File 2 has discussion on a piece of property in Somers Township that was mentioned last week as being needed by Camden for a restrictor valve station for a temporary water line hook-up to meet an EPA order.  The Mayor of Camden was unable to meet with Commissioners and it is apparent that barring a personal appearance there is little likelihood of use of the land being granted. Last week it looked like the county would give the land to Camden but apparently the County Engineers has issue with giving up “right-of-way” that may be needed in the future. Those who read last week’s review will know that until Kramer’s brought the property to the Commissioners attention the county was unaware they even owned any property in that area.

File 7 has mention of drafting a policy to alleviate “flow control” once the landfill reaches 195 tons for a day. This would allow trash to be hauled to other landfills. In my mind it also raises the likelihood of further issue with Treehouse covered in File 6

File 8 covers the ongoing Broadband issue in the county. Hometown Cable of Coldwater requested a meeting with the Commissioners about erecting a wireless network in the county. As noted G –Wireless made a presentation on this issue last August and received a letter of recommendation from the Commissioners. The issue here is quite simply there needs to be coverage in rural areas where hard line is not available. The secondary issue is the public financing of the middle mile to supply the backbone for it. This middle mile will be built by a cable company (Hometown) and it could be used to compete with TimeWarner, CenturyLink and Frontier who have not to my knowledge been using public funds.  There could be an issue with taxpayer money being used to compete with private money to provide cable, phone and Internet service to areas already being covered. Competition obviously may lead to lower prices; the issue is any hint of an unfairly supplied advantage that may limit the profitability of non government financed efforts. If this eventually shrinks the area of currently covered middle mile efforts due to less profitability any short term benefits may be lost. My feeling is any agreement should be conditioned on the fulfillment of the last mile effort to rural residents currently lacking a broadband option.

File 9 is the first of four files in an extended review provided to the Commissioners by CCAO representatives (County Commissioners Association Ohio) on green energy in this case primarily wind turbines. The files are worth a review especially File 11 which pertains to the impact on CAUV (negligible) to school districts and local roads. This was an interesting meeting and worth a listen.

Preble County, Ohio

County Commissioners

September 20,  2010

Meeting audio and review

Two Commissioners in attendance

Commissioner CHRIS DAY ABSENT

File 1

I. OPEN MEETING

II. CALL OF ROLL

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

IV. PRAYER

V. PUBLIC COMMENTS

VI. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING THE JOURNALIZATION & NOTE RECEIPT OF THE CD RECORDATION BOTH AS THE OFFICIAL MINUTES FOR THE SEPTEMBER 15TH REGULAR SESSION MEETING

End 3.02 minute mark on CD – 712 KB

File 2

9:00 A.M. – KATIE WORTHINGTON (PROPERTY IN SOMERS TWP.)

Katie offers her offers background on a property mentioned last week that the Mayor of Camden requested from the county for a restrictor valve station to connect to Southwest water from West Elkton. The possibility of draining the West Elkton water upon connection to Camden exists without it.

3.75  minute mark    Katie – It seems back in 1937 that Opal & Fred Rath sp?… county purchased for $325 a road right of way down in Somers Township.

4  minute mark    ..triangle property about an acre in size…Eaton-Camden Rd.    ….used to be called Creek Rd.

5.5  minute mark     need new survey. Generally speaking the Engineer's office does not like giving away any road right-of-ways.

6.75  minute mark     Engineer usually grants a permit under 554704.

9.5 minute mark      Katie not sure everyone is on the same page down there as far as what they are doing.

10  minute mark     Dave will contact them (Camden)

10.5  minute mark     Connie asks question on county liability.

11 minute mark     Description is as road-right-of-way and a new description may be needed for use as a restrictor station.

13.4 minute mark on cd  

File 3

VII. APPROVAL OF VOUCHERS

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

VIII. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #492-10-146

14 minute mark     RE: TRANSFER OF FUNDS – VARIOUS DEPTS. LANDFILL –  LINE ITEM GENERAL FUND REPAYMENT A DEBIT OF $100,000

B. NOTE RECEIPT OF (3) AMENDED CERTIFICATES

RE: LANDFILL ($15,000.00); FCFC ($10,571.50); KETTERMAN & JUNCTION ROAD BRIDGES ($456,760.00)

C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #493-10-146

RE: SUPPLE. APPROP. – LANDFILL ($15,000.00); FCFC ($10,571.00); & KETTERMAN & JUNCTION ROADS BRIDGES ($456,760.00)

D. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #494-10-146

RE: AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF NOTES – $34,428.39 – GATES JOINT DITCH IMPROVEMENTS

E. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #495-10-146

RE: MORAL OBLIGATION – PCSD #2

F. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #496-10-146

RE: AUTH. PAYMENT – MAINTENANCE ($348.00) & COMMISSION ($2,466.00)

IX. CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING A LETTER TO THE PAYROLL CLERK

RE: NEW HIRE – SHAWNDA COMBS AS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR Shawnda in Chamber and receives congratulations from Commissioners

B. NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A LEGAL AD, BID SPECS & BID FORM

RE: 2010 RESURFACING OF PRICES CREEK ROAD BRIDGE

C. NOTE RECEIPT OF A COURT ORDER FROM JUDGE DUES, JUVENILE COURT

RE: ORDER TO AUDITOR TO TRANSFER FUNDS FROM PROBATE CT.-SPECIAL PROJECTS TO JUVENILE-MAGISTRATE SPECIAL PROJECTS

21.5 minute mark on cd  

5.06 minutes –  1.16 MB

File 4

9:30 A.M. – MINDY ROBBINS (GENERAL FUND FINANCIAL UPDATE)

24.75  minute mark     September 1, cash balance was $2,520,087.98

Current cash balance $2,280,501.36  Current sales tax and warrants not figured into this total

Sales tax was up $20,000 over estimate

Local Government $6,782  over estimate

Interest has also exceeded estimate.

  AUDIO PROBLEM RESULTING IN BREAK – (You will hear the battery back-up alarm going off in the background)

Here is the explanation emailed to me on the issue.

Jeff,

I have the CDs ready for the September 20^th & 22^nd meetings. There are three files for September 20^th because our battery backup went off during Monday’s meeting and we had to replace the battery, so there’s approx. 2 minutes of audio missing. We did a test  the afternoon before the commissioners returned to make sure everything was back in working order, so that’s why there is a file #3, because I closed out the program and restarted. Just wanted to give you a heads up so you’d know why there are so many files on one disc!!

Deb

31 minute mark on cd

8.38 minutes –  1.97 MB

File 5  (FILE 2 ON AUDIO CD)

Opens with Dave commenting on Conveyance Fee being passed one year ago for economic development purposes.

1  minute mark on this file     

X. AGREEMENTS & CONTRACTS

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

RE: DOCUMENT SCANNER MAINT. AGREEMENT W/ INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SERVICES – $1,335.00 – JFS

B. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING A CHANGE ORDER

RE: CHANGE ORDER #1 TO AIR SAMPLING CONTRACT W/ MALCOLM PIRNIE – REDUCE $26,000 & EXTEND 30 DAYS – LANDFILL

C. NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING A CONTRACT

RE: GRATIS – SOUTH STREET WATERLINE IMPROVEMENTS CONTRACT W/ C.A. SHINDELDECKER & SONS, LLC – $33,549.72 – FY09 CDBG

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

RE: HARDWARE SUPPORT MAINT. AGREEMENT W/ QUANTAM – $1,200.00 – JFS

 4 minute mark on this file     Connie has paper work to be signed

 7  minute mark on this file     Commissioner Stonecash on some unnamed person having issues with the Engineer's office.

8  minute mark on this file     Commissioner Wesler on the "Commissioners Corner" in the Register Herald.

9  minute mark on this file     Comments on Pork Festival and how good the grounds looked.

Ran out of everything early.

10  minute mark on this file     Shawnda Combs attended.

11.5  minute mark on this file     Commissioner Stonecash – I suppose I should contact this lady.

12.5  minute mark on this file     Commissioner Stonecash – We got about nine minutes before our next meeting (asks Shawnda to come on back).

AUDIO FROM 12.5 MINUTE MARK ON THIS FILE TO 28.25 MINUTE MARK REMOVED AS BACKGROUND NOISE.

The most striking thing is the excellence of the material to warm downtownsault.org cialis price up quickly to body temperature.

12.5  minute mark on this file     

12.38 minutes –  2.89 MB

File 6

10:00 A.M. – RECYCLING MONTHLY MEETING

30.75  minute mark on this file     Tish on letter to Tree House (Village Pantry trash hauler). They are not responding to letter or phone calls. This issue concerns flow control at county landfill. Tree House was previously mentioned as taking trash to Kentucky.

33  minute mark on this file     School recycling at Camden Elementary (plastic bottles because of salt issue).

End 42 minute mark on this file     

5.06 minutes –  1.16 MB

File 7

10:30 A.M. – LANDFILL MONTHLY MEETING

Audio removed from 42 minute mark to 56 minute mark (office chit chat and mostly background noise)

Between meeting discussions

56  minute mark on this file     Commissioner Stonecash – Ok are you ready?

57.5  minute mark on this file     Meeting starts.

Tonnage up because of Procter & Gamble, without that it would have been down.

58.25  minute mark on this file     Quite a bit of leachate through August (186,000 gallons). September a lot lower.

Attended the Lakengren meeting. It went fairly well.

59.75  minute mark on this file     A couple residents asked if there was a way they could petition and withdraw from the contract.

A long meeting.

1 hr.   .5  minute mark on this file     A couple people stood up and spoke in favor of the project.

A good 40 plus people – full  house.

Commissioner Stonecash – has spoke with someone and heard a couple that raised concerns but did not live there (Lakengren) "just rabble-rousers".

1 hr.   3.75  minute mark on this file     Dick Sargeant is working on drafting a policy to alleviate the flow control once we have reached … 195 tons we can turn waste away and they can take it someplace else.  It will only go into effect when we exceed that 195.

1 hr.   6 minute mark on this file     Winter hours and expenses exceeding costs to be open on Saturday. Rumpke does not usually haul on Saturday unless there is a Friday holiday.

1 hr.   18.3 minute mark on this file     Sewer District 2 discussion.  (Subdivision by Lewisburg)

Notice of violations will start early next year.

1 hr.   21.5 minute mark on this file     Sewer District 3 lift station went down over weekend.

End 1 hr.   24.75 minute mark on this file     

28.52 minutes –  6.6 MB

File 8

1 hr.   25.25 minute mark on this file     Connie on call from Hometown Cable awarded money to build a wireless network in Preble County and would like to provide the Commissioners with an update. Hometown Cable is out of Coldwater, Ohio and the presentation for them was done by G-Wireless last summer. The Commissioners signed a letter of recommendation after an August 19, 2009 meeting on the issue. Bill Kessler the owner of G-Wireless offered a better presentation than a competing request supported or at least attended by the Preble Chamber Executive Director. As I recall from a conversation with Bill, Hometown Cable is not affiliated with Hometown Heating of New Paris.

1 hr.   27 minute mark on this file      Discussion on EPA over Camden, Camden Mayor did not show for this meeting.

1 hr.   28.5 minute mark on this file     Commissioner Wesler on insurance and Ray Koons (Pork Fest) not getting proof of insurance to Ag Society. Commissioner Wesler got them and delivered them. This is ironic as the shoe was on the other foot earlier in the year regarding Ag Society insurance levels for tractor pulls. (Check the archives)

End 1 hr.   29.5 minute mark on this file     

4.52 minutes –  1.1 MB

File 9

3RD FILE ON AUDIO CD

1:00 P.M. – JOSH HAHN, CCAO (WIND TURBINE INFORMATIONAL MEETING)

Person who saw a bunch of Wesler signs and thought about picking one up (Josh Hahn).

2  minute mark on this file     Commissioner Stonecash – we're on right, oh I can't tell my story.

4.6 minute mark on this file     Website has link to audio recording and other info.

Wind turbines most cost efficient and major push.

6  minute mark on this file     Not profitable without heavy subsidy, 30% federal subsidy.

12  minute mark on this file     5 meg and zoning. Someone making claims about farmers.

14  minute mark on this file     Reference to Senate Bill 232

15  minute mark on this file     Comments on politics of the issue. local taxes.

17  minute mark on this file     Discussion on applicable tax rates.

29 minute mark on this file     On taxes going to General Fund

End 30 minute mark on this file    

30 minutes –  6.86 MB

File 10

Continuation on discussion of how to spend the taxes levied on green energy. Solar allows for less tax.

Commissioner Wesler on northern Preble and Southern Darke.

33 minute mark on this file     Comments on protecting ourselves from the residential wind turbines. Concern on moving parts on 500 ft. towers.

CAUV mentioned.

35  minute mark on this file     Mention of 4H meeting

39  minute mark on this file    125 yards of concrete in base and heavy impact on local roads. Fear of high wind or tornado damage as well as impact on care flight helicopters

End 40.75 minute mark on this file    

4.52 minutes –  1.1 MB

File 11

40.75  minute mark on this file    Begin discussion on CAUV and school funding

41  minute mark on this file    Explanation. Turbine property itself is not considered a conversion. No conversion no recoup so it is still considered a CAUV and exempt.  The ancillary stuff comes out but it is not recouped.  The issue becomes it is commercial property to the County Auditors. Which will be tax exempt anyway..

Commissioner Wesler – So what you are saying is the CAUV status is not going to change.

44  minute mark on this file    Farm Bureau got involved because of shady contracts.

47.5  minute mark on this file    "It's looking like farmers are being offered in the lease deals anywhere from 5 – $8000 per mega watt of towers placed on their property."

48  minute mark on this file   Significant pressure from farmers for good tax treatment.

49  minute mark on this file    Impact on school taxes.

51  minute mark on this file     The higher millage rate a district has in place the better off they will be.

58  minute mark on this file     School districts – if you are going to come in do community projects.

1 hr.  minute mark on this file     Waiting for a Board of Commissioners to say "Pay your taxes".

1 hr.  1 minute mark on this file     Over the course of a life span of the large turbine there currently is on a 13% efficiency on a 1 megawatt project.

1 hr.  2  minute mark on this file     Not a whole lot of real jobs. The big push is the cash in the farmers' pocket.

1 hr.  3  minute mark on this file     People are going to have to pay their taxes at some point.

Suggestion to talk to Darke County Commissioners and School Boards

1 hr.  7.5  minute mark on this file     Buckeye Wind LLC. (Limited Liability Corporation).  No one is personally liable.

1 hr.  8.5  minute mark on this file     Decommissioning bonds are very hard to collect on.

1 hr.  10  minute mark on this file     Issue of impact on adjacent land owners and having to take into consideration the possibility of danger from following. This impact the adjacent landowners' ability to make full use of their property as consideration needs to be given about probability of future issue with high turbine.

Contact Hardin County, Indiana for a list of what they would do.

End 1 hr.   11 minute mark on this file    

20.18 minutes –  4.64 MB

File 12

WIND TURBINE TOPIC CONTINUES

1 hr.  15.5  minute mark on this file     Probability of few jobs locally but loss of taxes to revitalize urban areas where the industry may provide jobs.

End 1 hr.   21 minute mark on this file    

19.59 minutes – 4.57 MB

File 13

Resolution authorizing on use of new County Visa Credit Card

ADJOURN

End 1 hr.   22.25 minute mark on this file    

1.18 minutes – 305 KB