County Commissioners - July 5, 2016
- Commissioner Tom Wilson asked Auditor Steve Brack to resign.
- A new study showed the worst roads are in the eastern part of the county. Commissioner Eric Roberts has a plan to fix the roads.
- The commissioners voted for a new bridge on Wolf Creek.
COMMISSIONER ASKED AUDITOR TO RESIGN
Commissioner Tom Wilson questioned Auditor Steve Brack about how his office is functioning after the chief deputy left a week ago.
The questions started while the commissioners were reviewing claims for payment. Commissioner Wilson asked Auditor Brack about a $5,000 reserve account. Auditor Brack did not have an answer, because he had been on vacation. He indicated that he would research and reply by email. Commissioner Wilson asked, "How do you know if [the claims] are true and lawful, if you have not looked at them?"
Next, Commissioner Tom Linkel said that Treasurer Veronica Voelker reported that some electronic transfers "have not been balanced last month." Auditor Brack replied, "We have been struggling with those. Been working on them. Got some of them finished. There are some more to do today." He will work with the treasurer when she returns to the office the next day to resolve the transfers.
Commissioner Wilson continued his criticism. He said that Auditor Brack's office "cannot function" and "can't do its duty" with "only two girls" while Auditor Brack was on vacation last week. Commissioner Wilson said that Treasurer Voelker also reported other failures and that the auditor's staff refused help from the treasurer. Commissioner Wilson said, "I don't understand how the county can keep functioning with the turmoil we have."
Commissioner Wilson demanded to know Auditor Brack's plan for correcting the transfers and providing reports to the commissioners. Commissioner Wilson said that there are complaints from the public that "we are not functioning the way we should be functioning.
Auditor Brack explained his plans for hiring a new person and also for correcting transfers the next day. He said that his employee checked the claims before they were presented to the commissioners for payment and he would re-check claims with that employee. He said that LOW software company was sending a person to help update the computer system. He finished by apologizing for the "ineptness" and added, "rest assured it will be taken care of."
Commissioner Wilson said that he expected Auditor Brack to resign, if all of the problems are not resolved by the next meeting on July 18.
WHERE'S THE MONEY FOR A NEW BRIDGE
While Commissioners Linkel and Wilson were discussing the final design for a new Wolf Creek Bridge #139, Commissioner Roberts was still at square one regarding the length of the new bridge and the cost. Two weeks ago, he raised a similar question. Does the county have enough money for additional bridge projects? The county has already committed to the 20% match money required for two federal projects costing several million dollars.
Commissioners Linkel and Wilson motioned and seconded the new bridge plan before Commissioner Roberts had a chance to make his point. He said that the other two commissioners were making plans as if the county would automatically receive a 50-50 grant from the state for the new Wolf Creek Road Bridge. Those grants will not be announced until late August.
Commissioner Roberts said that the county would be applying for $1.6 million in 50-50 state grants and the county only has $800,000 available within one year. The county would have to pay all of the $1.6 million in bridge expenses and then wait to be reimbursed 50% by the state. Commissioner Linkel said the state would reimburse the county in 30 to 60 days. Commissioner Wilson noted that the county has more than one year to spend the grant money.
There are also restrictions on how the county pays for its half of the bridge. County Engineer Ted Cooley reported that the county could only use money from certain sources: the local road & street fund, the cumulative bridge fund, or a motor vehicle highway fund.
Both Commissioners Roberts and Linkel agreed that the county must follow the state restrictions precisely rather then risk losing a 50-50 state grant. It was agreed that Commissioner Linkel and Mr. Cooley would meet with County Councilman Daryl Kramer to discuss funding before the entire county council meets on July 12. Mr. Cooley will also provide a five-year plan for bridge repairs, as requested by Councilman Kramer.
Commissioner Roberts finally voted in favor of the new Wolf Creek Bridge with the condition that the design did not change the road curvature and result in a cost overrun. Fixing a "skew" in the road was previously estimated to add an extra $24,000 to the cost.
WORST ROADS IN EASTERN PART OF COUNTY
"It doesn't look good," said County Engineer Cooley as he talked about the results of the Pavement Study. The study predicts that the county will not have enough money to maintain the roads over the next five years.
Commissioner Wilson looked at the study's map and pointed out "almost all the roads in red are in District 1." Red indicates the most serious deterioration. District 1 is the eastern part of the county under the supervision of Commissioner Roberts. Commissioner Wilson said that the pavement study recommends spending the most money on "red" roads.
Commissioner Roberts has his own plan. He explained what happened in the past to District 1 roads. He said that there was "too much blade-ing" of the road surface without any final chip and seal work.
Commissioner Roberts said, "The cost to bring [a red road] back is so great." He proposed to spend money on "yellow" roads so they do not deteriorate further. He will focus on fixing long, highly traveled "yellow" roads at a cost of $15,000 per mile now, rather than spending $30,000 to $40,000 to repair them later. He will fix the worst patches this year. He talked about "skim coating" roads now and then chip and sealing them one or two years later. He is also considering recycling some existing asphalt and then "double chip and seal" those roads.
Mr. Cooley warned the commissioners that the state might not reimburse the county, if they do not follow the Pavement Study's recommendations regarding how much asphalt to use when making road repairs. Commissioner Linkel said that the state would allow the county to decide how best to fix the roads.
Shawn Strange of First Group Engineering will be invited to the July 18 commissioner meeting to discuss their Pavement Study.
The commissioners have until July 29 to apply for 50-50 state grants for road repairs.
TWO-DOZEN ADA PROBLEMS
At a recent meeting about federal highway projects, the state told Mr. Cooley that Franklin County must commit to fix two-dozen "deficiencies" of non-compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). The county was also faulted for not complying with Title VI anti-discrimination requirements. To qualify for federal funds, the county must abide by ADA and also Title VI.
Mr. Cooley seemed reluctant to discuss specifics. He did mention a lack of handicapped-accessible curb ramps in Metamora and New Trenton. The county was also cited for lacking an anti-discrimination training program and missing required information on the county's website.
Commissioner Linkel agreed with making minor repairs, but told Mr. Cooley to focus on the upcoming 50-50 state grants. Commissioner Wilson commented, "I don't want to hear about it ever...I think you should shred that crap."
Later in the meeting, Commissioner Wilson announced that the county is providing an employee with lactation support in compliance "with ADA." Note: Support for breast-feeding mothers is a provision of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), not the American with Disabilities Act (ADA).
OTHER BUSINESS
The commissioners signed a three-year contract with Enhanced Telecommunications Corporation for phone and internet service at a savings of $6,100 per year. They awarded a contract to Communications Electronics for $8,436 for installing security equipment at the courthouse. They amended employee handbooks to correct the computation of overtime. They tabled action once again on ordinances for setting a minimum standard for losses and for controlling unkempt/unsafe buildings. They approved claims and payroll. The commissioners authorized Commissioner Roberts to either repair or replace the air conditioner for the 911 room.
The next meeting is Monday, July 18, at 10am.
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