Hancock County Council

October 11, 2017

COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURTROOM

111 American Legion Place

Greenfield, Indiana 46140

The County Council of Hancock County, Indiana, met in the Commissioner Court in the Courthouse Annex, Greenfield,

Indiana, on the 11th day of October 2017 at the hour of 8:30 A.M. in accordance with the rules of the Council.

Councilmembers William Bolander, James Shelby, Debra Bledsoe, Kent Fisk, Martha Vail, Jeannine Gray, and Randy

Sorrell were in attendance.

Also attending, County Attorney, Ray Richardson, Deputy Auditor Mary Bowmer and Auditor Robin Lowder.

Minutes

President Bolander opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance and Moment of Silence.

Requests for Replacement of Employees

The following Elected Officials and Department Heads requested replacement of employees:

Judge Snow Superior Court I-Court Reporter-Councilman Shelby made a motion to replace Judge Snow’s employee,

Councilman Gray seconded the motion. The motion carried 7/0.

Judge Marshall Superior Court II-Court Reporter- Councilman Fisk made a motion to replace Judge Marshall’s employee,

Councilman Sorrell seconded the motion. The motion carried 7/0.

Judge Marshall requested replacement of the Chief Probation Officer Wayne Addison. Councilman Fisk made a motion

to replace the Chief Probation Officer, Councilman Sorrell seconded the motion. The motion carried 7/0. The Johua

Sipes was placed into the position of Chief Probation Officer upon approval of replacement to the position.

Joshua Sipes Chief Probation Officer requested his replacement Juvenile Probation Officer with a not to exceed of

$45,759 with 4-9 years of experience, one secretary and one receptionist with a not to exceed of $27,101. Councilman

Shelby made a motion to replace Mr. Sipes employees with said mentioned stipulations. Councilman Gray seconded the

motion. The motion carried 7/0.

Circuit Court Clerk Marcia Moore made a request replacement for two full-time employees. Public Access Deputy

retroactive to October 2, 2017 and Board Representative effective October 4, 2017.

Councilman Shelby made a motion to replace two full-time employees for the Clerk both at the present salaries.

Councilman Sorrell seconded the motion. The motion carried 7/0.

Clerk Request for Electronic Poll Books

The Clerk made a request for the Hancock County Election Board to begin an upgrade and replacement schedule for the

sensitive electronic election equipment. The equipment is highly technical therefore it becomes obsolete quickly. The

Clerk stated it was necessary to establish a replacement schedule in order to have funds necessary to update equipment

for elections. ES&S quoted $35,206.06 originally but has since lowered the price an additional $5,000. The request for

50 newer model electronic poll books is for $30,205.61. Council member Vail question why another company wasn’t

given the opportunity to quote for the poll books. The Clerk explained she was given a mandate when vote centers

began to still use some of the original voting equipment in order to save money. That leaves you with proprietary

issues. Therefore two different systems are not compatible. Funding from Food and Beverage Fund.

Councilman Shelby made a motion to purchase 50 newer model electric poll books from ES&S at the cost of $30,205.61

with funding from Food and Beverage. Councilman Bledsoe seconded the motion. The motion carried 6/1. Council

member Vail voted Nay.

Adoption of The 2018 Hancock County Budget

Councilman Shelby made a motion to adopt Ordinance 2017-9B adopting the 2018 Hancock County Budget. Councilman

Bledsoe seconded the motion. The motion carried 7/0. Vote 7/0 adopted the 2018 Hancock County Budget.

Adoption of The 2018 Hancock County Solid Waste District Budget

Councilman Fisk made a motion to adopt Ordinance 2017-9C adopting The 2018 Hancock County Solid Waste District

Budget. Councilman Gray seconded the motion. The motion carried 7/0. Vote 7/0 adopted The 2018 Hancock County

Solid Waste District Budget.

Approval of Additional Appropriations

Councilman Fisk made a motion to approve the following Additional Appropriations:

County General Fund 1001-Seizure Monies-Garrison Law Firm-$3,692.40

County General Fund 1001-Surveyor-Contractual-$15,000

Cumulative Bridge Fund 1135-Bridge 71-$60,000

County Sales Disclosure Fund 1131-Training-$6,600

LIT Economic Dev (County Share) 1112 Capital Project 600 W Broken Arrow $30,000

Motor Vehicle Highway 1176-Group Health Insurance-$100,000

County User Fees-2500-Expenses-$150,000

Councilman Gray seconded the motion. The motion carried 7/0

Discussion about additional appropriation of the County General Fund 1001-Public Defender Board-$125,000. Some

Council Members felt this came under the heading of emergency funding due to unexpected murder trials this year. The

following Council members requested $125,000 be advertised from the Supplemental Public Defender Fund 1200 to be

voted on for the November 11, 2017 Council Meeting. Councilman Bolander, Shelby, Bledsoe, Fisk, Vail and Sorrell.

Council member Gray was not in favor of the advertisement.

Resolution Regarding Sheriff’s Bonus

The Council determined the Sheriff had met the goals described in the Resolution. Councilman Fisk made a motion to

pass Resolution 2017-10-9 so that Sheriff Shepherd receives the $5,000 plus the additional $2,500 for a total of $7,500.

Councilman Gray seconded the motion. The motion passed 7/0. Councilman Shelby stated he was in favor of keeping

the system with the current Sheriff but would like to review it when the new Sheriff comes in.

Next Month’s Council meeting will discuss the Bonus and the Sheriff’s Retirement.

Heroin Protocol/Simply Divine Transitional Housing/Prosecutor Brent Eaton

Prosecutor Eaton would like to secure 8 beds for 2 years with a cost of $48,000 possibly quarterly payments.

Councilman Fisk made a motion to secure the 8 beds for 2 years for $48,000 with Simply Divine Transitional Housing for

Heroin Protocol. Financing through the Food and Beverage Fund. Commissioner Shelby seconded the motion. The

motion carried 7/0.

Budget Meeting Update

Councilman Shelby Budget Meeting update:

Commissioners discussed possible 55 milion dollar financing/costs for new jail funding

County is receiving less of the pie every year. Due to annexations/Fire Territory/County paying down Bonds/County still

provides many services to every entity in the County.

We are receiving less income tax.

Things we need to look at: possibly Eliminate the Bridge Fund, Discover what our actual portion is for Animal Control, E-

911 have municipalities help pay those costs, also have meetings with donut counties to see if they have found

solutions.

Jail Financing was also discussed with the Commissioners. Councilman Shelby was concerned if all of the stakeholders

were involved in the new plans of the Judicial System. He would also like to see of the State may have a change in their

attitude of us keeping D Felons.

Commissioner Jessup discussed Jail Financing

Commissioner Jessup expressed the Commissioners would like to let this go to a Voter Referendum and also would

probably need to have special legislation to raise income tax. He feels if the voters are properly educated they will be in

favor of the financing of a new Justice System.

Budget Transfer Requests

There were two Budget Transfer requests one for Auditor Robin Lowder and one for Pat Powers Director of Community

Corrections. Councilman Gray made a motion to approve the Budget Transfers for the Auditor and the Director of

Community Corrections. Councilman Bledsoe seconded the motion. The motion carried 7/0.

Approve Minutes from Meetings

Councilman Shelby made a motion to approve the Council minutes from the following Council Meetings: April 19, 2017;

May 10, 2017; June 14, 2017; July 20, 2017; August 2, 2017; August 9, 2017, August 22, 2017; September 13, 2017;

September 27, 2017. Councilman Sorrell seconded the motion. The motion carried 7/0.

Councilman Fisk made a motion to adjourn the October 11, 2017 Council Meeting at 10:40 a.m. Councilman Vail

seconded the motion. The motion carried 7/0.

Adopted this day: October 11, 2017

AYE Nay

______________________ ___________________

______________________ ___________________

______________________ ___________________

______________________ ___________________

______________________ ___________________

______________________ ___________________

______________________ ___________________

Attest:_________________

Robin D. Lowder

Hancock County Auditor