23 May 2023 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes
Present: Liz Morris, President, Dennis Kraus. Sr., Dan Lansing, Kevin Turner, Tim Doll, Alan Goodman, and Glenn Wright.
Also present: Connie Fromhold, Auditor
Title VI Statement read as legally required
Liz Morris- Extended condolences to Leah Bailey on the loss of her father.
Resolution Authorizing & Approving Entry into Interlocal with DCRSD- Baudendistel presented that there is a company that bought LMH and approached Commissioners about purchasing DCRSD assets. Because we are talking very high level regional sewer district things it is thought that not would be beneficial to have lawyers well versed in this. Baudendistel said- Sewer Board uses Frank Kramer and Frank said he is looking forward to hearing the hired attorney’s opinion. Frank also has some concerns about a possible sale altogether. They are not getting rid of Frank- he will still be helping them with all the local things too. Envirolink or Crossroads LLC will be looked at by several entities. Commissioners have already approved it and the DCRSD has and so Council is the last entity to do this. The money is already in the Commissioners budget.Lansing asked about who governs rates. IURC and OURCC have to look at this. IDEM has to get a petition from DCRSC to sell this. There is a lot of state oversight on this per Baudendistel.He stressed repeatedly that this was not a done deal- there are all options on the table. Private companies can get ARPA funds just like Hogan water did. Baudendistel went with Alan Goodman and Jim Thatcher to Indy Rick Hall and Kim from Barnes and Thornburg and asked them if any one has done this in Indiana. The answer is no one has outright sold and ceased to exist. Parvin Price is there also at Barnes and Thornburg.
Doll motioned and Goodman 2nd = Approved with 2 nays- Wright and Kraus
Interlocal Agreement with DCRSD for Outside Counsel- Also approved with 2 nays.
Transfers:
CIRCUIT PROBATION- Body Armor $2,600 (2102.35104.000.034 to 2102.25000.000.034)- Approved
ADDITIONALS:
CIRCUIT COURT- Judge Negangard-
Criss Consulting for consulting services $30,000(1001/4914)- Discovered a significant youth crisis and some neglect issues and we are in excess of 10 in juvenile. Most of his docket is in this and in juvenile delinquency cases. Judge Humphrey is serving a s senior judge and has been helpful. Just got back from a training- and there are mental health and neglect cases. In the 1990s Judge Meyer and Prosecutor McLaughlin started juvenile program and they are now in the process of converting back to something like that. He approached Sam Criss in attorney generals office and helped get budget, HR etc on track. He’s very effective- I need someone with his skills and connections around teh state to come ump with some answers.We need a good on-boarding process. He’s going to help me with some budget issues. We need a balance approach to the budget with Ohio County. Circuit Court is very busy. He would be a big help in helping to facilitate. Doll said that if he needs help- we should support his request. Approved.
JAVS upgrade-Magistrate $110,000 (1001/4914)
JAVS upgrade-Circuit Court $40,000 (1001/4914)- Only need $900 so that’s much better than $150,000. We don’t have a good zoom hearing technology. His is outdated. By buying new camera and tech he was able to get a good setup done. Its going to be over $250,000 to do this upgrade eventually for all the courtrooms. Approved the $900.
Public Defender- $25,000 (1001/4914)- Mainly a jury trial in February- spent $30,000 and doesn’t need this now- but will run out by end of the year. Under IV-E they might be entitled to reimbursement of significant amount of public defender money. Approved.
Furniture- $10,000 (1001/4914)- withdrew this request for now. The seats are uncomfortable and he wants to stick to the historical look of the courtroom. We have the best courtroom in the state and doesn’t want to waste $50-60,000 to paint the courtroom. Wants to wait till next year. They still Approved the $10,000 out of county general
SUPERIOR COURT II- Judge McLaughlin- Leah Bailey presented this. This is just showing where the money she received earlier in the year is going and they need to sign a salary ordinance- APPROVED- from pharmaceutical companies each year for first 5 years. 360K and 164K- one restricted and the other is unrestricted. All vetted and approved below.
$7,900 salaries for 4 people, no additional money needed(salary ordinance adjustment)
OPIOID GRANT: RESTRICTED (1237) $35,000, UNRESTRICTED (1238) $65,000
Restricted Funds:
Health Department-$15,000 for Online Narcan Training Site
Circuit Court-Juvenile Problem-Solving Court $20,000
Unrestricted Funds:
Sheriff’s Department- K-9 Officer Program Funding $25,000
Superior Court II-Jail Chemical Addiction Program $30,000
Community Mental Health Center-Care Resource Center $10,000
HEALTH-
Mobile Medical Unit- $374,362 (1159)- Dr Eliason- talked about how they use the Mobile Medical units thru Covid and after. They are expanding for more testing etc. They need to get the bus in better shape now. It has had brake issues. It’s 27 years old. Its hard to get parts for it. It’s a school bus that was remodeled twice. Since they are far away from the door and elderly people have trouble getting to the offices, this is an easier access for them. Our model is being used as example for others in the state. We cannot drive up the hill on SR48. They have leveraged their assets per Doll. His is not something we can get grant help with. They are using this fund- which was a COVID reimbursement fund- Approved.
VETERANS SERVICE OFFICER-
Van replacement $45,000 (1001/4914)- Connie Fromhold presented- this is to replace his van- he was able to take off the lift. There is a repair fund but it doesn’t have a lot in it. Approved.
ASSESSOR-
New vehicle to be shared with Veterans Office 34,000 (1001)- Connie Fromhold presented- The car is not safe for going down some driveways even. It’s great that they are working together per Morris. Approved.
MAINTENANCE-
Unexpected miscellaneous repairs $80,000 (1136/1001)- Connie Fromhold presented- this is to secure the inmate showers. A lot of plumbing supplies. Approved
PLANNING & ZONING-Nicole Daily- presented by Connie Fromhold- need stormwater calculations and so they are hiring someone to do this with MS4.-as a planning engineer technician.
Partial salary for already approved position- $4,465 (1001) Approved
Assistant Planner to Planning Engineer Technician-$9,425 (1001)Approved
SURVEYOR-
Connie Fromhold presented- dashboard lights up like a Christmas tree and bad brakes. Approved both items below.
Truck repairs $3,000 (1001/4914)
Copier Maintenance-$600 (1001/4914)
PROSECUTOR- Additional storage for electronic data $15,899 (1001/4914)- Leah Bailey presented- she needs extra storage for all teh files she has to keep. Pay out of County General- Approved
SHERIFF-
Shane McHenry- both categories costs have gone up. County does not pay sales tax- but road tax is paid. Inflation caused meal costs to go up. Paid some out of 2022 and Doll praised him for getting deals on foods. Approved both items.
Fuel cost for the remainder of the year-$207,000 (1170)
Food cost for the rest of the year- $124,000 (1233)
ANIMAL CONTROL-
Computer Monitors $396.00 for 4 monitors (1001/4914)- Leah Bailey presented- said they do not need them - they got them from auditor. There was questions about feral cats and animal control saying hat if you fed them - they are your problem. Board comment- it sounds like they need more training,
Education & Training $994.00 (1001/4914)- Approved
DEARBORN COUNTY REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT-
Steve Renihan, Guilford & Lake Dilldear repairs $519,561.06 (4917)- He said they were here to ask for the remainder of the funding from years ago. This will go with the ARPA funds to finish these projects. Ready no later than May 2024 for Guilford and earlier for Lake Dildear to have the bid documents etc. Have to get a discharge permit in Guilford. It takes time to get thru IDEM. Morris said they have to continue along with projects as they don’t know what the outcome will be with the interlocal agreement etc. This is money for these 2 projects in tandem to get them done as quickly as possible with the ARPA funds. Goodman motioned and Kraus 2nd. Discussion about what money will be left then. Started with $4million and this will bring it to 0. Renihan said they have customers and they could have more with the lines they have run so far. This could get a standing line of revenue to come back into DCRSD with other customers. See items below: Approved.
GUILFORD: Lake Dilldear
Antidegradation Study-$28,500 Engineering/Surveying/Bid Documents-$151,075.01
Surveying- $40,125 Attorney’s Fees- $10,000
Engineering- $157,800
Purchase of Land-$167,720
Bid Documents- $7,300
Attorney’s Fees- $5,000
HIGHWAY- Todd Listerman- COUNCILMAN TURNER left @ 6:30PM for daughter’s graduation.
Design Bridge #87 Johnson Fork Rd -$100,000 (4916)- Creek washing out and repaired until it moved to the north side of the bridge- to stabilize the embankment to save the bridge. This is for design only for now. This fall he will request funding for repair.
Replacement Bridge #72 St Peters Rd- $950,000 (4916)
Replacement Bridge #32 North Hogan Rd- $950,000 (4916)
Replacement of Small Structure #148 Hueseman Rd- $425,000 (4916)
Design of Small Structure #127 Grelle Rd- $47,500 (4916)
Design of Small Structure #218 East Laughery Creek Rd $47,500 (4916)
Design of Small Structure #136 West Laughery Creek Rd-$47,500 (4916)
Design of Small Structure #623 Harrison-Brookville Rd-$47,500 (4916)
Design of Small Structure # 624 Harrison-Brookville Rd-$ 47,500 (4916)
Approved all the above items.
Design of Bridge #212 Cranes Run Rd- $$100,000 (4916)- only 3-4 houses past this structure and it’s their only way out. It’s basically 2 huge tubes. They are deteriorated. It can wait till budget. TABLED
Replacement of Bridge #215 Brush Fork Creek-$1,400,000 (7303)- They have a way in and out the other direction. TABLED
Listerman said in 2022 report there was $11.3million and $5million was from dedicated highway funds. The $6.3 million was from other sources we matched. Thanked Council for that support. May be able to pave Aurora Industrial Park with TIF money.
AURORA PUBLIC LIBRARY UPDATE- Leslie Sutherlin, Director- Introduced herself. Passed out info and updated them. She’s new at Aurora. It helps her serve the mission of the library. $1.3 million and other endowments. They serve townships in the South Dearborn school district. They repainted the Depot and have some mobile items in a multipurpose meeting room there. Library of Things that can be checked out so they can use a leaf blower, studfinder, mixer etc. Also craft items to check out. Investigating a bookmobile. Book bike to share materials in parks and senior citizen living center, etc. Moores Hill and Manchester are in their service area. Carnegie Hall also. We have money waiting to be spent. And revenue sharing that has not been spent. Don’t think they will need outside funding for these projects. Book sale annually. Trying to get a footprint in the various communities. Wi-fi in Moores Hill is challenging. Need that for the bookmobile. Council thanked her for sitting thru the long meeting and for the info.
AUDITOR-
Tif Report -Council acknowledged they had seen theTIF report
Minutes-Approved
Salary Ordinance: Approved
Part-time Wages- - had given 5% to full timers - need to fix part time $1 per hour each level increase for 2023
LEVEL I-File clerk, Custodian work, answer phones etc.
LEVEL II- Clerical, Sheriff, Highway, Juvenile Detention Center part-time.
LEVEL III- Special skills, experienced, highly technical, persons with exceptional training.
LEVEL I-$13.00 an hour- $14 for rest of 2023
LEVEL II-$15.00 an hour- $16for rest of 2023
LEVEL III-$16.00 TO $20.00 an hour (WITH FULL COUNCIL APPROVAL) $1 increases for rest of 2023
LATE ARRIVAL- none
PUBLIC COMMENT- none
Meeting adjourned at 6:55 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
