Every now and then there is an audio file that just kind of sticks out and File 4 of the November 13, 2013 meeting is one of those. This year has seen a number of pay raises attributed to Judge Dues. To be fair; it would be nice if everyone could get pay raises. That is where the issue comes into play as not everyone can. The Commission sent out a letter asking department heads to hold the line for next year’s budget.  No one contests that Judge Dues has the authority to court order pay raises for his employees whenever he wishes to do so. He sends the commissioners a letter and they can either vote to “note receipt” of the letter or vote “no” and not do so.  If it is a “no” vote the Judge can court order the raises. Chris Day & David Wesler have been voting to note receipt of the pay rate adjustments while Commissioner Robertson has stuck by the letter the full commission agreed to send out asking to hold the line for 2014. It is complete political posturing and hypocrisy for Day & Wesler to further undermine the financial stability that they have regularly claimed is threatened by State cuts and rising costs. Day and Wesler have by political incompetence created not only a morale issue for employees in departments that have stuck by the commission request to hold the line but have undermined contract negotiations in 2014 with the FOP.  This meeting has Connie Crowell stating that the Engineer may plan pay raises and why not?  Every department head should for the morale of their employees do the same. County employees cannot help but look out and see they have two weak-kneed Republican in name only bureaucrats caving on the commissions own requests before budget hearings even begin.

Another interesting issue popped up in that discussion. Carter Lumber in Eaton recently closed and Commissioner Robertson asked a couple of simple questions regarding Shawnda Combs the Preble County Economic Development Director; did she have a heads-up, was she aware, has she even visited them? When was the last time she talked to the people at Carters?

Commissioners Wesler & Day who regularly seem clued in on all things involving the economic development department had no answer.  Maybe Carters had been contacted over the last three years but if they were not; why not?

Preble County Commissioners

November 13, 2013

Three Commissioners in attendance

File 1

I. OPEN MEETING

II. CALL OF ROLL

III. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

IV. PRAYER

V. PUBLIC 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 NOVEMBER 6, 2013 REGULAR SESSION MEETING.

2.31 minutes – 593 KB

File 2

BECKY SORRELL – PERSONNEL ISSUES

EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE DISIPLINE OF A COUNTY EMPLOYEE"S"

Exit – Waiting to hear back from Becky in the afternoon.

4  Minute mark     FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #622-13-163

RE: AUTHORIZING THE TRANSFER OF PERSONAL PROPERTY FROM THE PREBLE CO. SOLID WASTE DISTRICT TO THE PREBLE CO. SANITARY LANDFILL – NEW HOLLAND 84” GRAPPLE BUCKET

B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #625-13-163

RE: TRANSFER – VARIOUS DEPTS.

C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #626-13-163

RE: AUTH. PAYMENT – WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ($1,885.25); FELONY SUBSIDY ($3,720.63)

CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF (2) LETTERS FROM SHERIFF SIMPSON

RE: CONTRACTED PAY ADJUSTMENT FOR CHRISTOPHER SMITH $20.04 per hour to $20.05 per hour & TAMMY BRATTON  – $20.04 per hour to $20.05 per hour  $ SHERIFF

B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #590-13-163

RE: AMENDING THE PREBLE CO. ZONING RESOLUTION TO CLARIFY FROM WHAT

POINT OF THE BUILDING TO MEASURE FROM FOR THE DETERMINATION OF A REAR YARD, SIDE YARD AND FRONT YARD

C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #608-13-163

RE: AMENDING THE PREBLE CO. ZONING RESOLUTION TO REFLECT A CHANGE MADE BY ORC 303.12 WHICH PERMITS A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS INSTEAD OF A UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS TO OVERTURN ACTION OF THE PREBLE CO. RURAL ZONING COMMISSION

D. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #610-13-163

RE: OBSERVING NOVEMBER 21ST & 22ND, 2013 AS MANUFACTURING DAY IN PREBLE COUNTY

9.25 Minute mark   E. NOTE RECEIPT OF A LETTER FROM JUDGE DUES

RE: NEW HIRE OF SHANNON MUSKOPF AS PART-TIME OFFICE MANAGER – JUV. TASC $8.75 per hour.

10.25 Minute mark    2 – 1 vote Day & Wesler for and Robertson against.

F. NOTE RECEIPT OF A REPORT FROM THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE

RE: MONTHLY JAIL REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2013 – SHERIFF

Average daily count of 66

80 male admissions

39 female admissions

120 total releases.

6040 meals served.

APPOINTMENTS

A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #620-13-163

RE: RE-APPT. OF JACK DEEM TO THE PREBLE CO. PLANNING COMMISSION 3 year term

B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #621-13-163

RE: APPT. OF JIM MCKEE TO THE PREBLE CO. PLANNING COMMISSION

C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #624-13-163

RE: RE-APPT. OF DUANE GRIMME TO THE PREBLE CO. RURAL ZONING COMMISSION 5 year term

AGREEMENTS & CONTRACTS

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

RE: TECHNICAL SUPPORT PROGRAM W/ TOTAL ID SOLUTIONS – $1,382.50 – CONCEALED HANDGUN

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

RE: AMENDMENT #1 TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING FOR SHARED FUNDING COST W/ PREBLE CO. JFS, PREBLE CO. MHRB & PREBLE CO. DD – EXTEND TO JANUARY 21, 2014

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

RE: FY13 EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE GRANT AGREEMENT W/ OHIO EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY – $47,543.00 GRANT – EMA

D. NOTE RECEIPT OF AN EXECUTED AGREEMENT

RE: FY13 CDBG GRANT AGREEMENT W/ THE OHIO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AGENCY – $404,000.00 GRANT – FY13 CDBG

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

RE: FY13 CDBG CHIP GRANT AGREEMENT W/ OHIO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AGENCY – $180,000 GRANT – FY13 CDBG CHIP

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

Behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment for primary, acute, and chronic conditions. levitra properien cute-n-tiny.com

RE: FY13 CDBG HOME CHIP GRANT AGREEMENT W/ OHIO DEVELOPMENT SERVICES AGENCY – $220,000.00 GRANT – FY13 CDBG HOME CHIP

16.25 minute mark on cd  

13.55 minutes – 3.18 MB

File 3

Commissioner Wesler – Ok do you have anything else?

Connie – I do.. Resolution 623 which is authorizing use of county procurement cards for the Preble County Engineer's Department.

Note Receipt and approve a legal ad, spec and form regarding the Landfill construction 2B project.

Resolution 627 Which is a transfer of funds – Landfill from equipment $29,200 to Landfill to Solid Waste Management District.

Resolution 628 Which is authorizing the expenditure of $25,110 for the purchase of rebar from the Preble County Engineer's office.

Resolution 629 Which is authorizing the expenditure of $9,950 for the purchase of Ifenex sp?? for use in concrete beams. County Engineer's office.

Connie – As you can tell I laid out your budget packets for next week. We have three fun filled days… lol

20 minute mark on cd  

3.47 minutes – 887 KB

File 4

20.4 Minute mark    Commissioner Wesler asks if everyone complied with the letter.

Connie passes out a history of appropriations from 2006 to current. Does not include 2014.

24.6 Minute mark    Commissioner Wesler – Did any department request raises?

Commissioner Robertson – Why should they? They just do it during the year.

Connie – There might be a few in there.

Commissioner Wesler – Oh really? In General Fund?

25.5 Minute mark    LISTEN TO THE AUDIO

Connie – I think there might be….in conversations with Kyle he mentioned he was considering. But I haven't got to his budget yet…. But there is a few in General Fund.

Commissioner Wesler – Yea Denise Judges have the authority to give increases anytime they want.

Commissioner Robertson – And I think we should make them court order us to do that. If they can't put it in the budget process.

Commissioner Wesler – And then the other one I know ..?? a budget before someone retires then that line item sometime during the year and they spread it out over the rest of the employees. I know creates a lot of heart burn with a lot of people.

Commissioner Robertson – And I still think that for the most part.. especially retirement; they should be able to predict that during the budget process. If you know someone is retiring then you should be able to predict what your plan is for replacing them or not.

Commissioner Wesler – I don't disagree. I think that is a question we ask ever year isn't that Connie?  

Connie – Yes.

Commissioner Wesler – At budget time; do you expect any retirements during that year?

Commissioner Robertson – Well can we try to keep them in the budget process and tell them "no" if they bring it to us during the middle of the year? … the Judge and that is within his authority.

Commissioner Wesler – …some counties if somebody retires like that the money is pulled back.  It darn well should be in Preble.  We don't have a policy yet where we have done that so I think that is the way it should be but that is not the way it has been Denise. Well David, part of leadership is to make it so and not go with the flow.

Commissioner Robertson – I think you are right on that. I think we should pull it back into the General Fund until they tell us what they are going to do.. LISTEN TO THE AUDIO this is should be paid attention to.

Commissioner Wesler – I don't disagree. I remember I heard Christopher loud and clear last year or the year before when he said "If it is their salary line item don't touch it. Let them do what they want with it." So.

Commissioner Robertson – And that is ok if they have a plan to replace that person but if they have a salary line item and somebody retired …. everybody gets bumped up and then they replace that person and it just grows and grows and grows.

Commissioner Wesler – So in other words you are wanting exactly as the commission office did it back in 2009 or no before that.

Connie – .. it wasn't right after he retired.  Referring to former county administrator Ken Moreland. … You'll see a big decrease when we took out his salary. That was a substantial decrease.

Continued discussion on issue.  

Commissioner Robertson mentions the closing of Carter Lumber as a reflection of the economy. There goes sales tax out of the county. Asks about business retention and if Shawnda was aware. Did she have a heads-up, was she aware, has she visited them? When was the last time she talked to the people at Carters?

Commissioner Wesler – Well I am sure that was not a local decision that was a corporate decision. COP OUT RESPONSE.

Commissioner Robertson – I am sure it was but

Commissioner Wesler – I doubt if they gave a heads-up to anybody but I could be wrong. I would imagine they contacted the City of Eaton first if it was anybody. Whoa – the City of Eaton is part of Preble County and the taxpayers deserve the same representation as other taxpayers. It was a simple question; Was Carter Lumber ever part of a retention visit?  

Commissioner Robertson – I am just wondering if she knew and when she knew. I am sure it was a corporate decision, it is a chain.

Commissioner Wesler – I am sure she will tell us the next time she sees us.  This is a kick the bucket down the line answer.

Commissioner Robertson – Well that doesn't help us now. Agreed.  

31.5 minute mark on cd  

11.35 minutes – 2.65 MB

File 5

Commissioner Wesler – Do you have anything else?

Connie – I do. I have our beautiful zoning book. Wrong color on binding.  

34 Minute mark   Discussion on Sheriff's request for Motorola equipment.

36.5 Minute mark   Commissioner Robertson met yesterday on the Homeless issue. Homeless Shelter closed.  State mandated board. HIT Foundation is providing a grant to the Continual Care committee. Listen to the audio.  Homefull of Montgomery County mentioned.

39 Minute mark   Commissioner Robertson last week attended the Families and Children First meeting. Call 211 it will get a person in contact with needed county services – call 225-2000 if you do not have a land line.  United Way handles it.

Thanksgiving dinner Brunner Arena – volunteers needed.

David attended Wild Animal response meeting at EMA.

41.75 Minute mark  EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE EMPLOYMENT OF A COUNTY EMPLOYEE

Exit no action taken.

42.5 Minute mark   RECESS FOR LUNCH

Commissioner Wesler – We are back, Becky made a phone call to us so.

EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS THE DISCIPLINE OF A COUPLE EMPLOYEES

Exit no action taken.

Commissioner Wesler – After discussion with Becky we have Resolution 630: Approve disciplinary action of a three day suspension for Jessica Chandler as outlined in Exhibit A. The other situation has resolved itself.

ADJOURN

45 minute mark on cd  

13.33 minutes – 3.1 MB