MIAMI COUNTY COUNCIL
25 NORTH BROADWAY
PERU, INDIANA 46970
JUNE 17, 2008

Council President Click called the June meeting to order.

Councilman Kendall is absent.

Councilman Duckwall led everyone in prayer and Council President Click led the pledge.

Councilman Duckwall updated everyone on the L.O.I.T. public hearing scheduled fro July 1st at 7 p.m. Adoption hearing will be July 15th at the Council meeting. If not unanimous, there will be another meeting the following week.

MINUTES
Councilman Wiles moved to approve the minutes. The motion was 2nd by Councilperson Hunt and passed 6-0.

EMERGENCY APPROPRIATIONS

CHILD PROTECTION SERVICES
Ms. McGinnis came before the Council for a reduction in Child Psych and addition to Family & Children in the amount of $250,000.00. Family & Children is borrowing the money from Child Psych. Councilperson Mull made motion to allow the reduction in Child Psych. Councilman Duckwall 2nd the motion and it passed 6-0.

Councilman Duckwall made a motion to allow the addition to Family & Children and Councilman Wiles 2nd the motion. The motion passed 6-0.

ABATEMENT REPORT
Councilmen McAuliffe, Click and Duckwall met with the Auditor’s staff and went over the abatements. Out of the four that was reviewed, only 3 of them met the requirements and were approved.

REORGANIZATION
President Click informed the Board that due to personal issues and the fact he will not be here next year, he would like to step down as President so the next person can get a head start and be able to access his help prior to the first of the year. After some discussion, President Click called for nominations. Councilman McAuliffe nominated Councilman Duckwall and Councilperson Mull 2nd the nomination. Council President Click asked if there were any other nominations. No other nominations were made and the nomination of Councilman Duckwall passed 6-0. Councilman Duckwall will assume President of the Council at the adjournment of this meeting.

L.O.I.T. DISCUSSION
Senator Weatherwax spoke to the Council in regards to the L.O.I.T tax options. If the Council wishes to adopt the LOIT tax, they will need to do so prior to August 1st to start being collected October 1st.

Senator Weatherwax went over some of the aspects of HEA 1001 such as the effect the Circuit Breaker will have on the County. The LOIT tax will certainly help offset the loss from the Circuit Breaker kicking in.

The staff and extra expenses associated with the new jail and the 3rd Court granted to Miami County does not appear possible without the LOIT. There were discussions regarding the distribution of the tax.

Mr. Jessie Briscoe asked the Council if the County was in such bad shape and the cost of fuel is so high, why doesn’t the County convert all the County vehicles to run on water? He has a vehicle that he converted to water for about $30.00. It isn’t running right now but he plans to have it running and in the parade.

Brad Stephenson asked Mr. Weatherwax that since he said the last time the sales tax went up that the property tax would go down and it didn’t, what made him feel qualified to say that again this time. Mr. Stephenson also said Mr. Weatherwax should not be micro managing Miami County. Council President Click explained to Mr. Stephenson that the Council had asked Mr. Weatherwax to come to the meeting and he was in no way trying to micro-manage. Senator Weatherwax told Mr. Stephenson they tried to cover all the bases this time to make sure that didn’t happen again. This time caps are in place to try to control school and capital projects spending so that doesn’t happen again.
Wayne Bunker said if someone makes $60,000 a year their share of LOIT will be about $750, the break on property tax will be about $300. He asked Senator Weatherwax why not raise the Sales Tax more. The Senator said the Sales Tax had to be competitive with the surrounding Counties.

Mary Marrow said the County needs to cut cost and employees do not need raises.

The Council thanked Senator Weatherwax for coming.

The Public Hearing for the LOIT will be held on July 1st at 7:00 p.m. in the G.A.R. room and the adoption will be at the regular Council meeting on July 15th.

A motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Mull. The motion was 2nd by Councilman McAuliffe and passed 6-0.

Adjourned


Respectfully Submitted,

Jane Lilley
Chief Deputy Auditor