MIAMI COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
25 NORTH BROADWAY
PERU, INDIANA 46970
September 17, 2007
Commissioner Hawley called the meeting to order.
DOMESTIC VIOLANCE COALITION
Jeff Price asked the Board’s permission to hold the yearly vigil at the Court
House on October 2, 2007. The Coalition holds a candle light service at 6:00 pm
each year in the Court House rotunda. Mr. Price also asked about placing the
crosses on the Court House lawn in remembrance of those who lost their lives to
domestic violence. A motion was made by Commissioner Deeds to allow the use of
the Court House and the Court House lawn. The motion was 2nd by Commissioner
Boyer and passed 3-0.
SCHOOL FUNDS ISSUES
Deb Jones, Superintendent of Maconaquah School System, spoke to the Board
concerning the lack of funding due to the late tax collections. The Board was
informed that Maconaquah had to cash in a million dollar CD to cover expenses.
They may need to borrow money prior to receiving their distribution from tax
collections this year. Ms. Jones wanted the Board to appreciate the effect a
late collection has to schools which are a not for profit organization. She also
wants to hold accountable those who are holding up the collections. Ms. Jones
also said the State has reduced their funding over the past couple of years
which has caused a shortfall. Commissioner Hawley explained some of the hold up
and the Auditor also explained how the State controls all that the Counties do.
Peru High School Superintendent, Andrew Melin, also spoke to the Board and said
they are in the same shape as the other school systems. The Auditor explained
all that has been done in an effort to expedite the approval of tax rates for
the County. She also thanked North Miami for their part in the push at the State
level. The schools will be notified as soon as the Auditor can estimate their
advances of tax revenues.
EMS/LAP TOPS
Jay Brainard and Pat Unger told the Board that they are interested in more lap
tops if the Homeland Security Grant sends the expected 17 to the County. They
are EMS and have completed the 1st responders NIMS requirements. They would like
to supply laptops to 4 ambulances at Dukes and 5 trucks. One ambulance in
Converse and one at Amboy would also be given a laptop for their use. The
information they would like to see on the laptops is GIS mapping and the Hazmat
response data. The question is who is responsible for the repair and maintenance
of the laptops once they are distributed. No one has that answer at this time.
Commissioner Deeds made a motion to take the request under advisement. The
motion was 2nd by Commissioner Boyer and passed 3-0.
PROBATION REQUEST
Susan Rice and IT Director, John Powell, presented to the Board a request for a
“time clock” for the Probation Department. This is to comply with a judge’s
request of the department. The options were discussed and the thumb
identification type was what all agreed would be the best. The cost is $5,000
for 20 users. In order for the County to use it the cost would be $8,000. At
this time the Board would like Ms. Rice to go ahead with it and if the County
decides to implement it after a trial run by the Probation Department the
initial cost to Ms. Rice would be reimbursed. John Powell said a 30 day trial
could be done to try it out. The Board gave them the go ahead to implement it
for Probation.
9-1-1 REQUEST
Jim Comerford told the Board he needs a new recorder for 9-1-1. At this time he
has no back up and it is critical to order quickly. If he orders’s before
January he can encumber the money from this year’s budget and receive the
recorder prior to the end of the year. Commissioners Hawley and Deeds agree to
allow him to order the recorder. Commissioner Boyer was absent for this vote.
MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Deeds to approve the minutes as amended. The
motion was 2nd by Commissioner Hawley and passed 2-0. Commissioner Boyer was
absent for this vote.
CCI CLAIM
A motion was made by Commissioner Deeds to pay the claim for CCI. The motion was
2nd by Commissioner Boyer. The motion passed 3-0. It is noted that this is paid
out of the new COIT fund established for the jail project.
PAYROLL
A motion was made by Commissioner Boyer to approve the payroll. The motion was
2nd by Commissioner Deeds and passed 3-0.
AMCO ELEVATOR
The Board received a proposal to replace sensors in the elevator at the Court
House. No action taken.
PAY TRUST SOLUTIONS CONTRACT
The Board received an updated contract for the Clerk of the Courts to allow the
payment of fines through credit cards. This is a renewal of a current contact.
The Board will ask the County Attorney to review this before they sign it.
COURT HOUSE ROOF
Commissioner Hawley told the Board that he had an opportunity to look at the
northwest corner of the Court House roof with Wabash Valley Restoration. They
will give an estimate for the worst of the worst and do the rest later. There
are issues with the mortar along all sides of the roofline. Commissioner Hawley
will also call NuTeck to look at another area of the roof that has an issue.
DOG ORDINANCE
The Board discussed the newly adopted Dog Ordinance and the lack of action being
taken to implement the Ordinance. They will review the Ordinance to see what
action they can take to move this forward.
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September 17, 2007
JAIL PETITIONS
Commissioner Hawley gave 3 petitions to the Auditor to review and approve for
the jail project. There are more petitions to review before they are presented
to the Ice Miller Law Firm.
COUNTY ATTORNEY ISSUES AND QUESTIONS
David Grund told the Board that he has not gotten the issue of the tax
collections resolved. The Board asked if they could mandate the tax bills be
sent out at the 2006 tax rate. Mr. Grund said it is so late in this year and it
appears as though the situation has resolved itself with the receiving of tax
rates from the State last week. Commissioner Deeds said he was told Marshall
County tried to have their bills collected on a provisional bill at the 2006 tax
rate and the DLGF (Department of Local Government Finance) would not allow it.
No further action was taken on this issue at this time.
CEMETERY ISSUE
David Grund said that he researched cemeteries according to State Statute. Any
cemetery in a city or town is the responsibility of that city or town. Any
cemetery in a township is the responsibility of the township trustee. He can
find nothing that makes any cemetery the responsibility of the County Board of
Commissioners.
DOG ORDINANCE
Mr. Grund said there is nothing the Board of Commissioners has to do at this
point with this Ordinance.
PAY TRUST SOLUTIONS
Mr. Grund was given the contract to review.
MEMO OF UNDERSTANDING/NICKEL PLATE TRAIL
Ken Einselen brought a document to the Board for signing.
Commissioner Hawley said he received a call from Mike Keupper concerning stone
along the trail. The County has put one truck load of stone in the area
requested, but Mr. Keupper said they need two more loads. A motion to approve
the Memo of Understanding was made by Commissioner Boyer and 2nd by Commissioner
Deeds. The motion was passed 3-0. The issue of the additional stone will be
discussed with the Highway Supervisor.
UPDATE ON 675 AND 550 EAST
Mr. Einselen gave an update to the Board and said seeding is completed but the
mail box approaches are not complete.
Mr. Einselen told the Board he has been invited to a meeting of the Rails to
Trails at a cost of $35. The Board said it is important that our concerns be
voiced at that meeting and approved his going.
A motion was made by Commissioner Boyer to send Ken Einselen to the meeting. The
motion was 2nd by Commissioner Deeds and passed 3-0.
HIGHWAY ISSUES
The Board and Sam Waltz discussed the additional stone issue for Rails to
Trails. Commissioner Boyer suggests that Mr. Waltz look at it and Commissioner
Deeds added that if the base is not adequate we are obligated to the two loads.
IVY TECH PARKING LOT
Mr. Waltz told the Board that they have enough spaces for 20 plus cars to park.
It is noted that the basement area was pushed in and when it settles there could
be issues.
Mr. Waltz also informed the Board that the new bookkeeper at the Highway
Department did some research and got back over $7,400 for 2004, 2005, and 2006
gas tax from the State. He added that she has been an asset to the Department.
A motion to adjourn was made by Commissioner Deeds. The motion was 2nd by
Commissioner Boyer and passed 3-0.
Adjourned
THE MIAMI COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
________________________________, CHAIRMAN
GARY D. HAWLEY
_________________________________, VICE CHAIRMAN
GREGORY DEEDS
_________________________________, MEMBER
C. CRAIG BOYER
ATTEST: _______________________, Auditor
Brenda Weaver
