PORTER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2002

The regular meeting of the Porter County Board of Commissioners convened at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 16, 2002 in the Commissioners' Chambers of the Administration Center.

Those present: Commissioners David Burrus, Larry Sheets, John Evans and Attorney Gwenn Rinkenberger.

President David Burrus called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.


APPROVAL OF PAYROLL

Com Sheets moved to approve the payroll of July 1st and July 15th, 2002, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.


APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Com. Evans moved to approve the minutes of June 18, 2002, Com. Sheets seconded, motion carried.


PORTER COUNTY SUBSTANCE ABUSE COUNCIL-
Sharon Cawood, director

Ms. Cawood, "We have been here for 14 years started by Governor Bayh, and there is a coalition in all 92 counties. The dollars we are asking for come from DUI convictions in our county and we give the dollars out in four different areas. To my right is our chairperson this year, Fred Litner, from Porter Starke Services. He will go through the dollars with you."

Mr. Litner, "For education this year we would be allocating $25,301.00. Treatment and intervention measures would be $31,700.00 and then in justice which would cover the area of enforcement, the total would be $31,506.50. The Substance Abuse Council Office would be $24,868.72 for a total allocation of $113,376.22."

Ms. Cawood, "The money does not come out of the general fund. 75% stays in our county and we have to send 25% downstate."

Mr. Litner, "It goes to the Governor's Commission for a drug free Indiana. The other 75% by statute, is allocated in the areas of prevention, education, treatment intervention and enforcing criminal justice. It is also drawn from felony convictions if there is a fine or fee."

Com. Burrus, "Then all of these fees or fines go into this?"

Mr. Litner, "Yes."

Com. Sheets, "I have been with these people from the start, and I have supported this. I don't think that the drug problem is any better. It is probably getting worse. My thoughts are, and I am not in the Sheriff's department, but I do know about 90% of those people in jail are in there for drug related reasons. It seems to me that in some point in time, we have to bring these parties together and find another way of dealing with people who have a drug problem and are in jail because of drugs. My personal opinion is that by putting them in jail is not the answer. Although Porter Starke and others are doing good work, the Sheriff has some good ideas for raising money to get the federal help. Somewhere along the line we have to stop the process we have and change directions by putting these people where we just concentrate getting them better, rehabilitating them and giving them therapy. I don't know the answer, but I do know the direction we are going in is not really doing the right thing and somehow we have to stop just talking about it."

Ms. Cawood, "Porter County is not unique in this problem, it is throughout the United States and everyone is wondering what can be done. We wish we had the answers but we don't."

Com. Sheets, "If we have these thoughts and feelings, keeping silent doesn't help us. Maybe by saying this someone could pick up on it. There are organizations in this county that are separating. Maybe somehow we have to get together and get started spearheading in the right direction. I hope that somebody in this business would purchase the old jail and turn that into a rehab, I mean a really dedicated rehab."

Mr. Litner, "One of the things the coalition has been able to do over the years is to bring people together from various segments of the community to work on the problem. The reality is the drug fight has to be fought every generation. It is ongoing, whether we are doing it in our jails, streets, or the schools and community. It is an ongoing issue."

Com. Sheets, "I agree and I think that by Jackie Sterling doing the Red Ribbon Campaign, and the posters helps by getting the kids aware of it. Unfortunately, we have to start young. Something needs to be done, we are not handling it right, folks."

Com. Evans, "There are six different project names, in all three categories; prevention, treatment and justice, that have all awarded zero. Are those because the funds are not there or are those projects you chose not to fund?"

Ms. Cawood, "Both. Some of them did not meet our criteria. Some of them couldn't fund everything. For instance, the police departments, luckily for us this year, only asked for about $33,000.00 worth of funding. Usually each group has about $100,000.00 or more and we have to cut our budget. We had $240,000.00 worth of requests for this $113,000.00. So in some places, with the police departments, we just had to cut out a little bit but in other groups, we had to cut out quite a bit. Then what we tried to do is find other places where they can get dollars for this. Some of the cases, we sent them to Porter Starke, and we can get free speakers. Some of them were asking for free speakers or speakers that would charge and we can get them free speakers. Some of them needed to use information which we told them to go to Porter Starke. We try to find other alternatives for them and avenues where they can get funded or get some of the things they need."

Mr. Litner, "Our 14 year history has been that we have always had more money requested and the meeting has never been met by the funds we have to generate locally. We have always had to do some trade offs. Some of the proposals are designed so if the person can serve 50 people well, and if we can only fund 25, then we can work with that."

Com. Evans, "There's good and bad, isn't there? To get more budget you have to have more arrests and more DUI's."

Ms. Cawood, "In almost every one of these instances the dollars were cut. In fact, counseling asked for $10,000.00 here for care of indigent, because we want to give money for people who can't pay for treatment, they ask for $25,000.00 and we gave them $10,000.00. This really doesn't end the request for dollars."

Com. Evans, "That is a very difficult job."

Com. Sheets moved to approve the funding, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.


PORTER COUNTY BAIL OUT LEGISLATION
David Hollenbeck, Attorney

Atty. Hollenbeck, "Good morning. I am here today with respect to the Porter County Bail Out Legislation. As you recall when we signed the documents last month, there were two problematic areas that I alerted you to. I am pleased to sit before you today and indicate one of those two areas we have had some success with. I am here today to have you read the documents that involve the interest rate that we are going to be charged by the state. The original documents provided an interest rate of 1.98% per annum. We felt that was too high based on the formula that everyone had agreed on during the negotiations for the legislation. We have been working with the state budget agency regarding their recalculation of our interest rate and I am pleased to report that through the efforts of Rep. Ayers and Rep. Cheney, we have succeeded in convincing the state budget agency that they were wrong in their calculations. They have taken their revised calculations back to the State Board of Finance who has approved their revised interest rate of 1.33% which is a reduction of 6/10's of 1% and when you are borrowing millions of dollars, then it will mean an interest cost reduction of between $25,000.00 and $30,000.00 annually. It is worth redoing the documents. The documents have been redone, I have provided copies of them to you the other day, hopefully, you had a chance to look at them. I will answer any questions you may have but I am here to ask that you re-execute the loan documents at the reduced interest rate. A similar request will be made next Tuesday at the Council meeting. This will affect everything since we have not drawn yet on any of this money. We have been doing good in terms of our spending and tax dollars came in that helped our cash flow situation. Also, I am pleased to report that at this point we have only had to access $750,000.00 of our new monies through the tax warrants that we issued. So in the context of our bigger problem, we are paying our bills."

Com. Burrus, "This amount represents two draws of three potential draws that coincide with non payment of the Bethlehem tax bills and this will in part pay off the Department of Commerce loan that we had outstanding for some time in total. It seems to me that this amount should be the total amount of two tax draws."

Atty. Hollenbeck, "No, because we borrowed from the state Department of Commerce more than one of the draws. The whole amount was $3 million when the other units of local government took their part, what was left was about $2.1 million. Each draw is about $1.7 or $1.8 million. The state determined the total figure we could draw from the bail out bill is a little over $5.5 million. If you divide that by 3, you get a little under $1.8 million a draw. So what they are doing, they are taking the two draws of approximately $3.6 million, taking out the $2 million which leaves approximately $1.7 million left."

Com. Burrus, "That is what we are going to borrow in cash?"

Atty. Hollenbeck, "That we obviously do need."

Com. Burrus, "But it seems like the payment of the Department of Commerce loan is going to be paid off with part of the money also."

Atty. Hollenbeck, "Absolutely. We are paying off the Department of Commerce loan, this is what the state requires us to do, with money we are borrowing under the bail out legislation. The Department of Commerce loan documents say specifically, if and when, as this was done back in December, the legislature ever responds, which they did with the bail out package, the first thing you have to do with that bail out package money is pay back the Department of Commerce loan."

Com. Burrus, "That's right. So the loan that we are borrowing right now should be two installments worth?"

Atty. Hollenbeck, "Correct. There will be another document."

Com. Burrus, "We are paying back part of that but our intent should be the two installments. This amount is the difference? It doesn't make mathematical sense."

Atty. Hollenbeck, "There will be another document once the Department of Commerce, the money hasn't left the state's rainy day fund yet. When that happens, there will be another document that we will be required to borrow the rest of that. I don't want to borrow that any sooner than we have to because we don't have to pay the interest. It is also good that we are paying off the Department of Commerce loan with bail out money because now we are comparing a 3% interest which was the Department of Commerce loan to what is now a 1.33% interest rate."
Com. Evans moved to approve the documents subject to these documents superceding and replacing the previously executed loan documents at 1.98% interest , Com. Sheets seconded, motion carried.

Com. Sheets, "Will you send out a time frame so we'll know what is going to happen with Bethlehem next with regard to whether or not they are going to pay their taxes?"

Atty. Hollenbeck, "Sure. There are two things going on, Larry. Both of which are inter-related. I will talk about the bankruptcy first. Under the bankruptcy, they are relieved from the obligation of paying their property taxes only on what is referred to as pre-petition debt. Because of they way we collect property taxes in Indiana, pre-petition debt includes all of this year, even though they filed for bankruptcy last year. But come May of 2003, they are not relieved from paying anything as long as they remain in Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which means they are trying to continue to operate. To use LTV as an example, they failed in their efforts to save their business in Chapter 11, so they converted their bankruptcy to Chapter 7, which is liquidation. As long as Bethlehem stays in Chapter 11, they would be required to make their normal property tax payment in May, 2003. There is always the possibility they could convert to Chapter 7 in which case, they would be liquidating and then all bets are off of anything we would ever get. That is the bankruptcy process with an additional caveat that adds to the three payments they didn't make, those are pre-petition debt and they are required to put a plan together; us and everybody else they owe money, becomes part of the bankruptcy plan. Under law, they have to submit that plan to the creditors' committee and then to the bankruptcy trustee, and then to the bankruptcy court to get all the approvals and then once it gets approved, they start making their payments of their old debt. That plan is originally due 90 days after you file bankruptcy. It didn't get done because of the nature of this bankruptcy. It was then due 180 days after they filed; that didn't get done. They have now had an extension into the Fall to get the plan submitted. That is not unusual with gigantic bankruptcies. The LTV bankruptcy, when they were in Chapter 11, took two years to get the bankruptcy plan through all those processes and approved. Once it gets approved, the bankruptcy law provides that the plan can call for the payment of your pre-petition debt over six years. A worse case scenario can be that it takes two years to get the plan together and the plan says they will pay their delinquent property taxes in six years. Which would mean it could be eight years down the road. That is why we wanted at least a ten year bail out loan. It could take as much as eight years simply for them to be paying these taxes back. That's how that works. Plus, that is why it was important we have bankruptcy court representation in New York to have input into the plan. We want to be paid toward the front end of the six years and we want to be paid as much as possible, 100 cents on a dollar. These bankruptcy plans often do not provide for such. Where we come out in the mix is a function of the bankruptcy process and your ability to negotiate with Bethlehem. That is where we are in terms of bankruptcy and the three payments we missed. As to the payment that will occur in May of 2003, that brings in the fact that Bethlehem, independent of their bankruptcy, is appealing. They are appealing the taxes they are not paying and are appealing the taxes they should pay in May of 2003. That is real estate and personal property. Candidly, when you are talking about a steel mill, those are basically pole barns out there. Most of the value for taxation purposes, is what is inside that building and that is personal property taxes. Personal property taxes, as you know, in Indiana, companies are self assessed. They turn in a figure every year and the assessor goes out and measures the building and sets a value and if Bethlehem doesn't like it, they appeal that. It is just the opposite for personal property. They turn in a proposal which they turned in a proposal that is staggering less than what they paid two years ago. We have to challenge that and go through the appeal process. That is what is going on right now so to be able to predict what they are going to pay in May of 2003 with all these appeals pending, would take a better crystal ball than I have. I can tell you that if they go through all their appeals and average them, the appeals average about 60%. Worse case scenario in May 2003, they will pay forty cents on a dollar of what they paid two years ago. That appeal process is going forward as you are aware of. That is a very expensive and time consuming process. Both for us and Bethlehem. There is linkage between the appeals and the bankruptcy and we are working on some theories there. That is where we are in both of those issues."

COUNTYWIDE GUIDES PRESENTATION-
Tim Gravenstreter

Mr. Gravenstreter, "Thank you for the opportunity to come in. I will be brief but I will be here as long as it takes to answer whatever questions you have. I have brought in and will leave with you my latest guide for Elkhart County, Indiana. This is the third of six that I am in the process of producing. What I am asking of the Commissioners is for the opportunity to have the Commissioners' office be the government's sponsor of a similar publication in Porter County. How this would serve the citizenry of the county, is that these books are the most complete guide books that contain information about all aspects of life, county government, localized government, every school, every park in the County. It does it on a county wide basis whereas in many communities, there are publications that focus on their area of the county. This is a cost community publication that would give a new move in or perspective businesses the opportunity to learn about the community with vital statistics that are easily obtained from various sections of this book. The book is completely advertisers supported so there is no dollars invested whatsoever, but the reason I align myself with county government in the Commissioners' office, is that it makes it a lot easier when I work with the municipalities, towns and cities on extracting information from them. The level of cooperation is heightened and it keeps this from being non political. I don't have to worry about turf wars between four or five communities in the counties. As testament to that, here are two of the local publications used out of four in Hendrix County, which I am on the second edition for the Commissioners' office and I have glowing letters of recommendation from the Chamber of Commerce in each of those communities as they find these books to be beneficial in helping to orient new people to their community. The only instrument I need from this Board to proceed is just a letter on your letterhead saying that we will act as government sponsors. As per my recommendations I have made in prior correspondence, I will help you draft a welcome letter should you choose to take advantage of this. We do all the work. The government has provided a number of these books for in office use, because I hope you will that the community sections and the government section on county government, is the most thorough, most researched and most accurate in print. Are there any questions?"

Com. Evans, "I saw a copy of the book. Has our Tourism Director, Lorelei Weimer, and her group, looked at the updated version?"

Mr. Gravenstreter, "I have not gone to them. I start with county government before I intrigue them to take a look at it, but the Elkhart County Convention and Visitor's Bureau is an advertising sponsor and distributes these books as does the Hendrix County. What they produce is design for a mass market as a short term use. This is designed to be used for two years. Just promoting tourism within the Porter County residents is generally what those folks like to do because they sponsor the section that I list all of the county events, like fairs, and festivals. I do not compete with either the Chambers of Commerce on their publications or the county wide tourism bureau. I actually help enhance that."

Com. Evans, "I like the idea, but I thing we ought to at least let the tourism people review it first and give us their opinion, that is why they are there."

Mr. Gravenstreter, "If I can be of any help in talking to them, I would be more than happy to do so. I want to make sure they understand this is a separate publication. The person who comes in and grabs one of these at the Tourism Bureau and is only here for a day of antiquing will be ill served. It won't help them, but if they are thinking of moving here, this will let them make informed decisions as to what area of the county they would like to live."

Com. Evans, "Would you get in touch with Lorelei and she can present it at her own board meeting?"

Mr. Gravenstreter, "I could do that. I thank you very much for the consideration."

ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 01-08-2ND READING

Com. Burrus, "This is the second reading on the Ordinance amending Ordinance 01-08. It will authorize the sheriff to borrow from the fund of up to $200,000.00 for jailers' salaries. Any comments or questions before taking the vote?"

Com. Sheets moved to approve Ordinance No. Amending Ordinance 01-08 on 2nd reading, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

ORDINANCE NO. 02-______
AMENDMENT TO ORDINANCE NO 01-08
PORTER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
AN ORDINANCE TO ESTABLISH THE RECEIPT OF PROCEEDS
FROM INTERGOVERNMENTAL SERVICE AGREEMENT
EXECUTED WITH THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
________________________________________________________________________
WHEREAS, the Porter County Board of Commissioners adopted the Porter County Municipal Code on Tuesday, December 2, 1997 pursuant to Ordinance No. 97-38; and
WHEREAS, on August 7, 2001, Ordinance No. 01-08 was passed for inclusion in the Porter County Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, Ordinance No. 01-08 was added to the Porter County Municipal Code through the addition of Chapter 3.18 entitled Federal Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Porter County Board of Commissioners has deemed it necessary to amend Ordinance No. 01-08 and therefore amend Chapter 3.18 of the Porter County Municipal Code;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT AN IT IS HEREBY ORDAINED THAT:
Title 3, Revenue and Finance, of the Porter County Municipal Code Chapter 3.18 entitled Federal Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement Fund, Section 3.18.020 Use of Funds is hereby amended to read as follows:
3.Section 3.18.020 is added to the Porter County Municipal Code to read as follows:
3.18.020 Use of funds
The funds received and deposited in the Federal Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement Fund can be used only for the specific purposes set forth in the Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement No. 01-27-01 and thus as set forth in this ordinance. The funds received and deposited in the Federal Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement Fund shall be utilized exclusively for construction, renovation, and/or improvement costs associated with the new Porter County Jail building project except for the one exception set forth herein. The one exception set forth herein is that funds received and deposited in the Federal Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement Fund may be used by the Porter County Sheriff for the payment of salaries for additional jailers to staff the new Porter County Jail. The Porter County Sheriff may make no more than one request for no more than $200,000.00 from the Federal Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement Fund for jailers' salaries.
Any amount expended from the Federal Intergovernmental Cooperative Agreement Fund for salaries will be reimbursed to said fund by the Porter County Sheriff from monies received for the provision of detention space for federal prisoners in the new Porter County Jail. All expenditures made from the Federal Intergovernmental Agreement Fund shall be made by and at the discretion of the Porter County Board of Commissioners and in conjunction with submitted requests made by the Porter County Sheriff.
This amendment to Ordinance 01-08 passed and adopted this 27th day of June, 2002.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Porter County, Indiana
S\David L. Burrus
S\Larry D. Sheets
S\John A. Evans
attest:s\Sandra K. Vuko, Auditor

ORDINANCE CREATING A FUND FOR HOUSING OF FEDERAL PRISONERS-1ST READING
Sheriff David Reynolds

Sheriff, "I am sure you had a chance to look this over. As you know, we have been working on this and I think we should understand the sheriff's costs and the facility costs add up to a projected $33.64. We are receiving $40.00 per day so there will be some leeway and what this ordinance does is it encompasses the use of the revenues, which would include the breakdown of the facility costs and the costs incurred by operating the jail, including salaries and the insurance costs associated with employees. Without going through a lot of detail, given the fact of our financial crisis in the county right now, I think this is an excellent revenue source that we have had presented to us and I think it is going to be a good thing for the County."

Com. Burrus, "I think the key ingredient here is that we do have a source of revenue that is outside the general fund and this would provide a way to track those funds and also to distribute them appropriately. More importantly, it provides for an annual re-evaluation of these costs we have so you have the ability to go to the federal marshals and negotiate any changes."

Com. Sheets, "Sandy the auditor, is here and her department is going to keep track of all this. Thank you, sheriff."

Com. Evans, "I think it is a good idea and especially to provide for an annual review to see if we are still in line."

Com. Sheets moved to approve the ordinance on first reading, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.


CORRESPONDENCE

Veteran's Service Officer monthly report for June 2002 on file.
Court Security Activity monthly report for June 2002 on file.
Porter Memorial Hospital-EMS monthly report for March 2002 on file.
Treasurer's monthly report for June 2002 on file.
Building Department's monthly report for June 2002 on file.
Liberty Township Quarterly Poor Relief report, March through June 2002 on file.

Request for 7 additional days of bereavement leave

Com. Sheets moved to approve 7 additional bereavement days for Health Department employee Lorraine Chango due to the death of her mother, Com. Evans seconded.

Approve contract for Indiana State Board of Animal Health

Com. Burrus, "This is a contract with the Indiana State Board of Animal Health for Bovine Brucellosis and Tuberculosis eradication in the amount of $1,000.00 for the year 2003. This will be subject to approval of Commissioners' 2003 budget by County Council."

Com. Evans moved to approve, Com. Sheets seconded, motion carried.

Request for transfer of fund-Commissioner's office

Fund 01.30$150.00 from acct 3210travel
Into acct 3410official bonds

to pay for bond renewal for Extension Office.

Com. Sheets moved to approve, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

Request for transfer of funds-Data Processing

Fund 01.50$30.00from acct 3610maintenance agreements
Into acct 3930dues and subscriptions

emergency transfer due to shortfall in budget for the year.

Com. Sheets moved to approve, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

Approve maintenance contract renewal for Xerox 5322 copier in mail room.

Com. Burrus, "This copier is located in the mail room and the amount of the renewal is $612.00 annually. This belongs to the Commissioners' office and is utilized by anyone in the building who needs it.

Com. Sheets moved to approve, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.


REPORT FROM COMMISSIONERS

All Districts:

1. INDOT Voucher for Passive Railroad Grade Crossing Improvement Project Grant
#02-GCIP-LPA-11, in the amount of $6,695.00.

Com. Evans moved to approve, Com. Sheets seconded, motion carried.

North District: John Evans

1. LPA Claim Voucher #4 for $11,947.14 for Construction Inspection of Calumet Trail.

Com. Evans moved to approve, Com. Sheets seconded, motion carried.

2. Road Agreement for Portage Minor Subdivision #0325-A-1, located on the south side of CR 700 North between CR 700 West and CR 625 West. Offer to contribute $750.00/lot for a total of $750.00. Owner and subdivider is Joseph D. Williams.

Com. Evans moved to approve, Com. Sheets seconded, motion carried.

Center District: Larry Sheets

1. Road Agreement for Center Minor Subdivision #1227-D-1, located on the north side
of CR 550 North between CR 175 West and CR 250 West. Offer to contribute $750.00/lot for a total of $1,500.00. Owner and subdivider John A. Kickbush.

Com. Sheets moved to approve, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

South District: David Burrus

1. LPA Claim Voucher #11 for $2,481.94 for Construction Inspection of Dunn's Bridge .

Com. Burrus moved to approve, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

2. Road Agreement for Boone Minor Subdivision #0459-B-1, located on the south side of CR 1000 South between US 231 and CR 625 West. Offer to contribute $750.00/ lot for a total of $750.00. Owner and subdivider is Frances E. Ragland.

Com. Burrus moved to approve, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.


3. Riley Ridge Subdivision's Bank One Performance Letter of Credit 00410530447605 for $20,000 that will expire on July 16, 2003. Recommend approval.

Com. Burrus moved to approve, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.
INTERIM DIRECTOR OF MEMORIAL OPERA HOUSE

Com. Burrus, "As we all know, Jackie Gray has resigned her position as manager and director of the Memorial Opera House. In conversations with Jackie, she has recommended that in the interim, her assistant, Holly Seibel, be identified as the interim director. I certainly recommend that. Any discussion?"

Com. Sheets moved to approve Holly Seibel as interim director of the Memorial Opera House, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

INTERSECTION OF STATE ROAD 2 AND US 30

Com. Burrus, "Over the years we have had numerous complaints regarding the intersection of State Road 2 and Highway 30. John Whitcomb was one of the first to point that out and we mentioned at our meetings that we would pass those concerns to the district office of the State Highway Department. I am asking this Board to express their opinion on my suggestion that we draft a letter to the Director of the Indiana Department of Transportation requesting some attention to the situation."

Com. Sheets moved to approve, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

PLAN COMMISSION-AFTERNOON SESSION 1:30 P.M.
Rezone, RR to R2, Carmen Good Builders, 2nd reading

Steve Nigro, "This is a second reading for a parcel of land on 150 East, from RR to R2, medium density or two family residential. It was forwarded with recommendation of approval from the Plan Commission with a vote of 8-0."

Com. Sheets moved to approve, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

DATA PROCESSING CONTRACT
Rich Lohman

Mr. Lohman, "What we would like to do is upgrade three wireless network links, one between the Courthouse and the North County Complex, and one between the Courthouse and the Administration Center and the final between the Courthouse and the new Sheriff's Department. We have already gone through the bid process and selected Midway Electronics and this is their contract referencing the original bid and subsequent questions and answers during the bid process."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "As far as I am concerned everything is okay."

Com. Burrus, "Are these scheduled completion dates satisfactory to you?"

Mr. Lohman, "We would like them to be a little quicker, but we understand the time it takes to order and secure parts, so it is reasonable to us."

Com. Sheets moved to approve, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.


WAIVER OF REQUEST FOR RENEWAL OF BUILDING PERMIT

Com. Burrus, "The last item of business, is a waiver request from the Building Department for renewal of a local building permit. It was originally issued November 20, 2001 and was made out to Thomas J. Pappas, Permit No. 01-1400. This is a housekeeping item that needs to be done so the Building Department's books can be balanced out."


Com. Evans moved to approved, Com. Sheets seconded, motion carried.

With no further business to conduct, the meeting was recessed.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PORTER COUNTY, INDIANA

David L. Burrus
Larry D. Sheets
John A. Evans

Attest: Sandra K. Vuko, Auditor