Preble County, Ohio

County Commissioners

March 24,  2010

Meeting audio and review

All three County Commissioners in attendance.

File 1

5  minute mark     Meeting called to order

I. OPEN MEETING

II. CALL OF ROLL

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

IV. PRAYER

V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING THE JOURNALIZATION & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE CD RECORDING BOTH AS THE OFFICIAL MINUTES FOR THE MARCH 22ND REGULAR SESSION MEETING

End 7.77 minute mark on CD

2.39 minutes – 623 KB

File 2

9:00 A.M. – PUBLIC HEARING RIEGEL #759 & PENCE #764 – SIX-YEAR DITCH REVIEWS

No review

End 46 minute mark on cd  

38.17 minutes – 8.76 MB

File 3

9:30 A.M. – TOM FODOR, CEO – DAYTON AREA CHAPTER OF AMERICAN RED CROSS (RED CROSS MONTH & HOMETOWN HEROES DAY)

49 minute mark     Photo Op   

50  minute mark     Commissioner Stonecash reads resolution.

55  minute mark     Tornado Siren going off in background

End 56 minute mark on cd  

9.55 minutes – 2.27 MB

File 4

VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS

VII. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF TWO (2) PAID NOTES

RE: JAIL HVAC SYSTEM ($116,000) & ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT DATA SYSTEM

EQUIPMENT ($81,000)

B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #188-10-144

RE: AUTH. PAYMENT – CHILDREN SVS.

C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #189-10-144

RE: MORAL OBLIGATION – LANDFILL

VIII. CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS

A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #187-10-144

RE: REDUCTION OF LOAD LIMIT ON BRIDGE ON PRICE’S CREEK ROAD OVER

PRICE’S CREEK – ENGINEER

B. NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A LEGAL AD, BID SPECS & BID FORM

RE: 2010 HERBICIDAL CONTROL – ENGINEER

C. NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF AN RFQ

RE: DESIGN LANDFILL LEACHATE FORCE MAIN – LANDFILL

IX. AGREEMENTS & CONTRACTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING AN AGREEMENT

RE: CUSTOM FOLIAR SPRAYING AGREEMENT W/ JT’S LAWN & LANDSCAPING – $15,000.00 – DITCH MAINTENANCE

End 1 hr.  1.2 minute mark on cd  

5.13 minutes – 1.19 MB

File 5

10:00 A.M. – MINDY ROBBINS & TOM BARNES (GAAP REPORTING)

1 hr.  2.5 minute mark     Mindy Robbins – "Technically as I understood it from Dick Sargent with Eastman & Smith is that the Ohio EPA does not like the idea that we tried to help control our audit costs by changing the method of our financial reports. And just to kind of refresh in '07 & '08 we were spending over $100,000 in audit costs. So I went ahead and gave a call in and said we are trying to control these costs, at this time '09 doesn't look like it is going to be very good. …… As a result we spent about $30,000 less in '09 than what we had in '08.

1 hr.  5.5  minute mark     Tom Barnes –  It's (GAAP) is actually one of the rules of the Ohio EPA for financial assurance.

1 hr.  6 minute mark     Mindy – …for next year and the future we will need to go to GAAP.

1 hr.  8 minute mark     Chris Day – The key factor here that we are looking at is that if can't meet the financial assuring up to EPA standards then we may have to bond out or do some different things which could cost us well above and beyond the $25,000 or whatever.

Mindy – What I got from Dick as that they would go along with us right now as far as how we were doing it right now. But there wouldn't have to be anything additional incurred from this year or even last year..  ***** AUDIO GOES DEAD FROM 1 HR. 8.5 MINUTE MARK –  1 HR. 11.1 MINUTE MARK *****

Meeting continues.

1 hr.  15.5 minute mark     Mindy – Long and short GAAP for next years. Expect increases in Audit costs for next year.

End 1 hr.  19 minute mark on cd  

18.56 minutes – 4.33 MB

File 6

1 hr.  19.1 minute mark     Connie – "You might check your calendar here for the Versailles, luncheon.  Looks like they had a date change from April 2, to April 9. April 2 is Good Friday. I think you already have your economic development forum at SILFEX."  Luncheon is at 1:00 everyone needs to check their calendar for March 31, that's a Wednesday. Bob had mentioned that the Chamber of Commerce would like to come in and present us with their new..I'm not for certain.. Their actual ahh what is it they just establish?

Dave – Foundation

Connie – I don't know the exact name of the foundation.

1 hr.  21.75 minute mark     Bob – They are going to ask us to commit to more or less serve on the Foundation board.

Connie – You said Bob Brower is the City of Eaton representative?

1 hr.  22.25 minute mark     Bob – The Board consists of 21 members with 11 on the Executive Committee.

Chris – "I guess what are they asking us to commit to? I read in the paper Eaton, you and I started to have a conversation but we never got to finish it we got interrupted.

Bob – They did not ask Eaton for a dollar commitment. Their request was that they appoint a member and to commit to the foundation I guess. I assume that is what they are going to ask us to do. … I have their presentation on paper…could you if Deb could have copies made?

Chris – I guess I am curious….I know we have had a couple different meetings and things like that with them and I know we've all had discussion with them privately. Ahm..I guess I am curious on what your guy’s thoughts are on…

Bob – On why we need o have them in?

Chris – Yeah

Bob – For one thing Matt requested the time on the agenda to give this presentation and Mike was also there..Mike Snell (SILFEX). (Sounds like he just got the paper presentation) This is basically the presentation right here guys.

1 hr.  24.5 minute mark     Bob – this is just an example of Troy Development Council's thing which I believe that they are looking at pretty seriously. Which is fewer than Van Wert has.

Chris – I'm thinking 21 is a lot of people.

Bob – But what they try to do is bring in all the various players that can contribute to success. So I guess guys we just need to look this over, this is what the presentation is gonna be. I think at that point we.. I don't see any problem committing a member to the Board. As far as a dollar figure.. I have thoughts about that, that we need to discuss what you guys thought after you look this over maybe. A couple three different ways we could go. I do believe that we need to move to a Economic Development Director.  I kind of think that if you take these three and they are just squares no names on them. You have an E.D. person and now you have this network or the foundation that supports them but they kind of act more under our direction or as Van Wert would say they work the whole community and the Commissioners don't have a lot to do with it and they are happy with that. But the Foundation is out here supporting instead of trying to run. I think we really need to sit down and discuss all of this. We've as you said each had separate meetings. We have not sat down and said this is the way we want to go. But I don't think we want to do that until after we have made that trip. You know I think we really need to get serious about how we’re gonna do this and what we're gonna fund. Maybe we hire the Economic Director and house it in house across the street in this building where ever. They have an office set aside for it at this time. My problem remains the same and I had a meeting with Matt the other day and a lot of things are??? real clear. But this foundation is formed there is no set structure as to how it works.

Dave – Bob it looks to me like maybe this meeting ahh I can't recall what day you have set up to go to Van Wert (April 6) maybe this meeting is a little premature until we we we visit VanWert because it seems like this could be an inclusion of part of this committee to help support us and economic development for the entire county. An ahhmm I think part of the draw with Van Wert was that they did have the expertise of Ohio State not with the bad taste we've had in our mouth with Dr. Wright and trying to figure out what they’re doing and getting them down to bare bones. Has nothing to do with that, their sort of separate and they've had and Nancy Billen didn't have anything negative to say about OSU. The Commissioners said that it takes all the politics out of it by going through Ohio State. You get the expertise of Ohio State the dollars out of Ohio State but there was still a large and I know Chris has a problem with that and I'm thinking? How in the world did they have 50 some people on this board? They say they get together, I believe occasionally for breakfast and discuss it and ahh and actually have no problems. If you include all the villages, township trustees..

Chris –  I'm just saying the more people you get involved, you know as well as I do the harder it is to get anything done. I'm still..even at 21 here I'm still trying to figure out how to wrap my hands around this thing and try to figure out how the structure is going to work?

Dave – An I am to but once again we may be a little too premature on Bob let’s get this lets put a member on this foundation and them we go to OSU and if we would adopt a model like OSU or if we would hire our own economic development director. We're throwing all this foundation board as part of our economic development and I'm not so sure that is what Matt wants and I'm not sure that is what the foundation board wants. So that's why I'm saying maybe we are putting the a little premature on the ahhh having this meeting.

Bob – We could move that back that's not a problem.

Dave – But, there could be an inclusion in it in the latter times.

Chris – Yeah see that's what I'm trying to.. I guess I've got the same question..

Bob – move them back to them back to May or April 12?

Chris – Where do we see the county's role ahh you know in all of this? Do you guys feel that the county takes a lead, that's it's a partnership. Ahmm You know the biggest.. Number one let’s face it, one of the biggest things that we're facing is how you pay for somebody.  And ahmm it's like anything else you get the right person in there, pay for themselves eventually but you gotta get to that point and ahh I think we will all admit we are not flush with dollars at this point.

Bob – Well there’s two things there, it has to be a partnership no matter what. No matter how it is structured it's go to to be a partnership of people of Preble County. Number two we do have a conveyance fee that we have designated for economic development. Now as broad as that is and I kick my rear-end for not getting it ear marked but I didn't.    I just left it open for economic development, now everybody wants a piece of the pie. I remember someone mentioning this problem at the reception desk at the County Commission office and being told it was their (my) responsibility to hold them (commissioners) accountable.  At the time we were talking the conveyance fee but accountability is the same even when talking a leachate pipeline. 

Chris – it wouldn't matter if you tagged it, it would still..

Bob – But at any rate, there's been enough meeting that.. by the way I think there is a meeting Friday. Matt called me and left a message and I called him this morning and left a message. I'll call him back and verify, if you guys could attend I think it would be good.

Dave – Bob as you recall from Van Wert that was at least what they the Van Wert County Commissioners had to put into it. That was something they could afford and I think that is something we can afford in the future. But it is with a partnership, it is with a Board and I think it would I can't remember how exactly how Van Wert said their Board is comprised but we wouldn't have to adopt everything like.  Or if we decide to hire Economic Development outright or if we went along with the foundation. But I think from what I heard in the beginning, they were asking quite a bit.

Bob – Well I'm… I think we need to know how much the private sector is willing to commit. That's kind of evasive question at this time. It's a.. well we have certain companies that are waiting to see what we are going to do.

Dave – I would still a say this meeting may be a little premature. If you wouldn't mind holding it until after our trip to Van Wert. Because obviously you said Matt is going up to this so..Right?

Bob – Matt's going to go with us. Sooo Connie, tentatively write that in tentatively for the 12th.

Dave– Well why don't you just let Connie schedule that when she can.

1 hr.  34 minute mark     Bob – If you can schedule it for the 12th. That should be enough.. we go up there the 6th. Whatever it doesn't matter to me, call Matt and get a ???  What's your thoughts? I know you have opinions.

Chris – Well I just I'm just trying to figure out… we're talking Chamber on this side, we're talking Van Wert model on the other side, on putting somebody in here.

Bob – but it all works together.

levitra samples Trying to do both at once was ripping the organization apart.

Chris – Well I haven't seen how it is coming together yet.

Bob – That is one reason we are taking the Chamber with us, to go to Van Wert. Matt has seen the same flyer/packet you saw.

Chris – I'm not; I'm just trying to figure out how all of this comes together without it being another flop like it has been in the past.

Bob – Well, if you want to look at this real close it's headed in the same direction.

Chris – Well, I know it is.

Bob –  Headed the same direction because what do you see there? The same thing that the CIC formed when they formed the OGDC. Except how this Board is formed the then I think you get the structure I think and our input is really important.

Dave – Well when you say about the flop don't forget it was lack of funding and now we have mechanism put in place to help out with that funding.

Chris – Well and I understand what you are saying and there there is a mechanism that's talked about putting funding in place but as Bob said everybody is kind of…  ok well… that's not going to do.

Bob – There's been one commitment to my knowledge and a couple maybes.

Chris – And I understand what you are saying David. I guess .. I guess one of the things that is unclear and kind of hard to determine..Until you form a body.. but what are the short and long term goals? I know that you got three boxes here and it kind of lays out but that is very general. And one of the major things that I saw in the previous trials were a l out of good ideals but nobody followed through on anything. I mean..

Bob – That meeting down there is exactly the same as other meetings I’ve been to.. you stick these things up and anybody that has been around for more than 10 minutes knows it's all been discussed forever.

Chris – I mean..

Dave – As far as following through, I 'm not sure I quite understand that statement because the previous I mean there was a couple mistakes made no doubt. Ahm but when the entire package at 127 was thrown into a job ready site and we were kicked out at the state that is sort of what took all of the wind out of the sales and what direction do we go from there. Because to put a package together like that was pretty good to get you know at the District level being the number one project. But it wasn't until we were thrown out at the state level it sort of took the wind out of the sales. You had a person that was totally against this and against funding of the OGDC and I think they had a lot of good ideas but they just didn't have totally 100% support. Let's be clear on something here: That one person (Jane Marshall) represented one vote on a three person County Commission and regularly faced the short end of 2 – 1 votes with regard to funding the OGDC, a group that the City of Eaton stopped funding, a group that faced multiple letters to the Register Herald from City Council members opposed to the way it did business. The argument that this "one" person was the problem is hyperbole of the extreme.

And that's where we need to get at here. But Chris when you're questioning what we need to do, I mean we've seen the Darke County model, we've seen the Mercer County model, Bob and I went Van Wert and we totally liked that model. Ahm and we've seen quite a lot of models around the state and all of those seem to be fairly successful. And I've told you guys before about Wayne County, Indiana how they've got like 1.7 or 1.8 million towards economic development and right at the moment we're giving zero. We started at ground level and past a conveyance fee to have a dedicated funding for economic development. And ahm there’s other ways that they have, there's some counties that use the bed tax ahmm some some counties use the conveyance fee as we're going to and once you get up and rolling and get the revolving loan fund things start working better.  The person he previously mentioned (Jane Marshall) offered to help the last OGDC Director (Hal Yoder) get a revolving loan fund started. The idea (revolving loan fund) was last brought up by that director in Commission Chambers to then Commissioner Bill Withrow and Commissioner Wesler. Mr. Wesler was less than enthused at the idea. At the time the potential loss of Eaton Compressor was becoming an issue.  Jane Marshall never heard back on her offer and here we are a couple years later and still no revolving loan fund. The short audio clip of that February 13,  2008 exchange can be heard here: http://citizensforpreblecounty.com/audio/feb1308/12a.mp3   I think all the villages and all of the townships would with a Dixon Township is not going to have much you know growth out there as far as economic development but I know all of the villages would like to grow and they would like help in a restructuring possibly a development area in their in their a.. outside their villages. So, remember Bob up in Van Wert had development parks ready when you know. They laid out to the state of Ohio here is what we got. Somebody comes into town with a need let us.. you know keep us in mind. So..

Bob – The problem is with most parks is they lay there so long without any development such as Brookville did and the one out by Cambridge City close to

Dave – St. Rt. 1? If you’re not ready and prepared though it's not going to happen. So we've got to work towards that.

Bob – Well and the … something I thought of the other day is Goose Creek has been taken to where we expected to be I guess…  phase 1 is complete. Correct?  And we're going into looking for funding if indeed this is to come to pass of some sort then that need to be included in that all though we probably have the availability of much … much more professional people to us and it will be at a cost. But if we do a search and get this person from a nationwide search we may have all we need but very professional person. Does that make sense?

Dave – No (laughing)

Chris – Well what you're trying to say is here is our relationship with Kleingers is a very good … It's a very good tool and a very good contact for us ahhh asss this progresses eventually we should have a portfolio for the entire county. And you know who ever is in the economic development position would their job is to maintain the contacts with Keingers, the Dukes, the whomever. And present that portfolio as it grows and keep those people informed because then you’re gonna get the Kliengers and those people that are going to start working for you for nothing because your giving them something to.. you know as they go out and try to sell their selves and try and get their selves more work their going to say hey we got a site here that is ready to go.

Dave – That's right.

Chris – And we're familiar with it.

Dave – This field has been plowed before. We just need to keep it going

Chris – Well.

Dave – The job ready site needs to be successful.

Chris – It was never to the point it was ready to go. If it had been at this point when it was submitted the last time.. What killed it the last time was that there were a lot of unknowns as far as the infrastructure. There were concepts but there were no plans. There's a huge difference. You know you had a concept to bring water in from Indiana but there was nothing ever hammered out. There was a concept to take sewer somewhere but there was nothing ever hammered.. I can tell you that's what killed us at the state level. There was a lot of ideas there was a lot of concepts. There was not enough data done or information gathered to say here's what's going to happen here. That's why it didn't go any further.

Dave – We also didn't have the avenue of having a quarter of a million dollars to do some of these studies.

Chris – I'm no I'm just saying that's what killed it then. You know when you submit these things you have to have a certain amount of ground work done before you know if if if I'm sitting up in Columbus and you throw something across my desk and you know we've got this corridor up here and here's what we think we can do… I'm gonna look at that and go.. there’s a lot of questions.  Now if I come in and say here is what we're going to do. We already know we have water, we already know we have this and whatever, then you can invest in that. Cause it is more than a concept.

Dave – I don't disagree. We're right in that mode right now so I hope the discussions in the future are pretty successful here because we've got a lot going for us right now. So, let’s keep hoping everything keeps going in a positive role right now.

Chris – See what I’m trying to in my mind through all these things is try to figure out where.. how we put everybody together because there's still separation between public and private.

Bob – And the failure of that shouldn't all belong to the public sector, private sector over here was just as much as anybody else.

Chris – Oh there's enough blame for everybody.

Bob – The private sector doesn't like to admit that and they will blame it all on government and that's all not true. It's not true.

Dave  – Ask these questions when we go north there guys.

Bob – Well, we need to get on to Kim here but a I'll get a hold of Matt hopefully this afternoon, whenever we get done and see if there is indeed a and I'm told this by the city guys that there is a meeting Friday. I was able to increase the savings in my little coin bag last night.

Dave – Oh, I got you.

Bob – So and we need to lay all this stuff out on the table and say hey boys we know you have a grand thought but we need to express our thoughts. When we do those two things going to Van Wert and having a Chamber meeting we need to move on Miss Keller…

End 1 hr.  45.6 minute mark on cd  

26.42 minutes – 6.11 MB

File 7

10:30 A.M. – KIM KELLER (CDBG UPDATES)

Darke County Commissioners making us aware that they have some funds left in the NSP grant. This is the grant that we got the money for the homeless shelter down here in Eaton and the HIT Foundation got money to purchase and rehab homes. But they now have another $125,000 available from those funds and they sent out to all the participating ones in our area to see if there were any projects we would be interested in using this $125,000 for. If so we have to have a proposal turned into them by next Friday. .. I know the HIT Foundation would be interested in using the money to purchase more houses and rehab them.

Bob – ….maybe that's not something we need to be talking to them about.

1 hr.  48 minute mark     Dave – anything about abandoned properties?

1 hr.  50.50 minute mark     Have to have contract by June 30.

1 hr.  53.5 minute mark     Kim to make Health Department aware and contact HIT

End 1 hr.  58.75 minute mark on cd  

13.07 minutes – 3 MB

File 8

2 hr.  2 minute mark     

11:00 A.M. – ANDREW McKENZIE & JOHN BULL (BUILDING INSPECTIONS)

3 hr.  10 minute mark     RECESS UNTIL 1:30

End 3 hr.  10 minute mark on cd  

1 hr.  11.18 minutes – 16.3 MB

File 9

1:30 P.M. – BUILDING MAINTENANCE DIRECTOR INTERVIEWS

3 hr.  11.5 minute mark     EXECUTIVE SESSION

Possible employment and compensation of a public employee —- No Action taking

EXECUTIVE SESSION

Possible employment of a public employee with Bob Brower present.

Out of session discussion with Bob Brower – NO ACTION TAKEN

3 hr.  15 minute mark     Bob – makes motion to hire Robert Brower as Building and Grounds Maintenance Supervisor at $18.20 per hour effective May 1, 2010.

Motion passes 3 – 0.

End 3 hr.  16.25 minute mark on cd  

6.18 minutes – 1.44 MB

File 10

3 hr.  16.3 minute mark     Bob – Hello Stephanie come on in.

3 hr.  18.9 minute mark     Letter of support to the Ohio Department of Development Business Investment Division referencing Goose Creek – Job Ready Site.

Bob reads:

Preble County is applying for an Ohio Job Ready Sites Program grant to assist in the development of Goose Creek at the southwest quadrant of I-70 – U.S. 127 interchange. The development of this site is extremely important to the economic growth of Preble County and will also provide a more diversified revenue jobs source base for the county. We believe this project will be very beneficial to our community, to our county and vigorously support this application. The potential jobs for this development could be instrumental in the economic revitalization of Preble County. We strongly urge you to give this application due consideration.

3 hr.  20.8 minute mark     Ohio Water Pollution Loan Fund – project for Sewer District 2.

3 hr.  22  minute mark     Letter from Preble County Court of Common Pleas Juvenile Division. Over contracted bed days. Expected balance on July 1, 2010 to be less than $1000. We will be unable to share any out of home placements after that date.

3 hr.  24.5 minute mark     Connie – another FYI a letter from the Village of West Elkton. Special Council meeting would like to have Dog Warden canvas the village and make sure all dog owners have up to date licenses and shots for each dog kept at the residence. Sheriff has written William Bates Mayor of West Elkton

Dave – our Dog Warden has never done that.

3 hr.  26.2 minute mark     Chris – Is it customary for us to get a resolution from a village instructing us to do things?

Connie – No

3 hr.  26.5 minute mark     Dave – We can't even get the Preble County Humane Society to demand that someone that adopts a dog has a license.

3 hr.  27 minute mark     NIC? — Involves Zoning requests and building inspections

Chris – David, you flipped us some numbers.. Lets here those numbers again. I didn't want to get into a discussion with everybody sitting

Dave – Connie ahh I asked Connie a week or so ago for those numbers right? Because I was just curious I didn't know. I didn't know how much they asked for a permit. …

For 2006 let me give you the revenue: $51,781  Expenditures were $179,011 for a difference of  $127,230

For 2007 let me give you the revenue: $61,156  Expenditures were $127,118  for a difference of  $65,962

For 2008 let me give you the revenue:  $57,152  Expenditures were $145,758  for a difference of  $88,606

Bob – so there in the whole big time.

3 hr.  31.8 minute mark     Bob – we need to stress that sick leave is abused.

End 3 hr.  32 minute mark on cd  

15.52 minutes – 3.63 MB

File 11

3 hr.  34 minute mark     Bob – What does Cindy's role become? If in fact we decide to hire NIC.

Connie – How could that have happed with that gentleman?

Chris – trust me it happens a lot

Connie – that's terrible why did we allow that to happen?   This pertains to File 8 that was not reviewed.

3 hr.  45 minute mark     Connie to schedule Marty in for her view.

ADJOURN

End 3 hr.  47.6 minute mark on cd  

15.44 minutes – 3.60 MB