PORTER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JULY 20, 2004, 10:00 A.M.

The regular meeting of the Porter County Board of Commissioners convened at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 20, 2004 in the Commissioners= Chamber of the Administration Center.

Those present were: Commissioners David Burrus, John Evans and Robert Harper and County Attorney Gwenn Rinkenberger.

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

APPROVAL OF PAYROLL

Com. Evans moved to approve the payroll of July 12, 2004, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Com. Evans moved to approve the minutes of May 5, May 18, and June 1, 2004, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

DRUG FREE COMMUNITY FUNDS
Sharon Cawood, Director of Substance Abuse Council
Pete Duda, Chesterton Police Dept.

Ms. Cawood, AGood morning. Since Commissioner Harper doesn't=t know much about us, I will take just a minute to explain to him what we do. We are the Governor=s Commission for a drug free Indiana. I am the director for Porter County. Each Coalition of each county gets to name themselves, and we call ourselves the Porter County Substance Abuse Council. The dollars we have to spend come from DUI and breath arrest. Each person who is arrested and convicted in Porter County pays $200.00; we get to keep 75% of that and 25% goes to Indianapolis. This happens in every county in Indiana. The dollars stay in the Auditor=s office for one year; each county gets to determine the physical year, ours runs from October 1 to September 30, we projected the dollars that we will be collecting up until the end of September. We then accept the grants, which we have already done, people have written grants to us under prevention, education and justice. Our allocation committee has already met, they did that last month and I will have our chair person, who is Officer Duda from the Chesterton Police Department explain to you about our dollars.@

Officer Duda, AI am Pete Duda from Chesterton PD. The breakdown goes into four categories. We have prevention, education, treatment intervention, justice, and then the discretionary for office use. As you can see in the hand out, the committee had to look over a great number of grants, each grant submitted goes into one of those categories and then whether they are ordered to not has to pass the test through the group. As you can see, a lot of the requests got struck or reduced and again that is because of the dollars available. The requesting for the year is $231,000.00 and we ended up only funding $162,000.00.@

Com. Burrus, ADoes this require any action on our part?@

Ms. Cawood, AYou do need to notice to approve . . (inaudible).

Com. Evans, AThe most difficult part of your job is deciding who is going to get the money. They are all worth while projects to support.@

Com. Evans moved to accept, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.


AMEND ORDINANCES 02-15 AND 02-20; HOUSING FEDERAL AND DOC PRISONERS, 1ST READING
David M. Reynolds, Sheriff
David Lain, Chief Deputy

Atty. Rinkenberger, AThis will be our second amendment, the original ordinance was 02-15 and that was where we deposit money we received from housing federal prisoners. We amended it last year to also include money from the DOC prisoners and the way it was written, the money that goes into this for utilities and etcetera, and for jail expenses and expenditures for jail personnel. This ordinance amended it so that the money can be used for employees of the Porter County Sheriff=s Police Department in addition to jail personnel. So it just broadens the scope of the potential use of the money until the funds are available for both jail purposes and sheriff=s department purposes.@

Com. Burrus, AOkay, Sheriff or Dave, do you have any comments you want to add to that?@

Sheriff Reynolds, ANot really, it is pretty self explanatory. It just kind of gives us a little more opportunity to use some of that money we do have appropriated within the whole operation of the Sheriff=s Department.@

Com. Harper, AIs this the first one we are passing?@

Atty. Rinkenberger, AYes, there are two amendments so you can compare them if you want. The first one to pass . . . A

Com. Burrus, ADOC.@

Com. Harper, AThe way you spend this money is you have to go in front of the Council, right?@

Sheriff, AYes.@

Atty. Rinkenberger, AI did assign this an ordinance number because I thought we might pass it on first reading. If we don't, we can eliminate that ordinance number and assign it the next meeting."

Com. Burrus, "We are listing two ordinances. Are we changing two ordinances?"

Atty. Rinkenberger, "The original ordinance is 02-15 then we amended it with 02-20 now we are amending 02-20, now we are amending 02-20 with 04-17 and the way I drafted it was we can include . .(inaudible.) I just rewrote the whole ordinance and add the changed language that is highlighted."

Com. Evans, "So 02-15 and 02-20 will no longer exist?"

Atty. Rinkenberger, "For all practical purposes. I didn't repeal them, but this document contains all the language in 02-15 and 02-20 and 04-17."

Com. Evans moved to approve Ordinance No. 04-17 on first reading, not doing first and second reading because it does involve fines,

Atty. Rinkenberger, "Fines are when you are going to penalize somebody for violating an ordinance, this is money coming into the general fund, so this is an exception to the funds, not a fine or a penalty. It is money to be spent."

Com. Evans moved to approve on first reading, and since it is not an emergency situation, we will wait to accept it, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

Com. Burrus, "Then it is agreed we will have the second reading next time?"

Atty. Rinkenberger, "Yes."

SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION SERVICES
Chuck Walker

Mr. Walker, "It is always a pleasure to come here to talk to the Commissioners and other government bodies in Porter County. I have with me . . (inaudible) from Lafayette, Indiana. We have been trying to get Porter County . . . my agency took on that cost and we didn't have that down . . . . to discuss this with the Commissioners. . . by request. . . . this is available to you. I have six copies here if you want one that is available to you. I am sure the developer or the engineer would be glad to get this."

Com. Burrus, "Your office, some years ago, conducted a county wide survey and then what you have done now is put all that information on a disc."

Mr. Walker, (Mr. Walker's comments were inaudible.)

Mr. Cripps, "Let me introduce myself. Reed Cripps, I am the area resource director for Northwest Indiana for Natural Resource Conservation Service. They are a branch of the United States of Agriculture. ___ wants me to make sure that I am the guy that is supposed to be on this computer. We have these CCD computers coming. If you can imagine, since we work for the Federal Government, security is kind of important for us folks in the department that I belong to. If we leave our computers set for very long, it turns us off, it makes ___ . The computer absolutely rides on the Porter County Sole Survey has been done with the exact date on it, that is what this is. Because of budgetary constraints and because of the increase use of GIS systems, geographic information systems what NRCS branch of the USDA is doing is they are taking this product and converting it into a digital product so that it can be used without layers. There is a big GIS project up here in Northwest Indiana where they are ___ and all kinds of other facilities. Are there wetlands on it? Yes and No. There is actually a national map of wetlands. Now there is a part of that of that called hi-bred soils that is on this map. I will show you were that is. Fundamentally, yes if you want to get down to a crossing your t's but I am not as you know. So, anyway, it's this. This is what is in my CD drive for my computer. If you put it in, it will boot up all by itself. Depending on what other software you have on there might be some conflicts. If it doesn't there are instructions on the sleeve, on the back of the sleeve, that tell you how to go ahead and get it started up. It uses two (2) pieces of software. It uses a piece of software called adobe acrobat which many of you probably have in your home computers. It is just the reader part of the adobe acrobat, $500.00 or something to get the right program. The other part of the program that is on here is a program called Soil View. I don't know if any of you are familiar with the art view products. Art Info, Art GIS. This program sold to you is basically a simplified version of those. It is like the adobe acrobat reader. It is strictly a reader. It doesn't let you edit data with that. Now, all of the raw data is on the CD. If you have access to Art GIS or Art Info or Art View for that matter, you can retrieve the data off that this CD and manipulate that data if that is what you are interested in doing also. Let me just give you a real quick demonstration. If it pops up here, you know. There is a little start program on here. Of course, we start the program. It is kind of interesting. I was sitting over there next to Chuck and that is what it is doing with these three maps. They are planning maps. This is what is intended to simulate or help you do. Is to make these ____ planning decisions. Is what is … What that will do, if you are familiar with a Soil Survey, there are three parts to it. The Text part, it gives a technical description of the soil. There is tables that tell you about the land's suitability in that soil. Then there are maps with alley and sewer lines drawn on top of the photograph and all. Bringing these sections, here on this CD the most interesting part, generally is the aerial photograph of the soil with lines on it. Because now it is going to take them to a Xerox machine and copy them. You can manipulate them. You can print out a piece of land that you are interested in. You can also over-lay layers whether there is hi-bred-soils, suitability for ____ suitability for septic systems where somebody may be purchasing land outside of the sewer district and trying to get a subdivision started. It is moving a little slow again on this laptop of mine. Not so much, the laptop but this projector. Unfortunately, are area office with an area office down at that Southside of Lafayette was broken into a month ago. They stole are new projector. I had to go down to the state office and borrow what they had down here. It is a little bit slow. Can I entertain any questions while this is booting up? Does anybody have any questions, real quick."

Com. Evans, "Is this a product now that can be used by homeowners or a person that has their own personal computers?"

Mr. Cripps, "Yes, that is what is exactly what it is. ____ small surveys or ___ land owners. Actually, one reason you would use one they are cheaper to produce. ___ . This is the product that we are replacing."

Com. Burrus, "Do all the counties in Indiana have a completed Soil Survey?"

Mr. Cripps, "Yes, all the counties have a completed hard bound copy Soil Survey before I came to this state. Back in the mid 80's the state pitched in money towards an accelerated Soil Survey. So, Indiana, like many other states Illinois and Ohio, for example, Michigan for that matter, has had a Soil Survey. Now, we are going back and up-dating the Soil Survey. There are three products. There is one that covers Porter County over in Flint in Marshall County. They are going along, all of these surveys, you know, are produced by the same agency, but different groups and people in County, by County basis. They are going along and soothing out all of the lines and renaming them a little bit. In one County, for example, in Lake County, is particularly old and a lot of the Soil they used are ___ for the first time, they pulled down soils up North in Michigan. So we have renamed some of those by using a little bit different classification and interpretations for their uses. Yes, a once over has been done. We are going and smoothing over the lines, renaming things, making the shore lines match along the County boundaries and things like that. That is a continuing process. So, it gives you this map. This map is the index and if you use a Soil Survey much, or at all. We know all what an index is. Right, an index is a list of what the symbols, well a map index, on the go side of that. It tells you where you are going to look for a particular part of the County you are interested. For example, Valparaiso, sideways like that. If you were to find Valparaiso. We got Chesterton right here. That must be Valparaiso there. We want to go to area photograph six. See how that works. This is ___. There is area photograph six. If you at this right here. Well, the same thing here, if we want to look at a particular area. Something that is often useful, I find is to actually, show all of the layers, particularly, the road layers. If you have not familiar with the GIS product, to me GIS product is like looking at an over-head projector over at the school. You keep putting semi-prints and apparent layers on top of it and seeing all of their layers at once. What I have done I have flicked on the roads and it will approach here in a second and it will show us where all the roads are. If you want to find something at the intersection of 500 South and 200 West. You can go ahead, it is a little slow. If you click inside the box, let's go down here. Let's go down to the Southside of the state. Let's go to some land that doesn't necessary have buildings on it when you look at it. What I did, is I just clicked on that right there. What it will do now is it will zoom into that part of the County. Instead, of looking though and find a hard bound copy, it is going to zoom in there. Again, I apologize for the slowness of the machine. Hopefully, though with the fiscal budget, I am sure that the County level very much like the Federal level, the budgets are tight these days. Our fiscal budge doesn't turn back around until October 1st and hopefully, then we will get a new rejection system and flash for us and give us the hour glass sign and then it will come up here and show us the that part of the County where it will show us what it is all about. So it zooms in on that part of the County. All of these boxes over here that are checked are going to show up the bluest of road, the special interest. The red line, the sewer lines. I am going to click off a lot of this stuff. Just, hold it up a little bit. So that is the streams, the blue, the sewer lines are just like in the Soil Survey will be red. Then the little green dots are the ___. That is a pretty big scale. So I have a map, several tools up here. I have this tool lets me zoom in on an area. You can go down as fine as you want as far as zooming in on an area. It will take a second to boot up. A couple of the other things that are particularly nice about this, is you can export this map and print it out. You can get kind of quick down and dirty definitions of the soil and it's suitability. There you can kind of see the green, the symbols. Not that __ with the symbols. There is a little tool up here that says, map description. If we click in this GH, I don't even know what GH is. I don't know if all of Northwest Indiana _____ but that should ___. So there is a brief description and pin hook and what pin hook is. What the drainage class is how horrible it is. Primarily, agricultural stuff. We are a part of agriculture. Another nice little tool that they put in here, particularly if you are looking at a piece of land is this acreage tool. I can take that and draw a square or whatever, a pentagon if I wan to, it will calculate the area inside the pentagon. It will tell me what soils are in there. Acreage of each soil and the percent of the acreage of each soil. So you can do that kind of thing, when you are looking at buying a piece of land to develop. To figure out the area and the percentage of what is there. Probably, the most powerful thing that this does, compared to the traditional Soil Survey is that it has this tool called the quarry tool. A quarry tool is a, I am going to close this out in just a second. I want to merge all of the data from today. I will do my quarry and look for wetlands in this area here. What I am doing now, is I am taking all of the tables that are in the Soil Survey and I can look at them, individually. I will show you how to do that in a second. I am basically jamming them all together making one super table and so that it makes it a little bit easier for me to do my quarry. Now, I can go do a quarry. It throws some people. It is not that big of a deal. It is kind of drawing a simple little map, scroll down here to my left. There is dwellings replacements. Looks like we want to develop this land down here. Dwelling with basements are not limited. So places that are really good for dwellings with basements is what I asked it to show me. It will highlight that. There is the land suited for the dwellings. In that area that I zeroed in on."

Com. Evans, "Yellow being good."

Mr. Cripps, "Yes. Yellow is. Yes, in this case, yellow means good. This is good land for building houses on. The drainage with a line going through. To keep away from the wet soils while there is drainage. I can do the same thing with any other piece of information. I can say, show me the land that corn or where you can get over 150 bushels per acre. Show me the land that has hi bred soil for wetlands. Show me the land that is suitable for ____. Any one of those criteria that we publish in a Soil Survey it comes up for interpretations for land use you can generate a map just like this. You can export it. You can print it out including this part of the document. Any more questions? I don't want to use up more of your time. But if there is anything you want to se more. I can show you more."

Com. Burrus, "We are okay. We appreciate it."

Mr. Cripps, "No problem."

Com. Burrus, "This program then is compatible with the GIS effort center under way."

Mr. Cripps, "That is right."

Com. Burrus, "It is available now, obviously."

Mr. Cripps, "Right. Free of charge."

Shirley LaFever, "I am the County Assessor. We have Jackie here from the Auditor's
Office. We have a question, a couple of questions. Would you mind if we asked them?"

Mr. Cripps, "Not at all. A good time for it."

Jackie, "We have to have a soil court. Does it give us a ___ factor also with the soil count for ___ factors?"

Mr. Cripps, "You mean the corn meals? For tax assessing purposes? Yes. If I understand your question. You are using terminology I am not real familiar with."

Jackie, "Do you have the influence factors (inaudible)?"

Mr. Cripps, "Influence factors?"

Jackie, "Well, different soil, different soils types they have different productivity factors in and they have an influence factor that gives the exact assessment of a soil type."

Mr. Cripps, "No."

Jackie, "It is just something that I have a separate program that does that. I didn't you had taken it to that next step here."

Mr. Cripps, "All we have is our data on it. We have not put any of the Counties, other than, roads, township boundaries and things like that. We haven't (inaudible)."

Com. Burrus, "Any others?"

Atty. Rinkenberger, "What is your purpose in renaming for the uses, doesn't it apply anymore?"

Mr. Cripps, "That is a good question. It is hard, as hard as this is to believe, soil science is a relatively new science. It really, the part that agriculture took it over and began naming and mapping soils in a systematic way in about 1977. Now, we were doing some work prior to that, for example, Lake County survey which was completed prior to that. So what we are doing is trying to go back and take the same set of rules that we are using today and apply them all the way back to the 1950's. It was the same set of rules, these rules that were first initiated in '77 and are still currently involving and take the same set of rules and apply to the whole body of information. We are really not changing what kind of soil it is but we are changing the definition, not the definition, the tax ammonic name. We can name, so that we have common names for them, we can scientific names. Just like trees. _______ it is a scientific name. So we are taking that same ____ nature and using an example, of Lake County, when we first encountered _____. We used soils from North Michigan up around ____ and Mackinaw. That is completely different temperatures. We used a soil called talus. That we ___ along the lake front and Lake County. Well, that is a fridge soil. It is a fridge temperatures. _______ we are also looking for Matthew stakes. They were joining the soil maps. When Porter County was made it was by a unique group of people that was different from the Lake County people. Then there is that boundary between those two counties. We are trying to match those lines. So that if some of you has land on both sides of that County boundary, seeks the same thing. This fellow also asked the question, could the _____________. Yes, the real easy way to do that is import this data in it and then run together your tables that has the Assessor's information. Yeah, it is actually a pretty easy way to do it."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "Thank you."

Com. Burrus, "Any others? Shirley? Thank you fellows, we appreciate your presentation. We also appreciate your work that was done on this. I know you have been beneficial to a number of efforts that we go through here."

Com. Evans, "Is this copy righted? Can copies be made from this?"

Mr. Cripps, "It is the Federal Government. It is yours. As a matter of fact, Chuck asked that question and how much it would cost to make it. Basically, you buy some blank CD's at Office Max, Best Buy, whatever and the CD burner. Copy it one to the other. That's all you have to do."

Com. Evans, "And it is permissible for our data processing departments that work with this and try to come up with a program for this."

Com. Burrus, "Kevin?"

Kevin Breitzke, "It is available from the state office and Lake County. There is a web page in our computer that is called Surrdo."

Mr. Cripps, "That information is a little bit old to a new delivery system. But all of this is true.

Kevin Breitzke, "Not the program. One of the nice things about this, if you don't have, you can use this data. If you have ___ You can go to the soft data ___________. You can down load the information. I don't know if Porter County has been posted there yet or not. I think it might be on the web somewhat."

OFFICE HOLDERS/DEPARTMENT HEADS
Lease Agreement
Nancy Kolasa, Pine Township Assessor

Com. Burrus, "The next item on our agenda is the discussion on Lease Agreement for Nancy Kolasa, Pine Township Assessor. Good morning."

Ms. Kolasa, "Good morning. As you know, part of my rent comes from the county funds from my assessing budget. I need the County Commissioners to approve the 2005 Lease. Do you have a copy of it?"

Com. Evans, "Yes."

Com. Burrus, "Do you have any changes you want to outline?"

Ms. Kolasa, "No. The only change on there is the $25.00 a month increase a $300.00 a year overall. I have absorbed that."

Com. Evans, "How long have you been in this building now, Nancy?"

Ms. Kolasa, "A year, a year and a half."

Com. Evans, "It has gone up."

Ms. Kolasa, "Every year. Every month of $25.00."

Com. Burrus, "So, you do have adequate funds and the proposed rent for this coming year is acceptable to you. Is there any other questions or comments?"

Com. Evans moved to approve the lease for the Pine Township Assessor for 2005, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

Ms. Kolasa, "I would also like to take the opportunity to thank you very much for assisting me when we were discussing the Internet about a month ago or so. It is going well. The productivity has improved. It has helped a lot. Thank you very much."

PROCLAMATION FOR RETIREMENT OF JENNIE WOLLAM
Sandra Vuko, Auditor

Ms. Vuko, "I just had an employee, Jennie Wollam, retire."

Com. Evans, "Is she here today?"

Ms. Vuko, "No, she isn't. I asked her to come back. She was probably out of town.."

Com. Evans, "She probably said, I am out of here."
Ms. Vuko, "I made up this resolution. I would like to read it and then have you sign it."

Whereas, Jennie Wollam has shown her dedication to Porter County Government as Deputy in the Office of the Auditor; and
Whereas, Jennie Wollam has also provided courtesy _____ to all persons who required services or information of the Porter County Auditor's Office; and
Whereas, Jennie Wollam has always exhibited the highest standards, professionalism when dealing with people from all walks of life; and
Whereas, Jennie Wollam will be missed greatly by many Porter County Government employees, especially the staff of the Auditor's Office; and
Whereas, Jennie Wollam not only takes with her a vast knowledge of County Government but a fondly remembered friendship among her peers.
Now, therefore it be it and it is hereby resolved by the Porter County Board of Commissioners that Jennie Wollam should be and is hereby recognized for her dedicated years of loyal service to Porter County Government and especially, the Porter County Auditor's Office."
All of which having been resolved by the Porter County Board of Commissioners this 20th day of July, 2004.

Com. Evans moved to approve the resolution, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

Com. Evans, "How many years of service did she have?"

Ms. Vuko, "She had 16."

Com. Evans, "Okay."

Com. Burrus, "Pass on our thanks and appreciation to Jennie."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "We can put in on real nice paper. Pick out what color you want. All you have to do is give it to the Print Shop and they will print it up with a nice boarder."

Ms. Vuko, "Thank you."

COMMISSIONERS' REPORTS

All Districts:

1. LPA Claim Voucher #5 for $15,523.53 for the Porter County Bridge Inspection, Phase 1 (2002) and Phase II (2004). Recommend approval.

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

Com. Burrus, "This is a claim for reimbursement to the Bridge Fund from the State so this will be coming back to Porter County."

North District: Com. Evans

1. Application for Group 1, STP Federal money to rehabilitate Bridge 1014,
Calumet Road over CSX at CR 900 North. This is money that NIRPC controls.
The request is for $480,000.00 for repairing this bridge. Local cost would be $120,000.00 plus design.

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

2. Pine Minor Subdivision #2706-D-1 Road Agreement, located on the north side of CR 1600 North between CR 500 East and Old Chicago Road. Offer to contribute $750.00/lot for a total of $750.00. Owner and sub divider is Matthew L. Foldenhauer. Recommend approval.

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

Center District: Com. Harper

1. Replat of Lot 14 Moreland Estates Road Agreement, located on the west side
of CR 475 West south of CR 400 North. Offer to contribute $750.00/lot for a total of $750.00. Owners and sub dividers are Frank & Dennisse Mendez. Recommend approval.

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

2. Liberty Lakes Estates Road Agreement, located on the south side of CR 100 South between CR 600 West and CR 700 West. Offer to contribute $410.70/lot for a total of $15,606.60. Owner and sub divider is Elias Rosario. Recommend approval.

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

3. Acceptance of Walnut Ridge Subdivision roads, located on the northwest corner of CR 500 North and SR 149. Maintenance Letter of Credit #627 from HFS Bank, F.S.B. in the amount of $67,800.00. Owner and sub divider is Charles White. Recommend approval.

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

4. Pepper Creek Subdivision Road Agreement, located on the northwest corner of CR 400 North and CR 150 West. Offer to contribute $725.00/lot for a total of $28,275.00. Owner is Dean Froberg, and sub divider is V. Jacob Wagner. Recommend approval.

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

South District: Com. Burrus

1. Grassy Creek Road Agreement, located on the north side of CR 350 South
between SR 2 and CR 700 West. Offer to contribute $750.00/lot for a total of $18,750.00. Owner and sub divider is Elwin O. Jones. Recommend approval.

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

2. Shenandoah Springs Subdivision Phase III. Performance Letter of Credit #544 Lafayette Bank and Trust in the amount of $5000. Recommend approval.

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

CORRESPONDENCE

Court Security monthly report for June 2004 is on file.
Treasurer's monthly report for June 2004 is on file.
Porter Emergency Medical Services report for June 2004 is on file.
Building Department monthly report for June 2004 is on file.

Hold Harmless Agreement to close State Road 130 during Popcorn Fest

Com. Evans moved to approve a Hold Harmless Agreement to close St. Rd. 130 and using CR 250 West between St. Rd 130 and US Highway 30 during the Popcorn Fest on September 11, 2004, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

Request for Transfer of Funds-Commissioners

1.Fund 01.30$819.17from acct 3520water and sewage
Into acct 3950contractual services

Increase in payment required by Harris Trust for Johnson Control Energy Loan.

2.Fund 01.30$1.034.00from acct 3520water and sewage
Into acct 3930dues and subscriptions

To cover internet service for Pine Township Assessor through 12/31/04.

3.Fund 01.30$41,000.00from acct 1110salaries
Into acct 1120hourly

To cover part time payroll through the end of 2004.

Com. Burrus, "Since the period of time of the earlier part of the year that was covered by hiring freezes, particularly the Maintenance Department has had some full time openings that have not been filled and have in turn been filled by part time people. That is why the change from salary line item to hourly."

Com. Harper moved to approve the requests, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

Request for Additional Appropriation-Commissioners

Fund 252.30$60,000.00acct 0001CEDIT Project #3

For promotion of economic development-maintain grounds at county buildings, installation of door with window for Court Security, repairs to Clerk's office door, etc.

Com. Burrus, "This is for the promotion of economic development which is from Account 3 which is the maintenance of county buildings and the various maintenances we are talking about had to do with installation of a door and window for Court Security and the Clerk's office and a number of minor projects at the courthouse. The intent was to transfer the money and then to be able to draw on it as needed. Any discussion?"

Com. Harper, "I think we should do this especially when we mentioned we were going to have more to go on mold at the courthouse. There are substantial monies to get those offices back into the shape they were before they started this."

Com. Harper moved to approve, Com. Evans seconded,

Com. Burrus, "I think the cost of projects I described did not intend to use all the money, but there are follow up projects that will use these funds."

Motion carried.

DISCUSSION ON MOLD REPAIR IN OFFICES AT COURTHOUSE

Com. Harper, "I don't think they are completely done with the mold work at the courthouse although they have done a lot. But in doing it, they have left some offices in sort of rough shape. So I think we should get them back in to finish. Then I know you are trying to talk to some people about getting this remodeling done and get the offices back in shape. I think we should move on that."

Com. Burrus, "The firm of ESG and the contractor they were supervising are done and have completed the scope of work that they had proposed. They are suggesting that there may be some undetectable or some additional concerns for the areas that have the drywall. I asked the firm to do two things, number one, give us an additional quote on the requirements to explore behind all the drywall and give us the quantity in terms of lineal feet of this wall surface that we are dealing with. When that number comes in then, I have located, I believe, three or four plastering firms. Which is surprising to me. I didn't think we had that many in this area. With the quantity and a description of what needs to done then, I will get them here to give us quotes on restoration of the plastered wall. If that is agreeable to everybody."

Com. Evans, "Yes."

Com. Harper, "Right. I think we are going to need some painting too, I think."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "In ___ office they cut the wallpaper in half and just left one-half of the wall wallpapered and one-half of it plaster. What he said, is to pull it off that wall, not the whole office but just that one wall. Then you can have somebody come in and paint that wall so that you will have one solid wall, and then the wallpaper will look nice. Maybe someone like Doellings or somebody. I don't know."

Com. Burrus, "The point here is, that there are some random plaster repairs throughout the building. You mentioned a couple, Bob."

Com. Harper, "Right."

Com. Burrus, "I think you were going to follow-up, possibly with Char Miller to see if we could identify those. This would be plaster repair. Independent of any of the moisture problems."

Com. Evans, "I think we should get one done first before we go to the other. Get the plastering done and repaired and then bring the painter in to do the whole place. I know those people do not like to be tripping over each other. One trade wants the other out of here before they get in here. So, let's do it in order."

Com. Burrus, "Exactly. So we can follow up the plaster, painter and the wall paper. We will need to have some kind of total description of what needs to be repaired, plaster wise. Any other items?"

Com. Harper, "One other. A couple of others. As you know, they have done quite a bit of work with the Lake Eliza project. First, I have been down there. The roads really look a lot better and I understand that other than giving advice, we didn't have to contribute that much. At least we did that. They really got it together on their own. I think the Trustee and the people that worked on it down there should be commended on that. It is like day and night going down there right now. The other things is, that for years, an ordinance has been thrown around and discussed about unsafe buildings. It is an issue I believe that has not been acted on for a couple of reasons. Perhaps, the need was not that desperate in the County areas any further because of funding. Because when you get under the State Code for unsafe buildings, you have funding problems because you get into litigation problems when you try to do something about these buildings. It is a problem down at Lake Eliza. There are vacant places down there that I have been told by police personnel and by the township personnel that are dangerous. That people are going in and out of. They are not used. They are vacant, and so forth. The other thing that is going around is the Plan Commission has, through the budget crunch, become, at least at this point, self-sufficient. Maybe even a little low on the plus side. I think if we would pass an Unsafe Building Ordinance, required by statute to and I have copies of the Indiana Statutes, we are required by statute to assign that to a department. The Building Commission, probably the Building Commission or the Plan Commission. I have one that I think, to introduce today, for some thought. Maybe we can talk about it at the next meeting. It was prepared by, I am making it a part of our record here, I believe our County Attorney a while back when we discussed, because of funding and other things, it was put off. But I think now is the time to act on it. With the Sheriff's Department now has, supposedly real aggressive, with junk cars down in the Lake Eliza area. They are working on the roads. I think the next step is some of those homes and buildings down there. I would like to see this put on the agenda for the next meeting. If we do decide to pass it, I have pictures, provided to me, several examples. I had them blown up a little of the homes, that are abandoned. I thought if we could pass these before the council we could attempt to sell them on the idea."

Com. Burrus, "There has been a realization, at least on random locations and sites around the county that Lake Eliza, as an example, may have more than their fair share of need. The concern as you mentioned was in the past, that we would be taking on a responsibility that at least had the potential of the other costs and not knowing for sure how big of a burden. The only word of caution I would put out on this is the funding support for the Planning Commission and the Building Department is predicated on fees. The concern that we had when we made that change was that it would be fine so long as the current volume of growth and development continues in Porter County. Now I have probably been one that is always preaching the fact that I think growth is inevitable. However, interest rates are the major factor that determine exactly what this volume is. I just want to make sure that everybody realizes that we could find ourselves in a less desirable condition with the revenue, potentially, at some future date. When we do this, if we do this, I think we need to be cautious and keep the cost of it in line. That's all."

Com. Harper, "My thought was that if we pass it, we have to go before the Council. That is where the final decision is going to be and show them what the problem is. With the situation we have, in the Plan Commission right now, we may have some extra funds we can use, but when you get in this long term. We have to have some sort of commitment, I think. I think it needs to be done if we don't take care of it now, we are going to pay for it at some point down the line."

Com. Evans, "Exactly. I agree with both of you. Not only Lake Eliza, the whole County has some areas that are affected by these types of structures and buildings. I also agree that the Planning Commission and the Building Department is not a very admirable job. Living within their budget that they had to create and work within. I think we just need to have some assurances from the Council that they are not going to reach out on a limb and hand them a saw so that if they get in a position where they are not able to fund it, but there is funding available."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "(inaudible) I will take another look at it, now that we have everybody in agreement that we want to consider. It is possible that we may want to get an ordinance written that we pass and then go to the Council. Because with the way that state law reads, we may pass an ordinance. It is discretionary to pass, once we pass it then it turns into a shell and the shell starts performing specific duties under state law. We don't have the funding to do that, we may catch ourselves in a box. So what you might want to do is get an ordinance that this Board approves the language of it, but before we pass it make sure we have the funding Or I think we are putting the cart before the horse."

Com. Evans, "Let's throw ___ ordinance in there too while we are at it."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "No."

Com. Burrus, "Okay. Any further discussion with this?"

Com. Evans, "No."

Com. Burrus, "Okay. Bob, you had one more item."

Com. Harper, "Yes. The 911. I am sure you received a copy of this, the report from the 911 director to the Commissioners dated June 24. Here is what I thought. I thought at the first meeting we discussed this. That we had discussed that if we were going to enter into this, it was going to be done as some sort of cost saving plan."

Com. Burrus, "Can I clarify this. This has to do with the potential of Valparaiso's dispatch center being controlled by the County."

Com. Harper, "Right. So, we got this report back telling us, which I thought we made it clear that we wanted more study before we did that. I hear now that plans are moving ahead to move all those dispatchers to Valparaiso. Without any studying on that if this goes ahead, which it is not going to save anybody any money and this letter to us indicates some of the problems that 911 are going to be facing here in the future. It has some figures on calls and so forth that I think we need to look into. Some of these calls are just switch calls that go right out and aren't really calls. I have been asking and asking and I finally got that. I don't know if you got that or not, they faxed over. What I asked for was dispatches. I believe that, the little bit that I have read, is that 911 activity is audited on the basis of dispatches. Not the basis of calls. The problems I see we are facing, at least three. Number one, we have that state statute. There is an attempt at this time to pass a statute down state giving cities that have own line, of certain sizes, that have their own 911 operators, a portion of that money that we are using, on a County basis to run our 911 center. We are looking at the possible loss of revenue there. At least I think you need to take a look at it and think what is going to happen if that happens. Number two, that 911 fund is facing some problems, I think, because of cell phones. I run into more and more people that are simply not having a line base phone. They get so used to using their cell phones that they discontinue that service. So that money is going to go down hill. Then we are talking about this merger and I think we need to do some study to see if this merger happens. If it can happen with existing personnel and very little additional persona. Now from the figures that I see, I think you need to look at it more, from this report that we got from 911. Number One, the first report we got it talked about this huge increase in calls. I don't see a huge increase in dispatches. When I look at dispatches. I know some of those calls are switch calls. They are coming in and switching right back to the department. I think that some calls come into Portage switch right back. I guess you can count them as a call. Further, my understanding is that five people a shift. Is that your understanding, David? We have five people a shift out there?"

Com. Burrus, "That is pretty close to my understanding. I think there is 20 some total available."

Com. Evans, "There is a supervisor."

Com. Harper, "I am looking at this. It looks like if you do it on an hourly basis, we have seven calls an hour. That's the way I look at it. I am sure that there is heavier times and slower times, during the middle of the night. The other thing that I am thinking about, is that if the original plan provided to us, with all the down side, on June 24th would go through, we are being told that we are going to increase that 911 money, that 911 fee that was just increased. Further, I think they are saying that $ .30 wouldn't do it. If we have to do that, it is going to have Council oversight on it. Because the Council sets the fee, if I am not mistaken about that. So I think we should do some studying as to what the needs are. Take control of the situation and maybe, set up a meeting with some counsel members so we get on the same page here. Before all of a sudden we are told that we have to hire ten more people and raise the fee and this and that and the other. I just think it needs some work."

Com. Burrus, "I would agree with you on a number of those points, Bob. Number one, I think we need to take a critical look at the report that we received here on June 24th. The information is provided there. The optimum situation that we would be looking for, and I am talking about our own 911 situation. The other thing is, a strong potential, or a requirement even, is if we find ourselves desiring to go ahead with this but the numbers don't look good that there would have to be a subsidy from Valparaiso. So, you are exactly right. We are not going to take on dead horses. That is a debt that you can't handle. We are going to have to look at this and see if it makes sense logically, if it makes sense operationally, but it has to also make sense financially. We agree 100%. John, do you have anything to say?"
Com. Evans, "I have a couple of the same thoughts, that bill that you speak about, where the city is, maybe as I understand, and it is not known which way it is going to go. We should throw a caveat under that. If that does go through and the cities are able to take their portion from that fund directly, the money that we have been spending over the years for their technology should be withdrawn. That would come back to that point. We have been paying for everything in radio rooms all across the county, since the with the exception of the city. In all the cities since the exception of this policy, so if that does occur, then we are not going to fund their technology any longer. They will be on their own."

Com. Burrus, "Well, there are a lot of things that we are going to shake out. I think your point, Bob, is one that I think we should deal with. That is, we are not going to agree to anything until we are satisfied. That is what's in my mind."

Com. Harper, "Let me say this, lets give this a couple weeks to think about this and think about some sort of study. I am not sure how that should be done. I think we do need to have some kind of study. Lets think about it for a couple weeks. I got this on June 24th and then I got this second one on July 1st. I am not sure I know enough about it to study it. I talked to people and they told me about switch calls and you can count those but don't have to deal with them and other things. Maybe have someone advise us."

Com. Burrus, "The only thing I would say is the action on the call resulted in a dispatch or whether the call results in no action, you still have to have a person answering the calls."

Com. Harper, "They just come in and come out. I am not sure. Some of the calls are automatic because I don't see how we could have had double like they say in this first report. The calls, and then you look at the second report, and dispatch hasn't done it at all."

Com. Burrus, "We don't have to do anything unless it will be satisfactory with what we have available with our resources. Any other comments?"

Com. Evans, "We've got this study here with the numbers and we can get it all together and compare them and analyze them. But we need to remember some of those numbers reflect very delicate emergency situations that mean life and death so we are not just going to make our ruling based on numbers."

COUNTY HOME DISCUSSION

Com. Burrus, "Bob, a couple months ago we made the attempt to look at the issue of the County Home. Through my own personal affairs, I had a number of interruptions and have not had a chance to do anything with that. Would you consider taking that responsibility over and looking at the options? I would appreciate it and things should get moving a little faster that way."

Com. Harper, "Sure."

HIGHWAY BIDS-SALT AND LOWBOY TRAILER FOR BRIDGE DEPT.
Al Hoagland, Highway Superintendent

Mr. Hoagland, "I have two items that I would like your approval on today. The reason I held off, we didn't know until yesterday we had to do this. We have salt bids. We bid under the continued contract with Morton Salt on an extension and yesterday we got the word, so we do need to bid. Also, we need permission to bid a lo-boy trailer an additional piece of equipment. Basically, it would be used for the bridge department. The unit we have now, we bought in 1980. It was used when we bought it. It functions, but we are backed up on projects. This morning we had five loads to make by the time I left at 10 o'clock. We do have funds available, if I could get your permission we can go ahead and publish these bids. They can be opened on August 24th. Do you approve?"

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

Com. Evans, "The salt thing has been a problem the last couple of years, but because we had this contract we were able to get in, I think, last year quite a bit under any other municipalities around here."

Mr. Hoagland, "We have been negotiating with them for several weeks trying to finagle just a little bit."

Com. Burrus, "Another point on that issue is that dealing with salt contracts this time of the year is probably an advantage before you get down to the rush season, so to speak."

Mr. Hoagland, "We do have a firm price until December of this year. So we are not critical but it would be nice to get in line so we can…"

Com. Burrus, "Is it possible to load up in December?"

Mr. Hoagland, "We intend to but it just depends on storage space available. We did complete the money last year so we are stocked right now. Thank you."

Com. Harper, "They just gave me an additional on some of dead trees and bushes and I should give you fellows a copy. Maybe we can talk about it and look it over and talk about it. Yours has some photographs. This one just has copies. John and Dave have the ones with photographs. Those trees out front, they are dead and some of those things… Part of it is a safety issue, around the Courthouse."

Com. Burrus, "Efforts have been extended so far, it is being to show a lot of improvement. It looks a lot better. All right at this time let's entertain a motion to recess. We will reconvene in about ten minutes."

Com. Evans moved to recess, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

RECESS UNTIL 11:15 a.m.

Com. Burrus, "Let's call this meeting back to order. This is the Plan Commission Session. The first item on the agenda has to do with, I believe, the approval of contract with the company called, Ground Rules. Bob, do you want to join us here? We can follow-up on that. They will be providing assistance in re-writing and up-dating all the Plan Commission Ordinances, I believe. If you can fill in something I might have left out there. We can discuss it."

PLAN COMMISSION SESSION

Approval of Contract - Ordinance Writing Services - Ground Rules
Robert Thompson, Plan Commission Director

Mr. Thompson, "This Service Agreement covers zoning, subdivision control, and also the developmental standards for proposed subdivisions. Looking at the possibility of developing what is called a Unified Development Code that puts zoning in subdivision control. One Code or one ordinance and then the engineering standards that we would want for the subdivisions. It is also looking at a review of our existing zoning maps and studying zoning districts throughout the unincorporated areas."

Com. Burrus, "The amount of the contract, then?"

Mr. Thompson, "The amount of the contract would be, the project is for preparation of a new Zoning and Subdivision Control Ordinance, Unified Development Code. The preparation of a tax, Open Space Ordinance and Time Unit Development Ordinance. With that, it would come out to $102,700.00."
Com. Burrus, "According to this, there was an original fee of $93,200.00 and some reimbursable expenses and some additional expenditures that was added in."

Mr. Thompson, "Correct. The original fee, I am trying to find it. For the Patch Open Space Ordinance there would be a fee of $3100.00 for the Patch Planned Unit Development, I believe. It was $3,100.00 for the Patch. Open Space Ordinance, he was looking at $3,600.00. Then there was a reimbursable for expense that was not to exceed $3,000.00 if you put that on top, it all sums up to $102,700.00 for that."

Com. Harper, "Motion to approve that."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "Is there a signature page?"

Com. Burrus, "I have one comment, one question."

Mr. Thompson, "I can send up new ones."

Com. Evans, "I have one question too."

Com. Burrus, "These two Patch Ordinances you refer to, it seems to me that those have been under the original tasking anyway. Is that something that.."

Mr. Thompson, "The reason why there is an additional on that, is because, one he explained it to because I asked him that question. Number one is, that we are asking him to veer away from the Planned Unified Development Code and starting in immediately on that. His immediate task would be first to do the PUD and the Open Space on that. During the time when we are doing the ABC that it very well could end up being that we are changing those two particular Patch Ordinances to fit into the ___. Now, one of the things is we may very well not end up spending any of that money into those Patch Ordinances."

Com. Burrus, "I think part of the intent that I was under the impression of was that, number one we have their expertise and their input on these two ordinances. Number two, that was part of their original commitment. Do you see it different, Bob?"

Com. Harper, "Well, I think that they explained it the way Bob explained it because we are starting in on these rather than stumbling through the course all the way through it and if he doesn't have to rewrite them again. We have to realize two years from now, when he gets to that portion of the task, depending on how long this all takes. Some of that he can't control. Once you give him the final documents after the meetings and so forth to get approved that is why that addition was put in there."

Com. Burrus, "Do you have any questions, John?"

Com. Evans, "I can understand that. $6,200.00 about $3,100.00 for each one that's what it amounts to."

Mr. Thompson, "I think it is around $6,500.00. Yes, sir."

Com. Evans, "For what we are asking him to do. He doesn't have to do it right now. I think it is probably better that we get it taken care of. My only question was, the Agreement is between the owner of the Porter County Plan Commission and the Consultant Ground Rules. Is that the way it should be? Or should it be Porter County Commissioners and the Consultant?"

Atty. Rinkenberger, "There is a signature for the Commissioners and the Plan Commission President. Is that what we are going to end up with?"

Mr. Thompson, "The Plan Commission President there and the three County Commissioners signature with the attesting by the County Auditor."

Com. Evans, "I answered my own question. Did we have to approve the contract? We are not going to bind anyone other than ourselves, is what I am saying."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "What he is saying about (inaudible) Porter County Plan Commission."

Mr. Thompson, "Would you like him to change that?"

Com. Evans, "I think so, because we are the ones that have to approve the contract."

Mr. Thompson, "Okay."

Com. Evans, "I'll second his motion."

Com. Burrus, "The only question I have then is funding. It says CEDIT and ___."

Mr. Thompson, "I have gone down to the Council already and Jan has spoken with Bill Carmichael and they have scheduled us for a special hearing at the August 9th meeting and we already have the additional appropriation form made out for that and as soon as this contract was signed I was going to put that in with the contract to the Auditor's Office for that agenda."

Com. Burrus, "If I do remember correctly, we do have a project identified for the Plan Commission."

Mr. Thompson, "It is mentioned in preparation of CEDIT ordinance number."

Com. Burrus, "Are we all in agreement on that (inaudible.)?"

Com. Evans, "I think that is a good lesson for us too. I think what we should do something extra at the very first Council meeting is get there and ask for those monies to be funded and all those CEDIT projects at the beginning of the year so we don't have to do this on an annual basis."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "Actually, I tried to get a budget to them now that they will approve during the budget project that approves all the projects for 2005 so it is done in August."

Mr. Thompson, "I guess I have one question along that line just to make sure I am doing this correctly, I was going to be requesting the CEDIT funding to be placed within the building planning and zoning fund line for the consultant. Is this correct?"

Com. Evans, "For the dollar amount of the contract, I think that."

Mr. Thompson, "$2,700.00."

Com. Burrus, "You folks would be disbursing the money out. Alright then, if there are no other questions, we do have a motion and a second."

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

UPDATE ON OPEN SPACE ORDINANCE

Com. Burrus, "The next item then is a second reading. Is that correct? No, it's an update, I am sorry, on the open space issue."

Mr. Thompson, "Since the last meeting, I have __ the Advisor's Meeting or I should say, ___ Advisory Meeting based on whether or not you all approve if everybody was on this. I selected twelve, I am seriously considering maybe one more person to this. I have forwarded a list down to you. I guess the person I am considering adding would be another Plan Commission member that has expressed interest from what I understand. I do want to confirm it with them and it would be Mike Bucko. The other members I will go through, that would be on the committee. As far as agricultural, I have spoken with Jane Maxwell and John Remster, both have agreed to it. Representing the Builders Association, Builders and Developers, Gary Green and Todd Leeth. The environmental community, I have two, Herb Read and Greg Quartucci, who is an ecologist presently with a consulting firm that is working also on the Marquette Park Greenway. Congressman Visclosky's project. He has agreed to be on it. Lorelei Weimer with the director of tourism. Gary Atkinson who is a developer for PUD, here within Porter County North Dunes Country Furnessville. Ned Kovachvich has asked to volunteer. Eric Biddinger with Purdue Extension. Ed Melendez, Director of Parks and Dick Maxey, Park Board member. I did send out a package to them, I also developed a questionnaire on that which just .. You will know the very first question on the questionnaire is, Do you think preservation open space will work well in favor of the County? If so, why? Is the very first question. Then I have series of questions I just what to have them think about before going on, trying to set up a meeting that would be in the first of August. A number of them have Fair commitments and the Fair is coming so, it is going to be kind of a busy week for some. I am trying to set up something for the first of August. Also, included in that package, I have included the Land Use and Thoroughfare Plan which I figure is a major determination for this ordinance. It should be the ground works and the basis of this ordinance. So the goals and objectives chapter that has been sent out for that land use chapter explains the different land use categories we have such as conservation development area, urban area and suburban area has been sent to them. Also, the recreational chapter so they understand the five year master plan, all the parks and also the future development of the County within land use. That has been to the Advisory Committee for their input. I have not coordinated this with Ground Rules yet, until I have the actual signed contract. They mentioned one trip up here, but I will be running this questionnaire by Brad Johnson and it is probably going to be something that I will facilitate first in August. I can get the information done to Brad and possibly Brad can come up later in August and offer solutions to what is going on. Offer amendments, recommendations. I don't know if I would have an ordinance by September 7th."

Com. Harper, "What is September 7th?"

Mr. Thompson, "That is the ninety day deadline for the County Commissioners."

Com. Harper, "What date is our first meeting in September?"

Com. Evans, "September 7th."

Com. Harper, "Here is what I am suggesting. We are going to be running out of time. We talked about this before. Sometime before that date, a few days before, holding an evening meeting so anyone can come who wants to come and hear this and hopefully get their comments heard so we can take our action. Set a date so we can have an evening meeting so we can get public input. We can put out the word on this thing. Maybe just a few days before the 7th. Can we pass this, Gwenn, can we read this twice?"

Atty. Rinkenberger, "What we are doing is not passing it. We are going to vote on whether or not, we are sending it back to the Plan Commission. If it is adopted as is, we are either going to reject it or propose an amendment and send it back to the Plan Commission, I think we can do that with one reading. We are going to have to."

Com. Harper, "Well, the public portion was on 20%, I assume they are going to come back with something different and I think we should give the public a chance to comment on what they are coming back with. I also have a problem with that, and I kept asking and I want to have a chance to get out some word to the public that we are going to have that hearing. I have asked, asked and asked and haven't gotten a definite answer, if we were going to hear it at the meeting we heard it at until one week before the meeting. I think we should have a meeting where we decide on, and get the word out and let people in the community comment on what these guys want."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "Under state law, the public hearing requirement, comes a the Plan Commission level and then when the state statute clips into the Plan Commission, the Board of Commissioners hear it at their regular meeting. So you cant have a public hearing."

Com. Evans, "If we pass it and send it back to the Plan Commission, that is all . . .

Atty. Rinkenberger, "Then they have forty-five days and they have to have a public hearing."

Com. Harper, "John, what's wrong with having a public hearing?"

Com. Evans, "Nothing, I am just looking at . . ."

Com. Harper, "We have talked about it several times, that if we had some hot planning issue that we should have an evening meeting. This is a hot issue. People ought to be able to come and voice their opinion."

Com. Burrus, "I think the concept is fine. The deadline will make it difficult for Bob to get his work done and have a public hearing and still make the September 7th deadline. We can have a public hearing when it goes back to the Plan Commission at their scheduled meeting and when it gets ready to come back to us we can have another public hearing. I think the timing before the September 7th is going to be difficult."

Atty. Rinkenberger "Once we send it back to the Plan Commission they have forty-five days so then, that is another lengthy amount of time for them to consider what we are sending back. What you could do, at your public hearing if the Plan Commission doesn't like it, or the public doesn't like, and the Plan Commission doesn't want to adopt it as we send it to them, then you fellows have the ability to reject it and start all over."

Com. Evans, "How about if we do it on the 7th?"

Com. Harper, "And we have the public hearing on the 7th."

Com. Evans, "Okay. Either way."

Com. Harper, "All right."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "Why don't we have our regular meeting at night?"

Com. Evans, "Yes. That is what I am saying on the 7th."
Com. Harper, "A lot of counties have their regular meeting at night."

Com. Evans, "That doesn't restrict any days from our time table."

Com. Harper, "Fine."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "What time at night?"

Com. Harper, "I think most meetings are at 6:00 or 7:00."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "Why don't we start a hair early because we are going to have to take care of all of our regular business."

Com. Harper, "We can start it at 5:00."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "Yes. We can start it at 5:00 and we are going to talk about this then it will be over about probably be 6:00 or 7:00."

Com. Harper, "Yes, 6:00."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "What do you think? Labor Day is Monday."

Com. Harper, "Just about the time you are going to schedule, John is right."

Com. Burrus, "Let's do it."

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

Com. Evans, "We will meet at 5:00."

Com. Harper, "Regular business."

Com. Burrus, "We will have to advertise that."

Com. Evans, "The date is already out there. We just need to advertise the change of time."

Com. Burrus, "Let's think that one through a moment, though. Typically, here we have 10:00 meeting and an 11:00 Plan Commission."

Com. Harper, "Don't you think if we are a little bit careful and watch that meeting and make sure it ends on time."

Com. Burrus, "I think we can even make it 5:30 and have enough time to get it done for a 7:00 Plan Commission. Is there a consensus on that. We will advertise the Commissioners' meeting at 5:30 and the Plan Commission to commence at 7:00. Okay, then. Yes, sir."

Speaker, "August the 7th?"

Com. Burrus, "September 7th."

Speaker, "Thank you."

Approval of Building, Planning and Zoning Fund Budget for 2005

Com. Burrus, "The next item on the agenda is the discussion and approval of the budget. Bob, is that correct?"

Mr. Thompson, "Correct."

Com. Burrus, "Any particular features that you would care to point out?"

Mr. Thompson, "___Wednesday's."

Com. Evans, "By the way, that is a pretty impressive list of solicited volunteers."

Mr. Thompson, "Someone volunteered. I am happy with that committee. The July 14th Plan Commission meeting. The Commission recommended a change and that was that the Administrative Assistant be eliminated from the budget. They voted on it and it was approved unanimously to eliminate the position from the budget. There is a reduction, I sat down with the original report, there was an additional reduction of $27,600.00. That is to cover the salary, the FICA and also PERF with that salaried position, the reduction. I guess from what you are seeing from last year, we came through with the Building Planning Zone funds it was approved at $454,058.00 we are now down to $390,811.00. Granted, part of from last year was a mistake I made of about $24,000.00. I made a mistake, I was too high with the medical and life. We are still showing probably about $35,000.00 reduction from last year. It is also including the $1,000.00 raises for all major salaried and staff employees that are in existence today. I went ahead and figured in forty-nine cents raise or $1,000.00 approximate raise for the hourly people also, within this budget."

Com. Harper, "Let me ask you. Is it necessary that it be done tonight?"

Com. Burrus, "Our next meeting will be August the 3rd and I don't believe the budget __."

Com. Evans, "Yes, but you already assigned this to the Auditor."

Mr. Thompson, "I submitted one that went down, that was with your old report that was about $420 some thousand dollars."

Com. Harper, "When is the next Planning Commission meeting?"

Mr. Thompson, "The 28th. Next Wednesday."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "By adding an unsafe building ordinance and that is going to require additional personnel someplace and for us to cut a position when we are adding a department. To me, does not make any sense at all."

Mr. Thompson, "I agree 100%. They asked me if I saw this position, if I was going to fill it in the future. Existing as it is going along today, I probably wouldn't but I don't know what is coming around the corner in the future. That is the reason why I kept it in. I did lower it. It was originally $29,000.00 almost $30,000.00. I did lower it down to the lowest salary spot. I mean, not knowing what is coming up in the future, I guess I am a little guarded in that sense."

Com. Burrus, "I would like to make a comment on that too. I think our safest and most prudent route would be to simply leave there for now."

Com. Evans, "Let's change the name to Chief Deputy or Third Deputy, or something."

Mr. Thompson, "There was a Third Deputy position and that's still on file with the Council as far as the job description and a salary range. That was eliminated back in, I think in the 2001 budget. When the crunch came."

Com. Harper, "Let me say this. If we can hold it off, let's take it to the Plan Commission about it. Part of my mind is thinking about wanting to bring it in. He is brining in plenty of money at this point."

Mr. Thompson, "I got numbers for those. I will let you know."

Com. Harper, "I know. So let me go back for a minute. I understand what you are saying."

Atty. Rinkenberger, "It goes right back into the fund (inaudible)."

Com. Burrus, "Okay, with that being the case, then are we in agreement that we will put this matter on hold until our next meeting?"

Com. Evans, "Yes."

Com. Burrus, "Okay. I guess that will…"

Mr. Thompson, "Just real briefly, I am going to run through some numbers just to let you all know. In July, 2003, when this fund was created up to June, 2004, we have collected $375,800.00, approximately. Now, that was also six months under the old fees. From January, 2004 through June, 2004, of this year our received total has been approximately $217,200.00. Expenses from November of 2003, through June, 2004, when we eventually have been withdrawing money from our fund has been $157,300.00 total. I feel that we have been keeping our double height up there. I feel, so far, we have been successful with this. My goal, I would hope by January 1st of 2005, that we have enough money in that fund that would cover the 2005 budget. Granted, there is a couple of positions on there that we will probably not fill right away. Last year, we asked for a Code Enforcement Officer and a full-time Building Inspector which we are not sure on. I think, we are on our way, of possibly doing that. I think it could be accomplished."

Com. Burrus, "All right then. Anything further, Bob?"

Com. Harper, "No."

Com. Burrus, "Okay. Thank you for that up-date. The only comment I would make on that is to the extent you are able, it would be nice to keep the cushion on top of whatever your budget is so.."

Mr. Thompson, "That is the goal for 2005, entering in January 1st, 2006."

Com. Burrus, "Very well. Hearing nothing else from either of the Board members then, we will entertain a motion to recess.

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

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


BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PORTER COUNTY, INDIANA

David L. Burrus
John A. Evans
Robert P. Harper


Attest: Sandra K. Vuko, Auditor