First up, Becky Sorrell the Preble County JFS Director informed the Commissioners that the County unemployment rate is 14% and the highest in the Dayton Region.

The majority of the rest of this meeting swings back and forth between raising the sales tax on visitors to Preble County by an additional 3% to a high 13% sales tax and apparent fear of the newly formed Preble County Development Partnership Inc. of the Preble County Chamber.

Currently visitors staying in hotels and motels in Preble County pay a total sales tax rate of 10% with 3% of that being levied by townships. Under consideration is an additional 3% tax which would raise the Preble County tax to 13% a level higher than in Richmond, Indiana.  Lodging in Richmond has a total sales tax of 12% of which 5% is used to by the National Road Tourism Center to bring in more guests. There is a 2.5% room tax leveled by Wayne County and an additional 2.5% charge by the City of Richmond.  The sales tax on lodging outside of the City of Richmond is 9.5% and actually lower than the current 10% in Preble County.

Currently none of the Lodging tax in Preble County is used for marketing or attracting more visitors to the county and that would change very little with the additional 3%.

The sales tax issue is directly related to the fast developing Preble County Development Partnership Inc. of the Preble County Chamber.  It is repeatedly referred to in this meeting as the “Foundation”. The Commissioners are at times not only dismissive of the Chamber effort but openly mocking.  While the Preble Chamber appears to want to work with everyone for development the Commissioners by their words here want it run through the County. There is talk of following the Van Wert County, Ohio model for economic development and having it taken out of the politics. The discussion here will show that politics and who is in charge and by extension who gets credit is very much a part of it.

I guess the question here is; Is the best way to address the 14% Preble County unemployment rate to raise taxes on visitors that can stay across the Stateline and pay less tax?  Is the best way to compete with Richmond/Wayne County to have a higher tax than they do knowing full well that 5% of that lower tax is devoted to marketing and bringing in more visitors?  

 

Preble County, Ohio

County Commissioners

April 12, 2010

Meeting audio and review

All three County Commissioners in attendance.

File 1

30 second mark   Chris Day – "What day did you get home?"  Commissioner David Wesler was absent last week.

David Wesler – "Wednesday evening, laughing."

Chris Day –  "Wednesday evening? Well that must have been pretty good then David."

I. OPEN MEETING

II. CALL OF ROLL

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

IV. PRAYER

V. PUBLIC COMMENTS

2.5  minute mark     Connie Crowell –  "1:00, I have Marty Votel and Katie Worthington scheduled in to discuss the Pork Festival lawsuit and the property up at Goose Creek Crossing."

VI. APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING THE VOUCHERS AS SUBMITTED BY THE COUNTY AUDITOR

End 3.53 minute mark on CD – 911KB

File 2

VII. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #221-10-144

RE: AUTH. PAYMENT – VARIOUS DEPTS.

B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #222-10-144

RE: MORAL OBLIGATION – VARIOUS DEPTS.

C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #223-10-144

RE: TRANSFER OF FUNDS – GENERAL –MISC.

End 10.5 minute mark on cd  

6.41 minutes – 1.53 MB

File 3

VIII. CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF A COURT ORDER FROM JUDGE DUES, JUVENILE COURT

RE: TRANSFER OF FUNDS FROM PROBATE CT.-SPECIAL PROJECTS TO JUVENILE CT.- MAGISTRATE SPECIAL PROJECTS FOR COSTS COLLECTED BY PROBATE CT.

B. NOTE RECEIPT OF A LETTER FROM MARTY VOTE, PROSECUTING ATTORNEY

RE: CORRECTION TO PROBATIONARY RATE INCREASE FOR SARAH WYSONG – VICTIM WITNESS – $13.54 for 90 days and $14 after that.

C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #224-10-144

RE: PROCLAIMING APRIL 18-24 AT NATIONAL CRIME VICTIMS’ RIGHTS WEEK

D. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #229-10-144

RE: REDUCTION OF LOAD LIMIT ON CERTAIN BRIDGES – WEIST ROAD OVER FOUR MILE CREEK – ENGINEER

End 14.75 minute mark on cd  

4.19 minutes – 1 MB

File 4

IX. BID RECOMMENDATIONS/AWARDS

See April 7, 2010 review for actual bids

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF A BID RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COUNTY ENGINEER & FURTHER CONSIDER AWARDING BID AS RECOMMENDED

RE: 2010 CROSS-MEMBERLESS TYPE DUMP BODY

B. NOTE RECEIPT OF A BID RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COUNTY ENGINEER & FURTHER CONSIDER AWARDING BID AS RECOMMENDED

RE: (2) 2010 TAILGATE SAND & SALT SPREADERS

C. NOTE RECEIPT OF A BID RECOMMENDATION FROM THE COUNTY ENGINEER & FURTHER CONSIDER AWARDING BID AS RECOMMENDED

RE: 2010 CRACK SEAL

X. AGREEMENTS & CONTRACTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING A CONTRACT

RE: FAIR EXHIBITOR CONTRACT W/ PREBLE COUNTY AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY – $200.00 – LEPC

XI. TRAVEL REQUESTS

NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING TRAVEL REQUEST:

A. RES. #225-10-144 – JEWELL GOOD – JFS  Total not to exceed $10

B. RES. #226-10-144 – TRACY BRADFORD – JFS  Total not to exceed $10

C. RES. #227-10-144 – MAGISTRATE BRUNS – SPECIAL PROJECTS-CT. TRAINING   Total not to exceed  $562.50

D. RES. #228-10-144 – ROSEMARY WASHINGTON – SPECIAL PROEJCTS-CT. TRAINING   Total not to exceed $55.20

End 23.5 minute mark on cd  

8.53 minutes – 2.03 MB

File 5

23.5   minute mark     Bob Stonecash – Connie what do you have at this time?

25.75   minute mark     Earth Day – May 6…. 10:00 – 1:00

Annual Victim Rights Ceremony – April 20, at 7:00 p.m. – 2nd floor

33.3 minute mark     Connie – We did get a response back from the Ohio Department of Development on our JRS application. Goose Creek and they did receive everything they needed and it is now under consideration. (emailed)

End 34 minute mark on cd  

10.30 minutes – 2.40 MB

File 6

34.1 minute mark     Connie:  I did… from our meeting that we went to on Tuesday, David, up in VanWert. I also put on everyone's desk the 13.. Educators throughout Ohio through the Ohio State University, along with program information for everyone to review.

35 minute mark     Bob … One thing that they do the Chamber does a lot of Marketing for the Economic Development Department and also provides… was it approximately a hundred thousand dollars?  Between the CIC and the Chamber of marketing in the Van Wert area?

Chris – The way they are structure the economic development department budgets somewhere around $135,000 and that's for Nancy and Darlene..

Dave – Part time person..yes

Bob – She just recently has been moved up to full time.

Chris – she's full time.

Dave – Ok

Chris – Ahhh Of that $135,000 is for their salaries, their travel and that is it.

Connie – That's it.

Chris – Theeee Chamber, CIC and ahhhh…. there's another one Connie… Downtown Business or something…. Van Wert Down town …Van Wert or something   Try ( Main Street Van Wert )  but anyway the three of those contribute about a $100,000 a year for marketing…

Connie – Visitors Bureau, Chamber, CIC

Chris – and then the CIC takes care of any additional expenses as far as ahhh setting up events for for prospective ahhh ahhh…

Connie – They take care of the meals

Chris –  The the the well I guess yeah they the prospective ahhh ahhh people come in to businesses that want to locate there, any of the entertainment, any of the meals the CIC takes care of all of that. So they probably well they got a bunch of about $235,000 minimum ahhh then I'd say there's probably another $50,000 at least that I think they use on additional from the CIC above and beyond and they didn't have a figure one that.  Ahhh it could be more than that but that's how their structured.

Bob – The bed tax brings in about a hundred thousand, they take 73% of that towards economic development.

37.5 minute mark      Chris – $73,000 goes to ahh there budget $73,000 comes from bed tax. Ahhmm $40,000 was match from OSU and $12,000 was ahh Admin fees for the revolving loan fund and the the remaining I believe there is about $10 or $12,000 that was remaining for their budget and that came out of Admin fees for different grants and thing. That's their budget.

David Wesler – And I believe when Bob and I were there they said the Commissioners and the City of Van Wert kick in 12 and 15,000 a piece.

Bob – Ahh, I think that is correct.

Chris – above and beyond the Bed Tax? yeah and I was just going off of what

38.5 minute mark      Bob – we didn't make it in time to go see the Commissioners.

Chris – Well if that's the case then the Commissioners are kicking in about $85,000.  If they kick in say $12,000 and give $73,000 that'd be $85,000. Ahhh then if you take the OSU for another 40.. that’s being another $125,000.  I know there is $12,000 from the revolving loan fund so there is $135,000 ($137,000)  depending on how they do that.

Dave – Ok

39.5 minute mark      Bob – That's a pretty nice.. Fair way of everybody working together up there and everybody takes their share of the responsibility. This afternoon I want to talk about what our thoughts are on how ours should be set up. It's been talked about for a while, the Foundation (Chamber) is moving on and we need to give them our plans. What we want to do economic development situation. I think everybody was impressed with the way it works in Van Wert. But it would appear to me that most models are very similar in nature, the ones that work. In our… well I'll save that for this afternoon. In our Commissioners meeting Friday (Versailles)  we discussed this at length. How they set it up, I asked a question of the commissioner the other commissioners how they were set up and working to their approval. We probably spent what an hour?

Chris – You talking about Versailles?

Bob – Yeah an hour maybe an hour fifteen minutes discussing it.

Chris – the Versailles luncheon?

Bob – Yeah, that was about the only thing we discussed.

41 minute mark      Chris – I just want to clarify you said Commission meeting on Friday it was the Versailles luncheon.

Bob – Please. laughing  there you go getting legal again. laughing   Interesting that an acknowledgement of "legal" came up here. Earlier this year the Preble County Commissioners held Friday meetings with Kleingers. I made a phone request for any audio of those meetings and was told that only the Monday & Wednesday meetings were recorded.

Chris – No I just wanted that clarification. laughing.  But we can get into that if you want to discuss that or if we got time now but..

Bob – Laughing

Chris – However you guys want to do it. Let's go ahead and take care of business.

Bob – Yeah let’s get the rest of it out of the way. This afternoon we can discuss this however long it takes.

Connie – and the Board has actually set up a meeting with Mr. Conglose, which I believe is set up for next Wednesday.

Chris – Is that when it is Connie?

Connie – Next Wednesday.

Chris – How do you spell his name again?

Bob – How much time have you set aside for..

Connie – An hour.

End 42.5 minute mark on cd  

8.38 minutes – 1.97 MB

File 7

42.5 minute mark      Bob – What else do you have?

Connie – It's time for me to begin preparing for our two year county owned rent agreement or rent process for the farm land that we own. Does the Board want me to put the bids out as usual, is there any particular farm you want to not include in the bid process.

Dave – We had language a few years ago that in case we had to use a particular parcel of land that the person would be paid for the crop.

Connie – Right, that language is in all of my bid information.

Chris – Is there a clause in there if we decide to sell the property how..how's that handled.

Dave – That's the same thing.

Connie – Yeah

44 minute mark      Bob – And if we decided to move a piece of property we have to put it up for bid, is that correct?

Connie – Yes, we have to

Bob – Establish a minimum bid.

Connie – The sale of real property is authorized by the Board. The Board will either have to put it out for bid by sealed bids or have an auctioneer come in and auction it off. It would have to advertised in the paper for four consecutive weeks. I know in the past its been done by…we've received appraisals on property in order o get an idea as to what the minimum bid the Board would like to receives on that property. And then I have had Commissioners just place a price per acre. So it has been done both ways. Can I have direction on this…precede as usual any changes?

Bob – You guys alright with that?

Chris – So long as we have

Connie – As long as we have the stipulation in the document?

Chris – Yeah.

Dave – as long as we've got the out.

Chris – Cause sitting here right now we don't know what direction we are going to go.

Bob – Sell it.

Chris – Hmm?

Bob – Sell it………when the market gets better.

Chris – I feel it's going to go down.

Bob – doya?

47.5 minute mark      Sean Maggard already has maps, one township (Gratis) is done

Bob – A two year project may be done in three weeks.

48.5 minute mark      Chris – I can tell you this ahhm one of the things and you guys know and heard me tell id the Village of West Alexandria is working with Sean in order to get some of this done. He did a map for West Alexandria, the zoning inspector picked it up on…. one day. Within two days the entire Village of West Alexandria starting from scratch was back to Sean's office.   

Bob – I think we need to….

Chris – that was the entire Village.

Pause….

49.5 minute mark      Connie – on Wednesday also we be interviewing the equipment mechanic for the Landfill.

50 minute mark      Connie – We still have the Soil & Water funding that we need to discuss.

Bob – Weren’t we waiting on some answer from them?

52.25   minute mark      Bob – Planning Board we still have not filled that vacancy. I do have a name that she has agreed to serve, that would be Cindy Ashworth, lives in Gasper Township. A retired school teacher has served on other boards around the county so if you guys are ok with her we can appoint her.

53 minute mark      Bob –  …She knows what she has to do…  I'll make a motion that Cindy Ashworth be appointed to the planning Board.

Dave – Your discussion with Marty though they were ok.

Bob – Yes.

Connie will prepare a motion.

End 58 minute mark on cd  

15.30 minutes – 3.54 MB

File 8

10:00 A.M. – CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION MONTH PHOTOS

58.5 minute mark      Becky Sorrell – first unemployment recipients running out and a resulting influx of people needing help

1 hr.   0 minute mark      Discussion between Bob & Becky on Matt Appenzeller and Chamber marketing. Becky on Matt – "going great guns" with regard to marketing.

Bob – "Well yeah he has increased the membership."

Becky – "Yeah he has, really advertising. Marketing, I think has been his….

Bob – Well and that that’s where the Chamber should work. We've visited several different counties on economic development and talked to other commissioners about it and that is where the Chamber should be is marketing the county.

Becky – I think he has done a great job. I was a little; I have to admit I was skeptical at first when they talked about bringing him in for that position. I was a little skeptical but boy he really, really went great guns on that.

Dave Wesler – Well a big part of all of our discussion about economic development is the work force development. Make sure ahh every body is ??? at JFS so.

Becky – Yeah I'd say we've got good staff there. John really stays on top of everything and brings everything he hears up to our attention so we can get moving on things. I really strongly that that's the area of JFS that really need to focus most on because that's where we are gonna get people off of public assistance and paying their child support and in a better economic..is to have resources available..free resources available to get jobs, retraining and you connecting of so. For me that is a big focus. It's a little different than it was before because Sharon saw it a little differently than I do but I think that is the only way to save. I mean the 14% unemployment rate we have to promote that and get people what they need to get jobs.

Bob – Get-em back to work.

Becky –  Back to work absolutely. I think it affects everything in the county and everything at JFS.

1 hr.   3 minute mark      Heading outside for photo-op picture with RH

1 hr.   9 minute mark      Bob – reads Child Abuse Prevention month proclamation about "Pin Wheels For Prevention". Prevent Child Abuse Ohio.

1 hr.   12 minute mark      Bob asks Dave if he sent in his ethics report. Dave sent it back in January.

End 1 hr.   12.5 minute mark on cd  

14.29 minutes – 3.31MB

File 9

1 hr.   12.5 minute mark      JFS MONTHLY MEETING

Becky Sorrell – Unemployment – 14%

Attended Economic Summit at SILFEX, working closely with the Chamber of Commerce.

1 hr.   14.25 minute mark      536 folks receiving cash assistance.

Unemployment running out for people. Preble has highest rate in Dayton area counties.

1 hr.   18.5 minute mark      Focus on retraining.

End 1hr. 20.4 minute mark on cd  

7.57 minutes – 1.82MB

File 10

1 hr.   20.6 minute mark      Dave – Scott Zeigler from BUSTER emailed, sent IRS transcript. He want Bill Sparks to show he is truly unable to ahh pay any bills up there. I told him from what I know, he is unable to pay. They want a transcript of several tax returns.

Dave – has call at to Berry Franz.

Site review on clean-up need.

1 hr.   22.1 minute mark      Dave – "A good week ago Alisa Branhizer (Council on Aging) audit for me to look at and I did review it and I also got a phone call from somebody else who knows a lot about these audits and they found nothing at the Council on Aging that was misappropriation and monies and anything like that . But they are still… you know if they find something they'll let us know. But under their audit they see no problems what so ever ham..I know there has been a lot in the newspaper the last couple weeks. Ahh some letters going back and forth that ahh… this person asked me if we were going to take any action on this. I said no it was just a letter that came into us and ahh now it has been in the newspaper ahm.

Chris Day – We have no action to take.

Dave – That's right

Chris – the only association we have with them is a transportation grant.

Dave – That's right the ???? grant

Chris – I will say that I have received multiple phone calls

Dave – I have to

Chris – On this whole issue ahhh and something have been brought to my attention that I have some concerns over ahhh that organization is down there to provide a service for who?

Dave – The Seniors.

Chris – There you go. So, I don't know that we have a whole lot in it but I have had several phone calls. Who did their audit?

Dave – ahmm I can't think of he lady's name under Hoover & Roberts….Kathy Browning.

1 hr.   24.25 minute mark      Dave – I wanted to just say that I've looked this all over and I have had several phone calls myself.

Bob – Well their Advisory Board should be up on top of things.

Dave – Well they had a letter to the Editor last week.

Bob – But that's not from the Advisory Board.

Dave – It was from the Executive Board.

Bob – I must have missed that. It said everything was just fine?

Bob & Chris missed the letter in the paper.

End 1hr. 27 minute mark on cd  

6.42 minutes – 1.53 MB

File 11

10:30 A.M. – BUDGET COMMISSION MEETING

In fact, order generic levitra more info here and Kamagra have the same ingredients and effectiveness like the original levitra products.

1 hr.   28.25 minute mark      Preble County Cash Balance as of April 1, 2010 –  $2,143,503.60

1st Quarter of 2010 Revenue total

1st Quarter of 2010 Revenue total – $3,084,286

1st Quarter of 2009 Revenue total – $2,991,166

1st Quarter of 2008 Revenue total – $3,204,482

1 hr.   28.25 minute mark    Mindy –  Still expecting well over a million. Monthly expenses have been running around $800,000 and income has not kept up.

Current Certificate is just under $8,900,000.  

Mindy wishes she had more sales tax going into second quarter.

End 1 hr. 46 minute mark on cd  

19 minutes – 4.34MB

File 12

1 hr.   46 minute mark    Bob – anything else we have to talk about be for we adjourn to this afternoon.

Connie – about flower $98 for one Downtown Eaton Flower pots – $32+ per commissioner.

1 hr.   51 minute mark    Township meeting presentation discussion. Bob mentions leachate.

1 hr.   52 minute mark    Steve Simmons and Kyle Cross come into room.

1 hr.   53.5 minute mark      11:00 A.M. – ENGINEER MONTHLY MEETING

2 hr.   13.5 minute mark      Steve Simmons – a lot of people driving without renewing their tags..

2 hr.   16 minute mark      meeting ends.

2 hr.   17.25 minute mark      Bob mentions talking about the ED situation and how they would like to have it set up.

End 2 hr.   19 minute mark on cd  

33.02 minutes – 7.56 MB

RECESS FOR LUNCH UNTIL 1:00

File 13

1:00 MEETING WITH MARTIN VOTEL & KATIE WORTHINGTON – PORK FEST LAWSUIT AND GOOSE CREEK LAND

2 hr.   19 minute mark      INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION POSSIBLE LITIGATION

First they note receipt of Pork Fest lawsuit.

Out of session – NO ACTION TAKEN.

EXECUTIVE SESSION ON KEMP PROPERTY TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE LAND PURCHASE

2 hr.   22.5 minute mark      OUT of session. No action taken.

2 hr.   23.25 minute mark      Bob – "Marty would you respond to the parties involved as to our discussion on the three point of interest that we would like resolved?"

Marty – Well I'll respond and I'll see the Commission with those communications then let you know when I hear something.

2 hr.   23.8 minute mark      Dave – I am sure it gets frustrating.

Marty – It can be, It can be. Thanks Bob.

End 2 hr.  24 minute mark on cd  

5.01 minutes – 1.15MB

File 14

2 hr.   24.1 minute mark      Chris – I guess David is gone for the day.

Bob – Yeah

2 hr.   24.1 minute mark      Bob – I would like guidance two as to let’s see I have a meeting tomorrow with the Chamber Foundation. After our visit to Van Wert and other things that are happening, I'd like you guys to tell me where you'd like for us to go …???… as to who is going to take charge of the economic development person. Do we use ahh do we hire the person? Coming in with our meeting with John Conglose will help us a lot we'll have better idea of where want we want to do. But in many of these Foundations or economic development groups the chamber serves as a marketing tool. The Commissioners as we learned Friday at the area commissioners meeting or get together luncheon. Most of them recommend that economic development office is a county organization that is supported by other villages, the CIC, the Chamber of Commerce, who fund many of the activities. They fund the marketing, which would mean to me that we would hire an Economic Development Director and ask for the Chamber and the CIC to become partners. And the private sector which is basically the chamber is supportive of it, economic development.

2 hr.   27.5 minute mark      David – And Bob I just heard what you said but I am sorry I didn't hear how the Versailles meeting went but. Oh obviously you're saying the commissioners up there recommend the commissioners take the lead. With supporting factors being the CIC, the Chamber of Commerce those organizations.

Bob – That's correct. That's pretty well what we learned Friday. You agree with that?

Chris – Well yeah….  the ahhh most of em' at Versailles, some have tried OSU, some have tried independent. One county has an economic development director; they have four within the county.

Bob – but their trying to consolidate that into one. Is that right?

Chris – No.

Long continuing discussion that will go on for a while so it will no longer be completely transcribed.

2 hr.   30.5 minute mark      Dave – Bob isn't that a little premature until we here from John Conglose?

Bob – Well the only reason I say this is, this group is ready to start a fund raising drive. In fact there is a meeting set up with Henny Penny in the near future. I don't want to say much??? hear. But then we would forward a rate we don't.. I'd indicate where we're going it's going to be past us.

Dave – just so I know what other county used OSU and it didn't work? Or what was the problem?

Bob – I think it was Champaign wasn't it?

Chris – Champaign, they said they had OSU

Connie – Do they still?

Chris – No, they said they tried it and it didn't work for them.

2 hr.   32 minute mark      Bob – The other thing..I would assume that we're saying that ahh we'd like to be directly involved with the E.D person ah with the Chamber and the CIC supporting it through marketing.

Dave – mmha

Bob – and promoting Preble County and financing possibly a $100,000..that way.

Dave – You need them doing that?

Bob  – Yes. Supporting the activities, supporting the conventions they need to go to, the luncheons that ??? spent. All of those incidentals I'll call them and that. The other thing is who houses the E.D. office? Right now, the Chamber has already figured out they are going to house it.

Chris – Who pays for it first?

Bob – housing?

Chris – No,who pays for the economic development partner.. department?

Bob – The person an assistant?

Chris – the two employees before we get to housing them the question is who is paying for them?

2 hr.   33.5 minute mark      Bob – That is part of my question on how you want me to approach this. Do ahh say what if we did go with OSU and they're paying $40,000 and we pay whatever figure. Plus if we have a bed tax a per cent of that goes towards…

Chris – We don't have bed tax.  

Bob – No we don't… just an idea. Just throwing out ideas right now.

Chris – good. I am just saying we don't have a bed tax.

Bob – but that is part of the way every other county finances their economic development department. So that's just a thought, I get burned by that thought, I get burned by it.

Chris – Ok

Bob – then do we then ask the participating communities to as I heard somebody suggest a dollar a citizen.

Dave – That's not the popular way I can tell you. A little bit of success says a lot. I can tell you of a few townships that would love to help if they knew if they were going to get some help and assistance in their townships.

Bob – That comes along late but I think we need to say "HEY THIS IS THE WAY WE WANT IT STRUCTURED."  If you guys disagree please tell me now.

Dave – You know Bob I can appreciate what the OSU person didn't fit in, in their particular county but you got to admit that Nancy Bowen  (Van Wert) when we went up and saw her the commissioners were very very high on her. It took them out of the mix, it was a nationwide search to find the best person who would come to that region for the price. Of course I can't help but think the commissioners didn't have a chance to at least interview her. You know talk to her.

2 hr.   36 minute mark      Bob – So we agree that the E.D. office can be housed within the county buildings?

Dave –  I still say…I stay say the perfect place is right here.

Bob – It is on the main thoroughfare.

Dave – We got the room.

Bob – And it is not going to cost anymore than what it is costing today.

Dave – Other than supplying a computer and website.

Bob – That is another consideration that we're considering.

Chris – You're saying we house that person.

Bob – I am.

Chris – Ok. So county to supply office space is what you're suggesting? Ok

Bob – Now that's not popular ??? from this Foundation.

Chris – I am not supporting yes or no I want to hear the rest of the financing, that's where it gets who pays for it?

Bob – Do we want to have this discussion the discussion here today is for all three of us to discuss how we get to finance it.

Chris – Well

Bob – I think we have got to put some money in the in the mix. I think that if approached right the Foundation is willing to I'm hoping to finance part of that. The question was put to me one day is how much money you put into it how much input do you want? Well, do you want any input or you just want to let be over here on a situation that is run by the Foundation? We have no input other than a monthly meeting…which may be good. Take government out of it all together.

Chris – That is one of the problems, you can't take government out of it all together.

Bob – I don't know as we've discussed there's grants in there that have to be… all the responsibility comes back on us anyway.

Chris – What ahh.. we heard the figure from Van Wert County of $135,000 just for basically the Director and her assistant to operate.

Bob – That's right. There is ahhh (chuckle)…  

2 hr.   39 minute mark      Chris – Van Wert

Bob – has a bed tax of 3% that generates a $100,000, 73% of that … OSU matches $40,000 (repeats earlier figures from Chris Day at 37.5 minute mark.)

Dave – where did they put the rest of the bed tax that they collect is that toward the convention and visitors bureau?

Chris – 25% goes to that goes to the City of ???

2 hr.   41 minute mark      Chris – So what are your guys thoughts on paying for this?

Bob – somewhere along the line we are going to have an investment in it one way or another. Is that correct?

Chris – What's that?

Bob – We're going to have an investment in this person one way or another. Through the Foundation or through us in support of the Foundation.

Chris – What dollar amount do guys want to commit to?

Bob – That's a good question.

Chris – I remember a discussion it’s been a while back I thought someone was going to get some information on bed tax was that you David? What it generated in Preble County?

Dave – I don't specifically remember, I just told you what I thought Jefferson Township generated but..

Chris – I thought you were going to get some information on that so we had..

Dave –  ahm maybe what I said was Marty Votel had given a presentation several years ago do you recall that Connie? Back I think the last time when ahh John Hartman was approaching the townships to get their buy in. I think Marty Votel gave us a presentation on how to obtain the bed tax and what you had to go through so.. and so no I have not found any information on it.

Bob – didn't you have a figure like $30,000 in Jefferson Township?

Dave – I think at their best year they did around that yeah. And for some reason somebody told me that Hueston Woods generates more than that.

Chris – So  

Bob – and before it was $50,000 the county contributed? Or 35?

Dave – 35

Bob – I believe until we talk to Mr. Conglose we're unsure of the direction of what it would be with OSU or how it would be. So I guess the main question is I want to know what to take back to that committee (Chamber Foundation).

Chris – I got some calls….

2 hr.   44 minute mark      

Chris –  I understand what you are saying, I know they are ready to move forward. Now the comment that they'll move on and leave us behind… They’re not going to do anything unless Number 1 – For the Chamber to move forward they need the support of the City and the County however it goes forward. Whether that person is housed here, housed there, who's supporting for the different areas because realistically you're looking at probably..I know everybody cringed when Matt said a $300,000 budget but that's a realistic budget if you want to do it and do it right. Because you're looking at $140,000 for your staff, you know the one thing that we heard at Van Wert, the one thing we heard when we had a Marty Hollenberger in here, the one thing we heard Friday at SILFEX was that we have to market and that comes with an expense. Marketing is you know ahmm you're unknown.

Bob – and part of the email we received from the local Chamber was what the people of Preble County

Dave – And I can tell you that brochure right there has been to Las Vegas and farther.

Bob – Is that right?

Dave – So they did attempt to market it years ago.

Bob – One of the big things the Foundation recognizes is marketing as being pretty much a Chamber function.  

2 hr.   46 minute mark      Chris – the one thing I didn’t ask, I forgot, I wonder what Nancy's salary is. What does an ED person go for?

Bob – I would guess she is around $70,000 wouldn't you think?

Discussion on resources available from OSU.

2 hr.   48  minute mark      Dave – We did pass the conveyance fee and I think my initial thought for the conveyance fee was to help pay part of the salary that's been lacking in the past years. You know the funding for it. Right?  

Bob – Yeah that was the idea behind it. We have since.. everybody in the state of Ohio and beyond are trying to get a hold of it.

Dave – I would like for an economic development director to work on retention and expansion of existing businesses first. I also want them to work with Chris and Marty and Kleingers on the development up there. I want them to make contact with the folks at the Stateline. I want them to talk to every village and the City of Eaton is there anything they can do. For one get the vacant buildings get them on the site, monitor the Ohio sites. Go to some of these meetings that for some reason we are unable to to make the contacts daily at the state level if they need to, to put us in a position to attract some of these companies.  

Bob – And you want them to be answerable to… this body?

Dave – ahhmm yes in a way. Remember remember if we directly hire the person they'll fall under us for the main provider. If it's the OSU model they go by that large committee. I cringe on large committee and so do you and so do you but Nancy Bowen said it works pretty well because if she's not doing her job these folks tell OSU and they talk to her about what she needs to do. … She gets around to all the villages has them set up the way they want to be…..

Connie – She also told us that she did a lot of grants writing, a lot of it.

2 hr.   52 minute mark      Bob (on the Chamber Foundation) – I don't see them as being completely in control. They think they have all the answers and they don't. And their moving with or without us.

Dave – I hate to hear that.

Chris – I tend to disagree with that because they’re not going anywhere if we're not on board. If we're not on board the city is not on board.

Bob – You're exactly right, that's why I want this input so I can express that.

Chris –  I understand what you are saying Bob, I guess.

Bob – I don't think they understand that.

Chris – Oh, I think they do. They realize if the public sector and that's the county and the city at this point are not engaged their not this will not go forward. The real question here and we're and I guess we're still a little unclear on the structure of how we set that up. We're throwing ideas out we're still have this John Conglose to talk to. We still don't know, I still don't know to what amount we're comfortable funding up to. Like I said, I'm looking at..based upon our trip to Van Wert we're looking at $135,000 – $140,000 to put them n our office. That would be if we put Connie and Kim in an office for economic development.

Bob – Is that ok with you?

Chris – You know one of the questions that I asked when we were at that meeting in Van Wert is if we established a meeting tomorrow.. You’re six months to a year before you're up and running to see any form of results. You're gonna take that long to get all their sites on the website to make all the contacts and Nancy agreed to that. Correct?

Connie – She did.

Chris – That is bringing someone on with the background, with support beyond ahh just in this office. I mean that's a contact with Ohio State. If we hire someone that is not affiliated with Ohio State you know you hope that person has the knowledge to hit the ground running. But they're going to have to come in, they are going to have to get their resources so at what cost are we looking to be able to fund an office.

Bob – defends on how you are going to structure the fees and this 3%. How much are we willing to put in the kitty.

Chris – So you're saying that you support a bed tax?

Bob – I ahh just bringing out suggestions. Don't go putting words in my mouth.

Laughing

Chris – well obviously

Bob – it's a bad idea?

Chris – since you've been to Van Wert, both of you have talked about the bed tax correct?

Bob – Yeah because it is part of their revenue stream.

Chris – So what's your thoughts on the bed tax?… David?

David –  How many hotels have you gone to that you haven't paid one?  If this additional 3% tax is added it would be two bed taxes for a total sales tax of 13% on rooms in Preble County. A level higher that Richmond, Indiana that has a fully operational Tourism Center for which an entire 5% tax is used to support bringing in more rooms.

Chris – I don't know that.

Dave – I bet you pay just about everywhere.

Chris – Probably everywhere you to a hotel there are 9000 taxes on it. I mean there is, you go to the City of Columbus, I take four different forms to get exempted off. There’s the state, city, county…  I'm not disputing that I am trying to get enough funds to cover that.

Dave – I think years ago when the attempt was made to raise the bed tax in the county the reason was because travel and tourism because Convention and Visitors Bureau, we wanted to get that started because we got some assets here in the county that people come to Preble County…  they want to see. We want them to stay here while they are here. I think our thought of it was if we can get starting to attract people that helps the hotels it helps the local economy and you know there is more or less a transient tax where it's people from outside Preble County. I mean not many people I don't think in Preble County stay in the hotels unless Diane kicks Chris out of the house.  laughing

Bob – He goes next door to Mom and Dad's

Chris – Deerfield right?

Bob – Yeah that's a luxury suite.

Dave – So I believe that's the reason why years ago it was attempted and the process failed.

Connie – She said it would take some time to educate. You know all these lodging people on the bed tax. But I am not sure that the bed tax was already up there.

Chris – That bed tax was established before she got there. They just passed it to rerate the structure or re divide the structure.

2 hr.   58.5 minute mark      Chris – so what you're going to take back to your Chamber meeting is?

Bob – Whatever you guys decide….That the ED Director comes under our employment through OSU, Wright State or through a model that we choose such as Troy or whatever. That we are interested in being a major player. Is that the way you see it? Or do you see it as let the Foundation do it all and we just contribute and walk away and? When you go to a community and you want to put in a million dollar factory are you gonna go the Chamber or you going to look for economic development?

Chris – I am not going to the Chamber. I mean that's.

Dave – I am going to go to Ohio Sites and tell me what…how many places are around the state….

Bob – Do you want that office to be on a main road through the community or a block off the main road with a sign out there that maybe you will see and maybe you won’t?

Connie – Who's office?

Bob – The Chamber's

Connie – Not the economic development director?

Bob – That's what I am talking about. Do you want that Economic Development Director housed over here on 127 or do you want it housed a block off of 127 in the Chamber office? Or do we want to house it over here in this yellow house that is a block off of 127. I want it where the most traffic is.

Chris – you're putting under the red light?

Bob – I'm not going there.

Dave – gosh Bob that is going to be dangerous.

End 3 hr.  2 minute mark on from cd  

38.01 minutes – 8.70 MB

File 15

3 hr.   2  minute mark      Connie – Are you wanting to keep the Economic Development Director and the Chamber together?

Bob – Ahh you mean as a partnership?

Connie – No, I mean in the same office?

Bob – I'm not, the Foundation is.

Connie – The Foundation is.

Bob – in fact it’s not that they want it's this is the way it is going to be.. we have decided that it is going to be housed in here.

Dave – Tell me exactly what is this meeting and what is going to happen?

Bob – It’s for their meeting of the Foundation. The people that are on the Board to this point and it is going to go about the financing…. they hope to raise $300,000.

All three commissioners unable to come up with the correct Chamber Foundation name. Preble County Development Partnership  Inc.

Dave – Bob, I've heard you say before that the city is not does not exactly like that model correct?

Bob – I think they are unsure.

Listen to audio for full meeting.

3 hr.   5 minute mark      City Representative on Chamber Board is Bob Brower.

Bob – as soon as he mentioned that it was not going to cost anything to begging with there was unanimous approval.

Chris – finds name of Chamber Foundation.

Dave – Well Bob, could you talk to Bob Brower and maybe even Mike Snell and see if they wouldn't hold off and…

3 hr.   10.5  minute mark      Bob – here we go with that bed tax again. It goes into the General Fund.

3 hr.   19 minute mark      Bob – I think it is pretty black and white – Are we happy with that being taken care of by the Chamber

Chris – name me the one constant…..  The one constant is the public sector.

3 hr.   21.5 minute mark      Chris – What I am hearing form the Chamber side is the private side doesn't think the Public side is capable of doing it.

Bob – That's right. That's exactly the case.

3 hr.   22 minute mark      Chris – We both need each other.

3 hr.   23 minute mark      Dave – asks Chris about the funding.

Chris – we all agree that we got to do something.

3 hr.   25 minute mark      Bob – maybe the three of us need to sit down with the Chamber and the city.

3 hr.   21.5 minute mark      Chris – if we take the lead does the city contribute, do the villages?

3 hr.   28 minute mark      Dave on side on Stateline area.

3 hr.   29.5 minute mark      Chris makes reference to Lewisburg and Camden needing help.

3 hr.   32.5 minute mark      Chris – $73,000 from bed tax and other donations break down.

3 hr.   36.5 minute mark      Dave to research how much bed tax could be raised.

More discussion on bed tax.