Gibson County Board of Commissioners 1-18-2011***************************************************************************
Gibson County Board of Commissioners
Regular Session
January 18, 2011
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The Gibson County Board of Commissioners met on January 18, 2011, at 6 PM in the North Annex Meeting Room.
Members Present: Bob Townsend, President, Gerald Bledsoe,
Vice-President, Alan Douglas, Member.
The meeting was called to order with all present standing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes: The minutes from the January 4, 2011 meeting
was read with Gerald Bledsoe moving to approve and Alan Douglas seconding. Passed 3-0.
County General Claims: $174,680.78.
Courts Claims: $3909.08
Highway Department:
$288,436.09
Sheriff Department: $47,389.94
Payroll: $304,915.24
Alan Douglas moved to approve the claims with Gerald Bledsoe seconding. Motion
passed 3-0.
Maddison Seib gave a DPOC update and gave dates of the next meeting. The next meeting will be in Jasper at City Hall, January 26, 2011 at 6 PM. They need nominations at
next meeting. They have two meetings a year.
Debbie Bennett-Stearsman covered the White River Fire Planning Grant information and the progress of the grant. They are applying for a
$50,000.00 Planning grant to move the fire station out of the flood plain.
Gerald Bledsoe made a motion to approve the grant request. It was seconded by Alan Douglas and passed 3-0.
Public
Comments on Triad Coal’s request to close CR 75N. John and Veda Ferry live ½ mile from the road and claim they almost lost their daughter three times due to the dust the mine creates.
They are against the road closing because the mine is not to be trusted because they have broken promises, time and time again. The blasting is so bad their house has been damaged
through settlement and pictures and clocks are knocked off the wall during the blasting.
Hugh Eskew owns 40 acres around the area in question and he is in favor of closing the road.
He would be affected, if the road was closed, by not getting the coal rights.
Bill McCoy of the Patoka Wildlife Refuge plans buy the Columbia Mine property beyond CR75N, and if they
obtain the property, they will provide an alternate route through the area for residents.
Allen Rumble, another landowner in the area, brought a satellite image to the meeting. There
is no reason to keep it open….It’s like a bridge to nowhere.
Steve Bottoms opposed closing the road, saying that dead end roads around the county are “causing an undue burden on the
taxpayers.”
Quotes for Heating System in Court House:
Craig Schafer and Son $23,300.00 Alt. $9,200.00
Midwest Mechanical $28,280.00 $6,465.00
Don
Schmitt and Son $29,866.80 $33,966.50
Nunning Heating and AC $31,406.00 $35,231.00
Gerald Bledsoe made a motion to take it under advisement. Alan Doulas
seconded and passed 3-0.
Contract with Aerial Services: Alan Douglas made a motion to approve the contract. Gerald Bledsoe seconded and passed 3-0.
IDEM: Received letter from IDEM and
letter said dumped glass is not contaminating the ground and as long as no salvage is being conducted, no asbestos will become airborne or contaminate the ground water.
Purdue Extension
Service Contract: Gerald Bledsoe made a motion to approve the new $99,830.00 contract with Purdue for the Educators. Alan seconded and passed 3-0.
Medical Leave Requests: Gerald Bledsoe
made a motion to approve three requests for medical leave. Alan Douglas seconded and passed 3-0.
Highway Department: Jerry Heldt provided a yearly list of all the callouts. He reported
that he had several applications submitted for new jobs advertised, but was very disappointed that end of year budget cut of $228,000.00 stopped the hiring process. The Highway Department
took a $400,000.00 decrease in the cash balance for the year. The cost of stone, sand and gravel is going up and next year we are to see another cut in the budget of $300,000.00. He
said there are 5 jobs open and not filled. He is going to contact the union that he is going to do away with those 5 jobs and not fill them because of budget restraints.
Ordinance 2011-1:
An amendment to Ordinance 1995-4 to raise the current $750.00 threshold level for capitalization to be raised to $2000.00.
Gerald Bledsoe made a motion to waive additional readings and approve the amendment. Alan Douglas seconded and passed 3-0.
Sheriff George Ballard requested that two County roads
be posted at 30 MPH. CR 250W, CR 325W and CR 50S. Alan Douglas moved to approve and Gerald Bledsoe seconded. Passed 3-0.
Gerald Bledsoe thanked the County Council and the County Commissioners
for approving a gift of $25,000.00 to Tulip Tree County Health Services, Inc.
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Bob Townsend, President Gerald Bledsoe, VP
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Alan Douglas, Member Attest: C.T. Montgomery, Auditor