25 November 2008 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes

25 November 2008 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes

Present: Charlie Fehrman, Chairman, Maynard Barrott, Liz Morris, Bill Ullrich, Dennis Kraus, Dan Lansing, and Tom Cheek.

Pickens, Auditor and Messmore Administrator were also present, as was Commissioner Thompson and Commissioner –elect Orschell.

Fehrman announced that an executive session preceded the meeting and no decision was made there or was necessary at the meeting.

Dave Lusby- Sheriff- received approval for the ordinance adopting the accident report fee structure of $12 both online and in person at the Sheriff’s office. When online- $8 comes back to the county and $4 stays with the company performing the service.

Lusby reported that they also installed tempered glass in the courthouse lobby for safety and also will post staff pictures out there so people know who is serving them.

Sally Blankenship- Judge Superior Court 2- received approval to use moneys from public defender fees in Fund 178 to cover $1200 for a temporary office assistant.

Circuit Court received approval to move funds from item 305 to 125.

Commissioner’s requests for overtime and PERF computations were tabled. Discussed at executive session and need more info.

Surveyor's request for transmission approved for $1684.

Juvenile Detention- Tracy Abner- received approval to transfer a 300 line item to a 100 line item from contracted personnel to employee positions.

Coroner’s Autopsy request was tabled at Liz Morris’s request for more information on how they determine who gets autopsies.

Veteran’s Officer Bill Ewbank has had a rash of burials at $500 each plus some with $100 for markers. They approved $10,000 from county general and $12,500 out of Riverboat Revenue for $22,500 total to the end of the year.

Redevelopment – appointee was tabled.

Park Board received approval for Jim Redelk to fill a position on their board after Steve Walker, member, gave a detailed resume of his background. Jim Sutton had declined due ti not having enough time. Redelk is a member of Manchester Civic Ass’n, has experience in construction administration, budgets, technology, and is a youthful retiree with time to serve.

Aaron Negangard- Prosecutor- received approval for $2500 for office supplies. He also got approval to release $41,500 from Fund 17 the Prosecutor Diversion Funds ($80,000 is in that fund) for legal secretary, special deputy, computer equipment and special investigations.

Gayle Pennington- Treasurer- asked Council to reconsider a line item in her budget regarding her part time help. She has already streamlined the office and reduced employees. They will advertise in January for an additional $10,000 for part time help and consider it then.

Todd Listerman – Transportation Dept- answered questions and presented information regarding the shortage of state funding. He received approval for $535,300 for operating expenses on fuel, tools, tires, and maintenance. There is $1,246,703.36 left in RR 147 account. They usually get about $1.7 million per year. This is the paving fund- but has to be used partially this year for operations. Nearly $300,000 has been spent on fuel this year.
Salt and sand will be used this year. Depending on resources and weather, we may run out f salt. Total allotted is $300,000.

Request to re-fill 2 of 3 openings in hwy was reduced to 1 plus one seasonal.

DCRSD- High Ridge Estates fix- presented by Brett Fehrman, Steve Renihan, and supported by Tom Quinn, engineer, and Doug Baer, Health Dept. Council questioned Fehrman thoroughly on the uses of this money and the parameters by which it will be dispensed. They also asked if it was a loan- (yes- they intend to try to pay it back- but there were no criteria or agreements laid out to insure that the taxpayer’s money is repaid)

The bid estimate to fix High Ridge was estimated by Quinn at $361,500 including $22,000 for application fees, etc. to get through IDEM approval. Total capacity is 54 units- though only 23 are built on the sub’n at this time. The plant is capable of serial expansion. They are thinking of fixing the lagoon by pumping it through the plant and cleaning it up that way. (There is some concern that this would harm the plant)

People living there will have $4500 maintenance fees and new ones will be $6500. The customer base has to support the plant. Some people will elect to pay their $4500 over the 25-year time period allotted. DCRSD will handle the billing and Dillsboro will calculate the water usage. They may contract with Dillsboro to add it to the water bill.

Renihan stood up and declared his confidence that these numbers were good.

Fehrman said they needed the dollars in hand to proceed and justify their expenses getting it in place and approved. Renihan stated their attorney advised they leave the old lagoon in Draper’s ownership. Draper did donate the land for the plant.

Renihan told Charlie Fehrman they hoped to pay back the county with their up front fees. They don’t want the county residents to think the county will fix their problems for free.

Brett Fehrman indicated their other grants etc didn’t materialize and isn’t sure if IDEM will tell them they have to fix other problems also in the area.

Thompson asked if $100,000 was still in their account. Fehrman said this $361,500 is in addition to that- total cost is closer to $462,000. Thompson said they could get IDEM approval using $22,000 of that $100,000 they already have and then Council fund the rest for less risk perhaps.

Cheek and Kraus motioned to approve the $361,500 contingent that if IDEM does NOT approve it comes back to the county fund 175 and they would have to get reauthorization to approve it later. All ayes. Passed.

911 Dept- received what sounded like $6440.00 that wasn’t available at budget. (Number unclear)

Binding and non-binding budget approvals were signed pursuant to HB 1001 regulations. Salary ordinances for 1008 and 1009 were signed.

DCRSD received $15,208 to balance their budget from fund 175 for the year’s end. (bond issues)

Pickens’s copier is going to the Veteran’s office and his new one was approved at $8,000.

Charlie Fehrman thanked all of the board for the privilege of working with them.

Tom Cheek gave a public thank you to Judge Witte for his many years of service to the county.

Meeting adjourned at 9:55 PM.

Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township