As reported last week the Commission did away with PAS119 (reverse 911).  This program could have been funded this year but lacked funding for next year.  The cost was put at about $7,000 last week and the excuse for the commission discontinuing it was lack of future funding and about half of Ohio counties not offering it.  The last time it was used was for the flu outbreak a few years ago. There are other uses for it but as stated here apparently the county lacks employees who know how to use it as “user friendly” of the program was mentioned. Bridge closing announcements were mentioned as one possible use.  With the storm that just went through I am sure there are more ways it could have been used.  The money for this year was used later in the meeting to buy a new color copier.

Mindy Robbins was in chambers for the General Fund update and the county balance was put at $3,224,329.32 on June 22. For comparison:

Cash Balance June 17, 2011 – $2,442,057.44

Cash Balance on June 18, 2010 of $2,153,831.64

Under Correspondence & Reports there was a reduction in the load limit on Trone Rd over Dry Fork Creek and the Seven Mile Rd. Bridge over Seven Mile Creek was closed.

There was also another Executive Session to discuss the sale of property after which Commissioner Day encouraged “both of you to talk to the appropriate people.”  Hey, its an executive session so that is as clear as it gets for now but it needs to be paid attention to.  

I recommend listening to File 6 which started with the commission making sure to get the “Commissioners Corner” into the Register Herald by 11:30. It then went into a discussion on the holding of future public forums, the how and where. The consensus was that future forums would have to be held in the commission chambers (which has limited seating) or as an example of past forums at schools. The meeting would be recorded.  This file concluded with a full on verbal smack down by Commissioner Wesler conducted toward Jane Marshall.  David had attended last week’s Farm Bureau Policy meeting and took issue with his treatment from Jane Marshall. Dave went on to say that Jane wanted to add an employee to a number of departments.  Chris Day then went after her over the fiscal shape of the county shortly after he took office. He mentioned the cash balance being at $100,000 at one point.  

Again, it is best to listen to the audio file for a better understanding.

I did not attend this year’s Farm Bureau meeting so I can’t offer a view on what occurred.  I will agree that the General Fund balance was very low, to low but this commission was also incompetent in forwarding a number of departments their whole year’s cash allotment instead of doing it quarterly.  A result was the commission having to claw back money from agencies like Soil & Water. I recall Soil & Water had to sell a vehicle to come up with the money.  On the issue of adding county employees, I just don’t think that is a thing many people are willing to do. There is more of an appetite for shrinking government not growing it but if this is to be an issue –  the November election will decide.

So is the county in better shape financially now than when the early part of Great Recession hit in January 2009? Yes, it is.  Is it better to have more money on hand than less? Yes it is but let’s be honest and admit that the cash balance of the General Fund always goes up as property taxes come in during February-March and June-July.  Had this commission not been fiscally foolish by making those advances then the balance would have been higher with property taxes set to come in. Yes, still to low but not attributable to one person.

Are the commissioners being honest with their assignment of blame? No. There is the obvious issue of three commissioners and it being hyperbole to blame one.

Yes, Commissioner Withrow missed a good bit of the meetings at the end of the 2008.

Here is a link to the September 26, 2011 commission meeting where these same three commissioners offered a different view on the low balance in early 2009.

Like others I said at the time that a big part of the problem was the commissioners giving out to much money in January instead of as needed throughout the year. The result was agencies like Soil & Water were asked for money back. This disrupted not only county agencies but people’s lives and it did not have to be. It was denied at the time by the three current Preble County Commissioners. It wasn’t funny then and it is not funny now. Well folks here you go, File 9A  :

File 9A ***2 hr. 47.6 Minute mark   Commissioner Wesler – Well as you know we use to advance a lot of places a lot of money the first of January and that caught up with us ahh several years ago. So even though they still get that same amount of money we just up fronted it and got you know short at the bank. So I don't see where the $38,200 is gonna be any effect, they are going to get it throughout the year anyway.

Commissioner Day – Three years ago it would have been a factor. laughter

Commissioner Wesler – That's what I am saying. We up fronted, we advanced, made so many advances in January and that's where we you know. My goodness we're ahh ran the bank account down.

Commissioner Stonecash – We just spent too damn much money. laughter

Commissioner Wesler – Well yeah I

Commissioner Day – Even at a thousand

Commissioner Wesler – that wasn't an issue

Commissioner Day – Even at a thousand a year, February 1st you would have $160 in there so. Yeah it is not that big of an issue.

Preble County Commissioners

June 25, 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 JUNE 20TH REGULAR SESSION MEETING

VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS

VII. APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS

NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING THE VOUCHERS AS SUBMITTED BY THE COUNTY AUDITOR

End 3.2 minute mark on CD – 741 KB

File 2

PAS119 discussion with Charlie Biggs in attendence – reverse 911. Continued from last week when Bob was absent. Chris Day gives Bob a review. Program has been used for seven years and used once for the flu epedemic. Engineer could use it for road closing but has not been doing so, raises issue of not being user friendly. This discussion should be listened to.

14 Minute mark  Charlie mentions that the closure of the Seven Mile Bridge over Seven Mile Creek will leave a house that cannot be reached with a fire truck.

15.5 minute mark on cd  

12.2 minutes – 2.82 MB

File 3

MINDY ROBBINS – GENERAL FUND FINANCIAL UPDATE

Due to a discussion in File 6 on the finances of the county I am including a comparison of General Fund balances over the last couple years.

View Mindy's report below:

 

21 minute mark on cd  

5.30 minutes – 1.26 MB

File 4

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #423-12-156

RE: TRANSFER – VARIOUS FUNDS

B. NOTE RECEIPT OF (3) COURT ORDERS FROM JUDGE DUES

RE: TRANSFER OF FUNDS

C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #424-12-156

RE: AUTH. PAYMENT – VICTIM WITNESS TRUST ($136.00 – Fairfield Inn; $296.17); VICTIM WITNESS ($186.80); BUREAU OF INSPECTION ($398.00); DATA PROCESSING ($2,122.45); HELP ME GROW ($849.53; $4,635.65)

D. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #425-12-156

RE: AUTH. EXPEND. – $2,600.00 FOR EMERGENCY REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE HEAD AND REPAIR OF ABS SYSTEM ON SHERIFF CRUISER – SHERIFF

The penile organ does not receive the amount of blood it http://deeprootsmag.org/2013/08/28/bach-by-thile-not-thile-does-bach/ cheap cialis requires for an erection.
E. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #426-12-156

RE: AUTH. EXPEND. – $9,875.00 FOR PURCHASE OF IPANEX – ENGINEER

F. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #431-12-156

RE: SUPPLE. APPROP. – ENGINEER ($63,629.00)

CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS

A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #432-12-156

RE: REDUCTION OF LOAD LIMIT ON TRONE RD. BRIDGE OVER DRY FORK CREEK – ENGINEER

B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #433-12-156

RE: CLOSURE OF SEVEN MILE RD BRIDGE OVER SEVEN MILE CREEK – ENGINEER

AGREEMENTS & CONTRACTS

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

RE: SAFE PROGRAM FUNDING MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING AGREEMENT BETWEEN JFS, JUVENILE COURT ($12,500.00), MHRB ($12,500.00) & FCFC

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

RE: OFFICE LEASE AGREEMENT W/DAYTEP, LLC – $13,776.84 – CERT. OF TITLE

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

RE: EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION SERVICES AGREEMENT W/ CCAO SERVICE CORP. – $1,674.54 – JFS

D. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING AN ADDENDUM

RE: ADDENDUM #2 TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING W/COGENERATION CONSULTANTS – EXTEND AGREEMENT TO SEPTEMBER 30, 2012 – LANDFILL

TRAVEL

NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING TRAVEL REQUESTS:

A. RES. #428-12-156 – MICHELLE WILHOIT & WATANNA BOLINGER – CSEA Cost not to exceed $170

B. RES. #429-12-156 – KAREN ADAMS – JFS Cost not to exceed $10

C. RES. #430-12-156- TONY MCWHINNEY – ENGINEER Cost not to exceed $50

35.5 Minute mark   Commissioner Day – Connie do you have anything additional?

Connie – have Resolution 427 authorizes the expenditure of $6,394 – new Sharp color copier for use at the Preble County Emergency Management Agency.  Earlier, Charlie Biggs mentioned that if the Commission did not want to fund PAS119 this year he would use the money to buy a new copier.

Darke County Commissioners Friday luncheon in Greenville – July 6 at 1:00 at Bistro off Broadway. David mentions a pretrial conference that morning and not knowing if Katie wants him to be there or not. Chris Day plans on going.

37.25 Minute mark  Preble County Chamber of Commerce has invited the Partnership to attend the legislative breakfast that they are hosting at the Country Club on Friday, July 13, 7:30 – 9:30. Chris Day will be out of town, David and Bob will go.

38 Minute mark   EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE SALE OF PROPERTY

Chris Day – I would encourage both of you to go talk to the appropriate people.

39 Minute mark   Commissioner Day – I was approached by the new commander of the American Legion here in Eaton. They are looking to relocate their sign, $180 permit fee, asks if commission had ability to wave that.

Commissioner Stonecash – Once you start that sort of thing, where does it end?

Commissioner Day –  that's true….

44 Minute mark    James Simmons in room and asks how everybody liked the event yesterday (Hueston Woods Bridge dedication).

48.5 minute mark on cd  

27.5 minutes – 6.29 MB

File 5

PUBLIC HEARING – 6 YEAR DITCH REVIEWS – DOVE #891 & SUNBERG #823

Not reviewed

1 hr.  4.75 minute mark on cd  

16.16 minutes – 3.72 MB

File 6

Commissioner Day mentions "Commissioners Corner", needs to be up there by 11:30. One appeared in the Wednesday, Register Herald.  

1 hr. 6.5 Minute mark    Connie – I've got Resolution 434 which is $3,151 Listen to the audio. Something for the Sheriff's cruisers waves the three quotes requirment.  

1 hr. 8.75 Minute mark    Dave Wesler on the Verona parade, Bridge dedication.  

Le Paul Fuel station on Rt. 40. Bill Sparks is fine with the foreclosure process. Process could take up to 9 months.

1 hr. 11.25 Minute mark     Discussion on a policy forum. This pertains to forums like the one recently held on Goose Creek and economic development.  Please listen.  

1 hr. 13.5 Minute mark   Commissioner Stonecash – I don't think someone should just set a date and say we are going to have a forum and these are the people that are going to be there without consulting us along the way in the planning stage.

1 hr. 16.5 Minute mark    Dave on his attending the recent Farm Bureau meeting. Mentions exchange with Jane Marshall, Dave felt she attacked him. Dave claims more than a handful of people came up to him after the meeting and appolgized for her conduct at the meeting. This obviously bothered Dave and he goes on to make accusations about Jane over multiple past issues. Dave states that Farm Bureau members came up to him and said it will not happen next year.

Commissioner Day on Jane's fiscal responsibility when she was in office. … a few weeks after coming in the county was on fiscal emergency based on less the $100,000 cash.  

1 hr. 25 minute mark on cd  

20.17 minutes – 4.64 MB

File 7

Chris Day brings up the American Legion sign issue again. Will discuss it again on Wednesday.

Discussion on Hueston Woods covered bridge.

ADJOURNED

1 hr.  29.2 minute mark on cd  

4.04 minutes – 956 kB

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