COMMISSIONERS MEETING

REGULAR SESSION

APRIL 19, 2004 at 6:00 p.m.

ATTENDANCE:

COMMISSIONERS:                           Gene R. Beck, President

                                                        Donald K. Walton, Vice President

                                                        Dennis D. O’Hair

COUNCIL:                                         Larry Parker

COUNTY ATTORNEY:                       Scott Hoff

AUDITOR:                                         Kristina Warren

AUDIENCE:                                      Seventeen Individuals

The Putnam County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on April 19, 2004 at 6:00 p.m. at the Courthouse Annex.  The pledge to the flag was given.  Don Walton led everyone in a moment of prayer.

BRIDGE 286

Dave Sutherlin, Highway Supervisor presented paperwork for the Commissioners to approve and sign.  Dennis O’Hair made the motion to approve; Don Walton seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.  The Commissioners want a check in the amount of $5,000 cut tomorrow morning by the Auditor’s Office to CSX Transportation.

LETTER FROM JERROD BAUGH REGARDING 700 SOUTH

Dave Sutherlin, Highway Supervisor said the letter was requesting crosswalk signage in front of the Conservation Club. Gene Beck made the motion to turn the request over to Bliss McKnight; Dennis O’Hair seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

BRIDGES 137 & 146

Steve Ostermeier with Floyd Burroughs & Associates came to the meeting to discuss the two bridges being moved to the Putnam County Fairgrounds.  He had been in contact with Jim Cooper.  Mr. Ostermeier had put together a contract in the amount of $3,500 for both bridges.  Dennis O’Hair made the motion to approve; Gene Beck seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.  (see page 50 for agreement)

LOCUST POINT & J.A.R.S. SUBDIVISIONS

Kim Hyten, Planning & Zoning Director presented the plats.  The Planning board approved the plats.  Don Walton made the motion to approve the two subdivisions; Dennis O’Hair seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

INSTALLATION OF A LOW VOLTAGE MONITORED SMOKE DETECTOR DEVICE

Kim Hyten, EMA Director submitted a letter from B & R Fire Protection, Inc.  The letter was in regards to a detector being installed in the 911 Dispatch Center.  It would include all wire, wire box, etc.  It would also have a 3-year warranty.  The amount would be $1,290.  Don Walton made the motion to approve and to take the money from the cumulative courthouse fund; Dennis O’Hair seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

 LOOKOUT PORTABLE SECURITY

Kim Hyten, EMA Director submitted a letter from Lookout regarding the panic buttons in the courthouse and annex.  It was in regards to the on-site reconfiguration of the Dispatcher – Wireless Courthouse Emergency Call System.  The cost would be $800.  The cost would cover retraining, updating of the system software with the latest revision, reprogramming of buttons and messages, and a signal survey for best placement of the sensor repeaters.  Don Walton made the motion to approve the project for up to $800 from the annex renovation fund; Dennis O’Hair seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

MASK CONTRACTS

Kim Hyten, EMA Director submitted paperwork from State of Indiana Homeland Security.  Mr. Hyten said there was a contract granting the county funds to purchase CBRNE certified APRs.  Dennis O’Hair made the motion to approve; Don Walton seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

TWO GRANTS FOR 2004 FUNDING FOR STATE HOMELAND SECURITY & LAW ENFORCEMENT TERRORISM PREVENTION PROGRAM

Kim Hyten, EMA Director said he was applying for $42,663 for State Homeland Security and $7,637 for the Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Program.  The amount was figured from population per capita.  He did not have any paperwork tonight.

Dennis O’Hair commented on the amount of money that Kim Hyten and his committees have generated for this county.  He felt Mr. Hyten was a key player for this county and should be commended.  Mr. Hyten was going after funding the county had never received before. 

COUNTY WEB SITE

Marilyn Bigelow stated the first meeting would be Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. in the conference room at the courthouse.  They would report at the May 3 Commissioner meeting the outcome of the web site meeting.

CONFERENCE ROOM

Dennis O’Hair made the motion to direct department heads that the conference room was not a storage room.  The boxes and miscellaneous items need to be moved out of the room.  Don Walton seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

COUNTY ROAD 475 SOUTH

Bill Lemay said he had talked to Don Walton regarding the road he lived on since 1967.  Mr. Walton said they had discussed it.  He said Mr. Lemay needed to look at oil or calcium chloride to put on the gravel road to control the dust. 

Mrs. Lemay felt they paid taxes and they should not have to pay for the oil or calcium chloride.  They should not have to deal with the dust.  Ms. Lemay said the dust was so bad she could not sit outside. 

Mr. Walton said he had talked to Mr. Lemay about the road.  And, that Mr. & Mrs. Lemay had talked to Dave Sutherlin the Highway Supervisor.  Mrs. Lemay said they own the property on both sides and they could close it.  She had spoken to an attorney about it.  Mr. Walton said they would look into it.  Mr. Lemay said he would be coming to the meetings until something was done to his road.

PROBLEM WITH NEIGHBORING DOGS

Jim O’Brian said his neighbor had 8 coon dogs.  The smell and noise was so bad he could not open his bedroom window.  Mr. O’Brian said he had spoke with both Don Walton and Kim Hyten about this situation before. 

He had been assured that his neighbor been sent two certified letters stating the dogs were a nuisance.  He had spoken to the Sheriff’s Department and was told they could not do anything about it.  Kim Hyten said the person had responded to the second letter.  The person had taken down the kennel sign.  Mr. Hyten said it was still under investigation.  The county had to prove that there was a business.  The person said it was his personal dogs. 

Mr. O’Brian said the person did not pick up the feces.  The smell did not allow them to enjoy the outside of their property. Ms. O’Brian said they had been assured the law would be changed.  Mr. O’Brian said the Health Department had come and looked at it.  They had felt it was healthy living.  It was not healthy living.  He wanted someone to come and look at it with him.  He was a taxpayer.  Where were his rights?  Was he going to have to live with this forever? 

Gene Beck said the Commissioners had no control over this type of situation.  Who was his trustee?  Mr. O’Brian said Greg Arnold.  Mr. Arnold said as long as the neighbor gave him money he would give him a kennel license.  Kim Hyten said they would pass it on to the new attorney to see if there was a case. 

Ms. O’Brian asked if confirmation from people that he had sold dogs to or had proof of the sign being up would that help the case?  Mr. Hyten said it would.  Ms. O’Brian said Brian Holsapple from the Health Department had been the one to come and look at the situation.  She felt it was a conflict of interest since he knew the person in question.  Mr. Hyten said he would come out and look at it.  He would present it to the Plan Commission legal counsel.  Mr. O’Brian said that was a start.  Mr. Hyten had a picture with the sign but now the sign was gone.

MUTUAL AID AGREEMENT & GENERATOR

Dr. Robert Heavin presented the agreement to the Commissioners.  Dennis O’Hair made the motion to approve; Don Walton seconded.  The motion carried unanimously. 

CUMULATIVE COURTHOUSE ADDITIONAL

The Commissioners advised the Auditor to request $100,000 from the Council next month.  Gene Beck made the motion; Don Walton seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

ANTHEM BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD

Gene Beck stated the county had received a settlement check for 2003 in the amount of $241,611.24.

COMMISSIONERS MAIL

1.    Pre-Construction Minutes INDOT Project BRO-9967 Bridge 159.

2.    Beam, Longest & Neff – Bridge 159.

3.    Maximus – 2002 Central Services Cost Allocation Plan.

4.    Greencastle Putnam County Economic Development – Establishment of the Indianapolis Road              Economic Development Area.

5.    Indiana Department of Transportation – CR 200 S at CSXT.

6.    Heritage Environmental Services, LLC – Class 1 Permit Modification.

7.    Downey Insurance – Job-site Inspections.

8.    Indiana Department of Environmental Management – Sewer Permit for John Setty/Curt Sinclair, Notice   of Approval for Lone Star Industries.

9.    Farrar, Garvey & Associates – Bridge 199.

10.  Treasurer’s Monthly Report – March 2004.

11.  Clerk of Circuit Court Monthly Report – March 2004.

12.  Welfare Monthly Report – March 2004.

The Commissioners acknowledged their mail.

APRIL 8, 2004 PAYROLL

Don Walton made the motion to approve; Dennis O’Hair seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

RATES FOR C.A.G.I.T. & E.D.I.T.

Don Walton made the motion to approve and have Gene Beck sign; Dennis O’Hair seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

BRIDGE 159

Don Walton explained the current status on the bridge.

APPOINTMENT FOR CLEAR CREEK CONSERVANCY DISTRICT

A fax had been received from Robert E. Curry & Associates requesting an appointment from the Commissioners for a Wage Committee needed for the construction of improvements at the wastewater treatment plant.  After some discussion, Gene Beck made the motion to appoint Don Walton; Dennis O’Hair seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

The needed information was given to Don Walton.

ADJOURN

Dennis O’Hair made the motion to adjourn; Don Walton seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

________________________________      _________________________________

Gene R. Beck, President                        Donald K. Walton, V. President

________________________________      _________________________________

Dennis D. O’Hair                                    Attest: Kristina Warren, Auditor