HOWARD
The Howard County Board of Commissioners met in
Regular Session on
The meeting was called to
order by Major Larry Shipman and conducted by President Paul Raver. A moment of silence was held to reflect on
the passing of Keith Fallon, Director of Howard County Solid Waste
District. Mr. Fallon passed away suddenly
on
The minutes from the last regular meeting held on
Mr. Raver asked about the
status of the monthly census report of the Criminal Justice Center. (Refer to page 3 of the October 21st
minutes, “In the Matter of Sheriff Department Issues”, Item 3.) Major Shipman informed the Commissioners that
Captain Harold Vincent would arrive later during the meeting to present the
report. (See page 5, “In the
Matter of Sheriff Department Issues, Item 1)
IN THE MATTER OF HIGHWAY ISSUES:
Mr. Ted Cain, Howard County Highway
Engineer/Superintendent presented the following issues for Commissioner information
and approval:
1. The following three (3) quotes were
received to purchase a new pick up truck, including trade-in:
Graham Ford $24,937.57
Brad Howell Ford $25,461.25
Mr. Harbaugh made a motion
to accept the lowest bid from Kokomo Auto World for a pick up truck with a
trade-in for $24,520.25. Mr. Bagwell
seconded the motion, and it carried.
2. Paving on county roads is subject to weather conditions. Work that does not get completed this year will continue over to 2003.
3. Repairs to the last bridge for the season on 300 North between 1100 East and 1200 East is nearly finished. The deck will be poured on Wednesday, November 6th. The bridge will be opened to traffic the following week.
4.
Items Stored in right-of-way –
IN THE
MATTER OF PLAN COMMISSION ISSUES AND PROPERTIES FOR APPROVAL:
Plan Commission Director, Glen Boise, presented the
following issues for information and approval:
1.
Case 44-CP-02 – fourteen (14) lots in
2.
Case 45-CP-02 - one (1) lot in Varnell Subdivision located at 4597
North 50 East was
considered. Mr. Harbaugh made a motion
to approve Case 45-CP-02. Mr. Bagwell
seconded the motion, which carried.
3.
Case 47-CP-02 - one (1) lot in Downing Estates Subdivision located at
12631 East 300 South was approved on a motion made by Mr. Bagwell, seconded by Mr. Harbaugh, and carried.
4.
Ordinance No. 2002-BCC-51 - (Case 10-CZ-02) a request for a change in zone
classification from B-1 (Local Business) to B-2 (General Business) located at
5.
Ordinance No. 2002-BCC-52 – (Case 7-CT-02) a request to remove the
proposed primary feeder between 550 West and 600 West along 100 South was
considered. Mr. Harbaugh made a motion
to approve Ordinance No. 2002-BCC-52.
The motion was seconded by Mr. Bagwell and carried.
6.
Ordinance No. 2002-BCC-53 – (Case 44-CP-02) a request to establish
speed zone and stop sign for Hidden Valley Road in Hidden Valley Subdivision was
approved on a motion made by Mr. Bagwell, seconded by Mr. Harbaugh and carried.
7.
8.
Flood Hazard Planning: Mr. Boise is working on finishing the
amendment to the Plan requested by the Federal Government. The amendment will soon be distributed to
various interested persons to seek out comments.
Mr.
Boise has been working with the Auditor’s Office concerning flood grant funds
reconciliation.
9.
The Plan Commission is
working with the Auditor’s Office on a project that will accommodate the process
of acquiring electronic data with the submission of county plats. Local surveyors and engineers have been
issued a questionnaire inquiring if this process would work for them. This would save time and money due to the
fact that the mapping personnel would not have to redraw the new
information.
IN THE MATTER OF MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT
ISSUES:
Maintenance Superintendent Thomas Harrison presented the following issues for Commissioner information and approval:
1. Howard County Government Building: Approximately two (2) years ago the Environmental Division of the Department of Health requested installation of glass panels going 15 feet east of the Director’s office and then north, approximately 15 feet. Last year some work was done. To continue the project, Mr. Harrison has recently received a basic proposal of $2,600.00 plus whatever it would take to remove two (2) walls. The Maintenance Department budget has enough money for an anticipated cost of $3,500.00. The long-term prospect is that the Department of Health will remain at its present location.
Mr.
Bagwell made a motion to authorize the Maintenance Department to proceed with
remodeling the Department of Health on the second floor of the
2.
Renovations are scheduled to begin in the Voter
Registration area in the Courthouse on Friday, November 8th. Voter Registration will temporarily relocate
to the fourth floor of the
3. November 12th through the 18th is National Homeless Week. The Maintenance staff will begin to close the County parking lot on the corner of Mulberry and Market Streets on Friday afternoon for the Coordinated Assistance Ministries, Inc. (CAM) Homeless Awareness Event to be held on November 9 through 10, 2002.
4.
Mr. Harrison will contact a locksmith to correct the
problem of the door on the first floor of the
5.
The cooling tower on the
6.
Mr. Harrison hopes to avoid the title of “Humbug
Mrs. Hinkle said county
employee emergency/disaster training is moving along quickly. The fire drill process is nearly
complete. Mrs. Hinkle thanked
Maintenance Superintendent Tom Harrison for assistance with the new emergency route wall signs and plans for a fire alarm
warning process. Some issues need to be
clarified before conducting an efficient all-building fire drill by the end of
the 2002-year. A committee is working on
answers to business continuity in the event of an emergency/disaster. One of the concerns raised was how to get
people down the stairway who are unable to negotiate steps. Mrs. Hinkle is seeking price quotes for evac
chairs.
Captain Harold Vincent and
Captain Napoleon Leal of the Sheriffs Department are working on documentation
for training all county employees on a professional level in the event of an
emergency situation such as hostage and bomb threats. The training is anticipated to take place in
January 2003.
The weather/take shelter
plan will start in the spring of 2003.
Mrs. Hinkle is working on an agreement with Key Bank to use their large
meeting room in the basement of the
Mrs. Hinkle thanked the
Commissioners for the opportunity to serve in the emergency/disaster plans and
help county colleagues in this issue.
IN THE
MATTER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS MANAGER ISSUES:
Mr. Terry Tribby, Information Systems Manager, presented the following issues for
Commissioner information:
1.
Jury Selection Process: The court
mandated deadline for letters to go out to prospective jurors is
2.
As discussed during Maintenance Department Issues, the Voter
Registration Office is scheduled to move to the fourth floor of the
3.
The county currently leases space on a tower from Cinergy/PSI Energy
for 911-radio communication equipment at a cost of $14,000 to $15,000 annually. Cisco Hardware Company contends that
4.
Communications Systems Department will be on standby during Election Day on
IN THE MATTER OF COURTHOUSE RENOVATIONS:
Mr. William Bassett of William Bassett and Associates presented the following issues for Commissioner information:
· Doors and windows are being installed on the second floor.
· Work continues on the new courtroom facility with the Judge’s bench.
· Elevator renovations are in progress.
·
The next phase to consider is relocating certain
departments to accommodate the renovations.
Voter Registration will temporarily move to the
· Additional asbestos was removed from bulkheads in the basement area approximately two weeks ago. The asbestos was removed and hauled to a certified waste landfill in accordance with I.D.E.M. rules and regulations.
IN THE MATTER OF ITEMS
STORED IN RIGHT-OF-WAY –
(See
Augusto C. Medina, 3622 North 00 East/West, appeared before the Commissioners with concerns about the Barko owned property located north of his property. Mr. Medina complained that vehicles and debris are stored in the county right-of-way blocking visibility and creating a traffic hazard. According to Mr. Medina, junk is also being stored next to the railroad tracks. Also he stated that the Barkos have refused to install a fence along Mr. Medina’s property line to conceal the junkyard. Mr. Medina contends the junkyard is an eye sore, making it difficult to secure homeowners insurance or sell his home. Mr. Medina also complained about rats and dogs running loose from the junkyard.
Plan Commission Director Glen Boise explained the property, referred to as the “Barko Junkyard”, is a non-conforming use property because it existed before the zoning classification was established. The Plan Commission staff researched the history of the right-of-way but only found a dedication of thirty-feet when the lot was platted. The minimum size for a State right-of-way is fifty feet. The State may not have remembered to record the proper documents.
Mr. Medina claims that business is being conducted without meeting the necessary maintenance requirements. Mr. Medina feels this situation is a dangerous nuisance and asked the Commissioners to take a look at the situation.
The size of the right-of-way remained uncertain. Mr. Bagwell made a motion to authorize Mr. Boise to conduct a title search on the subject property to determine where the right-of-way is located. Mr. Raver vacated the chair to second the motion, which carried.
IN THE MATTER OF HOWARD
Scott Maple, Vice-Chairman of SWCD, presented the following issue for Commissioner information and approval:
The
The 205J Grant is a reimbursable
grant. The employee’s position is
initially paid by the
This type of grant complicates bookkeeping in the Auditor’s Office because of continually operating in the red. Mr. Bagwell made a motion to approve the Auditor’s Office to administer the grant, and that the part time salary be paid by Soil and Water Conservation one month in advance, to avoid creating a negative balance. Mr. Harbaugh seconded the motion, and it carried.
IN THE MATTER OF TAYLOR
TOWNSHIP SEWER DISTRICT:
Jerry Williams, Senior Project Engineer with Gove and Associates, presented an amendment to the contract (Gove Proj. No. Y94352-1) formally approved in 1998 for Taylor Township Regional Sewer District. It has come to attention that the contract was $3,000.00 less than the grant amount. The Taylor Township Board and some developers have asked Gove and Associates to investigate the feasibility of providing sewage service to the area west of U.S. 31 and south of State Road 26. The total fee for this work will not exceed $3,000.00.
Mr. Harbaugh made a motion to approve the Amendment to Contract for Taylor Township Regional Sewer District and authorize the President to sign on behalf of the Commissioners. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bagwell and it carried.
IN THE MATTER OF
Director Jan Weaver presented the following service agreements as follows:
Agreement Renewal Company Amount
Fire
Alarm Maintenance Simplex
Grinnell $5,697.00
Intercom
System
Camera
– Monitoring
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to approve renewal
of the service agreements as listed and authorize the President to sign on
behalf of the Commissioners. Mr.
Harbaugh seconded the motion and it carried.
IN THE MATTER OF CONTRACTORS CUTTING FIELD
TILES:
Mr. John Anstett, 2548 West 400 South,
complained that someone was burying cable lines in the county and cutting field
tiles in the process. The contractor’s
v-ripper type equipment cuts 48-inches deep, which will go through at least 80%
of the field tiles within its path. The
equipment traveled south on
There was no record of the contractor
requesting permission to install the cable. Discussion followed whether the county had
authority to regulate this type of activity in a State right-of-way. The Commissioners decided to talk about this
issue at the Drainage Board meeting scheduled at
Captain Harold Vincent dispatched a deputy to the work area on State
Road 26 to obtain the name of the company and type of lines that are being
installed. (Later, during
discussion of Sheriff Department Issues, Captain Vincent reported that Utility
Placement Services Incorporated is the subcontractor that is installing
underground lines for Ameritech.)
Continued at bottom of page *
* * *
IN THE MATTER OF SHERIFF DEPARTMENT
ISSUES:
Captain Harold Vincent presented the
following issues for Commissioner information:
1.
The
first Monthly Census Report of the Criminal Justice Center
finally arrived. The statistical information included the average
daily number of inmates, health care visits, transports, and overtime hours
used. Captain Vincent said he will
attempt to provide a statistical report to the Commissioners at the first
meeting of each month.
The statistics show that jail population is
growing. Discussion was held as to what
determines overcrowding. About 318
inmates can be housed but the jail can technically be overcrowded at 230 due to
classification. During summer there was
one day when the jail population reached 306.
The average number falls somewhere between 250 and 265. Captain Vincent felt that constructing
another building is not yet necessary when there are other detention
alternatives to consider. These options
should be explored in the next 6 to 12 months.
2.
The
building is nearly ten (10) years old.
Captain Vincent suggested having the building’s roof and parking lot
surfaces inspected.
3.
Due to
the fact the Commissioners monitor county owned buildings; Captain Vincent
recommended purchasing copies of the Indiana Jail Standards at a cost of
approximately $40.00 each. Computer
generated maintenance logs will be composed in the next few months.
IN THE MATTER OF POLICY TO RETAIN RECORDED
TAPES OF MEETINGS:
The State Board of Accounts established a retention
schedule requirement for recorded tapes of the Commissioner meetings. Many administrative boards customarily
keep tapes for at least sixty (60) days.
Keeping in mind that most appeals would occur within thirty (30) days,
an additional thirty (30) days would add a margin for flexibility. Mr. Bagwell made a motion to establish a
policy to retain recorded tapes of the Commissioner meetings for a minimum of
sixty (60) days. Mr. Harbaugh seconded
the motion, which carried.
IN THE MATTER OF
CONTRACTORS CUTTING FIELD TILES:
* *
* * Continued from above
IN THE MATTER OF CLAIMS AND REPORTS:
1.
Operating claims payable on
2.
Commissioners’ Salary Claims
for hourly, salary, and overtime payable for November 8th and
November 15th were
approved on a motion made by Mr. Harbaugh.
Mr. Bagwell seconded the motion, which carried.
3.
The following statements
from
MS4
Coordination $3,866.66
400
North Right-of-Way Project $808.92
4.
The City is in the process of approving personal
property tax abatement with Delco Electronics (
5.
The Commissioners received a Loss Analysis Report
from The Hartford Insurance Company from
IN THE
MATTER OF COUNTY ATTORNEY ISSUES:
1.
2.
A claim in the amount of $211.95 was presented from County Attorney Larry
Murrell for legal services rendered by Barnes & Thornburg. Payment was approved on a motion by Mr. Bagwell,
seconded by Mr. Harbaugh and carried.
3.
Resolution No. 2002-BCC-18, a Resolution of the Howard County Board of
Commissioners Fixing Policy with Respect to Information Accompanying
Distribution of Payroll Check, was approved on a motion made by Mr. Bagwell. Mr. Harbaugh seconded the motion and the
motion carried.
IN THE MATTER OF COMMISSIONER ISSUES:
1.
The Civic Center Audit is being conducted and will be completed
by the end of the 2002-year.
2.
Kokomo Technology Center is a business incubator that allows entrepreneurs
to start a business in a facility without a lot of the usual start up costs
associated with new business. The center
is progressing rapidly. The Gateway Consultant
at the Kokomo Development Corporation is determining it is a feasible alternative
for
3.
MS4 Advisory Committee Report: The MS4 map
was revised to include three (3) new sections previously discussed (See
4.
The Commissioners acknowledged
5.
A determination is needed whether to sanction and organize a GIS
Steering Committee for the County.
It was suggested that the committee should be made up of representatives
of various County departments, a Commissioner, at least one County Council
member, and a representative from the City.
Mr. Raver suggested compiling a list of names and taking action to
formalize the GIS Steering Committee at the November 18th, 2002
Commissioners’ meeting before the next Steering Committee meeting that is
tentatively set for December 12th.
There being no further business before the Board at this
time, 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,