WEBVTT 00:00:00.514 --> 00:00:07.650 - All right. Good evening, everybody. I would like to go ahead and call tonight's meeting to order of 00:00:07.650 --> 00:00:14.858 - the county council. Today is Tuesday, February 24th, twenty twenty six. And present here in the net, 00:00:14.858 --> 00:00:22.494 - you know, we have counselors, Spido, Wilts, Deckard, Iverson's back in the building. And we also have DGH. 00:00:23.298 --> 00:00:33.039 - Councilmember Henry. So we are still waiting for Councilor Hawke to enter the building here soon. But 00:00:33.039 --> 00:00:42.780 - we have a quorum, so we will go ahead and get started. And next up, all those that are able to stand, 00:00:42.780 --> 00:00:48.414 - please stand for the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. 00:00:55.074 --> 00:01:06.379 - with liberty and justice for all. Thank you all. All right. Next up is the adoption of tonight's agenda. 00:01:06.379 --> 00:01:17.468 - Is there anybody that would like to make amendments to tonight's agenda? And seeing none, we will just 00:01:17.468 --> 00:01:24.574 - roll on with the business. All right. Next up, we have our public 00:01:24.802 --> 00:01:30.094 - that are not on tonight's agenda. And so if you are a member of the public and you're here in the Net, 00:01:30.094 --> 00:01:35.283 - you help room and would like to make a public comment on items that are not on tonight's agenda, you 00:01:35.283 --> 00:01:40.524 - can come forward to the lectern here in the Net, you help room, state your name and you'll have up to 00:01:40.524 --> 00:01:45.713 - three minutes. Or if you are joining us virtually via teams, you can raise your hand and do the same 00:01:45.713 --> 00:01:49.310 - as well. So are there any takers here in the room for public comment? 00:01:51.970 --> 00:02:03.265 - seeing none. Are there any takers via teams that would like to make public comment on items not on tonight's 00:02:03.265 --> 00:02:10.622 - agenda? Okay. Seeing none, we will move on to the other. Um excuse me. 00:02:10.786 --> 00:02:18.254 - department updates. And so these are for departments to come here virtually or here or virtually rather 00:02:18.254 --> 00:02:25.579 - to give or updates on items not on the agenda. And each department will have up to 10 minutes to make 00:02:25.579 --> 00:02:33.047 - those department updates to the council. So are there any department that would like to see the auditor 00:02:33.047 --> 00:02:39.294 - has her hand up? So Miss Gregory? Yes. Thank you. Good evening, counsel. Good evening. 00:02:39.842 --> 00:02:46.060 - Just a quick update regarding the 2024 financial audit exit meeting that occurred last week, Wednesday, 00:02:46.060 --> 00:02:52.158 - February 18th. Representatives from the State Board of Accounts and Forbus, who was our outside audit 00:02:52.158 --> 00:02:58.436 - contractor, attended in person to review the audit results with us. I'm pleased to share that the county 00:02:58.436 --> 00:03:04.653 - received an excellent audit with no reportable findings. This is the strongest audit outcome the county 00:03:04.653 --> 00:03:06.686 - has achieved in a very long time. 00:03:06.882 --> 00:03:12.491 - And as you know, audit results play an important role in influencing bond ratings, grant opportunities, 00:03:12.491 --> 00:03:17.884 - and loan rates. This successful audit reflects the dedication, diligence, and fiscal responsibility 00:03:17.884 --> 00:03:23.385 - demonstrated across departments. It validates the hard work of my team and contributes to maintaining 00:03:23.385 --> 00:03:28.832 - the county's strong financial standing. So I just wanted to thank you for your continued support and 00:03:28.832 --> 00:03:31.582 - all the work we've done. Appreciate it. Thank you. 00:03:31.714 --> 00:03:38.574 - My apologies again for not being able to make that but Sounds good and congratulations to you and your 00:03:38.574 --> 00:03:45.566 - hard work and staff on that Really? It's a congratulations to all of us. It's all of us working together 00:03:45.566 --> 00:03:51.960 - to achieve this. So, thank you All right. Are there any questions or comments for miss Gregory? 00:03:51.960 --> 00:03:58.619 - Thank you, madam president and thank you auditor for that that's no small feat and I think you know 00:03:58.619 --> 00:04:01.150 - the last year we had that that rating 00:04:01.730 --> 00:04:08.711 - I don't Mr. Garrett has do you happen? You have a good history of the county. Do you happen to know 00:04:08.711 --> 00:04:12.830 - when we've had the last audit with no reportable findings? 00:04:13.570 --> 00:04:19.154 - It's it's been a really long time. I look forward to asking Mr. Gerritas later how many counties in 00:04:19.154 --> 00:04:24.850 - Monroe County enjoy that there are several counties in Indiana that enjoy that, you know, opportunity 00:04:24.850 --> 00:04:30.602 - there. And so it's a huge piece of making sure we can get the best possible rates with our bonds. It's 00:04:30.602 --> 00:04:36.354 - also a testament to how we manage our funds at the minimum fund balance to keep us there. So thank you 00:04:36.354 --> 00:04:41.994 - for the work. All right. And just for the record, Councillor Hawke has entered the room and she will 00:04:41.994 --> 00:04:43.390 - get situated. All right. 00:04:43.906 --> 00:04:51.769 - Are there any other further questions or comments for miss Gregory on her report? All right seeing none. 00:04:51.769 --> 00:04:59.258 - Thank you very much So I see some other department heads that are here so I want to go back and see 00:04:59.258 --> 00:05:06.896 - if there are any other department heads that would like to Give a department updates for items not on 00:05:06.896 --> 00:05:11.614 - tonight's agenda Right seeing none are there any department or 00:05:11.778 --> 00:05:19.833 - heads that are joining us via teams that would like to give a department update. Seeing none, we will 00:05:19.833 --> 00:05:27.809 - move forward. All right, next up is the citizen appointment with the one going for the Sophia Travis 00:05:27.809 --> 00:05:35.944 - Grant Committee. Council, I move to approve the citizen appointment of Catherine Hopkins to the Sophia 00:05:35.944 --> 00:05:37.918 - Travis Grants Committee. 00:05:38.018 --> 00:05:47.452 - to complete a two year term that expires December 31st, 2028. All right, we got a motion and a second, 00:05:47.452 --> 00:05:56.793 - and I'm going to look to my fellow Sophia Travis Grant Committee team members, counselors, Decker and 00:05:56.793 --> 00:06:04.670 - Fiddle to give an update on our applicant. Well, I just wanted to make a comment that 00:06:05.346 --> 00:06:12.761 - Catherine's with us today. Even if you want to come forward here to the table and say a couple words, 00:06:12.761 --> 00:06:20.322 - you're more than welcome just to say hi, not to put you on the spot, no pressure, but come on up. Yeah. 00:06:20.322 --> 00:06:27.665 - I'll start this and Councillor Fiddle, anything you want to add in. Folks, this is Catherine Hopkins 00:06:27.665 --> 00:06:31.518 - and she comes to us through our Sophia Travis grant. 00:06:31.682 --> 00:06:38.807 - process to be the new community member. We are excited that we had a chance to meet with her and to 00:06:38.807 --> 00:06:45.931 - talk with not only her, but of course other applicants, but in that process, Catherine's commitment 00:06:45.931 --> 00:06:53.056 - to this work as a citizen appointment, keeping that balance and that fairness in that process while 00:06:53.056 --> 00:07:00.323 - working alongside council was abundantly evident, and we're just so delighted that you are willing to 00:07:00.323 --> 00:07:01.534 - do this with us. 00:07:01.698 --> 00:07:07.438 - Yeah, I just want to say I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve. I am looking forward to serving 00:07:07.438 --> 00:07:13.294 - with you on this committee and honoring this role and the legacy that is this committee. So thank you 00:07:13.294 --> 00:07:19.149 - very much for placing your trust in me. So I'm looking forward to serving with Catherine. I've served 00:07:19.149 --> 00:07:25.291 - with her in several different capacities over the years. And this will just be another one. So I'm looking 00:07:25.291 --> 00:07:30.974 - forward to serving with you in that capacity, because I know you'll be great. It'll be a fun team. 00:07:31.138 --> 00:07:40.259 - All right. So are there any other questions or comments from the council? for our candidate for the 00:07:40.259 --> 00:07:49.744 - Sophia Travis grant committee All right and Seeing none because this is a citizen appointment. We don't 00:07:49.744 --> 00:07:58.956 - do public comment on this So I'm going to ask for a roll call vote, please Counselor cross Lee. Yes, 00:07:58.956 --> 00:08:01.054 - sir. Iverson. Yes, sir 00:08:02.210 --> 00:08:10.428 - Yes. Councillor Hawke. Yes. Councillor Wilts. Yes. Councillor Henry. Yes. Councillor Decker. Yes. Motion 00:08:10.428 --> 00:08:18.333 - passes unanimous. All right. Thank you and congratulations. And we'll see you in the next few weeks. 00:08:18.333 --> 00:08:26.160 - Thank you. All right. Next up on our agenda is the consent agenda items. Council, I move to approve 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:31.326 - the council summary minutes of January the 13th and 27th in 2026. 00:08:32.418 --> 00:08:39.543 - Second. All right, we got a motion and a second. Is there any other discussion on our consent agenda 00:08:39.543 --> 00:08:46.739 - items as presented? All right, and seeing none, I will go to public comment on this item. If you have 00:08:46.739 --> 00:08:54.006 - public comment, you can come forward to the lectern here, the night, you know, room or raise your hand 00:08:54.006 --> 00:08:54.782 - via teams. 00:08:56.738 --> 00:09:03.095 - And seeing none, we can go ahead and do voice vote because all of us are here. So all those in favor 00:09:03.095 --> 00:09:09.262 - of approving the consent agenda items as presented signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, 00:09:09.262 --> 00:09:15.556 - same sign. All right. Motion carries. Thank you so much for that. All right. Next up is item eight, 00:09:15.556 --> 00:09:21.598 - which is our budget review process. And we know that the state house is still doing some of the 00:09:21.762 --> 00:09:29.213 - little last minute things here, but we generally do this around February anyway. So I wanted to have 00:09:29.213 --> 00:09:36.591 - Greg Garitas, our financial, with financial solutions group come forward and give his presentation. 00:09:36.591 --> 00:09:43.968 - So welcome Mr. Garitas. Thank you and good evening. You should have three pages, pieces of paper in 00:09:43.968 --> 00:09:48.542 - front of you. We worked over the last couple of last week and 00:09:48.738 --> 00:09:57.382 - Yesterday when kind of putting these together to kind of give you where we're going And the key is also 00:09:57.382 --> 00:10:06.192 - we're working with the auditors numbers now on 2025 and updating our sustainability so in our next report 00:10:06.192 --> 00:10:14.504 - we will have Our next meeting we will have our sustainability which is the line-by-line revenue and 00:10:14.504 --> 00:10:17.662 - expenses and then projecting ahead in 00:10:18.178 --> 00:10:30.524 - twenty seven twenty twenty eight and twenty twenty nine. We are hoping that- boys and girls in downtown 00:10:30.524 --> 00:10:43.583 - Indianapolis leave soon and we'll be able to- I call it play damage control. Or maybe we'll be overwhelmingly 00:10:43.583 --> 00:10:48.094 - surprised and we get really good news 00:10:48.386 --> 00:10:58.925 - it's really kind of unknown until they leave. So at this point in time, I'd like to focus on the one 00:10:58.925 --> 00:11:09.463 - page that is labeled 2025 financial results. So as you know from my presentations last year, that we 00:11:09.463 --> 00:11:16.350 - were expecting the general fund to have expenses exceed revenues. 00:11:16.674 --> 00:11:27.350 - and you see the summary right there that it did exceed by 6.9. Now we also put into account or put on 00:11:27.350 --> 00:11:37.922 - this piece of paper a couple other key funds which went actually the other way as you see. At it, we 00:11:37.922 --> 00:11:45.982 - didn't spend any of the expenses in 2026 and that was as was expected, okay. 00:11:46.530 --> 00:11:56.529 - 25 in 25 it was expected that you wouldn't spend anything in 26 when we get there Obviously, we're gonna 00:11:56.529 --> 00:12:06.528 - have a little different story in 25 for PSAP lit you can see that there we slightly overspent by $65,000 00:12:06.528 --> 00:12:10.718 - basically spending what we took in jail lit 00:12:11.010 --> 00:12:19.610 - for twenty twenty five we did not again we had a very positive six point nine million that was somewhat 00:12:19.610 --> 00:12:28.293 - but by design because as you know we were accumulating those monies in order to move forward on possible 00:12:28.293 --> 00:12:36.728 - new projects that were coming up. I also put the piece app lit for nine three three for a reason when 00:12:36.728 --> 00:12:39.870 - we get to a couple of the other pages 00:12:40.354 --> 00:12:48.772 - And as you can see there, you had a positive 215,000. Can I just clarify something? I think when you 00:12:48.772 --> 00:12:57.357 - mentioned the PS lit, you called it PSAP lit up above. So I just want to make sure that that is PS lit 00:12:57.357 --> 00:13:05.774 - up above. And that's what you were talking about up above. So the 1170 is public safety lit. 4933 is 00:13:05.774 --> 00:13:07.358 - public safety lit. 00:13:07.522 --> 00:13:18.700 - Is basically the piece app or the e911? Just think it got miss Spoken, I think you inverted the PS lit 00:13:18.700 --> 00:13:29.662 - with the PS AP left right earlier Okay So it's okay So PS lit public safety lit was positive. It was 00:13:29.662 --> 00:13:37.150 - a negative $65,000 public seat or PSAP lit 4933 was 215,000 positive 00:13:37.474 --> 00:13:45.765 - Thank you. Sure. And then you see down below, so I don't only focus on the change in revenues versus 00:13:45.765 --> 00:13:53.563 - expenses, but the cash balance that you ended up at the end of the year. And as of 12-31-2025, 00:13:53.563 --> 00:14:01.854 - subject to, I don't think you have any, Bree, you have any adjustments coming through at this point. 00:14:03.458 --> 00:14:11.801 - I don't think so. If anything, it would be very, very minimal as we go through and audit the CFA, which 00:14:11.801 --> 00:14:19.983 - is the federal award. So perfect. So you see that we ended the general fund with twenty three million 00:14:19.983 --> 00:14:28.567 - at it. Twenty three million also. Keep P.S. lit or public safety lit eleven seventy two point nine million 00:14:28.567 --> 00:14:31.294 - jail lit seven point one million. 00:14:31.650 --> 00:14:44.723 - PSAP lit 4933 2.9 million and then I put down the band capital. This is the bond anticipation note that 00:14:44.723 --> 00:14:57.546 - we issued in 25 for basically land purchase. Okay. And so when you look at those in comparison to our 00:14:57.546 --> 00:14:59.934 - top numbers there, 00:15:00.098 --> 00:15:11.080 - I feel like we are in good shape when you take all of those funds into account. And so questions on 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:22.720 - kind of the 25 financial results until you get the actual line by line revenue expenses. We'll be putting 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:30.078 - together in sustainability. Yes. Yes. Since we budgeted so much in 00:15:30.338 --> 00:15:39.904 - these other funds in the edit fund and the jail fund. I want to make sure that you've covered what we 00:15:39.904 --> 00:15:49.564 - projected to spend out of those budgets. I wouldn't want anybody to think this money is actually going 00:15:49.564 --> 00:15:58.942 - to be available for the jail. Not all of it, because we budgeted what was it, how much in the edit, 00:15:59.970 --> 00:16:07.538 - money as well as we budgeted in the jail lit for 2026. So even though you might see a balance there, 00:16:07.538 --> 00:16:15.031 - it's going to change drastically for this coming year because we budgeted it for 2026. That's why I 00:16:15.031 --> 00:16:22.525 - was going to go page two. OK, I just I'm just saying that I think if you just looked at this sheet, 00:16:22.525 --> 00:16:28.894 - you would. I know you don't want to just look at that one. You want to look at that. 00:16:29.026 --> 00:16:38.242 - The twenty five twenty six. Okay so the second page which is the twenty twenty six budget summary as 00:16:38.242 --> 00:16:47.641 - we know it today with and you do have I believe three you have some additional appropriations I always 00:16:47.641 --> 00:16:56.766 - caution on additional appropriations especially very early on but you can see that the general fund 00:16:56.962 --> 00:17:09.235 - 26 estimated revenues is 52 million, 52 million and 8, and budget is 51-0 or 51-100, basically leaving 00:17:09.235 --> 00:17:21.508 - a balance or a difference between revenues and expenses at this point in time at 1.724953. Now, as you 00:17:21.508 --> 00:17:24.606 - additionally appropriate, 00:17:24.802 --> 00:17:34.466 - those funds will be less. Okay. And so, you know, that's what kind of catches up with you as time goes 00:17:34.466 --> 00:17:44.036 - on. And it really happens in every county. And at it, you see we are projecting estimated revenues of 00:17:44.036 --> 00:17:53.982 - 12.7. The budgeted expenses and Councillor Hawke, I believe this is what you were kind of pointing at, is 00:17:54.498 --> 00:18:05.333 - estimated to be 4.6 or 4.7 million with a then estimate over revenue over expenses of about 8 million. 00:18:05.333 --> 00:18:16.273 - So that 4.7 or 4.688 is what you actually have budgeted out of edit to spend. And I've got the detailed 00:18:16.273 --> 00:18:23.006 - budget and I looked through it. There's two big items in there. 00:18:23.138 --> 00:18:32.721 - But with consultation with the auditor's office, we believe those are somewhat reoccurring, the bigger 00:18:32.721 --> 00:18:42.211 - ones in edit. And I'm sure you know your edit budget inside and out, but I've looked at each of those 00:18:42.211 --> 00:18:51.422 - line items. So to a certain degree, they're state. Yes, lit or public safety lit 1170, 3.6 million 00:18:51.586 --> 00:19:02.190 - 4.7 you have more you're basically budgeting in to it the a cash reduction of 1 million dollars okay 00:19:02.190 --> 00:19:13.004 - so if you went back to the first page you would see that the balance in ps public safety lit and watch 00:19:13.004 --> 00:19:19.198 - that is 2.9 so you can get pretty close with utilizing one 00:19:19.394 --> 00:19:32.506 - 1 million of that so I would advise you be very careful on additional appropriations there. Jail lit 00:19:32.506 --> 00:19:46.526 - in revenues 2.6 in budget leaving a revenues in excess of budget of 5.2 million. So that one was is safe in 00:19:46.658 --> 00:19:56.330 - and obviously then available as we go forward. And then again, we put down the PSAP lit 4933, 00:19:56.330 --> 00:20:07.134 - three million, 2.9, 100,000. And I think on that one, you generally pay out what you bring. So questions 00:20:07.134 --> 00:20:15.262 - on how 25 interacts with 26 and kind of where you've got your glide path going 00:20:15.650 --> 00:20:22.026 - or 2026 on these major funds. Councilor Henry, and then I'll go to Councilor Haag. Yeah, thank you for 00:20:22.026 --> 00:20:28.340 - that. I'm zeroing in on the 1.7 and the general fund net revenue because as you mentioned, we want to 00:20:28.340 --> 00:20:34.777 - avoid additional approves as long as we can. But one of the things we've experienced over the past year 00:20:34.777 --> 00:20:41.277 - are very large additional appropriations to shore up our health insurance in the county. We had a series 00:20:41.277 --> 00:20:43.134 - of those votes last year that 00:20:43.714 --> 00:20:49.828 - That doesn't feel like a lot of margin to work with if we're expecting or anticipating this similar 00:20:49.828 --> 00:20:56.064 - hit. So I keep looking at the auditor because I'm trying to remember what our sum total of those were 00:20:56.064 --> 00:21:02.423 - over last year. Do you have a ballpark on what that was? Some total of additionals? Yeah. Three million 00:21:02.423 --> 00:21:08.843 - sticking in my head, but I don't, I'm not positive I'll have to look. Michelle, do you happen to recall? 00:21:08.843 --> 00:21:11.166 - We can pull it. Okay, it's not small. 00:21:11.490 --> 00:21:17.441 - And so at that point, we're looking at what's then available. And I guess maybe the question, Greg, 00:21:17.441 --> 00:21:23.451 - is that if we are looking to continue our service offering that we do for health insurance and we're 00:21:23.451 --> 00:21:29.461 - looking at a general fund that's maybe tapped because the resource might not be there, it's possible 00:21:29.461 --> 00:21:33.150 - the edit would then be next in line to possibly use for that. 00:21:33.282 --> 00:21:41.115 - And there are other what other funds would you think might be available then to look out for that? Well, 00:21:41.115 --> 00:21:49.023 - well, let me point out that you did in in at it budget two million dollars. Right. So that that is there. 00:21:49.023 --> 00:21:49.918 - You know, I 00:21:50.626 --> 00:21:58.474 - Obviously, I did send Molly a message, you know, first place I go on, especially the doughnut counties, 00:21:58.474 --> 00:22:06.172 - is food and beverage, but yours is not available, my understanding, for those type of things. So what 00:22:06.172 --> 00:22:14.020 - you're going to have to do, and remember, we saw that glide path happening very, very strong last year. 00:22:14.020 --> 00:22:20.510 - I think we budgeted stronger this year to try and hopefully not have that same issue. 00:22:21.122 --> 00:22:29.557 - But quite frankly, it's eating every county alive. You know, left tipping a new county a couple weeks 00:22:29.557 --> 00:22:37.661 - ago, and they were, you know, they were up there. Cities have gone to 25,000 per, and now they're 00:22:37.661 --> 00:22:46.261 - experiencing 28. So it's one of those we just carefully have to watch. I was asking where we stood year 00:22:46.261 --> 00:22:50.974 - to date already, and we don't have that information yet. 00:22:51.362 --> 00:22:58.384 - but I think because it's a little early, but after February, we're gonna wanna know here to date how 00:22:58.384 --> 00:23:05.406 - we're doing. Okay. I'll go to the auditor and then I'll circle back to Councilor Hawk. I just wanted 00:23:05.406 --> 00:23:12.706 - to correct the number I mentioned. Michelle was able to pull it up faster than I can get logged in here. 00:23:12.706 --> 00:23:19.728 - It's about 3.9 million, so I was definitely off. Thank you. That's a lot. Okay, Councilor Hawk. Yes, 00:23:19.728 --> 00:23:21.118 - I think one of the, 00:23:21.378 --> 00:23:30.075 - things that the council did was we reduced the levies for the other levy control funds that we have 00:23:30.075 --> 00:23:39.206 - to really kind of think of as all being general fund because if you we have to cover some of these other 00:23:39.206 --> 00:23:48.250 - funds too and when we were doing that I think it was clear we had to make up that we had to put it back 00:23:48.250 --> 00:23:51.294 - you know and we had to put it back 00:23:51.746 --> 00:23:59.709 - It cannot stay where we put it. And of course, it has to stay that way for a year because you can't 00:23:59.709 --> 00:24:07.673 - move money back and forth during the year. But that means that our levy growth will not be realized 00:24:07.673 --> 00:24:15.795 - in the general fund to the extent that you might think it would be. And I'm not sure we know the levy 00:24:15.795 --> 00:24:16.990 - growth number. 00:24:18.850 --> 00:24:27.724 - Did they tell? We don't know that number yet as well, do we? He levy for for 2026 in the general fund. 00:24:27.724 --> 00:24:36.512 - Well, I'm talking about for for. I'm already thinking about 2027. We know what it was absolutely not. 00:24:36.512 --> 00:24:45.214 - Yeah, you you. I do know because we put together this comparison of your budget for January, January 00:24:45.214 --> 00:24:46.334 - 7th of 2026. 00:24:46.530 --> 00:24:56.466 - and the general funds levy and that was one cautionary note I wanted to make on the 1.7 million for 00:24:56.466 --> 00:25:06.899 - the general fund is yes that levy went up 6.2 million okay so all points bulletin to you that 52 million 00:25:06.899 --> 00:25:15.742 - includes that and you did have a migration from 15 reassessment and a couple other funds 00:25:15.906 --> 00:25:23.203 - that you will have to make up more than likely in 27 or 28. Another one was aviation. And so that was, 00:25:23.203 --> 00:25:30.642 - did you give them a copy of our document that we put together for the comparison? I believe Ms. Sheldon, 00:25:30.642 --> 00:25:37.798 - I think it went directly to her. Okay, because that's what we put together and sent out early in the 00:25:37.798 --> 00:25:45.662 - year to confirm your budget. And that on the very back page 10 of that, it shows the migration of the dollars. 00:25:46.530 --> 00:25:58.483 - of your maximum levy. Keep up the great questions. I'm ready. Anybody else have any questions so far? 00:25:58.483 --> 00:26:10.436 - I just wanted to note that I think there was a consensus that we're aware that we're going to have to 00:26:10.436 --> 00:26:15.006 - shift some levy back. However, I think 00:26:15.426 --> 00:26:22.904 - We were trying to supplement the general fund to support as much as necessary and that's why we also 00:26:22.904 --> 00:26:30.309 - have that navigation of some expenses to the edit fund because we simply can't continue and support 00:26:30.309 --> 00:26:37.787 - all of our services with less so One thing that's not on here is the special purpose lit that we had 00:26:37.787 --> 00:26:39.934 - reduced but we likely should 00:26:40.738 --> 00:26:47.906 - increase back now because we were spending it down a little bit. And so I just wanted to throw that 00:26:47.906 --> 00:26:55.075 - out there. Since we've got the list of let's, it does seem like it might be worth remembering that. 00:26:55.075 --> 00:27:02.315 - That's for YSB. Yeah, the Chief and I'll remember that towards the end of budget season because they 00:27:02.315 --> 00:27:08.766 - were very concerned about needing to put that back next year or which is this year. Yeah. 00:27:09.218 --> 00:27:15.522 - So yeah, I believe the consensus was, I might not be remembering this correctly, but I thought the council 00:27:15.522 --> 00:27:21.532 - preferred to wait until we establish all those rights in 27. But we can do that, you know, this year, 00:27:21.532 --> 00:27:27.600 - next year. We just need to watch it very carefully. I think that was the general thing. So yeah. Okay. 00:27:27.600 --> 00:27:30.782 - Yes, Councillor Decker. I was just going to say that. 00:27:30.978 --> 00:27:39.369 - When we did that, we promised that we, to our judicial partners, that we would watch that vehemently. 00:27:39.369 --> 00:27:47.924 - And even when the concerns came up that we might not remedy that sooner, we promised again. And so that 00:27:47.924 --> 00:27:56.396 - cannot get lost off that radar because that is a winning system and nobody wants to break a car engine 00:27:56.396 --> 00:27:58.782 - that is running really well. 00:27:59.234 --> 00:28:08.811 - and I see a lot of nodding heads from some of our judicial friends that seem to agree with me. Yes, 00:28:08.811 --> 00:28:18.674 - Councillor Wilks. I have a naive question. Is there any logic, I believe I'm saying this out loud, but 00:28:18.674 --> 00:28:27.006 - is there any logic to putting that lit back up in place this year, knowing that we are 00:28:28.130 --> 00:28:38.233 - benefiting from some reductions and by we, I mean the glorious grand we of everybody from reductions 00:28:38.233 --> 00:28:48.436 - in property tax and we're headed toward likely increases in the future and maybe this eases us in the 00:28:48.436 --> 00:28:55.838 - future of income tax. Does that make sense? So it makes total sense to me 00:28:56.386 --> 00:29:04.359 - And that's why each of the councils that I work with, we say, let's review the lit rates each and every 00:29:04.359 --> 00:29:12.255 - year, even though, you know, SB, remember SB2 is coming to a theater near you and SB2 it won't be, but 00:29:12.255 --> 00:29:19.998 - I call it that, right? And so each and every year, and I think right on our schedule here, we should 00:29:19.998 --> 00:29:23.678 - say, we're gonna review that come June or July. 00:29:24.226 --> 00:29:32.175 - And I think it's, I call it lit migration. And you should look at how you're migrating lit versus what 00:29:32.175 --> 00:29:39.969 - you're migrating on property taxes and set the strategy. So each and every year, so that makes total 00:29:39.969 --> 00:29:47.377 - sense to me, whether you change it or not, that's one thing, but review it and set your course. 00:29:47.377 --> 00:29:54.014 - And oh, by the way, you gotta do it really early because the DLGF has been awful busy 00:29:54.242 --> 00:30:01.271 - And it has taken awful long time to review your ordinances or your resolutions and they get the right 00:30:01.271 --> 00:30:08.369 - to comment on it. And sometimes they take up 90 days. You always want to start early. Okay. Thank you. 00:30:08.369 --> 00:30:15.398 - And Mr. Gregory. Thank you. I completely agree with Councillor Wilts and I think our justice partners 00:30:15.398 --> 00:30:22.014 - would feel at ease if we could take care of that this year if the council does choose to do so. 00:30:23.554 --> 00:30:30.965 - And I did know about it, by the way. I consciously didn't put it on the sheet. I just want to comment 00:30:30.965 --> 00:30:38.377 - that the reason we did what we did was that the cash balance was much higher than what was needed for 00:30:38.377 --> 00:30:43.390 - the youth services and yet we were looking at trying to put together 00:30:43.586 --> 00:30:51.827 - dollars out of that jail tax. We had not taken that up to as far as the jail tax could go. We bumped 00:30:51.827 --> 00:31:00.313 - that up a little bit and reduced the YSB a little bit. But we promised that we would look at their cash 00:31:00.313 --> 00:31:01.374 - balances and 00:31:01.794 --> 00:31:09.003 - I'm not saying we have to return the full rate because that rate is bringing in more than what is needed. 00:31:09.003 --> 00:31:16.281 - But certainly look at their cash balance and making sure they are whole and that we have not done anything 00:31:16.281 --> 00:31:21.790 - to jeopardize their position. But every time you talk about percent in the rate, 00:31:21.890 --> 00:31:29.095 - We really need to look at what does that mean? What kind of revenue does that mean you're bringing in? 00:31:29.095 --> 00:31:36.369 - Because that's really what we're talking about. So whether or not you would reduce that jail rate again 00:31:36.369 --> 00:31:43.364 - and put it over into YSB, because that's what we did. We moved it there. Will we reduce it and move 00:31:43.364 --> 00:31:49.310 - it back? Or will we actually put a new additional rate on the people of this county? 00:31:52.066 --> 00:32:10.440 - And I do have the 1231 results. It is 4.2 million in special purpose lit 1114. 4.2. What was that number? 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:21.534 - I'm sorry, 4.2. 4.2. Thank you. 4256697. I have one other page. 00:32:21.922 --> 00:32:31.532 - That staff said thought I should discuss tonight and this is the top part looks should look kind of 00:32:31.532 --> 00:32:41.239 - familiar to you because the top part is exactly what I covered within our sustainability and when we 00:32:41.239 --> 00:32:47.582 - kind of gave the update on SB one and as you know, current law is 00:32:47.746 --> 00:32:58.055 - And 27 you will review for 28 your introduction of your new county lit rate. What do I firmly believe? 00:32:58.055 --> 00:33:08.663 - I firmly believe that will become 28 review for 29 implementation. And I would say stay tuned for further 00:33:08.663 --> 00:33:16.670 - developments on that even. So as you know, we put in a break even and I believe 00:33:16.962 --> 00:33:28.058 - Breeze number also verified it, that we were a break even of .93. So that's what you see next door to 00:33:28.058 --> 00:33:39.154 - it, which says estimated minimum future lit. So meaning you would need 93 basis points out of the 120 00:33:39.154 --> 00:33:45.790 - basis points to break even on the rest would be your option. 00:33:47.330 --> 00:33:57.977 - Okay now obviously then what we've done now in the second part of this page is we've sat down and said 00:33:57.977 --> 00:34:08.418 - let's talk about where we sit if we were to do any type of financing for a new project going forward 00:34:08.418 --> 00:34:16.894 - using lit. If you look under the column that says county share 2026 certified lit 00:34:17.026 --> 00:34:29.561 - These are the LITs that you have exclusive again of the special purpose. So that totals up the 42,951. 00:34:29.561 --> 00:34:42.218 - Currently, you see right below that 10,000,737. Right now in SB1, and you remember this from last year, 00:34:42.218 --> 00:34:43.678 - you should, 00:34:44.194 --> 00:34:54.285 - that there is a limit of being able to obligate over and above 25%. You can only use up to 25% for any 00:34:54.285 --> 00:35:04.082 - debt payment. So what Jeff asked me to do was estimate a bond size based upon that, and that is 135 00:35:04.082 --> 00:35:12.606 - million. Significantly different, obviously, than the numbers that we had in the past. 00:35:13.698 --> 00:35:23.095 - Now, we also said, but that's one issue. If you circle that one, that's one issue in SB1. Now there's 00:35:23.095 --> 00:35:32.676 - also a practicality issue. And that is if you go to the far right-hand section, you will see what we've 00:35:32.676 --> 00:35:40.414 - done is we've said, okay, the estimated available lit for debt service after paying 00:35:40.578 --> 00:35:49.498 - budgetary expenses for 2026 means that really unobligated, we've got about 11,000,732. Again, that could 00:35:49.498 --> 00:35:58.079 - be plus or minus depending on how you do additional appropriations and things like that. And we also 00:35:58.079 --> 00:36:06.659 - added in obviously the negative 1,000,002. It means that we have to have when you do a revenue bond, 00:36:06.659 --> 00:36:10.142 - you know, you have to have 125 coverage. 00:36:10.626 --> 00:36:18.696 - You have to have $125 coming in for every $100 of debt service. You've heard me talk about that last 00:36:18.696 --> 00:36:26.846 - year. And so what we do is basically use 80% and we say $9.3 million is what you would have available 00:36:26.846 --> 00:36:34.915 - from leftover or remaining funds on an annual basis. It could be less than that as time goes on, but 00:36:34.915 --> 00:36:39.230 - that would estimate at about $117 million bond issue. 00:36:39.522 --> 00:36:50.369 - that's the one that we're truly at we believe okay unless you made some significant changes in the 26 00:36:50.369 --> 00:37:01.003 - budget or 27 budget obviously notice i said 27 budget then that might change that 11 million fairly 00:37:01.003 --> 00:37:08.766 - significantly but that's kind of trying to boil down where we are on sb1 00:37:09.026 --> 00:37:18.793 - requirement of not going over 25 basis or 25 percent and of your annual lit revenue and then also playing 00:37:18.793 --> 00:37:28.191 - it off on how does it format how's it look with the 26 budget and what would be a left left available 00:37:28.191 --> 00:37:38.142 - for debt service assuming no changes in rates of any kind obviously okay and so that's the two numbers that 00:37:38.338 --> 00:37:46.408 - We wanted to point out on where we are today, far from, like I said, where we were in the past, because 00:37:46.408 --> 00:37:54.400 - that was you enacting up to the max and other things. Questions on that? I'll go to Councillor Iverson 00:37:54.400 --> 00:37:56.030 - and then Henry next. 00:37:57.090 --> 00:38:04.534 - So for those of you watching, this is exactly why I think this council unanimously and bipartisanly 00:38:04.534 --> 00:38:12.126 - took a vote at the end of 2025 when we were looking at a facility to the size of 225 million dollars. 00:38:12.126 --> 00:38:19.867 - And tonight, I think we have the clearest enumeration of why that was the right decision. I mean, these 00:38:19.867 --> 00:38:22.398 - numbers are staggeringly smaller. 00:38:22.754 --> 00:38:31.506 - than the $225 million that we were asked to be spending. So not only appreciate the county share certified 00:38:31.506 --> 00:38:39.766 - lit, but also that third column, the estimated lit available for debt service. This helps put a very 00:38:39.766 --> 00:38:43.038 - fine point on what we are allowed to do 00:38:43.170 --> 00:38:50.211 - given what our friends in Indianapolis have passed in Senate Enrolled Act 1. So I really appreciate 00:38:50.211 --> 00:38:57.322 - this analysis. We've been looking for this for a while, and I'm glad we finally have it. Good point. 00:38:57.322 --> 00:39:04.433 - Thank you. Peter just stole all my words. I will ask a question, because I completely agree with all 00:39:04.433 --> 00:39:12.670 - of that. We had great foresight up here, and I think it just showed for the community. I guess my question is on the 00:39:12.898 --> 00:39:20.037 - Estimated bond size and the debt service. So that's all bonds for the county not a particular project, 00:39:20.037 --> 00:39:27.106 - right? So if we have It is a particular project. Okay, that's new project. So that's not inclusive of 00:39:27.106 --> 00:39:34.037 - other bonds. All right No, sir No, that that's really the clarifying question. I had see Peter said 00:39:34.037 --> 00:39:37.918 - it better. Anyway, thanks keep in mind the ones that we 00:39:38.114 --> 00:39:48.144 - have our outstanding or majority of them are either redevelopment and or general obligation bonds. And 00:39:48.144 --> 00:39:58.563 - I would make the note that neither that the 135 nor the 117 included any type of cash balance that remains 00:39:58.563 --> 00:40:07.230 - in edit remains in jail lit or in the band capital. I didn't we would just add those two 00:40:07.458 --> 00:40:14.039 - A total project cost, but not a total debt service. Well, then the follow up there is that those additional 00:40:14.039 --> 00:40:20.438 - funds could be used for other projects in the county. Those are those are that's obviously so so I don't 00:40:20.438 --> 00:40:24.094 - want to give the impression that this new number plus those 00:40:24.290 --> 00:40:30.542 - Lits would equal some larger project that we would given just the fact we had a conversation about the 00:40:30.542 --> 00:40:36.673 - 1.7 million in revenue for the general fund We may need those other lits to be able to do additional 00:40:36.673 --> 00:40:43.047 - appropriations So I appreciate that this one's about a specific project, but understand that those other 00:40:43.047 --> 00:40:49.118 - available lits We may be using for other things. Yeah Yes, councillor Hawk Yes, we won't know until 00:40:49.118 --> 00:40:50.878 - the people of the state says 00:40:50.978 --> 00:40:59.651 - They're through and this is where we set with the changes that they're making but one of the changes 00:40:59.651 --> 00:41:09.011 - was that they would have Sort of a committee set up with a representative of the county and a representative 00:41:09.011 --> 00:41:17.598 - of the Municipality so there would be one from the city one from town of Ellensville maybe one from 00:41:18.178 --> 00:41:26.808 - Steinsville. I don't know. But anyway, to decide how to split up the revenue that's coming in from lead 00:41:26.808 --> 00:41:35.770 - now. And so I think it's important that we recognize that that what we're trying to get in the legislation, 00:41:35.770 --> 00:41:44.233 - I hope it got in there, that it is a we it's up to the county council to call that meeting. And it is 00:41:44.233 --> 00:41:46.142 - a may and not a shall. 00:41:46.946 --> 00:41:55.630 - and that meeting where they decide to have to split up the revenue, it is merely a suggestion. It is 00:41:55.630 --> 00:42:04.313 - still up to the county council. Now, if that goes through and ends up being that way, this is why we 00:42:04.313 --> 00:42:13.685 - need to look at our future and know that we're not rolling here in the money and the city needs to recognize 00:42:13.685 --> 00:42:16.350 - that as well and the townships 00:42:16.770 --> 00:42:24.832 - Bloomington Transportation, et cetera, because they might have a feeling of the county is setting on 00:42:24.832 --> 00:42:32.973 - a lot of money. And we have to do things that they don't have to do. And this whole justice system is 00:42:32.973 --> 00:42:41.354 - not inexpensive. And I just want to throw that in there, because I know we've got a lot of people that's 00:42:41.354 --> 00:42:46.462 - watching or is following along that really are hoping that city 00:42:47.010 --> 00:42:56.517 - will be able to use a part of our revenue. And I think that's going to be difficult to do. Yes, Councillor 00:42:56.517 --> 00:43:05.936 - Decker. Thank you very much. Remind me again, I know you said at the start, when do you think the General 00:43:05.936 --> 00:43:14.910 - Assembly is roughly done for this time? Hopefully this week. If someone answered it, they'll be done 00:43:15.074 --> 00:43:22.917 - when they do the last vote. And the last vote, I think, has to occur by the end of this week. Yeah, 00:43:22.917 --> 00:43:31.231 - the 27th. Well, I guess the reason I ask that is they have some wiggle room there, right, to stick around 00:43:31.231 --> 00:43:39.153 - longer. They also have wiggle room if the governor and I believe the leaders of the chambers want it 00:43:39.153 --> 00:43:44.094 - to come back in throughout. And the reason I point that out is 00:43:44.226 --> 00:43:51.337 - Sometimes I've noticed there's a little bit of euphoria around, well, this bill didn't move forward, 00:43:51.337 --> 00:43:58.378 - and I think they're roughly done by this time. But if they want, they can insert language anywhere, 00:43:58.378 --> 00:44:04.855 - anyhow, anytime, any place, and sometimes not even known to the public for better or worse, 00:44:04.855 --> 00:44:09.502 - right or wrong. And so I am patient and curious when we will know 00:44:10.178 --> 00:44:16.495 - what we're dealing with and what we're not dealing with and whether they're coming back or not. I mean, 00:44:16.495 --> 00:44:22.690 - I saw, I know it's not related to this exactly, but I saw some jubilation yesterday that early voting 00:44:22.690 --> 00:44:29.310 - hours would stay at 28 days versus 16, but friends, you don't know that until they're done and they're home. 00:44:30.402 --> 00:44:37.401 - You don't know Jack until they're done in their home. And one of the things that I was, as I was listening 00:44:37.401 --> 00:44:43.941 - to just our comments here that I get very worried about is there's someone in Steinsville that will 00:44:43.941 --> 00:44:50.613 - need us to do something soon. And I'm not sure we know fully what that law is going to look like, how 00:44:50.613 --> 00:44:57.284 - that's going to be, or what gets worked out in some of the meetings that Councilor Hawks in, but they 00:44:57.284 --> 00:44:59.966 - may need that may to be a really willing 00:45:00.674 --> 00:45:09.250 - set of participants on this end, but not only that for that, but for public transportation and fire 00:45:09.250 --> 00:45:17.997 - protection and townships if they exist or whatever form they exist in. And that is a lot. I mean, and 00:45:17.997 --> 00:45:26.744 - I'll even hazard this to counselors. I have never before in this role thought budgetarily wise around 00:45:26.744 --> 00:45:30.174 - our school districts, but I think every 00:45:30.498 --> 00:45:37.750 - counselor up here has had some sort of conversation with one of our school districts because they also 00:45:37.750 --> 00:45:45.002 - are in a pickle and Kids got to get educated and you can't wave the flag on that So I throw it all out 00:45:45.002 --> 00:45:52.324 - there and that we're dealing with a gel and bonding and changes and a pause or not a pause or what have 00:45:52.324 --> 00:45:57.182 - you but this our years ahead and when I say our I mean everybody and 00:45:57.282 --> 00:46:04.224 - beyond these walls out in these subdivisions of government are gonna be different and very difficult 00:46:04.224 --> 00:46:11.167 - or even continuously changing. I do appreciate the clarity on your numbers as always and the passion 00:46:11.167 --> 00:46:18.041 - by which you bring them to us because you can tell you love what you do and that helps us to figure 00:46:18.041 --> 00:46:25.120 - out what we have to do. So thank you. I just, you know, once they quit moving the cheese, I love that. 00:46:25.120 --> 00:46:26.014 - I love that. 00:46:26.146 --> 00:46:34.298 - Then we'll know where the cheese is. We probably won't know flavors of the cheese until we get a little 00:46:34.298 --> 00:46:42.764 - further down the road, but stay tuned. Not all cheese is good too, right? OK, are there any other questions 00:46:42.764 --> 00:46:50.759 - or comments for Mr Garrett says? If that's my prepared, yeah, I was gonna say, do you have any final? 00:46:50.759 --> 00:46:55.070 - Nope, that's my prepared comments. We will like aside. 00:46:55.298 --> 00:47:05.902 - the sustainability we will kind of what we do want to wait until we see where the cheese lands and to 00:47:05.902 --> 00:47:16.609 - a certain degree and be able to put that into 28 29 and 30. But you've got a lot of work coming on the 00:47:16.609 --> 00:47:23.678 - 27 budget. So I like to say start now. Yes, counselor. Yes, I think 00:47:24.482 --> 00:47:32.805 - We really don't know what our revenue is going to be this year. In 2026, we know that some of the estimates 00:47:32.805 --> 00:47:40.511 - was going to be a $300 reduction on all properties. We'll know it's not. It's 300, depending on the 00:47:40.511 --> 00:47:48.295 - price tag, or 10%, whichever is less. So we don't know what's going to happen with that. But there's 00:47:48.295 --> 00:47:53.150 - also a whole lot of credits out there. And remember, there's a 00:47:53.410 --> 00:48:00.828 - big difference between a deduction and a credit because a credit means it's straight off of the bottom. 00:48:00.828 --> 00:48:08.103 - Revenue, you know, good for the taxpayer. They're not going to pay it, but it also means less revenue 00:48:08.103 --> 00:48:15.593 - coming into the county. And they didn't even have to apply for this if they were already had a homestead 00:48:15.593 --> 00:48:16.734 - or if they were 00:48:16.834 --> 00:48:26.130 - already had the over 65. There are a lot of things that would just be automatically adjusted. And so 00:48:26.130 --> 00:48:35.150 - we I think it's really difficult to judge what we think our revenue is going to be for this year. 00:48:35.150 --> 00:48:44.446 - I mean, we'll. I know Miss Gregory had her hand raised and then I'll come back to Councilor Iverson. 00:48:45.154 --> 00:48:51.831 - Thank you. I'm sure it does. I just want to confirm, the estimated minimum future lit necessary, does 00:48:51.831 --> 00:48:58.769 - that include like expense increase projections and so forth? Oh, heck no. OK. So that's your room between 00:48:58.769 --> 00:49:05.381 - 93 basis points and 120. OK. So then, I mean. It wasn't in yours, I don't believe. And it definitely 00:49:05.381 --> 00:49:12.058 - is not in ours. Right. OK. So then, with that in mind, I mean, we're going to have to be a lot closer 00:49:12.058 --> 00:49:13.694 - to that 1.2. Absolutely. 00:49:16.322 --> 00:49:22.993 - So thank you for coming. We always learn a lot when you come here. We really appreciate the report that 00:49:22.993 --> 00:49:29.407 - you sent in January. That was really helpful to prepare for this. And I want to I think in closing, 00:49:29.407 --> 00:49:35.950 - just note that on the second sheet that we talked about, the twenty twenty six budget summary, ninety 00:49:35.950 --> 00:49:43.390 - six point seven percent, that's greater than ninety five percent of our general fund revenues are already budgeted. 00:49:44.706 --> 00:49:52.286 - We have such little wiggle room for additional appropriations, folks. There's just such little wiggle 00:49:52.286 --> 00:49:59.866 - room. So when we're up here saying we need to figure out with our department heads how we're going to 00:49:59.866 --> 00:50:07.966 - work with the funds that we have, this is a really fine way of putting it that 96.7% of all of our revenues, 00:50:07.966 --> 00:50:14.654 - at least the estimated revenues are budgeted. There's not a lot of wiggle room this year. 00:50:15.682 --> 00:50:24.149 - And just one quick comment on that. Remember, that contained a pretty strong interest income. And I 00:50:24.149 --> 00:50:32.870 - still really believe that there may be a tide that will turn midyear this year. And I know everybody's 00:50:32.870 --> 00:50:41.507 - doing well, and we've got a strong balance. But that rate of interest may go down. If not, it will go 00:50:41.507 --> 00:50:43.454 - down in 27. All right. 00:50:43.586 --> 00:50:50.737 - Keep looking at our belts and see how tight we can make them. Yeah. Yes, Mr. Gregory. One final comment. 00:50:50.737 --> 00:50:57.955 - I am going to work with the treasurer, get all of the financial reports from her, the investment reports, 00:50:57.955 --> 00:51:05.106 - and send them to FSG. So we have that piece as well. Yeah, and I think it's something we ought to update 00:51:05.106 --> 00:51:11.916 - council each and every month on year to date earned interest income along with year to date expense 00:51:11.916 --> 00:51:13.278 - on insurance. Yeah. 00:51:13.410 --> 00:51:22.318 - very key ingredients. Yeah, yes. We provide a revenue report monthly and so that's part of that as well. 00:51:22.318 --> 00:51:30.972 - Yeah and one final thing is I really appreciate this third page bringing it home for us when we think 00:51:30.972 --> 00:51:36.062 - of our specific task that we have at hand. How much we have 00:51:36.354 --> 00:51:42.797 - like our budget versus our actuals. So that that's a lot of food for thought for some of the things 00:51:42.797 --> 00:51:49.240 - that we might have to do this evening. So I appreciate that. So thank you very much. Thank you. And 00:51:49.240 --> 00:51:55.426 - good evening. Yes. Any other questions? No. Yes. You get to have some daylight back. Thank you. 00:51:55.426 --> 00:52:02.127 - All right. Next up, council, we are getting into the county council business. And first up, we'll start 00:52:02.127 --> 00:52:04.382 - with item A, which is from courts. 00:52:04.514 --> 00:52:11.637 - Council, I move to open for discussion and possible approval of the court's request to be exempt from 00:52:11.637 --> 00:52:18.760 - the hiring freeze and be allowed to hire and fund 1000-0225 County General Courts, a part-time hourly 00:52:18.760 --> 00:52:25.464 - public service coordinator position. Second. Okay, and I see that we have Judge Seekoff and Ms. 00:52:25.464 --> 00:52:27.838 - Abraham here. Welcome. Thank you. 00:52:28.162 --> 00:52:33.647 - And we had about a month ago, a little over a month ago, a vacancy in our office. So we've done our 00:52:33.647 --> 00:52:39.241 - due diligence to not fund it, not do anything with it, which required my staff to basically have been 00:52:39.241 --> 00:52:44.835 - taking shifts, myself included. I was there almost all day to day at the front desk to do it. Because 00:52:44.835 --> 00:52:46.974 - some of the jobs that we have, though, 00:52:47.106 --> 00:52:55.419 - We have a jury trial. My other person has to do the jury trial. So it's kind of been a little hindrance 00:52:55.419 --> 00:53:03.652 - on us. So trying to find a workaround that I'm asking if we can maybe get a part-time position to help 00:53:03.652 --> 00:53:10.046 - out. I have the money in my part-time so it wouldn't be any additional funding. 00:53:10.146 --> 00:53:15.514 - for that. I do know I have a couple of people that have recently retired. One of them is interested 00:53:15.514 --> 00:53:20.882 - in doing it, which would be easy for the committee chair. We would know everything would be minimal 00:53:20.882 --> 00:53:26.304 - training. So, and like I said, only do six days, or six days, I'm sorry, six hours a day, three days 00:53:26.304 --> 00:53:31.725 - a week. So, excuse me, very, very minimal. So that's why we're asking you to ease a little burden of 00:53:31.725 --> 00:53:37.630 - my staff and myself to make sure that position and all of those duties get covered. Okay. Thank you for that. 00:53:38.114 --> 00:53:45.652 - This is also a prime example of what counselor Everson was saying earlier about how we have to figure 00:53:45.652 --> 00:53:53.117 - out how departments are working. I think in prepping for our meeting for this evening, you just said 00:53:53.117 --> 00:54:00.507 - you had it vacant for a month? Yes, I think the second week in January, I believe. You were able to 00:54:00.507 --> 00:54:07.454 - get us that fiscal impact of how much for that time frame that position remain vacant? Right. 00:54:08.386 --> 00:54:15.362 - I think Tim has said before that to her. Right. And I think we got it. We got it. And this was full-time 00:54:15.362 --> 00:54:22.205 - originally. It was a full-time position. So these are things that I think personally, myself, I'd like 00:54:22.205 --> 00:54:28.849 - to hear when we have people coming forth because you're obviously trying to say and state your case 00:54:28.849 --> 00:54:32.702 - of why you need this position, but you were able to, one, 00:54:32.802 --> 00:54:39.475 - look at how long that vacancy was able to. Two, we heard how everybody in office, including yourself, 00:54:39.475 --> 00:54:46.149 - are taking turns to figure out how you can manage that. And three, taking that from full time to part 00:54:46.149 --> 00:54:52.757 - time. And so that's the embodiment of trying to partner and figure out how we can do this and how to 00:54:52.757 --> 00:54:54.654 - work. So I just want to say, 00:54:54.754 --> 00:55:00.571 - Thank you for setting the bar for how these things should be going. Today was a little rough. I have 00:55:00.571 --> 00:55:06.503 - two people down out of five. Of course. One is getting ready for a conference this Friday. Another one 00:55:06.503 --> 00:55:12.435 - was getting ready for a jury, which left me. So I was the one at the front desk, so some stuff I could 00:55:12.435 --> 00:55:18.367 - not do at the front. So it's sitting. I'll try and tackle that tomorrow. Well, we appreciate that. And 00:55:18.367 --> 00:55:23.838 - thank you very much for that. All right. Any questions from counsel? Yes. Counselor Hawk. Yes. 00:55:24.002 --> 00:55:33.265 - We know at the end of this year, one of the courts will no longer be. And so we have to look at what 00:55:33.265 --> 00:55:42.437 - that percent of reduction needs to come from the court's budgets, because we can't just make up the 00:55:42.437 --> 00:55:51.975 - difference. If you've been paying attention to what we were told, we just can't. So I'm just wondering, 00:55:51.975 --> 00:55:53.534 - are you watching 00:55:53.634 --> 00:56:00.583 - people who are still employed in that court that will be going away for opportunities for them to move 00:56:00.583 --> 00:56:07.599 - to another slot someplace so that they don't have to just be laid off. Well, actually, we're doing that 00:56:07.599 --> 00:56:14.481 - right now. Our one judge did lose a court order, and she's the one that might be doing this part-time 00:56:14.481 --> 00:56:21.228 - one. And with that being in Judge Haunton's, we are not filling that because obviously we can't say 00:56:21.228 --> 00:56:23.454 - you're hired, but in nine months 00:56:23.618 --> 00:56:29.487 - you're fired again. So we are not filling that spot. We had another one that also retired into different 00:56:29.487 --> 00:56:35.301 - judges. So what we're going to do is the other court reporter from Judge Haughton is going to take over 00:56:35.301 --> 00:56:41.114 - to fill that vacancy at the end of the year in Judge Fawcett. So we will not need to hire any new ones. 00:56:41.114 --> 00:56:46.927 - So we already got those two that were leaving vacant the rest of this year. And then you'll get another 00:56:46.927 --> 00:56:52.126 - one because our official court reporter is retired in the year, which is for Judge Haughton. 00:56:52.450 --> 00:57:00.112 - No one's going to lose a job. So that's the nice thing. A question. So the part-time person then would 00:57:00.112 --> 00:57:07.551 - no longer receive insurance or any benefits? Correct. Yes? No? She will not receive any benefits at 00:57:07.551 --> 00:57:15.361 - all. She's already doing her insurance right now because she retired at the end of December. She already 00:57:15.361 --> 00:57:21.982 - has her own insurance. All right. Are there any other questions? Yes. Councillor Decker. 00:57:22.242 --> 00:57:28.226 - the title here, is this the role that years ago, Pat Haley, when she left office, that she kind of fulfilled 00:57:28.226 --> 00:57:33.881 - out there, kind of helping people? That's what she did, yes. That's one I already have a part time for 00:57:33.881 --> 00:57:39.371 - that spot. But yes, Pat Haley was a different one, but she's already, that was a part time one that 00:57:39.371 --> 00:57:44.971 - now Glenda Campbell fills in downstairs at the front desk. This is actually full time that's upstairs 00:57:44.971 --> 00:57:50.516 - in our office in court services. Gotcha, gotcha. I actually personally experienced kind of what that 00:57:50.516 --> 00:57:51.230 - role does in 00:57:51.650 --> 00:57:57.884 - in my private life as I was kind of entering that building. And for a lot of people, the intimidation 00:57:57.884 --> 00:58:04.302 - in there on am I doing the right thing? Am I in trouble? Am I blah, blah, blah, you know, and navigating 00:58:04.302 --> 00:58:10.475 - is a lot. So I kind of understand that. I also appreciate managing this around as you have described 00:58:10.475 --> 00:58:16.648 - well. I think sometimes people outside don't understand that on a public office, you can't just say, 00:58:16.648 --> 00:58:20.926 - well, we're a little low on this. We're just going to close the door. 00:58:21.474 --> 00:58:29.428 - on this and everybody's just not here. I mean, you can do that. You're not supposed to because the public 00:58:29.428 --> 00:58:37.382 - is paying for that. And so working through the time period is appreciated. Are there any other questions? 00:58:37.382 --> 00:58:44.886 - Yes, counselor. I think what we're going to see is we're going to see departments throughout county 00:58:44.886 --> 00:58:48.638 - government saying we're really missing this slot. 00:58:48.898 --> 00:58:55.725 - we really need that slot filled in because it's difficult to make a, you know, and try to figure out 00:58:55.725 --> 00:59:02.552 - how to make it work. And I said to another department head not long ago, that's your job, figure out 00:59:02.552 --> 00:59:09.311 - how to make it work. Our job is to try to make sure we're not spending money that is going to force 00:59:09.311 --> 00:59:13.502 - us to do more draconian cuts than what we want to do. And so, 00:59:13.698 --> 00:59:20.973 - I won't be supporting this because I just think people need to take turns filling that, you know, go 00:59:20.973 --> 00:59:28.248 - sit at that desk or do whatever, make it work. Don't ask us to come to you and say which one of your 00:59:28.248 --> 00:59:35.739 - people we can no longer support. We need to do it through attrition. It sounds easier when we just say, 00:59:35.739 --> 00:59:43.518 - let's do it through attrition. It's a lot harder when they come and say, no, I really need this lot filled. 00:59:44.226 --> 00:59:56.942 - So, okay. All right, anybody else? Yes, Councilor Woods. To that same point, I just wanted to indicate 00:59:56.942 --> 01:00:06.942 - that I will support this hire based on the efforts that have been made thus far. 01:00:07.970 --> 01:00:20.742 - taking something down to part time is not just reducing hours as Councillor Hock pointed out, it's the 01:00:20.742 --> 01:00:33.390 - benefits as well. So this is, I think, and I will support this higher, because I think it's been well 01:00:33.390 --> 01:00:35.870 - managed. Thank you. 01:00:35.970 --> 01:00:43.690 - Any other questions or comments for counsel on this item? All right, and seeing none, we'll open it 01:00:43.690 --> 01:00:51.796 - up to public comment. If you have public comment on this item, you can come forward to the lectern here, 01:00:51.796 --> 01:00:59.671 - or you can raise your hand via Teams. And seeing none, may we please have a roll call vote? Councilor 01:00:59.671 --> 01:01:03.454 - Wilts? Yes. Councilor Haas? No. Councilor Henry? 01:01:05.090 --> 01:01:14.300 - Yes. Councillor Crossley? Yes. Councillor Iverson? Yes. Councillor Feidl? Yes. Motion passed six to 01:01:14.300 --> 01:01:23.602 - one majority. Right next up item B. Council I move to approve the court's request and fund 1213-0000 01:01:23.602 --> 01:01:31.614 - CASA-GAL grant an additional appropriation of $1,500 in the services category. Second. 01:01:32.066 --> 01:01:37.385 - Right. And you mentioned you were coming back because you had some good news and so grants today. So 01:01:37.385 --> 01:01:42.915 - this is great. Yeah. Costs inform me that they got another fifteen hundred dollars on their pass through 01:01:42.915 --> 01:01:48.287 - grant. So it's already been received in the auditor's office. So I'm just here to ask that we can get 01:01:48.287 --> 01:01:53.765 - appropriated so we can get them their money. All right. Looking to council colleagues to see if anybody 01:01:53.765 --> 01:01:57.662 - has any questions or comments on that. Of course congratulations on that. 01:01:58.882 --> 01:02:08.204 - All right, and seeing none, we'll go to public comment. If you have public comment, you can raise your 01:02:08.204 --> 01:02:17.616 - hand via Teams or come here to the lectern here in the room. And seeing none, may we please have a roll 01:02:17.616 --> 01:02:27.390 - call vote? Yes. Sir, Henry. Yes. Councillor Decker. Yes. Councillor Crossley. Yes. Councillor Iverson. Yes. 01:02:28.610 --> 01:02:39.244 - Yes, sir. Hawk. Yes motion passes unanimous. All right. Next up is item C Excuse me council. I move 01:02:39.244 --> 01:02:50.516 - to approve the court's request and fund 91 13-000 Family Court grant additional appropriations of $83,000 01:02:50.516 --> 01:02:54.238 - in the services category All right 01:02:54.946 --> 01:03:00.283 - This year, once again, we were lucky enough to get a family court grant, and we received $83,000 forward. 01:03:00.283 --> 01:03:05.519 - And I'm here to get it appropriated. And Judge Stafford is one who monitors that grant, so she has come 01:03:05.519 --> 01:03:06.878 - to speak on it. All right. 01:03:06.978 --> 01:03:11.778 - What do you have to say, Ms. Stafford, or Judge Stafford? Excuse me. That's all good. As long as it's 01:03:11.778 --> 01:03:16.720 - not a swear word, I'll answer it anyway. That's all good. That's what I tell people who come into court. 01:03:16.720 --> 01:03:21.144 - They're like, ma'am, sir, and I'm like, it's all good. No offense taken. Judge Stafford, yes? 01:03:21.144 --> 01:03:25.944 - Thank you. I am proud to say that we are the largest recipient of this type of grant in the state. We 01:03:25.944 --> 01:03:30.885 - are also one of the longest term grant recipients of this type of grant in the state. You all have heard 01:03:30.885 --> 01:03:36.062 - me say this before, so I'm going to keep it as brief as possible. You know that when people come to court for 01:03:36.418 --> 01:03:42.977 - when they are accused of a crime, that they have a right to appointment of counsel, that they have access 01:03:42.977 --> 01:03:49.227 - to probation officers. We don't have that in civil or family court. And this grant allows us to have 01:03:49.227 --> 01:03:55.600 - an attorney available to give advice only, not representation, not going to court with them, not going 01:03:55.600 --> 01:04:01.911 - to mediation with them, two afternoons a month for low-income people only on family cases. And I will 01:04:01.911 --> 01:04:03.582 - tell you, it's not enough. 01:04:04.482 --> 01:04:11.529 - but it helps and we're so grateful for the money. This grant actually helps not just Monroe County, 01:04:11.529 --> 01:04:18.577 - but Green, Lawrence, Owen, and Sullivan. And we are the financial manager of those funds. I monitor 01:04:18.577 --> 01:04:25.906 - and with the help of Lisa Abraham and Melissa in the court services office, we monitor the time sheets, 01:04:25.906 --> 01:04:31.262 - the mileage, we make sure everything is perfect before we do their monthly, 01:04:31.362 --> 01:04:36.579 - outputs and reimbursements and we have asked and gotten great cooperation from Pro Bono Indiana, used 01:04:36.579 --> 01:04:41.795 - to be known as District 10 who does the legal advice to make sure that they're tracking what kinds of 01:04:41.795 --> 01:04:47.114 - advice they're giving and how they're doing it and we're trying to really build a good partnership with 01:04:47.114 --> 01:04:52.280 - them. So we're always appreciative of that and as not just a department but of course a separate and 01:04:52.280 --> 01:04:57.547 - co-equal branch of government we appreciate the chance to receive this grant and move forward with it. 01:04:57.547 --> 01:04:58.110 - Thank you. 01:04:58.818 --> 01:05:08.473 - Thank you. And congratulations again. Any questions or comments for Council and Judge Stafford? I think 01:05:08.473 --> 01:05:18.129 - Councilor Hawk might have a question for you. Congratulations again. I see that the balance in February 01:05:18.129 --> 01:05:27.134 - 20th is seven thousand seven thirty five. So your grant is in the amount of eighty three. And so 01:05:27.842 --> 01:05:33.758 - I don't know how much of that even though it says it's a balance it might already be appropriated to 01:05:33.758 --> 01:05:39.674 - my understand is that some of it was for December output I don't know if it had already gone through 01:05:39.674 --> 01:05:43.774 - yet and we generally in the past have rolled that over and they had a 01:05:43.906 --> 01:05:49.443 - of staff about a year and a half ago to two years ago that caused them to get behind on their request 01:05:49.443 --> 01:05:55.198 - to have that grant spent out. And we worked with them very closely to make sure that they were increasing 01:05:55.198 --> 01:06:00.680 - their hours and using the money that was funded, because we don't want to be in a position of losing 01:06:00.680 --> 01:06:06.489 - those funds. Right. I just wanted to know where you stood on that $7,000. So I'm sure everybody's watching 01:06:06.489 --> 01:06:12.135 - it. Oh, absolutely. Kim, I will look it up. I think that paid some of the January bill, because I don't 01:06:12.135 --> 01:06:13.872 - think there's enough right now. 01:06:13.872 --> 01:06:20.032 - We received the January bill, but we're holding it because there's not enough to pay it until this gets 01:06:20.032 --> 01:06:26.192 - appropriated. And we've told them that. We said, you'll get it after I get to counsel today. Don't want 01:06:26.192 --> 01:06:32.233 - to lose the penny of it, because if you don't spend it by the time the time's up, you could not agree 01:06:32.233 --> 01:06:38.156 - more. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Anything else? Yes. I just was going to offer a commentary, Judge, 01:06:38.156 --> 01:06:41.118 - and we say this a lot, but we're grateful for any 01:06:41.890 --> 01:06:47.992 - let alone our judicial branch going after grants to do things that are extremely beneficial to folks 01:06:47.992 --> 01:06:54.035 - that we otherwise financially probably could not do for ourselves. And we have a long track record, 01:06:54.035 --> 01:07:00.258 - a lot of folks even sitting out there in the audience that go after those and make that public service 01:07:00.258 --> 01:07:06.481 - component more complete for us. And I appreciate very much the court doing that, maintaining that. And 01:07:06.481 --> 01:07:10.046 - for taxpayers, that means that these fine folks are taking 01:07:10.242 --> 01:07:16.284 - additional time their own time to really chase things down out there in the world state federal. To 01:07:16.284 --> 01:07:22.507 - bring those dollars here versus somewhere else and that saves for us and it serves for us so thank you 01:07:22.507 --> 01:07:29.214 - so much. Yes counselor vital and I just want to say how much I truly appreciate the impact it has on families. 01:07:30.338 --> 01:07:36.103 - Thank you. It really does. And frankly, it makes my job easier from a very selfish perspective when 01:07:36.103 --> 01:07:41.925 - someone could get legal advice on what they should file and where they can file it and what they can 01:07:41.925 --> 01:07:47.805 - do. It helps every other case move more quickly. All right. And seeing no other questions or comments 01:07:47.805 --> 01:07:53.742 - from counsel, we'll move on to public comment. So if there's public comment on this item, you can come 01:07:53.742 --> 01:07:57.086 - forward to the lectern here or raise your hand via teams. 01:08:00.738 --> 01:08:11.302 - And seeing none, may we please have a roll call vote. Councilor Henry? Yes. Councilor Decker? Yes. Councilor 01:08:11.302 --> 01:08:21.382 - Crossley? Yes. Councilor Iverson? Yes. Councilor Beidle? Yes. Councilor Locke? Yes. Councilor Williams? 01:08:21.382 --> 01:08:27.294 - Yes. Motion passed. Anonymous. Thank you. Next up is item D. 01:08:28.386 --> 01:08:35.774 - Council I move to approve the court's request and fund 9136-0000 court reform grant. An additional 01:08:35.774 --> 01:08:43.236 - appropriation of $12,453 in the services category. Second. All right. Okay, this court reform grant 01:08:43.236 --> 01:08:50.699 - is was up this year for a technology and what we did three years ago, we did a grant and we're able 01:08:50.699 --> 01:08:54.878 - to purchase with the grant money digital signage in our 01:08:55.042 --> 01:09:00.625 - justice building we have two downstairs and one upstairs and it gave us a three-year maintenance agreement 01:09:00.625 --> 01:09:05.896 - well that is up as of June of this year so we thought well let's try again so we tried and this will 01:09:05.896 --> 01:09:11.218 - cover then the next three years of the maintenance so that we can continue to use our digital signage 01:09:11.218 --> 01:09:15.967 - without having to cost the county anything so I'm asking this be appropriated and that pay 01:09:15.967 --> 01:09:21.237 - for our maintenance for the next three years congratulations again thank you very much all right any 01:09:21.237 --> 01:09:23.742 - questions or comments from council on this item 01:09:27.554 --> 01:09:36.754 - and seeing none, we'll go to public comment. Please come forward to the election here, raise your hand 01:09:36.754 --> 01:09:45.685 - via Teams. And seeing none, may we please have a roll call vote? Councillor Decker? Yes. Councillor 01:09:45.685 --> 01:09:54.617 - Cross? Yes. Councillor Iverson? Yes. Councillor Feidl? Yes. Councillor Hogg? Yes. Councillor Wilts? 01:09:54.617 --> 01:09:57.118 - Yes. Councillor Henry? Yes. 01:09:57.250 --> 01:10:04.511 - Passes unanimous. All right, thank you very much. All right, we are done with courts and now we are 01:10:04.511 --> 01:10:11.772 - moving on to item E, which is from the probation department. Council, I move to open for discussion 01:10:11.772 --> 01:10:19.033 - and possible approval of the probation's request to be exempt from the hiring freeze and be allowed 01:10:19.033 --> 01:10:27.166 - to hire and fund 9142-0000 Community Corrections Grant, account line 11493, legal secretary slash receptionist. 01:10:27.810 --> 01:10:34.903 - And joining us at the table again is Judge DeKoff and Ms. Linda Brady, our chief office. Thank you. 01:10:34.903 --> 01:10:42.563 - Good evening, county council. I want to give you a brief update about staffing in the probation department. 01:10:42.563 --> 01:10:49.726 - I've recently met with a couple of county counselors and they've asked me about our staffing levels. 01:10:49.890 --> 01:10:56.744 - and that sort of thing. So just to update you, before COVID, the pandemic, the staff turnover was very 01:10:56.744 --> 01:11:03.466 - low. For probation officers, we averaged about two probation officers a year leaving the department. 01:11:03.466 --> 01:11:10.253 - We did have a high turnover rate with our community corrections field officers, and any of you who've 01:11:10.253 --> 01:11:17.374 - gotten emails from me know that. Usually, I would lose about four officers a year out of a total of eight. 01:11:17.474 --> 01:11:25.422 - that staff. So that has traditionally been a high turnover position. But since the COVID pandemic, we've 01:11:25.422 --> 01:11:33.067 - had unprecedented turnover with all levels except for support staff. So since 2020, the only time we 01:11:33.067 --> 01:11:40.864 - have had full staff in 2024, we had three weeks for the whole year of 2024 with a full staff. And then 01:11:40.864 --> 01:11:46.238 - in 2025, we went three months, and that's been our record since COVID. 01:11:46.850 --> 01:11:54.138 - So we continue to have that as an issue. Prior to the hiring freeze, we employed 71 full-time employees 01:11:54.138 --> 01:12:01.355 - plus 16 part-time employees. And you all have our organizational chart. I had sent that through email. 01:12:01.355 --> 01:12:08.783 - So hopefully you have that. So at this time, to let you know, we have 18 staff vacancies in the probation 01:12:08.783 --> 01:12:15.230 - department. Can I please repeat that? 18. We have five full-time positions that are vacant. 01:12:15.394 --> 01:12:21.886 - One being the legal secretary, receptionist, two probation officers, two community corrections field 01:12:21.886 --> 01:12:28.506 - officers. We have 13 part-time positions that are vacant. 12 were probation officer assistants and one 01:12:28.506 --> 01:12:35.448 - probation officer that's a part-time is vacant. So again, 18 total. Also, we have two community corrections 01:12:35.448 --> 01:12:42.004 - field officers who've already advised us they will be leaving employment either in the next couple of 01:12:42.004 --> 01:12:44.318 - weeks or the next couple of months. 01:12:44.418 --> 01:12:51.046 - But one of them is up for a job, and we don't know the date he's going to be leaving us. The other, 01:12:51.046 --> 01:12:57.674 - as soon as she's applying for other jobs, and if she gets one, she's out. And no matter what, she's 01:12:57.674 --> 01:13:04.435 - leaving by May because her lease expires. So we're going to have a couple more very soon. So what I'm 01:13:04.435 --> 01:13:10.334 - not here to do is to ask to fill 18 positions. OK. I'm here to ask to fill one position. 01:13:10.434 --> 01:13:17.846 - the most crucial position, which is our Community Corrections Legal Secretary position. In late 2025, 01:13:17.846 --> 01:13:25.113 - when she resigned, our department, as you probably know, we have two separate offices, so we have a 01:13:25.113 --> 01:13:32.670 - receptionist in each of our offices. Since the person who left the position, we've been dividing up the 01:13:32.898 --> 01:13:39.010 - sitting at the receptionist's desk as much as we can with some part-time staff, but because we have 01:13:39.010 --> 01:13:45.733 - so many part-time vacancies, we're down to only two probation officer assistants in the community corrections 01:13:45.733 --> 01:13:52.456 - office, one male and one female, and they spend all of their time that they're allowed to work as part-timers 01:13:52.456 --> 01:13:57.406 - collecting urine for the department for our drug testing program. And so at this 01:13:57.506 --> 01:14:03.686 - At this point, we've been assigning some of those duties, other receptionist duties, to our 01:14:03.686 --> 01:14:10.538 - other receptionist in the other office. However, she is going on maternity leave in about a month. So 01:14:10.538 --> 01:14:17.256 - we have waited as long as we possibly can to fill this position. So we're here to ask to be able to 01:14:17.256 --> 01:14:24.040 - refill. The position is not funded by county general. It's funded by the community corrections grant 01:14:24.040 --> 01:14:26.526 - and community corrections user fees. 01:14:26.882 --> 01:14:33.742 - We've already got it budgeted for the year. And I noticed that another department came up and you asked 01:14:33.742 --> 01:14:40.469 - how many calls the receptionist answered. And in addition to the people walking in the office, we did 01:14:40.469 --> 01:14:47.131 - actually ask TSD to run a report for us. And our main office receptionist gets about 150 phone calls 01:14:47.131 --> 01:14:53.925 - a day on average. And at Community Corrections, we get about 108 calls a day on average. And that plus 01:14:53.925 --> 01:14:54.782 - the walk-in. 01:14:55.010 --> 01:15:02.123 - clientele, but that's what I got from technical services. So just wanted to give you something that 01:15:02.123 --> 01:15:09.591 - you had asked another department for. And so I'm asking for you to please consider approving this. Happy 01:15:09.591 --> 01:15:17.060 - to answer any questions. All right. Thank you for that. And you said this was vacant since late of 2020. 01:15:17.060 --> 01:15:24.030 - She resigned at the end of 2025. Then she had to be paid out for benefits and that sort of thing. 01:15:24.194 --> 01:15:30.618 - Okay, I'm gonna start over here with council member questions, and I'll go to Councilor Becker. Thank 01:15:30.618 --> 01:15:37.042 - you for the context, and you're always good about sending us the vacancy list and all that when I was 01:15:37.042 --> 01:15:43.529 - your liaison. I remember that. One question I have for you, and I should know this, but jog my memory. 01:15:43.529 --> 01:15:50.016 - On these 18 staff vacancies, which probably seems high to a lot of folks, especially yourself and that 01:15:50.016 --> 01:15:54.110 - department, those are in our budget now, but are sitting vacant. 01:15:54.498 --> 01:16:01.845 - Yes. It's been a while since I've been your liaison, but is that 18 number higher than normal, average 01:16:01.845 --> 01:16:09.049 - on normal? No, way higher. I mean, the probation officer assistants who run our drug testing and day 01:16:09.049 --> 01:16:16.181 - reporting program, we cut way back on that because they've been paid out primarily out of community 01:16:16.181 --> 01:16:23.742 - corrections user fees. And our more recent liaisons know we have been trying like crazy to keep that fund 01:16:23.842 --> 01:16:30.471 - in the black. That's why we haven't refilled that. We've tried reassigning and the judge has approved 01:16:30.471 --> 01:16:37.101 - this. We've reassigned some of those drug testing duties to our field officers. That is not what they 01:16:37.101 --> 01:16:43.600 - signed up for when they became field officers, but that's what they're doing. Part of the time, not 01:16:43.600 --> 01:16:50.229 - all of the time, but part of the time. Now we're starting to lose them and have the two vacancies out 01:16:50.229 --> 01:16:52.894 - of the positions and two more coming up. 01:16:53.890 --> 01:17:02.442 - We're just, it's stretched as about as thin as it can get. Let's see if anybody else has any questions. 01:17:02.442 --> 01:17:10.666 - Okay. I'll take it back over here. Councillor Hawk. Yes. Can you remind us again, uh, the reduction 01:17:10.666 --> 01:17:18.889 - you saw, uh, was it 10% reduction in revenue for this grant fund? Well, what was the reduction? You 01:17:18.889 --> 01:17:22.014 - said that you said that the state had 01:17:22.402 --> 01:17:31.917 - Reduced the amount of support for this program. Let this come what? This program is the Community Corrections 01:17:31.917 --> 01:17:40.913 - program and the Community Corrections program did not get reduced. It was flatlined This year it's been 01:17:40.913 --> 01:17:49.909 - flatlined is actually Reduction. Well, it's right. It's it's been flatlined for six years right, right, 01:17:49.909 --> 01:17:52.158 - right, so This is this is 01:17:52.770 --> 01:18:00.530 - Regretfully, this is a program that's going to have to not be able to provide the services that you 01:18:00.530 --> 01:18:08.291 - had in the past. It's just like for our funds, when we see a reduction in the revenue coming in, we 01:18:08.291 --> 01:18:16.362 - can't do what we would like to do in the past. I just wanted to ask a question. I thought sure, I heard 01:18:16.362 --> 01:18:18.302 - you say a 10% reduction. 01:18:18.466 --> 01:18:24.627 - Or maybe that's in some meeting. As far as the 10 percent, you have a good memory, Marty. The state 01:18:24.627 --> 01:18:30.788 - reduced the community corrections budget line by 10 percent. So the community corrections grants in 01:18:30.788 --> 01:18:36.948 - the state budget was reduced by 10 percent this last. So that's a good good. I knew I wasn't making 01:18:36.948 --> 01:18:43.294 - that 10 percent. That was in the state budget. But what happened to us, though, was just a flatlining. 01:18:43.618 --> 01:18:50.168 - at this point. And you may also make another good point about if there's gonna be a reduction because 01:18:50.168 --> 01:18:56.975 - this is a system, the program isn't just, we don't just operate in a vacuum. We take people who otherwise 01:18:56.975 --> 01:19:03.718 - would be serving their time in jail, serving time on community corrections. So I don't know if you wanna 01:19:03.718 --> 01:19:10.268 - say anything about that. I would like to add that the group that I work with from the state have been 01:19:10.268 --> 01:19:10.974 - advocating 01:19:11.074 --> 01:19:19.105 - to not reduce the funds coming into there. Many of the counties rely heavily having to do with, 01:19:19.105 --> 01:19:28.140 - you know, a work release using these programs or so forth. And so it's heavily relied upon in the counties. 01:19:28.140 --> 01:19:36.590 - And so they're all having to reduce their staff and their budgets. And that's what's going to happen 01:19:36.590 --> 01:19:38.430 - throughout the state. 01:19:40.194 --> 01:19:47.572 - I didn't see a change this year of putting that money back in, did you? Well, this isn't a budget year, 01:19:47.572 --> 01:19:55.233 - but I did watch, there was a state JRAC meeting, which is called the Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council, 01:19:55.233 --> 01:20:00.766 - and it's run by Justice Goff, and I did watch it, it was on Friday, and every 01:20:00.930 --> 01:20:08.294 - Entity that was around the table was upset about this because it's affecting every county and it's affecting 01:20:08.294 --> 01:20:15.118 - sheriffs is affecting community corrections work really everything across the state and justice golf 01:20:15.118 --> 01:20:22.212 - actually is he's talked about getting a committee together to try to educate the legislature that here's 01:20:22.212 --> 01:20:28.158 - you did this and here's the impact and to try to get ready for the next budget session. 01:20:32.290 --> 01:20:39.669 - Any other questions or comments from council on this item? Councillor Wilts. First of all, that's a 01:20:39.669 --> 01:20:47.343 - lot of phone calls. Yes, it is. I was not expecting you to say that. I know. I heard the clerk's office 01:20:47.343 --> 01:20:54.721 - when they were up here saying that people call there for everything. People will call us what's the 01:20:54.721 --> 01:21:02.174 - number of the Monroe County Public Library or you name it. That's a lot. They know our phone number. 01:21:02.274 --> 01:21:09.861 - information that they need, whether it's for food pantries or treatment or I mean, there's just a lot 01:21:09.861 --> 01:21:17.597 - of people calling. And plus we have around 1500 people under community supervision with our department. 01:21:17.597 --> 01:21:25.259 - So if you think about that, that's a lot of people that are being supervised by our department. I just 01:21:25.259 --> 01:21:31.358 - wanted to pick up on something you said, which is that your community corrections 01:21:31.778 --> 01:21:39.726 - program doesn't operate in a vacuum, and in fact, if we were to cut back on that program, what we would 01:21:39.726 --> 01:21:47.445 - in fact be doing is putting people into jail. Is that right? Did I interpret what you said? It would 01:21:47.445 --> 01:21:55.469 - reduce the options that the judges have for community supervision if we don't have that program. I think 01:21:55.469 --> 01:21:58.526 - that's important for us to think about. 01:22:00.322 --> 01:22:12.432 - as we're looking at our options across the justice system, because pulling a string over here is going 01:22:12.432 --> 01:22:23.955 - to impact something on the other end. And we have to remember that we are doing a lot, and by we, 01:22:23.955 --> 01:22:29.246 - I mean you, but the county is doing a lot in 01:22:29.442 --> 01:22:37.217 - the form of diversion. We have these programs that are working really well by all accounts. And so I 01:22:37.217 --> 01:22:44.992 - guess I just wanted to make sure that that one little piece that you brought up was sort of laid out 01:22:44.992 --> 01:22:52.767 - a little bit. I like that analogy of pulling the string because I just think of something unraveling 01:22:52.767 --> 01:22:55.230 - and being a big deal. And as we 01:22:55.490 --> 01:23:02.249 - consider a lot of things related to that. That is a very valid and good point. I appreciate that. Thanks, 01:23:02.249 --> 01:23:08.626 - Counselor Wilts. Yes, Counselor Decker. Well, one thing, occasionally I hear things floated. I need 01:23:08.626 --> 01:23:15.385 - to go look at legislation and see what's happening, but I hear about problem-solving courts, some targets 01:23:15.385 --> 01:23:22.846 - on that. Judge, I don't want to speak for you, but I recall when you were talking about, I think recidivism numbers, 01:23:23.234 --> 01:23:29.849 - The record that Problem Solving Courts is amazing in what that does, but also at the same time, it's 01:23:29.849 --> 01:23:36.661 - keeping people from getting them out of our system. Am I right on that? We get them out of jail faster. 01:23:36.661 --> 01:23:43.407 - We keep them out of jail. We get them into treatment. We work on them getting housing. We work on them 01:23:43.407 --> 01:23:46.878 - getting jobs. We help them with their relationships. 01:23:46.978 --> 01:23:55.150 - So definitely, and we partner a lot with treatment providers, with other people in the community. We 01:23:55.150 --> 01:24:03.322 - have people working in various jobs through Center Stone has a program. I was just talking to, I was 01:24:03.322 --> 01:24:12.142 - in mental health court today. I have one of my participants who could not get a job and has a very promising 01:24:12.142 --> 01:24:14.974 - job opportunity. And we have heard 01:24:15.202 --> 01:24:24.613 - that problem-solving courts funding is going to be reduced in the community corrections grants. We don't 01:24:24.613 --> 01:24:33.665 - know that for sure, but that's what we've heard. And to go to Councilwoman Gwilts's point is I did a 01:24:33.665 --> 01:24:43.614 - sentencing today. I put the person on home detention and then probation. Had there not been their alternative, 01:24:45.186 --> 01:24:52.838 - alternative, but to incarcerate him. He had been out. He had been on home detention. He had been doing 01:24:52.838 --> 01:25:00.489 - well because of pre-trial. We had been monitoring him, and he's very, very well. He came to court with 01:25:00.489 --> 01:25:02.718 - a quiet day to speak for him. 01:25:03.682 --> 01:25:11.284 - That's the goal. The goal is to get people out of the system, to keep people out of incarceration, to 01:25:11.284 --> 01:25:19.036 - get them into treatment, to get them what they need. To do that, of course, we need to have programming 01:25:19.036 --> 01:25:26.489 - and we need to have people who can assist them and supervise them. And based upon how we do things, 01:25:26.489 --> 01:25:29.918 - we really work with individuals and work with 01:25:30.722 --> 01:25:40.125 - what they need in their lives because the impact is great. If you don't have those alternatives to offer, 01:25:40.125 --> 01:25:49.262 - then we have fewer choices as judges. And quite frankly, I like to have the choices to be able to help 01:25:49.262 --> 01:25:53.342 - people's lives. Thank you. I appreciate that. 01:25:54.082 --> 01:26:04.347 - Okay, if there are no other further questions or comments from Council, we'll move on to public comment. 01:26:04.347 --> 01:26:14.122 - If there's public comment on this item, you can come forward to the lectern here or raise your hand 01:26:14.122 --> 01:26:22.334 - via Teams. And seeing none, maybe please have a roll call vote. Councilor Crossley? 01:26:23.394 --> 01:26:32.548 - Councilor Iverson? Yes. Councilor Feigl? Yes. Councilor Hawley? Yes. Councilor Wilts? Yes. Councilor 01:26:32.548 --> 01:26:41.703 - Henry? Yes. Councilor Decker? Yes. Motion passes six to one. Great. We appreciate it. Thank you very 01:26:41.703 --> 01:26:51.492 - much. Have a good night. Thank you. All right. Next up is item F for, or next up is the aviation department 01:26:51.492 --> 01:26:52.670 - with item F. 01:26:53.250 --> 01:27:02.269 - Council I move to approve the aviation department's request and fund 4801 dash zero zero zero zero aviation 01:27:02.269 --> 01:27:10.953 - construction the creation of account line for one 104 vehicle purchase and Simultaneously transfer five 01:27:10.953 --> 01:27:18.302 - thousand dollars from the services category to the capital category second Good evening 01:27:18.882 --> 01:27:26.962 - At the January 27th council meeting, the department requested an additional appropriation to purchase 01:27:26.962 --> 01:27:35.279 - an SRE dump truck for $5,000. The department has discovered this purchase must come from a capital asset 01:27:35.279 --> 01:27:43.675 - line. Therefore, the department would like to set up 4801.41104 and do a transfer from 4801.30006. Pretty 01:27:43.675 --> 01:27:45.022 - straightforward. 01:27:46.114 --> 01:27:52.180 - Sounds like it, but maybe some folks got questions. So I will look to see if we got some questions for 01:27:52.180 --> 01:27:58.305 - Mr. Labarty. And yes, Councillor Decker. I don't have any question about this, but I think the elephant 01:27:58.305 --> 01:28:04.372 - in the room is what you have been through. And I'm sorry about that. But if you wanted to say anything 01:28:04.372 --> 01:28:09.790 - about it, I would love to hear more about that than this transfer, which seems appropriate. 01:28:10.018 --> 01:28:16.779 - Yeah, sure. Do you want to do it now or after my second item or whatever you want? Because you've had 01:28:16.779 --> 01:28:23.607 - the week, not me. Yeah, let's let's let's talk about it here after item G. I figured I figured we were 01:28:23.607 --> 01:28:30.434 - going to get to that tonight. OK, OK. All right. Yes, Council. Yes. As a reminder, this is coming from 01:28:30.434 --> 01:28:37.129 - the construction fund aviation construction. So it is not a part of what we can use for other things 01:28:37.129 --> 01:28:39.582 - that we're trying to save money for. 01:28:41.634 --> 01:28:49.954 - Thank you. It's always great for that reminder for me. All right. And seeing no other questions or comments 01:28:49.954 --> 01:28:57.658 - on this item, we will go to public comment. If there is public comment, you can come forward to the 01:28:57.658 --> 01:29:05.054 - lectern here or raise your hand via teams. And seeing none, maybe please have a roll call vote. 01:29:05.506 --> 01:29:12.825 - This is a category transfer. You can do a voice. Oh, that's right. Thank you. So all those in favor 01:29:12.825 --> 01:29:19.998 - of this item signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. All right. Motion carries. 01:29:19.998 --> 01:29:27.902 - Next item, item G. Council, I move to approve the aviation department's request and fund 4801-0000 aviation 01:29:27.902 --> 01:29:34.270 - construction, an additional appropriation of $35,000 in the services category. Second. 01:29:34.626 --> 01:29:41.316 - Okay, what would you like to add to this item? The department seeking additional appropriation of $35,000 01:29:41.316 --> 01:29:48.006 - and from the airport in the airport construction fund to make repairs on the aircraft rescue firefighting 01:29:48.006 --> 01:29:54.569 - vehicle and two pieces of snow removal equipment Already this year we have a specialized airport rescue 01:29:54.569 --> 01:29:59.934 - fire truck That's required by the FAA for some of the airlines the airliners that we 01:30:00.130 --> 01:30:06.270 - we allowed to operate in and out of the airport, and it's had some significant 01:30:06.370 --> 01:30:13.626 - to keep it operational. That piece of equipment is already at approximately $25,000 in repairs, and 01:30:13.626 --> 01:30:21.099 - that is something that we have to keep operational. So when we know there's a problem with that truck, 01:30:21.099 --> 01:30:28.355 - we have to just pick up the phone right away and make those phone calls, and it's not cheap. It's a 01:30:28.355 --> 01:30:36.336 - specialized piece of equipment. So we're already at $25,000 there. And then for one of our runway snowblowers 01:30:36.336 --> 01:30:45.117 - And one of our runway plows, we have some transmission issues and these are really large pieces of equipment. 01:30:45.117 --> 01:30:53.339 - And so it takes another specialized vendor to service that stuff as well. So on top of the 25,000 that 01:30:53.339 --> 01:31:01.560 - we need for the fire truck, we'd like to appropriate $10,000 to make sure we have enough funds to make 01:31:01.560 --> 01:31:06.270 - a repair to the snow removal equipment that we have. Okay. 01:31:06.370 --> 01:31:14.965 - Once again, this is the airport construction fund. Any questions from anybody? Yes, Councillor Hawke. 01:31:14.965 --> 01:31:23.896 - Yeah. Is this the firetruck that I remember that's almost new? It seems like it's almost new. Time flies. 01:31:23.896 --> 01:31:32.491 - It was 2019 and we had you in it in the Fourth of July parade, I believe. Right. It's a huge piece of 01:31:32.491 --> 01:31:36.030 - equipment. Yeah. But you have to have it. 01:31:36.610 --> 01:31:45.590 - That's correct. This isn't like you have a choice. That is correct. And what we are looking for, we're 01:31:45.590 --> 01:31:54.395 - looking for another one on the used market, maybe 10, 15 years old that we can acquire secondhand, a 01:31:54.395 --> 01:32:03.637 - pretty good rate to kind of have as a backup spare. Because when this thing goes down, if charters cannot 01:32:03.637 --> 01:32:06.078 - operate out of Bloomington, 01:32:06.178 --> 01:32:17.777 - So this is a must have. Any other questions or comments? Now would you like to speak on the interest 01:32:17.777 --> 01:32:29.950 - in situation that happened last Thursday? Do you want to have a vote first? Let's vote on this first. OK. 01:32:30.722 --> 01:32:37.805 - I feel like I can do, but I do, because I sit in the seat. So I will listen to my colleagues here, since 01:32:37.805 --> 01:32:44.821 - everybody got all the things. And so I will move on to public comment. So if anybody has public comment 01:32:44.821 --> 01:32:51.770 - on this item, you can come forward to the lectern here in the night. You remember, raise your hand via 01:32:51.770 --> 01:32:58.718 - teams. And seeing none, maybe please have a roll call vote. Councilor Feidl? Yes. Councilor Hogg? Yes. 01:32:59.490 --> 01:33:16.083 - Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. 01:33:16.083 --> 01:33:23.550 - Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. 01:33:23.682 --> 01:33:33.421 - It came right over from Cave Creek Road. There's several homes over there that received extensive damage 01:33:33.421 --> 01:33:42.696 - and just kind of traversed right across airport property northeast from, yeah, the Cave Creek Road. 01:33:42.696 --> 01:33:49.374 - It went right over the runway, didn't cause any airfield runway damage. 01:33:49.474 --> 01:33:56.777 - but did destroy some hangers on the east side of the property. We're still assessing all of the damage 01:33:56.777 --> 01:34:04.009 - that occurred at the airport, but here's what we do know that we have damage. We have over 8,000 feet 01:34:04.009 --> 01:34:11.524 - of wildlife fence destroyed, and this is a specialized fence too. It's not your typical chain link fence. 01:34:11.524 --> 01:34:16.062 - It's eight feet tall, has barbed wire on top, but then it goes, 01:34:16.162 --> 01:34:23.019 - The chain link goes three feet underground as well to stop animals from burrowing. We had contractors 01:34:23.019 --> 01:34:29.875 - out the very next day affecting repairs on that, but that's gonna be ongoing for a very long time. We 01:34:29.875 --> 01:34:36.598 - had about 2,000 feet of fence go out last year from those straight line winds that we had, and that 01:34:36.598 --> 01:34:42.110 - took months. So for maybe approximately two miles of fence line, this is gonna be 01:34:42.242 --> 01:34:50.189 - This is going to be a very long project just in the fence itself. We had two pole barns that were destroyed 01:34:50.189 --> 01:34:57.547 - with everything that was inside of them. We had backup regulators for our airfield lighting system, 01:34:57.547 --> 01:35:04.905 - spare signs and lights for the airfield, other maintenance related equipment. We're still trying to 01:35:04.905 --> 01:35:09.982 - kind of get an inventory of everything that was in those pole barns. 01:35:10.178 --> 01:35:20.272 - We have a very large hanger that received extensive damage. It's the old Indiana University corporate 01:35:20.272 --> 01:35:30.365 - hanger that we now use for transient aircraft. It has some very big, very heavy accordion style doors 01:35:30.365 --> 01:35:31.454 - that shut. 01:35:31.650 --> 01:35:39.152 - laterally, they open and close, they're on a roller system. One of those panels was blown in and landed 01:35:39.152 --> 01:35:46.365 - on a plane that suffered minor damage, but it's still being assessed as far as that plane's damage. 01:35:46.365 --> 01:35:54.299 - But that whole hangar door assembly was compromised. We had engineers looking at it yesterday that specialize 01:35:54.299 --> 01:35:56.030 - in that type of system. 01:35:56.834 --> 01:36:03.981 - They basically said no one should really go in and out of that hanger until some emergency repairs can 01:36:03.981 --> 01:36:11.197 - be affected. And then they also called out a structural engineer to make sure that this hanger is still 01:36:11.197 --> 01:36:18.553 - square and is gonna be worth saving. So there are juries still out on that hanger. We had another smaller 01:36:18.553 --> 01:36:25.214 - box style hanger and the trusses on that were all pushed back. So that is unsafe at the moment. 01:36:26.082 --> 01:36:33.535 - Our tea hangers have minimal damage, but all of the gutters are destroyed on our tea hangers. And those 01:36:33.535 --> 01:36:40.773 - tea hangers are kind of very long structures. We have three different rows of that. So it's actually 01:36:40.773 --> 01:36:47.939 - a lot of gutter. We had several light poles, airport light poles destroyed, a significant amount of 01:36:47.939 --> 01:36:52.382 - airfield and landside signage destroyed, missing, blown away. 01:36:52.514 --> 01:36:59.870 - We had a bridge on the west side of the airport property that was actually picked up and thrown about 01:36:59.870 --> 01:37:07.082 - 25 feet away from where it used to be. Multiple automated vehicle gates on our perimeter fence have 01:37:07.082 --> 01:37:14.078 - been destroyed, and those are significantly expensive for just one vehicle gate. There's debris. 01:37:14.434 --> 01:37:20.983 - All over the air, the airfield is actually good. The runways, taxiways, but once you get away from the 01:37:20.983 --> 01:37:27.659 - airfield and into the farm fields that we have and the trees, there's just a tremendous amount of debris 01:37:27.659 --> 01:37:34.017 - everywhere. We're gonna be cleaning that up for the rest of the year, if not longer. And we're kind 01:37:34.017 --> 01:37:40.693 - of concerned a little bit too about the cleanup because it's sharp pieces of metal. And we've had offers 01:37:40.693 --> 01:37:44.126 - from different organizations in the community to come 01:37:44.610 --> 01:37:52.239 - clean up here and there, but we're a little bit concerned about accepting that help because of the potential 01:37:52.239 --> 01:37:59.239 - hazards there could be with cuts and whatnot. There's a lot more damage also to other buildings all 01:37:59.239 --> 01:38:06.448 - over the airport. I've just kind of given you a rundown of what the airport-owned property is. The BMG 01:38:06.448 --> 01:38:11.838 - Jet Center received extensive damage. They had half of their roof blown off. 01:38:12.066 --> 01:38:19.396 - And they were describing to me what the engineers told them is gonna be required to return that building 01:38:19.396 --> 01:38:26.516 - to service. It's gonna be an extensive repair for them as well. The Cook FBO received some damage and 01:38:26.516 --> 01:38:33.636 - they're looking at that themselves. So it's gonna be a pretty long process for us to kind of clean up 01:38:33.636 --> 01:38:36.638 - and get all of our buildings and equipment 01:38:37.026 --> 01:38:44.353 - Where where they should be so we plan on working with the assurance company started a claim with us 01:38:44.353 --> 01:38:51.900 - on the day after The adjuster should be on site tomorrow at noon But we're looking at I think the wind 01:38:51.900 --> 01:38:58.494 - damage for our for our policy is about a hundred and fifty thousand dollar deductible but 01:38:58.626 --> 01:39:05.141 - We may come and ask later on for some other creative ideas on how we can affect the cleanup, because 01:39:05.141 --> 01:39:11.849 - I've only got a staff of five folks out there, and we've got a 1,300 acre property with debris all over 01:39:11.849 --> 01:39:18.299 - it, and we're still trying to put a game plan together. We're going to ask the insurance company if 01:39:18.299 --> 01:39:22.814 - they will fund any kind of cleanup, but I don't think that they will. 01:39:23.010 --> 01:39:29.706 - Like like a contractor to do debris cleanup because when we had the the issue last year with straight 01:39:29.706 --> 01:39:36.468 - line winds I think this question was raised then and I don't think that they allowed anything for that 01:39:36.468 --> 01:39:43.034 - But we're gonna ask again tomorrow But that's what I'm kind of worried about really is just getting 01:39:43.034 --> 01:39:49.664 - all of the debris cleaned up to a reasonable amount right now There's still stuff all over the place 01:39:49.664 --> 01:39:50.846 - But operationally 01:39:51.650 --> 01:39:59.699 - there was only a three hour period where we didn't have lights. So the airfield itself never really 01:39:59.699 --> 01:40:07.747 - closed. But from about 7.05 to about 10.30, we didn't have any lights for the airfield. But I can't 01:40:07.747 --> 01:40:15.957 - say enough about how quickly REMC crews got out there and restored power to the airport. I was really 01:40:15.957 --> 01:40:20.062 - surprised at how quickly the service was restored. 01:40:20.162 --> 01:40:28.441 - And the air traffic controller who was in the tower that night, he took shelter for about 10, 15 minutes. 01:40:28.441 --> 01:40:36.721 - And after that, he went back to the station. So the airport, really, a testament to the tower controllers 01:40:36.721 --> 01:40:45.078 - and our maintenance crews and all of the private entities that are also at the airport. But operationally, 01:40:45.078 --> 01:40:49.374 - we're doing pretty good. I appreciate you giving that. 01:40:49.474 --> 01:40:56.856 - or report on that, I was able to see the videos and the footage from when the tornado actually hit and, 01:40:56.856 --> 01:41:04.167 - of course, the damage done and the aftermath of it. So, yes, and I know I reached out to you and said, 01:41:04.167 --> 01:41:11.691 - anything that we can do to try to figure this out, let's try to figure this out together. Yeah, I printed 01:41:11.691 --> 01:41:14.814 - that email and I got it sitting on my desk. 01:41:14.978 --> 01:41:29.406 - Thank you. I'll be brief. 01:41:29.570 --> 01:41:35.615 - and didn't plan for it. It was a lot windier than I thought. You know, we'd be out there for a bit. 01:41:35.615 --> 01:41:41.721 - But, yeah, thank you for retelling that. And I think the news here about the insurance piece and the 01:41:41.721 --> 01:41:47.766 - IOU that's now framed in gold at your office that we'll be looking at later. Are we concerned about 01:41:47.766 --> 01:41:53.992 - the debris continuing to blow on the field? Are you having to do extra, like, passes over the airfield 01:41:53.992 --> 01:41:59.070 - to make sure that stuff's not keep blowing at this point? Yeah, we are. Okay. Yeah. 01:41:59.170 --> 01:42:05.292 - I guess I'm not going to do emergency management on the fly, but I will call Jamie to see what could 01:42:05.292 --> 01:42:11.414 - be done there. You're right to say that that's some specialized cleanup, and we don't want to create 01:42:11.414 --> 01:42:17.657 - another emergency with people getting lacerations from trying to touch some of that stuff. Yeah. Yeah. 01:42:17.657 --> 01:42:23.839 - I do want to say something about the community here. Friday morning was a busy, Friday was a busy day 01:42:23.839 --> 01:42:28.446 - for us, and my inbox was blowing up with a lot of requests for information. 01:42:28.546 --> 01:42:35.171 - And my and same thing for my phone, you know, text messages, it was blowing up all day. But I'll be 01:42:35.171 --> 01:42:42.061 - honest, the majority of those communications were from different individuals or different organizations 01:42:42.061 --> 01:42:48.685 - in the Monroe County community offering their support one way or another. You know, at that time, I 01:42:48.685 --> 01:42:55.774 - still wasn't ready and we're still not ready to figure out how to accept all of that help and support. But 01:42:56.610 --> 01:43:04.104 - It was very heartwarming and endearing and encouraging individuals and organizations that we the airport 01:43:04.104 --> 01:43:11.527 - never really even interacts with and It was just it was constant and I was still getting you know, some 01:43:11.527 --> 01:43:18.807 - of those messages over the weekend So that was that was really that was really awesome Counselor Hawk 01:43:18.807 --> 01:43:21.662 - I'm sure this is not at the top of your 01:43:21.794 --> 01:43:29.490 - thought processes right now. You've got so much on your plate. But at some point, someone will have 01:43:29.490 --> 01:43:37.416 - to look at lots of revenue and how that will affect your budget. And I'm not asking you to think about 01:43:37.416 --> 01:43:45.342 - it right now. You've got too much on your plate, but something we have to keep in mind that they count 01:43:45.342 --> 01:43:51.422 - on this revenue for the lease and for the farm ground and for whatever. And so 01:43:52.450 --> 01:43:59.317 - At some point in time, when you have time to think on that, then let us help you with what you need. 01:43:59.317 --> 01:44:06.184 - Yes, we can. Yeah, we're broke. I heard all that. Yeah, I heard all that just a minute ago. But that 01:44:06.184 --> 01:44:13.187 - is it is a conversation that we had today and it's a conversation we intend to have with the insurance 01:44:13.187 --> 01:44:16.382 - company if we're insured against loss, because 01:44:16.738 --> 01:44:23.890 - all of that debris, there's fiberglass insulation all over these ag fields that we have. And we haven't 01:44:23.890 --> 01:44:30.973 - spoken to the farmer yet, but that's gonna be a significant issue. And so yeah, we are concerned about 01:44:30.973 --> 01:44:37.919 - that loss of revenue. Yeah. Any other questions? Yes, Councilor Feidl. So speaking of insurance, and 01:44:37.919 --> 01:44:43.902 - you mentioned about it maybe not covering some of the things that you wanted, is there 01:44:44.002 --> 01:44:50.289 - a way to reevaluate your policy to see if you can change something that might help with any future claims 01:44:50.289 --> 01:44:56.279 - like that? Yeah, that's a that's a that is something that we'll have to talk about. I think with the 01:44:56.279 --> 01:45:02.447 - commissioners, you know, they do this kind of countywide policy that we get lumped into. And so I think 01:45:02.447 --> 01:45:08.734 - if we negotiate any kind of changes, we would probably have to work with the commissioner's office there. 01:45:08.734 --> 01:45:11.166 - I know that there's some other companies 01:45:11.426 --> 01:45:18.693 - that specialize in airport insurance. Maybe that's something that we could look at, entertain. But sure, 01:45:18.693 --> 01:45:25.822 - yeah, there's probably some things that we could tweak. I'm not advocating for one thing at this time, 01:45:25.822 --> 01:45:32.812 - but I definitely think it might be something worth taking a look at later on down the road. Evaluate 01:45:32.812 --> 01:45:39.941 - it and see what you might need for the future. Yes. Thank you. Any other questions or comments for Mr. 01:45:39.941 --> 01:45:40.702 - Leverty on 01:45:43.298 --> 01:45:51.895 - What just happened? Which is also really scary, because this is only February. And so to be serious, 01:45:51.895 --> 01:46:01.088 - a tornado in February when we already not even one year out of what we had last May is a little concerning. 01:46:01.088 --> 01:46:10.110 - So that's also something to keep in mind as we see the dollar signs float and as you cash in on your IOU. 01:46:11.170 --> 01:46:18.440 - Yeah, we had a tornado on Thursday, and then on Saturday, we were out there monitoring the snow conditions 01:46:18.440 --> 01:46:25.777 - at the airport. And the tornado that we had in May was visible from, you know, did everybody, was everybody 01:46:25.777 --> 01:46:33.047 - able to see the pictures that we collected? Okay, and you saw the video. So that same camera also captured 01:46:33.047 --> 01:46:38.142 - the tornado in May. We're thinking about changing the name of the airport. 01:46:38.370 --> 01:46:45.177 - I don't know, something about Tornado Alley in the name or something. He monetized the videos somehow, 01:46:45.177 --> 01:46:51.786 - maybe, I don't know. Yeah, we had Fox 59 out on Friday, and they were talking about, yeah, maybe we 01:46:51.786 --> 01:46:54.430 - should put a camera on this tower also. 01:46:54.978 --> 01:47:00.923 - Well, if you do that, let me know, because I want to be a storm chaser so bad. So seriously, but we 01:47:00.923 --> 01:47:07.046 - appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. All right. Moving back into the agenda here, 01:47:07.046 --> 01:47:10.078 - we will start with the clerk's office with item H. 01:47:10.306 --> 01:47:18.091 - council I'm gonna be combining items H and I into one motion so I move to open for discussion and possible 01:47:18.091 --> 01:47:26.021 - approval of the Kirk's request to be exempt from the hiring freeze and be allowed to hire and fund 1000-0001 01:47:26.021 --> 01:47:29.950 - County General Clerk account line 12,000 chief deputy 01:47:30.242 --> 01:47:37.922 - and simultaneously create account line one six eight zero zero transitional temporary training to allow 01:47:37.922 --> 01:47:45.603 - for the crossover between the new and old chief deputy and amend the twenty twenty six salary ordinance 01:47:45.603 --> 01:47:52.987 - to add the temporary transitional account line. Second. All right. We got a motion and a second and 01:47:52.987 --> 01:47:57.566 - we have our county clerk, Nicole Brown and I see Mr. King has 01:47:57.666 --> 01:48:05.067 - something to say. I wanted to interject real quick before Miss Brown spoke to advise counsel. I do think 01:48:05.067 --> 01:48:12.326 - that statutorily the clerk is allowed to appoint a chief deputy and I wanted to make you aware of that 01:48:12.326 --> 01:48:16.414 - statute. We appreciate that. Thank you. Yes. Clark Brown. 01:48:17.250 --> 01:48:23.964 - Good evening, Madam President and members of the council. As somebody just pointed out, I don't have 01:48:23.964 --> 01:48:30.811 - anything nearly as exciting as what you just listened to. My effort to help last week was I stayed out 01:48:30.811 --> 01:48:37.459 - of the way so as not to impede cleanup efforts. But it may please the council to know that I am not 01:48:37.459 --> 01:48:41.182 - here this evening to ask for additional appropriations. 01:48:41.378 --> 01:48:49.599 - My former chief deputy left to pursue another professional avenue, and I am requesting to fill that 01:48:49.599 --> 01:48:58.067 - position. The clerk's office touches every other justice building office and justice agency, including 01:48:58.067 --> 01:49:06.206 - some of the members that you heard from this evening, as well as, of course, overseeing elections. 01:49:06.594 --> 01:49:13.413 - being allowed to appoint a new chief deputy would offer me the opportunity to face the headwinds that 01:49:13.413 --> 01:49:20.366 - are coming, not only with the courts and elections, but the move of election central to a new location, 01:49:20.366 --> 01:49:27.052 - and I am respectfully requesting to fill that. Now, I'm not as good with the fiscal piece of it, so 01:49:27.052 --> 01:49:34.004 - I asked Michelle if she would help me, but the county attorney explained it perfectly. We wanna be able 01:49:34.004 --> 01:49:36.478 - to pay out the previous chief deputy 01:49:36.642 --> 01:49:43.614 - but we understand we can't put people, two people in the same line and so this would allow me to do 01:49:43.614 --> 01:49:50.796 - that without asking for additional appropriations. Thank you. Thank you very much. All right, is there 01:49:50.796 --> 01:49:57.838 - any questions or comments for the clerk? Yes, Councilor Decker. And Councilor, stop me if anything I 01:49:57.838 --> 01:50:05.438 - say should not be something I say or she should answer or whatever, Ms. Turner King. Is the present occupant 01:50:06.210 --> 01:50:14.364 - in there now and roughly for how long will they be in there? The current deputy, she has left, but we 01:50:14.364 --> 01:50:22.439 - still have to pay out. And I got some guidance from HR and direction from Kim Shell as to how to ask 01:50:22.439 --> 01:50:30.513 - for what to do with that money, but she is not in the world at this time. OK, and the reason I asked 01:50:30.513 --> 01:50:35.070 - that just was I was trying to I was trying to figure out 01:50:35.458 --> 01:50:43.425 - Are you looking for that? You're not looking for her to train the incoming person in that role? No, 01:50:43.425 --> 01:50:51.632 - sir. Okay. Okay. That's what I missed. I see Ms. Turner King has something. To better clarify, I think 01:50:51.632 --> 01:50:55.934 - what Clerk Brown is saying is that the current or the 01:50:56.258 --> 01:51:03.030 - The chief deputy who is departing is not physically in the office every day, but she is using out some 01:51:03.030 --> 01:51:10.130 - vacation time before she's officially ending employment with Monroe County. So she's still in the position, 01:51:10.130 --> 01:51:16.902 - but not there. Yeah, right. And you want to fill it while she's got you. OK, all right. And to clarify 01:51:16.902 --> 01:51:24.068 - that, we are not allowed to pay two people out of that same line. So our only remedy is to use the temporary 01:51:24.068 --> 01:51:25.054 - training line. 01:51:28.258 --> 01:51:37.667 - Yes, Councillor Hawke. Yes. What's the date when you think that the person who's leaving will be complete 01:51:37.667 --> 01:51:46.543 - in all of her draw down of her benefit time or whatever she's? I'm not sure. That's what we need to 01:51:46.543 --> 01:51:53.022 - know so that we know what day she's going to the new person would start. 01:51:55.650 --> 01:52:03.424 - we're not paying two people out of the same line. It would be no different than if this chief deputy 01:52:03.424 --> 01:52:11.661 - who's leaving was actually on vacation. There's no difference. Just, you know, if it's going to be another 01:52:11.661 --> 01:52:19.358 - two weeks or a month, well, then that's how it just sits there and we'll pretend she's on vacation. 01:52:26.018 --> 01:52:39.797 - I think there's anything in statute says that we have to replace immediately. And further, it says when 01:52:39.797 --> 01:52:53.046 - we saw the fiscal, it said zero because they were going to transfer money up and down in that line. 01:52:53.046 --> 01:52:55.166 - Well, you know, 01:52:55.266 --> 01:53:05.477 - That is still a cost to the county because we don't, you know, every dime we spend out of each of those 01:53:05.477 --> 01:53:15.295 - lines that we would not have to, that is money that goes in to operate next year. So are we looking 01:53:15.295 --> 01:53:22.462 - at how long? Yeah, I'm trying to. Okay. And I don't think we have to use 01:53:39.074 --> 01:53:49.437 - we do this? Um, because we got some of the as you all are trying to find this out, um. I'm going to, 01:53:49.437 --> 01:53:59.903 - um recess for five minutes. So, um, we the time is 6 55. Um and we will come back promptly, promptly, 01:53:59.903 --> 01:54:05.854 - promptly at seven o'clock. So we'll recess for right now. 01:54:08.482 --> 01:54:15.173 - I'm going to call this back into order. Took a little bit longer than 705 or seven o'clock because we 01:54:15.173 --> 01:54:21.733 - had some technical difficulties with folks computers. And so before we raised us, we were trying to 01:54:21.733 --> 01:54:28.358 - get information from or regarding the length of time this person still has. And so I'm going to look 01:54:28.358 --> 01:54:31.966 - to Kim Schell and Ms Turner King for this information. 01:54:34.370 --> 01:54:41.387 - After Michelle checked the available folders where that information might be, and I tried to reach out 01:54:41.387 --> 01:54:48.336 - to human resources, but those efforts failed, so I don't think we have that information available for 01:54:48.336 --> 01:54:55.285 - council. We don't know what the last day is. So she would have just earned some vacation time, and we 01:54:55.285 --> 01:54:58.078 - believe that it's less than three weeks. 01:54:58.338 --> 01:55:11.852 - So the overlap would be minuscule in that I hope to have someone appointed in the position by March 01:55:11.852 --> 01:55:25.772 - 9th. And our next meeting would be March 10th. So, three. Can we wait until that meeting? I mean, some 01:55:25.772 --> 01:55:27.934 - election things 01:55:28.034 --> 01:55:40.789 - start up next week. I would rather not if it pleased the council. I think the overlap would be very 01:55:40.789 --> 01:55:53.926 - small. Sorry. Very small. Yes, Councilor Rolts. Could we separate the item, approve the hiring so that 01:55:53.926 --> 01:55:56.222 - she can advertise 01:55:56.322 --> 01:56:05.924 - interview, get that together, paperwork, and let the person know that we will be meeting again on the 01:56:05.924 --> 01:56:15.431 - 10th. They can start shortly thereafter pending, you know, if there's still an overlap or start once 01:56:15.431 --> 01:56:25.598 - the term of the previous person ends. But if we can separate the two so that we can just approve the higher 01:56:27.010 --> 01:56:35.801 - with the understanding that you can't really pay them yet. So essentially what we could do is we could 01:56:35.801 --> 01:56:44.763 - separate H and I, or yeah, H and I have a separate thing for H and table I until our March 10th meeting. 01:56:44.763 --> 01:56:52.787 - Yes. Okay. Yes. Councillor Decker. And I believed what Molly Turner King said is I, the clerk 01:56:52.787 --> 01:56:56.030 - is a constitutional elected official. 01:56:56.738 --> 01:57:09.150 - H is just us being nice, but that's her right to do anyway. Correct. Sorry, is there an official 01:57:09.282 --> 01:57:15.881 - Motion we're still and we're in the process. So I'm gonna go to counselor Henry and then I'll circle 01:57:15.881 --> 01:57:22.414 - back to vital and so that I guess that's where I'm when I saw it was his training I had a different 01:57:22.414 --> 01:57:29.078 - idea of what this was and now I have I understand this better but yeah because the incumbent is still 01:57:29.078 --> 01:57:35.742 - in place there is not technically a end of service yet, so so so Calling at a training position. It's 01:57:35.874 --> 01:57:41.600 - Not that we're training the person. I mean, we're creating a space here. And there's no dollar amount 01:57:41.600 --> 01:57:46.708 - associated other than in-house transfer. So I'm presuming the, like if we were to do this, 01:57:46.708 --> 01:57:52.433 - it's the pay, what we're paying the person is their rates as chief deputy clerk coming in, right? And 01:57:52.433 --> 01:57:58.159 - that dollar amount's of course not here for us to contemplate because you're using in-house transfer. 01:57:58.159 --> 01:58:03.996 - Okay. Now I concur with the idea of dividing the question here just because, I mean, the person's still 01:58:03.996 --> 01:58:04.670 - in the job. 01:58:05.378 --> 01:58:11.912 - I know it's tight to the election. I'm glad to hear that the chief deputy would be put to work on the 01:58:11.912 --> 01:58:18.511 - election once they are brought on, because I think I heard that correctly. So yeah, I would agree with 01:58:18.511 --> 01:58:25.045 - the idea of dividing the question and hopefully getting this passed on the 10th. I'll go to Fidel and 01:58:25.045 --> 01:58:31.707 - then I'll go back to Iris in next. So I heard you talk about the vacation payout, right? And so I don't 01:58:31.707 --> 01:58:34.654 - know, I don't remember, have all the policies 01:58:34.754 --> 01:58:42.341 - So is there a payout for a sick time or any other payouts? You don't get paid out for a sick. 01:58:42.341 --> 01:58:50.654 - None of that. Okay. So that would be the only payout would be for the vacation. Yes. Okay. Thanks. Not 01:58:50.654 --> 01:58:58.968 - really a payout if someone's taking the vacation though. There won't be a lump sum payout. She's using 01:58:58.968 --> 01:59:01.470 - the vacation time. Okay. Yeah. 01:59:03.202 --> 01:59:09.720 - We don't owe her money for her vacation. So I'm gonna bring it back here and then Yes clarifying questions 01:59:09.720 --> 01:59:15.994 - because I mean gosh, this is so in the weeds But the person is drawing on vacation pay because they're 01:59:15.994 --> 01:59:22.329 - still on benefits for the county They're not cashing out their vacation. I'm leaving right. Okay, right 01:59:22.329 --> 01:59:28.542 - sounds like Okay councilor Iverson Council I move to divide the question between items H and I second 01:59:28.738 --> 01:59:37.278 - All right. We got a motion and various seconds. Is there any further question from council? Councillor 01:59:37.278 --> 01:59:45.653 - Hock, did you have a question on this? Well, I don't know. Now that they've called the question that 01:59:45.653 --> 01:59:52.286 - I can ask this, let's go ahead and vote. But I want to discuss the second part. 01:59:52.482 --> 01:59:59.850 - the question. Yeah, we're dividing that, and that's where we can go. OK, so if there is no further question 01:59:59.850 --> 02:00:06.945 - or comments on this, all those in favor of dividing the question signify or separate in H and I signify 02:00:06.945 --> 02:00:13.904 - by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. OK, motion carries. All right, so we'll go with the 02:00:13.904 --> 02:00:20.726 - first part here with the request to fill a vacancy and any other further questions or comments from 02:00:20.726 --> 02:00:21.886 - Council on that? 02:00:23.202 --> 02:00:30.682 - All right, seeing none, we'll go to public comment. If there's public comment on this item, you can 02:00:30.682 --> 02:00:38.386 - come forward to the lectern here in the night. You know, room or raise your hand via teams. And seeing 02:00:38.386 --> 02:00:46.091 - none, may we please have a roll call vote? Councillor Hawk. And this is just to separate the question, 02:00:46.091 --> 02:00:50.878 - correct? No, they've already already done that. This is to age. 02:00:51.202 --> 02:00:58.838 - This is to allow the clerk to hire for the chief deputy. But are we going to give it? How are we going 02:00:58.838 --> 02:01:06.327 - to give her the time frame? Are we going to do it as as Councilman World said? Because if they're if 02:01:06.327 --> 02:01:11.294 - they're hired eight is tomorrow, there will be no money to pay it. 02:01:11.906 --> 02:01:20.434 - Well, that's with the next where the item I can come in and that's where we can discuss that. But this 02:01:20.434 --> 02:01:28.962 - motion right now is to give the clerk approval to go ahead and start the process for the chief deputy. 02:01:28.962 --> 02:01:37.324 - Or a higher at a later date. Point of information? Yes. Not tomorrow. Councilor Decker. I think it's 02:01:37.324 --> 02:01:38.814 - moot because H is 02:01:39.042 --> 02:01:47.926 - H is just ceremonial anyway. It's us saying the clerk is the constitutional officer that hires a chief 02:01:47.926 --> 02:01:56.809 - deputy as the Indiana law allows. I'm trying to summarize that. So H is like, if we said no, she still 02:01:56.809 --> 02:02:05.434 - retains that. The timing in the second part, that is kind of more of the detail. Correct. So can we 02:02:05.434 --> 02:02:08.798 - please still? Yes. I think to clarify. 02:02:09.410 --> 02:02:15.536 - The timing issue, I think H is ceremonial. The clerk does have the statutory authority to appoint her 02:02:15.536 --> 02:02:21.542 - chief deputy. The timing bit of it comes in with the fact that two people can't be paid out of that 02:02:21.542 --> 02:02:27.608 - same line. So until that line is vacated, someone else wouldn't be able to be hired in and paid from 02:02:27.608 --> 02:02:33.854 - it. Which is why the separator, because we'll move on to I. So can we please finish with the roll call? 02:02:39.682 --> 02:02:52.912 - Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. 02:02:52.912 --> 02:03:06.142 - Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. 02:03:06.142 --> 02:03:08.126 - Yes. Yes. Yes. 02:03:10.018 --> 02:03:23.552 - So item I currently be asking for a temporary training line to be instated and then used to pay a new 02:03:23.552 --> 02:03:38.014 - chief deputy should that person be hired prior to the current chief deputies term ending. And we do not know 02:03:38.242 --> 02:03:46.421 - the end date, which is what we were trying to find out is like, you know, what are we talking about 02:03:46.421 --> 02:03:54.599 - here? It sounds like it might be really small, but it sounded like it might be a hurdle for council 02:03:54.599 --> 02:04:03.023 - to wrap their heads around. So I wanted to separate it so that we could support you in moving forward. 02:04:03.023 --> 02:04:07.358 - And then maybe we want to table this until the 10th. 02:04:07.938 --> 02:04:14.457 - Just so we know what we need. Like, I mean, if we come back on the 10th and you're like, it's a moot 02:04:14.457 --> 02:04:21.040 - point. Never mind. You know, her vacation ended yesterday and I'm hiring the guy tomorrow or whatnot. 02:04:21.040 --> 02:04:27.495 - Great. If you come back and you say, hey, there's a whole other week. I've got the person lined up. 02:04:27.495 --> 02:04:34.142 - They agreed. Can we start them before the end of this? And it's, you know, then we could vote on that. 02:04:34.142 --> 02:04:37.886 - Does it help you to know that I do have someone lined up? 02:04:41.602 --> 02:04:50.574 - And if I can just, you know, in the spirit of no good deed going unpunished, I wanted to make sure she 02:04:50.574 --> 02:04:59.807 - left with what she had earned during her service. I reached out to HR for guidance. That was the guidance 02:04:59.807 --> 02:05:08.517 - that I was given to do what I've done today and that Michelle would help me to explain it. So there 02:05:08.517 --> 02:05:10.782 - is a precedent for having 02:05:10.946 --> 02:05:20.298 - done this in the past because I wouldn't have known how to do it. I don't know that we've used it this 02:05:20.298 --> 02:05:29.559 - way but I think I get why it was suggested. It allows you to do this. So I was following the guidance 02:05:29.559 --> 02:05:38.366 - that I was given and this person is ready, willing and able to start on March 9th. We don't know 02:05:38.978 --> 02:05:47.297 - how long the overlap would be. That's the question. Right. Okay. I thought I heard and saw some other 02:05:47.297 --> 02:05:55.535 - questions or comments from this council. Yes, Councillor Decker. I looked at the packet. My original 02:05:55.535 --> 02:06:03.692 - email said that the I think this is where I got confused that the position would go I'm not looking 02:06:03.692 --> 02:06:08.830 - at the wrong I'm sorry here. Now here we go. That the position 02:06:09.058 --> 02:06:21.799 - would be vacant on the 23rd, which was yesterday. And I guess my question is, is it possible for the 02:06:21.799 --> 02:06:35.550 - leaving chief deputy to do the weakest part of that? And then that would, since there's not a cross training 02:06:35.650 --> 02:06:43.143 - purpose and you're trying to honor some of the time that this person has. Let them finish off this week, 02:06:43.143 --> 02:06:50.279 - start the next person on the 9th, and then we kind of take care of this. I don't know how long that 02:06:50.279 --> 02:06:57.630 - kind of window of days is out there, and that makes me a little hesitant in some ways, unless somebody 02:06:57.630 --> 02:07:04.766 - can kind of convince me otherwise just to have it kind of ongoing forever without a different plan. 02:07:08.386 --> 02:07:17.415 - And then there's the concern of paying two people at the same time when we are telling most people, 02:07:17.415 --> 02:07:26.534 - hey, be really tight with the budget. Okay. So because we like, this is the one thing again, we just 02:07:26.534 --> 02:07:36.195 - hired us or this evening and we were trying to be very mindful of what we are doing in terms of tightening 02:07:36.195 --> 02:07:37.278 - our budget. 02:07:37.730 --> 02:07:51.681 - and what not. And I think that. Maybe as a compromise. Um. Because you have the green light and staturally, 02:07:51.681 --> 02:08:05.374 - you also had it to, um to have this person and mind and then come back the very next day on the 10th. And 02:08:05.538 --> 02:08:14.491 - I think it's a little less just like that shouldn't be a very long. That meeting there should just be 02:08:14.491 --> 02:08:23.708 - a quick once we can gather information and figure out when this person is officially done and have moved 02:08:23.708 --> 02:08:32.661 - on because I can see the concern that everybody has in terms of paying somebody out of that same line 02:08:32.661 --> 02:08:35.294 - at the same time for that. Um 02:08:36.290 --> 02:08:44.121 - So because you have the nice or this person can, you know, go. But then we have the 10th, which is the 02:08:44.121 --> 02:08:52.485 - very next day. Could you I will be returning from the clerks, the Southern District Clerk's Spring Conference 02:08:52.485 --> 02:09:00.316 - on the 10th. I mean, typically it lets out by four o'clock and it's in terrible. I expect that I would 02:09:00.316 --> 02:09:05.182 - be back by five. I'm not, you know. Could you attend virtually? 02:09:05.474 --> 02:09:13.417 - for us or, and maybe not necessarily you, perhaps somebody from our office, and we've done this before, 02:09:13.417 --> 02:09:21.283 - where if you're not here, that should allow for somebody else to be able to give that clarifying point 02:09:21.283 --> 02:09:28.921 - that we're all asking for in terms of when is this person vacating? So if you can't be here, then I 02:09:28.921 --> 02:09:34.878 - would look to staff to see if we can get that clarifying point in your stead. 02:09:34.978 --> 02:09:43.129 - That part that piece would be fine I guess the only other piece that I would be wondering is if we learn 02:09:43.129 --> 02:09:50.969 - tomorrow after speaking with HR that It's sooner rather than later And I'd like that person to start 02:09:50.969 --> 02:09:59.042 - on the 9th Do I have options to start If if that's not an issue if the if the crossing is not an issue, 02:09:59.042 --> 02:10:02.846 - yeah, we just approved going ahead and hiring so 02:10:05.858 --> 02:10:13.069 - Yes, if it's if it's vacant to me, the Constitution making you a constitutional officer is your ability 02:10:13.069 --> 02:10:20.419 - to say I have a new chief deputy when it is vacant. So I mean, literally right now, if the current walked 02:10:20.419 --> 02:10:27.560 - in here and said, I'm done, I think we would have to honor whoever you say. However, H.R. would figure 02:10:27.560 --> 02:10:35.326 - out the next starting day. So because it is the big as I understand it, you have to start them at the beginning 02:10:35.650 --> 02:10:46.537 - of a pay period, that's... Unnecessarily. No. Do you? No. My understanding is employee service doesn't 02:10:46.537 --> 02:10:57.635 - want you transferring people from a position to a position mid payroll, but you can start a new employee 02:10:57.635 --> 02:11:02.814 - anytime. So Ms. Turner-King, so to clarify this, 02:11:02.946 --> 02:11:11.122 - It to counselor decades point if we end up table in the second part to March 10th in two weeks and say, 02:11:11.122 --> 02:11:19.141 - for example, we hear somebody say like this person at the end of the week is dying. And we've already 02:11:19.141 --> 02:11:27.710 - given her the green light and statutory. She already has that in her purview. Does she need to come back if? 02:11:28.866 --> 02:11:36.385 - for the tabled item if this person vacates earlier than March 10th. I just got a text that her last 02:11:36.385 --> 02:11:43.979 - day is the 27th. Does that help you today? I think we should probably confirm. Yeah, I think we need 02:11:43.979 --> 02:11:51.648 - to confirm with HR just to make sure everything is all clear. And I'm happy to confirm that tomorrow. 02:11:51.648 --> 02:11:55.934 - I think that the return to a council meeting on the 10th 02:11:56.162 --> 02:12:05.200 - only as necessary if the leaving chief's deputies. Last day is after March 9th, which is when the new 02:12:05.200 --> 02:12:14.239 - person is committed to being able to start. If her last day is indeed the twenty seventh, then you're 02:12:14.239 --> 02:12:23.100 - clear. I'm sorry. I got a qualifying text that it is March twenty seventh. Oh, so then I'm going to 02:12:23.100 --> 02:12:24.606 - ask for this. So 02:12:24.930 --> 02:12:32.763 - Sounds like that is opening up a can of worms. And so we need to get with HR and employees, well, employee 02:12:32.763 --> 02:12:40.230 - services to figure out when this is because this is becoming a little sticky. And so I'm going to say 02:12:40.230 --> 02:12:47.770 - council and we don't have any objections. I would like to table item I until March 10th so that we can 02:12:47.770 --> 02:12:51.870 - get clarifying question or clarifying response. Second. 02:12:52.066 --> 02:12:59.117 - Okay, we got a motion in a second. And again, if that means if we get clarifying response that says. 02:12:59.117 --> 02:13:06.656 - If we check with employee services and they say that, you know, actually this person is done as of February 02:13:06.656 --> 02:13:13.637 - 27th, then. They blend is moot and then you can go about it. However, that's something that we need 02:13:13.637 --> 02:13:20.757 - to take up on. All right. So is there any other further questions or comments on council for in table 02:13:20.757 --> 02:13:22.014 - in this decision? 02:13:22.786 --> 02:13:30.831 - Okay. So all those in favor of table in item I until March 10th signify by saying aye. Aye. All those 02:13:30.831 --> 02:13:38.877 - opposed same sign. Okay. Thank you. Motion carries. All right. Next up we got item J council. I moved 02:13:38.877 --> 02:13:47.317 - to open for discussion and approval of the clerk's request be exempt from the hiring freeze and be allowed 02:13:47.317 --> 02:13:52.286 - to hire and fund 12 15 dash 0062 election fund election board. 02:13:52.578 --> 02:14:01.015 - the 473 positions as outlined on the agenda. Second. And we still have the clerk and we have Miss Ferris 02:14:01.015 --> 02:14:09.130 - here. Hello. Hello. So I want to tell you, I'm a little bit embarrassed. The last hiring freeze that 02:14:09.130 --> 02:14:17.406 - I remember, which would have been during the pandemic, we were still able to hire poll workers. And so 02:14:17.538 --> 02:14:25.730 - just like a recent elected official came and told you that they did not it did not occur to them that 02:14:25.730 --> 02:14:33.761 - they would not be able to pay an intern and considered them employees. It never occurred to me that 02:14:33.761 --> 02:14:42.193 - the hiring freeze froze out our poll workers. And so tonight we're here obviously to be able to navigate 02:14:42.193 --> 02:14:45.566 - the election. We will need our invaluable 02:14:45.890 --> 02:14:55.639 - early absentee and Election Day poll workers, and so we are asking to be able to hire those people, 02:14:55.639 --> 02:15:04.414 - and we need them as soon as next week. Yeah, so a couple of these, the absentee worker B, 02:15:05.378 --> 02:15:11.408 - There it shows that there are four individual sorry absentee workers see there's eight individuals four 02:15:11.408 --> 02:15:17.438 - of those generally would start March 3rd. That's where they've started in the past so they should have. 02:15:17.538 --> 02:15:24.746 - been starting next week on Tuesday. These are all the individuals who process the applications for vote 02:15:24.746 --> 02:15:31.816 - by mail, military overseas, and the first round of ballots of anybody who had filed an application as 02:15:31.816 --> 02:15:38.816 - of December 1st until March 21st have to be out by March 21st. So those four, for sure, I'm going to 02:15:38.816 --> 02:15:44.638 - have to try to get in as quickly as possible in order for us to meet that deadline. 02:15:45.346 --> 02:15:55.176 - Also looking at this, I noticed on poll worker B that number four for total is my minimum. So questioning 02:15:55.176 --> 02:16:04.727 - on how, if I need backups, what will that process look like as well? Yes, Councillor Henry. Thank you. 02:16:04.727 --> 02:16:13.630 - And thank you for bringing this one back. I gotta say, this isn't directed at you, this is more 02:16:14.018 --> 02:16:20.108 - into the ether and hopefully it hits the right office in the building. This is the fourth time this 02:16:20.108 --> 02:16:26.563 - cycle, right, that we've had a conversation about temporary workers in the county that are getting jammed 02:16:26.563 --> 02:16:32.713 - up in our HR process. So it was the treasurer, it was the parks, it was the courts, and now it's you 02:16:32.713 --> 02:16:39.108 - all with elections. And that's the process change, right? This is something that's affecting yet another 02:16:39.108 --> 02:16:43.614 - temporary hire. So when these folks are hired by you all for the primary, 02:16:44.098 --> 02:16:48.965 - Are you going to have to fire them so and rehire them for the general election at this point? Yeah, 02:16:48.965 --> 02:16:54.026 - so we'll have to terminate between the primary and the general and we'll have to go through the process 02:16:54.026 --> 02:16:58.892 - of the paperwork Again, so and then we're hearing are you hearing from those poll workers like some 02:16:58.892 --> 02:17:03.905 - frustration? Are we concerned about filling out w2s? And then we're gonna be doing a lot of paperwork. 02:17:03.905 --> 02:17:06.046 - This is a lot of this is a lot of paperwork 02:17:06.178 --> 02:17:12.511 - Yeah, we've had some back and forth on this. Another thing that is starting to concern them as well 02:17:12.511 --> 02:17:19.224 - is the background checks through the process of the hiring as well. So we're waiting on background checks 02:17:19.224 --> 02:17:21.630 - for people to work a few hours. Okay. 02:17:21.762 --> 02:17:28.245 - Ms. Turner King, can you walk me through one more time why we're going through this process? Actually, 02:17:28.245 --> 02:17:34.603 - I'm going to do a point of order because this was something that I had asked because I know that was 02:17:34.603 --> 02:17:41.023 - a concern that the clerk had and I had reached out to E from employee services and I can read for the 02:17:41.023 --> 02:17:46.814 - record what was sent to me and it says when a full or part time employee leaves employment, 02:17:46.946 --> 02:17:53.087 - We terminate them in payroll in all systems after their final paycheck. Election workers and part-time 02:17:53.087 --> 02:17:59.168 - property tax employees in the treasurer's office are the only workers that have fixed spring and fall 02:17:59.168 --> 02:18:05.308 - employment periods, meaning we keep them active during that brief time between periods and remove them 02:18:05.308 --> 02:18:11.389 - from payroll at the end of the year. So we should only have to go through this hiring process once if 02:18:11.389 --> 02:18:14.430 - they request enough to cover both spring and fall. 02:18:14.562 --> 02:18:23.936 - employees. And so. Based on those prior challenges term in these employees at the end of the year helps 02:18:23.936 --> 02:18:33.219 - us avoid all costly mistakes. So technically, um, it like they could do. Like we could get through our 02:18:33.219 --> 02:18:43.134 - primary right now with hiring for primary, and if I'm working primary and I want to work in general, I get to 02:18:43.266 --> 02:18:48.986 - Is that my understanding? That is also my understanding from HR. I guess that's some good news tonight. 02:18:48.986 --> 02:18:54.597 - I'll just scream into the ether about the other ones then. I just had two other questions here. Well, 02:18:54.597 --> 02:19:00.097 - one's a comment. I want to thank Ms. Ferris for giving me a little nickel tour of the current state 02:19:00.097 --> 02:19:05.267 - of things in voter registration and sort of where things are heading in the showers building. 02:19:05.267 --> 02:19:10.768 - I wanted to say, having served on the election board as a president, I have a lot of concerns about 02:19:10.768 --> 02:19:12.638 - what I saw, and I would encourage 02:19:12.770 --> 02:19:18.437 - fellow colleagues to go toward the current state of things and voter registration. Some of the things 02:19:18.437 --> 02:19:24.105 - that got my attention were the fact that I did not see a secure space. There was cabinetry that's not 02:19:24.105 --> 02:19:29.661 - secure, that you have boxes everywhere. Also the fact that we don't have phone lines in that space. 02:19:29.661 --> 02:19:35.439 - So as a result, people will be calling cell phones to try to get information during voting when we used 02:19:35.439 --> 02:19:37.662 - to just transfer phone numbers. Can you 02:19:37.794 --> 02:19:45.168 - Maybe walk through the impact on these people that we're hiring on what that's gonna look like upstairs 02:19:45.168 --> 02:19:52.330 - for you all. I think it's important to get into space. Would you rather? You're fine. You know, this 02:19:52.330 --> 02:19:59.846 - is a sore spot for me. Some of you may recall a council or not a council, pardon me, commissioner meeting 02:19:59.846 --> 02:20:04.030 - last year where I was given one opportunity to weigh in on 02:20:04.418 --> 02:20:13.002 - the space that we were being given in the showers building. At the time, of course, the variables were 02:20:13.002 --> 02:20:21.920 - a bit different in that you were talking about building a new justice complex. And so I I had been hopeful 02:20:21.920 --> 02:20:30.254 - not only looking at current but future the future needs of the clerk's office to be able to look at 02:20:30.254 --> 02:20:31.838 - more spaces. I was 02:20:33.090 --> 02:20:41.773 - told this is this is the space that you have. We have weighed in with our concerns. I have mentioned 02:20:41.773 --> 02:20:50.370 - accessibility concerns for some of the older people who have to navigate those stairs because we're 02:20:50.370 --> 02:20:59.998 - not fully on the first floor. We meet regularly with Mr. Crider who gives us updates. I never ever believe that 02:21:01.282 --> 02:21:07.811 - Deadline was a true deadline. I've never seen anything finished, any construction finished when you 02:21:07.811 --> 02:21:14.341 - say it's going to be finished unless there's a financial incentive to do so. And I know good, as my 02:21:14.341 --> 02:21:20.870 - grandmother would have said, good and teen well that the council is not paying financial incentives 02:21:20.870 --> 02:21:26.942 - to get us in this space early. So, you know, I've said to other incarnations of the council, 02:21:27.170 --> 02:21:33.830 - We make it work with what you give us. That's what we do. That doesn't mean that it's in the best interest 02:21:33.830 --> 02:21:40.116 - of the people that we ask to come and work for us. So if there is something that can be done to make 02:21:40.116 --> 02:21:46.340 - it easier for my staff to to get our people in and make sure they're comfortable and able to do the 02:21:46.340 --> 02:21:52.190 - work, I would welcome that. Is that a fair? That's fair. And I know, Mr. Iverson, I have been 02:21:52.386 --> 02:21:57.160 - And disposed over the past week. But again, I would encourage all the members to take a look at what's 02:21:57.160 --> 02:22:01.470 - going on there. You're going to be in the upstairs space through the primary. Is that right? 02:22:01.730 --> 02:22:08.841 - Yeah, as of right now, we're looking at being in the upstairs space through June. We've been working 02:22:08.841 --> 02:22:15.952 - with Krider to see if there's a possibility of us being in the downstairs space on election day. But 02:22:15.952 --> 02:22:23.134 - right now, it's kind of a back and forth on trying to figure out how things are going to go furniture 02:22:23.134 --> 02:22:25.950 - wise and just trying to get some of the 02:22:26.114 --> 02:22:33.243 - details squared away. The phone line is one of the biggest issues right now just because of the amount 02:22:33.243 --> 02:22:40.717 - of calls that we've had coming in within the past couple of weeks. We have myself and two our two full-time 02:22:40.717 --> 02:22:47.639 - employees have county cell phones that are being transferred from the current lines that were voter 02:22:47.639 --> 02:22:49.438 - registration and if it is 02:22:49.634 --> 02:22:56.079 - multiple callers coming in at one time, it's going straight to a voicemail instead of going to an answering 02:22:56.079 --> 02:23:02.285 - machine. And so then they're just assuming it's a number that was not connected to the county. One more 02:23:02.285 --> 02:23:08.252 - question then. And it's related to this is all related because these people are going to be working 02:23:08.252 --> 02:23:14.339 - in this space, right? You you have do you have complete access to the whole floor that you were given 02:23:14.339 --> 02:23:18.814 - or is there's been there's urban square footage that's been held back like 02:23:19.010 --> 02:23:24.406 - Are you able to use all the suite at this point? Or is it being used? On the top. The top. So part of 02:23:24.406 --> 02:23:29.696 - it, we do have access to. The other part, we don't currently. Last thing, the precinct sheriffs, is 02:23:29.696 --> 02:23:35.197 - that new this year? Can you walk through with this? I thought there was a maybe this is an account line 02:23:35.197 --> 02:23:40.752 - item. Are there any new positions listed here from the last election cycle? I think it's a courier line. 02:23:40.752 --> 02:23:46.148 - And that's the one that we are also on the agenda for tonight. That's not a new. I mean, we've always 02:23:46.148 --> 02:23:48.158 - had couriers. We just haven't filled. 02:23:48.642 --> 02:23:55.254 - We have. It was in the same line as travel board because they were essentially doing the same things. 02:23:55.254 --> 02:24:01.867 - Thank you for that. That's all, Madam President. Thank you. Yes, Councillor Decker. I want to go back 02:24:01.867 --> 02:24:08.414 - to the phones that Councillor Henry raised. Have you been given an estimate on phone lines when that 02:24:08.674 --> 02:24:15.975 - No, in the upstairs space, we're running off of some splits that they put in for temporary just because 02:24:15.975 --> 02:24:23.207 - they know that we're going to be there temporarily. I'm still waiting on some communication about some 02:24:23.207 --> 02:24:30.438 - extra computers for the lead staff as well. Okay. Well, just based on what past issues have been, when 02:24:30.438 --> 02:24:33.246 - all these people start filing in there, 02:24:33.378 --> 02:24:41.084 - that's going to be a headache. So whoever in Etherland, as I said, is listening to this that might have 02:24:41.084 --> 02:24:48.493 - authority on this, and I think we can follow up too, that is a logistical nightmare of one kind and 02:24:48.493 --> 02:24:56.125 - another, and particularly as the election, which is what you all do for a living, starts to become its 02:24:56.125 --> 02:24:57.310 - thing. It won't 02:24:57.506 --> 02:25:04.237 - It won't make life any easier for anybody, let alone the public. So anything we could do on that one 02:25:04.237 --> 02:25:11.168 - would be one in the ether that would help tremendously. And I do want to add that in the 2024 election, 02:25:11.168 --> 02:25:17.898 - we had 10 phone lines. All of these phones answered to the same line. So anybody in the office could 02:25:17.898 --> 02:25:22.430 - pick up that line at any time. And so we're going from 10 to having 02:25:22.690 --> 02:25:29.181 - three and two of them are posted on the county website. And the third one is my desk number that not 02:25:29.181 --> 02:25:35.801 - a lot of people call very often. They normally were transferred to my line. So that's another instance 02:25:35.801 --> 02:25:42.292 - of where we're having to go get the other cell phone instead of being able to be transferred. And as 02:25:42.292 --> 02:25:49.040 - I understood you, it's a lot of calls now. We're getting a lot of calls asking about the SAVE Act. We're 02:25:49.040 --> 02:25:52.382 - getting a lot of calls as we're ready to, you know, 02:25:52.514 --> 02:26:01.180 - prepare for early voting in elections. And so a lot of calls are going to board up, excuse me, voicemail 02:26:01.180 --> 02:26:09.598 - that would otherwise not have. Correct. So the only other question that I have, because I thought and 02:26:09.598 --> 02:26:18.098 - preparing for tonight, seeing this number and seeing some previous numbers for all of these positions, 02:26:18.098 --> 02:26:22.142 - is this for both primary and general, or is this 02:26:22.338 --> 02:26:28.626 - for just primary. This is primary. This is just primary. Okay. Okay. And I will say that a couple of 02:26:28.626 --> 02:26:35.225 - these spots, we will be getting pretty close to what we'll need. And that's why I was kind of questioning 02:26:35.225 --> 02:26:41.638 - about for backups, because I mean, on election day, up until like the hour before we're opening, we're 02:26:41.638 --> 02:26:47.926 - still replacing people who have called in or just didn't show up at all to a polling location. Other 02:26:47.926 --> 02:26:52.222 - questions or comments from Council on this item? Yes, Council votes. 02:26:58.978 --> 02:27:10.763 - I'm in no position to impede your ability to make these hires. So that's not what this question is about 02:27:10.763 --> 02:27:21.987 - at all. I am really just curious about what these positions represent, because it only comes up for 02:27:21.987 --> 02:27:27.262 - me maybe once a year or less. So bear with me. 02:27:27.874 --> 02:27:35.714 - The inspectors, you have 28 of those, and that is on election day, and it looks like you probably have 02:27:35.714 --> 02:27:43.478 - one-ish per precinct. So it's one per precinct. They are the manager of the poll. So that is the main 02:27:43.478 --> 02:27:51.165 - individual who's contacting our office. So if there's an issue, they call us instead of it being all 02:27:51.165 --> 02:27:56.798 - of the individuals at each polling location trying to contact our office. 02:27:56.930 --> 02:28:03.980 - That makes sense. And so you have 28 listed. You said you were anticipating 22. The election board moved 02:28:03.980 --> 02:28:11.231 - forward with 28 polling locations. Okay. Awesome. Okay. You're welcome. Yeah. But then judges, you probably 02:28:11.231 --> 02:28:17.946 - have to have two, one from each party. Yes. So it's a minimum of two. Some of the polling locations 02:28:17.946 --> 02:28:24.190 - will have four based on the number of registered voters that will be going to that precinct. 02:28:25.154 --> 02:28:32.490 - everyone else just bored to tears because I need my civics lesson. So then you have the sheriff's looks 02:28:32.490 --> 02:28:39.543 - like one per but it's still at 22 not 28. Yeah. So some of the locations will not have any sheriffs 02:28:39.543 --> 02:28:46.597 - whatsoever. We generally only use them in the general but we have looked at potentially having some 02:28:46.597 --> 02:28:53.086 - during the primary. Like I said they help with the flow they go out if the inspector at one 02:28:53.378 --> 02:28:59.623 - Three times the day, the sheriff will go outside and count how many people's in line, and we have to 02:28:59.623 --> 02:29:05.992 - have that reported back to us. So they really help with filling in in different roles. When people are 02:29:05.992 --> 02:29:12.547 - taking breaks, making sure that the poll's running smoothly, helping whenever there's a backup somewhere, 02:29:12.547 --> 02:29:18.792 - just making sure that we're getting things processed pretty quickly. OK, but not every polling place 02:29:18.792 --> 02:29:21.822 - will have one. So Burgoon don't need no sheriff. 02:29:22.242 --> 02:29:30.326 - very small. They take great care of themselves. I would want that job just so I could be sheriff for 02:29:30.326 --> 02:29:38.731 - the day, right? That's the one you want. It's a fun job. And then you have a lot of clerks slash student 02:29:38.731 --> 02:29:44.574 - workers and that's day of election and those are the folks that are just 02:29:45.058 --> 02:29:50.739 - get doing all the work, right? Those are the folks that are checking every individual in as they're 02:29:50.739 --> 02:29:56.648 - coming in to vote. So those poll books that are at the front, we have to have a bipartisan team at each 02:29:56.648 --> 02:30:02.613 - one of those. So depending on the size of the location, how many registered voters are each one. I think 02:30:02.613 --> 02:30:08.408 - the smallest one we have three, no, Burgoon has two poll books. The second one is a backup. The first 02:30:08.408 --> 02:30:11.646 - one is the only one that they really use. And then Saint 02:30:12.354 --> 02:30:21.334 - St. John's in Elksville is our largest location and they normally have about 14 clerks there. Okay. 02:30:21.334 --> 02:30:27.710 - All right. And then we have craziness. We have 90 absentee worker A's. 02:30:27.970 --> 02:30:34.785 - Yes. So those are going to be, again, your check-in, your printers. They are the main bulk of processing 02:30:34.785 --> 02:30:41.406 - individuals in and out. They also take care of checkout. So if you go to early voting, they check you 02:30:41.406 --> 02:30:47.961 - in at the poll books, they print your ballot, or they're checking you out at the end of the day. And 02:30:47.961 --> 02:30:55.166 - they're going to be paid hourly now after we kind of made the thing up a few years ago. Okay. Absentee boards. 02:30:57.122 --> 02:31:04.007 - The counters are on Election Day. They are the individuals who open up the absentee early voting ballots 02:31:04.007 --> 02:31:11.023 - and separate the envelope from the ballot itself for the ballots to be processed and counted. Can somebody 02:31:11.023 --> 02:31:16.990 - be more than one of these positions if like there's an Election Day one and then there's a 02:31:18.818 --> 02:31:26.647 - So you could work at early voting as an absentee A, B, or C, and work on election day. But the absentee 02:31:26.647 --> 02:31:34.401 - counters are on election day, so they would not be able to hold more than one of those. And then B and 02:31:34.401 --> 02:31:42.080 - C, absentee B is going to be travel board and reconcilers. We generally have one to two teams for the 02:31:42.080 --> 02:31:43.134 - travel board. 02:31:43.266 --> 02:31:50.036 - And then we have two reconcilers that are at early voting every day. And they come in and reconcile 02:31:50.036 --> 02:31:56.874 - the ballots from the day before. They're the ones that organize the ballots in alphabetical order by 02:31:56.874 --> 02:32:01.342 - precinct, by date, and ensure that every ballot is accounted for. 02:32:01.570 --> 02:32:08.074 - are the leads. So we have four early voting, four in the office at voter registration. The four early 02:32:08.074 --> 02:32:14.769 - voting are essentially your inspectors on election day. They're the manager of the early voting location 02:32:14.769 --> 02:32:19.998 - and really are the main communication back and forth between our office and their 02:32:20.258 --> 02:32:27.055 - down at early voting if they need help with anything or if they're running out of something. And then 02:32:27.055 --> 02:32:33.253 - the four that are in our office take care of mail-in ballots, military overseas, voters with 02:32:33.253 --> 02:32:40.117 - print disability, getting together the travel board individuals to go out and processing applications. 02:32:40.117 --> 02:32:46.981 - OK. And so then you have two people who are recruiters. And my understanding from the note on the page 02:32:46.981 --> 02:32:50.046 - in our packet is that those folks are working 02:32:50.466 --> 02:32:58.174 - about five and a half weeks ahead 02:32:58.338 --> 02:33:04.639 - Generally, they would normally start around the second week to the third week of March, and then they 02:33:04.639 --> 02:33:10.817 - would work all the way up until Election Day. They are the ones who will be calling the individuals 02:33:10.817 --> 02:33:17.118 - if they don't show up to a polling location and replacing them out for us. That takes a lot of stress 02:33:17.118 --> 02:33:23.667 - off of our office on Election Day, but we do sometimes still get those calls and then have to communicate 02:33:23.667 --> 02:33:27.806 - with the recruiters themselves. Why are they paid daily instead of 02:33:28.450 --> 02:33:36.467 - hourly? Because they get paid, whether they make one call or a hundred calls, they get paid a daily 02:33:36.467 --> 02:33:44.483 - rate. They're given the number of positions that need to be filled. You know, and some of them like 02:33:44.483 --> 02:33:52.901 - we've had recruiters that say while they were waiting for Easter dinner to be prepared, they were making 02:33:52.901 --> 02:33:57.310 - calls. I see. So it's almost like having them on call. 02:33:58.114 --> 02:34:04.755 - Yeah, as long as the positions get filled. Yeah, so if they get a phone call, they're supposed to take 02:34:04.755 --> 02:34:11.267 - it. Because generally, it is one of the individuals who's wanting to work. I do know that last year, 02:34:11.267 --> 02:34:17.907 - I actually had one of our recruiters send me a text message at 3 AM saying they just got off the phone 02:34:17.907 --> 02:34:24.741 - with somebody. So they are constantly working around the clock. OK. Right. And then I know what a courier 02:34:24.741 --> 02:34:28.094 - does. Yep. Because I've seen those folks zooming up 02:34:28.258 --> 02:34:36.310 - when I've been outside. Okay, that's everybody. I appreciate you going through each of them with me. 02:34:36.310 --> 02:34:44.443 - Okay. Are there any other questions or comments on this item? All right. And seeing none, I'd like to 02:34:44.443 --> 02:34:52.654 - go to public comment. Raise your hand via Teams or come forward to the lectern here in the Nightingale 02:34:52.654 --> 02:34:57.438 - room. And seeing none, may we please have a roll call vote? 02:34:58.946 --> 02:35:08.449 - Councillor Henry. Yes. Councillor Decker. Yes. Councillor Cronin. Yes. Councillor Iverson. Yes. Councillor 02:35:08.449 --> 02:35:17.508 - Feidl. Yes. Councillor Hock. Yes. Councillor Quilts. Yes. Motion passes unanimous. All right. Next up 02:35:17.508 --> 02:35:23.902 - is item K. Council, I move to approve the clerk's request on 1215-0062. 02:35:24.034 --> 02:35:31.092 - Election fund, election board, the creation of account line one seven five one two election board couriers. 02:35:31.092 --> 02:35:37.627 - Second. All right. We got a motion and a second on this item. Seems like we have to do this because 02:35:37.627 --> 02:35:44.359 - of what we just did in the previous item. But if you have anything else to add, please do. So, I mean, 02:35:44.359 --> 02:35:47.038 - this is one where someone higher than me 02:35:47.330 --> 02:35:55.197 - We we had them in the same lines in previous years because they did the same thing. Travel and getting 02:35:55.197 --> 02:36:03.446 - the different things to where they needed to be. And someone decided that the couriers had to be delineated 02:36:03.446 --> 02:36:11.466 - from the travel board. And so we didn't know what we didn't know. And so we're not asking for additional 02:36:11.466 --> 02:36:17.118 - money. We're just asking to be able to pay couriers and and travel board. 02:36:19.042 --> 02:36:24.965 - It seems self-explanatory, but I'll look to council colleagues to see if anybody has any questions or 02:36:24.965 --> 02:36:30.947 - comments. All right. Seeing none, we'll go to public comment. You can come forward to the lectern here 02:36:30.947 --> 02:36:36.870 - or raise your hand via Teams. I just want to also say that this is just for the creation of the line. 02:36:36.870 --> 02:36:42.910 - It is already in the salary ordinance, so we don't have to add it to the salary ordinance. Right. Okay. 02:36:44.226 --> 02:36:54.220 - And seeing none, because this is a creation of a line and all of us are present here, we can do a voice 02:36:54.220 --> 02:37:03.926 - vote. So all those in favor of approving this account line signify by saying aye. All those opposed, 02:37:03.926 --> 02:37:11.422 - same sign. OK, motion carries. We have a question before we go. So on item J, 02:37:12.386 --> 02:37:20.522 - I'm not sure that I got clarification on. If we go over the numbers that were on here, do we need to 02:37:20.522 --> 02:37:28.819 - come back or? Much more do you think you need? Well, the absentee B line, I'm definitely going to more 02:37:28.819 --> 02:37:36.874 - than likely need to come back because we only put down four on that line. And if we have a team for 02:37:36.874 --> 02:37:42.110 - travel board and a team for reconcilers for during early voting, 02:37:42.210 --> 02:37:49.166 - then we might need an additional travel board team if we have a high number of travel board requests. 02:37:49.166 --> 02:37:55.986 - So, Madam President, when you and I spoke and we were talking about primary and general versus just 02:37:55.986 --> 02:38:03.079 - primary and just general, I wanted to have that wiggle room if we needed more people to be able to pull 02:38:03.079 --> 02:38:09.694 - them in without having to come back. And I don't think we're talking about a significant number. 02:38:09.794 --> 02:38:15.789 - No, so in 2024, the primary, we ended up with I think it was two or three teams that were going out 02:38:15.789 --> 02:38:21.844 - at one time for travel board just because of the vast difference of directions. We had one team that 02:38:21.844 --> 02:38:28.319 - was in Indianapolis, one team that was in Anderson, and another team that was down south towards Lexington. 02:38:28.319 --> 02:38:34.374 - OK. Did they go that far? If somebody's out of town and they're in a hospital and the election board 02:38:34.374 --> 02:38:39.710 - approves it, they can go to that far. We stopped short of Chicago. We did deny that one. 02:38:39.938 --> 02:38:47.195 - because that's all that team would have done all day. But we have, you know, people who get in car wrecks 02:38:47.195 --> 02:38:54.452 - or, you know, have an unexpected emergency surgery. You'd be surprised if it's out of state. We generally 02:38:54.452 --> 02:39:01.572 - I literally just heard the story today that Charlize Theron asked for a ballot the day before she died. 02:39:01.572 --> 02:39:07.870 - So, OK, I'm going to go to counselor because we just got done and we need to really kind of 02:39:08.162 --> 02:39:15.602 - keep moving on the agenda here. Councillor Decker, I would draw no comment. OK, I. I would think you 02:39:15.602 --> 02:39:23.117 - would need to come back because we approved what we have here. Is that? I think that would be correct 02:39:23.117 --> 02:39:30.631 - if they're going to need more than what was just approved. There have to be a subsequent request. OK, 02:39:30.631 --> 02:39:35.198 - so it sounds like. You'll need to come back if you need more. 02:39:37.442 --> 02:39:45.654 - Okay, all right. Well, we. No, I was thinking, do we have we missed the window if she wanted to come 02:39:45.654 --> 02:39:53.621 - back on the 10th? Um, you can get with Kim Schell and if needed, that could be added. Okay. Okay. 02:39:53.621 --> 02:40:02.158 - Thank you. All right. Thank you. All right. Moving along here, I will go to L, which is from the highway 02:40:02.158 --> 02:40:03.134 - department. 02:40:03.426 --> 02:40:12.317 - Council, I move to approve the Highway Department's request and fund 11 35 dash 0000 cumulative bridge 02:40:12.317 --> 02:40:21.122 - and additional appropriation of $42,000 in the services category. Second. OK, and we got a motion and 02:40:21.122 --> 02:40:29.754 - a second. And I think Miss Ridge is online, so her hand is raised. You should be able to unmute and 02:40:29.754 --> 02:40:32.862 - go ahead. OK, can you hear me? Yes. 02:40:33.858 --> 02:40:41.611 - Okay, this is pretty straightforward. I was contacted by in dot last fall about taking over 100% of 02:40:41.611 --> 02:40:49.674 - the responsibility for the right way on this project. So I agree to that. It's kind of our relationship 02:40:49.674 --> 02:40:56.574 - of a give and take. So I'm just needing to create request that additional appropriation. 02:40:57.762 --> 02:41:06.475 - All right, thank you for that. Council, look into everybody to see if anybody has any questions or comments 02:41:06.475 --> 02:41:14.785 - on this item from Ms. Ridge. All right. And seeing none, we'll go to public comment. If there's public 02:41:14.785 --> 02:41:22.933 - comment, raise your hand via Teams or come here to the podium. And seeing none, may we please have a 02:41:22.933 --> 02:41:25.918 - roll call vote? Councillor Crossley. 02:41:27.298 --> 02:41:35.892 - Councillor Iverson. Yes. Councillor Feidl. Yes. Noting for the record that Councillor Hawke has left 02:41:35.892 --> 02:41:44.997 - the meeting. Councillor Wilts. Yes. Councillor Henry. Yes. Councillor Decker. Yes. Motion passes unanimous 02:41:44.997 --> 02:41:47.550 - 6-0. Okay. Next up is item M. 02:41:47.970 --> 02:41:53.858 - council I move to approve the highway department's request and fund 1176 dash zero zero zero zero motor 02:41:53.858 --> 02:41:59.632 - vehicle highway an additional appropriation of one hundred thousand dollars in the personnel category 02:41:59.632 --> 02:42:05.350 - and thirty thousand dollars in the services category for a total appropriation of one hundred thirty 02:42:05.350 --> 02:42:11.294 - thousand dollars second all right we got a motion in a second what can you tell us about this miss ridge 02:42:12.322 --> 02:42:19.502 - Well, I think you know why I'm asking for overtime at this time of year. We usually do typically come 02:42:19.502 --> 02:42:27.034 - in and ask for an additional throughout the year. If we don't, I don't think we used all of our additional 02:42:27.034 --> 02:42:34.213 - last year when we came in. We try and use it wisely, but when we had the big snowstorm in January and 02:42:34.213 --> 02:42:40.478 - then a tornado last week, we just want to be prepared with their upcoming spring storms. 02:42:40.994 --> 02:42:47.952 - that we are prepared, if need be, to pay our employees if they need to work overtime. Thank you. 02:42:47.952 --> 02:42:55.126 - All right. And fingers crossed on the insurance. Yep. Yeah, we just we're just given an estimate. I 02:42:55.126 --> 02:43:02.300 - think we increased it by 10%, but our our insurance went was a little bit more than that. So that's 02:43:02.300 --> 02:43:09.545 - what that's for. OK, and hopefully no major storms. Anytime soon. We hope not. Yes, fingers crossed. 02:43:09.545 --> 02:43:10.334 - All right. 02:43:10.626 --> 02:43:17.864 - I Lisa, I know that we had text a little bit night up, but was with that proximity to the airport was 02:43:17.864 --> 02:43:24.606 - the highway garage largely OK or were there issues there? Actually, actually we saw no damage. 02:43:24.706 --> 02:43:31.561 - at the garage. I did not go out there because I was I lived by the airport so I was at home dealing 02:43:31.561 --> 02:43:38.485 - with my own issues but we did have a crew out. Toby was out the entire evening checking the facility 02:43:38.485 --> 02:43:45.545 - and being available with our crews for whatever help was needed. I think they stayed out till midnight 02:43:45.545 --> 02:43:53.086 - then we sent all the crews out the next day going to the troubled areas making sure that if we needed to move 02:43:53.250 --> 02:43:59.978 - trees in the roadway or whatever. A lot of times we have to wait for the utility services to remove 02:43:59.978 --> 02:44:06.774 - the lines out of the trees. So yeah, luckily the garage facility was not touched. Alright, are there 02:44:06.774 --> 02:44:13.839 - any other questions or comments from Council on this item? Seeing none, we'll move on to public comment. 02:44:13.839 --> 02:44:20.702 - There's public comment. You can raise your hand via teams or come forward to the lectern in the room. 02:44:22.562 --> 02:44:30.576 - Seeing none, may we please have a roll-call vote? Councillor Iverson. Yes. Councillor Feidl. Yes. Councillor 02:44:30.576 --> 02:44:38.591 - Wilts. Yes. Councillor Henry. Yes. Councillor Decker. Yes. Councillor Crossley. Yes. Motion passes unanimous 02:44:38.591 --> 02:44:45.943 - 6-0. All right. Thank you very much. Thank you, Ms. Ridge. All right. Next up we are going to items 02:44:45.943 --> 02:44:48.958 - from the Health Department with item in. 02:44:49.186 --> 02:44:56.983 - I move to approve the Health Department's request and fund 8111-9623 local public health services grant. 02:44:56.983 --> 02:45:01.438 - The creation of account line 10124 COVID-19 school liaison. 02:45:01.538 --> 02:45:11.124 - and simultaneously transfer $17,539.39 from the supplies category and $63,075.61 from the services category 02:45:11.124 --> 02:45:20.088 - for a total appropriation transfer of $80,615 into the personnel category. Second. All right, we got 02:45:20.088 --> 02:45:23.550 - a motion and a second. Yes, Ms. Kelly. 02:45:24.290 --> 02:45:30.884 - So this is some old grant funding that we're continuing to spend down We do have our public health nurse 02:45:30.884 --> 02:45:37.289 - and school liaison that started with us just this week So essentially we're just trying to move these 02:45:37.289 --> 02:45:43.757 - funds to cover those salary expenses Thank you for that any questions or comments from council on this 02:45:43.757 --> 02:45:50.037 - item Right seeing none we'll go to public comment you can raise your hand via teams or come forward 02:45:50.037 --> 02:45:51.230 - to the lectern and 02:45:53.954 --> 02:46:02.677 - and seeing none, we can do a voice vote on this item since we all are in person. So all those in favor 02:46:02.677 --> 02:46:11.146 - of approving this item as presented signify by saying aye. All those opposed, same sign. All right, 02:46:11.146 --> 02:46:14.110 - motion carries. Next up is item O. 02:46:14.370 --> 02:46:21.020 - I move to open for discussion and possible approval of the health department's request to be exempt 02:46:21.020 --> 02:46:27.870 - from the hiring freeze and be allowed to hire and fund 1161-9626 local public health services. Account 02:46:27.870 --> 02:46:32.990 - line 10177, health services director position. Second. All right. Ms. Kelly? 02:46:33.602 --> 02:46:40.333 - So this is a request to be able to recruit and fill for the position of our health services director. 02:46:40.333 --> 02:46:47.393 - So this position is really important for overseeing the operations of our entire health services division. 02:46:47.393 --> 02:46:54.387 - In addition, we'll serve as additional capacity with the services that are being provided. So vaccination 02:46:54.387 --> 02:47:01.118 - services, health screenings, communicable disease investigations. This position does serve as our VFC 02:47:01.282 --> 02:47:07.752 - coordinator, which is required for our vaccine program through the Indiana Department of Health. And 02:47:07.752 --> 02:47:14.158 - since we currently do not have a position to do patient intake and answer the phone schedule and do 02:47:14.158 --> 02:47:20.821 - billing, the thought was that this position would be really crucial for being able to cover those front 02:47:20.821 --> 02:47:27.547 - office duties while the nurses are doing their day to day activities. So providing those vaccines, doing 02:47:27.547 --> 02:47:30.814 - the health screenings and the case investigations. 02:47:33.026 --> 02:47:42.282 - Questions or comments from council related to this item? Seeing none, we'll move on to public comment. 02:47:42.282 --> 02:47:51.717 - If there's public comment, you can make your way to the podium here in the night, you hill room or raise 02:47:51.717 --> 02:48:01.512 - your hand via teams. And seeing none, may we please have a roll call vote. Councillor Wilts? Yes. Councillor 02:48:01.512 --> 02:48:02.590 - Henry? Yes. 02:48:02.914 --> 02:48:09.522 - Yes, sir. Cross. Councillor Iverson. Yes. Idol. Yes. Motion passes unanimous six zero. OK, thank you. 02:48:09.522 --> 02:48:16.324 - Next up is item P. Council, I move to approve the health department's request and fund ninety one thirty 02:48:16.324 --> 02:48:22.867 - dash ninety six twenty six syringe services program grant the creation of account line two zero zero 02:48:22.867 --> 02:48:29.475 - one one other supplies and simultaneously approve an additional appropriation of twenty five thousand 02:48:29.475 --> 02:48:31.678 - dollars in the supplies category. 02:48:32.482 --> 02:48:39.323 - Second. All right. So this is grant funding that the department has been receiving for many years. So 02:48:39.323 --> 02:48:46.097 - this helps to support the purchase of the syringes that are used for the syringe service program and 02:48:46.097 --> 02:48:53.005 - related supplies. There is a shorter period for spending for using these funds just due to some of the 02:48:53.005 --> 02:49:00.382 - changes that may be coming with the operation of the syringe service program. So we'll really just have to be 02:49:00.770 --> 02:49:08.444 - Diligently making sure that we can you just utilize these funds Yes, I will look to council comment 02:49:08.444 --> 02:49:16.271 - or yes and already saw almost did it again Council Henry almost called you DGH. That's fine Thank you 02:49:16.271 --> 02:49:24.022 - for that so I think since probably this item got added to the agenda and now My understanding is the 02:49:24.022 --> 02:49:29.854 - General Assembly did pass to continue the search program at the state level 02:49:30.690 --> 02:49:37.089 - Is that your understanding that have you heard about legislation moving in the past week that that program's 02:49:37.089 --> 02:49:42.959 - continuing? I've just heard about some of the changes that were being discussed. And so I guess one 02:49:42.959 --> 02:49:48.830 - question I have is the program has a lot of merit, obviously, for reduction of spread of disease in 02:49:48.830 --> 02:49:54.700 - the community. But then at the same time, we do have sharps that are left around town for a variety 02:49:54.700 --> 02:49:57.694 - of reasons. Is there a programmatic opportunity to 02:49:58.626 --> 02:50:05.841 - Purchase drop boxes for sharps in public spaces here. I guess maybe another way of asking is the department 02:50:05.841 --> 02:50:12.723 - thought about how to reduce the risk or mitigate the syringes that are distributed but then do not get 02:50:12.723 --> 02:50:19.671 - disposed of properly in the community? Yes, so we do try to encourage providing containers and offering 02:50:19.671 --> 02:50:26.686 - education to individuals. And individuals can come into the health department to get syringe containers. 02:50:26.786 --> 02:50:33.095 - also at the Indiana Recovery Alliance. And I've also been speaking with our program coordinator recently 02:50:33.095 --> 02:50:39.404 - about really ensuring that she is going out and doing those site visits when these services are actually 02:50:39.404 --> 02:50:46.013 - being conducted. So are we following the protocols about asking for the number of syringes that an individual 02:50:46.013 --> 02:50:52.322 - needs and helping to, again, just encourage some of that education around that? So those that are taking 02:50:52.322 --> 02:50:55.326 - syringes from the program, they're known persons? 02:50:55.522 --> 02:51:00.844 - Is that right, or at least the providers that are getting the syringes for distribution, they're known 02:51:00.844 --> 02:51:06.011 - to the county, is that right? That are working the program? Yeah, yeah. Okay. Yeah. It's a gap that 02:51:06.011 --> 02:51:11.436 - I know we've been trying to close for years in the community. I don't know if it's literally just buying 02:51:11.436 --> 02:51:16.861 - drop boxes or red boxes and putting them on county property to encourage that. I know that's not related 02:51:16.861 --> 02:51:22.131 - per se, but yeah, I'm just kind of curious about that piece of it, especially if the program has been 02:51:22.131 --> 02:51:25.438 - renewed and we know it will be with us for a bit, so that's it. 02:51:25.538 --> 02:51:33.124 - I definitely think that's something that we can further explore those additional opportunities. 02:51:33.124 --> 02:51:41.263 - Thank you. Are there any other questions or comments on this item? Seeing none, I'll move on to public 02:51:41.263 --> 02:51:49.560 - comment. If there's public comment, you can come forward to the lectern here, raise your hand via Teams. 02:51:49.560 --> 02:51:55.486 - And seeing none, maybe please have a roll call vote. Councillor Wilz? Yes. 02:51:55.938 --> 02:52:05.549 - Councillor Decker. Yes. Councillor Cronk. Yes. Councillor Iverson. Yes. Councillor Fiddle. Yes. Motion 02:52:05.549 --> 02:52:13.854 - passes 6-0. Thank you very much. All right. Next up is item Q from the auditor's office. 02:52:14.370 --> 02:52:20.870 - Council, I move to open for discussion and possible approval of the auditor's request to be exempt from 02:52:20.870 --> 02:52:27.433 - the hiring freeze and be allowed to hire and fund 1000-0002 County General Auditor, the Accounts Payable 02:52:27.433 --> 02:52:33.245 - Financial Administrator position. Second. All right, we got a motion and a second. I see Ms. 02:52:33.245 --> 02:52:35.870 - Gregory is here. Yes, thank you, Council. 02:52:36.098 --> 02:52:42.321 - Okay, so I'd like to provide a little context regarding the claims position within my office and the 02:52:42.321 --> 02:52:48.668 - operational necessity necessity for maintaining both roles So currently there are two claims positions 02:52:48.668 --> 02:52:51.934 - and both are essential to completing the weekly camp 02:52:52.034 --> 02:52:58.215 - claims cycle. The full claims process requires approximately one and a half to 1.75 to full-time equivalence 02:52:58.215 --> 02:53:03.942 - to complete accurately and on time. The process includes receiving claims from departments, auditing 02:53:03.942 --> 02:53:10.009 - claims for accuracy and compliance, communicating and resolving corrective actions when needed, processing 02:53:10.009 --> 02:53:15.906 - approved claims, printing checks, auditing printing checks, preparing docket reports for commissioners, 02:53:15.906 --> 02:53:19.422 - and mailing or distributing checks following docket approval. 02:53:20.674 --> 02:53:26.958 - So, one position is dedicated 100 percent to claims processing. The second position dedicates approximately 02:53:26.958 --> 02:53:32.893 - 50 to 75 percent of its time to claims, with the remaining responsibilities including assistance with 02:53:32.893 --> 02:53:39.294 - GAAP and AFR reporting, which those are just two annual reports that we have to do, drafting and implementing 02:53:39.294 --> 02:53:44.414 - financial policies and procedures, general auditing, and maintaining financial records. 02:53:44.482 --> 02:53:50.115 - So not filling this position would create a significant bottleneck of the claims process and result 02:53:50.115 --> 02:53:55.916 - in a lapse in internal controls. This would also limit our ability to continue strengthening financial 02:53:55.916 --> 02:54:01.605 - oversight, policy development, and departmental partnerships. Ultimately, this would be a disservice 02:54:01.605 --> 02:54:03.070 - to the county as a whole. 02:54:03.362 --> 02:54:09.496 - So my team and I have made meaningful progress in tightening internal controls improving processes enhancing 02:54:09.496 --> 02:54:15.517 - collaboration with departments on financial matters However, we cannot sustain or build upon that progress 02:54:15.517 --> 02:54:21.425 - with reduced staffing I mean I spoke to you earlier during department updates like clearly we made great 02:54:21.425 --> 02:54:27.390 - progress and are doing well and I'm looking to you to allow that to continue so happy to answer questions 02:54:28.450 --> 02:54:36.948 - Okay, I'm sorry if I may just one more note. This is actually this I'm coming to you with this request 02:54:36.948 --> 02:54:45.199 - Because I had requested to fill my internal auditor position Last year at some point and I did fill 02:54:45.199 --> 02:54:53.533 - that successfully. However, because I filled it internally So I don't need the internal auditor role 02:54:53.533 --> 02:54:55.678 - now, but I need this role 02:54:56.194 --> 02:55:03.618 - if that makes sense. So it's not really an additional ask. It's just this instead of that. With this 02:55:03.618 --> 02:55:11.043 - request, I'm asking to fill any subsequent roles that become available if I do fill this internally. 02:55:11.043 --> 02:55:18.394 - All right. Makes sense. Thank you very much. Looking to counsel to see if anybody has any questions 02:55:18.394 --> 02:55:22.878 - or comments for the auditor on her request. And seeing none. 02:55:23.362 --> 02:55:32.199 - I'll go to public comment on this item. If you have comment, you can come forward to the lectern here. 02:55:32.199 --> 02:55:41.294 - You can raise your hand via teams. And seeing none, maybe please have a roll call vote. Councillor Henry? 02:55:41.294 --> 02:55:50.217 - Yes. Councillor Deckard? Yes. Councillor Crossley? Yes. Councillor Iverson? Yes. Councillor Feidl? Yes. 02:55:50.217 --> 02:55:52.190 - Councillor Wilts? Yes. 02:55:52.354 --> 02:55:59.232 - Motion passes unanimous. All right, thank you. Thank you very much. All right. Next up, we don't have 02:55:59.232 --> 02:56:05.974 - any items for presentations or discussions, but we do have a couple of you remain in County Council 02:56:05.974 --> 02:56:12.919 - business items, which will start with item A. Council, I move to open for discussion possible approval 02:56:12.919 --> 02:56:18.718 - of resolution 2025-41A amendment to the use of overtime budget and reporting. Second. 02:56:19.714 --> 02:56:28.891 - And I'm going to look to Mr. King for this item because the agenda tells me. So I have displayed on 02:56:28.891 --> 02:56:38.803 - the screen the draft and what this draft does is amend the overtime resolution that was passed in September 02:56:38.803 --> 02:56:48.990 - of last year to encompass the account line that was approved by for the clerk's office at the last meeting. So 02:56:49.506 --> 02:56:53.470 - The editor in red, so it changes the title and I've added a 02:56:53.634 --> 02:57:00.326 - after the 41 to ensure that it's an amended version and then under one it says in addition to the departments 02:57:00.326 --> 02:57:06.532 - listed above the clerk's office will be provided an overtime line along with an appropriation in said 02:57:06.532 --> 02:57:12.250 - line in the amount of $5,000 into fund and it identifies the election fund for the stated use 02:57:12.250 --> 02:57:18.395 - of administration of elections. Transfers into this overtime line is governed by section two of this 02:57:18.395 --> 02:57:23.262 - resolution and section two prohibits in-house transfers into the overtime line. 02:57:23.746 --> 02:57:30.563 - council approval and it outlines the process to obtaining council approval. And then the only other 02:57:30.563 --> 02:57:37.585 - change is at the end where we add the amendment date if adopted. So this is just basically solidifying 02:57:37.585 --> 02:57:44.403 - what we did way back when at the last meeting. Correct. Way back. It seems like February feels like 02:57:44.403 --> 02:57:51.902 - it has 32 days in it right now. OK. All right. Any questions or comments from council on this item seems like 02:57:52.066 --> 02:57:58.766 - We all should remember what we did a few weeks ago. Yes, Councilor Decker. I appreciate this. This is 02:57:58.766 --> 02:58:05.728 - sort of an editorial comment I'm just going to make because we're always talking about budget constraints 02:58:05.728 --> 02:58:12.362 - and how do we reduce things we are becoming. And this is not a critique of legal or anything, but we 02:58:12.362 --> 02:58:19.324 - are becoming a very resolution intensive county. And I would love to know the 91 other brother and sister 02:58:19.324 --> 02:58:20.638 - counties out there. 02:58:21.410 --> 02:58:28.776 - How many of them do as many resolutions as us? And the reason I say this is legal's got a lot of headaches 02:58:28.776 --> 02:58:35.798 - and constraints. And I feel like they're always having to chase one resolution or another for us. And 02:58:35.798 --> 02:58:41.374 - no one does them better than Molly Turner King. She's like the resolution champ. 02:58:41.698 --> 02:58:48.066 - One of the first instincts, as I said to fellow councilor earlier today, is we have a problem in the 02:58:48.066 --> 02:58:54.497 - community. Let's go drop a resolution and perhaps we'll end this conflict that's happening across the 02:58:54.497 --> 02:59:00.928 - globe. And I just think as we think about what we ask department heads to do with part-time hours, we 02:59:00.928 --> 02:59:05.342 - may have to think about economies of scale on things like resolutions 02:59:05.442 --> 02:59:11.138 - when Ms. Turner-King could be thinking of any number of things, and that maybe are more substance. 02:59:11.138 --> 02:59:16.949 - I mean, as we were sitting here, several of us were going, is this that thing we did last time? So I 02:59:16.949 --> 02:59:22.760 - just offer that. It's just an editorial comment about something we've got to think about, because if 02:59:22.760 --> 02:59:25.694 - the, you know, FSG, if the buckle is tightening on 02:59:25.794 --> 02:59:33.252 - all spinning. We have to think about how long we leave the people up in cats up there, the demands on 02:59:33.252 --> 02:59:41.294 - them, demands on TSD, demands on all this tech that we have, other things that perhaps we've grown accustomed 02:59:41.294 --> 02:59:47.070 - to but may not be able to. So I'll be quiet. All right. Yes, Councillor Feidl. 02:59:47.554 --> 02:59:57.935 - I'm just asking a procedure question, so I see it's labeled 2025-41A. So how would someone who's looking 02:59:57.935 --> 03:00:07.921 - at something we did in 2026 find this? I left it as 2025-41A because I think it's easier to find the 03:00:07.921 --> 03:00:10.590 - amendments to the original 03:00:10.850 --> 03:00:17.320 - resolution than getting a new resolution order or number. So if I got a new number for this amendment, 03:00:17.320 --> 03:00:23.601 - it's going to be like 2603. And then you have to reference back the previous document. So there are 03:00:23.601 --> 03:00:30.322 - two ways to do it. We can leave it the 2025 number. Or in the future, I can just have you keep re-adopting 03:00:30.322 --> 03:00:36.855 - a new resolution under a different number and then put language in there that says, this is the current 03:00:36.855 --> 03:00:39.870 - version. Any previous versions is now repelled. 03:00:40.002 --> 03:00:47.814 - It's really a council preference, but I think they're labeled pretty clearly as to what the resolution 03:00:47.814 --> 03:00:55.853 - title is, so that if departments are looking on the P drive, S drive actually, they can find the overtime 03:00:55.853 --> 03:01:03.741 - resolution. And if any department's looking for it, they can easily reach out to myself or Kim for also 03:01:03.741 --> 03:01:07.230 - guidance. Yes, I was wondering more about how 03:01:07.362 --> 03:01:17.283 - the timeline of it all, right? So if I'm thinking about what we did in whatever time period it was, 03:01:17.283 --> 03:01:27.600 - and thinking about this one, how would I know it was done in 2026 when it actually is coded under 2025? 03:01:27.600 --> 03:01:36.926 - Oh, like is there an as amended? Is there a placeholder in 2026 that refers back to this? No. 03:01:37.346 --> 03:01:44.137 - At the end of the resolution, it's always going to have presented in the date that it was approved. 03:01:44.137 --> 03:01:50.928 - So it'll have that 2026 date. But if you look at the whole chronology of resolutions for 2026, this 03:01:50.928 --> 03:01:58.398 - will not show up, or am I incorrect? It would not be in the list of 2026 resolutions. That's what I'm asking. 03:02:00.866 --> 03:02:08.858 - I wonder if we could talk to Miss Freeman who maintains that list and have her like put 2025 41 a approved 03:02:08.858 --> 03:02:15.879 - on Today's date on the list her chronologically. I'm happy to have that very happy with that. 03:02:15.879 --> 03:02:20.734 - Thank you. I'm happy to have that conversation with her tomorrow 03:02:23.202 --> 03:02:30.369 - Miss Gregory, I may just add I believe she normally like it will be in the original You know 2023 folder, 03:02:30.369 --> 03:02:37.333 - but then she'll actually add it to the current folder as well because it's like two versions And I can 03:02:37.333 --> 03:02:44.568 - confirm that but that's my understanding Okay. Thank you Are there any other further questions or comments 03:02:44.568 --> 03:02:47.070 - from council on this item? All right 03:02:47.394 --> 03:03:02.543 - Seeing none, we'll go to public comment. If there's public comment, you can raise your hand via Teams 03:03:02.543 --> 03:03:17.246 - or you can come forward to the lectern here. And seeing none, may we please have a roll call vote? 03:03:18.050 --> 03:03:26.818 - Councilor Iverson? Yes. Councilor Feidl? Yes. Councilor Williams? Yes. Councilor Henry? Yes. Councilor 03:03:26.818 --> 03:03:35.330 - Decker? Yes. Motion passes unanimous six zero. All right. Thank you. And it's the moment folks have 03:03:35.330 --> 03:03:41.374 - all been waiting for. All right. It is the next item, which is item B. 03:03:41.954 --> 03:03:50.095 - Council I move to open for discussion and possible approval of resolution 20 26-0 to Renewing the Monroe 03:03:50.095 --> 03:03:58.158 - County Council's commitment regarding a new jail facility Second all right. We got a motion in a second 03:03:58.158 --> 03:04:05.214 - and I'm gonna look to miss Turner King because I'm sure you will Share on the screen there 03:04:12.578 --> 03:04:19.774 - If I may, I'm trying to switch it between the last document and the next resolution. So just give me a second. 03:04:48.834 --> 03:05:16.926 - Oh, the resolution itself. 03:05:18.306 --> 03:05:27.109 - Okay, I'm now displaying this resolution. This is a resolution that I drafted based on the responses 03:05:27.109 --> 03:05:36.173 - I got from council members regarding what you would like to see in this resolution. So in essence, this 03:05:36.173 --> 03:05:42.622 - is a Frankenstein document piecing together the responses that I did get. 03:05:42.786 --> 03:05:48.661 - And what I did was I looked through the responses. And if there was a common theme among two of the 03:05:48.661 --> 03:05:54.830 - responses, I wrote a whereas clause. Now, I recognize that two responses is not a majority. But if there 03:05:54.830 --> 03:06:00.765 - was a reoccurring thought, I wanted to somehow incorporate it in the resolution. There was a version 03:06:00.765 --> 03:06:06.875 - in the packet. But then after I was looking at this this morning, and with the help of Councilor Wilts, 03:06:06.875 --> 03:06:12.574 - there was some grammatical errors that my brain read differently. So I did correct those in red. 03:06:12.738 --> 03:06:23.764 - only the clause about how the exhibit is attached, but it doesn't have any context changes. So that's 03:06:23.764 --> 03:06:34.681 - how this draft came about. I'm happy to edit accordingly based on discussion. Oh, do you really want 03:06:34.681 --> 03:06:39.870 - me to read this into record? I mean, I'm happy. 03:06:40.258 --> 03:06:47.815 - It is in the amended packet that was posted on Monday. But I'm happy to read this. Big changes first. 03:06:47.815 --> 03:06:55.742 - Yeah, let's look at it first before we do that. I mean, we have it. It's posted. And so I know the biggest 03:06:55.742 --> 03:07:03.224 - thing that folks were asking for is to have the resolution ahead of time to read it. And if, yep, so 03:07:03.224 --> 03:07:06.558 - it's good. Get it, get it, good. We're good. 03:07:06.882 --> 03:07:14.170 - All right, so I'm going to look to council colleagues to see. Yes, Councilor Seidel, and then I'll circle 03:07:14.170 --> 03:07:21.114 - back. So could the edited version be, the changes be highlighted verbally? Yeah, usually that's what 03:07:21.114 --> 03:07:27.989 - we do when we... Oh, sorry. No, no, no, that's fine. When Ms. Turner-King is editing something that 03:07:27.989 --> 03:07:34.865 - we are asking, like we'll see it in red in real time there. Did she not have things already in red, 03:07:34.865 --> 03:07:36.446 - or did I mistake that? 03:07:36.706 --> 03:07:45.178 - I do have some things in red. These are the grammatical corrections. As the clause on how the exhibit 03:07:45.178 --> 03:07:53.816 - A was attached was half a thought, so I completed that. Is it just procedurally, do you want me to keep 03:07:53.816 --> 03:08:01.790 - the resolution displayed, or do you want me to take down the resolution, make the edits so that 03:08:02.498 --> 03:08:09.725 - the public viewing sees council or do you want them to be looking at the document? I think this is totally 03:08:09.725 --> 03:08:16.615 - fine. Um, I think the biggest thing is to have people read along as they are at home and they can see 03:08:16.615 --> 03:08:23.572 - our faces later. Um, okay. So I'm in a yes. And the only thing is I would ask that is if anybody makes 03:08:23.572 --> 03:08:29.246 - a motion, um, can we like complete that motion and do that and not have people talk 03:08:29.474 --> 03:08:35.655 - on top of the other. It makes it really hard to keep up with in the notes. So and with. Yes. Just a 03:08:35.655 --> 03:08:41.899 - suggestion. Procedurally, we could just go where like clause by clause. And I can say like the first 03:08:41.899 --> 03:08:48.018 - whereas clause, is there any issues or edits? And then that might structure the conversation. Yep. 03:08:48.018 --> 03:08:54.509 - All right. No objections there. Nope. I put my hand. OK. So did you have no. I agree with this approach. 03:08:54.509 --> 03:08:59.454 - Let's do this. This could take all night. And I think we should do it this way. 03:09:00.706 --> 03:09:07.427 - So the first whereas clause just acknowledges the statutory responsibility of the councils. Is there 03:09:07.427 --> 03:09:14.214 - any proposed amendments to that whereas clause? OK, the second whereas clause also further elaborates 03:09:14.214 --> 03:09:21.467 - on council responsibilities as it pertains to adopting the annual budget, fixing tax rates and appropriating 03:09:21.467 --> 03:09:24.062 - public funds. Any proposed amendments? 03:09:24.258 --> 03:09:33.045 - I'm not seeing any, so I'm going to keep moving. The third whereas clause, maybe I can count, relates 03:09:33.045 --> 03:09:41.919 - to the private settlement agreement in Richardson v. Moore. It in part states what that case requires. 03:09:41.919 --> 03:09:50.792 - It acknowledges that it's been extended multiple times, and that is currently extended till April 15th 03:09:50.792 --> 03:09:53.118 - of 2026. Any thoughts? OK. 03:09:53.218 --> 03:10:01.232 - No head shakes, so keep moving. Fourth, it acknowledges in 2024, a purchase agreement was brought to 03:10:01.232 --> 03:10:09.405 - the council for a property referred as North Park and that that was voted down in 2025. Yes, Mr. Well, 03:10:09.405 --> 03:10:17.418 - I think Mr. Henry has a comment, but I don't I'm I don't know that I should recognize him president. 03:10:17.418 --> 03:10:22.814 - Yeah, OK. I took the wheel there. Yes. Thank you, counselor. Sorry. 03:10:23.650 --> 03:10:29.440 - It's a comment more than an edit. It has been a subject in joint meetings with the board of commissioners 03:10:29.440 --> 03:10:35.011 - that they're looking for qualifications as to the why of that vote. I would just say that I find this 03:10:35.011 --> 03:10:40.583 - phrase to be sufficient because we only went to about midnight that night discussing the various whys 03:10:40.583 --> 03:10:46.099 - of different members of the body as to their objection to moving forward with that. So I'm fine with 03:10:46.099 --> 03:10:51.070 - leaving it. I just want to make, I'm just kind of curious of the sentiments of others that 03:10:51.394 --> 03:10:57.706 - if we need to qualify this any farther other than we did it. No, and the other thing that I'll add to 03:10:57.706 --> 03:11:04.389 - that before I move on with other council comments is the fact that I think Councilor Iverson said something 03:11:04.389 --> 03:11:10.577 - earlier on in this meeting that basically solidified what we were presented with F.S.G. And I would 03:11:10.577 --> 03:11:16.765 - recommend that anybody else that has any questions, comments, concerns of what happened nearly five 03:11:16.765 --> 03:11:19.550 - months ago to either go back to October 28th 03:11:19.650 --> 03:11:27.510 - or see this earlier meeting where we talked about financially, that was a thing. So, Councilor Decker. 03:11:27.510 --> 03:11:35.294 - Well, one of the things that I do hear out there is that there is there's dispute about why something 03:11:35.294 --> 03:11:43.001 - was moving forward and then not moving forward. I think we all know something was moving forward and 03:11:43.001 --> 03:11:48.190 - then not moving forward based on a variety of these conditions that 03:11:49.218 --> 03:11:56.286 - changed in that time period. And so I guess if you're not trying to illustrate to the other side of 03:11:56.286 --> 03:12:03.212 - this, Mr. Falk and the public, that it was just flippant, like we just randomly switched on that. 03:12:03.212 --> 03:12:10.350 - I mean, you could always, for a variety of reasons, that phrase alone could encapsulate a little bit 03:12:10.350 --> 03:12:15.934 - more of what happened or for a variety of said reasons, because it wasn't just 03:12:17.538 --> 03:12:26.127 - We were going to get cheeseburgers, and then suddenly, no, we decided we want hot dogs. There was a 03:12:26.127 --> 03:12:34.028 - whole host of things that involved one painful process going into a second painful process. 03:12:34.028 --> 03:12:42.617 - Am I misremembering any of that? No, but you just made me hungry. I'm starved. I am starved. Sorry. 03:12:42.617 --> 03:12:45.022 - Maybe this bridges the two. 03:12:45.442 --> 03:12:55.120 - comments I'm not sure but my thought was we did just receive very specific confirmation of our financial 03:12:55.120 --> 03:13:04.430 - restraint so maybe there's a little bit of a opportunity to put that directly in either this whereas 03:13:04.430 --> 03:13:14.846 - clause or it's on its own but that it relates so it would go right next to it in some fashion that just says hey 03:13:16.194 --> 03:13:24.690 - And we found out we could only afford half of what was being sold. I was going to offer that as an operative 03:13:24.690 --> 03:13:32.484 - clause later. I think the FSG validated what our suspicions have been. I was going to offer that as 03:13:32.484 --> 03:13:40.902 - an operative clause later. But if there's an edit that would fit here, I think that's fine, too. Councillor 03:13:40.902 --> 03:13:46.046 - Decker? I think literally in that third sentence when it says not 03:13:46.210 --> 03:14:00.351 - In October of 2025, the council voted against the appropriation for a variety of stated reasons. I think 03:14:00.351 --> 03:14:15.166 - after North Park property in the fourth line for a variety of stated reasons in that and subsequent meetings. 03:14:16.450 --> 03:14:22.757 - And I say for a variety because I think, yes, what Councilor Wilts has raised is a valid concern, but 03:14:22.757 --> 03:14:29.126 - I think that I heard a lot of things that night. It was flying out of the walls. And when people asked 03:14:29.126 --> 03:14:35.372 - me, why did this thing happen this way? I'd tell, well, there's a whole lot going on there with that 03:14:35.372 --> 03:14:42.174 - council and that vote and everybody kind of gets to that point, but that vote became unanimous in that sense. 03:14:47.842 --> 03:14:54.909 - Go ahead. To that whereas clause, I just added language that Councilor Deckard cited, which is for a 03:14:54.909 --> 03:15:02.115 - variety of stated reasons at that meeting and subsequent meetings. That seems sufficient. Does anybody 03:15:02.115 --> 03:15:09.322 - have any objections to that? Councilor Fiddle? We're not going to mention anything about what we heard 03:15:09.322 --> 03:15:16.179 - today or that'll be somewhere else. I think that's what Councilor Henry was alluding to is maybe, 03:15:16.179 --> 03:15:17.438 - you know, I think 03:15:17.602 --> 03:15:24.571 - we could get through the rest of the resolution and figure out where if we find it necessary to bring 03:15:24.571 --> 03:15:31.403 - it back here or if we find it in a different spot. I do think that maybe we should spell it out for 03:15:31.403 --> 03:15:38.508 - the folks that need to have it spelled out for our things here and just kind of go from there. But that 03:15:38.508 --> 03:15:45.409 - is a good point. Yes, Councilor Woods. I just really would really prefer if you switch the two words 03:15:45.409 --> 03:15:47.390 - stated in reason so that it. 03:15:48.002 --> 03:15:55.844 - Please. I accept that. I know about my problems. I am. I'm sorry. And if you wish major wanted to incorporate 03:15:55.844 --> 03:16:03.186 - the FSG presentation, I think you could easily say for a variety of reasons stated at that meeting and 03:16:03.186 --> 03:16:10.315 - somewhat subsequent meetings, including the meeting on February 26th or 24th. I don't know the date 03:16:10.315 --> 03:16:16.446 - either. 24th of 2026. County Council meeting where FSG made a budgetary presentation. 03:16:20.130 --> 03:16:26.351 - or you could do it as a separate class? Yeah, let's get through the rest of this and then we can kind 03:16:26.351 --> 03:16:32.877 - of go for it. So I saw one other hand. Is there any more comments on this whereas clause? Yeah, I continue 03:16:32.877 --> 03:16:39.098 - to think that it would be better sort of like we were talking about the whereas before and that other 03:16:39.098 --> 03:16:45.259 - one about having it all together, the things that apply to this. And I think today's meeting applies 03:16:45.259 --> 03:16:49.406 - to that. So I would like to have it all together. I'll continue to. 03:16:49.538 --> 03:16:56.082 - advocate for that. Okay. All right. So I have to zoom out a little. The next whereas clause reads in 03:16:56.082 --> 03:17:02.692 - October of 2025 the City Council provided the County Council with a letter requesting that the County 03:17:02.692 --> 03:17:09.236 - Council not move forward with the purchase of North Park in addition to the letter representative of 03:17:09.236 --> 03:17:15.262 - the City Council committed to working alongside the Monroe County Council to find a solution 03:17:15.362 --> 03:17:22.358 - And the quoted language was what was stated at the meeting, which was rooted in justice and that meets 03:17:22.358 --> 03:17:29.151 - the needs of every residents of Monroe County. Is there any edits to that works close? Yes, I'm not 03:17:29.151 --> 03:17:36.011 - questioning what happens with the City Council or what that was. But when we say a representative of 03:17:36.011 --> 03:17:43.415 - the Bloomington City Council, we make that sound like they designated that individual to be a rep committing 03:17:43.415 --> 03:17:44.638 - to that. I would. 03:17:44.866 --> 03:17:53.038 - To be clear, I would just say a member of the Bloomington City Council. Of the Bloomington Common Council. 03:17:53.038 --> 03:18:01.058 - Yeah. I agree. Just to be safe. Yeah. We don't want to assume their policies. Oh, sorry. Yes, Councillor 03:18:01.058 --> 03:18:08.772 - Henry. Yeah, I can see that being a good clarification. I also just wonder if the second sentence is 03:18:08.772 --> 03:18:13.278 - even necessary because one was a matter of public comment. 03:18:13.762 --> 03:18:19.689 - And one's a formal communication. I know we just had a discussion about the value of resolutions and 03:18:19.689 --> 03:18:25.674 - letters, but that's the way governments communicate with each other. So we had a formal communication 03:18:25.674 --> 03:18:31.601 - in the first sentence. The second was a matter of public comment from one of the nine, right? So I'm 03:18:31.601 --> 03:18:37.763 - not sure the second one has the weight of the formal letter from counsel, if that makes sense to others. 03:18:37.763 --> 03:18:39.230 - Yeah. I guess this is... 03:18:39.778 --> 03:18:47.770 - what I remember and what I recall from watching their meeting at the time, they actually discussed this 03:18:47.770 --> 03:18:55.455 - and voted on passing this through to present to us. So I think maybe we just need to simplify, like 03:18:55.455 --> 03:19:03.216 - we got correspondence with them that have kind of really pinpointed who did what and when. And I can 03:19:03.216 --> 03:19:05.214 - give you the rationale as 03:19:05.442 --> 03:19:12.498 - to why I included the second sentence. So the letter itself just talks about not purchasing North Park 03:19:12.498 --> 03:19:19.897 - and there isn't any reference in there to what I believe is the city's commitment to work with the council. 03:19:19.897 --> 03:19:27.090 - That came from the public comment when the letter was presented. And so I think if you delete the second 03:19:27.090 --> 03:19:29.214 - sentence, I would suggest some 03:19:29.442 --> 03:19:36.868 - reference to the commitment from the city that to work with us. And the only reason I say that is because 03:19:36.868 --> 03:19:44.154 - I included that second sentence because under the now therefore clause there is a clause that discusses 03:19:44.154 --> 03:19:46.046 - pursuing that partnership. 03:19:57.730 --> 03:20:06.101 - So yeah, I would agree. I like the change to member though. Yeah, so you got the member. Okay. No objections? 03:20:06.101 --> 03:20:13.940 - The next whereas clause reference Senate Bill 1, what Senate Bill 1 did to residential property taxes, 03:20:13.940 --> 03:20:21.854 - personal property taxes, and the reform to local income tax structures that is going to be forthcoming. 03:20:22.594 --> 03:20:31.239 - It references Senate bills prohibition on our bonding capacity, which is limited at 25% of its local 03:20:31.239 --> 03:20:39.799 - income tax and that the significant changes implemented by this bill of how it impacted our ability 03:20:39.799 --> 03:20:48.958 - to move forward with the project. Any questions, comments or concerns on this one? Yes, Councillor Decker. 03:20:49.122 --> 03:20:56.463 - Normally it's not me doing this, so I apologize. Trent talks a lot tonight. But I mean, this could be 03:20:56.463 --> 03:21:03.948 - a place where we reference confirmation of the FSG presentation because this was the fear. Then he came 03:21:03.948 --> 03:21:11.217 - in tonight and he said, your fear was correct. So that could go somewhere in here. And then you kind 03:21:11.217 --> 03:21:18.270 - of close the loop. I've said a few times to folks, there's a question of what you can actually do 03:21:18.530 --> 03:21:26.530 - versus what you would do if you could do anything. All right. And Councillor Henry. So I would be okay 03:21:26.530 --> 03:21:34.375 - with a reference here as long as there's a parallel clause operatively later that references what we 03:21:34.375 --> 03:21:42.221 - heard which in my view was the cap, right, because we had a presentation that said here's the finite 03:21:42.221 --> 03:21:43.774 - amount on the bond. 03:21:44.322 --> 03:21:51.407 - right, so if there are perceptions by those in this building that somehow 257 million is still conceivable, 03:21:51.407 --> 03:21:58.098 - I think Mr. Guirata has put that to bed this evening. It might be useful to start the reference point 03:21:58.098 --> 03:22:04.790 - here if we're going to add a clause later that suggests this is really the risk tolerance of council. 03:22:04.790 --> 03:22:10.366 - Well, and what we heard in our joint meeting too a while back, anything is possible. 03:22:10.754 --> 03:22:18.232 - But there's going to be a cost for it. And so that would mean that we'd have to implement a tax, which 03:22:18.232 --> 03:22:26.001 - was something that Councilor Williams had mentioned as well. So not that she wanted to tax. No, absolutely 03:22:26.001 --> 03:22:32.318 - not. I don't either. So there were adding this is the red language here. I think that. 03:22:50.338 --> 03:22:58.225 - This is where former council member McKim would say this is how the sausage is getting made. Sorry. 03:22:58.225 --> 03:23:06.190 - So the sentence in red just I placed it at the end of the paragraph and it says the impact of Senate 03:23:06.190 --> 03:23:14.392 - Bill one was further confirmed by the financial solutions group presentation at the February 24th, 2026 03:23:14.392 --> 03:23:17.310 - Monroe County Council meeting. Yeah. 03:23:17.410 --> 03:23:24.460 - going to be further explained what that dollar amount is somewhere. I think the dollar I would like 03:23:24.460 --> 03:23:31.651 - to see the dollar amounts. You want that down in there? Where do we going to put that? Well, maybe if 03:23:31.651 --> 03:23:38.700 - that is something that you would like to see counselor vital, which I think that is not a bad idea. 03:23:38.700 --> 03:23:45.962 - I think maybe we put a pin for that and kind of get through and maybe see where it falls. Exactly. Oh, 03:23:45.962 --> 03:23:46.878 - that's fine. 03:23:47.266 --> 03:23:54.657 - Yes. I think one way to incorporate that budget amount in the presentation is you could say the impact 03:23:54.657 --> 03:24:02.192 - of Senate Bill one was further elaborated on by the Financial Solution Group presentation at the council 03:24:02.192 --> 03:24:09.654 - meeting and you could attach the FSG document. We could incorporate the FSG document as an exhibit into 03:24:09.654 --> 03:24:16.830 - the resolution. I like that even better. All right. All right. Look at that. Move this train along. 03:24:18.530 --> 03:24:47.038 - better than watching the starts in 20 minutes. 03:24:52.898 --> 03:25:05.873 - So I added that last sentence. The FSG presentation is attached to this resolution as Exhibit A acknowledging 03:25:05.873 --> 03:25:18.023 - there's another Exhibit A and when we get down there I'll fix it. Incorporate it here in and made part 03:25:18.023 --> 03:25:20.382 - of this resolution. 03:25:22.850 --> 03:25:30.899 - Thank you. Okay. The next whereas clause acknowledges that anticipation of the private settlement agreement 03:25:30.899 --> 03:25:38.427 - that being Richardson expiring Mr. Falk, the attorney for the ACLU provided counsel with orders from 03:25:38.427 --> 03:25:46.103 - two other federal cases that outline specific benchmarks that the defendants in those cases were going 03:25:46.103 --> 03:25:48.190 - to complete those tasks by. 03:25:53.250 --> 03:26:00.130 - I'm not seeing any comments. I'm gonna keep moving. So then it's now therefore be it resolved by the 03:26:00.130 --> 03:26:07.419 - Monroe County Council that one, the County Council is no longer wishes to consider the North Park property 03:26:07.419 --> 03:26:14.232 - for the location of the new facility. I think Mr. Iverson. Yes. I would move to strike this. Delete 03:26:14.232 --> 03:26:21.112 - this clause. And would you like to say why? Okay. Well, I didn't know if we were gonna talk about it 03:26:21.112 --> 03:26:22.270 - before a second. 03:26:22.594 --> 03:26:29.009 - There's two reasons. Number one, the second clause seems to contradict it. It could be read as contradictory. 03:26:29.009 --> 03:26:35.015 - And I think we need to keep that in mind. And the second reason is we've all been through the location 03:26:35.015 --> 03:26:40.846 - debates before. And the location we thought was not going to be the location became the location. I 03:26:40.846 --> 03:26:46.911 - do not want to get into the prediction game. I understand why this clause is here. But I'm also worried 03:26:46.911 --> 03:26:51.518 - that we might need it. And if this is in there, that might stymie our efforts. 03:26:51.778 --> 03:26:59.835 - but then that would kind of suggest that we might need North Park. And I think. And I like where we 03:26:59.835 --> 03:27:08.536 - already have mentioned earlier for various reasons why we decided to say no North Park. I think my personal 03:27:08.536 --> 03:27:16.674 - thing would be I want to stick with the idea of since we keep hearing that North Park is coming back 03:27:16.674 --> 03:27:20.702 - around the circle is that I would like to express 03:27:20.802 --> 03:27:31.112 - That I think we can look at other places and our no to north park Should be abundantly clear Yes, councillor 03:27:31.112 --> 03:27:41.044 - decker, so I recognize that the phrase north park is the great Difficult subject area for a lot of folks 03:27:41.044 --> 03:27:46.814 - a lot of different reasons, but when I look at this document 03:27:46.914 --> 03:27:54.236 - the importance and strength of this document is that we're saying we have to tell Mr. Falk and the public 03:27:54.236 --> 03:28:01.697 - that are watching this, that a constitutional care jail matters and that that is a priority of the council. 03:28:01.697 --> 03:28:08.812 - So I guess I would question why the number one that we have now, whether or not that stays in, and I'm 03:28:08.812 --> 03:28:15.789 - sure the council's gonna debate that in a second, why does that have to be number one? I mean, I get 03:28:15.789 --> 03:28:16.894 - that that is a, 03:28:17.090 --> 03:28:24.947 - massive point in this contextual time, but we're dealing with a lawsuit that or a private settlement 03:28:24.947 --> 03:28:32.726 - agreement that has been going on since 2009 and we're trying to communicate to the other party that 03:28:32.726 --> 03:28:40.583 - the most important thing is that we're moving forward with this facility in this kind of new life is 03:28:40.583 --> 03:28:45.406 - here with all these situations outlined in the whereas and we 03:28:45.890 --> 03:28:53.019 - to do that we're committed to this. Whether or not it stays in or not or just moves down, to me that's 03:28:53.019 --> 03:29:00.009 - the prime message I think that has to be sent because this is clearly to illustrate we're not giving 03:29:00.009 --> 03:29:06.930 - up on this, we're moving on this. I think that that's what, if that weren't for this, that timeline 03:29:06.930 --> 03:29:14.059 - and those things, we would be in a different situation but we're trying to illustrate that even though 03:29:14.059 --> 03:29:15.166 - the law change, 03:29:15.362 --> 03:29:21.608 - that circumstances change, the council's changed, that despite all that, we are still committed 03:29:21.608 --> 03:29:28.308 - to constitutional care. And we want to talk about that to this in the folks on the other side, as well 03:29:28.308 --> 03:29:35.140 - as the public. So Henry or Councillor Henry's hand. So I'll go Henry and then I will go to Iverson next. 03:29:35.140 --> 03:29:41.645 - So I would agree that the pecking order of where we discuss where the council's desires are doesn't 03:29:41.645 --> 03:29:44.638 - have this doesn't have to be the first thing. 03:29:44.802 --> 03:29:51.230 - but I would say that the only, there are more consumers of the resolution than just ACLU. One of the 03:29:51.230 --> 03:29:57.975 - consumers of this resolution is the board of commissioners who still, or at least some have an impression 03:29:57.975 --> 03:30:04.466 - or keep floating an idea that there's viability in this location. Frankly, I wasn't here when you all 03:30:04.466 --> 03:30:11.021 - took the vote. I know that some folks might be having heartburn about taking a vote and then two years 03:30:11.021 --> 03:30:13.694 - later having to go a different direction. 03:30:13.826 --> 03:30:19.939 - It's my view from this seat, I pretty much left a no hole in the wall when we had this vote, that this 03:30:19.939 --> 03:30:25.874 - has never been a good solution for this project. For so many reasons, not least of which, uprooting 03:30:25.874 --> 03:30:32.105 - the entire economic activity of the court system three miles north. That's how we ended up back in this. 03:30:32.105 --> 03:30:38.574 - So some of us have different reasons on that. And I appreciate, again, some people are having some heartburn 03:30:38.574 --> 03:30:40.414 - about it, but this is, for me, 03:30:40.642 --> 03:30:46.052 - It's almost a non sequitur. It's almost obvious at this point that this is not a space that we would 03:30:46.052 --> 03:30:51.623 - be pursuing. And it's not good for the future of the county to close off an interstate exit with a jail 03:30:51.623 --> 03:30:57.140 - facility that the plan commission has worked very hard over the past year to down zone so nothing else 03:30:57.140 --> 03:31:02.872 - gets built there. There's some other things that went on in that purchase agreement. It's really important 03:31:02.872 --> 03:31:08.335 - that, you know, like if we're going to have the debate about north parking, fine, but it doesn't have 03:31:08.335 --> 03:31:09.246 - to be the primal 03:31:09.506 --> 03:31:17.018 - statement but I don't want to leave a door open on that space when we have an executive session to find 03:31:17.018 --> 03:31:24.386 - and found some other opportunities that address the other clauses here that would answer the public's 03:31:24.386 --> 03:31:31.609 - overriding concern that facility design for that location is too expensive and a desire to keep the 03:31:31.609 --> 03:31:38.110 - justice enterprise close to services and the county seat that is the city of Bloomington. 03:31:38.722 --> 03:31:45.322 - I'm okay with moving it down, but I'm not okay with not saying it out loud that we're not for that. 03:31:45.322 --> 03:31:51.922 - All right. Councillor Iverson. I'm going to reiterate my motion that we take out number one for the 03:31:51.922 --> 03:31:58.654 - rationale that the only clause I think we need is clause number five. I'm going to second that motion 03:31:58.654 --> 03:32:04.990 - just so we can take that. Yeah, let's make that decision. Are we to remove or not remove? Okay. 03:32:05.346 --> 03:32:13.081 - Sorry. So the motion is to strike clause number one and the rationale is the only clause we need is 03:32:13.081 --> 03:32:20.894 - clause number five. It's number five. It's the constitutional care is the overwhelming why we need a 03:32:20.894 --> 03:32:28.706 - facility. Is there discussion now? Yeah, because there was a motion and a second. So anybody Council 03:32:28.706 --> 03:32:32.574 - fighter, do you have something? So I just want to 03:32:32.706 --> 03:32:38.844 - Make sure I understand we're eliminating one through four then, is that correct? No, just one. Just 03:32:38.844 --> 03:32:45.104 - what happens two through four? Nothing. We'll discuss in a second. So you're saying that five then we 03:32:45.104 --> 03:32:51.549 - will serve the purpose of one. I'm going to make the same motion for the next subsequent ones, but we've 03:32:51.549 --> 03:32:57.809 - agreed that we're going to go line by line. Oh, I see. OK, never mind then. I'm with you. Never mind. 03:32:57.809 --> 03:33:00.510 - I'm with you. Thank you for bringing me up. 03:33:01.538 --> 03:33:09.253 - Any other further question or comment? I'll vote no on it because I feel like for a reason stated with 03:33:09.253 --> 03:33:16.743 - Council Henry, what he was saying, I just, again, maybe not the order of how it is initially, but I 03:33:16.743 --> 03:33:24.458 - want it to be abundantly clear because we keep hearing people in meetings and commissioners, we've had 03:33:24.458 --> 03:33:30.974 - two joint meetings where it's like, tell us more, tell us more. At the end of the day, 03:33:31.074 --> 03:33:41.179 - My whole thing is I want this to be spelled out for any kind of questions that I've left remain on unsolved. 03:33:41.179 --> 03:33:50.820 - This is it. And so I think that's important to me. And so I'm in favor of keeping this and not striking 03:33:50.820 --> 03:33:59.998 - it. Yes, Councilor Williams. So I am part of the motion, meaning that I will support removing this 03:34:02.530 --> 03:34:14.280 - from the resolution, because I do think it's important that we move gingerly forward and that this vote 03:34:14.280 --> 03:34:25.579 - will likely lay bare how we feel. This discussion is laying bare how we feel. This resolution maybe 03:34:25.579 --> 03:34:31.454 - was called for by the commissioners in some senses, 03:34:33.570 --> 03:34:42.350 - It's not the result of the commissioners and it's not for the commissioners. And those are the folks 03:34:42.350 --> 03:34:51.304 - that I think, you know, y'all are talking to. And so anyway, I've said. Molly, did you have your hand? 03:34:51.304 --> 03:35:00.170 - I have a thought that kind of goes toward what Councilor Wilt is saying, but I think that I will save 03:35:00.170 --> 03:35:01.822 - it until after the 03:35:01.986 --> 03:35:09.752 - Discussion of whether to leave this closet in or out One thing I would just say is I want the best document 03:35:09.752 --> 03:35:17.158 - that gets this damn thing done And I want anyone watching this to know that we're committed to getting 03:35:17.158 --> 03:35:24.493 - this damn thing done Because we have dragged on forever Part of my frustration counselor final had to 03:35:24.493 --> 03:35:29.886 - hear me say this at lunch. But part of my frustration is we had a plan and 03:35:30.178 --> 03:35:37.071 - And then everybody started changing the plan and that's fine. That's fine. But one thing about this 03:35:37.071 --> 03:35:44.170 - is I would say for anyone observing that live in this county or otherwise, it is abundantly clear with 03:35:44.170 --> 03:35:51.407 - problem solving type eyeballs watching that it's not going to be at North Park. We could not resuscitate 03:35:51.407 --> 03:35:56.094 - that corpse of a concept. Pardon me. We could not resuscitate that. 03:35:56.834 --> 03:36:04.214 - with the best of magic and the holiest of our faiths. So to me, whether one is in there or not, and 03:36:04.214 --> 03:36:11.668 - to get council okay with it, I'm probably gonna vote to keep that in there, but that ship has sailed 03:36:11.668 --> 03:36:19.122 - so hard that it's crashed into the shore. I am surprised that I hear it, but then again, people come 03:36:19.122 --> 03:36:23.550 - to me with all sorts of things on this facility, but again, 03:36:23.650 --> 03:36:30.220 - There once was a dream that's called North Park, and it doesn't appear that that dream is going to be 03:36:30.220 --> 03:36:36.790 - for this. As Councilor Henry said, it may be other things. So kind of with that in mind, I do want to 03:36:36.790 --> 03:36:43.424 - make sure that someone looking at this says, whether it's commissioners or otherwise, we are committed 03:36:43.424 --> 03:36:50.123 - to getting this damn thing done. Thanks. I think that's a good point, and I appreciate you saying that. 03:36:50.123 --> 03:36:53.150 - I just think to add to that point once before, 03:36:53.378 --> 03:37:00.997 - We've heard now twice in our meetings that we all thought North Park was done, and we have heard several 03:37:00.997 --> 03:37:08.326 - times that North Park continues to be something that commissioners potentially are still working on, 03:37:08.326 --> 03:37:15.582 - even after the purchase agreement is expired, even after our, you know, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. 03:37:16.098 --> 03:37:22.479 - How many more ways can we spell and say no? That's why I'm just advocating for this is I think at the 03:37:22.479 --> 03:37:28.798 - end of the day, I definitely, I think all seven of us wanna get it done. I would hope and think that 03:37:28.798 --> 03:37:35.117 - all the commissioners wanna have it done. And I don't think this is for them. I think honestly, this 03:37:35.117 --> 03:37:40.935 - is more for us because we have talked about this type of resolution for so long in some way, 03:37:40.935 --> 03:37:45.502 - shape or fashion. And the community has been asking us because it's been 03:37:45.602 --> 03:37:52.953 - you know, charged us balls in your court. What are you doing? And this is the final result of all of 03:37:52.953 --> 03:38:00.377 - these things being thrown at us. And it's sticking now. And this is what we're doing. So I appreciate 03:38:00.377 --> 03:38:08.311 - those comments there. So all right. So we had a motion and a second to strike item one from this resolution. 03:38:08.311 --> 03:38:14.206 - Is there any other questions or comments on this? You have to do public comment. 03:38:16.130 --> 03:38:24.739 - I think you can do public comment on the entire resolution. Got it. Okay. All right. So before we vote 03:38:24.739 --> 03:38:33.265 - on this, just to be clear again, this motion that Councilor Iverson may and was seconded by Councilor 03:38:33.265 --> 03:38:42.209 - Wilt is to strike item one from the resolution. So may we please have a roll call vote? Councilor Iverson? 03:38:42.209 --> 03:38:44.382 - Yes. Councilor Feidl? No. 03:38:46.626 --> 03:38:59.598 - Councillor Wilts. Yes. Councillor Henry. No. Councillor Deckard. No. Councillor Crossley. No. 03:38:59.598 --> 03:39:13.950 - Motion passes. No. No. Motion fails. Two to four. Yes, Councillor Deckard. Madam President, I move that 03:39:14.050 --> 03:39:22.829 - Item one be moved to bottom of the clauses and remain there despite editing. Second. All right. We got 03:39:22.829 --> 03:39:31.522 - a motion and a second to move this to the very end of the resolution. Is there any further discussion 03:39:31.522 --> 03:39:40.045 - on this item? Okay. All right. Seeing none, can we please have a roll call vote? I'm catching up. I 03:39:40.045 --> 03:39:43.454 - can do the roll call. Councillor Henry. 03:39:44.258 --> 03:39:56.372 - Councillor Iverson? Yes. Councillor Crossley? Yes. Councillor Decker? Yes. Councillor Wilts? Yes. Councillor 03:39:56.372 --> 03:40:07.487 - Feidl? Yes. Who made the second? You. Look at that. Okay. All right. It was unanimous motion passes 03:40:07.487 --> 03:40:11.710 - unanimously to move it to the bottom. 03:40:14.210 --> 03:40:21.258 - Prior to moving off this clause, now recognizing that it's at the bottom, I did want to offer maybe 03:40:21.258 --> 03:40:28.799 - a comment that I think, like a suggestion for council consideration that goes to Councilor Wilts' comments 03:40:28.799 --> 03:40:36.199 - about proceeding gingerly. I think you could amend the clause to say the Monroe County Council no longer 03:40:36.199 --> 03:40:39.230 - wishes to consider the North Park property 03:40:39.458 --> 03:40:46.351 - for the location of the new facility unless there's a substantial change in circumstances. We don't 03:40:46.351 --> 03:40:53.313 - know what's going to happen in the future. If I did, I win the lottery and it'd be a different story 03:40:53.313 --> 03:41:00.551 - here. But so I I'll be I understand. And I think it is very clear what counsel's position is. But that's 03:41:00.551 --> 03:41:07.513 - just a suggestion for consideration. Well, and to that point, though, we can if we don't know it, we 03:41:07.513 --> 03:41:09.374 - don't know. And, you know, 03:41:09.890 --> 03:41:18.687 - If some catastrophic moment happens where we, I mean, we could come back to revisit that. But the intent 03:41:18.687 --> 03:41:27.401 - that it sounds like we want to send a very clear message that I always know on North Park. Anybody else 03:41:27.401 --> 03:41:36.031 - have any questions or comments on that? I'm just that's just my opinion that I think, you know, that's 03:41:36.031 --> 03:41:37.790 - that's just me, J.C. 03:41:40.066 --> 03:41:46.613 - Oh, sorry. And maybe I'll hop in. Yeah, I guess we're doing this. Maybe my only comment on that, I concur. 03:41:46.613 --> 03:41:53.038 - And I appreciate the spirit in which that was offered. I think that's a quote that I actually I'd never, 03:41:53.038 --> 03:41:59.157 - that's Kate Wills' thing. And I just said it, the spirit in which that was offered. But actually, I 03:41:59.157 --> 03:42:05.459 - was kind of in a different direction. Is this an opportunity then to lead with a clause that addresses 03:42:05.459 --> 03:42:06.622 - the dollar amount? 03:42:06.786 --> 03:42:15.513 - So I mean, there's comment by Councillor Fiddle about where to put the dollar amount. Should we lead 03:42:15.513 --> 03:42:24.759 - a clause one here with the dollar amount that FSG had given us this evening? Councillor Wilks. Two things. 03:42:24.759 --> 03:42:33.399 - I don't think we should lead with the dollar amount. Because I think, in my opinion, we should lead 03:42:33.399 --> 03:42:35.646 - with what we collectively 03:42:36.258 --> 03:42:46.747 - ultimately will agree on is the most important point and That well that is the most Maybe important 03:42:46.747 --> 03:42:57.342 - reason or at least the Reason that's right here in front of us. It's not the most important point in 03:42:57.342 --> 03:43:03.006 - the now therefore as part So I think we should have a 03:43:04.194 --> 03:43:12.848 - quick rundown of like which of these or what is our main main point so that we can get to this because 03:43:12.848 --> 03:43:21.419 - Molly did an amazing job of laying out as I could think of I don't know how you did that and then and 03:43:21.419 --> 03:43:29.821 - then putting together a set of here's here's what we feel and I think that it reflects what we said 03:43:29.821 --> 03:43:33.854 - but what's missing is we need to put a point on 03:43:34.370 --> 03:43:44.010 - what we're saying. So I guess I'm just asking y'all, what's your most important hill for this resolution 03:43:44.010 --> 03:43:53.375 - to say? That made no sense. Yes, Councillor Iverson. The new, yeah, what's highlighted on the screen. 03:43:53.375 --> 03:44:02.832 - We all took an oath to defend the constitutions of Indiana and the United States, and right now, this, 03:44:02.832 --> 03:44:03.934 - I think, is 03:44:04.418 --> 03:44:13.064 - utmost importance that we provide constitutional levels of care for those who are inmates within our 03:44:13.064 --> 03:44:21.880 - facilities and within our lives. This is primary. I think everything else can go away. Everything else 03:44:21.880 --> 03:44:30.612 - is less than this. This clause of itself talks about needing a location to build a new facility. This 03:44:30.612 --> 03:44:33.950 - clause talks about needing the funding 03:44:34.402 --> 03:44:46.818 - to build that new facility. This is it. In my humble opinion and my sole opinion, I think this is the 03:44:46.818 --> 03:44:58.992 - only clause we need in this section. Would it be helpful that I read the clause that Mr. Iverson is 03:44:58.992 --> 03:45:00.574 - referencing? 03:45:00.770 --> 03:45:09.560 - I just want to point information first. Clause four that he's referring to, two paragraphs, right? It's 03:45:09.560 --> 03:45:18.097 - the one paragraph highlighted. It's in the draft resolution, formally clause five, because we moved. 03:45:18.097 --> 03:45:22.238 - Okay. For clarity, I'm going to read the clause. 03:45:22.914 --> 03:45:27.963 - The Monroe County Council recognizes that providing constitutional care within the jail facility is 03:45:27.963 --> 03:45:33.214 - an utmost priority that must be met and that Monroe County is in need of a new jail facility to provide 03:45:33.346 --> 03:45:39.153 - adequate medical care, mental health treatment, classification opportunities, humane living conditions 03:45:39.153 --> 03:45:44.847 - and to ensure the safety of inmates and staff within the facility. The Monroe County Council commits 03:45:44.847 --> 03:45:50.597 - to funding the construction of a new jail facility, which is what the Richardson lawsuit necessitates 03:45:50.597 --> 03:45:56.404 - and funding the staff thereof to ensure that inmates housed within the Monroe County Jail will receive 03:45:56.404 --> 03:45:59.166 - said constitutional care. What more do you need? 03:46:08.770 --> 03:46:16.019 - Let's say you. No, I'm just asking if anybody. Yes, Councillor Henry. Probably goes without saying that 03:46:16.019 --> 03:46:23.199 - the fourth line that I don't think this is a contrary position among all of us that the statement that 03:46:23.199 --> 03:46:30.657 - funding the construction of a new jail facility. Now the question is whether or not the Richardson lawsuit 03:46:30.657 --> 03:46:36.094 - necessitates that. I don't think it's actually mentioned in Richardson that a 03:46:36.450 --> 03:46:43.989 - facility is what's required but we are committing to saying that in this sentence but Mr. King that's 03:46:43.989 --> 03:46:51.453 - not a requirement in Richardson it's Mr. Falkas says as much that he's not saying we have to build a 03:46:51.453 --> 03:46:59.066 - new Jane so make sure that phrase we're saying that which is fine I think I'm just not sure Richardson 03:46:59.066 --> 03:47:03.870 - says that can we be crystal clear on that nitpicky but important 03:47:04.386 --> 03:47:11.443 - And I can clarify that sentence. The intent of the sentence was to state that, as Mr. Falk has indicated, 03:47:11.443 --> 03:47:18.301 - Richardson addresses the jail. Which is what the Richardson lawsuit, but that clause references to the 03:47:18.301 --> 03:47:25.092 - previous, the funding of the construction of a new jail facility. Unless I'm misreading that, I might 03:47:25.092 --> 03:47:31.817 - be getting into a crammer here. Does anyone else read it that way? And if that's the case, then it's 03:47:31.817 --> 03:47:34.014 - not clear and we gotta be clear. 03:47:34.786 --> 03:47:45.266 - I was reading it the way you were reading. I did too. I guess we could get rid of that phrase, which 03:47:45.266 --> 03:47:56.057 - is what the Richardson lawsuit necessitates. But I would maybe and I agree number five is the important 03:47:56.057 --> 03:48:04.254 - one. I don't know if we voted on that. No, I just I said it very passionately. 03:48:04.898 --> 03:48:17.340 - Yeah, well, it sounded like a vote. It was that way. Does anyone else, is there any interest in putting 03:48:17.340 --> 03:48:29.662 - a timeline in here? Putting a date or, you know, we commit to fund it, you know, maybe it's on a date, 03:48:29.662 --> 03:48:32.414 - maybe, yeah, go ahead. 03:48:33.922 --> 03:48:40.824 - It kind of jumped around clauses. But I do think there is a date in clause three and it says no later 03:48:40.824 --> 03:48:47.862 - than April 7th of twenty twenty six. I picked that date because that is the last council meeting before 03:48:47.862 --> 03:48:54.629 - before the 15th deadline or no. I even highlighted that you don't have a selection of property yet. 03:48:54.629 --> 03:48:58.622 - Is it conceivable to have a purchase agreement in 45 days? 03:49:03.586 --> 03:49:10.554 - We could possibly meet that. That's not on us. The language says that we'll be working towards. Working 03:49:10.554 --> 03:49:17.321 - toward executing. It's not requiring the execution of a purchase agreement because I do think that's 03:49:17.321 --> 03:49:24.087 - virtually impossible. We've essentially identified the funding sources tonight. Yep. Yes, Councillor 03:49:24.087 --> 03:49:30.787 - Darkin. Well, at one time some of my suggestions that you see in here, I think you see in here, Mr. 03:49:30.787 --> 03:49:33.534 - King's better than I am at these things. 03:49:33.986 --> 03:49:41.470 - they were meant to illustrate that we were moving towards things and giving us kind of the urgency of 03:49:41.470 --> 03:49:49.394 - the situation. I mean, we've sat at a round table in the middle of that room and we've heard from different 03:49:49.394 --> 03:49:56.879 - parties as well as ourselves why a commitment to those is important. I think five is the current five 03:49:56.879 --> 03:50:03.262 - that Councillor Iverson talked about. I do think it's important. I just worry at times 03:50:04.546 --> 03:50:12.378 - that it sounds very consistent with where generally every council and commissioner has been since 2009. 03:50:12.378 --> 03:50:19.908 - I mean, they all had a dream to do it. And I know that when you get detail, you get issues that can 03:50:19.908 --> 03:50:27.664 - become part of other things. I know that. I get that. I've heard that from numerous people repeatedly. 03:50:27.664 --> 03:50:31.806 - But I also know that the dude on the other side who is 03:50:31.938 --> 03:50:38.666 - literally been in this private settlement agreement since 2009, he's looking for a bunch of politicians 03:50:38.666 --> 03:50:45.134 - to do something on this. And whether you like North Park or not, or this side, or where at, or city 03:50:45.134 --> 03:50:51.668 - council thinks or not, he just wants to make sure that, not to speak for him, but this is the gist I 03:50:51.668 --> 03:50:58.654 - took, he doesn't care. I said to him at one point, and some of you recall this, I think I've said it twice, 03:50:59.074 --> 03:51:05.986 - You know, the General Assembly keeps messing in our kitchen here so we can't serve dinner. Do you want 03:51:05.986 --> 03:51:13.033 - to add them as a party? And he basically was like, I get it. They're problematic. But you took the oath, 03:51:13.033 --> 03:51:19.945 - brother. And so I think that for me, when I think about both site selection, maybe a reference to best 03:51:19.945 --> 03:51:25.918 - possible towards death, that's why I kind of wanted that in there so that you're showing 03:51:26.018 --> 03:51:33.239 - I'm not just saying, yeah, of course, this is a resolution, we love this, but that we have it. So that's 03:51:33.239 --> 03:51:40.117 - where my worry is. I don't know, do you say, do you reference some of that into five so that you're 03:51:40.117 --> 03:51:46.994 - showing your own teeth? Because I worry that if it's too bland, it's like, well, of course you want 03:51:46.994 --> 03:51:52.702 - to build one. You're no different than whoever took the oath in your seat in 2010. 03:51:55.970 --> 03:52:04.408 - Are you saying that we should put the timeline? I think that you, he's, our ultimate deadline's what, 03:52:04.408 --> 03:52:13.011 - April 14th? 15th. 15th, tax day. The private lawsuit, the private settlement agreement expires on April 03:52:13.011 --> 03:52:21.366 - 15th. Now, do I know if Mr. Falk is going to file a new lawsuit on April 15th? No, could he? Yes, it 03:52:21.366 --> 03:52:24.510 - just depends on communication between 03:52:24.898 --> 03:52:32.081 - which consists of inmates. I do know inmates have requested a letter to send back to Mr. Falk, but I 03:52:32.081 --> 03:52:39.264 - don't know the nature of those communications. So can I say April 15th is the day we get sued? No. I 03:52:39.264 --> 03:52:46.589 - just think you've got to show the advance of that. We're trying to move quick, which, you know, I know 03:52:46.589 --> 03:52:54.270 - we can't talk about everything out in the world, but I think there are entities in this county trying to do 03:52:55.106 --> 03:53:01.454 - many of these things to get this moving again. I'll go Wilt and then I'll come back to Henry. 03:53:01.454 --> 03:53:08.409 - First question, does everything that we do to this have to be done through a motion? Or can I just ask 03:53:08.409 --> 03:53:15.297 - for like consent on an idea that way we don't have to burden with the whole roll call vote? And if it 03:53:15.297 --> 03:53:22.590 - gets like obvious disagreement, like I felt like we had some disagreement we needed to clarify earlier, but 03:53:23.298 --> 03:53:32.357 - in that sphere, if you think that's okay. I was gonna say, as long as staff can keep up with... Our 03:53:32.357 --> 03:53:41.778 - staff left. I think it is clear with a motion, but I don't think a motion is required. Okay. I am going 03:53:41.778 --> 03:53:51.018 - to suggest that acknowledging that we still have work to do on wording or moving around, that we make 03:53:51.018 --> 03:53:52.830 - current number four 03:53:53.186 --> 03:54:03.153 - up to the top at number one. So it is a very clear statement of, hey, we recognize that we got to do 03:54:03.153 --> 03:54:13.120 - something followed by the one that has the date in it. So put number four first and followed by the, 03:54:13.120 --> 03:54:16.574 - on our drafts, it's five and four. 03:54:18.658 --> 03:54:25.867 - So that we immediately then get to that, hey, and this is what we're going to do. We saw that we had 03:54:25.867 --> 03:54:33.147 - some benchmarks. And then I would like to strengthen that language. But for right now, it makes sense 03:54:33.147 --> 03:54:40.570 - to me to go ahead and put what used to be the last paragraph first, because it's so important, followed 03:54:40.570 --> 03:54:46.494 - by something that contains some detail, meat, something on the how. OK. I consent. 03:54:48.098 --> 03:54:58.768 - and then I'm gonna go to Councillor Henry. Yeah, thanks. I'm gonna withdraw. I think we just made some 03:54:58.768 --> 03:55:09.334 - progress there. Okay. And Ms. Turner-King. I guess I'm just waiting for guidance on do you want me to 03:55:09.334 --> 03:55:15.550 - cut this and move it to the top? Yes. Actually, I remember. 03:55:17.474 --> 03:55:24.498 - All right. So it actually was related to what Mr. Hurricane was talking about. So I mean, we're speculating 03:55:24.498 --> 03:55:31.131 - on what happens on April 16th. Isn't it also possible that a current inmate would straight of process 03:55:31.131 --> 03:55:37.829 - to claim a constitutional violation that this sheriff can investigate and try to resolve, or maybe the 03:55:37.829 --> 03:55:44.332 - sheriffs didn't in 2009? I mean, it's not necessarily that it goes right to court. It could trigger 03:55:44.332 --> 03:55:47.454 - the whole administrative process again, where a 03:55:47.650 --> 03:55:54.354 - find a new variety of things. And so we're not really talking about April 16th at that point. It's working 03:55:54.354 --> 03:56:00.745 - through the legal process that is under the administrative process before we get to litigation. Isn't 03:56:00.745 --> 03:56:07.073 - that also a possibility? I mean, I think, yes, I do think there is a process that inmates would have 03:56:07.073 --> 03:56:11.710 - to follow when alleging violations. There's an internal grievance policy. 03:56:14.370 --> 03:56:20.203 - I cannot say right now where if there's a complaint in that grievance policy, where that complaint is 03:56:20.203 --> 03:56:25.922 - at in that grievance policy, and if that complaint results in a lawsuit. If I had a magic ball that 03:56:25.922 --> 03:56:31.813 - predicted when we're going to get sued, I would definitely be sharing that date, but I don't have that 03:56:31.813 --> 03:56:37.532 - magic ball. I'm just saying that the 16th is a possibility, but there are a lot of other. There's a 03:56:37.532 --> 03:56:42.622 - lot of possibilities. We're very much speculating after the 15th is what I'm getting at. 03:56:43.298 --> 03:56:49.610 - Councilor Becker. When I would just say, depending on the nature of the complaint, and I think some 03:56:49.610 --> 03:56:56.175 - of us have heard this from the sheriff, some of us have heard this on the tour with Mr. Fogg, depending 03:56:56.175 --> 03:57:02.487 - on the nature of the complaint, there are things for which a sheriff can do and things for which if 03:57:02.487 --> 03:57:08.926 - the sheriff could do them, they'd already been done. So just depending on that, and depending on what 03:57:08.926 --> 03:57:11.198 - a council would say to their party, 03:57:11.522 --> 03:57:22.127 - that could quickly get guided. So I think that that date is a really live environment for those things. 03:57:22.127 --> 03:57:32.834 - Without instructing people myself, that, yeah. Okay, so I've amended it so that what was formerly clause 03:57:32.834 --> 03:57:41.502 - five in the draft is now clause one. Before moving on to the new number two, are you 03:57:41.730 --> 03:57:47.916 - all okay and I just want to make sure with the highlighted sentence that there might have been concern 03:57:47.916 --> 03:57:53.923 - about whether the language that reads which is what the Richardson lawsuit necessitates needs to be 03:57:53.923 --> 03:58:00.229 - there. Do you want me to remove that which is what Richardson necessitates? And I think that all depends 03:58:00.229 --> 03:58:06.356 - on if you think that clause is modifying the construction of the new jail facility. It's the cleanest 03:58:06.356 --> 03:58:08.638 - cut from my seat otherwise we have to 03:58:08.834 --> 03:58:20.041 - qualify by saying this is what the council thinks answers that. So I think it's just better to cut it. 03:58:20.041 --> 03:58:31.140 - I agree. Cut it. And we had also agreed to move number four to be right after. Is that correct? Where 03:58:31.140 --> 03:58:34.622 - we talked about the date? Yeah. 03:58:35.234 --> 03:58:48.573 - Because I think that might have been where Molly was going next. Yeah. I moved number. I moved the last 03:58:48.573 --> 03:59:01.528 - clause. And now the question is, do you want to move this highlighted clause to two? OK. Both parts. 03:59:01.528 --> 03:59:04.478 - So on this one, I view 03:59:04.962 --> 03:59:13.982 - that last sentence is almost like a checklist, right? Actively work toward executing purchase agreement, 03:59:13.982 --> 03:59:22.744 - identify funding source, I guess it's two check boxes. So I feel like if that whole sentence is about 03:59:22.744 --> 03:59:30.046 - the momentum that Councilor Decker described, right? But is not, but it's, oh, it's, 03:59:31.266 --> 03:59:38.605 - not restrictive in a way that forces us to have it all figured out by the seventh. It's that 03:59:38.605 --> 03:59:46.891 - we're identifying the source and working toward the execution of. I'm comfortable with that. I'm hopeful 03:59:46.891 --> 03:59:54.783 - others are. Yes. And I would also point out the exhibit A, I think the new exhibit A, which is this 03:59:54.783 --> 03:59:59.518 - document FSG showed tonight, lists out the funding sources. 04:00:01.058 --> 04:00:12.050 - Bostiff? Maybe not. But there's enough here where FSG thinks that we can have an estimated bond size 04:00:12.050 --> 04:00:23.695 - of 135 million to 117 million. Exhibit A reaches what was being said here. Anybody else have any questions 04:00:23.695 --> 04:00:30.878 - or comments? Yes, Councillor Wilks. Move your microphone, please. 04:00:32.418 --> 04:00:42.890 - Okay, we are now in the No, we aren't We're not doing the one that god. This is so hard to read it. 04:00:42.890 --> 04:00:53.363 - We kind of skipped around When we get to the one that references the other lawsuits, let me know. I 04:00:53.363 --> 04:00:59.646 - Don't think we're there yet, right? We're there we are well 04:01:00.386 --> 04:01:09.634 - that we're debating whether to move up to the second one, it incorporates an exhibit. The second paragraph 04:01:09.634 --> 04:01:18.536 - of that clause. Got it. So in that, is there any interest in instead of incorporating with the exhibit 04:01:18.536 --> 04:01:27.870 - the big long pile of ruling, couldn't we just cut out the two lists of benchmarks that we're talking about? 04:01:28.770 --> 04:01:38.454 - And so that, because it took me a little bit of time to sort through and be like, where are the benchmarks? 04:01:38.454 --> 04:01:47.421 - And it just would make it clearer. And then we could say, hey, and these are the things we're going 04:01:47.421 --> 04:01:57.374 - to do. I like that idea. I agree. That would be a good point. Yes. The Word version, I could do it real quick. 04:01:58.114 --> 04:02:06.027 - Oh, I have a second version that incorporates the benchmarks in preparation for this exact thought. 04:02:06.027 --> 04:02:14.099 - So give me two seconds. Molly, you're amazing. So all the while we do this, I would just like to kind 04:02:14.099 --> 04:02:22.329 - of make a general comment of is this accomplishing the goals that we want to have happen here? You know 04:02:22.329 --> 04:02:27.710 - what I mean? Are we drifting apart and getting way too specific and 04:02:27.970 --> 04:02:34.602 - not leaving ourselves any wiggle room, and how will this impact any potential lawsuit in the future? 04:02:34.602 --> 04:02:41.365 - What will that do to us if all this is written down? Yes, Councilor. That was my argument, is that the 04:02:41.365 --> 04:02:47.931 - only thing we need is the first clause. And I think Mr. Deckard very eloquently stated the opposing 04:02:47.931 --> 04:02:54.628 - side of that, that we have very eloquently been saying, we're gonna do something for a long time, and 04:02:54.628 --> 04:02:56.926 - it's time to put some teeth to it. 04:02:58.434 --> 04:03:05.219 - I'm just worried about the coming back to bite us part, right? Will this document ever be able to come 04:03:05.219 --> 04:03:11.872 - back and bite us should things not go well and we don't get where we need to be by April 7th or 15th 04:03:11.872 --> 04:03:18.788 - or whatever? I mean, even if we don't, it's not like, I guess, with the April 15th deadline, if it comes 04:03:18.788 --> 04:03:21.950 - and goes, are we just supposed to stop working? 04:03:22.242 --> 04:03:31.333 - Um, no, I think we have to, you know, obviously still keep going and moving forward. Right. So I think 04:03:31.333 --> 04:03:37.246 - adding the benchmarks and personally, I just think being specific. 04:03:37.730 --> 04:03:45.012 - of what it is that we are trying to accomplish because people have been looking at us. We've gotten 04:03:45.012 --> 04:03:52.294 - lots of emails, phone calls. I've seen meetings where people are asking. I was in an interview last 04:03:52.294 --> 04:03:59.575 - fall with Commissioner Thomas and Mr. Spoonmore for the Greater Chamber of Commerce where it's been 04:03:59.575 --> 04:04:07.294 - mentioned to us several times that the ball is in our court. I think as the fiscal body, we have a lot of 04:04:08.258 --> 04:04:15.650 - responsibility that we don't realize we have until this very moment and so for us to be very clear and 04:04:15.650 --> 04:04:23.114 - to spell it out for people and to express this is what you know people have been asking us for and been 04:04:23.114 --> 04:04:29.502 - on council since December of 21 this is the closest that I've ever seen us really try to 04:04:30.210 --> 04:04:36.971 - get to this point where council has really kind of set the tone for a lot of things. I think we all 04:04:36.971 --> 04:04:43.934 - had intentions of doing things by way of CJRC and JPEC and all the other acronym meetings that we have 04:04:43.934 --> 04:04:50.898 - here in the county. But this specific moment that we were in right now, there's a call and now we have 04:04:50.898 --> 04:04:57.118 - to respond. And so do I think anything could be held against us? I mean, our words can, but 04:04:57.506 --> 04:05:06.890 - this document, this is spelling out specifically what it is that we are looking to do. And some of these 04:05:06.890 --> 04:05:16.005 - recommendations have come from JFAC and other different types of things. So I think this to me, like, 04:05:16.005 --> 04:05:26.014 - ooh, I'm gonna say it, mission accomplished with, I just said it, with what it is that we are attempting to do. 04:05:26.434 --> 04:05:34.426 - as the fiscal body of the county council. I just am interested to know about any potential ramifications, 04:05:34.426 --> 04:05:42.417 - that's all. I think that all possibilities are endless. But my goal is, like I've said before in previous 04:05:42.417 --> 04:05:50.032 - meetings, and I know some people are, you know, think I'm a, or maybe I'm a positive patty autocrat, 04:05:50.032 --> 04:05:53.726 - I don't know. But what I do know is that I think 04:05:53.922 --> 04:06:01.518 - despite whatever happens when April 15th comes and goes, we still, I just want to keep going. I feel 04:06:01.518 --> 04:06:09.114 - the same way. But I just want to prevent any potential bad things that could happen to the county as 04:06:09.114 --> 04:06:16.861 - a result of what some of this may or may not say. And I think, you know, to Councillor Deckard's point 04:06:16.861 --> 04:06:22.878 - earlier, we kept, you know, we've been in this since 2009. And so we, you know, 04:06:23.554 --> 04:06:31.441 - lots of things have happened since then. But that being said, I think inactions had led us to this point, 04:06:31.441 --> 04:06:38.361 - and this is the most that I've seen any council kind of really get to action. And so I think 04:06:38.361 --> 04:06:39.998 - the ramifications is, 04:06:40.194 --> 04:06:46.218 - You know, we got the information back in January of this is what's happening. This is how this is going 04:06:46.218 --> 04:06:52.069 - to be. And we did nothing. But I would make the argument of we are doing something, which is sitting 04:06:52.069 --> 04:06:57.920 - here almost four and a half hours into our evening and really trying to get to the meat and potatoes 04:06:57.920 --> 04:07:03.828 - of how we progress forward and how we're sending the message. So that's my strong standpoint on that. 04:07:03.828 --> 04:07:10.142 - I'm definitely interested in action. I don't want to imply that at all. Oh, of course. Listen. I don't know. 04:07:10.242 --> 04:07:17.837 - One thing I'll just say generally as kind of an observation commentary before we go to wherever we're 04:07:17.837 --> 04:07:25.283 - going next, but a lot of times in our comments, and I'm guilty of it, others here, I think I recall 04:07:25.283 --> 04:07:32.804 - you doing it too, but I'll just say I'm guilty of it, we will go back to whoever didn't do what over 04:07:32.804 --> 04:07:38.910 - the years to remedy this. Even when I came into office, people were kind of like, 04:07:39.554 --> 04:07:45.150 - You know, that one is whatever. And I would say on this issue, because of that, sometimes we always 04:07:45.150 --> 04:07:50.746 - cast stones that way. And sometimes there's great things with that, and sometimes there's not. I'll 04:07:50.746 --> 04:07:56.454 - say on this particular issue, it kind of reminds me of sometimes when people talk about a reason they 04:07:56.454 --> 04:08:01.770 - wouldn't give a raise to someone. They're like, well, right now it's not good because of this. 04:08:01.770 --> 04:08:06.750 - And then later, not good becomes something else, and something else, and something else. 04:08:06.946 --> 04:08:13.825 - I think there were always in this county a lot of good reasons not to do anything. I think we're now 04:08:13.825 --> 04:08:20.704 - hitting a point in current events where the not doing anything because of the circumstances and many 04:08:20.704 --> 04:08:27.788 - others starts to become exceedingly convenient. And I think that probably every county is going through 04:08:27.788 --> 04:08:31.806 - this on a different scale with some project or or whatnot. 04:08:32.098 --> 04:08:39.406 - I think because of that, there's even more focus on us. Because if you haven't done it for a variety 04:08:39.406 --> 04:08:46.642 - of reasons before, now under the pressure, the only thing that will get you to do it is to hold you 04:08:46.642 --> 04:08:50.622 - accountable in a court of law for constitutional care. 04:08:50.722 --> 04:08:57.940 - And so we all talk about values and things like that. However, this ends up tonight, I think that that's 04:08:57.940 --> 04:09:04.884 - kind of the paradigm that we're under on constitutional care. What will you get done for those folks 04:09:04.884 --> 04:09:11.964 - in there versus what you will not do? And that's part of why we're being held to something where we're 04:09:11.964 --> 04:09:16.158 - trying to figure out what communicates best to all entities. 04:09:24.770 --> 04:09:31.852 - I did edit that was the previous clause and referenced the incorporation of the federal cases. And so 04:09:31.852 --> 04:09:38.864 - now it reads the Monroe County Council recognizes that the federal cases provided by Mr. Kinfolk and 04:09:38.864 --> 04:09:46.223 - referenced in the whereas clauses above outline the following benchmarks. And then there's the benchmarks 04:09:46.223 --> 04:09:52.958 - listed within the federal cases. And then I did not change, I removed all the previous language. 04:09:53.154 --> 04:09:59.558 - left the last sentence which says the Monroe County Council commits to working in conjunction with the 04:09:59.558 --> 04:10:05.899 - Monroe County Commissioners, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and the Monroe County Board of Judges 04:10:05.899 --> 04:10:12.303 - along with other justice stakeholders to develop a plan that establishes a timeline for completion and 04:10:12.303 --> 04:10:17.214 - for clarity. I'm going to add of these benchmarks. Scroll up. Once you got it. 04:10:21.602 --> 04:10:32.204 - that I can get all of the edited language in there without making it smaller. So where are we at as 04:10:32.204 --> 04:10:42.806 - far as what remains besides what you've just read? If you don't mind, I just want to take a look at 04:10:42.806 --> 04:10:50.334 - these clauses you added, if we can just pause here for a second. Yeah. 04:10:50.562 --> 04:10:58.026 - Do we understand the word facility to mean the same thing as jail? Is that consistent? Because I just 04:10:58.026 --> 04:11:05.491 - want to be clear that when we say facility, we're talking about jail, which is the ACLU's, that's the 04:11:05.491 --> 04:11:13.321 - purpose of why, that's what we're under, right? I mean, so it's a consistency question about what building 04:11:13.321 --> 04:11:18.590 - type we're talking about. Does that make sense? It does, but I'm gonna, 04:11:19.234 --> 04:11:25.419 - clarify that in the use of facility in there that's a copy and paste of the benchmarks that are in the 04:11:25.419 --> 04:11:31.423 - federal case that was previously incorporated. The second question that I have is and maybe this is 04:11:31.423 --> 04:11:37.428 - more of a style thing but I mean we refer to the attorney and not the organization that has brought 04:11:37.428 --> 04:11:43.613 - suit against the county. Is there value in saying ACLU Indiana as opposed to referencing the attorney? 04:11:43.613 --> 04:11:45.534 - I appreciate he's a significant 04:11:46.626 --> 04:11:54.930 - I referenced the attorney just because he's the individual who handed me those cases. So in this case 04:11:54.930 --> 04:12:03.234 - you're saying that that makes sense but like we have referenced Falk and other places where it really 04:12:03.234 --> 04:12:11.537 - is ACLU Indiana, right? I mean in the whereas clause it acknowledges that Mr. Falk's the attorney for 04:12:11.537 --> 04:12:15.038 - the ACLU. Would your reference in Mr. Falk 04:12:16.322 --> 04:12:25.843 - because of the benchmarks that he. He's the one who emailed me the cases that I was going to incorporate. 04:12:25.843 --> 04:12:34.825 - Got it. Okay. Okay. Any other questions, comments or concerns on this item? Are we going to reorder 04:12:34.825 --> 04:12:40.574 - this so that it's below clause one? This is the new clause two. 04:12:47.106 --> 04:12:56.442 - If you if that's the direction you're providing me, didn't yes. Yeah, we had it. Yeah, we had agreed 04:12:56.442 --> 04:13:05.685 - on that. We direct you. It's very direct. Right. That's what happens after nine o'clock. OK, so I'm 04:13:05.685 --> 04:13:15.390 - going to go. Clock one used to be four and we're OK with how it reads. Clause two is now what used to be 04:13:17.122 --> 04:13:27.948 - I don't remember what number in the original draft but we just moved it up. Are there any other additional 04:13:27.948 --> 04:13:37.155 - edits to clause two? The new clause two. Anybody? Do you want me to read it or? Thank you. 04:13:37.155 --> 04:13:47.070 - My dream world. I would be more specific but I don't feel like there's an appetite for that in my 04:13:47.810 --> 04:13:54.873 - when you say specific what on dates and but I feel like and I respect others who don't want to be you 04:13:54.873 --> 04:14:02.283 - like that's a separate document okay yeah because there there are benchmarks we can commit to as a council 04:14:02.283 --> 04:14:09.278 - we cannot necessarily assure that the other partners and I agree with mr. Henry's point which is why 04:14:09.278 --> 04:14:16.410 - that last clause says that you'll work in conjunction because I think some of those benchmarks are out 04:14:16.410 --> 04:14:17.726 - of council control 04:14:24.386 --> 04:14:31.387 - So the first paragraph in clause two acknowledges that there are two explicit, there are two benchmarks 04:14:31.387 --> 04:14:38.119 - explicitly that require council approval and those benchmarks are the financing for the project and 04:14:38.119 --> 04:14:45.053 - the execution of the purchase agreement. But that latter one isn't just council. I know. Those are the 04:14:45.053 --> 04:14:51.920 - two that do require us but that number two differs from number one in that it really requires another 04:14:51.920 --> 04:14:52.862 - body as well. 04:14:52.962 --> 04:15:01.173 - Correct, which is why it says council actively work towards the execution of a purchase agreement. 04:15:01.173 --> 04:15:09.798 - All right. So moving on, moving on, we have not discussed what is now the current three. It talks about 04:15:09.798 --> 04:15:17.677 - council evaluating properties and then that properties currently owned by Monroe County within 04:15:17.677 --> 04:15:20.414 - the geographical vicinity, which 04:15:20.514 --> 04:15:32.264 - is close to the current justice facilities and service providers will be considered as possible locations. 04:15:32.264 --> 04:15:43.466 - Are there any concerns, edits to that? Clause. Anybody? It's probably fine, but that last sentence is 04:15:43.466 --> 04:15:50.494 - where I believe we have an opportunity to honor the concerns of 04:15:50.722 --> 04:15:57.783 - not just internal stakeholders, but the public. We get very close to the idea with that with the phrase 04:15:57.783 --> 04:16:04.708 - public interest. There's been a lot of public interest, and what's in the public interest is maybe an 04:16:04.708 --> 04:16:11.701 - opportunity to acknowledge that that external input, because I mean, it's my view that this whole part 04:16:11.701 --> 04:16:15.774 - of why we're in this position today is that we had funneled 04:16:16.322 --> 04:16:23.304 - who the stakeholder set was, which is always dangerous once you start excluding stakeholders. I've always 04:16:23.304 --> 04:16:29.956 - believed stakeholders are stakeholders, whether you think they are or not, and a lot of the agita in 04:16:29.956 --> 04:16:36.806 - the community came from people being excluded at a certain point. There's something about that. I think 04:16:36.806 --> 04:16:43.524 - public interest is enough, or public interest of citizens. I wonder if there's some stronger language 04:16:43.524 --> 04:16:45.566 - to honor that we heard people. 04:16:45.762 --> 04:16:53.646 - and verbs at this moment, but I'm curious if others share that thought. I feel like that's encapsulated 04:16:53.646 --> 04:17:01.379 - in that sentence. I'm sorry, Mr. Decker. No, go. That's all I needed to say. Okay. Councillor Decker. 04:17:01.379 --> 04:17:09.491 - I understand kind of that sentiment there. One thing that I'll just offer is that when a new site emerges, 04:17:09.491 --> 04:17:14.494 - it will have those who support it and those who disagree with it. 04:17:16.066 --> 04:17:24.117 - And that's why I say there's always a reason people, this is a hard thing that we're dealing with. This 04:17:24.117 --> 04:17:32.013 - isn't an ice cream stand or a scholarship announcement. This is a thing that is a very, it is what it 04:17:32.013 --> 04:17:39.754 - is. And I just say that, I say that because we're gonna have to buckle up because it is, the public 04:17:39.754 --> 04:17:41.534 - interest on this will, 04:17:41.666 --> 04:17:48.525 - change and who is happy today will be unhappy tomorrow and it will be difficult. And I think that's 04:17:48.525 --> 04:17:55.591 - incorporated in there just as in a lot of these different discussions. Various things have been shaped 04:17:55.591 --> 04:18:02.793 - over time. That will continue with whatever site it is. What was once good will become not good. I mean, 04:18:02.793 --> 04:18:09.995 - it's just going to be what it's been. Every site we've had has had what I call an El Dorado moment where 04:18:09.995 --> 04:18:11.230 - people said, yes, 04:18:11.586 --> 04:18:19.091 - And then later, oh, I can't even believe that. And that will happen again and again. So yes, you try 04:18:19.091 --> 04:18:26.670 - to incorporate as much of that as possible, but at the end of the day, there will be some hard way to 04:18:26.670 --> 04:18:34.843 - define this. Well, being one of the former stakeholders that tried to guide that during CJRC as a stakeholder 04:18:34.843 --> 04:18:40.862 - in the room, I appreciate that thought. But it's the funneling that got us here. 04:18:40.962 --> 04:18:48.942 - So of course, we're always going to find someone who doesn't like its proximity. It's just my firm belief 04:18:48.942 --> 04:18:56.772 - that the moment we close the door even on this council where decision making is being made by unelected 04:18:56.772 --> 04:19:04.451 - persons on the size scope and floor, that's where we lost the narrative with the public. But I'm okay 04:19:04.451 --> 04:19:10.398 - with Councillor Iverson's observation if he feels it's sufficient to leave it. 04:19:11.746 --> 04:19:20.838 - Yes, Councillor. I have a suggestion. This is the location clause. About taking clause number five and 04:19:20.838 --> 04:19:29.754 - appending it into this clause. Keeping location stuff together. We keep constitution stuff together. 04:19:29.754 --> 04:19:33.726 - I actually like that a lot. Yeah, good call. 04:19:41.186 --> 04:19:49.728 - Highlighting it in red, not that the closet changed, but its place did. I said I highlighted it in red 04:19:49.728 --> 04:19:58.269 - so it's easier to find that we moved it there. OK, I see it. OK. So I would. Yes, I don't know. Again, 04:19:58.269 --> 04:20:07.806 - revisiting that price point, I mean, Mr. Iverson said, hey, the exhibit says 117 through 135 or whatever from SFG. 04:20:08.290 --> 04:20:16.013 - So just as that phrase indicates a specificity, and I do think this, I mean, I don't know how others 04:20:16.013 --> 04:20:23.965 - feel about this on council, but I do believe from my understanding, what was reported in the media when 04:20:23.965 --> 04:20:31.764 - you all took the vote in October of 24, that you did not expect that in February of 25, the bill came 04:20:31.764 --> 04:20:38.110 - back at 257. And I might be wrong, but as a, you know, just citizen at that point, 04:20:38.242 --> 04:20:45.060 - I think that was surprising to a lot of people, and we have tried a few times as counsel to signal our 04:20:45.060 --> 04:20:51.879 - risk tolerance that that number has been a problem. In fact, when we submitted our version of the edit 04:20:51.879 --> 04:20:58.631 - plan to the Board of Commissioners, we tried to lower that dollar amount to pretty much what FSG just 04:20:58.631 --> 04:21:02.206 - told us, almost to the nickel, almost, 125, whatever. 04:21:02.466 --> 04:21:08.329 - We've tried to signal this a few times, right, that we were anticipating this and it turns out we were 04:21:08.329 --> 04:21:14.134 - validated this evening. Is this the place to say that, to say, look, there is sort of a, it's not the 04:21:14.134 --> 04:21:20.054 - ceiling, but anything beyond a certain dollar amount, we can't have a plan that comes back a few months 04:21:20.054 --> 04:21:25.746 - from now that's a 200 million when we just heard that we really can't bond for it. I would hate for 04:21:25.746 --> 04:21:28.478 - DLZ to design a new facility that is over cost. 04:21:29.762 --> 04:21:41.272 - Should we not say the number in this resolution? Two thoughts. I'm not opposed to it. But number one, 04:21:41.272 --> 04:21:52.781 - it bears pointing out that the numbers are estimated lit numbers. We do not know the concrete number, 04:21:52.781 --> 04:21:59.326 - so it's an estimate. Number two is a good one. I lost it. 04:22:03.234 --> 04:22:14.087 - I actually got so distracted by that first point that they are estimates. We need to keep that in mind 04:22:14.087 --> 04:22:23.780 - and I think they're already in there by reference. Yeah, as the exhibit. I think it's good. 04:22:23.780 --> 04:22:29.470 - I think it's good. I would just add for considering a 04:22:29.826 --> 04:22:36.608 - Consideration during this conversation that bonding capacity changes the 25% cap is not forever more 04:22:36.608 --> 04:22:43.322 - It's true as well Because I have to say I mean this respectfully I know that's the opinion of other 04:22:43.322 --> 04:22:50.104 - people in County legal. I know some folks in County legal Asserted repeatedly this that the 257 is a 04:22:50.104 --> 04:22:56.818 - number that we can sustain and If they really believe that they need to run to sit up here and make 04:22:56.818 --> 04:22:57.758 - that decision 04:22:57.890 --> 04:23:03.697 - There's a big difference between being able to say that from the sidelines and being up here. I don't 04:23:03.697 --> 04:23:09.447 - believe that's your position there, Mr. Henry King, but I know it's shared by others in that office. 04:23:09.447 --> 04:23:15.254 - So having said that, our job is to be able to maintain the totality of what we bring in revenue. Some 04:23:15.254 --> 04:23:16.734 - of us went to AIC, right? 04:23:16.834 --> 04:23:22.019 - heard our estimates from our organization saying that we're going to need half of that lit just to keep 04:23:22.019 --> 04:23:27.452 - revenue neutral. I went through this before. I mentioned key lime pie last time. If we were saying something 04:23:27.452 --> 04:23:32.488 - like 30% is going to be necessary to meet the bond, which we now know is not the case. In fact, it's 04:23:32.488 --> 04:23:37.672 - not going to be a 19 million bond debt service. We just heard that tonight. We also need to think about 04:23:37.672 --> 04:23:40.414 - everything else that we have to pay for in the county. 04:23:41.410 --> 04:23:46.846 - So it's one thing to say, oh, you know, that number can change and we can accommodate that. But relative 04:23:46.846 --> 04:23:52.074 - to everything else, which includes COLA for our employees, which includes maintenance of, I mean, so 04:23:52.074 --> 04:23:55.646 - we're not in a place where we can say, I think, with any confidence. 04:23:56.226 --> 04:24:02.728 - that our revenue is going to be, that we can meet that number. If we came back and here's the 250 million 04:24:02.728 --> 04:24:08.861 - plan again and say, well, you know, you could, but relative to other things. So we have to throttle 04:24:08.861 --> 04:24:14.995 - that or else we will not have resource for 20 years to do anything else in the county if we have an 04:24:14.995 --> 04:24:21.129 - emergency at risk. And that's just the view I have. Yeah, good point. Councillor Wilts. I recognize 04:24:21.129 --> 04:24:24.318 - that you are correct. It's not going to be percent. 04:24:25.314 --> 04:24:33.579 - And for clarity and legislative update, as we go along, it just got passed. It's twenty twenty nine. 04:24:33.579 --> 04:24:42.007 - So our capacity will change in twenty twenty nine. Well, we have to figure out stuff now is the is our 04:24:42.007 --> 04:24:50.517 - problem. And I mean, now, as in like this coming month would be ideal. And to Councillor Henry's point, 04:24:50.517 --> 04:24:53.054 - it reminds me a whole lot when 04:24:53.570 --> 04:24:59.278 - we were buying a house and told we could afford X, right? And everybody, and this was back in the day, 04:24:59.278 --> 04:25:05.041 - but everybody's like, oh, you can afford to spend this much on your house. And you start looking around 04:25:05.041 --> 04:25:10.583 - and you're like, but I would love to be able to put curtains on the windows, you know? It makes you 04:25:10.583 --> 04:25:16.013 - house poor. And what we're saying here, and this is actually, I'm glad you're using this analogy. 04:25:16.013 --> 04:25:21.278 - I'm sorry, I'm getting excited. I had all that Snickers or whatever we're handing around here. 04:25:21.378 --> 04:25:26.248 - But this is a serious point, right? Because we could buy the house, but in terms of prevention 04:25:26.248 --> 04:25:31.579 - and restorative justice programs and diversion programs and things that keep it empty, we will not have 04:25:31.579 --> 04:25:36.807 - the resource to do that. So we will build it and have a very not justice center the way that we think 04:25:36.807 --> 04:25:41.933 - about it. I mean, we do need to reserve back on that to think about other ways to put that money to 04:25:41.933 --> 04:25:45.214 - work. I can't max out the credit card on it. I mean, that's it. 04:25:45.570 --> 04:25:52.539 - I don't know, so I guess we're back to is this the place to say it explicitly or is it the sentiment 04:25:52.539 --> 04:25:59.716 - of my peers here that the exhibit does the job without saying here's your number? Yeah. Yes, Councillor 04:25:59.716 --> 04:26:06.685 - Decker. Well, and one thing I believe, by the way, the house poor kind of reference really resonates 04:26:06.685 --> 04:26:14.000 - with me because pre-financial crisis, I mean, good heavens, you could walk in with no work and the things 04:26:14.000 --> 04:26:15.518 - they would guarantee. 04:26:15.970 --> 04:26:23.921 - And it was creepy. It was creepy. But that said, I think here's another thing that we have to be kind 04:26:23.921 --> 04:26:32.105 - of circulating really heavily through our brains on this, is we've heard from our entire justice system, 04:26:32.105 --> 04:26:40.134 - not just the jail, that wherever you end up, you have to have operational costs that truly understand, 04:26:40.134 --> 04:26:43.486 - even though I'm not sure folks necessarily 04:26:43.970 --> 04:26:54.125 - believe we'll ever fully understand how you operate the other portions of the system that are not in 04:26:54.125 --> 04:27:04.380 - the jail and make that work. And the operational costs to do that, what that looks like, how that is, 04:27:04.380 --> 04:27:11.518 - et cetera. And whether we're in a phased status where you're operating 04:27:11.874 --> 04:27:19.261 - right now jail's here and we're doing this where you're in a accelerated phase status or really super, 04:27:19.261 --> 04:27:26.434 - we're trying to replace co-location with as close to co-located, whatever it is, it's going to have 04:27:26.434 --> 04:27:33.821 - a cost because we've been in a co-location system since 1986, approximately, maybe longer. And so it's 04:27:33.821 --> 04:27:39.774 - gonna, there's a factor to that that you, we're gonna have to have the wiggle room 04:27:40.098 --> 04:27:48.130 - to respond to it, just like tonight, the entire night has been wiggle room as elections change, court 04:27:48.130 --> 04:27:56.241 - administration changes, grants change, and that's just one night. So anyway, I just want to throw that 04:27:56.241 --> 04:28:04.352 - into the mix because there's a lot of folks watching who want to make sure that we're not losing sight 04:28:04.352 --> 04:28:09.470 - of that in the scheme of things. How do you operate that beyond? 04:28:10.914 --> 04:28:18.849 - Are we in agreement that I cannot, readers and I can't see anything anymore. Sorry. No, no, no, 04:28:18.849 --> 04:28:27.280 - you're fine. And the screen is just too far away for me. Are we in agreement that the exhibit of what 04:28:27.280 --> 04:28:35.711 - was presented to us today clears this up? Just to reference, I know there's a strike through with the 04:28:35.711 --> 04:28:39.678 - word exhibit up above. It's still there, right? 04:28:40.834 --> 04:28:48.029 - That just strikes exhibit what was B. That was the federal case exhibit. The exhibit referencing FSG's 04:28:48.029 --> 04:28:55.363 - presentation is incorporated within the whereas clauses. Got it. All right. Thank you. Okay. So it seems 04:28:55.363 --> 04:29:02.628 - like everybody is good to go with the exhibit being the tangible concrete evidence of the amount. Okay. 04:29:02.628 --> 04:29:09.054 - So. Then I think there's just one. Excuse me. One last clause that we haven't talked about. 04:29:09.154 --> 04:29:15.005 - Which is the clause that says the council pursue opportunities with its local government colleagues 04:29:15.005 --> 04:29:20.973 - at the city to advance selection Zoning and purchase of a property for the purpose for the purpose of 04:29:20.973 --> 04:29:27.293 - constructing a new facility And we continue to rely on said partnerships to further design and construction 04:29:27.293 --> 04:29:33.436 - of the new facility. Yep The only thing i'll add to this is I know council hawk has said this repeatedly 04:29:33.436 --> 04:29:34.782 - that you know, there's 04:29:35.234 --> 04:29:42.913 - They're not so new anymore, considering they're in year three, but we have new administration in the 04:29:42.913 --> 04:29:50.820 - city as well as majority new council on city council as well. I have shouted this from all the meetings 04:29:50.820 --> 04:29:59.184 - from CJRC, JFAC, even gone to city council, even had city council meetings with city council representatives. 04:29:59.184 --> 04:30:04.126 - Like they want to help assist with us understanding that this is 04:30:04.354 --> 04:30:13.476 - our project. However, we always talk in both city and county about how great we are at collaboration. 04:30:13.476 --> 04:30:19.646 - And as the kids say, call Cap on that. This is the moment right now. 04:30:19.842 --> 04:30:26.857 - that we can do this together, just like we did everything with the CIB and look at how the convention 04:30:26.857 --> 04:30:34.079 - center got moving and look how fast that's moving as opposed to what's been sitting in front of us since 04:30:34.079 --> 04:30:38.206 - 2009. If we take egos out, that is as big as this building. 04:30:38.434 --> 04:30:45.222 - and really get it back down to size, I truly believe in my little five foot heart that if we work with, 04:30:45.222 --> 04:30:51.880 - if we truly want to work with city, and I do believe that the city wants to work with us, that we can 04:30:51.880 --> 04:30:58.538 - make this happen. And that's all I'll say about that. Yes, Councillor Henry. Thank you. And thank you 04:30:58.538 --> 04:31:04.478 - for that. I I'll just say it because I think I think this is being offered in in goodwill. 04:31:05.570 --> 04:31:11.936 - The last phrase to further design and construction of the new facility, is it meant to suggest that 04:31:11.936 --> 04:31:18.365 - the City Council would have input into design? It's one thing to say selection zone purchase because 04:31:18.365 --> 04:31:24.731 - by all means we're going to need variances and the like if it isn't city limits but that design and 04:31:24.731 --> 04:31:30.014 - construction I'm just curious what others may think about it. That's a good point. 04:31:35.938 --> 04:31:42.237 - You're in those city council meetings. That room is teal and I don't like the color of it. The whole 04:31:42.237 --> 04:31:49.035 - building is weird now. You get what I'm saying. I don't know what we're saying. Are we offering up something 04:31:49.035 --> 04:31:55.397 - that we really don't need to and that we just need to just say that they are our partners and we want 04:31:55.397 --> 04:32:01.758 - to work with them with the zoning and planning part? I think you could change design and construction 04:32:01.858 --> 04:32:11.063 - to say we'll continue to rely on said partnerships to further progress on the new facility. Or just 04:32:11.063 --> 04:32:20.361 - say take out the whole. Or do you just take out the everything from two all the way down to facility 04:32:20.361 --> 04:32:29.566 - and just keep said partnerships? Because that's the intent is to just be partners. The kiss method. 04:32:37.186 --> 04:32:45.586 - That's the last whereas clause. So I don't know if you want me to read this. It is displayed and we 04:32:45.586 --> 04:32:54.070 - were doing all the edits live or you want to add things that are in there or? So Council, as we have 04:32:54.070 --> 04:33:02.554 - gone through all of this, is there any further adds? Yes, Councillor Henry. No further adds. I would 04:33:02.554 --> 04:33:07.006 - just say I think this is a good compromise document. 04:33:07.138 --> 04:33:14.939 - that in being here and also my observations as a person that's lived here during this entire ordeal 04:33:14.939 --> 04:33:22.739 - that we are the closest we've gotten. I know I provided in my notes a rather robust resolution. And 04:33:22.739 --> 04:33:30.618 - that's just my style. But I think there are opportunities to revisit some ideas here. We're going to 04:33:30.618 --> 04:33:36.702 - be in a period of a few years regardless once shovels are in the ground where 04:33:37.026 --> 04:33:42.930 - We have an inner inner regnum here of trying to get folks moved and taken care of. We do have I think 04:33:42.930 --> 04:33:48.777 - after tonight I mean we learned that our resources are going to get thinner over the next few years. 04:33:48.777 --> 04:33:54.797 - But there is also an opportunity to really lean into some of the values that I know others of this body 04:33:54.797 --> 04:34:00.701 - had tried to get into the original design of prevention programs and other programs to if we're going 04:34:00.701 --> 04:34:03.422 - to build the facility to try to keep it empty. 04:34:03.842 --> 04:34:09.876 - Right. And so while I don't think they fit in this resolution I do think that we should really think 04:34:09.876 --> 04:34:16.029 - about ways we can use the edit and resources we have to put it to the test that if our partners in the 04:34:16.029 --> 04:34:22.362 - community are saying a moonshot funding of prevention programs may help to reduce incarceration we should 04:34:22.362 --> 04:34:23.198 - try for that. 04:34:24.002 --> 04:34:29.230 - especially in light that we've had legislation now moving through the General Assembly this evening 04:34:29.230 --> 04:34:34.668 - while we're sitting here that criminalizes homelessness. It's going to the governor's desk. We're going 04:34:34.668 --> 04:34:39.948 - to be five years from now looking at a facility that may be housing people very differently. So I'll 04:34:39.948 --> 04:34:45.438 - just end it there to say this is a good start, but I will maybe hold some of my language back for future 04:34:45.570 --> 04:34:51.847 - I hate to say it, Councillor Decker, resolutions, because that's the way governments communicate that 04:34:51.847 --> 04:34:58.123 - may express the will of council to fund some of these programs that really our partners are saying we 04:34:58.123 --> 04:35:04.400 - need in the community. Thank you for that. Appreciate that. And yes, Councillor Pio. So I'm wondering 04:35:04.400 --> 04:35:11.230 - about Mr. Falk and will he be receiving a copy of this? Or is that the intent? Or what do we think about that? 04:35:13.250 --> 04:35:20.884 - If the council wishes for me to distribute it to Mr. Falk, I am glad to email it to him tomorrow. Would 04:35:20.884 --> 04:35:28.224 - you take out the red line part? Yes, the red line was for tracking purposes of the meeting, so I'll 04:35:28.224 --> 04:35:33.950 - take out the. He could get an update of this is what we've is that necessary? 04:35:35.298 --> 04:35:41.667 - We could deliver it to Mr. Falk via email but I have a sneaking suspicion he's probably watching these 04:35:41.667 --> 04:35:48.159 - meetings and is going to be aware of what you did even if you don't send it to him. Yeah. I think that's 04:35:48.159 --> 04:35:54.590 - kind of what I was thinking. Yes, Councillor Decker. I would say that were you done? Did I cut you off? 04:35:54.914 --> 04:36:03.002 - No, you I don't want to cut I was just gonna say I just think in an attempt to be really Communicative 04:36:03.002 --> 04:36:11.168 - about this with him. I think it would be a good professional thing to do. That's all I was gonna finish 04:36:11.168 --> 04:36:18.078 - with I Would jump on that with counselor vital and say that would show the county being 04:36:18.690 --> 04:36:25.194 - upfront with where you're at and proactive. And I think it could be communicated with the spirit of 04:36:25.194 --> 04:36:31.764 - that. I think council, there's a respect between Mr. Falk and council based on what I picked up. And 04:36:31.764 --> 04:36:38.398 - much like when Lisa Ridge goes up to NDOT, you send your best person to do that. But I think that can 04:36:38.398 --> 04:36:45.033 - be communicated. The other thing I'll say is this. I had a lot of comments earlier about resolutions. 04:36:45.033 --> 04:36:48.350 - Resolutions are only as good as what happens next. 04:36:49.666 --> 04:36:57.259 - for Mr. Falk, he's watched a process already by which we got to the edge of something. He now wants 04:36:57.259 --> 04:37:04.776 - to see the movie that looks like that with this script and all the other parties there. So I just, 04:37:04.776 --> 04:37:12.445 - I wanna be, I want us to be mindful of that because it doesn't just end with this. This is a process 04:37:12.445 --> 04:37:19.582 - that goes on and we have to listen to how others within our own county and by both the public 04:37:19.842 --> 04:37:28.719 - and the other officials begin to react to this. And I know we've all heard little things here and there 04:37:28.719 --> 04:37:37.255 - already, but like this is this is now a doing thing. Yeah, and I guess I could get on board with us 04:37:37.255 --> 04:37:42.206 - delivering something because again, this is again showing 04:37:42.466 --> 04:37:50.807 - progress and what it is that we are doing that we're not sitting here dwindling until, you know, 04:37:50.807 --> 04:37:59.663 - April 15th. Lots of good things happen in April, which is my birthday. But, you know, that being said, 04:37:59.663 --> 04:38:05.854 - like we are delivering like. And it is the county council who is really 04:38:06.370 --> 04:38:14.342 - Like we are really sitting here five, almost five hours in now and really trying to make an effort to 04:38:14.342 --> 04:38:22.313 - say this is what we are trying to do here. So yeah, yes. Can I do a point of information just to know 04:38:22.313 --> 04:38:30.441 - we're at six out of seven of us. The roll call on this, if we adopt this tonight, which I assume that's 04:38:30.441 --> 04:38:34.974 - where we're heading, that roll call is going to show six. 04:38:35.746 --> 04:38:42.903 - And one not here unless she's online. I don't I don't know counselor hot. My recommendation is that 04:38:42.903 --> 04:38:50.060 - we not only adopt this time, but it come back to the top for adoption. So the a admit a new copy of 04:38:50.060 --> 04:38:57.217 - this could go with all seven counselors because I wouldn't want to send any signal that this is not 04:38:57.217 --> 04:38:59.006 - where this council's at. 04:38:59.234 --> 04:39:09.720 - And if it's not where the council's at, I think that's something that has to be articulated on the public 04:39:09.720 --> 04:39:19.712 - because, again, we're all rowing on this together. I agree. And no, she is not online. I thought she 04:39:19.712 --> 04:39:28.318 - was, but she's not. Anybody else have any final questions, comments or concerns? Okay. 04:39:30.690 --> 04:39:41.385 - He made a motion with it was a discussion and possible approval. Right. So we should need a motion to 04:39:41.385 --> 04:39:52.289 - adopt. First, I think you need a motion to adopt all the changes that we made because we made all those 04:39:52.289 --> 04:39:56.798 - amendments and ultimately we said we would 04:39:56.898 --> 04:40:03.841 - adopt them all in one motion. So I think you should do a motion to amend the document as reflected by 04:40:03.841 --> 04:40:10.648 - the conversation and on screen. And then if you're going to move to adoption, you would take public 04:40:10.648 --> 04:40:17.591 - comment. Right. That's that's kind of where I was getting. Of course, obviously, I think we got folks 04:40:17.591 --> 04:40:24.126 - here that might have have public comment and then we definitely have some online. So, yeah, so. 04:40:24.738 --> 04:40:34.038 - Council I move to adopt all the changes that we made to this document as displayed on the screen second 04:40:34.038 --> 04:40:43.339 - All right. We got a motion and a second to Adopt the changes on screen any additional further questions 04:40:43.339 --> 04:40:53.086 - or comments All right We can do this by voice vote To make the amendments. Yes. Okay. All right. So although 04:40:53.218 --> 04:41:03.507 - Those in favor of approving the resolution as amended signify by saying aye. All those opposed, 04:41:03.507 --> 04:41:14.654 - same sign. Okay. Motion carries. Council, I move to adopt the updated resolution 2026-02. Is that zero? 04:41:19.490 --> 04:41:27.383 - We got a motion and a second, and the second was by Councilor Decker. All right. Any last final comments 04:41:27.383 --> 04:41:30.014 - or questions from Council on this? 04:41:32.802 --> 04:41:42.351 - Okay. Seeing none. Um this is the time for the public to, um, make your comment on our resolution as 04:41:42.351 --> 04:41:51.899 - presented. Um and amended. So this is your time to speak. So if you have time to speak, you can come 04:41:51.899 --> 04:41:55.870 - forward to the lectern here in the night. 04:41:56.162 --> 04:42:02.855 - up to three minutes and three minutes only. And so if you want to also raise your hand via Teams, you 04:42:02.855 --> 04:42:09.547 - can do so as well. Yes. Prior to Miss Wilson providing public comment, do you want me to stop sharing 04:42:09.547 --> 04:42:16.240 - so that? Yeah, yes. Thank you. But again, if you are on Teams and you want to make public comment, go 04:42:16.240 --> 04:42:22.670 - ahead and raise your hand and we'll alternate back and forth between our room here and via Teams. 04:42:22.670 --> 04:42:24.638 - So welcome. Hi. Good evening. 04:42:24.770 --> 04:42:30.988 - My name is April Wilson. I live in Bloomington, and I'm a Monroe County resident. Although I work for 04:42:30.988 --> 04:42:37.145 - the Monroe County Prosecutor's Office, I wish to be clear that all statements made herein are my own 04:42:37.145 --> 04:42:43.302 - and made in my personal capacity. I really appreciate the discussion tonight around this resolution. 04:42:43.302 --> 04:42:49.581 - However, it remains honestly unclear how the resolution will help solve the problem. Respectfully, the 04:42:49.581 --> 04:42:51.166 - problem is at North Park, 04:42:51.394 --> 04:42:57.453 - And the problem isn't funding. Funding goes to the scope of the project. Respectfully, it's also not 04:42:57.453 --> 04:43:03.752 - the fact that there is a lawsuit. The lawsuit is a symptom. The problem is that there is about 230 souls 04:43:03.752 --> 04:43:09.751 - in a building down the street from us, and they will continue to be in that building when all of us 04:43:09.751 --> 04:43:15.751 - go home tonight. And there has been a report in front of this council, in front of this government, 04:43:15.751 --> 04:43:20.190 - that has shared that it's not providing constitutional standards of care. 04:43:21.410 --> 04:43:27.462 - Now the question of cost came up several different times tonight in a lot of different capacities, and 04:43:27.462 --> 04:43:33.337 - I want to come back to that. Whether the county takes action or fails to take action, there will be 04:43:33.337 --> 04:43:39.447 - a cost. The question is what that cost, how much is going to be, and at whose expense? Failure to build 04:43:39.447 --> 04:43:44.030 - a jail has been a cost borne by some of the most vulnerable in our community. 04:43:44.162 --> 04:43:50.557 - On December 29, 2025, Ken Falk said, I cannot in good conscience agree to extend the PSA for another 04:43:50.557 --> 04:43:56.888 - year at this point, as doing so would make me complicit in allowing conditions to continue that are 04:43:56.888 --> 04:44:03.599 - obviously dangerous and unacceptable. Respectfully, this problem is not gonna be solved with resolutions. 04:44:03.599 --> 04:44:09.994 - At the end of the day, it's gonna be solved by a county council and commissioners that are gonna sit 04:44:09.994 --> 04:44:14.046 - down and jointly work together to start making tough decisions. 04:44:14.210 --> 04:44:20.994 - Resolutions don't have to be the only way that governments communicate. It's not just identifying benchmarks, 04:44:20.994 --> 04:44:27.162 - it's about meeting them. I remain hopeful, as you know, I remain hopeful that the council will take 04:44:27.162 --> 04:44:33.514 - concrete and meaningful steps to start addressing these dangerous and unacceptable conditions that are 04:44:33.514 --> 04:44:39.867 - affecting members of our community. And I respectfully request that you please move forward and please 04:44:39.867 --> 04:44:42.334 - build a constitutional jail. Thank you. 04:44:47.330 --> 04:45:02.207 - Okay. Are there any takers here in the night? You Hill room. How about online via teams? Please raise 04:45:02.207 --> 04:45:14.750 - your hand. Okay. All right. And so seeing no more takers here in the night, you know, 04:45:18.754 --> 04:45:28.799 - Councillor Wilz. Yes. Councillor Henry. Yes. Councillor Decker. Yes. Councillor Cronin. Yes. Councillor 04:45:28.799 --> 04:45:39.326 - Iverson. Yes. Motion passes unanimous. Yes, Ms. Turner-King. With the passage of this motion, I just want to 04:45:40.258 --> 04:45:48.267 - for the guidance do you want me to send this to mr. Falk tomorrow via email or do you want to wait to 04:45:48.267 --> 04:45:56.198 - readopt it at the next council meeting so full council will be included on the signature page assume 04:45:56.198 --> 04:46:04.051 - well not full council so that the signature page will reflect councilmember Hawks vote could we say 04:46:04.051 --> 04:46:06.014 - to him that this is like 04:46:06.178 --> 04:46:12.677 - because she had she left early could we just go ahead and send it and then once we circle back here's 04:46:12.677 --> 04:46:19.049 - a completion of what we've done with all seven signatures should she sign on to it I'll send him an 04:46:19.049 --> 04:46:25.676 - email clarifying that six members were present and that this will be reconsidered by the seven the full 04:46:25.676 --> 04:46:28.862 - council at the next meeting got it okay thank you 04:46:29.282 --> 04:46:36.551 - And also as a clarification, because I think I've heard a lot of times that sometimes what we do here 04:46:36.551 --> 04:46:43.892 - on Tuesday night does not get met or a clear message gets sent to the commissioners. Is there anything 04:46:43.892 --> 04:46:51.517 - that we need to do to send to them to let them know this is what we've done? I know we've had some online, 04:46:51.517 --> 04:46:56.862 - but just because they are doing it online, I would like to formally do it. 04:46:56.994 --> 04:47:03.905 - Because I watch meetings online too, but that's a more of an informal thing I think the idea is I've 04:47:03.905 --> 04:47:10.749 - heard them say in meetings They didn't know certain things and so this is no excuse now to say that 04:47:10.749 --> 04:47:17.592 - they don't know Now, you know by way of delivery If this the council's wishes I can make sure I can 04:47:17.592 --> 04:47:21.150 - email the commissioners a copy of the resolution to 04:47:21.314 --> 04:47:28.228 - as an alternative, there is a commissioners meeting on Thursday where it can be provided to commissioners. 04:47:28.228 --> 04:47:35.531 - It just depends on what the wishes of the council is. And I personally am not going to go to any like at 10 a.m. 04:47:35.531 --> 04:47:42.316 - when all of us really have lots of things to do at 10 a.m. I think this is a cleaner way of just sending 04:47:42.316 --> 04:47:49.166 - an email and therefore there is a copy that is being sent to them and they have it and it is acknowledged 04:47:49.166 --> 04:47:50.846 - by way of saying it here. 04:47:50.946 --> 04:48:00.402 - while they are watching or like live or we'll watch later and by way of email too. Okay. All right. 04:48:00.402 --> 04:48:09.953 - Thank you very much. Yes. I'm just wondering if I could request that the full council receive a copy 04:48:09.953 --> 04:48:19.503 - of what we just adopted as a resolution as well. Yeah, of course. All right. Well, thank you all for 04:48:19.503 --> 04:48:20.638 - that. Okay. 04:48:21.122 --> 04:48:29.642 - So last but not least, we are on council comment and liaison updates as well. So because it has been 04:48:29.642 --> 04:48:38.416 - a very long night. Of which again, this is something that we knew was going to happen, and I appreciate 04:48:38.416 --> 04:48:46.936 - that. So that being said, I'm going to start down here to my left and just keep on going. I'm ready. 04:48:46.936 --> 04:48:51.070 - Okay, I'm color coded and ready to go. Let's go. 04:48:51.842 --> 04:48:58.380 - So I keep getting conflicting remarks about House Bill 1359, which is the early voting issue, 04:48:58.380 --> 04:49:05.614 - 28 to 16, that's part of it. And as others have said before, it's still going to be put under something 04:49:05.614 --> 04:49:12.778 - else, even if that one fails. So until all the votes are in, so to speak, we won't know about that for 04:49:12.778 --> 04:49:15.838 - a while. But I'm very concerned about that. 04:49:16.290 --> 04:49:23.664 - I've been working with numerous constituents regarding their snow plow service and the lack thereof. 04:49:23.664 --> 04:49:31.183 - I'm still very concerned about the 60 neighborhood situations, which doesn't include their roads being 04:49:31.183 --> 04:49:38.484 - plowed and road service being done where they live in our area. I think that one of the main things 04:49:38.484 --> 04:49:42.718 - I think about now is the fact that everyone probably pays 04:49:43.170 --> 04:49:51.371 - gas tax and as I understand that is the funding where these services come from they're not getting their 04:49:51.371 --> 04:49:59.495 - gas tax benefit so to speak and so I'm very concerned about that so for the long haul I'd like to think 04:49:59.495 --> 04:50:07.306 - about that at some point working on that and going to the Kirkwood Avenue meeting group and in open 04:50:07.306 --> 04:50:10.430 - if you don't know that already happy to 04:50:10.562 --> 04:50:17.677 - to work on the Sophia Travis grant committee and adopted tonight Katie Hopkins who is going to serve 04:50:17.677 --> 04:50:24.722 - in that role for us there. I did attend the Perry Township Trustee Dan Combs celebration of life on 04:50:24.722 --> 04:50:31.766 - the 15th of February and that was a lovely, lovely event. I'm happy to be there. I've known Dan for 04:50:31.766 --> 04:50:33.950 - a long time. I miss him a lot. 04:50:35.490 --> 04:50:42.815 - We had the joint session of the county council and commissioners on the 16th, Monday the 16th. That 04:50:42.815 --> 04:50:50.286 - was the third one we had. I felt like that one was a really positive, probably the best session in my 04:50:50.286 --> 04:50:57.831 - experience of that whole series of events. Attended the BEDC annual meeting, got to meet the bison and 04:50:57.831 --> 04:51:01.054 - touch the trophy. So that was kind of cool. 04:51:01.282 --> 04:51:08.885 - Then I've been doing all these Ellitsville Richland Township meetings. And now they're having a series 04:51:08.885 --> 04:51:16.561 - of three fire protection joint hearings. I went to one on the 18th and the next two will be on the 25th 04:51:16.561 --> 04:51:24.016 - and March 11th, but they're the same as the 18th. So if you heard at that time, you don't need to go 04:51:24.016 --> 04:51:31.102 - to the other two. The next meeting of the Township joint hearing or the joint reorganization is 04:51:31.202 --> 04:51:39.468 - every other Wednesday and that'll be March 4th. They do have their subcommittees and their committees 04:51:39.468 --> 04:51:47.978 - and all those things now and the contact information on their website now. So I'm very happy about that. 04:51:47.978 --> 04:51:56.082 - And that website is Ellisville Richland info.org. So there'll be the committee reports are due back 04:51:56.082 --> 04:52:00.702 - to the reorganization committee by the 27th of February. 04:52:00.834 --> 04:52:10.060 - The recommendations then will be done and voted on on the March 4th by the committee. The council itself 04:52:10.060 --> 04:52:18.847 - and the township will vote in June. Each one of those entities, as I understand it, has to have 50% 04:52:18.847 --> 04:52:27.722 - plus one to make it happen. Then I did want to mention that as part of the Downtown Bloomington Inc. 04:52:27.722 --> 04:52:30.270 - group board that I serve on, 04:52:30.530 --> 04:52:40.403 - There is hard hat videos of the Convention Center project. And it's at monroecib.com. And those are 04:52:40.403 --> 04:52:50.671 - just kind of fun to look at. So that's what I've been doing and thinking about. Councillor Woods. Would 04:52:50.671 --> 04:52:56.990 - say you. I saw the latest installment of those hard hat videos. 04:52:57.346 --> 04:53:07.290 - Just yesterday, I hadn't realized they were a thing and it somehow popped up. It was quite fun. Yeah, 04:53:07.290 --> 04:53:17.234 - definitely. See John Weickart having fun out there on the construction site. It's pretty fun. So I've 04:53:17.234 --> 04:53:26.398 - been spending a lot of time thinking about our community and how we respond or don't respond. 04:53:26.850 --> 04:53:40.200 - after crises, specifically tornadoes or snowstorms. And I think we have a glaring opportunity. I'll 04:53:40.200 --> 04:53:53.950 - call it a glaring opportunity to do better. And I'm not sure how to proceed, but it's clear to me that 04:53:55.778 --> 04:54:04.983 - We don't have the structure or the protocols to take care of each other after a tragedy of any sort 04:54:04.983 --> 04:54:14.372 - in our community. And I'm looking at you, because I know you're just like, yeah, see, I told you. But 04:54:14.372 --> 04:54:23.853 - after last week's tornado, I went back and I looked at the report that Dan Combs had put together. And 04:54:23.853 --> 04:54:25.694 - he's sitting in it. 04:54:25.794 --> 04:54:35.723 - plan is day, we aren't ready. I think one thing that we did really well was that we pre-appropriated 04:54:35.723 --> 04:54:45.554 - emergency funding so that it's ready to go. And so to me, I feel like, okay, we've made a step, but 04:54:45.554 --> 04:54:55.582 - there's more to do. And it has to do with not just accounting for damages, but accounting for people. 04:54:55.810 --> 04:55:03.285 - in the aftermath and so I'd like to challenge us to think on that and like I said the tornadoes was 04:55:03.285 --> 04:55:10.759 - sort of the impetus but I'm thinking about this in terms of how we respond to our neighbors who get 04:55:10.759 --> 04:55:18.533 - snowed in and can't leave their neighborhoods. We have to think about things a little bit more in terms 04:55:18.533 --> 04:55:21.822 - of people and a little bit less in terms of 04:55:22.978 --> 04:55:29.807 - you know, highway miles and, you know, fence lines that might need repair. So that's where my head is 04:55:29.807 --> 04:55:36.637 - right now. Thank you. Thank you very much. I know it's late. I'll try to be really quick, but there's 04:55:36.637 --> 04:55:43.667 - a lot going on and I want to be I want to talk about it just for a second. Number one, it was a pleasure 04:55:43.667 --> 04:55:46.814 - to join Councillor Fiddle in the Sophia Travis 04:55:47.042 --> 04:55:54.964 - Grants interviews for a community member that we celebrated tonight That's always a positive thing in 04:55:54.964 --> 04:56:02.963 - this service that we have and I I appreciate it very much a light-hearted note in a light-hearted week 04:56:02.963 --> 04:56:10.885 - or in a not light-hearted week the reality of last week is as counselor cross Lee said earlier either 04:56:10.885 --> 04:56:14.846 - in this meeting or today or some point we went and 04:56:15.970 --> 04:56:23.245 - Last week during the weather, we went from decent weather to a tornado in February to then back to snow. 04:56:23.245 --> 04:56:30.243 - I was talking to my students who were very like kind of upset about the weather changes. And I said, 04:56:30.243 --> 04:56:37.241 - I'd like to tell you that this doesn't happen all the time, but it seems like some bad weather event 04:56:37.241 --> 04:56:44.308 - of one kind or the other is all over the place, whether it's May, June, et cetera. And CARP comes and 04:56:44.308 --> 04:56:45.278 - Council Henry 04:56:45.442 --> 04:56:53.910 - have talked about these things at length over time. I also have to say, I was in Whitehall, which is, 04:56:53.910 --> 04:57:02.295 - you know, the farthest reaches of what we have, the at larges and Councilor Hawk. I was in Whitehall 04:57:02.295 --> 04:57:10.846 - and the fog was so absolutely thick and absolutely creepy right after that event. The hell so thick on 04:57:10.946 --> 04:57:17.898 - a car that it looked like a car had literally gone through at that gas station, had gone through a snow 04:57:17.898 --> 04:57:24.584 - pile. And I was like, good lord, this is what just hit our airport and beyond. And so one thing is, 04:57:24.584 --> 04:57:31.269 - when I was talking with neighbors, somebody said something, you know, I always like to be available 04:57:31.269 --> 04:57:35.614 - to kind of figure out what's going on and to assist where I can. 04:57:36.034 --> 04:57:41.762 - But knowing that it's just me standing there with my loafers on, and that's probably not much other 04:57:41.762 --> 04:57:47.604 - than that I care, and I'll try to give someone a bottle of water. The first thing someone said to me, 04:57:47.604 --> 04:57:53.332 - particularly just east of the airport, was when I said, people were walking around with pin lights. 04:57:53.332 --> 04:57:59.231 - I said, has someone been through here? And they said, you know, immediately after that event happened, 04:57:59.231 --> 04:58:00.606 - they were at our doors. 04:58:01.058 --> 04:58:08.126 - saying, everybody okay in here, what's going on? I think our emergency responders in that initial, they 04:58:08.126 --> 04:58:14.922 - do a tremendous job in getting right to it, whether that's the fire folks, our law enforcement, all 04:58:14.922 --> 04:58:21.787 - the folks that come out. But one thing that going to what Councilor Wilts just said that concerns me 04:58:21.787 --> 04:58:28.719 - is we always have this gap between the long-term and immediately afterwards. And I think that's where 04:58:28.719 --> 04:58:30.622 - families hit that struggle. 04:58:31.170 --> 04:58:38.387 - and they abundantly struggle with, how am I gonna get to point A, point B? I'm gonna point out something 04:58:38.387 --> 04:58:45.260 - here. Trustee Rita Barrow, Van Buren Township, who has notoriously worked these since, I can recall 04:58:45.260 --> 04:58:52.271 - in 2008, I remember she had an awful tornado that went down Weaver Road, but she posted earlier today 04:58:52.271 --> 04:58:59.487 - that there's cleanup opportunities in Fieldstone and Stonechase where they need volunteers for Van Buren 04:58:59.487 --> 04:59:00.862 - cleanup, 9.30 a.m., 04:59:01.026 --> 04:59:07.552 - 228, so this Friday, or this Saturday, and to meet at the community center, which is located at 352 04:59:07.552 --> 04:59:14.142 - South Fieldstone Boulevard. I see this being shared like a million times out there, which is awesome 04:59:14.142 --> 04:59:21.060 - and good. But that gap between that immediate moment, how's everybody doing, and beyond, that uncertainty 04:59:21.060 --> 04:59:27.911 - for those families, even me just kind of observing this and my family was fine, that's the thing I think 04:59:27.911 --> 04:59:29.086 - that we've got to 04:59:29.218 --> 04:59:35.734 - We've got to get in there and know and also know who has truly been displaced here. I feel like we don't, 04:59:35.734 --> 04:59:41.943 - I feel like the gap between that looks really bad, but I'm hearing that no one's displaced. I'd like 04:59:41.943 --> 04:59:48.090 - to see that be something that we make more professional. I said years ago that emergency management 04:59:48.090 --> 04:59:54.483 - issues will continue to professionalize and expand and respond to the moment. Council Henry could write 04:59:54.483 --> 04:59:58.110 - the book on that, but I think we're kind of at that point. 04:59:58.466 --> 05:00:06.545 - we're at that point where that's what we do and what's expected is just gonna be larger, not to make 05:00:06.545 --> 05:00:14.544 - it harder on anyone, but to make it easier on those families. So I wanna thank everyone that helped 05:00:14.544 --> 05:00:22.863 - with all that. I'll note that the helping is still going on and then there's a longer term process that 05:00:22.863 --> 05:00:27.582 - kicks in, doesn't kick in, et cetera. And Councilor Henry. 05:00:29.282 --> 05:00:35.358 - Love this chorus. Welcome to the choir, everybody. It's never too late. I'm going to talk about some 05:00:35.358 --> 05:00:41.674 - other stuff before I get to that. Some of my liaisons were here tonight. So speaking in terms of Carlos, 05:00:41.674 --> 05:00:48.050 - with aviation, he told us the story out there with Clerk Brown. We talked a little bit about the concerns 05:00:48.050 --> 05:00:54.366 - I have with early voting and voter edge in the current showers building. And I think we've covered that. 05:00:54.434 --> 05:01:00.187 - that's been surfaced. I want to talk about Plan Commission a little bit, because Councilor Wilts, you 05:01:00.187 --> 05:01:05.884 - brought it up. Really, this is going to take an education, not just for the first responders that do 05:01:05.884 --> 05:01:11.581 - a great job in our community, the volunteer networks that are trying to help people. I'll be honest. 05:01:11.581 --> 05:01:17.391 - We were in Plan Commission talking about the snow removal piece a few weeks ago, and there are members 05:01:17.391 --> 05:01:23.144 - of the Plan Commission that don't get it. They're caught up in the idea that a developer that has not 05:01:23.144 --> 05:01:23.934 - completed the 05:01:24.066 --> 05:01:29.217 - the mirror checklist of things and the county development ordinance can't move a road in inventory. 05:01:29.217 --> 05:01:34.574 - This is after, of course, the county takes the bond. We'll take the money, but we won't take the roads. 05:01:34.574 --> 05:01:40.034 - And there's a lot of finger pointing. And it's almost, well, it's a point of frustration. I mean, because 05:01:40.034 --> 05:01:45.185 - inside those neighborhoods are humans and those humans are trying to get the things. And so there's 05:01:45.185 --> 05:01:48.894 - a learning curve among people that are very specialized in their bucket 05:01:48.994 --> 05:01:53.816 - You know, but maybe can't see the force for the trees and what we're really trying to do as a community 05:01:53.816 --> 05:01:58.498 - here. I think that education is going to have to continue, but those comments are made in the public 05:01:58.498 --> 05:02:03.134 - and can be played on cats TV all night long if you want to watch them. But there's got there's some 05:02:03.134 --> 05:02:07.678 - work to be done. I think in some of our partner commissions to understand truly what it means to. 05:02:07.874 --> 05:02:14.369 - you know, either be part of the county or not when we get into this discussion there. I will say, ironically, 05:02:14.369 --> 05:02:20.569 - the EMAC was canceled last week due to a lack of quorum, which there's some irony with that in the sense 05:02:20.569 --> 05:02:26.650 - that, you know, I think to get to the point about, you know, are we proactively thinking about hazards 05:02:26.650 --> 05:02:33.086 - in the community if our appointees don't show up to the meeting to have the conversation to plan for things. 05:02:33.186 --> 05:02:39.267 - We have a challenge there. I'm not going to call out who and where, but the core partners that usually 05:02:39.267 --> 05:02:45.348 - go to that meeting, like our public health department, our emergency manager, our partners at IU, they 05:02:45.348 --> 05:02:51.488 - were there. That body has a very large membership. If we can't meet, then we can't prepare. If we can't 05:02:51.488 --> 05:02:55.326 - prepare, then we shouldn't be surprised when we have challenges. 05:02:56.002 --> 05:03:00.952 - mindset shift that has to happen for us to get to what some folks have talked about tonight, which is 05:03:00.952 --> 05:03:05.901 - in the off season, you have to fund and prepare for these things. Tonight, as the folks in Washington 05:03:05.901 --> 05:03:10.754 - are discussing the State of the Union when they start cutting FEMA funding, that is half our budget 05:03:10.754 --> 05:03:13.374 - for our staff in emergency management in this county. 05:03:13.474 --> 05:03:18.715 - So we may need to be in a place where we're using resources here to fund things like exercises that 05:03:18.715 --> 05:03:23.957 - educate everybody on their roles and responsibilities. I'm glad folks are joining in the choir here 05:03:23.957 --> 05:03:29.512 - with this. I want to say only two things about the tornado. I appreciate Councilor Decker making comments 05:03:29.512 --> 05:03:34.858 - about volunteers this weekend in Van Buren there. That was one I was going to mention. But also in my 05:03:34.858 --> 05:03:40.204 - observations going out to take a look at things in that neighborhood, I think the public's aware that 05:03:40.204 --> 05:03:43.454 - the Mountain Row County Humane Association had a particularly 05:03:43.810 --> 05:03:49.621 - a nasty hit from the tornado, and there have been an incredible amount of outpouring and outreach to 05:03:49.621 --> 05:03:55.431 - donate to them to rebuild that facility. That's one of the good news stories, but, you know, having, 05:03:55.431 --> 05:04:01.414 - being, you know, in the moments on scene there, seeing the damage was shocking, and I know those images 05:04:01.414 --> 05:04:02.910 - have been out over media. 05:04:03.266 --> 05:04:08.792 - If you want to nerd out on what happened, I met with a surveyor this week and our G.I.S. coordinator 05:04:08.792 --> 05:04:14.700 - for the county, Dr. Baten, has created a dashboard in Esri that outlines all the paths of all the tornadoes 05:04:14.700 --> 05:04:20.226 - going back 20 years. And this is the data that should get our attention. We have had five touchdowns 05:04:20.226 --> 05:04:23.454 - in Monroe County since 2019 and two in the last 11 months. 05:04:23.554 --> 05:04:29.256 - And that should be the wake up call that this is our new normal, that we are in tornado alley and it 05:04:29.256 --> 05:04:34.902 - is moving east as climate change affects our continent. And it shouldn't be surprising, it's not an 05:04:34.902 --> 05:04:40.830 - if, it's a when. And so I guess that's the message tonight. I will leave one note to say one opportunity 05:04:40.830 --> 05:04:46.476 - I think we should pursue, maybe talking about opportunities, Councilor Wilts, is I've learned a lot 05:04:46.476 --> 05:04:48.734 - tonight and in the past few weeks about 05:04:48.834 --> 05:04:53.929 - People coming to us to ask for funding for things in their office, phone operators, people picking up 05:04:53.929 --> 05:04:59.024 - the phone. We've heard multiple times about staff saying, well, we're basically a 411. People get the 05:04:59.024 --> 05:05:04.118 - first county phone number they can find and start asking questions that have nothing to do with their 05:05:04.118 --> 05:05:08.414 - office. We may need to really look into what a 411 number looks like for this county. 05:05:08.802 --> 05:05:14.998 - Because it's not going to be EMA taking the phone calls. I mean, where can you call to get the basic 05:05:14.998 --> 05:05:21.377 - information about government? And I know others have brought that up. Boy, I've heard it all week long. 05:05:21.377 --> 05:05:27.573 - You know, if it's people texting us as elected officials to find out where the dumpster is for their 05:05:27.573 --> 05:05:33.768 - neighborhood, we may need to consolidate this with some creativity in the future. But that's way too 05:05:33.768 --> 05:05:37.694 - much. Thanks, Joan. J.C., back to you. J.C., thanks. All right. 05:05:37.858 --> 05:05:46.405 - So one thing that I will say is I want to give a special thanks to Ms. Turner-King for compiling all 05:05:46.405 --> 05:05:54.952 - of our thoughts and putting everything all together. I know that was not an easy task because all of 05:05:54.952 --> 05:06:03.838 - that could be a lot, and I could assume that it was. And so I just want to say thank you for doing that. 05:06:04.162 --> 05:06:11.622 - I'm so grateful for all of you for putting it together and working through with us on that, so I appreciate 05:06:11.622 --> 05:06:19.013 - that. I also want to say I do appreciate every single last one of my council colleagues here. Even Council 05:06:19.013 --> 05:06:26.059 - Haku isn't here. Hopefully she'll go back and watch it. But I do appreciate the conversations that we 05:06:26.059 --> 05:06:32.414 - continue to have, and we are really trying to do our job and look out for the best interest 05:06:32.546 --> 05:06:41.775 - I do have one less mentioned here is that as a reminder that. The Sophia Travis Grant Committee is doing 05:06:41.775 --> 05:06:50.653 - a kickoff earlier this year, and so the 2026 Sophia Travis Grant Committee kickoff this year will be 05:06:50.653 --> 05:06:56.542 - on Wednesday when March 11th, starting at 5 PM here in the net you 05:06:56.642 --> 05:07:04.382 - For those that are watching or will watch back later, you can go and like our Facebook page and share 05:07:04.382 --> 05:07:12.123 - it. I humbly ask our council colleagues here, if you would so help us to get the word out about that, 05:07:12.123 --> 05:07:19.711 - to share our page as well and that post related to the Sophia Travis. Speaking of the Monroe County 05:07:19.711 --> 05:07:25.630 - Humane Association, they are usually recipients of Sophia Travis, so I'm sure 05:07:25.762 --> 05:07:32.866 - we'll see them again this year, considering all things. So major thank you to anybody and everybody 05:07:32.866 --> 05:07:40.253 - that had anything to do with the work of the tornado. I was downtown working, and it was a little scary 05:07:40.253 --> 05:07:47.854 - having the shelter in place. And then I saw another photo of just where I work at versus where the tornado 05:07:47.854 --> 05:07:53.182 - actually hit. And it was a very sobering experience. So this is now twice. 05:07:53.378 --> 05:08:01.549 - where I have been in the path of a tornado because on the south side back in May, literally had kids 05:08:01.549 --> 05:08:09.638 - frantically calling saying that they saw a tornado, you know, on FaceTime. And so climate change is 05:08:09.638 --> 05:08:17.566 - real and that's something that we should not forget because we had a tornado in February. Lastly, 05:08:18.402 --> 05:08:27.145 - the public comment. The only thing that I will say about you know this resolution that we passed here 05:08:27.145 --> 05:08:35.889 - since it was mentioned in our comment here and public comment is that I think all of us are committed 05:08:35.889 --> 05:08:44.461 - to doing what we need to do, and I think we acknowledge that. Um we 234 is the pops, uh, count that 05:08:44.461 --> 05:08:48.318 - I saw this morning is 6 45. When it came in, 05:08:48.450 --> 05:08:56.128 - are needing to do for those that are housed in that building every day as we go home and are fortunate 05:08:56.128 --> 05:09:04.030 - enough. So I don't want that to think that, and we sat here for a really long time trying to put together 05:09:04.030 --> 05:09:11.932 - a resolution to speak on that very issue of trying to make sure that we acknowledge that we are committed 05:09:11.932 --> 05:09:17.374 - to having a humane and constitutional facility. All of that cost though. 05:09:17.506 --> 05:09:24.161 - And so the fiscal body is responsible for making those costs. And so I hope that it is incumbent of 05:09:24.161 --> 05:09:31.015 - all of us that are in the criminal justice system in the city and county to work together to make that 05:09:31.015 --> 05:09:38.003 - happen. But, you know, just as we have human costs, there's a lot of different costs that are associated 05:09:38.003 --> 05:09:44.990 - with that. But I don't want anybody to think that any of us sat here and don't have that in mind because 05:09:45.474 --> 05:09:54.163 - We do, we seriously do. And if people think that, I welcome all any conversations via emails, coffee, 05:09:54.163 --> 05:10:03.278 - and whatever we need to do. But I would love to have that conversation. So happy 24th day of Black History 05:10:03.278 --> 05:10:11.797 - Month. And with that being said, I thank you all for your time and service this evening, and we are 05:10:11.797 --> 05:10:12.734 - adjourned.