County Council - Regular Meeting

Heat. Heat. Mr. Pes, will you lead us in the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Okay, we'll take a minute here and look at the me minutes from the last meeting. They were emailed to us. I didn't see anything, but there may be something somebody else seen that I missed.

I didn't see. If not, I'll entertain a motion to approve. I'll make a motion. Bill makes a motion to approve. I'll second. Deanna seconds. Any other discussion? All those in favor? Any oppose? Okay, let's move on. Sheriff Marose.

Good morning. Good morning. Three things real quick here this morning. Number one, I handed out the last quarter of 2025's commissary for you as per mandated. Had an ending balance on December 31st of just short of $104,000. Again, just for your review, if you have any questions, I'd be happy to try to answer them.

Amazing.

Okay, so with that being said, yeah, so with that being said, if you'll recall, we ordered rifles late November, early December last year. We didn't anticipate them getting in till February. They came in two weeks ago. So, we're we're ahead of the ball game. So, with that being said, our next intention was to buy suppressors for them. and uh and I waited on purpose for the new commissary money to build back up. So again, with that being said, that 103,000 balance includes paying those rifles off. So we're in good shape. So the suppressor is going to cost 20, 980. So we're going to again purchase our suppressors to finish out the completion of the purchase these rifles using commissary money. Again, any questions on that?

20 How much was it again? 20,980

104 I believe it was this morning. It's been fluctuating between 100 and 110 last couple weeks. Any questions about any of that? Okay. My last item then is I'm I'm just needing some clarification on salary and the salary study committee. uh we you were gracious enough to allow us to hire an additional deputy for this year and we budgeted for that deputy at what our current base is this year for merit deputies of 61,721. So there's been some confusion I guess on my part of either paying them at the 2025 base rate of 59,924 or actually 4% less of this year's base. um which is putting us behind. I gave you my talking point sheet so you can look at it. You know, as far as the salary studies um about our biggest competitor regardless of Greensburg Police Department and you can see on that sheet their base for this year is uh $63,53. So we're behind them to begin with as it is. And um I was going off what was in the personnel policy handbook that the highway department and the sheriff's department was exempt from the 4% rule. My mistake on that part. I didn't realize that that had been uh repealed in 2024. The policy handbook had just not been updated. So what I'm requesting today is some clarification and permission to go ahead and hire our new deputy who we haven't hired yet. We're in the process of at our base rate of 61,721. Um, another caveat to this is in this process we're going through now, I believe we had either six or seven that showed up for the physical agility test, which is the first part of the test, we had three get through it. So, we're just

not getting qualified candidates. So, again, pay is is not the biggest issue of that, but it is a part of that issue. So, again, we have budgeted for this year. I'm asking to for your approval to go ahead and pay that person to 61,721. So, the salary committee has met several times and we've discussed this and done a little bit of research and all these talking points are really helpful. Thank you. Um, the sheriff's department does their salaries a little bit differently to where all of the deputies, regardless of how long they've been there, receive the same base pay. Correct.

Correct. and then rank and longevity and then any grant funds for extra programs are added on top of that. Um so looking at that and then I also checked in with GPD well with the mayor's office about GPD. They have been raising their salaries every year for the last several years and to stay competitive I don't know that they're going to change that in the future. So, we're constantly going to be behind them a little bit. Um, but because of the way the pay is structured with all of the deputies making the same base, the salary committee is recommending that we go ahead and stick with the 2026 base pay for them to [clears throat] make their structure more consistent. But again, it's just a recommendation from the committee. It's up to the council to actually make that decision. Did I miss anything, Danny?

No. No. I'm on your side.

Again, if I if I may, in in my talking points since [clears throat] uh February 24, we've lost four people. One went to ISP. Three of them have gone to the Greensburg Police Department. And I'm also going to be hiring two more deputies in additional to this additional. Um I'm going to have one retire later this year. And this time next year, I'm going to have another one retiring. So I'm going to replace those two positions as well. So again, I think this is important piece in our uh recruitment if you will. Who else have any questions, concerns? Entertain a motion. Kenny makes a motion to do

Kenny makes a motion to make a base pay 61 recommendation of the committee. I'll second [clears throat] it. Ernie seconds it. Any other questions? Discussion. All those in favor. Any oppose? Thank you very much, sir. Michelle guidance catch ride

Tulsa got a girl. [laughter]

Good morning everybody. I'm Michelle Gidus. I am the director of catchide. I appreciate the opportunity to be here today to present uh an year year-end review. Uh for those of you in attendance who may not be familiar with Ketaride, we are public transportation and we're open to anyone uh for any purpose and we operate in six counties here in southeastern Indiana, Decar, Ripley, Dearborn, Dearbornne, Ohio, Switzerland, and Jefferson. Um and we travel anywhere within uh that six county service area and we operate Monday through Friday 6 am to 6 pm. Um indicator in 2025 we served 145 individuals which is up from 133 that we served in 2024. Um we performed 7,721 one-way trips which is down slightly from our 2024 numbers. [snorts] Um in April I added we added a a third Decar County route. um we had been providing to for quite a number of years and we had looked at our trips and structure and determined that you know we needed to add a third route here indicator county. So I spent the day um and one day in April and came and posted flyers that we were hiring and I visited Grace Lutheran and presented um to some individuals there about our service and um with that I we had a flurry of activity and we were able to hire um drivers because we had been short drivers for quite a number of years. Um then in July um we received notice from INDOT that um 13 of our minivans were part of an nationwide side curtain

airbag recall which was for 40% of our fleet and they had to be removed from route immediately. Um, we typically our our two initial routes in Decar County, we use small transit buses, but our new route that we added was a minivan. Um, so with that, we had to remove some routes from service. We had to move vehicles all across our six counties. And where we typically have backups in our 10 staging locations, we had three backup vehicles to cover our six county service area. So if we had any problems, they were [laughter] it had significant impact on what we were doing. Um with that, there was no planned repair for the recall and we had no idea when it would be fixed. They finally got fixed last month. Um so in the meantime, we determined um that typically our drivers drive 9-hour days. Um, so if the route starts at 6:00, they're done at 3:30. If they have an 8:30 route, they're done at 6. So to get since we were now limited on vehicles, even though we had drivers, we did a split shift route. So I had one driver, he would start in one vehicle at 6:00 and drive till like 11:45. the second driver would then get in that same vehicle and then drive till 6:00 p.m. So, it extended our hours um to try to keep um as many vehicles on the road and our drivers driving. Um so, and because we can't afford to lose drivers because they're so hard to get, um we continue to pay our drivers through this entire airbag recall process. Um, so we finally have them all repaired and they're all back on the road. Um, so

we're excited for 2026 that now we have drivers, we have vehicles again. So we're looking to have a great year. Um, last year I regularly attended the Decar County United Fund monthly meetings and the quarterly Grounds for Change nonprofit meeting to help promote uh Catch a Ride to others in our in this area. Um in December we completed our annual oversight review with our pass through entity historic hooser hills. Um we're federally funded through uh the section 53 federal grant and through the state. So um we get money passed through historic Hooser Hills. So that uh process went smoothly. There were no findings and this was actually our last year with historic Hooser Hills as our pass through because INDOT has decided we can um be a direct recipient of funds moving forward. So, we're excited to just be able to deal straight with INDOT without um that pass through. Um historic Hooser Hills has been great though through this whole our entire working situation. Um, last year we received four new minivans, though two of them were on recall, so we didn't get them until last month. And we also transitioned from one tablet per vehicle to each driver having their own tablet. So, we made that transition and it's been really great to help ensure privacy and drivers being able to complete their trainings and stuff having their own tablets. Um this year 2026 we are replacing three small transit vehicles. This will be the first time we've gotten new small transits since probably like 2018 2019 due to the um significant price increase on those vehicles. We've been downsizing our fleet to minivans.

But this year we're getting three small transits and I'm happy to announce two of them are coming here. So, that'll be great to have two new buses um serving Decar County. Um we appreciate your support through the years. Without your support, we wouldn't be able to do what we do, which [clears throat] is help people um live a better life. Uh does anybody have any questions? Any questions? I know it's [clears throat] a great program. I see you all over the county.

And our drivers just wonderful love what they do. Um it goes it it takes a lot to be a driver for us. There's a lot of training involved. You know, a lot of people, you know, when they come and interview sometimes they think they're just going to hop in and drive, but there's a lot of training involved and um once they get going, they really love their clients and really care for the people that they transport. We all We all do. Thank you [clears throat] for all your you do. Great program. Thanks. Okay, Mr. Nai pool project. Good morning. Morning.

So, last time we met uh last month, our current uh what we were where we were currently, excuse me, [clears throat] at with funding was 2.5 million of the 4.5 million that we needed. Um there will be an announcement coming out Thursday, but we are now a million dollars closer. So we're at three and a half of the four and a half um now currently. So we have uh also the other still potential from the community foundation other 300,000 and we still have four corporate sponsors um that we're working with as well. So hopefully I don't know what that final number is, but we're at 3 and a half to 3.8 now. So, I'm still asking for 2 million. And the reason why is because this county RDC funded us for 1.5, but that's coming over the course of 3 years. So, I need to fund a million. Uh, but it will be paid back to us by the by the county RDC. Uh, the other million is just so that I make sure that I have operating capital. [clears throat] Um, we have to we are paying the bills out of the from the auditor's office and the community foundation is then reimbursing us. So, I got to have funds in the account in order to be able to pay the bills as they come in. So, I don't know if there's been anything further from your guys' aside or if you have any questions for me or anything I can answer.

So, a million of it's coming back. Of the two million, a million of us coming back. I don't even estimate that I need the other full million. Um, I hope I don't need any of it. Um, but I we're still trying to fund the rest of it. We don't have any intentions to stop. Um we I want to raise the 4.5 million and we are nearing very close. So, but I still need the money in order to be able to operate. I have to be able to to pay the bills. Have any questions? Ruben, what do you think? [clears throat] Well, I've looked at the $2 million is not [clears throat] a concern. Honestly, there's enough cash for

Yeah, if [clears throat] you would. I'm going go back and listen to this later on. Yelled out. People can't hear us.

The the $2 million truthfully it's a lot of money, but in the terms it's not a lot of money because there about 40 year 50ear lifespan of something and the cash exists. I don't have the January 125 cash balances, but based on January 124, the you know the cash is there. Um that changes things quite a bit too on the million dollars additional because then we're now concerned about the pay because we've talked a little bit Chris and I have and you and I have Dan and I have about recouping that money at some point through different methods somehow cuz well you know it'd be no different than if you went out and borrowed the money you'd have a property tax rate well to you're bas you're not taking out your cash. Same idea here is instead of pulling out the cash we'll pull out of cash but how we going to reimburse ourselves. There's various things to do that and I've got some stuff worked up and we'll be talking about a lot of it anyways when we come to time to adopt new lit rates. Um so truthfully that's not even an issue and I said the billion the new the new million dollars changed a lot. I do understand what he's saying about needing the cash available to pay bills. One thing I did want and I'm not going to get into legal structures here. One thing I did think wonder is would it make more sense to go to a local bank though and get the line of credit pay the bills out of it and then pay the loan off as RDC pay the loan off the county pay the loan. You know what I mean? And instead of having the officer all the ch assume there's a building manager somewhere they'll be paying the subs and they're doing draws on it.

It still needs to come through. There has to be an overwatch on it. So yeah, if it comes through the auditor's office the commissioners have to proclaim. So therefore, if we know if we're seeing the claim, we know that there was a draw. Therefore, we know we need to check on the work and then make sure that it's staying in the structure of the bot so that we know exactly where things are for our time.

That's fine. I mean, I'm not going I don't get into legal structure. I'm just throwing out ideas, different ways to handle things. So, but I don't think it's a funding in my mind for as far as the county's portion of it is not an issue. I there's that's shouldn't be a concern. Um, and if you need more information, we can we can work more on it, but I think there's plenty of options to do. I mean that's up to you guys how you want to handle if you want to dump out to another fund to track it all which I think makes sense you know what I mean so it's a matter and here's I will say this the general fund the edit fund and development all can cover this because of unsuries and property taxes you know I don't think you guys are going to get in danger but I would avoid using development because I foresee AVs is flatlining and I and net AVs actually dropping over the next probably 10 years as the new um homestead deductions phase in. Um so I would avoid that because that that fund is that revenue is directly associated to to assess values. So I would look at the general fund or the edit fund which um are both local income I mean heavily funded by local income taxes at this point and um and that's why I mentioned about lit rates being adopted coming up pretty soon. always figure out then if it's a million dollars that the county actually puts into it, do you want to how to how quickly want to recoup that million dollars? And then so what rate lit rate adjustment would cover that million dollars over five or six or seven, right? When whatever years it is. Does that make sense? And a million versus two million is a little bit different. So we'll figure it out. Um you said a million dollars come back over what time frame?

Two years. Okay. be a'll be a January 2027 payment and a January 2028 payment.

So really that's kind I didn't it doesn't change my notes any other than it changes the term you know what numbers I figured out for figuring out like paybacks. Um like the lit rate that I figure you're going to need under the new system is 1.01 01 to replace all your revenue that you currently get out of lit rates, not including the special purpose, includ shares, edit, public safety. Um, which that leads me to this this whole conversation here about the sheriff and the city been able to pay so much. You know, when the lit rates get changed, it kind of evens the ball game because you guys have adopted public safety, which has heavily funded them. Now you get to fund your own and they have to fund their own. So it kind of even kind of evens the playing field a little bit.

That cap on the lid's 1.2, right? Yeah. For the county. For the county. Yeah. Is what we can propose up to 1.2. Yeah. Yeah. And you're you need 1.1 to replace what you currently bring in, right? Assuming gross income stays as good as it is right now. Anything else? I know I got sidetracked there on the sheriff thing. [laughter] It's okay. I'm trying to always be thinking about you guys, too. Anything else? Yeah, I think I think it's won't be a problem at all. It's just a matter of of working out the details on uh in the future, which will be June or July, August, right?

Is there anything else coming down the pike that we need to know of? I mean, any other That's I'm up next. I know. That's what I'm saying. Is there any anything else coming? You already You already got me on the rat problem. I can't I can't foresee I can't foresee everything. No, I mean I'm not I'm talking about major funding. I mean, that's all I'm you know.

Yeah, I mean there's there's Yeah, of course there's going to be projects, but I don't know that the substantial I mean there's going to be funding hopefully available for some of those. Just timing didn't work out for this one, right? Uh, and again, I want to reiterate that I already don't even need the million. Like, we it's less than that. So, if if the if the funding comes through with the community foundation matching, which they're already up to $50,000 in donations, I had a $10,000 donation on Friday. So, those that funding is continually coming in. So, if we get to that 300,000, I'm already only need 700. Then, we still have four corporate sponsors coming in. So, that number is just continuing to get smaller. And my intention is to again try to fund the entire thing. It's just right now I'm at the moment where I need the operating capital to to progress.

So it suggest taking out a I would honestly suggest general general looked at funny but I think that's No, I didn't mean to. [laughter] I think that's I think that's I think that's the your biggest cash balance available is there and the general fund can handle the the cut off.

We just aren't used to hearing u no four years ago I would have never said that. No, no, no. There ain't no way. That's his suggestion. Take it out of because a million of it's going to come back and you can split it. I mean, if you want to protect the two funds, you could split it because, and I don't have this answer yet, Christie, maybe you know, I can go back up here if you want to talk. is when a lit changes, are they going to put everything into a single fund or they still going to have three funds and you have to determine what the money goes to? I don't have an answer on that yet. I don't either. That it's hard to wrap my head around.

I haven't read that part. [laughter] I don't know yet either. I don't know. Right. Because several years ago, they made us get rid of fund for back then it was Cadet.

Same thing. I I think it's a single I don't I don't know. I haven't I haven't read that for any one or the general fund or local income tax fund by itself. Local tax by itself. Okay. One fund. Okay. I mean there's a lot of unknowns still. So So if that's the case, it won't make any difference. So you cut the general fund back again. [laughter] I guess I'd like to see a contract whether we do it through a bank or we do it out of the general fund as to how this is going to be paid back. I mean, it ought to be an agreement between the county and the pool funds. You know what I'm saying? I don't think we just write a check for a million dollars and hope they pay us back.

Well, there is I mean, it's it's a county project. It's not a there's not a separate group. So, it's it would it would just be moving a line into funding and the money would go to that funding. I mean, Chrissy's paying the bills. It's a county owned property and a county project. So, there is no separate group. It's needs to be a paper trail following this so we know exactly what's going on with this money to assure that county I think there is

there is I mean it's it's running through claims that's there's a signed contract with the b operator and then there's we're approving claims as they come in so there's there is the there is the standard trail that we use for everything it's we're the paperwork comes in we approve it and the money's paid just like normal rides fund that you're monies in and out of. So, we know Yeah, I think it's this came about pretty quickly last week. So, it's the ordinance is being adopted next meeting, right? So, we just didn't have enough time to get it to the attorney for his review before this before today.

That is in it's in place. It would. So, my my thinking is that, you know, so then there would be a line added to wherever you guys, you know, deem that that would work. Um the 2 million would go into there. Um and then it would be spent out of that account. Any money that's at the community foundation, which is quite a bit, uh once the checks are written out, we notify them and they write us a check and it goes immediately back in. But it has to be paid for by the county. than the community foundation funds that we've already have which is uh roughly 1.7 million

1.7 roughly with the other with RDC fund that came in and then also there's a million that will be transferring into there this week. So there'll be 2.7 roughly sitting at the community foundation to pay the county back as the funds are spent. But we still have to pay them first before actually actually to pay the contractor. You're not paying anything back to the county at that point. You're paying the contractor bills and the county is paying the contractor bill. Yes. But it's not general fund general fund money yet. Not yet. It's when that checkbook gets exhausted and then it goes to the general fund and you may only need $750,000.

Oh, yes. [clears throat] I I see what you're saying. Yes. Instead of 2 million. So, I know it's kind of confusing and shook up about transferring monies back and forth. Now, We can wait till the time is right.

I Yeah, I need to be able There'll be another draw here coming. So, I we'll have to have funds available if in order to pay the next draw. So, again, the check would be written out of this line, but [clears throat and snorts] then it will be submitted to the community foundation. They write us the check back for the amount that we spent. And we do that until those funds over there are exhausted. And and again, currently we're only at we need the million dollars for the RDC piece. So that will come back over two years, but there is the $700,000 shortfall now, which is from 2 million to now 700,000. So the timeline on need for those funds

as soon as possible. [clears throat] I mean, right now we are paid up on the first draw um already. So second draw is probably in 30 to 45 days roughly. But we also have deposits and other things that may potentially need to be paid that are kind of outside of the drawing. Um because we're on such an aggressive timeline that we have making sure that we get the products is the is the is the big uh key. No more contingencies coming down the road. Four and a half million is going to cover it. Correct. That's the plan. That's the plan. I Well, I mean I'm not being I've just never seen an itemized list of what's going on.

Yeah. Well, it's a BOT, but there's So, does that make sense? Yeah. So, the contract is for 3.9 with Blue Ecsape. So, again, the the 3.9, which we're we're pretty much there on that funding. The other 600,000 is for amenities and a part of contingency. So, we've we've allotted for an unknown, but also then we still have to furnish the the pool with it. Just been nice to see an itemized budget of what you got going on. Well, that's I'd like to see a summary that we could look at each bus. Here's what we got in. Yeah. I mean, I've never seen an budget what you got going on, you know, keep track of what's going on. What's a slide cost? What's a this, you know? Yeah.

Yeah. And again, it's in in the BO it's uh it's more like buckets. So, like here's what you may and we I can forward that over, but it's it's it's not extremely detailed because it's I mean, if you broke it down, you'd be talking about this pump is $400 and this I mean there's there's a thousand items, you know, in that. So, um it's it's typically just set aside in buckets like uh this much is available for a splash pad. This much is we're we're budgeting for a slide, this much is how much we're budgeting for gutter drains, like things like that. [snorts] So, right now you've got $3.5 million, a little over that, but yes,

don't have that in a fund. It's [clears throat] again. So at the end of this week, there'll be 2.7 is sitting in the community foundation. That's available. You need a million dollar from us. Yes. Which is less than that what I actually need about 700,000. But but I need the two. Now we only need one. Yeah. I need the two million because a million is going to go for the funding for the county RDC. They that comes back over two years. So that I need that million to hold for that. Then I need the other million for operating capital. RDC already paid us the first 500,000, but it's a three-year

deal. So, we got the first 500,000 already. It's at the community foundation. The next payment uh will be in January of 27 and January of 28. Correct. Yep. 2 million to operate on. I got a million back by 2028. Mhm.

And again, we I again want to reiterate, I mean, as I told you last time, I'm I'm still trying to raise the funds. That's why we're now now a million dollars closer. So, we have we have four corporate sponsors that we're working with. I feel very good about a few of them. Uh, one of them is looking at a larger donation. So, I can't guarantee that, so I'm not going to tell you that we have it. But, we are still working with folks and we still have the 300,000 from the community foundation matching. So I I believe I'm at about 700,000 that I need and I'm hoping to generate a lot of that back with the corporate sponsor. That's correct. Correct. So

promise we have 3.5. I can't we don't have the extra million from the RDC obviously, but it's committed and signed and and approved. So, so to move this forward, you would need a motion along the lines of up to $2 million from whichever fund we choose with reimbursement from annual RDC payments and other funds secured from public and private partners. Does that Yes. cover? I can't and again, you know, as I told you last time, I can't guarantee I mean, like we I know I need 700,000 right now. We're going to try to continue to raise as much of that as we can, but there may still end up being a county liability of a couple hundred,000, but we're that much closer than the 2 million that I originally asked for.

And I will say according per state board of accounts, there are there are procedures that have to take place anytime there's a loan like money is loaned from one fund to another. So, it is a step-by-step process and a procedure. So, we will have to follow that on. I think to Ernie what he was saying, you know, he wants not just to say yes, you can have it in the hopes that they pay back. It's a procedure that has to be done in the funds. It's already clearcut out there.

Yeah. Yeah. And the $2 million, I mean, I follow makes perfect sense because you have to pay bills. Yeah. Yeah. You got it be it it's just basically like if you did go get a loan, the loan would be fully funded on day one to pay the bills and you pay it back. It's the exact same thing. Just it's all internal. That's why it's worth two million. Yeah. The draws are a million dollars. So, it's that that that's why I need the millions because we we have to pay. I mean, I can have them split the draws, but I mean, the draws were set up originally to be at a million. So, that's what we paid for the first one in two. And yeah, so exactly that's why I need that full.

And you suggest taking it out of county general instead of just borrowing the money. I mean, is that it's up to you guys? But I think it was if talking about time frames, you could do that today right now. not getting any interest involved, no legal paperwork. I mean, you could do that, but if it's all if the if the approval structure is built in to the guy doing the the BO, then no reason to, in my opinion, internal.

I think there is an opportunity if we don't want to take it out of county general right now, and I don't think we need to do that right now. We can do it later whenever the time is right. But we're going to be paying ourselves back the interest, aren't we, on if we do it out of county general. But there is an opportunity, I think, to there's a group that might be looking at a a loan from the foundation to be able to take some money out of the assets that the foundation has that they currently make interest on and loan it for a community project like this. But even at that, the county taxpayer is going to pay interest on that and if we take it out of county general as we need it and they won't and it'll be the most frugal part of that operation.

And I think we're getting an asset worth $4 to5 million for a million and a half or right now 700,000, you know. So I think great job everybody and let's use it as a model to fund some other stuff down the road. My only comment on the on the local bank was I didn't know the the structure of the construction project. You I didn't know that's that's why I don't get legal legal structure of it, but if that's all handled through a builder already, I'd say just keep it turn on and move on.

Anybody else have anything? I [clears throat] just go back I'll just go back I just remember being down here five years ago when county general just scared me to death. We were I mean we were I mean it was bad bad bad. And I hope that that's everybody here understands that that one year they all got a $500 raise and that's all anybody got. [laughter] You know it was Yeah. It was really snug. Ruben remembers that meetings. Do what? Fun meetings. Yeah, it was a dandy county general some interest, didn't it? So, what interest rate is the county general drawing? Anybody know? I think total we did almost $2 million in interest last year. I thought it was around 4%, wasn't it?

Yeah. I don't have a figure, but anytime the county operate exceeds a certain amount, we roll it over and sweep it over to the trust Indiana. We're moving all over. You might get it cheaper through a bank, Ernie. And when we did the jail, going back in memory, the commissioners always had kind of a flow sheet kind of thing to look at whether we were on budget or not on budget.

Gabe, if you want to help put something like that together, I'm glad to help and we'll create something. I think we're running taxpayers money through that. We need to know what's going on. Yeah. Yeah. Well, we're going to get asked that question anyway. people going to ask us. Sure. I think it's also important when a when a taxpayer asks what council is doing with this that we're running all the bills through the county commissioners. County commissioners are going to see them. They're going to approve them on their claims and then Christiey's going to send that note to the foundation and then that money will be returned.

Yes. it'll be no different than than buying lights or buying um whatever. So, I I think there's there's things in place that's been thought through to make sure that we'll always stub our toe on certain things, but I think from what I know about it, I think it's it's in a good spot. Well, there's timeline deal where, you know, we're looking to put $2 million up be available, but we run till we run through the money that's at the foundation right now. Right. We may not even have to

What I would love to see is at the end of the project, there's 2 million in that account in January 28 and it reverts back to county general. Yeah, obviously the the 500,000 that'll come back next next January that couldn't be moved in 28 another 500,000 will come back. We already have the matching stuff up. We're working with corporate sponsors. My goal is to not need any of the actual 2 million other than just for operating capital while while we're doing the project, right?

The two million what? 2 million out of which county general? County General. I'll second that. How Ashley worded it earlier? I think is up to two million from County General with reimbursement from annual RDC payments and other funds secured from public and private partners. Yeah, I do just want to make sure the only thing I have with that statement is that does leave up to just it kind of presents it as it may fully all be back there. And while that is my goal, I did say, you know, there could be something. I think we got it. Well, I just want to make sure because I I know sometimes we I know. Yeah.

Yeah. [laughter] There's a lot more of you than there is me, you know. So, yeah, but you can take a punch by the way your nose looks. So, yeah. Kenny makes that motion. I Bill seconds it. Read the motion. What is the motion? Go ahead. up to $2 million from county general with reimbursement from annual RDC payments and other funds secured from public and private partners. I've got a motion and a second. Any other discussion? All those in favor? I. Any oppose? Okay. Thank you. Thanks, Gabe.

Okay, Mr. Winning. Good morning. Um, we have started a long range planning uh committee and the the players in that right now are Deanna, Ashley, Rick, the three commissioners, uh, Christy is also in that and then Charlie Davis, our maintenance. And one of the the things our goal in this process is to um look at our long range planning for our facilities, all of our buildings and or any other capital improvement projects. So really what I'm here for today is just to get make sure all the players in the the county council are aware of what we're doing. Um, we've had four meetings, five meetings, four meetings, I think. And, um, we've kind of, uh, looked at our facilities on a a really shallow level right now of what needs to be done with some of our facilities and, uh, kind of looking at prioritizing them, which ones are more important and at what as far as maintenance andor improvements on those things. Um, and Danny, you asked, is there anything on the horizon? Um currently we don't have any any hard fast um contract or anything like that but we are looking at one of the projects is the annex building to um do improvements to that exterior improvements um replacing taking out windows doing some um more energy efficiency with it uh doing walls instead of windows and adding some windows. But um in a in an overall project, that's one of them just off the top of our heads. Um we're looking at uh fairgrounds buildings, we're looking at the parks department, we're looking at buildings in general. What do we need to do maintenance- wise and so forth, and it seems like um we're all in agreement that we've been doing some of these

projects and maybe putting band-aids on projects and and just not necessarily we're just fixing things haphazardly. We would like more of a process of of uh really methodically looking at our buildings and making sure that we have those for long long term. Um so I'm just here to inform letting you know what we're doing, making sure that that everybody's up to speed. The three commissioners are part of that committee and we're meeting twice a month um up for six months and then we might slow down to once a month until we get a get our feet under us to figure out where we're at. But um funding wise um that annex I think uh couple years ago you had a proposal or we had a a a company come in Veritus come in and look at it and I think it was around 2 million is that right to to do the annex. So um right now I just have a contractor just walking over there looking at it giving us some thoughts. Um, who knows where it's going to come in at. And I don't know what when Veritis uh gave you that quote. I'm not sure what it entailed. I wasn't around here. So, I mean, wasn't involved with it. I don't know what that it was a total remodel from interior exterior. I'm not sure.

Do you guys been done though, the heating and all that? Right. So, HVAC, the roof um has been repaired, not completely

uh redone. So, just to this is on the horizon. This is information. This is letting you know what we're doing. Um we're meeting, we're we're thinking, we're trying to get a grasp on facilities. So there may be um in the future, maybe in six months, uh uh I would love to see the annex done. Um it's it's our building. Uh it needs taken care of. If you look at the building from the exterior, it looks terrible. Um it's very inefficient. We put new HVAC in it and we're losing a lot of that with all those windows. So, it needs taken care of and I I hope you guys are in, you know, your agreement there since I went to first grade. There you go, Danny. There you go. When was that building built?

I went in the 50s, but I I went there in 1960, first grade. So, most of the windows in there are still in there from when I went to school. So, that's on the horizon. That's that's really what I'm here for is is just giving you information, letting you know what we're doing so you don't get like what's going on, what are you guys over there doing in your in your long range planning committee. And then I I guess I would entertain questions if you have any questions for me or for our committee um for us. We think about starting the process to just send an email out to all the council members commissioners just so we're all I like that updating. I know you've got money and edit already budgeted for the annex too.

Mhm. So I didn't know what you was Yeah. We're going to we're going to look at I guess first thing we need to do is find out what what the cost proposed cost could be so we know where we're at because about the first thing it needs to go in that thing. Yeah. Cat to it per year.

Well, I I have went through the the um and talked to some of the um people that are in there. I've talked to community corrections. I've talked to dispatch. I've talked to I haven't got a chance to talk to board of health yet, but community corrections for instance. And I went and talked to Matt and he's like, "Our interior is fine. We've done our own upgrades. We've done our painting, some remodeling, some carpeting stuff. We don't need anything over here." Um, infrastructure-wise, we have some plumbing issues that need um updated in there, but electrical wise, it's in pretty good shape. HVAC's fine. It will need a new roof, but um anyway, I'm getting into the weeds a little bit, but uh those are things we're looking at. Okay.

Anybody else have any questions? comments. Okay. All right. Thanks. Thanks. Thanks, Mr. Robbins. Somebody's name spelled wrong. Gag.

I spelled my name right. By the way, um I hear as uh the park parks board president, I was asked to approach the council to talk to them a little bit about the I'll say the evolution of the parks uh department uh with all the projects and the programming that that is going on. I think all can agree that uh there's a lot more going on in the parks department than in previous years. Um a lot of that is due to the team that we have out there at the parks department. Uh and in light of that, uh we feel that there needs to be some adjustments perhaps to some of the job descriptions out there as well as the uh possible salaries um to make sure that that those that are are doing the jobs the work are are uh represented uh properly as well as compensated properly. Uh and all I'm doing is uh looking for the blessing to meet with the the salary committee to discuss those topics and to uh come up with proposals for the park system um to come back before you guys to to maybe make those adjustments. Uh because as you as you can tell, aside from the tournaments, aside from the pool project, the parks are also um operating the the youth baseball and softball leagues now as well as as um expanding some of the the existing leagues already. Uh I think again that's a testament to the leadership u of the staff of the of the uh the parks department um and and uh what they the vision they have for that that department and growing it. So, I want to want to make sure that uh um that is recognized by the the county and the parks board for that matter.

I think the parks on the radar of the salary committee that was brought up at our last meeting. So, yeah, we're not we are not overlooking it. Okay. Guarantee it. That was

brought up. So my thoughts for the parks department um there is a lot of salary compression among different levels and positions. I think our best bet is to update some of these job descriptions because they are in a very different place than they were when the job descriptions were first written. have Wagner, Irwin, and Sheiley take a look at them, make some recommendations before we get into budget season and then hopefully have some recommendations for that to take effect January 1 of 2027.

Yeah, we we've done some work on the on our end as far as the salaries, but we'll be happy to share with the the salary committee as well as the council if you wish, but uh yeah, we want to make sure that uh folks are recognized properly. We're just here to make recommendations is what we're there to do. Sounds good. Or make you send us anything you want to send us. All right. That's the truth. We'll be glad to look at it. All right. We understand. Oh, great. Appreciate it. Okay. Thanks. Thanks, Brian. Okay, Christ. Okay, I'll come back. Yep. Get up there where you can tell us what's happening.

Okay. Sticking with the theme of salaries.

Okay. Um, I'm requesting an amendment to the pay rates for two employees due to an oversight of maybe looking at the not having a policy in place at the time. Um, employee A began employment in December 24 at the 24 pay rate and then stayed that same for 2025. Employee B came on at January of 25 and also stayed at the 24 pay rate. Um, so currently both employees are earning the 2024 pay rate plus the 3% for 2026. So it's just been determined. We were maybe it had been talked about, but we when I say we, it's myself, HR, we weren't sure what the new um starting salaries were to be. So we've had some question on that and we did go to the salary committee recently and in that committee we discussed a lot of things and determined that going forward it should be 2024 base rate times 3% for 2026 new hires. That in turn puts puts the new base rate for 2026, the new hires coming in making the same as what two of the girls in my office make that were hired in 24 and the first of 25. Um, so I I believe in my opinion that it was just in between the two policies. It was after the 4% was done away with, but they were hired before we actually had a new policy in place. So, I just would like to have that looked at. Um, 2024, no, I'm sorry, 2025, I believe the shortfall was $1,245. 2026 will be $1,282 um shortfall. So, I just would like for that to be looked at and discussed a

little bit. I understand if you need to discuss some more and not make a decision today, but that's where we're at. What it boils down to, I believe, again, I'll reiterate that I just think it was in between the two set policies when they were hired in this out in the salary committee. You pulled anybody who might be in that same problem window, right?

So, we did. We did. And I just think there we looked at the other new hires and I think none of them followed the staying at the 2024 rate. Um they all came in at the 25. They all kind of just came in wherever they the department heads thought they should be. Um I think maybe with myself being a part of the committee, I knew what you guys were wanting like to do away with that 4%. I don't know how well known it was throughout the rest of the county. So that's that's where they were hired in at.

Well, you want to put your paperwork together and make sure it's all we all understand where you're going to be at. Um I did send out an email. I read your email, but it was it was late Friday. It was late Friday. And it was that's why I understand if No, I think we can discuss it for the F February meeting. That's okay. That's fine. That's fine. Okay. All right. Thank you. What's the salary committee's recommendation on that on her on this? I All I've seen is what she sent us out Friday once you got that. No, we're kind of letting the salary committee review these and then bring them to us. Did they have you looked at it? I think they had time, right?

We did. We really didn't have a lot of time to look at Let Ashley. We looked at what was available, but we figured out the problem within that last meeting because we couldn't figure out why they were different than the others. Um, so once she puts together the official paperwork, we can take a look at it again. I mean, just looking at it and figuring it out, it makes sense to me what she's requesting, but it hasn't officially been in front of us yet.

Okay, Mr. Westfield. Good morning. Um I'm here on a couple items. Um the first is um to get an approval for a funds ordinance for the battery energy storage system. Um to give you some background, as many of you know, in 2022 that was approved for battery and battery energy storage system. That's and they're now in the process. We're in the permitting process. So the purpose of the funds is as you might know we don't have a lot of experience in battery energy storage system as far as doing plane reviews and doing inspections. So we've looked into hiring thirdparty vendors to do that for us. We have we have third party vendors who will do that for us and we're in the process of getting those proposals and out of we do have one of the three proposals and working with the developer uh we are we are the developer's name is IPA it's AYPA they we are working on a reimbursement agreement uh they are agreeing to pay all those fees for the inspections and the plane reviews uh attorney attorney fees. So we're working we're putting that together. So, we want to create this fund and Christy helped me with this of so we can So, the question was, do we have like a line of credit with them and say, "Hey, we need $10,000 or do we request all the funds on the proposals upfront?" And the developer has agreed to for whatever the amounts on the proposals, they will forward us all the funds up front and then as a county when those bills come in, we will disperse them. So that's the purpose of this fund is to to create the fund, have the uh developer send us the

cost of those proposals, and then we will pay for those expenses as uh as it moves forward. And there are there is language in those agreements that aren't yet. It's the ink is on their side right now. We're waiting to get it back, but if costs do go up, it gives us the ability to say, "Hey, you know, this this has gone up." um we're going to have to get more funds. So that that is going to be in the agreement. So that's that's the purpose for uh for the ordinance. Any questions? No, I read your ordinance. It looks like

Yeah, Christy helped with that. I ran it through our attorney, the airplane attorney. She agreed with it. So, uh if we could get that put in place, maximum they're going to send you if you work it out. We're not putting a maximum on it. Um, so like for the one proposal we have in place, it's that's for the plane review and the inspections and it's just a little north of $250,000. I know the last time we was it 95,000 was that what it was Brian? They went up too on Kobe. Yeah, with it was didn't IPA or IPA did that too, didn't they? IA covered some of the initial evaluation cost.

Yeah. and and and this we wanted to take the risk out of the county so that they would send us the funds up front instead of with COIA. I had to request it from them and and and we did have bills at the end where that we felt like would have normally been paid through CO that we ended up having to pay um because the vote the vote had occurred and and you know litigation began and so those those items did not get paid. So by they got paid but not by Cobia. So we're doing this in the side of caution to keep from that happening again. So it's like I said the the plan reviews and the inspections is north of 250. I would say with um the emergency management plan and also the storm water drainage plan, we're going to be north of 300,000 that of upfront funds that they send to us to disperse that when those when those things are completed and they're looking to make break around first week of February.

What do you need from us to do then? I need approval on the ordinance. Or do we need to have a second reading or or can we Okay. Yeah. I just I I'm just looking for an approval of the ordinance. You what? It's in the This one. Okay. I didn't know which one that was. Um the ordinance number three snuck in on me today. Um so I had it I had it labeled as three, I believe. So we'll need to Four. Will it be three? No, it'll be four. Commissioners did a number three earlier. Yes.

I think it's great. We We've covered ourselves. I move to accept ordinance 2026-4. Okay. Rick makes a motion to approve ordinance 2026-4 for Ashley seconds. Any other questions for Doug? All those in favor?

Any oppose? Then the the other item on the agenda that I wanted to it's more of a public notice than it is and I and I did it at the commissioners meeting as well is um when when I started and Tim and I kind of started Tim Kramer and I started around the same time and we discussed fees and how we relate to other communities surrounding us with fees and And as far as the fees that are stated, we're pretty we're pretty similar. We might be higher than some communities, lower than other communities, but the one thing that Tim kind of kept bringing up and and we discussed was the deposit. So when um in the practice was a building permit to build a house is $410. And the practice in our office was you pay the $410 and if you get the work done you get a refund of $100. And Tim's like, I really feel like it should be $410. And then they give us a deposit of $100 and then if they don't get the work done, then we keep the $100 or if they do get the work done in time, the one year, then we give them the $100 back. So he was out on a job site and he was talking with a a contractor that's been in the county for a while and is experienced. He goes, and Tim was talking to him about it. He's like, that's how we used to always do it. So we dove. So Tim comes back and we Tim gets into the ordinance book and that is how it should have been done all this time was if if you're c if you're going to build a house it's $410 permit plus you give a $100 deposit and then if you get the work done in time then you get your $100 back. So we've been charging really $100

less on all of our permits for who knows how long. So effective today, if somebody comes in to get a permit, we're going to collect the $100 deposit. Um, so I'm just that's more of a public announcement. And then to go along with the fees, too, like I said, our fee structures were always always good, but on the commercial side, we never there was a variable that was attached on commercial projects. So it was $600 plus 15 cents a square foot. Well, the plus the 15 cents a square foot was never charged. It would just charge $600. So, there's been a big there was a big project a couple years ago that's just finishing up and it was a 40,000 foot facility and their building permit was $600 that we charged. Well, if a house is $400, so that build that permit should have been over $8,000 is what it should it should have been $8,100. And I went around the other communities and if it if they would have built it in Greensburg or if they would have built it in Ripley County or Baltham County, it would have been between $7,900 and $8,200 and we charged $600. So, we put that in place immediately. And that's been about 6 months ago, but since I brought up the topic about the deposit, I thought I'd bring that up as well. So, um, we've had probably three or four since the last 6 months. Uh, Delta's doing some work. Um, and then of course we've got the battery battery energy storage facility. Um, we haven't come down with the number yet, but it's a 15 acre project at 15 cents a square foot. You know, it should be more than $600. So, so that's just more of a public announcement um for for the community. Is

there anything special you have to do in handling the deposit to keep it kind of in a separate account? It is there's there's already a separate fund established. And the ironic thing about it is we would collect the $410 and put it in its fund, but we would when we dispersed the $100 deposit, the refund, it came out of that deposit ledger. So, I'm not sure how that all worked out, but it but anyway, but we'll be it'll be handled correctly starting today.

Anybody else have any questions for Doug? Thanks for the work you're doing, Doug. Whole lot. Glad to see things are going the right direction there. Okay, before we move it on to transfers and additionals, anybody else have anything? My mass right is about $6,500 an acre for 50 cents. There's that. Okay. I didn't see any transfers. Anybody see any transfers? We're good on them. Additional.

None. Okay. We got [clears throat] additionals. Let's do those first. Uh sheriff has some CIT coordinator an additional 55. How much is it total? Let me see here. An additional $169,3343. Am I reading that right? Correct. It's on the second page here. That all ends up coming out of the grant money.

Coming out of the grant money CIT. Okay. Just reimbursing coming back to us. Okay. Everybody [snorts] understand that? Coming out of the grant, the majority of that is the new hire wasn't put on at budget time. and a new okay that's been approved. Okay, I entertain a motion to approve. I'll make that motion. Diana makes a motion to approve. Second. Ashley seconds. Any other questions or concerns? [clears throat] All those in favor? I.

Any oppose? Okay. soil and water. This is to supplement two people's salaries, which is $22,648. One of them gets $8,139 extra and the other one gets 10,861 extra. And then along with the taxes supplement for taxes. FICA do what? It's supplemented from the board.

Yeah, supplementary money. They do this every year. Correct. Yes. If I understand that. Okay. I'll make a motion to approve. Ashley makes a motion to approve. I'll second it. Bill seconds. Any other questions? All those in favor? Any oppose?

Okay, here. sign her and get her to Christie. Okay. IT department needs 5,000 extra for hardware and software coming out of I got a cash deposit or got cash. So, it's just kind of moving it over from

what they've got to this. Everybody see that? I entertain them. Do I got the cash? I guess it's just coming out of one account going into another.

Yeah. [clears throat] Kenny makes motion to approve. I'll second. Diana seconds. Any other questions for him? All those in favor? I. Any oppose? Put that in there. We'll pass it all.

Okay.

Everybody going to copy the encumbrances? This is to do I Yep. This is to pay 25's bills that come in late in 26. It's about the same thing every year. I never really went do them all. They're all okay and legit, aren't they? You're all right. $280,5628.

So, just just to clarify, I just want to make sure I'm sure you guys all know, but just want to say that what that is is it's moving. It's taking 2025's cash and paying bills in 2026. [snorts] There's that one. Okay. That other one ever made it way back down here. I think we all got it. Three of them. Yeah. Okay.

Everybody understand? We go through it every year. Entertain a motion to approve. I'll make that motion. Ernie makes a motion to approve the encumbrances. I'll second. Ashley seconds. Any other questions for Christie or Abby? Okay. All those in favor? I.

Any oppose. Okay, that's about all on my list unless anyone else has anything for us. Ryan say two quick things from the ready in the region side. We did present um the uh our arts plan for the region was part of the Lily funding aspect. We presented it to Lily and IDC uh last week um along with the entire state uh going over the the principles of the plan, some of the possible projects and programming as well as some of the benchmarks we want to see. So, we'll be implementing that in the next couple months uh hopefully with uh some funding from Lily to to put that in place. And again, that is regional that includes Shelby County, Rush County, Decar County, and the city of Batesville. Um also had the pleasure of hosting Josh Richardson um the president of the IEDC at uh here at the in Greensburg at the city hall. appreciate all those who came out and and spoke uh to him um kind of advocating for Decar County uh what we've done uh and showcasing kind of the successes we've had and be able to uh relate some of the uh concerns we have and uh some of the challenges we have as well. Um, and on that note, I would would highlight that uh it isn't uh u the uh capital is in session right now and there's some some key bills there that I think are of uh cons I shouldn't say concern of of notice u um HB 1001 being one of them as well as 1101 NB 101 being one um affecting local control over uh building standards and such u and 11:01 being one of the

establishment of economic development regions. Um uh so I just just wanted to to relate to that to you guys. If you guys any questions or anything like that, feel free to let me know.

Danny, I just quick report. We attended a Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission meeting the other day. Brian was down there with us. [snorts] We had a little discussion on Senate Rol one. Probably the for me the highlight of the day was getting to listen to a young man by the name of Michael Grim. He's with Aaron Howard's office. He talked about opportunities to uh get community project funding that uh end up looking at water, utilities, infrastructure, trails, things of that nature. Uh Gabe and I are going to meet with with him at noon today just to kind of see what open that door and see what can come out of it go through it that

okay anybody else anything thanks Ruben for coming down not any second any seconds all those in favor I All right. Thank you.