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PORTER COUNTY COUNCIL
Members present were Michael Bucko, Jim Burge, William Carmichael, Karen Conover, Rita Stevenson, Dan Whitten and President Bob Poparad, Also present was Auditor James Kopp, Attorney Dave Hollenbeck, Alizabeth Bailey and Jan Noll. Mr. Poparad call the meeting to order with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Mr. Poparad, Approval of May 27th minutes. Mr. Bucko moved to approve the minutes of May 27, 2008 as received. Mr. Whitten seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.
At this time, Mr. Kopp read the Notice to Taxpayers.
Mr. Whitten, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Poparad, What? Mr. Whitten, I know that we don’t typically do this until the end of the meeting, but it seems like everybody wants to leave by the end of the meeting, and I’d like to discuss something that I think is for the good of the order. Can I do so? Mr. Poparad, Yeah, go ahead, what the heck.
Mr. Whitten, Alright. Recently, I was at a town meeting, and I was asked by the town board members to bring something back to the Council for discussion, and it was the Murphy plan. So I thought that we might want to discuss that. It seems like over the past couple of months we’ve been throwing around some different ideas, with respect to, benefits of the taxpayers by way of the hospital proceeds interest money. I’ve had an opportunity to look at the Murphy Plan. I think we should discuss it for a moment. I jotted down my thoughts here, so I don’t lose them, so bear with me for a moment. It’ll only take a second. I’ve given this a great deal of thought over the last couple of weeks, and I think that we should really have a firm idea as to where this is going. Mr. Poparad, Okay.
Mrs. Conover, I guess I’d like to add that, yes, indeed, he was in supportive of an income tax, and I was part of a body that passed an EDIT tax. With that said and done, we had lost the mill. We also have an obligation, because, we, as a government, as the Porter County Government, aren’t doing our statutory requirements, which is to bill and collect and distribute property taxes on any kind of a timeline anymore. And they in turn, the local entities, including our own, are borrowing money, and we are robbing Peter to pay Paul. So with that said and done, we’re not talking about any principal.
Mr. Whitten, I agree with you to a certain extent, Karen. I understand your reasoning during the EDIT tax implementation. That’s not really what this is about, in my opinion. I respect your opinion in that. But I will tell you this, and I also agree with you that we need to address the interest that these communities have had to pay for their borrowing. I agree with you in that regard. I think we’ve discussed that in the past too. Mr. Burge, Dan, this is going back to the taxpayers. It’s not new spending, it’s getting money back in the hands of the schools, of the towns, the cities, of those that took a hit because this County could not get its act together to get the bills out. We were what, seven to nine months late? And because the money they had to borrow to get them through that nine or seven to nine month period, that’s what the plan is repaying, is what they had to borrow to, in the lost interest and everything that goes with it.
Mr. Whitten, That’s not entirely true. I think the plan addresses a couple of things, and I think one of those things is the interest. I think we discussed that, that’s the Poparad Plan, clearly. But, I think it also talks about giving incentives to the municipalities to start living within their 1% budget cap. And there are estimates, by the way, beyond the interest that you’re talking about, I agree with you on that, Jim. But they are talking about what they expect or they estimate that will cost the municipalities, schools, governmental entities to start living within the 1% cap early, and that’s also in the plan. Mr. Poparad, Okay, what I had thrown out for discussion at the last meeting, whenever, was that we pay their interest cost this year at the end of the year with whatever mechanism we arrive at, for borrowing money because of the tax bills. We sent out a provisional, etc., etc. Are we all in agreement on that issue? That issue alone? This year we will pay their interest costs, are we?
Mr. Bucko, I’m not, because I wasn’t when you even said it. I don’t think we should bite the whole thing, even though we’re saying it’s going back to the municipalities, and everything else, I’m not really looking at fault. I’m looking at the responsible entities as to why it’s happening. I mean we’re falling into trap of saying, gee, we were really bad and we were a lousy county government, and that’s not really the whole truth. Mr. Poparad, Well, I don’t know if we’re going to get into this debated. I mean we’ve got a long agenda. I probably let this go too long. I guess I’m just throwing back my original concept, do we want to go forward with paying the interest costs for the municipalities that had to borrow money because of the late tax bills. That’s the question I’m asking. Mr. Whitten, Jim, the only reason I brought it up, to be honest with you if I could, is because in the Murphy Plan that was sent out to the municipalities and government entities, it says, additionally I would ask you to contact your Porter County Councilmembers to support this plan, and he wants us to enact a resolution in support of it. So I felt it would be remiss on our part not to take a look at it, and consider what he’s wanting us to pass. Mr. Burge, Oh, absolutely. Absolutely great, but since his plan has been attacked, we should give him at least equal time… Mr. Whitten, I didn’t get equal time in the City of Valpo, you know, Dune Acres. Mr. Poparad, Well, I… Mr. Whitten, Portage. Mr. Poparad, I understand what, you know… Mr. Burge, But all those municipalities are part of the League of Councils, an entity that this body created, and one of the first things they asked for when we created it was reimbursement for the monies lost, because of the late tax bills. Mr. Whitten, That’s only one part of the plan. Mr. Poparad, Yes. Mr. Bucko, Mr… Mr. Poparad, You all got the sheet from Mike. We’re going to spend about another five minutes on this and that’s it. We’ve got a long meeting ahead of us.
Mr. Bucko, Just to give you an example of this spreadsheet, so you know what you are looking at. Year ’06, year ’07, year 2008, the total column in year ’06 where I had actual dollars, the only one in year 2006 that did not do a TAW of any kind whatsoever, and keep in mind that 2006 was not a tax issue year. Okay? Everybody, taxes went out on time in 2006. It wasn’t an issue. So that gives you a benchmark of something to look at there. In 2007, it jumped to $85,000,000. From 46 to $85,000,000. Then in 2008, it’ll be approximately $71,000,000. Mr. Whitten, And if I could… Mr. Bucko, Coming up in 2008.
Mr. Whitten, And if I may just interject here, to remind the Council, that during these years we had repeated meetings. I was president of the Council. We were calling all the elected officials, the Treasurer, the Assessor, the Auditor. We were begging for provisional bills. We were told the State wouldn’t allow us to do it. I mean I don’t think we were asleep at the wheel. I think that is a miss, an inaccurate depiction of what occurred. Mrs. Conover, Uh huh. Mr. Whitten, So we did everything we could in our power. So we are trying to fix the problem continually. Now, how we want to dole this money out is another issue. But for us to sit up and say we are somehow at blame, guys, we did what we could do. We did what we could do, and we’re not the only county that was late. Mr. Bucko, Let me, I understand what you’re saying, and the effort was there. There’s no doubt about it, but the end result is still the same. Mr. Whitten, The end result is the same. Mr. Bucko, We couldn’t accomplish it, you know, and still, if you want to take some heat for not being able to get it accomplished, even though we put our noses to the grindstone, so be it. And maybe that’s a good reason why we shouldn’t either, so, as well as the reason, we should or shouldn’t. Mrs. Conover, Mike, I just wanted to add, I appreciate your chart and your numbers, but there’s two variables here. Number one, is what the entities borrowed. Some of them borrow because they have a cash flow problem. Also, because they did not get the money that mom and dad are supposed to give. Mr. Bucko, I agree, absolutely. Mrs. Conover, They couldn’t earn interest on it or make investments, so. Mr. Bucko, That’s right. There’s absolutely no doubt about it, and that’s the 85-million bucks, you can see it. I mean they didn’t get, the tax dollars didn’t come in. They had to borrow to operate, period. Mrs. Conover, Uh huh, and money they were counting on for investments was not there, besides their cash flow problems. Mr. Bucko, All those things, everything. You’re absolutely right, there’s a lot of factors in there for that, no doubt about it. Mrs. Conover, Well I would concur that maybe we need to have Mr. Murphy come up and present his plan, and back to the Poparad Plan, which all of them I think are taxpayers plans, I think we’re pretty well all onboard, most of us, that we do owe the interest to the entities, and no, it’s not this body’s job to distribute tax money, it’s our job as a County, collectively, that’s a statutory requirement of a county. Have Mr. Murphy come, and one thing we can pretty much agree on is that we do owe these entities their interest. Mr. Whitten, Then I would suggest, if we can wait, put it on the agenda for the next meeting. I’d like to come with a written plan for everybody to sort of digest prior to the meeting. I’ve made some observations, if not criticisms about this proposed plan in front of us, and I’d like to have an opportunity to present that to this body for discussion at our next meeting. Mr. Poparad, Okay. Mr. Bucko, If we give money back, I just want to say this, to be somewhat clear, we need to be careful with how we give money back. Mr. Whitten, Absolutely. Mr. Bucko, Because you are, this is just like giving money back out of a fund, because you have it today that you may not have tomorrow, and you will be a dirty dog if you don’t do it the next time around. I mean it’s just a fact, I’m sorry, but we know how life is, and that is a fact. Mr. Whitten, Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Poparad, Okay. Mr. Burge, The plan as it was presented though was just to be a one-time to make up for what just happened in this previous year. Mr. Bucko, That would be great if the world was a perfect world. But we know that’s not the case. Mr. Poparad, Okay, you bring it back, you’ll come back. Mr. Whitten, Yep. Mr. Poparad, Alright.
A & A MANUFACTURING Mr. Poparad, A & A, Compliance with benefits. I’m assuming everybody has had a chance to look at it. We had a little bit of time here. Anybody got any questions? Chris Metrusias, Good evening. My name is Chris Metrusias with A & A Manufacturing. If I may just take a minute maybe just to present some statistics, real short. Gotcha. I’m pleased to report that A & A had a very strong year in 2007, and just to cut to the chase in terms of employment figures, we did see employment growth from 2006 to 2007. We currently stand at 123 employees in our facility in Porter County. That is up from 107 in 2006. Just referring back to our original commitments, our original statement that was filed back when the abatement was granted, we were at 50 employees with a commitment to go to 62. So we are very pleased to see we’ve had continued success, and we can also say that in year 2008, that we see 2008 also being a very strong year, and hope it continues through the end. Mr. Poparad, Are we renewing this for, David, are we renewing this for five or ten? Mr. Hollenbeck, No, this is the annual report. Mr. Poparad, It’s just the annual report, we don’t have to do anything. Mr. Hollenbeck, Right. Mr. Poparad, Alright, anybody got any questions? Mr. Hollenbeck, The appropriate action would be to accept the Statement of Benefits. Mr. Whitten moved to accept the Compliance with Statement of Benefits submitted by A & A Manufacturing. Mrs. Conover seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote. Mr. Poparad, Thank you, Chris. Mr. Metrusias, Thank you.
PROSECUTOR 01.08 Mr. Poparad, Mr. Prosecutor. Mr. Bucko, Is he coming back again, isn’t that the same $250,000. Mr. Poparad, Does everybody understand what we are doing here? I know it might be a little confusing. We’re funding the Undercover out of Casino, but we’ve got to get it over to his budget. Mr. Whitten, I would move to approve the additional. Mr. Poparad, Okay, well, it’s a reduction slash additional all at the same time. Mr. Whitten, All at the same time. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the request for Reduction/Additional Appropriation submitted by Prosecutor 01.08, the amount of $250,000 from Council Casino 234 - 2251 Undercover Expenses to Prosecutor 01.08 - 2251 Undercover Expenses. Mr. Bucko seconded. Mr. Poparad, Any discussion? Mrs. Conover, No, it’s just about time that we fund the Narcotics Unit in Porter County.
Mr. Whitten, I guess I have a question. Brian Gensel, I put that in my budget. Mr. Poparad, Yes. Mr. Gensel, I mean I put that as a supplement to my budget. Mr. Poparad, Right, right, we understand. Mr. Whitten, I guess I have a pretty off-the-wall question, but I was recently at a Portage police merit board meeting, and they were discussing a task force in all these different municipalities that were sending officers to the task force, and I said, oh, it’s this one, and they said, no, it’s a different one. So is there another task force? Is there a new one or is it… Mr. Gensel, Yes. Chief Becker has, and I’m not certain which other municipalities have provided manpower. I think it’s fairly new. But Chief Becker has decided to create a task force, kind of an interagency task force at this point, to basically, you know, if there’s trouble at the motels on 20, boom, they go there. If there’s trouble with, basically, it’s a, it’s kind of a directed task force to deal with some of the issues in Portage on the wolf pack sort of cases. Mr. Whitten, I gotcha. So it won’t be an overlap? Mr. Gensel, It won’t, although, I expect, and we have already seen that they have done some narcotics activity, because some of the people in that unit were former narcotics officers, so it’s near and dear to the heart. They share that information with the formal narcotics unit, so we’re working with them on this type of thing. Mr. Whitten, Okay. Thanks, Brian. Mr. Poparad, Any other questions? Mr. Bucko, Yes, I have one. Is portions of the funding from this money supporting any of that? Mr. Gensel, No. Mr. Bucko, I’m just trying to get a heads-up. This is brand new to me. Mr. Gensel, No, this 250,000, as I explained over the months that we’ve kind of been visiting and revisiting this, is to supplement at least the three major departments to put another man in, and we’re getting pretty close. People have gone through the academies and they’re just about ready to pull the trigger. Unfortunately, I mean I don’t know if unfortunately is the right answer, but unfortunately they haven’t been any quicker in that because I apparently didn’t have any money to give them. Mr. Poparad, Okay, anybody else? Call the roll please. Motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote. Mr. Poparad, Thank you. Mr. Gensel, Thank you. Mr. Whitten, Thanks, Brian.
SUPERIOR COURT 6 - THODE 01.39 Mr. Poparad, Superior Court 6. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the request for transfer of funds, the amount of $400 from 3610 Maintenance Agreements to 3131 Interpreters and the request for additional appropriations, the amount of $16,961.64 to 1110 Salaries, submitted by Superior Court 6 - 01.39. Mr. Carmichael seconded. Mr. Poparad, Okay, this is for that new person that you’re filling out. Judge Jeff Thode, It is. Apparently, I didn’t do everything I was supposed to do. I got the person, but no money to pay for them. Mr. Whitten, That’s apparent. Mr. Poparad, Yeah, shame on you. Judge Thode, And this is apparently more than I need, but that’s what they told me in Valpo to ask for that. Mr. Poparad, Alright, we’ve got a motion to do them both at the same time, the transfer is obviously for Interpreters. We’ve got a motion Dan and a second from Bill. Any questions? Call the roll, please. Motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote. Mr. Hollenbeck, Mr. Chairman, we need to remember… Mr. Poparad, I know. Mr. Hollenbeck, Throw that caution out, your approval of this additional appropriation tonight will sit on the desk of the DLGF in Indianapolis until the agency approves our budget, and our… Mr. Poparad, You got any light on that? Mr. Kopp, We’ve got to get AV’s done… Mr. Bucko, You want to know if the light on this is, yeah, we’re six steps behind. Mr. Poparad, Yes, well, seven, I thought. I thought it was seven. Mr. Bucko, Well, yeah. Mr. Kopp, At best, probably September 1st, and that’s really pushing it, Mr. Bucko. Mr. Poparad, Alright, thank you. Judge Thode, Thanks, good luck to you.
COMMISSIONERS 01.30 Mr. Poparad, Commissioners. We’re transferring $17,575.49 from Power to Auto. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Commissioners 01.30, the amount of $17,575.49. Mr. Bucko seconded. Mr. Poparad, Any questions? All in favor of the motion, say aye. Motion carried on a unanimous voice vote. Mr. Poparad, Thank you, Bob.
HIGHWAY 02 Mr. Poparad, Highway. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Highway 02, the amount of $9,000 from 4420 Motor Vehicles to 4650 Vehicle Repair. Mr. Carmichael seconded. Mr. Poparad, We’ve got a motion and a second on the transfer only, $9,000 from Motor Vehicles to Vehicle Repair. All in favor of the motion, say aye. Motion carried on a unanimous voice vote. Mr. Poparad, Motion carries. We have an additional for $100,000 for fuel. Mr. Whitten, We’re that far short? David James, We’re way that far. We’ve already spent the 150,000 that was budgeted. We’ve asked for $75,000 additional, which is sitting on the desk down the DLGF. We’re 61,000 into that. Mr. Whitten, Wow. Mr. James, And the State Auditor said they’d pay the bills, but we had to ask for the additionals. That’s why we’re here. Mr. Whitten, Okay. How much farther do you think we’re going to get with this money? Mr. James, The $100,000 won’t take us to the end of the year if the price stays where it’s at. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Highway 02, the amount of $100,000 to 2210 Gas, Fuel & Lube. Mrs. Conover seconded. Mr. Poparad, Any discussion? Don’t look at me about the price of gas. Mr. Bucko, Hahaha, no, but is this… Mr. Poparad, It’s Highway money. Mr. Bucko, Yes, is this just for the highway work? Mr. Poparad, It’s just for the Highway Department. Mr. Bucko, Just for Highway. Mr. James, MVH only. Mr. Poparad, Any questions? Mr. Bucko, No, none. Mr. Poparad, Call the roll. Motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.
HIGHWAY LRS 25 Mr. Poparad, Okay, we’ve got a transfer of $50,000 from Construction to Construction. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the request for transfer of funds, the amount of $50,000 from 25.0491 to 25.0498 Construction. Mr. Whitten, This is a state fund match? Mr. Poparad, Is this for matching state money? Mr. James, State fund match for construction of a bridge. Mr. Poparad, Alright, we’ve got a motion. Mrs. Stevenson seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote. Mr. Poparad, Motion carries, thank you. Mr. James, Thank you.
ITS 01.50 Mr. Poparad, Is Sharon here? Mr. Whitten, I don’t know, but I move to approve this transfer. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by ITS 01.50, the amount of $5,000 from 1110 Salaries to 1130 Overtime. Mr. Poparad, Yes, this is to cover the… Mr. Bucko, From April. Mr. Poparad, Yes, this is from April. We’ve got a motion from Dan. Mr. Bucko seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.
ASSESSOR REASSESSMENT 08.09 Mr. Poparad, Assessor Reassessment, you want to come up, John. John? Mr. Whitten, John. Mr. Poparad, You guys want to come up. Mr. Whitten, They’re punching your dance card. Mr. Burge, Wasn’t the reassessment one withdrawn? On my copy it says it’s withdrawn. Mr. Poparad, You’re withdrawing the additional for the? Jan, it’s withdrawn? Ms. Noll, Only for the Furniture & Fixtures. Mr. Poparad, Oh, the Furniture. Okay, but we need to do the 20,000 for Data? Ms. Noll, Yes, sir. Mr. Poparad, The 25 has been withdrawn. We need to do the additional for 20,000 to Data. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted and amended by Assessor Reassessment, the amount of $20,000 to 4510 Data Processing Equipment. Mr. Carmichael seconded, motion carried on the following roll call vote:
Conover-YesCarmichael-Yes
ASSESSOR 01.09 Mr. Whitten, Do you want to take them altogether? Mr. Poparad, Well. Mr. Carmichael, We can’t. Mr. Poparad, No, I think we’re going to have to vote on each one. I’m just thinking, the Supervisor is somebody, one of the township people that are coming in. Is that what it is? Shirley LaFever, Yes. Mr. Poparad, Then does that? Mrs. LaFever, These positions, Lindy from the Auditor’s Office gave me a cut-off date, and the amount of money that was in each of these budgets, and we know there’s still bills to be paid, Bob, but we had to start somewhere, and these are the figures that Lindy gave me. Mr. Poparad, No, no, I’m saying the Supervisor. Mrs. LaFever, It’s from a township. It’s a township deputy. Mr. Poparad, It’s a deputy, it’s not a township… Mrs. LaFever, It’s a deputy. Mr. Poparad, Okay, it’s not an elected… Mrs. LaFever, No, sir. Mr. Poparad, It’s not an elected official. Mrs. LaFever, Janine Chrisman of Porter Township. Mr. Poparad, Okay. Mr. Whitten, Do you anticipate the supervisor having, you know, you asking for additional monies for the supervisor in the budget session? Mrs. LaFever, Yes, sir. Mr. Whitten, Because I think we’re asking, you know, I’m trying to get a handle on the responsibilities, and it seems like this supervisor stepping up is quite a job. Mrs. LaFever, It is. But we said we’d move everybody in here in the same position until budget time, then we’re doing a whole new thing at budget time for next time year. Mr. Whitten, I suppose, and I understand that. I do, but I suppose I’d be one that would be an advocate of paying this; we’re asking someone to step in and take a lot of responsibilities. This is like a wild west show that they’ve given us from downstate, and I’d just like to see that we compensate people as much as we can. Mr. Carmichael, Are these, do these salaries apply to 2009? Mrs. LaFever, For the rest of this year, Bill. This is salaries for the… Mr. Carmichael, What are you going to do for 2009? Mrs. LaFever, We’ve got a budget. Mr. Bucko, You’re not going to ask for a budget? Mr. Scott, No, and… Mr. Carmichael, You’ll have to have an increase… Mr. Scott, To, to 2009 we have a budget thing in there, what the salaries for everybody, and we’ve done it by putting two deputies that will be supervisors, and the rest will be either Deputy 1’s, Deputy 2’s, Deputy 3’s. Then as we proceed, we are cross, we are going to cross train everybody, and at some point in time whether I’m still in office or not, at that time, when we finally get that, reach that point, we’ll probably ask that all of them receive exactly the kind of money because they would all be doing exactly the same kind of work. But we have to cross train to get them there. Mr. Whitten, John, I’m a little confused. You said that in here is the 2009, because I just see the remaining… Mr. Scott, No, no. That’s in our budget for next year. Mr. Whitten, That’s what you’re going to be promoting. Okay, I gotcha. Mrs. LaFever, This is township budgets going in the County’s budget. Mr. Whitten, So it’s not here. You’re saying you turned it in for ’09. Mrs. LaFever, The budgets been turned into Mr. Kopp already. Mr. Scott, To give you a kind of a heads-up, we brought in all of the southern townships, and all of their equipment and everything that they have is upstairs. There was a problem of trying to find a place to put all the desks and chairs, wastebaskets, phones, anything that these particular people have, and we were told to disburse them any way we can. Some of them are leaving them there for the trustee assessors to have. Some of them are leaving their stuff there for whoever wants it. Because the person that was going to move it said that they would move it, but they wouldn’t pay us anything for it--they would move it--and then they would just throw it in a dumpster. So we figured it would be better to give it to somebody that could use it, and not overburden the, you know, the barn where you would take all this stuff and put it into it. Mr. Whitten, So this flow chart here, this, like the supervisor, is that the chief deputy? Mr. Scott, That’s the two there. Mr. Whittne, Are they the same? Mr. Scott, Yeah, those two, those two are under Shirley. Mr. Whitten, Okay. Mr. Scott, Then Shirley, of course, is under me. So she’s taking a big wad of responsibility, and so are these two people. And we just hope to God that they survive. Mr. Whitten, Well it just seems like we’re asking them to come in with quite a responsibility for the little… Mr. Scott, It’s going to be. Mr. Whitten, Little pay, I mean… Mr. Scott, It’s going to be, it’s not going to be easy. Mrs. LaFever, All we’re doing is moving the township budgets under the county budget. Mr. Whitten, I understand that. Mrs. LaFever, And we will ask for no changes for the rest of 2008, because we’re going to have to write new job descriptions and everything at this time. Mr. Whitten, Right. Mrs. LaFever, And we’re just trying to get them up here and get them organized, so we can continue to work. Mr. Whitten, I guess I’m just saying, as you move into the ’09 budget, I haven’t looked at your proposed ’09 budget. I hope that these supervisors that are taking on all this responsibility understand that this is going to be… Mrs. LaFever, They do. Mr. Whitten, That you’re going to be advocating for an increase. Mr. Scott, Yeah, we studied real hard to figure that they were capable of doing the jobs. Mrs. LaFever, They’ve been told that, Dan. Mr. Poparad, Well on thing that we’re going to run into is their proposed budget, we don’t know what’s going to happen to Center and Portage in the election. Mr. Whitten, That’s true. Mr. Poparad, The budget will be approved, and then whatever the plan is, let’s say they run Susan Larson out of office, but they keep Mo in Portage. His budget is already set. Mr. Whitten, Yes. Mr. Poparad, He has no, we have no place for people, etc, etc, or vise versa, or any of the above. Mr. Scott, Well. Mrs. Conover, But they’ll be assuming that office that might have lost too. Mr. Poparad, Right. He’ll have to assume the work in Center. Mrs. Conover, Yes. Mr. Poparad, But no more bodies. Mr. Whitten, So as we’re working on our ’09 budgets, we have to consider… Mr. Poparad, Well what do we do. Mr. Whitten, We have to… Mr. Poparad, I’m being rhetorical. Mr. Whitten, The townships, right? Mr. Hollenbeck, I think you keep the township budgets. Mr. Poparad, Oh yeah, we’re going to do a township budget, but Surely… Mr. Scott, It has caused us… Mr. Poparad, Surely, I would think the intent of all this consolidation, I don’t know how many people Susan has upstairs, five, six? Mr. Scott, I think she has six. Mrs. LaFever, Five. Mr. Poparad, Five plus her? Mrs. LaFever, I think five is including her. Maybe there’s six with her, Bob. Mr. Poparad, So let’s say there’s five full-timers. Mrs. LaFever, I’ve worked on their budgets. Mr. Poparad, If the Center Township Assessor loses the referendum, are you automatically going to hire all five people? Mr. Whitten, Well I think he’ll take on her budget. Mr. Scott, Yeah. Mrs. LaFever, I think we will do them the same as we did the others. Mr. Scott, The responsibility levels. Mr. Hollenbeck, Yes, it’s the same drill they’ve gone through. Mr. Poparad, Well I guess this segueing into another discussion point. How many people do you really need when it’s all said and done? Mr. Scott, Well, by this six months… Mr. Poparad, See that’s, I’ve got to be honest, John. Mr. Scott, The six months working… Mr. Poparad, And I’ve been pretty silent on this issue, and I’m not saying too much about it. But, we’re hiring people for a workload that may not be there with this consolidation, and once they’re hired… Mrs. LaFever, Bob, upstairs the ten townships are going to take care of 44,000 parcels. Mr. Poparad, Right, but once they’re hired, they’re hired. So I just want to caution everybody that this building has a habit of once hire somebody… Mr. Scott, And those 12 people that you’re talking about in those other townships, if they pass the referendum, which I don’t believe they, everybody seems to be against that idea. If that happens, between those townships they nearly have 40,000 parcels themselves. So the 40,000 are coming with these 10, and there’s 40,000 there. Salaries may change, because their responsibility level will be lowered. The responsibility will fall on the two people that are going to be the supervisors here, and Shirley, and myself. Mr. Whitten, Sure. I hear what you are saying, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Poparad, Okay. Mr. Whitten, I mean I guess we just have to, as we move through this… Mr. Scott, There’s just no one good way. They just have not planned ahead, the Legislature just did not plan ahead to put this into works. There’s a whole bunch of things in 1001. One is, it takes me basically off of the PTABOA Board as a voter. But under the law, I’m still the secretary of the PTABOA Board, but I cannot vote on anything, because I defend all the assessments that are coming from everywhere. Mr. Bucko, Well if it makes any difference, the Commissioner, Cheryl Musgrave, I think that’s her name, her attitude is, I don’t care how much money you have to spend in overtime; I don’t care how many more people you have to hire; I don’t care how many consultants you have to pay for, but this job will be done this year before you, so we can get this tax issue straightened out. That’s her attitude. Her next attitude is, you’ve got local option income taxes, you can raise them if you need to. That’s their agency. I’m telling you the truth. It came right out of the mouth of the head person. They don’t care. Okay? Mr. Scott, That’s their big push, that’s what they want you to do. Mr. Bucko, They don’t care. Mr. Scott, They’re trying to force you into that, that corner. Mr. Bucko, Well, I mean it’s a, it was never more obvious in my mind. Mr. Whitten, Well I guess at this point then, I don’t know that it’s the appropriate time to be micromanaging and downsizing. We just need… Mr. Poparad, No, no, no. Mr. Bucko, No, I don’t… Mr. Whitten, I think we have to evaluate it to go through all this, and trust in our Assessor, and hope that things will get streamlined properly, and the work gets done, and just get an update as we go. Mr. Poparad, Well the good news is that when it comes to the assessing part of this whole tax structure, right now we have three people to ask that question to; after the referendum, if they lose, we have one person to ask, and he’s sitting in front of us--what’s the problem. We don’t have to ask Candy or we don’t have to ask Nancy or anybody else. We ask John or whoever sits in that seat, which is, I think probably was the real big intent of 1001, was to have the go-to-guy, and you’re the go-to-guy now, July 1st, which is next week, yeah. Mr. Whitten, You’re the man. Mr. Carmichael, One question. The concern that I have, that room is noisy and non-satisfactory for all the work that they have to do. The air conditioning and all those units, you’ve got to work out something with the commissioners on some additional space somewhere else. Mr. Poparad, Yes, I think was all short-term. Mr. Carmichael, Huh. Mr. Poparad, Well. Mr. Carmichael, Not good. We meet up there, we’ve been up there many, many times. Mrs. LaFever, Bill, you guys should go up there and take a look at it tonight while it’s just South County in already. We still got the north townships to bring in on Thursday. Go up there and take a look at it tonight just with the south townships in. Mr. Scott, And we’re not bringing none of their desks. A few wanted to bring their own chairs and stuff like that that they bought, which is logical. Mr. Poparad, Okay. Are we going to do them one at a time? We’ll do the Supervisor from zero to $29,069. Mr. Carmichael, All at once, take ‘em. Mr. Poparad, Do them all at once? Mr. Carmichael, Yep. Mr. Poparad, The Deputy to $24,383; another Deputy at $24,264; a Deputy from zero to 19,493; another Deputy to 27,808; and a Deputy to 23,308. Mr. Carmichael moved to amend the 144 Form submitted by Assessor 01.09, Supervisor from $0 to $29,069, Deputy from $0 to $24,383, Deputy from $0 to $24,264, Deputy from $0 to $19,493, Deputy from $0 to $27,808, and Deputy from $0 to $23,308. Mr. Whitten seconded. Mr. Poparad, We have a motion from Bill, and a second from Mr. Whitten on the 144. Any questions? Are we all on the same page? Obviously, all the money is coming over from the townships… Mr. Bucko, The Part-time Office at $11, is that the one we raised? I don’t know, I think we went to a minimum of 15. Do we want to mess with it at all? Mr. Poparad, No, this flow chart, this flow chart has, we’re not doing anything, this is just information only. Mr. Bucko, Okay. Alright, excellent. Mr. Burge, But overall, this is going to be additional new positions? Mrs. LaFever, No. Mr. Poparad, Well, the township deputies are just coming over to him, and that’s where the money is coming from, down below. Mr. Scott, And this is all their budgets, and what is being… Mrs. LaFever, That’s all it is. Mr. Scott, Being taken from their budgets to put into our budget, as far as salaries and stuff. Mr. Whitten, Jim, it sounds like you’ve got some concerns, and maybe there are concerns that are well suited for the budget session for ’09. If you’re thinking that there’s some duplication of duties, responsibilities or funds that could be cut, maybe that’s the time. Because I’m hearing, I think that’s what I’m hearing. Right? Mr. Burge, Yeah, I mean those things. We also know that we’ve got the township assessors, some of my concerns are, we have some very bright, very excellent township assessors that we’ve had… Mr. Scott, We’ve hired them all. Mr. Burge, Until… Mr. Scott, We were smart enough to hire them all. Mrs. Conover, Not all of them. Mrs. LaFever, The full-time… Mr. Scott, All of the township assessors. Mrs. Conover, You hired all? Mrs. LaFever, We hired, all full-time assessors, we hired. Mrs. Conover, All full-time, but not all the… Mrs. LaFever, Not all trustee assessors. Mr. Scott, No. Mrs. LaFever, We hired full-time, all full-time assessors. Mrs. Conover, Okay, but not all the assessors. Mrs. LaFever, Not trustee assessors. Mr. Poparad, Any more questions? Call the roll, please. Motion incomplete on the following roll call vote:
Carmichael-YesBurge-No Mr. Bucko, Just a quick question. The remaining 2008 salary amounts to be transferred, that’s just a note? Okay. Motion carried on the following roll call vote:
Carmichael-Yes Burge-No
BOONE TOWNSHIP 01.51
ASSESSOR 01.09 Mr. Poparad, Alright, Boone Township, we have a transfer of $14,000 from Salaries to the Assessor’s budget. $4,283 from Hourly to the Assessor’s 1120. We have $1,000 in Travel, and I’m just approximating; $1,038.40 to Travel. $700 in Education, from Boone Township, Training & Education to Assessor’s Training & Education. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the request for transfer of funds, $14,592.87 from Boone Township 01.51 - 1110 Salaries to Assessor 01.09 - 1110 Salaries, $4,283 from Boone Township 01.51 - 1120 Hourly to Assessor 01.09 - 1120 Hourly, $1,038.40 from Boone Township 01.51- 3210 Travel to Assessor 01.09 - 3210 Travel, and $700 from Boone Township 01.51 - 3130 Training & Education to Assessor 01.09 - 3130 Training & Education. Mrs. Stevenson seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote. Mr. Poparad, We have to do a reduction appropriation, $14,592 from Salaries; $4,238 from Hourly; $700 from Training & Education; and $1,038 from Travel. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the request for reduction appropriations submitted by Boone Township, the amounts of, $14,592.87 from 1110 Salaries, $4,238 from 1120 Hourly, $700 from 3130 Training & Education and $1,038.40 from 3210 Travel. Mr. Bucko seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote. Mr. Poparad, We have an additional of $14,592.87 to Salaries; $4,238 to Hourly. Mr. Whitten, Mr. Chairman, our Attorney advised that if we wanted to, we could take care of all of these in one final swoop. Mrs. Conover, Let’s do it. Mr. Poparad, Okay. Mr. Whitten, Is there any opposition to that idea? I mean they’re all just the same stuff. Mr. Poparad, Everything is the same. Do we want to read them or just? Mr. Whitten, I mean we see them. Ms. Noll, Bob. Mr. Poparad, What. Mrs. Conover, We see them, they’ve been advertised. Ms. Noll, There’s a couple of them that are screwed up. Mr. Poparad, Well wait a minute. Mr. Whitten, There’s one that’s screwed up. Mr. Bucko, There’s a question mark on Jackson. Mr. Whitten, I don’t understand. I see a question mark on Union. Mr. Poparad, Well let’s get through this one. We’re doing an additional of 14,000 to Salaries; $4,200 to Hourly; 700 to Training and 1,038 to Travel in John’s 01.09 budget. That’s an additional. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the request for additional appropriations submitted by Assessor 01.09, the amounts of, $14,592.87 to 1110 Salaries, $4,238 to 1120 Hourly, $700 to 3130 Training & Education and $1,038.40 to Travel. Mr. Bucko seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.
JACKSON TOWNSHIP 01.52
ASSESSOR 01.09 Mr. Poparad, In Jackson Township we have a discrepancy. Mr. Whitten, I don’t see one. Is there? Ms. Noll, Yes. I don’t know if it was published for 2210 Other Supplies or 2110 Office Supplies. Mrs. LaFever, I’m turning in 2110 Office Supplies. I don’t know if it got published that way or not. Mr. Whitten, How did it get published? Mr. Kopp, Office Supplies, I’ve got 400 in Jackson. Mrs. LaFever, Yeah, account number 2110. Ms. Noll, Then that one is okay. Mr. Poparad, Okay. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the requests as submitted: the transfer of funds, $6,835 from Jackson Township 01.52 - 1120 Hourly to Assessor 01.09 - 1120 Hourly, $400 from Jackson Township 01.52 - 3210 Travel to Assessor 01.09 - 3210 Travel, $50 from Jackson Township 01.52 - 3130 Training & Education to Assessor 01.09 - 3130 Training & Education, $400 from Jackson Township 01.52 - 2110 Office Supplies to Assessor 01.09 - 2110 Office Supplies; the reduction appropriation submitted by Jackson Township 01.51, the amounts of, $6,835 from 1120 Hourly, $400 from 3210 Travel, $50 from 3130 Training & Education and $400 from 2110 Office Supplies; and the additional appropriations submitted by Assessor 01.09, the amounts of $6,835 to 1120 Hourly, $400 to 3210 Travel, $50 to 3130 Training & Education and $400 to 2110 Office Supplies. Mr. Bucko seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.
LIBERTY TOWNSHIP 01.53 Mr. Poparad, Okay, Liberty Township. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the requests as submitted: the transfer of funds, $13,518.75 from Liberty Township 01.53 - 1120 Hourly to Assessor 01.09 - 1120 Hourly, $500 from Liberty Township 01.53 - 3210 Travel to Assessor 01.09 - 3210 Travel, $500 from Liberty Township 01.53 - 3130 Training & Education to Assessor 01.09 - 3130 Training & Education; the reduction appropriation submitted by Liberty Township 01.53, the amounts of, $13,518.75 from 1120 Hourly, $500 from 3210 Travel, $500 from 3130 Training & Education; and the additional appropriation submitted by Assessor 01.09, the amounts of $13,518.75 to 1120 Hourly, $500 to 3210 Travel and $500 to 3130 Training & Education. Mr. Carmichael seconded. Mr. Poparad, We’ve got a motion from Mr. Whitten, and a second from Mr. Carmichael. This is for Liberty Township and the additional. Any questions? If anybody wants to see it we’ve got it all here. It’s just lots of math. Motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.
MORGAN TOWNSHIP 01.54
Mr. Whitten moved to grant the requests as submitted: the transfer of funds, $2,990 from Morgan Township 01.54 - 1120 Hourly to Assessor 01.09 - 1120 Hourly, $200 from Morgan Township 01.54 - 3210 Travel to Assessor 01.09 - 3210 Travel, $100 from Morgan Township 01.54 - 3130 Training & Education to Assessor 01.09 - 3130 Training & Education; the reduction appropriation submitted by Morgan Township, the amounts of $2,990 from 1120 Hourly, $200 from 3210 Travel, $100 from 3130 Training & Education; and the additional appropriation submitted by Assessor 01.09, the amounts of $2,990 to 1120 Hourly, $200 to 3210 Travel and $100 to 3130 Training & Education. Mrs. Stevenson seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.
PINE TOWNSHIP 01.55 Mr. Poparad, Pine Township. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the requests as submitted: the transfer of funds, $5,041 from Pine Township 01.55 - 1120 Hourly to Assessor 01.09 - 1120 Hourly, $206.40 from Pine Township 01.55 - 3210 Travel to Assessor 01.09 - 3210 Travel, $100 from Pine Township 01.55 - 3130 Training & Education to Assessor 01.09 - 3130 Training & Education, $389.38 from Pine Township 01.55 - 2110 Office Supplies to Assessor 01.09 - 2110 Office Supplies; the reduction appropriation submitted by Pine Township, the amounts of, $5,041 from 1120 Hourly, $206.40 from 3210 Travel, $389.38 from 1120 Office Supplies, $100 from 3130 Training & Education; and the additional appropriation submitted by Assessor 01.09, the amounts of, $5,041 to 1120 Hourly, $206.40 to 3210 Travel, $389.38 to 2110 Office Supplies and $100 to 3130 Training & Education. Mrs. Conover seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.
PLEASANT TOWNSHIP 01.56 Mr. Poparad, Pleasant Township. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the requests as submitted: the transfer of funds, $4,930 from Pleasant Township 01.56 - 1120 Hourly to Assessor 01.09 - 1120 Hourly, $588 from Pleasant Township 01.56 - 3130 Training & Education to Assessor 01.09 - 3130 Training & Education, $400 from Pleasant Township 01.56 - 2110 Office Supplies to Assessor 01.09 - 2110 Office Supplies, $500 from Pleasant Township 01.56 - 3130 Training & Education to Assessor 01.09 - 3130 Training & Education; the reduction appropriation submitted by Pleasant Township 01.56, the amounts of, $4,930 from 1120 Hourly $588 from 3210 Travel, $400 from 2110 Office Supplies, $500 from 3130 Training & Education; and the additional appropriation submitted by Assessor 01.09, the amounts of, $4,930 to 1120 Hourly, $588 to 3210 Travel, $400 to 2110 Office Supplies and $500 to 3130 Training & Education. Mr. Carmichael seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.
PORTER TOWNSHIP 01.57
UNION TOWNSHIP 01.58 Mr. Whitten, Is there a problem with Union? Ms. Noll, Yes. Mrs. Conover, Yes. Mrs. LaFever, Well I don’t know. Jim, I turned in, from what you gave me, 10,219.64 for Union Township Salaries. Did you advertise that or did it get left out accidental for Union? Mr. Kopp, Union has no Salaries advertised. Mrs. LaFever, Okay. So I turned in what Sharon Fekete gave me, 10,219.64, so I think it was left out accidental, so I don’t know how you want to handle that. I’ve got copies here. Mr. Kopp, It probably, is it in your additional total, Shirley, or not? Mrs. LaFever, It’s in my transfer; it’s in my reduction; and it’s in the additional. This is salaries that you told me to add in, you took it off? Mr. Kopp, Yeah. Mr. Poparad, Did we advertise it or not? We did not advertise it. Mr. Kopp, I don’t.
Mrs. Conover, Then we can’t approve it. Mr. Kopp, It’s not on the sheet, but it’s advertised, I think, under the 144’s, under County Assessor 1.09. Mr. Hollenbeck, What? What didn’t get published, an additional appropriation? Mr. Poparad, Correct. Mr. Hollenbeck, Okay, because if it’s a transfer it doesn’t have to be. Mrs. LaFever, Correct. Mr. Poparad, Why don’t we just bring it all back next month. Mrs. LaFever, Well what happens to this township employee? Mr. Poparad, Well then we’ll pay them. We’ll pay them, I mean it’s not like they’re not going to get paid. Mr. Whitten, You don’t want to address the transfers and the reductions? Mr. Poparad, Let’s do the whole thing together all at once. That way it all stays together. Mr. Whitten, Alright. Mr. Poparad, It’s just Union will come back next month. Mrs. LaFever, Okay.
WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP 01.59 Mr. Poparad, Alright, Washington Township. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the requests as submitted: the transfers of, $7,500 from Washington Township 01.59 - 1120 Hourly to Assessor 01.09 - 1120 Hourly, $200 from Washington Township 01.59 - 2110 Office Supplies to Assessor 01.09 - 2110 Office Supplies; the reduction appropriation submitted by Washington Township 01.59, the amounts of $7,500 from 1120 Hourly and $200 from 2110 Office Supplies; and the additional appropriations submitted by Assessor 01.09, the amounts of $7,500 to 1120 Hourly and $200 to 2110 Office Supplies. Mr. Bucko seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote.
WESTCHESTER TOWNSHIP 01.12
Mr. Poparad, Okay, Westchester Township. Mr. Poparad, Okay, thank you. Mrs. LaFever, Bob, can I just make one statement? Mr. Poparad, Yeah. Mrs. LaFever, On the Assessor 01.09, the 144 Form, all that is… Mr. Poparad, Where you at? Mrs. LaFever, On the Assessor 01.09. Mr. Poparad, Okay. Mrs. LaFever, The 144 Form, I think Mr. Burge voted against it. It’s the same thing that’s in here. All this is, is the employees for the township, I had to put on the 144. It’s just their salary is being transferred over. That’s all it is. Mr. Whitten, We understand. Mrs. LaFever, Okay, I wanted to make sure you all understood that. Mr. Poparad, Yes. Mrs. LaFever, These are the same employees. Mrs. Conover, We do. Mrs. LaFever, Okay. I don’t know why Mr. Burge voted no against it. Mr. Carmichael, If there are any corrections, they should be back. Mrs. LaFever, Just Union Township. Mr. Kopp, Yes, everything else we’ve got. Mrs. LaFever, Everything else is okay except for Union Township’s. Thank you. Mr. Burge, Hey, Bob. Before we go onto Jail 217, can we take just a five minute? Mr. Poparad, Yes. Wait a minute. I’ve got to ask this. Sit down, John. Mr. Scott, Sure. Mr. Poparad, We are getting township budgets turned into us from some of your assessors. Do we need to address that or are we just going not, like ignore it? Mr. Hollenbeck, I’m not sure of this, maybe the assessors can address this. I think that’s the advice they’re getting from their township assessing association. Mr. Poparad, Association, okay. No? Mr. Hollenbeck, Because of the lawsuit? Jean Swanson, No, it came from Barry Wood, Department of Local Government Finance. Mr. Poparad, Okay. Mr. Hollenbeck, Well, then I, if it came from Barry I need to check into it farther. I had an answer, I thought it was the result of the lawsuit. I had an answer, I thought it was the result of the lawsuit. I’ll check with Barry Wood. Mr. Poparad, Could you. Well what I’m saying is, I’m not going to bog her down with budgets that we’re not going to address. Mr. Hollenbeck, I understand. Mr. Poparad, So we need that answer as quick as possible. Mr. Hollenbeck, And if it had come from the lawsuit that was going to be my answer… Mr. Poparad, Well that’s what I’m wondering. Mr. Hollenbeck, That we’re not going to address it. Mr. Poparad, Yes, okay. Mr. Hollenbeck, But you’re saying Barry Wood recommended that? Ms. Swanson, I had heard from a couple of people. I called Barry Wood and that’s what he said. Mr. Hollenbeck, Alright, I’ll look into it and report to all of you. Mr. Poparad, Okay, thank you. We’re going to take five minutes. At this time, there was a five-minute break. Meeting reconvened with all members present.
JAIL 217 Mr. Poparad, Okay, we’re back in order; we’re back here at least. Mr. Bucko, There you go, be careful. Mrs. Conover, No order here. Mr. Poparad, Alright, the Sheriff, it appears we’re on Sheriff 217, or yeah, Jail. You need an additional $20,000 to Medical because the inmates are sick. Mr. Whitten, Shortfall. Gotta keep them healthy, Sheriff. Sheriff Dave Lain, We do what we can. Thank you for this forum. There are, I think you know there are a lot of issues that we are faced with. Mr. Poparad, Well let’s do the additional first, and then… Mr. Whitten moved to grant the request for additional appropriations, the amount of $20,000 to 3140 Medical & Hospital. Mrs. Conover seconded. Mr. Poparad, Any questions? Mr. Carmichael, What’s the balance? Mr. Whitten, Good question. Mr. Poparad, In 217. Ms. Bailey, $6,769.28. Mr. Poparad, $6,000. Mr. Carmichael, That’s it? Mr. Poparad, That’s it. Mr. Bucko, 217 only has $6,000, did I hear right? Mr. Whitten, You heard that right. Mr. Poparad, Correct. Mr. Carmichael, Whoa. Mr. Whitten, That rodeo is coming to an end. Mr. Poparad, Okay, well let’s deal with the additional, because that’s going to be the long discussion we’re going to have after this. Mr. Burge, Now wait a second, you’re asking for, verify, there’s 6,000-bucks in… Mr. Poparad, Yeah. He was paying the medical… Mr. Burge, So you’re asking for 20-grand from the general fund to supplement. Mr. Poparad, He was paying the medical out of 217, or part of it. Sheriff Lain, Just to clarify, medical expenses, typically, have been running about 12,500 a month. Mr. Poparad, Okay, and that’s with that service you contract with? Sheriff Lain, I’m sorry? Mr. Poparad, Is that the service you contract with? Sheriff Lain, A good deal of that is the, is the services we subcontract with for, from Advanced Medical. Mr. Whitten, Call the question, Mr. Chairman. There’s not much we can do. Mr. Bucko, No, I just was going to ask. If it’s running $12,000 a month, did any of that drop when the state prisoners went away? Sheriff Lain, Well, uh, no, because that issue that the, the state inmates reimbursed for medical expenses. DOC reimbursed for medical. Mr. Bucko, You mean we ran 12,000, we ran that 12,000 plus, over and, plus some margin over and above that, but that money was paid for by the State? Sheriff Lain, Yes. Mr. Bucko, This is just our bare costs. Sheriff Lain, This is what, yes, the cost of doing business. Mr. Bucko, Gotcha. Mr. Poparad, Call the roll, please. Motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote. Mr. Poparad, Okay, now, there seems to be a confusion at this end of the table, and maybe at that end too. We just approved an additional for 20,000 in a fund that only has 6,000. So is the rest going to come out of the general fund? Mr. Whitten, That’s a pretty good question. Not the way we approved it. Mr. Poparad, Right. Mr. Hollenbeck, It’ll come out of 217. Mr. Poparad, Right. So if 217… Mr. Hollenbeck, Now there is revenue that comes in monthly? Sheriff Lain, Yes, the revenue is, we bring--let me see if I can find it, I’ve got it here. Mr. Kopp, It’s about 25,000. Sheriff Lain, Okay, about 25,000. Mr. Poparad, So when you get some revenue, then we’ll fill the additional. Mr. Bucko, That’s alright. That makes sense. Mr. Poparad, Alright, now you want to talk about 217. Mr. Whitten, It was a unanimous vote. Mr. Poparad, Yeah, we all voted wrong, but that’s alright. SHERIFF LAIN TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL REGARDING SHORTFALL IN JAIL 217 Mr. Poparad, Alright, go ahead, Sheriff.
Sheriff Lain, Well, we have, we have all at one point or another discussed, and I think Mr. Carmichael has raised the question, and rightfully so, what happens if 217 goes away, and, and that has always loomed as a possibility, because unlike the federal inmates, that was never under contract. The State doesn’t do contracts. It was something that was hoisted upon us. Nobody, I mean we all knew that someday it could happen, particularly under the conditions that we were operating the jail in an overcrowded situation. So I can’t say that it was a big surprise, but no, the State did not telegraph their intentions until the time that they said, no more. Mr. Bucko, Does that $30 a day, excuse me, if I may, include some portion of it, for medical expenses or is that just 30-bucks a day, and you divvy it up how it’s, $40 a day divvied up as needed by that fund?
Sheriff Lain, Well that, yes, that goes into, and we have divided that pie over the course of time in all areas, partially medical, particularly dental, the bedding that’s used, household, the food, which is another huge expense. So that, the size of that pie has been reduced. We will probably still experience some DOC inmates over the course of the foreseeable future, because as new inmates, as new people are sentenced to DOC, they still come back from the court through our facility, but now, instead of a quote, unquote, semi-permanent residency there. They are only held there until such time the state can find a bed for them somewhere, and they are moved out, usually in the period of a few days. Mrs. Conover, Sheriff, is it not true that we are charged with housing our own Class-D felony inmates? Sheriff Lain, Yes. Mrs. Conover, But after they’re sentenced is DOC not reimbursing us, because we have to house our own rather than send them through the State’s system? Sheriff Lain, Yes, the State has come up with this formula, and that’s when, we have to live in the world given us. Mrs. Conover, Okay, the next thing I wanted to address is, when this jail was built, and I was part of the Council when this jail was allowed to be built, it was built for indirect supervision. We have a pod that is not open, correct? Sheriff Lain, Correct. Mrs. Conover, Is there any possible way to put our lesser offenders in that pod with indirect supervision to free up the other pods to allow you more capacity for the DOC’s? Sheriff Lain, Well I wish that were the case. In fact, we, for a time had housed the inmate workers, formerly known as trustees, in that pod, and we ended up, with no supervision. We don’t have, we are using indirect supervision methods now in the two operating pods. So we don’t have anybody to pull from one area to add any bodies to that B pod; B is the closed pod. So what we ended up having, it was a risk that we took in placing the inmates workers in that pod for a period of time. We ended up having problems. None that were not resolved, and none that resulted in any major danger, but as expected, without supervision of any kind, except through main control, the video monitoring, we had problems. So I have moved those inmate workers 20, 25 of them back into the general population, into the pods where we have some supervision. So I guess the answer to the question is, I’d like to, I can’t. Mrs. Conover, Have we put any thought at all, and I think it was Councilman Poparad that brought up 12-hour shifts. Sheriff Lain, We have talked about that on numerous occasions. Frankly, we do not have the raw numbers of personnel to be able to institute that form of shift. Mrs. Conover, And how do we obtain those raw numbers? Sheriff Lain, We have to hire more officers, more jail officers. Mrs. Conover, Well Bob and I have had that discussion, you know, since the last three years ago when he brought it up. I guess we need to evaluate how many officers you would need for an indirect supervision for the third pod so we can house the inmates we need, and refurbish the funds, and kind of keep some kind of a system going with our State, since we are charged with housing our own D-felonies. Sheriff Lain, Sure. And I would only caution that, really, that, the bubble that we had, that we were living within, the bubble burst when the State pulled their inmates. Mrs. Conover, Yes. Sheriff Lain, We cannot, we cannot reform that situation, because the only way that we can hope to bring in additional state inmates is to hire additional staff, which will significantly impact any, and I hesitate to use the word, but for purposes of illustration I’ll use it, any profit, although we don’t profit from this, per se. But any excess realized from those additional state inmates, because we have now, it won’t be like it used to be. Those margins will not be what we had enjoyed in prior years. Mrs. Conover, Well I think that nothing is what it used to be as we’ve been experiencing here as individuals and government entities. But, I mean you’re bringing this forward to us. Do you have any solutions here? We’re to be cutting down government--the size of government. We are to be living within our means; our budget levels are supposed to be what they were this year. We don’t even have an approved budget. Do you have any suggestions? Mr. Poparad, Well I guess maybe one thing we ought to touch on first is this year his shortfall, which is he short now or is he going to run short next month? Mr. Kopp, We don’t have enough to do the next payroll. Mr. Poparad, Alright. Mr. Whitten, What comes out of 217 a month? Mr. Poparad, Lots. Ms. Bailey, 70,000 to 75,000. Sheriff Lain, For payroll, and I don’t think that 75,000 covers the other expenses for the operation of the jail. I think, isn’t there about 70, 65, 75,000 for the payroll. Mr. Kopp, 65 to 75 for payroll. Mr. Whitten, So I guess my question is, what comes out of 217 a month? Mr. Poparad, Dollars? Mr. Whitten, Yes. Mr. Bucko, What is it used for? Mr. Whitten, What’s the big number? What has he been taking out of 217 a month. You said 65 to 70, then you said 65 to 70 for salaries. So salaries plus medical. How much comes out of 217. Tell me what it was two months ago, you know, then how much came out since then. Mr. Kopp, Alright, May was 57,000. April, 70. 106 in March. February, 56. January, 93. Mr. Whitten, Well that clears it up. Mr. Poparad, It averages 75 a month. Mr. Whitten, Coming out? Mr. Poparad, Yes. Mr. Whitten, That can’t be, because he’s saying 65 to 70 for salaries, plus 12 for medical. Mr. Kopp, So it’s 77. 65 and 12 is 77. Mr. Whitten, What else do you use that for, Sheriff? Sheriff Lain, Well, it goes, it pays a portion of, well, Contractual Services, which is the food budget. That’s a major portion. Household & Bedding, Medical & Hospital, Medical & Dental, Overtime, Merit Pay, which we are also, our officers are experiencing pay cuts. Mr. Whitten, So I guess that’s my point. I’m asking really what we are looking at. I mean I’ve heard about four or five different numbers, and I just want to know how short we’re really looking at. Mr. Poparad, About 80,000. Mr. Kopp, It’s 851,000 until the end of the year, is a round number. Mr. Whitten, Okay. Mr. Kopp, Payroll and medical and some other stuff.
Mr. Whitten, And the contractual. Mr. Poparad, It’s 850 for the rest of the year. Mr. Whitten, Okay. I guess I, so the 850 for the rest of the year, you’re saying that includes salaries, medical, contractual services, and all these things that you need to fund for. Sheriff Lain, Correct. And remember that there are, those salaries include several employees, whole employees. Mr. Whitten, Right, right. Mr. Bucko, And the average income is roughly, what did he say it was, the income in that? The earning power in that fund is roughly 20-some thousand a month? Mr. Kopp, 25 a month. Mr. Bucko, There’s a shortfall there. Mr. Whitten, There’s a shortfall. Mr. Burge, The one thing Bob brought up though, I still keep going back to the 12-hours shifts, because to me it defies logic to go from three shifts to two, and not have enough people to cover it. It would seem like you’re freeing up a third to cover the interim. I know we’ve had these discussions, as well. You would need a modified 12-hour shift. There does seems like it could be a way to help save some money. Sheriff Lain, Well, first of all, I am charged with the responsibility of running the jail, and the safety of those held within. We have, we’ve, we’ve shown numbers of people that have to be in certain places at certain times. There are duties that have to take place at certain times and certain places. With a 12-hour shift, because not everybody is designed to be on a 12-hour shift. Some of those duties are based on an 8-hour shift. What we will end up with, and I will be happy to show you the actual manning charts--the tables--day by day, what we end up with is, we have excess people on some days on some shifts, and below minimum people on other days and other shifts. Mr. Burge, That’s with a straight 12-hour. Sheriff Lain, That’s correct. Mr. Burge, So you would have to have modified where there are some people… Sheriff Lain, And we… Mr. Burge, Who overlaps to handle those people. Sheriff Lain, We can, we can, we’ve got a PowerPoint that we can show you where people need to be, and Mr. Burge, it just does not work. Mr. Poparad, Well, there’s a point that you just raised, that I just thought about. I’m staying out of this 12-hour discussion, because I’m tired of talking about it. A lot of this has to do with the transportation of the federal prisoners. Has anybody ever thought, and heaven forbid I throw this out for discussion, is we quit housing state and federal prisoners, and we run our jail and pay our own damn bills, and quit making this a profit center, etc, etc. Mr. Whitten, I guess I’d like to see… Mr. Poparad, I’m just throwing that out theoretically. Mr. Whitten, The breakdown, I mean, Jim has talked for three years about the need for a human resources person, someone that can look at job descriptions, allocation of resources, all that stuff. And if you’re wanting to go in that direction, I think we need a clear picture of what that’s going to look like, revenue, costs, all of that stuff. Mr. Poparad, I mean how many, we’ve got 30 federal prisoners right now. Roughly, that would be 10% of your population. Mr. Hollenbeck, We’ve got a contract. Mr. Poparad, Is it time that we say, we don’t house them anymore? Is that… Sheriff Lain, Well we can’t. We’re under contract… Mr. Poparad, The contract’s done, I think, the timeline is done. That was before I got on the Council, and I’ve been here five years. So that was a five-year deal. Sheriff Lain, No, that was a 15-year deal. Mr. Poparad, Well, I don’t… Mr. Whitten, You look like you’ve been on the Council 15 years. Mr. Poparad, No. I know. But I don’t know if we can’t just call up the Federal Marshals and say, come get your prisoners. I mean we didn’t sign a 15-year contract. I’m sure we didn’t. I don’t think Gwenn would have allowed that. Mr. Whitten, Did we sign a 15-year contract? Mr. Hollenbeck, I do not know the duration of the contract. Mr. Poparad, Well, whatever it is. Mr. Hollenbeck, We can certainly find out. Mr. Poparad, My point is, is it something we ought to discuss. That’s all I’m saying. Do we want to house… Mr. Whitten, Yes. Mr. Burge, Yes. Mr. Whitten, Sure, sure. Mr. Poparad, You know, is that something we need to look at for next year, maybe. At the end of the year, they’re done, and they go home, and the revenue is what the revenue lost or whatever, because we knew the bubble was going to burst, and now it’s burst. So he’s going to be out of money next month. So what’s our feelings here? Do the Commissioners want to jump in here at some level? Mr. Whitten, Huh, what do you mean jump in here. Mr. Hollenbeck, The Commissioners are going to have the same shortfall in their part of this funding. Com. Harper, No, no. Mrs. Conover, Yes. Mr. Bucko, Yeah. Mr. Poparad, No. Mr. Hollenbeck, No? Mrs. Conover, No? Mr. Hollenbeck, Okay. Com. Harper, You know, I say that, but Melissa is not here, and we’ve gone over that budget. We have to pay the utilities, and part of the Johnson Controls contract. They were never budgeted, so it’s always been out of that 233, the additional utilities. The Johnson Controls is a big contract, the jail part of the Johnson Controls, but there was always more money in the 233 that needed to be in the 233. The way it looks to us, next year, 233 will just about make it. It’s going to squeak by based on his reduced numbers that we should be able to, we may have to take some out of some other funds, but we should be able to make it on the 233 for the utilities and the Johnson Controls. Mr. Hollenbeck, For the rest of this year? Com. Harper, So we should be okay for the rest of this year, and we think we’re okay for next year. And Melissa’s off today, I didn’t realize we were going to discuss this tonight, but when she put our budget in, I think our budget reflected that. Did it not, Jan? Ms. Noll, Yes, it’s reduced. Com. Harper, So we, so in other words, when we put 233 in we reduced it down to what we expect to come into it, rather than the extra. But it’s 217 that has like $400,000 worth of raises, plus some jail personnel. I wonder if 85-grand a month will cover it. I’m not sure if that covers it. But if it does cover it, what you’re saying then is, it’ll bring in how much a day. What’s the difference going to be until the end of the year--I’m trying to think in my mind. You got 80,000, we got how many months left that we are talking about. Mr. Whitten, Six. Mrs. Conover, Six. Com. Harper, And if it’s 80 minus 25, then we’re talking over 300, right? Mr. Whitten, Yes. Mr. Bucko, Yes. Mr. Whitten, We’re talking another 300. Com. Harper, You know, Bob had asked me, and I said, well, I’ll bring it up. But I think for the Commissioners, if there’s a jam, to bring in EDIT to do it. I mean I don’t know if you guys want to do it that way or not. That’s up to you. Mr. Poparad, Well the problem is, even if we do an additional he’s still going to run out of cash. Mr. Hollenbeck, Well the additional would be from EDIT. Mr. Poparad, No, no, I mean if we just forget the EDIT. If we just did the additional on our own, he’s going to long run out of cash before that additional is approved. Mr. Hollenbeck, Oh yeah. Mr. Bucko, Yes. Mr. Poparad, So I mean we literally need to do something with cash, and the other place with cash is… Com. Harper, Well we could it, I guess you could do it in EDIT to do it. The only thing I think we should do, is first take a look at what we are going to need for the rest of the year out of 217. Mr. Poparad, Well that’s what I’m talking about. I’m just talking about this year. Mrs. Conover, Yes, use 217 first. Com. Harper, So we know what that figure actually is. Mr. Poparad, Yes, just this year. Com. Harper, The other thing I think Dave said that was really true is, you know, talking about more guards and more prisoners, here’s where we were at. We had a jail that was built for 430, right? Or 440? Sheriff Lain, For 450.
Com. Harper, Well, I think it was more like 430 or 440. Com. Harper, Okay, then 454. And I think that the County expected it to last for a few years before it… Mrs. Conover, Yes. Com. Harper, Before it wouldn’t work anymore, and we were running 500-some prisoners in that jail. So the jail, if you had everything open, it was overcrowded. So we’ve used all the space. So as a money-making proposition, it doesn’t really work too well. It doesn’t seem to be. Mr. Whitten, What are we running now, Dave? Sheriff Lain, Our population is about 370, 375. Mrs. Conover, Without that third pod. Mr. Bucko, We don’t have anybody sleeping in the isles or nothing, they’ve all got beds. Sheriff Lain, Everybody’s, everybody is tucked in their own little bunk. Com. Harper, Apparently… Mr. Whitten, Sawing logs. Com. Harper, Dave, apparently, the head of the Department of Corrections split today, so things may change a little bit. Sheriff Lain, They had what? Com. Harper, Apparently, the head of the Indiana Department of Corrections left today. Sheriff Lain, Donahue? Mr. Poparad, Yes. Com. Harper, So things are going to change a little bit. Mr. Poparad, He’s moving back to Kentucky. Well I’m just throwing this out. Okay, so I guess maybe what I’m asking you, are the Commissioners offering EDIT money for the rest of this year? Com. Harper, I have to take it back to a meeting, but if you guys, if that’s what you want to do, we’ll ask and get it back to you. Mr. Poparad, Well I don’t know if we have much choice. Mr. Hollenbeck, At least in the short run. Mr. Poparad, Right, no, just to get them through the rest of this year. Com. Harper, I’m just asking. I mean that’s… Mr. Bucko, And that’s to bolster the 850,000 estimated need. Mr. Poparad, Well he needs 850, but whatever the shortfall between what 217 brings in and… Mr. Bucko, What they earn and… Mr. Poparad, Yes. Mrs. Conover, It’ll be about 300,000. Com. Harper, Yes, but he doesn’t need 850 until the end of the year. You’re talking a whole year. Mr. Poparad, Right, right. Com. Harper, Until the end of the year you’re talking six months times 50,000, 55,000. Mr. Poparad, The 850 is… Mr. Bucko, So the 850 was a full 12-month session? Mr. Poparad, No. Mr. Bucko, It was six months. Mr. Kopp, No, the 850 is until the end of the year. Sheriff Lain, That’s the shortfall. Com. Harper, No, 850 was 12-months. How can you have 850? You’re saying he’s running 8,000 a month. You got six months left, that’s 48,000. Mr. Whitten, 480. Mr. Kopp, Bud had it laid out for 851,000 until the end of the year is what the shortfall was doing. Mr. Whitten, Okay, see, that’s where I was trying to get at. Com. Harper, Jim, I just don’t stand that. Mr. Whitten, Because I think it’s more than 80,000. Mr. Kopp, There’s more that comes out of there. Mr. Whitten, Okay, that’s what I was getting at. Com. Harper, Well that’s what Whitten’s been asking you. How much comes out of there a month? Mr. Whitten, I think the shortfall is bigger than we are talking about here. Com. Harper, See, I think if you look at some of the stuff that’s coming out of there is one-time shots, that’s why you need to sit down and find out to see what’s going to happen. Mr. Hollenbeck, You look at the budget that was approved, subtract the expenses that have already been paid, that’s what’s left to spent. Take that figure, and subtract the anticipated income, and we’ll know what the shortfall is. Mr. Bucko, That’s right, exactly. Mr. Kopp, That’s about 700,000. Com. Harper, But, Dave, here’s what I’m saying. You’ve got to take a look, because some of the stuff that was coming out of there were one-time shots. That’s why I keep saying, you need to have someone sit down and say… Mr. Hollenbeck, And I agree. Com. Harper, How much actually has to come out of that for the operation of the jail until the end of the year. Mr. Whitten, That’s what I want to find out. Mr. Poparad, Okay. Mrs. Conover, That’s what we need. Mr. Kopp, I think we can do that by the next meeting. But we still need to fund payroll until the next meeting. So we’ve got to fund a couple of payrolls somehow. Mr. Whitten, Okay, so I guess then if we’re under the assumption that we have to dip into the EDIT pie to get, to keep the show on the road here, keep it going, then maybe we can do that for a couple of months while we figure out what the absolute need is in that budget. How’s that? Com. Harper, I’m asking, you know, it’s you guys’. We’ll do what you want. I think the Commissioners will do what you want to do. I mean you tell us what you want us to do. We’ll have to hold a special meeting or do something. But I don’t think we should do the whole thing until we know. Mr. Whitten, No, I guess I’d like to make a motion that we fund it for two months from the EDIT, what he needs to make payroll and the expenses. In the meantime, get a breakdown of what’s coming out of that fund, and what you are anticipating, Sheriff, is going to be needed to come out of that fund until the end of the year. Mr. Whitten moved to fund the expenses in Jail 217 from CEDIT monies for two months, and get a breakdown of the anticipated expenses until the end of the year. Mr. Bucko seconded. Mr. Poparad, We’ve got a motion and a second. We’re at discussion. I still am throwing back out on the table, is it in our best interest to house prisoners. For next year, forget this year. This year’s done, ’08 is done. Mr. Whitten, Well that’s part of the analysis. Mr. Hollenbeck, That is part of the analysis. Sheriff Lain, Well… Mr. Whitten, I guess if the Commissioners vote no… Mr. Poparad, Go ahead. Wait a minute, Sheriff, go ahead. Sheriff Lain, Well, let me say this. With the reduction in the state inmates, it is a much, and it’s not because of the nature of the inmates, it’s just because of the numbers, it’s a much safer, more efficient jail to operate with lower numbers. I would, I think we’ve had this discussion before, as far as the funding, we would, we’d like to give that to the Council to begin with, but we know that that affects the levy, and it doesn’t work that way. I don’t personally need or desire any federal or state inmates. It was done as a revenue source. Mr. Poparad, Right, right, and maybe that was… Mrs. Conover, It was. Mr. Poparad, Yeah, I mean we all agreed with the logic at the time. Maybe it’s time that we just look at it a little differently. Are we in the business in Porter County of housing federal prisoners, whether we make any money or not, I guess is the philosophical… Mr. Whitten, I guess I’d like to see the breakdown, I’d like to see the cost benefit of it all. Mr. Poparad, Yes. Mr. Bucko, Well, I think when you do that you’re going to have to look very carefully at any of those inmates that are in the community corrections program. Mr. Poparad, Well… Mr. Bucko, Because, you’re saying outside of that. Mr. Poparad, No, one of his big problems, because me and him have had long, heated discussions about this in private, is he has to transport the federal prisoners. Is that correct? Sheriff Lain, Yes. Mr. Poparad, Okay. Mr. Bucko, That’s a different animal. Mr. Poparad, Well, but wait a minute. That’s Fort Wayne, South Bend, Hammond? Sheriff Lain, No, it’s just back and forth to Hammond. Mr. Poparad, Okay, but that’s a manpower issue. Mr. Bucko, You bet, I understand. Mr. Poparad, And I don’t think we’re reimbursed for that, are we? Sheriff Lain, Yes, we are. We are reimbursed both for time, and mileage, and I have to say, that that’s covered through overtime. Mr. Poparad, Okay, but my point is, that still takes people out of your jail. Sheriff Lain, Well it, it adds to their, it adds to their overtime. Mr. Poparad, Right, so that’s what I’m saying. Is it in our best interest? That’s all I’m saying. Call the question on Mr. Whitten’s motion. Mr. Burge, Is there an actual amount to Dan’s motion? Mr. Whitten, Well… Mr. Poparad, We’re going to have it by next meeting, but I think the consensus is to get with the Commissioners. Mrs. Conover, We guessed to make payroll. Mr. Whitten, Yes, for payroll and… Mr. Poparad, Yes, get some detailed numbers. Com. Harper, We have to bring them back to you is what we have to do. Mr. Poparad, Yes, but you need to bring it up at your meeting. Com. Harper, Amend the CEDIT plan, and bring it back to you guys is what we have to do. Mr. Poparad, Payroll, how are you going to… Mr. Kopp, You ought to put a number on it, so that we can make the payroll. Mr. Whitten, You said you need 60,000 for payroll. You’re going to have a shortfall of 60,000? Mr. Bucko, About 141,000, that’s per month? Mr. Poparad, Two months. Sheriff Lain, I think that, I think 60 is short in payroll. Mr. Bucko, 240, 280, something like that for two months. Mr. Kopp, 250 would certainly get us, at least until the next meeting. Mr. Poparad, Okay. Mr. Whitten, I would hope so; 250? Mr. Bucko, Yes, because you’re looking at 850. Mr. Whitten, Yes, but I don’t want to do the rest of the year. Mr. Burge, Yes, just for two months. Mr. Bucko, If you’re short, you’re short, you can’t… Mr. Burge, But I don’t want to just do a blank check. Mr. Whitten, No, no, let’s do like 100,000. That’ll get them through a month, and then we can in the meantime take a look at it and see what the heck we’ve got to do here. Mr. Hollenbeck, Realizing that you can’t do any of that tonight. Dan’s motion is to… Mr. Whitten, Send it to the Commissioners. Mr. Hollenbeck, Get it back to the Commissioners, and Mr. Harper is right, it’s got to come back to you as an additional appropriation request. Realistically, in the interim, what I think I’m hearing you tell the Auditor is to go ahead and use that source of revenue, and you’re going to retroactively approve that action at your next meeting. Mr. Burge, So this is just a resolution saying? Mr. Whitten, Take it to the Commissioners. Mr. Burge, Then they’ll come back to us with a solid proposal of numbers. Mr. Whitten, Right. Mr. Poparad, I mean obviously he has to make payroll. Mr. Whitten, That’s right. Mr. Poparad, So we don’t need to take a vote on that. We all nodding our heads, affirmative? Mrs. Conover, Uh huh. Mr. Poparad, You’ll get, is anybody going to get with the Sheriff on this financial thing? Does somebody want to volunteer? Mr. Whitten, I’ll do it. Mr. Bucko, I’ll do it. Mr. Poparad, You know, you guys want to work together, and look at everything. Mr. Bucko, I will. Mr. Whitten, Jim, you want in? Mr. Bucko, Anybody? Mr. Burge, I’d love to if I’m here for your meeting. I travel a lot, so it’s… Mr. Poparad, I’m just throwing out the federal thing. Mr. Whitten, I’m in. Mr. Poparad, And the state thing, as well. We just maybe get rid of the prisoners, and see how our life would be. Sheriff Lain, Well, I think everything is on the table. But, well, I don’t think we can, because of the contract, but… Mr. Poparad, Aghhhhh. Sheriff Lain, But we’ll contact, contracts… Mr. Bucko, They’re made to be broken. Mr. Whitten, Contracts contract. Mr. Poparad, Yeah. Com. Harper, Here’s what I need, because I think someone asked the County Attorney. They signed that before I came here, but I think you can get out of it, but you may have to pay that million dollars that you got from them. Mr. Poparad, I thought that was five. That’s where the five years came in. Mr. Whitten, Well I guess we could take a look at that. Mr. Hollenbeck, I’ll look at the contract and… Mr. Poparad, Okay, but realize at budget, he’s going to have, he’s going to have some issues at budget with the jail budget, obviously, in 217. Mr. Bucko, Something’s going to have to give. Mr. Poparad, Yes, this isn’t going to go away. We’ve got a slit wrist; we just put a band-aid on it. Thanks, Sheriff. Sheriff Lain, Alright. Mr. Whitten, Thanks, Dave, I’ll give you a call.
PARKS 01.85 Mr. Poparad, Parks. Parks, where are the parks guys. We’ve got a transfer of $10,000 from Salaries to Contractual Services. Mr. Whitten, Landscaping, aye. Mr. Poparad, Late hiring of full-time staff--okay--using fund for professional landscape service at Brincka Cross. Okay, anybody got any questions on the transfer? Mrs. Conover moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Parks 01.85, the amount of $10,000 from 1110 Salaries to 3950 Contractual Services. Mrs. Conover seconded, motion carried on a unanimous roll call vote. Mr. Poparad, Thank you. Ed Melendez, Thank you. Mr. Whitten, For that you came into town. Mr. Melendez, Now I can go back now. Mrs. Conover, Yeah, and that will take you an hour and a half.
JUVENILE PROBATION USER FEES 47 Mr. Poparad, Juvenile Probation, we have transfer of $1,400 from Consultants to Training, and 500 from Dues to Training. Mr. Whitten moved to grant the request for transfer of funds submitted by Juvenile Probation User Fees 47, the amounts of $1,400 from 3120 Consultants to 3130 Training & Education and $500 from 3930 Dues & Subscriptions to 3130 Training & Education. Mr. Bucko seconded, motion carried on a unanimous voice vote.
JUVENILE DETENTION CODES 248 Mr. Poparad, We have a 144 from Juvenile Detention CODES 248. Okay, we’ve got a 144, we’re doing something with the Director from $0 to $5,000; and the Assistant Director from $0 to 5,000, what is this, Judge?
Judge Mary Harper, I know that, I missed a lot of your really scintillating discussion earlier this evening about the assessors and stuff, because I was back on my laptop. Reading minutes of past meetings from 2002, presently, and I actually had copied from the minutes for the budget hearing held in August of 2003 the discussion that we had that really initiated the process of setting and collecting the CODES fee. That discussion was a discussion about the need to provide services to kids in detention, and to find a way to pay for that, so that it did not come out of the general fund, and it was not an assessment to taxpayers. |
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June 24, 2008