WEBVTT 00:00:00.258 --> 00:00:06.876 - Good morning. I'm going to call to order this meeting of Monroe County Board of Commissioners. 00:00:06.876 --> 00:00:14.051 - It is Thursday, August 13th already. And here and present in the NatU Hill Room is Commissioner Madera 00:00:14.051 --> 00:00:21.713 - and myself. And we're going to begin with our public statement. We, the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, 00:00:21.713 --> 00:00:28.818 - renew our commitment to welcome and protect the rights of all people, regardless of age, race, color, 00:00:28.818 --> 00:00:30.142 - creed, disability, 00:00:30.530 --> 00:00:36.983 - sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, economic status, and national origin. And 00:00:36.983 --> 00:00:43.374 - we affirm the right of every person to live peacefully and without fear. And we will fight and resist 00:00:43.374 --> 00:00:50.078 - at every step discrimination and harmful policies, whatever their source. We believe in diversity, equity, 00:00:50.078 --> 00:00:56.406 - inclusion, and belonging. We also stand in support of our county public school systems, both RBB and 00:00:56.406 --> 00:01:00.478 - MCCSC. And with that, we will begin with our department updates. 00:01:01.026 --> 00:01:10.355 - Ms. Kelly from the Health Department. Good morning. Good morning, Commissioners. According to the Indiana 00:01:10.355 --> 00:01:19.597 - Department of Health, wastewater concentrations of COVID are trending upwards, but overall levels remain 00:01:19.597 --> 00:01:28.926 - low. The Health Department does still have free COVID and through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to receive 00:01:28.926 --> 00:01:29.982 - free tests. 00:01:30.786 --> 00:01:40.031 - And lastly, the Morgan County Health Department has vaccines available. You can call 765-342-6621 for 00:01:40.031 --> 00:01:49.185 - an appointment. Great. Thank you so much. Any questions? No. All right. Not for me either. Thank you 00:01:49.185 --> 00:01:58.974 - so much for joining us today. Thank you. All right. Mr. Miller, Director of Veterans Affairs. Good morning. 00:02:02.914 --> 00:02:09.335 - Good morning, commissioners, Nancy. I wanted to share a story today with you about a veteran's breakfast 00:02:09.335 --> 00:02:15.756 - that I went to in July. In the middle of July, July 14th, I had a chance to attend a veteran's breakfast 00:02:15.756 --> 00:02:21.871 - in Ellisville, where there were about 21 Vietnam or Vietnam-era veterans there. The couple came and 00:02:21.871 --> 00:02:27.742 - a couple left through the course, so I had an opportunity to talk to a lot of different people. 00:02:28.258 --> 00:02:36.039 - I gave a presentation on the new property tax credits and the other services we provide through my office, 00:02:36.039 --> 00:02:43.746 - including VA disability, survivor pensions, vocational rehab, and several other state benefits, including 00:02:43.746 --> 00:02:51.454 - tuition and fee exemption for children of disabled veterans, veterans license plates, reduced fee hunting 00:02:51.454 --> 00:02:53.054 - and fishing licenses. 00:02:53.762 --> 00:03:01.352 - who's your golden passport half price State Park pass, and we discussed the Indian veterans Memorial 00:03:01.352 --> 00:03:09.242 - Cemetery in Madison. After the presentation I sat between two Marines, both of them were combat veterans 00:03:09.242 --> 00:03:14.878 - from Vietnam and they had amazing stories. Some were sad. Some were funny. 00:03:15.106 --> 00:03:22.305 - and the funny ones were really funny. They meet every Tuesday and they do a great job. I also wanted 00:03:22.305 --> 00:03:29.433 - to provide a quick update on the work we're doing with the property tax credits for veterans in the 00:03:29.433 --> 00:03:36.632 - county. We've held since July 10th, we've had walk-in hours on Fridays from eight to noon. The first 00:03:36.632 --> 00:03:43.902 - three Fridays we had 30 veterans each. The fourth Friday we had 40 and then last Friday we had seven. 00:03:43.970 --> 00:03:50.667 - We are moving along and we're going to have these walk in hours really for the rest of the year. But 00:03:50.667 --> 00:03:57.430 - right now we scheduled them through August and September each Friday from eight to two PM. No need to 00:03:57.430 --> 00:04:01.342 - make an appointment. Just bring in the required documents. 00:04:01.538 --> 00:04:08.472 - and I wanted to make sure the folks knew how to get a hold of me if they have questions or concerns 00:04:08.472 --> 00:04:15.614 - about veterans and surviving spouse matters. My phone number is 812-349-2537 and please call any time. 00:04:15.614 --> 00:04:23.518 - Great thank you so much. Very welcome. Thank you so very much. Thank you. All right any other department updates? 00:04:29.826 --> 00:04:35.548 - see none. We'll move on to public comment. Public comment time is reserved for items not on our agenda. 00:04:35.548 --> 00:04:41.216 - We ask each person to limit their time to three minutes per person and to please provide your name and 00:04:41.216 --> 00:04:46.718 - county residence before you begin speaking. You may raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. 00:04:55.746 --> 00:05:03.082 - Good morning, Commissioners. My name is Steve Malone. I'm a member of the Substance Use Disorder Awareness 00:05:03.082 --> 00:05:10.213 - Commission, otherwise known as SUDAC. I just wanted to let everyone know, if you haven't already heard, 00:05:10.213 --> 00:05:17.206 - that we're going to host a summit, the Monroe County Recovery Summit, day and a half on September 1st 00:05:17.206 --> 00:05:24.542 - and 2nd. We're very excited for this featured speaker, Jermaine Galloway. He's a nationally known speaker. 00:05:24.706 --> 00:05:31.876 - We'll do an all day presentation on emerging drug trends, substance use, and practical community based 00:05:31.876 --> 00:05:39.324 - prevention strategies for Monroe County. He's also known as the tall cop. You can look him up on Facebook. 00:05:39.324 --> 00:05:46.494 - He speaks all over the country. He's got a Facebook page as well. So it's $125 and breakfast and lunch 00:05:46.494 --> 00:05:54.430 - will be provided on the first day and I believe breakfast on the second day as well. You can go to Eventbrite and 00:05:54.946 --> 00:06:00.880 - register there please it's going to be a very worthwhile event at the Bloomington I didn't know was 00:06:00.880 --> 00:06:07.051 - a Bloomington Convention Center now but it's at the Bloomington Convention Center and I'm happy to read 00:06:07.051 --> 00:06:13.163 - this with Angie if she wants to take this just in case I'm a flyer for this so any questions I'm happy 00:06:13.163 --> 00:06:19.097 - to answer otherwise and there will be CEUs available and CLEs available as well for this event okay 00:06:19.097 --> 00:06:21.886 - so for those in the community yeah that's huge 00:06:22.146 --> 00:06:29.456 - Great. Thank you so much. Appreciate it. Thanks for coming in. Absolutely. Thank you. Any other public 00:06:29.456 --> 00:06:36.696 - comment? Seeing none, we'll move on to approval minutes. You can combine those, please. Yes, I'd like 00:06:36.696 --> 00:06:44.361 - to move approval of the minutes for July 23rd, 2026 and August 6th, 2026. I will second that. Any comments, 00:06:44.361 --> 00:06:46.206 - corrections, edits? None. 00:06:46.786 --> 00:06:54.470 - All right. All those in favor of approving the minutes for July 23rd and August 6, 2026, signify by 00:06:54.470 --> 00:07:02.384 - saying aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero. We will move on to ratification of the claims docket, please. 00:07:02.384 --> 00:07:10.453 - I would like to move to ratify the claims docket for accounts payable for August 6, 2026 and for payroll 00:07:10.453 --> 00:07:16.062 - for August 7, 2026. I will second that. Any comments on those dates? No. 00:07:16.674 --> 00:07:24.652 - I don't either. And we should take public comment on the ratification. Anybody like to comment on the 00:07:24.652 --> 00:07:33.020 - August 6 or August 7th claims and payroll? Seeing none, all those in favor of ratifying the claims docket. 00:07:33.020 --> 00:07:41.076 - Accounts payable August 6, 2026 and payroll August 7, 2026. Signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 00:07:41.076 --> 00:07:45.534 - 2-0. We'll now move on to today's claims docket, please. 00:07:45.826 --> 00:07:53.209 - Yes, I would like to move approval of the claims docket for accounts payable for August 13th, 2026. 00:07:53.209 --> 00:07:59.558 - I will second that. Good morning. The accounts payable claims docket for August 13th, 00:07:59.558 --> 00:08:07.089 - 2026 totals $2,056,985.73. This includes all emergency claims and adjustments. Thank you so much. Any 00:08:07.089 --> 00:08:14.472 - comments or questions? Any public comment on this item? You can raise your hand on Teams or come to 00:08:14.472 --> 00:08:15.358 - the podium. 00:08:20.034 --> 00:08:26.303 - none all those in favor of approving the claim stock and accounts payable august 13th 2026 signify by 00:08:26.303 --> 00:08:32.511 - saying aye aye motion carries two zero thank you ma'am i will note for the record we receive reports 00:08:32.511 --> 00:08:38.719 - from weights and measures for july 2026 in the clerk's office for july 2026 we'll now move on to new 00:08:38.719 --> 00:08:45.050 - business please i would like to move uh move approval um excuse me i would like to move to approve the 00:08:45.050 --> 00:08:49.598 - indiana department of health amendment number three to contract number 80 00:08:50.114 --> 00:09:05.924 - that we received from the Indiana Department of Health. So this supports our harm reduction specialist. 00:09:05.924 --> 00:09:17.630 - Our harm reduction specialist provides free testing for HIV and hepatitis C. 00:09:17.794 --> 00:09:24.544 - provides referral services to care coordination, naloxone distribution, and works with the Indiana Recovery 00:09:24.544 --> 00:09:30.794 - Alliance. Great. Thank you so much. Great program. Any comments, questions? None. This is critical. 00:09:30.794 --> 00:09:37.044 - All right. Thank you so much. Any public comment on this item? You raise your hand in teams or come 00:09:37.044 --> 00:09:37.982 - to the podium. 00:09:42.882 --> 00:09:49.472 - All those in favor of approving the Indiana Department of Health Amendment number three to contract 00:09:49.472 --> 00:09:56.325 - 85985, signify by saying aye. Motion carries to zero. Thank you, ma'am. Next item, please. I would like 00:09:56.325 --> 00:10:03.442 - to move approval of the annual report of the 2025 Community Corrections Grant. I will second that, although 00:10:03.442 --> 00:10:10.296 - we don't really have to approve it. We're just going to hear it. Good morning. Good morning. May I have 00:10:10.296 --> 00:10:12.734 - permission to share my screen? Sure. 00:10:14.338 --> 00:10:40.094 - please allow her to share. It is back to straight. Thank you thank you. 00:10:41.538 --> 00:10:48.420 - Well, good morning. My name is Becca Streit. I'm the Community Corrections Director and Deputy Chief 00:10:48.420 --> 00:10:55.575 - Probation Officer. Every year, I come before you to provide you an update about the previous year status 00:10:55.575 --> 00:11:02.389 - of Community Corrections. We're doing it a little late this year, primarily because I was hoping to 00:11:02.389 --> 00:11:06.750 - be able to come bring information about what to expect in 2027. 00:11:07.074 --> 00:11:11.646 - We have half the news, so we figured we'd go ahead and come. 00:11:11.810 --> 00:11:18.479 - see what happens. I did want to introduce the community corrections team. We have Chris Carlisle, he's 00:11:18.479 --> 00:11:25.148 - the director of our home detention division. Steve Malone, our director of problem solving courts. And 00:11:25.148 --> 00:11:31.039 - then Chelsea Walters, she pulls double duty. She's our pre-trial director and our director 00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:37.708 - of our evidence-based practices and continuous quality improvement for the whole department. And these 00:11:37.708 --> 00:11:39.262 - guys and their team are 00:11:39.426 --> 00:11:46.671 - what you're about to see is why it's working. So community corrections is a part of the Monroe County 00:11:46.671 --> 00:11:54.129 - Probation Department. We are one of only a handful of counties where community corrections and probation 00:11:54.129 --> 00:12:01.303 - is unified. So all of our community corrections officers are certified probation officers. We're all 00:12:01.303 --> 00:12:07.838 - trained in evidence-based practices. Really the difference is where our funding comes from. 00:12:09.922 --> 00:12:16.514 - this is a simplified version of our organization chart just so that you can get an idea that again, 00:12:16.514 --> 00:12:23.237 - Community Corrections fits under the Board of Judges. We also Community Corrections has the Community 00:12:23.237 --> 00:12:29.961 - Corrections Advisory Board that meets on a quarterly basis to review policy and they're the ones that 00:12:29.961 --> 00:12:35.102 - are also responsible for helping me pass and approve the grant. And then with 00:12:35.202 --> 00:12:41.271 - In the community corrections division, what you're going to hear about today are problem-solving courts, 00:12:41.271 --> 00:12:47.167 - our home detention, and community alternative supervision program, and our pretrial services, as well 00:12:47.167 --> 00:12:53.004 - as a bit on day reporting, drug testing, and our community service. Community corrections and Monroe 00:12:53.004 --> 00:12:59.131 - County dates back all the way to 1983. That's how long we have been receiving funding from the Department 00:12:59.131 --> 00:12:59.998 - of Correction. 00:13:00.194 --> 00:13:06.391 - We again are unified with the probation department, and we're funded through various budgets, primarily 00:13:06.391 --> 00:13:12.410 - grants, user fees, and then some local money. And then this is just a highlight. There's a lot going 00:13:12.410 --> 00:13:18.846 - on with community corrections. And of course, this doesn't even cover the probation side of the department. 00:13:21.826 --> 00:13:27.886 - The purpose of this presentation today is to primarily focus on 2025, but towards the end of 00:13:27.886 --> 00:13:34.532 - the presentation, I'm also gonna give you a little sampling of what it looks like in 2026 and beyond. 00:13:34.532 --> 00:13:41.503 - So in 2025, we received about $1.5 million from the Department of Correction, and that funds our community 00:13:41.503 --> 00:13:48.280 - corrections program, specifically our home detention, our drug treatment court and mental health court, 00:13:48.280 --> 00:13:50.430 - and then our pre-trial services. 00:13:51.938 --> 00:13:59.696 - The Department of Correction has flatlined our grant funding for, I believe it's now six years, and 00:13:59.696 --> 00:14:08.152 - spoiler alert for 2026 and beyond it, unfortunately, the funding is reduced and it gets worse. Our Community 00:14:08.152 --> 00:14:16.221 - Corrections Program also receives funding from the Indiana Office of Court Services through the Indiana 00:14:16.221 --> 00:14:20.798 - Supreme Court. That specifically funds our Veterans Court, 00:14:21.154 --> 00:14:27.277 - part of our pretrial services program. And then all four of our problem solving courts receive some 00:14:27.277 --> 00:14:33.645 - money, not for personnel, but for bus tickets, what we call barrier busters, incentives like gift cards 00:14:33.645 --> 00:14:40.380 - for our problem solving court participants, staff training and drug testing supplies so that our participants 00:14:40.380 --> 00:14:46.870 - in problem solving courts don't have to pay for their drug testing. For Indiana Office of Court Services, 00:14:46.870 --> 00:14:50.238 - that's the part where we don't have news yet for 2027. 00:14:51.778 --> 00:14:59.739 - This is just a visual to let you know that grant funding by the state has been flatlined. It is not 00:14:59.739 --> 00:15:07.701 - keeping up with program needs, with personnel costs. Across the state, we're being very vocal up at 00:15:07.701 --> 00:15:16.140 - the state level, but this is the reality of what's happening right now. A few highlights about Department 00:15:16.140 --> 00:15:19.006 - of Correction grant funding, again, 00:15:19.970 --> 00:15:26.912 - Our funding for community corrections program comes from many places. The grant is our biggest. But 00:15:26.912 --> 00:15:34.133 - it also comes from project income or user fees, so clients paying to be on home detention, for example. 00:15:34.133 --> 00:15:41.353 - Those rates have been significantly down. Monroe County courts and probation and community corrections, 00:15:41.353 --> 00:15:48.434 - we do not file violations on individuals because they can't pay. That has never happened, and it will 00:15:48.434 --> 00:15:49.406 - never happen. 00:15:49.570 --> 00:16:01.360 - But that being said, we then have to make up the cost somehow, and that's why our user fees are declining. 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:13.150 - Our Department of Correction grant only funds personnel. It does not fund any program costs like supplies. 00:16:13.282 --> 00:16:20.544 - So I want to just highlight a few of our successes from each division just to give you and the public 00:16:20.544 --> 00:16:27.949 - and hopefully the state an idea that these programs are working. We have something called the Community 00:16:27.949 --> 00:16:32.862 - Alternative Supervision Program or CASP and that is a diversion from 00:16:32.962 --> 00:16:39.609 - incarceration. So that includes home detention. The courts can place people on home detention in lieu 00:16:39.609 --> 00:16:46.321 - of sending them to prison to serve their sentence. They are receiving jail credit when they're on home 00:16:46.321 --> 00:16:47.038 - detention. 00:16:47.554 --> 00:16:55.682 - Our Community Corrections or CASP program is also responsible for our drug test collection and our community 00:16:55.682 --> 00:17:03.512 - service. This is a snapshot of 2025. You'll see that we received 124 home detention referrals, collected 00:17:03.512 --> 00:17:11.043 - over 12,000 drug tests, and administered over 20,000 alcohol breath tests. Our drug and alcohol test 00:17:11.043 --> 00:17:15.070 - positive rate sits right about 11 and a half percent. 00:17:15.202 --> 00:17:22.751 - And our participants in the program have completed over 4,000 hours of community service, all here in 00:17:22.751 --> 00:17:30.299 - Monroe County. You'll also see that for our home detention participants specifically, they have a 92% 00:17:30.299 --> 00:17:37.848 - discharge success rate. And in a little bit, I will share with you just some of the work that goes on 00:17:37.848 --> 00:17:41.918 - behind the scenes of why that success rate is so high. 00:17:43.778 --> 00:17:50.556 - For problem-solving courts, Judge DeKoff presides over all four of our problem-solving courts. Drug 00:17:50.556 --> 00:17:57.130 - Treatment Court started in 1999, and since then, we've, of course, added reentry, mental health, 00:17:57.130 --> 00:18:03.230 - and veterans. Every three years, we are required through our certification from the state 00:18:03.554 --> 00:18:10.743 - that certifies our problem-solving courts, we're required to have a program evaluation completed by 00:18:10.743 --> 00:18:17.931 - researchers. And a few of the highlights from our most recent program evaluation in 2024 is that we 00:18:17.931 --> 00:18:25.623 - have high levels of satisfaction from participants in the program, and then it's also making a difference. 00:18:25.623 --> 00:18:31.230 - I know a lot of times in criminal justice, we talk about the recidivism rate. 00:18:31.362 --> 00:18:38.288 - There is also something called the desistance rate. And this is actually highlighting the successes. 00:18:38.288 --> 00:18:46.174 - So rather than looking specifically at the recidivism or people who are reoffending, I wanted to highlight for you 00:18:46.370 --> 00:18:52.666 - the people that are being successful from problem-solving court. And I won't go through all of these, 00:18:52.666 --> 00:18:58.961 - but just to highlight a few, you'll see that drug court, after one year post-graduation, 86% of those 00:18:58.961 --> 00:19:05.195 - participants are not reoffending. After three years, it's 76%. And you'll see that across the board. 00:19:05.195 --> 00:19:11.490 - Mental health court, of course, is a little lower, but that's to be expected given the population and 00:19:11.490 --> 00:19:14.206 - the needs of that population in that court. 00:19:17.474 --> 00:19:24.171 - highlighting the graduates. So these are the number of graduates that have graduated since 00:19:24.171 --> 00:19:31.973 - the problem-solving courts have started. So drug treatment court, 560. And then some of our newer courts, 00:19:31.973 --> 00:19:39.995 - you'll see we've had over almost 700 successful graduates as of June 1st of this year. And then to highlight 00:19:39.995 --> 00:19:43.454 - a few of the successes, you'll see drug court, 00:19:43.586 --> 00:19:54.083 - 71% in 2025 successfully graduated. Reentry, 59%. A note about reentry. While reentry court is not one 00:19:54.083 --> 00:20:01.726 - of the courts that's funded by the Department of Correction, reentry court 00:20:01.986 --> 00:20:09.069 - takes individuals who have been to jail or prison. And in fact, the majority of participants that come 00:20:09.069 --> 00:20:16.220 - into reentry court are actually from our local jail. Not so many from prison around the state, but from 00:20:16.220 --> 00:20:21.790 - our local jail, we're getting those people out and into a problem-solving court. 00:20:22.658 --> 00:20:31.597 - Veterans Court, we've had an 87% successful discharge. And Mental Health Court, again, it's to be expected 00:20:31.597 --> 00:20:40.536 - that that success rate is a little lower, but still 34% in 2025. And then pre-trial services. So actually, 00:20:40.536 --> 00:20:48.222 - in October of this year, we will be celebrating our 10-year anniversary. And Chelsea was... 00:20:48.354 --> 00:20:56.718 - on the team, as well as myself, that originated pretrial. So we're particularly proud that we're now 00:20:56.718 --> 00:21:05.248 - 10 years later. We have had 70% or above success in pretrial defendants appearing for court. And we've 00:21:05.248 --> 00:21:09.886 - assessed over 16,000 defendants since pretrial started. 00:21:10.050 --> 00:21:16.694 - What we do with pretrial in a nutshell is anybody who is arrested and booked into jail then receives 00:21:16.694 --> 00:21:23.338 - a assessment, which determines their likelihood of failing to appear for court or reoffending during 00:21:23.338 --> 00:21:30.376 - that pretrial period. Anybody who is booked into the jail and didn't bond out, we go see the next business 00:21:30.376 --> 00:21:37.152 - day. Anybody that was booked into jail but did bond out also has to come and see us in the office, and 00:21:37.152 --> 00:21:39.454 - we complete an assessment on them. 00:21:39.778 --> 00:21:47.349 - And I really want to highlight some pretrial successes. Unfortunately, in 2026 for this year, the Department 00:21:47.349 --> 00:21:54.503 - of Correction did not fund any pretrial programs across the state, despite the success of the program. 00:21:54.503 --> 00:22:01.588 - The pretrial safety rate, this looks at the rate of defendants who during the pretrial period, so the 00:22:01.588 --> 00:22:07.006 - time from their arrest to the time that their case was disposed, that did not 00:22:07.586 --> 00:22:15.462 - that were not re-arrested. We divide this up by their risk assessment result. So you'll see that if 00:22:15.462 --> 00:22:23.338 - somebody assesses low risk on the pretrial assessment, 99% of them are not being re-arrested during 00:22:23.338 --> 00:22:25.150 - their pretrial period. 00:22:25.442 --> 00:22:32.837 - And then you'll see the delineation between high, moderate, and low. And seeing that stair step means 00:22:32.837 --> 00:22:40.449 - that that assessment is working. That assessment is also validated to our local population. The pretrial 00:22:40.449 --> 00:22:48.133 - success rate looks at defendants who were not rearrested and who did not violate with a technical offense 00:22:48.133 --> 00:22:54.078 - like a dirty drug test or not showing up. And again, you'll see that the low risk 00:22:54.178 --> 00:23:02.780 - the assessment is working. It is showing that those low risk people are doing just fine outside of the 00:23:02.780 --> 00:23:11.131 - jail. This is the pretrial release rate by risk level. So this is the frequency at which people are 00:23:11.131 --> 00:23:19.733 - being released from jail post arrest. You'll see between that and their case being resolved. So you'll 00:23:19.733 --> 00:23:23.742 - see again that the judges are releasing the low 00:23:23.938 --> 00:23:31.404 - risk people nearly 99% of the time, they are not lingering in jail waiting for their case to be resolved. 00:23:31.404 --> 00:23:38.730 - And even the high and moderate risk you'll see across the board are being released at some point during 00:23:38.730 --> 00:23:40.350 - their pretrial period. 00:23:41.442 --> 00:23:49.060 - And then this is the pretrial length of stay in jail by risk level. These are the average number of 00:23:49.060 --> 00:23:57.212 - days somebody is staying in jail. And these numbers are actually a little exaggerated, because if somebody 00:23:57.212 --> 00:24:04.830 - is booked in the jail at 1159 PM, that counts as one day. We don't have a way to get that specific. 00:24:04.930 --> 00:24:12.699 - So again, you will see that our low-risk individuals who are arrested, they are not sitting in jail 00:24:12.699 --> 00:24:20.545 - that long. And typically, the four or five days, that usually accounts for a weekend when the courts 00:24:20.545 --> 00:24:28.391 - are not in session. So why is all of this working? Our department is very invested in evidence-based 00:24:28.391 --> 00:24:29.246 - practices. 00:24:29.442 --> 00:24:36.700 - using what the research tells us to use when working with clients and participants in these programs. 00:24:36.700 --> 00:24:44.030 - We have invested a lot of resources in our probation officers and personnel in order to train them and 00:24:44.162 --> 00:24:50.974 - and keep them trained in all sorts of skill work and interventions with our clients. So just to name 00:24:50.974 --> 00:24:57.719 - a few, we are trained in certain assessments, so risk assessment, substance abuse assessments. When 00:24:57.719 --> 00:25:04.126 - somebody comes on supervision, we're doing a full history, trying to figure out from them what 00:25:04.770 --> 00:25:10.586 - was going on in their lives. I mean, we do a whole history of what was going on in their lives when 00:25:10.586 --> 00:25:16.402 - they were arrested or previous offenses. We're figuring out what's driving their behavior. And then 00:25:16.402 --> 00:25:22.393 - we are intervening by applying cognitive behavioral interventions that help the clients figure out how 00:25:22.393 --> 00:25:24.894 - their thinking connects to their behavior. 00:25:26.850 --> 00:25:33.656 - We focus on the National Institute of Corrections, eight principles of effective intervention. You'll 00:25:33.656 --> 00:25:40.795 - see those listed here. Again, it's about increasing intrinsic motivation, assessing their needs, targeting 00:25:40.795 --> 00:25:41.662 - those needs. 00:25:41.858 --> 00:25:49.103 - And then with Chelsea, I mentioned our continuous quality improvement division. We have an entire group 00:25:49.103 --> 00:25:56.140 - of probation officers whose sole position is to give coaching to all 50 of our probation officers to 00:25:56.140 --> 00:26:01.086 - make sure that our skills are up to par to be using this with clients. 00:26:01.538 --> 00:26:09.256 - We also apply the risk needs responsivity principle. We target specific people for interventions. We 00:26:09.256 --> 00:26:16.974 - figure out what their needs are. And then we also address any responsivity needs, such as housing or 00:26:16.974 --> 00:26:24.997 - employment or even literacy that might prevent them from being successful. I also want to pause a moment 00:26:24.997 --> 00:26:30.270 - on this just because I think it's important. Research has identified 00:26:30.498 --> 00:26:36.625 - eight primary criminogenic needs of individuals who are coming into the justice system. The top four 00:26:36.625 --> 00:26:42.509 - are there on the left, antisocial behavior, antisocial personality, personality and temperament, 00:26:42.509 --> 00:26:48.576 - and peers. If we focus on those top four with our clients, research tells us that we'll have better 00:26:48.576 --> 00:26:54.763 - success. The clients will have better success. And I always like to point out, you'll see that on the 00:26:54.763 --> 00:26:57.918 - right side, substance abuse is actually a secondary 00:26:58.338 --> 00:27:07.683 - need. That's not to say that we don't focus on it, but focusing on substance abuse alone is not going 00:27:07.683 --> 00:27:17.027 - to see results. So, 2026 and beyond. For 2026, we do have our information from the Indiana Department 00:27:17.027 --> 00:27:25.822 - of Correction about what they're funding for 2027. So, in 2026, you'll see in that column, they 00:27:26.114 --> 00:27:36.721 - It's a shock to the system for twenty twenty seven they are not funding problem solving courts for our 00:27:36.721 --> 00:27:45.886 - county and many others they're only funding committee corrections and they flatlined it. 00:27:46.210 --> 00:27:54.495 - Community corrections for the state of Indiana had to cut 11% across the board, so they were working 00:27:54.495 --> 00:27:56.382 - with a lot less funds. 00:27:56.898 --> 00:28:04.963 - This is, I won't go through all of this, but the total is what I want to focus on. In 2026, the Department 00:28:04.963 --> 00:28:13.028 - of Correction awarded a total of $64 million. In 2027, all counties total requested 80 million in funding, 00:28:13.028 --> 00:28:20.414 - but for 2027, they're only funding about 53 million. So we are not alone in receiving those cuts. 00:28:20.578 --> 00:28:28.101 - Unfortunately, we know research and statistics tell us the majority of people in the criminal justice 00:28:28.101 --> 00:28:35.846 - system either remain in the community on community supervision or if they are released or sent to prison 00:28:35.846 --> 00:28:43.443 - or jail, they are eventually released. And we just hope that resources are pointed again in the future 00:28:43.443 --> 00:28:46.910 - to community supervision because it does work. 00:28:47.394 --> 00:28:56.236 - So I appreciate your time and your support. And I really appreciate all of our staff for working as 00:28:56.236 --> 00:29:05.519 - hard as they do despite lack of support sometimes from the state level. So thank you. Thank you so much. 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:15.422 - And you do a lot with very little. And I'm sad to see problem-solving courts not being funded. That's terrible. 00:29:16.866 --> 00:29:22.902 - It's also coming down from the federal level as well. I was working on a Bureau of Justice Statistics 00:29:22.902 --> 00:29:28.880 - grant that got defunded on problem-solving courts. And so thank you very much for everything you do. 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:34.916 - And not all problem-solving courts demonstrate efficacy, but ours are among those that do. Thank you. 00:29:34.916 --> 00:29:41.130 - Thanks to everybody. Thanks very much. Thank you so much. Thank you for being here, everyone. Appreciate 00:29:41.130 --> 00:29:44.030 - you. All right, let's move on to item C, please. 00:29:44.450 --> 00:29:51.277 - I would like to move approval for Denny Excavating Incorporated Agreement. Fund name, food and beverage, 00:29:51.277 --> 00:29:57.779 - fund number 4932, and the amount of $94,000. I will second that, and it's a not to exceed amount of 00:29:57.779 --> 00:30:04.606 - $94,000, I will note. And Ms. Whitmer, Director of Parks and Rec. Yes, we're hoping once this is signed, 00:30:04.706 --> 00:30:12.072 - that this demo project will be done by September 25th. And I'm also going to say we may or may not need 00:30:12.072 --> 00:30:19.296 - a change order to this. The park staff has found some items on the property that needs to be disposed 00:30:19.296 --> 00:30:26.520 - of. So we'll work with the vendor to see if they'll take them. Thank you. All right. That sounds like 00:30:26.520 --> 00:30:28.574 - a fairly short timeline too. 00:30:28.738 --> 00:30:36.641 - Yeah, I appreciate it. And thank you for getting this done. This is moving forward with the nature preserve. 00:30:36.641 --> 00:30:44.037 - So thank you. All right. Any public comment on this item? You raise your hand in teams or come to the 00:30:44.037 --> 00:30:51.432 - podium. Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the agreement with Denny Excavating Inc, signify 00:30:51.432 --> 00:30:55.710 - by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 2-0. Next item, please. 00:30:56.002 --> 00:31:02.525 - Yes, I'd like to move approval for the Indian Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish and Wildlife 00:31:02.525 --> 00:31:08.867 - Cost Share Grant Agreement, Fund Name Parks Non-reverting, Fund Number 1179, in the amount of $3,702.05. 00:31:08.867 --> 00:31:15.088 - I will second that. Ms. Whitmer? Yes, this is part of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Cost 00:31:15.088 --> 00:31:20.766 - Share Grant Agreement that we are also working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services. It's 00:31:21.410 --> 00:31:28.734 - intermixed. So if you sign the agreement they'll give us three thousand seven hundred two dollars and 00:31:28.734 --> 00:31:36.131 - five cents and we will plant a prairie. Excellent. Simple as that. Great plan. Comments questions? Can 00:31:36.131 --> 00:31:43.455 - we call them the prairie prairie? Yeah that would be nice. All right any public comment on this item? 00:31:43.455 --> 00:31:49.918 - It's very exciting to move forward with this. Seeing none all those in favor of approving 00:31:50.018 --> 00:31:57.420 - The agreement with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Fish and Wildlife cost share 00:31:57.420 --> 00:32:04.537 - grant signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 2-0. Thank you. All right. Next item, please. Yes, 00:32:04.537 --> 00:32:11.796 - I'd like to move to ratify the emergency contract with Bounds Flooring, Incorporated for flood damage 00:32:11.796 --> 00:32:18.984 - repairs, fund name 2016 Geobahn B, fund number 4808 in the amount of $23,682.80. I will second that. 00:32:18.984 --> 00:32:19.838 - Mr. Crider. 00:32:20.994 --> 00:32:27.006 - You have quite a bit for us today. Good morning, commissioners. On July 24th, there was a sewer line 00:32:27.006 --> 00:32:33.078 - backup in the justice building that affected both the court's administration area and clerk's office. 00:32:33.078 --> 00:32:39.329 - The backup resulted in damage and replacement of carpet, drywall, ceiling tile, and light fixture lenses 00:32:39.329 --> 00:32:45.758 - that were affected in both offices. That brings me to a pair of agenda requests before you today. The first 00:32:45.858 --> 00:32:52.433 - is the request to ratify an emergency contract with bounce flooring in the amount of $23,682.50 for 00:32:52.433 --> 00:32:59.140 - the replacement of carpet in the court's offices following damage caused by flooding at the Charlotte 00:32:59.140 --> 00:33:05.847 - Zittlow Justice Center on Friday, July 24th. Thank you so much. Thank you for your quick attention to 00:33:05.847 --> 00:33:09.726 - this issue. Questions? Leaps and bounds. Leaps and bounds. 00:33:10.114 --> 00:33:17.364 - I have no other questions. All right. Any public comment on this item? You raise your hand in teams 00:33:17.364 --> 00:33:24.976 - or come to the podium. Seeing none, all those in favor of ratifying the emergency contract with Balanced 00:33:24.976 --> 00:33:32.734 - Flooring Inc. for flood damage repairs signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries. 2-0. Next item, please. 00:33:32.834 --> 00:33:40.858 - Yes, I would like to move to approve Bounds Floor Incorporated Clerk's Office Carpet Tile Replacement 00:33:40.858 --> 00:33:48.960 - Fund Name 2016 Geobond B Fund Number 4808 in the amount of $35,362.63. I will second that. Mr. Crider. 00:33:48.960 --> 00:33:56.905 - This request is to approve the proposal submitted by Bounds Flooring in the amount of $35,362.63 for 00:33:56.905 --> 00:33:59.422 - the replacement of carpet tile. 00:33:59.522 --> 00:34:07.018 - throughout the clerk's office to update and provide a consistent appearance due to the immediate need 00:34:07.018 --> 00:34:14.734 - to temporarily replace carpet tile in areas affected by flood damage. Thank you so much. Yes, questions. 00:34:14.734 --> 00:34:22.156 - Nope. All right. Our questions, no, no bounds. Any public comment? Raise your hand on teams. Come to 00:34:22.156 --> 00:34:23.038 - the podium. 00:34:27.842 --> 00:34:35.663 - see none. All those in favor of approving the bounds flooring in clerk's office carpet tile replacement 00:34:35.663 --> 00:34:43.259 - signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero. Next item please. Yes I'd like to move to ratify 00:34:43.259 --> 00:34:51.081 - the Herald Fish contract for Justice Building Control's update phase four, fund name 2025 Geobahn, fund 00:34:51.081 --> 00:34:55.518 - number 4820, in the amount of $59,100. Second. Mr. Crider. 00:34:55.938 --> 00:35:02.389 - Commissioner Madeira previously signed off on proceeding with phase 4 of the controls update to allow 00:35:02.389 --> 00:35:08.777 - the project to continue moving forward. The phase 4 contract consists of two components, engineering 00:35:08.777 --> 00:35:15.228 - services and site work for air handling units 3A, 3B, and 301. This request is to ratify the contract 00:35:15.228 --> 00:35:21.616 - with HFI in the amount of $59,100 for phase 4 of the Justice Building Controls Update Project. Thank 00:35:21.616 --> 00:35:23.134 - you so much. Questions? 00:35:23.362 --> 00:35:30.979 - We're not blaming you. All right. I have none. Thank you for working on this, moving this project forward. 00:35:30.979 --> 00:35:38.241 - Any public comment on this item? You can raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. Seeing none, 00:35:38.241 --> 00:35:45.431 - all those in favor of ratifying the Herald Fishing contract for the Justice Building Controls Update 00:35:45.431 --> 00:35:51.838 - Phase 4, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 2-0. Next two items combined, please. 00:35:52.002 --> 00:35:59.689 - Yes. Combining H and I, I would like to move approval for the BTEC Fire and Security James Driver Reserve 00:35:59.689 --> 00:36:07.522 - Operation Center Fire Alarm System, Fund Name 2016 Geobond B, Fund Number 4808, in the amount of $7,296.52, 00:36:07.522 --> 00:36:14.847 - and the BTEC Fire and Security James Driver Reserve Operation Center Access Controls, Fund Name 2016 00:36:14.847 --> 00:36:21.374 - Geobond B, Fund Number 4808, in the amount of $16,131.69. Thank you. Seconds. Mr. Preyer. 00:36:21.922 --> 00:36:30.664 - This request is to approve the proposal submitted by BTEC in the amount of $7,296.52 to provide and 00:36:30.664 --> 00:36:39.580 - install a fire alarm control panel, associated wiring, and all related devices, including three years 00:36:39.580 --> 00:36:47.710 - of monitoring services, and also to upgrade the access control system at the reserve station 00:36:47.810 --> 00:36:54.658 - This project includes the installation of access control panels controllers associated wiring electrical 00:36:54.658 --> 00:37:01.376 - hardware and a proximity card readers at three exterior and one interior door in the amount of sixteen 00:37:01.376 --> 00:37:08.225 - thousand one hundred and thirty one dollars and sixty nine cents Thank you so much comments or questions 00:37:08.225 --> 00:37:11.486 - You know all things that we need. Yep, definitely 00:37:11.714 --> 00:37:20.680 - Thank you so much. This is going to be really helpful. And let's see if there's any public comments 00:37:20.680 --> 00:37:29.736 - on this item. You raise your hand on Teams or come to the podium. Seeing none, all those in favor of 00:37:29.736 --> 00:37:33.950 - approving both B-Tech Fire and Security System 00:37:34.434 --> 00:37:41.381 - agreements one for the James Driver Reserve Operations Center fire alarm the other for the James Driver 00:37:41.381 --> 00:37:48.060 - Reserve Operations Center access control signify by saying aye aye motion carries to zero next item 00:37:48.060 --> 00:37:51.934 - please I would like to move to approve elite electric LLC 00:38:05.026 --> 00:38:12.935 - I'm going to bring us back to order. And we are on item J, please. All right. Item J, I would like to 00:38:12.935 --> 00:38:20.845 - move to approve Elite Electric LLC James Driver Reserve Operations Center LED lighting upgrades. Fund 00:38:20.845 --> 00:38:27.358 - name 2016 Geobahn B. Fund number 4808 in the amount of $6,000. Second, Mr. Kreider. 00:38:27.906 --> 00:38:33.561 - The existing light fixtures located in the garage are failing or have failed. This request is to accept 00:38:33.561 --> 00:38:39.107 - the proposal submitted by the electric LLC in the amount of $6,000 to replace nine light fixtures and 00:38:39.107 --> 00:38:44.925 - add an additional five light fixtures with new LED light fixtures plus installation of additional circuits 00:38:44.925 --> 00:38:50.036 - to the panel to support. All right, thank you so much. Comments, questions? I don't have any. 00:38:50.036 --> 00:38:55.583 - I don't either. Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You raise your hand on teams or 00:38:55.583 --> 00:38:56.670 - come to the podium. 00:39:01.026 --> 00:39:08.184 - Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Elite Electric LLC James Driver Reserve Operations 00:39:08.184 --> 00:39:15.485 - Center LED light upgrade signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 2-0. Item K, please. Yes, I would 00:39:15.485 --> 00:39:23.143 - like to move to approve Evans Time employee garage gate access system replacement, fund name 2023 Geobond, 00:39:23.143 --> 00:39:28.798 - fund number 4817 in the amount of $20,520.80. I will second that, Mr. Kreider. 00:39:29.474 --> 00:39:36.586 - Okay, this request is to accept the proposal submitted by Evenstime and the amount of $20,520.80 to 00:39:36.586 --> 00:39:43.840 - replace and upgrade the employee garage gate access system. This includes replacement of the existing 00:39:43.840 --> 00:39:51.094 - gate arm and components for the entering and exiting lanes along with upgrading the system to include 00:39:51.094 --> 00:39:57.566 - a vehicle count feature that displays when the parking garage has reached capacity. Great. 00:39:57.698 --> 00:40:06.952 - Thank you so much. Comments, questions? No. So the display is just going to say garage full, but it 00:40:06.952 --> 00:40:16.021 - says that now it doesn't work. I'm not ready to do that. Yeah, it's a problem. All right. Got it. 00:40:16.021 --> 00:40:24.350 - Thank you. Any public comment? Reach your hand on teams or come to the podium. All right. 00:40:25.218 --> 00:40:32.350 - seeing none. All those in favor of approving the evens time employee garage gate access system replacement 00:40:32.350 --> 00:40:39.215 - signify by saying aye. Motion carries to zero. And next item, please. Yes, I'd like to move to approve 00:40:39.215 --> 00:40:45.946 - the Herald Fish Incorporated Monroe County Government Center Showers North Heat Pump replacement and 00:40:45.946 --> 00:40:53.278 - relocation. Fund name 2022 Geobond, fund number 4815, the amount of $16,670. I will second that. Mr. Greider. 00:40:53.986 --> 00:41:00.002 - The existing heat pump serving the reception area and voter's registration requires replacement. Rather 00:41:00.002 --> 00:41:06.250 - than installing the new unit in its current location above the work area, the replacement will be relocated 00:41:06.250 --> 00:41:12.440 - to the adjacent lobby, reducing impact on staff by allowing future service and repair work to be performed 00:41:12.440 --> 00:41:18.225 - without disrupting daily operations. This request is to accept the proposal submitted by HFI in the 00:41:18.225 --> 00:41:21.118 - amount of $16,670 to remove the ceiling tile grid 00:41:21.250 --> 00:41:28.677 - existing heat pump, provide and install new heat pump and necessary components, confirm operation, and 00:41:28.677 --> 00:41:36.175 - then reinstall ceiling grid and tile. All right, thank you so much. Comments, questions? No one's going 00:41:36.175 --> 00:41:43.602 - to get hot when they hear it. No. So, nope. All right, any public comment on this item? You raise your 00:41:43.602 --> 00:41:46.270 - hand in teams or come to the podium. 00:41:51.970 --> 00:41:58.631 - Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Herald Fish Inc. Monroe County Government Center Showers 00:41:58.631 --> 00:42:04.978 - North Heat Pump Replacement and Relocation signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero. Thank 00:42:04.978 --> 00:42:11.702 - you so much. Next item please. Yes, I'd like to move to approve the Bio 1 LLC Thompson Property Encampment 00:42:11.702 --> 00:42:18.049 - Cleanup Contract, fund name County General, fund number 1,000 in the amount not to exceed $70,000. I 00:42:18.049 --> 00:42:19.934 - will second that, Mr. Crider. 00:42:20.162 --> 00:42:27.081 - This request is to approve the proposal submitted by bio one and amount not to exceed $70,000 to provide 00:42:27.081 --> 00:42:34.132 - cleanup services associated with the encampments located on the Thompson property for up to an anticipated 00:42:34.132 --> 00:42:40.920 - time span of 20 days. I have no questions. Do you know any public comment on this item? You raise your 00:42:40.920 --> 00:42:43.358 - hand on teams or come to the podium. 00:42:49.442 --> 00:42:56.656 - none all those in favor approving the bio one LLC Thompson property encampment cleanup signify by saying 00:42:56.656 --> 00:43:03.938 - aye aye motion carries two zero next item please I would like to move a move to approve VET environmental 00:43:03.938 --> 00:43:10.809 - LLC Monroe County Curry building mold remediation fund name county general fund number one thousand 00:43:10.809 --> 00:43:18.366 - in amount not in an amount of seven thousand three hundred and fifteen dollars I will second that Mr. Kreider 00:43:18.466 --> 00:43:25.217 - This request is to approve the proposal submitted by VET Environmental in the amount of $7,315.11 to 00:43:25.217 --> 00:43:31.968 - perform mold remediation in the targeted areas identified during recent environmental testing at the 00:43:31.968 --> 00:43:38.718 - Curry Building. Great. Thank you for pursuing this. Comments, questions? None. Any public comment on 00:43:38.718 --> 00:43:44.734 - this item? You raise your hand on Teams or come to the podium. It's ongoing for one time. 00:43:45.954 --> 00:43:54.107 - Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Vet Environmental LLC Monroe County Curry Building 00:43:54.107 --> 00:44:02.259 - mold remediation signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 2-0. Next item, please. I would like to 00:44:02.259 --> 00:44:10.901 - move to approve Alexander Electric LLC Youth Services Bureau light fixture updates, fund name LIT special 00:44:10.901 --> 00:44:14.814 - purpose fund number 1114, an amount of $19,492. 00:44:14.914 --> 00:44:21.449 - I will second that Mr. Crader. This request is to accept the proposal submitted by Alexander Electric 00:44:21.449 --> 00:44:28.176 - in the amount of $19,492 to replace and upgrade light fixtures and the use shelter at the Youth Services 00:44:28.176 --> 00:44:34.583 - Bureau. Three quotes were requested for this project. The proposal was presented that was presented 00:44:34.583 --> 00:44:41.374 - was the most responsive and complete addressing the full scope of work requested which includes replacing 00:44:41.506 --> 00:44:48.152 - existing light fixtures with new energy-efficient LED fixtures throughout the facility, including 00:44:48.152 --> 00:44:55.205 - tamper-resistant fixtures in the dorm area. Great. Comments, questions? I always like to support bright 00:44:55.205 --> 00:45:01.512 - futures. Any public comment? Raise your hand on Teams or come to the podium. I have an idea. 00:45:01.512 --> 00:45:08.293 - Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Alexander Electric LLC Youth Services Bureau light 00:45:08.293 --> 00:45:11.006 - fixtures update, signify by saying aye. 00:45:11.618 --> 00:45:19.601 - Aye. Motion carries 2-0. Next item, please. Yes, I'd like to move to approve the BTEC Fire and Security 00:45:19.601 --> 00:45:27.430 - Monroe County Government Center Showers North Security Enhancements Voter Registration IT Maintenance 00:45:27.430 --> 00:45:35.105 - Room, Fund Name 2023 Geobond, Fund Number 4817 in an amount of $8,938.34. Second, Mr. Crowder. This 00:45:35.105 --> 00:45:41.246 - request is to approve two proposals from BTEC in the combined amount of $8,938. 00:45:41.442 --> 00:45:47.764 - and 34 cents to enhance security in the election central IT maintenance room by installing surveillance 00:45:47.764 --> 00:45:54.026 - cameras and access controls as requested by the voter's registration office. The first proposal in the 00:45:54.026 --> 00:46:00.287 - amount of $2,738.34 includes the installation of three surveillance cameras to provide coverage of the 00:46:00.287 --> 00:46:06.610 - room. The second proposal in the amount of $6,200 includes installing new door hardware, proximity card 00:46:06.610 --> 00:46:10.622 - readers, and all necessary wiring to provide secure badge access. 00:46:11.106 --> 00:46:18.257 - Thank you so much. I'll vote for this. How about you? Yes, absolutely. All right. Any public comment 00:46:18.257 --> 00:46:22.718 - on this item? We have a hand raised on Teams. Yes. Ms. Farris. 00:46:23.298 --> 00:46:28.679 - I just want to say thank you so much to Richard Crider and the maintenance department for ensuring that 00:46:28.679 --> 00:46:33.854 - this is going to be taken care of. I want to say thank you to each of you as well, but also just to 00:46:33.854 --> 00:46:39.391 - make sure that this is being very clear and comes across as we are ensuring that there is as much security 00:46:39.391 --> 00:46:44.617 - measures as possible for all of the election equipment, but also for the staff in our office. We are 00:46:44.617 --> 00:46:48.446 - still waiting on a couple of more things to be completed in the office to 00:46:48.706 --> 00:46:55.135 - We finished that security measures and once everything is completed, we believe that we will be one 00:46:55.135 --> 00:47:01.885 - of the most safest options and offices within the county for voter registration for the first time since 00:47:01.885 --> 00:47:09.278 - I've been here for three years. Thank you so much. We appreciate that. Thank you. Great. Any other public comment? 00:47:12.066 --> 00:47:18.484 - All those in favor of approving the BTEC fire and security Monroe County Government Center Showers North 00:47:18.484 --> 00:47:24.964 - security enhancements, voter registration, IT maintenance room signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 00:47:24.964 --> 00:47:31.199 - 2-0. Can we do the last item, please? Yes, I would like to move to approve Nature's Way Monroe County 00:47:31.199 --> 00:47:35.294 - Government Showers North Landscaping Services Fund Name 2020-2021. 00:47:36.418 --> 00:47:44.570 - 2021 2022 show bond funds number 4815 in the amount of $5,841 so easy for you to say I will second nature's 00:47:44.570 --> 00:47:52.798 - way has completed the demolition and cleanup associated with the landscaping update at the showers building. 00:47:52.994 --> 00:47:59.780 - There will be no new plantings until the fall, but the beds will require ongoing maintenance. This request 00:47:59.780 --> 00:48:06.059 - is to approve the proposal submitted by Nature's Way Inc. in the amount of $5,841 for landscaping, 00:48:06.059 --> 00:48:12.655 - maintenance, and showers building for the remainder of the 2026 season to include weed control and fall 00:48:12.655 --> 00:48:18.998 - cleanup. Thank you so much. Comments, questions? All right. Let's see if there's any public comment 00:48:18.998 --> 00:48:21.598 - on this, how our garden grows. No weeds. 00:48:24.962 --> 00:48:31.398 - Seeing none, all those in favor of proving nature's way, Monroe County Government Center Showers North 00:48:31.398 --> 00:48:37.833 - Landscaping Services signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 2-0. Commissioner Madure has to leave, 00:48:37.833 --> 00:48:44.269 - but I'm going to go ahead and finish with announcements and things if that's alright. Sure, I actually 00:48:44.269 --> 00:48:46.206 - did have some remarks. Please. 00:48:46.306 --> 00:48:53.547 - So there were some remarks made at the end of Tuesday's council meeting that I just wanted to address. 00:48:53.547 --> 00:49:00.648 - So I wanted to correct an implication made by Councillor Henry with respect to the Justice Centre. I 00:49:00.648 --> 00:49:08.030 - think every, and these remarks are on my behalf, we have not had a chance to confer, create a statement. 00:49:08.162 --> 00:49:14.010 - Every employee has the right to a safe and clean workplace. When employees raise concerns, these concerns 00:49:14.010 --> 00:49:19.914 - deserve to be heard, investigated, and addressed. But hearing an allegation isn't the same as establishing 00:49:19.914 --> 00:49:25.486 - that allegation is fact. And that certainly isn't evidence that commissioners knew about a hazardous 00:49:25.486 --> 00:49:31.224 - condition and chose to ignore it. So I think counselor Henry's arguments rest on two unsupported leaps. 00:49:31.224 --> 00:49:37.128 - The first is that reports that the Justice Center was, quote unquote, not cleanly established that remains 00:49:37.128 --> 00:49:37.790 - unsanitary. 00:49:38.050 --> 00:49:43.584 - They don't. Iosha's letters related to employee allegations. The letters themselves expressly stated 00:49:43.584 --> 00:49:49.118 - that they were not citations and that Iosha had not determined that alleged hazards existed. Iosha's 00:49:49.118 --> 00:49:54.598 - visit is part of determining the facts and should not be represented as proof of a violation before 00:49:54.598 --> 00:50:00.461 - a process is complete. The second and more serious leap is the suggestion that if some area still requires 00:50:00.461 --> 00:50:05.502 - attention, the commissioners must have known about it and deliberately chose to do nothing. 00:50:05.634 --> 00:50:11.417 - That's not logical or accurate. And so before accusing public officials of knowingly allowing employees 00:50:11.417 --> 00:50:16.978 - to work in a sanitary conditions, one should establish what condition existed, when it was reported 00:50:16.978 --> 00:50:21.982 - to whom, and what happened in response. The document response was definitely not nothing. 00:50:22.082 --> 00:50:27.045 - After the July 24th incident, the building was closed for four working days. Professional remediation 00:50:27.045 --> 00:50:31.911 - crews were brought in an hour after the incident. Damaged carpet, drywall, and other materials were 00:50:31.911 --> 00:50:37.020 - removed as necessary, and affected areas were cleaned, sanitized, and dried. And the cause also matters. 00:50:37.020 --> 00:50:41.886 - The sewage backup occurred after materials were deliberately flushed to the jail's plumbing system. 00:50:41.986 --> 00:50:46.483 - The later drain cleaner exposure was a separate incident involving an operational decision 00:50:46.483 --> 00:50:51.475 - by jail maintenance staff to use an unfamiliar product. The commissioners didn't director authorized 00:50:51.475 --> 00:50:52.414 - that substitution. 00:50:52.514 --> 00:50:57.203 - These events have to be assessed and prevented from occurring, but they should not be collapsed into 00:50:57.203 --> 00:51:01.846 - a narrative that the commissioners knowingly chose to tolerate unsafe conditions. We're statutorily 00:51:01.846 --> 00:51:06.581 - responsible for county facilities, but responsibility for responding to an incident isn't the same as 00:51:06.581 --> 00:51:11.270 - having caused it, and it isn't proof of indifference. So our performance should be judged by whether 00:51:11.270 --> 00:51:16.006 - we respond, investigate, remediate, and pursue the resources necessary to protect employees. So we'll 00:51:16.006 --> 00:51:20.695 - welcome those questions during budget hearings. We'll come prepared with facts, remediation records, 00:51:20.695 --> 00:51:22.366 - project needs and funding requests, 00:51:22.594 --> 00:51:29.781 - And that process should be a serious discussion between the commissioners and the council, not an occasion 00:51:29.781 --> 00:51:36.229 - for threats or assumptions about one another's motives. So with that, I conclude those remarks. 00:51:36.229 --> 00:51:43.013 - Thank you. I agree with what you've stated. And I actually was going to ask, since Mr. Cockerill was 00:51:43.013 --> 00:51:49.998 - present for the IOSHA inspection, if he wanted to say anything about what's been going on and shed some 00:51:49.998 --> 00:51:51.006 - light on this. 00:51:51.298 --> 00:51:56.868 - Well, and I think anything I say is probably just going to stack on. I was there for the inspection 00:51:56.868 --> 00:52:02.604 - portion of it. Essentially, I wish it came down unannounced, you know, it's on Tuesday, which is fine. 00:52:02.604 --> 00:52:08.619 - And, you know, I think they made it clear to everybody they ever talked to that you can't take any negative 00:52:08.619 --> 00:52:14.690 - employment actions, which, you know, sewage falling on your desk and we're going to take negative employment 00:52:14.690 --> 00:52:18.366 - actions on you. I think you have a right to be concerned. And so, 00:52:18.562 --> 00:52:25.306 - and part of theirs was interviewing employees and clearly we weren't sitting through those interviews 00:52:25.306 --> 00:52:32.049 - so that they would speak freely to the inspectors. What I did do is I did go around and we toured the 00:52:32.049 --> 00:52:38.859 - facilities. We toured where the damage was. It was demonstrated and shown half the agenda items today, 00:52:38.859 --> 00:52:45.735 - where the carpet was replaced, where the drywall was replaced, all those kind of cleaning things. We're 00:52:45.735 --> 00:52:48.446 - going to follow up if we haven't already 00:52:48.706 --> 00:52:55.258 - with documentations that demonstrate exactly what we did and where. The one thing that I found interesting 00:52:55.258 --> 00:53:01.504 - and I don't really want to talk a whole lot about that because it's still part of their investigation 00:53:01.504 --> 00:53:07.628 - and they have to do their job and we'll get a response to it but outside of that we were discussing 00:53:07.628 --> 00:53:14.058 - CO2 in the building and things like that and it wasn't known to me but apparently we have a system where 00:53:14.058 --> 00:53:16.446 - if any area of that building gets over 00:53:16.994 --> 00:53:24.512 - 1100 CO2 and I think 1400 is kind of the benchmark that most people hit. Anything gets over 1100. We 00:53:24.512 --> 00:53:32.104 - have a alarm mechanism and it gets cleared out. Our typical building areas are between 6 and 800. And 00:53:32.104 --> 00:53:39.622 - so they do, we do occasionally get courtroom, one of the courtrooms having that, you know, you get a 00:53:39.622 --> 00:53:45.502 - lot of people, you get a lot more CO2. And so occasionally that's where we see 00:53:45.858 --> 00:53:52.019 - the alarm being triggered and then the automated systems replenish the air quicker as quickly as we 00:53:52.019 --> 00:53:58.303 - can. So he hadn't heard of that before. He was very impressed that that was involved in our building. 00:53:58.303 --> 00:54:04.649 - And he even made the comment that he wished all buildings and all building owners would have something 00:54:04.649 --> 00:54:11.180 - in place like that because that indoor air quality is an issue. I'm assuming that from their perspective, 00:54:11.180 --> 00:54:14.014 - that's probably something they look at a lot. 00:54:14.178 --> 00:54:21.278 - I didn't ask, but that was my assumption after that. And if I can just jump on that, we've actually 00:54:21.278 --> 00:54:28.663 - had, I was present on that same tour, and we've actually had those systems since 1995. And we also have 00:54:28.663 --> 00:54:35.976 - Alterviolet as well. So that was another. Yeah, I did not. That was also a surprise. Yeah, you thought 00:54:35.976 --> 00:54:42.366 - we installed them in response to COVID. And we actually had them many years before. Yeah. 00:54:43.426 --> 00:54:50.713 - I don't know, Ms. Purdy, if you want to talk about the state health department visit, we invited them 00:54:50.713 --> 00:54:58.429 - to come down. I don't have that in front of me. That's OK. So I can't tell you the exact dates or anything. 00:54:58.429 --> 00:55:05.716 - But I do know that the state did come down and do their assessment. That was done prior to the sewage 00:55:05.716 --> 00:55:12.574 - event. So that was prior to that. But their report was that the air quality in the building was 00:55:13.154 --> 00:55:22.606 - appropriate. They one of the things that they looked at was the they looked at the mold spores and everything 00:55:22.606 --> 00:55:31.541 - and they were acceptable as per their report. They also look at the CO2 levels and again all the levels 00:55:31.541 --> 00:55:40.134 - that were checked were I think between six and probably eight hundred seven something high numbers. 00:55:40.134 --> 00:55:42.110 - The eleven fourteen is 00:55:42.562 --> 00:55:51.838 - I think you actually had 700 to your 700 number, and that gives you what is not acceptable. So we were 00:55:51.838 --> 00:56:01.293 - all fine on that level. So we brought the State Board of Health in to do this assessment to help support 00:56:01.293 --> 00:56:10.389 - all the work that has already been done and to show that we are in fact trying very hard to ensure a 00:56:10.389 --> 00:56:12.190 - proper and adequate 00:56:12.546 --> 00:56:19.494 - an acceptable air quality. There is no defined numbers for that, if you'll find out, other than CO2 00:56:19.494 --> 00:56:26.443 - levels. But we're trying to show that we are taking all of these concerns seriously. And we want to 00:56:26.443 --> 00:56:33.461 - have the most safe environment for our employees. Yep. And they said something about the air quality 00:56:33.461 --> 00:56:40.479 - in their letter, the air quality being better indoors than outdoors that day. Correct. Because there 00:56:40.479 --> 00:56:42.494 - was so much mold in the air. 00:56:42.722 --> 00:56:53.915 - Yeah. Spore level was significantly higher outside than it was within the building. Yeah. So two things 00:56:53.915 --> 00:57:05.000 - to take away from all of this. First is a huge thank you and flowers. The verbal flowers given to ASI, 00:57:05.000 --> 00:57:11.134 - David Gardner, Mr. Kreider, who just worked his tail off 00:57:11.234 --> 00:57:18.897 - I mean, you can tell how much work you do by how many items you bring on our agenda. You've been busy 00:57:18.897 --> 00:57:26.410 - and really appreciate it. Ms. Purdy, Mr. Cockrell, everybody who's had something to do with this to 00:57:26.410 --> 00:57:34.223 - try to get this together. Big, huge kudos. We love our team. We really appreciate our employees so much 00:57:34.223 --> 00:57:38.430 - for the hard work that they do. The second takeaway is, 00:57:39.234 --> 00:57:47.705 - I really wish people would not talk about things they don't know anything about. And what it highlights 00:57:47.705 --> 00:57:56.013 - for me is the fact that this Justice building doesn't need, quote, a lick of paint and new carpet, as 00:57:56.013 --> 00:58:04.240 - has been said previously. This building is in terrible shape. We are continuing to work with VET, as 00:58:04.240 --> 00:58:08.638 - you can see by the Curry Building item on our agenda. 00:58:08.738 --> 00:58:17.240 - But we are continuing to work with that on every one of our buildings to keep the mold counts down for 00:58:17.240 --> 00:58:25.907 - all of our employees and for all of our visitors, for all the residents of Monroe County. We are working 00:58:25.907 --> 00:58:34.162 - with a terrible building, structurally HVAC-wise, functionality-wise. Everything is wrong with that 00:58:34.162 --> 00:58:36.638 - building that you could name. 00:58:36.866 --> 00:58:45.376 - I don't think there's much right about that building. And this is a good reminder that we need to move 00:58:45.376 --> 00:58:53.885 - forward as quickly as possible with our jail project. Please. Please. I would just like to also stress 00:58:53.885 --> 00:59:02.147 - the fact that there has been repeated statements that we have failed to maintain this building. And 00:59:02.147 --> 00:59:05.534 - nothing could be further than the truth. 00:59:07.970 --> 00:59:16.925 - staff has tried and done more than successfully kept this building functional. The problem with this 00:59:16.925 --> 00:59:25.969 - building that we're speaking of is that you can't, the design is such that we cannot put in place the 00:59:25.969 --> 00:59:35.102 - improvements that are required to make this a safe and functional building for all of the inhabitants. 00:59:36.066 --> 00:59:45.264 - When people say it has not been maintained, that is not accurate. ASI, our maintenance department, they 00:59:45.264 --> 00:59:54.550 - have gone above and beyond in trying to keep this, as I've referenced before, an old horse with a broken 00:59:54.550 --> 01:00:03.571 - leg functioning. And they have looked into trying to change the plumbing. The other thing I wanted to 01:00:03.571 --> 01:00:05.694 - go is people talk about 01:00:05.922 --> 01:00:14.688 - Well, this building was redone because we were able to evacuate this building and put people elsewhere. 01:00:14.688 --> 01:00:23.707 - The Justice Building is a 365, 24-7 facility that does not allow for the evacuation of all the inhabitants 01:00:23.707 --> 01:00:32.136 - in order to do the kind of rehab that would, people are talking about, but would not meet the needs 01:00:32.136 --> 01:00:33.822 - of our jail system. 01:00:34.050 --> 01:00:42.146 - So I just want to put that out there. Yep. Thank you. And this building had some structural issues, 01:00:42.146 --> 01:00:50.728 - but they certainly were not the same kind of structural issues that the justice building currently faces. 01:00:50.728 --> 01:00:59.067 - Absolutely. I was here for putting that. Yes, you were. So please, if anybody has any questions on the 01:00:59.067 --> 01:01:03.358 - council, anywhere in county government, let us know. 01:01:03.554 --> 01:01:15.109 - will address them rather than throwing accusations around to for no apparent reason except to infuriate 01:01:15.109 --> 01:01:26.552 - people and to make their workplace less tolerable. So I ask once again for everyone to please be kind. 01:01:26.552 --> 01:01:31.774 - Feel like a kindergarten teacher. Anyway, I do 01:01:31.906 --> 01:01:41.657 - We do not have appointments. Commissioner Deere did have to leave. But I just want to go through a few 01:01:41.657 --> 01:01:51.124 - quick announcements. And I do want to note that we do have board and commission vacancies. So we do 01:01:51.124 --> 01:01:57.278 - encourage folks to look at those vacancies and to apply. We also 01:01:57.602 --> 01:02:08.312 - you can go to our web page and sign up there to receive weather alerts. For example, we are currently 01:02:08.312 --> 01:02:18.811 - still under a foot watch. There's a nice big blob of rain heading our way for more rain to set late 01:02:18.811 --> 01:02:26.686 - this afternoon. This evening. Um there's more coming. So if you want to be 01:02:27.106 --> 01:02:35.134 - I also would like to remind folks that we do have a blood drive at IB Tech. I do not have the August 01:02:35.134 --> 01:02:43.241 - dates in front of me, but please go to redcross.org and you can see the appointment calendar and sign 01:02:43.241 --> 01:02:51.349 - up to donate blood. There is a shortage of blood products across the country right now and not a good 01:02:51.349 --> 01:02:54.846 - thing. We do continue to host office hours. 01:02:55.458 --> 01:03:05.108 - office hours, which is about 26 hours a month. And on our calendar, you can find those office hours. 01:03:05.108 --> 01:03:14.663 - Just log on and join us via teams for conversation. Some really great things have come out of those 01:03:14.663 --> 01:03:23.454 - office hours. Um some really useful conversations and even the utility vehicle allowance on 01:03:23.778 --> 01:03:31.095 - We appreciate all of our county residents and our next meeting, we do not have a work session. Our next 01:03:31.095 --> 01:03:37.638 - meeting is Thursday, August 20th, right here in the NatU Hill Room at 10 a.m. And with that, 01:03:37.638 --> 01:03:40.382 - we are adjourned. Thank you, everyone.