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County Commissioners - June 20, 2016
- The commissioners debated several issues: is there enough money for both large bridge projects and small ones; will they cancel repairs to Fairfield Causeway Bridge; will the county pay for a Town of Laurel road study?
- The county gets another chance at $350,000 in grant money to help low-income homeowners with repairs.
- In a proposed ordinance, any shortage of $100 in a county office will be referred for investigation and possible prosecution.
HELP FOR ELDERLY, LOW-INCOME HOMEOWNERS
After previously being turned down by the commissioners and by county council, Susan Craig was back before the commissioners in hope of getting $21,000 that is required to apply for a $350,000 grant. Ms. Craig represents the Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (SIRPC), which works with local governments in obtaining and administering federal and state grants.
Ms. Craig explained that she heard from county council members who are now interested in applying for a $350,000 grant for repairing owner-occupied homes. Ms. Craig has already secured a federal grant of $13,000 from the US Department of Agriculture, which can be used as a 10% match to secure a $130,000 state grant at no cost to the county.
At issue is whether county council will spend $21,000 to secure the maximum grant of $350,000. With that much money, the county could help more homeowners. Currently, there is a waiting list of six eligible homeowners and Ms. Craig wants to expand the list to at least eleven pre-qualified people.
During the commissioners' meeting, Ms. Craig held a brief public meeting for questions or comments regarding the grant application. Commissioner Wilson asked about how to sign up an elderly resident. Home owners who are elderly (over age 62), disabled or a single head of household can call SIRPC at (812) 689-5505 for more information.
The commissioners signed the grant application without committing to a specific money amount. They will wait and see if county council approves $21,000 at its June 28 meeting.
Commissioner Wilson asked about a grant for replacing the windows of the Laurel Community Center. Ms. Craig commented that the facility received a grant for a new roof many years ago and that a second grant is a possibility.
Commissioner Wilson asked Whitewater Township Trustee Roy Hall, who was in the audience, if his township could provide matching money for the home repair grant. Mr. Hall said that he would consider it for 2017. Matching money is not in his budget for this year.
IS THERE ENOUGH BRIDGE MONEY FOR BIG BRIDGES AND SMALL ONES?
Commissioner Eric Roberts is concerned about how the county is spending its bridge tax money. He talked about the county keeping its commitments to repair both the 6th Street Bridge and Fairfield Causeway Bridge. The commissioners have been accumulating tax money in the "cum bridge fund" to pay the county's 20% share of these projects. Eighty percent comes from the federal government through the Indiana Department of Transportation.
Commissioner Roberts said that there is enough money for two federal projects, but there is not extra money for repairing other local bridges. Mr. Cooley wants to repair Wolf Creek Road Bridge #139 too. Commissioner Roberts said that repairing #139 would leave the county without enough money for both 6th Street Bridge and Fairfield Causeway Bridge.
Mr. Cooley explained that the county has to put $120,000 in escrow for the 6th Street Bridge project in December 2017 and $347,000 for Fairfield Causeway Bridge in March 2018.
At that point, Commissioner Tom Linkel declared that he against spending any county money to repair Fairfield Causeway Bridge, because the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is not providing any money. Previously, he was hopeful of sharing the cost with IDNR, which manages visitor activities at Brookville Lake. Fairfield Causeway Bridge crosses Brookville Lake, but Franklin County is solely responsible for maintaining it.
Mr. Cooley reacted by asking if backing out of a federally funded bridge project could jeopardize getting future federal money. Franklin County has already been approved for about $1.7 million in federal money.
Commissioner Linkel said that he doubted INDOT would actually "blackball" the county for cancelling an approved project.
Commissioner Roberts questioned why Commissioner Linkel wanted to cancel repairs on a high traffic bridge and allow it to deteriorate further.
Commissioner Wilson said that the bridge superstructure is "good for 20 years." To which Commissioner Roberts replied, if they fix it now, it could last 50 years. He said they should consider the millions of dollars it would cost to replace the bridge later, as compared to the $347,000 the county will spend now.
Commissioner Linkel demanded to see proof that making repairs now will significantly increase the life span of the Fairfield Causeway Bridge. No decision was made about the bridge project.
DEBATE ABOUT PAYING FOR LAUREL'S ROAD STUDY
Commissioner Wilson wants to include the Town of Laurel in the county's contract for a pavement study of county roads. He said that Laurel has no money to pay for its own study. Commissioner Roberts pointed out that Laurel received money for road improvements as every town in Franklin County did under Senate Bill 67. Laurel's amount was $8,620.
Commissioner Roberts objected that if the county paid for Laurel's study, the county could be asked to pay for other towns in the county.
County Engineer Ted Cooley will find out how much a Laurel study would cost. Commissioner Wilson will talk to the Town of Laurel about funding.
ROADS REPAIRS NOT DECIDED
The commissioners have more time to consider the roads for which they want state grant money for repairs. The state extended the deadline for grant applications until July 29. Mr. Cooley has a list of 27 roads, which includes nine roads in each commissioner's district.
CLEAN UP NEW TRENTON ALLEY
John Darlin said, "The alley is a zoo." He was talking about the abandoned Smith Alley that is 14 feet wide by 165 feet long and is next to his home in New Trenton. He told the commissioners about having to pay to remove a large tree limb that fell on his fence and blocked his driveway. The tree is on county property in the alley. He quoted the Highway Department as saying that they have not maintained the alley in 30 years. Trees and weeds now fill the alley.
Trees fill Smith Alley with Darlin's house and wood fence on the left. It is a former schoolhouse built in 1858. Maucher's house and chain link fence borders the right side of the alley.
Mr. Darlin is also concerned about personal safety with the alley so close to his home. He showed the commissioners a photo of recent spray paint vandalism of several buildings in New Trenton. He talked about a meth lab that was previously closed down in a nearby trailer home. Mrs. Valerie Darlin was concerned about protecting their house from future damage from trees in the alley that overhang their house.
Initially Mr. Darlin wanted the commissioners to abandon the alley as a public right-of-way, give him possession and he would maintain it. The commissioners explained the process for "vacating" the alley. That plan was abandoned when adjoining property owner Polly Maucher spoke.
Mrs. Maucher objected to the county vacating the alley and giving her ownership of one-half of the alley. She did not want the responsibility. She described how she and her deceased husband Lloyd "cleaned" the alley from 1969 until he died in 2000. Now, she called the alley "a dump." However, she agreed to mow the alley, if the county cleaned it up. She said, "I love New Trenton. It's a good little town." She ended with, "I think the alley should remain open."
The commissioners agreed to clean up Smith Alley and trim the trees. Mrs. Maucher and Mr. Darlin agreed to leave the alley as a public right-of-way.
ACCESS TO LOW SYSTEM
As he promised last week, Commissioner Wilson motioned to make Treasurer Veronica Voelker a co-administrator of security for the county's LOW computer system. He said that checks were being issued with the treasurer's signature, but without her knowledge. She could only see the check register. That will now change.
$100 LOSS SENT TO PROSECUTOR & STATE BOARD
By June 30, all government bodies are required by the state to establish an internal control policy. This involves setting a minimum amount of loss, which triggers a referral to the county prosecutor for action and to the State Board of Accounts (SBOA) for possible audit. SBOA recommended a $500 dollar amount and Commissioners' attorney John Worth used $500 in the document that he prepared. However, Commissioner Wilson wanted a much smaller amount.
Commissioner Roberts pointed out that employees can be held accountable for any dollar amount, but the county does not need to call SBOA to do an audit for a clerical error of a penny.
Both Treasurer Voelker and Clerk Bauman said that they already have internal controls in their offices for cash and receipts. Treasurer Voelker commented that her office has to balance to the penny. Clerk Bauman said that employees in her office must pay the difference, if their cash drawers are short. Clerk Bauman added that the department head has to look at the amount and circumstances of any shortage and may contact the prosecutor at any time.
The commissioners agreed that a shortage of $100 by a county employee would be referred for investigation and possible prosecution, if the employee fails to pay the shortage. Departments must notify the commissioners immediately. Final action on the new internal control ordinance was tabled until the July 5 meeting.
MORE COURTHOUSE SECURITY EQUIPMENT
Commissioner Roberts reported that he received several bids for adding more security features at the courthouse. The new systems will allow for remote access by smart phone or by the county dispatchers in the Sheriff Department. He will be going to county council for another $14,000, which is in addition to $7,500 already budgeted for equipment.
Commissioner Roberts plans to continually upgrade security and focus on one building each year. Next year, it will be the Government Center.
UPDATE COUNTY EMPLOYEE HANDBOOKS
To save money and allow for easier updating in the future, Commissioner Roberts proposed that the county employee handbooks be maintained on-line and only a few copies printed as needed.
This issue came up when the commissioners talked about correcting the handbooks regarding overtime. The current overtime computation is incorrect and causes some employees to be underpaid. Other changes are also needed. Commissioner Linkel commented that the current handbooks are "too confusing," because of many amendments and addendums since the last reprint in 2013.
RAISES FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES?
Commissioner Roberts asked the other commissioners if they should propose raises for county employees in their 2017 budget that was due that day to the county auditor. Commissioner Linkel commented, "We have serious issues with employee replacement" as evidenced by only one applicant or no applicants for county jobs.
The commissioners did not discuss amounts or take a vote.
FASTER INTERNET FOR LESS MONEY
Two weeks ago, Doug Foster of Enhanced Telecommunications Corporation was asked to look for ways to improve internet service to three county buildings. Commissioner Linkel described the current internet speed as "a snails pace." Mr. Foster proposed a three-year contract for all county buildings for phone and internet service at a savings of $760 per year. It includes unlimited internet at 25 times faster download speeds and twice as fast upload speeds. Commissioner Linkel said that they could not legally commit to a three-year contract. The commissioners were agreeable to ending the current contract with Frontier Communications for most operations. However, they said that the 911 phone system would remain with Frontier. Mr. Foster will return with a contract for the commissioners to sign in two weeks.
PUBLIC COMMENT
From the audience, Betty Lecher asked why some township trustees spend more of the township taxes paying themselves and their "aides" than they spend on township expenses.
Whitewater Township Trustee Roy Hall was in the audience and he agreed with Mrs. Lecher. He said that, over the last 10 years, half of the townships have "improved tremendously as far as funds" available to be spent. He added that township trustees receive no direction from the state regarding spending. He said that trustees rely on those elected to their township advisory boards for decisions about spending. Mr. Hall suggested that the commissioners, county council and township trustees should cooperate on spending for the betterment of the county.
Commissioner Wilson said that some township trustees "don't have any [extra] money."
OTHER BUSINESS
The commissioners approved claims, payroll, and minutes and received the clerk's report for May. They appointed Charlene George to the Library Board and Curtis Ward to the Franklin County Convention, Recreation and Visitor Commission.
The next meeting is Monday, July 5, at 10am.
Reported by
Sara Duffy
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