Gibson County Board of Commissioners 3-1-2011************************************************************************************************
Gibson County Board of Commissioners
Regular Session
March 1, 2011
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The Gibson County Board of Commissioners met on March 1, 2011, at 08:30 AM in the North Annex Meeting Room.
Members Present:
Bob Townsend, President, Gerald Bledsoe, VP, Alan Douglas, member, Jim McDonald and Commissioners Administrative assistant Kay Vore were also present.
The meeting was called to order
with all present standing and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
Minutes: The minutes from the February 15, 2011, meeting were approved with a motion by Alan Douglas and a second by
Gerald Bledsoe, passed 3-0.
County General Claims: $337,380.59
County Courts Claims: $ 5,668.22
Highway Department: $ 69,724.72
Sheriff Department: $ 32,285.16
County
Payroll: $266,650.45
Gerald Bledsoe moved to accept and pay the claims and Alan Douglas seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
Department Reports: Health department Jennifer Schatz
told commissioners that they are having a health fair on March 5, 2011 from 9-12:00 PM.
Safety Director Andy Schafer told commissioners that the courthouse men’s room is done and the
women’s restroom should be done at the end of next week. He is still working on the lights in the jail.
EMA Director Terry Hedges reported on the F1 tornado that occurred early AM on
28 February, 2011. It touched down just north of Owensville, in Princeton and also in Oakland City. It traveled on a Southwest to Northeast direction. Paducah weather station will investigate
whether the tornado increased speed to become an F2 tornado in Oakland City as it traveled into Dubois County. As of last night at 7:30 PM about 60% of the electricity was turned on.
He reported that 99% of the electricity has been turned on by meeting time and 100% should be on by noon today.
Sheriff George Ballard reported that there were: 32 on work release
12 on home detention
102 males in jail
16 females in jail
Seven deputies were out during the storm. Sheriff Ballard requested an employee be permitted
3 weeks of medical leave. Alan Douglas made it a motion and Gerald Bledsoe seconded. Passed 3-0.
Anne Hyneman commented about her mother falling and breaking her hip and wanted to
commend the ambulance service on their fast response and the way her mother was treated.
Highway Department Superintendent Jerry Heldt reported they were still cleaning up from the storm.
He provided a monthly extra call in report, a year to date budget report and a work orders report. Gerald Bledsoe commented that he had spoken to Jerry Heldt about the two wooden bridges
that needed paint. Jerry Heldt will work up some prices and submit them to the commissioners and county council.
Old Business: Regional Economic Development Coalition Presentation by
Greg Wathen and Debbie Bennett-Stearsman. The Coalition was developed in 2006. It is a four county coalition which include Gibson, Vanderburg, Warrick and Posey. They have 65 board
members and 21 vested members of which 13 are from Gibson County. Since they have been organized they have written $53 million dollars in grants. $347 million dollars are being sought
in new investments. They have identified 20 new active projects which could amount to over $2 Billion dollars in initial investment. Of those 20 projects, 8 are in Gibson County which
could employ over 3 thousand future employees. Since 2006, Gibson County has been funded $16, 900,387.13. A list was provided to show projects that were done. Future projects they
are working on include moving the White River Township Fire department out of the flood plain, a new library in Haubstadt, county income survey that concern future youth projects and
a potential demolition project in Oakland City. Steve Bottoms questioned the Whirlpool grant and what it was used for. Greg Wathen explained it was money to come up with a master plan
to use the Whirlpool building for the benefit of the 1,100 employees who lost their jobs when they were sent to Mexico. Whirlpool refuses to give up the building so this gives the Coalition
an opportunity to shift their focus to what to use the money for. Focus groups will now be formed to determine how best to use the money.
David Coomes asked the commissioners to sign
the final inspection form for Bridge 68. Gerald Bledsoe made motion to approve and Alan Douglas seconded. Motion passed. 3-0.
Bob Townsend brought CR 870 to the attention of the board.
Bob Townsend asked if Jim McDonald had investigated the issue and asked what his recommendation would be. Jim McDonald recommended that the road be taken into the counties road maintenance
responsibility. It was recommended that the County Surveyor provide a legal description so that the road can be added to the county properly. Gerald Bledsoe made that a motion and
Alan Douglas seconded. Motion passed 3-0.
New Business: Nominations were made for the Ft. Branch Library Board. Gerald Bledsoe made a motion to make Donna Mason the new member of the
Ft. Branch Library Board. Alan Douglas seconded and motion passed 3-0.
Mike Ellis wanted thank the board for the speed limit signs he requested last month. He also asked the board
to look into speed limit signs on Dead Level road. The school bus stops six times on that road and some people have been run off of the road by trucks going too fast and going over
the center line on curves. The Sheriff will do a speed limit study.
Terry Hedges wanted to inform the board that all of Gibson Counties warning sirens are working. People have asked
for more sirens, but what we have works. Terry Hedges recommended cell phone apps that will call the cell phone owner and warn them of impending weather warnings/watches.
Mariette House
addressed the board about the Emge Plant clean up. She is concerned that the EPA will not clean up the total area. She thinks the board should contact the LLC to have them clean up
the entire property. She asked that they be investigated and legally serve the LLC an ultimatum to clean up the area or else. Gerald Bledsoe informed her that he has asked Terry Hedges
to gather soil samples and also has asked the EPA to provide the board with a complete inspection report upon completion of the project. Mariette House asked the board what the load
limit of the bridge was that was going into the Emge property. Jerry Heldt said all of the bridges are posted during the months of January
through March with an 8000 pound load limit per axle. Mariette House said that the owner of the property is trucking stuff into the property at all hours of the night and thinks it
should stop.
Alan Douglas made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Gerald Bledsoe seconded and motion passed 3-0.
______________________________ _____________________________
Bob Townsend,
President Gerald Bledsoe, VP
______________________________ _____________________________
Alan Douglas, Member Attest: C.T. Montgomery