COMMISSIONERS MEETING

REGULAR SESSION

AUGUST 16, 2004 at 6:00 p.m.

ATTENDANCE:

COMMISSIONERS:                         Gene R. Beck, President

                                                      Donald K. Walton, Vice President

                                                      Dennis D. O’Hair

COUNTY ATTORNEY:                     Timothy Bookwalter

AUDITOR:                                       Kristina Warren

AUDIENCE:                                    Twenty-seven Individuals

The Putnam County Board of Commissioners met in regular session on August 16, 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.

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS ADVISORY BOARD

Don Walton stated he had spoken with Donald (Bradley) Alspaugh.  He was willing to take the appointment.  Don Walton made the motion to appoint Mr. Alspaugh; Dennis O’Hair seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.  Jamie France, Director said he would contact Mr. Alspaugh and get him the needed information.

BRIDGE 159

Gene Beck said Steve Luther with Beam, Longest & Neff had stated paperwork would be submitted today regarding the Hull property.

BRIDGE 286

Dave Sutherlin, Highway Supervisor submitted a revised construction agreement to the Commissioners.  CSX has agreed to accept $28,783.00 as the up front payment.  CSX will refund to the county any payment in excess.  The total amount would be $67,567.  They want the $28,783 now and the rest held in an account.  They want to be assured the money is there. 

Tim Bookwalter said he could call the attorney for CSX and talk to him.  Dennis O’Hair made the motion to have an account in the amount of $67,567 be held for the project and paid through the claims process as invoices are submitted.  Kristina Warren advised the Commissioners that there was only $7,000 not earmarked for a project this year.  A transfer would need to be done to get the money.  Commissioner O’Hair advised Dave Sutherlin, Highway Supervisor to do a transfer within the cumulative bridge budget.  Don Walton seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.  Tim Bookwalter advised the Commissioners not to sign any paperwork until he spoke to the attorney for CSX. 

ROAD WEST OF BRICK CHAPEL

Dennis O’Hair made the motion to put up a sign on the road stating the road was done through wheel tax money.  Don Walton seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT WITH BAINBRIDGE

Kim Hyten, Plan Commission Director submitted the agreement to the Commissioners for them to sign.  They had approved it at their August 2, 2004 meeting.  The Town Council for Bainbridge had approved and signed it on August 11, 2004.

ORDINANCE TO AMEND PUTNAM COUNTY BUILDING CODES

1999-4-5

Kim Hyten, Plan Commission Director submitted the ordinance to the Commissioners.  The Auditor had advertised it for tonight’s meeting. The ordinance is to provide for the regulating of construction, alteration, repair, location and use of buildings and structures in the Incorporated Town of Bainbridge.  Gene Beck made the motion to approve Ordinance No. 2004-8-16; Don Walton seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.

COUNTY WEB SITE

Mary Williams stated they were meeting every other week now.  They had put an advertisement in the Hoosier Topics and they had no response from it.  At the last meeting, the Commissioners had given her permission to draw up a letter to give to the Banner Graphic regarding an advertisement.  However, with zero response from the Hoosier Topics ad she felt it was unnecessary.  She would leave it up to the Commissioners. 

Ms. Williams stated she had received a letter from the Putnam County Community Foundation regarding their grant application.  The Foundation stated they were unable to consider the request at this time due to funding.

Ms. Williams also advised the Commissioners that they have almost gotten to the $3,000 limit for the web site. 

The Commissioners agreed with Ms. Williams regarding putting another advertisement in the Banner Graphic.

Gene Beck asked if all the departments had gotten the needed information to them for the web site.  Ms. Williams stated that most departments had cooperated.  She was getting with them.

PROPERTY TAXES

The Commissioners asked why Treasurer Janet Deaton was at the meeting.  Was she here to update the Commissioners regarding the property taxes?  Ms. Deaton stated she was here tonight because she had heard there was complaints regarding her office.  Don Walton stated he had spoken to Janet Deaton today on the telephone.  He had brought up the property taxes at the precinct meeting on Saturday.  He was advised then that the property taxes were being printed.  He had also received a letter from someone regarding the Treasurer’s Office.

Ms. Deaton explained that her office was printing bills right now.  And, she knew taxpayers got upset when they came to the office to pay their property taxes and were told they could not give them a receipt at this time.  The computer system is down while the tax bills are being printed.  Her staff was working hard to get the tax bills printed and would be mailed in the next 7 to 10 days.   

Commissioner Walton asked when the date of collection would be printed in the newspaper.  He received a lot of telephone calls regarding this issue.  Ms. Deaton stated she had been holding off putting a date in the newspaper because they wanted to be sure it was going to be a date they could live up to.  She was being cautious due to the experience they have had the past couple of years.  She had spoken to Lisa Trigg with the Banner Graphic before tonight’s meeting about setting up a time to talk to her and put an article in the newspaper.

Dennis O’Hair said he appreciated Janet Deaton coming to the meeting to keep the Commissioners informed.  He had not heard any complaints regarding the property tax issue.

ORDINANCE WITH CINERGY METRONET

Bill Dory with Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center and Steve Biggerstaff with Cinergy Metronet came to the meeting to get a motion from the Commissioners to approve the ordinance.  They needed this motion before they could proceed. 

Dennis O’Hair questioned if the ordinance would hold the county to an exclusive agreement.  Tim Bookwalter, County Attorney said it would not.  The county could enter into an agreement with other companies.

Don Walton made the motion to approve ordinance no. 2004-8-16-1; Dennis O’Hair seconded.  The motion carried unanimously.  Tim Bookwalter recommended to the Commissioners to not sign the ordinance until the second reading.

CO-GEN AND ETHANOL PLANT

Terry O’Malley came to discuss the plant with the Commissioners.  He gave them a booklet regarding the project. 

Mr. O’Malley stated the project was going well.  They were looking at a design for the plant and working with the different entities that would be involved in building this plant.  They look at continued growth and jobs for the county with this plant.  The financing has already been obtained.  The permits necessary have already been done too with the State.  They would like to be online by next summer. 

PUBLIC DEFENDER BOARD

Judge Robert Lowe introduced: Larry Landis, Robert Gordon, Jim Recker, Jenny Vermillion, Judge Diana Laviolette, Matt Headley & Ashley Karish.  They were at the meeting due to the increased demand on them regarding the workload for the Public Defender’s Office.  They thought it would be a good idea to look into a Public Defender Board. 

Larry Landis with Indiana Public Defender Council passed out paperwork to the Commissioners.  The system was created in 1989.  He stated 53 out of the 92 counties have chosen this system.   

A county board of three people would need to be created by the Commissioners.  The Commissioners would appoint one person and the Judges would appoint the other two. 

Mr. Landis reviewed the paperwork submitted and found quickly that they were understaffed according to the caseload.  Their assessment regarding the reimbursable cases was that they needed 2.9 part time attorneys and the non-reimbursable cases they needed 2.5 part time attorneys.  The county has less than half of the staff that they need.  The county needs three more lawyers to adequately meet the caseload.

Mr. Landis gave a spreadsheet on a rough estimate of the cost that would be incurred with the new program.  The Commissioners questioned the secretaries that would be needed with the additional attorneys.  Judge Lowe said space would be an issue too.  They could ask the attorneys to utilize their own space and secretary at an additional expense.  Any expense the county incurs the State would reimburse 40%. 

Tim Bookwalter asked Mr. Landis how other counties approached this problem.  Putnam County has approximately a population of 38,000.  Would it be more economical to contract out the Public Defenders?  Mr. Landis stated there was not a quick fix or a plan that fit all. 

Judge Lowe wanted to stress that for the county to receive the 40% reimbursement the county would need to meet the standards set by the State regarding the attorneys.

Judge Lowe stated he had put in the Superior Court budget for 2005 another attorney and asked for the part time secretary in the Public Defender’s Office to be made full time.

Tim Bookwalter asked how the county adopted this plan.  Mr. Landis said an ordinance would need to be adopted by the Commissioners.  They would need a comprehensive plan adopted by the three-member board.  He had seen it done within a three month time period.  They could have it set up and start receiving reimbursement money in January.

Judge Lowe stated they wanted to present the facts to the Commissioners tonight so they could think about it.  They would come to the Commissioners at a later date to discuss it further.  Dennis O’Hair asked for a budget to be prepared and presented to them.

Jim Recker also made the suggestion instead of part time attorneys hire two full time.  It would eliminate part of the space issue.

HEALTH DEPARTMENT - GENERATOR

Dr. Robert Heavin stated there was $7,000 that they needed to appropriate from a grant they received.  All of the money had not been appropriated.  The Health Department was restricted on what they could spend the money on.  Dr. Heavin stated the generator was up and running. 

He proposed using the money to hook up the boiler and the gym to the generator.  This way the building would have heat and the gym would have electricity and could be used for an emergency situation.  He had spoken with Ensor Electric and it would cost approximately $4,060. 

Dr. Heavin advised the Commissioner that any money not used by the county have to be given back to the State.  The Commissioners thought it was a good idea and to proceed. 

GREENBRIAR SUBDIVISION

Dr. Robert Heavin said they would have a fiscal report soon.  They would bring the report to the Commissioners.  He felt the Commissioners would see a smaller scale of the homes needing to be reviewed.  They would then need to reach a policy decision.

AUGUST 13, 2004 PAYROLL

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

AUGUST 2, 2004 MINUTES

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

COMMISSIONERS MAIL

1.     GIE – Claimant: James Adams Jr., File No. GIE00612AU-8-1.

2.     Letter from Putnam County Public Library – Tax Levy.

3.   IDEM – Notice of Public Comment for Putnam Ethanol, LLC & Draft Class 3 Permit Modification for Heritage Environmental Services, LLC.

4.     Putnam County Community Corrections – Thank you letter.

5. Timothy R. Downey Insurance – Recommendations for Routine Job-site Inspections.

6.     Farrar, Garvey & Associates – Bridge Inspection – Underwater Phase.

7.     Beam, Longest & Neff, Inc. – Bridge 159.

8.     Microfilm Progress Report – July 2004.

9.     Welfare Report – July 2004.

10.  Treasurer’s Monthly Report – July 2004.

The Commissioners acknowledged their mail.

REELSVILLE WATER GRANT

Gene Beck and Don Walton needed to sign a claim voucher for the project.  It was for the amount of $51,138.50.

ADJOURN

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

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

________________________________________________________________

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