The first meeting of the day was the Quarterly Investment Advisory Board. The projected interest income for this year was put at around $100,000. Real estate tax collection was reported as very good. The Y tax exempt issue is still not settled and as a result shows a $600,000 delinquency. It was reported that Preble County Auditor Mindy Robbins does not believe much will be taken off the bill. Also noted was the sale of the Rt. 40 truck wash.

Eric Marit and Katie Worthington were in to discuss the Camden legal case over the leachate scandal. They went into executive session on the issue. For those who want to review the case just check the previous post and you can download the documents and exhibits.

This meeting was most likely the OSU Extension office update given in Preble County by Pat Holmes. By all accounts she has been an invaluable asset to Preble County and will be missed. The Commissioners have insisted on a 4H educator and that means Pat will have to move on.

There was an extended discussion on the CVB and in particular the continual loss of board members. Three more board members resigned this week and I resigned the previous week. The members resigning were Debbie Sowder of Whispering Oaks, Manfred Schreyer of Taffy’s (Interim CVB President) and Tom Arvan the General Manager of Hueston Woods. I resigned last week and Aaron Yoder of the Fairfield Inn resigned previously. There is no current representation from the lodging industry on that board. There is an issue of not only control but commission interference and I’ll side with Manfred and Debbie on it being of importance. My view though is that we do not need a tax that will put Preble County businesses at a level higher than our competition. The Commission has a far more Liberal –Grow government dependence approach.

The CVB is another one of those incompetent decisions made by this commission. The scheme was proposed May 4, 2011 by what is passed off as an economic development director in Preble County. The ED director had never brought it up to anyone at Hueston Woods or the Fairfield Inn, the largest lodging properties in the county. This led to a level of distrust that exists to this day as the ED director showed up on May 4, with representatives from three non profits in support of a 3% tax that would raise the tax charged customers to 13%.  That is a level higher than Oxford and Richmond, the ED director should have been disciplined on the spot. This commission will now charge kids for sleeping in tepees at church camp.

Jefferson Township (home of the Fairfield Inn and Golden Inn) and Israel Township (home of Hueston Woods) did not want the tax. That did not matter, the ED director and the Commissioners did. This commission believes that higher taxes on people who stay in Preble County will grow the economy. My view is they are fools. If a 3% tax increase was able to increase business more than hurt then every business in the county would be screaming to be taxed, that has not happened, will not happen and this commission needs to be replaced with new commissioners sooner rather than later. 

As a result there is now a “Visitors Bureau of Hueston Region” in Israel Township. Hueston Woods is a destination unto itself but it has competitors in Oxford and that is where they need to maintain strong relationships with other lodging properties. The same issue is faced by the Fairfield Inn where the moment customers walk out the door they are looking at Richmond. New Paris has named the New Paris Chamber and Jefferson Township that never wanted this tax has yet to make a decision but may be backed into one by the Preble County Commission. This commission should repeal the tax on the county level.

Preble County Commissioners

March 21, 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 MARCH 14TH REGULAR SESSION MEETING

VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS

End 2.40 minute mark on CD – 627 KB

File 2

QUARTERLY INVESTMENT ADVISORY BOARD MEETING

Brenda White

4.25 Minute mark   Just bought a CD for .46%

Projecting $100,000 in interest income for the year.

Real estate tax collection was very good.

6 Minute mark   Issue with Y still not settled, $600,000 delinquency. Tax exemption application is still alive; Mindy does not believe much will be taken off.

7.5 Minute mark    Brenda mentions sale of the Rt. 40 truck wash.

10.5 minute mark on cd  

7.56 minutes – 1.81 MB

File 3

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #205-12-155

RE: TRANSFER – VARIOUS FUNDS

B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #208-12-155

RE: MORAL OBLIGATION – VARIOUS DEPTS.

C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #209-12-155

RE: AUTH. PAYMENT – SHERIFF ($541.50); REA ($6,120.00); SAFE ($334.72); BUREAU OF INSPECTION ($1,353.00); PROS. ATTY. ($2,900.00); VICTIM WITNESS TRUST ($830.00)

D. NOTE RECEIPT OF (3) AMENDED CERTIFICATES

RE: SHERIFF’S ROTARY ($4,821.00); FORFEITED LAND SALES ($47,500); DISASTER SERVICES (ESTIMATED REVENUE LINE ADJUSTMENT)

E. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #210-12-155

RE: SUPPLE. APPROP. – SHERIFF’S ROTARY

F. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #223-12-155

RE: TRANSFER – CONCEALED HANDGUN

CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF A LETTER FROM THE CLERK OF COURTS

RE: CHANGE IN TITLE OFFICE STAFF – STEPHANIE BROWN AS FULL-TIME DEPUTY TITLE CLERK  & PAY ADJUSTMENT raise too $10.66; PHYLLIS LATHROP AS PART-TIME EMPLOYEE remain at $10.82

B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #211-12-155

RE: REDUCTION OF LOAD LIMIT ON GEORGETOWN VERONA RD BRIDGE OVER SWAMP CREEK – 20 tons

C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #212-12-155

RE: REDUCTION OF LOAD LIMIT ON CONCORD FAIRHAVEN RD BRIDGE OVER FOUR MILE CREEK –

D. NOTE RECEIPT OF A COURT ENTRY FROM COMMON PLEAS COURT

RE: PREBLE CO. PORK FESTIVAL V. PREBLE CO. AG SOCIETY, ET AL. – EXTENSION OF TIME TO SUBMIT FINAL ENTRY extend 45 days

E. NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING A PUBLIC OFFICIAL BOND

RE: KYLE CROSS – COUNTY ENGINEER

AGREEMENTS & CONTRACTS

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

RE: TWO 2012 ONE TON HEAVY DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS W/8 FOOT BEDS AGREEMENT W/ BOB ROSS BUICK-GMC TRUCK, INC. – $60,312 – ENGINEER

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

You need not worry if facing on line levitra this disease.
RE: CDBG SUBRECIPIENT AGREEMENT W/CITY OF EATON – $32,000 – FY11 CDBG

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

RE: TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR JOBS PROGRAM AGREEMENT W/COMMUNITY ACTION PARTNERSHIP – $50,000 – JFS

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

RE: BROADBAND SERVICE AGREEMENT W/TIME WARNER CABLE – $2,429.91 – BUILDING MAINTENANCE

26.1 minute mark on cd  

15.45 minutes – 3.6 MB

File 4

ERIC MARIT – LEGAL ISSUE

Katie Worthington also on hand.

See post

EXECUTIVE SESSION

28.25 Minute mark   RECESS UNITL 1:00

28.44 minute mark on cd  

2.17 minutes – 537 KB

File 5

PAT HOLMES – EXTENSION OFFICE UPDATE

57 Minute mark  4H educator interviews held last week. Might know something by mid next week.

Camp is June 10 – 13.

This may be Pat's last update.

1 hr. 5.75 minute mark on cd  

37.2 minutes – 8.54 MB

File 6

TRAVEL REQUEST

NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING TRAVEL REQUESTS:

A. RES. # 213-12-155 – JUDGE DUES – JUVENILE COURT  – NO COST TO THE COUNTY

B. RES. #214-12-155 – DAWNA JOHN – JUVENILE COURT Cost not to exceed $87

C. RES. #215-12-155 – CHAD MICHAEL, BRUCE ALLISON, DAN DAVIS – BLDG. MAINT. Cost not to exceed $30

D. RES. #216-12-155 – CHARLIE BIGGS & DAVID ANDERSON – EMA Cost not to exceed $492

E. RES. #217-12-155 – JESSICA ISAACS – CSEA Cost not to exceed $40

F. RES. #218-12-155 – LESLIE BASSLER – CSEA Cost not to exceed $10

G. RES. #219-12-155 – CAROL AVERY – CSEA Cost not to exceed $10

H. RES. #220-12-155 – TERRY PENDERGRAFT – VETERAN SVS. Cost not to exceed $852

I. RES. #221-12-155 – RANDY GILBERT – RECYCLING Cost not to exceed $80

J. RES. #222-12-155 –TISH PLAUGHER – RECYCLING – NO COST TO THE COUNTY

1 hr. 9.8 minute mark on cd  

4.08 minutes – 971 KB

File 7

CVB Discussion

Commissioner Day – Connie do you have anything additional?

Connie – Several resignations from the CVB board.

Debbie Sowder, Manfred Schreyer and Tom Arvan.

1 hr. 12.5 Minute mark   Commissioner Stonecash – Since I am the subject of some controversy. Let me say this, I think Debbie Sowder is a good member of that board, I hate to see her turn in her resignation. She is a very bright person and a hard worker. I never mentioned her at all and this was never intended towards her. I'll just let the record stand that I'd be grateful if Debbie reconsidered.

Discussion on CVB issue.

Eight vacancies.

Quarterly update in April.

1 hr. 16.25 Minute mark   Discussion on townships.

1 hr. 19 Minute mark   Dave was with Jean the night she gave the marketing plan to Jefferson Township.

1 hr. 25 minute mark on cd  

15.13 minutes – 3.48 MB

File 8

Senior citizen day – May 15, at Senior Center.

1 hr. 26 Minute mark   Harvest Land issue and card not working. Marathon gas cards will replace them.

1 hr. 27.5 Minute mark   Commissioner Wesler given award for promoting awareness of people with disabilities. Recognized in Columbus.

ADJOURN

1 hr. 29.65 minute mark on cd  

4.38 minutes – 1.06 MB

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