WEBVTT 00:00:00.130 --> 00:00:07.577 - I am calling this meeting to order. My first meeting back, yay. So today is Tuesday, November 10th. 00:00:07.577 --> 00:00:15.098 - The time is now 5.01. And here in the NatU Hill Room, we have counselors, whoa, Hawk, Henry, Decker, 00:00:15.098 --> 00:00:22.620 - Wilts, and Fiddle. And Councilor Iverson is a few minutes late, so we will go ahead and get started. 00:00:22.620 --> 00:00:29.918 - But the next step is the Pledge of Allegiance. So all those that are able to stand, please stand. 00:00:34.338 --> 00:01:02.430 - Next up is the adoption of tonight's agenda. 00:01:04.002 --> 00:01:13.850 - Council, I move to amend agenda to add a new item 8A, a discussion of finalizing the edit fund plan 00:01:13.850 --> 00:01:24.388 - for the 2027 budget year and remember the subsequent agenda numbers accordingly. Second. Okay, and looking 00:01:24.388 --> 00:01:29.214 - at what that would mean here. I actually want to 00:01:29.538 --> 00:01:37.531 - if it is possible, if I can make a friendly amendment to that, because I know Councilor Hawk would like 00:01:37.531 --> 00:01:44.987 - or she might leave a little early. I'd like to bump those up ahead of our. Oh, wait, never mind. 00:01:44.987 --> 00:01:49.598 - Eight eight. That's good, because I'm sorry, I'm looking at 00:01:50.210 --> 00:01:55.685 - It's been a month, so I'm trying to get back into the swing of things. So consent agenda items, those 00:01:55.685 --> 00:02:01.213 - things shouldn't take long. I just want to make sure that we are rolling through. So, okay, nevermind. 00:02:01.213 --> 00:02:06.848 - I rescind what I was about to say. So there is a motion and did we get a second? Okay, Councilor Deckert 00:02:06.848 --> 00:02:11.518 - second it. Is there any other further questions or comments from Council on that item? 00:02:13.058 --> 00:02:20.112 - All right. So all those in favor of moving or adding this to the agenda as the new 8A signify by saying 00:02:20.112 --> 00:02:27.099 - aye. Aye. All those opposed. Aye. All right. Motion carries. Is there another one? Madam President and 00:02:27.099 --> 00:02:34.085 - Council, I move to amend the agenda to add item 8B, discussion and possible approval to amend the 2027 00:02:34.085 --> 00:02:38.494 - salary ordinance regarding the Board of Commissioner's salaries. 00:02:44.866 --> 00:02:53.653 - I'm sorry, I was distracted by a message. No problem. I move to amend the agenda to add an item 8B, 00:02:53.653 --> 00:03:03.055 - a discussion and possible approval to amend the 2027 salary ordinance regarding the board of commissioners 00:03:03.055 --> 00:03:12.194 - salaries. I don't support this, but if you want to allow them to discuss, that's fine. Okay, so is that 00:03:12.194 --> 00:03:14.654 - a second? You second y'all. 00:03:15.266 --> 00:03:23.951 - I'll second it in the same spirit. Okay, all right. So we got a motion and a second. Again, just seconding 00:03:23.951 --> 00:03:32.067 - something doesn't necessarily mean that we are in favor of it. So seeing no other further questions 00:03:32.067 --> 00:03:40.264 - or comments, all those that are in favor of adding item 8B to our agenda signify by saying aye. Aye. 00:03:40.264 --> 00:03:43.998 - Aye. All those opposed, same sign? Nay. Okay. 00:03:44.642 --> 00:03:50.571 - Motion carries. All right. So next up is for item number four, which is public comment. So these are 00:03:50.571 --> 00:03:56.676 - for items that are not on tonight's agenda. So if you would like to speak to those items, and if you're 00:03:56.676 --> 00:04:02.840 - here present in the Nattie Hill room, you could come to the podium here, state your name for the record. 00:04:02.840 --> 00:04:09.122 - You'll have up to three minutes. And if you are virtually via Teams, you can also raise your hand, unmute, 00:04:09.122 --> 00:04:11.646 - and then you'll also have state your name. 00:04:11.906 --> 00:04:22.330 - and you'll have up to three minutes as well. So are there any takers for items not on tonight's agenda, 00:04:22.330 --> 00:04:33.054 - whether you are here in person or virtual? All right. Seeing none, I will move on. OK, thank you for that. 00:04:33.474 --> 00:04:41.035 - So next up is department updates. And so these also are for items that are not on agendas. So if there 00:04:41.035 --> 00:04:48.522 - is a department that would like to give a brief update, you have up to 10 minutes to do that. And you 00:04:48.522 --> 00:04:56.230 - can also do that via Teams as well. Looks like we have a taker here in the NetU Hill room. Good evening. 00:04:56.230 --> 00:05:02.910 - Linnea Amy from the Health Department. So I'm here to give you a status update on measles. 00:05:03.522 --> 00:05:11.908 - First, very clearly, there are zero confirmed or suspected measles cases in Monroe County at this time. 00:05:11.908 --> 00:05:20.051 - Statewide, however, the number of measles cases reported by the Indiana Department of Health in 2026 00:05:20.051 --> 00:05:25.534 - has risen sharply to 153 known cases. That's up from 117 last week. 00:05:26.114 --> 00:05:33.649 - As of November 3rd, the breakdown of cases by vaccination status was roughly 97% unvaccinated or unknown 00:05:33.649 --> 00:05:40.897 - and 3% vaccinated. A lot of those cases are in Northeastern Indiana, though in the past week, nearby 00:05:40.897 --> 00:05:48.647 - Putnam and Davies counties each reported a case. Park County has reported two additional cases and Jennings 00:05:48.647 --> 00:05:51.230 - County has reported nine new cases. 00:05:52.770 --> 00:05:59.520 - IDOH reported 10 measles cases in Indiana in 2025, so it's a significant increase this year. And only 00:05:59.520 --> 00:06:06.138 - four measles cases statewide between 2021 and 2024. The last measles case here in Monroe County was 00:06:06.138 --> 00:06:12.888 - in 2018. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to serious complications, especially in 00:06:12.888 --> 00:06:19.969 - young children, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems. And the most effective protection 00:06:19.969 --> 00:06:21.822 - against measles is the MMR. 00:06:21.922 --> 00:06:30.547 - or the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. An MMR vaccination rate of 95% is believed to be the threshold 00:06:30.547 --> 00:06:38.689 - for herd immunity. In 2019, the MMR vaccination rate amongst kindergartners in Indiana was 94.4%, so 00:06:38.689 --> 00:06:46.750 - pretty close. Now that sits at 90.1%. IDOH and regional epidemiology teams are on heightened alert. 00:06:46.946 --> 00:06:53.445 - our department recently participated in a measles preparedness exercise with IU to ensure our response 00:06:53.445 --> 00:06:59.755 - plans are up to date and fully functional. And as always, we are strongly encouraging folks to stay 00:06:59.755 --> 00:07:06.632 - up to date on vaccinations, whether that's through primary care providers or local pharmacies, or scheduling 00:07:06.632 --> 00:07:12.942 - a vaccination appointment with our partners at the Morgan County Health Department in Martinsville. 00:07:12.942 --> 00:07:16.286 - They can do that by calling 765-342-6621. Thank you. 00:07:16.610 --> 00:07:24.099 - Are there any questions or comments from Councils regarding the information? We appreciate you updating 00:07:24.099 --> 00:07:31.301 - us on these various serious matters. Yes, I'll go to Councilor Fiddle and Wilts. Thank you for this 00:07:31.301 --> 00:07:38.502 - report. I wonder if you could tell us if there's any place in Monroe County where people can access 00:07:38.502 --> 00:07:39.870 - this vaccine. Yes. 00:07:40.162 --> 00:07:47.204 - vaccine. The pharmacies, CVS, Kroger pharmacies carry the MMR vaccine. Our primary care providers, 00:07:47.204 --> 00:07:54.459 - of course, the IU Health Community Health Clinic on Miller Drive also offers vaccination appointments 00:07:54.459 --> 00:08:01.714 - as well. Thank you. Yes. When someone receives that vaccine, how long does it take to take effect and 00:08:01.714 --> 00:08:08.542 - be preventative? So generally speaking, a couple of weeks. The first dose is a two dose series. 00:08:09.314 --> 00:08:17.425 - And the second dose brings that up to 97 or 98% protective. It is a really, really effective vaccine. 00:08:17.425 --> 00:08:25.854 - And how far apart of the dose is given? I don't know exactly for sure. OK. But you've got good protection 00:08:25.854 --> 00:08:34.124 - a couple of weeks after the first dose. That's correct. That's what you're saying. However, if you have 00:08:34.124 --> 00:08:39.134 - been exposed or contracted, even, measles, this vaccine is not 00:08:39.394 --> 00:08:46.896 - going to help you at that point? It will, actually. So if you've been exposed, the vaccine can be used 00:08:46.896 --> 00:08:53.670 - as post-exposure prophylaxis in the three days, I believe, following exposure. Thank you for 00:08:53.670 --> 00:09:00.954 - that information. Yeah. Thank you very much for bringing this in here. There's nothing more jolting 00:09:00.954 --> 00:09:07.582 - on a very serious subject that we all hear on the radio podcasts, et cetera, and the news. 00:09:07.746 --> 00:09:14.882 - but nothing more jolting than seeing the map. How often will the people of this county be able to see 00:09:14.882 --> 00:09:21.948 - this map updated and to be able to watch this and trying to keep themselves surprised of where these 00:09:21.948 --> 00:09:29.364 - are located and how big we're talking? Yeah, so we're going to start providing some slightly more regular 00:09:29.364 --> 00:09:35.870 - updates. Typically we provide them every couple of months so people don't get alert fatigue. 00:09:36.226 --> 00:09:42.646 - But as it is becoming more pressing and as you can see on your map a little closer to home as well We'll 00:09:42.646 --> 00:09:48.821 - be offering some more regular updates as well You think you might feature it on the Facebook page by 00:09:48.821 --> 00:09:54.996 - chance? It will be posted on the Facebook page periodically It will also be posted on our website on 00:09:54.996 --> 00:09:59.582 - the public health information page that I think that is helpful. We're now 00:09:59.746 --> 00:10:09.656 - kind of creatures of habit because you all did a remarkable job during covid relaying information to 00:10:09.656 --> 00:10:19.762 - us that way i think that would be something folks would look for so counselor i percent and then henry 00:10:19.762 --> 00:10:26.238 - next is they are safe they are effective please get your vaccines 00:10:26.498 --> 00:10:32.012 - Thank you, Madam President. Linnea, thank you for being in, and Eric, thank you for being in, too, to 00:10:32.012 --> 00:10:37.418 - have our health leadership team here and carrying the water over the next few months as we get that 00:10:37.418 --> 00:10:42.933 - department resettled. I'm talking to a preparedness person, so you know what it's like to have change 00:10:42.933 --> 00:10:48.501 - around you, planned, unplanned, or intentional. But I appreciate the hard work you're doing, and Eric, 00:10:48.501 --> 00:10:53.961 - hard work you're doing. And I also really welcome this moment here. We don't often get to hear these 00:10:53.961 --> 00:10:56.286 - facts and figures at this hour of the day. 00:10:56.610 --> 00:11:03.892 - and I think it's good for the public as well as our edification, so thank you for coming in. Yeah, happy 00:11:03.892 --> 00:11:11.104 - to do it. All right, seeing no other further questions or comments for you. Again, thank you very much. 00:11:11.104 --> 00:11:18.108 - Thank you. All right. Are there any other departments either here in the room or virtually via Teams 00:11:18.108 --> 00:11:25.043 - that would like to provide us with an update considering it's not on the agenda? Seeing none. Okay, 00:11:25.043 --> 00:11:26.014 - we will move. 00:11:26.530 --> 00:11:35.437 - public comment. I did. Um. No, you didn't. We did public comment. Yes. Oh, okay. When you're out alone, 00:11:35.437 --> 00:11:44.001 - you kind of forget all the things. Um, all right. It's like riding a bike. Um, next up is the board 00:11:44.001 --> 00:11:46.142 - and commissioned update. 00:11:46.274 --> 00:11:53.592 - I would like to note for the packet, you have seen two names for resignations. And so the council is 00:11:53.592 --> 00:12:00.838 - in receipt of resignations for two council board appointments. The first one is from Christine Hull 00:12:00.838 --> 00:12:08.447 - from the Monroe County Public Library with an effective date of December 31st, 2026. And Dr. Lisa Hannah 00:12:08.447 --> 00:12:13.374 - Robinson from the Board of Health with an effective immediate date. 00:12:13.922 --> 00:12:22.782 - So I'm looking to my council colleagues to see if anybody has any comments regarding these resignations. 00:12:22.782 --> 00:12:31.220 - Yes, Councilor Wilts. I would just like to thank both of these people for their service. The Monroe 00:12:31.220 --> 00:12:39.742 - County Public Library Board and the Board of Health are both very important in terms of the services 00:12:39.742 --> 00:12:40.670 - that those 00:12:41.570 --> 00:12:52.717 - institutions provide our community. And there are specific qualifications around the Board of Health 00:12:52.717 --> 00:13:03.865 - appointment. But I would encourage anyone with an interest in either position to please reach out to 00:13:03.865 --> 00:13:07.838 - the council office to apply. It's I 00:13:08.642 --> 00:13:18.160 - remember when we last appointed someone to the Board of Health, I believe it was Dr. Robinson. And it 00:13:18.160 --> 00:13:27.677 - took a long time to find a person who was willing and able to do this. So especially at this time, we 00:13:27.677 --> 00:13:34.302 - need great people in leadership around public health. And I just wanna 00:13:35.170 --> 00:13:42.287 - emphasize as much as I can the importance of considering serving your community in these ways. I also 00:13:42.287 --> 00:13:49.334 - want to join in thanking the appointees who serve both Library Board and the Board of Health as well 00:13:49.334 --> 00:13:56.451 - as other members that are no longer with the Board of Health. I want to thank them for their service. 00:13:56.451 --> 00:14:04.126 - It is hard to get people to apply for these jobs and sometimes people that are eager to apply for the job you 00:14:04.962 --> 00:14:12.236 - You worry a little bit about that, but qualified people, it's hard to keep them. And I worry about anything 00:14:12.236 --> 00:14:19.038 - that makes that harder in life, particularly with public service being the nature of what it is in a 00:14:19.038 --> 00:14:25.841 - difficult time under difficult changing landscapes and what have you. I want to remind everybody out 00:14:25.841 --> 00:14:32.778 - there that it was kind of going back how how almost symptomatic that that wouldn't be appropriate, but 00:14:32.778 --> 00:14:34.462 - it would be close to how 00:14:34.562 --> 00:14:42.139 - ironic that we have the Board of Health or the member of our health team here talking to us with a map 00:14:42.139 --> 00:14:50.011 - that shows measles cases across our gray state and the thing that I kept flashing back to is 2020 watching 00:14:50.011 --> 00:14:56.926 - spread of COVID and I'm not trying to say this to alarm people but anymore with public health 00:14:57.346 --> 00:15:03.745 - if folks out there aren't watching out for themselves you may not be able to trust every government 00:15:03.745 --> 00:15:10.208 - agency to do that for you what i'd love to see here is government agencies able to fully do that and 00:15:10.208 --> 00:15:16.927 - able to fully look out for us because gosh knows what this is and i hope it's not bad this measles thing 00:15:16.927 --> 00:15:23.838 - but i'm worried that others aren't watching these things very closely um and this is a sobering responsible 00:15:23.838 --> 00:15:25.758 - reminder while hat why having 00:15:25.890 --> 00:15:31.869 - full citizens appointment for tough times and fully staffed everything in that department is going to 00:15:31.869 --> 00:15:37.496 - be more important than not. So we will stay on that journey. But for all those who have served, 00:15:37.496 --> 00:15:43.533 - thank you. Thank you for stepping forward for your community. And particularly, I think back to during 00:15:43.533 --> 00:15:48.222 - COVID times, a lot of those members of the Board of Health took a lot of grief. 00:15:48.418 --> 00:15:54.727 - because they were telling us things like what counselor Iverson said get your vaccines they're saying 00:15:54.727 --> 00:16:01.407 - things like I'm gonna have to ask you to wear a mask and that's about as popular as a tax increase probably 00:16:01.407 --> 00:16:07.654 - less popular but somebody has to be the adult on those moments because we now have measles outbreaks 00:16:07.654 --> 00:16:14.211 - so somebody has to say folks we're going to get back to the basics and get to herd immunity etc so anyway 00:16:14.211 --> 00:16:17.118 - I'll stop there but thanks to these appointees 00:16:19.970 --> 00:16:26.867 - Here's what I'll say about this. And I think some of my other comments have appeared in the newspaper. 00:16:26.867 --> 00:16:33.563 - But I think that this is a fantastic opportunity to serve your community by filling this vacancy in 00:16:33.563 --> 00:16:40.527 - the Board of Health. And I particularly want to point out that our health department right now is fully 00:16:40.527 --> 00:16:44.478 - operational thanks only to the public health professionals 00:16:44.674 --> 00:16:51.723 - that are coming to work every single day to make sure that the food that you eat in your restaurant 00:16:51.723 --> 00:16:58.913 - is safe, to make sure that infectious diseases are under control, and a litany of other things. So my 00:16:58.913 --> 00:17:06.244 - deep and heartfelt thanks goes out to every single staff member that's working tirelessly in our health 00:17:06.244 --> 00:17:11.742 - department. Anybody else? Well, again, we want to thank Dr. Lisa Robinson and 00:17:11.842 --> 00:17:20.162 - for their service. Again, if anybody wants to apply for these positions plus additional positions, you 00:17:20.162 --> 00:17:28.645 - can go to in.gov slash county slash Monroe and then you can scroll to the left-hand side of the website, 00:17:28.645 --> 00:17:36.965 - click on boards and commissions and committees and from there you can start your application. The only 00:17:36.965 --> 00:17:39.550 - other thing that I would say is 00:17:39.650 --> 00:17:47.360 - I am very disappointed and dismayed at what triggered our council resignation. That was really frustrating 00:17:47.360 --> 00:17:54.709 - and disappointing to hear. And then that also triggered another resignation as well. So I wish we can 00:17:54.709 --> 00:18:02.274 - get back to the days where things can go back to normal. But until then, here we are. Yes. I just wanted 00:18:02.274 --> 00:18:07.678 - to add, I believe this is still the case, that this particular appointment 00:18:08.098 --> 00:18:15.168 - Has to be a Republican. I think they're supposed to be right just so people exactly right? Yeah, now 00:18:15.168 --> 00:18:22.308 - I don't know about the library board like that makeup I forget how that is. I don't think you have to 00:18:22.308 --> 00:18:29.308 - be okay. All right So again, thank you for your service and we will move forward All right. Next up 00:18:29.308 --> 00:18:33.438 - is item number seven, which is our consent agenda items. I 00:18:33.666 --> 00:18:41.936 - Council, I move to approve the following consent agenda items for November the 10th. First of all, the 00:18:41.936 --> 00:18:50.287 - emergency management's request and fund 1000-0361 County General Emergency Management to create account 00:18:50.287 --> 00:18:58.476 - line 3006 Contractual Services. And the second item, the public defender's request and fund 1000-0271 00:18:58.476 --> 00:19:03.294 - County General Public Defender to create two account lines. 00:19:03.458 --> 00:19:12.120 - 3 0 0 2 8 training and travel and 4 0 0 0 3 office equipment and simultaneously approve a category transfer 00:19:12.120 --> 00:19:20.621 - $1000 from the services category to the capital category. Second. All right, we got a motion in a second. 00:19:20.621 --> 00:19:27.518 - Is there any additional questions or comments on our consent agenda items? All right. 00:19:27.618 --> 00:19:34.696 - see none and now that we have all seven of us here present we can do this by voice vote all those that 00:19:34.696 --> 00:19:41.569 - are in favor of approving the consent agenda items as presented signify by saying aye aye all those 00:19:41.569 --> 00:19:48.441 - opposed same sign okay motion carries next up we will go to the amended portion of our agenda which 00:19:48.441 --> 00:19:55.588 - is item 8a council i move to open for discussion the finalization of the edit fund planned for the 2027 00:19:55.588 --> 00:19:56.894 - budget year second 00:19:57.858 --> 00:20:07.730 - I see commissioners that are there. So commissioners Madeira and Thomas, if you'd like to join us, please. 00:20:07.730 --> 00:20:17.233 - And while they are doing that, I just want to note for the record, and I'm looking to our staff, maybe 00:20:17.233 --> 00:20:27.198 - we could, I know in our last September meeting that we were at, we, this council voted to approve the edit. 00:20:27.618 --> 00:20:41.769 - the commissioners approval. Is there a list of those things that we had in the plan that we had during 00:20:41.769 --> 00:20:56.606 - that meeting that we can, um, show just in case there might be any type of discrepancies. And while they're 00:20:57.058 --> 00:21:04.602 - If you all want to talk about the edit plan and what's next again, I guess I was a little confused as 00:21:04.602 --> 00:21:11.998 - to why this was a request as well. But considering the conversation I had with Commissioner Thomas, 00:21:11.998 --> 00:21:19.912 - I felt like it was necessary for us to add it because I just want to compare what we did back in September 00:21:19.912 --> 00:21:24.350 - to anything else before commissioners need to approve this. 00:21:24.706 --> 00:21:34.369 - that we're going to be looking at at their next meeting. So right. Thank you. Um. And, uh, we have. 00:21:34.369 --> 00:21:44.032 - Um. The list and we wanted to go over it because there was the miscommunication about the GEO bond, 00:21:44.032 --> 00:21:53.502 - and we just want to make sure where everybody's on the same page before we move forward with. Our 00:21:53.794 --> 00:22:05.477 - for the county, we have $7,520,185. Now, that's a slightly different number than before because planning 00:22:05.477 --> 00:22:17.159 - added a staff member. And so that this is all for self-assurance. So we just added in the $18,038, okay? 00:22:17.159 --> 00:22:23.390 - That's why that number's different. Okay. Okay. We have 00:22:23.650 --> 00:22:31.774 - $1.5 million set aside for the Cave Creek drainage plan. Previously, I think things were listed as sort 00:22:31.774 --> 00:22:39.586 - of airport, economic development, et cetera, but we're being very specific because this is the plan 00:22:39.586 --> 00:22:47.866 - that is on the table and the consultant has been secured. Commissioner Thomas, I'm so sorry to interrupt. 00:22:47.866 --> 00:22:53.022 - Is there a list that you have that we can kind of look at because 00:22:53.378 --> 00:23:00.262 - That plan that you just mentioned is not in what we did for 2027. So do you have what you have under 00:23:00.262 --> 00:23:07.622 - airport? I don't have anything under airport. I have what I have is there's emergency services and housing, 00:23:07.622 --> 00:23:14.506 - which was the one million, which I believe was the beacon. Right. That's still there. And then I had 00:23:14.506 --> 00:23:21.526 - the contractual for the highway of one million. Right. And that's and then the self-insurance that you 00:23:21.526 --> 00:23:23.230 - just mentioned, I didn't 00:23:23.682 --> 00:23:35.471 - there's there was nothing else added to that for the budgets. OK, well, there is 200,000 for transit. 00:23:35.471 --> 00:23:47.375 - And that is called transit expansion, and that relates to both rural transit service. Outside of their 00:23:47.375 --> 00:23:51.998 - FDA work, this is their shadow service. 00:23:52.386 --> 00:24:01.199 - for the so-called urbanized area of the county. And also for Bloomington Transit, although we imagine 00:24:01.199 --> 00:24:10.098 - the number might be lower this year because they're cutting the route a bit already because they don't 00:24:10.098 --> 00:24:19.428 - have enough drivers. But it's 200,000 total for both. And then 1.5 million for Cave Creek Drainage Program. 00:24:19.428 --> 00:24:21.502 - That replaced a generic 00:24:22.274 --> 00:24:34.092 - I think we had 2 million in there originally, and it just said airport economic development, but we're 00:24:34.092 --> 00:24:45.566 - just being very specific. And then we have the standing 165 million for county building the justice 00:24:45.566 --> 00:24:50.270 - center. That's been in there every year. 00:24:51.138 --> 00:25:01.447 - I think that's kind of the audible, huh? Um from people because that's that's kind of mine. I guess. 00:25:01.447 --> 00:25:11.654 - Have you all had a meeting where you added these things? Because again, I guess I'm confused. Um as 00:25:11.654 --> 00:25:20.126 - to where we're getting the transit and the 1.5 Cave Creek for this year when we've 00:25:20.418 --> 00:25:29.805 - what we did in budget. Okay, so the transit line is the same as this year. So that's being continued. 00:25:29.805 --> 00:25:39.007 - That is we've been doing that. That's how we funded it this year, and we continue it for next year. 00:25:39.007 --> 00:25:48.209 - And the Cave Creek replaced the generic airport economic development. That's all I can tell you. It 00:25:48.209 --> 00:25:50.142 - was it was a generic 00:25:51.394 --> 00:25:57.551 - statement, airport economic development, but we have a specific project, and so we were more specific 00:25:57.551 --> 00:26:03.769 - than that. I guess when you mentioned earlier about not being on the same page with the GO bonds, this 00:26:03.769 --> 00:26:09.926 - is kind of that same thing where we all have to be on the same page with that, too. So I just want to 00:26:09.926 --> 00:26:16.084 - add that. Any questions from folks up here about things? I see faces, but I'm not certain if anybody. 00:26:16.084 --> 00:26:19.102 - Yes, Councilor Henry. Thank you, Madam President. 00:26:19.586 --> 00:26:27.190 - if memory serves last year, there's like a two pager that outlined what the edit plan was. Is that that? 00:26:27.190 --> 00:26:34.577 - Is that what you're staring at right? I have my notes. I don't my computer died, so I do not have the 00:26:34.577 --> 00:26:42.398 - most. I had to update the list for numbering and I have that we have the previous version on email. OK, so. 00:26:42.626 --> 00:26:48.054 - Again, last year's process, if I remember, was there was a document and it was sort of redlined back 00:26:48.054 --> 00:26:53.536 - and forth. I think we made adjustments. And on Tuesday, Thursday mornings, you made adjustments. Then 00:26:53.536 --> 00:26:58.964 - Tuesday evenings, we made adjustments. But it was a common document we could stare at. Right. And it 00:26:58.964 --> 00:27:04.338 - was because I maybe I'm looking to the table, Ms. Turner came. Was that not the plan was a document 00:27:04.338 --> 00:27:07.294 - last year? Right. Do we not have the same iteration of 00:27:07.618 --> 00:27:13.169 - the plan somewhere that we could be looking at? And I'm looking for it. The plan gets adopted as part 00:27:13.169 --> 00:27:18.719 - of it as an ordinance. So I'm trying to find the most recent ordinance. Because it strikes me that we 00:27:18.719 --> 00:27:24.161 - just have two piles of notes past each other right now and not a common document that we're staring 00:27:24.161 --> 00:27:29.603 - at to say that's red line or this is edited or because if I just take Cave Creek, for example, like 00:27:29.603 --> 00:27:35.262 - if there's a document says airport somewhere and then we're looking at this, like I just want to see it 00:27:35.426 --> 00:27:42.508 - in one location like I think we had last year about this time. So Mr. King, you said you're looking 00:27:42.508 --> 00:27:49.660 - for last year's ordinance right now. And I guess the follow up is, do we have a mock up of the FY 27 00:27:49.660 --> 00:27:57.237 - ordinance yet? Jeff has it. So I don't. Jeff would have the mock up of the this year's upcoming ordinance. 00:27:57.237 --> 00:28:01.982 - And I'm looking in the county folder to try to locate last year's. 00:28:02.370 --> 00:28:10.476 - I wonder, no wonder there's noise here. We're not singing off the same sheet of music right now. Exactly. 00:28:10.476 --> 00:28:18.582 - Thank you, Madam President. Yes, Councilor Hawk. Yes, I would like to have a report back from the airport 00:28:18.582 --> 00:28:26.305 - as to what their consideration is of changing how the dollars might go. I know that they're counting 00:28:26.305 --> 00:28:31.582 - on a certain amount of money, so I certainly couldn't support moving 00:28:31.842 --> 00:28:43.569 - have to send the airport money to someplace else unless they are in agreement or at least have knowledge 00:28:43.569 --> 00:28:54.737 - of what the plan is. Yes, counselor. This may be an informational question for Mr King, but I don't 00:28:54.737 --> 00:29:01.438 - remember how we did this other than we had. A plan that was 00:29:01.858 --> 00:29:08.899 - resolution we adopt the resolution or do we just go we kind of like your resolution they adopt a resolution 00:29:08.899 --> 00:29:15.679 - remind me how that works the statue provides that the executive body um adopts the economic it's called 00:29:15.679 --> 00:29:22.654 - the capital improvement plan but it's solely a commissioner adoption how does the council factor into that 00:29:24.642 --> 00:29:31.927 - I don't think the council is mentioned in the adoption of the plan. I mean, it's necessary for the council 00:29:31.927 --> 00:29:38.871 - to do the appropriations for the plan. And I think last year there was collaboration in discussion of 00:29:38.871 --> 00:29:45.679 - the projects. We kind of looped it in, if I remember right, around the time that we were doing ARPA 00:29:45.679 --> 00:29:52.624 - discussion. There was a lot going on back then. So they have the resolution plan written out. We have 00:29:52.624 --> 00:29:54.462 - the appropriation of that. 00:29:54.754 --> 00:30:04.076 - And that's how the two shall meet. And so in looking back in the history. The first ordinance was adopted 00:30:04.076 --> 00:30:12.959 - in 2022 and it's spanned from January 1 of 2023 to December 31 of 2025 and then an ordinance 2025 50 00:30:12.959 --> 00:30:15.070 - was adopted, which then 00:30:15.714 --> 00:30:30.029 - that we're seeing and we're not even really seeing them. We're just being told this verbally. And I 00:30:30.029 --> 00:30:43.198 - think like that's the thing because I guess on our end, we did what we needed to do back in 00:30:43.554 --> 00:30:50.752 - to approve this. That's why, you know, I think folks are scratching their head, at least for me, because 00:30:50.752 --> 00:30:57.744 - it's like we've not, again, I know I've been gone, but I've also been catching up via cat that I just 00:30:57.744 --> 00:31:04.668 - want to make sure, like, I'm not missing something, something didn't happen beforehand. And it seems 00:31:04.668 --> 00:31:11.454 - to be that it's not. Would it be helpful if I print you all a copy of that 2025 50 ordinance? Yes. 00:31:12.706 --> 00:31:24.027 - Councilor Wilts. Another thing that would be helpful is just a reminder of what did have we already 00:31:24.027 --> 00:31:35.687 - put in appropriated? So I know which of these things is new appropriation. So what we appropriated and 00:31:35.687 --> 00:31:42.366 - that was approved at the adoption was there was $1 million 00:31:42.882 --> 00:31:52.743 - for, and it's the housing services, and that was for the beacon project. If I'm correct, please correct 00:31:52.743 --> 00:32:02.415 - me. And I'll put beacon right there. The other was the 7,496,413, and that is for the self-insurance. 00:32:02.415 --> 00:32:11.518 - And then for the highway department, a million dollars in the contractual, and that was for the 00:32:11.970 --> 00:32:22.640 - by two minutes, the community crossings matching, yes. Or other paving if they don't get the full amount. 00:32:22.640 --> 00:32:32.908 - And that was all that I noted during the adoption time that was added to the edit plan. Yeah, I found 00:32:32.908 --> 00:32:38.142 - my notes in the sheet that we had. Yeah, keep them. 00:32:39.234 --> 00:32:54.764 - I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. 00:32:54.764 --> 00:33:05.118 - I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. 00:33:06.018 --> 00:33:12.990 - because we know it has to come out of edit, right? And this is an airport project. This Cave Creek drainage 00:33:12.990 --> 00:33:19.510 - project is an airport project. It's related to the cars features and all of the things that make our 00:33:19.510 --> 00:33:26.094 - airport special in very difficult ways. So this is, and we would come to you with Bloomington Transit 00:33:26.094 --> 00:33:31.710 - because we don't know the number right now. We'd have to come to you with that number. 00:33:32.162 --> 00:33:40.077 - we're going to come to you with the real transit number. Amy is going to send us that information. She 00:33:40.077 --> 00:33:47.760 - has not yet. She's got a ballpark, but we need the exact number. We're going to have to come to you 00:33:47.760 --> 00:33:55.060 - for that appropriation. So this is just saying that when those appropriations come before you, 00:33:55.060 --> 00:34:01.438 - thank you, this is where they're going to come from. And then we've always had the 00:34:01.698 --> 00:34:13.306 - the justice center. In. Edit it. We and I know we spent design money from the ban. So that this this 00:34:13.306 --> 00:34:25.144 - all interconnected doesn't mean we're spending it. It just means that's. You know, we have to. We have 00:34:25.144 --> 00:34:31.006 - to say where it will be spent if it will be spent. 00:34:31.714 --> 00:34:39.071 - So it sounds like, to me, really the only thing that's unexpected would be the airport, because we didn't 00:34:39.071 --> 00:34:46.011 - know that was coming. And that seems reasonable. It's economic development. And that's an area that 00:34:46.011 --> 00:34:52.951 - we've been focusing on for economic development. And the only things we need to appropriate at this 00:34:52.951 --> 00:35:00.446 - time were the things that you've already dealt with in your budget. And that's it. We're not appropriating. 00:35:00.546 --> 00:35:11.560 - that's the only thing we brought because that's all that's. We know the appropriations on obviously 00:35:11.560 --> 00:35:22.794 - the self insurance. We had the wrong amount, but that's what we had. We this the remainder of this is 00:35:22.794 --> 00:35:29.182 - saying. We will bring to you and if we bring this to you, 00:35:29.762 --> 00:35:38.584 - and that is because we do need to provide transit services. We do need to provide the BT extension on 00:35:38.584 --> 00:35:47.578 - West third. We do need to provide rule transit shadow service. We will keep the justice center in there 00:35:47.578 --> 00:35:56.400 - as it is as it has been. And the Cave Creek is not. Again, we don't have an exact amount. That's just 00:35:56.400 --> 00:35:57.438 - a ballpark. 00:36:00.162 --> 00:36:07.245 - And we would come to you with that. And if you all said no, then it doesn't happen, right? But if you 00:36:07.245 --> 00:36:14.398 - say yes, it can come out of this. Now you could say yes and take it out of County General, right? This 00:36:14.398 --> 00:36:21.620 - isn't committing you to using the edit. This just says, our plan is money can be used for these things. 00:36:21.620 --> 00:36:27.870 - So the one line that has to change is the self-insurance line. Oh, okay. Go ahead, sorry. 00:36:31.170 --> 00:36:38.441 - budget has already been adopted we can't open that back up at this time however what we can do is an 00:36:38.441 --> 00:36:45.856 - additional appropriation early in the year so it's fine we can make it work okay yeah because we don't 00:36:45.856 --> 00:36:53.486 - we don't need self-insurance money all at once so exactly yeah thank you yes counselor henry the original 00:36:53.486 --> 00:36:55.070 - ordinance it might be 00:36:55.842 --> 00:37:01.618 - And I would offer, maybe it would make sense to see the 27 draft with the same project ties to listing 00:37:01.618 --> 00:37:07.451 - here, because there are changes. If we are changing, because we don't have that right now. We have kind 00:37:07.451 --> 00:37:13.395 - of a verbal and we're kind of shorthanding on our own spreadsheet. But my only question is timing, right? 00:37:13.395 --> 00:37:19.340 - I mean, if we were to say the table is tonight until we saw the draft ordinance with the correct language 00:37:19.340 --> 00:37:20.798 - that we could look at and 00:37:21.090 --> 00:37:28.134 - understand and also understand what our new tolls are because some things have shifted here. What does 00:37:28.134 --> 00:37:35.041 - that do to your timeline to pass an edit plan? We can we can. We just have to do this before the end 00:37:35.041 --> 00:37:42.222 - of the year and we can do that here in December so we can do it. So yeah, the table is fine and if you'd 00:37:42.222 --> 00:37:46.462 - like I can ask Mr Laverty who directs the airport to come in. 00:37:47.298 --> 00:37:53.498 - I don't know when your next meeting is. I'm sorry. I don't have my calendar in front of me, but I can 00:37:53.498 --> 00:37:59.577 - invite him to attend as well. If you have questions about the drainage project itself. I appreciate 00:37:59.577 --> 00:38:06.081 - that. I would just say I then Councilor Iverson just reminded me that this is merely a discussion. There's 00:38:06.081 --> 00:38:12.159 - no need for motion. We can just move from here with an expectation. The next time you see it is the 00:38:12.159 --> 00:38:17.022 - draft. Yeah, I'll get that to you. I'll have Jeff send it out to you via email. 00:38:17.186 --> 00:38:25.894 - because we still have to change one number, but I'll have Jeff send that out to you via email. We could 00:38:25.894 --> 00:38:34.685 - just put a round number in for the additional costs and make it 7,800,000 and we'd be fine because we'll 00:38:34.685 --> 00:38:43.310 - be under it. As long as we're under it, we're fine. So all this does is say, this is where we're going 00:38:43.310 --> 00:38:46.910 - to pay for this if we're going to do this. 00:38:47.202 --> 00:38:53.998 - You all may decide you don't want to do real transit. You may decide you don't want to do BT. You may 00:38:53.998 --> 00:39:00.661 - decide whatever. But the three things that had to be appropriated were at your budget hearings, and 00:39:00.661 --> 00:39:07.457 - that's absolutely the way it goes. So I appreciate the discussion. I appreciate you putting it on our 00:39:07.457 --> 00:39:14.253 - agenda. And although, yes, my face might have been one of the ones going, wah, kind of looking at all 00:39:14.253 --> 00:39:17.118 - of this and with your explanations, I just 00:39:17.282 --> 00:39:24.725 - for the sake of discussion, want to say that these seem reasonable to me in terms of what might be in 00:39:24.725 --> 00:39:32.095 - the plan. And I appreciate you all sharing that because I do recognize that although we have to work 00:39:32.095 --> 00:39:39.465 - together, this is your bailiwick. So thank you. Yeah. And everything in there, again, you may or may 00:39:39.465 --> 00:39:42.238 - not choose to make appropriations on. 00:39:43.266 --> 00:39:52.183 - So in the interest of time, since we got a full agenda here, this is something that we can put on our 00:39:52.183 --> 00:40:01.100 - next agenda for the 24th, the week of Turkey Day. So we'll discuss that and hopefully finalize things 00:40:01.100 --> 00:40:10.018 - and get that started. All right. Are we going to have an official motion to table this item? No, it's 00:40:10.018 --> 00:40:12.990 - just a discussion. Just checking. 00:40:13.538 --> 00:40:19.195 - All right. Yeah. Item eight B. Council, I move to approve the board of commissioners request and fund 00:40:19.195 --> 00:40:25.129 - one one nine seven dash zero zero zero zero stormwater management and add the three board of commissioners 00:40:25.129 --> 00:40:31.063 - position account lines to add a split salary with an additional 15 percent, an increase of twelve thousand 00:40:31.063 --> 00:40:36.665 - four hundred forty three dollars, which will bring the salary base amount from seventy thousand five 00:40:36.665 --> 00:40:42.266 - hundred and twelve dollars to eighty two thousand nine hundred fifty five dollars, an effective date 00:40:42.266 --> 00:40:43.486 - of January the first. 00:40:43.746 --> 00:40:56.340 - second. All right. We got a motion and a second. Take it away. All right, so, um. This has been a long 00:40:56.340 --> 00:41:08.568 - process for us as a board, and I've been here for. All of it. Um, and, um, since 2013, um. And, um, 00:41:08.568 --> 00:41:13.214 - in 2020, we were told that, um, these 00:41:13.378 --> 00:41:21.046 - the small raise we were given then was a down payment. And of course, it's a different council that's 00:41:21.046 --> 00:41:28.638 - sitting here now. So I was told that, and what's interesting is all along the way, the commissioners 00:41:28.638 --> 00:41:36.230 - in the survey are being considered together. And I don't know why that is, but it has been that way. 00:41:36.230 --> 00:41:41.342 - It was that way then, it was that way in 22, and here we are in 26. 00:41:41.570 --> 00:41:51.933 - and we want to put this to rest and we want to have this over finally where our salary grid should match 00:41:51.933 --> 00:42:02.295 - other elected officials. I was told that the surveyor made the case for being moved up to a full elected 00:42:02.295 --> 00:42:07.230 - salary and the reasons given at that meeting were 00:42:07.458 --> 00:42:15.032 - employees and three part time people, including an office manager. Well, that made me think because 00:42:15.032 --> 00:42:22.833 - we don't just manage a few people. We manage multiple departments, including TSD building highway. Etc 00:42:22.833 --> 00:42:30.936 - all the way down to weights and measures. One one person department. And we do not have an office manager. 00:42:30.936 --> 00:42:37.374 - We do not even have a receptionist and we've been without one for a couple of years. 00:42:37.730 --> 00:42:45.792 - and we've not come and asked for that. We figured out how to make it work. And that's what we do. We 00:42:45.792 --> 00:42:53.933 - work together, we patch, we fill holes, we get things done. And like the surveyor, we serve on a wide 00:42:53.933 --> 00:43:01.915 - range of boards and commissions, but even more so. And we make a lot of those appointments as well. 00:43:01.915 --> 00:43:07.422 - And as you noted, those are sometimes really difficult to get enough 00:43:08.770 --> 00:43:18.757 - you get out in the community and you talk to people and you encourage people and you still have to review 00:43:18.757 --> 00:43:28.368 - applications and you interview people and that takes time. We also respond in emergencies and we make 00:43:28.368 --> 00:43:37.790 - vital decisions every day as the executive and legislative branch and there are times as much as we 00:43:38.018 --> 00:43:47.056 - We have to work together, two or three of us. We have to both be in the room or be in the meeting to 00:43:47.056 --> 00:43:56.184 - do that. We also have to review packets, claims, payroll, weekly, and we have a deep understanding of 00:43:56.184 --> 00:44:05.133 - what's going on in Monroe County government as a result. But for some reason, we remain outliers on 00:44:05.133 --> 00:44:06.654 - the salary grid. 00:44:06.946 --> 00:44:19.211 - and it's bewildering to me. And it's been bewildering to me. But since this council decided to raise 00:44:19.211 --> 00:44:31.475 - the surveyor's salary, now is the time to it's because we've been in tandem 22 26. Here we are along 00:44:31.475 --> 00:44:33.054 - the way. And 00:44:35.234 --> 00:44:45.878 - it doesn't make sense why we're outliers on that salary grid. We are elected officials, and we are involved 00:44:45.878 --> 00:44:55.833 - in everything every day that county government does. Did you want to add anything? No. No? No. Okay. 00:44:55.833 --> 00:45:03.422 - All right. So with that, if the answer is no, we'd like to hear the reasons. 00:45:03.746 --> 00:45:12.350 - And if you need time to think about it, we're going to be here anyway. So we can come back at the end 00:45:12.350 --> 00:45:21.038 - of this month or December if you need us to. If you have questions for us, we're happy to answer them. 00:45:21.038 --> 00:45:27.870 - Councilor Hullock. Yes. Just as a reminder to the public and all of us here, the 00:45:29.282 --> 00:45:36.508 - The question is, would we be willing to do this at first? And if we are willing to do this, are we willing 00:45:36.508 --> 00:45:43.463 - to take it from all the people out in the rural areas? Because the city won't be paying into this, nor 00:45:43.463 --> 00:45:50.216 - will the Ellsville. You understand that the stormwater fees are paid with their utility bills. It's 00:45:50.216 --> 00:45:57.982 - only outside of the city, outside of Ellsville, the new merged township, that all those folks are paying for this. 00:45:59.138 --> 00:46:09.002 - I think those of us who represent the rural areas might really have a reason to say, not sure that this 00:46:09.002 --> 00:46:18.772 - is fair to the entire county. But regardless, I'm not supportive of this. We've already, I wasn't here 00:46:18.772 --> 00:46:28.446 - due to unavoidable circumstances, but the salary ordinance has already been voted on, already passed. 00:46:28.994 --> 00:46:36.258 - And so that's not something I would support. But I just want to get those thoughts out there. I don't 00:46:36.258 --> 00:46:43.523 - know whether you are watching the flow of money. Not everybody understands that the stormwater is not 00:46:43.523 --> 00:46:50.858 - being charged in the city of Bloomington. They pay theirs with a utility bill. If you live in the city 00:46:50.858 --> 00:46:57.054 - of Bloomington or your property is in the city of Bloomington. I appreciate the offer. 00:46:57.186 --> 00:47:03.369 - opportunity to offer some comments on this I uh the last two times this is kind of raised its specter 00:47:03.369 --> 00:47:09.552 - in here I've kind of sat there and said nothing because I did not want us to move forward on this and 00:47:09.552 --> 00:47:15.735 - now I'm going to enunciate a little bit more clearly why I'm opposed to this and I'm in a very unique 00:47:15.735 --> 00:47:22.100 - position on this because in uh God willing and if fate crosses its way on January 1st I will be opposite 00:47:22.100 --> 00:47:23.070 - of this council 00:47:23.170 --> 00:47:30.992 - serving with these two leaders on this board of commissioners. And as a person that would be directly 00:47:30.992 --> 00:47:38.661 - affected by this and is voting on this as a person on this end representing the taxpayers, I do not 00:47:38.661 --> 00:47:46.714 - do not support this increase. And I want to talk about that just a wee bit more. I appreciate very much. 00:47:46.714 --> 00:47:52.542 - Council or Commissioner Thomas is remarks for why this is important to her. 00:47:52.738 --> 00:48:03.736 - But when I look at the history on this job, and I just did some general glancing and I lived and voted 00:48:03.736 --> 00:48:14.840 - on all of this alongside a few others here, the position in 2020 was at $36,000 a year. It went to 2021 00:48:14.840 --> 00:48:20.286 - at $246,000. The request at that time was $60,000. 00:48:20.898 --> 00:48:29.025 - I had heartburns about the move, but I listened to the reason of more experienced counselors on why 00:48:29.025 --> 00:48:37.478 - we needed to make a move. I also heard people at that time say this should begin to take care of things 00:48:37.478 --> 00:48:45.687 - and they will feel more respected in this sense. I now look at the salary now. It's moving northward 00:48:45.687 --> 00:48:50.238 - of 70. And when I look at the role of the commissioner, 00:48:50.370 --> 00:48:59.428 - which I've studied over the years, both as a member of this board and before and beyond, I see a board 00:48:59.428 --> 00:49:08.750 - of elected officials who regularly supervise other emergency responders. They supervise department heads. 00:49:08.750 --> 00:49:17.983 - They supervise other functions of the county and are answerable to the time of when those things happen. 00:49:17.983 --> 00:49:20.094 - But it's still a board. 00:49:20.418 --> 00:49:28.259 - that is helping to navigate those decisions, much like this council is a board that's navigating the 00:49:28.259 --> 00:49:36.798 - fiscal decisions. I think the compensation that we have done has been pretty fair from the taxpayers. I don't 00:49:37.250 --> 00:49:44.446 - here on the street, anyone saying I'm worried about the commissioner salaries. In fact, every time we 00:49:44.446 --> 00:49:51.783 - have moved commissioner salaries, I've heard actually the opposite. People point to me the nine million 00:49:51.783 --> 00:49:59.049 - other problems that we have in the county that grossly need addressing. And this is just not something 00:49:59.049 --> 00:50:05.822 - that people feel there is a slight upon. So I can't I cannot support it. I will not support it. 00:50:06.146 --> 00:50:12.059 - If it is passed tonight by this council, which if I had to be a psychic, I would predict is not in the 00:50:12.059 --> 00:50:17.857 - realm. And I'm not trying to be harsh, but I got to be real because we've had this three times to us 00:50:17.857 --> 00:50:23.713 - and now I'm talking. I will not accept it because I think the amount that we all signed up to run for 00:50:23.713 --> 00:50:29.626 - was a decent amount from the community on what they were giving. And it's been adjusted over time. And 00:50:29.626 --> 00:50:35.998 - there's been coal of things that have affected that. And I think that's enough. I think it's more than enough. 00:50:36.386 --> 00:50:42.747 - And I say that respectfully. I know everyone's going to disagree on money, but this is the way I ultimately 00:50:42.747 --> 00:50:49.050 - see this. And one thing is if we have roles in the commissioner's office that need filled that are putting 00:50:49.050 --> 00:50:55.470 - the burden on the commissioners, that is a discussion to be had in here at budget time, or it's a discussion 00:50:55.470 --> 00:51:01.420 - to be had with who does those roles or department heads. And I would rather chase some of those kind 00:51:01.420 --> 00:51:06.014 - of headaches long term to get us functioning better and more evenly together. 00:51:06.370 --> 00:51:18.116 - And I just we're just going to disagree on this one. And it's it is just yeah. So I'll stop. I'm going 00:51:18.116 --> 00:51:30.090 - to be. Putting no on this item tonight for the people of Monroe County, particularly the staff of Monroe 00:51:30.090 --> 00:51:35.678 - County, who saw a 40% increase in their premiums 00:51:36.002 --> 00:51:43.388 - And if you were like me, and you need to carry your family on your insurance, that was devastating. 00:51:43.388 --> 00:51:51.144 - For those people of Monroe County who are forced to make choices about which groceries to buy, for those 00:51:51.144 --> 00:51:58.826 - families and the people of Monroe County who need to have a conversation with folks they're living with 00:51:58.826 --> 00:52:01.854 - about what number to set the thermostat, 00:52:03.842 --> 00:52:14.653 - And for those of you like my family who sometimes need to check your bank account before you fill your 00:52:14.653 --> 00:52:25.150 - gas tank up with gas. In this instance, I'm voting no, because in this county, we need to put Comet 00:52:25.150 --> 00:52:33.022 - first. We cannot be prioritizing the people at the top. Comet comes first. 00:52:34.562 --> 00:52:45.941 - I appreciate the arguments that you're making. And I, like Councilor Decker, have sat through several 00:52:45.941 --> 00:52:57.096 - of these discussions over the years. And I do remember when it was phrased as a down payment by one 00:52:57.096 --> 00:53:03.678 - council member at least. And I felt that that down payment 00:53:04.226 --> 00:53:16.119 - which was the $10,000 raise given in 2021 was followed up by the subsequent more than $10,000 that we 00:53:16.119 --> 00:53:28.013 - did the following few years. And I'm not convinced that the commissioner's salaries for Monroe County 00:53:28.013 --> 00:53:32.094 - are an outlier when looking across 00:53:32.610 --> 00:53:41.316 - in similar counties, there are salaries all over the place, and they don't seem to be an outlier with 00:53:41.316 --> 00:53:49.937 - respect to other counties, and certainly not with respect to elected officials within Monroe County. 00:53:49.937 --> 00:53:58.728 - If anything, council members are the outlier in the elected official salaries, and I'm not arguing for 00:53:58.728 --> 00:54:01.374 - us and the coroner, of course. 00:54:02.338 --> 00:54:13.304 - I am not going to support increasing the commissioner's salaries for the reasons that I think have been 00:54:13.304 --> 00:54:23.954 - laid out over the years in the past. This is not meant to be a lucrative position by any stretch. As 00:54:23.954 --> 00:54:31.230 - it stands now, this is still considered a part-time position, and by 00:54:31.746 --> 00:54:40.647 - nearly any standards being paid 69,000 plus is not. It's much closer to full time salary already than 00:54:40.647 --> 00:54:49.547 - it is part time. It's more than I get paid in my full time job. So there you have it. I mean, I can't 00:54:49.547 --> 00:54:58.448 - look at the employees of Monroe County government and say, you know, we had to stop at 2% and put you 00:54:58.448 --> 00:55:01.502 - all through the ringer, but we can 00:55:01.602 --> 00:55:10.179 - to dig into our pockets and find an amazing $12,000 plus increase for the commissioners. It just, it 00:55:10.179 --> 00:55:18.756 - doesn't work. And I understand that you've looked in stormwater to find funding that wouldn't affect 00:55:18.756 --> 00:55:27.673 - the general fund. That's not it for me either. It's not about where the money's coming from. It is about 00:55:27.673 --> 00:55:28.862 - equity around 00:55:30.434 --> 00:55:41.530 - pay for everybody. And I would gladly look at the comment salaries, for instance, before I'll look at 00:55:41.530 --> 00:55:52.517 - more for commissioners and elected officials at this point. I'm finished with that. Those are really 00:55:52.517 --> 00:56:00.350 - my reasons. I don't think that it's sound financially and I don't think 00:56:00.482 --> 00:56:19.070 - it's doing the best service for our constituents. Right, well, I'll go. So, history repeats itself, right? 00:56:19.202 --> 00:56:28.657 - back in December of 2021. My first meeting was in the HR conference room full of mask because that's 00:56:28.657 --> 00:56:38.205 - where we were in the county and in the world right then and there. And when I first came on, this was 00:56:38.205 --> 00:56:48.222 - a heavy contentious conversation. And I had looked at that meeting earlier in December 21 of 2021. Um, and 00:56:48.642 --> 00:56:57.984 - and then again, just as much as my council colleagues have said, there was a 10% or I'm sorry, 10,000 00:56:57.984 --> 00:57:07.417 - increase from 36 to 46. And then the amended or the approved salary ordinance for 2022 was 488. 48886. 00:57:07.417 --> 00:57:16.850 - And then it looks like in 23, there was another bump. But the biggest thing that we also need to think 00:57:16.850 --> 00:57:18.590 - about too in 2024, 00:57:18.882 --> 00:57:27.294 - just like we get the cola increase, you all get the cola increase. And that was the year that we did 00:57:27.294 --> 00:57:36.207 - a substantial cola increase of 8.5%. So that definitely bumped up folks. Also, thanks to staff for putting 00:57:36.207 --> 00:57:44.286 - this together. But in looking at the fact book of counties that are comparable to Monroe County, 00:57:45.058 --> 00:57:56.651 - population looks like is 137,974. And this salary is 69,129. When we look at Clark, Delaware, LaPorte, 00:57:56.651 --> 00:58:08.583 - and Vigo County, those are like one county with comparable population numbers is 24,990 for Commissioner. 00:58:08.583 --> 00:58:13.310 - 33,582. Another county between 42,727 and 00:58:13.826 --> 00:58:24.669 - And we definitely are exceeding there. So the reason why I say those things and looking at what the 00:58:24.669 --> 00:58:37.246 - commissioner gets from the fact book that we also have too, they don't get paid in any of these counties. They stay 00:58:37.410 --> 00:58:45.226 - like you're not paid more than the other electeds that are in these particular counties doing the various 00:58:45.226 --> 00:58:52.599 - jobs. And so the other thing that I also want to say flat out, and let's just put this out here, is 00:58:52.599 --> 00:58:59.678 - that this is not an equity pay. So if anybody tries to turn a twist or say anything about that, 00:58:59.938 --> 00:59:07.455 - This is not an equity pay. I know that was a conversation back in 2021. As we wind down on 2026 and 00:59:07.455 --> 00:59:15.048 - gearing up for 2027, that wasn't the case then, and that still is not the case now. We are comparing 00:59:15.048 --> 00:59:23.016 - things and looking at that. This ain't it. The other thing that I wanted to also say, since you mentioned 00:59:23.016 --> 00:59:29.406 - the surveyor, which actually I really think we should stop doing that because, like, 00:59:29.794 --> 00:59:39.049 - It puts him in a really weird and awkward situation for that. But in each of the folks that have come 00:59:39.049 --> 00:59:48.395 - to us, you know, Mr. Randolph has literally come year after year. And I think every year he's made the 00:59:48.395 --> 00:59:51.934 - case and every year he gets shut down. 00:59:52.482 --> 00:59:58.887 - And this year, he particularly made that case. You can look at what the plan department did a few weeks 00:59:58.887 --> 01:00:05.046 - ago, and they also made their case. But in each of the cases that we see here, everybody had facts. 01:00:05.046 --> 01:00:11.390 - And much like your math teacher, when they say, show me the car facts, show me your work, every single 01:00:11.390 --> 01:00:17.610 - last one of those folks that came here before us and sat here, just like you all are sitting here in 01:00:17.610 --> 01:00:21.182 - front of us, showed us the work, provided us with things. 01:00:21.570 --> 01:00:29.942 - I don't think that I've seen Commissioner Thomas anything that is from your office or from you that 01:00:29.942 --> 01:00:38.314 - says that here is what we have, this is where we are comparable to other counties and things and to 01:00:38.314 --> 01:00:46.686 - see where we are versus what we get paid. So again, I guess I asked, show me the car facts, show us 01:00:46.946 --> 01:00:54.267 - where it is, because right now, again, as I think it was Councilor Wilts that said this, the outliers, 01:00:54.267 --> 01:01:01.587 - the true outliers is the 700 plus employees that come here every single day that are not elected, that 01:01:01.587 --> 01:01:08.908 - do their job under some crazy ass situations, and they don't complain, or sometimes maybe they do, but 01:01:08.908 --> 01:01:14.878 - they deserve so much more. And it behooves me to have politicians literally ask for 01:01:15.458 --> 01:01:23.302 - what you are looking for when we really should be taking care of those that serve the public and serve 01:01:23.302 --> 01:01:30.995 - our greater community every single day. We struggle like Councilor Iverson said with the 2% and then 01:01:30.995 --> 01:01:38.991 - with the premiums that gets eaten up and taken away and so it would be tone deaf and quite frankly wrong 01:01:38.991 --> 01:01:40.286 - and I could hear 01:01:40.642 --> 01:01:50.078 - the seeding emails that are slowly would be coming through our inboxes where people would say, 01:01:50.078 --> 01:02:00.111 - we got this, but they get this. And I think from 2020 to like in 2023, I think in three years, if my 01:02:00.111 --> 01:02:09.150 - math is correct, it has been about 20 plus thousand dollars over the past three years that 01:02:09.378 --> 01:02:15.969 - We have taken care of you all and have done it. So it's not that it's an equity issue or anything like 01:02:15.969 --> 01:02:22.624 - that. It is simply us taking care of another individual who has asked so many times for us to take care 01:02:22.624 --> 01:02:29.023 - of him. And we have not. And this was his due time for us to do that. Later on in our agenda, there 01:02:29.023 --> 01:02:33.950 - is a pack pause conversation. There could be a conversation that we look at. 01:02:34.402 --> 01:02:42.539 - all things next year, including possibly elected official salaries, much like we did before I got here 01:02:42.539 --> 01:02:50.676 - with the salary studies that were done in 2021. So that was the five year itch. And maybe we're coming 01:02:50.676 --> 01:02:58.655 - up on that again. But again, it would be a heck no for me because this does not send a clear message 01:02:58.655 --> 01:03:02.526 - to our employees that we give a damn about them. 01:03:02.914 --> 01:03:10.562 - and that we care about filling up other people's pockets before them. So that's where I would be. 01:03:10.562 --> 01:03:18.600 - But again, as I said before earlier in this conversation, show us facts. Show us where you are looking 01:03:18.600 --> 01:03:27.028 - for us, where it would be comparable. Because again, I mean, I'm also looking at the sheet with populations 01:03:27.028 --> 01:03:31.710 - over 150 plus. We're still higher than some of those folks. 01:03:32.194 --> 01:03:39.056 - So again, this is not an equity issue. This is not a retaliation. Oh, the council members are upset 01:03:39.056 --> 01:03:46.054 - about how things have been happening or anything like that. Nah. And I hope folks would know that who 01:03:46.054 --> 01:03:53.053 - have been on this side of this dais and also on that other side too, that this is a fiscal matter and 01:03:53.053 --> 01:03:59.984 - this is what we're looking at. So again, this is not an equity issue because when we look at compare 01:03:59.984 --> 01:04:01.150 - of what we have, 01:04:02.114 --> 01:04:12.635 - it's just not a comparison. So that's my thoughts. Anybody else? Yes, Councilor Feidle. So I'm looking 01:04:12.635 --> 01:04:23.360 - at the same numbers that others have talked about before me. And I think the fact that in the population 01:04:23.360 --> 01:04:26.526 - range of 100 to 150, Monroe is 01:04:28.290 --> 01:04:36.519 - almost near the top. There's only one other in that population group that is more than what we're paying 01:04:36.519 --> 01:04:44.749 - for county commissioner work. And I know it's hard work. I mean, I see it myself in county council work. 01:04:44.749 --> 01:04:52.665 - So I mean, I just, these positions I think are not supposed to be career, I would call it positions, 01:04:52.665 --> 01:04:57.054 - right? And so if you're looking for money, I'm not sure 01:04:57.346 --> 01:05:05.930 - And we've answered this before, I feel like this year already. And so my question might be, what makes 01:05:05.930 --> 01:05:14.430 - this ask different? It seems like we're hearing the same thing and nothing new to convince us that it 01:05:14.430 --> 01:05:23.513 - should be any different. So I'm gonna have to be a no. Anybody? All right, seeing no other further questions 01:05:23.513 --> 01:05:26.430 - or comments from council, we will, 01:05:26.850 --> 01:05:34.914 - to the public comment if there is public comment to be had on this item you can come forward to the 01:05:34.914 --> 01:05:43.059 - lectern here in the night you Hill room or you can raise your hand via teams okay we see a couple of 01:05:43.059 --> 01:05:51.203 - hands I will I see mr. Tron and right Randolph is up first and we got some two hands that are raised 01:05:51.203 --> 01:05:56.606 - so I'll go to the two hands first so I'll go mr. Randolph and then 01:05:57.122 --> 01:06:09.500 - Dr. Reiter-Bann has her hand up next and then we'll come back to the NetUnile room. So Mr. Randolph, 01:06:09.500 --> 01:06:22.002 - you again, just state your name for the record and you'll have up to three minutes. But you also need 01:06:22.002 --> 01:06:26.046 - to unmute. Can you hear me okay? 01:06:26.850 --> 01:06:37.369 - You're kind of cutting in and out. We can hear you now. Are you able to hear me a bit better? Yes. Yeah. 01:06:37.369 --> 01:06:47.787 - OK. I don't really want to get too involved in this conversation except for my name is Tronin Randolph. 01:06:47.787 --> 01:06:55.902 - I'm the Monroe County Surveyor. I've served in the Surveyor's office since 2005. 01:06:56.034 --> 01:07:07.480 - so about 21 years of service, 12 years as the chief deputy. At that time, my salary was based off of 01:07:07.480 --> 01:07:19.493 - the elected surveyor. Essentially, I just want to say that never has my discussion with council reflected 01:07:19.493 --> 01:07:25.726 - equal pay with the commissioners. My understanding is, 01:07:26.306 --> 01:07:34.305 - The biggest difference was the two tiers of pay from being a licensed professional surveyor in us or 01:07:34.305 --> 01:07:42.384 - just the elected surveyor. The only other thing I want to say because these conversations are noticed 01:07:42.384 --> 01:07:50.383 - by the public and I think I need to take the opportunity to at least address a few things. I have no 01:07:50.383 --> 01:07:55.294 - outside employment. My sole employment is with Monroe County. 01:07:56.034 --> 01:08:05.557 - Also that my office manager is a part-time position and always has been. Those are just two things I 01:08:05.557 --> 01:08:15.175 - just really wanted to make clear. I don't want to get involved in other elected offices requests, but 01:08:15.175 --> 01:08:24.510 - I felt like I needed to at least make a couple of comments based off of the way that this could be 01:08:24.610 --> 01:08:35.930 - digest and consumed by the public and our community. And thank you. Thank you. All right. Next up, you 01:08:35.930 --> 01:08:47.360 - can unmute yourself, state your name for the record, and you'll have up to three minutes. Yes, I assume 01:08:47.360 --> 01:08:51.646 - that was me. So one, the commissioners 01:08:52.450 --> 01:09:02.761 - have a unique position as elected officials in that they are really 24-7 officials. They are called 01:09:02.761 --> 01:09:13.278 - at hours of the night to make sure things are working within the entire county government. They don't 01:09:13.278 --> 01:09:21.630 - have quite the same defined hours that some of the other elected officials have. 01:09:21.890 --> 01:09:33.239 - Not only that, but what I see with the county commissioners is that they serve diligently on multiple 01:09:33.239 --> 01:09:44.921 - committees across the county and also with the city as the administrators for this county. They go above 01:09:44.921 --> 01:09:51.486 - and beyond what many of the elected officials are expected 01:09:51.810 --> 01:10:02.355 - to do and therefore I believe as a taxpayer in this county that they should be paid in alignment with 01:10:02.355 --> 01:10:12.899 - the other elected officials who may not work quite the same number of hours or have nearly the amount 01:10:12.899 --> 01:10:20.446 - of responsibilities that our county commissioners have. So I am in favor 01:10:20.802 --> 01:10:28.645 - of their being paid on par with other elected officials in the county. Thank you. Thank you. All right. 01:10:28.645 --> 01:10:31.134 - Next up here in the NetEgo room. 01:10:52.194 --> 01:10:58.645 - Good evening, Council. Thank you for taking the time to address this issue. I just want to, oh, my name 01:10:58.645 --> 01:11:04.849 - is Kayden Smith. Always forget that, Michelle. I just want to preface my comments with the issue of 01:11:04.849 --> 01:11:11.176 - additional pay for the commissioners is not a question of whether we agree or disagree with their job 01:11:11.176 --> 01:11:15.518 - and how they are fulfilling their duties, but it's really an issue of 01:11:16.226 --> 01:11:23.041 - pay equity here. If we're giving all county employees a 2% COLA, elected officials and non-elected officials, 01:11:23.041 --> 01:11:29.237 - I don't understand why the commissioners feel that they should get more when what we've seen, we've 01:11:29.237 --> 01:11:35.557 - seen multiple substantial increases within the last few years that the commissioners have gotten. And 01:11:35.557 --> 01:11:36.734 - I just don't think 01:11:36.994 --> 01:11:42.781 - like yes we can find the funds I understand that argument but also we could use the funds for so many 01:11:42.781 --> 01:11:48.569 - other things that you know if we were to have a public vote you know the public would want to send it 01:11:48.569 --> 01:11:54.300 - to so many other issues like I don't know maybe addressing the jail issue but that's just my opinion 01:11:54.300 --> 01:12:00.087 - so I'll keep my comments brief tonight I just don't think the public supports this and I quickly want 01:12:00.087 --> 01:12:04.286 - to address the whole 24 7 issue because I think all elected officials are 01:12:04.354 --> 01:12:10.078 - 24 seven officials as council members. You know, the mayor, city council, you don't clock in at nine 01:12:10.078 --> 01:12:15.801 - and clock out at five. You can get an email or have a pressing issue any time of the day, any day of 01:12:15.801 --> 01:12:21.469 - the year. So while I sympathize that, I think the job is in a way 24 seven. I don't know if I agree 01:12:21.469 --> 01:12:27.136 - that the commissioners are unique to that. I think, you know, the mayor, city council, as well as a 01:12:27.136 --> 01:12:33.086 - lot of other, you know, non county elected officials have that issue of, you know, something can come up 01:12:33.410 --> 01:12:40.662 - a road might not be salted, a bridge can collapse, these unprecedented things can happen, and I think 01:12:40.662 --> 01:12:47.915 - any elected official should have to address that, and I just don't think the commissioners are unique 01:12:47.915 --> 01:12:55.238 - enough to where they should be given the money, so I just, I can't support this, and I don't think any 01:12:55.238 --> 01:13:02.206 - of you should. Thank you. Thank you. Anybody here in the Nattie Hill room? All right, we'll go to 01:13:03.074 --> 01:13:09.776 - We'll go back to Zoom. Screen name Lee. You can come off a mute, state your name for the record, and 01:13:09.776 --> 01:13:11.966 - you'll have up to three minutes. 01:13:33.026 --> 01:13:43.587 - person left. Yeah, I saw that. So I hope everything's OK. All right. So are there anybody else? Or is 01:13:43.587 --> 01:13:53.940 - there anybody else on Teams or here in the NETU Hill room that would like to make public comment on 01:13:53.940 --> 01:14:00.670 - this item? All right. Seeing none. I hate that they dropped off. 01:14:01.058 --> 01:14:08.769 - coming back to council for final comment before you make public or before we take our vote. So I think 01:14:08.769 --> 01:14:16.631 - that the issue of current employees that we have, which are hundreds and hundreds, the fact that they're 01:14:16.631 --> 01:14:24.492 - only getting the 2% raise and that most of us are taking that 2% increase as well is adequate this year. 01:14:24.492 --> 01:14:27.262 - And I really don't think that we can 01:14:27.586 --> 01:14:36.224 - We don't call ourselves advocates for our employees unless we try to make sure that they are taken care 01:14:36.224 --> 01:14:45.361 - of in a way that's manageable for the county to do so. OK, it looks like. I might pop back to this individual 01:14:45.361 --> 01:14:53.667 - Lee. I don't know like. We just ended public comment. I wasn't sure if you I want to make sure this 01:14:53.667 --> 01:14:56.574 - individual gets a chance to speak. 01:14:57.538 --> 01:15:06.617 - If you want to raise your hand, state your name for the record and you'll have up to three minutes. 01:15:06.617 --> 01:15:15.877 - Okay. Okay. Can you hear me? Yes, we can hear you now. Oh, okay. Great. Um, I got a notice that I was 01:15:15.877 --> 01:15:25.500 - removed from the meeting. So I just logged back in. Um, I, uh, my name's the grunt heifer. I'm a resident 01:15:25.500 --> 01:15:27.134 - of Monroe County. 01:15:27.682 --> 01:15:37.150 - Um, I think that one of the things about the commissioner's positions is that we're supposed to have 01:15:37.150 --> 01:15:46.900 - three operational people and that's been tough over the last years and hopefully we're going to resolve 01:15:46.900 --> 01:15:57.118 - that situation and, um, you know, the workload will be less going forward because of more people on the job. 01:15:59.042 --> 01:16:10.688 - That's all I have. Thank you. All right. Seeing no more comments from council and seeing no more public 01:16:10.688 --> 01:16:22.447 - comment, maybe please have a roll call vote. Councilor Wilts? No. Councilor Henry? No. Councilor Decker? 01:16:22.447 --> 01:16:27.710 - No. Councilor Crossley? No. Councilor Iverson? 01:16:29.666 --> 01:16:38.647 - Councillor Feidl? No. And I want to note for the record, Councillor Hock left the meeting. Motion fails 01:16:38.647 --> 01:16:44.606 - zero to five or zero to six. Thank you very much. Thanks. All right. 01:16:45.314 --> 01:16:52.070 - Getting back into the original agenda, we will go to our hiring freeze review with the courts. Council, 01:16:52.070 --> 01:16:58.632 - I move to open for discussion and possible approval the court's request to be exempt from the hiring 01:16:58.632 --> 01:17:05.258 - freeze and be allowed to hire and fund 1000-0225 County General Courts, a full-time bailiff position. 01:17:05.258 --> 01:17:12.144 - Second. All right, we got a motion and a second. We are joined by Judge DeKoff and Ms. Chandler. Welcome. 01:17:12.144 --> 01:17:13.054 - Good evening. 01:17:13.378 --> 01:17:19.666 - evening we recently had a bailiff position open one of our bailiffs moved to Johnson County and took 01:17:19.666 --> 01:17:25.891 - a position there so we're requesting that we can get his job filled as soon as possible as you know 01:17:25.891 --> 01:17:32.241 - they play critical roles in maintaining security within the Monroe County Justice Facility we've been 01:17:32.241 --> 01:17:38.467 - here a couple times this year requesting to have the same position filled so we're back again thank 01:17:38.467 --> 01:17:43.198 - you are there any questions or comments from council on this item all right 01:17:43.778 --> 01:17:50.840 - Seeing, oh. I just wanna say I appreciate the judge coming in here this evening. It's always good to 01:17:50.840 --> 01:17:57.833 - see you, your honor. Well, thank you. I appreciate you allowing me to be here. Seeing none, we will 01:17:57.833 --> 01:18:04.895 - move to public comment. If there's public comment on this item, you can raise your hand via Teams or 01:18:04.895 --> 01:18:11.958 - you can come forward to the lectern here in the room. And seeing none, maybe please have a roll call 01:18:11.958 --> 01:18:13.566 - vote. Councilor Henry. 01:18:14.434 --> 01:18:24.067 - Councilor Decker? Yes. Councilor Crossley? Yes. Councilor Iverson? Yes. Councilor Feidl? Yes. Councilor 01:18:24.067 --> 01:18:33.329 - Wilts? Yes. Motion passes six to zero. Thank you so much. Item number 10 which is from our building 01:18:33.329 --> 01:18:39.998 - department. Council I move to approve the building department's request 01:18:40.098 --> 01:18:46.240 - fund one thousand dash zero three one two county general building to create a count line one six eight 01:18:46.240 --> 01:18:52.620 - zero zero transitional temporary trading and simultaneously amend the twenty twenty seven salary ordinance 01:18:52.620 --> 01:18:58.702 - to add this account line with an effective date of the last people claim number one for twenty twenty 01:18:58.702 --> 01:19:04.903 - seven second all right we got a motion and a second and it's always good to see mr. LaRue here in front 01:19:04.903 --> 01:19:07.646 - of us hello welcome good evening good evening 01:19:08.162 --> 01:19:17.725 - Thanks for having me here tonight. I appreciate it. Our commercial office manager wanted to retire at 01:19:17.725 --> 01:19:27.101 - the end of this year and agreed to stay till January if we could find her replacement and allow her 01:19:27.101 --> 01:19:33.758 - to train the replacement. This is huge for us at this particular time. 01:19:34.242 --> 01:19:40.520 - I don't want to bore you with building department stuff, but we have scheduling that we have to do. 01:19:40.520 --> 01:19:46.924 - We have to understand what our inspection schedule is, be able to communicate it to the public. These 01:19:46.924 --> 01:19:53.517 - folks also need to make sure that the inspectors are running an efficient route through the day whenever 01:19:53.517 --> 01:20:00.046 - that's possible. We have financial things to take care of. End of year is the best option that we have. 01:20:00.046 --> 01:20:04.190 - We have end of month, end of year, end of year report to produce. 01:20:04.290 --> 01:20:11.811 - All of the things can happen between December 14th and January 29th and I'm super excited that Darla 01:20:11.811 --> 01:20:19.481 - has agreed to stay. What I'd like to do is hire somebody for the first pay in 27 so we don't muck with 01:20:19.481 --> 01:20:25.438 - anything in 26 salary and then Darla has agreed that she will be here no later. 01:20:25.698 --> 01:20:35.339 - than the 29th of January, but she is comfortable to retire as soon as we feel like the next person is 01:20:35.339 --> 01:20:40.254 - comfortable and ready to go. And that's what I got. 01:20:41.282 --> 01:20:48.176 - Your enthusiasm is so needed right now, so we appreciate that. Thank you. Well, I'm going to tell you 01:20:48.176 --> 01:20:55.138 - dork stuff. I got really excited. I just heard today that Indiana is finally getting a modern electric 01:20:55.138 --> 01:21:01.965 - code. Our current electric code's old enough to vote for you all. And almost can buy rounds when you 01:21:01.965 --> 01:21:06.494 - win. So I'm really excited that we're getting a new electric code. 01:21:07.234 --> 01:21:13.667 - course, I got to figure out how to buy books and do those things. But that's a next year problem. And 01:21:13.667 --> 01:21:20.164 - but I'm excited about it. So we appreciate that. Yes, Michelle. And I just want to remind Council that 01:21:20.164 --> 01:21:26.849 - you did approve at the last meeting for them to move forward with filling that position. So I just wanted 01:21:26.849 --> 01:21:29.246 - to share. Yeah, Bobby, I've heard you 01:21:29.442 --> 01:21:37.411 - local events talk about the electric for it so that I just appreciate the humor on that. I think that's 01:21:37.411 --> 01:21:45.074 - a new one I don't think I've heard that line before. I'm very hopeful again we're going to get some 01:21:45.074 --> 01:21:52.814 - some modern building and fire code adoption in twenty seven as well. Some really significant changes 01:21:52.814 --> 01:21:54.270 - have happened like 01:21:54.498 --> 01:22:01.139 - batteries and storing batteries in buildings and things of that nature. So I'm very excited about electric 01:22:01.139 --> 01:22:07.345 - code and new codes. Um, but right now I'm super excited for Darla to help make sure we stay running 01:22:07.345 --> 01:22:10.014 - smoothly. I'll go Decker and then Iverson. 01:22:11.010 --> 01:22:17.888 - which is your favorite list anyway. Number one, it is good to see you looking happy because that's important 01:22:17.888 --> 01:22:24.198 - and we want to keep that department greased and moving, which you do every day. I hear this all the 01:22:24.198 --> 01:22:30.508 - time. I like that the temporary training line, which is something we floated a number of years ago, 01:22:30.508 --> 01:22:36.881 - is now a normal practice, probably should have been way before, but a normal practice to function in 01:22:36.881 --> 01:22:40.478 - a organization that's trying to do things the right way. 01:22:40.578 --> 01:22:47.887 - And what I really want to salute is the fact that Darla is willing to stay until the end of January 01:22:47.887 --> 01:22:55.270 - 29th when everyone and their sister knows in your head it would be easier to say I'm done at the end 01:22:55.270 --> 01:23:00.094 - of 2026 I'm going to enjoy holidays and then I'm not going to go. 01:23:00.962 --> 01:23:08.278 - to work and drink my coffee instead. And that is a huge gift to this county. I didn't know how she was 01:23:08.278 --> 01:23:15.026 - going to take it when I asked and she didn't even hesitate. It's it's amazing. That's awesome. 01:23:15.026 --> 01:23:22.556 - Super you. I'm not going to miss the opportunity to tell you how fantastic your department is. The people 01:23:22.556 --> 01:23:30.014 - are amazing and I'm very grateful that I get to work with them every day. And this is a perfect example. 01:23:30.338 --> 01:23:36.856 - of that. Thank you, Darla, for your service. Councilor Iverson and then Vidal. Well, and the reason 01:23:36.856 --> 01:23:43.440 - that I'm in favor of this is not only are your folks amazing, but they're also very busy. And if you 01:23:43.440 --> 01:23:49.958 - just look at the first district, which I represent, whether it's commercial or residential, there's 01:23:49.958 --> 01:23:56.672 - no signs of slowing. So, you know, it's there's just a lot to do. And I know you all are on top of it. 01:23:56.672 --> 01:24:00.062 - So this is really important to get that continuity. 01:24:01.058 --> 01:24:09.717 - Yes, we're super busy. And in the near future, I'd like to talk to you all more about that. But today, 01:24:09.717 --> 01:24:18.376 - I want to talk about making sure Darla can do the things. And I appreciate the comment. Every day, the 01:24:18.376 --> 01:24:27.035 - department, the folks in the department work hard to say yes to everybody, to help them accomplish the 01:24:27.035 --> 01:24:30.398 - buildings that they want to accomplish. 01:24:30.786 --> 01:24:37.969 - We're very lucky, right? The building code is not a no machine. It's not a no thing. It's a it's a yes 01:24:37.969 --> 01:24:44.942 - or that depends or could be easy, but it might be kind of hard thing. And we work very hard to help 01:24:44.942 --> 01:24:51.915 - people navigate that. So again, I'm super proud of the department. So you talked a lot about Darla, 01:24:51.915 --> 01:24:57.982 - but I'm interested to know how long she's worked in your department and or the county. 01:24:58.530 --> 01:25:06.706 - Um, well, uh, Darla worked with, um, city Bloomington planning for a number of years. And I think this 01:25:06.706 --> 01:25:14.644 - is the fourth year, uh, roughly working with the department came in at a, at a time where we really 01:25:14.644 --> 01:25:23.216 - needed somebody to come in and kind of, uh, stabilize some things and her experience, um, with construction 01:25:23.216 --> 01:25:27.582 - and with, with city government was very, very helpful. 01:25:28.034 --> 01:25:39.775 - And I'm sure she's excited about spending time at the lake and doing all of the things we all hope to 01:25:39.775 --> 01:25:51.746 - get to. But she, again, without hesitation, she agreed to stay and make sure that we could keep moving. 01:25:51.746 --> 01:25:56.350 - As you all know, Darla and Jennifer are 01:25:56.450 --> 01:26:03.479 - Are the reason that we keep moving efficiently in there that they're the first contact with everybody 01:26:03.479 --> 01:26:10.508 - who calls the office every day and so keeping you know keeping this continuity is is hugely important 01:26:10.508 --> 01:26:17.950 - for us. When you said something earlier, and I just want to give you a little bit of credit, you said that. 01:26:18.338 --> 01:26:24.853 - You have a good group of people that you work with and good leaders like that starts at the top. And 01:26:24.853 --> 01:26:31.304 - so that also is with you. So your enthusiasm obviously shows. And I'm sure you take it back to your 01:26:31.304 --> 01:26:37.819 - team because I can just feel the energy. But yeah, I just wanted to say that that's also a testament 01:26:37.819 --> 01:26:44.656 - to you, too. I'll be honest. I can I can be grouchy grouchy old dude every now and then. You know, you're 01:26:44.656 --> 01:26:46.398 - really trying this, right? 01:26:46.850 --> 01:26:56.640 - For the most part, we just try to work with folks to get things done. And every now and then, you get 01:26:56.640 --> 01:27:06.527 - a surprise and we just try to enjoy it and make sure we can help people get through the things. That's 01:27:06.527 --> 01:27:09.502 - my line, Bobby. Don't do that. 01:27:09.858 --> 01:27:17.691 - Thank you. We'll move on to public comment. If there's public comment on this item, you can come forward 01:27:17.691 --> 01:27:25.226 - to the lectern here in the room, or you can raise your hand via Teams. And seeing none, maybe please 01:27:25.226 --> 01:27:33.059 - have a roll call vote. Councilor Decker? Yes. Councilor Crossley? Yes. Councilor Iverson? Yes. Councilor 01:27:33.059 --> 01:27:39.102 - Feidl? Yes. Councilor Wilts? Yes. Councilor Henry? Yes. Motion passes unanimous. 01:27:39.778 --> 01:27:45.243 - Thank you all so much. Enjoy the rest of the evening. We'll talk to you soon. Yes, thank you. All right. 01:27:45.243 --> 01:27:47.742 - Next up is the item from the health department. 01:27:48.162 --> 01:27:57.677 - Council, I move to approve the Health Department's request and fund 8112-9626 DIS Strengthening Prevention 01:27:57.677 --> 01:28:06.570 - Grant for an additional appropriation of $104,977.42 in the personnel category and $5,022.58 in the 01:28:06.570 --> 01:28:12.350 - services category for a total appropriation of $110,000. Second. 01:28:19.170 --> 01:28:26.503 - We got a motion in a second. We're here joined by our financial manager of the Health Department. Mr. 01:28:26.503 --> 01:28:34.196 - Goss, welcome. Good evening. The Health Department is requesting approval of the additional appropriations 01:28:34.196 --> 01:28:41.457 - for $110,000 additional award to the STD Strengthening Prevention Grant. This funding supports three 01:28:41.457 --> 01:28:49.150 - full-time positions that cover 16 counties and District 7. The Indiana Department of Health also funds one 01:28:49.282 --> 01:28:56.497 - state employee based out of the health department to help support services within district seven and 01:28:56.497 --> 01:29:04.070 - occasionally other districts as needed. Services provided by our dedicated staff include STI HIV testing, 01:29:04.070 --> 01:29:11.213 - partner notification and linkage to care, case follow up to ensure proper treatment and prevention, 01:29:11.213 --> 01:29:17.214 - retention or reinfection, prevent reinfection and education and outreach to promote 01:29:17.378 --> 01:29:25.054 - prevention and safe practices. Just to give you a few current items that staff are doing. Staff have 01:29:25.054 --> 01:29:32.958 - been offering walk-in testing on Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m. and averaging between 4 to 10 walk-ins each 01:29:32.958 --> 01:29:40.634 - Thursday. Staff has also been providing outreach testing at Shalom, Indiana Recovery Alliance in the 01:29:40.634 --> 01:29:41.470 - back door. 01:29:43.170 --> 01:29:51.534 - testing totals for October in Monroe County. We've had 55 individuals provided with chlamydia gonorrhea 01:29:51.534 --> 01:29:59.818 - testing, 25 individuals provided with syphilis testing, and six individuals provided with HIV testing. 01:29:59.818 --> 01:30:08.183 - Indiana Department of Health is also reporting that preliminary data is showing that positive STI rates 01:30:08.183 --> 01:30:12.606 - are lower in 2026 than in 2025. And that's all I have. 01:30:14.178 --> 01:30:21.093 - Thank you for that update. Any other questions or comments? I see both Health Department liaison hands 01:30:21.093 --> 01:30:28.008 - rise up. So I'll go Councilor Iverson and then Henry next. I know we've been talking a lot about these 01:30:28.008 --> 01:30:35.057 - DIS positions over time. How many vacancies do you have in those positions? Zero. So we're fully staffed 01:30:35.057 --> 01:30:40.830 - and we're doing all the intervention possible. That's great. That's really wonderful. 01:30:41.122 --> 01:30:46.837 - Thank you, Madam President, and again, Eric, thanks. As I said to Linnea earlier, thank you. I know 01:30:46.837 --> 01:30:53.010 - that you're all doing amazing work in the middle of a storm here over there with leadership side. Councilor 01:30:53.010 --> 01:30:59.182 - Iverson did ask the question I was going to ask about the current staffing. But are there current vacancies 01:30:59.182 --> 01:31:05.298 - that we can't fill right now in the health department? Is there anything you know of? I know it's somewhat 01:31:05.298 --> 01:31:11.070 - unrelated, but. We're at a standstill right now as far as as far as hiring any open positions. Yeah. 01:31:11.170 --> 01:31:16.595 - And I would just take a moment to just explain to the public and my peers here that one of the challenges 01:31:16.595 --> 01:31:22.174 - we had and this isn't there. I don't expect you to comment on this. One of the challenges we've had with the 01:31:22.338 --> 01:31:27.468 - kind of ripping apart of the Board of Health in the manner in which people were dismissed and added 01:31:27.468 --> 01:31:32.854 - was it left us with a continuity of government problem. We don't have the ability to hire or fire people 01:31:32.854 --> 01:31:37.983 - through a temporary health officer right now. That was her contract by the board commissioners. And 01:31:37.983 --> 01:31:43.113 - it also leaves the fact that we I'm not sure what the current state of the Board of Health is right 01:31:43.113 --> 01:31:48.448 - now with the appointees if they've been starting to get to work. But as somebody who had a preparedness 01:31:48.448 --> 01:31:50.910 - role once upon a time in this county to to pull 01:31:51.010 --> 01:31:56.552 - We pull the carpet out from underneath our decision making at a critical moment where we can't hire 01:31:56.552 --> 01:32:02.371 - remove things around all we can do is maintain and get the grant money in, and we have vacancies sitting 01:32:02.371 --> 01:32:08.190 - there every single day is a day where something can happen in the county where we may be regretting the. 01:32:11.042 --> 01:32:16.877 - hazard way by which that Board of Health has been reorganized in the past month. That's not on you. 01:32:16.877 --> 01:32:22.771 - You guys are doing amazing work. You all are doing great, amazing work to keep the place running. As 01:32:22.771 --> 01:32:29.131 - Councilor Iverson said, the public is not noticing any real changes there, but we all know it's a challenge. 01:32:29.131 --> 01:32:35.550 - But again, thank you all for what you're doing. I appreciate your work. Thank you. All right. Seeing no other 01:32:35.746 --> 01:32:43.189 - further discussion from Council will move to public comment. If there's public comment on this item, 01:32:43.189 --> 01:32:50.852 - you can raise your hand via Teams and you can come forward to the election here in the room. And seeing 01:32:50.852 --> 01:32:58.369 - none, may we please have a roll call vote. Councilor Crossley? Yes. Councilor Iverson? Yes. Councilor 01:32:58.369 --> 01:33:04.190 - Feidl? Yes. Councilor Wilts? Yes. Councilor Henry? Yes. Councilor Decker? Yes. 01:33:04.354 --> 01:33:14.510 - Motion passes unanimous. Thank you. We have a couple of items from the aviation department. Council, 01:33:14.510 --> 01:33:24.465 - I move to approve the aviation department's request and fund 1186-0000 rainy day for an additional 01:33:24.465 --> 01:33:30.398 - appropriation of $150,000 in the capital category. Second. 01:33:36.706 --> 01:33:45.901 - Okay, we got a motion in a second and the agenda says Mr. Leverty and Kim Schill. Actually, Amy Garst 01:33:45.901 --> 01:33:55.277 - is online and she can be promoted. Okay, all right. So TSD, if we can promote Ms. Garst. And Ms. Garst, 01:33:55.277 --> 01:34:05.374 - once you are promoted, you should be able to unmute and take it away. Good evening. So Carlos couldn't make it. 01:34:05.954 --> 01:34:13.517 - So what we are talking about is I cannot believe it's almost been a year since we got hit by a tornado. 01:34:13.517 --> 01:34:21.081 - Time goes by fast. So I know counselor Henry Carlos has talked to you about this regarding the $150,000 01:34:21.081 --> 01:34:28.499 - deductible that we need to help move this along for the insurance. We're getting close. There's still 01:34:28.499 --> 01:34:32.862 - a lot of items that need to be taken care of, but you know, 01:34:33.026 --> 01:34:40.297 - the recoverable depreciation we have to prove that we have that deductible and so we're needing your 01:34:40.297 --> 01:34:47.135 - help with that. Thank you very much. Any questions or comments from council on this item? Yes, 01:34:47.135 --> 01:34:54.694 - Council Henry. Thank you Madam President and yeah I would say this I too cannot believe it's been almost 01:34:54.694 --> 01:34:55.486 - a year but 01:34:55.618 --> 01:35:01.157 - sometimes that's how slow insurance claims and money moves around. And I would just remind the public 01:35:01.157 --> 01:35:06.696 - that we've been talking about using the rainy day fund to help with these types of issues and to make 01:35:06.696 --> 01:35:12.290 - sure we can move the insurance money back into the county. I just want to check one more time with the 01:35:12.290 --> 01:35:17.829 - auditor that this is the way that we've set it up moving forward and all concerned or happy with this 01:35:17.829 --> 01:35:23.259 - arrangement. But did you want to speak on that? That this is really the last step in a conversation 01:35:23.259 --> 01:35:25.214 - we've been having since the winter. 01:35:25.346 --> 01:35:32.527 - at this point. Yes, thank you for the opportunity. I agree. I don't really have much to add, but just 01:35:32.527 --> 01:35:39.638 - to piggyback on what you were saying, this is one of those unavoidable circumstances that we kind of 01:35:39.638 --> 01:35:46.961 - set the rainy day fund up for. And this is just that last piece. Just I believe you collectively agreed 01:35:46.961 --> 01:35:53.790 - to cover that deductible. And so this is just putting that in place. Thank you. All right. We'll 01:35:55.234 --> 01:36:03.259 - This is going in and out. Seeing no other further questions or comments, we will move to public comment. 01:36:03.259 --> 01:36:11.054 - Raise your hand via Teams or come forward to the lectern here in the room. Seeing none, may we please 01:36:11.054 --> 01:36:18.925 - have a roll call vote? Councilor Henry? Yes. Councilor Decker? Yes. Councilor Crossley? Yes. Councilor 01:36:18.925 --> 01:36:23.358 - Iverson? Yes. Councilor Feidl? Yes. Councilor Wilts? Yes. 01:36:23.586 --> 01:36:32.822 - This motion passes unanimously. All right. Next up is item D. Council, I move to approve the aviation 01:36:32.822 --> 01:36:42.057 - department's request and fund 4801-0000 construction fund for an additional appropriation of $133,000 01:36:42.057 --> 01:36:50.206 - in the services category. Second. All right, we got a motion and a second. Garst is gone. 01:36:57.474 --> 01:37:10.405 - She said she was disconnected. Hang on. OK. Like the auditor OK, sorry. I know where it's. Working out 01:37:10.405 --> 01:37:23.461 - there we go. There's my voice. OK, I spoke at a length with Mr. Liberty and Miss Garce about this. This 01:37:23.461 --> 01:37:27.102 - is what I believe was tabled 01:37:27.202 --> 01:37:35.276 - was it tabled from the previous meeting? Yes. And I think it was just the incorrect fund. So I think 01:37:35.276 --> 01:37:43.270 - we moved to this fund, which is the correct fund, and they're asking just for an appropriation here 01:37:43.270 --> 01:37:51.824 - for the six months. Okay. All right. Thank you very much for that. Is there anybody that has any questions 01:37:51.824 --> 01:37:54.942 - or comments on this? All right. Seeing 01:37:55.234 --> 01:38:03.212 - and I don't see Mr. Garst back. We'll move to public comment. If there's public comment on this item, 01:38:03.212 --> 01:38:11.033 - you can raise your hand via Teams or come forward to the lectern here in the room. And still seeing 01:38:11.033 --> 01:38:18.932 - none, Mary, please have a roll call vote. Councilor Deckard? Yes. Councilor Crossley? Yes. Councilor 01:38:18.932 --> 01:38:24.798 - Iverson? Yes. Councilor Feidl? Yes. Councilor Wilts? Yes. Councilor Henry? 01:38:25.570 --> 01:38:35.322 - motion passes unanimous all right thank you next up is um items from the council office uh yeah council 01:38:35.322 --> 01:38:44.700 - i moved to open for discussion and possible approval of resolution 2026-40 to temporarily reinstate 01:38:44.700 --> 01:38:54.171 - PAC meetings for salary study purposes we got a motion and a second mr. narkin so resolution 2026-40 01:38:54.171 --> 01:38:55.390 - um addresses 01:38:56.194 --> 01:39:03.603 - on pausing the PAC committee meetings. So in March of 2025, in light of Senate Bill 1, the council had 01:39:03.603 --> 01:39:10.869 - put a pause on PAC meetings and sending things to WIS. Then in December, and the original resolution 01:39:10.869 --> 01:39:18.206 - had the pause ending in December of 2025. In December of 2025, the pause was continued until December 01:39:18.370 --> 01:39:26.120 - the end of this year, unless renewed, repelled, or amended prior to that date. So what this resolution 01:39:26.120 --> 01:39:34.021 - does is amend basically resolution 2025-14A and lifts the pause on PAC meetings, but the pause is lifted 01:39:34.021 --> 01:39:41.545 - specifically to allow PAC to meet, to analyze the need for a salary study, evaluate possible firms, 01:39:41.545 --> 01:39:47.038 - organizations to conduct such, and then make a recommendation to council 01:39:47.362 --> 01:39:56.545 - the need to maintain fair and competitive wages on a path forward that balances fiscal responsibility 01:39:56.545 --> 01:40:05.999 - and the need to maintain fair and competitive wage wages. Because this is the understanding that I guess 01:40:05.999 --> 01:40:15.902 - this was the last meeting in October. Like this was discussed. Um because the idea from watching that meeting 01:40:16.098 --> 01:40:22.931 - I just kind of want to get the ball rolling now so that salary studies, should we continue forward with 01:40:22.931 --> 01:40:29.633 - that happens? Okay. Yes, Councilor Iverson. As president of PAC, I clearly support this and I want to 01:40:29.633 --> 01:40:36.467 - make a couple of points. First of all, the need for a salary study that impacts every single department 01:40:36.467 --> 01:40:43.497 - in county government has never been more clear as it has been tonight where we have yet another department 01:40:43.497 --> 01:40:45.534 - coming and asking for a raise. 01:40:45.986 --> 01:40:53.538 - So what I said in my statement, I think, was pretty forceful, but I think it's true. We do have these 01:40:53.538 --> 01:41:01.016 - different categories of employees, and some folks are at the bottom there, and we need to be looking 01:41:01.016 --> 01:41:08.420 - out for every single employee here in county government. And so a countywide salary study, I think, 01:41:08.420 --> 01:41:15.454 - is the way to go. I will note that work has already begun on collecting requests for proposals 01:41:15.874 --> 01:41:24.104 - from groups that could do a salary study. For those of you who are frustrated with WIS, those requests 01:41:24.104 --> 01:41:32.174 - for proposals include WIS, but also go beyond WIS. We're actively looking for other organizations to 01:41:32.174 --> 01:41:40.723 - do this salary study. So we're going to have the idea here is that should PAC be reinstated with council's 01:41:40.723 --> 01:41:44.798 - vote tonight, that those deliberations will happen 01:41:44.930 --> 01:41:51.987 - in front of cameras, in front of microphones to talk about the different options and the possibilities. 01:41:51.987 --> 01:41:58.840 - Number two is that in this ordinance that while PAC will meet for the specific purpose, council will 01:41:58.840 --> 01:42:05.625 - continue to temporarily suspend consideration of requests for new positions, reclassifications, and 01:42:05.625 --> 01:42:10.782 - or job description amendments resulting in increased cost to Monroe County. 01:42:11.106 --> 01:42:18.127 - While we're looking at this question of salaries, we're also going to be maintaining our fiscal stewardship 01:42:18.127 --> 01:42:24.369 - of county dollars, which, as we just went through the budget process, is not overly significant 01:42:24.369 --> 01:42:30.870 - or substantial that we can, I think, lift that. And then, actually, let me pause there because I'll 01:42:30.870 --> 01:42:37.046 - let other folks talk. But I think those two points I think I wanted to make. Chancellor Henry. 01:42:37.046 --> 01:42:39.582 - Thank you, Madam President. Thank you. 01:42:40.610 --> 01:42:50.584 - Councilor Iverson for that walkthrough. Can I just ask, I had a comment, but you said something that 01:42:50.584 --> 01:43:00.755 - kind of got my attention. Who's we? Who put out the RFP? So let me be clear that the request for folks 01:43:00.755 --> 01:43:06.878 - to do a salary study from WISC is something that I asked for. 01:43:07.138 --> 01:43:13.146 - And then other organizations that might be interested has not that hasn't happened yet. So it's not 01:43:13.146 --> 01:43:19.395 - like there's been a grand like thing that's been gone out from the county. Yeah, I mean, because I hope 01:43:19.395 --> 01:43:25.584 - there's an opportunity to maybe craft what we're asking for in the RFP. And I'll raise a very specific 01:43:25.584 --> 01:43:30.270 - item, which is what I may offer an amendment on tonight. So I have found that 01:43:30.850 --> 01:43:37.956 - Discussing salary in a vacuum probably doesn't get at maybe some root cause problems we're seeing. When 01:43:37.956 --> 01:43:44.789 - I hear departments come and say, you know, we need, they focus on the salary increase or they focus 01:43:44.789 --> 01:43:51.827 - on filling FTEs, but it's what's behind those numbers. It's the work hours that that employee does for 01:43:51.827 --> 01:43:59.070 - the county. And I think for as many employees we will find if we were going into a wage hour study on it, 01:43:59.298 --> 01:44:06.607 - We would find there are probably workers in the county that are putting in more than an FTE to do their 01:44:06.607 --> 01:44:13.776 - labor, and we may find there are positions that are not quite reaching an FTE to do their labor. That 01:44:13.776 --> 01:44:21.296 - is a hard conversation to have, but it is a better basis to then figure out what the salaries or positions 01:44:21.296 --> 01:44:24.670 - ought to be in a very long-range understanding. 01:44:24.770 --> 01:44:29.784 - Careful to say this, because I know that once you start naming types of positions, people might hear, 01:44:29.784 --> 01:44:34.946 - oh my gosh, he's talking about me. But I recall, and I am going to call this one out specifically, we've 01:44:34.946 --> 01:44:39.862 - had a conversation in the past year or two about office workers that have the role of answering the 01:44:39.862 --> 01:44:40.894 - phone in the county. 01:44:41.186 --> 01:44:48.101 - And I've heard a range of how different departments manage that. Aviation was just here, for example, 01:44:48.101 --> 01:44:54.881 - they use an automated service. Others have said that they need a part-time role to answer the phone 01:44:54.881 --> 01:45:01.661 - in their office. And that wage labor piece of like, well, if those hours could be done in different 01:45:01.661 --> 01:45:08.305 - ways, could we free up that time or that FTE to deliver on other services in the county would be, 01:45:08.305 --> 01:45:10.814 - I think, a critical part of a study. 01:45:10.914 --> 01:45:16.213 - Um, especially given how rare it is for us to conduct a salary and wage study, but, but it's to get 01:45:16.213 --> 01:45:21.619 - to the hours and then build from there a little bit and give us that better understanding of, of what 01:45:21.619 --> 01:45:27.130 - it is we're, we're building it. This is going to be an uncomfortable study regardless, but I would just 01:45:27.130 --> 01:45:32.535 - offer that as an example, something that may need to be added. And I think that's completely apt that 01:45:32.535 --> 01:45:38.046 - it has been a long time since we've done one of these things. And you think about the technology that's 01:45:38.046 --> 01:45:39.742 - changed in the past five years. 01:45:40.194 --> 01:45:47.571 - you think about the ways that we do our jobs differently. There's just a lot of work that's going to 01:45:47.571 --> 01:45:55.241 - have to go into this to think about the salaries of Monroe County employees. Thank you, Madam President. 01:45:55.241 --> 01:46:02.910 - Thank you. Yes, Councillor Vita. So I understand wage and salary studies and that sort of thing, and I'm 01:46:03.074 --> 01:46:09.257 - really in favor of it, but I also want to focus on the fact that when we do them, it's really important, 01:46:09.257 --> 01:46:15.381 - I think, to get the employee who does the work involved. In my opinion, it cannot just be a supervisor, 01:46:15.381 --> 01:46:21.387 - and I don't mean to demean the supervisors. They're not actually performing the work eight to five or 01:46:21.387 --> 01:46:25.214 - whatever the hours are every day. So I think it's important that 01:46:25.314 --> 01:46:38.394 - we get a sign off on the employees who are doing the work to say, yes, this is my job, and I agree with 01:46:38.394 --> 01:46:51.473 - what's been recorded here. So I would like to advocate for that. So many thoughts in my head right now. 01:46:51.473 --> 01:46:54.366 - I wasn't aware that we 01:46:56.482 --> 01:47:06.241 - would be doing a salary and wage study just five years after we did one. I don't necessarily think things 01:47:06.241 --> 01:47:15.631 - have changed that much. However, I will vote for PAC to check it out for sure. Because that's the way 01:47:15.631 --> 01:47:25.022 - this seems to be phrased is we're going to discuss it and see what's happening. I'm just not entirely 01:47:26.146 --> 01:47:38.138 - that we're all talking about the same thing. And because what we had before was a salary study. And 01:47:38.138 --> 01:47:50.249 - it was it wasn't at all what counselor Henry is talking about. It didn't involve, I don't think, the 01:47:50.249 --> 01:47:54.686 - employees directly. It did have them 01:47:55.266 --> 01:48:05.599 - perhaps sign off on revised job descriptions afterwards. I was going to say the first salary study that 01:48:05.599 --> 01:48:15.733 - we did, I was involved with the department heads and or the elected officials were the ones that were 01:48:15.733 --> 01:48:23.582 - directing how the job descriptions were to look. Very seldom did the employees 01:48:23.778 --> 01:48:31.564 - themselves were involved in some of these reviews. Now, with at that time, it was during COVID when 01:48:31.564 --> 01:48:39.350 - we did this, I believe. And when we started this study, and so, you know, departments were asked to 01:48:39.350 --> 01:48:47.370 - have their employees, you know, look at these and this kind of things. I don't know because we weren't 01:48:47.370 --> 01:48:53.054 - meeting, you know, kind of thing. So it was all done either via Teams or 01:48:53.314 --> 01:49:01.763 - I'm not sure how it was communicated with department heads to their employees, but I do know that the 01:49:01.763 --> 01:49:10.792 - communications that I and the WIS representatives had was all via the elected official and or the department 01:49:10.792 --> 01:49:19.324 - head. And are we talking about reviewing job descriptions? I believe we would probably need to because 01:49:19.324 --> 01:49:21.726 - just like with the planning, 01:49:22.018 --> 01:49:30.654 - They had not come back during this period of time from 2021. They had certifications that were being 01:49:30.654 --> 01:49:39.889 - required with some of their updates. We've had some others that also have had, you know, state requirements 01:49:39.889 --> 01:49:48.525 - stuff has changed. I think it would be a good idea just to make sure. And as Councilor Iverson said, 01:49:48.525 --> 01:49:51.518 - we've had technology changes where 01:49:52.450 --> 01:50:01.596 - we're having more automation of stuff where maybe they're no longer doing certain things because now 01:50:01.596 --> 01:50:10.742 - it's all being done you know differently so it probably wouldn't hurt i mean things can change a lot 01:50:10.742 --> 01:50:17.534 - in five years mr king well i didn't know when i wanted to add this i would 01:50:17.858 --> 01:50:25.991 - I wanted to also point out that in the sustainability report from FSG, it says there are significant 01:50:25.991 --> 01:50:33.319 - financial questions that the county must address. 2027 budget to discuss wage increases in 01:50:33.319 --> 01:50:41.452 - full implementation of a wage study. So this was also kind of contemplated in the FSG sustainability 01:50:41.452 --> 01:50:46.686 - report. I did not read that paragraph that way, I have to admit. 01:50:46.914 --> 01:50:56.019 - I thought full implementation of, and I thought it said the wage study. I think they were referring 01:50:56.019 --> 01:51:05.124 - to the wage study we did, and we never fully implemented the recommendations of it. Yeah. So that's 01:51:05.124 --> 01:51:14.228 - exactly how I heard that part of FSG's report. That's really interesting. I might have heard what I 01:51:14.228 --> 01:51:15.230 - wanted to. 01:51:16.418 --> 01:51:24.791 - I just say it. Well, again, it might be a good idea for y'all unpack to talk, which is Iris and Wilts 01:51:24.791 --> 01:51:33.083 - and Fidal to just kind of have a discussion. I think I would recommend if I could, like you all just 01:51:33.083 --> 01:51:41.374 - really just chatting it out. I know department heads will be looking and watching if this is what we 01:51:41.698 --> 01:51:49.517 - should do but I think you all really need to get into the meat and potatoes of whatever it is that you 01:51:49.517 --> 01:51:57.640 - want to do and then bring it back to the council and go forth into the universe because we need it because 01:51:57.640 --> 01:52:05.307 - we'll read the same thing and come to radically different conclusions so is there anything else that 01:52:05.307 --> 01:52:09.406 - we need to add oh yes sorry counselor decker the only 01:52:09.538 --> 01:52:17.541 - And I would say that this is a, if that is the route that is gone, it's a process and an exhaustive 01:52:17.541 --> 01:52:25.545 - process. And my hope would be for that exhaustive process, particularly for those administering it, 01:52:25.545 --> 01:52:33.548 - that what was done in 2020 were those incents. Michelle, there were a couple of things that slipped 01:52:33.548 --> 01:52:38.430 - that and Michelle really rode that horse to the finish line. 01:52:38.722 --> 01:52:45.616 - and got people where they needed to be. I think there were things that just 2020 was a weird year, but 01:52:45.616 --> 01:52:52.376 - I will say in 2020 or 2021 when it was done, there was a lot of, oh, I can't believe you've just now 01:52:52.376 --> 01:52:59.068 - gone to the dentist. Why didn't you brush your teeth and floss all this time? I would have to think 01:52:59.068 --> 01:53:04.222 - there'd be a little less of that business. We took a lot of finger pointing, 01:53:04.322 --> 01:53:11.868 - from some of our own people during that time that I would not think come back A because there's different 01:53:11.868 --> 01:53:18.987 - people, but B because we have worked with departments and I don't think things on particularly on a 01:53:18.987 --> 01:53:26.391 - job description got to gross negligence. So I think it'll be a much cleaner process with a very capable 01:53:26.391 --> 01:53:32.798 - administrator who knows the rules of those games. And that's a blessing for this council. 01:53:34.914 --> 01:53:44.450 - I just want to close and make sure that the public knows that in clause three of the now therefore be 01:53:44.450 --> 01:53:53.986 - resolved in this resolution is it lays out the next steps that PAC will meet. We will discuss this in 01:53:53.986 --> 01:54:01.278 - a public meeting. Then it will come back to council for council's full review 01:54:01.506 --> 01:54:09.745 - and then we'll go forward from there. So there's gonna be many more discussions on what exactly is a 01:54:09.745 --> 01:54:18.147 - salary study or a wage study? Did FSG recommend it? What's gonna be in an RFP if we do an RFP and that 01:54:18.147 --> 01:54:25.734 - sort of thing? So there's gonna be a lot more conversations. This is not the end all be all. 01:54:25.734 --> 01:54:30.302 - Anybody else? All right. So it's a possible discussion. 01:54:30.498 --> 01:54:37.712 - or discussion and approval. Do we need to make a motion? Okay, so Councilor Iverson. Council, I move 01:54:37.712 --> 01:54:45.569 - to approve resolution 2026-40. Second. All right, we got a motion and a second. Is there any final discussion 01:54:45.569 --> 01:54:53.069 - on this item? Madam President, I would like to offer an amendment to just maybe clarify option one there 01:54:53.069 --> 01:54:55.998 - if we're going to take the vote tonight. 01:54:58.082 --> 01:55:06.466 - I really hate doing amendments on these things because they're always long and the tooth. Under section 01:55:06.466 --> 01:55:15.334 - one, after the words competitive workforce period, I would offer this amendment. The scope of this evaluation 01:55:15.334 --> 01:55:23.879 - shall include consideration of employee compensation, staffing levels, labor hour utilization, department 01:55:23.879 --> 01:55:24.766 - workloads, 01:55:24.930 --> 01:55:32.435 - and other potential alternatives or supplemental funding sources for county function. And I'll send 01:55:32.435 --> 01:55:39.940 - that to Ms. Turner King so we can get it on screen. I would like to second that amendment motion if 01:55:39.940 --> 01:55:47.445 - that was what that was. Great minds think alike, thank you. All right, so we'll wait to see that on 01:55:47.445 --> 01:55:51.198 - the screen here yonder. Trying to throw that too. 01:55:51.362 --> 01:56:01.391 - the table here. While they're doing that, can I ask a question? Yes, absolutely. So it looks, okay, 01:56:01.391 --> 01:56:11.621 - question is, we're allowing meetings to discuss the specific thing, but then that is only through the 01:56:11.621 --> 01:56:20.446 - end of December. Is that correct? So we have one month to meet to discuss this? Oh, no. 01:56:21.026 --> 01:56:31.320 - It's through the next year. Wrong December came down. Sorry. And wise people might suggest that even 01:56:31.320 --> 01:56:41.615 - that's not long enough. Yes, may or may not be looking at you cancel final. Rate it and then read it 01:56:41.615 --> 01:56:50.686 - and then send it. All right, here you go, Molly. I'm sending this via team so we can get 01:56:51.042 --> 01:56:58.538 - I simply offer the amendment, if we are moving forward with the vote tonight, to just add some language 01:56:58.538 --> 01:57:05.961 - about expectations. We can go with may instead of shall in terms of the language, but just to clarify, 01:57:05.961 --> 01:57:13.601 - it's a little more than just redoing a salary setting five years ago. We're looking for some other detail 01:57:13.601 --> 01:57:19.006 - here. That's all that I offer at this point. So is there a way we can just 01:57:19.298 --> 01:57:27.854 - we hear what it is that number one is going to be? I think Ms. Turner-King. Ms. Turner-King, yeah, whenever 01:57:27.854 --> 01:57:35.935 - you have it, yeah. OK, thank you. And again, if the prose is ugly, we can always change a verb. So do 01:57:35.935 --> 01:57:44.095 - we have any thoughts on when PAC will meet then? Oh, did Peter just label? Sorry. What was that? I was 01:57:44.095 --> 01:57:49.086 - just wondering when PAC may meet, right? That's between y'all. 01:57:50.754 --> 01:57:58.181 - We will pull out to the current members. Okay. That would be great, because the existing schedule. 01:57:58.181 --> 01:58:05.908 - Not exist. Pretty much. So we would probably like to, with the intent of doing it as soon as possible, 01:58:05.908 --> 01:58:13.860 - I would think, right? Yeah, thank you. Peter, your intent was to meet as soon as possible. When I reached 01:58:13.860 --> 01:58:17.086 - out to Wagner, Irwin, and Shealy and said, 01:58:17.314 --> 01:58:25.092 - we're thinking about doing this. The very first thing out of their mouth was there's neither nine other 01:58:25.092 --> 01:58:32.647 - counties ahead of you. And we have no idea when you know, so. So there's there is a little bit of a. 01:58:32.647 --> 01:58:40.350 - So does it have to be with no, but to Mr. Henry's point, we need to think about what we're putting out 01:58:40.350 --> 01:58:46.558 - there and who we want. And I think I can do that purpose for us. That's right. And 01:58:46.946 --> 01:58:53.668 - And that meets, I think, some of the language that Mr. Henry just read. But we need to we need to be 01:58:53.668 --> 01:58:59.858 - have this conversation. I think surely somewhere there's some best rated firms that do this, 01:58:59.858 --> 01:59:06.846 - I would think. We have a short list in mind that I should say the council office. I don't have it. There 01:59:06.846 --> 01:59:13.502 - are there are some there are some ideas, but there are more out there and there are more out there. 01:59:17.858 --> 01:59:24.245 - So I think I have the amendment up on the screen, but first I want to check with Councilmember Henry. 01:59:24.245 --> 01:59:30.570 - Is that where you envisioned that sentence going? Yeah, right after there. And again, I'm staring at 01:59:30.570 --> 01:59:37.270 - it on screen now and I'm open to script or grammatical changes here. This was a little fast moving because 01:59:37.270 --> 01:59:41.278 - we're doing it. So I'm not even sure I'm sold on how long it's. 01:59:41.442 --> 01:59:49.520 - but I would just say everything up to departmental workloads I'm good with, and maybe if I, can I offer 01:59:49.520 --> 01:59:57.287 - a friendly amendment, Councilor Wilts, to fix my own grammar? Okay. So the scope of this evaluation 01:59:57.287 --> 02:00:05.132 - shall include, but not be limited to, and then let's remove everything after departmental workloads, 02:00:05.132 --> 02:00:06.142 - just period. 02:00:06.242 --> 02:00:14.718 - because all that stuff about funding is probably outside the scope of this. So let's just drop it at 02:00:14.718 --> 02:00:23.362 - departmental workloads. Would Councilor Wilts be okay with my amendment? I am okay with that. Awesome. 02:00:23.362 --> 02:00:32.510 - Thank you. I have a question though. Shocking. You can ask it. The scope of this evaluation. So the topic of 02:00:32.962 --> 02:00:43.238 - of this paragraph is that we are going to hold meetings to discuss evaluating possible firms to do stuff. 02:00:43.238 --> 02:00:53.514 - Is that the evaluation we're talking about? And that's fine. It's just, we're not talking, I think you're 02:00:53.514 --> 02:01:02.142 - thinking that what we ask the firms to do should include that. And the way it's reading, 02:01:03.074 --> 02:01:14.170 - I just maybe it should say consideration should be given to the following deliverables within that discussion 02:01:14.170 --> 02:01:24.258 - or something because we haven't really gotten there. If I may, I would suggest just making this its 02:01:24.258 --> 02:01:32.126 - own standalone paragraph and then if my computer cooperates and then indicate 02:01:32.226 --> 02:01:42.710 - if pack chooses to or. Some considerations to be incorporated within a salary study shall be. Or something 02:01:42.710 --> 02:01:52.508 - along those effects. I accept your process as my friendly amendment back, however, but the point is 02:01:52.508 --> 02:02:00.542 - to call out some activity here that I want to see before to guide pack. Yeah, and 02:02:01.954 --> 02:02:08.880 - Sorry, Jen's, Jen. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Files flagging. Oh, sorry. Bueller. Bueller. So like I said before, 02:02:08.880 --> 02:02:15.673 - I'd be very interested in having somewhere, I don't know whether it happens in the committee or in the 02:02:15.673 --> 02:02:22.401 - resolution or whatever, about having the fact that the employees should be involved in the actual job 02:02:22.401 --> 02:02:29.063 - descriptions or whatever it is we're going to be looking at. Well, to me, that's going to be whoever 02:02:29.063 --> 02:02:29.854 - we contract 02:02:29.986 --> 02:02:37.573 - This is just to get packed. The way I'm thinking, this is just to get packed together so that we can 02:02:37.573 --> 02:02:45.235 - come up with a plan. You're unpacked. Yes, I understand that. I trust you to hang on to that thought. 02:02:45.235 --> 02:02:52.971 - We'll be able to shake it. So if we don't need it in the resolution, I'm fine. But if it further helps 02:02:52.971 --> 02:02:57.854 - explain what the resolution is for, then I would like it put in. 02:03:01.858 --> 02:03:10.711 - I think that's fine. Just the way that it is. All right. Any other further questions or comments? Okay. 02:03:10.711 --> 02:03:19.819 - We have a motion on the floor for the amendment. So all those in favor of council member Henry's amendment 02:03:19.819 --> 02:03:29.182 - signify by saying aye. All those opposed, same song. All right, motion carries. So we go back to the overall. 02:03:29.762 --> 02:03:37.687 - resolution. Does anybody else have any final questions or comments? Seeing none, we can move to public 02:03:37.687 --> 02:03:45.382 - comment. If there's public comment on this item, entertain us by coming forward to the lectern here 02:03:45.382 --> 02:03:52.999 - in the room or raise your hand via Teams. Hey, look at that. Somebody is, are you not entertained? 02:03:52.999 --> 02:03:58.462 - All right, so you can, I know you missed me. So you, Mr. Randolph can, 02:03:58.882 --> 02:04:08.565 - Unmute yourself and state your name for the record. You'll have again up to three minutes. Thank you 02:04:08.565 --> 02:04:18.152 - so much. Just wanted to make sure I'm coming in a bit clearer than early. Yes, so much better. When 02:04:18.152 --> 02:04:25.630 - I first read the agenda, this is one main reason I wanted to be here tonight. 02:04:27.170 --> 02:04:37.548 - comment earlier, so I'm sorry if there was difficulty hearing me. I support this because I think it's 02:04:37.548 --> 02:04:47.824 - a great first step, but I also mentioned that we need to be a little proactive on these discussions, 02:04:47.824 --> 02:04:56.574 - so we're not in the same place that planning themselves where we're being reactive to 02:04:56.994 --> 02:05:13.134 - uh, pay, especially in a government body. I'll say it as it is, um, the city's one, a lot of overlap 02:05:13.134 --> 02:05:26.238 - of what our employees do as a whole where, uh, I don't think that this particular 02:05:28.578 --> 02:05:38.778 - motion covers what we can do now to make sure that we're not reacting. I've heard Council reopen PACs 02:05:38.778 --> 02:05:48.878 - as a whole, but I'm very supportive of it and I'm very supportive of the amendment and Councilmember 02:05:48.878 --> 02:05:54.878 - Feidl's point about including the employees to get a better 02:05:55.234 --> 02:06:05.675 - understanding of exactly what a day-to-day looks like for the entire employee school of Monroe County 02:06:05.675 --> 02:06:16.219 - and I think this would also negate what kind of experience over the last several months where you hear 02:06:16.219 --> 02:06:25.022 - people advocating on a case-by-case basis. I'm fortunate enough to be able to do that 02:06:25.282 --> 02:06:35.019 - laterally, but not all folks are. So I agree with the comprehensive employee study, but I also think 02:06:35.019 --> 02:06:44.661 - we need to have a place where we can have these discussions so we're not just reactive to the point 02:06:44.661 --> 02:06:54.398 - where we're losing institutional knowledge and have an issue with employee attraction and retention. 02:06:55.906 --> 02:07:06.463 - the council will bring this up and having this discussion. So thank you. Thank you. All right. Are there 02:07:06.463 --> 02:07:16.618 - any other public commenters wishing to speak on this item? All right. Seeing none, maybe please have 02:07:16.618 --> 02:07:25.566 - a roll call vote. Councilor Crossley? Yes. Councilor Iverson? Yes. Councilor Feidl? Yes. 02:07:25.730 --> 02:07:35.692 - Councilor Henry? Yes. Councilor Deckard? Yes. Motion passes unanimous. I was so enthusiastic. Okay. 02:07:35.692 --> 02:07:46.450 - All right. So next up is item F. Council, I move to open for discussion and possible approval of resolution 02:07:46.450 --> 02:07:54.718 - 2026-41, the use of overtime budget reporting for the 2027 budgetary year. Second. 02:07:56.386 --> 02:08:04.599 - We got a motion and a second, and we'll go back to Mr. McCain. So this resolution is in its exact form 02:08:04.599 --> 02:08:12.971 - the last time it was amended by council. It was getting confusing to keep going back to resolution 2025, 02:08:12.971 --> 02:08:21.024 - 41A, BC, whatever version. And so this would extend the overtime restrictions for the 2027 budgetary 02:08:21.024 --> 02:08:26.366 - year in exactly the same fashion that they exist currently, except 02:08:26.498 --> 02:08:35.550 - it does extend the expiration date of the resolution to December 31st of 2027 unless renewed rescinded 02:08:35.550 --> 02:08:41.790 - or amended prior to that date. Any questions or comments on this item? 02:08:58.370 --> 02:09:11.849 - So there's none. Okay. So there's none. And so we need a motion. Council, I move to adopt resolution 02:09:11.849 --> 02:09:26.130 - 2026-41. Second. All right, we got a motion and a second. Is there any other further questions or comments 02:09:26.130 --> 02:09:27.998 - on this item? 02:09:30.178 --> 02:09:38.643 - Okay. All good. It's okay. It's all right. Public comment. It is your time to speak. So if you have 02:09:38.643 --> 02:09:47.108 - a particular comment on this item, you can raise your hand via Teams or come forward to the lectern 02:09:47.108 --> 02:09:55.658 - here in the room. All right. And seeing none, maybe please have a roll call vote. Councilor Iverson? 02:09:55.658 --> 02:09:59.806 - Yes. Councilor Feidl? Yes. Councilor Wilts? Yes. 02:10:00.450 --> 02:10:07.393 - Councilor Henry? Yes. Councilor Deckard? Yes. Councilor Crossley? Yes. Motion passes unanimous. 02:10:07.393 --> 02:10:14.770 - All right, thank you. Next up is item G. Council, I move to open for discussion the possible approval 02:10:14.770 --> 02:10:22.075 - of resolution 2026-42 suspending recognition of the knowledge skills and abilities often referred to 02:10:22.075 --> 02:10:29.886 - as KSA practice for the 2027 budgetary year. Second. All right, we got motion and a second Mr. Turner-King. 02:10:33.058 --> 02:10:40.755 - So this resolution goes through the history of the KSA pause that began in May of 2025 and then was 02:10:40.755 --> 02:10:48.760 - renewed to extend through December 31st of 2026. The only major, the only real change to the resolution 02:10:48.760 --> 02:10:56.842 - is that it would extend the expiration date to the end of 2027 unless renewed rescinded or amended prior 02:10:56.842 --> 02:11:02.846 - to that date. All right. Any questions or comments from council on this item? 02:11:06.338 --> 02:11:12.781 - Sorry. Yes, I saw a hand and I looked over and it was Councilmember Henry. Thank you, Madam President. 02:11:12.781 --> 02:11:19.036 - Do we have, I mean, I know this has been going on a bit, but it does relate to the salary study now 02:11:19.036 --> 02:11:25.541 - in terms of a question. I mean, the use of the KSA is I mean, we're, you know, the point of having them 02:11:25.541 --> 02:11:27.230 - is to recognize when we've 02:11:27.394 --> 02:11:34.403 - put something on the market where we're bringing somebody in at, in terms of where to bring them on 02:11:34.403 --> 02:11:41.412 - salary, mid, high level, whatever. Do we have any long range data on the impact of not doing versus 02:11:41.412 --> 02:11:48.561 - doing this? And if we don't, that's fine. But I'm going to maybe throw that on the pile of this study 02:11:48.561 --> 02:11:51.294 - to say, with their KSAs at this point. 02:11:51.490 --> 02:11:57.655 - if we've suspended so long. I mean, does anyone know? I mean, I was asking into the air. I don't know 02:11:57.655 --> 02:12:03.700 - if anyone has a thought on this. Do we have good data on the impact of this? I was going to say I'm 02:12:03.700 --> 02:12:10.167 - unaware of any data, but then Miss Shell started shaking her head. So perhaps you'd like to add something. 02:12:10.167 --> 02:12:16.272 - I was just going to say we've heard from the prosecutor's office several times where they as well as 02:12:16.272 --> 02:12:20.926 - the public defender's office where they're having trouble recruiting people. 02:12:21.506 --> 02:12:30.509 - Because the ones that they really, really want are coming with experience from other counties, and they 02:12:30.509 --> 02:12:39.339 - don't want to start at that base rate. So since we have put these on pause, they are not getting what 02:12:39.339 --> 02:12:48.168 - they feel like people that are ready to just jump into those positions where they have to be trained. 02:12:48.168 --> 02:12:51.198 - But as far as the actual data, no. 02:12:51.586 --> 02:12:58.086 - But I recall this is but it's been a while since we've had a request from like the prosecutor's office 02:12:58.086 --> 02:13:04.523 - to waive that right. So they could bring in a case. And I don't like camera. It's been a bit. I mean, 02:13:04.523 --> 02:13:11.149 - we've we've been on pause. Yeah, they can't request it. They can't request it. OK, so that's where we've 02:13:11.149 --> 02:13:17.712 - been. OK, maybe that's where why it's been so long. OK. OK. Now, I think that's it for thank you, Madam 02:13:17.712 --> 02:13:21.246 - President. OK. Any other further questions or comments? 02:13:24.482 --> 02:13:34.823 - I will save it for PAC. Okay, all right. And now we would need to have a motion. Council, I move to 02:13:34.823 --> 02:13:45.163 - approve resolution 2026-42. Second. All right, we got a motion and a second. I'm freezing. Is there 02:13:45.163 --> 02:13:53.022 - any other final questions or comments on this item? All right, seeing none. 02:13:53.282 --> 02:14:00.384 - We will move to public comment. If there's public comment on this item, you can raise your hand via 02:14:00.384 --> 02:14:07.628 - Teams or come forward to the lectern here in the room. And seeing none, maybe please have a roll call 02:14:07.628 --> 02:14:15.298 - vote. Councilor Wilts? Yes. Councilor Henry? Yes. Councilor Deckard? Yes. Councilor Crosley? Yes. Councilor 02:14:15.298 --> 02:14:20.766 - Iverson? Yes. And I'll move to the record that Councilor Feidl stepped away. 02:14:21.794 --> 02:14:30.820 - So the motion passes unanimous five to zero. Thank you very much. And the last item of our agenda is 02:14:30.820 --> 02:14:40.115 - the, it is already that time of year where we started talking about our 2027 calendar. And so I'm gonna 02:14:40.115 --> 02:14:48.158 - look to Michelle and she will take it away. Okay, so in the packet, I provided a calendar 02:14:48.738 --> 02:15:00.316 - that I'm proposing for council to consider, and I'll put it on the screen. This calendar, and you all 02:15:00.316 --> 02:15:12.007 - also have copies of it in front of you. This calendar is what I call the calendar with deviations. And 02:15:12.007 --> 02:15:18.590 - this mimics what I've heard from you guys with regards to 02:15:19.010 --> 02:15:31.912 - how we were meeting. So in June, we took a summer break. So I removed or there's no meeting scheduled 02:15:31.912 --> 02:15:38.110 - for the first meeting of June. During the budget 02:15:50.914 --> 02:16:01.124 - So during the budget sessions in September, we had two weeks of three meetings each. And so there was 02:16:01.124 --> 02:16:11.433 - a mention that maybe the first meeting of September during our budget sessions that we would not meet. 02:16:11.433 --> 02:16:20.542 - So that's why the 14th half is being removed. And then Christmas, typically we have always 02:16:21.154 --> 02:16:43.530 - canceled that meeting, but so I'm just asking to, you know, go ahead and schedule it as a canceled meeting. 02:16:43.530 --> 02:16:50.782 - Did you have anything else to add? 02:16:50.978 --> 02:17:04.159 - I'm going. Yes, sorry, I'm like I I know I updated this and the wrong calendar got put in so the one 02:17:04.159 --> 02:17:17.470 - that you really need to look at is right here on the screen and the reason for that is. If we do the. 02:17:17.634 --> 02:17:25.825 - the public here, you have to have so many days in between your budget sessions, your advertising of 02:17:25.825 --> 02:17:34.180 - those, you know, the and then so the public hearing and then you got to have so many days between the 02:17:34.180 --> 02:17:42.780 - public hearing and the adoption. So actually, this is the one that I really want is we're going to start 02:17:42.780 --> 02:17:46.302 - the budget sessions September 1st. Because 02:17:47.650 --> 02:17:57.390 - in order to have a public hearing at the first of October, you've got to have 10 days between the here 02:17:57.390 --> 02:18:06.942 - and being able to advertise. So we would have to advertise this week right here of September to give 02:18:06.942 --> 02:18:15.358 - us that amount of days in order to do that. So we would have to start September 1st, um, 02:18:17.314 --> 02:18:26.941 - And then we'd have three days in that first week following the Labor Day, and then no meeting on the 02:18:26.941 --> 02:18:36.758 - 14th within the two days following September. That's why I was kind of having a brain fog there going, 02:18:36.758 --> 02:18:44.478 - this doesn't look right. But this is the calendar I really am presenting to you. 02:18:45.858 --> 02:18:53.894 - what we did this year was we went and had all of we scheduled all of the meetings up front, canceled 02:18:53.894 --> 02:19:01.850 - as we went. But this way, if we go ahead and just schedule them as canceled, departments know ahead 02:19:01.850 --> 02:19:10.125 - of time what's going on. So but it's whatever you guys want is really. And the other reason too is like 02:19:10.125 --> 02:19:15.774 - not to have meetings until the end of September is simply because like 02:19:16.386 --> 02:19:25.690 - It's a lot to do budget hearings and have a meeting as well. And I know I'm thinking of all of us, but 02:19:25.690 --> 02:19:35.085 - I think with respect to all staff that have to be here and their teams have to be here, this just gives 02:19:35.085 --> 02:19:43.486 - people one less meeting that they have to prepare and go through as well. And then the June, 02:19:44.162 --> 02:19:50.494 - earlier this like in June we did that this year and I tend to think that that was that was good because 02:19:50.494 --> 02:19:56.644 - it gave people a break again it's not so much that we're giving ourselves as council members a break 02:19:56.644 --> 02:20:02.855 - even though it's really good but in the end just like we've talked about you know and this evening is 02:20:02.855 --> 02:20:09.126 - trying to make sure that we're looking out for staff because they also have to be here too so whatever 02:20:09.126 --> 02:20:09.918 - we set staff 02:20:10.274 --> 02:20:16.422 - whether it's auditor's office and our council staff office, are impacted by what we do. So I just think 02:20:16.422 --> 02:20:22.392 - that this would be helpful. I see your hand, Councilor. Thank you, Madam President. We have a unique 02:20:22.392 --> 02:20:28.303 - variable here, which I'm not sure we'll know until after January 1st as to whether or not the Board 02:20:28.303 --> 02:20:34.215 - of Commissioners are going to move their meetings to the evening, which would impact the Thursday's 02:20:34.215 --> 02:20:40.126 - schedule. So if that happens, what's our flexibility to move around on our Thursdays during budget? 02:20:41.154 --> 02:20:51.236 - is we would probably have, we'll both be sitting here. I mean, that's a big yes. I mean, we're setting 02:20:51.236 --> 02:21:01.123 - the schedule now. Our schedule's first. There's more of us. Sure is. It's just a thought. I mean, it 02:21:01.123 --> 02:21:10.814 - may happen. I would hope that Coolerheads would prevail and we would be able to work that out with 02:21:10.946 --> 02:21:18.152 - the commissioners I Tend to think that that would be something as I look to the commissioner like Yeah, 02:21:18.152 --> 02:21:25.080 - I think that would be something that we can all talk about once that happens There's a couple other 02:21:25.080 --> 02:21:32.147 - things that's to like about this I think one of the the concerns I think we have every single year of 02:21:32.147 --> 02:21:39.838 - budget time is whether or not there's enough time for the council and auditor staff to get their work done and 02:21:40.002 --> 02:21:47.273 - and get this thing submitted into Gateway. So I think there's enough time in this calendar that you 02:21:47.273 --> 02:21:54.835 - all can do your work, right? I'm comfortable with it. If things need to change, we'll have to reassess. 02:21:54.835 --> 02:22:02.542 - But it looks good to me. The other thing I'll point out is the orange squares are potential PAC meetings. 02:22:02.542 --> 02:22:09.086 - But depending on where we're at and what PAC is doing, those can change. Councilor Feige? 02:22:10.018 --> 02:22:17.377 - So not that I didn't enjoy the extra time off in June of this year. I'm just concerned. I think I remember 02:22:17.377 --> 02:22:24.254 - correctly that when we came back and did that next meeting after having been off for four weeks, it 02:22:24.254 --> 02:22:30.718 - just seemed like that was an inordinate amount of long meeting time when we came back. It was 02:22:30.718 --> 02:22:37.733 - an extraordinarily long agenda. So I'm concerned about that. Well, I think that would be next to your 02:22:37.733 --> 02:22:38.558 - next income 02:22:38.754 --> 02:22:47.258 - leadership to set the tone for the agendas and not make those meetings long. I think your meeting before 02:22:47.258 --> 02:22:55.518 - that potential break in the meeting after that break could be broken up where it's not. If that could 02:22:55.518 --> 02:23:02.078 - happen, I think I can support it fully. Listen, you heard it first. It ain't me. 02:23:02.338 --> 02:23:10.039 - in 2027, the seat will not be taken by Council President Grosling. I'm gonna sit in one of these other 02:23:10.039 --> 02:23:17.665 - seats. So I'm just saying, but I know you'll miss me, but yeah. So with that being said, I think that 02:23:17.665 --> 02:23:24.917 - I've done it long enough. Yeah, I think council leadership could work that out so that we don't, 02:23:24.917 --> 02:23:31.646 - cause that, I mean, that's a valid concern, you know? So, but again, we make the agendas. 02:23:31.778 --> 02:23:38.128 - and so we just have to be mindful of what we put on there. Because I remember we didn't know we were 02:23:38.128 --> 02:23:44.542 - gonna do that in advance this last time, right? So maybe we couldn't, we might've been able to adjust 02:23:44.542 --> 02:23:50.892 - that had we known that in advance. Correct. Okay. I think that was on the fly because there is a lot 02:23:50.892 --> 02:23:57.431 - that was happening towards the end of May and it just seemed like that was a time for everybody to take 02:23:57.431 --> 02:24:00.638 - a brain break. Councilor Woods. In a similar vein, 02:24:01.314 --> 02:24:11.346 - This past year, we had the regular first meeting in September. Yes, we did. And the reason I thought 02:24:11.346 --> 02:24:21.477 - we did that was because previously we haven't done that. We've canceled that first meeting because of 02:24:21.477 --> 02:24:28.926 - the budget sessions. And it has made reentry from budget really difficult. 02:24:29.602 --> 02:24:38.065 - And so I actually thought it was, it was a slog, don't get me, but it's always a slog in September. 02:24:38.065 --> 02:24:46.696 - And I'll vote for whatever calendar we do, but I just thought I'd point out that we didn't have super 02:24:46.696 --> 02:24:55.328 - long, late meetings. And I'm not talking about just the budget sessions, which were lovely. Thank you 02:24:55.328 --> 02:24:59.390 - for doing that. But that meeting I think helped 02:25:00.194 --> 02:25:09.388 - keep us doing some of that regular business. And it's a long time to go. We will have just caught up 02:25:09.388 --> 02:25:18.490 - from our June break, practically. I mean, just knowing how they count on some of the regular stuff, 02:25:18.490 --> 02:25:27.593 - just a thought. Well, Mike, I would like to be able to get your feedback on a resolution that I can 02:25:27.593 --> 02:25:28.958 - have presented 02:25:29.250 --> 02:25:37.663 - at the next council meeting so that we can get this out to the departments and to everyone, because 02:25:37.663 --> 02:25:46.160 - we've got people waiting on us to make their schedules, especially around the month of September. So 02:25:46.160 --> 02:25:54.910 - I would like, if at all possible, yeas, nays, what you want me to present to you come the next meeting. 02:25:57.442 --> 02:26:07.585 - So with Councilor Wilts' concern of having that meeting, so you would bump, we could scratch the 20, 02:26:07.585 --> 02:26:17.729 - would you be willing to scratch the 28th and replace that with the 14th? I'm willing to do anything. 02:26:17.729 --> 02:26:26.366 - I just wanted to point it out. I really, yeah, any of it, or maybe we just do a 21st. 02:26:26.818 --> 02:26:38.351 - I don't know. I just know it's tough in September every year, except this past year it seemed. It's 02:26:38.351 --> 02:26:49.883 - been tough to get our regular business done. And I think if we were to have two regular meetings in 02:26:49.883 --> 02:26:52.190 - September, it would 02:26:52.386 --> 02:27:00.338 - it would take some effort to keep that agenda short, you know, attention to the fact that we're all 02:27:00.338 --> 02:27:08.131 - gonna be bleary, but at the same time, you know, there are other options, like, I just felt like, 02:27:08.131 --> 02:27:16.083 - you know, my perspective. Yeah, Councilor Henry. I'm not, I seem to recall that we had an awful lot 02:27:16.083 --> 02:27:16.958 - of hiring. 02:27:17.058 --> 02:27:22.949 - considerations, and if we don't have the hiring freeze, that should probably change the agenda a bit. 02:27:22.949 --> 02:27:28.782 - Also, we could probably bundle, if we still have the hiring freeze by next budget, we could probably 02:27:28.782 --> 02:27:34.846 - think about what meeting that we would entertain those hiring, but there were a number on there. I mean, 02:27:34.846 --> 02:27:40.448 - yeah, it's just something to think about. That's what's making those agendas longer, too. Which, 02:27:40.448 --> 02:27:46.339 - by the way, stay tuned, because the next meeting, I want to be able to have a discussion with you all 02:27:46.339 --> 02:27:46.974 - related to 02:27:47.266 --> 02:28:02.541 - the higher increase. So maybe that's something that we could talk in tandem with with the schedule. 02:28:02.541 --> 02:28:14.302 - So maybe what we could do is maybe put like a purple for the 14th as a maybe 02:28:16.354 --> 02:28:23.751 - And then that's something that we can kind of ponder on and talk about and discuss. Because yes, I would 02:28:23.751 --> 02:28:31.008 - agree. One of the biggest things that has been eaten up our meetings is the fact that we've been under 02:28:31.008 --> 02:28:37.912 - the hiring freeze. And I remember Councilor Hawke said this in one of the October meetings about, 02:28:37.912 --> 02:28:45.169 - you know, maybe we should do away with it. So if that could be the case, we can definitely free up the 02:28:45.169 --> 02:28:46.014 - disk space. 02:28:46.370 --> 02:28:54.113 - um for council meetings and and do that but yes um i do recall councilor hawk also mentioned she would 02:28:54.113 --> 02:29:02.006 - like to be able to maybe see us bundle like additional appropriations you know like bundling some things 02:29:02.006 --> 02:29:09.899 - you know like other counties do they do it as all in one motion and then if you want something separated 02:29:09.899 --> 02:29:15.838 - you would just ask for that particular maybe you know that would might free up 02:29:15.970 --> 02:29:24.698 - how council meetings go, and then rather than you're gonna meet each and every one, it's just a bundle 02:29:24.698 --> 02:29:33.596 - of here's the appropriations, blah, blah. I don't know. I mean, we could revamp the way the agenda works 02:29:33.596 --> 02:29:42.493 - for regular council meetings. Which again, I think that's a thought that future council leadership could 02:29:42.493 --> 02:29:43.934 - look to as well. 02:29:44.226 --> 02:29:51.903 - But yeah, so she already did it. She already put purple because purple is one of my favorite colors. 02:29:51.903 --> 02:29:59.808 - So that is a potential. And then that's something that we could think about for our next meeting, which 02:29:59.808 --> 02:30:07.637 - is the 24th. So any other further questions or comments on this? Okey dokey. All right. So that is it. 02:30:07.637 --> 02:30:11.742 - That concludes all of the business of county council. 02:30:12.002 --> 02:30:20.000 - and we move on to our beloved end of the meeting. So I'm going to look to Councilor Feidl first and 02:30:20.000 --> 02:30:28.478 - we're just going to move on down these days quickly. So I did several things in the past couple of weeks. 02:30:28.478 --> 02:30:29.758 - One of the most 02:30:30.530 --> 02:30:36.596 - enjoyable things that I did was I got to be a part of Meet the Funders, where I got to talk about the 02:30:36.596 --> 02:30:42.782 - Sophia Travis Grant Committee to the nonprofits that attended there that day. It was a pleasure to talk 02:30:42.782 --> 02:30:48.848 - about it. I had my little card and gave my little spiel and each six minute thing. And so it was very 02:30:48.848 --> 02:30:54.974 - well received. And there were people who would receive money there before as agencies. And it was nice 02:30:54.974 --> 02:31:00.446 - to touch base, but also meet agencies that didn't know anything about it. So that was good. 02:31:00.642 --> 02:31:10.970 - Did the fab tech meeting that's on cats if people want to see that I am meeting with At least two state 02:31:10.970 --> 02:31:20.900 - legislators coming up this Friday to talk about the fab tech authority whether or not they are just 02:31:20.900 --> 02:31:27.454 - advisory because I think in the beginning it was not that way and 02:31:27.778 --> 02:31:36.062 - and thanks to Molly Turner King for doing the research and the legwork to provide me all the information 02:31:36.062 --> 02:31:44.425 - that was useful to those legislators to begin a discussion about that. I thank you for that. Been working 02:31:44.425 --> 02:31:52.393 - with the BEDC also on their executive committee as usual, met the new leadership there, continued to 02:31:52.393 --> 02:31:57.758 - meet her. I'm excited to see how that progresses during her tenure. 02:31:57.922 --> 02:32:07.907 - I do want to say something about the Bloomington Rotary Toast that's been I think the 12th this year 02:32:07.907 --> 02:32:18.486 - and it is such a great thing to honor people who do things in the community who don't get a lot of fanfare 02:32:18.486 --> 02:32:19.870 - sometimes and 02:32:20.226 --> 02:32:27.496 - This year, we honored Laurie Burns McRobbie, who was very heavily involved in Meadoway House. And that 02:32:27.496 --> 02:32:34.625 - was her agency that she wanted the money, her part of the money that was garnered that evening to go 02:32:34.625 --> 02:32:42.037 - to. So there were several thousands of dollars that were raised for that. It was a great turnout, lovely 02:32:42.037 --> 02:32:47.966 - event. And I also met with the Who's Your Action housing group. And that was a real 02:32:49.410 --> 02:32:58.948 - privilege to hear again those concerns that real people have with housing in this community. I am very 02:32:58.948 --> 02:33:08.948 - interested in working on something where we might be able to follow the model of the Human Rights Committee 02:33:08.948 --> 02:33:14.782 - where the city and the county came together and made one joint 02:33:16.130 --> 02:33:23.950 - And I'm very interested in that because right now the county residents don't have protections in the 02:33:23.950 --> 02:33:31.847 - county for their concerns and it's troubling. I had worked on an issue with a wage theft victim years 02:33:31.847 --> 02:33:39.589 - ago and we have found the same problem then. So it hasn't been addressed and I'm very interested in 02:33:39.589 --> 02:33:45.086 - that. So I'll just leave it at that. I appreciate that. Sure. First, I 02:33:45.570 --> 02:33:57.185 - attended the Hoosier Action Forum with several other folks here. And I agree, I think it would be great 02:33:57.185 --> 02:34:08.353 - to look at a model where we could maybe have an MOU with the city to make efficiencies around being 02:34:08.353 --> 02:34:14.942 - able to support everyone in the county with protections on 02:34:15.362 --> 02:34:25.777 - their safety and rights around housing. So that was the start I think of some good discussion and I 02:34:25.777 --> 02:34:37.234 - appreciated it. Another housing related thing is if you all have probably seen the heading home organizations 02:34:37.234 --> 02:34:45.150 - streets disability program has been continuing to work in its second phase. 02:34:45.570 --> 02:34:55.585 - Um, and they're doing some incredible work. Um, people are being housed and it's a, it's a lot, it's 02:34:55.585 --> 02:35:05.797 - a heavy lift and it's not perfect. Um, but it's, it's some real, it's some real progress, uh, for some 02:35:05.797 --> 02:35:14.622 - really vulnerable members of our community. So, um, I just want to make sure to amplify. 02:35:14.786 --> 02:35:26.821 - the fact that that work is being done and really appreciate the fact that that organization is there. 02:35:26.821 --> 02:35:38.974 - And then finally, we had an election. And we did. We had an election. And as much as I sort of ignored 02:35:38.974 --> 02:35:44.638 - a lot of the campaign aspects of that election, 02:35:44.994 --> 02:35:56.082 - I did want to just express my sincere appreciation for returning me to be able to be here because I've 02:35:56.082 --> 02:36:06.848 - really learned a lot and I really enjoy working with you all. So I'm excited to be here for another 02:36:06.848 --> 02:36:14.814 - term and really excited about all of the other elections in the state and 02:36:15.554 --> 02:36:25.508 - country that were a little bit more blue than they had been. That's it. Thank you very much. I'm also 02:36:25.508 --> 02:36:35.267 - grateful to all the election workers who frantically made a big election happen in this county, and 02:36:35.267 --> 02:36:44.830 - they served a lot of folks both in early voting and on Election Day. And we had returns, I think, 02:36:45.154 --> 02:36:53.212 - And that is always beautiful to see a free and fair election happen here. And then there was just tremendous 02:36:53.212 --> 02:37:00.605 - excitement. I heard a lot of things in the last week or so that have reminded me that there's still 02:37:00.605 --> 02:37:08.071 - a place for good government and people doing good in government and that the word government doesn't 02:37:08.071 --> 02:37:13.246 - have to be a bad word. And if you're in elected office, you certainly 02:37:13.346 --> 02:37:20.421 - to do anything to make it worse. And so hopefully we can all live up to that. I had the pleasure beyond 02:37:20.421 --> 02:37:27.428 - being around for the election last week. I've had the pleasure to do a couple of the things that folks 02:37:27.428 --> 02:37:34.231 - had mentioned. But also to yesterday morning be out at SEMTRA for a ribbon cutting for section H of 02:37:34.231 --> 02:37:41.374 - their new facility and to see that launch. And it was kind of a celebration there and also to get a tour 02:37:41.474 --> 02:37:48.310 - And to see some of the facilities as it begins to to roll out and, as I always will say, may that be 02:37:48.310 --> 02:37:55.349 - prosperous and bringing us high paying good jobs for the community that support the community and their 02:37:55.349 --> 02:37:58.462 - needs, we need as much of that as we can get. 02:37:58.626 --> 02:38:06.378 - So if there's other folks looking to come here, please, please do that. Hire our folks and take good 02:38:06.378 --> 02:38:14.054 - care of them. I also want to point out that we are on the eve of Veterans Day. Tomorrow is Veterans 02:38:14.054 --> 02:38:21.730 - Day. And this is a sacred reminder for all of us because this community has sent so many people off 02:38:21.730 --> 02:38:28.254 - with happy waves and cheerful hearts to service in our armed services. And we've had 02:38:28.514 --> 02:38:36.915 - Many of those individuals just do remarkably big things in service to this country. So tomorrow we want 02:38:36.915 --> 02:38:45.073 - to thank veterans. There's many events going on. One in particular that's always very special is out 02:38:45.073 --> 02:38:51.454 - at the American Legion post 18 at 1030. They have a Veterans Day presentation. 02:38:51.810 --> 02:39:00.027 - and a 21-gun salute that goes off at 11-11, and it never fails to hit right at 11-11, marking the occasion. 02:39:00.027 --> 02:39:07.939 - They will have laying of wreaths and other great things, as well as VFW, of course, is doing their open 02:39:07.939 --> 02:39:13.950 - to the public chicken and noodles lunch for everyone out there. So a big thank 02:39:14.114 --> 02:39:20.835 - big things on that Veterans Day. I also want to remind you that beyond Veterans Day, we have two tremendous 02:39:20.835 --> 02:39:27.370 - gentlemen that are constantly assisting veterans in this community. And anyone that's ever done outreach 02:39:27.370 --> 02:39:33.842 - knows the more you do, the more work you get. And truly, Stephen Miller, Andrew Blake with our Veterans 02:39:33.842 --> 02:39:40.127 - Service Office are always doing that. They will send relays off to us on big cases that they get for 02:39:40.127 --> 02:39:43.550 - veterans who are in this jurisdiction, whether they're 02:39:43.714 --> 02:39:50.686 - in one stage of life and life's going decently, but they need this for their services or sometimes veterans 02:39:50.686 --> 02:39:57.206 - that find themselves homeless. We have veterans in every state of life in this community and we have 02:39:57.206 --> 02:39:58.174 - a lot of them. 02:39:58.466 --> 02:40:05.317 - And they work on them and they're always looking for more. So if you know of a veteran that might need 02:40:05.317 --> 02:40:12.102 - some assistance with something related to their service, these are two smart guys with big hearts and 02:40:12.102 --> 02:40:18.820 - really open ears and nice faces down at the Curry building. And you could call them at 812-349-2537. 02:40:18.820 --> 02:40:20.350 - Just give them a call. 02:40:20.514 --> 02:40:27.678 - They're very great to work with and nice, very polite. And sometimes they'll offer you a cup of coffee 02:40:27.678 --> 02:40:34.772 - if you come in there. And if they don't, I'll buy it for you. But send someone their way. They do big 02:40:34.772 --> 02:40:41.727 - things, even for those cases that sometimes seem just completely lost in either some issue with the 02:40:41.727 --> 02:40:48.126 - VA or whatever. They'll do it for you. Thank you. Thank you. Without a reminder. All right. 02:40:48.258 --> 02:40:55.114 - I want to first of all start on the elections and thank everyone for returning me to this seat. I am 02:40:55.114 --> 02:41:01.902 - deeply honored that you put your trust in me and I hope that in the next four years I can earn that 02:41:01.902 --> 02:41:08.689 - trust by serving you. I want to also thank all of you who showed up to the polls. There was a great 02:41:08.689 --> 02:41:10.590 - amount of folks who did so. 02:41:10.722 --> 02:41:18.689 - And for those who voted to restore balance to Indiana government, we in the county councils across the 02:41:18.689 --> 02:41:26.423 - states hope that this increased balance will help to ensure that revenues will be protected for the 02:41:26.423 --> 02:41:33.694 - residents of Indiana so that we can continue to provide the public services that you rely on. 02:41:33.890 --> 02:41:43.146 - Next, huge congratulations to the IU men's soccer team, who won the Big Ten regular season title recently. 02:41:43.146 --> 02:41:51.883 - This is just another notch in the belt of a winning IU men's soccer team. So let's get out there and 02:41:51.883 --> 02:42:00.792 - support those folks as we get into the postseason. So that's exciting news. I want to also welcome our 02:42:00.792 --> 02:42:02.782 - Echo Council Deckard's 02:42:03.522 --> 02:42:10.492 - Thanks for our veterans and I want to point out that with the National Association of Counties and the 02:42:10.492 --> 02:42:17.868 - National Association of County Veterans Services officers, Monroe County has been participating in Operation 02:42:17.868 --> 02:42:24.702 - Green Light. So since November the 4th, we have been lighting up our courthouse with the color green 02:42:24.802 --> 02:42:31.481 - Our veteran service officers have been lighting up their offices with green and we do that because we 02:42:31.481 --> 02:42:38.423 - shine a green light. We let veterans know that our residents here in Monroe County know that our veterans 02:42:38.423 --> 02:42:45.102 - are seen, that our veterans are appreciated and that they're supported. So thank you for your service 02:42:45.102 --> 02:42:48.638 - and look forward to joining the festivities tomorrow. 02:42:49.154 --> 02:42:56.747 - I will note two really exciting things that kind of make Bloomington Bloomington or Monroe County, Monroe 02:42:56.747 --> 02:43:04.196 - County. The first is that the turkey trot is coming up and that's going to be a really fun. It's always 02:43:04.196 --> 02:43:11.574 - a fun little 5k race. And I think my wife and I are going to be Mr. And Mrs. Claus. We don't know yet, 02:43:11.574 --> 02:43:17.662 - but that's going to be a really fun little race for for that. So sign up if you can. 02:43:18.306 --> 02:43:26.623 - And then the last thing I want to mention is that I participated in a bucket list item recently, which 02:43:26.623 --> 02:43:34.940 - was a bike bus on Smith Road in Bloomington, where youth that go to school, not on the school bus, but 02:43:34.940 --> 02:43:42.046 - in a caravan of bicycles. You see this a lot in Portland. You see this a lot in Europe. 02:43:42.498 --> 02:43:49.240 - And I think one of the first times that it's happened, particularly for university elementary, is just 02:43:49.240 --> 02:43:56.047 - like a dozen kids, elementary school kids, toddling on their bike to school surrounded by a whole bunch 02:43:56.047 --> 02:44:02.658 - of adults wearing bright yellow. It was this really cool way to say not only, you know, being active 02:44:02.658 --> 02:44:09.662 - and being outdoors is a great way to get to school, but also when you're driving near a school, slow down. 02:44:10.210 --> 02:44:15.985 - We want kids to be out there riding their bikes and walk into school. So it was just a great way to 02:44:15.985 --> 02:44:21.817 - build awareness and to encourage activity with those students. So bike buses, mall forum. Thank you, 02:44:21.817 --> 02:44:27.591 - Madam President. You're welcome. Interested to see your costume on Turkey Charm Day. Council Henry. 02:44:27.591 --> 02:44:33.770 - Thank you, Madam President. I decided since you have been gone for six weeks, I just saved all my comments 02:44:33.770 --> 02:44:36.542 - for tonight. We can just we can just, you know, 02:44:36.898 --> 02:45:06.078 - . . . . . . . . . 02:45:06.178 --> 02:45:11.197 - who I got to know years ago as chief deputy clerk working that space, the county's in good hands with 02:45:11.197 --> 02:45:16.167 - Tree coming back. And I want to thank the outgoing elected officials who have given years of service 02:45:16.167 --> 02:45:21.186 - to the county. They still have a few weeks left, but I just wanted to get that in as we round out our 02:45:21.186 --> 02:45:26.155 - elections. I will say I had a call with a colleague of mine in Allen County today that had indicated 02:45:26.155 --> 02:45:31.223 - that Allen County had seen a tremendous turnover in their county leadership. And I think the next time 02:45:31.223 --> 02:45:36.144 - those of us that go to AIC are going to see a lot of new faces in the room, some of them might have 02:45:36.144 --> 02:45:41.679 - blue lapel pins instead of red ones, and they may need a little help from those of us on that side of 02:45:41.679 --> 02:45:47.105 - the aisle. As a few years ago, being a Democrat in county government was a rare bird, and there's a 02:45:47.105 --> 02:45:52.531 - whole lot more of them that we may see in the years to come at those conferences. I look forward to 02:45:52.531 --> 02:45:58.445 - working with those partners and showing the ropes that we know. So there's that. I will say, maybe Councilor 02:45:58.445 --> 02:46:04.034 - Iverson left me one to talk about. He and I had the opportunity and Councilor Feidl to attend Beacon's 02:46:04.034 --> 02:46:06.096 - Bash, their fundraiser on October 30. 02:46:06.096 --> 02:46:11.710 - And I will tell you it's amazing what a mood change can come by putting a costume on I 02:46:12.130 --> 02:46:18.225 - I had an alter ego for that evening in a jack-o'-lantern suit that was a lot of fun, and I've really 02:46:18.225 --> 02:46:24.260 - come to enjoy that event. There are some David Pumpkins for County Council pins still available for 02:46:24.260 --> 02:46:30.416 - those who are interested. And lastly, I had the good opportunity to join our Fire Protection District 02:46:30.416 --> 02:46:36.450 - at their Chili Cook Off this past weekend at Van Buren's Community Center, which has become a great 02:46:36.450 --> 02:46:39.166 - event at the new Van Buren Community Center. 02:46:39.266 --> 02:46:46.261 - being able to sample all the great cooking of our fire department and their families as they compete 02:46:46.261 --> 02:46:53.463 - to raise money for charity for the fire protection district. It's always a fun day and seeing the chief 02:46:53.463 --> 02:47:01.150 - and others at that event. But thank you, Madam President. Appreciate it. All right. I'll keep it brief because 02:47:01.346 --> 02:47:08.848 - I haven't been here since September. So I just want to say thank you all and for all of my colleagues 02:47:08.848 --> 02:47:17.086 - to fill in and do whatever needed to be done in my absence and for running meetings the best that you know how. 02:47:17.346 --> 02:47:24.057 - And I really appreciate it. Thank you all for your well wishes. I am back. So you can't get rid of me. 02:47:24.057 --> 02:47:30.897 - And I'm also back because I got voted back in last week. So, yes, four more years. So I appreciate that. 02:47:30.897 --> 02:47:31.614 - And again, 02:47:32.162 --> 02:47:39.714 - I'm thankful for the colleagues that are returning, and thankful for the colleague that is going to 02:47:39.714 --> 02:47:47.795 - be leaving soon. We still got a few more weeks, so you can continue with your trendisms. And we're looking 02:47:47.795 --> 02:47:55.423 - forward to all of those. So yeah, so again, not much to say because there's just a lot to catch back 02:47:55.423 --> 02:47:58.142 - up on. Man, emails are interesting. 02:47:58.338 --> 02:48:05.415 - in more ways than one. And so with that being said, I just appreciate everybody. And I don't know much 02:48:05.415 --> 02:48:12.562 - else to say except for it's good to be back in the seat and it's good to be back in this house serving. 02:48:12.562 --> 02:48:19.502 - I missed you all and couldn't stay away for too long. And I'm back and ready to continue to work. So 02:48:19.502 --> 02:48:23.006 - with that being said, we are adjourned. Thank you.