First up is a 20 minute meeting with Mark Goeke about County owned timber and the possibility of harvesting some of it before Emerald Ash Borers destroy the value of any ash trees.

Next issue of note is Commissioner Creech informing of a request for a meeting between the Commissioners, Ag Society & Pork Fest about Fairground Expo building. No date was set.

I have broken the very long Sanitary Engineer meeting into three files.  File 5 is notable for the high cost being incurred by the landfill and you the county taxpayer for the leachate force main to Lakengren. The pumps and valves are wearing out at a rapid pace and the cost is high. This is notable because the original plan by commissioners prior to Commissioner Day’s time was to build that leachate line down Rt. 127. This was to be done for two purposes:

1: It would be a gravity flow line for most of the route and not require so many pumps.

2: The ability to encourage economic development and jobs growth along Rt. 127 with rail access available.

That plan changed when Commissioner Day & Stonecash were elected. Commissioner Day was in charge of the process that picked the Lakengren route over the Camden route in a very controversial scoring system that resulted in a couple of court cases. The county did win those cases but you the taxpayer continue to pay the price with the expense of the force main and lack of economic development opportunity.

File 6 is the discussion about the new building that needs to be built.  At one time Randy Gilbert had proposed a $1.7 million expense and that was shot down by the previous commission’s Robertson & Wesler last year.  I commented on this issue last week and while Commissioner Creech mentions a couple of times a continued intent to keep the cost under $1 million there are also a couple comments that could be construed as a possible change of position. Mentioned here is the cost to the county of putting off cell construction and other decisions while this building debate continues.  I referred to it as a game of chicken as everyone knows and has known for years that this building was going to have to be built to start new cell construction at the landfill.  The Landfill Administrator has repeatedly brought in plans that included expenses that were beyond what the commission wanted to spend on a landfill.  I commented on the possibility that the Commission being under the gun of a time line restraint might cave on the under a million orders.  I am not sure that this meeting is not the first step down that line to a higher expense.  This has always been a 2 – 1 vote with Commissioner Day having left the impression he would have gone for the original $1.7 million.  I recommend listening and forming you own opinion on the meeting.  A firmer decision will apparently be made next week when Commissioner Robertson will be back.

File 7 is bad news for West Elkton residents that are part of Sewer District 3.  The closing of West Elkton elementary will impact their sewer rates.  There are 92 customers on the whole system and the school is billed as 34 of those.  This would leave 58 customers to pick up the lost revenue through probable increased billing. The August 13, 2012 commission meeting had mentioned that over half of the users were delinquent on their sewer bills and had the bills attached to their property taxes. Back in April 2013 Commissioner Day read a letter into the record from then Mayor Bill Bates on the impact of high sewer rates on the village. I noted at the time that Preble County taxpayers were essentially subsidizing the Lakengren sewer rates with the building of a leachate line – Lakengren was originally Sewer District 1.  One of the ways to combat these problems would be job growth along a corridor with infrastructure – like Rt. 127 from the landfill to Camden but that was not done. The Commission of Day, Stonecash and Wesler voted to run the leachate line to Lakengren along a route that lacks that development potential. I also must note that the Preble County Development Partnership lacked the political will to take a public position on that issue.

On March 5, 2012 the sewer rates had been raised to $69.15 per month ($3.65 per month increase with Resolution 164.  It was also the first mention of Preble Shawnee closing the school.  The more users a sewer district usually means a lower cost to the users. A system like West Elkton was built to accommodate an expected number of hook-ups and when you remove over 1/3 of the billing the change can be drastic.

That brings me to Glenwood and the sewer issues there.  It is noted here that Eaton does not want a sewer line from Glenwood. Randy Gilbert mentions that leaves only two possibilities.

1: The creation of a new county sewer district to service the area.

2: Running a line to West Alexandria.

Randy then mentions that he does not know what West Alexandria told them and the room erupted in laughter. Commissioner Chris Day is also the Village Administrator of West Alexandria.  This sure looks like a conflict of interest.

Preble County, Ohio

County Commissioners

March 18, 2015

Meeting audio and review

Two Commissioners in attendance

Commissioner Robertson 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 OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL BY SIGNING THE JOURNALIZATION & NOTE RECEIPT OF THE CD RECORDATION BOTH AS THE OFFICIAL MINUTES FOR THE MARCH 16TH , 2015 REGULAR SESSION MEETING

5.49 minutes – 1.33 MB

File 2

MARK GOEKE – TIMBERING COUNTY PROPERTIES

Listen to the audio.  

Emerald Ash borer problem. Mentions that it has been at least 18 years since a timber harvest on County owned property landfill & property on Eaton/Lewisburg mentioned.

26.5 minute mark on cd  

20.43 minutes – 4.7 MB

File 3

Short discussion on previous meeting

31 Minute mark   FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #216-15-169

RE: MORAL OBLIGATION – VARIOUS DEPTS.

B. NOTE RECEIPT OF A COURT ENTRY FROM JUDGE JENIFER K. OVERMYER

RE: COLLECTION OF COURT COSTS FOR FEB. 2015 – SPECIAL FUNDS PROBATE MAGISTRATE FEES

C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #219-15-169

RE: AUTH. EXPENDITURE – $10,118.00 – ONE (1) MONTH RENTAL OF VOLVO EXCAVATOR – LANDFILL CONSTRUCTION

AGREEMENTS & CONTRACTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF AN EXECUTED AGREEMENT

RE: SERVICE SUBSCRIPTION W/ OHIO MARCS – $1,365.00 – EMA

TRAVEL

NOTE RECEIPT OF & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING TRAVEL REQUESTS:

A. RES. #217-15-169 – MELISSA SMITH – MICROFILM Cost not to exceed $90

B. RES. #218-15-169 – LAVON WRIGHT – AUDITOR  Cost not to exceed $62.20

36 minute mark on cd  

9.32 minutes – 2.18 MB

File 4

36 Minute mark     Commissioner Day – Connie do you have any additional items at this time?

Cleaning the outside of the courthouse….. some damage that needs repaired.  Three phase process… upper portion first.

41.5 Minute mark   Connie asks Rodney about him approaching people for the Board of Zoning Appeals. Rodney says he has three names but says he has "never worked so hard and not gotten any results". Says Brad is doing the same thing and they thought they had one on Friday.  Rodney has three brand new names that Steve Orr gave him. Rodney will try and contact them today.

Amendment to the Help me Grow agreement JFS & DD. Hours changed….

45.5 Minute mark   Rodney went out yesterday with the Council on Aging – Meals on Wheels. He found it amazing and will probably do it again. He was part of 19 deliveries over two hours.  Last stop the lady was 95 years old.

48.5 Minute mark   Rodney says that James Mays will be dropping off the Fairground improvement info. Tour of fairgrounds planned.

Commissioner Day feels this needs to move faster.

Rodney met with Mary Bullen on Monday and spoke with Mrs. Newton.

Rodney thinks there needs to be a meeting between the Ag Society, Pork Fest and Commission in chambers. Late afternoon mentioned (3:00). A 2005 contract is mentioned. Expo Building? Involves restrooms.

Connie will pull the lawsuit settlement agreement.

58 minute mark on cd  

22.02 minutes – 5.04 MB

The condition viagra without prescription bought here is supposed to be resultant of increasing age or chronic treatment but there are some other causes accountable for this.

File 5

SANITARY ENGINEER MONTHLY UPDATE

1  hr. Minute mark  Solid waste update. Recycling containers back at Camden service garage. Notification will be on water bills.

Tire recycling April 18.

April 25 Earth Day celebration at Garber Nature Center.

Listen to the audio

1  hr. 10 Minute mark  Tonnage up for the year with January being the best since 2008 and last couple days close to 190 ton level and current limit.

Reason for increase is the sludge from Butler County. Bringing 1 truck but would like to increase to 3 trucks.

1  hr. 13 Minute mark   Leachate – March will show a big increase over frozen February – 21 gallons a minute mentioned.

Middletown wants to bring sludge.

1  hr. 15 Minute mark   Need for cell construction.

1  hr. 16 Minute mark    Rodney attended the Gasper Township Trustee meeting and they expressed concern with leachate system (leak) – air release valve problem. Township would like notification and kept in the loop. Need for monitors in manholes mentioned but it is a budget issue.  Lakengren operator (Justin) is now able to compare how much leachate their system is getting to how much the Landfill is sending and can tell when there is a shortage.  Mention of ground water issue because manholes are not sealed.

1  hr. 22 Minute mark    Discussion on pump problems and 11 week turn around on repairs.  Commissioner Day feels they need to find new and different pumps – 11 weeks unacceptable. These pumps involve the leachate.  It would be interesting to know if a gravity line to Camden would have been facing these pump problems and expenses.  

Hoping that a chemical can be added to neutralize it. Seals, valves and pumps are being worn out quickly. Another question is how this toxic mix is impacting their facilities.    Could be iron, the problem is worse in the meter and there is a magnetic field built up in meter.

1  hr.  30.5  Minute mark   First time in a couple weeks that there has not been two guys working 8 hours a day at the waste water plants but now back to one.

1  hr.   32  Minute mark   Notice of Violation on March 10 from Division of Surface Water (noted as a pretty serious offense) discharge going out where pond two is to be located.  Had not been sampling it. Randy Gilbert mentions a very seriously worded NOV (Notice of Violation). Testing will need to be done and a quarterly third testing location added. There is a problem with sheet flow  as water is not in a stream but flows across the ground (over flow across a yard or parking lot) and does not enter a "Sed Pond". Third test would be during rain events and there is mention here that "the total suspended solids will be through the roof". Problem mentioned as being temporary until that portion of the landfill is constructed. A berm will be added to channel the flow to a pond.  Right now the water drops down over a hill to a stream.  EPA letter mentions lack of testing problem being 5 years old but Preble Landfill officials mention the problem being 15 years old and that the EPA knew there was no testing being done. Northside of landfill…

Extended discussion on topic – Listen to the audio  

1  hr.   38  Minute mark   A concrete and asphalt pile is also mentioned with needing testing.  

1 hr.  43.6 minute mark on cd  

45.35 minutes – 10.4 MB

File 6

Landfill Building Discussion

Randy mentions a company looking at what can be built for $900,000. Company has a 7% "up charge".

Extended discussion on topic – Listen to the audio  

One roof metal construct at $950,000….

David says that Rodney (Commissioner Creech)   stopped down the other day.

1  hr.  48.25  Minute mark  Butler Building.

Discussion on using a Construction Manager at Risk.  

1  hr.  51.5 Minute mark   Commissioner Creech feels that we have been at "ground zero" the whole time.

Randy mentions three years.

1  hr.  53 Minute mark   Design build.

1  hr.  54.75 Minute mark   Randy – Does not matter what we do – not in a building until November at best.

1  hr.  55.5 Minute mark   Commissioner Day – At a bare minimum we have got to have the scales in. They have to be in this year.

1  hr.  57.25 Minute mark   Commissioner Day -… engineering costs are 10 – 15% of the number… decision on what direction….

Connie talked to Warren County and design build is a massive undertaking.

1  hr.  59.5 Minute mark   Design "Bid" Build (make sure the Bid is in the middle as this is a different process than Design Build)

2 hr.  Minute mark   Commissioner Creech – can we do this for under a million dollars?  Commissioner Day says probably not.

Commissioner Creech does not want to hear $1.3 million when we have a group here that says they can do it under a million dollars.

Best to listen to the audio

2 hr.  2.75  Minute mark   Need for a set of plans. Commissioner Creech mentions keeping within budget.

2 hr. 5.75  Minute mark    Randy – typically most contractors make their money on the change orders.

Have paving done separate?

2 hr.   8  Minute mark    Randy – easiest is to contract with T&M… have them prepare a set of plans….

T&M did the road way design.

2 hr.   14.25 Minute mark   ***Randy request a commitment to what is decided and Rodney say he will almost promise him that. Rodney wants to hold to under $1 million not hear $1.3 million.  

2 hr.   19.25 Minute mark    Probability of spending extra money because of not having made a decision – building may be at $1 million but a couple hundred thousand may have been spent or lost because of additional time spent deciding on what to do.  

Commissioner Creech – I say we move forward today.

2 hr.   20.5 Minute mark    Commissioner Day would like the entire Board to be here when we make the decision – next week.

2 hr.   22.5 Minute mark   Commissioner Creech – If we could have made this decision a year or two ago that would be great, you probably would have a building sitting there.

Commissioner Day – the clarity on this is scary.

2 hr. 23.75 minute mark on cd  

40.1 minutes – 9.19 MB

File 7

Rest of – SANITARY ENGINEER MONTHLY UPDATE

Air permits

Co-Gen

Sewer District 2 complaints about standing water in yards. Commissioner Day feels it is a Township problem.

Sewer District 3 West Elkton getting serious about closing school.  Sewer feed cost for the rest of the residents not yet known. This has come up before and the cost for West Elkton users will go up. School is billed at 34 residential units.

There are only 92 total customers on the whole system.  This has previously been covered and would be a dramatic impact on the remaining 58 customers. Keep in-mind that the majority of the users have in the past not paid their monthly sewer bill and as a result have the expense added to their property taxes.

2 hr.   30.5 Minute mark    Glenwood – Eaton has ruled out accepting a sewer line. Randy notes that this leaves two options – the county building another sewer district or taking it to West Alexandria. Randy says he does not know what West Alexandria told them (Commissioner Day is Village Administrator of West Alexandria) – room erupts in laughter.

Steering committee meeting. April 21, 6:00 mentioned. Public meeting on May 12 also 6:00 at American Legion.

ADJOURN

2  hr. 35.6 minute mark on cd  

12 minutes – 2.73 MB

This is the Preble County General Fund Report prepared by Preble County Auditor Lavon Wright for the Preble County Commissioners. Thanks to Preble County Commissioner Denise Robertson for once again emailing me the information.

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