Preble County Commissioners

October 24, 2012

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 OCTOBER 22ND REGULAR SESSION MEETING

VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS

End 2.41 minute mark on CD – 631 KB

File 2

BECKY SORRELL & JEFF ADKINS – JFS & CHILD. SVS. UPDATE

145 people to date have taken the Work Keys Assessment.

Becky credits John Spenser and John Abrams with being out and seeing what kind of support they can provide to employers – served eight employers.

297 cash recipients

5601 people receiving food assistance.

244 new applicants for all programs.

156 families receiving cash assistance.

2427 families receiving food assistance.

8.75 Minute mark     Children's Services Report

13 Minute mark    Will need extra money due to high placement costs, estimates $70,000 short for 2012.

Connie – We started off 2011 with $29,000 extra.

This audio file should be listened to for a better understanding of the challenges facing this department.

36 minute mark on cd  

33.21 minutes – 7.63 MB

File 3

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #622-12-158

RE: AUTH. PAYMENTS – CLERK OF COURTS ($1019.99); TASC ($776.25)

B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #623-12-158

RE: TRANSFER OF FUNDS – SHERIFF

CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF A LETTER FROM THE COMMON PLEAS COURT

RE: CHANGES TO STAFF HOURS & SALARIES FOR 2012 – PROBATION SVS.

38.5 Minute mark   Chris Day reads employee pay scale into the record.

AGREEMENTS & CONTRACTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF AN EXECUTED AGREEMENT

RE: BUSINESS FIRST AGREEMENT W/ MONTGOMERY COUNTY, OHIO – Eaton has been a member for a number of years.

TRAVEL

NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING TRAVEL REQUESTS:

A. RES. #624-12-158 – MIKE TOSCHLOG – DITCH MAINTENANCE Cost not to exceed $

42.15 minute mark on cd  

6.10 minutes – 1.41 MB

File 4

42.5 Minute mark    Discussion on adding the three additional staff (Children's Services) that was requested by Becky Sorrell at the earlier meeting.

Connie – She is requesting $70,000 would take her up to about $339,000 for this year. Budgeted for $269,000. It should be noted that one special case is costing $400 a day and will require a specialized surgical procedure.

In 2011 she spent $240,000.

In 2010 she spent $162,000.

Had not been that high ($339,000) since 2007.

48.5 Minute mark    Connie – recommends taking no action today on the $70,000 but to monitor it.

Commission agrees. Will proceed on request to hire three employees.

49.5 Minute mark   Discussion on Monday's meeting with Shawnda and Brown Field grant. Kim will help.

Support letter for Senate Bill 271 requested by Shawnda Combs (what passes as an economic development director in Preble County)

About Ohio

Senate Bill 271

Phone companies could discontinue basic landline services beginning July 1, 2013 if an area is deemed competitive by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

Areas are deemed competitive if there are at least two telecommunications providers in that area providing services such as cellphone, digital phone or cable phone.

Phone companies can be exempt from meeting standards from Senate Bill 162 such as stipulating that outages must be fixed within 72 hours and companies must make all reasonable efforts to repair a basic local exchange service outage within 24 hours.

________________________________________________________________________________________

53 Minute mark    Commission approves a letter of support at the request of Shawnda Combs to kill off landline services if an area is deemed competitive.  One of the main issues against 271 is that many seniors still maintain landlines and some have trouble operating cell phones.   For more information on the opposition to Senate Bill 271 visit  stop271.com , Office od the Ohio Consumers Council or ruralassembly.org    

Senate Bill 271: Proposed legislation allows telephone companies to stop providing basic phone service in some areas

The Ohio General Assembly is considering legislation that would allow some telephone companies to withdraw regulated basic telephone service from their customers or charge customers whatever they choose for services. The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) is concerned about the impact Amended Substitute Senate Bill 271 (SB 271) could have on Ohio's telephone consumers. Allowing telephone companies to withdraw their basic service could:

• Leave some Ohioans without access to affordable telephone options;

• Force customers who want only basic telephone service to switch to other services that are more expensive and contain add-ons the customers do not want or need;

• Jeopardize customers' access to 9-1-1 emergency services by depending on telecommunications services that, unlike basic telephone service, may not work when the power goes out;

• What’s on line levitra additional info going to happen if that part doesn’t fit in my kitchen or bathroom? It’s easy, Plumbing Supply R Us offers refund in those cases.
  Allow telephone companies to pick and choose their customers, enabling them to drop their service in, for example, remote communities where they may be less profitable; and

• Remove the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio's (PUCO's) discretion to determine what is in the best interest of telephone companies and their basic service customers.

In addition to allowing telephone companies to stop providing basic service, SB 271 would also remove the requirement for telephone companies to meet minimum service quality standards for basic service if all their exchanges are determined to be "fully competitive." These service quality standards include protections for customers against unreasonable bill payment timelines, lengthy service outages and disconnections without notice, among other things.

Under current law, a telephone company may obtain more flexibility in pricing basic service rates by showing that two competing telecommunications services are available somewhere but not necessarily everywhere in the exchange. SB 271 would apply this same test to allow telephone companies to withdraw their basic service from customers altogether. As a result, some customers may lose access to affordable and reliable local telephone service because there may not be a competitive telephone provider in their immediate area.

The OCC is working with legislators and other parties to protect consumers from the possibility of losing access to affordable and reliable telephone service.

 

54 Minute mark   Connie – Next is a new policy for literature display rack. This has been mentioned previously and would be in the Courthouse lobby and used by the CVB's and others to promote Preble County.  

Discussion on the topic.

Policy approved.

59.5 Minute mark   Connie received an email from Sarah Driver yesterday. Involves paying off a note that was extended a few years ago.

1 hr. 2.5 minute mark on cd  

20.29 minutes – 4.68 MB

File 5

Connie – The meeting that we were wanting to get together with Darke County on talking about a consolidation of JFS….I have a date of November 30 at 10:00 a.m. in Greenville. For a work session or informational session. Larry Long does plan to attend the November 30 meeting.

Mention of LGIF (Local Government Innovation Fund) for consolidation.

1 hr.  5 Minute mark    Connie – I also wanted to let you know that Chris Harper has been getting rebates on lights used at courthouse – Rebates from DP&L.

Bob Stonecash mentions it as an example of this Boards efficiency. (Bob just voted to screw rural and senior landline owners)

Discussion on revenue from Casino Funds being 20 – 25% below projections for next calendar year.

1 hr.  7.25 Minute mark   Dave Wesler puts the number at just over $500,000 and down from the $800,000 received a few years ago from LGF (Local Government Funds).

Chris Day tells Connie it was LED lighting.

1 hr.  8.5 Minute mark    Connie – next I have two notices of resignation. One is for Karen Adams, one is for Linda Hale, they have finally been paid out….note receipt and approve by signing.

1 hr.  10 Minute mark   Connie – next I would like to note receipt of a letter from the Veterans Service Commission referencing accrued vacation. Read into the record.  Two employees are to be paid for 200 hours of unused vacation time.

Bob Stonecash – This is a benefit that is earned and it is my opinion that if you don't take your vacation hours it's no one's fault but you own. By paying them for 200 hours you guys correct me if I am wrong but isn't that double jeopardy isn't it? I believe they should have to take their hours and not be rewarded for not taking them. Ahh I am against that. I don't think it is right, it is not fair to other employees, it sets a bad precedent. Ahh sorry. I disagree.

Dave Wesler – Well ahhm I guess what I have to say Bob is that ahh you know they ahh they have their own board, they have their own pot of money to use from the General Fund and in May they asked for to sort of appropriate or to to ask for all of it they were allowed to have. Before they only used around 80-90% of it all. I believe speaking with Terry the other day; he said that this year they're still turning back in money. So Bob I mean I understand what you're saying. We don't allow that necessarily to happen but this is their own board, they got their own money and hopefully in the future that they will keep keep keep under so they don't lose their vacation hours again. But I do understand you point Bob. But I have to say that with their own board and their own pot of money.

Bob Stonecash – I agree, fully support Veterans, Veterans Services ahhh I know if they want to do it they can do it. Its in their budget I feel like its ahh not fair to the taxpayer to pay them twice. If they didn't take their vacation, guess whose fault that is? It is not the taxpayers fault, it's their fault. I fully appreciate the fact that they are dedicated enough to do it ahh but what we say here today isn't going to matter. But I don't think it is right.

Chris Day – Ahhm well it I guess the biggest thing is their under their own board their not under our policy or our plan so ahhm I appreciate what you say Bob. But I guess at this point ahh if they have the money in their budget and they decide what they want to do with it there's not as David said there is not a whole lot we can do about it I believe. Am I correct on that Connie?

Connie – Mmmhh (Affirmative)

Commissioners note receipt of the letter from Veterans Services Board.

Further discussion on issue.

I support Bob on this one as he is right about the employees being paid twice for the same time. If Veteran's Services employees are so time pressed that they cannot take their vacation, then they should hire another part time employee out of the funds described as their own pot instead of essentially double paying those they already have. Both these employees may do the best job possible but I am also sure they could probably find a local veteran who may be happy to get a part time job helping out fellow veterans while the two current employees take their vacation time. The mention of Veterans Services turning unused money back into the county raises the question of fully addressing the needs of Veterans that the money was allocated for in the first place.  Hire a veteran part time on as needed basis and make sure so much vacation time is never accumulated again.  Bob is the only one with guts enough to say so. The other two commissioners are sorry excuses of life long bureaucrats and sound more like butt kissers hoping for re-election. If we are truly supportive of the needs of Veterans then all the money allocated should be used for them and not as a regular "They are turning money back-in" excuse for leverage.

1 hr. 16.5 minute mark on cd 

14.04 minutes – 3.22 MB

File 6

Chris Day – Connie, I know you don't have anything left.  

Connie – We have additional election hours here for November 3rd, 4th and 5th….   

1 hr.  18.5 Minute mark   Discussion on Courthouse being closed December 24 and open December 31.

1 hr.  22 Minute mark   Discussion on manure removal at Fair. Dave claims that Dwayne Grimme told him that Tish told him that recycling would pay for it year round. Dave says that Tish told him she did not tell Dwayne that. Dave mentions an email from Tish that said she could not do it anymore because she might not be able to afford it. But now she is saying that she wants to go ahead and pay that.

 Better listen to this file and make up your own mind.

Connie mentions a "very angry phone call from this gentleman".  

Question on the offer being just for two events or the whole year.

Connie calls Tish.

1 hr.  26.5 Minute mark   Connie puts Tish on speaker phone.

Manure hauling price increase.

Sheep show had already been paid for.

Manure had apparently been accumulated from horses that stay at the Fairgrounds.

1 hr.  35 Minute mark   After phone call discussion.

1 hr.  39.1 minute mark on cd  

22.38 minutes – 5.18 MB

File 7

Chris Day – Connie, what else do you have?

Connie – I do need to go into Executive Session a couple times. One is for discipline of a county employee.

EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS DISCIPLINE OF A COUNTY EMPLOYEE

Exit.

1 hr.  40 Minute mark   EXECUTIVE SESSION TO TALK ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION OF A COMPLAINT AGAINST A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE  

Exit

1 hr.  40.8 Minute mark   Connie – Rachel Vonderharr was in yesterday and said that the Extension Office received approval…. no office, just a computer and cell phone…monthly meetings once a month…

Commission discussion on topic.

1 hr.  48 minute mark on cd  

8.06 minutes – 1.85 MB

File 8

Dave Wesler moves to adjourn

However they need to note and approve by signing a letter to the payroll clerk. Hire of Heather Tiller as part time Social Service Worker 2

Discussion by board on making position full time from part time. Position had been full time in the past.

Put off until Monday.

1 hr.  55 Minute mark    Discussion on a complaint about a house in Lanier township. Chris has been too busy to get to it yet…there was the trip to Newport Beach…. just saying …

ADJOURN

1 hr. 58.5 minute mark on cd  

10.5 minutes – 2.39 MB