This meeting opens with a Soil & Water financial update. The Preble County office had five employees at the start of 2009 and is now down to two. The state is now requiring Soil & Water to have restricted funds set aside to cover the unemployment expenses of employees should an office close. In the case of the local office that amount is $26,000. The debate is over a requested $12,000 + to keep the office open until the end of the year. There is a possible exception of having the $26,000 set aside if the county would make a commitment to 2011 funding early enough. My personal view is that given some of the other decisions of this commission on previous issues the $26,000 had better be set aside. Many good economic and environmental reasons were given for supporting this office. It really seems like a no brainer and that support should not even be a question but it so far is lacking. The sales tax alone generated by this office would probably cover it. 

At JFS there is an issue with the expected life of the building built in 1989. There may be an $80,000 exception tacked for 2009. There will also be an expected high bill for a state audit that will be done this spring. Connie Crowell later informed commissioners that Becky Sorrell had overheard the Soil & Water meeting and thought JFS may be able to help them with one of their programs.

At the Budget Commission meeting the commissioners learned that so far the county is running $20,000 ahead of estimate. That number corresponds perfectly to the question posed last week about what the county was getting for its $20,000 from Victim Witness. County Prosecutor Martin Votel stopped in latter in the day for clarification on the commission commitment to funding the replacement of a recently departed employee. Commissioners Day & Stonecash quickly gave the approval that was absent last week.

Internet access on the third floor of the courthouse was an issue with Alice Flora and Chris Washington in chambers to voice concerns over the Commission purchase and installation of a Barracuda web filter. There have been Internet access issues in the past and the filter has apparently increased the problem and raised concerns of confidentiality. Chris Washington informed the commissioners that he would make use of a free web filter that he thought would accomplish much the same as the $5000 he heard the commissioners spent to purchase one. The third floor access was discussed again among the commissioners later in the day and it was decided to have Connie instruct maintenance to help them if needed when TimeWarner runs a cable. It was also mentioned that at least a couple other offices are contemplating having their own separate Internet connections installed. The combined added cost of multiple offices installing their own connections will eventually be higher than the cost of the web filter.

What should irritate citizens of Preble County is that resolution # 133 at the two hour mark of the February 22, 2010 meeting authorized spending $4,397 of taxpayer money that could have gone to Soil & Water (http://www.citizensforpreblecounty.com/news/?p=1010 ).  The concern is over county employees spending their time while at work surfing the Internet instead of doing their job. A number of offices are under staffed. This creates morale problems when some county employees who are more knowledgeable on ways to circumvent web filters than others do so.  So in a one for all and all for one effort a Google search will offer some ideas for those looking for ways to bypass the filter and join their undisciplined fellow employees.

However from a taxpayer standpoint we are getting less bang for our tax dollars when this occurs. So in an effort to give the citizens of Preble County some ability to catch the alleged county employees wasting tax dollars while surfing the following instructions will help.

If you use Microsoft Vista all you need to do is press and hold the “Alt” key on your keyboard and while still holding down “Alt” press the “Prt Scr SysRq” key. Open your email program, right click your mouse and click “paste”.  If you use some other OS then try these instructions.

Send the result to jeff@citizensforpreblecounty.com .

Preble County, Ohio

County Commissioners

March 8,  2010

Meeting audio and review

All three County Commissioners in attendance.

File 1

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 MARCH 3RD REGULAR SESSION MEETING

End 3.44 minute mark on CD – 878KB

File 2

9:00 A.M. – Preble County SOIL & WATER (FINANCIAL UPDATE)

4  minute mark    Don: "We were in here in late December, and at that time we were going to be about $16,000 short, if you remember. That was just to get us through the year and end up with a zero balance. Since that time, in February we filled out an annual financial report and one of the things that the state had us out in there was what they called "restricted funds”. Those are funds we would have to hold off to pay unemployment if we have to go to zero and lay everyone off. Those restricted funds were $26,000 plus. So, we are still down on are knees begging for money, I guess you would say. Last year we applied for a grant a $35,000 grant, we were successful in getting that thing but we only got half of it in 09'. The other half is to come in 2010 but there are some restrictions on the grant that they give us. We had to make a concerted effort to go out and get funding from other sources and we've tried several things here. First of we discussed charging for some of our services."

7  minute mark    Don: "We investigated the possibility of running a levy.  I think it was 1999, Monroe County over in southeastern Ohio, they were zeroed out by their Commissioners, Soil & Water and Extension over there. So those people got together and they run a levy, they were successful. There were several reasons I guess #1. They went together with Extension; it's a small county 15,000 people.  One school district so they purposely avoided a school levy on the ballot and there were a lot of people behind Extension wanting 4H to continue. So they were able to pass that levy in 1999 and then in 04' they passed a renewal and again in 09'. So they’re in good shape, it's my understanding that there is two counties because there is another one over in southeastern Ohio that has run a levy successfully. We have discussed that and we talked to Extension in this county and they aren't interested. The Park District we talked to them, they are interested, we haven't got a definite yes or no out of them yet but they are interested. There again with the economic climate we are in today, I am afraid we would have great difficulty passing a levy right now. If we did run one and it failed that would make more difficult in the future."

10  minute mark    Don: "Another thing we've thought about and when the suggestion first come up to me I said "Is it legal?" someone said ask the townships and the County Engineer for an appropriation from their budget to us for the work that we do. I've been assured that it would be legal, they can give us money. The benefit that they get from us is and it is a little hard to define but we feel they do less ditch clean out because of our work. Also when we build waterways if it butts up against a county or township road we go right to the culvert and put rock protection in right there. We are actually doing work on the right-of-way at no cost to the county."

11 minute mark    Don:" I had a meeting with the County Engineer and asked him what he thought, that was about ten days ago, have you heard anything Jim? Last week we had a meeting with several of the Trustees, mostly it was one from the townships sometimes two, there was one township that didn't have anyone there. We asked them what they thought and you know are timing wasn't very good. It seems that in February that every township spent tons of money on snow removal, if we hit them in a normal winter maybe we would have had better luck. Right now things don't sound too good."

13.4  minute mark    Don: "Right now we have 54 waterway applications and its anticipated that we will build 30 – 35 this year."

15  minute mark      Don: “Right now I would like to get into what I consider the value of our work."  ….

19 minute mark     Don: "Maintaining farmland productivity for future generations". …. "We have greatly reduced the siltation in Acton Lake down there at Hueston Woods. That's not near the problem that it used to be. So with that I am to the bottom of my sheet."

End 19.6 minute mark on cd  

16.9 minutes – 3.69 MB

File 3

20 minute mark     FSA office may be combined with Montgomery County. It was to go to Preble but if there is a reduced presence it could go to Montgomery.

24 .5 minute mark     Dave Wesler on travesty of FSA office possibly moving to Montgomery.

Trickledown effect of money spent with contractors, hay, seed, fuel and much more.

29.8  minute mark     Now need $12,400 just to get to zero at the end of the year.

31 minute mark     County has committed to $89.565. If it gets down to the end and it looks like the office will close then the final $26,000 will have to be committed to unemployment.  

39.5 minute mark     If it gets later in the year and it looks like there will be no funding next year the office will close when the balance is $26,000.

It may be June…

56  minute mark     Discussion on when the cut-off date is and a commitment to funding to 2011.  

1 hr.  minute mark     Talk of pulling out the $26,000 and putting it into a CD.  As a board they are required to have the money there.

1hr. 2 minute mark     Bob – does not think that is a solution. There is $49,000 due by May 30, and another $12,400.  

1hr. 3.5 minute mark     David – "You know last year we tried to reduce especially non-mandated agencies. We didn't know exactly where some of them were going to land. We were able to tell OSU Extension almost immediately although after much discussion where bare bones was and how they could continue to operate. Some things have changed here and we now know that you may be below bare bones as what can be operated, especially with what can be brought in with Soil & Water from the sales tax revenue generated and the the contractors who are employed to put in waterways, let alone the jobs that are created in Preble County to keep the waterways clear. Like you said from the township trustees, for the County Engineer. Last week I took somewhat of a lashing for attempting to save this county $20,000…$20,000 that could be put into this program here and to keep it afloat. Ahhm so when we made the reductions last year we weren't exactly positive where it was going to land. Now we know we came in better at the end of the year than what we thought we were. So I think we need to seriously look at keeping them going with no more than what they are requesting. And we will discuss that later I am sure but.

1hr. 6.5 minute mark     Bob – We have three offices upstairs that have reduced.

1hr. 8 minute mark     Bob – Those people don't understand that and to be honest with you they don't care. And for a lot of years, you can pound on me if you want here in a minute, the farmers didn't care either. They dumped a lot of stuff in the streams and I know that's all pretty much been corrected, that's just history. And that goes back a long time but we certainly appreciate what you guys do. I think we all understand the importance. I know a lot more than I used to. I thank you for coming in and we talk about this some more today.

End 1hr. 10 minute mark on cd  

50.18 minutes – 11.5 MB

File 4

10:00 A.M. – JFS MONTHLY MEETING

1hr. 12 minute mark     Becky Sorrell – building lease discussion, building built in 1989. "That bond was specific in exactly what we did. They came back recently and changed the rule and now they are saying that because of the.. We paid back the bond at the 20 year rate instead of the at the useful life of the building.. We were over reimbursed by the federal government for that bond. Now when they come out to do the audit it is very likely that we are going to have an $80,000 exception for 2009. So we have to make some decisions about from here what we are going to do about that lease issue, the building lease issue."

Auditor had originally set life of building at 100 years then changed it to 40 years and it may have to now be changed to reflect the original 20 years building loan. The building was refinanced in 2002 for a new edition but is apparently still subject to the original 20 year. Becky reported that Auditor said this ruling may affect other county buildings.

1hr. 18 minute mark     Chris: "Is this the first time the state auditors have come in? Then just tell them thank you but no thank you and go on." he thinks that JFS is going to get an astronomical bill for the audit and wants them to get a price on the audit.

1hr. 21 minute mark     Mindy Robbins – in room.  "I couldn't just rule out one county building. So that I would have to do, we would have to depreciate on the same basis all of them."

End 1hr. 32.5 minute mark on cd  

22.17 minutes – 5.10MB

File 5

10:30 A.M. – BUDGET COMMISSION MONTHLY MEETING

February sales tax exceeded estimate by $4,748

Charges for services came in at over $12,000 more than estimate.

LGF and Interest came in under estimate.

Over all month came in under estimate by around $8,600.

Total for January and February the actuals came in under estimate by $65,611.  With the advance $80,000 advance for Goose Creek figured in the county is running a little over $20,000 ahead of estimate.

1hr. 46.25 minute mark     Bob on Soil & Water meeting: "They shared a lot of information and they need some additional revenue to get through the end of the year. Of course part of their problem is they have to.. If there is a thought or probability or even a question about closing their office, they have to have $26,000 in reserve. That’s in a nutshell they need more money to get through the end of the year. Of course they are down to two people.

Dave – at that level they would run out of money in October or late September. If we gave them $12,000 that would keep them open to the end of the year and then they would have no money to start next year with. .

Bob – other if we put them n the budget with temporary appropriations. That would help them with their $26,000 that they wouldn't have to have set aside. Does that make sense? Do you understand where I am going around the bush?

Chris – Actually what he trying to say is ahhh like a lot of these departments that's ahhhhhh there is no assurance put back for unemployment and things like that. You know payout compensation and one of things they are looking at at the state level is they want that assurance. I am sure they have had a lot of people come to the table and say ..We’re broke.

Mindy – Exactly

Chris – Ahhhh now do you put that assurance in there all at one shot? I guess that's the $24,000 question, is how to handle that assurance…. The discussion is how to handle that assurance money?

1hr. 49.8 minute mark     

Bob – It appears more of a threat than anything else

Chris – well it's not a threat

Bob – Yeah it is

Chris – no it is real it's reality… if they shut the doors tomorrow; we have to have the money to.

End 1hr. 52.25 minute mark on cd  

19.16 minutes – 4.48MB

File 6

1hr. 53 minute mark     RECESS FOR 5 MINUTES

VIII. FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #146-10-143

RE: AUTH. PAYMENT – VARIOUS DEPTS.

B. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #149-10-143

RE: MORAL OBLIGATION – CSEA

C. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #150-10-143

RE: TRANSFER OF FUNDS – TASC

End 2 hr.  1.75 minute mark on cd  

9.07 minutes – 2.08MB

File 7

11:00 A.M. – ENGINEER MONTHLY MEETING

2 hr. 2.25 minute mark    Kyle – covered bridge project is being reviewed by ODOT, ecological study will be submitted.   

End 2 hr.  23 minute mark on cd  

21.29 minutes – 4.91 MB

File 8

2 hr. 23 minute mark   Chris – asks Steve if he heard from Lea?   Dave – Lea, changed jobs? Chris – she went to the Department of Health in Columbus.

. CORRESPONDENCE & REPORTS

A. NOTE RECEIPT OF A REPORT FROM BECKY SORRELL, JFS DIRECTOR

RE: SETS ACCT. BANK RECONCILIATION REPORT – FEB. 2010

X. AGREEMENTS & CONTRACTS

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

RE: AMENDMENT TO HELP ME GROW AGREEMENT W/ PREBLE COUNTY

HEALTH DEPT. – INCREASE $20,227.00 – HELP ME GROW (FCFC)

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

RE: 2010 SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN CONSULTING SERVICES &

PREPARATION AGREEMENT W/ GT ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. –

$18,275.00 – RECYCLING

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

RE: 2009 ANNUAL DISTRICT REPORT PREPARATION AGREEMENT W/ GT

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES, INC. – $6,555.00 – RECYCLING

XI. TRAVEL REQUESTS

NOTE RECEIPT & CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE FOLLOWING TRAVEL REQUEST:

When you take a close look at pricing of all common branded drugs, you can easily take cialis prescription this medicine; it won’t disturb the taste of your food, but its benefits for sexual health are surely incredible.

A. RES. #147-10-143 – COMMISSIONERS STONECASH, DAY & WESLER – COMMISSION

2 hr. 26.75 minute mark      Goose Creek Crossing Funding Exploration meeting in Columbus, Ohio on March 9, 2010 at no cost to the county.

2 hr. 28.50 minute mark     Dave – talking to Katie Worthington references a phone call he had with Leslie Collins of the Register Heralds and what he meant when he said "handcuffed". I meant that if we needed another option in case of an emergency… she understood that. This references using another paper for public notices when pressed for time.     Dave asks Marty Bresher what her memory was and she says that yes "up until Jane came up with the idea that we could not do that anymore."

To be on Register Herald website.

End 2 hr.  30.2 minute mark on cd  

7.05 minutes – 1.62 MB

File 9

11:30 A.M. – 2ND PUBLIC HEARING – ZONING CASE #1273 (FLOOD INSURANCE)

A. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF RES. #148-10-143

RE: REAFFIRMATION OF RES. #145-10-143 – AMENDING ZONING RESOLUTION FOR REGULATION OF AREAS OF SPECIAL FLOOD HAZARD

End 2 hr.  33.75 minute mark on cd  

3.39 minutes – 857KB

File 10

11:45 A.M. – ALICE FLORA & CHRIS WASHINGTON (COURTHOUSE INTERNET ACCESS)

2 hr. 35 minute mark      Issue over web filter installed.

2 hr. 36 minute mark      Bob: Why do you need anything different than what the courthouse has?

Chris Washington – We've had issues with the computer system for a long time…. Sometimes we can't access the outside world.

Alice – it’s interfering with the way we access the Internet upstairs.

Bob – is it required for the court?

Alice – yes

Chris – it's the Barracuda that was installed. It's interfering with the offices and I know the reason it was installed… to block certain websites.

2 hr. 40 minute mark      Bob – "I think you understand why we did this, it's because people that work here are accessing sites they don't need to be on. They are supposed to be working for the county.

Alice – Our office isn't doing that.

Bob – We don't know that. You know that because you run the office.

Alice – I'm telling you that it's really not… I don't think its… without getting into separation of powers I don't think it is really an issue for the commission to police what the courts are doing and the courts operations of their businesses. Just like we don't come down here and try and figure out how you’re operating your business. We need this access, we need it unimpaired we need and IT person that can go in and fix our problem without having to talk to your IT person to fix your problems.

Bob – I understand your concerns but you also have to understand ours.

Alice – I don't care what you put on your system as long as it doesn't interfere with ours and right now it's interfering with ours. So this is an easy way that we can get that fixed. Simply, it is not going to cost the county anything. It's not going to cost anything out of your General Fund budget.

Bob – I understand

Dave – Alice I am surprised that the Barracuda blocks court websites.

Alice – It doesn't block court websites, but some of the things that Rosemary gets into to get her information, she goes into other states, she goes into websites that, I mean I don't know how this Barracuda works nor do I care. The other issue that was f concern to Chris he raised it with me is the confidentiality that we have with some of our reports. Everything that Rosemary doe is confidential it goes only to the Judges eyes and to the defendants’ council.

2 hr. 44.5 minute mark      Chris Washington – ….Don't monitor the ip address that has been assigned to the Clerk of Courts. … Leave ours alone

Alice – but we have had other problems in the past. (She wants an autonomous system from courthouse)

2 hr. 48.5 minute mark      Chris – If and when this goes through I will be putting a program on our system that does similar to what Barracuda does. But it won't be set up to do as much as what Barracuda does. It will block the QVC's, you know.  But it's going to be free, you can get this stuff free, you don't have to pay $5000 to get it. That's the truth. It does the exact same thing.

Bob – here's another question for you; Why haven't you put it on before?

Chris – It's not my system, we're running through your system. Your system was blocking more than we want blocked.

RECESS UNTIL 1:00

End 2 hr.  57.75 minute mark on cd  

24.01 minutes – 5.49MB

File 11

1:00 P.M. – TOM BARNES & WES RIEHL (RFP GAS TO ENERGY & PROPOSED BUILDING)

2 hr. 59 minute mark      David has questions about the proposed new building.

3 hr. 1 minute mark     Tom Barnes

3 hr. 2 minute mark     Steve Simmons – “Another thing we looked at to that to was talking about Landfill and Solid Waste. You know we don't know exactly where we're going to be going with the waste water – water and waste water but maybe Goose Creek up there. So we plotted off some square footage for that if that made sense to eventually have that down there. We thought maybe some lab space..  

Tom – a small office.  

Dave – how do you obtain these energy credits?

End 3 hr. 46.3 minute mark on cd   

48.38 minutes – 11.1MB

File 12

2:00 P.M. – MARTY VOTEL (VICTIM WITNESS FUNDING)

3 hr. 47.25 minute mark     Brenda & Marty

Sarah Morrison had resigned to take over United Way.

3 hr. 48 minute mark     Marty intends to hire a replacement in the next week unless the funding is revoked.

3 hr. 49 minute mark     Dave – "Bob, I'm going to say these guys perform a very valuable service. I wasn't saying that what so ever. I've been down there lots of times and a lot of times before Brenda started working there. I appreciate what you guys do. It was and I think deep down Marty you know that with ahmm you know with our Soil & Water conversation today. They went from five down to two and they did a lot bigger than an 8% cut and I know you've justified in an email and I appreciate that I've told you that and so.

3 hr. 50.75 minute mark     Chris –  "My thought is I mean we've we've appropriated the money at the beginning of the year. That money has already been appropriated. I see no reason why we need to do anything differently at this point in time. That's the way I feel.

Bob – we've done a little better than we expected. So there is no need for us to cut budgets at this time.

Marty – Ok, I appreciate that. You can understand why before I offered someone a job I wanted to if that was a loose end I wanted to some reassurance that wasn't going to be an issue.

End 3 hr. 52  minute mark on cd  

5.55  minutes – 1.35MB

File 13

3 hr. 53 minute mark     Bob -"Connie do you have anything else?"

Connie – last week you asked to have a web check done on David Anderson who applied for the Assistant EMA Director’s job. That check was done and everything came back fine. $11.31 per hour. Charlie would like it effective tomorrow.

3 hr. 55.5 minute mark     FCFC needs administrative agent. Commissioners need to make a pick. No one there wanted the job due to time consuming.  

3 hr. 56.5  minute mark     Commissioners pick Mrs. Sorrell to accept the challenge.

3 hr. 56.5  minute mark     Letter from City of Eaton about Lexington Rd.

4 hr.   minute mark     United Health Care Premium Credit Letter

4 hr.  5.5 minute mark     Security camera for lower part of the parking lot behind the Courthouse. Quote is for $580. Sheriff thought it was a good idea to add the camera. Three or four incidents of tires being slit and other incidents in area. Only two incidents over the hill in the area for this camera.

End 4 hr. 12.25  minute mark on cd  

20.18  minutes – 4.64MB

File 14

4 hr.  12.25 minute mark     Soil & Water discussion.

4 hr.  13 minute mark     Bob – "In a nutshell I am in favor of seeing that they stay open."

4 hr.  15 minute mark     Chris – has concern that the Soil & Water Board may put $26,000 aside as required to meet unemployment. Shut down office when they get to the $26,000 level.

4 hr.  19.75 minute mark     Connie – Becky Sorrell thought that JFS may be able to help out Soil & Water with one of their programs. (Soil & Water would like to add an employee)

4 hr.  20 minute mark     Bob – Lets let it ride. (Until they talk to them or May)

4 hr.  22 minute mark     Discussion of requirement for buyouts and unemployment.

End 4 hr. 22.3  minute mark on cd  

10.06  minutes – 2.31MB

File 15

Dave Wesler out of room?

4 hr.  23 minute mark     Chris calling Kleingers to see if they will meet them in Columbus tomorrow (Tuesday)

4 hr.  32 minute mark     Chris – Faber cancelled and a he could not get a meeting with Michelle put together so that is not happening, I guess we are going up there to just see Zehringer. That works out with my schedule.

Bob – It works out perfectly with mine.

4 hr.  32.5 minute mark    Chris – I am a little unclear with Soil and Water

Bob – we need some further clarification

Chris – I mean I am all for giving them the money if it’s going to keep the doors open. I mean… I don't think the Board members that were sitting here were all on the same page. Did you get that?

Bob – …saying one thing Keith was saying something else

4 hr.  34 minute mark    Billy??  Stonecash

End 4 hr.  35.5 minute mark on cd  

13.11 minutes – 3.01MB

Office Noise from 4 hr. 35.5 minute mark to 4 hr. 53.5 minute mark

File 16

4 hr.  53.5 minute mark    

Dave – Connie did you get the information you needed.

Connie – yes

Dave Anderson hired starting March 9, 2010

4 hr.  56  minute mark    Connie needs direction on the Internet request made earlier.

Bob –  at this time we would like to take no action until we get some information back.

Chris – it's not coming out of our pocket.

Bob – "What makes the third floor any different from the 1st floor or the 2nd floor as far as personnel?" … I just don't like arrogance.

5 hr.  1 minute mark   Chris – offers an explanation…. I say let them have it.

Dave – Their paying for it out of their own funds.

5 hr.  2  minute mark   Maintenance to be directed to help them if needed.

5 hr.  3  minute mark   Fair book $90 ($30 each) for Preble County Commissioners half page ad personal expense.

5 hr.  4.5 minute mark     Chris – we need to get that Landfill issue put to rest.

5 hr.  5  minute mark   Chris & Dave went to tractor pull on Saturday.

5 hr.  6  minute mark   Chris – it was run very well.  

ADJOURN

End 5 hr.  9.5 minute mark on cd  

16.09 minutes – 3.69MB