HOWARD
The Howard County Board of Commissioners met in Regular
Session on
The meeting was called to order by Sheriff Marshall Talbert and conducted by President John B. Harbaugh.
The minutes from the special meeting held on January 27th
and the regular meeting held on
IN THE MATTER
OF HIGHWAY ISSUES:
Mr. Ted Cain,
Howard County Highway Engineer/Superintendent presented the following issues
for Commissioner information and approval:
1. Construction Inspection Services for Bridge No. 61: The Construction Inspection Services for the Bridge 61Project was awarded to Butler Fairman and Seufert. The inspection cost amounts to $45,530 of which the county will pay 20%. The cost of the construction is approximately $314,000 with the State paying 80% and the County proposed to pay 20%. It is expected that the state will pick up some of the costs that the county incurs.
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to approve the
Construction Inspection Agreement with Butler Fairman and Seufert and
2.
Snow Plow Operations:
There has been more ice than snow on the roads this winter season. A lot of roads were treated with salt and
sand instead of plowing, resulting in less overtime worked than last year. For two consecutive weeks the amount of salt
and sand exceeded the record usage.
Currently the Highway Department has six reliable salt trucks. In order to operate within the budget, there
is not enough money to salt some of the secondary roads and subdivisions.
IN THE MATTER
OF SHERIFF DEPARTMENT ISSUES:
Sheriff Marshall
Talbert presented the following issues for Commissioner information:
1.
Conference Information:
a. Sheriff Talbert presented information
distributed at a Sheriff’s
Conference on
b. The Indiana Jail Medical
Conference will be held on
2. Specifications
for New Transport Van: (See page 1,
January 20th, 2004 minutes, “In the Matter of Sheriff Department
Issues”, Item 2, for related discussion) The County Attorney has reviewed
specifications that the Sheriff drafted for a new ¾-ton van with hinged cargo doors on
both sides. Mavron Inc. now manufactures
an insert that will separate prisoners in four ways. The smaller van would be easier to maneuver
in large cities and would get better gas mileage. The Sheriff proposes to trade in a 1996
Chrysler vehicle used by the
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to authorize the
Sheriff to obtain quotes on a new ¾-ton cargo van as noted in the specifications. Mr. Raver seconded the motion, which carried.
IN THE MATTER
OF PLAN COMMISSION ISSUES AND PROPERTIES FOR APPROVAL:
Plan Commission
Director Glen Boise presented the following issues for Commissioner information
and approval:
1.
There
were no subdivision plats
to present at this
time.
2.
Flood Mitigation Issues: Mr.
Boise is waiting for the County Council to act on allocation of funds.
3.
Unsafe
Building Issues:
a. Howard County Child Protection Services
contacted Mr. Boise to inspect a house in the vicinity of 3115 West 50 South. The
Drug Task Force searched the property last week because one of the rooms had
been used as drug lab to make methamphetamine.
The City Building Inspector and Howard County Health Department assisted
in the inspection and composed a list of items to complete to make the house
habitable. A hearing is required on the
issue and Mr. Boise requested the Commissioners to set a date for a hearing.
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to set a hearing
on March 15th, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. to order the necessary repairs to the
house located at 3115 West 50 South in order to comply with the State Housing
Ordinance. Mr. Raver seconded the
motion, and it carried.
b. The
Commissioners requested a status report on the other existing unsafe
buildings to be presented at the
next meeting.
IN THE MATTER
OF MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT ISSUES:
Maintenance and Grounds
Superintendent Thomas Harrison was out of town and there were no issues
reported at this time.
IN THE MATTER
OF PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATOR ISSUES:
Personnel Director Wanda
McKillip presented the following issues for Commissioner information and
approval:
1.
Birthday Post Cards: There are 575 full time and part time
employees working for
2.
Sam’s Club Passes: As in the past the Human Resource Director at
Sam’s Club has provided passes for employees without memberships to shop at the
store for one day. The Commissioners
consented to allow the passes to be distributed to the departments. Sam’s Club is in the process of a membership
drive and asked if they could set up a room and time for county employees to
seek information about their many customer discounts and services. Because
IN THE MATTER OF INFORMATION SYSTEMS DIRECTOR
ISSUES:
Information Systems Director Terry Tribby presented
the following issues for Commissioner information
and approval:
1. Workstations for Prosecutor’s Office: The computers in the Courthouse have been updated with the exception of the Prosecutor’s Office. Mr. Tribby met with the Prosecutor to determine their needs and drafted a price comparison for approximately 25 workstations and equipment:
Dell $31,655.00
Hewitt
Packard $32,497.50 / plus cost of software
IBM $35,426.79
Mr. Tribby advised that
it is important to complete the upgrade at one time. The project cannot be done in stages because
all employees need to work on the same version of Microsoft Word. The prices were quoted approximately 1-1/2
weeks ago and will remain the same for thirty (30) days, through
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to request an appropriation out of the Cumulative Capital Development Fund for $31,655.00 for computer equipment as quoted for the Prosecutor’s Office. Mr. Raver seconded the motion and it carried. The request will be presented at the February 24th Council Meeting. Since it is too late to advertise the appropriation for this month’s meeting, hopefully a verbal, unofficial approval will be given to accommodate the time constraints involved with the lowest price quote received.
Prosecutor James Fleming
thanked Mr. Raver and
Mr. Fleming also expressed thanks to Commissioner Raver along with the rest of the Board for the new offices in the Courthouse.
IN THE MATTER
OF COUNTY RECORDER ISSUES:
(See page 4,
Howard County Recorder Linda Koontz presented the following issues for Commissioner information and approval:
1.
Recorder’s Software Proposal: The
Mr. Raver asked if the contract states that the Fidlar Company will convert the data from the Low system. Mrs. Koontz advised that the contract talks about the conversion but Fidlar has not confirmed whether they will be able to do the conversion. The theory is that they will do it, assuming Low gives them a file layout. If the Fidlar Company can figure out the file layout, Ms. Koontz prefers Fidlar do the data conversion to the new software system, because: l.) the cost would be lower, and 2.) Fidlar has an ongoing vested interest in the new system’s success. The contract only addresses purchasing the system and the equipment to get it installed. The next step is to determine if there will be some additional costs involved to convert the data.
Mr. Bagwell made a motion approve the contract with the Fidlar Software Company in the amount of $59,850, and authorize the President to sign on behalf of the Board. Mr. Bagwell seconded the motion, and it carried.
2. Imaging System Upgrade: As per the Commissioners’ request Mrs. Koontz
contacted two other companies regarding quotes for a hybrid scanner and
equipment. She discovered that Minolta
and Kodak were the only other companies that manufactured the equipment. Kodak no longer manufactures the equipment
and Minolta did not respond. The new
equipment would alleviate outsourcing the work to put digital images on film,
which costs about $1,200 to $1,700 a month.
A Hardware/Software Agreement from Imaging Office Systems, Inc. was
presented for a
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to approve the
purchase of the
Both
purchases are pending approval of appropriations, which will be addressed by
the Howard County Council at their
IN THE MATTER OF DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS
(DOC) GRANT:
Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Don Travis
presented the three-part (Part 1-Program Description, Part 2-Program Component
Description, and Part 3-Letters of Approval) Community Corrections Yearly
Report for Board approval. The Community
Corrections approved the report at their last meeting approximately two weeks
ago.
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to accept the Juvenile
Community Corrections Annual Report. Mr.
Raver seconded the motion, which carried.
IN THE MATTER OF
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY:
EMA Director Larry Smith presented the following issues for Commissioner information and approval:
1. Addition to
Building Electrical Total
Contractor: Cost: Cost: Cost
Hearn Construction $50,500 $7,800 $58,300
Hinkle Construction $37,890 $
4,300 $42,190
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to approve the building addition for Emergency Management, using Hinkle Construction in the amount of $37,890 plus $4,300 for the electrical work for a total amount of $42,190 pending funding approval by the County Council. Mr. Raver seconded the motion, which carried.
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to place the above appropriation requests out of the CCD Fund on the Council agenda for the March 23rd, 2004 Meeting. Mr. Raver seconded the motion, and it carried.
Quotes for two 250,000 btu gas heating units were received from Hinkle Construction and Tenbrook Sales. The Commissioners asked Mr. Smith to verify whether the heating units were radiant or fan forced and return with additional information at the next meeting.
2. Memorandum of Understanding
Between Howard County and The Indiana State Emergency Management Agency, an inner-jurisdictional agreement on
utilizing the
IN THE MATTER OF
Mr. James Hamilton from
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to authorize the President
to sign the right-of-way certification letter on behalf of the County for the
Dixon Road Project as described.
Seconded by Mr. Raver, the motion carried.
IN THE MATTER OF DRUG TASK FORCE &
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE GRANT APPLICATIONS:
The grants were presented by Ms. Angela Kelly of the
Prosecutor’s Office.
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to ratify the signature of
Commissioner Paul Raver on the Drug Task Force and Domestic Violence Grant
Applications. Mr. Raver seconded the
motion, and it carried.
IN THE MATTER OF
Mr. John Widau, SBC Account Manager, gave a
presentation of calling plans and rates that would accommodate a significant
savings for
SBC can place these calling plans under one plan as
opposed to having different carriers. New
billing enhancements with the ability to merge local and long distance would be
placed on one bill. Mr. Widau presented
a proposal for a three (3) year contract of $0.03 per minute that would save
the County money on long distance charges.
The commitment would be $2,400 per year and the county would spend about
$330 per month instead of $1,100 per for an average savings of about $9,100 per
year. T1 redundant internet access is
also available for an extra $550 per month.
There is no cost to convert to the new service plan.
In summary, the Auditor’s office has worked hard to
make sure all of phone bills have been paid and that all accounts are in order
for the County’s various phone systems.
Mr. Widau has been very helpful in this process. The current long distance carrier, eMeritus
Communications, has offered reducing its current rate from $0.0625 to $0.0395
per minute. In comparison, SBC
Communications offered a plan rate of $0.0320 per minute.
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to notify eMeritus Communications
that the County wishes to terminate long distance telephone service with
them. Mr. Raver seconded the motion,
which carried.
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to take the contract with
SBC Communications, Inc. for long distance services and the Complete Link under
advisement in order to allow the
IN THE MATTER OF
HOWARD HAVEN HOME:
Interim Co-Managers Joyce Colburn and Deborah France
presented the following information for Commissioner information:
1.
Application For Admission: Mr.
Bagwell made a motion to accept the application for Catherine I. Wyant on a self-pay basis for a ninety-day
probationary period and authorize the President to sign on behalf of the
Board. Mr. Raver seconded the motion, and it carried.
2.
Kitchen Equipment Upgrade: Upon an inspection, Koorsen Protection
Services found that the 1998 stove exhaust system does not meet the current
UL300 standards. Koorsen compiled an
estimate to upgrade the system, bringing it up to code, and provide a new fire
extinguisher at a cost of $1,099.00 plus tax.
Mr. Raver stated there was enough additional appropriation requested at
the previous meeting to include the cost of upgrading the exhaust system. (See page 4,
Mr.
Bagwell made a motion to accept the quote from Koorsen Protection Services to upgrade the equipment in the amount of
$1,099.00 plus tax and include the cost in the $20,000 appropriation request,
subject to Council approval.
3.
The Commissioners were reminded that a
luncheon and tour of the facility is scheduled on
IN THE MATTER
OF ENGINEERING SERVICES:
Mr. Jeff Larrison with
United Consulting Engineers & Architects in
IN THE MATTER OF CLAIMS AND REPORTS:
1.
Operating claims payable on
2.
Commissioner’s Salary Claims for hourly,
salary, and overtime payable for February 20th, and
3.
The
4. A written affirmation was drafted to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance that the County will pay $720,000 toward Mental Health in the year-2004. Mr. Raver made a motion to approve the letter to the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance to affirm the payment as stated. Mr. Bagwell seconded the motion, which carried.
5. The Howard County Treasurer’s Report for the month of January 2004 was accepted on a motion made by Mr. Bagwell, seconded by Mr. Raver, and it carried.
6.
a. Ms. Sabrina Street Parnham
who has served as the Regional Director for the
b. A claim in the amount of
$10,000 was submitted for the contribution to the Small Business
Development Center Program.
7.
8.
The Jim Shearer family sent a card thanking the
Commissioners and Council for honoring Mr. Shearer with Resolution No.
BCC-2004-02. (See page 1,
9. A notice was received inviting the Commissioners to attend the 45th Annual meeting of the Howard County Soil & Water Conservation District will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2004 at the Kirkendall Interpretation Center located at Jackson Morrow Park. Mr. Raver plans to attend the meeting.
10. The
Auditor presented the following partial list
of Commissioner Requests to be presented to the County Council for approval
at their meeting on
Flood
Mitigation Project $200,000
Johanning
Civic Center $30,000
Alarm
System for Howard Haven $13,500
New
London Conservancy District
Sewer
Project $35,000
Mr.
Raver made a motion to approve the increase the allocation for the New London Conservancy
District Sewer Project from $30,000 to $35,000. Seconded by Mr. Bagwell, the
motion carried.
Grant
Administrator Tina Mendenhall Henderson forwarded a repayment schedule put
together from Therber & Brock for the New London Conservancy District’s loan.
IN THE MATTER OF COUNTY ATTORNEY ISSUES:
The first claim was for his monthly office expense for the
month of February 2004 in the amount
of $330.00. The second was for
litigation services in the amount of $82.50.
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to approve payment of the
claims. Seconded by Mr. Raver, the
motion carried.
IN THE MATTER OF COMMISSIONER ISSUES:
Mr. Raver advised that a
meeting of the Howard County Wastewater Advisory Committee is scheduled for
Thursday, February 26, 2004 at 8:30 a.m. in Hearing
Room No. 338
of the
There being no further
business before the Board at this time, Mr. Bagwell made a motion to
adjourn. Mr. Raver seconded the motion
and it carried. The meeting closed at
THE
HOWARD
___________________________________________
JOHN
B. HARBAUGH, PRESIDENT
___________________________________________
PAUL
J. RAVER, VICE PRESIDENT
___________________________________________
BRADLEY
J. BAGWELL, MEMBER
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Commissioner Minutes,