PORTER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 2006
6:00 P.M.

The regular meeting of the Porter County Board of Commissioners convened at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 in the Commissioners’ Chambers of the Administration Center at 155 Indiana Avenue, Suite 205, Valparaiso IN 46383.

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

Vice President Evans called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Com. Knoblock moved to approve the minutes of March 21, 2006, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

APPROVAL OF PAYROLL

Com. Knoblock moved to approve the payroll of April 3, 2006, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

APPROVAL OF CLAIMS

Com. Knoblock moved to approve the claims of April 4, 2006, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

APPROVAL OF CHANGE ORDER FOR VISITOR’S CENTER
Lorelei Weimer

Ms. Weimer, “Before you tonight is Change Order Number 4 for the Porter County Visitor’s Center and what this is this is still regarding the dune landscape feature that we took out. There were some additional storm structure changes once they got out into the field and those additional costs were $649.43. Again, the Commission only pays 20% of those which is $129.89 and if I can get those approved, then we will submit those onto INDOT.”

Com. Evans, “Just so everybody is clear; this is not anything unusual or abnormal. This is the kind of thing that goes with any projects. It is the process you have to go through to make these things work.”

Ms. Weimer, “Exactly. Our understanding is that when you are on site that is when you have the same situation and then any other change orders once we get to the building may be client based. But it should start to calm down after we get done with the site work.”

Com. Knoblock moved to approve Change Order no. 4, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

Ms. Weimer, “Then our other request is the Commissioners approved our contract with DLZ for construction engineering which is mandatory by the state and we have someone out there full time overseeing the entire project. That is at a cost of $350,000.00. That contract has been approved by INDOT and that is through 80/20. So what happens is we have to pay 100% and then we submit invoices receipts back to INDOT and they reimburse us 80%. We are asking the Commissioners if we would have the authority to sign any claims on behalf of the LPA to make that process go quicker and so that we can get reimbursed and get that money back in our account.”

Com. Evans, “I understand the need for the expedient processing of those fees. I think we will have to defer to our attorney to make sure that is something that is capable for the auditor and to make sure that the procedure is going to be established. I think in an earlier conversation we had the possibility of having both parties named as payees, if that would be a possibility, and then we could simply sign off and turn those checks over to you to process.”

Ms. Weimer, “Okay. That would be great.”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “On the claims I think you could sign off on them because we have already approved the contract and they are going to add up to the $350,000.00 contract amount.”

Ms. Weimer, “That is correct.”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “What you could do is approve them as they come in and then come in here once a month and we could ratify them.”

Ms. Weimer, “Okay.”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “So then you could just go ahead and take care of them as they come in and then submit them to us and we can ratify them.”

Ms. Weimer, “That makes sense. We are just trying to make sure we stream line everything.”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “You just want to keep them timely, you are not trying to circumvent anything so if we do it that way, you will have our vote, it will be done in a public meeting and you can keep the project moving.”

Ms. Weimer, “Okay. I appreciate that. Like I said, we’ve got a couple months before this takes place and we can work with you as finalize the whole process.”

Com. Evans, “My only other concern is that whatever we do, we have the go ahead from the State Board of Accounts so we are not stepping on anybody’s toes.”

Ms. Weimer, “That is fine, we will do that. Thank you so much, I appreciate it.”

REQUEST APPROVAL OF COURSE FOR VALPARAISO TRIATHLON JULY 8, 2006
Dan McGuire, Race Director

Com. Evans, “The race is going to be on the 8th of July? Is that right?”

Mr. McGuire, “Correct.”

Com. Evans, “Is this the first time you have done this or have you done this before?”

Mr. McGuire, “This is the fourth year.”

Com. Evans, “Okay. Have you spoke with the Porter County Sheriff’s Police at all about the intersections you need assistance with?”

Mr. McGuire, “It’s just regular crossing.”

Com. Evans, “Has the route changed at all in the last four years?”

Mr. McGuire, “No, the same route.”

Com. Evans, “And you have appropriate insurance in place?”

Mr. McGuire, “Correct.”

Com. Knoblock moved to approve the request for the triathlon, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

COUNTY SEATS PROJECT, RWRD
Therese Davis, RWRD
Kate Kester, PCCRVC

Ms. Davis, “Good evening. With me tonight is Kate Kester from Porter County Convention and Recreation Commission. We are here tonight to make a formal request of the Commissioners in regard to the County Seat Project and the seats that these two agencies are sponsoring and where they will be displayed during the course of the County Seat Project, which basically is Memorial Day through Labor Day. Anyone that has been in this building over the last couple of months has seen the white seat that has been in the hallway with the exclusion of the last three weeks. And that is the district sponsored county seat. The County Seat Project is mainly a program that is promoting regionalism and tourism through the arts and the district supports the project because the seats are made of 40% recycled content and we have sponsored a seat. So we are here tonight to request that our seats be placed on the square where the county courthouse is during the run of the project.”

Ms. Kester, “And the Porter County Convention and Recreation Visitor Commission, we also are sponsoring a seat. We really support this project.. It’s the tri-county project. It is really to promote tourism development through each of the counties and with visitors coming to the area definitely are going to go from seat to seat to check them out, they’ll be spread out throughout the county. They spend their money, and it is economic development. So the Commission is very supportive of this project.”

Com. Evans, “How many benches would there be total on the square?”

Ms. Davis, “On the square, currently our request is for two. Certainly if more sponsors are engaged and they see the value to the program. I do have an artists’ rendering for both of our seats. Our participating communities are Chesterton, Valparaiso, Portage and Hebron. Some of the other sponsors are the Times, the Post, Fifth Third Bank, Opportunity Enterprises, our neighboring solid waste districts as well and the Visitor Center’s. Portage Parks and Recreation is going to sponsor one for the Portage community. The Northwest Indiana Symphony Orchestra, I believe, is participating, but their seat may be placed in Valparaiso. There is a lot of activity, a lot of sponsors have seats throughout Porter, Lake, and LaPorte Counties at the current time. So we are hoping that once these seats are on the square, they are going to get more participation. In fact, on the 18th of April, there is a similar to Business After Hours, here at the Fifth Third Bank, where some of the finished seats will be on display and we are inviting chamber members and business people throughout Porter County to come and view those seats.”

Com. Evans, “The ones at the courthouse are not going to be on wheels like the one here in the lobby, right?”

Ms. Davis, “Correct. It was just on wheels for ease of transportation for that prototype display.”

Com. Evans, “To your knowledge, Valpo doesn’t have any because we have gone into some mutual projects with the city of Valparaiso regarding the beautification of that square. There’s no conflict that you are aware of with that?”

Ms. Davis, “To my knowledge and in speaking with the city attorney recently that’s not solidified yet. So that is why I am approaching the Commissioners because to the best of my knowledge the maintenance of the square currently still sits with the county.”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “We have no agreement.”

Ms. Davis, “I guess it would be a working relationship then with the Maintenance Department or possibly the Parks Department to get these affixed permanently in the cement at the square.”

Com. Evans, “They are going to be stationary in the cement?”

Ms. Davis, “Well, I take that back. To the best of my knowledge they will be on some type of platform. I apologize.”

Com. Evans, “They have spoken to us before about it, they hadn’t really brought any plans forward. But I think we could make this a cooperative effort and if we need to relocate for one reason or another, I don’t see any reason not, it’s a pretty big square.”

Ms. Davis, “Sure, and the mayor’s office is aware of the project and your support. So they are aware of the project in their community as a whole and we again, talked to the city attorney and made them aware of it. When we were morphing about our thoughts about having it on the square, we knew that it was a conversation with the Commissioners.”

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

Ms. Davis, “Can I add one other thing about a separate project? Very quickly. Tomorrow will be the first day that the PACT group is participating in the Adopt a County Road Program. Judge Chidester’s courtroom and PACT is working very well with myself and Russ Shirley and we have an opportunity, weather permitting, to have participants of PACT to be only scored two times this year, cleaning up county roads. So that is picking up the project as a whole and the relationship with PACT. There should be seven people out there tomorrow under Russ’ supervision. Thank you.”

PORTER HOSPITAL BONDING ISSUE
Todd Samuelson, Umbaugh & Associates

Com. Evans, “Did you want to come up, Todd? I just didn’t have this on my agenda. This is the proposal for the county’s services that we requested from Umbaugh & Associates for Porter Memorial Hospital. Do you want to just tell us, I think this has been approved by the Council, and just give us a little brief overview of what we are getting for our money.”

Mr. Samuelson, “Sure. My name is Todd Samuelson, I am a partner with Umbaugh. We have, I forgot the actual date, submitted a letter outlining what we anticipated to be providing for, basically, financial feasibility analysis, if you will, for the proposed county hospital project. I understand you have had an opportunity to review that to make sure the scope is consistent with what you are looking for. We had converted that to a form of agreement which hopefully Gwenn has had a chance to review that. If there are any questions I will be glad to respond to those. Basically, the scope of services would be to begin meeting with the county and hospital officials to make sure we clearly understand what the project is, I think we have some catching up to do potentially. From there to look at the financial history of the hospital in terms of its where monies are coming from and where monies are going is basic as that may sound, but there is quite a bit of work to do in terms of a financial history so we have a clear understanding of the financial where-with-all going into the project. And to meet with hospital officials to make sure that we have a clear understanding of the scope of the project as it is contemplated now, what that budget may consist of, how we’ll finance the alternatives that are being considered, if there’s any that we can bring to the table we will certainly ___ to that, and to receive and review information that the hospital may have in terms of , I am sure they have their consultants in terms of feasibility and market analysis and those types of things that we need to look at to review and analyze prospective information in terms of post construction and how will the hospital operate. And will there be cash flow to support the financing. That is really the scope and convert that into a report listing the assumptions that have gone into that information and comment on those and report back to the county. We are not auditors, we are not going into audit the situation, but rather as analyists as requested by the county.”
Com. Evans, “Very good. From our side, I think everyone is aware that medical matters and finances are pretty difficult to understand, but because of your expertise in bonding and background and the things that you have done for the county in many areas up to this point, we feel confident that you can give us a clearer understanding and clearer picture of what we ask.”

Mr. Samuelson, “As far as timing, I think in the original letter we indicated completing our work in sixty days. I would hope it would be sooner, but it really depends on the amount of information that we need to go through. I am confident we can get it done within that time frame or adjust it as necessary depending on the hospital’s needs or the county’s needs.”

Com. Evans, “And I think you will find the hospital to be very cooperative. Let us know. Do we need a motion to approve the contract?”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “A motion to approve the contract.”

Com. Knoblock moved to approve the contract with Umbaugh not to exceed $17,000.00, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

Mr. Samuelson, “For your benefit, I brought executed copies. I didn’t know how it would work over email so I brought the hard copies.”

NIOMS CONTRACT DISCUSSION
Mike Anton, Anton Insurance Agency
Leigh Westergren, Anton Insurance Agency

Mr. Anton, “We will try to make this as quick as possible. We’ve got the comments about the NIOMS contract for the county’s occupational health provider and Leigh is going to comment about that, then I just have two really quick housekeeping items. We will jump into the NIOMS comments right now.”

Ms. Westergren, “NIOMS presented the Board of Commissioners with the WIN program contract which is the workplace injury network and what we originally thought was that it was claiming exclusivity for the occupational health program that Porter Count currently has but it is not. But we have compared this with the proposal that you received this morning from Hoosier Health Care for their occupational services and we find that across the board in pricing the discounts with the WIN program and the fact that it is not exclusive, there have been no negative experiences with the current program through NIOMS so it would be our recommendation that you stay with NIOMS and go with the WIN program.”

Com Evans, “We are already participating with Hoosier Health Care and the other programs so I think that is right on with it. We should put all our eggs in one basket, so to speak, and as long as we are satisfied with the service we have been rendered so far, I think we should probably stay with them.”

Com. Knoblock moved to approve to stay with NIOMS, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

Mr. Anton, “As a housekeeping item, I have a copy of the current published COBRA rates that we have for you to look at and approve. Because of that savings that we discussed a couple weeks ago with the renewal that the COBRA rates are down slightly from last year.”

Com. Evans, “I always wanted to ask this question, but what if we don’t approve them, we are still going to have to pay COBRA, right?”

Mr. Anton, “Well, you are the Board of Commissioners, as the plan administrator of your self funded account. So at some point you guys would have to make a decision as to how COBRA rates are going to be calculated. And you have some discretion as to how they can be calculated. You can calculate one of two ways: you can calculate based on the expected claims and fixed costs, which is what these are or you can do them on the previous years’ expenses and costs. Ever since when, so to speak, its been based on the expectant claims and costs. You also frankly have a choice of the 2% loading, you can take that out if you chose to. The 2% loading was a loading that was off given that flexibility by the feds in the creation of COBRA to offset the additional administration of going to that COBRA account. So you have some of that flexibility. This is just, well, what is offered here is just simply based historically.”

Com. Evans, “What percent of our employees over the course of the last couple of years have taken advantage of COBRA?”

Mr. Anton, “It is a very small percentage, it is almost transient because if an employee leave the employ of the county and they may just need COBRA as a bridging concept between one or two months until their next employer picks them up. So, typically, for an individual employee or former employee, it hasn’t lasted that long. You’ve had a couple, I think in the Public Safety employee that went on early retirement that utilized COBRA in that method. I think you have one of those right now that is down in Arkansas.”

Com. Evans, “So the rate from last year was $259.09 for a single person and this year will be $255.41 and for a family $562.00 and this year $585.39.”

Com. Knoblock moved to approve the 2006 COBRA rates, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

Mr. Anton, “The other quick item I have is Hoosier Healthcare has offered to provide some continuing services as is related to the Wellness Program and has offered to make some presentations on healthy lifestyle changes to the Porter County employees and their __________ , they will present a seminar to the Sheriff’s Department and to the Highway Department as initial venues and then possibly to this building here for anyone that was interested on lifestyle changes to improve health. So, they didn’t give us any specific topics in this communication but I am sure they could be talking about topics such as smoking cessation and nutritional issues.”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “It says healthy refreshments, does that mean not donuts and coffee?”

Mr. Anton, “I would presume so. So, anyway, if you think this is a good idea and give us that kind of direction, then we would help facilitate this with Hoosier Health and get it scheduled.”

Com. Evans, “There are a couple things I like here, the no charge thing and the fact that it is going to be for a healthier lifestyle. Who can argue with those things?””

Mr. Anton, “That is kind of what we thought, too. I mentioned Leigh and I will help facilitate it with the obvious consent of the Sheriff and working with Al at the Highway Department to initially get it going.”

Com. Evans, “I say we should probably explore that and make sure that we can give people a more healthier lifestyle in the county.”

Com. Knoblock moved to approve the proposal from Hoosier Healthcare, Com. Evans seconded, motion carried.

Com. Evans, “Maybe we could coordinate this through the Auditor’s Office with the check stubs?”

Mr. Anton, “Either that or directly through the county mailbox.”

OFFICE HOLDERS/DEPARTMENT HEADS

Open bids for Liquid Bituminous
Al Hoagland, Highway Superintendent

Mr. Hoagland, “If you want to number them, then as usual we take them out back.”

Com. Evans, “Do you want to do due diligence on them this evening and come back?”

Mr. Hoagland, “Next meeting we will have a recommendation.”

Com. Evans, “The first one is from Bit-Mat Products, Ashley, Indiana, AE 90 for less than 4,000 gallons, $1.08.75 a gallon FOB South Bend, $.95 a gallon and truck loads 4,000 to 6,000 gallons, $.98.75 a gallon. That was Bit-Mat Products, Ashley, Indiana. This is Seneca Petroleum, Michigan City, Indiana, AE 90 at $.910 for a quantity of 900,000 gallons picked up at the Michigan City plant, $.89 a gallon. That again, was Seneca Petroleum, Michigan City. Third is a bid from Sens Materials from Warsaw, Indiana and for AE 90 unit price delivered with no other restrictions, $.913 and that is for 900,000 quantity, that is Sens Material, Warsaw, Indiana. That is it. Anyone here that is interested in the bidding process, the bids will be available on the back table. We’ll put them on the table back here and anyone that wants to review them has an opportunity and we will see you in two weeks and will award them at that time. Any other department heads? Dave, did you have anything?”

Mr. Schelling, “Yes. My regular list.”

COMMISSIONERS’ REPORTS

North:

1. Request Federal STP Group 1 Funds through NIRPC for Bridge 127, Lute Road over Willow Creek. Construction cost estimates would $675,000.00 or $540,000.00 Federal Funds and $135,000.00 Local Funds. Design costs would be local funds.

Mr. Schelling, “I recommend that we do it. NIRPC right now has got a request out for proposed projects for the 2007-2011 time period and this is our chance to try and get some Group 1 money which is usually used for urban areas, or anything within our three county region is eligible for it. So, I figured, we have several projects in here that I would like to try to get funded.”

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

Center:

1. Walnut Ridge, Unit III, Performance Letter of Credit #638 from HFS Bank, F.S.B. in the amount of $78,000.00. New expiration date is September 22, 2006. Recommend approval.

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


2. Request Federal STP Group 1 Funds through NIRPC for bridge 96, Tower Road over Salt Creek. Construct cost estimate would be $750,000.00 or $600,000.00 federal funds and $150,000.00 local funds. Design costs would be local funds.

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


3. Request Federal STP Group 1 Funds through NIRPC for the extension of SR 149 (CR300 West) from SR 130 to US 30. The Federal funds requested would be $20 million. This request is likely not to be approved by NIRPC, but I feel it is important to at least bring it up for their consideration.
Com. Evans moved to approve, Com. Knoblock seconded, motion carried.

4. County Home change order #1 is a reduction of $1,250.00, which lowers the contract total to $218,750.00. This change covers saving the chapel at the County Home site.

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

Com. Evans, “That contractor that is doing the demolition really needs to be commended, the guy is just amazing.”

Mr. Schelling, “I was out there this afternoon and we had a little meeting in my office and then we went out and looked at it and he had his guys raking the yard in the back of the building just to clean up the little debris. I can’t believe that guy. He will get a good recommendation from me.”


South District:

1. Request Federal STP Group I Funds through NIRPC for Bridge 23, CR 500 East over Kankakee River, construction cost estimates would be $1,600,000.00 or $1,280,000.00 Federal Funds and $320,000.00 local funds. Design costs would be local funds.

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

COUNTY HOME UPDATE AND BRIDGE AT 900 N AND 50 W UPDATE

Mr. Schelling, “I do want to mention that late tomorrow or possibly Thursday the contractors will start taking the brick down from the County Home so that is progressing well. Another thing is this afternoon I got a phone call from the fire chief of Liberty Township, he said that he hadn’t been able to talk to the people but there was several people from CSX Railroad that came into the fire station at 900 North and 50 West and saying they were going to start working on that bridge tomorrow. I have not had a chance to call anybody, the contact I mentioned in one of my recent agendas about them wanting to work on there and I emailed a couple of the contacts that I had and I never got a response. I will try and call them in the morning. I am not sure what they are doing.”

Com. Evans, “I know you know my feelings about that bridge, I was passed there twice today and both times there were trains obstructing the railroad tracks at Meridian just north of 900 and both times I was forced to go that way as an exit. There is a fire department there, there’s a school there and I don’t think we are going to close that road down just to accommodate CSX. We put CSX on notice three years ago, four years ago, that the bridge was in need of repair. Their response to us was that it wasn’t bad. There was no problem with it and they certainly weren’t going to repair the bridge and put it back into a condition of today’s standards for an underpass under the railroad. Which means they are not going to spend any money, they are going to put a band aid on it. Is that still their intention or are they going to reconstruct the bridge?”

Mr. Schelling, “I don’t know. They didn’t respond to my emails and I will try and find out tomorrow.”

Com. Evans, “We are talking about the federal government and the railway authority so I think we need to be a little bit more clear in our response to them but I certainly can’t condone or authorize the closing of that road for them to do any type of repairs until they detail to us what type of repairs are going to be done. That is just wrong to close that road. The bridge is in need of repair. It was in need of repair three years ago but they decided to do nothing about it at that time.”

Mr. Schelling, “They need to also, in my opinion, work around the school schedule and be in close contact with the emergency services but they have not done so.”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “I think safety is more important than anything. Maybe you should not close that road until they come up with a plan that satisfies you and that works with the routes and the times of the buses and the safety issues and the construction plans for the Commissioners.”

Com. Evans, “We can’t even get them out there to fix the crossing so now they are just going to come in and dictate to us what they are going to do? I don’t think so. As far as I am concerned and it is in my district, they don’t have a reason to close it until they justify it to us and show us what we are going to end up with. That is just wrong.”

Mr. Schelling, “I will be contacting them in the morning and I’ll see what is happening. I was surprised I never got a response from them and am totally surprised they are talking to the fire station right now. Evidently they were out there today looking at it and it would have been nice if they contacted me to know what is going on.”

Com. Evans, “I was through there twice today and I did not see them. I did see the concrete crumbling.”

PERMISSION FOR GRADUATE STUDENT TO WORK ON ROAD SAFETY PROJECT

Mr. Schelling, “Another item I have, I was contacted by a graduate student from Notre Dame who is working with other graduate students on a project on __ in a row at different locations that would help alert traveling motorists of hazards that are ahead such as icy pavement or speed, going too fast, approaching a curve. What I would like to do is get permission and have him come to the Commissioners at the next meeting or the following meeting, to present a little bit about the project because I am not that familiar with it, but it seems like a lot of the fatalities that happen on county roads, a lot of them happen in the rural areas that we just can’t get funding for because of them not being high priority for federal funds. This might be kind of a stop, gap, situation that might help us with these kind of problems. But I am not going to pretend that I know exactly what all they are talking about but I would like to have them give the Commissioners a presentation.”

Com. Evans, “Sure, anything that would increase safety on any of the roadways would be worth listening to.”

100 SOUTH UPDATE

Mr. Schelling, “Okay. The other item is 100 South, we haven’t talked about lately but that is to the point that we should schedule a public hearing. Can I go ahead and contact…. It is an INDOT lead discussion and public hearing, can I go ahead and start the ball rolling on getting that done?”

Com. Knoblock, “Is that off ramp going in for sure, that ramp off of 65? Is that going to go through?”

Mr. Schelling, “I don’t know.”

Com. Knoblock, “That’s the main for all of this.”

Mr. Schelling, “Well, not really. There are a lot of defects on that road already with the curves and the fairly narrow pavement without shoulders so it is something we can talk about later on if you would like but we are to the point where we could have a public hearing.”

Com. Knoblock, “(inaudible).”

Mr. Schelling, “Well, our project is fairly expensive and part of the reason is we are going to be taking care of some of those defects and making the site lines better and the visibility better and hopefully make it a safer road. That is all I have.”

RESCIND WLIDLIFE MANAGEMENT ADVISORY BOARD ORDINANCE

Com. Evans, “Before we go to correspondence, I have one bit of housekeeping and that is I would like to propose a motion that we rescind the ordinance which created the Wildlife Animal Management Board and remove all the remnants of any type of existence of the existing board at this point and encourage all the people that are members of that board to reapply and within a month’s period of time we will re-write and re-instate the ordinance for that board. It was brought to light that the Open Door Policy has not been followed by that board and that there’s some internal problems that are continually reoccurring and I think it is our duty to re-evaluate that board and to put it back in a working order.”

Com. Evans moved to rescind the ordinance and disband the Wildlife Management Advisory Board, Com. Knoblock seconded, motion carried.

Com. Evans, “Again, all those people that are currently involved in that board or want to be involved with that board are encouraged to make application and reapply.”

CORRESPONDENCE

Clerk’s monthly report for February 2006 is on file.

Approve maintenance agreement with Indiana Mailing Systems for mail machines
And scales at courthouse and Administration Center

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

Request by Voters Registration to move polling places due to HAVA Act

Boone 4 - Move from Hebron Fire Station to Hebron Library, 201 W. Sigler St.

Center 2 - Heritage Lutheran Church to Valparaiso Public Library 107 E. Jefferson St.

Center 9 - Valparaiso School (Trans. Bldg) to Northview School 257 Northview Dr.

Center 17 & 32 - Valparaiso City Garage to National Guard Armory
1502 Linwood Avenue

Center 20 - Waldon Pavilion to Flint Lake School 4106 N Calumet
Avenue

Jackson 2 - Jackson Farms to Jackson Twp School 811 N 400 E

Portage 26 - Portage Grace Church to Woodland Park Community
Building 2100 Willowcreek Rd.

Westchester 1 - Library Annex to 1st United Methodist Church 434 S
2nd St.

Westchester 5 - Porter Community Building to Porter Town Hall 303
Franklin St.

Westchester 11 - West Port Community Building to Burns Harbor Town
Hall 1240 Boo St.

Westchester 14 - Porter County Tourism Office to Brummitt Elementary
School 2500 Indian Boundary Rd.

Union 4 - Methodist Church to Union Twp Volunteer Fire Department S.R. 130

Com. Knoblock moved to approve the polling places to move, Com. Evans
seconded, motion carried.

Approval by The Caring Place and Porter County Sexual Assault Task Force to launch their 2006 campaign “Violence-Free Zones” on the front steps of the Administration Center on Thursday, April 6, 2006 at 12:00 p.m.

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

Approve Bark & Meow (pet bakery and boutique) to host their 3rd Annual Easter Pet Parade around the Courthouse Square on April 15, 2006 at 12:00 p.m.

Com. Knoblock, “Would that be more for the town?”

Com. Evans, “Well, it is around the courthouse square, and that is our property. Again, I just say I hope they have insurance and that they pick up after themselves, literally.”

Ms. Hartig, “They said they will provide bags for the animals.”

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

Request for Approval by Valparaiso Community Festivals and Events to use the Courthouse grounds for the following events in 2006:

May through October for the “Farmers Market”.

Saturday, June 17th for the “Annual Corvette Show”.

Wednesday, July 26th for the Middle School concert

Saturday, September 9th for the “28th Annual Popcorn Festival”.

Friday, October 27th for “Trick or Treat Fun Nite”.

Friday, December 1st for “Holly Days & Live Nativity”.

Saturdays, December 2nd, 9th, and 16th for “Santa on the Square”.

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

PLAN COMMISSION

Development Plan, 2nd reading
Robert Thompson, Plan Commission Director

Com. Evans, “In fairness to Carole who wasn’t here for first reading and in deference to Bob who isn’t here for second reading, I would like to just continue this to our next meeting so that at least two of the people that made the motion for first reading are here and Carole will have some time to look at that if she wants to. Is that going to be a problem for you?”

Mr. Thompson, “Its fine with me but tonight is a busy night. I am rushing around and I wish I would have known earlier because now I have to chase off to another meeting. I had soccer practice and everything so I got no problem with that, that is fine.”

Com. Evans, “Well, I think it would be a little easier. I know Carole hasn’t had time to review it and Bob, I am sure would like a little more time to have some input for that.”

Mr. Thompson, “That’s fine with me. It’s no problem.”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “Do you want to, while you are here, give an explanation?”

Mr. Thompson, “I know there are questions on it. I will explain it. I will get the report down here that I sent out to Commissioner Harper. Essentially what this is doing is, the Plan Commission has requested that they no longer want the advisory committee, formally TAC, now the Development Advisory Committee, approving any commercial, industrial or institutional type uses or multi family type uses. Right not the way it is set up is that the Advisory Committee would approve those site plans, and the Plan Commission wanted those to come to them with reports from the Advisory Committee and reviewing it and giving their advice to the Plan Commission. The Plan Commission wanted these to come to them for a public hearing so that the public would be notified of the hearing. Like I said, it would be for multi family or partner type complex and any type of commercial development, any type of industrial development, church, school, or something like that. The Development Advisory Committee would no longer be approving these at their Friday morning meetings, they would go to Plan Commission for those purposes and they would be notified with a public hearing and public comment. It is also changing some of the ____ processes going into the Plan Commission. I guess to explain that briefly, is, and this is also in some recent state statutes that were approved recently too, that instead of having the developers come in and give us a packet and a check right there and going straight onto the docket, they have to give me a submittal first then I have to sit down and go through the checklist to make sure it is a complete application for the Development Advisory Committee can actually start, in my opinion, to start reviewing it and adding comment on it. So, its changing some of the submittal process. I would review it, I would have so many days to review it, and if I don’t review it, it is automatically on the docket for Plan Commission. If, in that time and I do review it and I see that it is in complete submittal, I would kick it back with a letter stating what they need to do to make it a complete application to the Plan Commission. This is also saying where once I have stamped it and said it is okay, good to go, instead of scheduling it to the Development Advisory Committee, and waiting them to forward it to the Plan Commission, instead there is an automatic date given to the Plan Commission and then in that time I have to get it to two meetings to the Development Advisory Committee and all the people listed for their reviewing and comments so that way we can get the comments to the Plan Commission for their meeting.”

Com. Knoblock, “It will still be TAC ____?”

Mr. Thompson, “No.”

Com. Knoblock, “Not at all?”

Mr. Thompson, “We have been changing monthly.”

Com. Knoblock, “They will approve it just to send it to you, they have not approved the project, right?”

Mr. Thompson, “The former TAC and now the Development Advisory Committee, the way the ordinance is set up, does have the approval ability for multi family, commercial, and industrial. So what this is doing is essentially keeping the DAC just as an advisory committee to the Plan Commission. The Plan Commission will have the ultimate approval on these projects. So, I will get a report down to you, if you want me to come down and talk to you about it, I will be more than happy to. It is fourteen pages long, rather daunting and there is a number of procedures that I also would like to come down and speak to you, Commissioner Evans. I have no problem with the continuance.”
Com. Evans, “Okay, I appreciate that.”

Com. Knoblock, “I would like to read through that.”

Mr. Thompson, “I will make sure you get a report on this.”

Atty. Rinkenberger, “We had two vote on and then one’s gone and we have a new one, so we only have one person that was actually there.”

Mr. Thompson, “That’s fine. I understand. This time I didn’t bring my daughters down, they are upstairs, I’ve got them with me for the next meeting. I apologize for my dress, I have been out on the field.”

Com. Evans, “These should be at 10:00 in the morning and you would be here anyway, right? Along with all the other department heads. Any other matter to come before us? Motion to recess?”

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

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PORTER COUNTY, INDIANA


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


Attest: Sandra K. Vuko, Auditor