At the Monday, May 9, meeting that I attended over the bed tax, I took issue with the need for the Preble County Development Board if the county commissioners levied a bed tax. The addition of a bed tax could push the county financial commitment to over $200,000 and there is zero representation from the western half of Preble County.  Having listened to Shawnda Combs’ Economic Development Update, I’ll say that the Committees mentioned by her all seem worthwhile and of great need to this county.

That said, the issue of zero representation from the western half of Preble County from Camden in the south to New Paris and the Darke County line in the north is still unacceptable.  Any monetary contribution levied by taxes such as a bed tax by the Preble County Commissioners in support of this effort demands inclusion and should have been offered by the Commissioners and the Preble County Development Board. Minus inclusion with seats of equal value to Eaton & Lewisburg, the geographic make-up of this effort will be made an issue.  If this effort is to truly reflect the whole of Preble County, this should not be a problem.  Shawnda has mentioned the inclusion of hotel and motel operators on a board to oversee the money raised from the bed tax and that is fine, no problem with that, it should be expected.  There should also be inclusion on the actual Preble County Development Board at a seating level commensurate with the funding level from the areas impacted by any tax such as a bed tax. Previously, communities have been given a per capita billing for that inclusion and this was the case at the February, New Paris Village Council meeting attended by Ms. Combs and that bill was passed along to the New Paris Area Chamber of Commerce.  

The reasons for this are quite simple, and in addition to those just stated, it comes down to this. Three fourths of the founding signees on the legal paperwork filed by members of the renamed Eaton Chamber and now Preble County Chamber do not even list Preble County addresses for their place of residence. This effort takes on a carpetbagger feel when there is advice given that impacts not only the taxes of Preble County residents but allows those giving that advice to drive home to areas where they do not have to live with the impact.  As an example, at the time of the creation of the Preble County Development Partnership, three of the four people signing the articles of incorporation were listed as living in Cincinnati, Clayton and Dayton, not Preble County.  The .pdf of those articles of incorporation can be downloaded here:  PCDP Articles of Incorporation.  New Paris is close to Richmond, the largest retail shopping destination for Preble County residents, Camden has rail and neither has representation. It is an issue that will not go away.

The rest of this day had some very long meetings and another Executive Session (this time with John Krock present) to discuss the possible discipline of a county employee.

It looks like West Alexandria beat out New Paris for the CDBG neighborhood revitalization money.

Preble County, Ohio

County Commissioners

May 11, 2011

Meeting audio and review

Three Commissioners in attendance

File 1

I. OPEN MEETING

II. CALL OF ROLL

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

IV. PRAYER

V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING THE JOURNALIZATION & NOTE

RECEIPT OF THE CD RECORDATION BOTH AS THE OFFICIAL MINUTES FOR THE MAY 4TH AND MAY 9TH REGULAR SESSION MEETINGS

VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS

End 3.5 minute mark on CD – 830 KB

File 2

SHAWNDA COMBS – ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT UPDATE

5.5 Minute mark  Meeting begins.

6 Minute mark  Working with Preble County Development Partnership to help secure some financing for Project Sam. Partnered with Project Tool in New Paris.

9.5 Minute mark  Project Goodman from Cleveland found website. Retail distribution in the 200,000 – 300,000 sq. ft.

12 Minute mark   Entered more county locations to website.

13 Minute mark  Website at nearly 30,000 hits.

14 Minute mark   Global Corporate Expansion – two page ad.

15.25 Minute mark   Marketing Committee would like to get something on I-70. Would be a brick structure built to last (Welcome to Preble County).

18 Minute mark  Work force development committee. Drive up secondary education.

20 Minute mark  Networking went to Columbus.

22 Minute mark  Fiber – Rural fiber grant. High speed internet (May be reference to Hometown Cable & G-Wireless Rural Fiber Grant).

23 Minute mark   Went to the New Paris Expo on Saturday – very nice.

24 Minute mark   Comprehensive Master Plan for County. Attraction Committee. All the Committees covering a lot of ground. 40 acre rule could be under review

24.5 Minute mark   License plate fee – Transient tax.

26 Minute mark  Working with Preble County Historical Society and secured a $1,500 grant for their portion of event.

28.5 Minute mark  Shawnda – Any questions?

29 Minute mark   mention of my visit.

30.5 Minute mark  Update on zoo (Heaven's Corner).

This meeting provided a much better look at what is being done with the Preble County Development Board. The issue however continues to be zero representation from the western half of the county, nothing from the Darke County line in the north to Camden in the south.

31 minute mark on cd  

27.3 minutes – 6.29 MB

File 3

Opens with conversation with Chris Washington in background.

JOHN KROCK – PERSONNEL POLICY & PROCEDURE UPDATES  

35.5 Minute mark    John Krock starts meeting.

1 hr.  50.3 minute mark on cd  

1 hr.  19.11 minutes – 18.11MB

File 4

EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE DISCIPLINE OF A COUNTY EMPLOYEE

Exit

John Krock present.

1 hr. 52.5 minute mark on cd  

2.24 minutes – 562 KB

File 5

2011 SMALL PAVING PROJECTS – ENGINEER

Three bids, totals for each read into record.

1 hr. 58 minute mark on cd  

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5.30 minutes – 1.26 MB

File 6

KIM KELLER – FY11 CDBG PROJECTS

Ranking of CDBG Projects

2 hr.  4 Minute mark   Kim …..they all have parts of them that will benefit the village. West Alexandria has a few more people than New Paris does. New Paris has got better leverage.

Gratis doesn't have hardly anything to leverage it.

New Paris has been funded three times the last time in 2007. There's a million dollars they have put in New Paris already.

2 hr.   6.5 Minute mark   Kim leaning toward West Alex

2 hr.   7.5 Minute mark   Commissioner Stonecash – As you say New Paris has been funded three times.

Extended discussion on benefits.

2 hr.   9.5 Minute mark   Kim mentions dropping the part about the park equipment for New Paris…. equipment was already supposed to be in park from last round.

Chamber had written a letter that they would donate a thousand dollars to the installation oF the park equipment but they did that back in 2007 when they were chosen to. I am going to assume that this is the same thousand dollars that has never been used….

2 hr.  11.25 Minute mark  Commissioner Wesler asks which (village) would be most likely to be funded.

2 hr.  15 Minute mark   Kim – Shady Lane is only going to benefit Shady Lane.

Commissioner Stonecash leaning toward West Alex – Commissioner Wesler toward New Paris.

2 hr.  23.25 Minute mark  Commissioner Day heard. (He had to abstain since he is also Village Admin of West Alex)

2 hr.  24.5 Minute mark   Mention of Harrison Township.

Kim not high on West Elkton

2 hr.  38.75 Minute mark  West Alex gets neighborhood revitalization.

2 hr. 39.75 minute mark on cd  

41.46 minutes – 9.55 MB

File 7

Connie – Veterans Services has asked to delineate from our reimbursement policy we have in place. Currently we have $33 per day in our policy. They would like it to be extended to $60 per day for the period of June 5 through June 11. They are attending an out of state, national service officer training.

Commissioner Stonecash – Now does that, no I am not saying anything.  LOL

Commissioner Wesler – That would be difficult to deviate from our policy because that would open it up to anybody anytime….

Connie – $8 for breakfast – $10 for lunch – $15 for dinner = $33

2 hr.  44.5 Minute mark   Connie – The training that we talked about, ethics and sexual harassment training for elected officials and department heads. We did receive information on that.

Commissioner Stonecash – Money well spent.

Connie – That is right.

2 hr.  46.25 Minute mark   APPROVAL OF MINUTES

NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING THE JOURNALIZATION & NOTE

RECEIPT OF THE CD RECORDATION BOTH AS THE OFFICIAL MINUTES FOR THE MAY 4TH AND MAY 9TH REGULAR SESSION MEETINGS

AGREEMENTS & CONTRACTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT & APPROVE BY SIGNING AN AGREEMENT.

RE: REPLACEMENT OF GROUNDWATER MONITORING WELL R-2 AGREEMENT W/ FRONTZ DRILLING, INC. – $37,505.00 – LANDFILL CONSTRUCTION

RECESS FOR LUNCH

2 hr. 47.5 minute mark on cd  

7.46 minutes – 1.78 MB

File 8

HEALTH INSURANCE RENEWAL MEETING – MCGOHAN BRABENDER

4 hr.  26.5 minute mark on cd  

1 hr.  39 minutes – 22.6 MB

File 9

Opens with discussion that may pertain to additional health care facilities for Preble County. Shawnda Combs mentioned.

Mostly between meeting chatter about Commission Chambers being so hot.

4 hr. 42.7 minute mark on cd  

16.14 minutes – 3.71 MB

File 10

KENT HAMILTON – E-MAIL SERVER/ ARCHIVING

4 hr.  46.25 Minute mark  

5 hr. 22.25 minute mark on cd  

36 minutes – 8.24 MB

File 11

5 hr.  23.25 Minute mark   Commissioner Wesler reads full information for SMALL PAVING PROJECTS covered earlier into record.

Motion to send bids to County Engineer.

ADJOURN

5 hr. 27.9 minute mark on cd  

5.44 minutes – 1.31 Mb