MIAMI COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
25 NORTH BROADWAY
PERU, INDIANA 46970
MINUTES
OCTOBER 8, 2007

Chairman Hawley called the weekly meeting of the Board to order.

TOURISM/INKEEPERS TAX
The Board received an information packet from Sandy Chittum of the Chamber of Commerce concerning an innkeeper’s tax. She explained that the Tourism Commission had a meeting with Charles Gray from the Best Western. His was the only hotel represented at the meeting.

She said they are requesting a 5% tax to fund Tourism. She asks permission to appear before the County Council with the proposal.
A motion was made by Commissioner Boyer to take this under consideration. The motion was 2nd by Commissioner Deeds and passed 3-0.

WIND FARM
Marilyn Jackson from Macy gave the Board information concerning the development of a wind farm in Miami County. The company, Invenergy, is along with the owners of a farm in northern Miami County, requesting permission to erect a meteorological tower to determine if Miami County has enough wind to support the investment of $150,000,000 to $200,000,000. Mrs. Jackson said the White’s met with Mr. Wooten from the Plan Commission and they found hostility to the project. The Whites are asking for a variance at the November meeting of the Zoning Appeals Board.

Darrell Wooten told the Board that Mr. John Doster from Invenergy came to him about a variance. Mr. Wooten said he explained that 60 acres is a large parcel, and that usually it is an acre or two. He explained the fence and set back from the road. Commissioner Deeds said with a 300 foot set back with guy wires the tower would actually set back 500 feet from the road. There were questions as to whether this is necessary. No action taken.
This issue will go before the Board of Zoning Appeals in November.

JAIL PROJECT PETITIONS
The Board received the taxpayer petitions from the Auditor.
There were 77 total signatures with 8 not valid leaving 69 valid petitioners supporting the project. A motion was made by Commissioner Deeds to accept the petitions for construction and financing of the new jail. The motion was 2nd by Commissioner Boyer and passed 3-0.

EMA/LAPTOPS
Mike Peconga told the Board there are 17 lap tops on order from the Grant and he needs a check for $17,901 to be written and held until the funding is received. This process has been done for several grants for EMA. A motion was made by Commissioner Deeds to allow the process to begin. The motion was 2nd by Commissioner Boyer and passed 3-0.

Laptop issue
Mr. Peconga wants the County to allow a statement be added to the form signed when the lap tops are distributed reflecting that the ones receiving them, own them and the County has no responsibility to maintain them. These are pass through equipment grants and he feels the County needs to remove the responsibility of our IT department to fix these computers in the future. A motion was made by Commissioner Deeds to have this process adopted and the process begin. The motion was second by Commissioner Boyer and passed 3-0.

District 3 discussion
Mr. Peconga and the Board discussed the funding for the grants and for District 3 of the State. He said he has applied for 341 800 MH radios for the County. The meeting on the 18th should provide some information concerning some of the grants and distribution of funds.

Mr. Peconga said there are two exercises one on the 23rd at Grissom and one the 25th with the 53rd Civil Support team.

Mr. Peconga asked permission to advertise 3 vehicles for sale. A motion was made by Commissioner Boyer to allow Mr. Peconga to advertise the vehicles for sale. The motion was 2nd by Commissioner Deeds and passed 3-0.

IT ISSUES
John Powell asked the Board to allow him to order a printer for the Recorder. This is to replace an old printer that “died”. The purchase will be made from the redaction fund and the cost is $695. A motion to allow the purchase was made by Commissioner Boyer. The motion was 2nd by Commissioner Deeds and passed 3-0.

Mr. Powell said he was giving the Board a heads up concerning the new Home Land Security requirements to have the County up and running in 6 hours. No action was taken.

Mr. Powell will be meeting with RQAW for technology discussions concerning the Jail Project.

REPORTS BY THE BOARD
Commissioner Boyer will be going to INDOT concerning 513.

Commissioner Hawley attended the presentation of the Judicial Committee concerning a 3rd Court for Miami County. He said they had the best presentation he had seen.

JAIL REPORT
The Board received the weekly report from the jail.

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The Board also received information from McAllister Machinery Co., Inc. out of Fort Wayne concerning maintenance on the new jail generator.

MINUTES
A motion was made by Commissioner Deeds to approve the minutes. The motion was 2nd by Commissioner Boyer and passed 3-0.

CLAIMS
A motion was made by Commissioner Boyer to pay the claims. The motion was 2nd by Commissioner Deeds and passed 3-0.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES
Mike Greene informed the Board that he will be gone for two weeks and the weights and measures person from Wabash will cover for him.


BOARD OF FINANCE
The Commissioners received a Depository Certificate of Balances from First Farmers Bank for $5,187,260.70.

ORDINANCE FOR COCKROACHES
Commissioner Hawley said he got a phone call wanting to know if the Board would consider an Ordinance on cockroaches from the Health Department. No action taken.

HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT
Ken Einselen had an ordinance request concerning no parking signs at Eagles Pointe. A motion was made by Commissioner Deeds to accept the recommendation. The motion was 2nd by Commissioner Boyer and passed 3-0.

REALTORS MEETING UPDATE
Commissioner Hawley gave an update to the Board concerning the meeting. Senator Tom Weatherwax was there and Commissioner Deeds gave Councilman Click 4 names to recommend for the PTABOA Board.

It was noted that per ICE MILLER a Holding Company has until October 31, 2008 to be formed.

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
CRAIG BOYER

ATTEST: _____________________________, Auditor
Brenda Weaver