By Leigh Ann Rutledge
Carol McIntire
October 20, 2009
The deal is done!
At last Thursday’s meeting, Carroll County Commissioners announced they have purchased the building the Carroll County Health Department is housed in. A special meeting was held Oct. 13 with Dr. Lamielle to finalize the agreement for the purchase of the Moody Ave. building.
Carroll County Health Commissioner Melanie Campbell was present when the announcement was made. The purchase price was $400,000 and will save the county $20,000 annually. A once-a-year mortgage payment will be made each Oct. 1 on the 30-year loan. The Commissioners commended Wayne Chunat, economic development director, for the amount of work he put into this project. Originally started in February 2009, Campbell stated it was a remarkable accomplishment in seven months. Nine easements were found on the property and inspectors from United States Department of Agriculture (the agency where the loan was secured) were pleased with the building, “They said it was an excellent space and could see no reason the USDA would balk at the asking price,” explained Campbell.
Commissioner Tom Wheaton said, “The purchase of this building opens up other grants since we now own the building.” Grants for renovations for improvements on the building will be looked into. Campbell said, “Thank you. The Health Department appreciates it. You made our day.”
Carroll County Auditor Leroy VanHorne asked commissioners to sign a contract with Jillian and Grube Inc. for the GAAP conversion report. Cost per year, if a three-year contract is signed, is $17,900 or $18,300 for a one-year contract. Commissioners voted to approve the three-year contract.
VanHorne also explained the State of Ohio does not do audits any longer. They sent a list of eligible certified public accountants in Ohio and VanHorne had to choose five from the list. He sent it back; the State added five more then sent request for proposals to the 10 on the list.
Interviews are done and a grade system completed on each applicant. The state and the county both rated Jilian & Grube the hightest. VanHorne told commissioners it cost $47,000 for the audit this year. Jillian and Grube Inc. was awarded the contract with a bid of $40,000 per year for a three-year period.
In other business, commissioners:
-DISCUSSED snow and ice removal. Commissioner Larry Garner explained a report from Prosecuting Attorney Don Burns said the county does not have to plow when it is snowing. Garner asked Burns what was considered a snowfall and Burns told him as long as it is snowing, you are not gaining anything by plowing. However, Wheaton voiced his opinion that there needs to be an effort to show they have been cleaned. He feels if it keeps snowing, a decision could be made about how to proceed. It is possible a set of guidelines may be needed to resolve this. Garner will ask Burns to attend the Monday meeting and they will revisit the issue at that time. The issue was not discussed Monday.
-DISCUSSED the situation with police protection at Lake Mohawk Property Owner’s Association (LMPOA). Garner said their private cars are still carrying the Sheriff’s Department stenciling and logo. He told commissioners it is the sheriff’s issue. According to Garner, Sheriff Williams spoke with Mel Carver, head of LMPOA security, and Carver wanted to renegotiate the agreement and questioned leasing the vehicle to the county. Garner stated he gave them until Friday to remove the logos. Sheriff Williams reported Monday the logos were still on the cars.
The persons working for LMPOA are commissioned deputies through the Carroll County Sheriff’s office. They have the authority to write LMPOA ticket and will not answer calls outside of LMPOA property, unless called by the sheriff. He has the authority to request their assistance anytime for an emergency. When asked how they would get to where the sheriff needed them, Garner said, “They can drive their private cars.” However, if a crime other than a traffic offense is committed, the sheriff has to approve before LMPOA security can investigate or he can send in his deputies.
Wheaton told Garner he feels if an agreement is reached, it should be brought for a vote.
-WERE visited by Carroll County Juvenile Court Judge John Campbell who told them one of the laptop computers that was to be in the surplus auction was transferred to the auditor’s office. Garner feels there should be a policy in place stating once each department turns in a sheet of items for auction, no inter-department transfers can be done. Wheaton said there was no deadline for transfers as far as he knew. This issue led to a heated discussion between Wheaton and Garner.
-RECEIVED two dog pound reports. The first showed 39 dogs impounded, 35 adopted out, 2 redeemed and none euthanized. The second showed 15 impounded, 24 tagged and one redeemed.
-MET in executive session with Burns for 40 minutes to discuss possible litigation.
-PROCLAIMED November Hospice Month in Carroll County. Pixie Furbee from Hospice said several activities are planned throughout the month.
-TABLED a request from Sheriff Williams to approve a subgrant agreement for an Ohio Criminal Justice System for $106,972.38 with a local match of $35,657.46. Sheriff Williams said he has already called back one deputy who was laid off, but has not hired a second person, an investigator because, “he has not found anyone who suited him.” The grant, which is stimulus funds, calls for two deputies to be hired and runs through Dec. 31, 2010.
Commissioner Garner asked Williams to call the state and find out what happens if the county cannot fund the local match. Williams said he is already drawing money from the grant for the deputy who was laid off.
-DISCUSSED possible options for employee health care coverage without going into specific plans. Commissioner Doyle Hawk said the premium is increasing 14.3 percent.
-LEARNED from Hawk the county’s liability insurance coverage policy with the County Risk Sharing Authority (CORSA) is increasing five percent and is expected to be $68,000 in 2010. |
