I'm going to go ahead and call this meeting to order. Good evening, everybody. Today is Tuesday, September
8th. Hopefully everybody had a well rested Labor Day weekend. Thank the unions for having that day off.
So we will go ahead and get started. We have a quorum of council members here and we have Councilors
Henry, Iverson, Decker. Welcome back. Wilts and Feidl. And we don't have Councilor Hawk joining us just yet.
But again, we have quorum, so we will go ahead and get started. And all those that are able to stand,
please stand for the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United
States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty
and justice for all.
Thank you very much. We will go ahead and move on to the adoption of tonight's agenda. Um I am going
to ask. Um that we. Table item H. I know it's been table from the last meeting. Um but we're waiting
to hear back from official G to confirm some things. And so, um,
just to confirm, just to make sure, since we're all in budget season, we just want to make sure that
we are good to go. So I would like to table item eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight.
Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight.
Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight.
Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight.
Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight.
Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight.
Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight. Eight
motion. Second. Okay. All right. We got a motion in a second. Any questions or comments on this item?
Or anybody else wishing to make other changes? All right. Seeing none. All those in favor of amending
tonight's agenda, signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed, same sign. All right. Motion carries.
Thank you very much. Next up is item number four, which is public comment. One of the most favorite
things of our agenda. And so if you are here to make public comment, these are for, again, items not
on tonight's agenda. So you can come forward to the lectern here in the room, state your name for the
record. You'll have up to three minutes. Or you can raise your hand virtually. And again, state your
name for the record, and you'll have up to three minutes. And once your time is up, your time is up.
on right now, I will go on to teams. It looks like we have a hand raise green name, Jamie Ford. Again,
you should be able to unmute state your name for the record. You have up to three minutes. Good evening,
counsel. My apologies for not being there in person. Timing didn't work out for me. I'm just raising
awareness and
bringing up what I think is an important topic. I want to start by saying that I'm glad that Lee Jones
is doing better. She did appear at the commissioner's meeting this past Thursday. Seems like she's doing
well. That's great. I have nothing against her for taking the time that she needed to seek treatment.
However, I am critical of the commissioner's handling of her absence. If you look at the 4 June,
18 June, 25 June, 2 July, 9 July,
16 July minutes. Her name is not listed as being a member of the Board of Commissioners. Indiana code 5-14-1.5-4B2
states that the members of the governing body recorded as either present or absent for memoranda that
shall be kept. This is backed up with the handbook of Indiana's public access laws on page 10. The ODL
requires the following memoranda be kept.
date, time, and place of the meeting, and the members of the governing body reported these things either
present or absent. So I question, again, this is nothing personally against Lee Jones, but if the county
has removed her from the memorandum and the minutes, so I question whether she is actually
still a commissioner or not. By comparison, before...
former Council Cheryl Munson passed. She had missed, I believe, about two months worth of meetings,
yet she was listed on the minutes the whole time, just as that she was absent. She wasn't removed from
the council minutes until the 10 December 2024 minutes, which was the day that she passed. So obviously
she was removed because she was no longer serving as a Murrow County Councilor. So if Lee Jones was
removed, that would signal to me that she is no longer a County Commissioner.
Um, and the, the problem with the, if, then that's still a problem. Open door law specifically, and,
you know, pretty, pretty plainly states that you have to list, uh, all the members of the governing
body. So either Lee Jones is no longer commissioner or the, uh, commissioners and whoever keeps the
minutes is, uh, violating open door law. That's a problem. Both of those are a problem in my opinion. Um,
And the legal department is now wrapped up in this, too, because I submitted a records request specifically
citing Indiana code saying that they have to list her. That was back in July 30th, 2026. There have
been multiple meetings that the commissioners could have amended those minutes that is allowed, and
they have not. So I just want to raise awareness and maybe I know they're not meeting this week, but
hopefully they will be accountable and answer those questions and be transparent about
either why they're violating open door law or by admitting that commission or that Lee Jones, your time
is up. Thank you. And also, thank you. And state your name for the record. If you don't mind. I'm sorry.
My name is Jamie Ford. I'm a district one resident of Monroe County. OK, thank you very much. OK.
Are there any other hands raised via teams or anybody here that would like to make public comment? Seeing
none, we will move on. Next up are for our department updates, and those again are for items that are
not on the agenda.
Each department will have up to 10 minutes. Your timer will be listed on the screens here. And it looks
like we have one already on our list, which is from our Correctional Center. And it looks like Mr. Jordan
Miller and Jail Commander Kyle Gibbons will be presenting. And we are joined by Sheriff Marte as well. Welcome.
council members. I hope everyone is doing well. I'd like to give an update reference the position of
director for the transition team. I remember back in 23 all of us got together meeting the
council commissioners and myself and we talked about the funding portion of it and well agreed about APA and
And then also that once that funding lapse, then what do we do next? And we, uh, we agree that we needed
to come back to the table and try to find another form of funding. Well, we thought about this, um,
and I'm gonna pass the floor to, to, uh, Commander Gibbons here so he'll get into the weeds. But overall,
what we thought of was, um, having,
looking into the office itself and trying to find the funding for ourselves, but at the same time finding
savings, too. However, I want to thank Councilmember Cate Wolch and Marty Hawkins not here, but they
both met with Jail Commander Gibbons
and gave us some guidance on how to proceed. That was truly appreciated, because some of the things
were kind of new to us in a sense. So thank you. I really appreciate it. With that being said, I'm going
to pass the floor on to Joe Commander Kyle Gibbons. Good evening, everybody. I know we only got a few
minutes here already left, so I'll get straight to the meat and potatoes of it. What we're trying to
do is move to correction positions
into a contractual position with a savings of about $71,000. And I'll get into that. Two positions.
Well, if you remember, I'll just start here. If you remember, we went to the pony training. They suggested
nine pony team members, or transition members, I'm sorry. We said, I think we can do with eight. I think
then we all agreed to six. They've done extensive work up to this point.
with the transition director we currently have, we think that it's possible to do it with four.
And again, when we talked about this in 23, and it was Jeff McKim who originally brought up the ARPA
fund to fund this position through the end of this year, we all kind of agreed that we'd have to locate
another source to continue that post 26. And Councilmember Hawkins was really kind of the only one who
didn't love the idea of finding a temporary funding source and was looking for a more solid funding
source moving forward. So just let me get into the numbers here a little bit, because I think some of
this was lost in translation. I met with Council Member Wilts and Marty Hawk. And let me try to explain
this a little bit better. Two positions currently that we received of the six positions, two of those
positions worth $119,000
$434 on wages alone. Self-insurance with those two positions is just over $36,000. You add PERF, that
is almost $17,000. FICA is $9,000. And it is just a grand total of $181,607 for the two positions. The
transition director position itself is contracted for $110,000.
So if we took $110,000 from that $181,607 total, we'd have a savings of $71,607 for the county for every
year moving forward. Like the sheriff said, and we've grown accustomed to this, especially local governments
across the state are all kind of experiencing these budgetary issues. We knew that we would
We would have to find a way to fund this, and we knew it probably wasn't going to come out of thin air.
So we buckled down, and then we tried to find a source. But what I would say is this, and Councilmember
Wilson and I kind of talked about maybe some shortcomings from this issue. What we don't want to have
happen as the jail is falling down around us is to provide our ongoing litigation any concern about
us being second or not moving forward and us losing this position and ultimately ending the transition
team. These guys work every day into putting things together for the team and then moving forward into
the transition to new building. As you guys know from the training, it's not just once we step into
the building, we're good. We've got to have those guys into the transition of the new new facility.
So here's where we're at.
We came forward here, and it's not necessarily a request. It's an idea that we all kind of came up with.
And Council Member Hawke thought it would be better to put it in the contractual line. And it's something
we wanted to get in front of you before we sat down for budgets, because we obviously know that that's
a very painstaking process. OK.
Yeah. OK, OK. We're ready for questions. All right. Thank you very much. I'm going to go to Councillor
Iverson and then I think I saw Councillor Hawks fan first. Thanks. Thank you for bringing this to us.
I have two questions. One is on the numbers you read and one is on timing. The first question is, were
those figures that you read out emailed to us or can we are those available to us? Yeah, we can get
them to you. I provided them to our liaisons.
So yeah, they're in the budget for twenty twenty seven. So that's okay. That's why it's a departmental
update. It's not something we're considering fully right now. But since it required a little bit of
thought and it's a different approach, we recommended that they come let us know before their budget
session. That answers my second question as well. So how do you. So I believe that the decision was
to leave both
the existing position that you intend to reduce and the contract leave it all in there so that we can
decide what what to reduce. Is that did that happen? Remember when we talked about it and I was because
the person from the jail Jordan said they don't
don't remember his title, had said, well, we don't want to end up not getting the contract and losing
the other two. And I thought the better way to do it is to put both in the budget. And then if then
we can decide which way to go. I think what Councilmember Wilts advice was to remove those positions
from the budget proposal, and then we would try to work that into a contractual line at the budget meeting.
That's not the way I remembered it. However, whatever it takes to make it work, what I would like to
remind you and other people on the council and the public at large, that in order to make this budget
work that is, I'm not talking about just your budget, but all of county general, all the ones in the
max levy, we might see a movement of more
of the expenses in the jail budget that's in general, we might have to move some of that down into the
jail. I don't know. I haven't talked with anybody else to say, hey, do you think we could do this or
not? But I'm looking at the numbers, and I know we've got to move some numbers around. The commissioner
said we can't use the added money, so where are we going to get the money to fund
I'm only saying that to you so that you won't be surprised if something like that should happen. As
a clarification, they didn't necessarily say that we can't use it. We're still waiting for final approval,
and that is supposed to be at our next meeting. So we will have that discussion at our next meeting.
But, yeah.
Council Member Henry. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you for the presentation. I may be parroting
back what you just said, but I'm hearing it for the first time, so I want to process a little. So the
idea in creating a contractual line is we avoid the curve from the long-term expenses, and I understand that.
This is a project. Projects have a beginning, a middle, and an end in theory. We won't need a transition
director at some point in time, 10 years from now, five years from now. So this isn't a permanent employee
in the county. So I appreciate creating a contractual position here. I guess having said that, and I
think I caught it from the removal. So the intention is that the refunding this as a contractual out
of the jail with the corrections lit, is that right?
It would be general fund. Right now it is a contract funded through ARPA. And then it would be contractual
through the corrections lit? Is that the intention? I'm looking at the liaisons because I'm trying to
figure out where you said the fund was coming from. He did not say. That far? Yeah, exactly. But my
thought and I think that the understanding was that it would come from the same place where the current
transition team positions. Which is corrections lit.
I think sorry. And just a follow up. We have, if it's already been advertised, a dollar amount for which
we cannot go above. And in that jail, at the time we were discussing it, it had not gone into the public
notice. I just wanted to make that clear. My only other follow up question would be, I recall when we
appointed the most recent incumbent into the transition
director position but I don't think I've seen them in this room for some time. Was there not supposed
to be some reportage back to us about progress like I don't know if it was on this in this forum but
like a report or kind of an annual or progress report about the transition. I don't recall seeing very
much but is that something that.
we could get, just to understand status updates from the director. You said yourself, they're all been
working hard. I think we need to hear a little more of it to probably would shore up a lot of confusion
that we get. Yeah, we can absolutely provide that moving forward. As you know, we kind of hit a stall
here. But just because we haven't got new information as it concerns like DLC and the building process,
it doesn't mean they haven't been working. And yeah, absolutely, we can provide that. Thank you, Madam
President. I got a question.
So these are current correct. So these are currently people that are in these positions, yes? And so
we eliminate. I'm just trying to make sure that I understand we're eliminating two people. Like. No,
so in I we were short on time, so I didn't want to get too far into this because we only had the 10 minutes,
Right now we've got two corrections officers in the merit process. It's looking pretty good for them
to be hired by the merit side, which would open two positions that we would just leave empty. Never
have we been here since since 23 and we had. For four months total. It completely staff roster, so we
would attrition those off. People come and go quite often. Actually, I think we've hired 65 people since
we've been here.
It's, as you know, it's a hard job and it takes a special person to work in there. So no, we're not
looking to terminate two people. We're looking to get two positions and just leave them open for the
end of the year to be removed. We wouldn't fill them. So nobody's gonna lose their job at Christmas,
I know that. Okay, because I think that was like my concern and I know before you have come in and made
comments about
like your staffing and how it would be great to have more. I just am concerned. Well, with this, like
this makes me feel like you kind of... Well, and these are transition team members. I think with the
people, the four people we have on it and this director, I think they could do the job of the six people.
These guys have been pretty squared away.
They're our best officers. So if you remember, you guys gave us six positions. We filled those with
our best officers, those transition positions, and that gave us essentially new officers to work the
floor. So our best officers have been on this transition team the whole time. And you might be thinking
about the last conversation we had was with the merit deputies. So that's separate. But that's one of
the reasons why we wanted to meet with our liaison so we could follow the path that we needed to follow.
because we want to look inward first before we came to you as a council. And I'll echo something that
Councilmember Henry said, and actually that was something I wrote in my notes, is that before we stalled,
it would be extremely helpful for us to have an update, like for department updates, for us to know.
Again, not going into specifics because of active things that are happening, but it would be helpful
beforehand.
Councilmember Decker. Madam President, I had the same question that you did. I'm just always sensitive
on that. I haven't been around here a minute or two that it's not. We weren't having two people go out.
And I appreciate that being clarified. We actually anticipated you guys asking us this question. So
we've had a document this entire time that we've been building. We can still have somebody come in and
talk to you guys. But at least we have information available if you would like that. And then we can have
the transition director come in and provide an update in person, too, if that's what you guys are asking.
Yes. OK, that is exactly what I'm asking. Anybody else? I appreciate that. Yes, I wanted to address
what Councilor Hawk was talking about about the advertising and stuff.
We advertised in the personnel as well as in the services, which would be the contractual, we advertised
40% above what was requested. And so with that, the two positions are currently budgeted per the request.
there has not been a request for a contract line because that has not been before you to add. That's
just been a thing. So when if and when we get to that part during the budget sessions, you can add it.
And we do have enough in the advertising to buffer that amount. So we have taken care of being able
to allow that. Thank you for that explanation. That's Councilor Williams.
I don't think I have any questions because I've had the opportunity to speak with them and I do think
though that this is a good way to go about solving a couple of different issues, shall we say. I don't
want it to look as though, and I think this forum and this discussion helps this, but I don't want it
to look as though we are eliminating positions from a jail
that desperately needs all the support it can get. So as long as we are collectively understanding that
that is not the intent, and you're supporting, you're bringing this to us, I just wanted to make that
perfectly clear. We are not losing anybody from the jail. For that clarification.
All right. Any other questions or comments on this? Yes, Councilor. I just I appreciate the way Kate
just said that because we need a misperception on that about like we all need another hole in the head.
And with all the issues that we have, it must be clear that we don't have that problem, at least for
now. And I appreciate that. Just getting clearly out there for folks to really let that sink in.
Seeing none, we'll see y'all tomorrow. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Are there any other departmental
updates for items not on the agenda?
How are you? Good, how are you? Good, thank you.
I'm with Purdue Extension, as I'm sure you all know. And I am here, usually you are familiar with me
for my position as a County Extension Director and Health and Human Science Educator, but my role has
since shifted. So I'm still with Purdue, but my new role is the Regional Operations Leader, ROL. Just
a fancy way to say that I am a regional supervisor, because with Extension, we're moving to a regional
model currently. We're currently in the transformation model. And so with that, I kind of
to cover multiple counties, and with that also cover multiple budget hearings. So I will unfortunately
not be here to present on Thursday for extension in Monroe County, but my colleague Laura Dodds will.
She's online and she just wants to introduce herself to the council. Hey, let me see if TSD can... Oh,
she is promoting. Okay, so Laura, you should be able to unmute
and go for it. Hello nice to meet you guys all virtually. My name is as Adi said Laura Dodds and I am
over the central region and I look forward to seeing you guys all on Thursday. I've been with Extension
for about seven years now and so I have some experience. I'm based here in Marion County and
It's important to note that although I work for Purdue University, I went to IU Bloomington for my undergrad,
IU Minneapolis for my master's, and I'm currently an IU student for my PhD. So I just have to say that.
The P actually burns a hole in my body when I wear it. So I'll see you guys all on Thursday. Thank you.
And make sure when you present, you wear red, too.
I think she can wear red. Thank you so much. Does anybody have any questions or comments? Yes. Yes.
Can you tell me what this coalition of putting this together in a region? How does that benefit Monroe County?
So with the regional model, educators, it's now service based as a contract, and regional educators
will come from different counties to provide services to Monroe. So we'll still have an office in the
county. We'll still have an educator in the office, but we'll also have other educators coming to support
our Monroe County efforts. So it will benefit us because we'll have other resources coming in to support
Monroe County. Budget wise, this is
it. Is it the savings for Monroe County dollar wise? With their contract with Purdue. The budget. The
price will go up. I guess I'm not sure how much I should necessarily say. But are asked this year is
bigger than it was last year. Any other questions?
and thank you very much. And Laura, we look forward to seeing you on Thursday as well. All right.
Thank you. Thank you. All right. Are there any other departmental updates for items not on the agenda?
Like to Um. All right. Seeing none. We will move on. Thank you to all the
Up is item number six, which is the pink. Oh, sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't see you for us and see you
over there. It's OK. I was going to make a comment before you open the public hearing in reviewing the
ordinance. One of the whereas clauses need to be fixed. And I'd like to fix that whereas clause before
you open the public hearing on the ordinance. I did confer with Mr. Schilling to
make sure that my thought process was correct. If we change the whereas clause, it's not part of the
effective ordinance. And so the whereas clause is just background. So if we correct the whereas clause,
I just want you to realize we don't have to re-advertise. It's not changing the actual body of the ordinance.
OK, so is this something that we
can do tonight or you want to table it until the 20th? I am prepared to do it tonight. I just wanted
to do it before we open the public hearing. Okay. It's a very easy fix. So we'll move on to the higher
end freeze reviews and then we'll back. Okay. Okay. So we'll, we'll do that council. All right. Cause
we got several of those to review. Okay. Next up we will go to the higher end freeze reviews and then
we'll pop back to the public hearing.
So item 7A from courts. Council, I move to open for discussion and possible approval. The court's request
to be exempt from the hiring freeze and be allowed to hire and fund 1000-0225 County General Courts,
one full-time associate court reporter position. Second. Okay, we are here with Ms. Chandler and Judge
Katherine Stafford. Welcome.
The courts are requesting to approve to fill an associate court reporter position that will be vacant
on or after September 18th.
This position is essential to the court's daily operations. The position records and preserves courtroom
proceedings, prepares and processes chronological case summaries and written orders, retrieves and maintains
electronic case files through various case management systems, processes court documents, mail, prepares
correspondence, communicates with the public, law enforcement, and other court personnel within Monroe
County and surrounding areas. Thank you very much for that. Any questions or
comments from the council on this item. Councilmember Hoppe. Yes, I think we've all been told by the
state and by others on our projected revenue that we were to receive approximately, I believe it was
like somewhere close to half a million dollars because of the reduction of the court. So is this
helping us to get that to that half million dollar reduction or is making it worse? So it's already
budgeted in. It's a position we've already had and we will be presenting our budgets on September 15th.
But so that you are aware, our budget will be decreasing for twenty twenty seven and the amount of one
hundred and forty seven thousand nine hundred and twelve dollars. But over the last three years, we
will have decreased our budget four hundred and eleven dollars five hundred and forty eight cents.
How much do you recall how much it was that that we were told we should? Was it FSC that gave us the
number or we got the number? Was it about a half million dollars? I'll ask that question. The auditor
or anybody else at the table? What was the amount? What was the dollar amount? You can certainly find
that for you, but it's going to take a few minutes. I remember there was an amount that was offered.
but then there was the practical discussion that then ensued where the courts were like, yes, on paper,
that may be what they think that it will be, but we still have as many cases, burdens, headaches and
other sorted gremlins that they will have to do that the consultants didn't see. And then I think that
number was a little more sobering, but you're saying 140 ish. So for this,
Yes, so it's $147,912 that we'll be saving from last year's budget. If I can also add, this is because
one of my court reporters is moving to another position within county government and I'm super thrilled
for her, but it will leave me without one of my court reporters.
As you all know, we're going to be doing the work of 10 judicial officers with nine. It's not that the
work is going to go down. We're still going to have the same number of cases. We're going to still have
the same number of litigants, the same number of court hearings. And in fact, I personally expect my
workload to go up between 20% and 33%. That's an extra workday a week. And I am already in court typically
five days a week. So I don't think that we're going to be able to start evening courts or Saturday courts.
with this hiring freeze. I'm guessing you all aren't going to fund that. And I'm not funded for that
from the state. As you all, of course, know, the judges are funded our payroll through the state largely.
But without having this court order replaced, everything will take longer in my office. And we're under
a statutory duty to hear emergency evictions within three business days, to hear provisional hearings
and a divorce within 20 days, to hear orders of protection cases within 30 days. And it's already a
struggle to get those hearings in and to do that work.
super proud of my staff and how hard they work, and hoping we can get this person replaced so we can
keep moving forward. Councilor Williams? Yeah, as a liaison to the courts, I had the pleasure of looking
over the budgets when they were being prepared, and they've done a lot of work to try to reduce the
expenses related to their
they're sometimes overwhelming workloads. And so I, you know, I support this. I also wanted to say happy
birthday. Thank you. Pleased to be here for my birthday. Questions or comments for. Yes, Councillor
Hawk. Yes. Is this position
already in your budget that you have prepared and sent out. Do you have any positions that are vacant
that you don't plan to fill? We do. We have a full-time position that is currently vacant in our court
administrative office that we have filled with the part-time personnel. We have taken those duties of
that individual and split it amongst our office. That's helpful.
moment okay thank you very much anybody else no okay so we will move on to public comment if you have
comment on this item so you can please come forward to the lectern here in the room or raise your hand
via teams and seeing none may we please have a roll call vote counselor Iverson yes counselor Fidel
yes counselor Hawk
it. I have a person currently doing the work who is going to be going to another county department.
Thank you. I'll say yes, because everybody else is going to anyway, but let me tell you what. You just
wait and see. We're still in
Councilor Decker? Yes. Councilor Crossley? Yes. Motion passes unanimous. Thank you very much. Thank
you for your time, everyone. Thank you. You're welcome. All right. Have a nice birthday. Next up is
item B from the clerk's office. Council, I move to open for discussion and possible approval the clerk's
request to be exempt from the hiring freeze and be allowed to hire and fund 1000-0001 County General Clerk
one full-time small claims case manager position. Second. All right. We got a motion in a second. We're
joined by the clerk, Nicole Brown. Welcome. Madam chair, esteemed members of the council, speaking of
not wanting to eliminate a desperately needed position in support for that role, I am respectfully requesting
to fill a small claims deputy position that was unexpectedly
vacated. The person in that role, there are two people in small claims who process all small claims
cases, all evictions and all ordinance violations for the Monroe County courts. Judge Stafford very
generously outlined the number of cases that they face as circuit, the circuit court and every single
case that the courts here is touched by the Monroe County clerk's office.
If I only had one, then in the event of absences, emergencies, vacations, that would put an undue hardship.
We can cover temporarily a day off an illness, something like that, but long-term, it would pose an
undue hardship for the clerk's office, and I respectfully ask that you approve this, my being able to
fill this position. Thank you. Thank you.
All right. Any questions or comments from Council on this item? Yes, Council Henry. Thank you.
Thank you, Clerk, for coming in. I mean, you've had some turnover and you mentioned unexpectedly. Is
any of your recent turnover due to the working conditions in the current center? Some this I wouldn't
say that this particular one was due to that. But I mean, people are actively either actively looking
or quietly quitting.
Kind of sort of answer the second question I had, but how are folks doing right now? Would you be willing
to share what's going on? First, thank you for asking. Thank you for publicly asking. This is this time
has been very difficult on my staff. I have always said before you, I have the best staff this side
of heaven and I am smart enough to know it, but they're human.
And they're doing the best they can with the lowest wages, trying to do a good job for you and the citizens
and visitors of Monroe County. So I appreciate you asking. We do our level best every day. We appreciate
any updates that we get regarding the opportunity to improve the. The.
Conditions in the office. I heard something the other night as I was watching a council meeting Where
they talked about why the office hasn't been refurbished? I would like for you to know that for as long
as I have been clerk I have asked I've had to beg for new chairs before the furniture dates back to
Most of it dates back to the originality of the building. So if the building is crumbling, you can imagine
what's going on with the furniture and the carpet and the walls and this and that. And our bathrooms
are not ADA compliant. You may recall my sweet lady from Stone Belt who had a wheelchair. She was never
able to use the facilities in a way that would have accommodated her disabilities.
So roundabout way, thank you for asking. I'll certainly pass that along to my staff. For sharing. I
agree with your public comment making that, you know,
County employee doesn't lose First Amendment rights just because they work for the county. And thank
you for acknowledging that. Thank you for at least sharing their concerns because clearly they've been
told they can't buy our HR department. So I appreciate that. And that was very offensive. Yeah. And
but I also want to honor the fact that you've been a clerk in the state of Indiana for almost 10 years.
Yes, sir. Got to be the longest serving clerk in the state if I'm not mistaken. I don't know about that,
but pretty close.
Yeah, I mean, it's statutorily as close as you can get. But you would have the long memory for a decade
of that. So I appreciate you sharing. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you. I've got a question while
we're on filling positions. We got an email from your staff about front desk. Filling this position
here, would that help alleviate some of the issues that you're having?
Not really, Madam Chair. The position that they are talking about, and they were kind enough to include
me on the email, is a position I did come to you last year for. The young lady graduated from college.
She got a job with Child Protective Services. She was the front desk person, but also did protective
orders. I came. I followed what your directives were. You did not see fit to approve the position at
that time. We can certainly
do our best to have them help a little bit with the front desk. But the front desk, we get everything,
everybody that walks in. So could they answer small claims questions before somebody files paperwork?
Absolutely. Evictions, ordinance violations, maybe some personal simple things like if somebody says,
I'm just filing into an existing case, they can file stamp and get it to the courts that it needs to
go. But in terms of
the role and what my staff was trying to tell you. No, I can't say that it would significantly eliminate
or reduce the workload for that. OK, thank you. Yeah. But it's the understanding like there's some somebody
that's out right now. Yes. One person is carrying the load for every small claims case. And I tried
to have them print out what we what has come through, but thousands.
and we're not done with the year. So the sooner we can get somebody in, get them trained and ready to
go, that is what would be helpful and reduce the stress on the other employees in my office. Thank you.
Yeah, I appreciate that. Thank you for that explanation. Anybody else have any other questions or comments?
Seeing none.
We will move on to public comment. If there's public comment on this item, you can come forward to the
lectern here in the room or raise your hand via Teams. And seeing none, may we please have a roll call
vote? Councilor Feidl? Yes. Councilor Haas? Councilor Will? Councilor Henry? Councilor Deckard? Yes.
Councilor Crossley? Yes. Councilor Iverson?
Yes. Motion passes unanimous. Thank you so much. And I would never tell the council how to do its business.
But appearing before the council on your birthday, that's a big sacrifice. I couldn't do it. I'm just
going to tell you I couldn't do it. Thank you so much. We appreciate it. Thank you. Have a good night.
All right. Next up is item number C from the health department. Item number C.
Item C from the health department. I wasn't going to point it out. Council, I move to open for discussion
and possible approval. The health department's request to be exempt from the hiring freeze and be allowed
to hire and fund one one five nine dash zero zero zero zero health fund one full time environmental
health specialist foods position. All right. We got a motion and a second and we're joined by Ms.
Lori Kelly. Welcome.
Good evening, Council. So we are requesting to fill this is a foods position. This is a full-time position
that's responsible for completing routine inspections, responding to complaints, licensing, plan reviews
for new retail food establishments, mobile units, and temporary food operations, and helps to conduct
preoperational inspections for new retail food establishments and mobiles. Currently, this position
has around over 200
We're going to be working with the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department
of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and
the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department
of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and
the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department
of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and
the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department
of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and
the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department
of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and
the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department
of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department of Health and
the Department of Health and the Department of Health and the Department
How many people do you have working in food, restaurant, inspection, and this type of area? There's
three licensed inspectors for the Monroe County Health Department. So myself, Alyssa, and then Peter
as well. But we usually have that fourth. But I'm the environmental health services director, and I
chip in when I can. OK, cool. Thank you. What's your name? I didn't hear you say your name.
Michael Kazimka. Thank you. You're welcome.
I see your hand. Councilmember Henry. Peter's doing things. Thank you for that. How many mobile units
do you track in the county? Is there an uptick in that in recent years? And then the second question
is I appreciate the comment about statewide licensure because certainly there are trucks coming inbound
that aren't originating from here.
Take a minute and walk us through the complexity of that. It's not a brick and mortar place. So you're
checking out. So correct. These are mobile units. Um, there's more in the county than 2025. So we're
seeing an increase like every year. And then with the mobile food license, the statewide license come
in January 1st of next year, it's going to increase our inspections by like nine, around 93 inspections
per unit. So that because those originate here, like it could change here or how does that? I don't
understand. Like, like who owns the,
Which county has the problem, right? Where's the truck? Right now, if you have a license in Monroe County,
you're licensed in Monroe County, but next year in 2027, January, they could have their license somewhere
else. Their home county could be Brown County or Lawrence County, and they could be getting their license
there, but they might have their commissary here, so they might choose to stay in Bloomington to get
their mobile state license. Out of state? Could somebody bring a truck?
from Illinois? You can come from out of state, but you're going to have to get an Indiana state license
in order to operate. I'm not going to dwell on it. It sounds like it's a lot of work. I think that's
where we're at. So thank you for that. You're welcome. I want some member hug. Yes. And I haven't looked
at it in the last day or two, but the last time I saw the $1,159 request to budget looked like it said
we're going to have to take some money out of that max levy.
and shore up 11 59. Is that still the case? That is the case. However, we also need to look at reversions.
Um, I don't think that everything budgeted has been expended or that we're where we expect it to be.
So we need to consider all that when we review the budget this week.
But I think probably still in that cash for reversion, because perhaps the money has not been spent
out yet, was that half million dollars for that mobile unit. I think this is a difficult one, because
do we have a budget yet for the 1161? Is that the number of the state?
So first, I forget what the number is. Yes. It's 1161, it's 1161. OK, but do we have? Have we heard
that from the state yet? What the funding is going to be for that? It's about the same amount as it
is this year. It just depends on if any counter counties were too. Opt out. I but the question was,
do we have any? We don't.
in other words, it's not we can't budget on probably. So I just wonder is there any way we can. No.
Over there, since we know if 1159 is needs to be shored up with money, it's going to come out of the
max levy that and it's and it's not the only one that needs to be shored up. And we're already running
short in general, and we've got to move these
things someplace. So push that here and agree. On the other hand, it's the health department. You gotta
inspect. Just. Yes, count. Let's call you counselor Gregory. Hello auditor. Hello. Just a quick synopsis
of the 1159 fund as of today. So
The total appropriation was $1,463,649.79. So we have expended almost $347,000 just under out of that
total budget. That's what I'm talking about, reversions. Ms. Kelly would know best, but I can't imagine
they're going to go through the rest of that. We're going to have quite a bit left in the fund.
that we won't spend. Councilor Wilts. So that begs the question, why will there be reversions? Because
we can't really count on that as a strategy for budgeting, of course. Do you have some insight yet as
to why there would be reversions?
why we're not gonna be using everything that was budgeted for this year. So a large portion of that
was for, because we had already previously budgeted for the IU health contract. So that's a big chunk
of it there. Then we have one of the public health nurse positions that has sat vacant for a good chunk
of time. So supplies and services otherwise, but then we do have that money that's in the capital line as well.
So in the other fund, 1161. Is this one of the core services that is allowable in that one? Yes, but
this is the regulatory side, so we're only able to use a certain percentage of those funds for this
regulatory work.
it basically breaks it down and you can ask for a permission to be able to exceed that regulatory amount,
which the last time that I looked at it, we were gonna be hitting that type of scenario to have to ask
for approval because they really want the bulk of the money to be on those core public health services,
not the regulatory. And yet they put in place the regulation, but that's okay.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
If I can maybe just add something else. So as we know, one of the challenges that we have been trying
to manage is the Indiana residency and lawful presence scenario. So this goes back to one of
the recommendations from the legal team because of how the restaurants work and just
this work in general of how challenging it was going to be able to obtain that identification and prove
that lawful presence, because where does that trail really kind of end? So is it everyone working in
the restaurant? Yes. Is it the owners who live out of state? And so this also comes back to that, because
that change has really just limited the way that we can use those funds and created an extra challenge for us.
just serving the people. For the explanation. Yes, you got one more. Yeah, it would be difficult for
me to. It's always difficult for me to support during budgets right now when we know we're already short,
but especially now that we haven't. We need. How much we're going to have to shore up at the 1159
we're going to get the money and to do this right now when we're, you know, when they can present the
budget and we can look at it at that time, we might have more information. But anyway, you folks move
forward, however you want. With that being said, we'll go to public comment. If there is public comment
on this item, you can raise your hand via Teams or come forward to the lectern here in the room.
one. May we please have a roll call vote. Councilor Hawk? No. Councilor Wilk? No. Councilor Henry? No.
Councilor Decker? Yes. Councilor Crossley? Yes. Councilor Iverson? Yes. Councilor Feidl? Yes. Motion
passes majority five to one. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Next up is item. Sorry, six to one. I
can't add today.
Um, item D, prosecutor's office. Council, I move to open for discussion and possible approval
the prosecutor's request to be exempt from the hiring freeze and be allowed to hire and fund 1000-0009
County General Prosecutor one full time misdemeanor attorney position. Second. All right. We got a motion
in a second. We're joined by the prosecutor and Ms. Hamlin. Welcome y'all.
Thank you. Good evening, counsel, and thank you for hearing my request to fill a misdemeanor deputy
position during the hiring freeze. My name is Erica Oliphant, prosecuting attorney, and I've got executive
director Beth Hamlin with me. By way of context, we have four criminal courts. Even when we lose a court
in 2027, we will continue to have four criminal courts.
And therefore we have four misdemeanor deputy prosecutors one for each of those courts and The caseloads
are fairly large. So this position handles all misdemeanors except for domestic violence and As well
as level six drug cases and level six operating while intoxicated cases so the
The request is to fill the CO9 Deputy Prosecutor Attorney position. It's a matter of public record at
this point that the incumbent has accepted a higher paying position as an attorney for the city council.
And so his last day in my office will be October 9th. I plan to cover the vacancy in his absence. And
I've already been working today to try to
resolve some older cases that are on the trial docket for October. The volume of the work is high,
as I said. The current caseload for this position is about 455 cases. That includes 355 misdemeanors
and 99 felonies, and then one miscellaneous matter, which is like a specialized driving privileges petition.
As I mentioned at my budget hearing last week, IPAC and WIS have assessed the need for deputy prosecutor
staffing across the state, and their determination was based on the volume of cases that are referred
to my office. When we are fully staffed, we still need about 3.71 additional attorneys. I'm not requesting
that, but I can't afford to have long-term vacancies.
Also, as I mentioned last week, most of my deputy prosecutors do work greater than their 40 hours per
week, and they carry a balance of comp time. Prosecutor's office is responsible for ensuring that the
protection of our constitutional and statutory rights are there for both defendants and victims, which
includes meeting deadlines, ensuring good procedure, and
have carrying the highest burden of proof there is under the law. And we can't do that if we don't have
a full team. So content of our work is very difficult. It comes with secondary trauma. We see the human
misery and suffering that's inherent in mental health and substance use issues, as well as some of the
worst things that people do to each other. And so I'm hopeful that you will allow me to go ahead and
fill this position when it becomes vacant.
You know, I'm willing, if it helps with our cause, to wait 60 days to fill the position, but I'd like
to go ahead and post it sooner than that. But this is just to let Ms. Hawk know this is actually included
in our budget for 2027, so not any kind of additional appropriation this year, and it's already accounted
for for next year. Thank you for that explanation.
Any council members that have any questions? Councilor Hawke. Yes. So the physician is leaving. What?
How many years has he been there? We believe about three. I think he is just shy of his three
year anniversary. OK, so I'm looking at the budget. If you hire a new person,
it's not going to be a great deal saving. Like if this was a 15 year employee, you would have a bigger
savings if you hire somebody brand new. You know, everybody else is going to say yes. And then when
we get ready to do the budgets and then we'll decide whether or not we can actually do what we're saying
yes to. So you might be wise in trying to hold off and filling that position until we've
determined we can do it. Thank you. Thank you. It's a lot. Do you have a trade sponsor? I don't. Thank
you for the offer. Yes, Councillor Williams. Thinking through that logic, I appreciate Councillor Hock's
caution on a lot of these issues because we have some things that we have to figure out in the coming
month and a half.
However, I know that this is a critical need and I support it. And I also think that posting this job
in 60 days puts it awfully darn right in the middle of not being able to do a whole lot around the holidays
and that kind of thing. So I'm going to support it and suggest posting it right away with
the caveat that it's budget season and everybody who's hired in is subject to budget. Yeah, I understand.
I appreciate it. I will say sometimes it takes me a couple of months after posting to find a qualified
candidate anyway. I mean, that may be true. So there's probably some wisdom in posting relatively immediately
with the idea that we'll make a start date
out a little ways, maybe. Any other questions or comments? Oh, I think as a comment, I think I support,
we heard y'all budget last week, and I support having this go through now because in 60 days, we're
into November. And that's a critical, as Councilor Wold said, a critical position.
that I think would need some time, like all of the positions that we have in the county. But it takes
some time to get somebody up and started and ready to go. And I just think that this right now is the
best way to go about doing that. Thank you. You're welcome. OK. That being said, if there is public
comment on this item, you can come forward to the lectern here in the room or raise your hand via Teams.
seeing none, maybe please have a roll call vote. Councilor Wilts? Yes. Councilor Henry? Yes. Councilor
Decker? Yes. Councilor Crossley? Yes. Councilor Iverson? Yes. Councilor Feidl? Yes. Councilor Hawk?
Yes. Motion passes unanimous. Okay. Thank you so much. Thank you. Now, before we go back to or before
we move on, Ms. Turner King, are you
ready? Okay. All right. So we're going to jump back and then we're going to come back to our business
at hand. So this is item six with the public hearing regarding modifying local income tax rates. And
so council, the time is now 6 0 6 p.m. And I would like to now open the public hearing portion of this
meeting regarding ordinance 20 26 dash 26 modifying local income tax rates. Um,
And I will turn this over to Ms. Turner-King. And before we get to the public hearing part, I do want
to make our proposal correction. I'm going to put the ordinance up on the screen. So in the second whereas
clause, you will notice I highlight it three. I'm trying to make it bigger. Three items.
And so the clause reads, whereas since the adoption of the juvenile services lit special tax rate, the
rate has been adjusted by the Monroe County Council on three separate occasions, with the most recent
being on August 29th, 2023, by ordinance 2023-28, when the juvenile specials lit special rate was decreased
to 0.085%. It was adjusted in 2024.
What I think this should reflect is changing August 29th to October 8th of 2024, then the ordinance
number to 2024 43, and then the rate to 0.03. So it would go.
just changed it on the screen. That information would reflect the most recent change. Yes, Councilor
Everson. Council, I move to amend ordinance 2026-26 as it appears on the screen. Second. All right,
we got a motion and a second. Is there any questions or comments related to this change as presented?
Yes, Councillor Fido. So I'm just curious, was this just a mistake, how it got in there, or how did
it just happen? I think it was the language that was in the previous version of the ordinance. And if
you remember right when we were talking about it on the Tuesday that we adopted, we made some changes
and we deleted a whereas clause. And I think the whereas clause that was deleting it was probably adding
the information that I just added. All right, thanks. Thank you.
Any other questions or comments? Okay. All those in favor of approving the changes as presented signify
by saying aye. All those opposed, same sign. Okay. Motion carries. Next up.
Is there anything else that we need? OK, so this is the part where we open it up for public comment
of this hearing. And before we begin, we will set the ground rules. Those wishing. Sorry, I thought.
Oh, we made the correction, but we typically do the first reading where I do the read the whole ordinance.
We will. Do you need a display on the screen as I'm reading it?
This is ordinance 2026-26, an ordinance modifying local income tax rates, Monroe County. Whereas on
July 30, 2007, the Monroe County Council, pursuant to the authority of Indiana Code 6-3.5-6-33, now
recodified under Indiana Code 6-3.6-7-16, adopted ordinance
2007-27 an ordinance for the operation and maintenance of facilities necessary to provide juvenile services
originally referred to as the juvenile co-it and here after here and after referred to As the juvenile
services lit special tax rate which established a tax rate of point four hundredths of a percent to
fund the operation and maintenance of the Binkley house facility and
Whereas since the adoption of the juvenile service lit special tax rate, the rate has been adjusted
by the Monroe County Council on three separate occasions, with the most recent being on October 8th,
2024, by ordinance 2024-43, when the juvenile special service lit special tax rate was decreased to
three hundredths of a percent on the adjusted gross income of local taxpayers and
Whereas the Monroe County Council recognizes that the Monroe County judges have long had a history of
working closely with families and juveniles to solve problems in a proactive manner viewing juvenile
detention as a last resort and the Youth Shelter Bureau has established a track record of providing
exemplary juvenile care protection and guidance to juveniles when deemed necessary. And whereas the
reduction of the rate in 2020
Whereas after the reduction of the rate in 2023, the Monroe County Council has continued to monitor
the estimated expenses and estimated revenue within the funds that utilize said lit revenue and the
Monroe County Council finds that the current juvenile services lit special tax rate of
three hundreds of a percent on the adjusted gross income of local taxpayers will not provide adequate
and sufficient funding for the operation and maintenance of facilities necessary to provide juvenile
services in Monroe County and allow for the continuation of the exemplary care historically provided.
And whereas the Monroe County Council determines it is necessary and appropriate to adjust the juvenile
services lit special tax rate from the previously established amount of three hundreds of a percent
to a new rate of
Hold on, I got to redo this one. Ninety-five thousandths of a percent on the adjusted gross income of
local taxpayers in order to meet the Monroe County's fiscal needs of operating and maintaining facilities
necessary to provide juvenile services now therefore be ordained by the Monroe County Council of Monroe
County that a need now exists to modify the local income tax rates imposed in the following way.
One, the Monroe County Council finds and determines that the need for juvenile services is not sufficiently
funded within the county and that the already existing exemplary services cannot continue operating
without an increase in the juvenile services lit special tax rate. Two, to accommodate this, the Monroe
County Council proposed an increase of the juvenile services lit special tax authorized by Indiana Code 6-3.6-7-16
from the current rate of three hundredths percent of one percent, three hundredths
percent of 1 percent to a rate of 95,000 of 1 percent. The overall tax rate, including the proposed
changes, will increase to a rate of 2.205 percent. For the avoidance of doubt, no change is intended
or authorized by this ordinance to, one, the tax rate under Indiana Code 6-3.6-6-10 certified shares,
which is currently 9,480 ten thousandths percent.
Sorry, the public safety tax rate currently, which is currently 2,500 percent, the economic development
tax rate, which is currently 6,900 percent, the property tax rate under Indiana Code 6-3.6-5, property
tax relief rate, which is currently 500, 580, 18, 10, 10,000 percent, or the correctional facilities
tax rate, which is currently 1,700 percent.
As a result of the actions in this accordance ordinance, the local income tax will be allocated as following
beginning on January 1st of 2027. And then there's a chart displayed. I don't know if you want me to
read the chart. So there's the chart.
The Monroe County Council further finds the revenue generated by the juvenile services lit special tax
rate is necessary to continue to sufficiently fund the operation and maintenance of facilities necessary
to provide juvenile services in the county. The local tax income rates proposed above remain in effect
until they expire pursuant to the enabling statute of the Indiana Code or until the Monroe County Council
chooses to modify them.
further ordained that a public hearing will be held on the proposed local income tax rate modifications
on September 8th, 2026 at 5 p.m. Proper notice of the public hearing was provided pursuant to Indiana
code five dash three dash one duly adopted by the following vote of the members of said Monroe County
Council of Monroe County this and then we'd have to fill in the date. That is the ordinance. Thank you,
Sid. OK, now
We will open it up for public comment. If there's public comment for this item, if you are here in person,
you can come forward to the lectern here. Each person that makes public comment will state their name
for the record, and they'll have up to three minutes. And if you are virtual and would like to make
public comment during this hearing, you can also raise your hand via Teams, state your name for the
record, and you'll have up to three minutes. Do we have any takers?
in person. Okay, and do we have any takers virtually via Teams? Again, you can raise your hand. Okay,
seeing that we had no public commenters for this hearing, the time is now 6.16 PM, and I would like
to close the public hearing.
I'm getting to that point. I'm getting to that point. This is public comment. So as I was saying, it
is 6 16 p.m. and the time is now closed for public hearing for ordinance 2026-26 modifying local income
tax rates is now closed. Now we will loop it back to the council members to see if anybody has any questions
or comments on this item.
Councilor Hawke. I just want to say, as I've said many times in the past, that we need to recognize
what the legislation says we can use this money for, and it's for the operation and maintenance of the
facility, not for all the other things that we keep throwing in there. So I just I'm just saying if it says
The legislation says operation and maintenance of the facility. Is that correct, Molly Turner-Keene?
I can pull up the statute, but I believe that is correct. Can I ask a question? I mean, I'm going to
support this, but I just think we need to recognize every time we put more and more expenses in this
fund that is meant to operate and maintain a facility. Could you give me an example of what we've put in
to the fund that wouldn't support that? Right. And I fought myself for this because it was my idea to
try to save these probation officers in some fashion because we used to pay for it out of what we used
to call the old welfare fund. And we had four probation juvenile probation officers, and we were going
to lose that money and that ability. And so I thought, well, why can't we do this? Because in other counties,
in the facility, the probation officers worked in the facility and they were able to pay for it with
this money. But we went ahead and did that, but the probation officers, unless something's changed,
I do not believe that they are housed at the facility. And that's, I've just continued to say, I think
that we have stretched the use of these money. I'm not saying it's not a good use of the money,
is not quite what the legislation said. Anyway. In the meantime, Council Member Henry. Thank you, Madam
President, and thank you, Councilor Hawke, for that. Can I ask how long ago that process started? Do
you recall when we started doing that? Right. It's been many years ago because I know what
I was not in favor of doing it in this fashion. I wanted to do a public safety tax because I knew we
needed it for the jail and whatever. And then we could pull in more money and we could use part of that
money to cover operating the juvenile facility and use part of it to do some of our needs for public
safety. That didn't pass. I couldn't get the support for that.
Yeah, it was before when we had when we first started doing this. I believe it's when we still had a
youth facility down on Kirkwood, and then we built this facility and named it in honor of Morris Binkley
because he a member of our county council for decades seemed. And he was instrumental in helping with
that. I just yeah, but what he did say was that
the dollars that we could never use it for detention unless we it was our facility, then we could do
the operation and maintenance of that detention facility. Well, I was strongly opposed at the time for
building a detention facility, but we went around and checked all of the detention facilities
many many of them and we finally found one I thought well if we could do like they're doing and that
was over in Bartholomew County where they had a youth shelter and they had a youth detention and the
juvenile probation officers were the intake officers and so if they went into the like uh into the shelter
and if they were a problem then they could move them over to the detention and if they as they
work their way out of coming into detention, they can go over into the shelter. Okay, was that more
than what you wanted to hear? No, it's good, because I only raise it to share a thought that occurred
to me when Councilor Woltz asked and we got back and forth. Sometimes we put these wheels in motion.
and we forget why. And then there's institutional memory that helps us. And then we'll get an answer
back from staff when we are curious that is, well, it's the way we've always done it, right? And yet
there's probably a moment sometimes to go back and do the tune up on the car to figure out.
If that original approach makes sense still, if there's conditions have changed, facilities have closed,
people aren't working in the building that we thought they were working in. All that is just stuff that
builds up over time that as we get under the hood of this, I appreciate the walkthrough, but it gives
me pause to think about other things we fund in government as we start making some real budget decisions.
If the answer is this is the way we've always done it, I think that's worth looking at as well. I hope
I've bought enough time at the table, thanks.
I will go to the auditor and then I'll talk to Ms Turner King. Yeah, so the typical process when questions
like these arise, like is this appropriate out of this fund or may we use this funding for this purpose?
I what I typically do is proactively reach out to the State Board of Accounts. They have staff on hand
to help interpret. Of course, in collaboration with our legal team, but help interpret like
the statute and what is appropriate if they'll take audit exception to a certain use. So my recollection
is that a couple years ago at this point, we reached out and did confirm that this was appropriate.
However, because so much time has passed, I would like to find that email or revisit this if there are
still questions. Okay? So in reviewing the statute, it says revenues raised from a tax imposed under
this section may
be used only to fund the operation and maintenance of a juvenile detention center and other facilities
to provide juvenile services. Other facilities. Other facilities. Are there any other questions or comments
from council on this item? Ms. Turner-King, can you advise us what our next steps are supposed to be
after this?
So at this point, you could do a roll call vote on the ordinance. The only caveat is that since this
is being, if you vote on it the same night of introduction, it would have to pass unanimously. Historically,
we do not usually do a roll call at the first reading. We have a second reading, and then we do the
roll call. And by the second reading, I don't mean that we have me read the entire thing again. We just
open the discussion, and then we vote. So I mean, it's kind of up to you if you want to do a roll call tonight.
or if you want to follow precedent, which is we have a second reading. I think we should do a roll call
vote. So can we please have one? Thank you. Councilor Crossley? Yes. Councilor Iverson? Yes. Councilor
Haug? Yes.
Yes, and remember we promised. Councilor Wilts? Yes. Councilor Henry? Yes. Councilor Decker? Yes. Motion
passes unanimous. Thank you very much. So now what? So procedurally what happens next is that the auditor
will provide notice to the taxing units that the ordinance passed and then it will be uploaded in Gateway
and submitted to DLGF.
Thank you very much for that. All right. Next up on the train is our council business, which is item
A, which is from our highway department. Council, I move to approve for discussion and possible approval
the highway department's request to be exempt from the hiring freeze and be allowed to hire and fund
1176-0000 motor vehicle highway 70%.
1197 dash zero zero zero zero stormwater management at 15 percent and fund 1135 dash zero zero zero
zero cumulative bridge at 15 percent one full-time highway engineer position All right, we got a motion
in a second. We are joined by the highway director miss lisa ridge welcome What would you like to tell
us about this?
Good evening. I came to you in the past, I believe for the hype. It could have been during the hiring
freeze. I think it was last fall maybe. And it was approved for me to move forward due to our engineer
retiring in February. We did hire an engineer. He started on June 22nd and for personal reasons, it
did not work out for him. And we wish him nothing but the best because he was great.
So we're just back to see if we can post this position again. All right, thank you very much. Any questions
or comments from council on this item? Seeing none, we'll move to public comment. If there's public
comment, raise your hand via Teams or you can come forward to the lectern here in the room. None, maybe
please have a roll call vote.
Councilor Henry? Yes. Councilor Deckard? Yes. Councilor Crossley? Yes. Councilor Iverson? Yes. Councilor
Feidl? Yes. Councilor Hawke? Yes. Councilor Wilts? Yes. Motion passes unanimous. All right.
Next up is item B. Council, I move to approve for discussion possible approval the Highway Department's
request to be exempt from the hiring freeze and be allowed to hire in Fund 1176-0000 Motor Vehicle Highway
one full time administrative assistant position. Second motion in a second. What would you like to add
to this? So our financial manager that's been with the county for 30 plus years. Her last day will be
October 30th due to retirement. So. We've kind of known this for a little while, so we've been training
the administrative assistant. She has filled in when the financial manager is absent, so it would be
our goal to
promote to the financial manager position, which will open up the administrative assistant position.
So I would like to have a little bit of a transition period. Even at this point, it's probably just
going to be like a two week overlap. We do have the I think there's a line for like a transitional training
line. We do have that already in the budget because we anticipated this could happen in twenty twenty
six. Again, looking at the timeline, we'd probably wouldn't be having anybody start till
middle of October by the time you post it and get applications and do interviews and then two-week notices
and such. And it doesn't, it's all out at 1176, doesn't affect the county general fund at all. I'll
explain it to her. Yes, Councilor Deggert. I wanted to ask if I may, how long has the financial manager
been with us that's retiring?
30 plus years i believe she was in the assessor's office and then went to the it department and then
came to highway i would say maybe 20 years ago but i think it's 30 plus in the county thanks to her
for good long service to this county yes counselor hawke yes she was there when the highway department was
They're in a little section right before you got the commissioner's office, and they were all just piled
in there, one on top of the other. And, you know, they were doing a great job then, and they're doing
a great job now, but their digs are a whole lot better than what they had. This one little office that
literally everybody was in the same office. It was, as you know, it was... Oh, yeah, I was there.
We were all there. I still remember the little box that sat up on top of the filing cabinet that had
all of the private roads in it. The three to five cards. So you go through there and see which ones
were that's how they did it. Three to five cards. That's changed. I do remember the little box. We probably
still have it. It's kind of like a history.
I have a question that is tangential to this and it has to do with the transition line that we approve
in people's budgets. I know that this has come up before and I just don't remember how we talked about
it or what if we came to an agreement
sounds like we did, about when and how that is used. Because I thought at one point there was the argument
that it was reserved for department heads. Am I just making that up? Does anyone else remember?
we created that line in the 2027 budget because Paul was retiring. So we thought we might have a transitional
time during that too. And. I, I, well, that's my understanding. It's just we can put funds into that
because you're paying two people. For the same job, but it's not in the salary ordinance, correct? Yeah.
OK, well, so that makes sense why we put we approved a budget with it in there,
But I do remember when we talked about it at first, the idea was it was... You talked about it with
regards to... It was made mention that why don't we just put this in everyone's budget? But then we
had the hiring freeze, and so there was a discussion with regards to, well, then when they come for
the hiring freeze to see if we're going to...
add that vacancy, then they will also, if they need it, they'll ask for the transitional training at
that time. Because not everybody needs a transitional training line. So. It just happened to, they were
planning for it for 2026. It's already there. So they don't have to add it. It's already in their budget.
And we wouldn't be asking for an additional because we'll be able to transfer from like the highway
engineer line since it hasn't been funded all year.
Okay. Thank you for entertaining my questions. I appreciate that. Yes, Councilmember Decker. Well, and
historically, we have been doing this now for about five to six years on these transitions. And it started
in one place and it seems to have been a successful way not to lose everything institutionally that
between two positions that are of big importance.
I've noticed that if the department is, if the person is, before we had the hiring freeze, if the person
was still in the office and someone was moving up, we didn't do a transitional training, they were just
on the job learning. But the more higher up positions is where we have been requiring the transitional training.
Sometimes it's been like a month, you know, like four weeks, depending on the position, and sometimes
it's like two weeks. But like I said, not every department has utilized it. It's just as needed. This
would be for the administrative assistant, someone coming in from outside, and that's? Yeah, it's basically
trying to have, if I calculated the time scheduled right, and everything worked out to plan,
I could have somebody in that position. The middle of October, the financial manager is done October
30th. That would give a two week window for that current admin to get that person going for two weeks.
That would be it. If it doesn't work, it's not going to work and we're not going to have anybody to
crossover, but we'll get through it. So. Other questions or comments on this item?
Seeing none, we'll move to public comment. If there's public comment on this item, you can raise your
hand via Teams, or you can come here in the room. And seeing none, maybe please have a roll call vote.
Councilor Deckard? Yes. Councilor Crossley? Yes. Councilor Iverson? Yes. Councilor Feidl? Yes. Councilor
Hawk? Yes. Councilor Wilts? Yes. Councilor Henry? Yes. Motion passes unanimous.
All right, next up, item C. Council, I move to approve the Highway Department's request and fund 1197-0000
Storm Water Management, a category transfer of $30,450 from the services category to the supplies category.
Second. All right, we got a motion and a second. We came under budget in this Stip Road project, and
we've used more supplies, so we're just requesting to make that category transfer, not do an additional.
Any questions or comments for Ms. Ridge on this item? Seeing none, we'll move to public comment. Raise
your hand via Teams or come forward to the podium here in the room. And seeing none, may we please have
a roll call vote? Councillor Crossley? Yes. Councillor Iverson? Yes. Councillor Feidl? Yes. Councillor
Hock? Yes. Councillor Wilts? Yes. Councillor Henry? Yes.
Councillor Decker. Yes. Motion passes unanimous. Next up is item D. Council, I will be combining items
D and E into one motion. I move to approve the Highway Department's request and fund 8176-0000 Eagleton
Bridge number 922, an additional appropriation of $10,000 in the services department
or category and simultaneously approve a fund to fund transfer of cash of ten thousand dollars from
fund eleven thirty five dash zero zero zero zero cumulative bridge to fund eight one seven six dash
zero zero zero zero eagles and bridge number nine two two. We got a motion and a second Mr. H. This
came about due to an inspection structural inspection that we didn't anticipate
and dot and voiced us for it. However, they covered 80% of that cost of the inspection. So we're just
asking to do our appropriate the local match and the cash cash transfer to to cover our local match
of the $10,000. Believe the cost was 50,000 so. Any questions for Miss Ridge on these items? Yes,
Miss Woods. This this is the bridge that there was some
confusion or discussion around who was in charge of it. At one point, right in my. We handle it, but
it was up so it did this bridge used to belong to IU. It was always known to belong to IU. OK, so just
they cannot. Yeah, they can't use federal funds. As we can for it to be funded 80% so in dot approach
Monroe County.
in dot paid for the design of this bridge out of their pocket. I just agreed to take over the management
of the project during construction, and then it will become a Monroe County bridge because we didn't
want to accept the bridge and the condition it was in because it needed replaced. Theoretically, we're
paying $10,000 for the bridge. We paid a little bit more than that. However,
back when the cars trail was being developed and it was going under construction we really didn't have
any. We had a very low amount that was allocated to the construction of that project I want to say maybe
a million dollars. In turn for me taking over this project they gave us an additional 2 million dollars
to build the cars trail at that time. So my match for this bridge was going to be about a million dollars
so I thought that was a good
we were at about a million, but then when it came to construction time in dot came back and they paid
most of the local match also. So actually Monroe County paid 163,000 instead of almost a million. So
and then this 10,000 and then there could be some other little things, but in dot has pretty well funded
this project. They just needed somebody to manage it through the federal aid process at the local level,
so. Well, that sounds like it's
A great deal. Thank you. Any other questions or comments on this item? Seeing none, we'll move to public
comment. You can come forward to the lectern here in the room or raise your hand via Teams. And seeing
none, may we please have a roll call vote? Councillor Iverson? Yes. Councillor Feidl? Yes. Councillor
Hawke? Yes. Councillor Wilts? Yes. Councillor Henry?
Councillor Deckard? Yes. Councillor Crossley? Yes. Motion passes unanimous. All right, next up is item
F from the Planning Department. Council, I move to open for discussion and possible approval of the
Planning Department's request. In Fund 1000-0079,
County General Planning to forward to WIS a request to create and classify a new position of senior
zoning inspector. Second. All right. We got a motion and a second. We are joined here by Ms.
Jackie Jelen, planning director. Welcome. Hi. Good evening.
Thank you, council members, for hearing our request tonight. I'm here joined tonight with our assistant
director, Tammy Beerman, and our planning commission president and executive committee president Scott
Ferris is also online.
Should you have any questions? I also want to take a moment to thank Kim Shell and her lovely staff.
They spent a long time with me last week amidst budget preparations to explain the process, so can't
thank him enough. And she reviewed all my filings. So thank you. I know it's a big packet. So I'm here
for first off asking for one new position, which is our senior zoning inspector.
If you see page 53 of the packet, it does show our current layout of our planning department. We are
an eight-person office, so we are requesting
one new position, which we have titled Senior Zoning Inspector. The pay grid request for this position
would be Pat D. And with the position description red line, you will see we've modeled that after our
current zoning inspector position. This position would handle more complex and long standing enforcement
cases, oversee and supervise the current zoning inspector and report directly to the director.
And I'd also like to just take a minute to state that I did a re-review of how many reviews this person
has done to date this year, and it's 721 reviews. Tammy and I have discussed how either of us, if we
lost this position, we would be spending, I mean,
I had 10 extra hours on my time sheet last week just because we have one person on vacation and two
vacancies. So I cannot imagine having this position lost. The state has required us to separate our
position or our permitting process from the building department. And it's really created a very undue
hardship on us. We're seeing a ton of walk-in traffic. It's just becoming
Untenable at this point and I understand it's an unfund unfunded mandate from the state But it's something
that we have to comply with or else people will They will get their permit without us doing our review
One of the reviews that they did just a couple of weeks ago. There was an unmapped review
floodplain that was not on beacon and with the 14-year tenure of our assistant director and the knowledge
of our current zoning inspector to tag the floodplain inspector, we prevented someone from locating
their home in the floodplain and we've worked with them and they're working with an engineer to model
their home and raise it up and get the
appropriate variances, but that's something that would have easily snuck through, and that's a very
costly expenditure for the public to locate in the floodplain without knowing it. So this is also in
the packet. We have the fiscal impact and the position description
I'm happy to take any questions on this, but this is something that we're pretty excited about. We've
been talking about adding a position for a while. I know some council members will ask us some enforcement
questions here and there, and we'd really like to get a better handle on having someone really be a
help to the person who's subject to enforcement to connect them with resources while also managing some
of that neighbor
inquiries about where we are at on those enforcements. We often deal with people that have very low
income and multiple problems at once. And so we've tried in the past to connect them with, say, Stride
or the IU Health Mobile to get them the resources to then hopefully deal with the externalities of what's
all going on in their life, such as
you know, vehicles parked on unimproved surfaces, we see people living in campers, we see a lot of trash.
So our current zoning inspector works across multiple departments and coordinates inspections, helps,
you know, highway waste reduction, health,
planning, we'll all go out on inspections, and I could just see if we had one more person, how we could
really increase our capacity to see those cases through, be more of a help to the legal department instead
of just saying, hey, you just need to file something for this case, really preparing that, having that
documentation to make it something that we can take and succeed at. So that's our request tonight, and
I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.
Thank you very much. Any council members, questions or comments? I will go to Iverson, and then I'll
go Henry. So because we don't have our internal review process for job descriptions, I want to start
at the red line job description that you created. And there's probably more red on this document than
black. That's a lot of changes you've made. So the first paragraph, you
have outlined that this person supervisor supervises and directs the zoning inspector. Who does that
work now? Currently, that's the director, so that's myself. And then the and then the second paragraph
says that they establish and effectuates the different procedures. Is that something that the director
does now? So we administer the county development ordinance, but yes, as director, I will
help the zoning inspector with a procedure based on a specific enforcement case to get to compliance,
which isn't always in the ordinance. It could be a contextual-based solution. I guess what I'm getting
at is this job description has a lot more supervisory capabilities, a lot more training, a lot more
hiring. So I think what I'm hearing from you and what the state's mandating without any funding seems
to be like,
that that is the direction you want to take this is this is a supervisory role that's directly underneath
the director. Correct. Okay. I think I think I'm going to stop asking questions and let other people
go and but then I can come back to some others. Councilmember Henry. I thank you Madam President and
I thank you Councillor Iverson for getting right into the position description. I think that's
One way to go at this tonight, we need to. Here's another one I want to go at. Did I hear you correctly?
You said to date you've had 721. The larger is a little number, right? Is it 721? 721 reviews. To the
8th of September. So I was just doing some math on this to try to figure out what that workload is.
So that's 80 a month, 20 a week, about four a day.
Well, can you walk through how long it takes to just do one of these? It sounds like you are expediting,
because you have the mandate now of three days. But how long does it take from clean sheet of paper
to done on this? Can you walk us through that? Sure. So some people are simply replacing in-kind structures,
or they're doing a remodel. That can be as easy as.
a 20-minute review. Other people are multi-part requesting, I'm going to build a new house, a new pole
barn, and a basketball court. And so we're doing the review for each one of those three structures.
And if it entails variances coordinating with the stormwater team or highway department, it can take,
for our review to get done, it can take an hour to two hours. Now, I appreciate that, because it feels,
then, that the piecework of it,
every case in your hand and what that could be, yeah, there's variable, but it's not small. I want to
paint that picture for everybody that's listening, that when we're asking to create a new position,
like are we just to say true 35-hour position or 40-hour position, yeah. It sounds like just based on
what you've already done this year and how long it takes and how many inspections are going on on a
given day, week, month, workload seems to be there just on the math of it.
And it's iterative. If I may add, you know, if we send a comment to the highway department and wait
to hear back and then we send a comment to the applicant to say, hey, what you upload is construction
plans aren't isn't really making sense, which is 50 percent of the time. Sometimes people aren't you
know, they're putting it's going to be a 50 by 50 structure and then the construction plans show 100
by 100. And so we have to
connect the dots, put the pieces together, and they may say, oh, that was a draft. Now, thank you for
reminding me this is the revised version. So that takes time to first analyze what your questions are
and then get those answers back and come back to it. So it's iterative. The hour to two hours could
be over a week. I appreciate that. And maybe I'll just ask a fair follow up to say, since the adoption
of the CDO, have additional
burdens been kind of placed in that process or have you noticed it taking longer as a result of the
new ordinance or are there efficiencies there as well? I would say there's both efficiencies and regulations
so for instance we've added an impervious cover but we've put together really nice two-pagers so you
don't have to go to six different places of the ordinance to find that little information in a two-pager
so while we are measuring impervious cover by hand each
property, it's more clear cut of what the regulation is. Thank you. And of course, I'm on the executive
committee and the planning commission. I do support the addition of this position for sister, the council
knows. But thank you very much. Council member Hawk. Yes. And first of all, I really do support the
effort by the state to try to get things moving quicker.
I get that, because if you are trying to build a house, you want an answer. You don't want to wait for
six months. Well, I'm not saying they do, but I've heard that from many people. They're waiting months
and months. And so that's what we're trying to avoid. But in order to try to avoid that, then you've
got to have the staff to be able to respond to get back the answers quicker. And so this is to be expected.
But we should absolutely make sure that the public understands that this is really going to be in their
benefit from the way it's been explained to me. I hope I understand it right, that if they come for
the request, they've got everything filled out. If you don't get back with them within a certain length
of time, they've got the permission to move forward. Is that correct?
respond. It's a complete application within three business days. They can require us to give them a
permit. Yes. Right. And I'm glad they can move forward. But there's that occasion when if they've moved
forward, it's not really going to be in their best interest. It would be better if our staff was prepared
to be able to answer in time and keep things moving quicker, quicker, quicker. And that
it just takes more staff. It just does. And while I'm a big penny pincher, I'm a big supporter of new
construction, of supporting new people, new housing opportunities for the people of this county instead
of shoving them off to another county. And then we lose all of the benefits of having them as our new
neighbors. So that's my little speech for the day.
Yes, Councilmember Fiddle. So not that I would disagree with what's here, but I want to know how the
determination was made for the pat level D. Our senior zoning planner is a pat D right now. So we were
looking at a similar senior position that has a supervisory role, and we use that classification. Thank you.
No, I think he's gonna Okay councilmember Iverson you've been watching council for a long time You know
that when things come back from with it's not always hitting that job classification that departments
want What will you do in that situation? Will you still be able to hire someone? I? Think that we would
still be able to hire someone I don't know what the with conclusion would be but I will say that the
zoning inspector role does not require a master's degree like our other
roles in the department, so there is a little bit more leeway for applicants. But this role does include
some level of experience, two years experience, so we are hoping to attract somebody that already has
experience administering ordinances because there is quite a bit of
you know, knowledge that they need to have in terms of reading maps, interpreting when to know how to
escalate cases and how to take good notes in order to hand off to, say, a legal person or something
like that. So so the decreased education requirements would not would maybe help in the situation where
it would be a lower job classification. I still think we could attract somebody for a position with
Monroe County. Yes.
That was actually shocking when I read that there no masters was required because I just in my head
assume everyone in your office needs a master's. So six out of eight. Yes. Currently. Yes. All right.
How did you Kate. Yeah it was right. But now I have something. Yes. Counselor Wills. As you brought
up the educational requirements it does say that I.
diploma or GED. It does not say a bachelor's degree of any sort is preferred or anything like that.
In line with your expectations?
I could see bachelors being preferred as a good addition. One of the things that we've noticed with
this position being open a few times, it is a extremely stressful position. It has a high volume even
before the state mandate. Exit interviews of people saying this is more than one person can handle has
come through twice. But I will say that one of the nice things about high school and
experiences that we attract people that have basically construction experience or hands-on experience,
you know, knowing how to build things, measure things, and that's just something that's not always taught
well in the classroom. And so bringing that experience and really the customer service aspect of knowing
how to speak to people and get to the
of their project. Some people are really confused and they don't quite understand the building process,
and imagine that 721 times. We're really explaining from the ground zero up multiple times a day, just
this is how this process is, this is what we're looking for, this is why we're looking for that. So
as much as it is nice to have that educational background, I also think the other aspects of experience
and customer service are also critical.
I really appreciate that explanation. Thanks. Thank you very much for taking us through this. I want
to compliment your office because I have had a lot over the years of these really difficult constituent
issues where usually it's a neighbor noticing something that's just an abomination nearby and needing
something to do.
And your office is just immediately on that with status updates and assisting those constituents directly.
And that's absolutely huge. And if I read this right, this assists with that in the supervisor, supervisorial
capacity. Am I right on that? Correct. Our zoning inspector currently handles all residential enforcement
and all residential construction. So being able to escalate cases, split that up quite a bit would help.
with that role and making sure that we can increase our capacity for enforcement. Because while the
state mandate has occurred, it's really put a damper on our ability to start new enforcement cases,
get to complaints as quickly as we need to. And we've all tried to pick up the slack. But we don't like
operating on squeaky wheels, but that's almost where we are right now.
frustration generally on those cases always is you've got folks walking around the county who don't
really think about any of this until they reach a point where they need something to figure out for
themselves. Then you have others that have been through that process and they are bending over backwards
to make sure they're in compliance in doing it. Then you have that third set where they're creating
these abominations that just become complete disasters for neighborhoods
and or community areas and people struggle with it. I think the big thing that I would throw out and
this is more rhetorical question. I'm not asking you all to comment on this, but I'd love your thoughts
at some point on this is I know we have. You've got the barriers of the state coming in to say we want
these things done and turned around and I. I see where that comes from. I worry when the state does
things because well, that's every department we have here.
But also on the flip side to that, the thing I always think about, and I would throw this out to other
policymakers that are listening, is that I sometimes worry that between the barriers of what the state
throws out, the demands of the public, which is a public service that we all do in some form or fashion,
and then what policymakers hand down to you all, you have so many masters and so many things you're
doing that it would make someone sit on a separation
uh, exit interview. This seems like the work for two to three people. And I throw that out to more to
policymakers than you all is, um, we have to be really, really cognizant that what we're saying, asking
for is not only discernible to the public, but discernible to our staff and can make sense, not in this
jurisdiction, but in another. I sat down with a planner one time and I've never left a meeting with
my eyes more crossed and the planner equally
had their eyes crossed, too. And we both would have been better off just going to a bar and giving up
for the day, but neither of us drink. And I think that we've got to just all be really cognizant that
we're not taking good people and putting them into impossible situations with things that are just very
hard to do. And so I would love to talk to you about that sometime. I'm not asking you to get
a sideways with all of us now, but I think it's something to think about. One thing I often do that
I like about helping with enforcement is I tell the person, stop looking at the screen, look at each
other. What's the goal and what's the problem?
and let's work backwards. And then we consult the code as we go along, because sometimes you get so
caught up in 544 pages of code that you lose the sight of what your outcome should be. So. Well said.
Thank you so much. All right. Questions or any other additional questions or comments from council on this?
We will move on to public comment. If there's public comment on this item, you can come forward to the
lectern here in the room, or you can raise your hand via Teams. Seeing none, maybe please have a roll
call vote. Councilor Hawk. Councilor Wilts.
Councilor Henry? Yes. Councilor Deckard? Yes. Councilor Crossley? Yes. Councilor Iverson? Yes. Councilor
Feidl? Yes. Motion passes unanimous. And so the next step for them, I'm sure you all will be in communication
as we. Yes. So what I'll do then is tomorrow I will forward this information on to WISC.
and ask them to review and classify this position and ask when it will be able to be completed. Excellent.
Okay. All right. Thank you. Next up is also another item from the planning department. Item G. Council,
I move to open for discussion and possible approval of the planning department's request to reclassify
five job description positions in the planning department. Second. All right. We got a motion and a
second. Ms. Jelen, what would you like to add to this item?
Thank you so much. So this is as we gave a department update a few weeks ago, an outcome of our executive
committee memo, which you can find on pages 56 and 57. And this is again due to the loss of three positions
in our eight person department within nine months. So I really have two requests tonight based on the
recommendation from
Kim show, which I really appreciate. I put together both a fiscal impact of comparing counties and then
also seven position descriptions to send to WIS. So in the packet, you'll see two county comparisons,
one on page fifty five, which is the I believe standard counties that we're using for comparison. This
was a county comparison that I believe the highway
director used for coming up with a highway engineer.
I'll note that a highway engineer is one position and I believe there's some funding through the state
to have a highway engineer. So these counties may have more likely had that position. In my findings
on these different counties, they either had few positions or no planning or no building department
at all. So you'll see that the differences shows that we're overpaying. So I would like to point your
attention to
page 58 of the packet, which I understand is not the list of standardized counties, but it does include
counties that have college towns in them and a more comparable cost of living. And on page 58 and the
right hand side, you'll see. Oh, sorry.
You'll see the average differences and so I'll just go through in red just what those came out to be
across the different counties of comparison so the director difference of pay between these counties
and Monroe County was fifteen thousand two hundred ninety two dollars and
and this is using the 2027 2% COLA as well. The assistant director is the only position that showed
that we were overpaying, but I want to note that our assistant director is at a 14-year rate, which
is wonderful that she stayed for 14 years and began as a planner making $35,000 a year. So the base
Pay comparison, if you were to look at that, shows underpay of $13,060. And then senior planner was
a difference of
twelve thousand two hundred sixty six dollars planner to forty seven hundred sixty five dollars and
zoning inspector. We are paying ninety nine hundred dollars less. So I'd like to request that you consider
page fifty eight as a fiscal comparison that's more comparable to Monroe County in both. I hear you
all prioritizing and acknowledging the importance of planning and also that these college towns
tend to have more similarities and differences in terms of Monroe County and those counties. So along
with requests to sending these red line position descriptions to WIS, I ask that you look at page 58.
And then I also want to just spend a
I think we've talked about the Indiana state code change with the permitting within three days, but
something else that's transpired since we last looked at these position description updates in 2021
was that the state requires us to accept bonds from developers for subdivisions in return for letting
them final plot. There's been amendments to that state code, and now we've taken it and run with it.
We used to have this administered
with this from the Highway Department, mainly tracking down those letters of credit, and we still work
closely with them, and we really appreciate their work. But what the Planning Department has done is
started to create reports and actual correspondence lines with those developers, with those bankers to say,
When are you getting this subdivision done? And this is what's left. We've looked at aerials. We've
looked at the construction plans. You have taken 12 years to finish out this last phase. We see there's
only one lot left. What is there to be done? How can we help?
We have also created a code that requires a 10 percent inflation adjustment along the way to keep them
motivated to finish out their projects, get it accepted into the inventory and not have homeowners stuck
with the cost of maintaining their roads, sidewalks and other features in their subdivision.
our team has been helping with that. And as well as, you know, just helping the public in general with
that process of the state code permitting, we've done a lot of plot plan drawings for the public. We
receive a quite high traffic from people now that used to start in the building department and now are
coming to the planning department. And so since these position descriptions were last updated around
twenty twenty one, we've seen quite a lot of
building pressure. So even though interest rates have changed, even though sewer policies have changed,
we're still seeing a lot of people wanting to build accessory dwelling units, pole barns, get their
estate in good condition before they pass away. These are all things that we deal with in terms of day
to day in our office. And so we're still seeing quite high traffic with that.
And then also we passed our county development ordinance in 2024. So leaving time, you know, and having
good trained staff that we can retain with higher salaries gives us more time to be able to do some
of these other projects to in-house
think about ordinance updates that make things more streamlined for the public or even in the future,
comprehensive planning that would otherwise cost the county more money to contract that out. But without
having the retention, without, you know, with having to train people every so often and it takes six
months to do that, you know, in one year, the time at that person's desk of six months, that's $18,000
of staff value
just sitting there and training that person and trying to get them, you know, able to operate by themselves.
So that's really what we're asking tonight is to ask that you consider the comparable counties on page
58. And if you can consider those position description updates to with since we've taken on some new
responsibilities since we've last reviewed those so.
I appreciate your time, and I'm happy to go through any of those position description updates, what
the grid classification requests are, anything like that. It's all in the packet, but happy to walk
through that. Thank you very much. And the packet was very much extensive, so I really appreciate it
seeing the comparison counties, because I think those are definitely comparable to Monroe County. So
I appreciate that. And I saw hands raised, so I'll go Councilmember Decker.
I have a procedural question. Is this tonight, if we're working with this, is this for us to say we're
taking what the director's given us, passing that to WIS, waiting for WIS to come back with things,
or is this us bypassing that, or? That is correct. And correct me if I'm wrong, this is basically the
same thing that we just did in previous. With an exception of, that was a new position, but this is just,
information and send it in to waste. Yeah, what will happen is if you want to send it out, you can send
it out and those positions will then be reviewed by West. Um. I will say that per our salary grids,
the director is already at the top
So when they do come back and everything, that will probably be another meeting with regards to, do
you want to move forward with their request of how they would like to see them classified? But for now,
there are several things that need to be redone. That may be something that WIS will take in consideration.
So she has filled out all the appropriate paperwork and everything.
with regards to making that those requests available. So my understanding is we don't send a request
for a classification to with them the information about the job, which would be the red line in the
questionnaires. They're going to come back with a recommendation
for classifications? On the forms, and I'm going to try and find one real quick. On the form, it does,
because this is a reclass, on one of the forms, there is an option to say this is what we want right
here. Let's see.
department head can request any any classification because it you know they're thinking okay I'm doing
all of this and everything so this is what the current classification is the department can request
another classification now if it points out to that and the org chart and everything that that will
be taken into consideration so
but they can request it. It doesn't mean they'll get it, but they can request it. Yes, Councilmember
Henry. Thank you, Madam President. Thank you again for, again, planners like to plan. So anytime you're
here before us making a case,
It's comprehensive. What's here, I would support completely going to WIS as is for their adjudication
coming back on it. And I would just say for the record, I sit on the Executive Committee for the Planning
Commission and that strange sensation you're all feeling is Commissioner Thomas and I agreeing on this.
As we should move forward together on how we reclassify this department and
are competitive to make sure, just as we talked about in the previous item, that we're providing the
most essential services to our community. So given that this is moving it forward for adjudication,
and we get it back, come what may, I'm in favor of moving this forward this evening. Councilmember Hawkins,
then I'll go to Everson. Yes. When this goes off to WIS, and there
if they're looking at what the other salaries are in the other counties, I want to strongly request
that they look at the benefits. You know, not every county matches the perf. I mean, many times our
county employees look at their salary amount and they don't recognize the fact that if they worked in
someplace else, they would be paying into that perf and the county covers all that. That's 3% right there.
And then in addition to which, when we looked at what it was going to cost for the health benefits,
the self-insurance, and all of the different benefits that is included, it's not just for insurance,
but all the other benefits they added together to come up with the total it's going to be.
We are so generous with our benefits. I don't know how long we can continue when I say we, the county,
because it's not us that's doing it. It's the county taxpayers paying for it. But that alone is huge.
With family leave time and so forth, and then we wonder why we've got all of the overtime that we're
paying in these departments when we've got people who are gone for a long, I'm not saying they should.
But I'm saying we have to recognize that that is also a part of our overtime expenses. Somebody has
to pick up that work when those people are gone. So I just want to make sure that that is looked at
because our benefit package and paying for the perv is a really large part of why people stay here.
I work for county government, but it's also a part of
what they consider to be or should consider to be part of their exchange for services. That's sort of
what I call, you know, you look at your paycheck, but it's really the exchange for services that the
people of this county are paying for. I don't know whether they're looking at that when they're looking
at the comparisons to the other counties, but I want them to look at it.
In looking at today's packet, the vast majority of this packet, over 150 pages, is the work you put
into redlining job descriptions, filling out the new questionnaires, providing a fiscal analysis,
et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. I think the time to bring back PAC is now. I think we're gonna get
more and more requests like this from departments. I think this packet is just too large for council
to take on by itself. I think this needs a dedicated time
for a smaller group to review and come up with next steps, because I don't think this is the last type
of request that we're going to get like this. I think this is the tip of the spear. And so I really
appreciate all the work you put into this. Also, particularly the hyperlinked sources, thank you. That
is really nice. And so I'm going to be supporting this. I do think WIS needs to look at this. I think
we need to re-evaluate some of what's happening here.
Boy, when I was reviewing the packet, I was just thinking, there's just no way that this council is
gonna go through this many red line job descriptions and pick them apart the way that PAC would. And
I think that that's really gonna be the work that we're gonna have to pick right back up next year.
So I'll leave it at that. Thank you. Yes, Council Member Wilks. So in the spirit, I think,
You've made a case, a strong case for what you're asking for. And in the past that we had a process
for this, and I'm just, I guess, a little surprised and wondering what my colleagues think about the
fact that we've told all of county government they can't do this. We've told everyone we're in a hiring
freeze and we keep hiring people.
I understand the replacement is different than new hires, but new hire and then also bumping everybody
up and paying list to do so does seem to fly in the face of everything we've done around trying to rein
in these costs. And I would really like to hear
how everyone else is defying this or Henry and Hawk speak as a more recent member of this body and I
have two thoughts on that the first is
That was then this is now times change from a year ago and circumstances and conditions a year ago we
were facing what we thought would be a much larger deficit cliff and we're not necessarily facing that
in the way we're even moving right now. That doesn't mean a year from now we won't be in dire straits
when certain instruments and two years out certain lit changes but it's a moment in time. I can I can
appreciate the 12 months or nearly 12 months has passed since we had those discussions. Secondly
The whole concept of PAC was designed before I was seated here. And so I think I said this last week,
I've had a year of being in a PAC process and a year of not being in a PAC process. So the merit or
use of it or utility, where I appreciate Councilor Iverson's comment about where the work is done in
other counties, they don't have such a thing. They do the work from their seat. And so I maybe don't
have enough long tooth to know the difference, but I've managed to function under both of those conditions.
That was then this is now. That's my answer to that. So I'm fine with what we're doing. I'm somewhat
concerned that perhaps not everybody on the council is in agreement on whether or not we are supposed
to be cutting expenses. Don't seem to be in agreement on that. And when I looked at the numbers that
were sent out,
It looked to me like we were going to have to shore up some of the other max levy funds. That has to
come from someplace. And from what I could see, the request for county general was far exceeded county
general's revenue. Now, you know, you're in deficit. If you're spending more, then you're bringing in.
That means you're going into your cash reserves and spending that down. And you can only spend it down
until you wake up one day and you don't have any money to work.
at the beginning of the year because that December collection is supposed to get you through until next
June. I think we're making a lot of decisions here when we haven't really been through each of these
budgets and look at where we stand. And I truly am really amazed when I hear from others that we just
really don't have a problem. Well, I believe we do.
I don't say it's insurmountable, but I do think that we're going to have to be spending down the income
tax money that was supposed to be saved back for other things. And that's the only way we're going to
be able to do it. I've heard yet, unless somebody's heard, that the commissioners have said, well,
that's OK. You can do that. Because before, they said, no, we couldn't.
go so far with with that jail lit because I thought well maybe we could like move a lot of that jail
expenses over to jail it so are we really biting off more than we can chew right now or are we going
to just wait until we get to the end of this well and to that point as I mentioned before the next couple
of weeks we will be sitting down with the commissioners one to talk about
As a reminder folks the geo bonds and the edit use and so by that time frame we would be we would have
heard several other nights of Budget sessions, so that's that's what I'd want to say to that
Yes, Councilmember world I'm wondering if there would be
an appetite for council to table this decision until we've gone through the other budgets and we get
closer to the end where we have a better idea of where we're coming in, because I mean, I don't want
to just say no, because I do hear you and see what you've put forward, but I do have a lot of reservations around
making this kind of commitment long term, um, just given our, uh, our unsureness about what's happening
right now. Well, when's Boeing's budget adoption again on the calendar? What's the date? October 20th.
October 20th. What's the next council meeting?
October 27th. Point that would be the timeline. That one more time. I'm sorry to Councilor Wilson's
comment that that timeline of budget adoption in the next meeting to when to take something off the
table could work. That's all I was trying to get the dates down. Okay, we could decide it before budget
adoption. But after we've gotten because there's a solid little cushion there after we've made all of
our decisions deliberations
I think when I was looking at it earlier, there's a couple of weeks, and I think there's a meeting prior
to October 20th where we might have enough information to do it, but. You know, sir. That would be.
Auntie right and I also want to remind us we have budget night number seven, and so that's where we
will go through and look at everything. And so this could be on the front of our brains as we are thinking
about that.
Councilor Iverson has been patient so I'll go Councilor Iverson and then I'll come back to Councilmember
Decker. The reason I think that we should be setting this to whisk this evening is because from I haven't
gone through every single one of the red line job descriptions in depth but there are some substantive
changes to some of these job descriptions. That means that if there is a classification change that
would change the fiscal impact
of that job description. At this point, before sending it to WIS, we just don't know if that's going
to be the case or not. So sending it to WIS is an investment in getting more and better information.
Then we can make the decision on whether to move forward once we know the true fiscal impact of this.
I think that's the reason I think we should move forward this evening. I remember at the council always wants
these discussions coming here in the public so that you have that rather than what sometimes happens,
and I believe has happened in the past, where departments or department heads or their boards, they
don't approach this discussion because there's this ominous we're all going to die kind of rhetoric
that comes out about budgets every so often. I think we have to have this discussion about what's going
on in that department. I think you have to have it because there's changes to state law.
unfunded mandate or what, there's a whole lot of that going around and it is wiser to look at these
descriptions, know what needs to be done than not. Bearing your head in the sand and just saying, I
just don't know what's going on doesn't speak to the changes in state law and it doesn't speak to the
concerns for the services that this department offers for some of the greatest need that we have and
that's getting people into homes
as quickly and efficiently as possible as they can do. I believe because there is so much, there's so
many red lines that you do need WIS information sooner rather than later. We've seen those in the past
where something we thought was exceedingly simple and a department head thought was exceedingly simple
that WIS has taken us around in circles on that. I also will say this, we often have the issue
Fairness between departments come up. And every department in some, I'm not gonna, let me take that
back. A lot of departments in many different forms and fashions have different things that affect them
differently, even though we try to have this, everything's completely fair. Some departments show up
in the bond, the GO bond. I don't think your department's anywhere in that GO bond.
I bet it's not been for three or four years, five years, maybe ever, right? So this is a department
that's not showing up that way. That's a vehicle for a lot of other departments. There's some departments
that get grants. I don't think you get many grants, right? Yeah. So look, apples and oranges. And you
always hear it from the, oh, you're playing favorites on that one and you're doing that. Friends, I've
been here long enough, I've heard that.
I've done at every angle. I've also seen a lot of different counselors up here do it in a lot of different
ways. But ultimately, I think I'm a little less worried about that. I'd rather have the information
so that we can then figure out with the budget. It may be that there's a little bit of this or that
we can do, or it may be all of it, depending on our numbers. But I'd rather, to me, kind of where Peter is,
I'd rather get that information from WIS because I've seen that be so difficult in the past. So can
I ask a question to staff? When we, how long does WIS normally typically take? If they don't have a
whole lot on their plate, it typically takes approximately two weeks. Okay. So that's why I ask.
It could because we've already redlined we've already done the org chart we've already you know filled
out all the paperwork. So it's that's why I always ask. But I think the caveat to note there is with
does their work in order receive. So if they have a whole bunch of other counties asking for this then
we're just going to be getting in the line.
but I guess we won't know until we start. And what it sounds like is as we are going, it might be helpful
for us to have this information as we are going through, as we are going through the budget, instead
of possibly waiting later, we've gone through and yeah. I don't have a problem
You know, I worked with Jackie and her person, Mr. Ferris, you know, with these job descriptions. They
did the bulk of the work. I just guided them, this kind of thing. I would like, I mean, if more departments
are gonna do this, they went through, they talked to their liaison, they got permission to do this.
I think that's where the discussion has to be. The departments have to talk to their liaison and,
you know, go, you know,
I plead my case like the planning department has. So whether we have PAC or not, I don't know, but it
still comes down to the liaisons and their discussions with them on whether they move forward or not.
And I mean, we could also rescind the PAC pause if we needed to. So I mean, that is the thing. I will agree.
Maybe this is something, because whatever PAC does as a committee will come back to the larger council
for us to know what is happening, what's going on. Of course, we get it in the packet as well. I do
think that it is helpful for PAC to do something like this and bring this back to council, because I
do think that once word gets out that this is something that we're going to be doing, I think
I think that our meetings will. We'll have a lot of departments coming in and doing the same thing again.
I understand that that's what we do, and that's what we are in the seats for. But I also think that,
you know, having a committee do this and then send in that recommendation onto the larger council for
approval is also helpful is what I'm saying. But I hear Councilor
like I was there with you. And then, you know, Councilmember Decker had mentioned, you know, maybe we
need to start doing this right now and thinking about this. So again, I see both sides, very fine sides.
Sorry. So I see it. I see all of it because they have made their case and they've done the work. So.
any other questions or comments from council on this item? Many thanks to you and your staff and your
board and Mr. Ferris and anybody else that is a part of this online. We'll move on to public comment.
If there's public comment on this item, you can come forward to the lectern here in the room or raise
your hand via Teams. Seeing none,
maybe please have a roll call vote. And this is to move this on immediately to WIS. Correct. Okay. Councilor
Wilts? Yes. Which you can come back. Okay. Councilor Henry? Yes. Councilor Deckard? Yes. Councilor Crossley?
Yes. Councilor Iverson? Yes. Councilor Feidl? Yes.
Councilor Hawk? No. Councilor Wilts? No. Motion passes, majority five to two. Thank you very much. And
we will, as the world turns, we'll see what happens next. All right. Thank you. Thank you very much.
next up is item number nine, um, which is because we table H. Um, so we are going to an update on the
convening of must. And so, um, there was a poll that Michelle did and, um, was conducted. And so it
looks like people from all that are a part of this, um, the must ask force group will meet or have its
first meeting.
on September 18th at one o'clock p.m. here in the Natt U Hill room. Of course, this meeting is open
to the public and we will need a council representative to do so. I would volunteer myself to the Tribune.
However, I am not. I have some things that are coming up over the next few weeks that will hinder my
participation both here and county.
are on County Council and this, and so I don't want to mess up the business and flow. So I'm looking
to council colleagues to see if anybody would like to raise their hand and say, yes, I will do that.
Councilor Iverson. Council, because we've had a series of long-term finance committee meetings that
have dealt with a lot of these issues, I think it's something that I would be willing to do. Thank you.
Council Member Hawke. Yes, I sent a very detailed list of questions that I thought needed to be answered
before we move forward with this meeting. If you've been following what state legislation says, what
Jamie Boesler has to say from AIC, was in conversation with her yet just today, you'll know that we've
not sent off to the other
units, the questions and answers that we're supposed to have so that we all are sitting on the same
page with the same financial information that we're all looking at the same numbers. Now, this is not
a secret. This is something that was sent out to everyone. Now I know everybody's busy.
But that list was extensive of the things that we should be getting, that we always should have from
the city, from Bloomington, from Ellitsville, and from Steinsville. It was a detailed list, whether
or not they had a TIF, what other interlocals that they had. One of the other, for instance, do they
have a debt that's tied?
to an income tax. Those are serious questions. And we should not send anybody, I don't care how many
meetings you've been to, we should not send anybody from this county council to go up against that without
that information. Ask for it, I have not received it. And I certainly am not saying I'm giving up my
name to go because right now,
I've got my counting hat on, and I'm in no way, until we look at all of those numbers, in a position
to say, I think we should give up part of our revenue to another taxing unit, nor do I think we should
not live in the city and send
a large majority of that money over to the city. That is taxation without representation. We've been
fighting that for years. Why are we so eager to jump back in there?
And further, I've been hearing from people, well, let's include the schools. Well, remember, we're not
a Cajet county. We're not a part of the former Cajet county. We are a Coet county. The former Cajet
counties, in order to get the use of an income tax, had to make a commitment that they were splitting
the money and sending money to the schools as well.
that agreement. And we never have sent the money off to the schools. If we send the money off to the
schools, it's going to have to come from the county operational dollars or the city operational dollars
if they should choose. And truly, it would never be in the best interest of Ellsville to vote in favor
of using a municipal rate because
it's going to be decided before the election, and they've got the merger sitting there. They're trying
to get the merger to go through. If the merger goes through, that income tax additional, the 1.2, would
100% from Richland go to Ellisville? Why would they want to then split off part of it to the city? I'm
just saying I
I hope nobody from this council will go forward and do anything other than just listen. That's the whole
point, because it is literally nonbinding. We have to do this convene by the 1st of October, which is
about three and a half weeks away.
I think having a conversation with our fellow taxing unit compadres is helpful. When we have this meeting
on the 18th, we are not coming back and saying, all this is all set in stone. It is a conversation simply
that is happening. I am thankful that Mr. Iverson has decided to volunteer himself. He will give a report.
and will let us know. Obviously, these are public meetings, so, you know, we can watch. Can all attend
because that will cause a quorum of council. But it is literally just us having the conversation. Council
member Decker, were you going to say something? I was going to say this. I Mark Council member Hawke
Marty, you you're very incredulous over this discussion. I don't know how
Councilor Iverson would go to the meeting and not pass along your questions you're worried about. I
also will say this. One thing that the localities have got to do a better job, because I'll be in one
meeting and they'll criticize that I'm talking too much to one and not talking to another, is talk to
each other. We have got to talk because the state's goal, and I know that you disagree with this because
you always defend them and DLGF and all your friends, but the state goal is for us to keep choking each other.
They want us fighting. They want us wallowing in the mud and turning on each other because they don't
have to do what we do, which is deal with sheriffs and deputies and jail buildings. They can do wild
legislation and fun times and go barbecue with the lieutenant governor. But the reality is we have to
live here with each other. And I think that if we don't have that kind of discussion, we get things
like are exactly happening right now, and I was glad to hear you talk about the Elstville reorganization
for a change, that that has been brought up because that community feels like they don't get enough
interchange with the rest of us, right? So that same community is going to want to be in conversations
with us if this happens. Now, one thing is we don't know if that passes. We don't know if the state
changes its mind.
We don't know if the legislature adopts something more rigorous, less rigorous, gets rid of property
taxes, closes counties altogether, or maybe it's townships, or maybe it's cities, or maybe it's schools,
all these things. And I think I would like to see some of that incredulousness directed up towards the
state on some of the unfunded mandates that we have spent hours on here tonight.
on veteran services, which we're helping with a property tax credit that is owed to our veterans that
is tremendous. But we pick up the cost while they do the crazy legislation and go to the barbecue. And
I think that this not having dialogue is contrary to everything that everybody hates right now about
local government. Let's just keep fighting. Just keep fighting one against another. This is not that
big of a community.
And I will also say, I'm glad Councilor Iverson's willing to even go into the meeting because I don't
think you could pay me enough to run the meeting because I cannot follow what the heck that legislation
does. And I've watched three trade associations try to explain it. Their eyes get crossed and they get
turned around. And I just, folks, we can't govern like this. These are part-time local official jobs
with professional staff trying to keep up
on legislation that looks like it was written while someone was drunk and hiring an attorney who was
poor. And we just can't. We cannot. So I have no faith. I'll be honest. I have no faith in the DLGF
and their answers and their mistakes, which affect our budget and what they mean and intention. And
I would love to see some of our legislative politicians get a little bit fired up like I am right now,
because my God, this takes all our time.
All our time we're trying to figure out tonight how we can help that planning department both enforce
good neighborliness and grease the wheels to build more homes. We can't get that done even though every
one of us ran on it. We are so inhibited and so I'll stop but I want to see that incredulous go somewhere
else for a change.
that was. Is there can you confirm who has- or will be participating in months. All of them. Like the
town of Ellersville city of Wilmington Steinsville so all the people that might have concerns will be in this
So the town of Ellisville, the town of Steinsville, the city of Bloomington, and Monroe County. Again,
without talking specifically, and we got the email from Steinsville, but I've spoken to representatives
from the city. I've spoken to someone from the town of Ellisville, and everybody is interested because
nobody knows what comes next. Yeah, so it is a...
Just a conversation. Speaking of talking to people in a public setting, like people should normally
do as electeds. Oh, OK. It's that simple. OK. OK. Yes. And furthermore, this meeting is on the county
calendar. So if you cannot attend in person, there is a Teams link where you can hop on Teams and watch
the proceedings. So there's lots of ways to participate on the 18th.
So when I think about quorum, because I keep thinking about this, hypothetically speaking, if all of
us are interested, we probably might need to notice this meeting for a possible quorum of council. What
we typically do is on the notice for the body convening, so in this case it must, we would note a quorum
of council might be present. And so I was just speaking to Michelle, we can amend the notice to say such.
Okay. I've got plenty of time. Okay. Got it. That's was a concern because I know people might want to
watch it live. Um, and some others are obsessed with cats and we'll watch it, um, afterwards like me.
Yeah. Just as a reminder, it does take, uh, the four people that for each of it, let's all be there.
If one is missing, that that's counted as a no. Remember anonymous.
decision amongst everybody. One person that says no out of the four, then the whole thing is there's
no decision, right? I guess I read what you're saying. Would you like to address that? Because
my understanding is it doesn't matter because it's not binding, right? This is sorry. OK, it is non
binding and my understanding is less.
I read is that regardless of the outcome, even if it's not unanimous, they want our results. And I agree.
I think that what was suggested is if it's not unanimous, we would still file with a statement or a
report saying it wasn't unanimous and this is why. And of course you would just like minutes of this
meeting. If everybody doesn't say yes or something, you've got it in the minutes. You said no.
So it sounds like Councilor Emerson is going to do it, because he's great. Thank you so much. Appreciate
that. Your tone. That wasn't sarcasm. That was like, I mean, considering the conversation, I don't know
if I would really want to go in after all that either. I think Councilor Decker is right. It's going
to be a great conversation with some wonderful community partners. That's it. That's it. That's the
tweet. That's the post. That's the headline. Yes.
I think that going back to Councillor Hawke's original concern about the list of questions and information
that will be imperative to really have good discussion, I think. Is that her questions in the process
of being researched or answered, is
Have they been forwarded? I don't. I forwarded Councillor Hawke's questions to FSD, but I have not received
a response yet. I do not think they've been communicated with the taxing units. The tax. I don't know
what they were, but it sounded like from our example that the taxing units are the ones who need to
bring the answers either prior to or at the meeting. We can forward them to the taxing units and ask
them to bring that information.
to the first meeting. Yes. And then I want to wrap this up. Oh, I'm sorry. No, no, no. Go ahead. I've
had multiple conversations with FSG on this topic. And at the time that I spoke, each time I spoke to
them, they had everything they needed at that point in time. So I will continue to touch base with them.
But my assumption has been when and if something is needed to help us have a full understanding,
they will request that of us or of the other units. A lot of this information is available online, like,
for example, on the city's website. And so I'm imagining a lot of this has already been gathered. Now,
as far as the council body having the information at hand, we can request that because a lot of it's
already been compiled and we've forwarded some of this information from the county to FSG so they can
review. Yes.
I want to give people who haven't had a chance to speak yet, and then I'll I'll circle back. But I really
want to wrap this up so that we can move on because we will be back in this room tomorrow and the next
couple of days. Thank you, counselor. So I just had a question and wanted to make sure that there would
be a packet for the meeting. I made a packet for the meeting. We typically have a packet, but I don't
know who would be preparing the packet. I think I just
she had done a proposal that they would facilitate the meeting. And I would note that we have not approved
an FSG must related contract yet. We won't have the opportunity to do so before the first must meeting.
But I think that we can, we have a current FSG contract. It does in that contract entail assistance
with lit issues, which this in essence is. So I think that we could,
talk to FSG about billing the first meeting under our current contract. And then we can work on amending
the current contract or getting a new one from our last meeting with FSG. I thought they were going
to send an amendment to the current contract, but we haven't received that yet. So there isn't a contract,
but I think we can work. We will find a workaround to getting a packet made by someone. Counselor Henry,
and then I'll circle back to Hawk and then we'll be done.
Thank you. I'll keep it brief. Yeah, thank you. I'll keep it brief. So I want to thank both Councilor
Iverson for stepping forward, but also Councilors Deckard and Hawks' viewpoints, because I kind of hear
them as two sides of the same coin. There's a lot to be frustrated about at the local level and also
towards the state. I've had a hard time with squaring a circle with this committee in the sense that
the state has mandated that we have a certain composition
the decision they make is non-binding, which I find to be rather heavy-handed, given that I think Councilor
Iverson made a good case for why we should hear other voices, especially on a non-binding decision,
but we have to follow state code. I do hope that whatever comes to this initial meeting encourages the
taxing units to keep talking. And long after there's a must committee, maybe we should have a more enduring
dialogue among all of our taxing units locally.
probably wouldn't be a bad thing to do. So again, dear Councilor Iverson, thanks for stepping up and
I'll forward my questions if I have them. Thank you. Thank you. And that's a good idea. Councilor Hock.
Okay. I just wanted to make sure everybody knows I didn't just make up these questions out of whole
cloth. It was a part of the information that was sent to us from Jamie Boesler of AIC. She came to speak
with us. Everybody knows that she knows what she's talking about.
And she had the list. And when I sent out that information by email, I was just throwing out some things
I remembered from the list. But it said that we should get this, everybody, we should have it prepared.
The other units should have it prepared so we're all working with the same information. I don't think
that's asking for a lot. But that is what I was suggesting. But whatever. We can go by the seat of our
pants or not.
I may respond, Councillor Hawke. I don't think anybody here is flying by the seat of their pants. We're
all working together, and this has come here kind of last minute, and putting information together.
And we've had many meetings on this topic, and we're working with a financial consultant. We've provided
information. We've all had that list from Jamie Bolser for a couple months now. It's been shared with
the council. It's been shared with our financial consultant. The city has a list. The other units.
I'm assuming have the same list that we've gotten from either municipality aim or the association of
Indiana counties. So I think we all have the information. It's compiling it together as we meet to come
together for this purpose. Thank you.
I did have a recommendation. I think to formalize Mr. Iverson's appointment to must, I would recommend
a vote. I was going to suggest a roll call vote, but I think since Council Member Henry is online, it
would have to be a roll call. All right. OK, so technically we need to make a motion. All right. So,
Council, I make a motion to appoint Council Member Peter Iverson to the must task force.
We got a motion and a second. Any other further final question or comment on this item? Seeing none.
Can we have a roll call vote, please? Councilor Deckard? Yes. Councilor Hawk? Councilor Crossley? Yes.
Councilor Iverson? Yes.
Yes. Councilor Wilts. Yes. Councilor Henry. Yes. Passes majority six to one. All right. Congratulations.
And for the record, Councilor Hawke is leaving. Next up is the most wonderful time. Let's take it back
to a happy place. Is our council member liaison updates and comments. And I'm going to start over here
to my right with Councilor Iverson.
This is the last time we met the Monroe County and its partners put on the 2026 Resiliency Committee
Commission, which is to talk about substance use disorder and mental health issues. We had set a goal
of 150 attendees and on the first day alone we had over 170 people joining us from all over the state
who came to Monroe County in the middle of the week
to come to a conference. This is exactly why this body voted to expand the convention center because
of conferences like this that bring in business in the middle of the week. So it was a great session.
We've already had conversations about holding it next year. And so I think that's just one more example
of how local government can be a voice for good in the community to raise up the voices of those who
traditionally do not have one. So that was fantastic. I will note
that of course the Indiana Hoosier football team won over the weekend in wonderful fashion. It's great
to see, I don't know if it's great to see, but it was really interesting to see how strong the quarterback
was with blood all over his helmet and all of his uniform. But I will point out there are other fantastic
teams playing right now too.
I just took my girls to a women's soccer game, which was really exciting and really fun. The volleyball
team is doing some really great things in the community. The men's soccer team keeps winning over and
over and over. What's your shout out? Oh, they beat Texas. Yeah. So there's wonderful things to be doing
here in town. And I think the Forestry Art Festival just continues to show that this is a great, great
place to live and work.
I was going to go online to see if Councilmember Henry, but he looks like he has also left. Councilmember
Decker. I'm gonna pass. Okay. Talked enough. You have been passionate. Good job. Councilmember Williams.
I am drawing a blank, so I'll pass too. Okay. All right.
So I wanted to say that I did go to the Kister State Historical Marker Ceremony that was at the airport
on August 28th. We were reminded that he was the first American serviceman to be awarded both
the Distinguished Service Cross and the Medal of Honor during World War II. And this is something that
I remembered but had forgotten. He operated a fur shop here.
and children's daycare. He passed away in 1986. So there's a state historical marker right outside in
front of the airport administration building there. You can see it. Just can't miss it. I attended the
fair board meeting on September 1st. It was time to elect the board, so they have 35 slots. 40 people
ran for those slots. And I thought that was a good sign. People were interested in the fair board.
And then leadership elections will be held next month. The fireworks will be this month, September 26th.
And beginning at 4 p.m., you can get in for $10 for that until the fireworks are over. They reported
they do have a lot of other things that go on out there, for instance, since their last meeting, which
was a month before.
They had 17 meetings, including 4-H, non-4-H, and Homemakers Clubs. And then the safe trick-or-treat
night is October 24th, next month. Then I went to the BEDC Executive Committee meeting on the 2nd. And
they're working on second interviews for their new executive director. They have two candidates that
they'll be
interviewing for soon and they hope to have their decision made by October to make that announcement
and then what they had one new person actually Sign up to be a candidate as well. So I think Have the
the third one the newest one then they'll have three candidates to choose from but it may just still
be They did meet with the
Israeli consulates when they were here somehow there's a relationship with Israel and Indiana And to
form a committee about that possible Initiative and then I also serve on the courage to change board
and they had purchased their third house in Bloomington this one in the Highland village and each of
those home homes house eight individuals for rehab so excited about that and they're
another one, so that would make four. I'm very happy about that. That's awesome. That's happy news that
we need to hear after everything. The only thing that I would say is major thanks to Mr. Askins and
for the B Square article regarding FLOC, or not FLOC, sorry, ICE patrols
That is something that we, if we wanna have energy for something, my God, we should have energy for
our modern day slave patrols that are coming in terrorizing communities. And so my heart go out to those
individuals who have been terrorized recently by coming and invading in our communities. So let's just
be real with that one. If we wanna have smoke for somebody, let's have smoke for that.
because those are our community members. And in addition to that, there are people that are being terrorized
by seeing this happening and living in fear. That is a thing. I was talking to my child earlier and
she had mentioned how kids aren't coming to school because they are afraid of going to school and not
being able to come back home to parents that will be there. So again,
If we want to have smoke and we want to have energy for sending somebody to a committee that is not
even non-bonding, if we can put our forces together to combat that type of stuff, man, we would be powerful.
But with that being said, I appreciate hearing Council and Vitals' breath of fresh air for Courage to
Change. So major congratulations to them.
We got work to do because tomorrow and Thursday is still our most wonderful time of the year. Get ready
so you don't have to stay ready. Good night, y'all. We are adjourned.