PORTER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 10, 2006
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, John Evans and Carole Knoblock, County Attorney Gwenn Rinkenberger, Melissa Hartig and Vi Wagner.

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

REORGANIZATION

Com. Harper, “The first thing on the agenda is reorganization. The first officer is present. Gwenn, do you want to handle the meeting for election of president?”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “Yes. Do I hear a motion to have Bob Harper as President?”

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint Bob Harper as President of the Board of Commissioners, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

Com. Harper, “Do I hear a nomination for Vice President?”

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint John Evans as Vice President of the Board of Commissioners, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

Com. Harper, “Do I hear a motion for Secretary?”

Com. Evans moved to appoint Carole Knoblock as Secretary of the Board of Commissioners, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

APPOINTMENTS

NIRPC

Com. Harper, “We have an appointment for the Northwest Indiana Regional Plan Commission. Do I hear a motion?”

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint Bob Harper to NIRPC, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

NICTD

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint Leon West to the NICTD Board, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried with Com. Evans voting against.

PLAN COMMISSION

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint Bob Harper to the Plan Commission, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

DRAINAGE BOARD

Com. Evans moved to appoint Carole Knoblock to the Drainage Board, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.




CENTER OF WORKFORCE INNOVATIONS

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint Bob Harper to the Center of Workforce Innovations, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

COMMUNITY CORRECTIONS

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint John Evans to the Community Corrections Board, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

CHILD PROTECTION TEAM

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint John Evans to the Child Protection Team, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint John Evans to the Animal Welfare Board, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

KANKAKEE RIVER BASIN COMMITTEE

Com. Harper, “Do you have a problem with waiting until next meeting? All right. Let’s put that off until next time.”

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ADVISORY COUNCIL

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint Bob Harper to the Emergency Management Advisory Council, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

DEPARTMENT HEADS

Com. Harper, “The other thing I want to announce is and we didn’t do it last year, regarding department heads, because we decided last year that really under the law department heads are there until someone wants to make a change then they do so at the pleasure of the Commissioners and no one on this board has indicated to me they want any changes in the any of the department heads.”

Com. Evans, “Should we enumerate them? Veteran’s Service Officer, James Lynch; Highway Superintendent, Al Hoagland; Assistant Highway Superintendent, David James; Highway Engineer, Dave Schelling; Building Commissioner, Mike Haller; and Environmental Coordinator, Russ Shirley.”

ALCHOHOLIC BEVERAGE COMMISSION

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint Donald Cirrincione to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

ANIMAL WELFARE BOARD

Com. Evans moved to increase the size of the Animal Welfare Board to 15 members, Com. Knoblock seconded, motion carried.

Com. Evans moved to appoint Dr. Lisa Booth, Steve Kirschner, Marilyn Shultz, Dr. Mary Ann Sheller and James Lambert,

Com. Harper, “Do I hear any other further nominations at this time for this board?”

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint Nannette Ames, Sheryl Barnard, Lynn Gassoway, Nancy Hiat, James Lambert, Terry Young and Sharon Harrington as new members to the Animal Welfare Board, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.
Com. Evans, “I would also like to recommend that at the next meeting of the County Council we appear before them and in relation to the Animal Welfare Board to ask for an additional stipend for the additional members we just appointed.”

CONVENTION, RECREATION & TOURISM

Com. Evans moved to appoint Gloria Reed as the Commissioners’ appointment from North District, Com. Knoblock seconded, motion carried.

DRAINAGE BOARD

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint Alan Hewitt to the Drainage Board, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried with Com. Evans voting against.

BOARD OF HEALTH

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint Elizabeth Forbes and Robert Mason to the Board of Health, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

PARKS AND RECREATION

Com. Evans moved to appoint Christine Alyesworth

Com. Harper, “I don’t think she applied, John.”

Ms. Hartig, “I think the County Council appointed her.”

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint Ruth Jarnecke, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

PLAN COMMISSION

Com. Knoblcok moved to appoint Richard Burns and Timothy Cole to the Plan Commission, Com. Harper seconded, motion carried.

PTABOA BOARD

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint James Kopp to the PTABOA Board,

Shirley LaFever, “It should be Barb Wiggins and Janine Chrisman, James Kopp is the County Council’s.”

Com. Evans, “According to this, James Kopp is our appointment.”

Ms. LaFever, “He was last year, this year is the County Council’s.”

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint Janine Chrisman and Barbara Wiggins to the PTABOA Board, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

WEST PORTER TOWNSHIP FIRE DISTRICT

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint Charles Murray to the West Porter Township Fire District and to appoint Vern Pahl in place of his wife on the West Porter Township Fire District, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT ADVISORY BOARD

Com. Knoblock moved to appoint Nancy Hiatt to the Wildlife Management Advisory Board, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.



APPROVAL OF PAYROLL

Com. Evans moved to approve the payroll of December 27, 2005 and January 9, 2006, Com. Knoblock seconded, motion carried.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Com. Evans moved to approve the minutes of December 20, 2005, Com. Knoblock seconded, motion carried.

RESOLUTION 06-01, SETTING MEETING DATES FOR 2006

Com. Harper, “We have Resolution No. 06-10 setting meeting dates for 2006. Is there any question about these dates?”

Com. Evans, “Is the time at 10:00 a.m.?”

Com. Harper, “No, the time is at 6:00 p.m.”

Com. Evans, “I think we ought to divide half of them. The attendance shows that we haven’t had any significant attendance.”

Com. Harper, “We have at our Plan Commissions, we have.”

Com. Evans, “The Plan Commission has always been (inaudible)…”

Com. Harper, “The Plan Commission is part of the Commissioners.”

Com. Evans, “If someone has an interest in our agenda, they are here. All our employees, department heads, the office holders are coming back at 6:00 at night after putting in a day’s work.”

Com. Harper, “It gives the people a general census a chance to come and it is the same time as many other counties.”

Com. Evans, “10:00 is also a time for that. We could rotate them, have one at 10:00 and one at 6:00.”

Com. Harper, “The idea was to give the citizens a chance to come to these meetings after work.”

Com. Evans, “I think the county’s business should be done during business hours.”

Com. Knoblock moved to keep the meetings at 6:00 p.m, Com. Harper seconded,

Atty. Rinkenberger, “You could have one at 10:00 and one at 6:00.”

Motion carried, with Com. Evans voting against.

RESOLUTION NO. 06-01
PORTER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

WHEREAS, the Porter County Board of Commissioners is the Executive Body of Government in Porter County, Indiana; and

WHEREAS, Pursuant to I.C. 36-2-2-6 the Executive shall hold a regular meeting at least once each month and at other times as needed to conduct all necessary business; and

WHEREAS, the Porter County Board of Commissioners meet regularly on the first and third Tuesdays of each month with the exception of county holidays which may fall on a designated meeting day, therefore, designating the Wednesday immediately following the Tuesday holiday as a regular meeting day.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Porter County Board of Commissioners that the following is a list of regular meetings in 2006 for the Porter County Board of Commissioners and that any other meetings, as needed to conduct all necessary business, will be announced at a later date:

Tuesday, January 10, 2006 Tuesday, January 17, 2006
Tuesday, February 7, 2006 Tuesday, February 21, 2006
Tuesday, March 7, 2006 Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Tuesday, April 4, 2006 Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Wednesday, May 3, 2006 Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Tuesday, June 6, 2006 Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Wednesday, July 5, 2006 Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Tuesday, August 1, 2006 Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Tuesday, September 5, 2006 Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Tuesday, October 3, 2006 Tuesday, October 17, 2006
Wednesday, November 8, 2006 Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Tuesday, December 5, 2006 Tuesday, December 19, 2006

This Resolution passed and adopted this 10th day of January 2006.

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PORTER COUNTY, INDIANA
s/Robert P. Harper
s/John A. Evans
s/Carole M. Knoblock
Attest: s/Sandra K. Vuko, Auditor

OPEN BIDS FOR COUNTY HOME DEMOLITION
Steve Winters, DLZ
Dave Schelling, Highway Engineer

Mr. Schelling, “Steve Winters from DLZ is with me today.”

Com. Harper, “Tell me how these bids are, is it just one bid for the whole thing?”

Mr. Schelling, “Yes, just go with the total cost. There should be three bids in each one. There should be three copies. Do you want to acknowledge any of the contractors that might be here tonight?”

Com. Harper, “Go ahead and do that.”

Mr. Schelling, “Would any contractors like to be recognized?”

(Inaudible)…. “From G.E. Marshall of Valparaiso.”

“Joe Jardelli from CCI.”

Com. Harper, “Thank you for coming.”

Com. Evans, “I don’t think there is a representative bid. I don’t think we will do these bids justice by just announcing any particular number.”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “Maybe we should just identify the people who submitted a bid.”

Com. Harper, “They have the total bid amount, John, this one does, on the bottom of the second page. Lets announce that. This first bid I have is from Gariup Construction and the total base bid is $390,000.00. The next one I am looking at is from Chem Check, Inc. and it looks like the total bid amount for it is $320,000.00. The next one I am looking at is G.E. Marshall and the total bid amount on that one is $258,195.00.”
Man in audience, “Chem Check is $220,000.00 not $320,000.00.”

Com. Harper, “Okay, I am sorry. Then the next one is $258,195.00. Is this the last one, and is from Ellas Construction. They are $319,700.00. Dave, you will take these and let the other bidders see them if they want to tonight and bring a recommendation back to our next meeting.”

Mr. Schelling, “Yes, I hope to have a recommendation. I would like to give Steve one copy of these of the bid documents.”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “I think that is necessary.”

Mr. Schelling, “Thank you.”

RESULTS OF UNITED WAY CAMPAIGN AND PRIZE DRAWING
Dave Lain, Chief
Bill Hanna, United Way

Chief Lain, “I am going to do this a little differently than perhaps you are used to. I just want to say that tonight although I am wearing the Sheriff’s Department uniform, the hat I am wearing is that of the public sector chair, from the United Way. As a governmental representative on that United Way board. I just wanted to congratulate and thank the Commissioners for your stewardship in making the United Way Campaign such a success. As you remember last year before the campaign started we asked you to endorse the United Way Campaign and you very quickly did so without question and gave access to Mr. Hanna to all the departments in county government and as you will see here momentarily, it made a tremendous impact for the folks in our communities that need the assistance from the United Way and I just can’t say enough of what Sharon Kish, Director, has done. Bill Hanna has really been the founder of this whole idea that we are going through tonight as far as the prizes. Bill, I would like you to just show the Commissioners and everyone else just how successful this year’s campaign was in county government.”

Mr. Hanna, “Good evening, everyone. Commissioners, it is certainly a privilege to be here this evening to address you and report some really outstanding results from our campaign. Just briefly I would like to talk of the total from this year’s campaign and all the contributors was $7,872.00 and that is an increase of 66% from the contribution total by Porter County Government employees from last year. It is also an increase in the number of donors by 13%. As Dave mentioned, one of the things that helped us along the way was a prize drawing that was really an appreciation drawing for employees who participated and contributed any amount through payroll deduction. We have three grand prizes and then some other prizes. We are not going to take time to draw all those at this point but we wondered if you would kindly, well we are going to ask each of the Commissioners to draw one name. This will be for our first prize which is a Dell color printer, model 720. And the winner is Laura Sutton, who works in Probation. Our next prize, which is very nice and this is donated, by the way, all three of these prizes were donated by Dave Lain. The second prize is an NCAA Sweet 16 mini basketball, personally autographed by Bryce Drew and will be delivered to the winning employee in person by Bryce Drew.”

Com. Harper, “Joanne Moore.”

Mr. Hanna, “Joanne Moore. Then our third grand prize is a book entitled, ‘Tales from the White Sox Dugout’ written and personally autographed by Ron Kittle, former White Sox star player and current Porter County resident. And Ron will come here and deliver that prize to her personally to the winner as well.”

Com. Evans, “The 1983 Rookie of the Year, Ron Kittle. And the winner is Debra Morrisrow, Adult Probation.”

Mr. Hanna, “Congratulation to the three grand prize winners. At this point if the Commissioners would kindly present this check to Sharon, and Sharon maybe you just want to say a few words?”

Sharon Kish, “I just want to echo what they have already said. I want to thank the Commissioners for your leadership and also to all the county employees who gave so generously this year. 63% increase is incredible and on behalf of all the people who will benefit from this gift. I want to thank them.”

Mr. Hanna, “Thank you very much.”

Com. Harper, “Thank you.”

OFFICE HOLDERS/DEPARTMENT HEADS

Ken Perkins, Director Juvenile Detention Center

Com. Harper, “The next thing on the agenda is Ken Perkins from Juvenile Detention Center with a contract approval.”

Mr. Perkins, “A few months ago I came to you and got approval for inspection of our Ansul kitchen hood pressure system for our kitchen and when they went to refill it, etc., they decided that the tank was substandard and recommended that we get a new tank and the refill will be included in that. It actually comes our cheaper than refilling the old one. We need your approval for that. We have the money in our budget.”

Com Evans moved to approve the contract, Com. Knoblock seconded, motion carried.

Al Hoagland, Highway Superintendent
Approval of 2006 Rental Rates

Com. Harper, “The next thing we have is Al Hoagland and approval of 2006 rental rates.”

Al Hoagland, “These rates are picked off the FEMA pay back charge and this is how we determine what our equipment is worth to get reimbursed for any reason.”

Com. Evans moved to approve Units 1 through 178 and the Tar Kettles 1998 as submitted, Com. Knoblock seconded, motion carried.

Sandy Vuko, Auditor
Approval of copier lease agreement

Atty. Rinkenberger, “It looks like they gave you a better copier for the same price.”

Ms. Vuko, “I know, isn’t that great?”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “Yes, we can recommend approval of this. Not a better rate than she had, but a better copier for the same price.”

Com. Knoblock moved to approve the copier lease agreement, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

COMMISSIONERS REPORTS

Center District:

1. Buncich Addition Subdivision Road Agreement, located on the north side of CR 50 North west of CR 750 West. Offer to contribute is $750.00 per lot for a total of $750.00. Owner and Subdivider is Grace Buncich. Recommend approval.

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

South District:

1. Agreement proposal for an estimated $12,272.25 from Earth Exploration to do the geotechnical evaluation for Phase I of the CR 100 South Project. The Commissioners can accept this proposal if you want to proceed with this project. Recommend approval.

Com. Knoblock moved to approve,

Com. Evans, “This is just soil and (inaudible)?”

Mr. Schelling, “Yes.”

Com. Evans, “How many are there?”

Mr. Schelling, “I inquired from several firms that we had quotes. The only one that really
made it was $25,000.00.”

Com. Evans, “So they are just following INDOT’s?”

Mr. Schelling, “Yes, they have to have a certain number of per mile for INDOT’s requirements and if they run into any questionable soils then they have to get some more. It is kind of cookie cutter thing they have to do.”

Com. Evans, “These people are out of Indianapolis?”

Mr. Schelling, “Well, their office is in South Bend. I have the agreement here, but this is an original.”

Com. Evans seconded,

Com. Knoblock, “Shouldn’t we be having a public hearing on this?”

Mr. Schelling, “There will be a public hearing probably in two months or so.”

Com. Harper, “I think what Carole is asking is there is going to be a public hearing on CR 100 South Project, is that correct?”

Mr. Schelling, “Yes.”

Com. Harper, “So this is just preliminary things to be done.”

Mr. Schelling, “Yes, these things need to be done so that the total design can be done and get the information so they can design how thick the overlay is going to have to be in the road.”

Com. Harper, “That’s a final decision and that project will be in after the public hearing, right?”

Mr. Schelling, “Yes. And any public input needs to be taken into consideration and our project might have to be modified.”

Com. Evans, “It says provide an evaluation of the sub service conditions and assess the impacts on these conditions.”

Com. Harper, “I just wanted to answer Carole’s question. As I understand it, will this public hearing be after the Commissioner hearing, like a Plan Commission hearing?”

Mr. Schelling, “It would be on a separate evening. It probably will be done in the afternoon and then run into the evening. It’s something that INDOT will actually run. They’ll chair the meeting and they’ll have representatives from Indianapolis up here to present the project and there will be plans available.”

Com. Knoblock, “I was just kind of concerned over some of the work that needs to be done. (Inaudible)……. They just fix their own.”

Mr. Schelling, “When we have the hills near the intersections that presents very poor sight lines and we need to crack that.”

Com. Knoblock, “I see the county just wants to fix roads. It’s going to be an expense.”

Mr. Schelling, “It is going to be more expensive but we are going to have a better road because of the pre-planning and the higher standard of design.”

Com. Evans, “Did you get all the money from the 149 project. Not all of it but we do have a million dollars from Visclosky.”

Motion carried.

2. Agreement proposal from Bonar Group for the field survey for Phase II (CR 100 South from CR 600 West to the Lake/Porter County Line Road). The cost would be $27,870.00. This work could be done this winter.

Com. Harper, “Are you asking for approval of that?”

Mr. Schelling, “Its really up to the Commissioners. This is on the next phase, we
should get started on this but if you feel more comfortable to wait until after the public hearing, that probably would be appropriate.”

Com. Evans, “I’m confused. How do you take soil samplings if you don’t have the survey done. How far in advance do you have to have it done?”

Mr. Schelling, “That soil survey was for the Phase I between State Road 2 and 600 West. The surveying would be for the next phase, Phase II between 600 West and Lake County Line Road.”

Com. Evans, “When INDOT comes they are only going to be concerned with Phase I, right?”

Mr. Schelling, “That’s what the public hearing will be about.”

Com. Harper, “Thank you.”

LANDSCAPE MAINTENANCE DISCUSSION

Com. Harper, “Do we have a proposal on this?”

Com. Evans, “Did we have any other bidders or just this one?”

Com. Harper, “In past times she has asked for others, but I’m not sure this time.”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “Well, even if we asked for others and we got him, do we like him?”

Com. Harper, “Yes.”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “We went through that whole process last year. You can do it again if you want to but if you have somebody that you like that is doing a good job, you can just do a contract renewal.”

Com. Evans moved to renew the contract with Getz Landscaping based on the submitted proposal for the coming year, Com. Knoblock seconded, motion carried.

CORRESPONDENCE

Clerk’s monthly report for November 2005 is on file.
Weights and Measures monthly report for December 2005 is on file.
Court Security Activity monthly report for December 2005 is on file.

Approval of official bond for Carol Linzy, Union Township Assessor

Com. Evans moved to approve the official bond for Carol Linzy, Union Township Assessor in the amount of $8,500.00, Com. Knoblock seconded, motion carried.

Approval of employment contract with Herb Douglas as attorney for Drainage Board

Com. Evans moved to approve the employment contract with Herb Douglas as attorney for the Drainage Board

Com. Evans, “Is the rate the same?”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “It’s the same contract he always has. I don’t know if the rate went up or not.”

Com. Knoblock seconded, motion carried.

Appointment of Dale Brewer as representative on Common Wage Construction Rate Committee for 2006

Com. Evans moved to appoint Dale Brewer, Clerk, as the representative for Porter County on the Common Wage Construction Rate Committee for 2006, Com. Knoblock seconded, motion carried.

Request for Transfer of Funds-Commissioners

Fund 233.30 $700.95 From acct 3610 maintenance agreements
Into acct 2330 household and bedding

To cover purchase of cleaning supplies. (Transfer was approved by the County Council at their January 4th meeting.)

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

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

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PORTER COUNTY, INDIANA

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


Attest: Sandra K. Vuko, Auditor