Montgomery County Council - Regular Meeting

I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the stands nationy for all. The first item on the is the consent agenda which is the August 12th, 25 and 26 minutes. Um the same series and the cash balance report from the auditor. I did note that on two of the items, August the 12th and August the 25th, I don't know that this is any big deal, but it made mention that the next meeting was September the 12th instead of the 9th. So those two things are need to be corrected. Do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda as corrected? It's been moved and seconded. Um, all those in favor signify by saying I.

Is there any public comment on the agenda items for today? Being none, we will move on to the additional appropriations. County General Brian is out of the uh office right now, so he asked that we speak about this. Um this is these are the additional appropriations that are needed to um bring them up to compliance to be on the state program. So technically we already that.

Yeah. Yeah. This is just uh we had to advertise the additional appropriations and formalize the requests. Okay. Okay. Is there a motion? I have a question. Oh, wait. We We have to have a motion to So moved. Second. It's been moved and second. And now the question. Yeah. These are subject to the reimbursement. Correct. 40%. Yes. Right. The uh they qualify. They they Yeah. They the the goal was to have everything in place for them to qualify uh beginning October 1st. So the fourth quarter would be reimburseable, right? Yeah.

Thanks. Any other questions? It's been moved and seconded that we um make these additional appropriations for the public defenders office. All those in favor say I. I oppose the same. Okay, Mr. Sheriff.

Good morning. Good morning. On the first, the overtime. Um, we have one of our SRO that's attorney. Um, so obviously that's creative at the school. Um, and talking with the superintendent. Um she wanted to maintain obviously the the police presence. Um so we worked out a deal where we have a deputy going to school each day um at various times Monday through Friday to various schools to continue that coverage. Uh the 3475 is half of what we build south. Um in total we build them 69.50 a month. Um, without doing this, we would only bill them 3475. Um, so the additional 3475 is to cover the overtime expenses for the deputy that's doing that on a day off to fill that void. Um, I just won't have enough of my overtime budget to do that for the remainder of the year. Um, so this is the money that they're paying us for the officer that's on leave. um to fill those spots. Um if we don't do it um then we just wouldn't have an officer there, but we also wouldn't be building it. So that would mean that it wouldn't be coming in. I wouldn't build South London for a service that I'm not providing. Um if that makes sense.

Approval [Applause] that we appropriate the last share. All those in favor signified by saying I oppose the same motion cars.

And I guess just for the record um this will be an ongoing um request month month to month. I mean we're going to continue this on throughout this year and then obviously um through the school year. So just just so you know. Um the equipment repairs um there's there's two things there. want obviously the jail roof. Um we're scheduled to um get that going here soon. The total for that is 259520. Um that was approved by the commissioners. Um the contract's been signed. Um and then the other was the $30,000 Abbott bill that was that was approved last year. That work was completed. Some of that was completed last year. Some of that was completed this spring. Um, and I just got the invoice, unbeknownst to me. Um, I just assumed it got taken care of last year and it did not. So, uh, you guys approved the 30,000 last year. It just never got spent. Um, and now I've got the invoice to pay for all that. So, that's what those two things are. Move to approve. Second.

It's been moved and seconded that we approve the equipment for the ship. All those came down post and Ryan the roof was under the engineer's asset. Yes. Um originally we thought it was going to be 275. Um it came in at 259 520 and I think I don't know. Um, I mean it'll just be a multi-line um claim, but I I think we've got 19,000 left over at the jail bond that can also be applied to that and and taken off of that total. Um, obviously what Yeah. If there's more approved and it's not spent, then I'll turn it back.

If something's found, something comes up, we got some money. Yes. And how long will it take to get this done? It's supposed to be completed by the end of October. will be before that weather. That's good. I hope so. I hope so. Thanks. Thank you. I need to remind my fellow council that you need to use the mic and you need to speak to it cuz it's really some children.

Good morning. Good morning. Sher Hill from McGomery County Central Communications Center. So my additional appropriation request is for overtime in the other fund. Last month it was the 1235 fund and this month it's the 1222 fund. Questions motion. It's been moved and seconded that we approve the overtime for the MCC. All those in favor. [Applause] Thank you. You're welcome.

I can be. Oh, uh, Janelle, chief deputy auditor. I haven't announced that yet. Um the uh this is the formalization again of what you agreed to uh submit to the animal welfare league. This is the additional funding that was requested by Kurt Hman and it passed the council. We just had to advertise for that additional appropriation. I remember when we talked about it. Okay. And we do have a balance after this in that account still, right? Yes. A very small one, but there's a balance just in case something happens. Yeah.

Did you have a comment about dog tax? Because I know there was a problem with collecting it, right? There was what? Was there a problem with collecting it?

No, not really. Well, that's I just want to make the council aware. Treasures. they haven't been doing their reported collections on a monthly basis and turning that in. Um so I did talk to Kurt Hman and Sher from the board back in July to discuss um making sure that everyone is doing their part. You know, the county is doing our part and that the animal welfare league is doing their part. And so we didn't get anything in August and we haven't got anything yet in September. But I'm just making you guys aware of that as well. It is part of the ordinance that they are supposed to be collecting um for the like the detention and then anytime they adopt a dog. So just making council for that. Okay. Any questions for me on dog cats? We are going to be sending out the dog catarm next April and then we will be advertising in November or excuse me in October for the dog collection at that time. this

for the November date. We'll be advertising in the newspaper with our normal tax collections like that. They can pay online, they can come to the office, they can use the dropbox or they can pay it down properly.

That form says options tax. Is there any way to get that out to the general public? That's really if you're going to have it's really not an option. You're supposed to pay your tax. So, we have put that out there saying that it's the option for the county to decide to adopt that ordinance or not. And McGomery County has chosen to adopt that ordinance. Um we did work with our state board of accounts field uh examiner and he did approve for us to redesign that form that state form. It's a state prescribed form. So we didn't think that we could make any adjustments on it and he did approve it as long as it was consistent. All the other information was the same. So we did redesign it. And we were going to send out the new forms in April and or excuse me, I was going to send them to our printer in March, send them out in April when we sent out the tax statements and for cost reasons, I selected not to send it out because we had so many old copies in the office as well as the animal league as well as being able to pay it online and we will continue to send them out next year. The ordinance says that the treasurer shall not mail. And um so when we send those out next April, it will say just county dog tax. It will not say option. Okay. We do have that from the state board of counts. I mean in our our newspaper article we say that you know anybody that harvest

the fund just says option people get the idea and that's a state I mean that's but the form will not have that word on it for years and trustees used to collect it used to get a tag and he used to come around and make sure that you paid and then it's kind of fallen on you and they thought during pay property tax that they would try to capture that money during property tax paying time but back in the day when the trustee did it he came to your ass and counted the dollars. So that's that's the change that's made a little bit hard collecting money.

Thank you for the extra work. Yeah, absolutely. Did we vote on that? I didn't think we did. I don't have a motion yet. It's been moved and seconded that we um pay the dog tax. And all those in favor say I. Approve appro oppose the same sign. Okay. It's been passed. Motion carrying. Hello.

You need to talk about giving money back. Andrea D, chief probation officer. Um, I have some money to return to you to the tune of, I don't know, $18,000 based on positions not being filled and people retiring saying that they would like to have some time off from work. So, just getting money back. But this does not mean that I don't do this in my budget next year. It simply means this year we've done without employees. Please move second. It's been moved and seconded that we accept the um reduction of the appropriations. All those in favor say signify by saying I thank you. We always

that's correct. I want you to remember that [Applause] county general law books. This is too, Jennifer.

It can be. Um, this was just due to a shortfall in the line. I do not have the form in front of me. Mindy's got it in front of her. Uh, as to specifically what furniture andor fixtures they were wanting to purchase. There you go. Um, so they're moving money from the law book law books line into furniture and fixtures or requesting to do so. Is there a motion? You have to speak into the move to approve. Second.

It's been moved and seconded that we move the U money to the county general for the law from the law books for furniture. All those in favor signify by saying I I oppose the same sign. Motion carry. Hello again.

Hello again. Do I have to say my name again? Sherry Hill, McGomery County Central Communications Center. This is more of last month cleaning up the lines. I just had a coworker ask me if I needed assistance with budgeting and I kindly replied no. Um so just a lot of people moving around. we've not had people in positions. So when they when we did fill them, I had to move them to another line. So it's just kind of that kind of stuff. Group insurance, I fell short. Um and also with the uh social security and med for my portion of my Davis's salary and perf as well. Any questions before you get to the end of the year?

I hope so. Hey, it's a lot of paperwork that I make these ladies go through. Move to approve. Mike, please move to approve. It's been moved and seconded that we approve all of the um transfers for the um communications. All those in favor sign by saying I oppose the same sign. Motion carried. Thank you.

Thank you. Seeing that there's none, we'll move on to new business. We have the appointment uh to the health board. The nomination is Katie Lindsay and I believe you all received the her resume and she seems very well qualified. It's very impressive. Moved to approve. Second. It's been moved and seconded that we appoint uh Katie Lindsay to the health board. All those in favor signify by saying I. I.

Oppose the same sign. Motion carried. And next we need um to approve the the nomination to Phil is it little to the Crawfordville District Public Library Board. He would be replacing Owen Bennett and it's for a short replacement because his assignment would end in June on June 30th of 2027. I move approval. Second. It's been moved and seconded that we approve Phil Little to the Crawford'sville District Public Library Board. All those in favor signify by saying I.

I oppose the same sign. Motion carried. Okay. Yeah. The law just requires you to conduct a public hearing on the solid waste management district budget which you've received. So this is just your time to conduct a public hearing on that. Hear any public comments from taxpayers? Are there any public comments?

Okay. Being and we'll move on. Does anybody have any public comment about the county budget for 2026? Being none, we move on to the ordinance approving the recorder's request for per

cl the recorder perpetuation fund. So each year um the recorder submits a budget to you and if she includes in that budget funds for the operations of her office from the perpetuation fund rather than for copying equipment and that sort of thing, she must certify to you that she has enough money in the perpetuation fund to meet her needs for uh technology and copying and equipment. Um so Miss Cox has done so. There's a certificate there for you this ordinance. It's required that you each year before you pass your budget so that you can use the money in the way that you generally have. So you do this every year and this is just introduction of the ordinance which would allow you to do so. You can uh vote on this at your next meeting and then adopt the budget including funds in the recorders perpetuation fund as part of the operational expenses of the office.

I believe you received both of those letters in the email. Does anybody have any questions about that? Okay, being none, then

you also have before you ordinance 20253, which is your budget ordinance or your appropriations ordinance. And although we're pretty early in the process yet, uh that um the state statute requires two readings. So this is the first reading of the ordinance. It's a line by line um list of your appropriations that are proposed. You may make changes to this prior to adoption, but this is required to be done. Many buyers spent the weekend getting this ready for you, so we appreciate that. Uh but this is just introduction only. You don't need to take any action on today obviously.

Anybody need any question about that?

Oh, Jennifer actually did it. Okay. Thank you, Jennifer. All right. Do we have any um Yeah. I do have a question on um budget. So, are we feeling comfortable with the revenue side or how close are we? But so you're feeling comfortable with the numbers that you're showing. That's just what it is.

Uh Mindy buyer coming out there. Um we feel very comfortable with the um revenues that we have estimated. I would like to look at um what interest we've received and what we estimated because it's been a few months since we've looked at that. So, um I will take a look at that again for you. I'll send it to you actually after we meet. So, but yeah, we we keep a pretty good eye on the revenues and again, I know we've had discussion about this, but we are pretty conservative. We usually look at about 85% of what um what we receive or what we expect to receive for those estimates. So if we're thinking about timeline here, what we what we looking at that's mean October October what 12th

14th.

Yeah, that's that's the budget adoption. So um I'm not sure what you're asking. Well, my question is you think we'll be have enough information and ready to approve the budget any October we think about the month. So, I'm happy to meet with any of you to go over this. I provided um a few of you with a workbook um that I think will help you um see where you will where we will end up being um with any changes that are made. Um, I also provided a salary worksheet. So, I'm happy to share that with the entire council if that's a that's a good idea.

Okay. Um, and I'm happy to meet with all of you, any of you to go over that and how to um how do you utilize that to come up with the final budget? And I think if we can meet um if we meet it's just a few so we don't have um meeting I can meet with you as groups and have you hold back so we can be ready for October I'm yours now in October so you can meet those how many people

yeah just So you can break it up and break that up however you wish. Hey J, I'm going to pull that form up so folks can kind of see what it is. Go to the Monday tab. Oh,

I kept it in the same order as the presentations. One, simply because it made it easier for me and two, because it's out. You guys might have had your notes from those department head presentations. So, um if you see it, it looks just like it did. Um during the presentations, I've added a column that is a working column. Sorry. Uh you can adjust those however you wish. It will adjust all the numbers. It will also um if you go to Jennifer the county general that's the big one the county general tab

at the top.

No there you go she's got it. Um it will adjust the green column as well. So that breaks it down between the uh different series. So for like salaries, you may just supply services and charges in capital outlay. And then if you find the 4B or the county general, the next county general tab, there you go. Um that is a the first one was a comparison between 2025 and 2026. This one is a comparison between Jeff Jeff Peter's numbers in um from March or April, I think April, and ours now. And that's basically um shows our estimated our beginning balance, our estimated revenues, what we expect to get from the levy, what we will expend um through 2025, what we expect to expend from the budgets in 2026, um from the different services, and then um if there are any additional appropriations that we expect to happen in between now and the end of the year. Um and then it shows you where how we're going to eat into the eat into the fund or feed the fund. Um,

one of the things that you should have is if if you click on it's an Excel uh program, so if you click on the number, you need to go up to see where that number comes from.

Yeah. If if you if you are trying to figure out where the numbers originate, if you just go into there in Excel, I can't see. Sorry, people. um up in this area here, it shows you the formula that's in there and it tells you exactly where to go. If it just says like equals sum, it's on the same spreadsheet. Jen, could you click on something that says expected levy like this 11723?

There you go. If it says equals and then has um a worksheet name, it's pulling from that worksheet. So you would just go to the worksheet that's labeled form4 levy funds and then go to cell B24. That's where it's pulling from. And you can kind of follow if you're familiar with Excel at all, that's how you kind of follow those formulas. And I can show you guys all that when when we meet. Um but everything's kind of tied together. So if you use those Monday Tuesday worksheets and adjust those green columns then um sorry um it will feed all of those subsequent um tabs so you can see the change that you're making how they will affect the bottom line. So I know it's a lot it's it's a lot to look at and it's a lot of different ways to look at it. So we just wanted to give you what we what we thought might be helpful.

I appreciate that. No pie charts, John. Sorry, I love my pie charts.

I know you do love your pie charts. You can add a a salary worksheet as well. Uh it's a separate one. Um and it does the same thing. you um could look at that and then just adjust one one tab or one cell rather and it'll adjust all of the salaries accordingly. question if you would send that to us just to make sure we all have double up or a couple but it would just be great if it went to all of us and then if some of us want to talk afterwards and find the times we could sit down I think it would be very helpful

yeah I'm I'm happy to walk through you any time thank you for all your work appreciate that it's helpful together this year.

You know, just as an observation commission budget u increase talking to Lori this morning, I know there's half a million dollars in there which is the uh highway management grant CCMG I think. Uh so there's a couple of new things in there. Um they Jeff suggested we take that out of the county general this year. So that's one of the reasons it's a big increase. Couple other things I think when they did their budget. They kind of put it at the high level. I asked her to go back and look at realistic basis. So be triggering there at the end of the day. Thanks for doing that.

Anything else on budget? Oh, okay. Sorry. Uh, one more thing. Our office um with the nudging of Andre Geel um Nancy uh has started looking at um other funds that we that might have money that we can report back to county general. So, it's going to be a long project, but we are trying to find um girls in our office is is heading that and uh we're trying to find extra funds that might be to be revered back to help out. Um and she's made a pretty big dent in that project. So, she's been reaching out to different department heads to help get uh hearings and stuff. So, um that's just something else we're trying to get Thank you.

Elected officials, any funded organizations have anything to say? Department heads?

Yes. Uh Kale's team is county highway. Uh Tom asked me to give you a little update on our paving projects for this year. We're about halfway done. Uh we pri Richmond road uh 525 east of Arlington and 525 east uh frontage road south of 32. Uh they're currently out on 1075 south of Shannondale. And then we're going to wrap up on 1000 south uh just off of 231. So, we're about halfway done. Uh, it's looking good and we'll uh be ready to ship seal next year. Question.

Yeah. Up around Cargo 1100. Yeah. What's the answer there? I can't speak to that. Okay. Um, this question for J. Yeah.

Uh, I can give you my opinions of course, but we're not going to go that far. Mark Bonville, building administrator. There's your monthly courthouse and Thomas K. Milican update. The Thomas K. Milican Center. The ADA improvements there are complete. they were as of August 27th and so we are completing the invoicing on that which we should be doing in the next week or so and there was a $6,000 credit. Um as far as the courthouse we're in phase three on the interior which is actually part of phase three and part of phase four which means nothing to you. What it is is the prosecutor's area on the second floor. All the offices are getting upgraded new carpet, new paint, new ceiling, new lights. So the prosecutors have been displaced for this period of time. Um so they are on first floor in the new area on the second floor where the clerk used to be. We're also working in the courtrooms uh next week. U the judges will be gone at least 3 days that week. We have some electrical work to do in Superior 2 and Superior one. We're going to do that work that week. We're also working in circuit court uh carpeting their office areas. So we got to move them out. So, a lot of moving and shuffling of furniture going on the building. Uh on the third floor in phase three, we're redoing the cherry room, adding bathrooms on the third floor. So, that is uh in the midst of moving right now. So, uh moving well on the interior. The scheduled uh turnover date for the interior is about December 15th and I think we're ahead of that now. Uh because they're incorporating two, you know, two phases together. So on the

exterior, we we are still waiting on corners to go up. The roofing is getting closely finished. They're doing the last bit of metal work on the top of the building. All this gets gutter work and it's also cuc work around the perimeter. You see the copper around the edges. So they're finishing up that this week and then they'll finish the rest of the slate roof which it's about 80% complete at this point. Um so we're we're getting it sealed up as far as rain and snow. And so that's moving well. And then we'll move on to the corners work. the metal crown as you would along the courthouse overhang. So, uh that should be moving in the next couple weeks and getting some of that on. Um other exterior items, we were still working on stone face uh all around the building. Um and then the south porch, we did run into some areas of the of the stone slide porch that need some attention. So, we are working on that now. Um and that's pretty well the update of the courthouse. side as soon as as soon as that lift gets here which that lift will be here till after this cath. So as soon as that's here we will be up here.

What's the estimated completion on the outside? It's at the same turnover end of December. Uh and then if everything goes well the the exterior will be done by then no problem. But uh we we do have to worry about the weather coming up. You used the word snow. I didn't say snow. Earlier you said earlier you said rain and snow. True. Good job. Yeah. Thank you. I like the officials [Music] part.

Not yet. I'm going to make that next month. I just wanted to um follow up with the radio um issue that we spoke about at the budget hearing and um and just kind of get some guidance from you as to what you want from me to move forward with that. Um I I think I emailed that to everybody um the total um along with the leasing options as well. So obviously I mean if we get it today um I I would expect that equipment I mean no less than two months these things are sitting around. So I just want to check with you um to see what direction you wanted me to go with that and what you would like for me if anything to to move forward with that.

Well Steve and I spoke the other day a little bit. And I know you've got the we've got different ways we can pay for it all at once or a little bit at a time and then there's no penalty for paying it off early if we want to. But I I think correct me if I'm wrong, but uh we kind of talked like with the way things are as far as funding and not knowing where we're going to be, might not be bad to do it over over time. Is that what you and I were talking about? because then we could pay over time. But then also the one thing we wanted to know is if we pay over time, are they warranted during that that period of time? How do was is the warranty going to stay while we're while we're paying for them?

Yeah. And then is are they going to give us any money for the old stuff or was that just baked in on the bid? No, there's no money for the old stuff. I mean, it's we'll just keep It's obsolete.

It's technology. So, I mean, as soon as we get the new ones, I mean, if we get new ones and put those in, they'll be outdated by the end of the week, right? So, I mean, it makes no difference to me. Um, I I just want to check and follow councils to see what direction, if any, what want me to go with that little guidance here. So, a lot of fun with that coming out and Tom County administrator. So we did forward that to Jeff Peters to ask at the request of David Hunt and Gary on what funds. He did recommend that we look at using the CCD fund and he said that the fund balance is pretty healthy and that you could either pay it all as cash and would not be that big of an impact on the CCD fund or you could pay it over um many years or a few years. It sounds like you were now you want to get the bill for probably first year anyway. really went up front.

Uh, you would probably get it before that. I mean, I think it's I mean guessing my thing would be November at the earliest probably December. So I think that the question is do you want him to order him and pay it all up front or do you want to pay interest on what do you think I saw I saw you agree over there you might just want to put it on your next agenda

and make those decisions at that time that would allow time for ordering and getting it closed out you also If you do CCD, you'll need to do additional appropriation anyway. So if you did take action at your October meeting, it seems to me whatever that is in terms of decision making or paying over time, paying out fund, once you make those decisions, then you can move forward. But it's really not on your agenda. So you can't make any decisions today, but maybe that would be the best thing to do. Maybe you can continue to work with the sheriff to see what he recommend and then take this information you have from Jeff Peters to see whether that's what you want to do.

Well, I appreciate you guys working on it and and move it forward and I think it's a safe I think we put it on agenda for next month and think about how we want to do this. Okay. Did you get that? Put it on your app. Thank you. Any other elected officials?

Morning again. Heather treasures office. Just wanted to let everybody know that we are having the tax sale on October 7th at Tahan. Mindy and I are hosting that online and this year we had the smallest number of properties that we've certified. We only had 42 properties that was certified. We're down to 30 properties now. Last year when we did the online sale, it was very successful. It was our first year. We sold all but one property. So, we look forward to having a successful sale again this year. It opens it up to more than more people by being online, we can have other people from across the state or even across the country. Although ideally, we'd like those taxpayers to be in our county. Um, also want to let you know that at the end of July, we mailed out 1,200 delinquent statements and 800 mailings and we have collected over a million dollars worth of delinquent taxes by that mailing. So, it really paid off to do so. very proud of where we're sitting with judgments as well as our tax sales. So, um, and as far as interest, I think we should be looking at the same as last year or maybe even a little bit more last year.

Okay. Thank you for doing that extra work. Y

anyone else? Matt Steve question uh with the numbers we have now is there any discussion I think you mentioned that Jeff is going to take a look at the numbers we have today too update him or where are we on that

I will send to Jeff as well just so you can kind of see what you guys are looking if there's any questions. Uh Jeff, I don't know if you guys have asked him to do an updated um plan. I don't know where you guys stand on that. The last numbers I had from Jeff were from, I believe, April. So, a lot of times he updates his plan after the June 30th numbers. So, I don't know if that's been requested or not. Um, if you would like any requested, I can do that for you. I have a call with him today anyway. So,

yes, please do that. Okay, thank you. Thank you. Um, any public comment?

Just reminder, the motocross of the Nations race is coming up. So, if you're interested in attending, it's the weekend of October 3rd through the 5th, and Sherry and Jessica and Ryan have been on the committee. They're working hard to coordinate that. And the parade is on October 3rd at 5:00 downtown. So, I encourage everyone to attend. And then if you want to attend the race, the actual race is on Sunday, October 5th, and the qualifications are on October 4th. But we're going to start having a lot of folks come into our community and it should be a a busy weekend for our for our county. Oh, and I should mention that at the last meeting they did say INDOT would have their uh if their construction is not done on 231, they would have all the information removed uh information, all their um uh uh the structures and their equipment removed for that weekend. So that way we won't have only two lanes of traffic on 231. Did

you miss anything Sher, Jessica or Ryan? And Lori has a birthday coming up, too, just so you know. And David Hunt. David Hunt also has a birthday coming up. So, happy birthday. Anything else for the Okay, the claims of the one is for Taylor and the other Peters. I move second. It's been moved and seconded that we approve the claim for those two entities. All those in favor say I.

Motion carried. Anything else? Next reading of the meeting is October the 14th at 9 here. And um do I have not approved? Ajourn. A journey.