|
County Commissioners - May 2, 2016
- The commissioners finally purchased a wheel loader after more debate and name-calling from the audience.
- US Highway 52 near New Trenton will close from July 11 to November 11 for bridge repairs.
- Commissioner Linkel reassured employees that direct deposit of payroll is secure.
JOHN DEERE PURCHASED AFTER MORE DEBATE
& NAME CALLING FROM THE AUDIENCE
Commissioner Tom Linkel said, "I'm still holding to my guns. The John Deere is the best offer" for a wheel loader that he has talked about since March. He said that he had good experience with John Deere equipment and that the low bidder's JCB wheel loader did not meet all of his specifications.
Commissioner Eric Roberts countered that the JCB wheel loader was equal to the John Deere and saved the county $8,000. He preferred some of the JCB loader's features and gave an example of trying to pull a load with a Ford Mustang or a Ford Truck to make his point that the JCB was more powerful.
This ongoing controversy began in March. At that time, the commissioners opened sealed bids for a wheel loader. MH Equipment of Indianapolis had the low bid for a JCB loader. After reviewing the bids, Commissioner Linkel said that no manufacturer could meet all of the bid specifications. Commissioner Linkel was interested in a John Deere loader that Murphy Tractor Equipment offered for sale in an email directly to Commissioner Linkel. Commissioners' attorney John Worth advised that they could not consider an email bid that was not a sealed bid. Commissioner Linkel changed the specifications and rebid for a wheel loader.
Last week, the commissioners opened new bids. This week, Commissioner Linkel made a motion to purchase the John Deere. The commissioners continued debating the parking brake, locking differential, horsepower and torque. The JCB representative was in the audience and said his firm could provide another model of wheel loader that would meet Commissioner Linkel's specifications except for the brake.
Councilman Keith Hall and Commissioner Tom Wilson exchanged words after Council member Hall asked the
commissioners a question.
Commissioner Tom Wilson told Council member Hall, "We are not asking for your input."
Council member Hall replied that the commissioners were reversing what they said last week - that elected officials could comment on county business during the meeting. Council member Hall added, "Are you the dictator today."
Council member Wilson told him the wheel loader purchase was "not relevant to you."
Council member Hall came back with, "I'm a citizen. I'm a council member. Are you saying no one is allowed to speak? Let's be very clear."
Commissioner Wilson told Council member Hall to hold his comments until the end of the meeting. He asked how the wheel loader pertained to Council member Hall as an elected official.
Council member Hall said, "We are the fiscal department of this county. You are spending an extra $8,000 for a piece of equipment. Can you justify to the citizens of this county...the $8,000?"
Council member Hall continued that the commissioners wrote the bid to match the John Deere catalog specifications so that it was impossible for any other company to compete. Commissioner Linkel said that Caterpillar met the specs. The JCB representative disagreed, saying that Caterpillar does not have a torque converter in its transmission and could not have met the specification.
Commissioner Linkel talked about rebidding the wheel loader again, but Commissioner Roberts said two rounds of bidding were enough and they should "come to a conclusion."
At this point, Commissioner Linkel almost gave up and then Commissioner Wilson seconded his motion to buy the John Deere for $145,000. Commissioner Roberts was opposed.
US 52 NEAR NEW TRENTON CLOSING JULY 11
The state will close US Highway 52 near New Trenton from July 11 to November 11 to repair two culverts. There will be two closures at different times and locations.
In Dearborn County, they will replace a culvert located east of New Trenton near Wesling Road. This work will close US 52 for 60 days beginning July 11.
Next, the state will replace a culvert located west of New Trenton and 600 feet east of Elkhorn Road. That work will close US 52 for 30 days beginning in early October. All construction should be completed by November 11, 2016.
The official detour for trucks will use SR 1, SR 46 and US 52. Commissioner Roberts suggested that the county designate two unofficial detours for local traffic. He wants to route local traffic on Johnson Fork in Dearborn County and on St. Peters Road in Franklin County. Commissioner Roberts worried that trucks would attempt to go up narrow, winding New Trenton Road - "the worst hill in Whitewater Township."
The state wants the county have only one local detour, because the state will pay to repair damage caused by extra detour traffic. County Engineer Ted Cooley will ask the state about two local detours.
PAVEMENT STUDY CONTRACT FOR $41,800
The commissioners spent almost an hour interviewing and questioning Shawn Strange of First Group Engineering before voting to contract with his firm for a pavement study not to exceed $41,800. This amount will be reduced to exclude gravel roads that were in a prior proposal.
To qualify for 50-50 state grants for road repairs, the county must do an analysis of paved roads and have a plan for future maintenance. This analysis must be completed in time to apply the first round of state grants this summer. Grants of up to $1 million will be available in 2016 and 2017, according to Mr. Strange. He said that his firm could meet the grant deadline and complete the study within two months.
Initially, Commissioner Linkel was hesitant to consider a proposal from Mr. Strange, in case county council required bids from multiple vendors. County Engineer Cooley pointed out that the county already received quotes from two other companies for substantially more money. USI Consultants gave a price of $103,000 and American Structurepoint, $92,000. Commissioners' attorney John Worth advised that the commissioners were only required to get quotes for projects costing over $200,000.
Commissioner Linkel also asked how a company could do the work for a much lower cost than other firms. Mr. Cooley talked about Mr. Strange's references from nearby counties and cities. Mr. Strange explained how his firm holds down costs and promised to exceed the state requirements for the pavement study. After a discussion of road conditions and repair options, the commissioners decided to offer a contract to Mr. Strange. They will officially sign it next week.
Then the commissioners discussed how to pay Mr. Strange. They talked about using the bridge fund or money intended for local roads. From the audience, Council member Keith Hall commented that the Highway Department has sufficient money available in the category of inspections to cover this contract.
DIRECT DEPOSIT
In response to last week's questions about the security of the county's direct deposit of payroll, Commissioner Linkel read a prepared statement and handed out information. He explained the direct deposit system, talked about security measures in place and stated that direct deposit is in the best interest of the county and its employees. The county saves $3 for every direct deposit. Stopping direct deposit would be costly, time consuming and would not change the security for personal data already in the county's records, said Commissioner Linkel.
Next, Commissioner Linkel offered advice for preventing fraud and described consumer rights and protections. He said that consumers should regularly review account statements for any problem and contact their bank within 60 days.
Commissioner Linkel answered questions about specific safeguards in place. Both the county auditor and county treasurer must approve direct deposits. Information is kept in a locked file cabinet with limited access.
Recently, the commissioners locked the door to the county archives, because old records could contain personal data. Council member Keith Hall suggested the commissioners designate one employee with a key to the archive and require a log of anyone who accesses the archive.
Commissioner Roberts said the archive has historical records in burlap sacks from the 1800s. Commissioner Wilson suggested that anyone, who is interested in more information about the archive, should contact Lowell Beneker.
PUBLIC COMMENT - PUBLIC ACCESS TO RECORDS
Betty Lecher responded to Commissioner Wilson's letter to the editor in the Brookville Democrat and she talked about health insurance for commissioners, citizens' right to access public records and recordkeeping at the Highway Department. She quoted from the county handbook, which the commissioners changed to include elected officials in the county's health insurance coverage. She commented that the commissioners "showed no mercy to taxpayers" for the cost of providing their health insurance. Next, she explained that the Indiana Code allows for "broad and easy access to public records." She said the county is required to make "a reasonable effort" to satisfy her request for information. She questioned why the Highway Department does not track project costs by assigning special project numbers.
The commissioners did not reply.
EVENING MEETINGS
Council member Keith Hall asked why the commissioners no longer have evening meetings. Commissioner Roberts said that previous evening meetings drew a crowd for the first few meetings and then attendance dwindled. Also, it was "burdensome" for county officials and contractors to attend evening meetings. Council member Hall asked the commissioners to try evening meetings again. Commissioner Roberts was "not opposed." Commissioner Linkel preferred day meetings.
OTHER BUSINESS
The commissioners approved minutes and reviewed the county's Americans with Disabilities Act & Title VI Transition Plan. The plan will be adopted next week after a correction requested by Commissioner Robert.
The next meeting is Monday, May 9, at 10am.
| 
