HOWARD COUNTY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING OCTOBER 22^ND, 2002

The Howard County Council met, Tuesday, October 22^nd, 2002 at 7:00 p.m., in Room 338 of the Howard County Administration Center. Those present were Council President Richard Miller, Council Vice President James Papacek, and Council Members Dwight Singer, Jr., James Shearer, Leslie Ellison, Stanley Ortman and Jeffrey Stout. Also present were County Attorney Larry Murrell and Auditor Martha Lake. Personnel Administrator Wanda McKillip was unable to attend this meeting.

The meeting was called to order by Sheriff Major Larry Shipman and conducted by President Richard Miller. The minutes of the Regular Session on September 24^th, having been previously reviewed, were approved as presented on a motion made by Mr. Shearer, seconded by Mr. Papacek and carried.

As per inquiry by President Miller, there were no specific comments to be made by Council Members at this time.

IN THE MATTER OF ORDINANCE NO. 2002-HCC-49 ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS

Ordinance No. 2002-HCC-49 was read in full for the first time by Auditor Martha Lake, and read in full for the second time by President Richard Miller. Ordinance No. 2002-HCC-49 was presented and acted upon as follows:

APPROPRIATION ADDITIONS REQUESTED AS FOLLOWS:

REQUESTED: APPROVED:

104 HOWARD COUNTY SUPPLEMENTAL JUVENILE PROBATION FUND:
3262 Urine Screens $ 3,000.00 $ 3,000.00
3213 Mileage $ 1,000.00 $ 1,000.00

Total Supplemental Juvenile Probation Fund: $ 4,000.00 $ 4,000.00

Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Don Travis was unable to attend the meeting; however the Council received a letter explaining his requests.

(1) The amount requested for line item 3262 - Urine Screens is calculated by averaging several budget cycles, and this year it has fallen short before the end of a calendar year. (2) The probation staff utilizes their own vehicles for conducting visits and traveling. Despite previous transfers to the account during 2002, this line item will fall short due to increased “field” contacts and travel to neighboring counties to see clients in placement, foster care or juvenile courts.

The above requested appropriations would cover the costs of urine screening and mileage until the end of the year 2002. Mr. Papacek made a motion to appropriate $4,000.00 to the line items listed above in Fund 104. Mr. Singer seconded the motion and it carried.

150 HOWARD COUNTY CUMULATIVE CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT FUND:
4329 Emergency Management - Equipment $16,000.00 $ 16,000.00
Total CCD Fund: $16,000.00 $ 16,000.00

Mr. Raver referred the discussion to Mr. Larry Smith, Director of Howard County Emergency Management (EMA). Approximately three years ago a 35-kilowatt Marine Corp. generator acquired through the State malfunctioned. The EMA is concerned that the current portable 45-killowatt generator is not large enough to operate some of the pumps and facilities in the community. Replacement parts may be obsolete and new generators are very costly.

Recently there was a situation where the Miami County EMA Director acquired an eight-year old, 350-kilowatt generator that was too large for their use. Miami County has offered to sell the generator to Howard County at a price of $16,000.00. The average cost for a generator is about $1,000.00 per kilowatt-hour, a new generator this size would cost about $350,000.00. This generator has the potential to provide power to operate the Howard County Criminal Justice Center.

Howard County EMA has a trailer available which will accommodate the hauling of the generator. For example, if the back-up generator at the City-County dispatch Center fails, this generator can be transported to the site to avoid interruption of law enforcement, EMS and fire communications.

Mr. Papacek made a motion to appropriate $16,000.00 to the Howard County Cumulative Capital Development Fund (CCD) for line item 4329. Mr. Shearer seconded the motion, which carried.

515 HOWARD COUNTY SHERIFF DEPARTMENT – MISDEMEANANT GRANT FUND:

2330 Uniforms (Corrections Officers) $ 6,466.30 $ 6,466.30

4724 Equipment (Food Warmer & Cart-Inmates) $ 2,379.90 $ 2,379.90
4725 Drug Dog (Multipurpose) $ 9,921.60 $ 9,921.60
4726 Dog Equipment (Dog carry insert/patrol car) $ 1,459.00 $ 1,459.00

4727 Dog Kennel Fence $ 930.00 $ 930.00

Total Misdemeanant Fund: $21,156.80 $ 21,156.80

Major Larry Shipman explained the requests listed above as follows: (1) The first request will be used to purchase uniforms for the Corrections Officers. The uniforms are constructed of durable material similar to military uniforms. (2) The food warmer for the inmates had been repaired several times but it continued to have problems. The second request will accommodate the purchase of a new food warmer. (3) The third appropriation request will accommodate the purchase of multi-purpose drug dog which will replace a retired drug dog. The bomb dog is still on active duty. There are plans to purchase a third dog in the future. (4) The fourth request will appropriate funds to buy the dog equipment which allows the dog to be transported in a Crown Victoria squad car. (5) In regard to the fifth request, Major Shipman believed the need for a fence to be self-explanatory.

Mr. Stout made a motion to appropriate $21,156.80 to the line items listed above in Fund 515. Mr. Ortman seconded the motion and it carried.

TOTAL ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATION

ALL FUNDS: $41,156.80 $41,156.80

IN THE MATTER OF RESOLUTION NO. 2002-HCC-17-- TRANSFERS:

Resolution No. 2002-HCC-17 addressing requested transfers was presented and read in full for Council information and review. The following actions were taken:

001 HOWARD COUNTY GENERAL FUND:

003 HOWARD COUNTY TREASURER:
1114-01 Second Deputy/Job Share 1115 Part-time $ 2,000.00 $ 2,000.00

2371 Tax Statements 4724 Equipment $ 2,000.00 $ 2,000.00

Howard County Treasurer Ann Wells requested the balance left in Tax Statements to be transferred into Equipment. Mrs. Wells would like to purchase adding machines and a printer drawer for an 8000 model printer used to print tax statements and books.

A balance of $2,000.00 remains in line item 1125 due to illness and vacations of job share employees. Mrs. Wells requested moving the balance into the Part-time account to retain two (2) employees for approximately three weeks to expedite the processing of fall tax payments.

Mr. Singer made a motion to approve the transfers as listed above. Mr. Ellison seconded the motion, which carried.

008 HOWARD COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT II:
1125 Pettit Jurors 2360 Office Supplies $ 1,500.00 $ 1,500.00

Connie Cook, Court Baliff, stated there was extra money in Pettit Jurors fund due to the decreased number of jury trials in 2002. On the other hand, the office supply money fell short due to an increase of case loads.

The transfer of $1,500.00 from line item 1125 to line item 2360 was approved on a motion made by Mr. Papacek, seconded by Mr. Shearer and it carried.

018 HOWARD COUNTY MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT:
4720 Equipment 3220 Utilities $ 4,000.00 $ 4,000.00

Howard County Maintenance Superintendent Thomas Harrison explained the deficiency of money for utilities is due to transferring out $15,000 in June to expedite the purchase of the mower for Howard Haven County Home. An unexpected increase of about $2,000.00 per month for electricity has been experienced. Mr. Harrison did not foresee the need for additional money for utilities. He estimates now that the monies transferred from other accounts will pay the utilities through the end of 2002.

Mr. Papacek made a motion to approve the transfer of $4,000.00 from line item 4720 to line item 3220. Mr. Singer seconded the motion and the motion carried.

IN THE MATTER OF SALARY ORDINANCE NO. 2002-HCC-50 – AMENDING THE EXISTING SALARY ORDINANCE FOR 2002:

A motion was made by Mr. Stout, seconded by Mr. Shearer and carried to approve Amended Salary Ordinance 2002-HCC-50 as read. The amended salaries, any changed position titles and all other pertinent information is shown as follows:

# POSITIONS/ REQUEST: APPROVED: YTD:

SALARY

001 HOWARD COUNTY GENERAL FUND:

023 HOWARD COUNTY TREASURER’S OFFICE:

1114-01 Second Deputy Job Share $40,950.00 -$ 2,000.00 -$ 2,000.00 $38,950.00

1115 Part-time $9,000 + $4,000 = $13,000 +$ 2,000.00 +$ 2,000.00 $15,000.00

IN THE MATTER OF KOKOMO HUMANE SOCIETY BUDGET FOR 2003:

Mr. Beryl Geer, Executive Director of the Kokomo Humane Society, requested more money to alleviate having to scale back on animal control enforcement.

Due to restraints on the amount of available money, a number of budgets were either cut or scaled back during 2003 Budget Hearings. After carefully examining the request, the Council appropriated $150,000.00 rather than the $166,214.00 requested by Mr. Geer.

Mr. Geer presented detailed reports on 2002 and 2003 budgets. The 2001 budget was $30,000.00 short in paying for the animal control program and Mr. Geer did not want to experience a similar problem in 2003. The Council advised if the revenues come in above expectations in 2003, additional money might become available. Mr. Geer said he would analyze the 2003 budget to determine where cuts can be made.

IN THE MATTER OF COURTHOUSE RENOVATION PROJECT:

Mr. Raver, in conjunction with Maintenance Superintendent Thomas Harrison and Information Systems Manager Terry Tribby, reported the status of the Courthouse renovation project as follows:

· A lot of progress was made two weeks ago by two cranes removing old equipment and replacing it with new equipment on the roof of the Courthouse. During that process, the new skylight was lifted to the roof and placed on a new foundation.

· The contractors have been working 4:00 p.m. to midnight on offices that are occupied during the day.

· The electricity was turned off on Saturday, October 19^th, for the installation of new electrical boxes.

· The fan coil lines in the heating and cooling units were charged and no leaks were found. It is likely that the heat will be turned on by November 4^th.

· Elevator renovations are in progress. The passenger elevator will be out of service for approximately five (5) weeks. The prisoner elevator will only be used for handicapped individuals and emergencies. The work should be completed by the end of November. There will be a lock-out safety feature on every floor and the elevator car to prohibit people from going to the prisoner area in the basement.

· Carpet is scheduled to be installed on the second floor in the Prosecutor/Clerk’s area on November 4^th.

· Information Systems began installing Computer data wiring this week and is making good progress.

IN THE MATTER OF COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENTS FOR 2003:

Councilman Dwight Singer Jr. presented the following issues for Council information:

Mr. William Kring submitted a letter of resignation from the Board of Directors of the City of Firsts Automotive Heritage Museum Inc., effective by December 31, 2002 due to personal health reasons. The current bylaws require new members to be appointed or current members to be reappointed effective January 1, 2003. Personnel Administrator Wanda McKillip plans to attend the Council’s next meeting on November 26, 2002 to discuss new appointments and reappointments for the year 2003.

There being no further business to come before the Council, Mr. Papacek made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Shearer, which carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:48 p.m.

HOWARD COUNTY COUNCIL:

_________________________________________

Richard H. Miller, President

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James Papacek, Vice President

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James Shearer, Councilman

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Dwight Singer, Jr., Councilman

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Leslie Ellison, Councilman

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Stanley Ortman, Councilman

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Jeffrey Stout, Councilman

ATTEST:

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MARTHA J. LAKE, AUDITOR

County Council Minutes, October 22, 2002