21 February 2012 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes

21 February 2012 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes

Present: Jeff Hughes, President, Tom Orschell, and Shane McHenry
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.

ABSENT: Bill Ewbank, Acting County Administrator He left after the executive session.

Preceded by executive session on administrator position. Commissioners plan to appoint an administrator in March.

OLD BUSINESS:

Appointments County Farm- tabled again

NEW BUSINESS:

Juvenile center- Nurse and Doctor Agreement- reviewed by attorney, Baudendistel- no problems with it. Commissioners signed the agreements.

John Zeidan – Starlight Reception Hall- sponsoring for a grant from Lawrenceburg- he has resided in the county for 20 years and owned the hall for 9 years. He is asking support for his grant application from Lawrenceburg . He said they bring in taxes, support businesses, and visitors. They need help to fix the parking lot and lighting to improve their business and bring in more taxes for the county. He also had some support from other member s of the community and passed those papers out to the commissioners. Hughes suggested that he go to the Chamber also to get a grant writer. Zeiden said they have been there already and they sent us to the county to get then to sponsor us. Hughes has no problem with a letter of support . Zeidan noted that the county needs to balance their support- that being on the west side of the county is like being separated from the county. He wants to grow the county businesses. Orschell asked if this was setting a precedent supporting private businesses. Zeidan said he had a letter from planning and zoning also. Orschell said he had no problem with an individual letter of support but wasn’t sure about one from DC government. McHenry also agreed that if they write this letter- they have to write one for any business that comes in. Tabled until they can do more research. They can come back to this in March.

Bart Brown- Indiana Region 9 Workforce Board – Transitioning to a Workforce Investment Board- offices are on High Street. Marty Hon- board member- was also present. Changes going on there and want the commissioners to sign an agreement on their board transition to an investment board. 2004 the governor took control of workforce development. In 2008 more changes occurred to improve how these boards work. Region 9 waited to do some things. If they stayed with the state of Indiana they found out that they would be charged for services. Other regions and region 9 became a full work force board and were eligible for federal funds. By becoming a Workforce Investment Board the state does not have control. The region has more say in how their money and training works. The Dept of Labor is in control. They need 16 more board members. Each county still has an appointment to the board. Lawrenceburg has a member on this board also. There were some workforce boards that did not spend money appropriately. This was money that the local units were responsible to pay back. Now they are a not-for- profit. They will post a performance bond to cover this issue. The chief elected officials- commissioners and mayors come to the meeting to approve budgets etc- each 6 months. Total budget is about 2 million a year. They also get grants and other monies. There are 11 Regional Boards- and 7 of these have become Workforce Investment Boards. They don’t want to give money to the state that could be coming in for training. This restructure gets them into compliance with the federal statute. Deadline is July 2013 to complete this transition. They will send a draft agreement to the commissioners to review and be back at the end of March or early April for this. Commissioners made no decision at this point. Orschell noted that the new facility that spun off from P&G used workers trained by Workforce. They sent them 400 applicants.

Surveyor’s Office- Grant Application Approval – Dennis Kraus Jr.- asking for a grant to restore 2 historical survey books in his office on legal surveys prior to 1945. This will be from the Community Foundation. This could cost $100,000. These records are important. They have found one of the old survey markers deeply buried out along Ester Ridge. He will take the best bid- not necessarily the lowest to be sure they get this done right. Commissioners approved the grant application and signed the letter.

RFP- Shumway and Votaw Buildings- Orschell said Ewbank wants to send out RFPs to see what it would cost to demolish these. McHenry said there are some people who want to take the beams and maybe bricks. They will have to see if they can figure out a way to do this. Approved to seek RFPs. Baudendistel prepared a hold harmless and right of entry on an old RR right of way and home by this to be protected. Mayor Carr of Lawrenceburg signed this and the county needs to sign it also. Commissioners want to be sure to protect the levee also. Hughes signed the hold harmless and right of entry agreement.

Alvin Brown Building- Moores Hill- Update –Clerk Treasurer of Moore’s Hill- updated the title search and $8,286 in back taxes owed. There are other fees owed and liens. They want to request a 2nd commissioner’s sale. US Bank has agreed to donate their property to Moore’s Hill that is next door to this. They have researched demolition and think it can be done for $21,000 or so compared to a similar issue in Dillsboro. They will pursue grants. They don’t intend to do anything but improve public safety. They intend to make this part of the town administration building. They could do a library, grassed, or a parking lot. Some of their current offices are in unheated space in the basement of the adult center. The Community foundation seems receptive to this. They could use town funds for demolition and grants to redo things. Pennington explored with SRI on having a commissioners sale. They can award the certificate to another government entity like Moores Hill. They tabled to March 6 until they can get the info needed from SRI. McHenry said they were appreciative of all Moores Hill’s hard work to get this researched. The Clerk treasurer will have one of other Board member’s present.

DCRSD- Board Appointment Opening- Orschell said Renihan had some candidates. Mike Hankins was appointed to fill Rodney Dennerline’s seat by the Health Board. Barry Pruss’s seat has to be filled. Tabled to hear from Renihan. Commissioners will send letters of appreciation to both Pruss and Dennerline.

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT: Todd Listerman, Highway Engineer- recommendation for acceptance of the George St Bridge project. Signed by Commissioners.

Orschell wanted to have a meeting with the highway dept to express appreciation and see if they have any questions. They will set a date for this and get back to Hughes and McHenry.

AUDITOR: Gayle Pennington- letters from Solid Waste District passed out recognizing the county dept’s for recycling efforts.

Acceptance from District 9 by American Legion for Boy and Girl Scout troops. FEMA passed out 10-man tents to sheriff’s department which is NOT using them. They have to pass them to non- profit groups. These 2 tents went to 2 local Boy Scout troops. There is one tent left and if the Girl scouts don’t take it it will go to another Boy Scout troop. Joked about using it for jail expansion.

Claims signed.

ATTORNEY: Andy Baudendistel- Fire and EMS agreements with Harrison Township and the city of Harrison needed a separate local agreement. $10,000 is the cost. This takes care of the issue the township is having with the state board of accounts. This is the same agreement operating under for years. It was just required to have separate agreements now per Pennington.

Ball State evaluation of Fire and EMS is getting back together with their survey question results per McHenry and Bill Black.

Sunman Legion post is designated as emergency post for our area. Commissioners signed a letter of support for their grant application for an emergency generator.
McMenry discussed redistricting. Weaver told him they are not required to notify people of their voting precinct changes. Commissioners want to be sure voters are notified. McHenry will look into this.

COUNTY COORDINATOR: Bill Ewbank- not present.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS- none

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- none

PUBLIC COMMENT- none

Meeting adjourned at 10:30 AM

Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township