County Commissioner Minutes - June 2013 ******************************************************************************
Gibson County Board of Commissioners
Regular Session
June 4, 2013
The Gibson County Board of Commissioners met on June 4, 2013, at 8:00 AM at the North
Annex Meeting Room.
Members Present: Gerald Bledsoe, President, Alan Douglas, Vice President, Steve Bottoms,
Commissioner, Kay Vore, Administrative Assistant, Jim McDonald, County Attorney and Sherri
Smith, County Auditor.
The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag and Welcome was recited and led by Commissioner
President. Gerald Bledsoe.
Minutes: The minutes from May 21, 2013 meeting were read and approved through a motion by
Commissioner Douglas and seconded by Commissioner Bottoms. Motion carried 3-0.
Claims:
County General $90,480.61
Courts - S 10,030.96
Highway—S112,569.96
Sheriff- $20,128.58
Payroll - $269,306.00
Commissioner Bottoms made a motion to approve the claims and was seconded by
Commissioner Douglas. Motion carried 3-0.
Department Reports:
Weights R Measures — Gary Dawson presented monthly report to Commissioners.
Highway Department— Jerry Heldt presented monthly report to the Commissioners. He also
reported that they have received several requests for mowing and now road grading.
EMS — Director Alvey presented monthly report to the Commissioners. He also requested
write-offs in the amount of S114,829.64. Commissioner Douglas made a motion to approve the
write-offs, seconded by Commissioner Bottoms. Motion carried 3-0.
Overtime for Ambulance Workers— Director Alvey stated that their problems are just
beginning with regard to part-time employees/hours and the Health Care Act. For the next six
months, he explained to the Commissioners, the amount of vacation, sick and personal time left
to be taken by full time employees. He also asked for $26,924 to cover the Overtime for the
Owensville Ambulance Station, most affected by this change.
Commissioner Bottoms stated he saw no problem with increasing the part time hours to 24 per
week. He asked if changing the part time hours from 23.5 to 24 would help the Ambulance and
Sheriff Department, Sheriff Ballard and Director Alvey stated it would help as they have 8 hour
shifts. County Attorney Jim McDonald stated that there would be exceptions to the 24 hours per
week, but to be aware of the yearly total. After much discussion, Commissioner Bottoms made a
motion to Waiver the current handbook status on part time employees from 23.5 to 24 hours,
seconded by Commissioner Douglas. Motion carried 3-0. The change in hours and additional
monies will be brought up to the County Council at their next meeting.
Commissioner Bottoms requested that Director Alvey keep this additional overtime figure and it
be reflected in his budget preparations for 2014. President Bledsoe asked if there was any issue
with overtime and meetings, Director Alvey said that had been resolved. Commissioner Bottoms
stated that Director Alvey should increase his training budget to cover these items as well.
Safety— Director Andy Schafer reported that Year to Date the County has had five General
Liability claims and eleven Workman's Comp claims, with seven being report only. When
something happens, the employee is sent out to Business Health so that something small doesn't
turn into something big. The balance of the four, one resulted in time lost.
EMA—Director Terry Hedges reported that in the next two weeks, the Federal Government will
be publishing information in the newspaper regarding the results of the "Mitigation Plan for
Gibson County". We have had this plan in place for six years. Three weeks ago there was a
meeting with FEMA officials and letters had been sent to all towns in Gibson County asking
them to participate. They were to mitigate any issues in the County and to discuss any issues in
this Plan that were completed, that needed to be completed or needed to be discussed including
ideas and information. This report will be published by FEMA for a certain period of time
before they submit.
Sheriff Ballard gave a follow-up report about the location of a basketball goal from a previous
meeting. It is set at the edge of CR 450 V.' and CR 350 S. He had photos for the
Commissioners and believes that it has been there awhile. Sheriff Ballard stated that a letter
could be sent to have the goal removed from the County right-of way and obviously for safety
reasons. Commissioner Douglas made a motion to have the County Attorney send a letter to the
property owners to remove the goal, seconded by Commissioner Bottoms. Motion carried 3-0.
Extension—No official report this month.
Animal Services—has already presented report to the Commissioners.
Old Business:
No old business discussed.
New Business:
City of Princeton and 2"d Avenue Extension Project— Mayor Hurst addressed the Commissioners
in regard to the 2nd Avenue and McCarty Road extension originally submitted on October 4`h,
2011 and asked that this body send their request onto Redevelopment Commission.
Mayor Hurst also stated that the project is about the same length as the South Main Project, a
little easier to construct because there are no businesses out there at this point. Distance is
roughly a mile—total cost S4.7 million (originally S3.9 million)—there has been a little kick up.
The local match is S1;137,990 and asking for Redevelopment to pay half.
The road would be located about half in the City and half in the County. He has spoken with
officials at Berry Plastics; Toyota Boshuku, Hansens, the Church, BestOne, ONB, most of them
are in favor of the feeder road to go back to McCarty Road and then to Hwy. 41.
There are two extensions planned off of it, one that would go out to Richland Creek to the West
and the other to the Church Property to the East and at some point in time, another feeder road to
the back of Hansens' to keep the truck traffic off of McCarty Road.
He requests that the Commissioners do this because it is a good thing for Economic
Development in that area. That area will spring up with Residential, and possibly Commercial
and Industrial Development with Toyota and Toyota Boshoku.
President Bledsoe states that he will share the letters he received on this issue with
Commissioner Bottoms as he was not on the Board when this came up the last time.
Commissioner Bottoms stated that the Plan looks quite different than it did in January; no one
has spoken with him in regard to this Plan change and the increase in costs. He asked for a
meeting with Mayor Hurst and Randy Hancock, Project Engineer with HWK to discuss the route
change, he added that because he was unaware of this change, he could not vote on the issue
until he had a chance to review the information.
Randy Hancock with HWK stated that vetting for bids begins in December 2013, construction to
be in spring of 2014. The City has been on INDOT's schedule for 3.5 years. They have 9 of the
11 parcels required to move fonvard with the project. On the original agreement, the City will
maintain the road.
He also reminded the Commissioners that the City invested a few hundred thousand dollars into
the Sewer Project for Toyota Boshoku which was located outside the City limits.
County Attorney Jim McDonald questioned if there was water and sewer infrastructure out there
and if it ran along this proposed stretch of road. Mayor Hurst said there was infrastructure and
the City has agreed to put inlets in the fields for future development for sewer and water tap-ins
on some of the properties so it is there and ready to go.
Commissioner Douglas has abstained from comment or addressing either Commissioner because
of a conflict of interest.
President Bledsoe states this item has been tabled and will be brought up at a future meeting after
Commissioner Bottoms has met with Project Engineer from HWC.
County—Wide School Safety Committee— President Bledsoe had a phone conversation with
Stacy Umbaugh; Superintendent SGSC, she is heading up this Committee and wants to submit
the following member names: East Gibson, Roger Benson; North Gibson, Steve Hauger; and
South Gibson, Chuck Lewis and law enforcement to be represented by Sheriff Ballard. This is in
accordance with Senate Bill 1, passed during the last legislative session, the Committee was
created by statute and appointees serve 2 year terms. Establishing this Committee, will allow the
Schools to apply for a 550,000 Grant (one for each School) which in turn can be used for
Security in our Schools. Commissioner Bottoms made a motion to recognize the Committee and
approve the appointees, seconded by Commissioner Douglas. Motion carried 3-0. President
Bledsoe asked that Kay Vore keep this information on Record and bring it up in January 2015.
Vacant Lot— 117 E. Washington Street, Oakland City— No decision has been made by the
Commissioners as of this meeting.
CR 350 W— Fence in the right-of-way— Surveyor Michael Stevenson was asked to mark the
right of way and he presented photographs at the meeting. Hwy. Supt. Jerry Heldt reported that
the fence is in the right of way and needs to be relocated. County Attorney will meet with
property owner about moving the fence out of the right of way.
Bridge #45 — Bridge that burnt on County Line Road—County Engineer Umpleby is working on
the calculations and design and should be ready to bid in Spring 2014.
James Hall at a previous meeting— Ditch at CR 300 S & 450 W— Hwy. Supt. Heldt reported that
the ditch work is complete.
Director Alvey reported earlier in the meeting that the Ambulance Base Service in Montgomery
Township will be short about S27,000 to pay overtime through the end of the year and that he
will present this information to the Council next week for additional funds.
Clyde Scott— spoke as a member of the Owensville/Montgomery Fire Protections District. They
are the largest and cover more area than any other township including Wabash Township in
Gibson County. When the ambulance service is short-handed, First Responders plus Firefighters
step up to help out the Ambulance Service. Twenty years later, the Ambulance Service is still
short-handed. The people of Owensville/Montgomery County pay their taxes, built their
building and provided it with Heat and Air plus two apparatus and it didn't cost the County a
penny. Something is wrong; we need that service down there. His wife had a heart attack, if it
had not been for the personnel down at the Fire House, his wife would not have survived and that
is just one example.
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President Bledsoe has attended the meetings for the Fire House and Fire Board and he said
"Montgomery Township has to have an ambulance service. Commissioner Bottoms stated "He
is in total support of their request and I intend that we must service that area, whatever it takes
per request.
Lee Bums from the Fire Board stated they have 270 miners coming into town as a result of the
new Coal Mine. Increased traffic on Hwy. 64, 65 and the County is going to be flooded with
more traffic than ever. They plan; they have balanced budgets, fiscally responsible, and
currently have 25 Volunteer Firefighters, best trained force, designing new facility again with
ambulance bay. Largest and oldest District, it is preposterous that they could lose their
ambulance service. They have two of the largest, hazardous occupations, coal mining and the
Duke Energy. They are the areas First Responders, fifteen minutes can make all the difference
and they are requesting the Ambulance Service fully man the station.
Commissioner Bottoms stated to Director Alvey, we need to fully man that station, the budget
and the request, they have gave and gave and we appreciate that, they are asking that it be full
manning and I am in total support of their request and in fact insist that we must add in these
figures. He understands that the Council allocates the money but that he is in total support of
your request, making it clear and plain. It must be done. No one has done what you have done
for your community as far as giving to the County to help.
Terry Hedges stated the Commissioners should consider making full time employees out of
current part time employees if the Council were in agreement.
Stop sign change at CR 650 E & 600 S (remove sign) Commissioner Bottoms requested the
Sheriff check out the sign from CR 650 E. Sheriff Ballard will review and report.
With no further business, Commissioner Bottoms made a motion to adjourn the meeting,
seconded by Commissioner Douglas. Motion carried 3-0.
k �A cir
Gerald Bledsoe, President Alan Douglas, Vice-President
t-ve Bottoms, Commissioner
ATTEST: Sherri Smith, Auditor