fPORTER COUNTY COUNCIL
March 23, 2004

The Porter County Council met on Tuesday, March 23, 2004 at 7:00 p.m. in the County Administration Center, 155 Indiana - Suite 205, Valparaiso, Indiana.

Members present were Karen Conover, Carole Knoblock, Robert Poparad, John Ruge, Al Steele, Rita Stevenson, and President William Carmichael. Also present was Attorney David Hollenbeck, Auditor Sandra Vuko, Sheila Riley and Jan Noll.

The meeting was called to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Carmichael, We'll need the approval of the minutes from the December 18th meeting and the January 6th meeting. Each of you have received a copy of those minutes. Have you had an opportunity to review them, and if so, are there any changes? If not, what's your pleasure?

Mr. Poparad moved to approve the minutes of December 18, 2003 and January 6, 2004 as submitted. Mr. Steele seconded, motion carried unanimously.

FIRST READING

At this time, Mrs. Vuko read the Notice to Taxpayers.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you, Sandy.

STATEMENT OF BENEFITS
Crown ESA
Great Lakes Packaging

Mr. Carmichael, With the Council's permission, I'll change the agenda a little bit here. This gentleman has a tax abatement request tonight. Would you come forward, please, and present your request. If you would, introduce yourself and the company you represent.

Attorney Mark Goodrich, Good evening, members of the Board, my name is Mark Goodrich; I am from the law firm of Casale, Woodward & Buls in Merrillville, with me this evening is Joe Glusac, the representative of Crown ESA and Great Lakes Packaging. We are here to seek a renewal of a tax abatement for Great Lakes Packaging and Crown ESA.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. Welcome, glad to see you again.

Atty. Goodrich, Thank you.

Mr. Glusac, Thanks.

Mr. Carmichael, Glad to see you again.

Mr. Glusac, Nice seeing you too.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, what is your request.

Atty. Goodrich, We have, I can start with one of the companies. Crown ESA was initially approved for a ten-year tax abatement, January 28th of 2003. We're here before the Board to seek a renewal of that same tax abatement for the year of 2003. We have submitted some employment tables. I believe the board members do have them in their packets this evening. We can go over some of those figures, and answer any of the Board's questions.

Mr. Carmichael, How many people are you employing?

Atty. Goodrich, Mr. Glusac.
Mr. Glusac, Currently we have 82.

Mr. Carmichael, How many?

Mr. Glusac, There's 82 full-time employees at Crown ESA.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. What was it the last time? When you originally presented it to us, it was 30-something, wasn't it?

Mr. Glusac, It was 31.

Mr. Carmichael, You've had an increase then.

Mr. Glusac, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Well that's good news. What's the average wage on there? I think you had that at one time.

Atty. Goodrich, Well, it's broken down into different categories of employees.

Mr. Glusac, Crown ESA is our engineering firm, so the wages are considerably higher.

Mr. Carmichael, Oh, okay.

Mr. Glusac, The average wage for the engineer is around $50,000.

Mr. Carmichael, Good.

Mrs. Knoblock, What year did you get this tax abatement?

Atty. Goodrich, The initial tax abatement was approved January 28, 2003.

Mrs. Knoblock, So you're not here for a renewal, you're just here for compliance?

Atty. Goodrich, Yes, yes, excuse me for the incorrect term.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, does any council member have a question concerning this request?

Mrs. Stevenson, How many Porter County residents are there employed?

Atty. Goodrich, It looks like, 36.

Mr. Glusac, It's about 36.

Mrs. Knoblock, Out of 82.

Atty. Goodrich, That may not be stated clearly in the employment tables, but if the columns are added together, they equal 36.

Mr. Carmichael, Are there any other questions? If not, I will entertain a motion on this matter.

Mrs. Conover moved to approve the Statement of Benefits and Compliance with Statement of Benefits submitted by Crown ESA. Mr. Poparad seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Your second request.

Atty. Goodrich, As far as Crown, what has just passed, I do have copies of the Resolution that I can pass to the Board.

Ms. Noll, We need a signed copy for ourselves, and for the auditor's office.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. Do you have a resolution number, Jan?

Ms. Noll, What's the date today.

Mr. Carmichael, Today is the 23rd of March.

Ms. Noll, It's 04-3-23A.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Ms. Noll, I'll need three copies signed. Okay, you can go to the next one, sorry.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, do you have the next one.

Mr. Glusac, For Great Lakes Packaging, we've got a pretty good story to tell there. We have about 50 employees now; we anticipated about 38. We anticipated about a million dollars in wages; we actually exceeded that, it was about 1.4 million. So the average hourly, the average salary was about $37,000, so. We anticipate this fall adding about 25 new personnel. We just started exporting to other countries too, so it's going real well.

Mr. Carmichael, Does the Chinese eat popcorn?

Mr. Glusac, Yes, Chinese, and we just started shipping to Jerusalem last week, so we're getting some international exposure, and hopefully will create a lot more jobs. I brought you some samples tonight.

Atty. Goodrich, Yes, we heard that there was a request at the last meeting, so we're trying to butter up the…

Mr. Carmichael, Is this the one that's in the box, that pops in the box or not?

Mr. Glusac, No, that's the other one, but that box has actually taken off real well too, so.

Atty. Goodrich, Great Lakes…

Mr. Carmichael, Where is the box distributed? Locally?

Mr. Glusac, We have it, it's in Walgreens and Wal*Mart. In the fall, we're going to go national in Wal*Mart, so we should be in all 4,700 stores.

Atty. Goodrich, Great Lakes initial tax abatement was granted a littler earlier than Crown ESA. This was a ten-year abatement that was approved July 23rd of '02, and it has been approved since then on May 27, 2003, and we're seeking again, this evening.

Mrs. Knoblock, And the number of employees from Porter County, is that, you said you combined them.

Mr. Glusac, Well, there's a, let's see, there's, out of the 50, it's almost 50%. It's about 26 out of 50.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, your second request then if for the…

Mr. Glusac, Great Lakes Packaging, the popcorn factory. Our popcorn brand is Family Time.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. Are there any questions concerning this second request for tax abatement? Karen.

Mrs. Conover, Not a question, just a comment. I just think that this is a fine example of an existing company that left our area, and you, Mr. Glusac and some of the employees banded together to create a new business, and you've made that business work. This is a wonderful tool to help businesses.

Mr. Glusac, Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, any further discussion? If not, I will entertain a motion to adopt.

Mr. Poparad moved to approve the Statement of Benefits and Compliance with Statement of Benefits for Great Lakes Packaging. Mr. Steele seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Atty. Goodrich, Thank you.

Mr. Glusac, Thank you very much. We're going to leave some samples back there, for anybody who wants to take them.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright. How many are in the box?

Mr. Glusac, There's 36, and I brought another case, so there's 72.

Mr. Carmichael, If there's anyone in the audience that uses popcorn.

Mrs. Conover, There's some on the Board that uses popcorn.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you, we certainly appreciate your clients efforts about keeping jobs and making jobs in Porter County.

Mr. Glusac, We're trying.

PROSECUTOR DEFERRAL 12.08
144 Form
Victim Assistance (Jensen) from $0 to $1,000
Additional Appropriation
$1,000 to 1110 Salaries
$77 to 1210 FICA
$53 to 1230 PERF
$15,000 to 4510 Data Processing Equipment

Mr. Carmichael, We'll move on to the next item of business, Prosecutor Deferral; anybody seen Jim Douglas tonight.

Jim Douglas, Evening, Bill.

Mr. Carmichael, Hey, how are you doing. Alright, you're requesting a Form 144, and an additional Do you want to explain those to us?

Mr. Douglas, Sure. Actually, I don't know if you want to do it piecemeal, but.

Mr. Carmichael, We're asking you to do the deferral first.

Mr. Douglas, The deferral, all of them are the same to the extent that all three funds are not general tax funds; all are non-tax funds.

Mr. Carmichael, They are generated from fees.

Mr. Douglas, From fees.
Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mr. Douglas, Correct. And what we're asking for, with regards to 12.08, the first one, we're not asking really for an additional salary. This is an employee that was currently being paid, $1,000 of her salary was being paid from the 51 account, which was another non-taxable account from child support. That account now is not being funded by the State, and we're running out of money. So what we are doing is using 12.08 money to make that payment, is what it amounts to.

Mr. Carmichael, When 12.08 runs out, what happens?

Mr. Douglas, Well, right now we've still got a lot of money in it, more than we had last year. Let's see, what else. The other additional money…

Mr. Carmichael, The $15,000 to Data Processing.

Mr. Douglas, We're going to need some equipment from data processing, some computers for the regular office.

Mr. Carmichael, Has that been run by the Data Processing department?

Mr. Douglas, Yes, we have.

Mr. Carmichael, She signed off on it?

Mr. Douglas, Yes, we've gotten, we put everything out for bids, and they've come back and recommended what we should get.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, I see her nodding yes. Alright, you've heard the request, does any council member have any questions or discussion? Hearing none, I will entertain a motion.

Mrs. Conover moved to amend the 144 Form, Victim Assistance (Jensen) from $0 to $1,000, and grant the request for additional appropriations, $1,000 to 1110 Salaries, $77 to 1210 FICA, $53 to 1230 PERF and $15,000 to 4510 Data Processing Equipment submitted by Prosecutor Deferral. Mr. Ruge seconded, motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

PROSECUTOR PRETRIAL DIVERSION 38
Additional Appropriation
$215 to 1210 FICA
$145 to 1230 PERF
$5,000 to 1110 Salaries

Mr. Carmichael, We'll take the second one, which is the Prosecutor's Pretrial Diversion 38.

Mr. Douglas, Alright, the Fund 38, again, is not a tax fund.

Mr. Carmichael, A fee-generated fund.

Mr. Douglas, Fee-generated fund. What we're doing on that one is to, we gave you a memo, but what it amounts to is we're changing how we're paying people in that one, from an account that we aren't, which account was that?

Kathy Minick, That was a grant. These are grant people, both of them are domestic violence prosecutors, and they're coming into the 153 grant. In order to cover the increases we had to ask for the additional FICA and PERF, only on the increases for salaries.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. You've heard the request, are there any comments or questions by a county council member? If not, I will entertain a motion.

Mr. Ruge moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Prosecutor Pretrial Diversion, $215 to 1210 FICA, $145 to 1230 PERF and $5,000 to 1110 Salaries. Mrs. Conover seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

PROSECUTOR IV-D 182
144 Form
Deputy Prosecutor (Crowe) from $0 to $2,666
Director from $0 to $3,000
Additional Appropriation
$5,666 to 1110 Salaries
$2,745 to 1210 FICA
$1,332 to 1230 PERF

Mr. Carmichael, The IV-D.

Mr. Douglas, The IV-D account is 185 now, those are monies…

Mr. Carmichael, The 185, it says 182 here.

Mr. Douglas, Is it 182?

Ms. Minick, Yes.

Mr. Douglas, It says 185, but it's 182.

Mr. Carmichael, The 182 account, is that correct?

Ms. Minick, It's 182.

Mr. Douglas, This is an account that used to be 51; they've changed the designation, now it's 182. It's money that, again, non-tax money that we receive to be used for the IV-D office. It is not, does not amount to an additional increase in salary for this particular employee. That was monies we were paying out of the 51 account, which is now just about broke, and we want to pay that money from the 182 account.

Mr. Carmichael, I think we understand. Okay, you've heard the request, is there any questions by the council members? Hearing none, I will entertain a motion.

Mrs. Conover moved to amend the 144 Form, Deputy Prosecutor (Crowe) from $0 to $2,666, and Director from $0 to $3,000; and grant the request for additional appropriations, $5,666 to 1110 Salaries, $2,745 to 1210 FICA, and $1,332 to 1230 PERF, submitted by Prosecutor IV-D 182. Mr. Ruge seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Is that the end of your requests?

Mr. Douglas, Well you guys are so good, I mean, I could come up with some more. No, actually, there isn't anymore. Thank you very much.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you. Next case.

Mr. Douglas, Unfortunately, I'm probably going to be back next month.

Mr. Carmichael, Thanks a lot, we appreciate it.

CONVENTION, RECREATION & VISITOR COMMISSION 93
Additional Appropriation
$350,000 to 4110 Land Purchase
$2,500 to 3990 Matching Grants

Mr. Carmichael, Convention, Recreation & Visitor Commission, do we have a representative present tonight? Okay, you are looking for an additional $350,000 to purchase some land.

Patti Jacobs, Yes, we are.

Mr. Carmichael, And $2,500 to Matching Grants.

Ms. Jacobs, Right.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, do you want to explain that request on the Land Purchase; what's happening up there?

Ms. Jacobs, On the Land Purchase, that would be the second appropriation for our building. The building has been sold; we've gotten $450,000 so far. Then there will be another $100,000 to come. Then for the Matching Grants, that's for the Elvis Fantasy Fest--I know I'm laughing. They had some problems, and they didn't get their grant in on time, so we would like to reappropriate that.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, and the commissioners have reviewed this request on selling the building and so forth?

Ms. Jacobs, Yes, sir.

Mr. Carmichael, And has that money been transferred. Is that what we are doing?

Ms. Jacobs, We are asking to…

Mr. Hollenbeck, You're appropriating the proceeds from, the current building is being sold in three increments.

Mr. Carmichael, Where is that check now?

Mr. Hollenbeck, It's deposited in the Visitor's Commission account.

Ms. Jacobs, But it has not been appropriated.

Mr. Hollenbeck, But it hasn't, but you haven't appropriated the money.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, and the other, as you explained is the Elvis Fest in Portage.

Ms. Jacobs, Right.

Mr. Carmichael, The $2,500 that was overlooked.

Ms. Jacobs, Yes, and I think Colleen can say that brings a lot of revenue to Portage. It's very important.

Colleen Richmond, She's right about the Portage community. It brings a lot of revenue to many of our businesses, and also benefits the Special Olympics fund, as well, in donations.

Mr. Carmichael, I know who she is, but do you want to introduce yourself?

Ms. Richmond, I'm Colleen Richmond from Portage. I'm the vice president of the recreation, visitor's commission.

Mr. Carmichael, What do you do in Portage?

Ms. Richmond, I work for Focus Hospitality; they own the Holiday Inn Express there in Portage.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. John.
Mr. Ruge, Does this money come from the profits generated by your activities out there?

Ms. Jacobs, Right, from visitors that go to the hotels, and they pay a tax.

Mr. Ruge, It's not from the general?

Ms. Jacobs, It's not from the general fund.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, any other questions? I'll entertain a motion.

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by the Convention, Recreation & Visitor Commission 93, $350,000 to 4110 Land Purchase and $2,500 to 3990 Matching Grants. Mr. Ruge seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Ms. Jacobs, Thank you so much.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you.

HIGHWAY 02
Transfer
$200 from 4410 Office Equipment over $100 to 2120 Office Fixtures under $100

Mr. Carmichael, Highway. What shoes do you have on, Al; you got some big shoes on.

Al Hoagland, Not big enough yet.

Mr. Carmichael, Congratulations.

Mr. Hoagland, Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, It looks like you're looking for a transfer from the 02 account.

Mr. Hoagland, Correct.

Mr. Carmichael, From Office Equipment to Office Fixtures.

Mr. Hoagland, Correct.

Mr. Carmichael, Did you buy yourself a new desk, is that it.

Mr. Hoagland, No, sir, we're trying to get us some lock boxes. We found over the years we've got so many equipment changes with the ignition keys, not working door keys, we need a better way to organize it in case we ever did have to evacuate the equipment, so.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. You've heard the request for the transfer. Are there any questions by the council members? What's your pleasure?

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Highway 02, $200 from Office Equipment to Office Fixtures. Mr. Steele seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

HIGHWAY LRS 26
Additional Appropriation
$20,000 to 2261 Salt

Mr. Carmichael, You have an additional, you're looking for $20,000 additional to Salt.

Mr. Hoagland, Correct, we've depleted the salt budget completely. We do have material on hand, but we would like to get it back into the fund for the following season.
Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mr. Ruge, Is the price of salt going up like everything else?

Mr. Hoagland, No, sir, we were fortunate, we were able to sign a two-year contract, and we're probably buying it cheaper than anybody in Northwest Indiana.

Mr. Carmichael, You've heard the request, what's your pleasure?

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Highway LRS 26, $20,000 to 2261 Salt. Mr. Ruge seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

HIGHWAY CUM-BRIDGE 25
Additional Appropriation
$23,557.06 to 9427-Pleasant Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$25,025.80 to 9428 Porter Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$3,373.14 to 9393 Union Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$7,486.28 to 9402 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$7,656.08 to 9387 Liberty Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$12,268 to 9389 Westchester Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$6,778.28 to 9371 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$5830.42 to 9375 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$6,353.28 to 9364 Pleasant Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$7,486.28 to 9367 Porter Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$7,486.28 to Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$6,313.28 to 9360 Porter Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$7,516.28 to 9337 Washington Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$6,468.28 to 9352 Morgan Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$7,486.28 to 9308 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$16,430.06 to 9335 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$11,729.56 to 9127 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$13,616.56 to 9304 Morgan Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment
$31,129.24 to 9429 Washington Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, do you wish to take all these additionals on the Highway at one time?

Mrs. Conover, Yes.

Mrs. Stevenson, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, Bob, do you want to read those?

Mr. Poparad, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, I'll take over when you quit.

Mr. Poparad, Alright, $23,557.06 to 9427-Pleasant Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $25,025.80 to 9428 Porter Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $3,373.14 to 9393 Union Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $7,486.28 to 9402 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $7,656.08 to 9387 Liberty Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $12,268 to 9389 Westchester Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $6,778.28 to 9371 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $5830.42 to 9375 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $6,353.28 to 9364 Pleasant Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $7,486.28 to 9367 Porter Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $7,486.28 to Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $6,313.28 to 9360 Porter Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $7,516.28 to 9337 Washington Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $6,468.28 to 9352 Morgan Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $7,486.28 to 9308 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $16,430.06 to 9335 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $11,729.56 to 9127 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $13,616.56 to 9304 Morgan Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; and $31,129.24 to 9429 Washington Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment.

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Highway Cum-Bridge 25, $23,557.06 to 9427-Pleasant Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $25,025.80 to 9428 Porter Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $3,373.14 to 9393 Union Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $7,486.28 to 9402 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $7,656.08 to 9387 Liberty Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $12,268 to 9389 Westchester Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $6,778.28 to 9371 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $5830.42 to 9375 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $6,353.28 to 9364 Pleasant Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $7,486.28 to 9367 Porter Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $7,486.28 to Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $6,313.28 to 9360 Porter Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $7,516.28 to 9337 Washington Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $6,468.28 to 9352 Morgan Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $7,486.28 to 9308 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $16,430.06 to 9335 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $11,729.56 to 9127 Boone Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; $13,616.56 to 9304 Morgan Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment; and $31,129.24 to 9429 Washington Twp/Materials, Labor & Equipment. Mrs. Conover seconded.

Mr. Steele, Bill, I have a question.

Mr. Carmichael, Yes.

Mr. Steele, You were kind enough to break all this down into Labor and Equipment.

Mr. Hoagland, Yes.

Mr. Steele, And these, all this work is performed by county employees, right?

Mr. Hoagland, Correct.

Mr. Steele, So why do you break down the labor for each one, just for your own records to know how long it takes?

Mr. Hoagland, Because we reimburse the Highway Department. There's a reimbursement factor, that we charge a bridge. It's the same thing on the equipment. We have a little rate charged to that bridge.

Mr. Steele, So you're saying this is for the State or for a different fund so you can keep a record of that.

Mr. Hoagland, It's, so we can keep records of the funds, and we also draw money from the State that we can prove what was done to it.

Mr. Steele, I see. Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, A motion and a second was made, is there any further discussion? Carole.

Mrs. Knoblock, No, I said it's never been done like this before. I appreciate that.

Mrs. Conover, A lot of detail.

Mrs. Knoblock, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, you've heard the request for the additional. Roll call.

Motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Hoagland, Thank you very much.

Mr. Carmichael, Thanks, Al.

HOME DETENTION 41
Transfer
$1,800 from 3210 Travel to 2210 Gas, Fuel & Lubrication
$1,490 from 4420 Motor Vehicles to 3420 Bldg/Liability/Comp Coverage

Mr. Carmichael, Home Detention. Hi, Neil.

Neil Hannon, Good evening.

Mr. Carmichael, You need a transfer. It looks like you're running out of gas and fuel.

Mr. Hannon, Well we don't have that account yet, so we're setting that up for the first time, so we're trying to transfer from the Home Detention budget, Travel, from Travel to Gas, Fuel & Lubrication.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mr. Hannon, It's $1,800, and then $1,490 from Motor Vehicles into building, liability and insurance.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, you've heard the request, are there any questions by a council member?

Mrs. Conover, Who gets use of the car?

Mr. Hannon, Just the three home detention officers.

Mrs. Conover, They alternate this automobile?

Mr. Hannon, Correct, yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Further questions? If not, I will entertain a motion for the transfer. Is there a motion?

Mrs. Knoblock moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Home Detention 41, $1,800 from 3210 Travel to 2210 Gas, Fuel & Lubrication and $1,490 from 4420 Motor Vehicles to 3420 Bldg/Liability/Comp Coverage. Mr. Poparad and Mr. Steele seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

PCADOS 34
Additional Appropriation
$3,500 to 2110 Office Supplies
$450 to 2330 Household & Bedding
$2,500 to 2350 Building Maintenance
$1,000 to 2250 Other Supplies
$2,173 to 1110 Salaries

Mr. Carmichael, PCADOS.

Mr. Hannon, Yes, and that request is to resurrect what we didn't put into our budget earlier this year. We had completed our budget, submitted it, and when we brought it in last fall, we didn't realize that in the 2000 series that we had forgot to retype that in. So we have, are here tonight just to have that money put back where we should had it last fall.

Mr. Carmichael, This is not general fund money.

Mr. Hannon, No, it's not.
Mr. Carmichael, This is fee money.

Mr. Hannon, Correct.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, when we're finished with this motion, I will ask you a question. It's $3,500 to Office Supplies; $450 to Household & Bedding; $2,500 to Building Maintenance; $1,000 to Other Supplies; and $2,173 to Salaries. Don't you need a 144 on that salary?

Mr. Hannon, We did that before, last month.

Mr. Carmichael, Oh, okay.

Mr. Hannon, Then we needed to come back and do this one this month, or January rather.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright.

Mrs. Stevenson, Can I ask a question?

Mr. Carmichael, Question.

Mrs. Stevenson, How much is in that fund?

Mr. Hannon, Approximately $29,000, today.

Mrs. Stevenson, Okay.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, further questions?

Mr. Steele, Neil, I think there was an article in the paper today about maybe PCADOS going out of business. Would you like to speak to that or?

Mr. Hannon, Yes, I would like to speak to that, but I'm not at liberty to speak to that.

Mr. Steele, Why's that?

Mr. Hannon, Because I'm not informed as to what their plans are. That's still in progress, and I don't have the facts, so I don't want to mislead you in any way.

Mr. Carmichael, The judges are in control of that.

Mr. Steele, Okay.

Mr. Carmichael, Is that correct, the judges are in control of that?

Mr. Hannon, I'm sorry?

Mr. Carmichael, Are the judges in control of that?

Mr. Hannon, The judges are in control of everything I do, Bill.

Mr. Carmichael, Oh, okay. There will have to be a little tighter control here.

Mr. Hannon, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, there was a motion and a second. Is that correct?

Ms. Noll, No.

Mr. Carmichael, There is a motion and a second.
Request for additional appropriations submitted by PCADOS 34, $3,500 to 2110 Office Supplies, $450 to 2330 Household & Bedding, $2,500 to 2350 Building Maintenance, $1,000 to 2250 Other Supplies, and $2,173 to 1110 Salaries passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

Mr. Carmichael, That's the end of your request, is that correct?

Mr. Hannon, Yes, I believe so. You did the Salaries included with that, and I had submitted that separately, so as long as that's covered I think we're okay. Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Well it's best you get out of here while you've still got your skin.

Mr. Hannon, Okay, there you go, thank you.

HEALTH BIOTERRORISM GRANT 238
144 Form
Public Health Coordinator from $0 to $34,000
Additional Appropriation
$34,000 to 1110 Salaries
$2,700 to 1210 FICA
$9,300 to 1220 Medical/Life Insurance
$1,900 to 1230 PERF
$3,000 to 3130 Training & Education
$1,000 to 3310 Printing other than Office Supplies
$715 to 2210 Gas, Fuel & Lube
$15,854 to 3120 Consultants
$21,000 to 3620 Buildings & Structures
$5,000 to 3110 Legal
$1,000 to 3230 Postage
$2,325 to 2110 Office Supplies
$1,000 to 4410 Office Equipment over $100
$20,225 to 4510 Data Processing Equipment
$20,200 to 4430 Other Mobile Equipment
Transfer
$10,000 from 1110 Salaries to 3950 Contractual Services

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, Health Bioterrorism Grant, Uh oh, they brought all the troops tonight. Would the two first targets, sit in the chairs.

Dr. Gary Babcoke, I'm Dr. Babcoke, I'm the health officer for Porter County. We're here tonight to talk about the federal grant that we've received through the State Board of Health, that is granted in the area of Homeland Security. Its primary purpose is to coordinate counties in the State of Indiana to respond to some type of bioterrorist threat, much like anthrax or smallpox or plague, and to not only be able to recognize that, but to respond to treatment, either by dispersing and dispensing medications out to the people in the county or to mass immunization clinics.
The State has organized--the State of Indiana--in various districts, and we happen to be in District 1. We're the lead organization for District 1, which encompasses five counties now. Part of the monies that we're talking about tonight have to do with Porter County, and the grants that were just given to Porter County, and part of the monies have to do with monies that were granted to all five counties in District 1.
In our district plan, we decided that what we needed to coordinate the counties was to hire a district coordinator. We, in doing that, each county had to forfeit some of the funds that they would have received in the grant, so that we could put that together as an amount of monies that would be used to hire an individual who would go from county to county, and he would coordinate those things.
The other thing that the grant, part of the planning is to try to figure out how we would operate in the event of a bioterrorism accident or terrorism threat, and it's very difficult for us to know exactly what to do, because there hasn't been that many things other than the anthrax threat. So we don't really, you know, it's sort of like trying to look into a crystal ball, and trying to figure out what to do in response to these things.
We were given some scenarios that would destroy the courthouse, and destroy the administration building, and disrupt communications, so that we would have to operate much like a field unit of the military, and set up at the Expo Center or set up in some other place to be able to communicate with the State Board of Health; be able to communicate with other health departments.
The other thing that this encompasses that we've never done before is the mutual agreement between health departments that in the event that a health department had people basically wiped out, which could happen, and particularly in the smaller counties--Newton County, Jasper County--the other health departments in the area could come to the aid. We would all be operating off of the same protocols so that we could walk in and help out other counties in the event of a disaster. This, these funds then constitute part of the funds from the other counties who are involved in District 1, as well as the grant that was given to Porter County. Keith can go over the statistics.

Keith Letta, Before we get to that, sitting over here is Gregory Frye. He is the chairman of the Porter County Board of Health. I think if you could indicate, Mr. Frye, that the Board of Health has lent its support and it's approval for this project.

Gregory Frye, Yes, we have.

Mr. Letta, You have the appropriations in front of you.

Mr. Carmichael, You've got a person sitting to your right.

Mr. Letta, This is Mrs. Rudd, who's been here many times with me. She's our Director of Nursing, and has spent an ungodly amount of time on this project putting it together, along with Dr. Babcoke, and our attorney. It is quite complex, any changes, sometimes even daily, we get new directives from the State as to how; this money is all coming from the federal government through CDC, and this is so new that its literally being built from the ground up, as we've never had anything like this before. So it's important for the Council to know that all of this money is federal grant money. It's a product of the Homeland Security Act. There are no local tax dollars involved in any way.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, where would the, if you hire an employee, a director or whatever the case may be, where would that director be located as a central office?

Mr. Letta, We haven't really decided exactly on that. There are going to be two coordinators. One for the District, which will be, his job will be to coordinate the five counties into one district. Then each district will have its own coordinator. I'm guessing, we may put them in our office; we may have a spot for them in the Portage Building. But they will be, the local coordinator will be available here, yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, the five-county coordinator will be located in Porter County?

Connie Rudd, That's the one that travels.

Mr. Letta, That's the one that will travel because he will be working with the other five agencies. Matter of fact, more than five agencies. There's numerous, every health department and every hospital in these five counties is involved in this process. That will be his job, to bring that all together into something that becomes functional.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Actually, Bill, the five-county coordinator, there are three other health departments, so there's really eight health departments that he's coordinating. This individual will not be an employee, he will be an independent contractor; and in that sense, we won't be providing him with an office, it will be his responsibility to take care of that. That's part of what he, the compensation under his contract. Now I'm not going to tell you he's going to go out and rent an office, but in theory, he'll be operating out of his car or his house or whatever.

Mr. Poparad, Who are we hiring here then? The local guy or the district guy?

Dr. Babcoke, The, well basically, Connie and Keith and I have interviewed both local and the district coordinator. We agreed on who we felt would be appropriate for the district coordinator, after we advertised for that position. Then we have sort of a council that's composed of representatives from each health jurisdiction, both city health departments and county health departments. Then we got approval from all the counties on this district individual. The individual that will be strictly for Porter County, was interviewed by Keith, Connie and I, so we, at that point, have an individual who we feel is qualified to do the job, and are satisfied of the credentials, being a college graduate, having some background in medical things, as well as organization, much like, that could interact between our ambulance folks, hazmat, and all the various other people that are involved in responding to an incident.

Mr. Poparad, That was great, but you didn't answer my question. Are we hiring the district guy or the county guy out of this money?

Mr. Letta, Both.

Dr. Babcoke, We're hiring both.

Mr. Poparad, They're both in here?

Mr. Hollenbeck, No, they're not. That's the problem we have. If this wasn't complicated enough, through inadvertence what got turned in by Health Department through the Auditor's Office was not published, so there is nothing in what you have in front of you for the five-county coordinator contract.

Mr. Poparad, Okay, so we're hiring the local guy.

Mr. Hollenbeck, You're appropriating on a 144, the local guy. But, before these people leave, they're going to be asking you then to transfer an appropriation on a temporary basis to a line item so they can pay on the contract that they owe for the five-county coordinator until they can come back next month with an additional appropriation to fund that.

Mr. Poparad, Out of the same grant money?

Mr. Hollenbeck, Same grant money.

Mr. Steele, So, David, the appropriation we have before us tonight is for our local coordinator. Is that correct?

Mr. Hollenbeck, Yes, that's the way it turned out. Inadvertently, the five-county coordinator contract appropriation did not find its way into the legal notice.

Mr. Poparad, Is this a never-ending revenue stream or do we think this…

Mr. Hollenbeck, I would never predict never-ending as homeland security issues arise here. All this is conditioned on the availability of the funding. For instance, the contract, we know its here for a year. The contract with the five-county coordinator is a one-year, independent contract, and when that contract is over, if the money isn't there, the position isn't there.

Mr. Steele, How about the local person?

Mr. Hollenbeck, The same thing. I mean if the money, that's the only source of this funding is the Homeland Security. If the money isn't there, then the program goes away.

Mr. Letta, The 144 that you have in front of you is for the local coordinator.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Right.

Mr. Steele, Keith, I have a question. You appropriated $9,300 for Medical/Life Insurance for the local coordinator. Let's say that this person has to have a coronary bypass procedure, and we're talking 60 to 100-G's, who's going to pick that up, the County or the federal government?

Mr. Hollenbeck, As a member of, this person would go on the county health plan, and he'd handled like anybody else on the county health plan.

Mr. Steele, So this new employee is going on our health insurance program, even though the federal government is paying for their monthly payments and their life insurance. So we add one more person to our insurance policy.

Mr. Hollenbeck, And we received $9,300 into the plan.

Mr. Steele, But we don't receive anything for the additional 60 to $100,000 procedure this man might need.

Mr. Carmichael, Catastrophic.

Mr. Steele, It comes out of the taxpayers' pocket.

Mr. Hollenbeck, I guess on the other hand, if he doesn't need anything, you're $9,300 ahead.

Mr. Steele, I know, but he, this happens all the time, David.

Mr. Poparad, Well, I mean, I've got to raise the question. This guy is going to be a county employee. He's not going to be a contract worker.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Again, this is what the State Board of Health says with this money, this position has to be a county employee, paid for by the federal dollars.

Mr. Poparad, It says that?

Mr. Hollenbeck, Yes.

Mr. Poparad, Or is that choice of the board to make?

Mr. Hollenbeck, No, that's what it says. We'd almost rather make it an independent contract, but we can't.

Mr. Poparad, The district guy will be an independent contractor.

Mr. Hollenbeck, They're allowing us, because he's working for this, the coordinator of the multi-county is not working for us. He's working for District 1, which is the five counties and the eight health departments. We are the conduit through which the money passes, that's why this gets complicated.

Mr. Carmichael, I think the thing to do is for you as the health officer for Porter County or the chairman of the board or whatever the case may be, is to put a request into the State Board of Health, that you will reimburse them, this $9,000 or whatever the case may be, if they add this employee or employees, whatever the case may be, to their state health board plan. Because I'm sure the Board of Health employees have a plan. They're probably under PERF or probably under some other plan. Is that correct?

Mr. Frye, I would assume so.

Mr. Carmichael, Well, my request would be for you to ask, at least make the request to the State to assume the liability, and add them to their plan, and you would reimburse them the amount of money you have allocated here.

Mr. Letta, For their benefits or for their entire?

Mr. Carmichael, For their health plan.

Mr. Hollenbeck, We can make that inquiry.

Mr. Carmichael, At least the request, and if you would, provide us with a copy of that request and their answer. We'd appreciate it. We don't want to take anymore liability than what we've already have. The commissioners have increased the catastrophic plan to $90,000 now, so that in order to cut the fees and so forth, and keep this plan within something that's manageable, there's a little more liability there, as opposed to $80,000 catastrophic.

Mrs. Knoblock, Could we, as the Council, have a copy of what you received for putting this all together, what has to be done? I mean you're coming before us asking for this, but we don't have anything to read about it.

Mr. Letta, Certainly.

Mrs. Knoblock, Okay, thanks.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay?

Mrs. Knoblock, Okay.

Mr. Poparad, I've got one question.

Mr. Carmichael, Bob.

Mr. Poparad, This grant money, $194,000 or so.

Mr. Letta, $184,000.

Mr. Poparad, 184; have you spent every dime of it? There's nothing? You've appropriated every dime?

Mr. Letta, Pretty much.

Mr. Poparad, So there's no left over, no excess, no cushion, no nothing.

Mr. Letta, And in fact, due to the type of grant this is from the federal government, any portion of it that is not spent has to be returned to them, as opposed to our other grant funds from the State which can be carried over, and we can use them the following year, this has to be spent within that grant cycle.

Mr. Hollenbeck, And actually, what's been done is it's been appropriated.

Mr. Poparad, Right.

Mr. Hollenbeck, That doesn't mean it's going to be spent. So it may all not get spent; it may go back to the federal government.

Mr. Carmichael, Any further questions?

Mr. Poparad, That surprised me.

Mr. Carmichael, Karen.

Mrs. Conover, Just a comment. If we had a bioterrorism accident or threat, we have two existing organizations that are constantly training, and that's our hazmat team and our Emergency Management Agency. Is it necessary to create this new position, and not take into consideration our other two agencies involved here?
Mr. Letta, Well I think the difference is that this is strictly a medical type situation.

Mrs. Conover, From a medical standpoint.

Mr. Letta, As opposed to Hazmat. And I agree, Hazmat and EMA are highly trained and skilled in their areas, but this is all the eight health departments, and I don't know how many hospitals?

Ms. Rudd, Eight, 12.

Mr. Letta, 12 hospitals are involved in this, along with EMS services and EMT's and paramedics, and all that. This is a little bit different direction from a hazmat incident or something that Phil would be working with in the EMA. Its all part of the same general plan, but this more specific as to the area of a biological threat or event.

Mrs. Conover, Thank you for the clarification.

Mr. Carmichael, Any further questions? John.

Mr. Ruge, This money comes from the income taxes?

Mr. Letta, It comes from the federal government, yes.

Mr. Ruge, We're paying on federal income tax?

Mr. Letta, I would guess so, yes.

Mr. Carmichael, You are their source of all monies, John.

Mr. Ruge, But they're too high.

Mrs. Knoblock, There's a paper on the back that says the two coordinators are not county employees, but will be contract positions as consultants, and they will receive no benefits of any kind.

Mr. Letta, Initially, we were told that they were both to be contract employees; we got a letter, which you do not have, although I did email it to everyone, a later directive from the State that the local coordinator, they want it to be an employee of the county. So that did change, yes. And I did get that out in an email to everybody.

Ms. Noll, They should have it in their packets, they should have two of them.

Mr. Poparad, Well just because they want it doesn't mean they get it either. This is a contract employee, and a contract employee implies that they pick up their own benefits, their own health care, you pay them a flat rate.

Mr. Letta, That's, the district coordinator will be…

Mr. Poparad, No, I'm talking the local guy too.

Mr. Letta, They had told us that the local coordinator is to be a county employee, funded by them.

Mr. Steele, Is that statute or just their desire?

Mr. Letta, I have no idea.

Mr. Hollenbeck, That's the directive from the Indiana State Board of Health on how the CDC/Homeland Security money should be spent.

Mr. Carmichael, Any further questions?

Mr. Poparad, Yes, Bill, I got one.

Mr. Carmichael, One more question.

Mr. Poparad, Yes. The $15,584 to 3120 Consultants, is that the district guy or?

Ms. Rudd, That goes to Gary Methodist to reimburse their clients. They held a training, so for their room and all of their people to attend different trainings that we had in our area, that's a reimbursement. I have an itemized statement for that.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, any further questions? What's the Council's pleasure?

Mr. Steele, Bill, would you phrase the…

Mr. Carmichael, I'm sorry, Al.

Mr. Steele, Would you phrase what we are going to vote on here, because I'm not clear.

Mr. Carmichael, Would you like to take the 144 first, and then the additionals? Or you can make the motion, if you want to, to include both.

Mr. Steele, Why don't we take the 144.

Mr. Carmichael, Take the 144 first. Is there a motion?

Mrs. Conover moved to amend the 144 Form, Public Health Coordinator from $0 to $34,000 submitted by Health Bioterrorism Grant 238. Mr. Poparad seconded, motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Now that covers the 144. We'll need to read the additionals. It's $34,000 to Salaries; $2,700 to FICA; $9,300 to Medical/Life Insurance; $1,900 to PERF; $3,000 to Training & Education; $1,000 to Printing other than Office Supplies; $715 to Gas, Fuel & Lube; $15,854 to 3120 Consultants; $21,000 to Buildings & Structures; $5,000 to Legal; $1,000 to Postage; $2,325 to Office Supplies; $1,000 to 4410 Office Equipment over $100; $20,225 to 4510 Data Processing Equipment; $20,200 to 4430 Other Mobile Equipment; $10,000 from 1110 Salaries to 3950 Contractual Services. And that Data Processing Equipment is what?

Ms. Rudd, It is a satellite system that are, have investigated and researched that will connect with the Internet without the need for a tower. If the towers are down, then we can still get our vital records program, and our data entry on our CHIR program, which is our immunization registry.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, who supports that program?

Ms. Rudd, That is our district fund, it is to be used as the district fund, with all the counties. We're going to share that equipment, and it's along with some specialized lap-top computers to go along with that.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, do you have that information?

Ms. Rudd, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, You do?

Ms Rudd, As far as the computer equipment, yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, make sure you keep our data processing department up to date on everything that you have.
Ms. Rudd, Oh, Sharon, yes, she does.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, I will entertain a motion.

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Health Bioterrorism Grant 238, $34,000 to 1110 Salaries; $2,700 to 1210 FICA; $9,300 to 1220 Medical/Life Insurance; $1,900 to 1230 PERF; $3,000 to 3130 Training & Education; $1,000 to 3310 Printing other than Office Supplies; $715 to 2210 Gas, Fuel & Lube; $15,854 to 3120 Consultants; $21,000 to 3620 Buildings & Structures; $5,000 to 3110 Legal; $1,000 to 3230 Postage; $2,325 to 2110 Office Supplies; $1,000 to 4410 Office Equipment over $100; $20,225 to 4510 Data Processing Equipment; $20,200 to 4430 Other Mobile Equipment; and $10,000 from 1110 Salaries to 3950 Contractual Services. Mrs. Conover seconded.

Mr. Carmichael, Now, further discussion?

Mr. Steele, Keith, what's the $15,854 to Consultants for?

Mr. Letta, That's what you were mentioning before to Gary Methodist.

Mr. Steele, Oh, excuse me..

Mr. Letta, That's the same thing.

Mr. Steele, Fine, thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, That's what that figure is?

Mr. Letta, Yes, and that occurred when?

Ms. Rudd, Oh gosh, last year.

Mr. Letta, Last fall?

Ms. Rudd, No, it was earlier last year.

Mr. Letta, Last summer?

Ms. Rudd, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, is there any further questions?

Mrs. Stevenson, Can you get us breakdown so we, or better than this, explaining what it's all for?

Ms. Rudd, Certainly.

Mr. Carmichael, This is an additional, we'll have a roll call.

Motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Motion carries. Health Maintenance, $5,000 to Hourly and $20,000 to Medical & Dental.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Bill, before we leave that, as I mentioned before, through inadvertence there's nothing here for purposes of funding the district coordinator, and it got left off of the publication. So what they are going to ask you to do now is transfer some money into a line item from this just approved appropriation so that the district coordinator position can be funded in an interim basis.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mr. Hollenbeck, I think Keith decided he needs, like…

Mr. Letta, $10,000.

Mr. Hollenbeck, $10,000. Do you have a line item?

Mr. Letta, I would say from Salaries to 3950.

Mr. Hollenbeck, From the $34,000 they just approved to the Salaries?

Mr. Letta, Right.

Mr. Carmichael, From Salaries to what number?

Mr. Letta, 3950 Contractual.

Mr. Carmichael, 3950, and that amount is?

Mr. Letta, $10,000.

Mr. Hollenbeck, The theory being there is, you're not going to hire the Porter County guy right away--a person right away.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, then what is your request under the Health Maintenance Fund 14?

Mr. Letta, That's totally different than this.

Mr. Carmichael, Than what I have?

Mr. Letta, It's completely different, right, we need the transfer from Bioterrorism first before we get to Health Maintenance.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, and that's $10,000.

Mr. Letta, That's the $10,000 from Salaries to 3950.

Mr. Carmichael, You've heard the request, what's the Council's pleasure?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for transfer of funds for Health Bioterrorism 238, $10,000 from 1110 Salaries to 3950 Contractual Services. Mrs. Stevenson seconded, motion carried unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Motion carries; now you can proceed.

Mr. Letta, And next month I will come back before you and ask for an additional to put that $10,000 back that we just borrowed.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

HEALTH MAINTENANCE 14
Additional Appropriation
$15,000 to 1120 Hourly
$20,000 to 2410 Medical & Dental

Mr. Carmichael, Now we are on the Health Tobacco Fund?

Mr. Letta, Health Maintenance 14, $15,000 to Hourly, $20,000 to Medical & Dental.
Mr. Carmichael, You've heard the request, what's the Council's pleasure?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Health Maintenance 14, $15,000 to 1120 Hourly and $20,000 to 2410 Medical & Dental. Mr. Ruge seconded.

Mr. Steele, Keith.

Mr. Letta, Yes.

Mr. Steele, You've got 20-G's in the Health Maintenance, and then you also have 20-G's for the Medical & Dental in the Tobacco.

Mr. Letta, That is all of our supplies.

Ms. Rudd, And adult vaccines.

Mr. Letta, And vaccines.

Mr. Steele, So that's vaccines, mainly?

Mr. Letta, And supplies, right, all the medical supplies.

Mr. Carmichael, Further discussion? Roll call.

Motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

HEALTH TOBACCO 203
Additional Appropriation
$15,000 to 1120 Hourly
$20,000 to 2410 Medical & Dental
$400 to 4410 Office Equipment
$265 to 4440 Furniture & Fixtures

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, also an additional now to, from the Health Tobacco Fund 203.

Mr. Letta, Correct, 203.

Mr. Carmichael, You need $15,000 to Hourly; $20,000 to Medical & Dental for supplies; $400 to Office Equipment; and $265 to Furniture & Fixtures.

Mr. Letta, And again these, both of these funds are non-tax funds. These are state grants that we receive.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. What's the Council's pleasure?

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Health Tobacco 203, $15,000 to 1120 Hourly, $20,000 to 2410 Medical & Dental, $400 to 4410 Office Equipment, and $265 to 4440 Furniture & Fixtures. Mr. Steele seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Does that cover it?

Mr. Letta, That's it.

Dr. Babcoke, Thank you.

Mr. Letta, We will provide you with what you have requested in terms of a breakdown, and we will make the request as you have asked of the state to basically carry; what you are asking is for that person to be carried on their benefit package.

Mr. Carmichael, Just put in on my email, will you.

Mr. Letta, Okay.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. I won't print it out; that'll save me the paper. Thank you very much.

Mr. Letta, Thank you.

Dr. Babcoke, Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Let's take a five-minute break.

Mr. Steele, Good idea, William.

Mr. Carmichael, This room seems to be heating up. Isn't it hot in here.

At this time, there was a five-minute break.

STATEMENT FROM KAREN CONOVER

Mr. Carmichael, We'll call our meeting back to order. There's two requests. The first request comes from Karen Conover. Karen, you wish to address the public.

Mrs. Conover, Yes I would. Thank you, Bill. I know we have a full agenda tonight and I'll be brief on the subject that we as a government as well as individuals can no longer ignore, and it's the rampant drug problem in our community. I am before you as a county elected official, but I also speak to you as a parent. Our son Justin didn't have aspirations to grow up and be the poster child for heroin in Porter County, as one local paper has published. Quite the contrary. He wanted to be a policeman and go on to become an attorney and possibly a judge. An editorial columnist also made the accusation and I quote, brave mothers of drug addicts are the heroes of the day, end of quote. Quite the contrary, I don't have a medal, just a broken heart.
My husband and I were involved parents and anyone who knows anything about us at all can attest to that. We have been to too many funerals over the last seven years because of heroin overdoes and this epidemic continues to infect and spread. It has taken over 30 lives in as many years and many, many hostages. I commend the Chesterton and Porter town councils for their recent public discussion on this issue.
What have we done as a governing body to try and help the problem? We can take some credit for allowing the Sheriff and County Commissioners for imposing a $25.00 booking fee, which pays for a contract with Porter Starke to counsel individuals incarcerated for substance abuse and hope upon their release they continue to seek help as they get back on track and hopefully lead productive lives.
We approve and must continue to support Porter Starke and the maximum allowance of property tax money received to fund vital programming for not only mental health, but also substance abuse programs. We need to be mindful of the individuals needing service that have not held steady jobs, nor enjoy the benefit of health insurance. It is also an unfortunate price they pay for their problem. Our mental health provider can be a stopgap for those who fit into this category. It is a small cost to taxpayers comparatively speaking, housing inmates in the jail costs much more.
Recent meetings with our honorable judges have brought forward discussion about PCADOS. We as a council gave a directive to run their programming with the revenue generated and be self-supporting. It has recently come to the forefront that fees are not being paid because, in a good majority of the cases, are uncollectible due to one's inability to pay. Make no secret about it, the Judges can mandate this body to fund the shortfalls, but they understand we are cash strapped. We must be ready and willing to approve whatever solutions our Judicial comes before us with to help remedy the problem.
Which brings me to the narcotics unit. They indeed are short staffed and frustrated beyond belief. Their phones and pagers ring constantly and this is no exaggeration. Our prosecutor and investigator would welcome you to tour with them some evening to see for yourself their efforts in combating the ever-growing problems experienced with illegal drugs. As would our sheriff and jail warden welcome your visit to see for yourself some of our incarcerated and hear why. Visit one of our courts any given day of the week to see the case load they are experiencing and try and put yourself in their position as they make a decision to save a life, and the delicate balance of keeping the community safe from crimes surrounding substance abuse.
We need look no further than our own government to see that the problem continues to get worse at staggering levels. We fund these operations, but are we cognizant of why; I'll tell you why, about 90% of those in the system are substance abusers or involved in crimes related to substance abuse. Once the door has been opened, it is a revolving door. But we as a community may want to focus our efforts on opening a new door, by offering hope and try to assist in breaking the cycle. We do seem to be successful in teaching our children not to run into the street, to protect themselves from the ever present danger of being hit by a car, yet we fall way short of getting the message across that drug experimentation can kill you or alter your life forever.
The Community Action Drug Coalition is a not for profit organization that is having its first Walk Away from Drugs walkathon at Coffee Creek Water Shed Preserve on April 17th at 9:00 a.m. Its chairman is Dr. Mann Spitler. Our goal is to raise money to start a men's recovery home in Porter County. I have some flyers, posters and pledge envelops if anyone is interested.
We can no longer sit back and ignore this problem as it continues to take lives and ruin families. We cannot blame the police, the schools or push it off on bad parenting. If by the grace of God go you and it's not in your home, you do know someone personally dealing with the disease called addiction. Dangerous drugs are here, and we must find community solutions to a community problem. What we are doing folks, is not enough. Thank you, Bill.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you, Karen. As a grandfather of nine, the oldest being 18, it certainly is a concern to me that all these children are vulnerable. Those who say they're not; your child is not vulnerable to this particular problem, you've got your head in the sand. You better wake up and talk to an emergency room nurse, she'll tell you in a hurry what the real problem is. Thanks, Karen.

PARKS FOUNDATION BANQUET & DESSERT AUCTION

Mr. Carmichael, On a lighter note, the Porter County Parks Foundation, one of the members is present tonight, Ruth Ann McWhorter, indicates to me that there's a, I'm to attend a Foundation Banquet and Dessert Auction--my wife has to make a dessert--Thursday, April 29th at 5:30 p.m., at the Old Town Banquet Center. Where's that?

Ruth Ann McWhorter, Across from, what used to be Inman's--Northside.

Mr. Carmichael, Oh, across from the Northside, okay. So if you want to support the Porter County Parks Foundation fundraiser, that's a night you'll have some fun, raising some funds, and spending some money.

Mrs. Conover, And Edie.

Mr. Carmichael, That's right, we have a park board representative here tonight.

PLAN COMMISSION 239
Transfer
$12,000 from 1110 Salaries to 1120 Hourly
Additional Appropriation
$13,835 to 3110 Legal, amended to $13,835 to Council 01.25, 3110 Legal

Mr. Carmichael, Looks to me like we have the county commissioners at this time. Is that correct?

Mr. Poparad, The Plan Commission.

Mr. Steele, The Plan Commission.

Mr. Carmichael, You are representing the Plan Commission. Bob Thompson's here, I see. Hi Bob. We've got all; what are you surrounding us with, all the power in Porter County. It must be something important tonight. What's up, Bob?

Bob Thompson, I'm going to talk about the first one here. The transfer of $12,000 from Salaries to Hourly. The reason I'm asking, requesting this transfer is, there's been a vacancy come about within the Plan Commission; staffing, a full-time person has left. At this time, because of the fund, I do not want to jump in and replace this person full-time. I want to go with an hourly part-time person.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, you've heard the request. Is there any questions? Is there a motion?

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Plan Commission 239, $12,000 from 1110 Salaries to 1120 Hourly. Mr. Steele seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, The second request is an additional of $13,835 to the legal fee.

Commissioner Dave Burrus, Mr. President, there's some discussion about the advertisement on this issue, but we would like to go ahead and present it and discuss it, and then we'll see where we have to go with it from there. As you know, the Board of Zoning Appeals is involved in litigation regarding a proposed landfill in Porter Township. The commissioners are intent on winning that litigation, and as such, have approached both the Board of Zoning Appeals and the Plan Commission regarding the additional legal support for the BZA attorney.
It's expected that this litigation will go to the appeal process, and it's helpful at that time and that stage to have assistance from an Indianapolis law firm. In early January, the commissioners contacted the firm of Sommer Barnard Ackerson of Indianapolis who successfully represented the opposition in defeating the landfill proposal in Lake County several years ago. Because of the timing of our initial hearing on this, which will be in April--the 8th of April--before Judge Alexa, they have begun work and preparation for this hearing, and have completed their work at this time.
We have a claim then from that form, or excuse me, from that firm to that effect, in the amount of $13,835. That's why we are requesting the additional appropriation tonight. Now, we understand that there may have been an error in the advertisement, to the extent that that amount of money and that claim may have been advertised under the Plan Commission's fund. So we want to address that issue, but at the same time, we want to make it known or at least inform you that when the case goes to appeal, it's expected that this firm will be involved at that time as well, and probably more importantly so, and we can expect to see at that time another $15,000 to $20,000 legal bill.
Now our position is that this is a county-wide concern, and we feel that it should be appropriately funded out of the general fund. I'm relatively certain the County would agree that we need to make sure that we win this case, and hopefully, we can come to some acceptable method of funding this.

Mr. Carmichael, Since you are aware that we don't have a budget yet, obviously we cannot approve anything as an additional out of the general fund.

Com. Burrus, Right. We understand that, but we were hoping that maybe we could get some kind of approval pending the release of the funding.

Mr. Carmichael, Well, my own personal opinion, certainly you want to defend the BZA as the case may be, because they are doing our work, and obviously, as a volunteer job practically, there's liabilities connected with it, and certainly you want to cover their liabilities and have them properly represented in court. So for my own personal, I don't have a problem with it. Now maybe someone else does, I don't know.

Mr. Poparad, Is there a, I know we just talked during the recess. Dave, do we want to try and transfer inside the Plan Commission so they can pay this bill, and then we…

Mr. Hollenbeck, That's one way that it wouldn't even have to be contingent, it could be approved tonight. As it's already been articulated, the general fund, the state simply, the state department will not approve an additional appropriation from the general fund until the tax rates are certified.

Com. Burrus, Right.

Mr. Hollenbeck, And that's probably another three to four weeks away, as I understand it. So that isn't an option. As advertised, we discovered here during the break, it was advertised to come out of the Plan Commission fund, which, as that advertising, it could happen that way. But during the break the Bob indicated to me that that's a financial burden on the fund, that just isn't acceptable.

Com. Burrus, And that's one of the reasons why we're making this request as well.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Right.

Com. Burrus, I think it would be sufficient from our point of view if the Council would simply take a vote of support on this, and when the money is free…

Mr. Carmichael, Is there a motion for a vote of confidence?

Mr. Poparad moved to support and fund the litigation for the Porter Township landfill suit. Mr. Steele and Mrs. Knoblock seconded.

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Plan Commission 239, pending state approval of the budget, $13,835 to 3110 Legal.

Mr. Poparad, That way they don't have to wait on us.

Mr. Carmichael, What about that, Dave?

Mr. Hollenbeck, That's fine. I was going to suggest a way to get it paid tonight, but if that's what you want to do then.

Mr. Carmichael, Does the second agree with that?

Mr. Steele, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, And this second down here agrees with that?

Mrs. Knoblock, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright. Do you understand the…

Com. Burrus, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, What we are talking about? Okay. John, do you have a question?

Mr. Ruge, This a, these attorneys are specialists in this field?

Mr. Thompson, Yes, they are.

Mr. Ruge, They're specialists in this field?

Commissioner John Evans, Aren't they all.

Mr. Carmichael, Yes, John, that's correct.

Mr. Thompson, Yes, they are. Their specialty is environmental law.

Mr. Ruge, What?

Mr. Carmichael, Environmental law, he said.

Mr. Ruge, What?

Mr. Carmichael, Environmental law.

Mr. Ruge, What?

Mr. Carmichael, The motion is to show support for the request.

Com. Burrus, I think it was to…

Mr. Hollenbeck, I think it was to approve the additional and…

Mr. Carmichael, And to approve the additional subject to the State Board of Accounts approving our budget. Sandy.

Mrs. Vuko, Is this approved out of the general?

Com. Burrus, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Yes.

Mrs. Vuko, What line item?

Ms. Riley, Whose budget? The commissioners'? Council?

Mr. Hollenbeck, Well, but we can't do because it wasn't advertised that way.

Ms. Riley, Yes, you didn't advertise it under the general fund.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, we'll back off; we'll have to do it next month. But let's…

Mr. Poparad, Well I think we, I think we have to…

Mr. Hollenbeck, I've got another plan.

Mr. Poparad, Pay this bill. I think we should move the money in the Plan Commission. They have enough cash, then next month we replace it.

Mr. Steele, Dave has a plan.

Com. Burrus, Well, we're concerned that we're going to be running dry.

Mr. Hollenbeck, I've even got a better plan.

Mr. Poparad, Well, he's got.

Mr. Hollenbeck, What we ought to do is pay this bill out of the legal appropriation in the County Council budget, okay. Then I just will not get, I'll wait to get paid, until we can do an additional appropriation, probably sometime in May to replenish that legal account.

Mr. Poparad, Can you go that long?

Mr. Hollenbeck, It's been a long time since a Hollenbeck kid missed a meal.

Mr. Poparad, Okay.
Ms. Noll, Did you check our account?

Mr. Hollenbeck, We just did.

Ms. Noll, Oh, it's real…

Mr. Hollenbeck, There's enough money in there we can pay this bill out of the account they pay me out of, and then I just won't bill them until the money can be replenished. That way you can get it paid right now.

Mr. Poparad, Do you want a motion to that effect, Bill?

Mr. Carmichael, Let me check with Sandy first. Sandy? Okay. Yes.

Mr. Poparad moved to amend the request for additional appropriations submitted by Plan Commission 239, $13,835 to 3110 Legal, to Council 01.25, $13,835 to 3110 Legal. Mr. Steele seconded.

Mr. Carmichael, A motion and a second, is there further discussion? Let's see, this is an additional or is it a transfer.

Mr. Steele, This would be…

Mr. Carmichael, This is a transfer out of our account, is that right?

Mr. Poparad, We're just paying the bill out of our account.

Mr. Carmichael, This is a transfer out of the line item for our…

Mr. Hollenbeck, It's not even a transfer. All you're authorizing is that the commissioners sign a claim with your account number on it; Jan can turn the claim into them to pay out of that line item in your budget. That's all we're doing.

Mr. Carmichael, Do you understand that?

Mr. Poparad, We don't do anything.

Mr. Carmichael, Al?

Mr. Steele, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. Any questions? Then do we need a roll call or do we just need an open vote? Those in favor of the motion, answer by the usual sign of aye.

Motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, I think the problem is solved.

Mr. Hollenbeck, See how easy it turned out.

Mr. Carmichael, For a while, until we have to reappropriate. We may never reappropriate back to David's salary.

Com. Burrus, On that topic though, Bill, that took care of the initial concern obviously, and we appreciate that. Would it be appropriate to request the Council's support as we go forward on this in the future on the appeal stage too?

Mr. Poparad, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, I think my own personal opinion is certainly we will defend them right to the hilt.

Com. Burrus, Very well.

Mr. Carmichael, We have to be defended.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Just so that is doesn't come out of my account.

Mr. Carmichael, I don't know if anyone disagrees with that. Bob? Al? No. John? Rita? Carole? Do you disagree with that?

Mrs. Knoblock, No.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. That's the Council's intention.

Com. Burrus, Very well.

Mr. Carmichael, And we will defend them.

Com. Burrus, Okay, thank you. That concludes the Plan Commission issues.

E-911 DISCUSSION

Com. Burrus, Would this be a convenient time to address some of the Council's concerns on the E-911 operation?

Mr. Carmichael, I have no concern on it, but go ahead.

Com. Burrus, Okay. Over the past several weeks, the commissioners have heard or received--albeit secondhand--from members of the Council who are concerned about our reorganization of the E-911 department to incorporate the dispatchers. I believe the criticism was focused on the salary levels of two or three of the staff members, and specifically on the director and the assistant director.

At this time, Com. Evans submitted paperwork to the Council members.

Com. Burrus, The commissioners take exception to that criticism in as much as the pay raises that were criticized suggest increased compensation for the same level of work. In these instances, the two or three who received increased pay, also received significant increases in their duties and responsibilities.
I believe the comments that were made were probably made with a limited understanding of the scope of the changes that occurred. What you all are receiving right now it a compilation of the changes and the responsibilities and the duties in detail of what has gone on, and what will go on with respect to dispatchers. You can feel free to read it at your leisure, and refer to it if you need to, but what I would like to do is simply give you the highlights, which are 16 points that are generally divided up by those blue tabs.
The first area consists of organization charts, both before the reorganization and after. The key elements there indicate that the number of employees in the E-911 department went from four to 25. Additionally, the customers--if you will--or the people that they coordinate with, and the departments that they serve, went from five to 38. So we've seen a significant increase in that level of their responsibilities.
The second tab refers to personnel policies and procedures. This is a new manual that was developed. It was not done in the past; it was formalized from, old, sometimes obsolete, SOP's, and now represents a current accurate document of what goes on, and what should go on with respect to personnel in that department.
Number three are job descriptions. Each of these have been reviewed, coordinated, and updated. Number four, the budgets, both for 2003 showing before the change, and the assumption of the dispatchers in 2004 afterwards. Number five is a four-year record of the E-911 call counts. This shows that in the year 2000, they received a total of 28,578 calls; in the year 2003, they have 53,145, so we've seen an increase almost of 100%.
Additionally, the fifth and sixth items in there talk about the communication system. We have a Nortel phone system that serves the administrative function of the jail, then it also serves as a component to the E-911 function. This is probably, undoubtedly the most complex phone system that Porter County government owns. The E-911 technical information system, the portion of it that has to do with E-911 is produced by the SML Corporation, and that is for the emergency dispatch work only.
Both of these are very complex systems, and the assistant director of E-911 has gone from just a primarily clerical responsibility under the old administration to the technical responsible person for both of these systems. That has included a great deal of training, a great deal of instruction, and she's now up to speed, and working with this system.
Item number seven--when you find it--is the emergency medical dispatch law. This is a new statute that essentially establishes a requirement for quality assurance with respect to medical response within the E-911 response bill. This is Senate law or Senate Bill--excuse me--216. This is a new requirement that's been placed on the department just in recent months.
In view of that, the assistant director has been trained to qualify as the person who will be responsible for the quality assurance software; an acronym responding to that or describing that is AQUE, QA, and is now responsible for the quality control functions. Additionally, the E-911 software is another area of technical expertise that has been assumed by the assistant director.
The computer-aided dispatch system--CADS, often referred to as Tiburon by the manufacturer--was a new system that was implemented when we moved into the new jail, and Dave Sheibels, the director, was the only person who had the expertise and the background to deal with problems in that system. As a result, the reorganization now, the head of dispatcher personnel, Donna Gootee, and also the assistant director, Edie Hahn, are both capable of responding to those problems, and help with emergency calls.
The next item, number 11 are guidelines, and this is--if you will--a procedural manual on what has to be done to respond to specific emergency issues. What you have there are 15 pages of nothing more than the table of contents. This is a multi-volume document that was implemented as a result of the organizational change to make sure that all the dispatchers were on the same page--if you will--and able to respond properly.
In addition to that, number 12, we have a training program that was updated and changed, and now it is in compliance with, and it addresses all of the new systems that we just talked about. Number 13 is a CPR training program administered by the American Red Cross. All dispatchers must be qualified with respect to CPR. The E-911 staff is now the responsible party for training not only the dispatchers, but all the sheriff's department as well; a change in that organizational role. Number 15 are FCC--Federal Communication Commission--rules and regulations. Formally it was an oversight of, oversight responsibility of the sheriff that's been assumed now by the director, Dave Sheibels.
Finally, number 16 is a memorandum of understanding. It's the first time we have one, and what it deals with are all of the support agencies or--if you will--the customers that we deal with. This is a multi-topic list of these additional 35 entities that I told you about, and you can see them listed, probably on the organizational chart page.
As a result of the change, the assistant director is now on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The additional responsibility on top of all the ones that have been mention above is that she does the dispatch, excuse me, the payroll for all the dispatchers that was formerly done by Debbie Harlow, who is still employed with the sheriff's department. And as I mentioned also, the quality control, with respect to the medical dispatch. So what you have there, folks, is a summary of the items that have changed and expanded and otherwise been assumed with respect to the responsibility by the E-911 staff.
If we keep those things in mind, I would like to see, if you would, look at a hand-out that is an 11 by, 8½ by 14, which is copies of the minutes of one of your meetings about a year ago. I draw your attention to the top of that first page where it shows a number of, excuse me, 144 forms for the clerk's office. The listing of those 144's was presented as a refactoring request, and at a proposed cost to the County of over $140,000.
Refactoring is essentially what we are talking about the on job descriptions that we did within E-911, and if you would move into page two of that document in the middle of the page, Karen Conover made it clear that these requests for refactoring were just that, and they were not intended to be salary increases. The distinction was made there.
If you move down to the next to the bottom paragraph where Mr. West is speaking at that time, he again, in the middle of that paragraph said this is not a method of getting raises; this is a job description, it's what the job description is worth. And, folks, that's exactly what we have done with the two or three issues that we have been criticized for.
One final item on this one would be that if you would look at a sheet of paper that has two pieces to it, and it has the salaries listed of all of the assistant directors of all the departments in Porter County government. The important thing there is that the assistant director as it has been increased, that is with the raise, is fourth from the bottom in the amounts that have been previously approved for every other assistant director or assistant department head.
I think the last important point on this topic is that I feel, I think the commissioners all feel that it would be inappropriate for any administrator to be receiving a salary that would be less than their subordinates, and as a result of that, we are slightly above the dispatchers with the increases that we have proposed. Now that concludes our remarks on the issue of what we did and why, and I hope it answers any questions with respect to any criticisms that were involved.
The last item I would like to point out to you is a document that is a summary sheet that Dave Sheibels has prepared, and this is very important to all of us. It's a report or an update on House Bill 1304 that was presented to the Indiana State House of Representatives before they dismissed this most recent session, and what it does, it speaks to the E-911 fees as they are distributed. At the present time, under the statute that exists now--and you know this to be true yourself--that any county council has the ability to raise the fees and the administration of those fees is a responsibility of the commissioners. If this bill passes, look at the last line on the page, the result will be that the county treasurer will remit quarterly 75% of the fees collected from customers within the municipality to the fiscal officer of the municipality.
I personally believe that this bill was initiated as a result of the action that was taken in Porter County to transfer our dispatchers. I think that the representative that presented is representing local interests, and it represents a very major threat to the system as its been established both by the council and by the commissioners. If this level of funding of funding is redirected from the County's dispatch budget right now, and redirected to any municipality who is covered by this proposed statute, we will have to seek a totally new source of funding for our E-911 efforts.

Mr. Carmichael, That was deleted from the legislation when it passed.

Com. Bob Harper, It went to conference committee.

Com. Burrus, It's in, it hasn't passed yet, and it's been given to a…

Mr. Carmichael, My understanding is the governor already signed it.

Com. Burrus, It's been given to a summary study committee, and we don't know what the outcome is going to be when they reconvene. But it has not passed yet.

Com. Harper, What the governor signed was a bill, sent it to the conference committee to study. It's not been passed yet.

Mr. Carmichael, And it did not include the distribution of the funds, as I understand it.

Com. Harper, Not yet, but its…

Mr. Hollenbeck, Interestingly, here's a copy of the bill. Interestingly enough, it does include a provision that requires this body to annual report to the municipalities on how the money is spent. Which is especially ironic since the same statute provides that the commissioners are the entity who spend it. But you now have an obligation to report to the municipalities of Porter County how they are spending the money. Why they don't have that obligation, I don't know, but that's…

Mr. Carmichael, Is there any chance of the Legislature canceling the session next year?

Com. Evans, I would urge everyone to contact their representatives to vote against it. You know they're talking about taking away the township layer of government; what this does is add a layer of government.

Mr. Carmichael, What I'm talking about is minimizing the damage they do each to us. I don't know whether there's any legislators present, but…

Com. Burrus, I don't want to touch that one, Bill.

Mr. Carmichael, Well, I'll tell you, this mandate business is for the birds, and that's putting it mildly.

Com. Burrus, But I think a heads-up is appropriate, and hopefully, as I said, everything will work out without this bill, but if it does come through…

Mr. Carmichael, Does anyone have a question on the report?

Mrs. Conover, I don't have a question, but I do have a few comments. Yes, there's been controversy over the 911 raises given to administrative personnel. I want to make clear that this County set up a high-tech system that is constantly upgraded to accommodate our growth, citizens moving from place to place, and serve the ever-increasing use of cell phones.
Our 911 system has been served well under the direction of Dave Sheibels, its director. Porter County's 911 service is not only the lifeline for emergency service, but is necessary to properly serve our public. Smaller communities continue to render their systems to the County, and the County's responsibility continues to increase.
Our 911 dispatchers must quickly decide, and arrange for the proper emergency service for a particular area or a community of this county. They must be calm and patient with all concerned. They are highly-trained, and often give first aid instructions to help sustain a life until the ambulance arrives. Their 911 calls sometimes range from hysteria to garbled communication regarding the particular emergency.
We owe all of them our gratitude and thanks for their life-line service. They are responsible for keeping track of placement on various calls that could--in a split second--become dangerous. They do all of these things, and yet they work shifts. They do all of this within a pay scale that is less than some of our chief deputies as so indicated here in one of your printouts.
Last year during our budget crisis we doubled the fee on one's land-based telephone to pay these employees from what would be a separate budget, rather than from the ailing general fund. The commissioners were most cooperative in our efforts. They set forth to create a separate department since it previously fell under the sheriff's public safety department. When we preliminarily ran the numbers, it was felt that this additional fee would barely cover the cost of paying these vital employees and their respective benefits.
I feel we needed to run a budget cycle in order to see if it worked. I respect our county commissioners a great deal, and I respect the separation of powers between our duties and departments. But to me, allowing administrative raises to the excesses that they were was jumping the gun as to what we tried to do. I have no problem with evaluating and refactoring all employees of this department as to their duties. They have increased, and they're responsibilities are the life-line to all of our emergency services.
I think we needed to sit back and see if the funding was indeed adequate, and that could not be evaluated until we experienced a budget cycle. Yes, the question has been brought up, if we should lower the fee, but I see that as a way to get even at this stage of the game, and jeopardize not only what we set out to do, but to this vital service.
I personally was not happy with the raises given, and would have preferred to evaluate everyone in the department concerned, with the same consideration for their increasing duties, when we would have had a better feel on the revenue generated. It's very, very hard for me to be on the opposite end of an opinion with you, my fellow commissioners. I respect you, and I rely on you, but concerning what was done and when it was done, yes, I wouldn't say I would have been critical, I would say that I've been of an opposite opinion, and thank you for the information this evening.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you, Karen, well said. Now, the one thing that I've, the idea that popped in my head, coming down the expressway on I-65 or 49 or whatever, I don't see any signs that say, in case of an emergency dial 911.

Com. Evans, 65 is in Lake County.

Com. Burrus, I think it's almost universal though, Bill.

Com. Evans, Pretty much.

Com. Harper, It's on the back of all the police cars.

Mr. Carmichael, Now wait a minute now, it's not universal, because I just returned from a trip in the West, and it's, dial Highway * 57, or something.

Mr. Poparad, On a cell phone.

Mr. Carmichael, Huh?

Mr. Poparad, That's on a cell phone, Bill.

Mr. Carmichael, Well I, in Porter County, perhaps we should petition the state or whoever the case may be to indicate, I know we have it on the back of our squad cars and so forth, but if you've got a squad car right there, you don't need 911; he can take care of it for you. But we should make a request to put it on the highways so that its available. You know, while it may be universal, it isn't throughout the entire country. But I think we ought to put that request in.

Com. Evans, I've got just one clarification on that printout you were given that has all of the chief deputies' salaries. There are some that are in error because it indicates only the portion that Porter County pays the prosecutors and some of the court people also receive money from the state. One of the reasons--and I have to say this, Karen--that the second in the command was given that refactoring position was that without, she would have been earning less than the dispatchers themselves.

Mrs. Conover, The people she supervises.

Com. Evans, That's right, and…

Mr. Carmichael, Did Ray Temple refactor them?

Com. Evans, Pardon?

Mr. Carmichael, Who refactored them?

Com. Evans, There are three people that received additional compensation for additional duties.

Mr. Carmichael, But who did the refactoring? Dave?

Com. Burrus, Dave Sheibels. We did not use Ray Temple. He's not being retained much longer.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. I knew that you were paying, what $12,000 this year or something.

Com. Burrus, It's reduced significantly down to about $7,500 or there abouts.

Com. Evans, Could you call his money legal fees, and we can give it to Dave.

Mr. Carmichael, Council members?

Mr. Hollenbeck, Thanks, John.

Mr. Carmichael, John.

Com. Evans, Yes, one other thing.
Mr. Carmichael, Finish up.

Com. Evans, Com. Harper, I think, wants to address you about an idea he had in regards to a committee that would be jointly formed.

Mr. Carmichael, Let me get my earphone on, and I'll…

Mr. Poparad, We're not done yet with 911.

Com. Harper, Okay.

Com. Evans, Oh?

Com. Harper, Bob had something to say.

Mr. Poparad, I've got to echo what Karen said, because last year when this fee came about, I mean I was averse to doubling the fee. I thought a buck, buck and a quarter, see how the numbers run, but I gave in, and backed down, and let them double it. I'm not even averse to the raises, but I think we should've went through a budget cycle, and I think it should have been a little more open. I'm not saying you guys are secretive, but the fact that your budget does not come in front of us leaves it open to criticism. I'm sorry. I mean that's the statute, and that's what it is. But nobody knew about these raises, and I'm not even averse to them getting a raise, and I understand why you did it. I guess it's the way it was handled. Perception might be the better word.

Com. Burrus, Bob, those topics, all of them were discussed at our December meeting. They are a matter of record.

Com. Evans, They were all done and a matter of record at a public meeting…

Mr. Poparad, I don't attend your December meetings.

Com. Evans, When the budget was done.

Mr. Poparad, Yes, I didn't know if we, I've just got to agree with Karen. We should have waited for the budget cycle to see how the numbers ran out, and okay, I'll be rhetorical then, if we run through the budget, and you guys end the year with half-million dollar surplus, are you going to be inclined to lower the fee.

Com. Evans, You raise and lower the fee, we…

Mr. Poparad, Right, would you be inclined to come to us and say, you know what, we've got too much money, will you guys lower it for us?

Com. Burrus, You tell me how the House is going to come out, and we'll…

Mr. Poparad, Well the House Bill is all a separate issue, but assuming nothing changes.

Com. Evans, We, everyone…

Com. Burrus, Well the point there that you need to keep in mind too, and that is that the $.75 or $1.50 now is assessed to all land lines.

Mr. Poparad, Correct.

Com. Burrus, And that number of land lines is steadily decreasing.

Mr. Poparad, Right.

Com. Burrus, As the number of cell phones are being used as a permanent phone.
Mr. Poparad, Right, and the $.65 a month you get from the state from cell phones is increasing. So I don't know if your revenue stream is going to be upset that much. When I looked at the numbers last year…

Com. Burrus, That's already been committed to this effort.

Mr. Poparad, Yes, but it appears that there's somewhat of a surplus to be comfortable enough for doing…

Com. Evans, You have to remember, if we have to replace that system it's over a million dollars.

Mr. Poparad, Yes, and I think you have a cash balance of 1.6 million right now, if I'm not mistaken. Could you run the numbers for me, Sandy?

Ms. Vuko, Sheila went to get it.

Mr. Poparad, That was January's numbers.

Ms. Riley, It's $1,544,821.37.

Mr. Poparad, Okay, and of course you have expenditures, and I understand that, but you also have a revenue stream so it's not like you guys are running on the bottom of the barrel here for money. And I'm done; I won't speak to it again.

COMMISSIONER/COUNCIL JOINT COMMITTEE DISCUSSION

Mr. Carmichael, Bob.

Com. Harper, All of you received, I think in your box, I made at our January meeting regarding a joint committee between the commissioners--my voice is bad tonight--and the council to work on some of these budget problems. The commissioners passed a resolution to take part in such a committee if the council would. Did everyone get one of those letters that I put out? To go over things, in fact, I thought one thing was interesting tonight, many of the issues, you know, every time some one is added, it effects the commissioners' budget because of the health issues, and the PERF, and so forth.
To do a study committee over various issues, and I think once again it was interesting tonight was the issue of this employee in the health department. Maybe this could have been and how, you know, is he an independent contractor or is he an employee. Maybe some of these things can be worked through this committee before hand, before it comes before the council. I would like to see a committee like this address, so at salary time, every time an employee is added that money is also added to the health insurance fund so we don't run into that problem again with the health insurance fund. And further, that we make sure that all these grants and loans are paying their share of the health insurance, that they don't come running in and say, we're going to pay $20,000 for an employee, and forget the $10,000 that comes to the health insurance.
We now have over 200 vehicles, and we have no, and I don't think we have any money budgeted for the replacement of any of those vehicles. I think it's got to be addressed or it will become another crisis thing like it always does and then you have to grab it some place, where you don't look at it beforehand. I think that we need to discuss the payback of the bailout loan. The money hasn't been budgeted for that.
We have a jail that now has, I figured the operating costs for utilities and maintenance are over a half a million dollars. They're really worth budgeting for, and we're paying for it out of prisoners right now, but it's been, and we need to take a long hard look at that and see if that's going to continue, and if it is going to continue to be a money-making, you know, you pay it out of the prisoners' money or do we have a plan if we don't have enough prisoners, just how that's working. There is even a possibility, I think that, especially with state prisoners, there's a chance that there could be money made for the County out of that if it was thought out and planned ahead of time, and a real plan was put together on that.
So some of the other issues I'm thinking of are the $600,000 that has been saved on 911; the $500,000 that has been saved on the ambulance; $400,000 is coming in from the casinos. All this different money, how is this going to effect our levy the next time, our general fund, and our budget as its put together.
I went through many, many things in this thing, and I just think, as I say, the commissioners have voted for that committee. I visualize a committee that is open to the public, that has three or four members that maybe meets at night so the public can hear these meetings. But I need a small budget, because we need someone to record it, because it would be a public meeting, and if we ask someone from the auditor's office, the members thought that at the next meeting, someone from the auditor's office or one of the lawyers or someone to come and give information, there might be some overtime money.
But I think in the long run, maybe it could help some of the communication between the commissioners and the council. But more importantly, maybe it could help the taxpayers with some work on this budget. So as I said, the commissioners have voted for it, and I know it's not on the agenda tonight, but I just wanted to bring it up. The commissioners have voted to go ahead with that project if the council agrees to it.

Mr. Carmichael, Well I think that you've, in my dealing with the commissioners, when I have a question, I call you, and receive an answer on whatever the case may be. So I think each council member should have communication with the commissioners, calling back and forth, or attend the commissioners' meetings, and express your concerns, as they are expressing their concerns tonight.

Mr. Poparad, Yes, but some of these issues, Bill, need to be studied.

Mr. Carmichael, Go ahead.

Mr. Poparad, There are a lot of issues that need to be studied that you can't address at a meeting. There needs to be research done; there needs to be a lot of time invested.

Mr. Carmichael, Absolutely.

Mr. Poparad, And the committee idea is a good idea, because it's a joint-venture here. It's not us against them. I know, sometimes they think so, but it's not supposed to be.

Mr. Steele, Bill..

Mr. Carmichael, Al.

Mr. Steele, Bill, this is something we actually need, and I think we should compliment these people for their work and the effort that Bob and everybody else has put into this, and we should go and make a motion or whatever that we want to get onboard with them on this.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mr. Steele, And I think we should do that. This is a very important thing. Everybody seeking and working closer and closer together through all levels of government, and the most important level is between commissioners and the council, I believe. So we should compliment these people.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you.

Mr. Steele moved to accept the commissioners resolution to form a joint committee with the commissioners and council. Mrs. Knoblock seconded.

Mrs. Conover, I third it.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, now the next question is, who wishes to serve?

Mr. Poparad, I'll serve.

Mr. Steele, I'll serve.
Mr. Carmichael, There's two.

Mrs. Knoblock, I guess we all…

Mrs. Conover, When are the meetings going to be held?

Com. Harper, I think we'll pick out one evening a week, and probably try to go pretty strong at first.

Mrs. Conover, In the evening.

Com. Harper, In the evening, yes.

Mr. Carmichael, If you have more than three county council members, you'd have to do a legal advertisement, and more than two commissioners, you'd have to do a legal advertisement on any meeting. Do you want to think that over?

Com. Burrus, Why don't the people who are interested in participating form a working group just to establish the rules and the representation and the meeting times, and all those details.

Com. Evans, I think the meetings should be advertised anyway so the public would be informed.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mr. Steele, And that way anybody, any number could attend then.

Com. Evans, And any other office holders who would want to join also.

Mr. Carmichael, Each meeting then would be formally advertised?

Com. Harper, I think it should be. That's why I need a little budget for this thing; we can start it off without one, but at some point we'll need a little budget.

Mrs. Knoblock, Well we make too many hasty decisions, and just like the health department tonight, that come before us, kind of a…

Mr. Carmichael, Right.

Mrs. Knoblock, And I look back now, and I think we should have tabled it until we all read more about it. But it's done now, but that's.

Mr. Carmichael, I did receive it on the request, on email.

Mrs. Conover, I did too.

Mrs. Knoblock, I didn't read it.

Mr. Steele, Bob, would you…

Mr. Carmichael, And it was in your box.

Mr. Steele, Excuse me, Bill.

Mr. Carmichael, Go ahead, Al.

Mr. Steele, Would you agree to the fact that with the summer schedule and so forth that if we had like three people meeting with you regularly, could we have a backup person. Would you agree to someone like that?
Com. Harper, Well I think that would be fine.

Mr. Steele, And that would spread it out through the Council more too, but that person could talk to the other one. So if that would be okay, I think that might help us out; it might help you guys out too, you're not always there together.

Mrs. Conover, I'm the lame duck on this board. Could I be the floater?

Mr. Steele, It's not up to me.

Mr. Carmichael, Maybe you should formalize something, and present it to us at the next regular council meeting, so we see what the rules and the regulations are, and when the meeting times are.

Com. Harper, Alright.

Mr. Carmichael, When it needs to be advertised, you'll have to do that.

Com. Burrus, I'm not speaking for Bob on this, but I think that's, that input would be appropriate from the Council as well. So maybe you can talk on the side as far as some of those details.

Com. Harper, Fine.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Com. Harper, When's your next meeting?

Mr. Carmichael, The fourth Tuesday.

Com. Harper, Alright, I'll have something together by then.

Mr. Carmichael, It's the 27th of April.

Com. Harper, Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, thank you very much.

Com. Evans, Just a point of reference, it raises, the insurance cost to the person that you hired for the health department are more than 911 got. Just so you know.

Mr. Poparad, He's got a grant for that, John.

Com. Evans, Yes, he's got a grant.

Mr. Steele, It's taxpayers' money.

Mr. Carmichael, John, are you finished for the night?

Com. Evans, Barely.

Mr. Carmichael, Good.

Mr. Poparad, Take your cart, and go away.

Com. Evans, I'll take my cart and go.

Mr. Carmichael, We don't need anymore troublemakers around here.

Mr. Hollenbeck, I just wanted to make the point in terms of the timing of what embarked upon. Don't forget that there are departments that have to have their budgets in to the auditor's office by July 1st, and some of those departments are headed by boards. I think that the health department, they're doing their budget in May, because they have to approve it at their June meeting, so they can turn it in by the end of June. So your timeframes are such that the sooner you get going the better, because you're going to quickly be running into the deadlines for next year's budget.

Woman from the audience, What happened with 911?

Mrs. Conover, Just a discussion.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Just a discussion.

Woman from the audience, Oh.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Or maybe a lecture.

Mr. Carmichael, Who's next?

Ms. Noll, Parks.

Mr. Carmichael, The Parks Department.

Mr. Poparad, Parks, isn't it?

PARKS 01.85
Transfer
$300 from 3920 Disposal to 2220 Uniforms & Clothing
$300 from 3920 Disposal to 3330 Photo & Blueprint
$500 from 3920 Disposal to 3710 Rentals

Mr. Carmichael, Good evening.

Ed Melendez, Good evening.

Mr. Carmichael, Looks like you need some funds. What are they, transfers or are they additional appropriations? What are they?

Mr. Melendez, We have in the 01.85, that's transfers. We have $300 going in from account 3920, which is Disposal into 2220, which is Uniforms & Clothing. We have $300 in the 01.85 account going from the 3920, from Disposal into 3330, which is Photo & Blueprints. And the last of the 01.85 is $500 from Disposal, that's 3920, and it's going into 3710, the Rentals. That's for safety gloves, safety equipment under the clothing part of it. It's all too for some of our classes and park projects, and last is rental for equipment.

Mr. Carmichael, These are funds from the tourism commission, is that…

Mr. Melendez, No, this is our general fund that we're just transferring around.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. You've heard the request, what's your pleasure?

Mr. Poparad, moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by PARKS 01.85, $300 from 3920 Disposal to 2220 Uniforms & Clothing, $300 from 3920 Disposal to 3330 Photo & Blueprint, and $500 from 3920 Disposal to 3710 Rentals. Mr. Steele seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

PARKS OPERATING 127
Additional Appropriation
$1,000 to 3340 Advertising
$970 to 3310 Printing other than Office Supplies
$1,000 to 3950 Contractual Services
$4,000 to 3980 Event Expenses
$1,000 to 3340 Advertising
$3,910 to 3950 Contractual Services
Transfer
$2,000 from 3959 Grants to 1121 Interpreter/Educator
$130 from 3959 Grants to 1210 FICA

Mr. Melendez, The next one we have is the Parks Operating 127. This is not general fund money; this is the tourism tax that we receive our checks from. The first one is the 127.85 for $1,000, and that's 3340 into Advertising. The next one is $970 into 3310, which is Printing, and $1,000 into 3950, which is Contractual Services. This is for check number, for check number two for 2004. If you would like, I can read through, because it is, that we're depositing from the tourism one.
The next one is $4,000 into 3980, which is Event Expenses. $1,000 into 3340, which is Advertising, and $3,910 into 3950, which is Contractual Services. Again, this is the tourism check money, and this is for checks 11, 12 and the first one for 2004.

Mr. Carmichael, What's the Council's pleasure?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Parks Operating 127, $1,000 to 3340 Advertising, $970 to 3310 Printing other than Office Supplies, $1,000 to 3950 Contractual Services, $4,000 to 3980 Event Expenses, $1,000 to 3340 Advertising, and $3,910 to 3950 Contractual Services. Mr. Poparad seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Melendez, The last one we have is in the 127.85, and we're transferring $2,000 from 3959, which is Grants, into 1121, which is Interpreter/Educator line, and in the same 127.85, $130 from 3950 Grant into 1210, which is FICA.

Mr. Carmichael, You've heard the request, what's your pleasure?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Parks Operating 127, $2,000 from 3959 Grants to 1121 Interpreter/Educator, and $130 from 3959 Grants to 1210 FICA. Mr. Poparad seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Melendez, Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you very much.

JUVENILE DETENTION
144 Form
Detention Manager (2) at $32,692 each to (1) at $32,692
Detention Officer II (4) at $28,275 each to (5) at $28,275 each

Mr. Carmichael, Juvenile Detention.

Mr. Poparad, Nobody's here.

Mr. Steele, If nobody's here, let's go on.

Mr. Carmichael, Anybody here for Juvenile Detention?

ITS 01.50
Transfer
$750 from 2110 Office Supplies to 2120 Office Fixtures under $100

Mr. Carmichael, Data Processing, ITS, transfer of $750 from Office Supplies to Office Fixtures. You've heard the request, what's your pleasure?

Mr. Steele moved to grant the request of transfer of funds submitted by ITS 01.50, $750 from 2110 Office Supplies to 2120 Office Fixtures under $100. Mrs. Conover seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you very much.

Sharon Lippens, Thank you very much.

Mr. Carmichael, You had the patience to sit through all this tonight.

CORONER 01.07
Additional Appropriation - Request Withdrawn
$400 to 3130 Training & Education
$4,000 to 3140 Medical & Hospital Service

Mr. Carmichael, Coroner, you need an additional; you need $400 to Training & Education, and also $4,000 to Medical & Hospital Service. Where's this additional out of, the general fund?

Roger Kleist, Yes, it would be.

Mr. Carmichael, I think you're going to have to withdraw it for tonight.

Mr. Kleist, That's fine. I understand.

Mr. Carmichael, As far as I know…

Mr. Kleist, Just so, as a matter of explanation, this was my fault. When I turned in the budget last summer, I inadvertently omitted these two line items from the budget. It's not that we have money in there and need more money. We have no money in these two line items.

Mr. Carmichael, Did you put the request in for next month?

Mr. Kleist, I can do that.

Mr. Carmichael, Would you do that?

Mr. Poparad, What is this for, the Hospital & Medical, toxicology?

Mr. Kleist, The Medical & Hospital is, mainly is used for x-rays, when we do x-rays. Then the Training & Education is actually out-of-county mileage when we go to South Bend or Indianapolis, as the case may be.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, then we'll look for your request at the next regular meeting on the 27th of April.

Mr. Kleist, Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you very much.

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP 01.53
Transfer
$30.51 from 3230 Postage to 3340 Advertising
$300 from 3230 Postage to 4440 Furniture & Fixtures over $100
$5,000 from 1110 Salaries to 1120 Hourly

Mr. Carmichael, Liberty Township. Hi.

Jean Swanson, Hello.

Mr. Carmichael, Request for a transfer of $30.51 from Postage to Advertising; $300 from Postage to Furniture & Fixtures; and $5,000 from Salaries to Hourly. What's the Council's pleasure?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Liberty Township 01.53, $30.51 from 3230 Postage to 3340 Advertising, $300 from 3230 Postage to 4440 Furniture & Fixtures over $100, and $5,000 from 1110 Salaries to 1120 Hourly. Mr. Poparad seconded.

Mr. Poparad, Are you going to hire somebody on a permanent part-time basis?

Ms. Swanson, Yes, she's pretty much a permanent part-time person.

Mr. Poparad, Define that.

Ms. Swanson, She's going to be there five days a week, most of the time.

Mr. Poparad, How many hours?

Ms. Swanson, She works seven hours.

Mr. Poparad, So she can work 35 hours a week.

Ms. Swanson, Yes.

Mr. Poparad, Is this…

Ms. Swanson, Not, I know she can't work for the full year like that.

Mr. Steele, Is this a new person or some one you already…

Mr. Poparad, Okay…

Ms. Swanson, She's a new person.

Mr. Steele, A new person; will this person then have insurance too?

Mr. Poparad, No.

Ms. Swanson, No.

Mr. Steele, Okay.

Ms. Swanson, No, her husband has insurance, so she does not have to go full-time.

Mr. Poparad, So what can we go, nine months or something?

Ms. Riley, You can go nine months.

Mr. Poparad, Okay.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mr. Poparad, And you're okay with that?

Ms. Swanson, Yes.

Mr. Poparad, Alright.

Mr. Carmichael, You've heard the request, we made a motion and a second.
Mr. Poparad, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, A motion and a second is on the table. Further discussion? Those in favor of the motion to allow the transfer, answer by the usual sign of aye.

Motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Ms. Swanson, Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you very much.

WESTCHESTER TOWNSHIP 01.12
144 Form - Request withdrawn
3rd Deputy from $0 to $18,213
Additional Appropriation - Request withdrawn
$18,213 to 1110 Salaries
Transfer
$730 from 1120 Hourly to 4440 Furniture & Fixtures over $100

Mr. Carmichael, Westchester. Hi, Candy.

Candy Crone, Hi.

Mr. Carmichael, I did have a chance to talk to Candy about this request.

Ms. Crone, Yes, and I…

Mr. Carmichael, Are you aware that we are not able to appropriate any money out of the general fund. We know you need help, there's no doubt about that.

Ms. Crone, I'm going to withdraw the request for the additional person at this time, although I'd like to come back at a later time. You all have the information I sent you; we'll discuss it at a later time.

Mr. Carmichael, Yes, you've done your homework, and we appreciate that, and we are aware.

Mr. Steele, Yes.

Mr. Poparad, Do you want to do the transfer though?

Ms. Crone, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, A transfer of $730 from Hourly to Furniture & Fixtures. Is there a motion?

Mr. Steele moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Westchester Township 01.12, $730 from 1120 Hourly to 4440 Furniture & Fixtures over $100. Mr. Poparad seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you, Candy. Is there anything else?

Ms. Crone, That's it for now. I'll be back at a later time. Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, We know how important the assessors are.

Ms. Crone, Good.

SUPERIOR COURT 6 - THODE 01.39