MARCH 20, 2006 AT 6:00 P.M.
ATTENDANCE:
COMMISSIONERS Dennis O’Hair, President
Kristina Warren, Vice-President
Gene R. Beck
COUNTY ATTORNEY: Timothy Bookwalter
AUDITOR: Stephanie Campbell
DEPUTY AUDITOR: Carrie Boling
AUDIENCE: Fourteen Individuals
The Putnam County Board of Commissioners met in a regular session on March 20, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. at the Courthouse Annex. The pledge to the flag was given.
Commissioner O’Hair asked Sheriff Frisbie about the $9,484 Airvac claim submitted at the last meeting. Sheriff Frisbie explained that it was for a helicopter ride for an inmate who was forcing himself into massive seizures. He also explained that the price was the Sheriff’s discount. It normally cost around $12,000. Commissioner Beck made the motion to approve the claim. Commissioner Warren seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Sheriff Frisbie talked to the Commissioners about moving a metal detector from the jail to the Courthouse. He thinks Judge Lowe may mandate closing three of the four entrances to the courthouse for safety reasons. It may have to be manned 8 hours a day. Security has changed at the courthouse because they’ve had to rotate shifts. He said he’s not sure how it got put into his budget but he’s not ultimately responsible for the security at the courthouse. Tim Bookwalter said we’ve had a couple of issues this year with threats. He feels that the danger is not with the public but with prisoners getting a gun from someone. Sheriff Frisbie said they plan to use detector on a case-by-case basis, for example when jury trials and tax time comes around.
Sheriff Frisbie said the judge wants a work release program. But, it would cost the jail money to start it. With the work release program the county would receive 10-20% of their pay each week. If the money could go into a fund that would enable the program to pay for itself the Sheriff would be in favor of it. He simply did not have the money in his budget.
Commissioner Warren asked if it would be the Commissioners responsibility to adopt the ordinance to state where the money would go. Sheriff Frisbie wanted to remind the Commissioners that he’s working on a budget that is ten years old. Tim Bookwalter said it would not be taking away from county general, because there is no program now. He also said it would be similar to the asset forfeiture fund. Tim Bookwalter suggested getting the Commissioners and the Council approval.
Commissioner Warren made the motion to approve and have Tim Bookwalter draw up an ordinance for the Commissioners and Council to sign. Commissioner Beck seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Sheriff Mark Frisbie wanted to inform everyone that a lot of counties had lost their D.O.C. prisoners; however, Putnam County would continue to receive them.
Commissioner Warren stated there had been an issue with the bids submitted an approved at their last meeting regarding bridge 152. It needed to be corrected at tonight’s meeting. Commissioner Warren made the motion to amend the bridge proposal awarded to Henderson and give it to Trisler. Commissioner Beck seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Dave Sutherlin, Highway Supervisor submitted bids to the Commissioners for a 2007 LT9500 Sterling Tandem Axle Truck.
Truck City of Gary, Inc. $84,376.00. Extended 5 year warranty from Allison on transmission is $1,200. Approximately 45-60 days for delivery.
International $84,605.97. Seven year –250,000-mile warranty on Cummings Engine Inc. Approximately 45-60 days for delivery. No price from International on extended truck warranty.
Commissioner Beck made the motion to purchase the truck from Sterling for $84,376.00. Commissioner Warren seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Mike Kessler told the Commissioners that they needed a water pipeline easement only, no natural gas. The lines would go down to Poland Road at 450 W. There is a field where they have signed water rights agreement and hopefully be able to dig wells for additional water supply. They already have permission to go down U.S. Highway 40.
Commissioner O’Hair asked if they had an alliance with Reelsville water. Mike Kessler said they do and the Reelsville Fire Department has asked to install water hydrants at their expense all along the water route.
Commissioner O’Hair asked if the townships could use them as fire protection, and Mike Kessler said yes. Commissioner Beck asked if he was going to put the lines in the ditches, Mike Kessler reported they were. Commissioner Warren made the motion to approve the lines. Commissioner Beck seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
David Sutherlin asked when they were going to start. Mike Kessler said in the next two to three weeks and there would be a lot of activity this summer on the plant.
Andrea Wagner, from Reverse 911, gave a presentation and handed out marketing information to the Board of Commissioners. She explained a little bit about the communications solution that gets emergency information out through a phone line about road closings, severe weather, boil orders, and gas leaks. It uses a database and mapping technologies to notify the public of emergencies. The cost of the base system is $27,400 and the two options are $32,000. These are discounted prices given to the county.
David Costin, 911 Director, says he has looked into it and believes it’s a good idea. He said we have the sirens but they only tell people to seek shelter. The areas in the county that the sirens don’t reach can be contacted first through Reverse 911. We currently have 18,000 landlines in Putnam County so the entire county could be called in about two minutes. They will need to acquire information regarding mobile telephone numbers that’s not in the database. He also likes it because it gives him other ways to reach responders instead of trying to reach them one by one.
Commissioner Beck asked about the cost of annual maintenance. Andrea Wagner said the first year of maintenance is included in the price quoted. Dave Costin said he can help pay for the annual maintenance.
Commissioner O’Hair asked Greencastle Fire Chief, Bill Newgent, if the county fire departments endorsed the Reverse 911. Mr. Newgent said this is the first he’s heard about it. Commissioner O’Hair thinks it’s a great idea, he would like to see the police and fire departments in on it.
Commissioner O’Hair also asked if Steve Walters, Bioterrorism Coordinator, had anything to say about it. Mr. Walters said he thought it would be a great system to handle any type of incident in a timely manner. It’s a very important system that this county needs to look at introducing. He would like to see this proceed forward. Andrea Wagner said she would have Kim Hyten and Dave Costin help her coordinate a meeting with city and town officials.
Commissioner Warren made the motion to table until the May 15th meeting. Commissioner Beck seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Kim Hyten said they’ve been working on plans for an emergency training facility for five years. He will present this idea to the County Council and is asking for support from the Board of Commissioners. Commissioner Beck thinks we’re overdue and they need their own building and supports it 100%.
Commissioner O’Hair said his biggest hang up on this is where to get the money from for this project; he doesn’t want to see any property taxes involved. Commissioner Beck made the motion to give their approval in presenting this project to the County Council. Commissioner Warren seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Kim Hyten presented the following subdivision in Section 23, Township 16 N, Range 4W, being Franklin Township. Commissioner Beck made the motion to approve. Commissioner Warren seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Kim Hyten presented the following subdivision in Section 2, Township 15 N, Range 4 W, being Monroe Township. Commissioner Beck made the motion to approve. Commissioner Warren seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Kim Hyten presented the following subdivision in Section 25, Township 15 N, Range 3 W, being Floyd Township. Commissioner Beck made the motion to approve. Commissioner Warren seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Barry Grimes submitted the only bid for propping up the northwest and northeast corner of the courthouse. Commissioner Warren made the motion to approve the $4,720 bid from Barry Grimes. Commissioner Beck seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
The Board of Commissioners was sending a letter to Alan Plunkett, at INDOT, to investigate the intersection of County Road 800 S and U.S. Highway 231 in Warren Township to be studied for a control signal. The request comes from not only the current traffic count which has been increasing 50% on average from the current traffic count done in 1995 of which was 211, but the fact that there has been an increase in Industry, Mineral Extraction, asphalt plant, future batching plant and an Ethanol production plant, and Hilltop Orchid. Commissioner Beck made the motion to approve and sign the letter. Commissioner Warren seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Bill Dory said they always remind INDOT of what’s going on at that intersection.
DePauw University is planning on building near the county highway department. They are asking if the road can be structured to add a water line. Kim Hyten is concerned with the buses and trucks going through this road because the corner is tough. He would like permission to speak with the landowner and try to move forward with this project. Commissioner Beck made the motion to approve. Commissioner Warren seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Warren asked Kim Hyten what two companies ranked the top with the Plan Commission board after their interviews. Mr. Hyten replied ACE (American Consulting Engineers) and LSL. The Commissioners asked for Mr. Hyten to list the pros and cons for each of the two companies and get it to them before their next meeting to review.
Commissioner Beck said the first floor of the courthouse looks good and to please pass it on to the people who had worked on it. Kim Hyten thanked the Sheriff and Tom Gilson, and also wanted to apologize for the mess.
Steve Luther with Beam, Longest & Neff asked the Commissioners if they had submitted a letter to Alan Plunkett. Commissioner Warren reminded him that it was a draft letter they had received to review. Mr. Luther believes they need to respond about the meeting with INDOT. Commissioner Beck made the motion to approve sending a letter. Commissioner Warren seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Marilyn Bigelow reported to the Commissioners that the railroad tracks near Fillmore look great and she wanted David Sutherlin to know.
She asked if a letter could be sent to CSX regarding the east side of Fillmore.
Ms. Bigelow also asked about long range plans for road repairs. Commissioner Beck said he only knew of one road, the road south of U.S. Hwy 36, then resurface road from Bainbridge to North High School, which would cost around $90,000. Marilyn Bigelow suggested getting a simple long-term plan so the residents can understand and the Commissioners could justify what they’re doing.
Ms. Bigelow said the county is going to be getting some money due to the major moves and asked if it could be used in the Heritage Lake area. Commissioner Beck said the first half of the money will come in October, and there may be guidelines for what the money can be spent on. A decision on how it would be spent has not been made at this time.
Bill Dory discussed the Major Moves chart. He reported that, State Representative Connie Lawson, said instead of the money being spread over three years it will be over two years. He suggested there might be ways of leveraging this money to benefit the taxpayers.
Laura Lee Baugh said they postponed the AG breakfast to Thursday morning because of the predicted weather. 4H enrollment is coming up soon and they have data entered over 300 entries so far. That’s 100 over what they predicted. The project fee to youth is $2 per project. This is the 150th year of the Indiana State Fair.
Shirley VanHook, County Home Matron said they will be short handed because one of her full time employees will be having surgery and will be off six to eight weeks. She may have to hire a part time employee to come in to help. Commissioner Beck told her to do what she needed.
Commissioner Beck made the motion to appoint Ruth Ralph to the Department of Health Board. Commissioner Warren seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Warren made the motion to approve payroll. Commissioner O’Hair seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
The postage machine that the Courthouse currently has is over ten years old. It is being phased out and the new one proposed is $5,440.
Commissioner Beck made the motion to approve. Commissioner Warren seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
The Commissioner’s signed the contract for ONB to have a lockbox for the Treasurer’s Office. Commissioner Beck made the motion to sign the contract. Commissioner Warren seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
1. GIE – Andrew Stetler.
2. IN Dept. of Transportation – People Pathways Project.
3. Beam, Longest & Neff – Bridge 58.
4. State Revolving Fund – Town of Russellville for Improvements to Drinking Water System.
5. Cummins Mental Health Minutes – February 16, 2006.
6. Floyd Township Fire Department Minutes – February 22, 2006.
7. BOAC Minutes – February 6, 2006.
8. Treasurer’s Monthly Report – February.
Commissioner Warren made the motion to acknowledge the mail. Commissioner O’Hair seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
Commissioner Warren made the motion to adjourn. Commissioner O’Hair seconded. The motion carried unanimously.
_______________________________ _________________________________
Dennis D. O’Hair, President Kristina Warren, Vice President
_______________________________ _________________________________
Gene R. Beck Attest: Stephanie Campbell,
Auditor