I’ll start things off with File 2 and the 2 – 1 commission vote to put a tax increase on the ballot for Children’s Services.  Reasons given by Day & Creech were the heroin problem in the county and costs from it as well as concern over a future economic down turn.  I have to question the reasoning. I’ll agree with Mr. Day’s statement that it seems every year the county commission ends up putting another $100,000 or so from the General Fund into Children’s Services towards the end of the year.  You the public need to consider that the General Fund is as Commissioner Robertson claims – your money (taxes & fees you have already paid).  The balance in the General Fund remains well above the Historic norm as a percentage of the budget with that Children's Services subsidy occurring. 

File 4 is one of the more bizarre exchanges in some time.  This file would have made for a very interesting video while also allowing for the commissioners to address the public on the reasons for their positions.  This of course presumes that a commissioner is able to articulate a coherent argument in favor of their position – Mr. Creech was unable to do so.  Commissioner Robertson favors video of commission meetings and Commissioner Creech is against it.  This meeting is another example of poor communication skills.  Those of you that have followed the 911 dispatch merger talks know that Commissioner Robertson has been against a tax increase to pay for it. This audio file has Commissioner Day stating he does not feel this is the right time to put a levy on the ballot.  That makes two votes against approving a tax increase on the November ballot with the due date for getting it on the ballot being August 4.  This was before Commissioner Creech spoke on the issue.  Bizarrely – Commissioner Creech then launched into a pitch for a tax increase on the ballot.  He takes issue with unnamed people putting out false information. Commissioner Robertson challenges him on it and instead of providing facts he backs down a couple different times.  Listen to the audio; it is one of the more weird exchanges I recall. 

The issue appears to be two sets of numbers and I provided the public with numbers provided by both Commissioner Robertson & Commissioner Creech.

I am including videos of previous meetings on the 911 merger issue for public review. And since Rodney appears to be challenging the truthfulness of others I am including a video he put out on May 5, 2014 the day before the May 6 Republican Primary.

 

This link is to two shorter videos featuring Commissioner Robertson & Creech.  

 

This the full video of the May 22 meeting on 911 and documents provided by Mr. Creech.

 

This is the video of the May 6 meeting on the dispatch merger.   

Preble County, Ohio

County Commissioners

July 22, 2015

Meeting audio and review

Three Commissioners in attendance

Chris Day was absent Monday (abstains in approval of minutes).

File 1

I. OPEN MEETING

II. CALL OF ROLL

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

IV. PRAYER

V. PUBLIC COMMENTS

Chris Day acknowledges that Jack Deem is in audience but has no comments.

VI. 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 JULY 20, 2015 REGULAR SESSION MEETING

3.01 minutes – 711 KB

File 2

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #418-15-171

RE: TRANSFER OF FUNDS – SOIL & WATER

B. NOTE RECEIPT OF A CERTIFICATE OF ESTIMATED PROPERTY TAX REVENUE

RE: .6 MILLS REPLACEMENT LEVY – CHILDREN SVS.  $549,600 per year

C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #420-15-171

RE: DECLARING IT NECESSARY TO LEVY A TAX IN EXCESS OF THE TEN MILL LIMITATION – CHILDREN SVS. REPLACEMENT LEVY  

Commissioner Robertson states she is not ok with raising taxes on people… if people approve this tax we will have raised taxes on people… raising this tax gives them (Children's Services) no incentive to find cost cutting measures.

Commissioner Creech – you said your piece – I'll say mine. Proceeds to give reason he supports tax increase. Let people decide.

Commissioner Day – Offers his views on need for tax increase. Notes the Commission has had to supplement to the tune of $100,000 + every year that he has been there. This is pretty much true but it should also be noted that after doing so annually or close to annually the General Fund remains far above historic norms.

Commissioner Robertson notes that the money being used to supplement Children's Services is the people's money.  

Motion passes the 2 – 1 with Day & Creech in favor of tax increase and Robertson against tax increase.

D. CONSIDER APPROVL OF RES. #421-15-171

RE: TRANSFER OF FUNDS – VARIOUS DEPTS.

E. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #422-15-171

RE: AUTH. EXPENDITURE – $7,092.59 – COURTROOM FURNITURE – JUVENILE CT.

F. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #423-15-171

RE: AUTH. PAYMENT – JOB & FAMILY SERVICES ($8,215.88)

CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF (4) LETTERS FROM THE SHERIFF

RE: NEW HIRE OF ROBERT NEMETH III – FULL-TIME CORRECTIONS OFFICER $14.41 per hr. probationary rate  This new hire is the result of the earlier commmission approval to hire another detective.  A couple current employees will transition into new positions with one taking the detective position.  Another detective should aid in going after the drug problem in the county.  The drug problem feeds the need for subsidies at Children's Services.

; CONTRACTED PAY RATE ADJUSTMENTS FOR GEORGE PETITT – 21 years –  $21.76  to $21.77

; STEVE BRATTON;  21 years –  $22.93  to $22.94

TERRY STEPHENSON   21 years –  $22.93  to $22.94   – SHERIFF

B. NOTE RECEIPT OF A LETTER FROM THE PROSECUTOR

RE: RESIGNATION OF TERRY SNOWDEN – PROS. ATTY. as of July 16. I always liked Terry.

AGREEMENTS & CONTRACTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING AN AGREEMENT

When the tablet is consumed by the user, the chemical quickly reaches penile area https://unica-web.com/archive/2004/sequence04.html levitra prices and no proper blood flow to the penile area.

RE: EQUITABLE SHARING AGREEMENT & CERTIFICATION W/ THE U.S. DEPT. OF TREASURY & DEPT. OF JUSTICE – PROS. ATTY.

B. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING AN AGREEMENT

RE: GRATIS – MACK ST. WATERLINE REPLACEMENT PROJECT AGREEMENT W/ C.G. CONSTRUCTION – $34,951.52 – FY13 CDBG

C. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING AN AGREEMENT

RE: HARRISON TWP. – ROCKRIDGE ROAD CULVERT REPLACEMENT – $41,623.00 – FY13 CDBG

TRAVEL

NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING TRAVEL REQUESTS:

A. RES. #419-15-171 – DAVID ANDERSON – E.M.A. Cost not to exceed $564

17 minute mark on cd  

14.02 minutes – 3.21 MB

File 3

Commissioner Day – Connie do you have any additional items?

Connie – We received this from the Ohio EPA – layer recertification.  Listen to the audio   everything in order – note receipt of letter.

19.5 Minute mark    Letter from Job & Family Services.  Mention of $14,000 and expenses related to adoptions – a grant is involved.

22 Minute mark    Darke County Commission meeting – August 7 – multi county meeting (conflicts with Preble County Fair) Sale day – commissioners may still attend – All three will attend the lunch.

24.3 Minute mark    Required training from CORSA on August 17.

26.75 Minute mark   NORTHWESTERN OHIO SECURITY SYSTEMS documents mentioned.

Something about Logan's Run. City of Eaton will not allow something with "Color Run".  Commission will allow regular run but not color run. I agree with this decision.   

31.25 Minute mark   Mention of TimeWarner & fiber optics being worked on (today).

32.75 minute mark on cd  

15.45 minutes – 3.6 MB

File 4

Commissioner Creech asks Commissioner Day about the follow-up on 911 that was mentioned last week.  Commission approval to put it on the ballot for November needs to be done by August 4.  

33 Minute mark   After checking Commissioner Day thinks we are going to have to do something in the future but that this not the right time to do it.  Claims there are more changes coming down from the state on this. Chris says one of the reasons he will not be attending is that there is an update on Wednesday that he plans to attend.  Chris agrees with moving forward with consolidation but wrong time to do anything with a levy.

Commissioner Robertson – I think you pretty much know where I stand on it.  She is against the previously proposed levy based on lack of need to put more taxes on residents.

34. Minute mark    Commissioner Creech claims this has been the most challenging thing for him and that he has talked to so many people.  He claims everybody knows that it is needed. Claims a lot of people want to see it on the ballot and a lot of people don't.  This comment is in conflict with the previous one claiming everybody knows it is needed.  Claims there is confusion and he does not like it.  Rodney mentions a guy that has been around the county his whole life and claims he is a confused voter.   Rodney feels there will be a lot of confused voters because of multiple numbers coming from people. "I believe in this is 100% it's needed."  Even the people that say they will vote for it – don't think it will pass.  This should be lesson number one to politicians that are full of themselves and think everyone agrees with them; What a person usually truly means comes after "but".  I submit that most of those claiming they will vote in favor would vote "no".    Rodney mentions "people out here passing around false information".

35.5 Minute mark    Commissioner Robertson – What false information was passed out?

Commissioner Creech – I don't think I need to say that either.

Commissioner Robertson – There was no false information. All the numbers I had were from the Sheriff and from that committee. There was no false information. If you are accusing me of passing false information.

Commissioner Creech – I didn't say nothing about you.

Commissioner Robertson – Well I am just saying there was no false information. All the information that came out were the numbers that were obtained from that committee.

Commissioner Creech – There were two sets of numbers Denise that is all I am going to say.

Commissioner Robertson – Who did they come from?

Commissioner Creech – I am done.

Commissioner Robertson – Those numbers came from that committee and the Sheriff. I did not create those numbers. So if there are two sets of numbers and if there was any confusion it was because of information that came out from that committee. Nobody else is to blame for that.

37 Minute mark    Commissioner Day – Like I said at this point I don't feel that it is the right time to put it on for several reasons but a I think we are going to have to continue ahhh consolidation – it is going to have to happen. So I think we are going to have to continue the conversation with the city and to see what our options are. I have not had a chance to talk to the Sheriff, the last week I have been tied up so. I am actually going to call the Sheriff here in a little bit on some other issues. I am going to have to set up a time to sit down with him to see what his thoughts are.

38 Minute mark   Commissioner Robertson – I want to talk about the Perfect Storm Coalition from Hamilton County has to do with EPA mandates.

Commissioner Day has not had time to read it.

Commissioner Creech has read it and agrees but wonders if Marty should look at it.

Discussion on issue.

39.75 Minute mark   Commissioner Robertson will get in contact with them and see if someone will come up and explain it to the commissioners and what all is involved.

Recess until 10:00

40.5 minute mark on cd  

7.45 minutes – 1.77 MB

File 5

NORTHWESTERN OHIO SECURITY SYSTEMS

EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS SECURITY AT THE COURTHOUSE

Exit no action taken.

Recess until 11:00

42.1 Minute mark   Camden 2 nd street improvement. CDBG

One bid.

Listen to the audio.

ADJOURN

45.7 minute mark on cd  

5.11 minutes – 1.18 MB