Gibson County Board of Commissioners 10-4-2011******************************************************************************
Gibson County Board of Commissioners
Regular Session
October 4, 2011
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The Gibson County Board of Commissioners met on October 4, 2011, at 8:30 AM at the North Annex Meeting Room.
Members Present: Bob Townsend, President, Gerald
Bledsoe, VP, Alan Douglas, Commissioner, Kay Vore, Administrative Assistant, Jim McDonald, County Attorney and C.T. Montgomery, County Auditor.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was
recited and led by Bob Townsend.
Minutes: The minutes from the September 20, 2011 meeting was approved through a motion by Alan Douglas and seconded by Gerald Bledsoe. Motion passed
3-0.
Claims:
County General: $172,789.21
Courts: $ 6,321.25
Sheriff: $ 51,413.91
Highway: $186,861.74
Payroll 10-7-2011 $276,224.69
Alan Douglas made a motion to approve the
claims. Gerald Bledsoe seconded and motion passed 3-0.
Department Reports:
Weights and Measures Gary Dawson gave his monthly report.
Highway Superintendent Jerry Heldt gave his monthly
report.
Old Business:
GIS Director John Howe reported that the new aerial photos of the county have been applied to the GIS system.
County Engineer John Umpleby reported that the Brumfield
overpass project has met a major financial obstacle. CSX railroad is asking for $204,000.00 to be made available to offset their costs when the overpass is to be repaired. Gerald Bledsoe
made a motion that the bids not be opened, for the Brumfield overpass project, and be returned to the contractors. Commissioners need to evaluate the cost of the project before asking
for further bids. Alan Douglas seconded the motion and the motion passed 3-0.
County Attorney Jim McDonald opened one bid on the county’s obsolete voting equipment. Election Management
Associates bid was $2383.00. Alan Douglas made a motion to accept the bid. Gerald Bledsoe seconded the motion and the motion passed 3-0.
Black Beauty spokesman Dave Yeager asked that
1,500 foot section of CR 1100 E remain closed to traffic other than emergency vehicles and farm traffic. He also requested another extension of the temporary closure for three years
of a portion of (1) CR 1100 E – commencing 2,640 feet north of the intersection with CR 900 S, thence running north 990 feet; (2) Portions of CR 1150 E (for five years)– commencing at
a point 1,400 feet north of the intersection with CR 900 S, thence running north 7,650; (3) Portion of CR 850 S (for three years)- commencing at the intersection with CR 1150 E, thence
running east 1,600 feet. Commissioners tabled the request until the next meeting.
Dave Yeager also asked commissioners to continue the closure of a 1,500 foot section of CR 1100 E and
allow only emergency vehicles and farm equipment through.
He asked for a 2 year extension to close CR 850 E, north of the railroad track to CR 50 S and CR 850 E to CR 125 S. Gerald Bledsoe made a motion to table the request until the next
meeting. Alan Douglas seconded the motion and the motion passed 2-1 with Bob Townsend dissenting.
Dave Yeager asked to release four miles of road back to the county – CR 525 S from
the east edge of Somerville to CR 1200 E and CR 600 S from the edge of Somerville to CR 1200 E. The right of way on the new road was discussed and commissioners tabled the request until
the next meeting. Dave Yeager told commissioners that 185 jobs are at stake on their decision on the road closures. He said $200K in taxes was paid last year in Barton Township and
$660K in taxes was paid overall in Gibson County. They will be paving CR 900 S from CR 950 E to CR 1150 E for two miles. The county will receive $19K for the road closures as per contract
@ $10K per mile.
He informed the commissioners that CR 1050 E will be open soon and CR 1000 E will be open next year.
Bob Townsend informed the commissioners that some county owned property
located in Oakland City on the corner of Main and Washington streets just south of the railroad tracks is in very bad condition and needs torn down. Alan Douglas made a motion to advertise
for demolition in November and have the demolition be accomplished in the first quarter of 2012. Gerald Bledsoe seconded and the motion passed 3-0.
New Business:
Sheriff George Ballard
informed commissioners that they were going to hire a GED trainer for the jail. Grant money from the Citizens for a Drug Free Gibson County will fund $11,000.00 this year. The new
$25.00 processing fee they have been collecting for three months has accumulated approximately $4000.00 so far and Sheriff Ballard believes the fee will support the hiring of a new contract
employee after the grant runs out. The Department of Corrections (DOC) requires counties that house DOC inmates to provide for a GED education. Statistics have proven that the inmate
return rates drops a great deal when an inmate completes his high school education. The DOC provides from $200-300K into the General Fund each year from inmate housing. Sheriff Ballard
asked commissioners to approve a contract with a DOC certified instructor, Shelly Christmas @ $25.00 per hour, to provide educational programs mandated by the State. Alan Douglas made
a motion to approve the contract for Shelly Christmas and was seconded by Gerald Bledsoe. Motion carried 3-0.
Superior Court requested a medical leave. Gerald Bledsoe made a motion
to approve the request and Alan Douglas seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
SRI spokesman Glen Luedtke addressed the commissioners and reaffirmed, with them, the service they provide in settling
unlawful homestead deductions. Presently, they have contracts with 22 other counties. They have a longer history with Vigo and St. Joseph counties and they have recovered hundreds
of thousands of dollars in recovery. Gerald Bledsoe requested to table the decision until Auditor C.T. Montgomery can call on those two counties and identify how the program is working
and to determine whether the program would be worth it to Gibson County.
Alan Douglas made a motion to adjourn and Gerald Bledsoe seconded. Motion carried 3-0.
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Bob Townsend, President Gerald Bledsoe, VP
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Alan Douglas, Commissioner ATTEST
: C.T. Montgomery, Auditor