PORTER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2005
6:00 p.m.


The regular meeting of the Porter County Board of Commissioners convened at 6:00 p.m. in the Commissioners’ Chambers of the Administration Center.

Those present were: Commissioners Robert Harper and John Evans, County Attorney Gwenn Rinkenberger, Melissa Hartig and Vi Wagner.

President Harper called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.

APPROVAL OF PAYROLL

Com. Evans moved to approve the payroll of November 28, 2005, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

APPROVAL OF CLAIMS

Com. Evans moved to approve the claims of December 6, 2005, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

EXPO CENTER MANAGER APPOINTMENT

Com. Harper, “Let’s take up first the issue of the Expo Center.”

Com. Evans moved to appoint John Thorstad to Manager and Liz Culp Assistant Manager of the Expo Center to replace Lonnie Steele as of December 31, 2005, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

Com. Harper, “I would like to acknowledge that John is here tonight, thank you for coming, John. John has served in several management positions in probation departments and further he has run Camp Lawrence for fifteen years. I think he is going to be a great asset to us and we are glad you agreed to do it, John. Do you have anything to add, John?”

Com. Evans, “No, just welcome.”

APPROVAL OF WELLNESS PROVIDER

Com. Harper, “We already had applications on that and presentations. I would like to see us try Hoosier Healthcare.”

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

APPROVAL OF ERISA COMPLIANCE AGREEMENT
Leigh Ann Westergren, Anton Insurance

Ms. Westergren, “I think this is something Gwenn has had an opportunity to look over and hopefully give us her opinion at this time.”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “I was advised by Anton Insurance that we needed to get something in place to make sure we are HIPPA compliant. They put together a form that they would like us to adopt and an audit check list so that Porter County is HIPPA compliant. I received it and I think it is a good idea.”

Com. Harper, “So now we need to approve the form.”

Com. Evans moved to approve the audit check list of eighteen items to make sure Porter County is HIPPA compliant as far as our group health care plan is concerned, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

Ms. Westergren, “Along with this we have (inaudible) ….”

Com. Harper, “Gwenn, have you looked at this? Do we have to approve this or is it just a part of this?”

Ms. Westergren, “That is just a (inaudible) . . . our relationship in this.”

PORTER COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH POSITION APPOINTMENT

Com. Evans moved to appoint Dr. Kenneth Black to the Porter County Board of Health, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

OFFICE HOLDERS/DEPARTMENT HEADS

Voting machines
Dale Brewer, County Clerk

Com. Harper, “Dale, you have the improvement of the election equipment. And you brought us the check they gave you, right?”

Ms. Brewer, “$690,625.00. (Inaudible)….. We are getting over a million dollars. (inaudible)…

Com. Evans, “Is that one per polling place?”

Ms. Brewer, “Yes. I just really need you to approve this and then have you sign off on the copies for me so I can get it sent in.”

Com. Harper, “So you need this sales order form approved? Is that what you need?”

Ms. Brewer, “Yes, I need you to sign. This is just an additional to the original contract.”

Com. Evans moved to approve the sales order form additional quantities request in the amount of $690,625.00, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

Com. Evans, “Next November’s election will be the first time these will be used?”

Ms. Brewer, “Yes. They are all stored down in the basement.”

E-911 Budget, 1st reading
Dave Sheibels

Com. Harper, “Dave, before we go to the budget, I just handed to Gwenn the thing about the new Indiana Wireless Directors asking for that new _____.”

Mr. Sheibels, “Yes, thank you. We did a project earlier in the year where we outfitted our Porter County Dispatch Phase 2 Wireless Mapping System. We submitted the necessary paperwork with the necessary letter to the Indiana Wireless Board early in the year. Since then, Chris Ternain, the previous director of the Wireless Board resigned and it took state treasurer Tim Berry a few months to find a replacement and he hired Ken _______, a part time student 911 Director. He came on board and developed two short forms for the processing and is going to have the first cost recovery meeting in January so he sent me, everything is fine, but he just sent me his two new forms that he wants the president of the Board of Commissioners on the two forms. It is just a mere technicality.”
Atty. Rinkenberger, “And this is the technicality we have to do to get reimbursed for expenditures?”

Mr. Sheibels, “Yes, submit the letter with the copy of the Porter County cancelled check and the Tiburon invoices. He already has those. And as an in house procedure he developed these forms to go along with the letter.”

Com. Harper, “So we don’t need to pass anything, just sign it?”

Mr. Sheibels, “Correct. There’s a signature line on the bottom of both pages. Submitting for first approval is the 2006 911 Surcharge budget, fund 37. The budget is identical to last year’s budget. It has included a $1,500.00 across the board raise, which was approved by the County Council a few weeks ago. I shifted a few line items around but other than that the budget is $24,280.00 above last year’s budget for $1,905,290.00. That is our 2006 budget.”

Com. Harper, “Dave, at the end of the year if you follow this budget, do you feel you have a surplus?”

Mr. Sheibels, “We probably will have a surplus for the end of this year. We really did not have any capital development projects again this year. Mapping project was our biggest capital project this year with the cost recovery come back for the first part of next year. That will certainly help our balance sheet for this year.”

Com. Evans, “The dispatchers, you’ve got actually fifteen first class dispatchers, is that just kind of a transitory position, that you wait ninety days, or sixty days, what is it?”

Mr. Sheibels, “On the State Board of Accounts form what I do every year on the bottom of it on the first page, there is 26 positions listed always on the budget but we actually only have 25. Because of the automatic move up on an annual basis, if I hire a probationary dispatcher, for example, at the end of the first year, they automatically go to a second class dispatcher, at the end of the second year they automatically go to first class dispatcher. So this is how we have been handling this for many years, we just throw in an extra second class salary amount in there just to cover the automatic move ups so we don’t have to come back during the year and say well, we had a probationary dispatch go to second class, they just automatically after one year they move up to first class or second class. We just cover it this way so we have the salary amount available.”

Com. Evans, “What is the possibility of re-doing out time table for this budget? The whole county does budgets in July and August and everybody is set here. I know we do this because the Commissioners approve your budget and the Council approves everybody else’s. But when we get in that mode, that is the only thing we do for a couple months at a time, is go through budget after budget after budget and it becomes kind of difficult then to revert back and go back and look at just one particular budget so if it has to be approved by the end of the year as I understand it. Why don’t we just go ahead and put this on a time table for next year to work it into the same time that the County Council is reviewing everybody else’s budget and then we will be a little bit more up to speed on it.”

Mr. Sheibels, “It has only been the last two years when we, for some reason got into it later in the year. But the previous Board of Commissioners, we went a little later after the Council, so that the Council would have a chance to enact whatever raises may or may not happen for the previous year and that will just be included and we don’t have to come back and add raises to it like they tend to do later in the year. Usually by this time of year, or earlier, as you know, …….”

Com. Evans, “Why don’t we do this, why don’t you bring it to our attention for first reading the first Commissioners’ meeting after the Council approves everyone else’s budget next year. That way we will be on target to get it. So if the total increase from last year was, what did you say?”

Mr. Sheibels, “On the worksheet that I prepared here, it is $24,280.00 increase.”

Com. Harper, “Well, I see this phone thing has gone up quite a bit from last year. Telephone, line item 3220.”

Mr. Sheibels, “3220 is actually the same as last year, $450,000.00.”

Com. Harper, “I thought the $300,000 was approved last year.”

Mr. Sheibels, “(Inaudible).”

Com. Evans, “Your salaries for last year were a total of $840,382.00 is that right?”

Mr. Sheibels, “Correct.”

Com. Evans, “So there is an increase of $38,250.00.”

Mr. Sheibels, “That’s correct, to cover the raises.”

Com. Evans, “But the entire budget only went up $24,280.00.”

Mr. Sheibels, “I made a large decrease in lease purchases. I don’t anticipate any large lease purchases next year so I dropped it $50,000.00.”

Com. Evans moved to accept on first reading the E911 Surcharge Fund 37 budget, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS

North District:

1. Performance Letter of Credit No 2005-ILC-596 for Timberland Subdivision from Bank Calumet in the amount of $2,600,000. This is for Timberland Development LLC’s infrastructure within the subdivision. Recommend approval.

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

2. Performance Letter of Credit No 2005-ILC-597 for the Damon Run Conservancy District Phase II and III from Bank Calumet in the amount of $2,900,000.
This is for Olympia Development, LLC to provide water and sewer service to the Timberland Subdivision. Recommend approval.

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

AWARD 2006 HIGHWAY BIDS
Al Hoagland, Highway Superintendent

LIMESTONE

Mr. Hoagland, “I recommend we take all bidders this year.”

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

Mr. Hoagland, “Item 2, Slag, we had three bidders, I recommend we take all three.”

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

Mr. Hoagland, “Item 3, Bituminous Plant Mix. This year we had four bidders which is one more than normal. I recommend we take all bids at this time due to the fluctuating market. I am sure these prices are going to change.”

Com. Evans, “One of your bidders only bid cold mix.”

Mr. Hoagland, “Right, Central Paving, they are out of Logansport. They really don’t have the facilities to bring it up here, but the cold mix they produce, they deliver all over the state.”

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

Mr. Hoagland, “No bidders on the ice abrasive material. Item 5, fill sand, will be G.E. Marshall and Ralston Paving. I recommend we take both bids.”

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

Mr. Hoagland, “Item 6, Pavement stripings and markings. We had two bidders, Air Marking Company and Line Markers. I recommend we take both bids.”

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

Mr. Hoagland, “Item 7, equipment rental would be G.E. Marshall, Reith Riley, and Walsh and Kelly. I recommend we take all three.”

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

Mr. Hoagland, “Item A under Item 7, Pulverizing machine. We only had one bidder, Mt. Carmel Sand and Gravel. I recommend we take them.”

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

Mr. Hoagland, “Item 8, Signs and Sign Posts, Hall Signs are the only bidder. I recommend we take them.”

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

Mr. Hoagland, “Item 9, also one bidder, Great Lakes Chloride, I recommend we take their bid.”

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

Mr. Hoagland, “Item 10, Gasoline. Recommend we take Triple J Mar from Wanatah, Indiana.”

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

Mr. Hoagland, “Item 11 Diesel Fuel. I would also recommend Triple J Mar for diesel this year.”

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

Mr. Hoagland, “And the Sheriff’s fuel was bid separately and I believe they have a representative here. Item 12, Motor Oil. I would recommend Superior Petroleum at this time.”

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

Mr. Hoagland, “Metal Culverts had three bidders. I would recommend that we take all three.”

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

Mr. Hoagland, “13 A would be guardrails. Two bidders only, I recommend we take both Debco and James H. Drew.”

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

Mr. Hoagland, “No bidders on Item 14. Item 15, Ready Mix Concrete, Zimco Materials. Recommend we accept their bid.”

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

Com. Harper, “The bids, if anyone wants to see them?”

Mr. Hoagland, “They will all be over at the office.”

Com. Evans, “The items that you had no bidders for, will that be a problem?”

Mr. Hoagland, “No.”

SHERIFF’S FUEL BID

Debby Harlow, “We had Triple J Mar bid for the Sheriff’s fuel.”

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

CORRESPONDENCE

Weights and Measures monthly report for November 2005 is on file.
Court Security Activity Report for November 2005 is on file.
Clerk’s monthly report for October 2005 is on file.
Emergency Management monthly report for October 2005 is on file.

Approve official bond for James Murphy, Treasurer

Com. Evans moved to accept the bond for James Murphy, Treasurer, in the amount of $300,000.00, Com. Harper seconded. Motion carried.

Approve blanket employee bond for Treasurer’s office

Com. Evans moved to accept the bond for blanket employee bond for the Treasurer’s office in the amount of $250,000.00, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

Approve official bond for Holly Seibel, Opera House

Com. Evans moved to accept the official bond for Holly Seibel, Opera House Director in the amount of $8,500.00, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

Request for Additional Appropriation—Commissioners

Com. Harper, “This is really an amendment to the CEDIT Plan, $100,000.00 from unallocated CEDIT Funds to purchase equipment for the new Ivy Tech facility.”

Fund 295.30 $100,000 acct 0001 CEDIT Project 11(2004)

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

Request for Additional Appropriation—Commissioners

Fund 296.30 $250,000 acct 0001 CEDIT Project 12 (2004)

Development of a cadastral based GIS.

CONGRATULATIONS TO VALPARAISO’S WASTE WATER SEWAGE DEPT.

Com. Evans, “I just wanted to add my congratulations to Valparaiso’s Waste Water and Sewage Department for receiving the only award given by the state of Indiana for the way they handle their biosolids.”

CHANGING MEETING DATES FOR JANUARY

Com. Harper, “I have a couple things I want to say. There is a lot of talk of office space in this building and there are a lot of departments that need office space. Everyone knows that Hazmat will be moving and we are going to wait and do an inventory before we make any decisions. So, don’t tell anyone to move or move around until they talk to us about it. Also, I would like to address the January meeting. There is some discussion of having it the second Tuesday of January. Is there any reason we can’t do that?”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “The only concern I had was bids are due for the county home demolition. We can have them come in and open them the 10 or just postpone the opening until the 10th. Dave Schelling said they were going to be sending addendums out so we can advise the bidders that way.”

Com .Evans, “So our meetings would the 10th and the 17th?”

Com. Harper, “That would be fine.”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “There are five Tuesdays and we could do the 10th and the 24th. It would probably make more sense.”

Ms. Hartig, “I don’t know if the Auditor’s office has their pay out schedule set yet, but usually they do it the second week in January and I think they have it down for the 17th. I can check and see.”

Com. Evans, “That would mean that we would be approving payroll before its run?”

Ms. Hartig, “This is for the payout for claims. The first one in January. They have to wait until they are approved before they can mail the checks out.”

Com. Evans, “Lets just change the first meeting to the 10th and keep the second meeting as scheduled on the 17th. How is that?”

Com Evans moved to approve the meeting dates of January 10th and January 17th for the Commissioners for 2006, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

Man in audience, “Is there a bond for Timberland?”

Com. Evans, “For Timberland, we approved both the bond for the subdivision and we approved for the water and sewer. One in the amount of $2,600,000.00 and one in the amount of $2,900,000.00.”

Man, “Okay. They said it would be handled under correspondence and I didn’t hear it.”

Com. Evans, “We did it right before you came in. Sharon, have you had a chance to look at the new voting machines?”

Ms. Lippens, “I was involved in the original trip to Florida. I have seen them before but I have not seen ours.”

Com. Evans, “You are going to be part of the test run?”

Ms. Lippens, “I will be going through training with the other voters assistants for voting night.”

Com. Harper, “Again, I want to thank John Thorstad for coming and accepting the job.”

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

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

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PORTER COUNTY, INDIANA


Robert P. Harper
John A. Evans
Carole M. Knoblock


Attest: Sandra K. Vuko, Auditor