REGULAR SESSION

MARCH 6, 2006 AT 6:00 P.M.

ATTENDANCE:                                   Dennis D. O’Hair, President

                                                          Kristina Warren, Vice-President

                                                          Gene Beck

COUNTY ATTORNEY:                         Timothy Bookwalter

AUDITOR:                                          Stephanie Campbell

DEPUTY AUDITOR:                            Carrie Boling

AUDIENCE MEMBERS:                     Thirteen Individuals

The Putnam County Board of Commissioner’s met in regular session on March 6, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. at the Courthouse Annex.  The pledge to the flag was given.

EXTENSION OFFICE

Lauralee Baugh, introduced 10-year 4-H member, Jada Buchanan.  She is a South Putnam student and will be completing an internship with the Extension Office.

BRIDGE 60

The County Attorney reviewed the proposals, all the paperwork was in order.  The following bids were received:

H.E. Henderson Inc.              $137,522.79

Trisler’s                                $140,156.80

George R. Harvey                 $197,285.45

John Huber                          $151,261.30

David Sutherlin, Highway Supervisor said the engineering estimates for bridge 60 were $141,000.  Commissioner Beck made the motion to approve Henderson’s bid at $137,522.79.  Commissioner Warren seconded.  The motion was unanimous.

BRIDGE 152

(Devil’s Backbone by Mt. Meridian)  The County Attorney had reviewed the proposals and said they met the qualifications.  The following proposals were received:

H.E. Henderson Inc.              $169,340.00

John Huber                           $209,158.00

Trisler’s                                $193,433.00

David Sutherlin, Highway Supervisor said the engineering estimates for bridge 152 were $198,500.  Commissioner O’Hair asked if there was a time limit in completing the bridge.  David Sutherlin asked if bridge 60 could be done at anytime and Commissioner Beck replied yes.  Mr. Sutherlin said he told the bidders to get bridge 152 done before school started in fall.  David Sutherlin said there is tentative approval from the Council. Commissioner Warren made the motion to approve Henderson’s bid of $169,340 pending Council approval.  Commissioner Beck seconded.  The motion was unanimous. 

David Sutherlin introduced, John Trisler and John A. Huber, who are builders for the county. Commissioner Beck thanked them for bidding and Commissioner O’Hair said we’re lucky to have these guys in our county.  It takes a lot of time to get these bids and he appreciates their time.

HORSE ARENA IN CLOVERDALE

Don Gedert wanted to let the Commissioners know that they’re working on additional information for the Horse Arena.  He checked with County Surveyor, David Penturf and part of the road is in the county inventory.  David Penturf told him that the road currently has a 40-foot right-of-way and he is suggesting a 50-foot right-of-way. 

Don Gedert is working with the property owners close to the horse arena.  He almost has 100% of property owners in agreement to give an extra five feet of right-of-way for $1.  He will need a couple of things: an interlocal agreement between Cloverdale and county for construction of road, water, and sewer line.  He will also need to know about the maintenance of the road.  Both sides of the road are in Cloverdale, but it’s on the county road inventory. 

Commissioner Beck said it’d stay on the county inventory until Cloverdale turns it into the state.  Tim Bookwalter said the town would need to apply to the State to annex the road to make it into a town road.  Mr. Bookwalter said he would give the legal paperwork to Cloverdale Attorney, Scott Hoff.

TOURISM BOARD APPOINTMENT

Upon request from the Commissioners at a previous meeting, Tim Bookwalter handed a state statute to the Board of Commissioners on how to appoint the Tourism Board.

Don Gedert said that it was brought up at the last Visitor’s Bureau meeting that since the Commissioners had not appointed within 60 days of the term being completed they would go ahead and appoint their own.  A few had objected, they didn’t want to override the Commissioners. Tim Bookwalter said he believes the statue to read that the Commissioners should appoint from other townships besides Greencastle and Cloverdale.  He thinks the Commissioners should keep in mind that the biggest townships are already being represented. 

Commissioner O’Hair felt the whole county needs representation and the two they have in mind will represent the county very well.  Commissioner Warren made the motion to appoint Eric Hayman and Donna Houser.  Commissioner Beck seconded.  The motion was unanimous.

SEVERE WEATHER PREPAREDNESS WEEK

Kim Hyten, EMA Director handed out a proclamation to the Commissioners making March 5-11, 2006, “Severe Weather Preparedness Week”.  Sirens will go off twice between 10-10:30 A.M. and 7-7:30 P.M. on Wednesday. 

Commissioner Beck made the motion to approve and sign the proclamation.  Commissioner Warren seconded.  The motion was unanimous. 

PUTNAM ETHANOL, INC.

Kim Hyten, Plan Commission Director wanted to make sure the roads stay in the same condition after construction at the proposed cross section of 800 South and Highway 231.  Commissioner O’Hair asked since there will be a lot of movement at that intersection has anyone contacted the state about installing a traffic light.  Don Gedert said he would bring up the issue at the next Cloverdale town meeting.   

WEST WALNUT STREET RAILROAD TRACKS

Kim Hyten, Plan Commission Director said that the railroad tracks over West Walnut Street needs fixed.  Dick Sech, a road master out of Lafayette, is concerned about having the hot mix plant open.  The work is hoping to be done the last week of March or after May depending on hot mix.  The road will need to be shut down for a whole week.  David Sutherlin, Highway Supervisor said he got a call and they will be doing it when school is out.

COURTHOUSE

Kim Hyten, Plan Commission Director gave an update to the Commissioners about the floors in the Courthouse.  He said they would be nice after they’re done and wants to thank the Sheriff for sending help. 

BRIDGE 159

Steve Luther with Beam, Longest & Neff said he had drafted a letter for the Commissioners to send to Allen Plunkett.  He has also discussed with other people at INDOT the situation with the bridge.   A response needs to be done regarding construction cost estimates.

Commissioner Warren said she had contacted Barker Engineering and they would be sending paperwork.  Farrar & Garvey had submitted a letter with an estimate to rehabilitate the bridge.  

PUTNAM COUNTY RED CROSS PROCLAMATION

Members of Putnam County Red Cross, Ken Heeke, Charlie Miles, and Joe Liechty, brought in a March 2006 Community Proclamation.  March is Red Cross Month.  All three Commissioners signed and had their picture taken.

BOARD OF HEALTH APPOINTMENT

The Commissioners asked the Auditor’s Office to check with the Board of Health to see if this person is asking to resign off the Health Department Board.  Commissioner Beck made the motion to table the appointment to the Board of Health until next meeting.  Commissioner Warren seconded.  The motion was unanimous.

EXTENSION OFFICE

Lauralee Baugh said their Dining with Diabetes class is scheduled for April and another in May, AG week is coming up and they’re also working with Purdue University on an ATV project.  Volunteers would like to have kids ride their own ATV, volunteers will need to go through a one day training to get certified. 

GASB 34 ORDINANCE

The ordinance needs to be passed by the Commissioners.  The ordinance will state the minimum amount for assets.  It will also state that anything above $5,000 will need to be on the inventory.  It is the updated version of the fixed assets that the state has implemented.  Bridges and sidewalks will also have to be on the inventory. 

FEBRUARY 24, 2006 PAYROLL

Commissioner Warren made the motion to approve payroll.  Commissioner Beck seconded.  The motion was unanimous.

CLAIMS (REGULAR AND EMERGENCY)

Commissioner Beck made the motion to approve the claims with the exception of the Air Evac claim for $9,484.  He would like to see the Sheriff at the next meeting to explain the claim.  Commissioner Warren seconded.  The motion was unanimous.

PUBLIC TELEPHONES

The Auditor’s Office had received a letter from Verizon informing them that the public telephone on the first floor would be removed in the near future. 

BRIDGE 146

The Commissioners received a letter from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources regarding the bridge.  Woolpert is the engineering company that submitted the paperwork.  Commissioner Beck suggested that David Sutherlin, Highway Supervisor contact Woolpert and see what was going on with the bridge.

BITUMINOUS INSURANCE

Bituminous Insurance is the county’s new liability insurance company.  They suggested a few things in risk control to be changed.  The Commissioners suggested that David Sutherlin, Highway Supervisor look into it.  

MAIL

1.     Board of Trustees Minutes – January 18, 2006

2.     Clerk of Circuit Court Monthly Report – January 2006.

3.     IDEM – Notice of Public Comment for Putnam Ethanol.

4.     Heritage Environmental Services, LLC – Modification.

5.     Beam, Longest and Neff, LLC – Bridge 45.

6.     IDEM - Receipt of Air Permit Application.

Commissioner Beck made the motion to acknowledge.  Commissioner Warren seconded.  The motion carried.

LETTERS OF INTEREST FOR APPOINTMENTS TO WCSWD BOARD

The Commissioners received three letters of interest.

ADJOURN

Commissioner Warren made the motion to adjourn.  Commissioner Beck seconded.  The motion was unanimous.

_______________________________          _________________________________

Dennis D. O’Hair, President                     Kristina Warren, Vice President

_______________________________          _________________________________

Gene R. Beck                                           Stephanie Campbell, Auditor