Gibson County Board of Commissioners 2-1-2011***************************************************************************
Gibson County Board of Commissioners
Regular Session
February 1, 2011
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The Gibson County Board of Commissioners met on February 1, 2011, at 8:30 AM in the North Annex Meeting Room.
Members Present: Bob Townsend, President, Gerald
Bledsoe, VP, and Alan Douglas, Member. The County Attorney, Jim McDonald and Commissioners Administrative assistant, Kay Vore, also were present.
The meeting was called to order with
all present standing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes: The minutes from the January 18, 2011, meeting was read and Alan Douglas moved to approve and Gerald Bledsoe seconding.
Passed 3-0
County General Claims: $570,851.64
County Courts Claims: $ 6,729.23
Highway Department: $ 35,393.28
Sheriff Department: $153,983.98
County Payroll:
$276,419.28
Gerald Bledsoe moved to accept and pay the claims and Alan Douglas seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Department Reports: Gary Dawson reported on certifications he
has done this past month and told the board he was to attend a four day conference on weights and measures. The conference would be required to maintain his certification.
Health Department:
Jennifer Schatz reported that the health board had recommended that the health department should have two more Flu Clinics and make Flu shots available to the public because there are
still outbreaks occurring in the county. The health department wanted to change their website to the county website, but it would cost $4000.00 to get out of the contract. The decision
was made to remain in the contract until 2014. When the contract expires, they will change over to the county website.
Safety Director: Andy Schafer told commissioners that the hot
water storage tank got a hole in it and bids to replace it cost about $9600.00. He was able to get a tank from a local contractor and replaced it himself for $4500.00. He reported
that in the work release building they were getting pinholes in the copper lines. He is going get water samples and see if it is a problem. The asbestos abatement program began on
Monday night at the courthouse. IDEM was here and Andy and the representative observed the workers removing the asbestos from some pipes and according to the IDEM representative they
were doing a good job. Andy reported the boiler had been inspected and it was OK except for one pressure relief valve which he replaced. He reported that the wall is in place in the
bathroom and the contractor should begin the plumbing installation in the floor today. Andy reported that 210 old light bulbs have been replaced with the new T8 version. 50% of the
changeover is done. The air in the North Annex was checked for spores. The results showed low levels in the IV Office, Prosecutors office and the main floor. There was a higher reading
of spore levels in the furnace room. Overall the tests showed that the air inside was as clean or cleaner that the outside air. There have been reports of moisture under some mats in
the basement. Andy reported that an engineer said this type of moisture migration through concrete is a natural occurrence.
Highway Department: Jerry Heldt provided commissioners with
callout report, a work orders complete report and a year to date fund budget report for the month of January, 2011. Jerry informed the commissioners that he purchased an extra 100 tons
of salt for this year. He hopes that will be enough to finish out the year. The company in Chicago is holding back an additional 100 tons if we need it. Salt was $70 a ton when purchased.
Future salt will cost $120 a ton. A 2010 Annual Operational Report was provided to the commissioners for their review. Approving order will come after commissioners’ review.
Recess
held for Finance Committee Meeting. Gerald Bledsoe called the meeting to order.
Minutes: Minutes of meeting February 2, 2010 were read. “The Gibson County Board of Finance met February
2, 2010. Members present were Don Whitehead, Gerald Bledsoe, Bob Townsend, Mary Key, and Jim Kolb. The first order of business was reorganization. The minutes of the 2009 meeting
were accepted as presented. The officers for the coming year are Gerald Bledsoe, President, and Bob Townsend, Vice president and Jim Kolb, Secretary. Bob Townsend nominated Bledsoe
and Don Whitehead nominated Bob Townsend and made the motion to accept the nominations. The motion carried with a unanimous vote. Treasurer Jim Kolb reported the total interest earned
for 2009 was $148,886.18. He presented the two year old warrants to be voided according to IC 5-11-10.5-2. This was approved as presented. Bob Townsend made a motion to adjourn the
Board of Finance meeting which was seconded by Gerald Bledsoe and passed 3-0.”
Alan Douglas made a motion to approve the minutes as read and Bob Townsend seconded. Passed 3-0.
Nominations
were made for President of the Finance Board and Alan Douglas nominated Gerald Bledsoe to be President. Bob Townsend seconded and passed 3-0. Bob Townsend
nominated Alan Douglas to be Vice President. Gerald Bledsoe seconded and passed 3-0. Bob Townsend nominated Mary Key to be Secretary and Alan Douglas seconded. Passed 3-0.
Treasurer
Mary Key gave a report on interest earned for the year 2010. The checking account amounted to $38,862.91
The investments account amounted to $33,464.65
The
total amount earned $72,327.56
5/3 Bank is used for checking and money markets. Old National Bank is used for payroll. Mary Key asked that the two year old warrants be voided according
to IC 5-11-10.5-2. There are 13 warrants totaling $1661.67. Bob Townsend made a motion to approve the warrants be voided. Alan Douglas seconded and passed 3-0. Mary Key informed
the board that she is going to all the local banks to get the highest bids for the investments whereby the most money can be made with the counties money. Alan Douglas made a motion
to adjourn and Bob Townsend seconded. Motioned carried 3-0.
Bob Townsend re-convened the regular session.
Old Business: Consideration was made on the contractor to use for the courthouse
heating/AC on the second floor.
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
After some discussion a motion was made by Alan Douglas to accept the low bidder,
Craig Schafer and Son, Inc., ($23,300.00), and not accept the alternate bid. Motion was seconded by Gerald Bledsoe and passed 3-0.
Health Department Board made a recommendation to replace
the Barrett Doyle position with a doctor position. The board recommended Dr. Ken Beckerman to fill that position. Discussion from the floor reasoned that Dr. Ken Beckerman is filling
a position at the Tulip Tree Clinic with $70,000.00 compensation per year. This stands out as a conflict of interest. Gerald Bledsoe recommended that this issue be tabled until the
first meeting in March and a decision will be made at that meeting. Alan Douglas seconded and passed 3-0.
New Business: Bob Townsend told the board that they had an opportunity save
money on a new phone contract. The phone company called U4 Com can save the county $3600.00 per year over the existing phone company TNCI. Alan Douglas made a motion to approve the
move if it will save the county money. Gerald Bledsoe seconded the motion and it carried 3-0.
Contract to recover excess fees on utilities: Contractor URC Auditing Services made an
audit of the counties utilities and says that they can recover $5-10,000.00 per year from excess charges. Their fee is 50% of recovered expenses the first year and nothing thereafter.
If they don’t recover anything the first year, we don’t owe them anything. Gerald Bledsoe made a motion to accept their offer to try to save the county some money. Alan Douglas seconded
and motion passed 3-0.
LEPC (Local Emergency Planning Committee) Guidelines for Hazardous Material Incidents: Terry Hedges presented a LEPC resolution to secure financial assistance
from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Gerald Bledsoe made a motion to integrate the new Guideline For Hazardous Material Incidents into the current plan. Alan Douglas seconded
and passed 3-0. Terry Hedges also informed the commissioners that he was pursuing a HMEP training grant of $15,000.00 and a local match of $3,750.00, which totals $18,750.00.
Copier:
Bob Townsend presented the board with a proposal to buy out the copier in the office. They could buy the old machine for $2,000.00 and get $100.00 service plan per month. The first
year on the old machine would cost $3200.00 and would cost $1,200.00 per year after that. The new machine will run $3,600.00 each year. Alan Douglas recommended a new leased copier.
Gerald Bledsoe seconded the motion and passed 3-0.
Publish expenses and receipts: Bob Townsend made everyone aware of the posting of the expenses and receipts of everyone’s salary
in the county. This is an annual requirement from the State of Indiana. The posting is on the bulletin board in the courthouse, on the bulletin board in the North Annex and on the
bulletin board of the South Annex. It is also being published in the newspapers.
Property Tax Payments: Mary Key asked commissioners to approve credit card payments by cell phone and
over the internet. The provider would be Power Pay of which has been used the past few years. They charge $2.95 per transaction to the taxpayer. Alan Douglas made a motion to approve
and Gerald Bledsoe seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Triad Coal Decision to close CR 75: Bob Townsend made the announcement that a decision to close CR75 will be made some time in the future.
The announcement of the decision will be advertised two weeks before the announcement is made. This will allow concerned citizens to attend.
Mike Ellis is concerned about Nixon Road
which is between Hwy 65 and Hwy 56. There seems to be only one speed limit sign and it states a 35 MPH speed limit. Mike requests a speed limit be established and more signs be posted.
Mike also is trying to determine if CR870 is going to be maintained as a county road. Commissioners have put gravel on it in the past. It needs gravel now. Jim McDonald will look
into a recommendation and it will be tabled until the next meeting. Gerald Bledsoe made a motion to adjourn and Alan Douglas seconded. Passed 3-0.
_____________________ _______________________
Bob Townsend, President Gerald Bledsoe, VP
_____________________ _______________________
Alan Douglas, Member Attest: C.T. Montgomery,
Auditor