HOWARD
The
Howard County Board of Commissioners met in Special Session on
The meeting was called to order by Lieutenant Steve
Rogers and conducted by President Paul Raver.
The minutes from the last regular
meeting held on
IN
THE MATTER OF COMMISSIONER APPOINTMENTS:
Personnel Administrator Wanda McKillip presented the following information:
1. City of Firsts Automotive Heritage
Museum/Johanning Civic Center, Inc. Board: (Per the new agreement there
are 9 members to this board; 3 are appointed by the Council; 6 are appointed by
Commissioners.) The County Council
had appointed Dwight Singer, Mike
Olrick and John Holmes to the Board at their meeting held on
a. The Howard County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) presented the following names to the Commissioners for consideration:
Peggy Hobson, CVB Executive Director
Kim Mills, CVB Assistant Director
Jennifer McMullen, CVB Sales Manager
Sherry Hawkins, CVB Office & Visitor Information Manager
Mr.
Bagwell made a motion to appoint Peggy Hobson to the City of
b. The Pioneer Auto Club representative nominees were as follows:
Tom Trauring
Steve Ortman
Tom Sheehan
Mr. Harbaugh made a motion
to appoint Tom Sheehan to the City of
c.
Brad Bagwell was appointed as a representative to the City of
d. Mr. Bagwell made a motion to
appoint Larry Hinesley to the City of
e.
Jim Brannon and Rick Seegert were appointed to the City of
f.
Mr. Bagwell made a motion, seconded by Mr. Harbaugh and carried, for
the following initial terms to be served:
Peggy
Hobson and Tom Sheehan 1
Year Terms
Brad
Bagwell and Larry Hinesley 2
Year Terms
Jim Brannon and Rick Seegert 3 Year Terms
2. The Howard County Traffic Commission Appointment for a citizen member was delayed until later in the meeting. (See page 3, In the Matter of Traffic Commission Appointment)
3. A Certificate of Appreciation for Barney Shane for serving on the Howard County Convention & Visitors Bureau Board was acknowledged by the Commissioners.
4.
Resolution No. 2002-BCC-25 was presented to
Howard County Recorder Marilyn J. Shirley in recognition of her dedication
and accomplishments with Howard County Government and in honor of her
retirement after
IN THE MATTER OF
Mr. Phil Thatcher, Miles and Finch
Insurance Agency presented the renewal
policy for
The costs for reinsurance (an insurance purchased by insurance
companies so they dont get hit with the full impact of a catastrophic claim)
costs have increased by 50% in the past six months. During the late 1990s, investment income
outweighed underwriting losses by 15% to 25%.
During the past three years, investment income virtually non-existed and
companies tightened underwriting controls.
The Insurance industry has experienced a multitude of mergers and
acquisitions during the past five years.
Currently there is an inordinate amount of asbestos claims that
insurance companies are still paying.
The number of litigation claims and defense costs has greatly increased
in recent years. Also, the Indiana State
Supreme Court recently ruled that certain exclusions should not be in the
policies. Traditional pollution and
environmental exclusions exposes insurance companies to claims that have not
been incorporated in premium calculations.
Mr. Thatcher said the good news is that the Countys rate increase is
not going to increase 25% to 30% as initially anticipated. The premiums will only increase approximately
15% to 16%. The policys term is from
Most of the coverages are with Selective Insurance Company. Professional Liability, Public Officials
Errors & Admissions Liability, and Law Enforcement Professional Liability
coverages are with Northland Insurance.
Both companies are A+ rated carriers.
There are very few changes in the coverages compared to the previous
year. The following coverages were
briefly outlined for Commissioner information:
Property Coverage:
Blanket building & contents limit of
$53,851,950. This figure is a summary of
replacement costs for all County owned buildings. The coverage includes a Loss of Rents. The deductible for property claims increased
from $1,000 to $2,500.
And
Property Extensions of Coverage:
These are built-in coverages. The main one is Ordinance or Law. Should uniform building codes change during
construction of a building there will be money available to repair the building
up to the new code standards.
$ 64,352
Inland Marine Coverage:
$ 16,530
Covers all mobile equipment, contractors
equipment, and unscheduled tools that are taken off-premise. The Highway Department provides an updated
equipment inventory list each year to the insurance agency. The E-911 radio and computer equipment is
covered under Building & Contents.
Crime Coverage:
. $ 3,400
Provides a $100,000 Blanket Employee
Dishonesty and Depositors Forgery. The
elected officials are already covered with bonds for elected officials in an
amount dictated by state statute. Money
& Securities coverage in the amount of $7,500 was briefly discussed. Certain
General Liability:
$147,365
Protects the County from bodily injury or
property damage claims.
Law Enforcement Professional Liability:
.. $101,565
This is one of the biggest exposures the
County may have. This policy protects
the County from any alleged law enforcement incident.
Public Officials Errors & Omissions
Liability:
..
$ 49,647
Protects
Automobile:
.. $143,809
Provides $1,000,000 coverage per accident and
coverage for other related liabilities.
Total Annual Premium
$526,668
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to approve the new insurance policy effective
IN THE MATTER OF TRAFFIC COMMISSION APPOINTMENT:
Sheriff-elect Marshall Talbert recommended Aaron Schaal of the Indiana State
Police to represent the citizen member on the Howard County Traffic Commission
beginning
IN THE MATTER OF REIMBURSEMENT FOR ELECTION COSTS RESOLUTION NO.
2002-BCC-26:
Howard County Clerk Linda Koontz and Howard County Clerk-elect Mona
Myers presented the following issue for Commissioner information and approval:
Resolution No. 2002-BCC-26 is a Resolution of the Howard County Board
of Commissioners Authorizing Request for Reimbursement of Election System
Costs. The proposed funding for this
reimbursement will be a combination of Federal and state monies. Discussion of this reimbursement fund has
been going on for about one year. The
Federal and State legislatures passed the laws but the funding has been delayed
due to the serious budget situation.
Ms. Koontz felt that the reimbursement is worth trying to pursue since it
will not cost anything to apply for it.
If
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2002-BCC-26,
Authorizing the Request for Reimbursement of Election Systems Costs. Mr. Harbaugh seconded the motion, which
carried.
IN THE MATTER OF COURTHOUSE RENOVATIONS:
Mr. William Bassett of William Bassett and
Associates was unable to attend the meeting.
Commissioner Raver, along with Maintenance Superintendent Tom Harrison,
reported on the status of the Courthouse renovations:
·
Work is being done on every floor.
The renovations are progressing according to schedule.
·
The contractors are currently working on the northeast corner of the
building. New ceiling supports have been
installed in the Election Board area.
The Drug Task Force Office will temporarily move around the corner and
the Adult Probation Office will be moved to the basement.
·
In the basement, contractors are working on the former Prosecutors
Office and Title IV area. The original
plans did not include replacement of carpet and paint in portions of these
areas. However, due to the age and
condition of the carpet and paint, plans were changed to accommodate the re-carpeting
and re-painting of those two areas. Once
the Title IV area is completed the Drug and Alcohol Office will move in
temporarily. It is not anticipated that
any more offices will need to temporarily move out of the Courthouse for the
construction work.
·
The Clerks Office and Prosecutor are settled into their new locations
on the second floor. A glass entry door
will be provided to the Clerks Office as requested by the
·
The new courtroom and judges chambers are nearing completion. The contractors agreed to finish these areas
so Juvenile Court can be temporarily held in the courtroom.
·
The wall has been torn out in the former Clerks Office on the third
floor.
·
Work was being done in Circuit Court on Friday, December 27th
to move the witness stand to same side as the jury. The construction work was pre-arranged to be
done while court is not in session.
·
Walls and the sprinkler system are being installed in the former Law
Library area.
·
No-longer-used-furniture is being placed inside a temporary trailer on
the east lawn of the Courthouse in the case that any of it is found to be needed
in the future.
·
Judge-elect Doug Tate wants to use his own furniture for the
The Clerk obtained quotes
for furniture in the Election Room and break rooms. The Commissioners require that any new
furniture needs to be purchased with a blanket order. Mr. Raver will meet with Clerk-elect Mona
Myers to discuss her furniture needs.
IN THE MATTER OF
Mr. Paul Wood, President of The Main Street
Association contacted Commissioner Raver about setting up a pyrotechnics
display on the Courthouse roof for the New Years Eve event. Pyrotechnic Productions, Inc. (insured) and
Kokomo Main Street Association (certificate holder), provided a Certificate of
Insurance for $2,000,000 specifically for the event at the Court House on
12/31/02-01/01/03.
Mr. Harbaugh made a motion to approve The Main
Street Association to use the Courthouse roof to set up a pyrotechnics display
on
IN THE MATTER OF COMMUNICATIONS/DISPATCH
BUDGET FOR 2003:
Communications Director Tony Ramsey submitted a
request for the 2003 Dispatch Budget in the amount of $147,432.00 to be paid
out of the E-911 Fund. Included in the
request is a salary change from $29,644 to $30,644 for an existing position,
changing it to a supervisor position. In
addition, a new position with a salary of $29,644 for a new afternoon shift
supervisor position is requested. Since
raises and new positions were not given to other departments for budget year
2003, it was suggested to refer these requests to the
Mr. Bagwell made a motion to advertise the request
out of the E-911 Fund for the items listed to be considered at the January 21st
2003 Commissioners meeting and refer the additional employee and salary
increase request to the PAC for its consideration. Mr. Harbaugh seconded the motion, which
carried.
IN THE MATTER OF CLAIMS AND REPORTS:
1.
Commissioners Salary Claims
for hourly, salary, and overtime payable for
IN THE MATTER OF ATTORNEY ISSUES:
IN THE MATTER OF COMMISSIONERS ISSUES:
1.
The Weights and Measures Monthly Report for November 15th
through December 15th, 2002 was accepted on a motion made by Mr.
Bagwell, seconded by Mr. Harbaugh, which carried.
2.
Commissioner Raver presented a
3.
Commissioner Raver was commended on his dedication, active involvement, and organizational
skills serving as President of the Howard County Board of Commissioners for the
year-2002.
There being no further business before the Board at this
time, Mr. Bagwell made a motion to adjourn.
Mr. Harbaugh seconded the motion and it carried. The meeting closed at
THE
HOWARD
___________________________________________
PAUL
J. RAVER, PRESIDENT
___________________________________________
BRADLEY
J. BAGWELL, VICE-PRESIDENT
___________________________________________
JOHN
B. HARBAUGH, MEMBER
ATTEST:
__________________________________
Commissioner Minutes,