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Home My WebLink About5-12-2026 GC Council Meeting MinutesGibson County Council Regular Session Meeting May 12, 2026 at Southwest Annex Council members present: • President Jeremy Overton • Vice President Derek McGraw • Council Member Jay Riley • Council Member Craig Schafer • Council Member Robert Schleter • Council Member Michael Stilwell • Council Member Hannah Whitehead (absent) Also, present were: • Auditor Mike Watkins • 1' Deputy to Auditor Kristy York • 2nd Deputy to Auditor Logan Vickers Pledge of Allegiance • The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Approval of Minutes • The Council approved minutes as written from the April 141 regular meeting. Acknowledgements • Clerk's report DEPARTMENT REPORTS EMS (Emergency Medical Services) Presented by Arica Cole • EMS provided an operations report. • EMS is fully staffed. • The new ambulance should arrive in June. • National EMS Week is coming up. Sheriff Department presented by Sheriff Vanoven • Deputy positions: one opening. • Corrections positions: four openings. • Communications positions: no openings. • Community Corrections positions: one opening. • There was an average jail population of 104 inmates. OLD BUSINESS Personnel in Prosecutor's Office - Presented by Prosecutor Cochran • The Prosecutor had previously requested approval to hire an Administrative Assistant; Commissioners have approved. • This expense will be paid from the Deferral User Fee. • This is included in the Salary Ordinance Amendment Council Meeting Minutes May 12, 2026 1 Jail Demolition Project Presented by Owners' Representative, George Ballard • Pre -demolition meetings will be held today. • They have some interested companies for this job. • The demolition job will be bid in June. 2026 Salary Schedule Amendment #2 - Presented by Logan Vickers • Added a part time employee to the veteran services department. • Added an Administrative Assistant to the Prosecutor's department. Council Member McGraw motioned to approve this salary schedule amendment 42, seconded by Council Member Riley. The vote was 6-0. NEW BUSINESS Public Safety LIT Request for 2027 — Presented by Trustee Phyllis Ernst • LIT public safety tax rate began in 2025. • In 2026, some fire departments requested a share of that tax and received funding through an ordinance. • Fire departments must submit a request each year to receive LIT Public Safety tax funds. • Patoka Township is again requesting its 2027 share of the LIT Public Safety tax. • Center Township is requesting permission to send a letter so it may receive a share of the LIT Public Safety tax, which it does not currently receive. • Council Member Riley explained that the ordinance would cover any eligible fire department that requests LIT Public Safety tax funds. • The County Attorney will determine which entities are eligible to receive the tax. Council Member Riley moved to approve the maximum allowable pass -through amount for all eligible entities, as defined by Indiana Code, for the LIT Public Safety tax. Council Member McGraw seconded the motion. The motion passed 6-0. Request to Amend Sheriff s Fleet Maintenance Fund Mileage Rate — Presented by Sheriff Vanoven • Ordinance 2024-1 set up the Sheriff's Fleet Maintenance Fund. • The department has been able to recover costs through this ordinance. • The department requested an amendment to align the ordinance mileage reimbursement rate with the State of Indiana rate. • The Sheriff also requested authority to adjust the rate up or down by a nickel. • This fund applies to off -duty work performed by the Sheriff s Department. Council Member McGraw moved to amend Ordinance 2024-01 to reflect Indiana's mileage reimbursement rate and to allow the Sheriff to adjust the rate up or down as needed. Council Member Stilwell seconded the motion. Council Member McGraw then amended the motion to allow the rate to be set at the highest state rate. Council Member Stilwell seconded the amended motion. The motion passed 6-0. RDC Update - Presented by Council Member Schleter • The Council recognized former RDC member Larry Michel for his service. • Council Member Schleter expressed concerns about the resolution recently passed in connection with the proposed TIF. • Mr. Michel and others in attendance feel that Toyota should fund its own infrastructure improvements rather than receive the proposed TIF. • Matt Holden was present and discussed the roads proposed for paving. Council Meeting Minutes May 12, 2026 • 1 T } h ..1 1 1 • 1 r _ 1. 1 Z Commissioner Lewis provided an update on the I-69 sewer project and reported that the project is nearing completion. Council Member Schleter wonders if the confirmatory resolution could be reconsidered. The next RDC meeting will be held on June 1 at 7:00 p.m., rather than on its regular meeting date and time. Remarks by Former RDC Member Larry Michel • Mr. Michel said that he served on the RDC Board for five years and found the experience rewarding. • He feels the RDC should exercise tighter fiscal oversight. • He said that having a Council member serve on the RDC Board would improve communication with the Council. • He expressed concern that the resolution was passed without sufficient discussion, and he feels the confirmatory resolution should be rejected. • He also said that the declaratory resolution should be rescinded or amended because he feels it has too many open-ended provisions. • He wonders if the proposed TIF could negatively affect school planning and budgeting. • He said that the County Council should exercise caution before approving the declaratory resolution. • He said that county taxpayers are concerned about continuing to fund improvements to Toyota perimeter roads. • He asked where the County's obligation of maintaining Toyota perimeter roads is specified. • He said that Toyota has served the county well and would likely be cooperative in discussions. • He said that the County and Toyota should discuss the issue directly rather than shifting the cost to taxpayers. • Mr. Michel offered an example of how future road maintenance might be funded. He suggested a $10 million tax abatement that would allow Toyota to invest the funds for future road improvements. • He said that this approach could help keep tax rates stable while allowing Toyota to continue paying comparatively low tax rates. • He emphasized that communication is essential. • He said that approval of the resolution could increase tax rates in Patoka and Union townships. • The Council thanked Mr. Michel for the information and for his service. Randy Kiesel, Gibson County Business Owner • Thanked the council for taking care of the taxpayers. • He does not feel the TIF is good for the County, nor does he feel that it is justified because Toyota is an established business. • He is a developer and the county had told him the roads, infrastructure, and their maintenance would be at his cost. • He does not feel another 30-year TIF is justified. • He asked them to consider the justice of a TIF district. Highway Department Presented by Engineer Holden • Requested permission to replace two retiring employees, which is in the budget. • There was no objection to this. The Governor has suspended the gas tax due to the excessive cost of gas. This will directly affect the Community Crossings Grant. He also feels MVH and LRS distributions will be affected by the May gas tax and excise tax suspension. They are not cutting projects yet but keeping a close eye on future projects. Engineer Holden clarified that this is not the first maintenance to be done on the Toyota perimeter roads. Council Meeting Minutes May 12, 2026 Councilman Schleter exited the meeting. Transfers Requested 1000 General Sheriff 0005 From 11312 Captain (2) To 11300 Part -Time $20,000.00 EMS 0301 From 12303 Overtime To 11300 Part -Time $80,000.00 EMA 0302 From 11300 Part -Time To 35000 Contract Services $14,000.00 Jail 0380 From 10201 Corrections Officers $(31,000.00) From 12204 Shift Super $(17,000.00) From 11300 Part -Time $(2,000.00) To 12303 Overtime $50,000.00 1135 Cum. Bridge From 11103 Bridge Foreman (1) To I I101 Leadman $54,000.00 From 11305 Bridge Crew (1) To It 102 Truckdriver/Laborer $48,000.00 From 11316 Bridge Crew Operators To 11114 Equipment Operator $49,000.00 1176 MVH 0531 Maintenance & Repair From 11115 Truck Driver (10) To 11102 Truckdriver/Laborer $576,000.00 From 11218 Gradall Operators To 11114 Equipment Operator $588,000.00 From 11308 Light Equipment Operators To 11117 Yard Operator $49,000.00 From 11414 Heavy Equipment Operators To 11405 Road Crew Leader (3) $162,000.00 0530 Office Admin From 11311 Bookkeeper/Dispatcher To 11118 Office Manager $49,000.00 Council Member McGraw motioned to approve all transfers, seconded by Council Member Riley. The vote was 5-0. Additional Appropriations - Request to Advertise 1000-32100-0301 General EMS Ambulance Repairs $30,000.00 Council requested they make a transfer rather than request additional appropriations. 1170-22000-0000 LIT Public Safety Supplies $30,000.00 EMA Director McKinney explained that she and her committee would like to set up a search & rescue program in the county. They want to purchase devices for people with certain medical conditions such as Alzheimer's, special needs, and autism; they would also provide service/maintenance on the devices. They have people on a waiting list to get the devices. They want to minimize the cost to families that wish to take part in the program. The long-term funding source of this program is grant -seeking and fundraising. Project Lifesaver will help with the fundraising. They would like to place receivers in each section of the county (N-S-E-W). The county has two receivers and two transmitters. They have interested donors. Council Member McGraw motioned to approve advertising this additional appropriation request, seconded by Council Member Riley. The vote was 5-0. 1170-44209-0000 LIT Public Safety Outdoor Warning Siren $431,771. Council Meeting Minutes May 12, 2026 Councilman McGraw motioned to approve advertising this additional appropriation, seconded by Councilman Riley. The vote was 5-0. Councilman Riley wonders what the delay is on this project; he thought it had a completion date of October, 2025. He asked Director McKinney to add pressure on them to complete the job or pay for the upkeep and repairs of the old system. Additional Appropriation Resolution 1000 General Fund Personal Services $10,800.00 2502 Prosecutor Deferral User Fees Personal Services $60,000.00 Council Member McGraw motioned to approve this additional appropriation resolution, seconded by Council Member Stilwell. The vote was 5-0. Adjournment Motion to adjourn was made by Council Member Riley. Minutes from May 12' regular meeting. aA�,'7z- d"-, Jer my Overton, President Council Meriiber �4& Robert Schleter, Council Member Hannah Whitehead, Council Member Attest: AC d Michael A. Watkins, Gibson County Auditor Council Meeting Minutes May 12, 2026 erek McGraw, Vice -President ag ScbOer, Council Member E i Michael Stil ell, Council Member