HOWARD
The Howard County Board of Commissioners met in
Regular Session on
The meeting was called to
order and conducted by President Paul Raver.
The minutes from the
previous meetings held on July 15th, July 29th and the
Executive Session on
IN THE MATTER OF HIGHWAY ISSUES:
Mr. Ted Cain, Howard County Highway Engineer/Superintendent presented the following issues for Commissioner information:
1.
2. Railroad crossing repairs at 50 North
and
IN THE MATTER OF CITY OF
Mr. Dwight Singer, President
of the Board of Directors, introduced the new General Manager of the City of
Firsts Automotive Heritage Museum, Inc., Mr. Jerry Jenkins. (Also see
Born in
IN THE
MATTER OF PLAN COMMISSION ISSUES AND PROPERTIES FOR APPROVAL:
Plan Commission Director, Glen
Boise, presented the following issues:
1. Case 20-CP-02 – six (6) lots in L & G Acres Subdivision located at 3456 North 300 East was approved on a motion made by Mr. Bagwell. Mr. Harbaugh seconded the motion and it carried.
2.
Case 30-CP-02 – one (1) lot in Hostetler Subdivision located at 1476
North 700 East. Mr. Harbaugh made a motion to
grant approval to Case 30-CP-02. Seconded
by Mr. Bagwell, the motion carried.
3.
Case 31-CP-02 – one (1) lot in Aleman Subdivision located at 9673 East
400 North
was approved on a motion made by Mr. Bagwell.
Mr. Harbaugh seconded the motion, which carried.
4.
Case 32-CP-02 – four (4) lots in Raney Estate Subdivision located at
3136 South 600 West. Mr. Bagwell made a motion to
approve Case 32-CP-02. Mr. Harbaugh
seconded the motion and it carried.
5.
Ordinance 2002-BCC-31 – (Case 3-CT-02) Removal of the primary feeder
for proposed 250 East lying between 50 North (East Carter) and 100 North (
6.
Ordinance No. 2002-32 – (Case 5-CZ-02) a request to change the zone
classification from C-1, Light Industrial, to R-1, Residential for property
located at 3025 W.
7.
Flood Mitigation Assistance Grant:
a. The State Emergency Management Agency (S.E.M.A.) experienced problems with the software to perform the cost benefit analysis. S.E.M.A. is currently working on an analysis of each of the approximately forty-five (45) properties that are involved.
b.
Pertaining to the existing grant, the contractor has
not finished cleaning up a property located on
IN THE
MATTER OF MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT ISSUES:
Assistant Superintendent
Jeff Berry attended the meeting in Maintenance Superintendent Thomas Harrison’s
absence. Mr.
IN THE MATTER OF PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATOR
ISSUES:
Personnel
Director, Wanda McKillip presented the following issues for Commissioner
information:
1.
Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA) Universal Precautions/Bloodborne Pathogens Procedures: Two separate books with OSHA instructions
have been completed and will be maintained in each office in all governmental
buildings. Any employee may review the
material upon request. This will comply
with one of the State requirements for OSHA training. Since the OSHA education started, more than
300 county employees have been trained.
Once the
2.
August 4th
marks the fifth year anniversary of the
IN THE
MATTER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGER ISSUES:
Mr. Terry Tribby, Information
Systems Manager, presented the following issues for Commissioner information
and approval:
1.
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to approve the Mutual Settlement Agreement
between Miller & Miller Information Systems, Inc. and the Howard County
Board of Commissioners and authorize the President to sign the agreement on
behalf of the Commissioners. Mr.
Harbaugh seconded the motion and it carried.
2.
Courthouse Server Upgrade: The upgrade
of the serial connections in the Courthouse has been completed except for one
application in the
3.
E-mail Issues: The outgoing mail seems to go
out satisfactorily but the incoming mail from a couple of sources is not being
delivered. Mr. Tribby is working with
Advanced Internet Technology (AIT) to resolve this problem. Please forward any information regarding
problems with e-mail messages to hcism@iquest.net.
4.
The State is in the process of changing the method of jury selection by
December 31st, 2002. A software
investment may be needed prior to the change.
Voters Registration files were used to select names to serve on
juries. Beginning
IN THE MATTER OF COURTHOUSE RENOVATION
PROJECT:
Mr. William Bassett of William Bassett and Associates presented the following issues for Commissioner information and approval:
1.
Construction on the Courthouse began as the contractors moved in on
July 5th, 2002. Mr. Bassett submitted minutes
from the Construction Progress Meeting held on
2.
The mechanical and electrical systems are being demolished on the
second floor. The old heat pump
piping, electrical and data cabling are being removed. The boilers in the basement have been
removed. The heat pump system was shut
down on July 29th and portable, temporary air conditioning was
secured for several rooms in the Courthouse.
(See
3.
A Coordination Information Meeting was held on
4.
As the renovations progress, Courthouse employees are informed and are
accepting there will be some inconveniences.
The Voter Registration staff was commended for its cooperation during
moving and air conditioning inconveniences.
IN THE MATTER OF COUNTY
CORONERS OFFICE:
Trade
In
Vehicle Dealer Base Cost Allowance Final Cost
2003 Ford Expedition
2002 Chevy Tahoe Eriks
Chevrolet $33,884.00 $8,500.00 $25,384.00
2003 GMC Yukon Conkle
Motor Co. $38,400.00 $9,000.00 $29,400.00
It was the consensus of the Board
to let the County Council decide if the money is available in the County
General Fund. Mr. Bagwell made a motion
to forward the request for the Coroner’s new vehicle to the County Council for its
consideration. Mr. Harbaugh seconded the
motion, and it carried. The next County
Council meeting is scheduled for
IN THE MATTER OF
A Poor Relief Hearing was conducted on
IN THE MATTER OF
A continuation of a Poor
Relief Hearing was conducted on
IN THE MATTER OF CLAIMS AND REPORTS:
1.
Operating claims payable on
2.
Commissioners’ Salary Claims
for hourly, salary and overtime payable for August 9th, and
3.
The budget hearings will
begin on August 27th at
IN THE MATTER OF PHASE II STORM WATER
REGULATIONS (MS4 Program):
Ms. Amy Moore, Environmental Engineer with
Capital improvements may or may not be required as
part of the plan, based on findings and need. Projects addressing storm water
quantity issues or other issues the County has knowledge of do not necessarily have
to begin right away. Other communities
have used the MS4 Federal Mandate Program as an opportunity to address some of
the known problem areas in the community.
Mr. Bagwell suggested that the Surveyor’s Office and
Health Department identify and report areas within the urbanized area that are
potential points of concern. The
Commissioners requested the Surveyor’s Office and Health Department’s
involvement during the next Advisory Committee meeting scheduled on
A request came up at the first Advisory Committee
meeting to look at the possibility of squaring-up the urbanized area on the
Howard County MS4 map. A lot of this
program has ramifications on development.
As urbanized areas of
Ms. Moore continues to work with the Advisory
Committee members to identify existing programs and organizations currently
involved with storm water related issues to minimize any duplication of
resources and to compose a list of programs or projects that could be included
in this program. (Also see
IN THE MATTER OF REQUEST TO REMOVE DITCH EASEMENT & REDUCE UTILITY
EASEMENT (at 2425 South 300 East):
Mrs. John W. Miner appeared before the Commissioners
on
Scheduled Continuation of
the Public Hearing -
(Actual time held – 10:
President
Paul Raver opened the public hearing. Petitioner
Linda Miner, 2425 South 300 East, and adjoining property owner Beverly Pugh,
2291 South 300 East, were present for the hearing.
Obstruction of water and drainage issues were
reiterated. Neither the petitioner nor
the adjoining property owner presented any changes from the previous
meeting. They had not reached an
agreement. There was no one else in the
audience that wished to be heard.
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to request the Surveyor’s
Office to study the situation for an opinion as to whether the tile under Mr.
and Mrs. Miner’s driveway obstructs the natural flow of water in the area and
report the results back to the Commissioners.
Mr. Harbaugh seconded the motion and it carried. The Commissioners will notify Linda Miner and
Beverly Pugh of any further discussion of the issue.
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to close the public
hearing. Mr. Harbaugh seconded the
motion, which carried.
Public Hearing Closed at
IN THE MATTER OF THE DARROUGH CHAPEL SEWER
SITUATION:
Scheduled Hearing -
(Actual Starting Time -
Mr. Roger Roe (
Mr. Roe felt the Gove and Associates Engineering
estimate to be inflated. He preferred
that the County coordinate with the City Engineers and use local contractors
for the project. The homeowners’ main
objection is the costs involved with the project. They claim the monthly payments are too much
for residents to afford.
Conversely, the sewer issue has already affected
property values. It’s getting more
difficult to sell property in the neighborhood.
Some residents cannot use their bathrooms or wash clothes. Mr. Harbaugh commented that if the County
does nothing, the residents would suffer in both the short-run and long
run. The Health Department will have to
issue pump and haul orders and/or condemn some of the homes.
Mr. Cliff Bolton, 2801
Mr. Anthony Ebert,
Several Darrough Chapel residents opposed the
project due to the costs involved. They
requested that the County conduct further investigation to find out if there is
any other financial help available for the project. Other residents maintain they do not have any
septic problems and questioned why they need hook onto a new sewer system.
Mr. Jerry Williams, Senior Project Engineer with
Gove and Associates, explained the cost estimates for the project were
completed two (2) years ago at the request of the
Unlike local funds, the State Revolving Loan
Programs and Rural Development Programs are lower interest loans than what a
local bank could offer right now. There
are specific legal steps to go through to satisfy Federal and State regulators
in order to receive the funding. There
are other ways to finance this type of project but local engineers probably
would calculate the cost around $1.05 million to $1.25 million. The actual cost of the project is uncertain
until the project is bid and the job is completed. The threshold rates amount to approximately
$60.00. Considering Rural Development
Funding, the cost might possibly be reduced to $51.00.
Mr. Williams explained the Department of Commerce funds
a grant up to $500,000.00. The State
Revolving Loan (SRF) Program is a 20-year loan.
The Rural Development Program, a 38-year loan, qualifies for a 45%
grant. The total cost of the project
would be shared by a 45% grant and 55% loan.
To ease the financial impact on homeowners, Mr. Bagwell suggested
including all of the up-front expenses and tap-in fees with the loan so they can
be financed over time.
Mr. Monte Zinkan,
Mr. John Stewart,
Mr. Bagwell stated the
Mr. Greg Lake, County Health Department
Environmental Coordinator, said the Darrough Chapel residents were in a better
situation compared to other areas of the county with similar problems. Taylor Regional Sewer District is willing to
extend their boundaries to accept them.
This cuts down on the time frame of creating a sewer district and adding
another layer of government. Location is
another benefit to the Darrough Chapel area because they have access to city
sewer lines. They don’t have to go out and build a sewer plant or purchase the land
to accommodate the building.
Mr. Bagwell will return to the City Administration
to ask if there is a possibility of splitting the project between the Bellaire
Addition and
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to close the hearing. Mr. Harbaugh seconded the motion, and it
carried.
The public hearing closed at
IN THE
MATTER OF COUNTY ATTORNEY ISSUES:
1.
The President of the Board of Commissioners
signed the original contract from Health
Professional LTD. (Also see
2.
3.
An Executive Session of the
Board was set for Friday, August 9, 2002, at 11:00 a.m. in Room No. 220D
(Second floor) of the Howard County Administration Center
to discuss strategy with respect to pending litigation on a motion made by Mr.
Bagwell. Mr. Harbaugh seconded the
motion, and it carried.
IN THE MATTER OF COMMISSIONER ISSUES:
There were no issues to be discussed at this time.
There being no further business before the Board, Mr.
Bagwell made a motion to adjourn. Mr.
Harbaugh seconded the motion and it carried.
The meeting closed at
THE
HOWARD
___________________________________________
PAUL
J. RAVER, PRESIDENT
___________________________________________
BRADLEY
J. BAGWELL, VICE-PRESIDENT
___________________________________________
JOHN
B. HARBAUGH, MEMBER
ATTEST:
__________________________
Commissioner Minutes,