|
County Commissioners
January 11, 2016
- Commissioners will hold a public hearing on February 1 about the cumulative bridge property tax rate.
- A resident criticized the commissioners on several topics.
- County Engineer Ted Cooley expressed his concern for the safety of Highway Department workers.
MORE BRIDGE MONEY IN 2017
Attorney Grant Reeves reminded the commissioners that the county will receive less property tax money for bridge repairs in 2016, because the county's paperwork was not submitted to the state by the deadline. For 2015, the commissioners lowered the cumulative bridge tax by $250,000 to help balance the budget and allow more money for day-to-day operations. However, the usual bridge tax rate was not "reestablished" for 2016. Thus, there is less bridge money for 2016.
Mr. Reeves has drafted the paperwork to "reestablish" the usual tax rate for 2017. He said that this is not an overall property tax increase. It is a shift of tax money from the general fund to the cumulative bridge fund.
The first order of business is to advertise the tax rate. Next, the commissioners will hold a public hearing on February 1 at 10:30am. Then the commissioners can vote to change the cumulative bridge tax rate. The commissioners approved Mr. Reeves' plan.
TAXPAYER CONCERNS
Betty Lecher
Betty Lecher has been regularly attending commissioners' meeting since August 2015 and often asks questions or offers a comment from the audience. At this meeting, she was on the official agenda and addressed the commissioners about several issues.
She started by acknowledging that the commissioners have a tough job, thanking them and saying that she approves of most of their actions.
As she has done on many occasions, she told them that she has a loss of hearing that her hearing aids cannot correct completely. She cannot hear them when they do not use their microphones. She characterized these as "private meetings," because she cannot hear them while sitting in the second row about 15 feet away.
Mrs. Lecher told Commissioner Wilson that he showed an "arrogant attitude" when he said that she had no right to question him about the commissioners being part time or full time county employees. She told him that both he and Attorney John Worth were wrong about their explanations on why the commissioners were full time positions.
Quoting from the Indiana Code, Mrs. Lecher described the roles of the county commissioners and county council. She said that county council "trumps" the commissioners on financial matters. She spoke about the budget process. She criticized the commissioners for failing to account for the entire cost of the new Stockpile Road Bridge.
She asked for a copy of the commissioners' contract with Attorney John Worth.
Lastly, she asked if a promised conference call had occurred between the auditor's office and the insurance broker to answer questions about the Affordable Car Act. She received no reply. Mildred I. Simmermeyer asked the commissioners about the conference call and Commissioner Wilson and Auditor Steve Brach provided her with details.
 Mildred I. Simmermeyer
Mildred I. Simmermeyer stood at the speaker's podium and asked if the commissioners have a contract with Attorney John Worth. The answer was, "No." Mrs. Simmermeyer then read from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce's publication, Here is Your Indiana Government and told the commissioners that they were required to have a contract. From the audience Council President Becky Oglesby said that council does not have a contract with Attorney Grant Reeves, whose services they use.
SAFETY CONCERN FOR HIGHWAY WORKERS
County Engineer Ted Cooley related an incident wherein a Highway Department employee was "almost hit." A two-man crew was doing patching on St. Mary's Road and a car drove past the truck just as the employee was ready to cross the road to fill a hole. Mr. Cooley said that the worker couldn't hear or see the car coming.
The truck's lights were flashing to warn the motorist to slow down. Mr. Cooley suggested roadwork signs be placed closer to the work area. Sometimes the signs are miles away, as the crew moves along the road. Commissioner Roberts suggested the county add bright strobe lights to the trucks that can be seen 1 -2 miles in the distance. From the audience, Council President Becky Oglesby suggested using a second truck to follow the crew when working on hills and blind curves. The Highway Department will decide on the solution.
INDOT CONTRACT
Mr. Cooley asked the commissioners to sign a contract for $232,233 with the Indiana Department of Transportation to oversee the required bridge inspections. He noted that the federal government pays 80% of the cost of the contract and the county pays the remaining 20%. The first inspections were already completed in October 2015. INDOT failed to send contracts to some counties before the inspections started, said Mr. Cooley.
Commissioner Roberts raised questions, saying the contract was vague about "more money" and which inspections were included. Mr. Cooley will clarify the contract with INDOT before the commissioners sign it.
WATER LINE TO BROOKVILLE LAKE
The commissioners approved a request from the Army Corps of Engineer to place a 4-inch water line on top of a county culvert on Wildcat Lane. The Corps owns the right-of-way along that part of Wildcat Lane. The new line will provide water to a bathroom in the park below the dam and elsewhere on park property. County Surveyor Joe Gillespie said that work should begin in 30-60 days, depending on the weather.
BRAY ROAD DRAINAGE OKAY
Mr. Gillespie showed the commissioners the results of checking the drainage on the properties of Walter Oelrich and Alan Vanmeter in Blooming Grove Township. He checked the elevation and found plenty of "fall" to allow storm water to flow downhill. No other action was recommended in response to Mr. Oelrich's complaint last month.
YEARLY APPOINTMENTS READ ALOUD
Last week, the commissioners reappointed county employees into various jobs by approving "numbers 1 through 14." This week, Commissioner Eric Roberts read aloud each position and the employee's name for the official minutes.
MULTIPLE SERVICES CONTRACT
Luke Kahren offered a contract to the commissioners that covered a range of services including information technology, engineering and bridge inspections. He said there is no cost to the county to sign such a contract until an assignment is agreed upon. Having this contract in hand would allow the county to react quickly in an emergency. Mr. Kahren's contract is not exclusive; the county can still use other firms. Last week, the commissioners asked for a proposal from Mr. Kahren. This week, they decided to wait a week until Mr. Kahren gives them specific prices for engineering services.
OTHER BUSINESS
The commissioners approved minutes and utility claims. Commissioner Wilson read the Veteran Service Officer's monthly report of interviews, calls and visits. They appointed Bob Braun to the Area Planning Commissioner and the Board of Zoning Appeals, replacing Haroline Ison, who resigned.
Commissioner Tom Linkel was absent.
The next meeting is Tuesday, January 19, at 10am.
Reported by Sara Duffy | 
