Preble County, Ohio
County Commissioners
December 16, 2009
Meeting audio and review
Kleingers and Associates were chosen by Preble County Commissioner Day and Commissioner Stonecash to move ahead with the long dormant Goose Creek project at Exit 10. The Project is to be funded initially with a $250,000 grant from the Dayton Development Coalition. Commissioner David Wesler was nowhere to be found when the decision was made. The word "dissention" (1hr 22 min mark of this meeting's audio) was uttered in a discussion on the matter by the two commissioners present who had to make a decision in his absence. Time is of major importance as under terms of the grant the project must be completed by March 1, 2010.
As covered on the December 14, review, Commissioner Wesler bailed on a claim of “conflict of interest” because of a friendship with someone that worked at one of the five original companies that had responded to the Preble County RFQ. It was not mentioned which of the original five companies was at issue. Commissioners Day & Stonecash then narrowed the field to three companies. As far as I can determine the two that have had ties to the past were not chosen for the final field. If either of those two were the source of the conflict, there should have been no problem weighing in with a presence and a vote. Commissioner Wesler has already announced his decision to vigorously seek re-election, starting with this spring’s primary season.
Both Kleingers and Woolpert’s gave excellent presentations; the choice appeared to come down to Kleingers ability to answer more questions without referencing a need for outside council.
If completed as claimed this project would advance the project further in the next two months than has been visible to the public in the last eight years. The initial size of the area involves a 200 acre tract in the south west quadrant of the I-70 & Rt.127 interchange at (Exit 10) in the area of Orphans Road.
For more information try the the December 14, Kleingers presentation and audio.
Opening
3.75 minutes – 881KB
5 min mark Real estate assessment – Appraisal Research Corp. $179,860.90
Dave What does that leave in that account Connie?
Connie $585,000
Dave Oh my
Chris So that $34,000 should not be an issue
13 minute Jail population down to 42 from Spring high of 65, blame on reduction in law enforcement.
V. PUBLIC COMMENTS
VI. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #661-09-142
RE: AUTH. PAYMENT – REA .
B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #662-09-142
RE: TRANSFER OF FUNDS – VARIOUS DEPTS.
C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #663-09-142
RE: AUTH. EXPENDITURE – $8,062.72 FOR PURCHASE & INSTALLATION OF (19)
VAV REHEAT VALVES & ACTUATORS AND (2) VAV BOX FAN MOTORS TO
REAIR THE HVAC SYSTEM AT THE PREBLE COUNTY JAIL – SHERIFF
D. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #664-09-142
RE: AUTH. EXPENDITURE – $4,047.00 FOR PURCHASE & INSTALLATION OF A
NEW GARBAGE DISPOSAL UNIT FOR THE KITCHEN AT THE PREBLE
COUNTY JAIL – SHERIFF
VII. CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS
A. NOTE RECEIPT OF A REPORT FROM THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE
RE: MONTHLY JAIL REPORT FOR NOVEMBER 2009
VIII. APPOINTMENTS
A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #665-09-142
16 min mark RE: RE-APPT. OF CHARLENE VIA TO MHRB
17 min charge backs from Board of Elections – County to recoup almost $57,000
Cost of Health & Mental Health Board was around $7,600
Comment on good report
End 24 minute mark on cd
20.17 minutes – 4.68MB
27 minute mark Connie on meeting with Mr. Grimme and agreement. Regarding CORSA agreement mention previously. Prosecutor's office still has agreement. Concern over something similar as Lebanon fire. Needs taken care of by end of year.
30 minute Connie contacted Pat Holmes about a letter confirming spoken agreement over FCFC gran being used as County contribution. Grant agreement will not be signed by Commissioners until a written agreement from OSU Extension is in hand.
31.5 minute Bob while we have a break let’s talk about appointments to Boards. Person, person he hoped would be interested was not.
Talk about writing a letter to the person being replaced.
Bob – new blood needed. Not come from the farm community as every other board is loaded.
Dave I don't see that being a detriment.
Bob county is split about 50 – 50 (farm community only half)
End 36.3 minute mark on cd
12.17 minutes – 2.81 MB
36.5 min Discussion of previous day's road trip by Dave and Bob to Van Wert County.
Bob – good visit, partnership for entire Van Wert County, apparently no turf wars. Fine Arts center attached to school (donated money)
Van Wert County website: http://vanwertcounty.org/ Popualtion in year 2000 – 29,659
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Van_Wert_County,_Ohio
Van Wert County Fair website: http://www.vanwertcountyfair.com/ **** Of note, the county fair website has a "Links & Lodging" button: http://www.vanwertcountyfair.com/vwcf_links.htm
Preble County Fair website: http://www.preblecountyfair.org/ I brought up the issue of local lodging being listed on the Preble County fair website to Duanne Grimme last Spring when I contacted him about his attending a Connect Ohio meeting. Still nothing there. He commented the next week about Richmond motels loving the Preble County Fairgrounds.
Economic Director hired by OSU Extension which pays $35,000 county pays $11,500, City of Van Wert pays $11,500, $70,000 bed tax from hotel. Budget about $150,000.
Dave – their Commissioners even showed up and said it worked so well that the politics are taken out of it. They work close with CIC, Chamber Villages, 2 Industrial Parks set up. Someone to handle economic development and monitor the web site www.ohiosites.com daily. Companies want Interstate access – wowed by I-70. Two JRS (Job Ready Sites). County provides two small rooms of for office space. The county has a hospital, factories, double or triple the amount of Preble. Largest factory has a thousand people employed.
Economic Develop Benefits from being associated with OSU Extension, huge advisory board all interviewed by Ohio State yearly so they can evaluate her. Whole county is enterprise zone. Mega site contracted to 2017. Advisory Board of 52 people.
Chris but she reports to Ohio State
Bob she says she doesn't. I asked her directly.
Dave not like the problems we have had.
48.5 minute Chris discussion on bed tax. County contributing $81,000. 3 hotels in county.
Bed tax additional line item.
End 53.9 minute mark on cd
17.40 minutes – 4.04MB
Goose Creek Crossing.
Bob – Woolperts & Kleingers, firm has more people on staff to handle everything.
Chris – on difference between both firms Kleingers answered all my questions.
Bob – and you feel they are capable of getting these grants?
Chris – both firms would probably do a very good job.
1 hr. 3 min. **** Apparently Commissioner Wesler has either left the room or is being quiet.
Sounds like they are leaning toward Kleingers
Mention of one firm not having everyone needed (Woolpert) with regard to getting landowner commitments.
Connie liked the second team a tad better (Kleingers). Kleingers was only firm to contact the county zoning office (Marty Bresher).
1 hr 20 min Chris – asks Connie to get contract ready fo Kleingers
Dave had indeed left the meeting.
1 hr 22 minute Chris on having a problem with the whole process (Dave bailing out)
Dissention in the ranks comment (To late guys, I already posted it on the December 14 review)
1 hr. 23 min. Brief mention of VanWert trip. Chris had hoped to attend.
End 1 hr. 24 minute mark on cd
30.07 minutes – 6.89 MB
Commissioner Wesler has indeed left the building (or commission office) Connie asks if they would like her to call him but they decide to move on without him.
1 hr. 26 min. Need commitment from property owner.
Steering Committee: (Core Group)
County Commissioners.
Eaton Rep – Dave Daily
Sheriff
Marty Bresher
Monroe Township
Prosecutor's office
Health Department Rep.
ODOT contact – possibly locally Steve Simmons?
Washington Township Trustees because of Orphans Rd. connection
1 hr. 36 min Bob – we are moving forward.
Chris on the core group
Bob erase that old stuff and get on with it
Chris on KISS plan (Keep it simple stupid)
1 hr. 43 min Bob – Time to move forward or drop it from the scale
Liked Woolpert the best but these other guys (Kleingers) rose to the top.
1 hr. 48 min
TIF discussion, nothing difficult. People can be difficult.
ADJOURN
End 1hr. 51.3 minute mark on cd
27.13 minutes – 6.23 MB