Porter County Government - October 26, 2004

PORTER COUNTY COUNCIL
October 26, 2004

The Porter County Council met on Tuesday, October 26, 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 Minton, and Karen Owen.

Mr. Carmichael called the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, you’ve received the minutes of the September 28th meeting. Are there any additions or corrections to those minutes? If not, I will entertain a motion.

Mrs. Conover moved to approve the minutes of September 28, 2004 as received. Mr. Poparad seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

FIRST READING

Mrs. Vuko read the Notice to Taxpayers.

SUPERIOR COURT 3 - JENT 01.38
Transfer
$1,200 from 3610 Maintenance Agreements to Furniture & Fixtures over $100

Mr. Carmichael, Our first order of business, I’m going to move Judge Jent up. She has another session to go to, and we’ll hear that request at this time.

Judge Julia Jent, Good evening. I need to transfer some money. I have new computers, and it’s, my equipment for my court reporter is not compatible. We need to upgrade, and that’s what that money is for.

Mr. Carmichael, Do you want to pull the microphone over a little?

Mr. Poparad, Is this a transfer we’re doing, Bill?

Judge Jent, Yes. It’s to upgrade my computer equipment; my court reporter’s equipment to…

Mr. Carmichael, Where’s that on the agenda? I don’t see it.

Judge Jent, I’m number one on the agenda.

Mr. Carmichael, Oh, I went too fast.

Judge Jent, I’m up front, you didn’t move me up, you scheduled me there.

Mr. Carmichael, There we are, you’re looking for a transfer of $1,200 from Maintenance Agreements to Furniture & Fixtures over $100. What’s the Council’s….

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Superior Court 3, 01.38, $1,200 from 3610 Maintenance Agreements to 4440 Furniture & Fixtures over $100. Mr. Steele seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you.

Judge Jent, Thank you.

PROSECUTOR IV-D 01.35
144 Form (2004)
Deputy Prosecutor from $50,250 to $39,009
Deputy Prosecutor from $39,009 to $37,012
144 Form (2005)
Deputy Prosecutor from $37,012 to $38,012

Mr. Carmichael, Prosecutor. Hi, Jim.

Jim Douglas, What I’m doing, I think we’re filing two amended 144’s for the account 01.35. What I’m doing is putting in a new hiree for a prosecutor. To do that, we have to amend the 2004, 144. So I’m taking the account that’s 135.10 moving that up into the vacant account, which is 135.05, and then to make sure that the salaries stay the same, I will then go to $39,009. The new person coming in will be taking over the old 135.10 slot, but will be coming in at the lowest salary range for that position, therefore it’s $37,012.

Mr. Poparad moved to amend the 2004, 144 Form submitted by Prosecutor IV-D 01.35, Deputy Prosecutor 0135.05 from $50,250 to $39,009 and Deputy Prosecutor 0135.10 from $39,009 to $37,012. Mrs. Conover seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Douglas, The second amended 144 is for the budget year 2005, and that’s simply for the new position, which in 2004 was paid $37,012, because that’s what they have to come in at. As I understand, they will be making $1,000 more, which would be $38,012.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, what’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mrs. Conover moved to amend the 2005, 144 Form, Deputy Prosecutor from $37,012 to $38,012. Mr. Poparad seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Douglas, Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you, Jim.

ASSESSOR REASSESSMENT 08.09
Transfer
$10,000 from 3730 Lease Purchase to 4510 Data Processing Equipment
$6,000 from 3120 Consultants to 4510 Data Processing Equipment
$4,000 from 1340 Boards to 4510 Data Processing Equipment

Mr. Carmichael, Assessor Reassessment. Hi, Shirley.

Shirley LaFever, Good evening.

Mr. Carmichael, You’re looking to transfer $10,000 from Lease Purchase to Data Processing Equipment.

Mrs. LaFever, Yes. This is for the four trustee assessors, they’re going to get their own computers for 2005 to do their own work.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mrs. LaFever, So we can get them purchased and get them in place and ready to go by January 1st.

Mr. Carmichael, You need $6,000 from Consultants to Data Processing Equipment.

Mrs. LaFever, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, And you need $4,000 from Boards to Data Processing Equipment. What board is that, the PTABOA board?

Mrs. LaFever, The PTABOA board.

Mr. Poparad, Is this reassessment money?

Mrs. LaFever, Yes, sir.

Mrs. Stevenson, Sheila, how much is in that?

Mrs. Minton, In that fund?

Mrs. Stevenson, Yes.

Mrs. Minton, $810,675.

Mr. Ruge, I, has there been a motion?

Mr. Carmichael, Not yet, John.

Mr. Ruge, What was?

Mr. Carmichael, We’ll get Rita’s question first. You have $800,000 in that account.

Mrs. Minton, $810,675.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. Alright, what’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Assessor Reassessment 08.09, $10,000 from 3730 Lease Purchase to 4510 Data Processing Equipment, $6,000 from 3120 Consultants to 4510 Data Processing Equipment and $4,000 from 1340 Boards to 4510 Data Processing Equipment. Mr. Steele seconded.

Mr. Poparad, Oh, wait a minute, I’ve got to ask a question.

Mr. Carmichael There’s a motion and a second. Discussion.

Mr. Poparad, What about like the phone lines or the DSL, is reassessment going to pick that up or?

Mrs. LaFever, We put, at budget hearing time, you put some money in my budget for 2005.

Mr. Poparad, We did.

Mrs. LaFever, But I’m not sure it’s going to be enough yet, but it’s enough to start off with.

Mr. Poparad, Did we give, did they get DSL to the one lady down there?

Mrs. LaFever, Sharon and I have been working on it; she can give you an update on that.

Mr. Poparad, Okay, I was just curious.

Mrs. LaFever, Yes, it’s not going to work down there, Bob. We’re probably just going to do a download down there.

Mr. Poparad, I’m done.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, is there any further discussion? A motion has been made and seconded for this transfer. Those in favor of this motion, answer by the usual sign of aye.
Motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mrs. LaFever, Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you, Shirley.

EXPO CENTER 146.66
Transfer
$3,000 from 1120 Hourly to 2230 Food & Groceries
$3,000 from 1120 Hourly to 3950 Event Expense
$3,000 from 1120 Hourly to 2350 Building Maintenance
$1,000 from 3930 Dues & Subscriptions to 2110 Office Supplies
$2,000 from 3520 Water & Sewage to 3630 Equipment other than Vehicles
$2,000 from 3510 Power to 3620 Buildings & Structures

Mr. Carmichael, Expo. Hi, Lonnie.

Lonnie Steele, Good evening. I’m requesting transfers in order to have some funds to take care of some of the events that are going on at the Expo Center. We are transferring what will amount to $9,000 from Hourly to putting $3,000 in our food and grocery account; $3,000 in our event expense account; and $3,000 into Building Maintenance. Then we’re also transferring, asking and seeking a transfer of $1,000 from Dues & Subscriptions to Office Supplies to allow us to do more work in the area of promoting our events that we’re having at the Expo Center; $2,000 from Water & Sewage to assist us in taking care of our equipment; and $2,000, also from Power to Building & Structures, maintenance, and that’s my request to transfer the dollars.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mr. Steele moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by the Expo Center 146.66, $3,000 from 1120 Hourly to 2230 Food & Groceries, $3,000 from 1120 Hourly to 3950 Event Expense, $3,000 from 1120 Hourly to 2350 Building Maintenance, $1,000 from 3930 Dues & Subscriptions to 2110 Office Supplies, $2,000 from 3520 Water & Sewage to 3630 Equipment other than Vehicles and $2,000 from 3510 Power to 3620 Buildings & Structures. Mr. Poparad seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you.

Mr. L. Steele, Thank you.

CONVENTION, RECREATION & VISITORS COMMISSION 93
Transfer
$1,400 from 3230 Postage to 3730 Lease Purchase
$500 from 3420 Building Liability to 3520 Water & Sewage
$990 from 1160 Clerical to 1220 Medical Insurance
$5,000 from 3230 Postage to 3966 Promotion
Additional Appropriation
$1,162.50 to 1241 Longevity

Mr. Carmichael, Convention, Recreation & Visitors Commission. Good evening.

Lorelei Weimer, Good evening. We have a couple of transfers, and then I know you guys will be addressing the longevity later tonight, so we went ahead and put it in. But if you don’t pass it, then we’re not requesting it. If you do pass it, that’s why we’re here for that as well.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. You’re requesting $1,400 from Postage to Lease Purchase. Is that for your new?

Ms. Weimer, No, it’s for our copier. We just didn’t budget the correct amount.

Mr. Carmichael, So it’s a routine matter. Okay, $500 from Bldg/Liability/Comp Coverage to Water; $990 from 1160 Clerical to Medical/Life Insurance; and $5,000 from Postage to Promotion. These are transfers, and what’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Convention, Recreation & Visitors Commission 93, $1,400 from 3230 Postage to 3730 Lease Purchase, $500 from 3420 Bldg/Liability/Comp Coverage to 3520 Water & Sewage, $990 from 1160 Clerical to 1220 Medical Insurance, and $5,000 from 3230 Postage to 3966 Promotion. Mr. Ruge seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Motion carries. Now you need an additional of $1,162.50, in the event that we pass the longevity.

Ms. Weimer, Exactly.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, is there a motion to that effect?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for additional appropriation submitted by the Convention, Recreation & Visitors Commission 93, $1,162.50 to 1241 Longevity. Mr. Ruge seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Ms. Weimer, Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, thank you, Lorelei.

HIGHWAY 02
Transfer
$70,000 from 1110 Salaries to 1111 Full-time Hourly

Mr. Carmichael, Highway. Good evening, gentlemen.

Al Hoagland, Good evening.

Mr. Carmichael, Have you got plenty of salt?

Mr. Hoagland, I believe we do for now.

Mr. Carmichael, Are you expecting a cold winter?

Mr. Hoagland, It’s pretty early to tell. We hope not.

Mr. Carmichael, Can’t you tell by the size of the caterpillars?

Mr. Hoagland, We haven’t had time to stop and check the caterpillars lately. We’ll be looking at them.

Mr. Carmichael, You have a transfer here of $70,000 from Salaries to Full-time Hourly.

Mr. Hoagland, Correct.

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Highway 02, $70,000 from 1110 Salaries to 1111 Full-time Hourly. Mr. Ruge seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

HIGHWAY CUM-BRIDGE 25
Additional Appropriation
$210,000 to 0498 Joliet Road Bridge over Rail America

Mr. Carmichael, Cum-Bridge, $210,000 to Joliet Road over Rail America. This is an additional appropriation.

Mr. Hoagland, Correct.

Mr. Carmichael, What are you doing to the bridge?

Mr. Hoagland, There will be an engineering study, and rehab on it.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, what’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Highway Cum-Bridge 25, $210,000 to 0498 Joliet Road Bridge over Rail America. Mr. Steele seconded.

Mr. Poparad, Does this come out of the LRS?

Mr. Hoagland, No, this will be coming out of the Cum-Bridge.

Mr. Poparad, Okay, that’s what I meant. I’m sorry.

Mr. Carmichael, Any further discussion?

Mrs. Knoblock, This is for a study or it’s to fix it?

Mr. Carmichael Engineering.

Mr. Hoagland, It’s already been deemed insufficient, and it’s an engineering study to see what could be done to upgrade it and bring it in line.

Mr. Carmichael, Any further questions? Roll call.

Motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

HIGHWAY LRS 26
Additional Appropriation
$25, 000 to 3950.191 Contractual-District 1
$25, 000 to 3950.291 Contractual-District 2
$25, 000 to 3950.391 Contractual-District 3

Mr. Carmichael, Highway LRS fund, an additional of $25,000 to Contractual-District 1, the same to District 2, and the same to District 3. What are you doing with that?

Mr. Hoagland, I’ve trying to pay for some more road stripping, and we’ve got some tree removal. It would basically be stump grinding that we don’t have the equipment for, and we’ve lost all the trees in the storms in the last part of July and August. Some of them are in the right-of-way, and we’re still trying to get them removed.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Highway LRS 26, $25, 000 to 3950.191 Contractual-District 1, $25, 000 to 3950.291 Contractual-District 2, and $25, 000 to 3950.391 Contractual-District 3. Mr. Ruge seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mr. Hoagland, Thank you very much.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, back to work, gentlemen.

COUNTY CORRECTIONS 07
Additional Appropriation
$65,000 to 2230 Food & Groceries - Amended to $50,000
$37,000 to 2410 Medical & Dental - Request withdrawn

Chief Deputy Dave Lain, Good evening.

Mr. Carmichael, Good evening. You’re looking for an additional to account 07, $65,000 for Food & Groceries.

Chief Deputy Lain, Actually, that should be $50,000. That was amended, but I don’t believe it got amended on your copies.

Mr. Carmichael, This will carry you through?

Chief Deputy Lain, We certainly hope so. That’s a, that’s a function of population, and we’ll, we may go down to one slice of bread on a bologna sandwich for a while, but. That’s the intent.

Mr. Carmichael, Well peanut butter sticks to one side. Any questions? What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted and amended by County Corrections 07, $50,000 to 2230 Food & Groceries. Mr. Ruge seconded.

Mr. Carmichael, Is there further discussion?

Mr. Steele, Dave, does this come from the state or federal funds?

Chief Deputy Lain, This is something we do annually. The county corrections fund is a state fund, and each county is allotted a certain amount based on population.

Mr. Steele, And this is your piece of it, right? This is your part of it then, right, this $50,000?

Chief Deputy Lain, That’s, yes, we used the county corrections for a number of jail expenses so that it doesn’t come out of the general fund.

Mr. Steele, Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Further discussion? Roll call.

Motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

SHERIFF 01.05
144 Form
(2004) Records Division/Front Desk from $18,213 to $0
(2005) Records Division/Front Desk from $19,213 to $0
JAIL 01.32
144 Form
(2004) Probationary Jailer from $0 to $24,630
(2005) Probationary Jailer from $24,630 to $25,630

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, you’re looking at a Form 144, Records Division/Front Desk from $18,213 to zero. That’s, Nancy’s retiring?

Chief Deputy Lain, Nancy has retired, and we were going to, hopefully, be able to move that salary into the Jail, as you can see. Because of some of the electronic improvements in the system, we feel that we can, we can economize in that division, but yet, we’re still sorely in need of jail staff.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, this, the residue of Nancy’s salary will revert to the county general fund, and this, do you have enough money in your jailer account to cover this? Are you aware of that?

Chief Deputy Lain, I’m, I’m sorry. Say, say that again, because I wasn’t.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Chief Deputy Lain, This, this was, this was my understanding that this was a request of the Council.

Mr. Carmichael, Yes, we’ll have to approve the 144 for this position. But I’m saying, do you have enough funds in the jail account--the jailers account--to cover the cost of this?

Chief Deputy Lain, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Are you aware of that?

Chief Deputy Lain, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mrs. Knoblock, Can I say something?

Mr. Carmichael, Questions.

Mr. Poparad, Yes, do we want to, Sandy, take this slot out then if they’re vacating this; will you remove it from the line item?

Mrs. Vuko, Yes.

Mrs. Minton, That’s what the 144 is for.

Mr. Poparad, But I mean after that it’s not going to be an open, it’s not going to be a budgeted slot.

Mrs. Vuko, No.

Mr. Poparad, Thank you.

Mrs. Knoblock, There’s two slots here, Dave. Two Record Division/Front Desk.

Chief Deputy Lain, One is for each year. That was a request from the auditor’s office to do that. One is for this year’s budget, and one is for next year.

Mr. Poparad, You budgeted it for next year.

Chief Deputy Lain, The same position.

Mr. Steele, It’s just $1,000 more next year, Carole.

Mr. Poparad, It’s the same spot.

Mr. Steele, It was for 2005 when we gave the raises, so it’s the same position.

Mrs. Knoblock, Okay.

Mr. Carmichael, Any further questions? Do I have a motion?

Mr. Poparad moved to amend the 144 Forms submitted by Sheriff 01.05, (2004) Records Division/Front Desk from $18,213 to $0, and (2005) Records Division/Front Desk from $19,213 to $0. Mr. Steele seconded.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, what else do you have? Anything?

Chief Deputy Lain, That’s it, was that all done in one fell swoop?

Mrs. Conover, No.

Mr. Steele, No.

Mr. Poparad, Yes.

Mrs. Minton, No, you have to do each one individually.

Mr. Carmichael, The 144 is what we did.

Chief Deputy Lain, Okay, the first one…

Mr. Carmichael, Now we need a motion.

Chief Deputy Lain, Reducing.

Mr. Carmichael, That, reduce that, eliminate the spot.

Chief Deputy Lain, Okay. Well now we’d like to move that into the Jail, and create a new jail position.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, the Form 144 is for a jailer in 2004, it’s the same here, the 2004 year and the 2005 year, so that you’re covered January 1. Correct?

Chief Deputy Lain, Correct.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, so it’s only one.

Chief Deputy Lain, That’s, yes, one position.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, we’ll need a motion for the jailer.

Mrs. Conover moved to amend the 144 Forms submitted by Jail 01.32, (2004) Probationary Jailer from $0 to $24,630 and (2005) Probationary Jailer from $24,630 to $25,630. Mr. Poparad seconded.

Mrs. Knoblock, And that’s with the $1,000 raise.

Chief Deputy Lain, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, Carole?

Mrs. Knoblock, Yes.

Motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, are we all set fund-wise then? That position will carry on in 2005.

Mrs. Minton, The jailer position will carry on in 2005, yes.

Mr. Carmichael, We won’t need to do an additional appropriation in January.

Mrs. Minton, They’ll need to do an additional appropriation in, sometime next year for that position, because that position does not technically exist in 2005 as far as their salary goes.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mrs. Minton, Their salary line item is only budgeted for so much. You guys cannot do 2005 additionals in 2004.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, so you’ll have to come back.

Mrs. Minton, They will have to come back sometime next year. It does not have to be right at the beginning of the year, because they’re going to be more than fine until the mid-year.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. Are you going to make a note to that, that you have to come back?

Chief Deputy Lain, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright.

Chief Deputy Lain, Thank you very much.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, thank you, Dave.

Mr. Poparad, Tell the sheriff we said hi.

Chief Deputy Lain, You bet.

PARKS OPERATING 127
Transfer
$900 from 3130 Training & Education to 1120 Hourly
$500 from 3130 Training & Education to 1121 Interpreter/Educator
$195 from 3410 All Official Bonds to 1210 FICA
$325 from 3959 Grants to 1210 FICA
$150 from 3230 Postage to 1120 Hourly
$150 from 3251 Permits/Fees to 1120 Hourly
Additional Appropriation
$2,000 to 1120 Hourly
$1,000 to 3710 Equipment Rentals
$2,840 to 3950 Contractual Services
$2,500 to 1121 Interpreter/Educators

Mr. Carmichael, Plan Commission.

Ed Melendez, Yes, I like his paperwork too.

Mr. Carmichael, Hi, Ed.

Mr. Melendez, How are you doing this evening?

Mr. Carmichael, Real good. Parks, transfers.

Mr. Melendez, That’s correct. What I have is in the 127.85; I will go through my list. I think you have a long night of arranging some stuff, so I’ll take over from here. $900 from the 3130, which is Training & Education going into the 1120 Hourly. And in the 127.85, $500 from the 3130 Training & Education into the 1121 Interpreter/Educator. 127.85 for $195 from 3410 Bonding, it’s going into FICA fund. 127.85 for $325 from the 3959, from Grants into the 1210 FICA. In the 127.85, $150 from 3230 Postage into the 1120 Hourly, and the last one is in the 127.85 for $150 from 3251 Permits/Fees going into the 1120 Hourly. These are funds that we have raised through our rentals during the summer.
Mr. Carmichael, What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Parks Operating 127.95, $900 from 3130 Training & Education to 1120 Hourly, $500 from 3130 Training & Education to 1121 Interpreter/Educator, $195 from 3410 All Official Bonds to 1210 FICA, $325 from 3959 Grants to 1210 FICA, $150 from 3230 Postage to 1120 Hourly and $150 from 3251 Permits/Fees to 1120 Hourly. Mr. Poparad seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Motion carries. Now you need an additional.

Mr. Melendez, That’s correct. I have in the 127.85, $2,000 into the 1120 for Hourly. In the 127.85, $1,000 into the account of 3710 Equipment Rentals, and the 127.85 for $2,840 for the 3950 Contractual Services. This comes from our grant that we receive from tourism; these are payments nine and ten, not general fund money.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, what’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Parks Operating 127.85, $2,000 to 1120 Hourly, $1,000 to 3710 Equipment Rentals, $2,840 to 3950 Contractual Services and $2,500 to Interpreter/Educators. Mr. Steele seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright.

Mr. Melendez, I also have in the 127.85, $2,500 to the 1121, and that’s for Interpreter/Educators, and they are starting their fall programming. This came from summer programs that we charged for, and our rentals.

Mr. Carmichael, Didn’t we approve that in the additionals?

Mr. Melendez, I didn’t read it so I thought we better get it in.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, what’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Parks Operating 127.85, $2500 to 1121 Interpreter/Educators. Mr. Poparad seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

PARKS 01.85
Transfer
$3,000 from 1110 Salaries to 1120 Hourly
$190 from 2330 Household & Bedding to 2250 Other Supplies
$180 from 2350 Building Maintenance to 2340 Small Tools
$200 from 3920 Disposal to 3955 Compliance Testing
$150 from 3950 Contractual Services to 3955 Compliance Testing
$400 from 2210 Gas, Fuel & Lube to 3650 Vehicle Repair
$500 from 3130 Training & Education to 3510 Power
$425 from 3120 Travel to 3510 Power
$200 from 3220 Telephone to 3510 Power
$190 from 3410 All Official Bonds to 3510 Power

Mr. Melendez, Okay, I’ve got one more, and this is in the 01.85, our general funds. $3,000 from the 1110 Salaries going into the 1220 Hourly. We have $190 going from the 2330, which is Household & Bedding into the 2250 Other Supplies. We have $180 coming from the 2350 Building & Maintenance into the 2340 Small Tools. We have $200 coming from the 3920 Disposal going into 3955 Compliance Testing; $150 coming from 3950 Contractual Services into the 3955, and that is Compliance Testing; $400 coming from 2210, from Gas, Fuel & Lube, into the 3650 Vehicle Repair. We have $500 coming from 3130 Training & Out-of-County Training into the 3510 Utilities & Power; $425 from the 3210 Local Mileage & Travel into the 3510 Utilities & Power; and $200 coming from 3220 Telephone into the 3510 Utilities & Power; and the last one, $190 from the 3410, which is bonding, into the 3510 Utilities & Power.

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Parks 01.85, $3,000 from 1110 Salaries to 1120 Hourly, $190 from 2330 Household & Bedding to 2250 Other Supplies, $180 from 2350 Building Maintenance to 2340 Small Tools, $200 from 3920 Disposal to 3955 Compliance Testing, $150 from Contractual Services to 3955 Compliance Testing, $400 from 2210 Gas, Fuel & Lube to 3650 Vehicle Repair, $500 from 3130 Training & Education to 3510 Power, $425 from 3120 Travel to 3510 Power, $200 from 3220 Telephone to 3510 Power and $190 from 3410 All Official Bonds to 3510 Power. Mrs. Stevenson and Mrs. Conover seconded.

Mr. Ruge, Will this carry you through the rest of this year?

Mr. Melendez, Yes, we are making our moves right now to cover us for our expenses for the final two months.

Mr. Carmichael, Ed, didn’t we authorize some new monies for new equipment--trucks?

Mr. Melendez, Yes, and I presume, if I’m not mistaken that is in the 2005 budget year.

Mr. Poparad, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Oh, you wont’ get that until 2005. You need this repair on some equipment we have?

Mr. Melendez, We have a bill on our one-ton that we did some work on there, so this is our final payment on that.

Mr. Carmichael, These are all transfers; a motion has been made and seconded. Those in favor of the motion, answer by the usual sign of aye.

Motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Motion carries.

Mr. Melendez, That’s all I have.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, thank you.

Mr. Melendez, Thank you.

PLAN COMMISSION & BUILDING DEPARTMENT 239
144 Form
Executive Director/Assistant Planner from $46,000 to $54,000
Building Commissioner from $28,543 to $42,000
Assistant Planner/Zoning Inspector from $31,537 to $35,000
First Deputy from $27,295 to $30,000
Second Deputy from $24,411 to $29,000
Building Inspector from $22,813 to $35,000
Administrative Assistant-Building Department from $0 to $22,000
Transfer
$3,500 from 1110 Salaries to 3210 Travel
$1,292 from 110 Salaries to 3951 Contractual Attorney
$2,000 from 1110 Salaries to 3110 Legal

Mr. Carmichael, Plan Commission. Good evening.

Com. Dave Burrus, Good evening.

Mr. Carmichael, You brought the whole crew.

Com. John Evans, Except for Mr. Harper, he’s ill. His wife is ill, but he supports her.

Mr. Carmichael, He’s on the Plan Commission.

Robert Thompson, Yes, he is.

Com. Evans, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Is he supporting this?

Mr. Poparad, Yes.

Com. Burrus, As you know, we have a vacancy in the Building Inspector department, and in our effort to work up the package for hiring a new building inspector and a new building commissioner, we solicited information from a number of other entities--counties and cities--that have a similar type of responsibilities and a similar type of volume of work.
It turns out that our department has been at the bottom of the payroll range, and at the same time, we are probably at least about 50% manned according most of the others. With that in mind, of course, we wanted to try to put the salary package together at a level that would be not only attractive to good qualified people, but we also wanted to have it at a salary level where there was not any temptation to compromise in any way on some of their responsibilities.
I think in the past we’ve been exceptionally fortunate to have Ray Weltz in his role as the building commissioner, and I think he’s done a terrific job, probably enough work to cover the responsibilities of two or three people in recent years.
Having given this effort towards the Building Department, we thought it might be appropriate to look at the Plan Commission or the Planning Department as well, and we found similar discrepancies with respect to the range of salaries that are existent in other comparable planning departments. So with that background, we have submitted 144’s that you have in front of you with indications of the proposed salary increases that are shown there.
One of the things that we are going to be requiring of our building department candidates is that they must either be qualified with proper certifications at this time when we hire them or they must have the ability to acquire those certifications within a prescribed period of time. I think this is an important sort that has to be there because number one, we need those kind of credentials to be able to justify and to back up some of our enforcement activities. But at the same time, I think there might be a perception on the street on occasion that this might be a very laid back position that does not have a great deal of responsibility, when in fact, it does. I'll turn it over to you, Bob, if you want to pick up on this or Ray, did you have some comments you wanted to make on the salary ranges?

Ray Weltz, Well let me elaborate a little bit first on the, on some of the responsibilities that these guys do. Not only going out in the field and doing inspections on the different structures whether they be residential, commercial or industrial, they also have to respond to complaints, which when I was the building commissioner, I handled the complaint side; and the part-time people that were there they did most of the inspections. I would take and try to relieve them of some of the load, depending on the amount of complaints I had to be on or if I had to appear in court or do depositions. This is also part of the responsibility of the job.
Training and education, to say, the builders, was also a responsibility of the job. With those things, and the hours that you have to put in, I couldn’t get it done in seven hours. I was working an average of 12 to 14 hours a day. I was in the office sometimes at 6:00 in the morning or I was in the field at 6:00 in the morning meeting with contractors. I didn’t get comp-time for it; I didn’t get paid for it. I did it because I wanted to make sure the job was done right.
Today, as of today, this year, we’ve issued 1,503 permits. Now we do an average of eight to ten inspections on a house. Last year there was 6,242 inspections done. Phone calls, phone calls are horrendous. This month they’ve already received over 1,400 phone calls. There’s times when we average anywhere from 96 to 100 to 110 phone calls a day. That’s all documented. I have documents from the last ten years of just phone calls that come in every day.
So when the commissioners approached me to help out with getting this thing back up on its feet again, I checked with two counties, and the City of Valparaiso on salaries. The LaPorte County building commissioner, presently, the starting salary is $41,199. They have four full-time inspectors in LaPorte County. Those inspectors, each starting salaries are $29,739. There’s three secretaries, full-time. Their salaries range from $23,700 to $29,600.
Lake County, the Lake County planner makes $59,973. The building commissioner, $45,001. Three full-time inspectors in Lake County. Their average salary, starting salary is $27,760. They have no part-time. I agree with their statement on no part-time; you cannot depend on part-time people. They’re only going to do so much for the money they get.
The City of Valparaiso, the planner--the new planner--that just came on the job, $54,000. The building commissioner, the previous building commissioner in the City was earning $45,000. The new one that just started, $38,000. That’s $8,000 over and above the salary I was making when I was here 15 years. They have one full-time building inspector, $32,500. Again, that’s more money than the department head that I was making here, and no part-time employees.
The other thing is the part-time secretary. The part-time secretary needs to be full-time. That girl has learned a lot. She’s helped to relieve some of the questions that come over the phones, that these guys don’t have to stay, have to work to return phone calls.
So that’s why we are appealing to you to, and the other thing is, our self, this non-reverting fund, which is totally self supporting, right now, with the salaries that we have submitted, we have the money to pay for that for the rest of this year. And we are also working on, we’ve already got a plan drawn up to increase the fees to compensate for all these additional things too. We presented this to the homebuilders association. They are more, than I guess, what am I trying to say, Mike? You’re more than willing to, they’re more than willing to accommodate this.

Mike Aylesworth, Yes we do, and yes, Ray came to us, the Association and myself seeking support last September for this special fund a year ago in September or before Commissioner Sheets passed away. The Association talked about it, and the industry professionals talked about it, and supported the concept of a self-sustaining fund, understanding that the fees were going to go up because the fund has to be self-sustaining to pay for the needed inspections on a timely and quality basis. Again, this year I went to the commissioners’ meeting and supported that concept, and will continue to support a raise in fees to pay for quality and timely inspections.
Our industry wants quality and timely inspections, and unfortunately, this county, I guess I should say, fortunately, we’ve had others in the past like Ray that have sacrificed a great deal at a very low wage. But we need to come into the present state of affairs where we have a very dynamic home building industry, and we need quality people to oversee it. We’re supporting the concept. We have no problem or no connection with hiring and firing. We don’t supervise the people. We just support the concept, that’s all.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. Bob, what’s the Plan Commission’s recommendation here?

Mr. Poparad, You know, we’ve talked enough about the building department, now we’ve got to talk about Mr. Thompson.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mr. Poparad, The job he does is really, he really does a good job. I sit on the Plan Commission, to watch what he goes through, and the bottom line is, he’s underpaid, and I know the building department is too. I just have more interaction with Mr. Thompson. But my only apprehension, I don’t disagree with anything that’s said. My only apprehension is, with what we are going to do with minor subs and that. Your fees might drop a little bit. I’m going to make a motion that we approve this as submitted without the administrative assistant.

Mr. Poparad moved to amend the 144 Form submitted and amended by the Plan Commission 239, Executive Director/Assistant Planner from $46,000 to $54,000, Building Commissioner from $28,543 to $42,000, Assistant Planner/Zoning Inspector from $31,537 to $35,000, First Deputy from $27,295 to $30,000, Second Deputy from $24,411 to $29,000 and Building Inspector from $22,813 to $35,000.

Mr. Poparad, We’ve gotten by with the part-time. Let’s maybe see what happens. Let’s see how this works, because when the minor subs go out, you’re going to lose x-amount of fees. The building department is surviving. I don’t have a problem with the way this is submitted except for that administrative assistant.

Mr. Aylesworth, Isn’t that administrative assistant the full-time secretary for the building department?

Mr. Poparad, Correct, yes. You’re getting by right now, aren’t you, with part-time? It’s just, when we change these minor subdivisions, which is coming up tomorrow night, that’s going to have a hit on their fee structure to a certain extent. I just thought we’d wait a while, and see what happens.

Com. Burrus, I agree with what you’re saying, but I think, Bob, to give you a little light on that since we talked this afternoon on that…

Mr. Poparad, Okay, what.

Com. Burrus, On that change.

Mr. Thompson, Can I quickly just, I mean, I just want to do a comparison with my salary with Lake County’s. Real quickly, just so…

Mr. Poparad, Well you’re $5,000 behind with the raise.

Com. Burrus, Why don’t you just address his…

Mr. Thompson, Okay, I’ll address your comment first as far as minor subdivisions. Will it take away in the agricultural area where we do get some of the applications? Yes, it will. However, in the residentially zoned areas, we already have a process, and it is the major subdivision, and in that situation, with the minor subdivision, the fees that’s brought in covers both primary and secondary. So if we take it in, and we go to a major subdivision process, they’re going to have to pay twice. Once for primary, and once for secondary.

Mr. Poparad, I’m just leery, you’re…

Mr. Thompson, Yes.

Mr. Poparad, There’s no doubt, we don’t need a building commissioner and inspectors. You’re surviving without this administrative assistant for now. Maybe in six months, next year some time, we’ll look at it, and see how your funds are running, because you are self supporting, and you’re not coming back to the general fund, and my motion is to submit this or approve this as submitted without the administrative assistant.

Mr. Carmichael, Bob, does that leave a part-time hourly? Is that…

Mr. Poparad, Yes, just leave it the way it is.

Mr. Carmichael, What you’re saying?

Mr. Poparad, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, You’re not touching that?

Mr. Poparad, No, no, I don’t want that. They have a part-time girl, and it’s working. It’s probably not perfect, but nothing in this building is.

Mr. Carmichael, You’re willing to consider it at a later date?

Mr. Poparad, Yes, let’s see how the fee structure works with what they’re bringing in. We don’t have a lot of good history on that.

Mr. Carmichael, Is there a second to the motion?

Mrs. Conover, Just a question, please. About how many phone calls does this full-time person that you have receive in a month?

Mr. Weltz, In a month, like this month, they’ve already received 1,405 phone calls.

Mrs. Conover, And this is kind of a slow period. I mean we’re supposed to be slowing down now? I mean….

Mr. Weltz, Not really, we have, in January of this year, January, February and March, we were still ranging 900 to 1,100 phone calls a month.

Mrs. Conover, And how is that managed with the department? How many hours does she work a week, the part-time?

Mr. Weltz, She only works like 25 to 30 hours a week, but when she isn’t working, then that load goes over onto the Plan Commission staff. Because she also writes electrical upgrade permits, and when she’s not there, then the Plan Commission staff has to also take care of that.

Mrs. Conover, She’s also doing preliminary permits?

Mr. Weltz, She does the electrical upgrade permits when someone changes their electrical service from 100 amp to 200 amp, that’s done through my office. The rest of the permits are done through the Plan Commission, but she does the final processing of all the permits that come through.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, we have a motion and a second.

Mr. Poparad, They share the load, Karen.

Mr. Carmichael, Do we have a second, Al?

Mr. Steele, No.

Mr. Carmichael, Oh, I didn’t….

Mr. Steele, I have a question too.

Mr. Carmichael, Oh, question.

Mr. Steele, Bob, what have you taken in, in fees for permits so far this year?

Mr. Thompson, 300. I’m sorry, I had that number.

Mr. Steele, You don’t have to be exact, but I mean, over 300? Can you say that?

Mr. Thompson, I think it is over 300. I’m sorry I don’t have that information.

Mr. Carmichael, Let’s see if….

Mr. Steele, My point was this, I’m concerned about a track record so that we know you’re going to be onboard with the number, this amount of fees, every year. And if you have over 300, then from what you’re asking here, you have, you need $247,000. So if you are sure you have over $300,000, and this is going to be sustainable over the, each year in the future, then your fees are covering all your expenses.

Com. Burrus, Good point, Al, and there’s another one on top of that, and that is what Mike Aylesworth just said, that they are prepared to endorse an increase there too, to get this necessary.

Mr. Steele, And if we could get some what of a tacit agreement here that the builders will continue to contribute towards this so that these salaries can be sustained, then I would be in favor of this too. But so often, recently we’re starting to let certain groups fund themselves, like the Opera House and others, and once you give people a certain salary, you just can’t go in and take it away from them. And I would just like to have a promise here that you will continue to fund this other, so it doesn’t come out of the general fund. Is that a correct statement, Dave?

Com. Burrus, I think that’s the intent from when this was created originally, but we also realize that there’s an economic cycle that’s potential here, and we don’t….

Mr. Steele, And that’s why I want this to be public, that Mr. Aylesworth’s group will dig in their pockets, even when they’re not working or not building as many houses, and they will continue to see that these people are paid.

Mr. Aylesworth, Let me respond, Al. That, I think at the Plan Commission level, as I remember, and we committed to do that with the understanding that if things got slow, somebody would be laid off, not just sit around and do nothing. But we will pledge, and have pledged publicly, both at the Plan Commission, at the county commissioner level, whatever it takes to get the job done, the building professionals in this county will fund it.

Mr. Steele, And you’ll go in and tell the person that they’re out of work, and we don’t have to do that?

Mr. Poparad, No, I’ll be able to do that.

Mr. Aylesworth, That’s, that’s somebody else’s job, I think Bob will do that.

Mr. Poparad, That, Al, that’s exactly why I don’t want to fill this administrative position right now until we get a good solid history of how this revenue is going to go.

Mr. Weltz, Also, there’s two part-time inspectors there too.

Mr. Poparad, Yes, but that’s…

Mr. Carmichael, Do you want to build up a cushion? Is that what you, Bob?

Mr. Poparad, I want, my motion does not include this administrative assistant. Everything is as submitted.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, let’s…

Mr. Thompson, Sheila, correct me if I’m wrong, we brought in $343,000 approximately?

Mrs. Minton, $343,640.

Mr. Thompson, And the first meeting in November, we have on the schedule, the increase of fees at the Plan Commission, to give a recommendation to the county commissioners. Now, you’re right, going along with the economy and everything, you can’t tell. If things go down, yes, I’m, we’re going to have to lay people off. That is coming in loud and clear, but the projection with the new fees, I’m projecting that we’re probably going to pull in 150, possibly to $180,000 additional monies.

Mr. Steele, And just so that you appreciate our position here too, we always have this conflict with people coming to us that someone is making more than the other, you’re raising one person here almost $14,000. And that’s really hard for some of these people that have only gotten a $4,000 raise, and some of the others who are department heads, you know, who maybe got a $4,000 raise. So that’s very difficult. I just want you to understand our position, for us to have everybody coming to us, and telling us these things, Sandy, would you like to say something?

Mrs. Vuko, Yes, I want to voice my opinion, if I can. I think this is ridiculous. I mean going from what, an $8,000 raise, to $54,000. I mean, we, as elected officials only got $4,000. Yes, sure you’re out of the county general, but you’re charging fees from the taxpayer, so what’s the difference? And you know, it seems like every time a commissioner comes in with somebody whose in their budget, the raises are right up there. I mean they get everything they want. But the rest of us, phone calls, what do you think we get; complaints, what do you think we get? And don’t you think that we have a lot of responsibility, Dale, Shirley, and then we have to sit here, and have someone get an $8,000 raise. I’m sorry. I mean it’s…

Com. Burrus, It’s comparable salaries…

Mrs. Vuko, Morale is, that’s put morale very low around here.

Mrs. Stevenson, Once again.

Mrs. Vuko, So once again.

Mr. Weltz, May I respond to that?

Mr. Carmichael, Wait a minute. Dave, did you have something you wanted to say?

Com. Burrus, Go ahead. Go ahead, Ray.

Mr. Weltz, Bill, you know, I don’t if who all was here at the time, but when the Personnel Committee was first formed, and the job descriptions were formed, I came to the one meeting when they were all being explained in how they were setting up the salaries and everything. Well when the guy was talking, he brought up the fact that he checked the Lake County building department for their salaries, and he checked LaPorte County’s building department for their salaries.
Well LaPorte County never had a building department at the time, and I questioned him on it, and he said, well I didn’t say LaPorte County. But nobody ever took the time to survey the state. I took the time to survey the state, and I found what the salaries are. I found what the comparable salaries are. I can’t believe in southern Indiana, where there is less, less money, less industry, and these guys are making 12 and 15 and $20,000 a year.

Mrs. Vuko, Ray. Excuse me, Ray, but what do you think that the auditor or the clerk should get paid through the state?

Mr. Weltz, Well the stats are all…

Mrs. Vuko, But if I’m going to go with Lake County…

Mr. Weltz, The stats are all in the Farm Bureau book….

Mrs. Vuko, I have to be paid $60,000.

Mr. Weltz, And that’s where we got it from.

Mrs. Vuko, Well that’s right, and so did we. But my salary didn’t get raised $8,000, which it should have.

A few people in the audience, Aw.

Mr. Weltz, Then all I can say is then, when you don’t get the qualified people…

Mrs. Vuko, Oh, we’re not qualified?

Mr. Weltz, Then. No I’m talking about the building department, per se. But if you don’t have the qualified people doing the job, it puts the burden on the county commissioners. That’s a liability. LaPorte County found that out about ten years ago when they got sued because…
Mrs. Vuko, Well they’re finally…

Mr. Weltz, Ten houses were robbed.

Mrs. Vuko, They’re finally getting building permits in order which they hadn’t done for a long time.

Mr. Weltz, Exactly. See, the building department faces a personal liability. If they don’t do their job…

Mrs. Vuko, Well what do you think, ours is too?

Mr. Weltz, Well.

Mrs. Vuko, What do you think ours are?

Mr. Weltz, Well then your departments need to approach the Council.

Mrs. Vuko, We have.

Ms. Dale Brewer, We have.

Mrs. LaFever, We have.

Mr. Weltz, Well, I’m going by the stats that were printed up.

Mrs. Vuko, We don’t have the commissioners to back us up.

Ms. Brewer, Can I speak?

Mrs. Knoblock, Can I say something, Bill?

Mrs. Vuko, Or Mike Aylesworth.

Mr. Carmichael, Wait a minute, let’s bring it back to the Board for a second. Carole.

Mrs. Knoblock, Is the $1,000 on these salaries, like yours is $46,000? Have the $1,000…

Mr. Thompson, That’s been approved for next year’s budget?

Mrs. Knoblock, Right.

Mr. Thompson, No, that is not reflected on that, no.

Mrs. Conover, They’re asking for these salaries for next year, and not adding then an additional $1,000. Am I correct?

Mrs. Knoblock, Well they’ve gone up…

Mr. Thompson, If approved, no, I’m not asking the additional $1,000.

Mrs. Knoblock, Their salaries have gone up from $180,599 to $250,199. That’s, I don’t approve of it.

Mr. Carmichael, Any one from the Board? Okay. Dale.

Ms. Brewer, Look, I don’t begrudge them asking for the salaries at all.

Mrs. Vuko, Right.
Ms. Brewer, But what I ask of this Council is, please give us our comparable salary that we brought to you also, and make that correction before the end of the year.

Mr. Weltz, Do you have that?

Ms. Brewer, That’s all we are asking. I don’t begrudge these people what they’re asking for.

Mr. Thompson, And if Sandy, and Dale, and them come in here, I’ll tell you what, I’m going to stand right behind them, and support them for that.

Mrs. Vuko, Right, support us, Bob.

Mr. Thompson, Because $54,000, what I’m requesting is still lower than comparable counties; $68,000…

Ms. Brewer, So is ours.

Mrs. Vuko, Our is too.

Mr. Thompson, $68,000 in Tippecanoe County.

Ms. Brewer, That’s all we ask, is for some fairness.

Mr. Thompson, And…

Ms. Brewer, I don’t begrudge them getting this at all, as long as you are fair to the rest of them.

Mrs. Vuko, Yes, you’re not being fair.

Mr. Carmichael, We understand that, Bob.

Mr. Thompson, And, you know, all I’m asking is for some respect, just like when they came in.
Mr. Carmichael, That’s right.

Mr. Thompson, I’m asking for respect.

Mrs. Knoblock, Did you get a raise?

Mr. Carmichael, You were talking about….

Mrs. Knoblock, Did you get a raise when you moved up here?

Mr. Thompson, When I?

Mrs. Knoblock, When you came back?

Mr. Thompson, When I came back, the only thing, they put me back to the salary I was making originally when I left.

Mrs. Knoblock, Okay.

Mrs. Conover, Bill.

Mr. Carmichael, Dale, the clerk in St. Joseph County is making $44,500.

Ms. Brewer, Actually, the clerk in Lafayette, Tippecanoe, comparable size, makes $55,000.

Mr. Carmichael, Tippecanoe is making $55,000 even?

Ms. Brewer, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, And what…

Ms. Brewer, And she has less responsibility, and less courts than I.

Mr. Carmichael, What are you making?

Ms. Brewer, And she doesn’t have to do elections. Right now I make $43,000.

Mr. Carmichael, That was with the $4,000?

Mrs. Stevenson, No.

Ms. Brewer, With the $4,000, I go to $47,000.

Mrs. Stevenson, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, $47,000, so you’re still behind.

Ms. Brewer, You bet I am.

Mr. Carmichael, Well this Council…

Mrs. LaFever, We’re all behind.

Com. Evans, Well, you say you do more work, and so does Bob. Bob’s work…

Ms. Brewer, That’s what I’m saying, I don’t begrudge him asking for it.

Mrs. Vuko, Right, and we’re told, you don’t know what we do, John. You have never been in my office, you don’t know the responsibility.

Mr. Aylesworth, Mr. Carmichael.

Mr. Poparad, Was there a second?

Mr. Carmichael, Wait a minute, this Council has taken action this past year…

Mrs. Vuko, Don’t tell us about my workload.

Mr. Carmichael, At budget time, for 2005 to try and make up for some of the things that we’ve been lacking for the past three or four years. We’re trying to play catch-up, but we can only do that within reasonable limits. And I think, as far as my word is, I’ll try the same thing again, the position, not the individual.

Ms. Brewer, It’s the position. It is not the individual.

Mrs. Vuko, That’s right.

Mr. Carmichael, Up to average levels, okay? At least, throughout the state of Indiana. I know counties of the same size, there’s about seven counties that are about the same, in the same population ratio, pretty close to each other. And we tried this year; the Council went along with the $4,000, I think it was something like that to try and move it up. We know it’s not enough, but certainly we will try to move it up in future budget negotiations.

Ms. Brewer, I’m sure I’ll be out of office by then.
Mr. Carmichael, As the funds become available. Sharon.

Mrs. Conover, I guess I just wanted to echo something that I’ve said at a previous meeting. When we sit here and grant tax abatements, we do so demanding that our new companies are paying a livable wage jobs, and we don’t pay that here. And I think the pay scale is this county is terrible. The three major newspapers in our county, well two major, and then the Chesterton Tribune have reported on the low pay scale in our building department, and we’re experiencing a building boom. We were experiencing a lot of building even when this country was facing a recession.
In reference to the office holders, I agree with you 900%. I really do, and I’m also for employees making more money than they do. We pay people, we don’t pay people what they’re worth around here. But this is fee-generated, fair, unfair, it is, and I know you bring in money from your funds. Every body has done their best to shift money around and make all this work, and we have a start. Maybe we need to start tonight by approving this. I won’t be sitting on this Council next year. That is something that I’ve tried to address, but the bottom fell out of the boat, and it really needs to be worked on throughout the next coming years.

Mr. Carmichael, I’m sorry, Karen, I called you Sharon, I’m sorry.

Mrs. Conover, That’s alright.

Mr. Carmichael, I missed it.

Mr. Steele, Karen, so what you are saying is, the taxpayers should continue to pay, and pay, and pay so that everybody else here can have whatever they want? I means that’s not fair, your pandering…

Mrs. Conover, No, Al, not whatever they want.

Mr. Steele, You’re pandering….

Mrs. Conover, These salaries here….

Mr. Steele, To the employees up here.

Mrs. Conover, These people…

Mr. Steele, And you don’t care about the taxpayers.

Mrs. Conover, Yes, Al, yes we do care about the taxpayers.

Mr. Steele, No, you don’t.

Mrs. Conover, We absolutely do. Our people for the most part are underpaid. We have a handful of people, actually, being able to support a family on what they make here. And we demand so when we give tax abatements to our businesses. We demand. Well, if you don’t have livable wage jobs, we’re not here to grant you an abatement.

Mr. Poparad, Bill, was there a second to the motion?

Mr. Carmichael, No, you made the motion, excluding the…

Mr. Poparad, The administrative assistant.

Mrs. Conover seconded.

Mr. Carmichael, Is there a second to that; the second to that is by Karen. Continue, Bob, did you have further discussion?

Mr. Poparad, No, I mean I just can’t speak enough of what Thompson does, to be honest. I’m the biggest pain that he has.

Mr. Carmichael, I’m going to have to, I’m sorry, Shirley, did you…

Mrs. LaFever, I’d like to be recognized, yes.

Mr. Carmichael, You have words, okay.

Mrs. LaFever, I would like to have, yes. I’m like Dale, I don’t begrudge them a pay raise, but I think $8,000 is a huge pay raise, which every permit that goes to that office goes to our township assessors also, and they only got a $2,000 raise this year. We have been strapped with additional workload with reassessment, and the only ones who have to be certified in the state of Indiana is the assessors. We have to have a Level II, so I think that you should reconsider before the end of the year, to bring the pay raises up ourselves and the township assessors also. Because we, every permit that goes to that office comes to our offices too.
We have been told to make do with part-time help. I have made do with part-time help. I came in for a $3,000 raise for my four employees. I was denied, and my chief deputy makes less than what their chief deputy is making, and she has a Level II, and over 20 years experience in this county.
I know Rita did a study of all the counties and what our pay raises, what their pays were. Lake County is making $60,000 a year as assessor, and see the mess in Lake County. We do a good job in Porter County for the taxpayers for the money we receive. And I think it should only be a fair if you’re going to give them that big of a pay raise, you should consider all of our offices. Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, thank you.

Mrs. Stevenson, I would like to make a comment. I have a problem when fees have to be raised so other departments can get raises. That’s not fair. Nothing is going to ever be fair across the board. It’s going to take a long time. It’s going to take past all of our terms to straighten everything out. I’m not begrudging you guys anything. I’m just stating, we have to be more fair across the board. A raise for $13,457; $8,000, come on, that’s not fair. That’s all I’ve got to say.

Com. Evans, We can’t find people to accept these positions. We can’t find people to apply for these positions because there’s not enough money to pay them. They can go to the private sector and get jobs that pay them a wage that they can live on.

Mrs. Stevenson, That’s just like every other department also.

Mrs. LaFever, True.

Mrs. Vuko, True.

Mrs. Stevenson, Every other department is in the same boat. But, they don’t have the commissioners going to bat for them. They are the elected officials, and they speak up, but they don’t get, they get heard, and that’s the end of the story.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mr. Ruge, I think we should limit it to the $4,000.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you, John.

Mr. Ruge, And next year you can argue to get the higher salary. Why should your department get the higher raise than all the others? We should set it at $4,000.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, thank you, John. The motion has been made and seconded, approving it with the exception of the administrative assistant. Roll call. Sheila, I’m sorry.

Mrs. Minton, Can I just, I need to clarify this. This is for 2004, so if you guys approve this tonight, what’s on calendar year 2004. Look at the top, it says: for proposed year calendar 2004.
Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mrs. Minton, That’s for this year.

Mr. Weltz, That’s so we can hire somebody.

Mr. Carmichael, Was that your intention, Bob?

Mr. Weltz, I stated earlier, we had the money to make it.

Mr. Poparad, Yes, that’s fine.

Mr. Carmichael, Roll call.

Mr. Steele, Bill, I have one question.

Mr. Carmichael, I’m sorry, Al.

Mr. Steele, Excuse me for dragging this out. But this is just for 2004. This is not a continuation of this. We discuss this again in 2005, is that what you are saying?

Mr. Carmichael, Same as the sheriff, as we’ve talked with the sheriff on the jailer.

Mr. Steele, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, He’ll have to come back for the additional. This will have to be funded in 2005.

Mrs. Minton, At the next council meeting, they will need to come back in front of you with a new 144 for 2005, changing all of these salaries for 2005. Because this is for 2004.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mrs. Minton, So they’ll have to do another one before 2005 gets here, for the simple fact, that if you don’t, then whatever you guys approved at the 2005 budget hearings, is what the salaries will be.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, we’ll have to hear it again November 30th according to what we are talking about here.

Mr. Steele, Thank you.

Mr. Thompson, Come back after the first of the year for my…

Mr. Carmichael, Roll call.

Motion carried on the following roll call vote:

Ruge - No Steele - Yes
Stevenson - No Carmichael - Yes
Conover - Yes Knoblock - No
Poparad - Yes

Mr. Carmichael, It’s four to three.

Mrs. Minton, Four to three.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, it passes four to three.

Mr. Aylesworth, Thank you.

Mr. Thompson, Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, And then you have…

Mr. Thompson, I have some transfers.

Mr. Steele, Bill, do we need five votes or four votes?

Mr. Carmichael, You need four.

Mr. Poparad, To change the 144?

Mr. Carmichael, Yes. The Building Inspector part-time, what’s that in here? And the Boards, $50 per meeting? This is for consideration at the next regular meeting. Is that right, Sheila?

Mrs. Minton, What was it?

Mr. Carmichael, The part-time hourly, don’t they already have it approved for this year?

Mrs. Minton, Part-time hourly is already approved for 2004, correct.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, so we don’t consider that.

Mrs. Minton, Right.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, then that’s the end of it.

Com. Burrus, However, there are some transfers.

Mr. Thompson, Transfers.

Mr. Carmichael, Transfer, $3,500 from Salaries to Travel; $1,292 from Salaries to Contractual Attorney; and $2,000 from Salaries to Legal. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Plan Commission 238, $3,500 from 1110 Salaries to 3210 Travel, $1,292 from 1110 Salaries to 3951 Contractual Attorney and $2,000 from 1110 Salaries to 3110 Legal. Mr. Steele seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Motion carries. Thank you.

Mr. Thompson, Thank you.

VOTERS REGISTRATION 01.22
Transfer
$1,800 from 1110 Salaries to 1120 Hourly
$855 from 3130 Training & Education to 1120 Hourly

Mr. Carmichael, Voters Registration. Do we have an unpaid county clerk here?

Mrs. Stevenson, Yes.

Ms. Brewer, I’m here on the behalf of Voters.

Mr. Carmichael, That’s right. Thank you for your input, Dale.

Ms. Brewer, Well I don’t begrudge them, I truly don’t.
Mr. Carmichael, We know you’re underpaid. We are aware of that. Let’s, hopefully, we can make a bigger dent in that this next year. We’ll see how our finances are.

Ms. Brewer, I’m here for Voters Registration, and these are two transfers into Hourly, and we may be back for more money. They have been hounded down there.

Mr. Carmichael, I know it, I was down there.

Ms. Brewer, Yes, I’ve been working down there, going back and forth.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, what’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Voters Registration 01.22, $1,800 from 1110 Salaries to 1120 Hourly and $855 from 3130 Training & Education to 1120 Hourly. Mrs. Stevenson seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Motion carries.

Ms. Brewer, Thank you, and I may be back next year also so we can get those voter registrations straightened out, and I can buy new equipment.

Mr. Poparad, Do you have enough to get through this election?

Ms. Brewer, I have enough to get through for this election, and after the election we’ll have people off. There’s one down there with almost 240 hours of comp already, so we’ll be back.

Mr. Poparad, Alright.

LIBERTY TOWNSHIP 01.53
Transfer
$4,000 from 1110 Salaries to 1120 Hourly

Mr. Carmichael, Liberty Township needs a transfer, $4,000 from Salaries to Hourly. You need a little help in the hourly line item.

Jean Swanson, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, what’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Poparad, I’ve got a question. Is this for reassessment again?

Ms. Swanson, No.

Mr. Poparad, Okay.

Ms. Swanson, Just regular hourly.

Mrs. Stevenson, Sheila, how much does she have in the Hourly?

Ms. Swanson, It’s down to a dollar and change.

Mrs. Minton, It’s a dollar-something--$1.36.

Mr. Ruge moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Liberty Township 01.53, $4,000 from 1110 Salaries to 1120 Hourly. Mr. Poparad seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

PORTAGE TOWNSHIP 01.11
Transfer
$525 from 3130 Training & Education to 3210 Travel
$137 from 3130 Training & Education to 2110 Office Supplies

Mr. Carmichael, Portage, we don’t have Portage again.

John Scott, Be gentle.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, John. You need a transfer of $525 from Training & Education to Travel. Is that one way.

Mr. Scott, Yeah.

Mr. Carmichael, I’m kidding, John.

Mr. Scott, I know it.

Mr. Carmichael, And $137 from Training & Education to Office Supplies. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Portage Township 01.11, $525 from 3130 Training & Education to 3210 Travel and $137 from 3130 Training & Education to 2110 Office Supplies. Mrs. Stevenson seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Motion carries, that’s it.

Mr. Scott, Thank you.

CIRCUIT COURT 01.81
Transfer
$1,050 from 1110 Salaries to 4440 Furniture & Fixtures over $100
$500 from 3120 Consultants to 4510 Data Processing Equipment

Mr. Carmichael, Circuit Court. Roger, where are you on here, I don’t…

Judge Roger Bradford, You’re getting there. I submitted mine too early to get to the end of the line.

Mr. Carmichael, Why don’t you come on up, Roger, and we’ll take it at the same time.

Judge Bradford, Go ahead, you’ve got Circuit Court and Juvenile Detention, and that’s Judge Harper.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. General Courts additional, $30,000 to Jurors.

Judge Harper, No, a transfer.

Mr. Poparad, No.

Judge Harper, We just need to transfer some money from Salaries since we had an opening for a while when our court reporter left for Lake County and more money, to get some…

Mr. Carmichael, Was that a dig?

Judge Harper, No, not all.

Mr. Carmichael, We got the message.
Judge Harper, Yes. We’re going to have a new one that will only take a couple of years to train. Anyway, the file cabinets for juvenile court, we need legal size locking, we’re trying to stay consistent out there. As well, we have a transfer from our Consultants item to Data Processing, as we desperately need a printer that will use some color. The one in the office won’t do that.

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Circuit Court 01.81, $1,050 from 1110 Salaries to 4440 Furniture & Fixtures over $100 and $500 from 3120 Consultants to 4510 Data Processing Equipment. Mrs. Conover seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Motion carries.

Judge Harper, Thanks very much.

JUVENILE DETENTION 01.80
Transfer
$8,500 from 1110 Salaries to 1120 Hourly
$200 from 1110 Salaries to 21110 Office Supplies
$40 from 1110 Salaries to 2120 Office Fixtures under $100
$1,000 from 1110 Salaries to 2250 Other Supplies
$165 from 1110 Salaries to 2340 Small Tools
$200 from 1110 Salaries to 3120 Consultants
$1,400 from 1110 Salaries to 3130 Training & Education
$600 from 1110 Salaries to 3130 Educational Materials for Residents
$650 from 1110 Salaries to 3930 Dues & Subscriptions
$150 from 1110 Salaries to 3950 Contractual Services
$500 from 1110 Salaries to 4410 Office Equipment over $100
$2,700 from 1110 Salaries to 4440 Furniture & Fixtures over $100
$500 from 1110 Salaries to 4510 Data Processing Equipment - Request withdrawn
$1,500 from 1110 Salaries to 4540 Other Equipment

Mr. Carmichael, Juvenile Detention. Good evening.

Ken Perkins, Good evening. All the transfers we are asking for are coming out of account 1110 Salaries, because of, primarily because of the vacancies we have this year. I did want to amend our request. The $500 from Salaries to the Data Processing Equipment, we’d like to withdraw that part.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, you’re going to withdraw that part.

Mr. Perkins, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, that will delete that. Okay.

Mr. Poparad, how much do you have left in leftover salaries? Is this all of it?

Mr. Perkins, No.

Mr. Poparad, Are you going to fill that spot before the end of the year?

Mr. Perkins, All our spots are filled right now. But for most of the…

Mr. Poparad, You’ve had a vacancy then…

Mr. Perkins, For most of the year be had a vacancy, not necessarily the same vacancy, but.

Mr. Carmichael, What is the figure, Sheila?

Mrs. Minton, He’ll need approximately $146,000 for payroll for the rest of the year. He has $171,801 in his line item.

Mr. Carmichael, What does that come out to? What’s that leave him for a balance?

Mrs. Minton, About $2,681 he’s got left over in that.

Mr. Perkins, And the request for the transfers tonight are $17,605.

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted and amended by Juvenile Detention 01.81, $8,500 from 1110 Salaries to 1120 Hourly, $200 from 1110 Salaries to 21110 Office Supplies, $40 from 1110 Salaries to 2120 Office Fixtures under $100, $1,000 from 1110 Salaries to 2250 Other Supplies, $165 from 1110 Salaries to 2340 Small Tools, $200 from 1110 Salaries to 3120 Consultants, $1,400 from 1110 Salaries to 3130 Training & Education, $600 from 1110 Salaries to 3130 Educational Materials for Residents, $650 from 1110 Salaries to 3930 Dues & Subscriptions, $150 from 1110 Salaries to 3950 Contractual Services, $500 from 1110 Salaries to 4410 Office Equipment over $100, $2,700 from 1110 Salaries to 4440 Furniture & Fixtures over $100 and $1,500 from 1110 Salaries to 4540 Other Equipment. Mr. Ruge seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Motion carries.

Mr. Perkins, Thank you very much.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you.

GENERAL COURTS 01.79
Additional Appropriation
$30,000 to 1350 Juror Expenses
$5,500 to 3170 Interpreters
Transfer
$369 from 1120 Hourly to 4410 Office Equipment over $100
$795 from 1120 Hourly to 3720 Software
$153.72 from 2110 Office Supplies to 3310 Printing other than Office Supplies
$1,353 from 1120 Hourly to 3460 Liability Insurance

Mr. Carmichael, General Courts.

Judge Bradford, Good evening.

Mr. Steele, Good evening, Judge.

Mr. Carmichael, Hi, Roger.

Judge Bradford, If you think getting a raise through you guys is difficult, try to get one through the Legislature. As a good friend of mine explained to me as a Cub fan, I should understand, wait until next year, so.

Mr. Carmichael, Oh yeah, we are waiting until next year. My lifetime.

Judge Bradford, Okay, do you want to start with the additionals?

Mr. Carmichael, Go ahead.

Judge Bradford, The Juror Expenses, we presently owe $20,800 to jurors who have already served; people who have served as far back as June have not yet been paid. We have had an extraordinary number of citizens exercising their right to a jury trial this year. I think we’ve already done more than any time in the last four or five years, so.

Mr. Carmichael, Do you have those claims on file, Sheila?
Mrs. Minton, Oh yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, what’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by General Courts 01.78, $30,000 to 1350 Juror Expenses and $5,500 to 3170 Interpreters. Mr. Steele seconded.

Mr. Carmichael, Further discussion? Roll call.

Mr. Poparad, I’m lumping, we’re doing the, I’m doing the…

Mr. Carmichael, The additional.

Mr. Poparad, Right the $30,000 and the $5,500.

Mr. Carmichael, And the $5,500 for Interpreters.

Judge Bradford, Okay, that $5,500 that’s in there, we received a grant from the Indiana Supreme Court for that. I was told at one point that, while that isn’t general fund money, it still had to be appropriated by you. I’m not sure that’s accurate.

Mrs. Minton, But…

Judge Bradford, But your attorney says that it is.

Mrs. Minton, But it’s got to be appropriated in the fund that it’s in, it’s not in your general fund. Its got its own fund, all separate.

Judge Bradford, So it…

Mr. Hollenbeck, Interpreters?

Mrs. Minton, Yes, the grants got its own fund, separate from the 01, because it could not go into the general fund. The grants have to be separated in their own funds for the State to keep them, taken care of.

Mr. Hollenbeck, So what do we have there?

Mrs. Minton, Off the top of my head, I don’t know, 200-something.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Who made the motion? Bob, did you make the motion to approve it?

Mr. Poparad, I made the motion to approve both of them together.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Why don’t you allow an amendment to your motion to have the $5,500 for Interpreter be appropriated from the grant fund into which the auditor put the money.

Mr. Poparad, That’s sounds good to me.

Mr. Poparad moved to amend his motion for additional appropriations submitted by General Courts 01.78, $5,500 to be appropriated from the Grant Fund to 3170 Interpreters. Mr. Steele seconded.

Mrs. Minton, It’s about 272.

Mr. Carmichael, Roll call.

Motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.
Mr. Carmichael, Okay, you need a transfer now, $369 from Hourly to Office Equipment over $100; $750 from Hourly to Software; $153.72 from Office Supplies to Printing other than Office Supplies; and $1,353 from Hourly to Liability Insurance. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Poparad moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by General Courts 01.78, $369 from 1120 Hourly to 4410 Office Equipment over $100, $795 from 1120 Hourly to 3720 Software, $153.72 from 2110 Office Supplies to 3310 Printing other than Office Supplies and $1,353 from 1120 Hourly to 3460 Liability Insurance. Mr. Steele seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Judge Bradford, Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Thanks, Rog. Thanks, Judge, we’ll see you later.

Mr. Poparad, Do you want to take a break?

Mr. Carmichael, Let’s take five minutes here, I need a drink.

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

ITS 01.50
144 Form
(2004) Network Engineer from $43,813 to $39,832
(2004) Programmer/Analyst from $36,895 to $0
(2005) Network Engineer from $43,813 to $40,832
(2005) Programmer/Analyst from $36,895 to $0
(2005) Network Support Specialist from $36,274 to $35,274
Transfer
$40,000 from 3120 Consultants to 1110 Salaries

Mr. Carmichael, Information Services. Sharon, you sent us an email, and Rita didn’t see her email, so I gave her my email with the explanation. Did everybody receive an email on this as far as an explanation?

Mrs. Conover, Yes.

Mr. Poparad, My only question is…

Mr. Carmichael, Al, did you get an email?

Mr. Steele, No, but I don’t use those things, my wife didn’t get to it today.

Mr. Poparad, Are we eliminating a slot next year in the budget?

Mrs. Minton, In the 2005 one, yes she did eliminate it.

Mr. Poparad, Okay, that’s the Network Engineer or the Programmer/Analyst down to zero.

Sharon Lippens, Yes.

Mr. Poparad, And we’re moving that consultant money we moved out, we’re moving that back to Salaries so you can finish paying out the rest of the year.

Mrs. Lippens, Exactly, rather than do an additional.

Mr. Poparad, Okay.

Mrs. Lippens, Correct.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, if you want to go ahead with your first request there.

Mrs. Lippens, The first request is to transfer $40,000 from 3120 Consultants to 1110 Salaries. At the final budget hearings, $50,000 was transferred from the salary line account to Consultants in order to help clear up some backlog, as well as assist in installing some new PC’s that were ordered. We have installed just over 50% of those PC’s, and used just about $5,000, so I don’t anticipate needing more than another $5,000 to finish out the year, and get those installs completed. Therefore, rather than getting the additional appropriation to replace the transfer, it would make more sense to transfer it back since it won’t be used.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. The Network Engineer then on your first 144 is a reduction from $43,813 to $39,832.

Mrs. Lippens, Correct.

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

Mr. Poparad, Are we doing the transfer or the 144?

Mr. Carmichael, The 144, Network Engineer.

Mr. Poparad, Oh, okay, because she just talked on the transfer.

Mr. Carmichael, Well I’m taking it by the way it is here.

Mr. Poparad, Alright.

Mr. Carmichael, Let’s do the Network Engineer first.

Mr. Poparad moved to amend the 2004, 144 Form submitted by ITS 01.50, Network Engineer from $43,813 to $39,832. Mr. Steele and Mr. Ruge seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Programmer/Analyst from $36,895 to $0. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Poparad moved to amend the 2004, 144 Form submitted by ITS 01.50, Programmer/Analyst from $36,895 to $0. Mrs. Conover seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Carmichael, The Form 144 for 2005, Network Engineer from $43,832 to $40,832. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Ruge moved to amend the 2005, 144 Form submitted by ITS 01.50, Network Engineer from $43,832 to $40,832. Mr. Poparad seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Programmer/Analyst from $36,895 to $0. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mrs. Conover moved to amend the 2005, 144 Form submitted by ITS 01.50, Programmer/Analyst from $36,895 to $0. Mr. Ruge seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Transfer, $40,000 from Consultants to Salaries.

Mrs. Lippens, Bill, can I interrupt you for just for a minute? There is another item on there, one of the positions that will be vacated due to his change, will not require the $1,000 increase for next year, as it will be a new employee, and I notice that was not listed. It was on the 144, but its not listed on the agenda. The 0150.03 or, yes.

Mrs. Stevenson, Which one?
Mrs. Lippens, It’s the 0150.03, Network Support Specialist was approved for $36,274, which included the $1,000 raise.

Mr. Carmichael, You’re reducing that to $35,274. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Poparad moved to amend the 2005, 144 Form submitted by ITS 01.50, Network Support Specialist from $36,274 to $35,274. Mrs. Stevenson seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Carmichael, A transfer of $4,000 from Consultants to Salaries. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mrs. Knoblock, What do you mean four?

Mrs. Stevenson, $40,000.

Mr. Carmichael, $40,000 isn’t that what I said?

Mrs. Conover, No, $4,000.

Mr. Carmichael, Let’s go with $40,000.

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by ITS 01.50, $40,000 from 3120 Consultant to 1110 Salaries. Mr. Poparad seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Motion carries.

Mrs. Lippens, Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you.

CENTER TOWNSHIP 01.10
Additional Appropriation
$4,000 to 1120 Hourly

Mr. Carmichael, The CCD fund.

Mrs. Conover, No, Center Township.

Mr. Carmichael, The Commissioners, transfer.

Mrs. Conover, Center Township

Mr. Steele, Center Township.

Mr. Carmichael, Center Township, I’m sorry. Susan needs an additional of $4,000 to Hourly. You running out of hourly help?

Susan Larson, My hourly fund is getting low, and I didn’t want to wait until the last minute.

Mr. Carmichael, This will carry you through to December 31st?

Ms. Larson, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright.

Mr. Steele, How much do you have in there now, Susan?

Ms. Larson, I have probably about, left in there, I probably have about $3,000 to $4,000, and I will, I’ve been going through close to $1,000. It’s part-time, that’s what I was told, I could hire part-time, and that’s what I’ve done. I have a terrible workload, having part-time keeping up; I work until 7:00, 7:30, 8:00 every night. My employees don’t, I do.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Mr. Ruge, This is a not on assessment?

Ms. Larson, I have had quite a few appeals, and so, and I also had taken all my money for my contractual for my commercial stuff; I ended up doing my own commercial field work this year.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. Any further questions? What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Center Township 01.10, $4,000 to 1120 Hourly. Mr. Ruge seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, thank you, Susan.

Ms. Larson, Thank you, everybody.

COMMISSIONERS 01.30
Transfer
$27,050 from 3220 Telephone to 3430 Workman’s Comp
$2,000 from 3130 Training & Education to 3430 Workman’s Comp
$4,000 from 3440 Unemployment to 3230 Postage
$31.09 from 2110 Office Supplies to 3930 Dues & Subscriptions

Mr. Carmichael, Commissioners. Good evening once again.

Com. Burrus, Yes, sir. Good evening.

Mr. Carmichael, Transfer of $27,050 from Telephone to Workman’s Comp; $2,000 from Training & Education to Workman’s Comp; $4,000 from Unemployment to Postage; and, is that $31.09?

Com. Burrus, Right.

Mr. Carmichael, From Office Supplies to Dues & Subscriptions. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Commissioners 01.30, $27,050 from 3220 Telephone to 3430 Workman’s Comp, $2,000 from 3130 Training & Education to 3430 Workman’s Comp, $4,000 from 3440 Unemployment to 3230 Postage and $31.09 from 2110 Office Supplies to 3930 Dues & Subscriptions. Mr. Ruge seconded.

Com. Evans, If I could just add, the Telephone transfer is the result of the consultant we hired some time ago to do all the review, so that there was an excess in there. We should be credited with saving us a lot of money.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, I’ll say it. Those in favor of the motion, answer by the usual sign of aye.

Motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

CCD FUND 132.30
Transfer
$8,800 from 4210 Buildings to 4510 Data Processing Equipment

Mr. Carmichael, The CCD fund, you want a transfer of $8,800 from Buildings to Data Processing Equipment. What do you need in data processing, Dave?

Com. Burrus, Two lap-top computers for the Planning Department, I believe.

Mrs. Knoblock, How much is in the CCD fund?

Com. Burrus, Pardon?

Mrs. Knoblock, How much is left in the CCD fund this year?

Com. Evans, It’s 600-some thousand.

Mrs. Knoblock, How much?

Com. Burrus, We think over $600,000.

Mrs. Minton, $309,428 is in the CCD.

Mr. Carmichael, What’s the Council’s pleasure on the transfer?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by CCD 132.30, $8,800 from 4210 Buildings to 4510 Data Processing Equipment. Mrs. Knoblock seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

PARKS/CEDIT PLAN #4 - 253.30
Additional Appropriation
$5,525 to 0010 CEDIT FUND #4
PARKS/CEDIT PLAN #4 - 253.30
Additional Appropriation
$6,920 to 0010 CEDIT FUND #4 - PARKS
SURVEYOR/CEDIT PLAN #2 - 251.30
Additional Appropriation
$75,000 to 0001 CEDIT PROJECT #2, PART B
SURVEYOR/CEDIT PLAN #5 - 254.30
Additional Appropriation
$20,000 to 0001 CEDIT PROJECT #5
CEDIT PLAN #1 - 250.30
Budget
$1,025,000
CEDIT PLAN # 2 - 251.30
Budget
$150,000
CEDIT PLAN #3 - 252.30
Budget
$150,000
CEDIT PLAN #4 - 253.30
Budget
$312,555
CEDIT PLAN #6 - 254.30
Budget
$175,000
CEDIT PLAN #7 - 255.30
Budget
$200,000
CEDIT PLAN #8 - 256.30
Budget
$150,000
Mr. Carmichael, There was one question, Dave, that Carole had about the, I believe it was Project 1, Carole, for that legal drain.

Mrs. Knoblock, Yes, the right-of-ways.

Mr. Carmichael, On the right-of-ways, you had it listed as right-of-ways. You’re putting that through somewhere in the Kouts area.

Com. Burrus, Just one second, and I’ll double check it. Yes, that would be Project #2, Part B, as indicated on your agenda. That work is a reconstruction of an existing tile that is an arm of the Pleasant Township ditch. In recent years, the Pleasant Township ditch itself has been maintained and cleaned, and the assessment for that has paid for it, but that’s a maintenance issue, and we’re talking about a reconstruction issue. Those are two separate functions of the drainage work. In this situation here, we have an estimate to reconstruct this tile. It’s probably close to a mile in length through existing neighborhoods in Kouts, the northwest side of town. And that estimate for the, well not the estimate, but actually the bid is for $148,000. The proposal is to move $75,000 from CEDIT, and approximately $75,000 from the drainage fund.

Mrs. Knoblock, Shouldn’t it call come out of the drainage?

Com. Burrus, I’m sorry.

Mrs. Knoblock, Shouldn’t that all come out of drainage?

Com. Burrus, Well I don’t know. The reconstruction effort, if it were to be done, would require a separate reassessment for that purpose. That certainly, when 25% of a community is benefited, and I think there’s some development that’s intended in that neighborhood, that it would certainly also qualify for economic development. I don’t know the specifics, but I’m told from the Kouts people that there is some plans to do some commercial development in that segment.

Mr. Carmichael, Well you understand, we already approved that portion that you’re requesting here tonight.

Com. Burrus, That’s correct. It’s item number…

Mr. Carmichael, What’s the budget amount--the budgeted amount?

Mrs. Knoblock, Well this is an additional.

Com. Burrus, Well that’s how we have to present it at this point in time.

Mrs. Knoblock, Okay. Another, I’ve got some questions asked about the drainage. Does everybody in the county pay a drainage tax?

Com. Burrus, No.

Mr. Carmichael, No.

Mrs. Knoblock, Why not?

Com. Burrus, It has never been set up that way. Everybody within a watershed on a legal drain is eligible to pay an assessment, but we’re still working on getting all of those legal drains assessed. We’ve made, probably six or eight of them in the last two or three years.

Com. Evans, And that assessment is specific to the drainage ditch that its assigned to. So no matter how much money is in the drainage fund, it can only be used for the ditch that its assigned to.

Mr. Poparad, Has there been an assessment on this ditch?

Com. Evans, Yes.

Com. Burrus, Yes.

Mr. Steele, What is that, Dave?

Com. Burrus, I’m sorry.

Mr. Steele, What is that assessment per year?

Kevin Breitzke, Annually we collect about $44,000. In fact, we were about 35 by legal prescriptive statute. The board can raise it 125%. It was started in 1998, and because we did substantial work to the system, and we still are spending money on it. We’re in the red, probably about $70,000 with the $44,000 annual collection. Bear in mind, this is a maintenance fee. We have a bottleneck, because this tile is too small, and we’re going to have be doing some maintenance throughout that area. It just seems to make sense to invest some extra money just to improve the overall drainage, and combine both maintenance and construction without…

Mr. Poparad, To solve the problem?

Mr. Breitzke, Yes.

Mr. Poparad, And will the assessment--the maintenance assessment--be enough to keep up?

Mr. Breitzke, Yes.

Mr. Poparad, We can call this a capital project--for lack of a better word.

Mr. Breitzke, That’s an excellent word for this.

Mrs. Knoblock, Does the Town of Kouts have a drainage fund?

Com. Burrus, No, they don’t. They have made a contribution to this though in the form of paying for the engineering work that’s gone into the project so far. And I think that is somewhere between $10,000 and $15,000 of engineering work.

Mrs. Knoblock, How much is in the drainage….

Com. Evans, Keep in mind most of the assessments are done for open drainage within the county. This project proposed to be a covered tile--a drainage tile--rather than an open ditch.

Mrs. Knoblock, I know we are paying $500 a year or some on the drainage, which we’re not on that ditch, but our, they say our water goes to it, but eventually everybody’s water in Porter County goes to some ditch.

Mr. Carmichael, Well sure.

Com. Burrus, Carole, that effort is underway, there’s no question about that. Then I think, Bob, you made a comment earlier.

Mrs. Knoblock, How much money do you have in the drainage fund right now?

Com. Burrus, This particular ditch is in the red $70,000.

Mrs. Knoblock, No, I mean in the whole drainage fund. How much is in there?

Com. Evans, It can’t be used. The only money from the assessment for that ditch can be used for that ditch.

Mrs. Knoblock, I know that, that’s not what I asked you though.

Mr. Breitzke, It’s a borrowing fund, Carole. We can borrow from the fund, and it’s been down. So currently we have probably about $100,000, $110,000. We just completed about $43,000 of spring projects. That’s the money we can borrow from. It rejuvenates about $100,000 to $120,000 or thereabouts per year, because we’re looking at about a three to four-year cycle for payback.
One of the things you’ll recall is, nobody did anything with these drainage monies for a long time or did smaller projects, and it accumulated a surplus to the point where the Drainage Board ended up paying back the Council, the original loan made in 1970, and paid back some $350,000 plus on the original loan.

Mrs. Knoblock, I thought somebody…

Mr. Breitzke, So that’s what we work on.

Mrs. Knoblock, I thought somebody said there was like over a million dollars in the drainage fund.

Com. Burrus, But that is…

Com. Evans, It doesn’t matter how much…

Mrs. Knoblock, I know, I just wanted…

Com. Evans, It can only be used for the ditch that its taken from.

Mrs. Knoblock, To know how much was in there.

Mr. Breitzke, We have a number of subdivision regulated drains, and we hold that money for improvements on their ponds, cleaning out the outlets, and doing work specific to those jobs. Just like on your ditch, we collect monies for that specific ditch, and the expectation is we will be suspending that assessment one day, hopefully in the near future.

Mrs. Knoblock, And what about all the building that’s been going on? Does the builders ever get assessed?

Mr. Breitzke, They pay twice. The subdivision gets assessed individually for their drainage work, and then they’re also split, and it’s been a tremendous burden on my office, because we’re going out there, all the talk back. By the way, I was the guy that didn’t ask for the $4,000. But it creates a tremendous burden, and it takes a lot of time to do this. That’s one of the reasons I always look forward to the GIS system to help us, to make this more expedient.

Mr. Steele, John, what did you do before you had CEDIT money for this? You must have other drains that had this same problem when there wasn’t enough money to reconstruct it.

Com. Evans, Well, the Town of Chesterton and the Town of Porter bonded for Peterson ditch to fix it.

Mrs. Knoblock, And they…

Mr. Steele, So why can’t these people bond down there? It’s their ditch.

Mrs. Knoblock, Right.

Mr. Steele, They’re going to benefit from it.

Com. Evans, They’re putting into it too.

Mr. Steele, But the other people seem to had to bond for the full amount. My point here, it just seems like we’re just CEDIT money, just kind of sprinkling it all over, when, in this case, we have access to funds, and if we have $1,184,000 in this fund, it seems like they’re overcharging people because no fund for any individual ditch it seems like it’s going to have enough money if it has to be reconstructed, so.

Com. Burrus, It’s a very complex thing, Al. Honestly, it’s not as simple as what it sounds. The, if there is a ditch that has positive balance in it, like John said, it has to stay in that ditch fund, and if you take all of our ditches together and add them up, you get a million dollars. But it’s, it’s not available to us.

Mr. Breitzke, If I may, the Town of Kouts tried some 25 years ago, and put a 15 inch line that was way inadequate, that just added to the problem. It created that bottleneck that affected the 1,100 acres north, and about 15% of that watershed is affected in some way, and that affects the crops, as well as the appearance as you’re coming into town. It’s affecting the gait. It’s affecting, you know, the neighborhoods, the potential for development, as far as maybe a business center toward the north side of town. There’s a lot of positives in investing in the infrastructure when it comes to these CEDIT monies.

Com. Evans, I’m using my $75,000 for the north district to build sidewalks in South Haven. People would argue that’s not economic development either.

Mr. Carmichael, Marge.

Marge Hefner, I’m from Kouts, and in my opinion, I would like to encourage to okay this money for the drainage in Kouts. Not only for the general good, but especially for a new tile, and other things that are happening in Kouts. That hopefully will come to Kouts. Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you, Marge. We’ve already approved this portion of the budget. What we need to approve tonight is the budgeted amount, the final dollar.

Com. Burrus, And that’s…

Mr. Carmichael, What is that?

Com. Burrus, It’s $75,000. We want to use the same amount that was requested or put in the plan.

Mr. Carmichael, That’s the only one that’s up for approval tonight?

Com. Burrus, No, that’s the first one.

Mr. Carmichael, What’s the total amount for all of them?

Com. Evans, They each have their own budget. That was…

Com. Burrus, If you recall last month, we had a request, I think Com. Harper made the request that, and we submitted a copy to everybody, of an annual budget for 2004 for all these projects.

Mr. Carmichael, Right.

Com. Burrus, And that’s further down our list on the agenda tonight, but we would appeal to you to approve that budget, and then we don’t have to look at each one of these individual. The ones that come in like the ones like Project 4 that you see on your agenda, those are.

Mr. Carmichael, I thought we approved them all last month.

Com. Evans, You did approve them, but then, the way it was set up for this year anyway we have to come back each time there’s an expenditure. That was, that’s really what we’re asking for you to do tonight.

Mr. Carmichael, So that’s the only thing you’re asking for tonight?

Com. Evans, No, we’re asking for you to approve the rest of the CEDIT budget for the rest of the year.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, and what’s that amount?

Com. Evans, It’s 75, plus 20, plus 69.

Mr. Carmichael, Come on, John.

Com. Burrus, It’s two-and-a-quarter million is what it is.

Mr. Carmichael, What is it?

Com. Burrus, $2,250,000.

Mr. Carmichael, $2,250,000.

Mrs. Knoblock, That’s for next year?

Com. Burrus, And what that is..

Com. Evans, You’ve already done next year’s.

Com. Burrus, That’s the $3,000,000 anticipated revenue, and holding out 25% for unappropriated funds.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, that’s still intact.

Com. Burrus, That’s still intact.

Mr. Carmichael, Alright, that’s what I was trying to get at. So the motion tonight would be for the $2,250,000 to fund these projects.

Mrs. Stevenson, And that’s just through this, the end of this year?

Com. Burrus, The balance of this year. It would be the 2004 budget, yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Is that money in hand, Sheila?

Mrs. Minton, We’re only missing one more installment that will be coming sometime in November.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, and that will be sufficient to fund this?

Mrs. Minton, Until it gets here, I have no idea.

Mr. Carmichael, What’s in the fund now?

Mrs. Minton, I would imagine yes.

Mr. Carmichael, What’s in the fund right now?

Mrs. Minton, They’re all separated out.

Mr. Carmichael, Oh.
Mrs. Minton, They’re all individually separated out per their request.

Mr. Carmichael, In other words, we’re going to have sufficient monies to pay this budgeted amount of $2,250,000.

Mrs. Minton, Without knowing…

Mr. Hollenbeck, That’s, Bill, that’s what the state has projected we will receive, yes. But none of us can sit here and say…

Mr. Carmichael, They projected 300, didn’t they?

Com. Evans, That was the reason for the 25%.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Right.

Mr. Carmichael, Yes.

Com. Burrus, Right, to make sure we have enough.

Mr. Hollenbeck, And of course, if they don’t get the money they can’t spend it.

Com. Burrus, Can’t spend it, yes, so it’s.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. Alright. Carole.

Mrs. Knoblock, I know it’s getting late, but I still have a problem with this drainage ditch. I’m talking, and Kevin knows Bob and I have been upset about it. There’s, we’re not on Ludington Ditch, but the ditch that our water goes to eventually ends up there, but we’re being assessed because of a subdivision on 500 W. Because we’ve never had a problem with Ludington Ditch until this guy decides that he’s going build a subdivision, and now…

Com. Evans, That’s not the reason for your assessment.

Mrs. Knoblock, You don’t think so?

Com. Evans, No.

Mr. Breitzke, No, ma’am.

Com. Evans, Your assessment is because your water goes to that ditch.

Com. Burrus, In the watershed.

Com. Evans, Regardless of whether or not there’s a subdivision.

Mrs. Knoblock, But we haven’t had a problem with it, so what’s…

Com. Evans, It doesn’t make any difference.

Mr. Breitzke, But the subdivision doesn’t have anything to do with the ditch, the assessment was done prior to the subdivision, and they, they’re getting hit with a subdivision assessment as well as the per lot assessment for Ludington. So they get hit with two assessments.

Com. Evans, They’re paid twice.

Mr. Breitzke, They’re not paid twice, they’re paid for different things.

Mr. Carmichael, It goes into that fund.
Mrs. Knoblock, I don’t know about a subdivision, but each of us…

Mr. Carmichael, But he’s saying the subdivision is paying…

Mrs. Knoblock, Oh, I don’t know.

Mr. Carmichael, As well as you.

Mr. Breitzke, They’re paying for the subdivision itself, and it’s also paid for like the ditch, and they’re paying more because it’s a per lot basis rather than acreage. It’s usually a four or a five-to-one proposition with the single-family lots.

Mr. Ruge, You have received the CEDIT money?

Com. Evans, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Two-thirds of it, John. We’ve got a payment due in November.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Actually, three-fourths of it.

Mr. Ruge, Okay.

Mr. Carmichael, Oh, it’s in quarters? Three-fourths of it has been received, John.

Com. Burrus, And that, that should be consistent with the amount that’s been allocated.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Say that again.

Com. Burrus, Three-quarters of it should be consistent with what has been allocated for these projects.

Mr. Hollenbeck, If you’re holding back 25% that’s…

Com. Burrus, That’s correct.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, what’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Steele, What are we voting on, Bill?

Mr. Carmichael, $2,250,000 to fund these projects.

Mrs. Knoblock, Including the additionals.

Mr. Carmichael, And the additionals, that’s correct.

Com. Burrus, Those additionals would be included in that then.

Mrs. Knoblock, I still think the Kouts project should be out of the drainage fund, not CEDIT.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay. Do I have a motion to approve?

Mr. Ruge moved to approve $2,250,000 to fund CEDIT Projects #1 through #8. Mr. Poparad seconded.

Mr. Carmichael, Is there further discussion?

Mr. Poparad, We’re doing the additional and the budgeted items all at once. Correct?

Com. Burrus, If you do the budget, then those additionals become irrelevant, because that will be included in the budget.

Mr. Carmichael, Yes, that is in there.

Mr. Poparad, Oh, they’re broken apart?

Com. Burrus, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Further discussion? Roll call.

Motion carried on the following roll call vote:

Steele - No Stevenson - No
Carmichael - Yes Conover - Yes
Knoblock - Yes Poparad - Yes
Ruge - Yes

Mrs. Vuko, It’s four to three, it passed.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay.

Com. Burrus, Thank you.

Com. Evans, Thank you.

Mr. Carmichael, Did you get all your questions answered, Carole?

Mrs. Knoblock, Yes, but not the way I wanted them, but.

Mr. Carmichael, But you got an answer?

Mrs. Knoblock, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, and you understand the project is what I mean.

Mrs. Knoblock, Yes.

SURVEYOR 01.06
Additional Appropriation
$415 to 3610 Maintenance Agreements

Mr. Carmichael, Surveyor, you need $415 to Maintenance Agreements. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Steele moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Surveyor 01.06, $415 to 3610 Maintenance Agreements. Mrs. Conover seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you.

PORTER TOWNSHIP 01.57
Transfer
$100 from 3220 Telephone to 2110 Office Supplies
$120 from 3220 Telephone to 3630 Equipment other than Vehicles

Mr. Carmichael, Porter Township. Anyone here from Porter? What is she asking for; Porter needs $100 from Telephone to Office Supplies, and $120 from Telephone to Maintenance Agreements. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Steele moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Porter Township 01.57, $100 from 3220 Telephone to 2110 Office Supplies and $120 from 3220 Telephone to 3630 Equipment other than Vehicles. Mr. Poparad seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

PINE TOWNSHIP 01.55
Transfer
$100 from 3130 Training & Education to 1120 Hourly
$124.50 from 3220 Telephone to 1120 Hourly
$33 from 2110 Office Supplies to 1120 Hourly

Mr. Carmichael, Pine Township, you need a transfer of $100 from Training & Education to 1120 Hourly; $124.50 from Telephone to Hourly; and $33 from Office Supplies to Hourly. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Pine Township 01.55, $100 from 3130 Training & Education to 1120 Hourly, $124.50 from 3220 Telephone to 1120 Hourly and $33 from 2110 Office Supplies to 1120 Hourly. Mr. Steele seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

Mr. Carmichael, Thank you.

CORONER 01.07
Transfer
$10 from 3330 Photo & Blueprint to 1120 Hourly

Mr. Carmichael, The Coroner needs a transfer of $10 from Photo & Blueprint to Hourly. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Coroner 01.07, $10 from 3330 Photo & Blueprint to 1120 Hourly. Mr. Steele seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

WEIGHTS & MEASURES 01.28
Transfer
$86 from 3310 Printing other than Office Supplies to 4440 Furniture & Fixtures over $100
$74 from 3130 Training & Education to 4440 Furniture & Fixtures over $100

Mr. Carmichael, $86 from Printing other than Office Supplies to Furniture & Fixtures over $100, and $74 from Training & Education to Furniture & Fixtures over $100. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mrs. Stevenson moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Weights & Measures 01.28, $86 from 3310 Printing other than Office Supplies to 4440 Furniture & Fixtures over $100 and $74 from 3130 Training & Education to 4440 Furniture & Fixtures over $100. Mr. Ruge seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

AUDITOR 01.02
Transfer
$500 from 2120 Office Fixtures over $100 to 2110 Office Supplies
$450 from 2250 Other Supplies to 2110 Office Supplies
$3,500 from 3130 Training & Education to 2110 Office Supplies
$600 from 1120 Hourly to 1110 Salaries

Mr. Carmichael, Auditor, you need a transfer of $500 from Office Fixtures over $100 to Office Supplies; $450 from Other Supplies to Office Supplies; $3,500 from Training & Education to Office Supplies; and $600 from Hourly to Salaries. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mr. Ruge moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Auditor 01.02, $500 from 2120 Office Fixtures over $100 to 2110 Office Supplies, $450 from 2250 Other Supplies to 2110 Office Supplies, $3,500 from 3130 Training & Education to 2110 Office Supplies and $600 from 1120 Hourly to 1110 Salaries. Mrs. Stevenson seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.

COUNCIL 01.25
Additional Appropriation
$132,000 to 1241 Longevity

Mr. Carmichael, The Council, now we have the second half of Longevity, that’s coming out of the casino money. Is that what it is?

Mrs. Minton, Yes.

Mr. Carmichael, And what’s the balance of the casino money, approximately?

Mrs. Minton, $775,000.

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, $700,000. What’s the Council’s pleasure?

Mrs. Stevenson, May I ask a question first?

Mr. Carmichael, Rita.

Mrs. Stevenson, Okay, Sheila, is the insurance money taken care of?

Mrs. Minton, We are fine on insurance this year.

Mrs. Stevenson, Because I wanted to make sure before we spend this money.

Mrs. Minton, We are fine on insurance. We have another, approximately.

Mr. Poparad, Are we going to carry this over then? This cash?

Mrs. Minton, It carries over every year.

Mr. Poparad, The insurance does?

Mrs. Minton, It will. I’ve got another 1.2 million dollars from the general fund that I can put into the insurance. The insurance fund right now stands at $879,000. Our claims are down about 25%.

Mr. Carmichael, Let’s hope it holds there.

Mr. Poparad, Should we move the balance of this to the insurance fund, and let it build back up, even though it’s still a good year? With the history of this place has been when it’s been a good year, they didn’t fund it fully.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Wait until the next meeting. I’d wait until the next meeting. Wait until your last meeting of the year.

Mr. Poparad, Well it doesn’t matter, that’s my point. It doesn’t matter whether we’re having a good year or bad year, we dedicate this money to health fund.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Bob, I lived through it. I totally agree with you, but I still think we should wait until your last meeting, and let’s see what your expenditures are. I’ve got a report for you as to where we are financially. I think we should do that to the extent that we can, but I’d wait until the last meeting of the year.
Mr. Carmichael, Okay, could I have a motion on paying the second half of longevity?

Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Council 01.25, $132,000 to 1241 Longevity. Mr. Poparad seconded.

Mrs. Stevenson, I would like to abstain.

Mr. Carmichael, Rita is abstaining, she’s a county employee. Roll call.

Motion carried on the following roll call vote:

Carmichael - Yes Conover - Yes
Knoblock - Yes Poparad - Yes
Ruge - Yes Steele - Yes
Stevenson - Abstain

Mr. Carmichael, Okay, six to one, with one abstention.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT
County Finances
Bailout Loan
Copying Fees

Mr. Carmichael, Attorney’s Report.

Mr. Hollenbeck, Mr. President, if you would indulge me for a minute. After the auditor’s office, in general, and Sheila, in particular, here of late, finished the Herculean task of getting the first half settlements done and the money distributed. Sheila had a chance to take a breath or two. She and I sat down, and went over the general financial situation regarding the County, and I’ve prepared this report with Sheila’s assistance for you this evening.
I think it’s fair to say that in the last three years, the County Council, in particular, and county government, in general, has experienced what I’ve come to call a financial perfect storm. The combination of the National and Bethlehem Steel bankruptcies, and the revenue shortfall contributed to those, along with delays with the reassessment process, has made life pretty difficult for us over the last three years.
The austerity program that you’ve put in place that basically reverted most of county spending to 1999 levels; we have a couple of departments back to 1997 levels. The alternative funding sources you’ve found; the ability to transfer expenses out of the general fund to other funding sources; the short-term stop-gap measures we secured, first, from the Department of Commerce, and then from the General Assembly, and the bailout loan, have all combined to allow us to weather that storm.
I think it’s fair to say that the waves are beginning to subside, and the wind is beginning to calm, and the weather is changing. We’ve been able to accomplish some things in the last six months that would have been unthinkable two-and-half years ago. We owe the bridge fund nothing. We paid back $2,000,000; for the first time in three years our slate is clean with the bridge fund. You authorized $10,000,000 of tax anticipation warrants during calendar year 2004; because of the actions of this body, and the actions of county office holders and department heads in restraining expenditures and finding alternate funding sources, we only had to borrow 5.6 million of that for the county general fund.
On December 31st, we will owe $5,653,000 to pay back that tax warrant. With anticipated expenditures, in addition to that, between now and the end of the year, with the cash balance that we have after the settlement process, and the anticipated receipt of the second property t