DECATUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

FEBRUARY 18, 2008

The Decatur County Commissioners opened their February 18th meeting with following present: John Richards - President, Charles Buell, Jerome Buening and Bridgett Weber - Auditor.

The February 4th meeting minutes were approved as read.

Mark Mohr – Highway Department provided a report from Butler Fairman & Seufert for Bridge #19; also provided a LPA Voucher for Bridge Inspections for Commissioners signature; Mr. Buell moved to sign LPA Vouchers for Bridge Inspections, Mr. Buening seconded and Mr. Richards concurred.

Mr. Mohr provided a copy of minutes of a meeting back in 2003 from where the prosecutor had agreed to reimburse law enforcement officials up to $1,000 for the defacing of signs. Mr. Mohr asked that the Commissioners put a reward into place for defacing of signs.
 
Mr. Mohr provided information on Bridge #115 and Bridge #190. The Commissioners sent a letter to INDOT requesting additional funding for this project which contains 3 separate designation numbers. The approved federal funded amount was done in 1987, due to the section 106 the project has been prolonged and costs have driven up.

Mr. Buell moved to sign letter for Bridge #115, Mr. Buening seconded and Mr. Richards concurred. Mr. Buening moved to sign letter for Bridge #190, Mr. Buell seconded and Mr. Richards concurred.

Mr. Buening wanted to recognize Mr. Mohr and the Highway Department for all the clean up work they performed during the past couple of weeks with all the winds.

Alan Fore of REX spoke of the Road Usage Agreement and that county officials should have all the documentation necessary to move forward. Chris Basista will be the contact person during the course of this process.

Jon Martin discussed his position with the Soil & Water District and the collaboration with the county. Mr. Martin was a co-signer on the Soil & Water checking account; Mr. Martin felt that his position being a co-signer was to check claims accountability but was overridden by a board member and checks were signed anyways. Mr. Martin also felt that the REX Pipeline was another Soil & Water issue; he took it to the board and was told that it was not something they needed to be involved in. He received a reprimand for not cooperating with the Federal part of the agency. Mr. Martin is asking the Commissioners to request quarterly reports from Soil & Water. Mr. Martin would also like the county to allow the banked days to be paid if the position is terminated or vacated. The Board is also continuing to ask county for funds and do not need these monies to operate nor have to report spending of these dollars. Mr. Buell said he would like to take this under advisement.

Alan Crosby – Health Department provided a report to the Commissioners regarding his findings in Sardinia. Ms. Polanski asked Commissioners if they would like to pursue forming a Regional Sewer District. Mr. Richards asked Ms. Polanski to plan on having another meeting in Sardinia to provide these findings to the residents.

Pepper Cooper – Maverick Insurance introduced Charlie Neal that is an associate of Maverick Insurance. Mr. Cooper provided a quote from the current reinsurance company and we may want to consider taking more risk; currently we are covering $55,000 per individual. Mr. Cooper’s recommendation is to go with a specific cost of $60,000 and will save $13,000 in premiums and renew with the current reinsurance carrier. Mr. Buening moved to go with Mr. Cooper’s recommendations, Mr. Buell seconded and Mr. Richards concurred. Mr. Buening moved to go with the 3 year fixed costs to the third party administrator, Mr. Buell seconded and Mr. Richards concurred. Mr. Buell moved to not increase payroll deduction, Mr. Buening seconded and Mr. Richards concurred.

Tom Speers – WTH Technology is asking to share GIS information with them on a project for Fountaintown Gas. Mr. Buell moved to sign the county’s data sharing agreement with WTH for the Fountaintown Gas project, Mr. Buening seconded and Mr. Richards concurred.

Joe Rust requested information on the REX Pipeline; asking if the 2 million dollar bond only covers Decatur County for repairs; Commissioners indicated that this bond was only for Decatur County.

Tom White asked Commissioners why he was not notified that he was being fined for having a pipe yard on his property; Mr. Buening expressed the need for Mr. White to attend the Area Plan Commission meeting on March 5th.

Bridgett Weber – County Auditor discussed the NACO RX Drug Card Program. Several surrounding counties have taken advantage of this program and the membership costs are far less than the benefit to its citizens. Mr. Buell moved to apply for the NACO Membership, Mr. Buening seconded and Mr. Richards concurred; so we can provide prescription drug discount coverage to citizens that do not have coverage in Decatur County.

With nothing else to come before the Commissioners, Mr. Buell moved to recess, Mr. Buening seconded and Mr. Richards concurred.

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John Richards, President

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Attest: _____________________
Date: ______________________