4 October 2017 Dearborn County Council BUDGET Hearing and Meeting Notes

4 October 2017 Dearborn County Council BUDGET Hearing and Meeting Notes

Present: Liz Morris, President, Dennis Kraus. Sr., Ryan Brandt, Alan Goodman, and Bill Ullrich. 

ABSENT: Dan Lansing and Charlie Keyes

Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor and Leah Bailey, Comptroller

Council President Liz Morris called the meeting to order and asked if there were any comments or questions about the budget. No one spoke. There were only 3 people in the audience and they were there for the following meeting appropriations. Council then waited for 15 minutes to start the regular meeting. 

Morris read the Title VI statement as required by law.

Moment of silence for Tina Weigel, sister of Lynn Deddens,  and for Bill Ewbank, former Adm and Veteran’s officer

PROSECUTOR – Lynn Deddens

Furniture and improvements for new office- Deddens said that they are leaving their furnishings behind in the courthouse for their use. $200,000 from capital improvements and furniture that she thinks they won’t use it all. They also are paying for the services of the woman who did the work on the building decor and finishes.

Transfer $30,000 be split to misc operating expense and Acc’t 42500. approved.

Grant application from Rising Sun regional Foundation to create an interdiction team of 3 officers for heroin and other drugs- $39,322- for equipment for observation and officer safety. Approved to apply. No county money involved. Brandt abstained. 

HIGHWAY – Tim Greive

Slip repair- $185,680 75/25 matching grant for Huesman Road slip. This is for an NRCS grant. Paying for our share out of riverboat- approved. McAllisters did good work on several slips discussed with Council. Bonnell is being resubmitted. He also talked about seeing a map of why we have all the slips in our area and Cincinnati. Eye-opening as to the explanation of our slip expenses.

ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden

Draw down for claims on the Annex project- passed out the $1,657,157.65 budget for annex and asked to have it all. They will not be back for any more. This is all that will be available to them. Morris said she heard a lot of compliments on how the facade matches the old courthouse. This money had already been approved by Council. 4 yea and 1 nay from Kraus on this final amount. 

PLANNING & ZONING – Mark McCormack

Legal services- BZA was challenged for judicial review and it was not covered by county insurance until the $2500 was expended. Court 10 times with Johnny Wright and 5 contempt hearings. This cost each time for the attorney. Have emptied out all their accounts except for $188. $4000 approved. 

AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington-

My Vacccine Grant $28,125 for Health Dept- Approved as it needs no money from county. 

Utilities through year end- $51,000 was budgeted and it didn’t account for the annex and some of those bills are showing up now. McHenry will have to address the issue with annex bills coming in early. Approved the $51,000 only. 

Minutes for July 25, 2017 approved with corrections

Minutes for Aug. 28, 2017 approved with corrections

Meeting on Oct 18 for formal budget adoption will be advertised. Sheriff needs additional meals request for jail. Discussion about waiting to hear sheriff's request until November. This will probably be too late. Leah will check to see if they can wait till Nov 28th meeting. 

Some discussion that Brandt asked about regarding something Paige recommended to Council about making sure that money left over is just not spent in the final quarter. They are looking at parameters and making sure unnecessary purchases aren't being made. Pennington will check with Paige and get information to the Council. Goodman thinks they need to meet with Commissioners about it. Kraus also wants to know who will take care of monitoring. This would require a resolution and advertising is important to consider. 

PUBLIC COMMENT-  none

Meeting adjourned at 10:07 AM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township