The first meeting of the day was on the subject of participation with the Preble County Development Partnership Foundation of the Preble County Chamber. This was followed by Katie Worthington giving a refresher course on Sunshine Law and all three commissioners attending the same Chamber meeting later that day.
Marty Votel & Katie Worthington were in for an Executive session on the possible purchase of land by the county. This was again a meeting over buying land at Rt. 127 & I-70. This is land that the county spent a $250,000 grant on for a couple wells and a PowerPoint presentation.
Commissioner Bob Stonecash and Dave Wesler continue to be for a "bed tax" on local hotels and motels.
Sheriff Simpson was in to ask consideration of the Commissioners for hiring a new Dispatcher as the Department is short handed and the job is stressful. The after meeting discussion did not appear favorable as the Commissioners were evasive in their on the record comments but did mention other departments also wanting to hire more employees.
Preble County, Ohio
County Commissioners
April 28, 2010
Meeting audio and review
All three County Commissioners in attendance.
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 &
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE CD RECORDATION BOTH AS THE OFFICIAL MINUTES FOR
THE APRIL 26TH REGULAR SESSION MEETING
VI. PUBLIC COMMENTS
Brian Deaton – President of Preble County Minister Association on National Day of Prayer.
End 6.5 minute mark on CD – 1.39MB
9:00 A.M. – MATT APPENZELLER (PREBLE COUNTY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP PRESENTATION)
6.75 minute mark Mike Snell of SILFEX made a presentation to Steve Cobb a couple weeks ago.
The Foundation is officially incorporated, city participating in the Board. Commissioner Stonecash also a member.
Official start off date was the Economic summit at SILFEX.
Foundation to be comprised of 21 seats.
3 seats from Chamber.
2 seats from Preble County Government.
2 seats from City of Eaton. City Manager and Bob Brower.
1 seat to the Preble County Mayors Association.
1 to the Townships.
1 to Sinclair.
1 to Preble County Schools. – Dr. Moore from National Trail
1 to Job Center Workforce Development.
9 – Open seats for active participants.
10 minute mark Still working on recruiting Honorary Chairs for the fund raising campaign.
PCDP Board meeting that evening on employment of Economic Development Director. Dinner to be around 5:00 should be done by 6:00. Meeting to be 3 – 4 hours.
11.5 minute mark Volunteer marketing efforts in County (PrebleLife?)
16.75 minute mark Bob – on county finally coming together.
End 17.5 minute mark on cd
10.59 minutes – 2.51 MB
17.5 minute mark Katie Worthington stops in – "Before moving on, I know that you are going to be attending that meeting so I have the handy dandy Ohio Sunshine Law Book. I just wanted to.. I know you are all aware because you attended the training and that as far as open meetings is concerned. Revised Code 121.22 but because all three of you are planning on attending this meeting I just want to remind you that any time that a meeting is considered ahh it is a meeting if it is a prearranged gathering (this is a prearranged gathering) of a majority members of a public body, which this is all of you, for the purpose of discussing public business. The question comes in as to whether you are discussing public business. You need to be very careful when you are there not to make any decisions or to even really discuss things that are the background if you want to use it for information gathering that is fine. If you want to ahm make a decision today discuss and make a decision before attending as to what the Commissions intention is to how to finance the economic development director or how to particapate in this. I don't necessarily see that as an issue but because you have already made a decision before going in there but any type of deliberation that would occur in there and that would be any discussion of going back and forth as to anything in the background that could be the basis for a decision that you make."
Bob – "It's an information gathering meeting"
Katie – "Ok
Bob – "As to the direction that the county and I shouldn't say when I say the county it's not the three of us, it is the entire county."
Katie – "I understand that but then as soon as you get.."
Bob – "Gathering information to see where we're headed."
Katie – "As soon as they ask for what the Board believes or that type of thing that's when you are violating. So we need to make sure that you're following the line on this one.
Bob – "We are very cautious at all times."
Chris – "..If we come up with the general concept that we have all discussed here today we can discuss that concept.
Katie – Ahh if you come up with the idea today before you go there and you have an idea of what you are wanting to do because the the decision would have already been made. You could present that to them and that would just be part of the information gathering. But you could not make, but let me tell you even then you're starting to go let's say you take it there and they start to throw out more ideas as to how it could be tweaked and that and then you come back here and you say "You know what we discussed there the tweaking, I agree with this or don't agree" that could be almost considered a violation at that point in time. So you be careful how you do this.
Chris – But If we bring the data the information collected back here and discuss it here and make the decision here.
Katie – Then that would have been information gather ring and
Chris – And I think that's our intent.
Katie – Ok
Chris – Katie, we've got some things we need to discuss, our general concept. We go there with our concept and then get feedback and then we have to come back here obviously and discuss that and make a decision.
Katie – Yeah.
Chris – I don't how else we can get information from a body like that without at least some type of communication.
Katie – Well I guess the thought would be all three of you wouldn't be there; it would just be one of you there. And then you would be able to because you have the one spokesperson there that would be doing that and then. I'm just telling you that that.
David – Rather have it here on tape, I know but I know that is not what they want to do. But..
Katie – So I just want to caution you and remind you. Like I said, I know you all are very well versed on this but this is just a friendly reminder.
Chris – I would order a gag order on Bob but we know that is not going to work. (chuckling)
Bob – We'll keep it up to the proper standards and the law.
Katie – Cause you know I was looking in here as to what discussion they say and ahm within the narrow exception. It requires the members of a public body to discuss and deliberate on official business only in open meetings and this context is the discussion of the exchange of words, comments or ideas by members of a public body. In deliberation means the act of weighing and examining reasons for and against a choice. So just, I just want to reiterate.
Bob – We understand.
Katie – I want you all. Follow the law and I know you will.
Bob – We will.
Katie – I will
Bob – Thanks Katie.
Dave – Thanks Katie.
Chris – We appreciate that Katie thank you.
End 22.65 minute mark on cd
5.11 minutes – 1.18MB
VII. CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS
A. NOTE RECEIPT OF A RESOLUTION #2010-002 FROM THE BUDGET COMMISSION RE: WAIVING REQUIREMENT OF ADOPTION OF TAX BUDGET PER ORC 5705.281
24.5 minute mark Connie – Marty Votel and Katie will be over at 10:00 to discuss property at 127 & 70.
25 minute mark Chris – someone asking about wanting to rent house on the corner. House has been setting empty for a year.
Connie – there is a process to do that. Only one other house and it is at the landfill.
Bob – wants it to use the money for a specific use.
Veteran's services not interested in the house.
Chris leans towards not renting it.
30.75 minute mark Bob "Probably not proper to talk about that litigation." ??
Chris – On of the things that Mike brought up here is that if we are going to participate with this Preble County Development Partnership Foundation we have two seats on the Board. Ahmm I guess at this point Bob is serving in that capacity, I assume that was a self appointed position at this point?
Bob – We talked about it kind of agreed on it but yes that's a short assessment of it yes.
32.5 minute mark Chris wants a method in place for appointing a person.
Bob – wanted 3 seats on Board.
County Administrator, Commission member and Economic Development Director.
34.5 minute mark Dave – it sounds like we will have a economic development director and they may too.
Bob – that is not to the best of my knowledge no I anyway the thoughts of anybody.
Dave – it says two seats to Preble County government, one is to always be the Economic Development Director.
Bob – wants the ED seat to be a third seat.
36.25 minute mark Bob – "This is flexible enough that seats can be had."
Chris – one administrator, one commissioner and an ED person. Wants a plan of how the commissioner seat is selected.
40 minute mark Bob – On his view of hiring process to advertise and hire an Economic Development Director.
44.5 minute mark Bob – PCDP Foundation to handle marketing.
Great interest from private sector (Chamber).
Bridges need to be established with Columbus.
49.25 minute mark Dave – on Conveyance fee having been for economic development but now being set aside for possible repayment of JRS loans. Asking about how this is to paid for if conveyance is already obligated.
Chris – Just one option, money had previously come out of General Fund. At this point the only thing available is conveyance fee.
*** 52 minute mark Bob – hands Dave a note on his ideas and Dave says they are in agreement. ***
53.3 minute mark Bob – Called Van Wert on how they do their "Hotel Tax". 73% to ED, 25% goes to
Dave – asks question on total percent to be collected.
Bob – Bob collects 6% – … ordinance on percentages being researched by Katie.
End 55.5 minute mark on cd
32.51 minutes – 7.52 MB
55.5 minute mark
EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS POSSIBLE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY.
Marty Votel & Katie Worthington present. Katie – ORC 121.G2
This was in reference to Rt. 127 & I-70 (Goose Creek)
Exit no action taken.
56.6 minute mark Bob instructs Marty to respond appropriately to offer from Mr. Clark.
57 minute mark Bob tells Katie he looks forward to her response on Hotel tax.
End 57.3 minute mark on cd
1.54 minutes – 448kb
10:30 A.M. – SHERIFF SIMPSON (PERSONNEL)
57.5 minute mark Sheriff would like money for another Dispatcher. One has had surgery another one will be having it. Stressful situation.
Calls not answered roll over to Eaton after 4 – 6 rings and then to Darke if they cannot get to it.
1 hr. 11 minute mark Currently department is playing zero unemployment.
1 hr. 16.5 minute mark Bob – take it under consideration.
End 1hr. 18 minute mark on cd
1.54 minutes – 448kb
1 hr. 18.75 minute mark Funding of ED.
1 hr. 19.5 minute mark Bob – this is not a process that needs to be elaborated on at this time. The basic facts are, this is what we think it should be and how the funding should work.
1 hr. 20 minute mark Bob – you guys want to talk about the Dispatch situation.
Connie – he has $11,891 encumbered under jail unemployment.
Bob – what do you fellows think about this. We've had several departments coming looking for funding.
1 hr. 22 minute mark Bob – David, what do you think about it.
David – I am still thinking so. I know on the other hand they would still like to have a detective up there. There is no detective. And we have got another agency asking for money and ahh I mean extremely important job we all understand that…. Once you think about it there are no county around or no village around that has all the dollars they want.
Chris – This is their priority, their weak link at this time… we've had other agencies coming in here wanting more money… once we open the door to this ahh I am sure we will have plenty of requests. It all goes back to it is our job to prioritize what is important… has a few questions to ask Connie.
Bob – Bring it up on Monday's agenda.
1 hr. 26.5 minute mark Retirement party upstairs.
1 hr. 27.5 minute mark RECESS UNTIL 1:15
BACK AT 8 MINUTES UNTIL 2:00
1 hr. 28 minute mark Bob – letter from Tom Barnes, recommending Carrie Powell to be hired as intermittent account clerk 2 position.
Connie – to prepare letter for Monday
Supervisor 2 position at $18.45 – $19.35 to be posted on the website until May 5.
1 hr. 30 minute mark Recovery Zone bonds waved confirmation.
1 hr. 33 minute mark Earth Day – May 6 at 10:00
1 hr. 34 minute mark Building & Zoning to be discussed at some future point (a week from Monday).
Soil & Water to be discussed by May 10.
NIC & zoning discussion.
ADJOURN
End 1hr. 37.5 minute mark on cd
19.37 minutes – 4.49MB