agreement Hoosier Square- construction contract for Seyferth ( sp?) Co in Cleves. $277,732. This will also make the building ADA compliant. Signed after commissioners verified that Baudendistel looked it over. Hope to start this week per Ewbank.
Dilapidated Buildings in Moore’s Hill- Board member and clerk treasurer of Moore’s Hill presented pictures of the condemned building. It has been vacant 4 years. We have a letter from US Bank and also the adjoining neighbor. It was condemned for the pigeon droppings issue. They want county help
14942 Main St- Henry Alvin Brown- delinquent on $8,000 property taxes plus liens for 2 sewer for $7,000 =$15,000 in liabilities to a potential buyer. It was attempted to sell in 2009. It remains on eligibility for Commissioner’s sale. It is a negative liability. Lot may be worth $10-15,000. Only real prospect. We could assist them in finding redevelopment funds for demolition – if there is a public end use. Owner is unwilling and financially unable to comply with this property. Owner is in failing health- aged 79. We are at the point- we want to do something- even if it’s wrong. Bob Blue owns 1/8 of the building- he doesn’t care what happens per the board member. He said he’d give it away. Alvin Brown said he wanted $35,000 for it. He hates the government. Baudendistel said whoever demolishes this- has to own the whole building. Title work needs to be done on the property. Mitchell Brown- his son also had an interest in it- but may have given that back to his father in 2009 in a quit claim deed. Bill Shelton- Building Inspector said it’s beyond repair. It was an original science building for the college. They want to get the taxes forgiven or written off and the sewer lien dropped. More research to be done.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: Todd Listerman, Highway Engineer:
Mobilecom- new narrow band frequency radios to accommodate all the radios in the US by end of 2012. The chips are already in our radios bought in the last 4 years. They just open the radios and switch it over. The repeater tower has to be upgraded and that is already in the budget for this summer. Signed the paperwork for Mobilecom to get narrow band for the county.
Working with federal highway adm to get funds for rain caused slippages on Lower Dillsboro- $10,451 and change approved- and we get 100% on emergency and 80% on permanent repairs.
Are in process of purchasing ROW in Bright on Stateline. They were worried about signage that now will not have required setbacks. Commissioners signed resolution that their signage is grandfathered. This is just for area between 500 ft South of Salt Fork and 20 ft North of Jamison and already in existence and related to the Stateline project.
Hope within next couple weeks will have deeds secured to have Stewart St done this summer.
March or April letting for North Dearborn construction this summer.
Still working on Shortridge Rd to secure properties.
AUDITOR: Gayle Pennington- claims signed. Hughes said he hadn’t had time to review some of these. Minutes from Nov 15 approved.
ATTORNEY: Andy Baudendistel- letter from Liberty Roberts from jury trial- praising county staff for their help. Bill Black told him the warning levels are now colors instead of numbers. He will have that next meeting.
COUNTY COORDINATOR: Bill Ewbank- request from county Park Board- they were asked to mow the County farm area now that County Highway has moved. $4200 will be requested from council for YES Home and old County Animal shelter. Park Board wanted to be sure this was OK with Commissioners. Parks is storing their equipment there anyway. This will be an existing mowing contract- and added on to that. Commissioners approved Parks to approach council for this request.
ADA status- he attended training seminar in Greensburg from INDOT and state ADA coordinator. They are taking compliance effort seriously. June 30 2012 – INDOT will be inspecting reports from every county for roadmarks we have to achieve toward compliance. This will affect our scoring for any of our federal funds. He said the bar is fairly low for this first step so far- we could gain a competitive advantage by surpassing that standard and improving our scores. He suggested they add ADA coordinator to January appointments- and noted it was a non-paid position.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS- Hughes- wanted to make Bill Ewbank- coordinator- into the interim Administrator for 60 days to review resumes. Approved.
Hughes referenced an email on judicial issues and was wanting feedback from judges and prosecutors etc. he is looking for communication and new ideas.
Commissioners wished everyone a Merry Christmas AND Happy New Year.
LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- none.
PUBLIC COMMENT- Bill Black- trying to get everyone on the same page and now state has changed the codes to colors. Also the radios are being transferred same as Listerman referenced. Hughes also thanked him for the HVL Dam updates.
Meeting adjourned at 10:30 AM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
ALAN MILLER ELECTED PRESIDENT OF DEARBORN-OHIO COUNTY BAR
The Dearborn-Ohio County Bar Association has a new president. Alan Miller, partner at Zerbe Garner Miller & Blondell in Lawrenceburg, was elected president of the local bar association last week.
“I am excited about this opportunity,” said Miller. “We should be a leading community service organization in the area. I am hopeful that we can achieve this and more during my term.”
Miller’s term will run for 2 years. The Dearborn-Ohio County Bar Association is comprised of all attorneys and judges in Dearborn and Ohio counties.
“I am excited about this opportunity,” said Miller. “We should be a leading community service organization in the area. I am hopeful that we can achieve this and more during my term.”
Miller’s term will run for 2 years. The Dearborn-Ohio County Bar Association is comprised of all attorneys and judges in Dearborn and Ohio counties.
Monday, December 19, 2011
County Council Meets Dec 20th for Expansion of Jail Funding Vote
County Council meets at 6:30 PM Tuesday Dec 20th in the Commissioners Room of the County Administration Building.
The discussion of how to fund the jail expansion project is planned. There will also be discussion and a probable decision on whether to keep the unanimous vote required for spending any of the Riverboat Savings account. The Council in the late 1990s set this up as a unanimous vote to force consensus before this account money could be spent on any county project. This was done to make sure it was a project that nearly all the citizens wanted.
Like the general public, Council has not reached consensus on this issue. The Riverboat Savings account could be reduced by more than 50% if Council decides to use only the savings account for this purpose. They can also decide to use a portion of it and bonds and/or increased taxes. The current plans for expansion are not the entire project. Council and Commissioners reduced the plan to under the $12 million limit that would have required a referendum and a vote by the citizenry.
Tuesday night is when your voice can be heard on this issue.
The discussion of how to fund the jail expansion project is planned. There will also be discussion and a probable decision on whether to keep the unanimous vote required for spending any of the Riverboat Savings account. The Council in the late 1990s set this up as a unanimous vote to force consensus before this account money could be spent on any county project. This was done to make sure it was a project that nearly all the citizens wanted.
Like the general public, Council has not reached consensus on this issue. The Riverboat Savings account could be reduced by more than 50% if Council decides to use only the savings account for this purpose. They can also decide to use a portion of it and bonds and/or increased taxes. The current plans for expansion are not the entire project. Council and Commissioners reduced the plan to under the $12 million limit that would have required a referendum and a vote by the citizenry.
Tuesday night is when your voice can be heard on this issue.
Friday, December 16, 2011
AGENDA 20 December 2011 Commissioners Meeting
AGENDA
DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
December 20, 2011
9:00 a.m.
City of Lawrenceburg
Administration Building
230 Walnut Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. OLD BUSINESS
1. Private Real Property Rights Preservation Ordinance
Freedom for Options Form
2. Ratify Life Time Housing Payroll Authorization Letter
3. Overtime Policy and Actual Hours Worked
IV. NEW BUSINESS
1. Surplus Vehicle Ordinance
2. Proclamation – Community Read Project
3. Contract Agreement – Hoosier Square
4. Dilapidated Buildings in Moores Hill
V. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT- Todd Listerman
Updates
VI. AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington
1. Claims/Minutes
VII. ATTORNEY - Andy Baudendistel
VIII. COUNTY COORDINATOR – Bill Ewbank
IX. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
X. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION
XI. PUBLIC COMMENT
XII. ADJOURN
DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
December 20, 2011
9:00 a.m.
City of Lawrenceburg
Administration Building
230 Walnut Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. OLD BUSINESS
1. Private Real Property Rights Preservation Ordinance
Freedom for Options Form
2. Ratify Life Time Housing Payroll Authorization Letter
3. Overtime Policy and Actual Hours Worked
IV. NEW BUSINESS
1. Surplus Vehicle Ordinance
2. Proclamation – Community Read Project
3. Contract Agreement – Hoosier Square
4. Dilapidated Buildings in Moores Hill
V. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT- Todd Listerman
Updates
VI. AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington
1. Claims/Minutes
VII. ATTORNEY - Andy Baudendistel
VIII. COUNTY COORDINATOR – Bill Ewbank
IX. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
X. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION
XI. PUBLIC COMMENT
XII. ADJOURN
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Conflicts of Interest Involved in the County Jail Expansion Decisions
Conflicts of Interest Involved in the County Jail Expansion Decisions
There is a group in Dearborn County who believe we require a new, expanded and expensive law enforcement center to address their perceived rising crime rate trend in the county. In rough numbers the object of their desire requires a capital expenditure of $20 million and an ongoing annual operating expenditure in excess of $1 million from the taxpayers.
There is another group who feel that misguided and overzealous law enforcement, prosecutorial and judicial practices are creating our inordinate criminal statistics vs. other Indiana counties. They feel policy reform is the answer to perceived jail overcrowding.
Whose argument has more merit is nowhere as interesting as the methods employed by the jail proponents to advance their dream.
We're in a lousy economy with lots of grief and little relief on the horizon. All Dearborn County citizens are hurting heavily. There is no way in hell an expansion of Dearborn County law enforcement at a time like this would be favored by the voters.
Jail proponents, therefore, knew without a doubt they had no way of achieving their dream without depriving the taxpayers of any involvement.
Quandary? Indiana state law guarantees that projects of this magnitude must be approved by the voters. Solution. Break down the project into two or three smaller pieces that only have to be approved by two commissioners and four county council members to succeed.
Thus, on November 1st, two of the three county commissioners voted to move the first downsized $9-10 million project forward and approve county council to explore financing alternatives. Commissioner Jeff Hughes bravely voted nay as he felt the people deserved a say in the process. Kudoes to Commissioner Hughes. Commissioner Tom Orschell voted aye. The deciding aye vote was cast by Dearborn County Detective Shane McHenry, full time employee of Dearborn County Sheriff Michael Kreinhop in his part time role as Dearborn County Commissioner.
It's interesting to note that Tom Orschell, when elected commissioner, immediately resigned from the county highway department so as to avoid any image of bias or impropriety. Commissioner Shane McHenry seems to suffer no similar concerns when it comes to his employers new jail?
The saga continues in the County Council where the jail proponents have targeted a $15 million Riverboat Savings Account set up at the beginning of the boat era. Council at that time hoped some money from the casino windfall could be secured from the temptation of future councils to spend it, except in the most dire and deserving of instances. They ensured this by requiring a unanimous vote by all seven council members.
Quandary. The jail proponents don't have all seven council members favoring the project. Solution. Attack the legality of the previous councils decisions, reduce the number of votes to grab the money to something less restrictive, such as the number of council members in favor. These shenanigans would be funny if the matter at hand wasn't so serious.
These discussions continue in County Council. It would be remiss and unfair to Commissioner McHenry not to also mention that Dearborn County Sgt. Bill Ullrich, full time employee of Dearborn County Sheriff Mike Kreinhop is also part time County Councilman at large, Bill Ullrich, involved in the acquisition of the financing.
You should be outraged when a project that Indiana law mandates be approved by you is so painstakingly massaged to prevent your involvement. You should be ethically concerned when two of the only six people now required to approve the $10-20 million burden on the taxpayers are so closely bound to the recipient and beneficiary of the funding. How do the commissioners and county council's attorneys possibly justify this blatant conflict of interest and why haven't they required McHenry and Ullrich to recuse themselves from any and all aspects of this project?
However you feel, discussions may continue at the next County Council meeting scheduled for next Tuesday, December 20th at 6:30pm in the County Administration Building. How concerned are you?
Chet Wolgamot
Manchester Twp.
There is a group in Dearborn County who believe we require a new, expanded and expensive law enforcement center to address their perceived rising crime rate trend in the county. In rough numbers the object of their desire requires a capital expenditure of $20 million and an ongoing annual operating expenditure in excess of $1 million from the taxpayers.
There is another group who feel that misguided and overzealous law enforcement, prosecutorial and judicial practices are creating our inordinate criminal statistics vs. other Indiana counties. They feel policy reform is the answer to perceived jail overcrowding.
Whose argument has more merit is nowhere as interesting as the methods employed by the jail proponents to advance their dream.
We're in a lousy economy with lots of grief and little relief on the horizon. All Dearborn County citizens are hurting heavily. There is no way in hell an expansion of Dearborn County law enforcement at a time like this would be favored by the voters.
Jail proponents, therefore, knew without a doubt they had no way of achieving their dream without depriving the taxpayers of any involvement.
Quandary? Indiana state law guarantees that projects of this magnitude must be approved by the voters. Solution. Break down the project into two or three smaller pieces that only have to be approved by two commissioners and four county council members to succeed.
Thus, on November 1st, two of the three county commissioners voted to move the first downsized $9-10 million project forward and approve county council to explore financing alternatives. Commissioner Jeff Hughes bravely voted nay as he felt the people deserved a say in the process. Kudoes to Commissioner Hughes. Commissioner Tom Orschell voted aye. The deciding aye vote was cast by Dearborn County Detective Shane McHenry, full time employee of Dearborn County Sheriff Michael Kreinhop in his part time role as Dearborn County Commissioner.
It's interesting to note that Tom Orschell, when elected commissioner, immediately resigned from the county highway department so as to avoid any image of bias or impropriety. Commissioner Shane McHenry seems to suffer no similar concerns when it comes to his employers new jail?
The saga continues in the County Council where the jail proponents have targeted a $15 million Riverboat Savings Account set up at the beginning of the boat era. Council at that time hoped some money from the casino windfall could be secured from the temptation of future councils to spend it, except in the most dire and deserving of instances. They ensured this by requiring a unanimous vote by all seven council members.
Quandary. The jail proponents don't have all seven council members favoring the project. Solution. Attack the legality of the previous councils decisions, reduce the number of votes to grab the money to something less restrictive, such as the number of council members in favor. These shenanigans would be funny if the matter at hand wasn't so serious.
These discussions continue in County Council. It would be remiss and unfair to Commissioner McHenry not to also mention that Dearborn County Sgt. Bill Ullrich, full time employee of Dearborn County Sheriff Mike Kreinhop is also part time County Councilman at large, Bill Ullrich, involved in the acquisition of the financing.
You should be outraged when a project that Indiana law mandates be approved by you is so painstakingly massaged to prevent your involvement. You should be ethically concerned when two of the only six people now required to approve the $10-20 million burden on the taxpayers are so closely bound to the recipient and beneficiary of the funding. How do the commissioners and county council's attorneys possibly justify this blatant conflict of interest and why haven't they required McHenry and Ullrich to recuse themselves from any and all aspects of this project?
However you feel, discussions may continue at the next County Council meeting scheduled for next Tuesday, December 20th at 6:30pm in the County Administration Building. How concerned are you?
Chet Wolgamot
Manchester Twp.
Saturday, December 10, 2011
CASA: Drinking, Drugging and Driving (with Sheriff Mike Kreinhop)
Greetings to our listeners and subscribers --
CASA: Drinking, Drugging and Driving (with Sheriff Mike Kreinhop) -- Host Gary Puckett discusses these inter-related topics with Dearborn County Sheriff, Mike Kreinhop.
http://www.theflypod.com/asp/newpage.asp?RN=60680
We hope you enjoy listening to these shows. Tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers about TheFlyPod.com New-Media Network. Also, check out the OPEN FLY FORUM feature on our website -- you can create your own broadcast, immediately! We are quickly becoming a leading "local world" source of programming in the new digital-media age. Any person can sign up on our website to begin automatically receiving "New and Notable Show Alerts". It's 100% free and we will never, under any circumstances, share your email address with any person or organization.
To submit your ideas, questions, comments or complaints, email us directly in Studio 7 at anytime 24/7 -- shout@theflypod.com -- or pick up your cell phone and call our national listener feedback line at 206.666-4780
NEW and NOTABLE SHOW ALERTS
Fly Paper Productions, LLC
Digital Media Group - National Operations Ctr
POB 324
Harrison, OH 45030
USA
CASA: Drinking, Drugging and Driving (with Sheriff Mike Kreinhop) -- Host Gary Puckett discusses these inter-related topics with Dearborn County Sheriff, Mike Kreinhop.
http://www.theflypod.com/asp/newpage.asp?RN=60680
We hope you enjoy listening to these shows. Tell your friends, neighbors and co-workers about TheFlyPod.com New-Media Network. Also, check out the OPEN FLY FORUM feature on our website -- you can create your own broadcast, immediately! We are quickly becoming a leading "local world" source of programming in the new digital-media age. Any person can sign up on our website to begin automatically receiving "New and Notable Show Alerts". It's 100% free and we will never, under any circumstances, share your email address with any person or organization.
To submit your ideas, questions, comments or complaints, email us directly in Studio 7 at anytime 24/7 -- shout@theflypod.com -- or pick up your cell phone and call our national listener feedback line at 206.666-4780
NEW and NOTABLE SHOW ALERTS
Fly Paper Productions, LLC
Digital Media Group - National Operations Ctr
POB 324
Harrison, OH 45030
USA
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
6 December 2011 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes
6 December 2011 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes
Present: Jeff Hughes, President, Tom Orschell, and Shane McHenry
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor, Bill Ewbank, County Coordinator, and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.
Previous executive session was to discuss the county administrator position. That will be posted on Career Builder for 7-10 days as the personnel policy indicates. [NOTE: This replaces the county coordinator position currently held by Bill Ewbank.]
OLD BUSINESS:
Private Real Property Rights Preservation Ordinance- Freedom for Options Form- tabled until they meet Tuesday with the planning Director.
Ratify Life Time Housing Payroll Authorization Letter- tabled – no one here from Life Time and letter was in Sue Hayden’s computer- and she got called away for an emergency today.
NEW BUSINESS:
Randy Foley- Cardinal Office Products- SE Indiana rep and Paul Holland who is the sales manager presented a program in place for the city and county offices. Foley is local- originally from Milan. He has raised the level of service and pricing structure with user friendly sites for easy access to their system. Holland said that there was a less expensive way to fund office products. The national website has no personal communication but does have good prices. They decided to have the same prices for their products with the same service they provided before- the personal touch and visits to your office when needed. You will get national government pricing- same as the national website. You can order over the phone also if you want and get the same pricing. Commissioners agreed they like to buy local if it’s the same price. Foley said they also carry any product the big box stores carry. They still have next day service. The office at 409 Walnut is a showroom now. They did this to meet the demands of the customers.
Bill Black Jr- EMA- Grant Agreement- $ 3623.18 was distributed because the county exceeded their goal in their assessment from Homeland Security. Signed acceptance.
Greater Cincinnati Hazmat contract was $8100 last year and now is $6380.99. They will probably reevaluate this next year and may go back up. Baudendistel said there is a 90 day termination clause and it automatically renews otherwise. Black noted that the county couldn’t maintain a Hazmat team for that price. Commissioners agreed to have Hughes sign the contract.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: Todd Listerman, Highway Engineer gave the following updates:
Emergency repair work done on Wilson Creek Road just north of US 50 for $5,758.85. Commissioners signed the agreements with INDOT for this.
Met with INDOT regarding Whitewater Scenic Byway- we are the lead agency for this. There will be a separate account set up for this- no count funds will be used for this. There will be an agreement coming to us for this soon.
Working with INDOT to move up the North Dearborn project east of Dover. All ROW is acquired. This is to be under construction summer of 2012. They will be cutting trees to eliminate the Indianan Bat delaying that project.
Bids were all accepted for stone, sand, and gravel from Harrison Sand and Gravel, Newpoint Stone, and Hanson Aggregates. Hot and cold mix asphalt was accepted from Rohe and O’Mara. Gas and fuel was only bid by Laughery Valley Coop. Accepting all bids makes it easier to get best price depending on where the project is in the county and trucking costs.
Bid prices were:
Gas- $2.910/ No 1 Fuel oil $3.551/ No 2 Diesel fuel $ 3.101/ No 2 road diesel $3.258
Hot mix Base Type A $42.50-47.50/ Intermediate type A $44.50-49.50/ Surface type A $48.50-53.50
Cold mix delivered $95-110
Stone went from $7.20-14.75/ Rip rap from 49.90-11.15/Dense road base $7.25-7.35/ Aglime $4.50-6.50/snow and ice abrasive $3.60-3.75/ pea gravel $5.70-9.00/B-borrow $3.60-3.75.
Orschell asked about HVL getting in on our pricing. Grieve checked with all the vendors and they said their process were for the county- not private entities.
ADA (Americans with disabilities act) will be monitored by OKI as the MPO for those projects for compliance.
He also met with Bruce Keller of HVL and said they’d try to advise them when striping is done in our area so they can try to get the vendor at the same time for a better price.
AUDITOR: Gayle Pennington Minutes adjusted to reflect change requested by McHenry last meeting regarding verbatim transcription of his jail motion. Minutes approved. Claims schedule was approved for 2012. Claims approved without Hughes having time to review so he abstained.
ATTORNEY: Andy Baudendistel- Jury trial in Superior Court 2 involved an accident on Pribble Rd. County was removed from the case. Insurance paid for the legal work.
COUNTY COORDINATOR: Bill Ewbank reported:
RFP Bids/Shumway and Votaw Buildings- going to rebid this.
Commissioners 2012 Meeting Schedule- same as this year. Will have all scheduled in our building- no longer at Lawrenceburg.
Construction documentation firm for Hoosier Square quote for $2800. This will give a photographic history of all work as done and traced to the construction documents. This is a test to see if they will get further county work. Commissioners signed a contract with Multivista for this- with Shane McHenry voting Nay.
WGU Indiana- Governor signed this for completing online college work. Bachelors in 3 years and masters in 4 years possible.
Had a number of requests for surplus vehicles for first responders- he will have a policy for next meeting. County offices will be first priority.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:
Tom Orschell- Jail Project moving forward- County has a duty to set up a committee to go around in perhaps 3 areas to have meetings to explain to the citizens what we are doing to prevent recidivism in the jail. Also trying to get a GED program in the jail. He will work with the courts to see how to set these up and will keep them informed. Commissioners agreed it was a good idea. McHenry said the expansion of the jail is so they can expand these programs not just lock more people up and throw away the key. Orschell will keep them updated on this.
Shane McHenry- Overtime policy and actual hours worked- had a lot of concerns coming his direction from highway, sheriff, juvenile detention, and 911. They want personal time off and vacation to be counted as actual hours worked and thus to be included in this calculation. Commissioners decided to enact this soon so that it is in effect before the first snow storms come. Sick time and suspension do not count toward this overtime calculation, as suggested by Kreinhop. Pennington will have the policy revised by the next meeting.
Hughes met with Randy Frey hoping to get money for roads.
LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION:
Sheriff Kreinhop said they lost control boards over the weekend and in order to fix this he needs a signature to get these fixed. This was to be done with the jail addition. The need has been moved up with the failure over the weekend. They did get short term repairs done by late Monday. He gave them a proposal that was not bid out- though they had 3 quotes from before. This company is the one doing the work at Hoosier Square. They are familiar with the original system. The indoor panels still worked- just the perimeter doors were affected. This equipment is 22 years old. There is no budget for this. They put this as part of the jail expansion. Liz Morris said at Council budget hearings per Dave Hall that they would have to give emergency funds if necessary. They are honoring the prices quoted 18 months ago. Commissioners signed the Security Automation Systems for $292,000 and approved going to Council for this.
PUBLIC COMMENT- none
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Present: Jeff Hughes, President, Tom Orschell, and Shane McHenry
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor, Bill Ewbank, County Coordinator, and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.
Previous executive session was to discuss the county administrator position. That will be posted on Career Builder for 7-10 days as the personnel policy indicates. [NOTE: This replaces the county coordinator position currently held by Bill Ewbank.]
OLD BUSINESS:
Private Real Property Rights Preservation Ordinance- Freedom for Options Form- tabled until they meet Tuesday with the planning Director.
Ratify Life Time Housing Payroll Authorization Letter- tabled – no one here from Life Time and letter was in Sue Hayden’s computer- and she got called away for an emergency today.
NEW BUSINESS:
Randy Foley- Cardinal Office Products- SE Indiana rep and Paul Holland who is the sales manager presented a program in place for the city and county offices. Foley is local- originally from Milan. He has raised the level of service and pricing structure with user friendly sites for easy access to their system. Holland said that there was a less expensive way to fund office products. The national website has no personal communication but does have good prices. They decided to have the same prices for their products with the same service they provided before- the personal touch and visits to your office when needed. You will get national government pricing- same as the national website. You can order over the phone also if you want and get the same pricing. Commissioners agreed they like to buy local if it’s the same price. Foley said they also carry any product the big box stores carry. They still have next day service. The office at 409 Walnut is a showroom now. They did this to meet the demands of the customers.
Bill Black Jr- EMA- Grant Agreement- $ 3623.18 was distributed because the county exceeded their goal in their assessment from Homeland Security. Signed acceptance.
Greater Cincinnati Hazmat contract was $8100 last year and now is $6380.99. They will probably reevaluate this next year and may go back up. Baudendistel said there is a 90 day termination clause and it automatically renews otherwise. Black noted that the county couldn’t maintain a Hazmat team for that price. Commissioners agreed to have Hughes sign the contract.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: Todd Listerman, Highway Engineer gave the following updates:
Emergency repair work done on Wilson Creek Road just north of US 50 for $5,758.85. Commissioners signed the agreements with INDOT for this.
Met with INDOT regarding Whitewater Scenic Byway- we are the lead agency for this. There will be a separate account set up for this- no count funds will be used for this. There will be an agreement coming to us for this soon.
Working with INDOT to move up the North Dearborn project east of Dover. All ROW is acquired. This is to be under construction summer of 2012. They will be cutting trees to eliminate the Indianan Bat delaying that project.
Bids were all accepted for stone, sand, and gravel from Harrison Sand and Gravel, Newpoint Stone, and Hanson Aggregates. Hot and cold mix asphalt was accepted from Rohe and O’Mara. Gas and fuel was only bid by Laughery Valley Coop. Accepting all bids makes it easier to get best price depending on where the project is in the county and trucking costs.
Bid prices were:
Gas- $2.910/ No 1 Fuel oil $3.551/ No 2 Diesel fuel $ 3.101/ No 2 road diesel $3.258
Hot mix Base Type A $42.50-47.50/ Intermediate type A $44.50-49.50/ Surface type A $48.50-53.50
Cold mix delivered $95-110
Stone went from $7.20-14.75/ Rip rap from 49.90-11.15/Dense road base $7.25-7.35/ Aglime $4.50-6.50/snow and ice abrasive $3.60-3.75/ pea gravel $5.70-9.00/B-borrow $3.60-3.75.
Orschell asked about HVL getting in on our pricing. Grieve checked with all the vendors and they said their process were for the county- not private entities.
ADA (Americans with disabilities act) will be monitored by OKI as the MPO for those projects for compliance.
He also met with Bruce Keller of HVL and said they’d try to advise them when striping is done in our area so they can try to get the vendor at the same time for a better price.
AUDITOR: Gayle Pennington Minutes adjusted to reflect change requested by McHenry last meeting regarding verbatim transcription of his jail motion. Minutes approved. Claims schedule was approved for 2012. Claims approved without Hughes having time to review so he abstained.
ATTORNEY: Andy Baudendistel- Jury trial in Superior Court 2 involved an accident on Pribble Rd. County was removed from the case. Insurance paid for the legal work.
COUNTY COORDINATOR: Bill Ewbank reported:
RFP Bids/Shumway and Votaw Buildings- going to rebid this.
Commissioners 2012 Meeting Schedule- same as this year. Will have all scheduled in our building- no longer at Lawrenceburg.
Construction documentation firm for Hoosier Square quote for $2800. This will give a photographic history of all work as done and traced to the construction documents. This is a test to see if they will get further county work. Commissioners signed a contract with Multivista for this- with Shane McHenry voting Nay.
WGU Indiana- Governor signed this for completing online college work. Bachelors in 3 years and masters in 4 years possible.
Had a number of requests for surplus vehicles for first responders- he will have a policy for next meeting. County offices will be first priority.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:
Tom Orschell- Jail Project moving forward- County has a duty to set up a committee to go around in perhaps 3 areas to have meetings to explain to the citizens what we are doing to prevent recidivism in the jail. Also trying to get a GED program in the jail. He will work with the courts to see how to set these up and will keep them informed. Commissioners agreed it was a good idea. McHenry said the expansion of the jail is so they can expand these programs not just lock more people up and throw away the key. Orschell will keep them updated on this.
Shane McHenry- Overtime policy and actual hours worked- had a lot of concerns coming his direction from highway, sheriff, juvenile detention, and 911. They want personal time off and vacation to be counted as actual hours worked and thus to be included in this calculation. Commissioners decided to enact this soon so that it is in effect before the first snow storms come. Sick time and suspension do not count toward this overtime calculation, as suggested by Kreinhop. Pennington will have the policy revised by the next meeting.
Hughes met with Randy Frey hoping to get money for roads.
LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION:
Sheriff Kreinhop said they lost control boards over the weekend and in order to fix this he needs a signature to get these fixed. This was to be done with the jail addition. The need has been moved up with the failure over the weekend. They did get short term repairs done by late Monday. He gave them a proposal that was not bid out- though they had 3 quotes from before. This company is the one doing the work at Hoosier Square. They are familiar with the original system. The indoor panels still worked- just the perimeter doors were affected. This equipment is 22 years old. There is no budget for this. They put this as part of the jail expansion. Liz Morris said at Council budget hearings per Dave Hall that they would have to give emergency funds if necessary. They are honoring the prices quoted 18 months ago. Commissioners signed the Security Automation Systems for $292,000 and approved going to Council for this.
PUBLIC COMMENT- none
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Friday, December 02, 2011
Agenda for Dec 6th Commissioners Meeting
AGENDA
DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
December 6, 2011
6:00 p.m., Commissioners Room
County Administration Building
215 B West High Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:30 PM Personnel Issue
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. OLD BUSINESS
1. Private Real Property Rights Preservation Ordinance
Freedom for Options Form
2. Ratify Life Time Housing Payroll Authorization Letter
IV. NEW BUSINESS
1. Randy Foley – Cardinal Office Products
2. Bill Black, Jr - Grant Agreement
V. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT- Todd Listerman
Updates
VI. AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington
1. Claims/Minutes
VII. ATTORNEY - Andy Baudendistel
VIII. COUNTY COORDINATOR – Bill Ewbank
1. RFP for Bids / Shumway and Votaw Buildings
2. Commissioner’s 2012 meeting schedule
IX. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
1. Tom Orschell – Jail Project Moving Forward
2. Shane McHenry – Overtime Policy and Actual Hours Worked
X. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION
XI. PUBLIC COMMENT
XII. ADJOURN
DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
December 6, 2011
6:00 p.m., Commissioners Room
County Administration Building
215 B West High Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
EXECUTIVE SESSION – 5:30 PM Personnel Issue
I. CALL TO ORDER
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. OLD BUSINESS
1. Private Real Property Rights Preservation Ordinance
Freedom for Options Form
2. Ratify Life Time Housing Payroll Authorization Letter
IV. NEW BUSINESS
1. Randy Foley – Cardinal Office Products
2. Bill Black, Jr - Grant Agreement
V. HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT- Todd Listerman
Updates
VI. AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington
1. Claims/Minutes
VII. ATTORNEY - Andy Baudendistel
VIII. COUNTY COORDINATOR – Bill Ewbank
1. RFP for Bids / Shumway and Votaw Buildings
2. Commissioner’s 2012 meeting schedule
IX. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
1. Tom Orschell – Jail Project Moving Forward
2. Shane McHenry – Overtime Policy and Actual Hours Worked
X. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION
XI. PUBLIC COMMENT
XII. ADJOURN
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
22 November 2011 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes
22 November 2011 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes
Present: Dennis Kraus. Sr., President, Dan Lansing, Jim Hughes, Liz Morris, Maynard Barrett, Bryan Messmore, and Bill Ullrich.
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor and Bill Ewbank, County Coordinator
The meeting began at 6:30 PM
County General, Bail, and Pretrial Amount Requested-Superior Court II—Sally Blankenship- Public Defender fees required due to economy- $7500 because several of the cases have gone to trial which increases fees. $3,000 from part time salaries to Public Defender fees and $4,500 from bail and pre-trial budget. Council approved.
County General Probation users Fees- Sally Blankenshup –This is for a computer server and needed Parts - $10,828 for probation and courts. It’s slow. Because it serves probation- $7,000 would come from user fees. $ 3828 from county general. Council approved.
County General Riverboat-Prosecutor-Aaron Negangard- Funds needed for transcripts, depositions, etc. due to major felonies-$10,000. $6,000 is already spent of this request. The remainder will get them thru the rest of the year. Depositions are the sworn statements of witnesses. Greateramount needed because more cases are going to trial. Liz Morris said $25,000 was budgeted in 2010 and $20,000 allotted for 2011. So they are about $5,000 over 2010 budget with this total. Council approved.
Planning and Zoning:- Mark McCormack- Planning Director- Four computer tablets - $2,000- this is for highway, building inspectors, health, and planning. Only need $1500 of this – health dept has one already. Council approved $1500. The also need to replace three computer towers and one monitor- $2,180- to replace ones that have burned out or have needed extensive repairs or have software issues. They need units that can handle the GIS etc. Council approved.
Dearborn County Jail-Mike Kreinhop - Funds needed to cover remaining 2011 holidays- $20,000 to cover 3 upcoming holidays. Three employees were off over 3000 hours and two have been dismissed after using up all their leave time. One is back to work. $60,800 were their total salaries. One inmate at the hospital for a week required overtime for one officer at the hospital 24/7. Bill Ullrich said that money left on the road side of the sheriff’s dept can’t be transferred for this jail side per SBOA. There is a surplus on the road side. Lansing questioned how they pay for replacements. Budget time they asked for more money to hire for the jail. Any replacement for them was at time and a half for two of the employees. It takes 5 employees to cover the jail as a skeleton crew. Sheriff said they could get by with $17,000 instead of $20,000. Ullrich voted Nay on this- 5 voted aye- passed. ( No reason given for nay) [NOTE: Ullrich is an employee of the sheriff’s dept.]
Ken McAllister- asked for funds to replace the canine who has cancer. They paid $10,000 in 2008 for that dog. The price is the same now except for the classes and the 5 week stay there to train the new canine. He has some grant opportunities thru CASA for $7500 ( will know in Jan) and $225 in donations so far. Maynard Barrett said HVL said a gentleman there would match up to $7500. McAllister said they are working on trying to set up a 401c3 to do this. Ullrich said that total $14,370 is needed to get things started as they have to put the current canine down. Schools and demos – the canine dog goes with him. Gayle Pennington said this was not advertised so will have to be on Dec agenda. (Dec 20th) He may have more money by that time as well- or even by Jan 14th meeting. April 30th date is his target to go off to school for 5 weeks. County is willing to take a look at this. No decision.
Health Department- Doug Baer- Vehicle to transport two health emergency trailers- $35,000- readvertised from last meeting. If you table this- I’m looking at other options within the county to solve it. Tabled.
Regional Sewer District-Steve Renihan- Additional funding request for contingency Fund set up for Sewer District- $18,500. Tabled until the end of the meeting, in case he shows up. At meeting’s end- Vera Benning couldn’t answer what this was for to Council’s satisfaction. Remained tabled.
Communications- Charles Ashley- Repair transmitter that was struck by lightning- $5,500- damaged in early summer on Henderson Road. $7283 with $2200 paid by insurance after deductible. $5500 is the deductible. Council approved.
Circuit Court Probation-Stephen Bradley-Needing additional appropriation in paying cost of drug treating- $3,000- Pennington read his letter into the record. He is asking to transfer from the part time employee account to this account. He is asking just for a transfer to drug testing. Council approved.
Commissioners- Bill Ewbank- Complete renovations on Hoosier Square Building, Courthouse, and Administration Building - $650,000. Ewbank gave report on Hoosier Square, Votaw, and Shumway Bldgs. This is the estimated soft costs of all the proposed plans. He has scaled back his requests to just complete Hoosier Square. He will come back for the rest later. He’s asking for $80,000. $1.5 million will cover all the property acquisitions, renovations etc. This affects 13 county agencies. This also relocates agencies with similar functions. If we do everything I asked for it will come in at $2.1 million. This is being done in steps to work with the architect at each stage. Hope to start Monday and be done March 1 on Hoosier Square. Barrett noticed the parking lot is still flooding at Hoosier Square. The parking lot was excavated below the water table there. With the unique rains this year- can solve it with a pump. $80,000 approved for Hoosier Square. Approved out of Contingency.
Highway Department -Todd Listerman- Encumber funds for Short Road bridge as couldn’t complete this year. Approved.
Projects funded up front by county and reimbursed after completion Stateline Rd slip repair- $225,000 this is 80/20. We get 80% reimbursed on this. This should come out of the infrastructure account. INDOT has approved this already. This was not advertised as it was already allowed thru the infrastructure fund approval . Approved.
Hogan Hill- $155,000- and West Laughery- $ 165,000- hold on this until FEMA approves.
Clerk Perpetuation Fund- Phil Weaver-Clerk of Courts- Funds needed to manage and maintain records of the court- $17,407. This fund has about $26-29,000 per year. Already has $6,000 in budget so only needs $11,407 for equipment from 2008. They have been going around on it and he owes it. This is an old bill. Council approved.
PAWS-Sandy Carley-Resolution signed by Commissioners in August 2008. Paws is asking for the remaining balance of the 97 account of $121,000 to be turned over to PAWS. Discussion about where this money came from. Approved with leaving $100 in it to keep it open for future gifts at Liz Morris’s suggestion.
Cardinal Office Products- Randy Foley-not here??
Treasurer- Barb Kaffenberger- raises and title changes for employees in that office- after meeting with them in committee Dennis Kraus, Sr. said they are giving an unfavorable recommendation to their request. Request denied by Council.
Park Board- Steve Walker- Ordinance- Kraus said he didn’t like this ordinance at all and doesn’t want it approved. Walker said it was looked over by auditor and county attorney. They added a 30 day deposit per SBOA rules. Disbursed and surplus property were singled out by Kraus. Why can’t Park Board operates like others? Walker said this is a way to put money we raise separate. It’s not intended for any major transactions. Gayle said we have capital improvement fund and land acquisitions that are non- reverting. Capital improvements from 2010 has $21,250. They could also put money in these accounts. Messmore said the concern was that they needed to have oversight on the funds. Denied the operating fund for the park board.
DISCUSSION OF RIVERBOAT SAVINGS ACCOUNT: Council Discussion:
Kraus said he doesn’t see why they should change it.
Lansing asked when money came in first- answer- 1998. Thirteen years we have been doing this with this rule said Lansing. Ullrich was there in 1998 also. Lansing said my father thought enough to do this back then. Why now?
Messmore said back then we wanted to protect it for projects like this.
Ullrich said this was a safety mechanism as we didn’t know how big the pot might be. One vote could grind a project to a halt.
Jim Hughes said- if you put it in with 7 votes- how can you take it out with less? Answer: Not sure it was even an ordinance. [NOTE: why haven’t they gotten the original minutes on this discussion? I was present at budget when this was originally discussed abck when the Riverboat accounts were first set up. There were many of these same questions raised and answered. Bo Lansing went to Florida in the winters and they worried that he wouldn’t be present if an emergency occurred. Discussion was that if it was that big a deal, he would come back for it. And they were united on not spending it for anything but a capital one-time expense. They also were united in wanting it to be a consensus- noting that if all of them agreed to it- them it was more likely they were representing the wishes of the taxpayers. If there were areas of disagreement or a person was voting nay- it was likely that some needs were not being met by the project and they wouldn’t proceed. This was a Council that worked together. And they knew there would be times in the future that people would want to raid that money. They wanted it to be spent wisely.
Now it seems like two of the checks and balances built into this system of capital projects to protect taxpayers are being bypassed. The first is a referendum- being bypassed by breaking the project into parts. The first part is estimated at about $9 million and does not include the work release expansion. This will be asked for afterwards because it is an easier sell. The law needs to be addressed as to legality on phasing projects to avoid referendum. The RQAW project sheets have disclaimers on them in a few places noting that this plan does not address the full needs of the county at the 20 year level. The second is the unanimous vote to use Riverboat SAVINGS (and thus deplete it by more than half.) id Council does not want to pitch this project to the taxpayers, then they should at least assure that the taxpayers are likely to agree to it by showing a vote that is unanimous or at least a supermajority should they elect to change the unanimous rule.]
Kraus said it was written on every budget- that this account takes 7 votes to take it out. Kraus said if it does get changed you have to be specific about what this gets spent for.
Lansing- we hit a brick wall so now we try to do this?
Liz said she never considered she was binding herself to that rule by passing the budget. She said a previous Council can’t bind a future Council by a rule like this. [NOTE: This makes no sense as Council bound future Councils when they approved debt to finance the Courthouse. This rule can be changed by future Council’s. But it was intended to make it hard to do that.] Morris said,if one can turn it down- a lot of power in one person’s pocket. What if someone had an interest in it and had to abstain?
Lansing said- maybe that’s why that money has accumulated to that amount- no one touches it easily.
Tom Cheek- taxpayer (also former county councilman) a lot of people don’t realize we had savings beyond the RR we spend in 146 and 147. New casinos in OHIO will affect us by maybe 25-30%. He thinks this should be publicized and let everyone know what is going on. Why build it if it’s not going to meet your needs? Bridges in the county need replacing- and we are taking money from these projects when we use this money for the jail. We will take over half that savings account. Do the bond issue as Messmore was talking about. If we run into more emergencies down the road- we will have no means to address them. If someone is not here- we would wait- it’s important enough.
Chris Schwab- as a young man raised here. There has been very limited changes in how our justice system operates. Officers show up and arrest everyone- and I personally heard them say- let the judge figure it out. You can do citations etc. We like the idea. I landed in the middle of this process at age 19. (14 years ago) I made a decision to seek help elsewhere- got help for OCD and depression. 40% of jail population is probation violations due mostly to drug testing positive. Rebuilding requires rehabilitation not reincarceration. We need to spend this money for rehab, recovery, and education for our youth. As law enforcement cracks down on prescription drugs- the users go over to Cincinnati to get heroin. $80 for a presc. Pill, they now spend $20 for heroin of varying purity. An addition is not the answer. Locking up more citizens is not the answer. We need to rebuild lives- not destroy them. We need direction- not diversion.
Aaron Negangard- When I was in Council earlier in this decade- we knew then that our jail in 2000 or 2001… this was an opportunity to save money for debt in the future. You guys are here to determine what is best for the community. This 7 vote thing- they question legally is whether supermajority is allowed. Legislation says simple majority approves expenditures. Recommends they get legal advice before they vote on this. [ NOTE: State laws are the minimum standard and local laws cannot be made less stringent than the state- but it can be made more stringent. Negangard seems to imply that unanimous or supermajority votes are illegal. ] He said he spoke to Mr. Schwab one night late at night and was worried at first about how that would go as they were on opposite sides at that time. He has dialogued with him since. Our judges and sheriffs have worked hard to control this opiate situation. When they run out of funds to get drugs they will steal form family even. It takes 40 years for an opiate addict’s brain chemistry to return to normal! Jail chemical addiction program started by Judge Cleary and Blankenship is starting to work. Can’t put any more than 16 in these programs- no room. Also work release is running out of room. If it isn’t going to help with this, then don’t support it. Our probation dept says you shall not do drugs. And 15-20 a week test positive. [NOTE: Do the math- only 16 are in the program- and they stay much longer than a week- and 15-20 test positive every week on probation. If ever there was a mandate to get to the ROOT of the problem- this is it.] If they don’t take the help we’re providing, they are sent off to prison. These people are capable of being dangerous. Negangard said even non- violent offenders can become dangerous. Cited Franklin and Decatur County cases. Cincinnati violence is not here because of the diligence of our officers, judges etc. I don’t even know if this project will do the job. We don’t need to close the doors to any avenue for funding. You guys have put public safety first. That is what we need – your help to keep Dearborn County safe.
Stephanie Libbert- taxpayer and RN. (also former candidate for Greendale mayor) I push morphine daily for patients. Codeine, morphine, heroin is the hierarchy of the drug. Heroin was given to the military in WWI. Bayer co made it. 80 % of people in jails are there for possession. Victimless crimes- example- a kid with 2 joints isn’t hurting anyone but himself. Programs where pharmacists and nurses come to school to teach kids about these things are needed. If they kill someone- be in jail- but some of these others should be treated as patients. Prohibition didn’t work. 2.5 million people use illicit drugs in this country. We can’t jail them all. She had an addict bilateral arm amputee from gangrene from shooting up drugs. CATO institute has studies showing that criminalizing drugs doesn’t work. Alcohol kills more people than drugs combined. And it’s legal. Why are we blowing all this money on a jail, when the boats are coming to Ohio. We have to be smart about how we spend taxpayer money. Just as the saying goes, if you build it, they will come, well- If you build it- they will fill it. Please vote no on this.
Tom Orschell- County Commissioner- I headed up jail task force. I learned a lot about the jail. I have a list of 236 people incarcerated there. 88% felonies etc. There is space in this project for some of these programs.
Council voted to get a professional opinion from county attorney on the unanimous voting process. [NOTE: Let’s see if he invokes Home Rule on this one.]
DISCUSSION OF JAIL FUNDING:
Jim Hughes said he’d like to see more rehab than incarceration. He wants to see the people vote on it. One election would cost $40-50,000. If you put it on a regular election- cost is not there.
Lansing said- town meetings where Aaron Negangard, Mike Kreinhop and the judge could talk. I was asked during a Fed-ex delivery and a guy asked why he didn’t have any info on this.
Chris Schwab talked more about how education is the key to keeping kids away from this.
Ullrich said he’s seen this from both sides. He said if we can expand the case, we can expand the programs. Families and parenting are the way to fight drug issues. Getting people off methadone in the jail. Would rather take care of them here than ship them off to another county. [NOTE: Ullrich works for the sheriff dept.]
Kraus said this has been going on for years. We keep putting this jail off. Fund or not fund.
Liz Morris said on the task force she has come to understand the need for expansion. Standard is that 85% capacity is best to be able to put inmates in appropriate areas. $2million of this price tag is for rehabbing the current jail spaces. Twelve men in work release now- with expansion that can go to 48. (but that is in a later phase of this plan) People in the J-cap programs are grateful to be there. The current jail was built as a result of a lawsuit-ordered by a judge. We need to take care of it on our terms, said Morris.
Messmore- the good thing is that we are talking about the same solutions. How we get it funded – I guess we’ll work it out. We have tried to consider how to get additional counseling etc. We need to not polarize this and use this for other issues. It’s full, the people belong there. If you let 50 people out you’d have people who would cause problems in the community. Not trying to scare you. Maybe we should allocate funds to hire a general contractor to get some bid specs and get bids. Maybe we can bid out a couple more options. [NOTE: Why are we depending on the people involved in design and build to tell us what we need? That’s an inherent conflict of interest. Why have our elected officials and staff not produced the numbers and argument for this jail expansion? How do we relate to other counties with methadone clinics and casinos in relation to percentage jailed on felonies? The numbers are available- and it is clear that of the counties with one or both of these factors present only Wayne County and Ohio County have a higher per capita incarceration rate on D felonies than we do. (Richmond’s meth clinic and I-70 drug corridor are in Wayne County.) We need to look at improving our efficiencies and measuring our effectiveness.]
Kraus said we can vote if we are going to fund it or not and then later vote how we will fund it.
Jim Hughes-motioned to go for referendum with RQAW’s proposal. Lansing 2nd. Two ayes.( Hughes and Lansing) Motion fails.
Liz motions to approve the Commissioners’ actions for funding the jail somehow with RQAW plans. Ullrich 2nd- Messmore asked about who would select the architect? Liz said she wanted them to use RQAW’s with Messmore’s amendment to put it out to bid to improve pricing. 4 ayes 2 nays.(nay- Lansing and Hughes; Kraus did not vote) Passed. [NOTE: Motion 2nded and voted on by Ullrich- an employee of the sheriff’s dept.]
Actual method of funding discussion goes to Dec 20th meeting.
Auditor- Gayle Pennington- had two ordinances with fee schedules that commissioners passed and council needed to sign off. Approved.
Liz Morris talked about 911 fees on cell phones and how these are going to be set up in the future. AIC has asked counties to sign on in support of their position on this. It’s a resolution they can look at for their Dec meeting.
Gayle Pennington also had $500 for two advanced EMT classes and Margaret Mary Hospital to have Kraus sign off. Passed.
Minutes approved for Oct 25th.
Tom Cheek – gave them info on sewer board regarding the Huseman Road sewer project. Contractor is owner of Gabbard estates also. He wants to get a 6 “ line and he will have to flush the line periodically.
Meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Present: Dennis Kraus. Sr., President, Dan Lansing, Jim Hughes, Liz Morris, Maynard Barrett, Bryan Messmore, and Bill Ullrich.
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor and Bill Ewbank, County Coordinator
The meeting began at 6:30 PM
County General, Bail, and Pretrial Amount Requested-Superior Court II—Sally Blankenship- Public Defender fees required due to economy- $7500 because several of the cases have gone to trial which increases fees. $3,000 from part time salaries to Public Defender fees and $4,500 from bail and pre-trial budget. Council approved.
County General Probation users Fees- Sally Blankenshup –This is for a computer server and needed Parts - $10,828 for probation and courts. It’s slow. Because it serves probation- $7,000 would come from user fees. $ 3828 from county general. Council approved.
County General Riverboat-Prosecutor-Aaron Negangard- Funds needed for transcripts, depositions, etc. due to major felonies-$10,000. $6,000 is already spent of this request. The remainder will get them thru the rest of the year. Depositions are the sworn statements of witnesses. Greateramount needed because more cases are going to trial. Liz Morris said $25,000 was budgeted in 2010 and $20,000 allotted for 2011. So they are about $5,000 over 2010 budget with this total. Council approved.
Planning and Zoning:- Mark McCormack- Planning Director- Four computer tablets - $2,000- this is for highway, building inspectors, health, and planning. Only need $1500 of this – health dept has one already. Council approved $1500. The also need to replace three computer towers and one monitor- $2,180- to replace ones that have burned out or have needed extensive repairs or have software issues. They need units that can handle the GIS etc. Council approved.
Dearborn County Jail-Mike Kreinhop - Funds needed to cover remaining 2011 holidays- $20,000 to cover 3 upcoming holidays. Three employees were off over 3000 hours and two have been dismissed after using up all their leave time. One is back to work. $60,800 were their total salaries. One inmate at the hospital for a week required overtime for one officer at the hospital 24/7. Bill Ullrich said that money left on the road side of the sheriff’s dept can’t be transferred for this jail side per SBOA. There is a surplus on the road side. Lansing questioned how they pay for replacements. Budget time they asked for more money to hire for the jail. Any replacement for them was at time and a half for two of the employees. It takes 5 employees to cover the jail as a skeleton crew. Sheriff said they could get by with $17,000 instead of $20,000. Ullrich voted Nay on this- 5 voted aye- passed. ( No reason given for nay) [NOTE: Ullrich is an employee of the sheriff’s dept.]
Ken McAllister- asked for funds to replace the canine who has cancer. They paid $10,000 in 2008 for that dog. The price is the same now except for the classes and the 5 week stay there to train the new canine. He has some grant opportunities thru CASA for $7500 ( will know in Jan) and $225 in donations so far. Maynard Barrett said HVL said a gentleman there would match up to $7500. McAllister said they are working on trying to set up a 401c3 to do this. Ullrich said that total $14,370 is needed to get things started as they have to put the current canine down. Schools and demos – the canine dog goes with him. Gayle Pennington said this was not advertised so will have to be on Dec agenda. (Dec 20th) He may have more money by that time as well- or even by Jan 14th meeting. April 30th date is his target to go off to school for 5 weeks. County is willing to take a look at this. No decision.
Health Department- Doug Baer- Vehicle to transport two health emergency trailers- $35,000- readvertised from last meeting. If you table this- I’m looking at other options within the county to solve it. Tabled.
Regional Sewer District-Steve Renihan- Additional funding request for contingency Fund set up for Sewer District- $18,500. Tabled until the end of the meeting, in case he shows up. At meeting’s end- Vera Benning couldn’t answer what this was for to Council’s satisfaction. Remained tabled.
Communications- Charles Ashley- Repair transmitter that was struck by lightning- $5,500- damaged in early summer on Henderson Road. $7283 with $2200 paid by insurance after deductible. $5500 is the deductible. Council approved.
Circuit Court Probation-Stephen Bradley-Needing additional appropriation in paying cost of drug treating- $3,000- Pennington read his letter into the record. He is asking to transfer from the part time employee account to this account. He is asking just for a transfer to drug testing. Council approved.
Commissioners- Bill Ewbank- Complete renovations on Hoosier Square Building, Courthouse, and Administration Building - $650,000. Ewbank gave report on Hoosier Square, Votaw, and Shumway Bldgs. This is the estimated soft costs of all the proposed plans. He has scaled back his requests to just complete Hoosier Square. He will come back for the rest later. He’s asking for $80,000. $1.5 million will cover all the property acquisitions, renovations etc. This affects 13 county agencies. This also relocates agencies with similar functions. If we do everything I asked for it will come in at $2.1 million. This is being done in steps to work with the architect at each stage. Hope to start Monday and be done March 1 on Hoosier Square. Barrett noticed the parking lot is still flooding at Hoosier Square. The parking lot was excavated below the water table there. With the unique rains this year- can solve it with a pump. $80,000 approved for Hoosier Square. Approved out of Contingency.
Highway Department -Todd Listerman- Encumber funds for Short Road bridge as couldn’t complete this year. Approved.
Projects funded up front by county and reimbursed after completion Stateline Rd slip repair- $225,000 this is 80/20. We get 80% reimbursed on this. This should come out of the infrastructure account. INDOT has approved this already. This was not advertised as it was already allowed thru the infrastructure fund approval . Approved.
Hogan Hill- $155,000- and West Laughery- $ 165,000- hold on this until FEMA approves.
Clerk Perpetuation Fund- Phil Weaver-Clerk of Courts- Funds needed to manage and maintain records of the court- $17,407. This fund has about $26-29,000 per year. Already has $6,000 in budget so only needs $11,407 for equipment from 2008. They have been going around on it and he owes it. This is an old bill. Council approved.
PAWS-Sandy Carley-Resolution signed by Commissioners in August 2008. Paws is asking for the remaining balance of the 97 account of $121,000 to be turned over to PAWS. Discussion about where this money came from. Approved with leaving $100 in it to keep it open for future gifts at Liz Morris’s suggestion.
Cardinal Office Products- Randy Foley-not here??
Treasurer- Barb Kaffenberger- raises and title changes for employees in that office- after meeting with them in committee Dennis Kraus, Sr. said they are giving an unfavorable recommendation to their request. Request denied by Council.
Park Board- Steve Walker- Ordinance- Kraus said he didn’t like this ordinance at all and doesn’t want it approved. Walker said it was looked over by auditor and county attorney. They added a 30 day deposit per SBOA rules. Disbursed and surplus property were singled out by Kraus. Why can’t Park Board operates like others? Walker said this is a way to put money we raise separate. It’s not intended for any major transactions. Gayle said we have capital improvement fund and land acquisitions that are non- reverting. Capital improvements from 2010 has $21,250. They could also put money in these accounts. Messmore said the concern was that they needed to have oversight on the funds. Denied the operating fund for the park board.
DISCUSSION OF RIVERBOAT SAVINGS ACCOUNT: Council Discussion:
Kraus said he doesn’t see why they should change it.
Lansing asked when money came in first- answer- 1998. Thirteen years we have been doing this with this rule said Lansing. Ullrich was there in 1998 also. Lansing said my father thought enough to do this back then. Why now?
Messmore said back then we wanted to protect it for projects like this.
Ullrich said this was a safety mechanism as we didn’t know how big the pot might be. One vote could grind a project to a halt.
Jim Hughes said- if you put it in with 7 votes- how can you take it out with less? Answer: Not sure it was even an ordinance. [NOTE: why haven’t they gotten the original minutes on this discussion? I was present at budget when this was originally discussed abck when the Riverboat accounts were first set up. There were many of these same questions raised and answered. Bo Lansing went to Florida in the winters and they worried that he wouldn’t be present if an emergency occurred. Discussion was that if it was that big a deal, he would come back for it. And they were united on not spending it for anything but a capital one-time expense. They also were united in wanting it to be a consensus- noting that if all of them agreed to it- them it was more likely they were representing the wishes of the taxpayers. If there were areas of disagreement or a person was voting nay- it was likely that some needs were not being met by the project and they wouldn’t proceed. This was a Council that worked together. And they knew there would be times in the future that people would want to raid that money. They wanted it to be spent wisely.
Now it seems like two of the checks and balances built into this system of capital projects to protect taxpayers are being bypassed. The first is a referendum- being bypassed by breaking the project into parts. The first part is estimated at about $9 million and does not include the work release expansion. This will be asked for afterwards because it is an easier sell. The law needs to be addressed as to legality on phasing projects to avoid referendum. The RQAW project sheets have disclaimers on them in a few places noting that this plan does not address the full needs of the county at the 20 year level. The second is the unanimous vote to use Riverboat SAVINGS (and thus deplete it by more than half.) id Council does not want to pitch this project to the taxpayers, then they should at least assure that the taxpayers are likely to agree to it by showing a vote that is unanimous or at least a supermajority should they elect to change the unanimous rule.]
Kraus said it was written on every budget- that this account takes 7 votes to take it out. Kraus said if it does get changed you have to be specific about what this gets spent for.
Lansing- we hit a brick wall so now we try to do this?
Liz said she never considered she was binding herself to that rule by passing the budget. She said a previous Council can’t bind a future Council by a rule like this. [NOTE: This makes no sense as Council bound future Councils when they approved debt to finance the Courthouse. This rule can be changed by future Council’s. But it was intended to make it hard to do that.] Morris said,if one can turn it down- a lot of power in one person’s pocket. What if someone had an interest in it and had to abstain?
Lansing said- maybe that’s why that money has accumulated to that amount- no one touches it easily.
Tom Cheek- taxpayer (also former county councilman) a lot of people don’t realize we had savings beyond the RR we spend in 146 and 147. New casinos in OHIO will affect us by maybe 25-30%. He thinks this should be publicized and let everyone know what is going on. Why build it if it’s not going to meet your needs? Bridges in the county need replacing- and we are taking money from these projects when we use this money for the jail. We will take over half that savings account. Do the bond issue as Messmore was talking about. If we run into more emergencies down the road- we will have no means to address them. If someone is not here- we would wait- it’s important enough.
Chris Schwab- as a young man raised here. There has been very limited changes in how our justice system operates. Officers show up and arrest everyone- and I personally heard them say- let the judge figure it out. You can do citations etc. We like the idea. I landed in the middle of this process at age 19. (14 years ago) I made a decision to seek help elsewhere- got help for OCD and depression. 40% of jail population is probation violations due mostly to drug testing positive. Rebuilding requires rehabilitation not reincarceration. We need to spend this money for rehab, recovery, and education for our youth. As law enforcement cracks down on prescription drugs- the users go over to Cincinnati to get heroin. $80 for a presc. Pill, they now spend $20 for heroin of varying purity. An addition is not the answer. Locking up more citizens is not the answer. We need to rebuild lives- not destroy them. We need direction- not diversion.
Aaron Negangard- When I was in Council earlier in this decade- we knew then that our jail in 2000 or 2001… this was an opportunity to save money for debt in the future. You guys are here to determine what is best for the community. This 7 vote thing- they question legally is whether supermajority is allowed. Legislation says simple majority approves expenditures. Recommends they get legal advice before they vote on this. [ NOTE: State laws are the minimum standard and local laws cannot be made less stringent than the state- but it can be made more stringent. Negangard seems to imply that unanimous or supermajority votes are illegal. ] He said he spoke to Mr. Schwab one night late at night and was worried at first about how that would go as they were on opposite sides at that time. He has dialogued with him since. Our judges and sheriffs have worked hard to control this opiate situation. When they run out of funds to get drugs they will steal form family even. It takes 40 years for an opiate addict’s brain chemistry to return to normal! Jail chemical addiction program started by Judge Cleary and Blankenship is starting to work. Can’t put any more than 16 in these programs- no room. Also work release is running out of room. If it isn’t going to help with this, then don’t support it. Our probation dept says you shall not do drugs. And 15-20 a week test positive. [NOTE: Do the math- only 16 are in the program- and they stay much longer than a week- and 15-20 test positive every week on probation. If ever there was a mandate to get to the ROOT of the problem- this is it.] If they don’t take the help we’re providing, they are sent off to prison. These people are capable of being dangerous. Negangard said even non- violent offenders can become dangerous. Cited Franklin and Decatur County cases. Cincinnati violence is not here because of the diligence of our officers, judges etc. I don’t even know if this project will do the job. We don’t need to close the doors to any avenue for funding. You guys have put public safety first. That is what we need – your help to keep Dearborn County safe.
Stephanie Libbert- taxpayer and RN. (also former candidate for Greendale mayor) I push morphine daily for patients. Codeine, morphine, heroin is the hierarchy of the drug. Heroin was given to the military in WWI. Bayer co made it. 80 % of people in jails are there for possession. Victimless crimes- example- a kid with 2 joints isn’t hurting anyone but himself. Programs where pharmacists and nurses come to school to teach kids about these things are needed. If they kill someone- be in jail- but some of these others should be treated as patients. Prohibition didn’t work. 2.5 million people use illicit drugs in this country. We can’t jail them all. She had an addict bilateral arm amputee from gangrene from shooting up drugs. CATO institute has studies showing that criminalizing drugs doesn’t work. Alcohol kills more people than drugs combined. And it’s legal. Why are we blowing all this money on a jail, when the boats are coming to Ohio. We have to be smart about how we spend taxpayer money. Just as the saying goes, if you build it, they will come, well- If you build it- they will fill it. Please vote no on this.
Tom Orschell- County Commissioner- I headed up jail task force. I learned a lot about the jail. I have a list of 236 people incarcerated there. 88% felonies etc. There is space in this project for some of these programs.
Council voted to get a professional opinion from county attorney on the unanimous voting process. [NOTE: Let’s see if he invokes Home Rule on this one.]
DISCUSSION OF JAIL FUNDING:
Jim Hughes said he’d like to see more rehab than incarceration. He wants to see the people vote on it. One election would cost $40-50,000. If you put it on a regular election- cost is not there.
Lansing said- town meetings where Aaron Negangard, Mike Kreinhop and the judge could talk. I was asked during a Fed-ex delivery and a guy asked why he didn’t have any info on this.
Chris Schwab talked more about how education is the key to keeping kids away from this.
Ullrich said he’s seen this from both sides. He said if we can expand the case, we can expand the programs. Families and parenting are the way to fight drug issues. Getting people off methadone in the jail. Would rather take care of them here than ship them off to another county. [NOTE: Ullrich works for the sheriff dept.]
Kraus said this has been going on for years. We keep putting this jail off. Fund or not fund.
Liz Morris said on the task force she has come to understand the need for expansion. Standard is that 85% capacity is best to be able to put inmates in appropriate areas. $2million of this price tag is for rehabbing the current jail spaces. Twelve men in work release now- with expansion that can go to 48. (but that is in a later phase of this plan) People in the J-cap programs are grateful to be there. The current jail was built as a result of a lawsuit-ordered by a judge. We need to take care of it on our terms, said Morris.
Messmore- the good thing is that we are talking about the same solutions. How we get it funded – I guess we’ll work it out. We have tried to consider how to get additional counseling etc. We need to not polarize this and use this for other issues. It’s full, the people belong there. If you let 50 people out you’d have people who would cause problems in the community. Not trying to scare you. Maybe we should allocate funds to hire a general contractor to get some bid specs and get bids. Maybe we can bid out a couple more options. [NOTE: Why are we depending on the people involved in design and build to tell us what we need? That’s an inherent conflict of interest. Why have our elected officials and staff not produced the numbers and argument for this jail expansion? How do we relate to other counties with methadone clinics and casinos in relation to percentage jailed on felonies? The numbers are available- and it is clear that of the counties with one or both of these factors present only Wayne County and Ohio County have a higher per capita incarceration rate on D felonies than we do. (Richmond’s meth clinic and I-70 drug corridor are in Wayne County.) We need to look at improving our efficiencies and measuring our effectiveness.]
Kraus said we can vote if we are going to fund it or not and then later vote how we will fund it.
Jim Hughes-motioned to go for referendum with RQAW’s proposal. Lansing 2nd. Two ayes.( Hughes and Lansing) Motion fails.
Liz motions to approve the Commissioners’ actions for funding the jail somehow with RQAW plans. Ullrich 2nd- Messmore asked about who would select the architect? Liz said she wanted them to use RQAW’s with Messmore’s amendment to put it out to bid to improve pricing. 4 ayes 2 nays.(nay- Lansing and Hughes; Kraus did not vote) Passed. [NOTE: Motion 2nded and voted on by Ullrich- an employee of the sheriff’s dept.]
Actual method of funding discussion goes to Dec 20th meeting.
Auditor- Gayle Pennington- had two ordinances with fee schedules that commissioners passed and council needed to sign off. Approved.
Liz Morris talked about 911 fees on cell phones and how these are going to be set up in the future. AIC has asked counties to sign on in support of their position on this. It’s a resolution they can look at for their Dec meeting.
Gayle Pennington also had $500 for two advanced EMT classes and Margaret Mary Hospital to have Kraus sign off. Passed.
Minutes approved for Oct 25th.
Tom Cheek – gave them info on sewer board regarding the Huseman Road sewer project. Contractor is owner of Gabbard estates also. He wants to get a 6 “ line and he will have to flush the line periodically.
Meeting adjourned at 9:10 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
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