21 June 2004 Dearborn County Commissioner Meeting Notes

Present: Karen Shell, President, Dan Batta, and Vera Benning. Also present: Cary Pickens, Auditor, Lisa Lehner, County Attorney, and Lorie Howard, County Administrator.

[Note: I arrived after the road discussion]

1. Transportation Director- Mike Davis presented the Phase two road paving list that was discussed at the 4PM working meeting. Commissioners approved the list to go to Council for their approval prior to beginning. The list was weighted in favor of D-2 and D-1 because of the differences in their road money expenses over the past few years. The list included Sand Run, DeHill, Renier, East, Sneakville, Autumn Way, Gibson, Gabbard, and Sykes in D-1. In D-2 there were Legion, Asche, St. Peters, Martha Drive, Bess, Earl, Eugene, Shangri-La Blue Creek, and North Dearborn. D-3 had Old 350, Rice, and Akes.
[NOTE: This list went to Council on 22 June 2004 and they sent it back for review, wanting to see it looked at in relation to the Transportation Assessment Study- see notes under Council Meeting]

2. Regional Sewer District update included a request by Doug Baer and Mike Hankins to be considered in the 2005 budget. Commissioners seemed to think that they could perhaps consider staffing in the budget, but not capital improvements. Taxpayers were not supposed to have to subsidize growth, but commissioners felt that they should also help provide the necessary services for the safety and welfare of the public. Commissioners supported the concept of getting loans from the Lawrenceburg Bond bank. Sewer Board approved to go to Council to request $100,000 of the $420,000 they will ultimately need. Lisa Lehner reported that at the first easement meeting- they obtained about 60 properties ROW and approximately 120 people attended.

3. Heart House- Craig Beckley gave a report on the first 27 months of Heart House. 330 people were served, 80 from Dearborn County. This added up to nearly 6,000 night stays and saved the county nearly $200,000 as opposed to a hotel at $35/night. He noted that in this business there were more failures than successes, but that the successes made it worthwhile. They asked for $5,000 in the commissioner’s budget. Benning motioned, Batta 2nd. OK’d.

4. Emergency Management – Bill Black- Commissioner’s signed and Emergency Management Proclamation. Black reported that they have had grants of over $400,000 coming in this year to help out including $189,000 for Homeland security.

5. Lorie Howard- County Administrator reported. She and Charlie Fehrman met with Kramer of Pinnacle Advisory and noted that medical costs for the county are budgeted at $1.7 million and they are projected to be at $1.8 million this year. Currently we are still under budget.
They are moving some items out of the commissioner budget and putting them back into the dept. budgets- examples were vehicles, tires, copiers, etc. Budget due July 1.
Personnel Policy revisions are still going on, as is the Drug and workplace Safety Plans.
Bids on the Courthouse expansion were due by 4 PM Tues. for Council review. They anticipate 3-5 bids including RQAW, which was at $46,000 initially with a rebate on the actual construction management if they got that job as well.
6. Lisa Lehner reported that the coroner suit issue had received an opinion from the judge. Other suits regarding accidents on county roads were submitted to the insurance company for help with defense payment.
The Plan Commission ordinance for revising the Zone codes was prepared, but they will sign it in July prior to the 90 day deadline.
Lisa is looking into a Drainage Board and will seek Jennifer Hughes help from Soil and Water Board.

7. Claims and Minutes were approved.

8. Vera Benning wanted to know if Commissioner’s approved of her handling the sewer board issues so far. Commissioners stated that they had set the board up and trusted that they would do the right things.

9. Karen Shell stated that Moore’s Hill needed a letter of support to go to Council to obtain funding for Carnegie Hall repairs. OK’d.

Meeting adjourned 9:05 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township