Sunshine Law and the Use of Informational Meetings – Economic Update and Truthfulness Issue

This meeting has an update on the JRS grant application for Goose Creek. The application is due on June 17 and there is discussion on updating it or sending in the one from last year. It was decided to update it and that was covered again latter in the day when the Commissioners met with Shawnda Combs.

There was an odd and abrupt Executive Session break in the middle of the discussion and after coming a short discussion on Shawnda.  Commissioner Wesler mentioned giving Shawnda direction and her being involved. This was followed by an odd comment by Commissioner Stonecash Maybe on an informational basis we need to slide over to her place once every two weeks or something.The mention of this in the plural form of “we” would in my opinion violate State of Ohio Sunshine laws. It also calls into question whether this has been done before.

File 5 has a fairly long and informative Economic Development Update by Shawnda Combs. I recommend listening to it as my review does not cover it in detail. It does highlight the need for someone in this capacity. She does leave the impression of being short handed but this draws the question of why somebody on county payroll is doing work on the Commission Charity Ball.

She also brought up the proposed Bed tax and a presentation being prepared for a public hearing. Eaton passed but does not plan to collect the tax until a hotel is built. Eaton did this to keep the proposed tax for the city and this eliminates the county access.

There is mention of an email and marketing in "Ohio Traveler" for Hueston Woods and the Fairfield Inn. This brought a response from Commissioner Stonecash about both properties participating in promoting. Well Bob the email is posted below and there is zero mention of Ohio Traveler. As far as promoting, I think you need to GOOGLE Preble County Tourism and you will notice the first three entires are links to websites I operate, not the county. All three have information on Preble County events, it takes time to do that and both websites have had that information since long before you guys hired Shawnda. Those websites have more than double the amount of hits that Shawnda mentioned for the county website during this meeting. It is provided free of charge.

Check the websites for the properties she is promoting in Ohio Travler and get back to me with their coverage. Yes, I would like my property listed on Ohio Travler but there has never ever been an offer to do so by Shawnda. Check out the discounted prices offered and you will see they are still well above the rates we offer everyday.

Bob, you've been in my office and know the space limitiations. I also operate the website www.newparisonline.com and that website has a good bit of local information online, including menus to New Paris restaurants that are regularly printed for guests.

Sent Tue 5/3/2011 9:39 AM

Hello,

The Preble County Historical Society and the Downtown Eaton Inc. are partnering for the first ever….Bridges, Bikes, and Blues, Saturday June 18th .  As a volunteer I am inviting you to take part in this event and ask for your support.  We are marketing this event throughout the tri-state region and expect for travelers to attend the event.  I would like to request that as a hotelier, that you extend some sort of discount for anyone attending the June 18th event and allow for those discounts to be listed on the Official Event Website. 

We would like for folks to know that they can plan to stay either Friday night in preparation for the ride, or Saturday in recovery of the festivities.  J Better yet, the whole weekend just for fun!  We need your help in promoting this effort.

We also have marketing materials on hand and would like to ask for help in the distribution in order to attract as many visitors as possible.  We can provide your establishment with as many as you need.

The day will start with a covered bridge ride returning to Main St. for a concert, food, vendors, and a beer garden.  We will also be hosting a custom bike show and contest inviting cars as well.  The ride starts at 10:30 with registration and plans to return to Main St. by 3:30/4.  The evening festivities begin at 4 and end at 10.

If you are interested in partnering with us in this event, please let me know.  We are also open to suggestions!

Sincerely,

Shawnda

Shawnda Combs, Director

Preble County Economic Development

119 South Barron Street

Eaton, Ohio 45320

scombs@prebco.org

Office: (937) 456-8188
Cell:  (937) 733-6402

 

 

Preble County, Ohio

County Commissioners

June 6, 2011

Three Commissioners in attendance

File 1

I. OPEN MEETING

II. CALL OF ROLL

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

IV. PRAYER

V. APPROVAL MINUTES

NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING THE JOURNALIZATION & NOTE RECEIPT OF THE CD RECORDATION BOTH AS THE OFFICIAL MINUTES FOR THE MAY 27TH SPECIAL SESSION MEETING & THE JUNE 1ST REGULAR SESSION MEETING

VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS

VII. APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS

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

End 6.07 minute mark on CD – 1.4 MB

File 2

Commissioner Day gives update on Goose Creek Crossing and meeting with Frank Leone that he and Connie attended.

Commissioner Day – Connie and I met with Kleingers; what two weeks ago?

Connie: Yeah

Commissioner Day –   …June 17th we can have a pre-application in.

8.5 Minute mark   One commissioner wearing new suit…

Discussion on whether to submit same application as last year or enhance it. Commissioner Wesler and Stonecash feel it should be enhanced as last year the comment were it lacked detail.

Commissioner Wesler – If the pre-app is due the 17th when is the final application due?

Commissioner Day – There wasn't an actual date set in there, sometime in August or September.

Connie – That is what thinking.

Commissioner Day – but there had not been a date that I had seen yet but it said sometime August – September.

11.15 Minute mark   Commissioner Wesler – So the pre-application, is there a window of where it is due starting the 17th on

Commissioner Day – It is due the 17th

Commissioner Wesler – It's absolutely that's the day?

Connie – Yeah

Commissioner Wesler – Ok, that's 10 days from now.    

Connie – Yeah

Commissioner Wesler – Whew (sigh) Ok, ummm well I would ummm I would entertain a motion to go into EXECUTIVE SESSION to talk about employment of a public official.

Commissioner Stonecash – motion to enter into EXECUTIVE SESSION TO TALK ABOUT EMPLOYMENT OF A PUBLIC OFFICIAL.

Commissioner Day – SECOND

****So abruptly in the middle of a discussion on the JRS application and the June 17 due date of a pre-app the Commissioners went into Executive Session on the above grounds.

Exit – no action taken.

Commissioner Wesler – and ahh if it is ok with you guys no action was taken but if it is ok with you guys we can direct Shawnda

on ahh couple of those items we had talked about. Such as being involved with the JRS grant application. So we will advise her of that when she comes in.

Commissioner Stonecash – Maybe on an informational basis we need to slide over to her place once every two weeks or something.  ****Sunshine law

Commissioner Day – ..we catch her. That is another issue.

Commissioner Stonecash – Yeah I don't know how you police that but she is making contacts I know that…. You have to have a trust. Hi Randy. (Randy Bowser comes in)

13.2 minute mark on cd  

7.1 minutes – 1.64 MB

File 3

Discussion on Ohio National Rd.

10:00 A.M. – RANDY BOWSER- ASHWORTH DITCH #777 REVIEW

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER ADOPTING THE NEW BASE OF ASSESSMENTS FOR THE ASHWORTH DITCH # 777 AS SUBMITTED BY THE COUNTY ENGINEER AND FURTHER SET JUNE 27, 2011 AT 11:00 A.M. AS THE DATE & TIME FOR THE PUBLIC HEARING

16.5 Minute mark    audio issue with Randy

June 27, date and time of public hearing

26 minute mark on cd  

12.47 minutes – 2.92 MB

File 4

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. # 350-11-150

RE: TRANSFER OF FUNDS – CERTIFICATE OF TITLE

B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. # 351-11-150

RE: AUTH. PAYMENT – PROS. ATTY. ($178.73); VETERAN SERVICES ($125.00); CHILDREN SVS. ($650.00); FY09 CDBG ($8,322.23); GIS ($1,202.25)

C. NOTE RECEIPT OF AN AMENDED CERTIFICATE

Cheap pumps from novelty stores will definitely get you pumped, order generic viagra unica-web.com but will break down eventually and may even cause serious damage.
RE: GOOSE CREEK CROSSING ($12,109.75)

D. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. # 352-11-150

RE: SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATION – PERMANENT IMPROVEMENT ($6,700.00) & GOOSE CREEK CROSSING ($12,109.75)

E. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. # 353-11-150

RE: AUTH. EXPEND. – $6,700.00 FOR REPAIR OF ORNATE PLASTER CORNICE – PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS

F. NOTE RECEIPT OF (2) CERTIFICATES OF ESTIMATED PROPERTY TAX REVENUE FROM THE COUNTY AUDITOR

RE: CHILDREN SERVICES (.40) MILL AND (.60) MILL LEVY RENEWALS

Commissioner Wesler – The one is $165,000… the .6 is $190,000 based on the estimated property tax revenue of $801,596,940

G. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #357-11-150

RE: DECLARING IT NECESSARY TO LEVY A TAX IN EXCESS OF TEN MILL LIMITATION – (.40) MILL LEVY FOR CHILDREN SERVICES

H. CONSIDER APPROAVL OF RES. #358-11-150

RE: DECLARING IT NECESSARY TO LEVY A TAX IN EXCESS OF TEN MILL LIMITATION – (.60) MILL LEVY FOR CHILDREN SERVICES

CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF (2) LETTERS FROM THE COUNTY SHERIFF

RE: CONTRACTED PAY RATE ADJUSTMENTS – PAUL PLAUGHER from $21 to $21.01 & JENNIFER PETITT $19.51 to $19.52

B. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING A LETTER TO THE PAYROLL CLERK

RE: DANNY DAVIS AS ASSISTANT BUILDING & GROUNDS MAINTENANCE SUPERVISOR $12.31 per hour with a six month probation period.

C. NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A COURTHOUSE PLAZA USE PERMIT APPLICATION

RE: BRIDGES, BIKES & BLUES, JUNE 18, 2011 – PREBLE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

D. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING (2) PERSONNEL ACTIONS

RE: NOTICES OF RESIGNATION – JULIA MILLIKIN & SHAWN TUCKER – JFS

E. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A HELP WANTED AD

RE: SOCIAL SERVICE WORKER 2 – JFS – PAY RANGE STARTS AT $13.99 PER HOUR

32.75 Minute mark   AGREEMENTS & CONTRACTS

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

RE: COPIER MAINTENANCE AGREEMENT W/LOUDY OFFICE MACHINES – $1,346.66 – PROSECUTING ATTORNEY

TRAVEL REQUESTS

NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING TRAVEL REQUESTS:

A. RES. # 354-11-150 – COMMISSIONERS WESLER, STONECASH & DAY – COMMISSION COST NOT TO EXCEED $600

B. RES. # 355-11-150 – ROSEMARY WASHINGTON – SPECIAL PROJECT – COURT TRAINING COST NOT TO EXCEED $60

C. RES. # 356-11-150 – MARIAN SCHMIDT – JUVENILE COURT COST NOT TO EXCEED $199

Note receipt of a letter from Steve Simmons County Engineer – EPA Letter of deficiency

35 minute mark on cd  

9.04 minutes – 2.07 MB

File 5

SHAWNDA COMBS – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

Audio volume issue (I have it turned up as far as I can with this program)

35.25 Minute mark   Project Sam

Project Tool.

40 Minute mark  Project Junk – recycling project. Mention also of Rod Good site in Camden.

40.9 Minute mark   Project Liberty – 500 job count.

42.25 Minute mark   Mention of Goose Creek and 200,000 – 300,000 sq. ft. wanted interstate frontage. (what about 156B)

45 Minute mark  Project that needed rail

45.25 Minute mark   Hydroponics store – Stateline. Mention of Hines truck stop. Site dirty.

46.5 Minute mark   Project —- with high electric needs.

47 Minute mark  Project Dean looked at Iams building.

49 Minute mark   Project TIF? – looking to double manufacturing area. Might add two jobs. In competition with Richmond. Would like to stay in Preble. Retention project

51 Minute mark   Website – 60,000 hits for May.

52.5 Minute mark   Dayton Business Journal article.

53 Minute mark   Work force development project. Good project.

56 Minute mark   Israel Township meeting

GIS and webinar – Shawnda would like GIS tied in with her in some way.

57.5 Minute mark   Forum went very well. Did not have everybody that RSVP attend. Over 80 people.

58.5 Minute mark   Tourism – working on the transient tax project presentation.

59.5 Minute mark  Mentions Heaven's Corner Zoo.

59.5 Minute mark   Alluding to need for another person and herself being stretched thin. Maybe the Charity Ball work should be dropped.

1 hr.  1.5 Minute mark  Mentions rack cards and Heaven's Corner. Ohio Traveler Fairfield Inn giving $30 off. The Fairfield Inn and Hueston Woods mentioned as being happy with what we are doing.

Commissioner Stonecash – mentions both properties as participating in promoting.

Shawnda – Through our Ohio Traveler Package.  Guys, this is the first time I have heard of this as I have never been contacted.

Mention of an email which I will check on but do not recall as presented here.

1 hr.  3.5 Minute mark    Mention of Bed tax and the City of Eaton wording of public hearing. Would include Bed and Breakfasts in tax.

1 hr.  5 Minute mark   Prospects looking at Eaton or Goose Creek.

1 hr.  5.5 Minute mark   Commissioner Wesler mentions JRS preliminary application and Goose Creek and wanting Shawnda to be more involved with presentation. Mentions getting date sent 4 – 6 weeks out. This sounds like it might pertain to a presentation promised to the Preble Liberty Group.

Shawnda thinks that application needs tweaked so that previous feedback is acknowledged.

1 hr.  10.75 Minute mark  Connie asks Dave if he is going to speak on Visitors Bureau. (Certificate mentioned as having been discussed).

Commissioner Wesler – mentions that up in Columbus certificate is listed as "Dormant" and expires in 2012. Three names are on that and he asks Shawnda to pursue getting those changed. Names – Shawnda Combs, Jeff Sewert and Dave's.

Extension will add 5 years.

Classified as 501c3 nonprofit.

Dave mentions telling Development Partnership about this meeting tomorrow afternoon.

1 hr.  11.55 minute mark on cd  

37.08 minutes – 8.5 MB

File 6

Commissioner Wesler – Now we have a special presentation by Steve and Garrett. Come on up.

Steven going to Boston, Massachusetts.

1 hr. 27 minute mark on cd  

14.54 minutes – 3.41 MB

File 7

Connie, there is two here for you David.

Papers being signed.

Mention of Charity Ball and commissioners getting their charities in.

ADJOURN

1 hr. 29.45 minute mark on cd  

2.58 minutes – 697 KB


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