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Our March 4th, 2025 meeting of the Floyd County Commissioners, if you please. | 00:00:04 | |
Rise and join me with the. | 00:00:08 | |
Pledge of Allegiance. | 00:00:11 | |
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, | 00:00:12 | |
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. | 00:00:18 | |
All right, we have a full board. If you have a cell phone, please place the silence or turn it off. | 00:00:26 | |
And if you'll please join me for a. | 00:00:33 | |
Moment of silence for individual prayer, meditation, reflections, we. | 00:00:35 | |
Prepare for tonight's meeting. | 00:00:40 | |
All right. Thank you. | 00:01:02 | |
We have a relatively brief agenda tonight. We do have one item to add to the public agenda, which was. | 00:01:05 | |
Or is. | 00:01:12 | |
Under the county attorneys which we have two up tonight and again we didn't hire 2 full time attorneys, but. | 00:01:14 | |
We'd like to welcome Mr. Rick Fox back to. | 00:01:20 | |
Mostly full time work, right? | 00:01:23 | |
So he had a medical leave of absence late 2024 that extended into the year. | 00:01:26 | |
And Miss Christy Fox has been filling in admirably and we've been throwing a lot of work their way. But because. | 00:01:32 | |
Miss Fox took the lead on several things that are going to be continuing to show up on the agenda in 2025. We thought we'd best to | 00:01:40 | |
have both of them here. | 00:01:43 | |
So under the attorney portion of the agenda, we have a license agreement with Bastion. | 00:01:48 | |
For the Recorder's office, I look for a motion to approve. | 00:01:54 | |
Having this to the agenda by unanimous consent. | 00:01:57 | |
I'll make the motion to approve with unanimous second all in favor. All right. So will that be added? | 00:02:01 | |
Under that portion. | 00:02:06 | |
And also before we. | 00:02:07 | |
Begin with the scheduled new business. I do want to ask Nick Creevy to come forward and just give us an update on Bridge 51. | 00:02:10 | |
The Blackstone Mill Bridge. | 00:02:17 | |
So today we had a meeting with officials at with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. | 00:02:22 | |
Regarding activity. | 00:02:28 | |
In the Creek. | 00:02:31 | |
We did conduct emergency activities in response to the dam failure, including. | 00:02:33 | |
Adding some fill. | 00:02:39 | |
At the base of the bridge. | 00:02:41 | |
In subsequently removing debris from the dam to try to establish a regular flow over that, we have not. | 00:02:43 | |
Filled the breach around the dam at this point and DNR wanted to have a meeting with us. | 00:02:52 | |
To. | 00:02:58 | |
See what our plans were for that before we did anymore work. | 00:03:00 | |
In the Creek, they want to have approval of that work. | 00:03:04 | |
And make sure it's consistent with the permit we received for the. | 00:03:07 | |
Bridge replacement project. | 00:03:12 | |
At this point, we will need to get them plans before we can do any additional work to shore up that dam and prevent any additional | 00:03:15 | |
erosion at the bridge. | 00:03:21 | |
Foundation. | 00:03:28 | |
We are waiting for water to receive further to evaluate the foundation before we would be able to open that bridge as well. | 00:03:29 | |
So current status is will be getting information to DNR on. | 00:03:39 | |
Our further activities and waiting for the water levels to recede. | 00:03:43 | |
And we have. | 00:03:50 | |
A website. | 00:03:51 | |
Yeah, we will have information on the website and we will update that as. | 00:03:52 | |
New activities occur. | 00:03:57 | |
And when we can have that bridge back open? | 00:03:59 | |
To what level? | 00:04:03 | |
When it is deemed safe. | 00:04:04 | |
OK. Any questions? | 00:04:07 | |
Manchester County's website. | 00:04:11 | |
Thank you very much. And I am reminded that we also need to add Fire Board appointments to tonight's agenda as well. | 00:04:14 | |
Is that just the new appointment or is that the structure of the annual? | 00:04:22 | |
OK. So we'll need to add that to the agenda tonight as well, if I can have a motion to do so. | 00:04:26 | |
I'll make the motion. | 00:04:32 | |
Second all in favor, aye. | 00:04:33 | |
All right, new business. We have one Attorney General outreach representative Parker Fletcher. | 00:04:36 | |
Sir. | 00:04:42 | |
Hello. Hello. How are you? | 00:04:43 | |
Good. How about yourself? | 00:04:45 | |
I've never been better. That's good. | 00:04:47 | |
Well, hello on behalf of Attorney General Todd Rakita and the entire office. | 00:04:51 | |
My name is Parker Fletcher and I'm an outreach representative with the Attorney General's Office. | 00:04:56 | |
I want to thank Susanna for giving me the opportunity to be able to speak to you yesterday. | 00:05:00 | |
About unclaimed property. | 00:05:05 | |
But first, let me tell you just a little bit about our office. | 00:05:07 | |
The Attorney General's Office functions as the official law firm for the state of Indiana. | 00:05:10 | |
We work to protect Hoosiers through our consumer Protection Division, Unclaimed Property Division. | 00:05:14 | |
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and much more. | 00:05:19 | |
With nearly 20,000 active cases at any given time. | 00:05:22 | |
Our office represents state agencies and state officials, defense laws passed by the Legislature, and challenges federal | 00:05:25 | |
government overreach harmful to Hoosiers. | 00:05:29 | |
We protect consumers from illicit business practices, cybersecurity threats, data privacy violations, and ID theft. | 00:05:34 | |
And we have obtained nearly a billion dollars in settlements for Hoosiers. | 00:05:42 | |
Including hundreds of thousands from annoying and illegal robocallers. | 00:05:45 | |
Our office returns over $1,000,000 in unclaimed property to Hoosiers every single week. | 00:05:49 | |
Achieving a record of more than $81 million returned in 2023 alone. | 00:05:55 | |
And since taking office. | 00:05:59 | |
We have recovered more than $85 million from entities engaged in Medicaid fraud. | 00:06:01 | |
Under Attorney General Rakita's leadership. | 00:06:07 | |
The ultimate mission of the Office is to serve, protect and defend Hoosiers by championing liberty, justice and the rule of law. | 00:06:09 | |
And that brings me here today to talk about unclaimed property. | 00:06:16 | |
So unclaimed property is any sort of financial asset that hasn't had had any activity by its owner for an extended period of time. | 00:06:19 | |
This can be anything like unclaimed wages and commissions, savings and checking accounts. | 00:06:26 | |
Insurance proceeds. | 00:06:31 | |
Overpaid utility bills and much more. | 00:06:33 | |
So our office currently holds on to over a billion dollars statewide and unclaimed property that we seek to return to Hoosiers. | 00:06:35 | |
So all you have to do to claim your unclaimed property is to go to our website which is Indiana Unclaimed Gov. | 00:06:42 | |
The QR code on this little Panther will take you straight to that website. | 00:06:48 | |
We also have a. | 00:06:52 | |
Customer service representative on the bottom. | 00:06:54 | |
They operate from 8:30 to 4:30 on weekdays and can help you with any questions you might have and help you through the entire | 00:06:57 | |
process. | 00:07:00 | |
And we hold on to unclaimed property for 25 years. | 00:07:03 | |
And if after 25 years it's not claimed, then the state takes it. | 00:07:06 | |
So we try to give Hoosiers as much time as possible. | 00:07:10 | |
But like I said, there's over a billion dollars statewide just waiting for people to claim it, and we're working hard every day to | 00:07:13 | |
try to get that money back to its rifle owners. | 00:07:17 | |
So thank you. | 00:07:22 | |
Do you have any question? | 00:07:25 | |
No, I do so. | 00:07:27 | |
I do. | 00:07:30 | |
Has it always been 25 years? | 00:07:31 | |
That I'm not sure. It's different between state to state and some states there's no time expiration, but for Indiana it's 25 years | 00:07:33 | |
and as far as I'm aware it's always been 25 years. | 00:07:39 | |
So how much rolled off in 2024? | 00:07:45 | |
That I don't know. We do have a Frequently asked questions portion on our statistics page on the unclaimed property. | 00:07:49 | |
Website Indiana Unclaimed Gov. On the top right hand corner, there's a statistics sheet. | 00:07:57 | |
That tracks everything from stuff like that. How much money is in each specific county? How much money gets turned out every | 00:08:03 | |
single week. | 00:08:06 | |
Things like that. | 00:08:10 | |
What's the most expensive item that has gone unclaimed? The most expensive item was $3.7 million. | 00:08:12 | |
If I recall off the top of my head, it was definitely over 3. | 00:08:20 | |
I forget when that was but there was over $3,000,000 climb. | 00:08:23 | |
There's a cash. | 00:08:28 | |
I don't know what form it took, but. | 00:08:30 | |
Ultimately, somebody did end up with $3.7 million, so yes, OK. | 00:08:33 | |
For the record, it wasn't me. I don't say it wasn't me either. Yeah. | 00:08:38 | |
All right, well, we'll have you back 1 billion. We'll ask different questions each month. How about? | 00:08:43 | |
Thank you. All right. Did you mind if I leave some pamphlets here with you guys? Yeah, You can leave them over there with Suzanne | 00:08:48 | |
or here or wherever. And thank you for being here. And. | 00:08:52 | |
Spreading the word on that. | 00:08:56 | |
All right, we have Keith Pulliam representing Georgetown Township Fire Protection District tonight. | 00:08:59 | |
Gentlemen. | 00:09:13 | |
Thank you. | 00:09:16 | |
There's a couple of my gods now. | 00:09:18 | |
OK. Thank you. Thank you. | 00:09:20 | |
I'm here on behalf of the Board of Trustees for the Georgetown Township Fire Protection District. | 00:09:24 | |
Here before you tonight. | 00:09:29 | |
With a petition. | 00:09:31 | |
To appeal for an increase to the fire operating fund tax rate. | 00:09:33 | |
That is in accordance with Indiana code 6, Dash 1.1, dash 18-29. | 00:09:36 | |
If you'll recall, this I think was accomplished last year. | 00:09:42 | |
For two, for the two other. | 00:09:46 | |
Fire districts. | 00:09:48 | |
In Georgetown Township is asking for the same. | 00:09:49 | |
You should have received a copy of the Financial Impact analysis. | 00:09:52 | |
And hopefully a copy of the draft petition to appeal. | 00:09:56 | |
For your consideration, Hopeful. | 00:10:01 | |
You would approve that and then the fire district would submit it to the DLF. | 00:10:03 | |
Before this opens the door on confusion as to. | 00:10:10 | |
This and a territory. | 00:10:13 | |
Tax increase? Can you just explain it's going to be either or if that's in fact the case and must be. | 00:10:17 | |
There are, there are deadlines. Obviously April first is the deadline for both. | 00:10:26 | |
So if one were not to go through, we have the other in place. | 00:10:32 | |
And the funding would be needed to the if the territory were to not go through or if this were to not go through. | 00:10:36 | |
It will be 1 or the other, but it's just a. | 00:10:44 | |
Something that if you don't make the petition before the 1st, we would lose the opportunity to do so for another year. OK. | 00:10:47 | |
Any questions or comments? | 00:10:54 | |
I do not. | 00:10:56 | |
No, I'll just comment and and. I don't have any problem with this, but it's my hope that for this year this is what goes in rather | 00:10:57 | |
than the territory. | 00:11:01 | |
There's just so much uncertainty coming out of Indianapolis now with regards to. | 00:11:05 | |
Lost revenue to the counties of Indiana with some of the. | 00:11:09 | |
Changes that may look like they're going to be happening to the property tax revenue and. | 00:11:14 | |
You know if the county takes it. | 00:11:19 | |
$2.6 million hit. | 00:11:21 | |
From Senate Bill one. On top of that, we're going to be hitting people with a lot of different. | 00:11:23 | |
Problems at once so. | 00:11:29 | |
I support the decision that the fire. | 00:11:33 | |
Boards are going to be making. | 00:11:37 | |
I don't uh, uh. | 00:11:39 | |
Relish them on the task of doing that. | 00:11:40 | |
But I would hope that they would take that into consideration. I know you don't sit on those boards, but I. | 00:11:42 | |
I wanted to get that out publicly, so I will relay that to the board. All right. So having stated that. | 00:11:47 | |
All in favor of allowing the petition I'll need to. | 00:11:54 | |
A motion to move forward. With that, I'll make a motion. | 00:11:58 | |
A second. | 00:12:01 | |
All in favor, aye aye. | 00:12:02 | |
Thank you. Thank you for your time. | 00:12:05 | |
No. Do you need this now? | 00:12:14 | |
Go to him right now. | 00:12:17 | |
Very good. | 00:12:18 | |
All right, County Attorney, Fox Law Office, we have. | 00:12:20 | |
Thank you the. | 00:12:24 | |
The first one is a joint resolution FCR 2025, Dash 03. | 00:12:27 | |
That is for the transfer of personal property. | 00:12:32 | |
Highlander Fire Protection District has deemed 2011 Ford F-150 Super Crew. | 00:12:35 | |
Which I've identified by VIN number in that joint resolution as surplus and property they don't need anymore and they are willing | 00:12:41 | |
to. | 00:12:44 | |
Give that to the county. | 00:12:48 | |
For purposes of Foley County Emergency Management, use. | 00:12:52 | |
And Floyd County looking to donate and give a 2022 radio surplus radio that we had in our possession to them. | 00:12:55 | |
And so that joint resolution outlines both of those transfers of property. | 00:13:06 | |
So that that can be accomplished. | 00:13:10 | |
All right, any questions or comments on? | 00:13:16 | |
That particular resolution, yeah, so. | 00:13:20 | |
I think the only question that I had was. | 00:13:24 | |
How it's going to be used? | 00:13:26 | |
And who is going to be using it? | 00:13:28 | |
And I don't have a problem bringing the equipment in, but I would like to know. | 00:13:30 | |
What that is? | 00:13:35 | |
But I would be, I'd be willing to make a motion, but I want everybody to have an opportunity. | 00:13:36 | |
Have some discussion on it if they choose. | 00:13:42 | |
I have no questions to come. | 00:13:52 | |
All right, Well, I would make a motion for approval contentious on the submission of a policy on the vehicles usage and how it's | 00:13:53 | |
going to be used. | 00:13:58 | |
From EMA. | 00:14:04 | |
Before I second that motion, is this VIN number correct? I know it's the tilted down the Backpage. | 00:14:08 | |
Say that again the VIN number on my page. Yes, the one in your packet is not updated. I circulate an update 1 shortly before the | 00:14:13 | |
meeting with the correct bin number. I have looked at the title of both bin numbers for this and the 04 resolution to make sure | 00:14:18 | |
they are correct. OK, I just want to make sure. | 00:14:23 | |
I'll second that motion. | 00:14:28 | |
OK, motion and 2nd, any further discussion? | 00:14:30 | |
We need clarification on. | 00:14:34 | |
On the item that Mister Sharp is requesting with regards to this state of purpose on it. | 00:14:36 | |
I mean, if you guys are OK with them outlining some sort of policy of who's going to be using the vehicle? | 00:14:41 | |
What it's going to be used for? | 00:14:47 | |
Where it's going to be used, where it will be used, I think that that's appropriate. That's not part of this joint resolution, but | 00:14:49 | |
I think that's appropriate if that's how you all decide to vote. | 00:14:53 | |
Policy. | 00:14:58 | |
I'm fine with that. It might. | 00:14:59 | |
You know, a broader policy with regards to exchange vehicles down down the road. But yeah, I'm. | 00:15:02 | |
I'm happy that that is now. So I have a motion a second all in favor. Aye, aye. | 00:15:07 | |
And just one other point of clarification there is that vehicle will be titled in the name of Floyd County, Indiana. So if. | 00:15:12 | |
If that's not the way it currently is, that will be how it will be titled. | 00:15:18 | |
OK, OK. The next one I have is 2025 Dash 04. That's a joint resolution for the transfer of personal property. | 00:15:21 | |
This one is another 2011 Ford F-150 Super Crew. | 00:15:28 | |
With a different, slightly different VIN number. | 00:15:32 | |
That is also coming from the Highlander Fire Protection District. They deem this vehicle as surplus and not necessary for their | 00:15:35 | |
operations and they wish to give that to Floyd County for the use and benefit of the coroner's office. | 00:15:41 | |
It's my understanding the coroner's office. | 00:15:48 | |
We'll be using that for the transport of deceased individuals and now the coroner is here to speak and answer any questions you | 00:15:50 | |
all may have for them. So very similar resolution. | 00:15:55 | |
As you said for the last one, we're willing to make a usage policy and send that to you guys before the vehicle's even in service. | 00:16:02 | |
I mean, there'll be changes that we have to do to the vehicle in terms of getting it outfitted for removals. | 00:16:09 | |
Right now we've been using a private transport service, so being able to get a vehicle of our own. | 00:16:15 | |
Can free up ambulances and. | 00:16:21 | |
Prep life saving measures for people that. | 00:16:23 | |
Are in dire need of it. | 00:16:26 | |
No, I think that would be great. I think I'd be very responsible as well. And then I think it would be fair across the board just | 00:16:30 | |
as a vehicle usage. | 00:16:33 | |
Policy, who's going to use it and how it's gonna be used, but I support 100%, you know, I mean, keeping ambulances available for | 00:16:36 | |
emergency calls I think is paramount, especially when you talk about a limited number of. | 00:16:43 | |
Units out there, but. | 00:16:49 | |
Now I think that's that's great and thank you to Highlanders Board for. | 00:16:51 | |
Offering that up so. | 00:16:56 | |
Both of them. | 00:16:58 | |
All right. Any further questions? | 00:16:59 | |
Gasoline in your budget? We do have gasoline now. | 00:17:01 | |
OK. | 00:17:05 | |
And just for clarification, you guys will be updating it for your needs, correct? Yes. | 00:17:06 | |
All right. | 00:17:13 | |
Need a formal motion? | 00:17:14 | |
I'll make a motion to approve Floyd County Resolution 2025, Dash 0 for the joint resolution for transfer of personal property for | 00:17:17 | |
the corner. | 00:17:21 | |
And again, contingent on a policy being contingent on the on the same policy is. | 00:17:25 | |
Outline for. | 00:17:31 | |
I have a motion and a second all in favor. | 00:17:32 | |
Did I get a second? | 00:17:36 | |
You got it. OK. I do have a second. All in favor. Aye, aye. Thank you. | 00:17:37 | |
Thank you. | 00:17:41 | |
Next we have Floyd County Resolution 2025, Dash 05, a resolution of the Floyd County Board of Commissioners concerning an RFP. | 00:17:43 | |
For natural gas at the. | 00:17:53 | |
Clark Floyd Landfill and subsequent contracts with a developer. | 00:17:55 | |
And what this is all about is we. | 00:18:01 | |
We have landfill gas. | 00:18:04 | |
That comes out of the landfill. | 00:18:07 | |
And so that landfill gas can be converted into natural gas. | 00:18:10 | |
And there's quite a market for that. | 00:18:15 | |
And so the RFP is. | 00:18:18 | |
Going to. | 00:18:22 | |
Be made of. | 00:18:25 | |
To find a developer that will finance build. | 00:18:26 | |
And operate and maintain an LFG to. | 00:18:30 | |
RNG facility at the landfill site and market the RNG produced while sharing royalties with the counties. | 00:18:34 | |
And so. | 00:18:42 | |
The nature of the resolution is. | 00:18:44 | |
For Clark County to take lead in the preparation of the RFP's. | 00:18:48 | |
And. | 00:18:52 | |
That ultimately once the RFP's are all in. | 00:18:53 | |
The Floyd County Commissioners and the Clark County Commissioners will need to enter into a contract with. | 00:18:59 | |
That developer. | 00:19:06 | |
To do all those things that I just mentioned in terms of. | 00:19:08 | |
The conversion and ultimate sale. | 00:19:13 | |
And. | 00:19:15 | |
Sharing of the revenues with each of the counties. | 00:19:17 | |
All right. Any questions or comments for Mr. Fox? | 00:19:23 | |
No, I'll make a motion to accept. | 00:19:28 | |
Floyd County Resolution 20/25/05. | 00:19:31 | |
I'll second. | 00:19:35 | |
Motion is second. My comment would be the sooner the better. | 00:19:37 | |
Any additional revenue that we can bring into the county coppers and offset? | 00:19:40 | |
Expenses to our citizens should be welcome. | 00:19:46 | |
The precautions is probably still years away. | 00:19:49 | |
From cashing checks, correct? It probably is, yes. OK. | 00:19:52 | |
All right, a motion a second. All in favor, aye. | 00:19:57 | |
OK. The next thing we have have is the Reporters Office, the Bastion license agreement. This is with Fiddler Technologies. This is | 00:20:01 | |
actually an addendum to a contract with Fiddler. | 00:20:06 | |
This is the software that the Recorder's Office uses. Umm. | 00:20:12 | |
The recorder is not able to be here this evening, but did. | 00:20:18 | |
Obviously she sent this on and is requesting approval of this. It has been reviewed. It's in proper form in the name of Floyd | 00:20:21 | |
County, Indiana for the Floyd County Recorders Office. | 00:20:25 | |
And looking for your all's approval on that. | 00:20:30 | |
Approval with she can sign that the recorder can sign it but. | 00:20:33 | |
Just your all's blessing and approval on it. | 00:20:36 | |
Make a motion to accept the contract. | 00:20:38 | |
Second emotion and a second to accept contract is submitted. All in favor. | 00:20:41 | |
Aye. | 00:20:46 | |
OK. The last item is litigation piece. | 00:20:49 | |
OK. I'll lead off on that. So. | 00:20:52 | |
Tonight we're going to be proposing a signature on a settlement. | 00:20:55 | |
That should put the Galena Library Annex issue to rest for the people of Floyd County. | 00:21:02 | |
So I have a timeline I want to read through how we got to this point, and I may look to Miss Fox to add a little bit more | 00:21:08 | |
information as we go on. | 00:21:12 | |
But for some time in 2022 and perhaps 2021, stormwater fees were not paid on the property in question. | 00:21:17 | |
Early in 2023, the tax sale list was reviewed and approved by the auditors and the Treasurer's office, as well as by. | 00:21:24 | |
Third party vendors contracted by Floyd County and their attorneys. | 00:21:32 | |
And I believe there were two attorneys. | 00:21:36 | |
Assisting in that. | 00:21:39 | |
That is correct. That is correct. | 00:21:40 | |
So from two different groups, two different vendors, yes. | 00:21:43 | |
Mid late 2023, the tax sale list was filed by one of those attorneys for approval by a Floyd County judge. | 00:21:48 | |
And that judge did approve the sale list and the parcel went to sale in October of 2023. | 00:21:56 | |
In the interim, notices were mailed. | 00:22:04 | |
Three of those four. | 00:22:09 | |
Were never delivered 1/4. | 00:22:11 | |
The disposition was unknown, but we have no record of delivery to the county. | 00:22:13 | |
But it's very important to point out that all that is required is that there is a record of the items being mailed. They do not | 00:22:18 | |
have to have shown that they were delivered. And that is part of our conundrum. | 00:22:24 | |
In any event, the tax sale did occur in October of 23 and it was purchased by Sabre Investments. | 00:22:29 | |
The county became aware of the tax sale and Sabres request for a tax deed on November 26th, 2024. | 00:22:37 | |
So roughly one year after the tax sale. | 00:22:45 | |
The county immediately filed an appearance and a request for time to file an answer and response. | 00:22:48 | |
An answer was filed on December 30th, 2024, outlining our concerns and issues involved with the case. | 00:22:54 | |
In early January 2025, County made an offer to redeem the property from the purchaser. | 00:23:03 | |
For the tax sale price. | 00:23:09 | |
Plus their expenses, plus an extra 10% as a. | 00:23:11 | |
Finders fee if you will. | 00:23:15 | |
That offer was summarily rejected. | 00:23:17 | |
In early January 2025, the purchaser Sabre. | 00:23:21 | |
Offered to return the property to the county for a price of $200,000. | 00:23:24 | |
I believe that property assessed at roughly 105,000 if I'm. | 00:23:30 | |
Not incorrect. | 00:23:34 | |
I don't have the assessed value, OK, I apologize, but I think it was in the hundreds. But anyway, the offer of $200,000 was a | 00:23:35 | |
price that was deemed by the commissioners as unreasonable. | 00:23:40 | |
In mid January, discussions negotiations continued and Sabre offered the price of $50,000. | 00:23:46 | |
This was and is a much more acceptable offer. | 00:23:52 | |
As the property appraises at approximately $105,000, Even so, the commissioners were continuing to negotiate this. | 00:23:55 | |
The discussions ended abruptly once the matter became more well known to the general public. | 00:24:02 | |
Which created anxiety over the possibility of losing the property. | 00:24:08 | |
I want to be very very clear on this at no time. | 00:24:13 | |
Did the Board of Commissioners ever not? | 00:24:16 | |
Consider bringing this forward to the public in full. | 00:24:19 | |
Once a settlement was reached. | 00:24:22 | |
The reality is, from the time in November 24 when we became aware of the issue, the commissioners never allowed. | 00:24:25 | |
The property to become in jeopardy of not being maintained by the county. | 00:24:31 | |
The commissioners again always intended to discuss the matter publicly once the settlement was reached. | 00:24:36 | |
And by the way, all of these filings in the court cases have been public all along. They were never. | 00:24:43 | |
Hidden or sequestered or tried to be buried away, and the commissioners believe we might have attained a better price. | 00:24:48 | |
Still had negotiations continued, but again they did not. | 00:24:56 | |
In any event, the settlement price of $50,000 has been agreed to the. | 00:25:01 | |
Funds are to be paid for. | 00:25:05 | |
From the roughly 87,000 plus dollars that was brought in in 2024 at the excess property sale that. | 00:25:07 | |
Number correct? | 00:25:14 | |
Just over $87,000. | 00:25:16 | |
OK. We believe this to be a reasonable price for resolution of the matter based upon #1 the properties appraised value. | 00:25:19 | |
And though we believe we had a very strong case with a very good chance of prevailing at both the local and the appellate levels. | 00:25:27 | |
The cumulative cost of litigation would have greatly exceeded $50,000 regardless of the outcome. | 00:25:34 | |
Additionally, putting the matter to rest has its own value for our community, allowing us all to move on. | 00:25:41 | |
About other affairs and other business. | 00:25:47 | |
In summary, our team made mistakes and we are owning those issues. You're not going to have to file a Freedom of Information Act | 00:25:50 | |
to get anything from us. | 00:25:54 | |
Additional internal measures and controls. | 00:25:59 | |
Have and are being implemented in multiple offices, so this mistake will never be repeated. | 00:26:02 | |
The auditor has already implemented several and if you'd like to speak to that. | 00:26:07 | |
Before I complete my narrative, that would be great. | 00:26:11 | |
Since the the. | 00:26:20 | |
Discovery of this. | 00:26:22 | |
This issue. | 00:26:25 | |
My office has undertook a number. | 00:26:30 | |
Of different audits and and some safeguards in place to make sure that once this hits. | 00:26:32 | |
Our desks. | 00:26:38 | |
It doesn't. | 00:26:40 | |
Go any further if it. | 00:26:41 | |
Passes through some other Nets. | 00:26:44 | |
So. | 00:26:46 | |
My tax manager is actually who brought. | 00:26:47 | |
The request for tax deed to everyone's attention in November and I'm incredibly thankful for his attention to detail because. | 00:26:49 | |
I think it helped us. | 00:26:57 | |
A lot. | 00:26:58 | |
In early 2024, so January 2024, we implemented a new tax system, and that new tax system has. | 00:27:00 | |
Actually offered us a lot of advantages that our preview system did not, one of which is. | 00:27:08 | |
Something that will be utilized by the Floyd County Treasurer's Office when they go to begin compiling. | 00:27:14 | |
The uh. | 00:27:20 | |
Tax sale list. There is actually a way to. | 00:27:20 | |
Isolate all government owned properties to make sure that nothing goes into tax sale that shouldn't go into tax sale so that it | 00:27:24 | |
can be removed immediately prior to certification. | 00:27:28 | |
Outside of that system itself a full audit. | 00:27:33 | |
Has been performed. | 00:27:36 | |
On umm. | 00:27:38 | |
Our entire. | 00:27:39 | |
Tax base to make sure that all of our governmental properties are marked as such inside of our taxing system. | 00:27:41 | |
We did discover through this audit that there were. | 00:27:48 | |
A multitude of different addresses being used for the government owned properties. So we have consolidated those 21 mailing | 00:27:53 | |
address. | 00:27:58 | |
At this time, we've also additionally added a second. | 00:28:05 | |
A title teacher to our search engine for all government owned properties that allow us to. | 00:28:09 | |
Search for them a little bit easier, because over the years the commissioners have changed. | 00:28:15 | |
How their properties are titled. Over the years they've changed where the mailing addresses were. They weren't always maintained | 00:28:21 | |
as far as updates. | 00:28:24 | |
A huge boon to us was that we had just done a capital assets review, so all of our property parcels were already listed in one | 00:28:28 | |
space, so we were able to use that for our audit. | 00:28:33 | |
So there there have been a number of things put in place to. | 00:28:39 | |
To make sure this doesn't happen again in this county. | 00:28:44 | |
So along with everyone consistently and constantly putting eyes on it every year, we do have these barriers in place as well, so. | 00:28:46 | |
OK. Any questions for Diane? | 00:28:56 | |
Do not appreciate your work. | 00:28:57 | |
I just want to say. | 00:29:01 | |
A couple of things. Number one, from the beginning of this. | 00:29:02 | |
You've never shrugged away from from any responsibility on it. | 00:29:05 | |
And you were much more eager to come to the podium tonight than you were. | 00:29:10 | |
Roughly this time last year when your department. | 00:29:15 | |
Found just over a half $1,000,000 in funds and I know you're still don't like to talk about that, but. | 00:29:18 | |
Those were funds that. | 00:29:24 | |
Were on the books by your predecessors and you were able to get those loose and put out into the general fund so. | 00:29:26 | |
I'm proud of the work you do and I'm proud. | 00:29:32 | |
Be part of the team with you. | 00:29:34 | |
I appreciate that. We're just trying to do the best that we can for the county. We do really care very much about the citizens | 00:29:36 | |
here. Yeah, thank you. I actually want one thing. | 00:29:41 | |
The question of the software that's being used is a lot. The Laos software, it is the last system. What were you using before Lao? | 00:29:47 | |
I would like that on the record please. | 00:29:54 | |
We were. We were with Amentum MVP. | 00:29:57 | |
This system itself was archaic. We had had it for for 20 years. | 00:30:02 | |
Ish along with the financial system that we used to have as well. | 00:30:06 | |
The commissioners again, thank you guys, because. | 00:30:10 | |
Without Urals support. | 00:30:14 | |
We would not have been able to upgrade to a new system that allowed us. | 00:30:16 | |
To do the amount of work that we've done in the last two years as far as making sure that we put. | 00:30:21 | |
New new processes, new barriers. | 00:30:26 | |
More efficiency into our offices so. | 00:30:28 | |
We're thankful for that. | 00:30:31 | |
I think it just goes to speak that I don't care what job you do. | 00:30:33 | |
Everybody has a toolbox. You have to have the right tools in the toolbox. | 00:30:35 | |
To get the job done and you all obviously. | 00:30:39 | |
For the longest time didn't have the right tools and now that you do and it's proven it's self independent. So thank you. | 00:30:42 | |
We appreciate it. Thank you. | 00:30:49 | |
Treasurer Steve Burks. His office has also put some safeguards into place. He could not be here tonight. | 00:30:51 | |
He's at the state treasurer's meeting in playing field. | 00:30:56 | |
I'll let him address those at a future date as he chooses. | 00:31:00 | |
With regards to the Commissioners. | 00:31:04 | |
We are pursuing some. | 00:31:06 | |
Leads with regards to recouping. | 00:31:08 | |
Cost of settlement. | 00:31:11 | |
And we're also taking opportunities as we can. | 00:31:13 | |
And looking to making some opportunities to divest some of our real estate portfolio from some of these properties that I think | 00:31:16 | |
would be best. | 00:31:19 | |
Handled by the primary user, if you will. | 00:31:23 | |
So. | 00:31:27 | |
To close again, I acknowledge with regret the shortfalls which landed us here. | 00:31:28 | |
But it would have been even more regrettable. | 00:31:34 | |
To have either lost this property, a site that's utilized and cherished by so many people in Floyd County, or to have continued to | 00:31:37 | |
throw unpredictable amounts of money. | 00:31:41 | |
Into really a bottomless pit of litigation so. | 00:31:45 | |
I appreciate everyone's patience on this matter and will be equally grateful for any and all grace which might be extended to our | 00:31:48 | |
team. | 00:31:52 | |
As we move forward with other challenges that are facing this county. | 00:31:55 | |
I'll hang around after the meeting to take questions if there are any. | 00:32:00 | |
I don't know Frank or Jason have any further comment on the matter either. | 00:32:04 | |
I think it's been handled well to solve the problem and. | 00:32:10 | |
Going forward. | 00:32:16 | |
I just think anytime that you. | 00:32:18 | |
Problems that occur. | 00:32:20 | |
I think everybody at some point runs into an issue that. | 00:32:22 | |
You know you take the steps to do what's necessary to. | 00:32:26 | |
Fix those problems from never happening again. So but I appreciate everybody stepping up to the plate. | 00:32:30 | |
It shows extreme ownership to me. | 00:32:35 | |
And uh. | 00:32:37 | |
You know, I think when we ask our people to be. | 00:32:38 | |
Accountable for things. | 00:32:41 | |
You know what we're accountable to? We're accountable to everyone of the people in this county, so. | 00:32:43 | |
That's all I'm going to say. | 00:32:47 | |
I do want to thank. | 00:32:49 | |
Christy and Rick for their work on that and. | 00:32:51 | |
Getting us the best deal possible. | 00:32:54 | |
With that, I would ask for approval and to allow the President to sign the agreed entry and order resolving all pending issues in | 00:32:57 | |
that tax sale litigation. | 00:33:02 | |
So moved second. | 00:33:06 | |
All right, Motion, a second. Any further details of the settlement that I didn't cover in the timeline? I think you covered | 00:33:09 | |
everything. | 00:33:12 | |
All in favor. | 00:33:16 | |
Aye, aye. | 00:33:17 | |
All right. Thank you. | 00:33:19 | |
We do have the one board appointment that we add to the agenda. | 00:33:21 | |
That is for the Highlander Fire Protection District. | 00:33:25 | |
And I believe we have a nominee and a. | 00:33:29 | |
In place on that one if you'd like to speak to him. | 00:33:33 | |
Nominate Billy Stewart. | 00:33:38 | |
I'll second. | 00:33:40 | |
OK, I have a. | 00:33:42 | |
Motion in a second for Mr. Billy Stewart to serve on the Highlander fire prediction. | 00:33:44 | |
Protection District board, does that affect it immediately? OK, all in favor, aye. | 00:33:49 | |
Alright, thank you. I as well. | 00:33:54 | |
All right. Approval of Commissioner meeting minutes from February 18, 2024. | 00:33:57 | |
Make a motion to approve. | 00:34:03 | |
2nd. | 00:34:04 | |
All in favor. | 00:34:05 | |
Approval of payroll claims. | 00:34:07 | |
Motion to approve. | 00:34:10 | |
Second, all in favor, Aye aye. We had a stormwater meeting board at 4:30 today. Our next commissioners meeting is March 18th, 2025 | 00:34:11 | |
and 6:00 PM. | 00:34:16 | |
Are there any elected government officials that would like to come? | 00:34:21 | |
Comment tonight. | 00:34:23 | |
All right, I do have one member of the public who would like to speak, Mr. Lynn Owen. | 00:34:27 | |
Mr. Own, we do. | 00:34:38 | |
Public comments, usually the three minutes, but since I think you're the only person up tonight, I think that I know we'll go 5 | 00:34:39 | |
for you since you signed up and maybe two or three for the other folks, but we'll give you a. | 00:34:44 | |
32nd warning. How's that? Quickly as I can, I appreciate the opportunity to speak. | 00:34:49 | |
My name is Elaine Owen, I live on Thai Ave. in New Albany. | 00:34:55 | |
And I am here about. | 00:35:00 | |
Whatever kind of water. | 00:35:02 | |
You call it. | 00:35:04 | |
I buy water. | 00:35:06 | |
From Indiana, American Water runs right across. I buy water. | 00:35:07 | |
The New Albany sewer sends me. | 00:35:12 | |
What is wastewater? | 00:35:15 | |
It's what Bill. | 00:35:18 | |
And I have problems that tell me one thing. | 00:35:19 | |
In the city. In representatives of the city or the county. | 00:35:22 | |
I don't know which. Tell me something else, OK? | 00:35:26 | |
My house was built in 62. | 00:35:30 | |
It was a new development called Hauser Heights. | 00:35:33 | |
It's between. | 00:35:37 | |
Corner Lane. | 00:35:39 | |
And Wet Weather Creek to the east towards Old Saint Joe Rd. | 00:35:41 | |
OK. | 00:35:47 | |
Went in there and the houses had nothing. | 00:35:49 | |
But electric line Outback. | 00:35:52 | |
No water. | 00:35:56 | |
No sewer. | 00:35:58 | |
And everything worked fine, both myself and my neighbor. | 00:36:00 | |
Have partially finished basements. | 00:36:05 | |
And what? | 00:36:07 | |
Started messing. | 00:36:09 | |
Up with our basement drainage. | 00:36:11 | |
Wet water. Wet water. | 00:36:15 | |
Anyway, water would come into our finished basements no problem, you know. | 00:36:18 | |
And it started. | 00:36:23 | |
After. After. | 00:36:25 | |
The sewer winding. | 00:36:28 | |
I have elevation. | 00:36:29 | |
Drawing after this thing. | 00:36:32 | |
With my the path of the LP gas. | 00:36:35 | |
The guy was walking down my street and dropping flags. | 00:36:39 | |
And I said, hey, you know what's going on, you know? | 00:36:44 | |
He said they're getting ready to put in a new LP thing. | 00:36:48 | |
I advise it right straight off. I advise it. | 00:36:51 | |
Stay away from. | 00:36:55 | |
Thai Ave. because it's so messed up. | 00:36:58 | |
I have told every representative that came. | 00:37:02 | |
That water in my basement. | 00:37:05 | |
Comes up from the green. | 00:37:08 | |
And and you have to remove it physically. | 00:37:11 | |
And I've. | 00:37:16 | |
It's gotten. | 00:37:17 | |
Larger as time goes on. It's like a snowball. | 00:37:19 | |
Came home. | 00:37:24 | |
From Thanksgiving. | 00:37:26 | |
I had water. | 00:37:28 | |
In my basement I had mold. | 00:37:29 | |
Growing it. | 00:37:32 | |
And I had both representatives. | 00:37:34 | |
From the city or the county, whatever. | 00:37:37 | |
It's kind of like. | 00:37:40 | |
We can't really tell you, that's our authority, but anyway. | 00:37:41 | |
Umm, that guy combed up. | 00:37:48 | |
And that's when I started asking around. | 00:37:50 | |
And then it came. | 00:37:54 | |
That was after Thanksgiving and then during I was working with it, everything else. | 00:37:56 | |
I on the weekend just a few weeks ago. | 00:38:03 | |
That we had the big snow. | 00:38:07 | |
I went to bed on Saturday night. | 00:38:12 | |
And I thought. | 00:38:16 | |
She, you know, OK. | 00:38:18 | |
And it was snow everywhere. | 00:38:20 | |
Anyway Fort and got ready church the next morning. | 00:38:23 | |
Got to go down and check. | 00:38:27 | |
Know what it's going to be. | 00:38:29 | |
Sure enough. | 00:38:30 | |
I didn't go to church that day. | 00:38:31 | |
I drug 2/5 gallon buckets up and dumped them in the in the street. | 00:38:33 | |
But. | 00:38:39 | |
Once the water kept quick coming up. | 00:38:40 | |
I knew it would drain. It's always drained before. | 00:38:44 | |
I've been down here. | 00:38:48 | |
And people don't want to admit that I've got a. | 00:38:49 | |
Underground. | 00:38:53 | |
That takes water away from my basement. | 00:38:55 | |
Then the very next day after that Sunday. | 00:39:00 | |
I was out to. | 00:39:06 | |
Breakfast. | 00:39:09 | |
And it started raining in my first. | 00:39:11 | |
Better get home. I got home at 1:00. | 00:39:14 | |
And sure enough. | 00:39:18 | |
Water on the floor. | 00:39:20 | |
I said this is it. | 00:39:21 | |
And I, you know, shot back out. You have 30 seconds, Sir. | 00:39:24 | |
OK, oh Gee. But anyway. | 00:39:28 | |
It's worse, but now I've got it all fixed. | 00:39:31 | |
And now I want to go back and I want to sell a sound house. I'm not going to live there forever. | 00:39:35 | |
Every time. | 00:39:42 | |
Every time. | 00:39:43 | |
That I went and I complained. | 00:39:44 | |
I got to silent treatment but now it's the last one they had guys from. | 00:39:47 | |
People. | 00:39:52 | |
From both houses. | 00:39:53 | |
They came down. | 00:39:54 | |
They looked at my problem, they said pretty simple. | 00:39:56 | |
It's always worked before, why didn't it work now? | 00:39:59 | |
Comes in, Gushes one thing I told. | 00:40:02 | |
Always starts out as a gush. | 00:40:04 | |
Once I get it down to where it's not coming out, it drains away. | 00:40:07 | |
Every professional person. | 00:40:12 | |
I've offered help. | 00:40:14 | |
Every professional person that I talked to. | 00:40:17 | |
And I said I'll help you. | 00:40:21 | |
And I offered. | 00:40:24 | |
And it just was a no word. | 00:40:26 | |
Well, now I got to call somebody. It was very unprofessional. | 00:40:28 | |
Not one of them offered to come down and look for. | 00:40:33 | |
Where I recommended that they come. | 00:40:35 | |
Linear over by about. | 00:40:38 | |
40 seconds. | 00:40:40 | |
Now it's shared. | 00:40:42 | |
And everything that comes down, I'm at the middle or the bottom. | 00:40:45 | |
And whatever comes down. | 00:40:50 | |
It's come from ahead, it's come from above, Mr. Owen. | 00:40:52 | |
We're gonna have to. OK. I'm sorry. That's all right. You're welcome. But you're welcome. I'll still make my offer. | 00:40:56 | |
That if you send some reps out, I'll work with them and we'll try to. | 00:41:03 | |
Other than that. | 00:41:07 | |
It's going to be a long dry spell and it's caused. | 00:41:08 | |
Every uh. | 00:41:12 | |
Homeowner Every property owner with a roof on it. | 00:41:13 | |
To be with the storm water tax. | 00:41:16 | |
That squared ended up right. Now we've got Mr. Owen. I'm sorry. Thank you. OK. | 00:41:20 | |
I'll hang around everywhere, carry on like it's. It's nice to hear a thank you, some responsible person. | 00:41:26 | |
Thank you. And I'll be around afterwards to talk further if you wish. Yeah, I've got lots of, lots of remedies, yeah. | 00:41:33 | |
And. | 00:41:43 | |
A ratio if you have a minute afterwards too. We may or may not. | 00:41:45 | |
Be able to speak to him too. I don't know, you know, I know that you guys have worked on that before, but. | 00:41:48 | |
OK. Do we have any other public comment tonight? | 00:41:54 | |
I know that. | 00:42:00 | |
No one else signed up but. | 00:42:01 | |
As I said, I've never felt better. I think I said this meeting at the stormwater meeting. | 00:42:03 | |
I've never done better so I was going to open the door for more comment but. | 00:42:08 | |
I'm not seeing any SO. | 00:42:12 | |
Very well. | 00:42:15 | |
Closing comments, I guess. We have board committee reports which we've done routinely, and I noticed that the federal government | 00:42:17 | |
is wanting people to give 5 bullet points per. | 00:42:22 | |
Week on what they've done so I thought we should follow suit in that, you know, so if you have any. | 00:42:27 | |
Week that you'd like to do, yeah. So on the on February 24th, I met with some representatives from Kipta as I was recently | 00:42:34 | |
assigned to that. | 00:42:38 | |
Board this year. So just a brief overview on what they do at Kipta and how they can benefit us. | 00:42:42 | |
And Floyd County. | 00:42:48 | |
They're already involved in a multitude of projects that. | 00:42:50 | |
We are currently or have been involved in. So it was great to understand that on the 25th of February, I met with Keith Young, who | 00:42:53 | |
the Union President from Highlander Fire. We discussed everything from their operational issues that they're currently facing to | 00:42:58 | |
us on the pay issues. | 00:43:04 | |
From their membership perspective as well that they're trying to workout. | 00:43:10 | |
On the 25th I also attended the joint Commissioner and Council meeting. I won't speak that I'm sure. | 00:43:14 | |
Probably will. | 00:43:19 | |
On the 27th of February I did attend the KIPPED a meeting. | 00:43:21 | |
Via Zoom. | 00:43:25 | |
And then on. | 00:43:26 | |
3-4 met with the building authority and department heads. | 00:43:28 | |
Regarding some of the changes that they made there with some of their staff and. | 00:43:33 | |
I've got to hear some of their thoughts moving forward in the future, so good meeting. | 00:43:38 | |
That's all I have. | 00:43:42 | |
All right, Mr. Luke. | 00:43:43 | |
I can't, I can't compete with that. | 00:43:46 | |
All right, take the same thing. | 00:43:50 | |
Yeah, on 2/20. | 00:43:53 | |
We had. | 00:43:57 | |
Park steering committee meeting and then. | 00:43:59 | |
Public meeting with one SI. | 00:44:02 | |
Over in Jeffersonville. | 00:44:04 | |
The joint meeting on 225 and again, that's all matter of public records, so. | 00:44:06 | |
No highlights from that. | 00:44:11 | |
Southern Indiana Tourism Bureau annual meeting and dinner that night. | 00:44:14 | |
When I said quarter when waiting on 2/27. Met with Tyler Warman from the Indiana Association of. | 00:44:19 | |
County commissioners on 12/28 who excuse me on 2/28, who gave some of the data that I. | 00:44:25 | |
Mentioned earlier today about lost revenue of some of those property tax. | 00:44:31 | |
Propositions go forward and then today, I don't know when we have 30 or 40 minutes with the Indiana department. | 00:44:36 | |
Natural resources. | 00:44:41 | |
And uh. | 00:44:43 | |
We learned a lot about a lot of things and we do respect their authority and we're looking forward to working with them and | 00:44:44 | |
preserving the habitat, but also. | 00:44:48 | |
To expeditiously get the old bridge open while we're. | 00:44:53 | |
Waiting to break ground on the new one. | 00:44:56 | |
So. | 00:44:59 | |
Any closing comments? | 00:45:01 | |
If not, I'll look for a motion to adjourn. | 00:45:03 | |
So moved. | 00:45:05 | |
Second, all right. | 00:45:07 | |
Adjourned. Yeah. | 00:45:08 |
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Our March 4th, 2025 meeting of the Floyd County Commissioners, if you please. | 00:00:04 | |
Rise and join me with the. | 00:00:08 | |
Pledge of Allegiance. | 00:00:11 | |
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, | 00:00:12 | |
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. | 00:00:18 | |
All right, we have a full board. If you have a cell phone, please place the silence or turn it off. | 00:00:26 | |
And if you'll please join me for a. | 00:00:33 | |
Moment of silence for individual prayer, meditation, reflections, we. | 00:00:35 | |
Prepare for tonight's meeting. | 00:00:40 | |
All right. Thank you. | 00:01:02 | |
We have a relatively brief agenda tonight. We do have one item to add to the public agenda, which was. | 00:01:05 | |
Or is. | 00:01:12 | |
Under the county attorneys which we have two up tonight and again we didn't hire 2 full time attorneys, but. | 00:01:14 | |
We'd like to welcome Mr. Rick Fox back to. | 00:01:20 | |
Mostly full time work, right? | 00:01:23 | |
So he had a medical leave of absence late 2024 that extended into the year. | 00:01:26 | |
And Miss Christy Fox has been filling in admirably and we've been throwing a lot of work their way. But because. | 00:01:32 | |
Miss Fox took the lead on several things that are going to be continuing to show up on the agenda in 2025. We thought we'd best to | 00:01:40 | |
have both of them here. | 00:01:43 | |
So under the attorney portion of the agenda, we have a license agreement with Bastion. | 00:01:48 | |
For the Recorder's office, I look for a motion to approve. | 00:01:54 | |
Having this to the agenda by unanimous consent. | 00:01:57 | |
I'll make the motion to approve with unanimous second all in favor. All right. So will that be added? | 00:02:01 | |
Under that portion. | 00:02:06 | |
And also before we. | 00:02:07 | |
Begin with the scheduled new business. I do want to ask Nick Creevy to come forward and just give us an update on Bridge 51. | 00:02:10 | |
The Blackstone Mill Bridge. | 00:02:17 | |
So today we had a meeting with officials at with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. | 00:02:22 | |
Regarding activity. | 00:02:28 | |
In the Creek. | 00:02:31 | |
We did conduct emergency activities in response to the dam failure, including. | 00:02:33 | |
Adding some fill. | 00:02:39 | |
At the base of the bridge. | 00:02:41 | |
In subsequently removing debris from the dam to try to establish a regular flow over that, we have not. | 00:02:43 | |
Filled the breach around the dam at this point and DNR wanted to have a meeting with us. | 00:02:52 | |
To. | 00:02:58 | |
See what our plans were for that before we did anymore work. | 00:03:00 | |
In the Creek, they want to have approval of that work. | 00:03:04 | |
And make sure it's consistent with the permit we received for the. | 00:03:07 | |
Bridge replacement project. | 00:03:12 | |
At this point, we will need to get them plans before we can do any additional work to shore up that dam and prevent any additional | 00:03:15 | |
erosion at the bridge. | 00:03:21 | |
Foundation. | 00:03:28 | |
We are waiting for water to receive further to evaluate the foundation before we would be able to open that bridge as well. | 00:03:29 | |
So current status is will be getting information to DNR on. | 00:03:39 | |
Our further activities and waiting for the water levels to recede. | 00:03:43 | |
And we have. | 00:03:50 | |
A website. | 00:03:51 | |
Yeah, we will have information on the website and we will update that as. | 00:03:52 | |
New activities occur. | 00:03:57 | |
And when we can have that bridge back open? | 00:03:59 | |
To what level? | 00:04:03 | |
When it is deemed safe. | 00:04:04 | |
OK. Any questions? | 00:04:07 | |
Manchester County's website. | 00:04:11 | |
Thank you very much. And I am reminded that we also need to add Fire Board appointments to tonight's agenda as well. | 00:04:14 | |
Is that just the new appointment or is that the structure of the annual? | 00:04:22 | |
OK. So we'll need to add that to the agenda tonight as well, if I can have a motion to do so. | 00:04:26 | |
I'll make the motion. | 00:04:32 | |
Second all in favor, aye. | 00:04:33 | |
All right, new business. We have one Attorney General outreach representative Parker Fletcher. | 00:04:36 | |
Sir. | 00:04:42 | |
Hello. Hello. How are you? | 00:04:43 | |
Good. How about yourself? | 00:04:45 | |
I've never been better. That's good. | 00:04:47 | |
Well, hello on behalf of Attorney General Todd Rakita and the entire office. | 00:04:51 | |
My name is Parker Fletcher and I'm an outreach representative with the Attorney General's Office. | 00:04:56 | |
I want to thank Susanna for giving me the opportunity to be able to speak to you yesterday. | 00:05:00 | |
About unclaimed property. | 00:05:05 | |
But first, let me tell you just a little bit about our office. | 00:05:07 | |
The Attorney General's Office functions as the official law firm for the state of Indiana. | 00:05:10 | |
We work to protect Hoosiers through our consumer Protection Division, Unclaimed Property Division. | 00:05:14 | |
Medicaid Fraud Control Unit and much more. | 00:05:19 | |
With nearly 20,000 active cases at any given time. | 00:05:22 | |
Our office represents state agencies and state officials, defense laws passed by the Legislature, and challenges federal | 00:05:25 | |
government overreach harmful to Hoosiers. | 00:05:29 | |
We protect consumers from illicit business practices, cybersecurity threats, data privacy violations, and ID theft. | 00:05:34 | |
And we have obtained nearly a billion dollars in settlements for Hoosiers. | 00:05:42 | |
Including hundreds of thousands from annoying and illegal robocallers. | 00:05:45 | |
Our office returns over $1,000,000 in unclaimed property to Hoosiers every single week. | 00:05:49 | |
Achieving a record of more than $81 million returned in 2023 alone. | 00:05:55 | |
And since taking office. | 00:05:59 | |
We have recovered more than $85 million from entities engaged in Medicaid fraud. | 00:06:01 | |
Under Attorney General Rakita's leadership. | 00:06:07 | |
The ultimate mission of the Office is to serve, protect and defend Hoosiers by championing liberty, justice and the rule of law. | 00:06:09 | |
And that brings me here today to talk about unclaimed property. | 00:06:16 | |
So unclaimed property is any sort of financial asset that hasn't had had any activity by its owner for an extended period of time. | 00:06:19 | |
This can be anything like unclaimed wages and commissions, savings and checking accounts. | 00:06:26 | |
Insurance proceeds. | 00:06:31 | |
Overpaid utility bills and much more. | 00:06:33 | |
So our office currently holds on to over a billion dollars statewide and unclaimed property that we seek to return to Hoosiers. | 00:06:35 | |
So all you have to do to claim your unclaimed property is to go to our website which is Indiana Unclaimed Gov. | 00:06:42 | |
The QR code on this little Panther will take you straight to that website. | 00:06:48 | |
We also have a. | 00:06:52 | |
Customer service representative on the bottom. | 00:06:54 | |
They operate from 8:30 to 4:30 on weekdays and can help you with any questions you might have and help you through the entire | 00:06:57 | |
process. | 00:07:00 | |
And we hold on to unclaimed property for 25 years. | 00:07:03 | |
And if after 25 years it's not claimed, then the state takes it. | 00:07:06 | |
So we try to give Hoosiers as much time as possible. | 00:07:10 | |
But like I said, there's over a billion dollars statewide just waiting for people to claim it, and we're working hard every day to | 00:07:13 | |
try to get that money back to its rifle owners. | 00:07:17 | |
So thank you. | 00:07:22 | |
Do you have any question? | 00:07:25 | |
No, I do so. | 00:07:27 | |
I do. | 00:07:30 | |
Has it always been 25 years? | 00:07:31 | |
That I'm not sure. It's different between state to state and some states there's no time expiration, but for Indiana it's 25 years | 00:07:33 | |
and as far as I'm aware it's always been 25 years. | 00:07:39 | |
So how much rolled off in 2024? | 00:07:45 | |
That I don't know. We do have a Frequently asked questions portion on our statistics page on the unclaimed property. | 00:07:49 | |
Website Indiana Unclaimed Gov. On the top right hand corner, there's a statistics sheet. | 00:07:57 | |
That tracks everything from stuff like that. How much money is in each specific county? How much money gets turned out every | 00:08:03 | |
single week. | 00:08:06 | |
Things like that. | 00:08:10 | |
What's the most expensive item that has gone unclaimed? The most expensive item was $3.7 million. | 00:08:12 | |
If I recall off the top of my head, it was definitely over 3. | 00:08:20 | |
I forget when that was but there was over $3,000,000 climb. | 00:08:23 | |
There's a cash. | 00:08:28 | |
I don't know what form it took, but. | 00:08:30 | |
Ultimately, somebody did end up with $3.7 million, so yes, OK. | 00:08:33 | |
For the record, it wasn't me. I don't say it wasn't me either. Yeah. | 00:08:38 | |
All right, well, we'll have you back 1 billion. We'll ask different questions each month. How about? | 00:08:43 | |
Thank you. All right. Did you mind if I leave some pamphlets here with you guys? Yeah, You can leave them over there with Suzanne | 00:08:48 | |
or here or wherever. And thank you for being here. And. | 00:08:52 | |
Spreading the word on that. | 00:08:56 | |
All right, we have Keith Pulliam representing Georgetown Township Fire Protection District tonight. | 00:08:59 | |
Gentlemen. | 00:09:13 | |
Thank you. | 00:09:16 | |
There's a couple of my gods now. | 00:09:18 | |
OK. Thank you. Thank you. | 00:09:20 | |
I'm here on behalf of the Board of Trustees for the Georgetown Township Fire Protection District. | 00:09:24 | |
Here before you tonight. | 00:09:29 | |
With a petition. | 00:09:31 | |
To appeal for an increase to the fire operating fund tax rate. | 00:09:33 | |
That is in accordance with Indiana code 6, Dash 1.1, dash 18-29. | 00:09:36 | |
If you'll recall, this I think was accomplished last year. | 00:09:42 | |
For two, for the two other. | 00:09:46 | |
Fire districts. | 00:09:48 | |
In Georgetown Township is asking for the same. | 00:09:49 | |
You should have received a copy of the Financial Impact analysis. | 00:09:52 | |
And hopefully a copy of the draft petition to appeal. | 00:09:56 | |
For your consideration, Hopeful. | 00:10:01 | |
You would approve that and then the fire district would submit it to the DLF. | 00:10:03 | |
Before this opens the door on confusion as to. | 00:10:10 | |
This and a territory. | 00:10:13 | |
Tax increase? Can you just explain it's going to be either or if that's in fact the case and must be. | 00:10:17 | |
There are, there are deadlines. Obviously April first is the deadline for both. | 00:10:26 | |
So if one were not to go through, we have the other in place. | 00:10:32 | |
And the funding would be needed to the if the territory were to not go through or if this were to not go through. | 00:10:36 | |
It will be 1 or the other, but it's just a. | 00:10:44 | |
Something that if you don't make the petition before the 1st, we would lose the opportunity to do so for another year. OK. | 00:10:47 | |
Any questions or comments? | 00:10:54 | |
I do not. | 00:10:56 | |
No, I'll just comment and and. I don't have any problem with this, but it's my hope that for this year this is what goes in rather | 00:10:57 | |
than the territory. | 00:11:01 | |
There's just so much uncertainty coming out of Indianapolis now with regards to. | 00:11:05 | |
Lost revenue to the counties of Indiana with some of the. | 00:11:09 | |
Changes that may look like they're going to be happening to the property tax revenue and. | 00:11:14 | |
You know if the county takes it. | 00:11:19 | |
$2.6 million hit. | 00:11:21 | |
From Senate Bill one. On top of that, we're going to be hitting people with a lot of different. | 00:11:23 | |
Problems at once so. | 00:11:29 | |
I support the decision that the fire. | 00:11:33 | |
Boards are going to be making. | 00:11:37 | |
I don't uh, uh. | 00:11:39 | |
Relish them on the task of doing that. | 00:11:40 | |
But I would hope that they would take that into consideration. I know you don't sit on those boards, but I. | 00:11:42 | |
I wanted to get that out publicly, so I will relay that to the board. All right. So having stated that. | 00:11:47 | |
All in favor of allowing the petition I'll need to. | 00:11:54 | |
A motion to move forward. With that, I'll make a motion. | 00:11:58 | |
A second. | 00:12:01 | |
All in favor, aye aye. | 00:12:02 | |
Thank you. Thank you for your time. | 00:12:05 | |
No. Do you need this now? | 00:12:14 | |
Go to him right now. | 00:12:17 | |
Very good. | 00:12:18 | |
All right, County Attorney, Fox Law Office, we have. | 00:12:20 | |
Thank you the. | 00:12:24 | |
The first one is a joint resolution FCR 2025, Dash 03. | 00:12:27 | |
That is for the transfer of personal property. | 00:12:32 | |
Highlander Fire Protection District has deemed 2011 Ford F-150 Super Crew. | 00:12:35 | |
Which I've identified by VIN number in that joint resolution as surplus and property they don't need anymore and they are willing | 00:12:41 | |
to. | 00:12:44 | |
Give that to the county. | 00:12:48 | |
For purposes of Foley County Emergency Management, use. | 00:12:52 | |
And Floyd County looking to donate and give a 2022 radio surplus radio that we had in our possession to them. | 00:12:55 | |
And so that joint resolution outlines both of those transfers of property. | 00:13:06 | |
So that that can be accomplished. | 00:13:10 | |
All right, any questions or comments on? | 00:13:16 | |
That particular resolution, yeah, so. | 00:13:20 | |
I think the only question that I had was. | 00:13:24 | |
How it's going to be used? | 00:13:26 | |
And who is going to be using it? | 00:13:28 | |
And I don't have a problem bringing the equipment in, but I would like to know. | 00:13:30 | |
What that is? | 00:13:35 | |
But I would be, I'd be willing to make a motion, but I want everybody to have an opportunity. | 00:13:36 | |
Have some discussion on it if they choose. | 00:13:42 | |
I have no questions to come. | 00:13:52 | |
All right, Well, I would make a motion for approval contentious on the submission of a policy on the vehicles usage and how it's | 00:13:53 | |
going to be used. | 00:13:58 | |
From EMA. | 00:14:04 | |
Before I second that motion, is this VIN number correct? I know it's the tilted down the Backpage. | 00:14:08 | |
Say that again the VIN number on my page. Yes, the one in your packet is not updated. I circulate an update 1 shortly before the | 00:14:13 | |
meeting with the correct bin number. I have looked at the title of both bin numbers for this and the 04 resolution to make sure | 00:14:18 | |
they are correct. OK, I just want to make sure. | 00:14:23 | |
I'll second that motion. | 00:14:28 | |
OK, motion and 2nd, any further discussion? | 00:14:30 | |
We need clarification on. | 00:14:34 | |
On the item that Mister Sharp is requesting with regards to this state of purpose on it. | 00:14:36 | |
I mean, if you guys are OK with them outlining some sort of policy of who's going to be using the vehicle? | 00:14:41 | |
What it's going to be used for? | 00:14:47 | |
Where it's going to be used, where it will be used, I think that that's appropriate. That's not part of this joint resolution, but | 00:14:49 | |
I think that's appropriate if that's how you all decide to vote. | 00:14:53 | |
Policy. | 00:14:58 | |
I'm fine with that. It might. | 00:14:59 | |
You know, a broader policy with regards to exchange vehicles down down the road. But yeah, I'm. | 00:15:02 | |
I'm happy that that is now. So I have a motion a second all in favor. Aye, aye. | 00:15:07 | |
And just one other point of clarification there is that vehicle will be titled in the name of Floyd County, Indiana. So if. | 00:15:12 | |
If that's not the way it currently is, that will be how it will be titled. | 00:15:18 | |
OK, OK. The next one I have is 2025 Dash 04. That's a joint resolution for the transfer of personal property. | 00:15:21 | |
This one is another 2011 Ford F-150 Super Crew. | 00:15:28 | |
With a different, slightly different VIN number. | 00:15:32 | |
That is also coming from the Highlander Fire Protection District. They deem this vehicle as surplus and not necessary for their | 00:15:35 | |
operations and they wish to give that to Floyd County for the use and benefit of the coroner's office. | 00:15:41 | |
It's my understanding the coroner's office. | 00:15:48 | |
We'll be using that for the transport of deceased individuals and now the coroner is here to speak and answer any questions you | 00:15:50 | |
all may have for them. So very similar resolution. | 00:15:55 | |
As you said for the last one, we're willing to make a usage policy and send that to you guys before the vehicle's even in service. | 00:16:02 | |
I mean, there'll be changes that we have to do to the vehicle in terms of getting it outfitted for removals. | 00:16:09 | |
Right now we've been using a private transport service, so being able to get a vehicle of our own. | 00:16:15 | |
Can free up ambulances and. | 00:16:21 | |
Prep life saving measures for people that. | 00:16:23 | |
Are in dire need of it. | 00:16:26 | |
No, I think that would be great. I think I'd be very responsible as well. And then I think it would be fair across the board just | 00:16:30 | |
as a vehicle usage. | 00:16:33 | |
Policy, who's going to use it and how it's gonna be used, but I support 100%, you know, I mean, keeping ambulances available for | 00:16:36 | |
emergency calls I think is paramount, especially when you talk about a limited number of. | 00:16:43 | |
Units out there, but. | 00:16:49 | |
Now I think that's that's great and thank you to Highlanders Board for. | 00:16:51 | |
Offering that up so. | 00:16:56 | |
Both of them. | 00:16:58 | |
All right. Any further questions? | 00:16:59 | |
Gasoline in your budget? We do have gasoline now. | 00:17:01 | |
OK. | 00:17:05 | |
And just for clarification, you guys will be updating it for your needs, correct? Yes. | 00:17:06 | |
All right. | 00:17:13 | |
Need a formal motion? | 00:17:14 | |
I'll make a motion to approve Floyd County Resolution 2025, Dash 0 for the joint resolution for transfer of personal property for | 00:17:17 | |
the corner. | 00:17:21 | |
And again, contingent on a policy being contingent on the on the same policy is. | 00:17:25 | |
Outline for. | 00:17:31 | |
I have a motion and a second all in favor. | 00:17:32 | |
Did I get a second? | 00:17:36 | |
You got it. OK. I do have a second. All in favor. Aye, aye. Thank you. | 00:17:37 | |
Thank you. | 00:17:41 | |
Next we have Floyd County Resolution 2025, Dash 05, a resolution of the Floyd County Board of Commissioners concerning an RFP. | 00:17:43 | |
For natural gas at the. | 00:17:53 | |
Clark Floyd Landfill and subsequent contracts with a developer. | 00:17:55 | |
And what this is all about is we. | 00:18:01 | |
We have landfill gas. | 00:18:04 | |
That comes out of the landfill. | 00:18:07 | |
And so that landfill gas can be converted into natural gas. | 00:18:10 | |
And there's quite a market for that. | 00:18:15 | |
And so the RFP is. | 00:18:18 | |
Going to. | 00:18:22 | |
Be made of. | 00:18:25 | |
To find a developer that will finance build. | 00:18:26 | |
And operate and maintain an LFG to. | 00:18:30 | |
RNG facility at the landfill site and market the RNG produced while sharing royalties with the counties. | 00:18:34 | |
And so. | 00:18:42 | |
The nature of the resolution is. | 00:18:44 | |
For Clark County to take lead in the preparation of the RFP's. | 00:18:48 | |
And. | 00:18:52 | |
That ultimately once the RFP's are all in. | 00:18:53 | |
The Floyd County Commissioners and the Clark County Commissioners will need to enter into a contract with. | 00:18:59 | |
That developer. | 00:19:06 | |
To do all those things that I just mentioned in terms of. | 00:19:08 | |
The conversion and ultimate sale. | 00:19:13 | |
And. | 00:19:15 | |
Sharing of the revenues with each of the counties. | 00:19:17 | |
All right. Any questions or comments for Mr. Fox? | 00:19:23 | |
No, I'll make a motion to accept. | 00:19:28 | |
Floyd County Resolution 20/25/05. | 00:19:31 | |
I'll second. | 00:19:35 | |
Motion is second. My comment would be the sooner the better. | 00:19:37 | |
Any additional revenue that we can bring into the county coppers and offset? | 00:19:40 | |
Expenses to our citizens should be welcome. | 00:19:46 | |
The precautions is probably still years away. | 00:19:49 | |
From cashing checks, correct? It probably is, yes. OK. | 00:19:52 | |
All right, a motion a second. All in favor, aye. | 00:19:57 | |
OK. The next thing we have have is the Reporters Office, the Bastion license agreement. This is with Fiddler Technologies. This is | 00:20:01 | |
actually an addendum to a contract with Fiddler. | 00:20:06 | |
This is the software that the Recorder's Office uses. Umm. | 00:20:12 | |
The recorder is not able to be here this evening, but did. | 00:20:18 | |
Obviously she sent this on and is requesting approval of this. It has been reviewed. It's in proper form in the name of Floyd | 00:20:21 | |
County, Indiana for the Floyd County Recorders Office. | 00:20:25 | |
And looking for your all's approval on that. | 00:20:30 | |
Approval with she can sign that the recorder can sign it but. | 00:20:33 | |
Just your all's blessing and approval on it. | 00:20:36 | |
Make a motion to accept the contract. | 00:20:38 | |
Second emotion and a second to accept contract is submitted. All in favor. | 00:20:41 | |
Aye. | 00:20:46 | |
OK. The last item is litigation piece. | 00:20:49 | |
OK. I'll lead off on that. So. | 00:20:52 | |
Tonight we're going to be proposing a signature on a settlement. | 00:20:55 | |
That should put the Galena Library Annex issue to rest for the people of Floyd County. | 00:21:02 | |
So I have a timeline I want to read through how we got to this point, and I may look to Miss Fox to add a little bit more | 00:21:08 | |
information as we go on. | 00:21:12 | |
But for some time in 2022 and perhaps 2021, stormwater fees were not paid on the property in question. | 00:21:17 | |
Early in 2023, the tax sale list was reviewed and approved by the auditors and the Treasurer's office, as well as by. | 00:21:24 | |
Third party vendors contracted by Floyd County and their attorneys. | 00:21:32 | |
And I believe there were two attorneys. | 00:21:36 | |
Assisting in that. | 00:21:39 | |
That is correct. That is correct. | 00:21:40 | |
So from two different groups, two different vendors, yes. | 00:21:43 | |
Mid late 2023, the tax sale list was filed by one of those attorneys for approval by a Floyd County judge. | 00:21:48 | |
And that judge did approve the sale list and the parcel went to sale in October of 2023. | 00:21:56 | |
In the interim, notices were mailed. | 00:22:04 | |
Three of those four. | 00:22:09 | |
Were never delivered 1/4. | 00:22:11 | |
The disposition was unknown, but we have no record of delivery to the county. | 00:22:13 | |
But it's very important to point out that all that is required is that there is a record of the items being mailed. They do not | 00:22:18 | |
have to have shown that they were delivered. And that is part of our conundrum. | 00:22:24 | |
In any event, the tax sale did occur in October of 23 and it was purchased by Sabre Investments. | 00:22:29 | |
The county became aware of the tax sale and Sabres request for a tax deed on November 26th, 2024. | 00:22:37 | |
So roughly one year after the tax sale. | 00:22:45 | |
The county immediately filed an appearance and a request for time to file an answer and response. | 00:22:48 | |
An answer was filed on December 30th, 2024, outlining our concerns and issues involved with the case. | 00:22:54 | |
In early January 2025, County made an offer to redeem the property from the purchaser. | 00:23:03 | |
For the tax sale price. | 00:23:09 | |
Plus their expenses, plus an extra 10% as a. | 00:23:11 | |
Finders fee if you will. | 00:23:15 | |
That offer was summarily rejected. | 00:23:17 | |
In early January 2025, the purchaser Sabre. | 00:23:21 | |
Offered to return the property to the county for a price of $200,000. | 00:23:24 | |
I believe that property assessed at roughly 105,000 if I'm. | 00:23:30 | |
Not incorrect. | 00:23:34 | |
I don't have the assessed value, OK, I apologize, but I think it was in the hundreds. But anyway, the offer of $200,000 was a | 00:23:35 | |
price that was deemed by the commissioners as unreasonable. | 00:23:40 | |
In mid January, discussions negotiations continued and Sabre offered the price of $50,000. | 00:23:46 | |
This was and is a much more acceptable offer. | 00:23:52 | |
As the property appraises at approximately $105,000, Even so, the commissioners were continuing to negotiate this. | 00:23:55 | |
The discussions ended abruptly once the matter became more well known to the general public. | 00:24:02 | |
Which created anxiety over the possibility of losing the property. | 00:24:08 | |
I want to be very very clear on this at no time. | 00:24:13 | |
Did the Board of Commissioners ever not? | 00:24:16 | |
Consider bringing this forward to the public in full. | 00:24:19 | |
Once a settlement was reached. | 00:24:22 | |
The reality is, from the time in November 24 when we became aware of the issue, the commissioners never allowed. | 00:24:25 | |
The property to become in jeopardy of not being maintained by the county. | 00:24:31 | |
The commissioners again always intended to discuss the matter publicly once the settlement was reached. | 00:24:36 | |
And by the way, all of these filings in the court cases have been public all along. They were never. | 00:24:43 | |
Hidden or sequestered or tried to be buried away, and the commissioners believe we might have attained a better price. | 00:24:48 | |
Still had negotiations continued, but again they did not. | 00:24:56 | |
In any event, the settlement price of $50,000 has been agreed to the. | 00:25:01 | |
Funds are to be paid for. | 00:25:05 | |
From the roughly 87,000 plus dollars that was brought in in 2024 at the excess property sale that. | 00:25:07 | |
Number correct? | 00:25:14 | |
Just over $87,000. | 00:25:16 | |
OK. We believe this to be a reasonable price for resolution of the matter based upon #1 the properties appraised value. | 00:25:19 | |
And though we believe we had a very strong case with a very good chance of prevailing at both the local and the appellate levels. | 00:25:27 | |
The cumulative cost of litigation would have greatly exceeded $50,000 regardless of the outcome. | 00:25:34 | |
Additionally, putting the matter to rest has its own value for our community, allowing us all to move on. | 00:25:41 | |
About other affairs and other business. | 00:25:47 | |
In summary, our team made mistakes and we are owning those issues. You're not going to have to file a Freedom of Information Act | 00:25:50 | |
to get anything from us. | 00:25:54 | |
Additional internal measures and controls. | 00:25:59 | |
Have and are being implemented in multiple offices, so this mistake will never be repeated. | 00:26:02 | |
The auditor has already implemented several and if you'd like to speak to that. | 00:26:07 | |
Before I complete my narrative, that would be great. | 00:26:11 | |
Since the the. | 00:26:20 | |
Discovery of this. | 00:26:22 | |
This issue. | 00:26:25 | |
My office has undertook a number. | 00:26:30 | |
Of different audits and and some safeguards in place to make sure that once this hits. | 00:26:32 | |
Our desks. | 00:26:38 | |
It doesn't. | 00:26:40 | |
Go any further if it. | 00:26:41 | |
Passes through some other Nets. | 00:26:44 | |
So. | 00:26:46 | |
My tax manager is actually who brought. | 00:26:47 | |
The request for tax deed to everyone's attention in November and I'm incredibly thankful for his attention to detail because. | 00:26:49 | |
I think it helped us. | 00:26:57 | |
A lot. | 00:26:58 | |
In early 2024, so January 2024, we implemented a new tax system, and that new tax system has. | 00:27:00 | |
Actually offered us a lot of advantages that our preview system did not, one of which is. | 00:27:08 | |
Something that will be utilized by the Floyd County Treasurer's Office when they go to begin compiling. | 00:27:14 | |
The uh. | 00:27:20 | |
Tax sale list. There is actually a way to. | 00:27:20 | |
Isolate all government owned properties to make sure that nothing goes into tax sale that shouldn't go into tax sale so that it | 00:27:24 | |
can be removed immediately prior to certification. | 00:27:28 | |
Outside of that system itself a full audit. | 00:27:33 | |
Has been performed. | 00:27:36 | |
On umm. | 00:27:38 | |
Our entire. | 00:27:39 | |
Tax base to make sure that all of our governmental properties are marked as such inside of our taxing system. | 00:27:41 | |
We did discover through this audit that there were. | 00:27:48 | |
A multitude of different addresses being used for the government owned properties. So we have consolidated those 21 mailing | 00:27:53 | |
address. | 00:27:58 | |
At this time, we've also additionally added a second. | 00:28:05 | |
A title teacher to our search engine for all government owned properties that allow us to. | 00:28:09 | |
Search for them a little bit easier, because over the years the commissioners have changed. | 00:28:15 | |
How their properties are titled. Over the years they've changed where the mailing addresses were. They weren't always maintained | 00:28:21 | |
as far as updates. | 00:28:24 | |
A huge boon to us was that we had just done a capital assets review, so all of our property parcels were already listed in one | 00:28:28 | |
space, so we were able to use that for our audit. | 00:28:33 | |
So there there have been a number of things put in place to. | 00:28:39 | |
To make sure this doesn't happen again in this county. | 00:28:44 | |
So along with everyone consistently and constantly putting eyes on it every year, we do have these barriers in place as well, so. | 00:28:46 | |
OK. Any questions for Diane? | 00:28:56 | |
Do not appreciate your work. | 00:28:57 | |
I just want to say. | 00:29:01 | |
A couple of things. Number one, from the beginning of this. | 00:29:02 | |
You've never shrugged away from from any responsibility on it. | 00:29:05 | |
And you were much more eager to come to the podium tonight than you were. | 00:29:10 | |
Roughly this time last year when your department. | 00:29:15 | |
Found just over a half $1,000,000 in funds and I know you're still don't like to talk about that, but. | 00:29:18 | |
Those were funds that. | 00:29:24 | |
Were on the books by your predecessors and you were able to get those loose and put out into the general fund so. | 00:29:26 | |
I'm proud of the work you do and I'm proud. | 00:29:32 | |
Be part of the team with you. | 00:29:34 | |
I appreciate that. We're just trying to do the best that we can for the county. We do really care very much about the citizens | 00:29:36 | |
here. Yeah, thank you. I actually want one thing. | 00:29:41 | |
The question of the software that's being used is a lot. The Laos software, it is the last system. What were you using before Lao? | 00:29:47 | |
I would like that on the record please. | 00:29:54 | |
We were. We were with Amentum MVP. | 00:29:57 | |
This system itself was archaic. We had had it for for 20 years. | 00:30:02 | |
Ish along with the financial system that we used to have as well. | 00:30:06 | |
The commissioners again, thank you guys, because. | 00:30:10 | |
Without Urals support. | 00:30:14 | |
We would not have been able to upgrade to a new system that allowed us. | 00:30:16 | |
To do the amount of work that we've done in the last two years as far as making sure that we put. | 00:30:21 | |
New new processes, new barriers. | 00:30:26 | |
More efficiency into our offices so. | 00:30:28 | |
We're thankful for that. | 00:30:31 | |
I think it just goes to speak that I don't care what job you do. | 00:30:33 | |
Everybody has a toolbox. You have to have the right tools in the toolbox. | 00:30:35 | |
To get the job done and you all obviously. | 00:30:39 | |
For the longest time didn't have the right tools and now that you do and it's proven it's self independent. So thank you. | 00:30:42 | |
We appreciate it. Thank you. | 00:30:49 | |
Treasurer Steve Burks. His office has also put some safeguards into place. He could not be here tonight. | 00:30:51 | |
He's at the state treasurer's meeting in playing field. | 00:30:56 | |
I'll let him address those at a future date as he chooses. | 00:31:00 | |
With regards to the Commissioners. | 00:31:04 | |
We are pursuing some. | 00:31:06 | |
Leads with regards to recouping. | 00:31:08 | |
Cost of settlement. | 00:31:11 | |
And we're also taking opportunities as we can. | 00:31:13 | |
And looking to making some opportunities to divest some of our real estate portfolio from some of these properties that I think | 00:31:16 | |
would be best. | 00:31:19 | |
Handled by the primary user, if you will. | 00:31:23 | |
So. | 00:31:27 | |
To close again, I acknowledge with regret the shortfalls which landed us here. | 00:31:28 | |
But it would have been even more regrettable. | 00:31:34 | |
To have either lost this property, a site that's utilized and cherished by so many people in Floyd County, or to have continued to | 00:31:37 | |
throw unpredictable amounts of money. | 00:31:41 | |
Into really a bottomless pit of litigation so. | 00:31:45 | |
I appreciate everyone's patience on this matter and will be equally grateful for any and all grace which might be extended to our | 00:31:48 | |
team. | 00:31:52 | |
As we move forward with other challenges that are facing this county. | 00:31:55 | |
I'll hang around after the meeting to take questions if there are any. | 00:32:00 | |
I don't know Frank or Jason have any further comment on the matter either. | 00:32:04 | |
I think it's been handled well to solve the problem and. | 00:32:10 | |
Going forward. | 00:32:16 | |
I just think anytime that you. | 00:32:18 | |
Problems that occur. | 00:32:20 | |
I think everybody at some point runs into an issue that. | 00:32:22 | |
You know you take the steps to do what's necessary to. | 00:32:26 | |
Fix those problems from never happening again. So but I appreciate everybody stepping up to the plate. | 00:32:30 | |
It shows extreme ownership to me. | 00:32:35 | |
And uh. | 00:32:37 | |
You know, I think when we ask our people to be. | 00:32:38 | |
Accountable for things. | 00:32:41 | |
You know what we're accountable to? We're accountable to everyone of the people in this county, so. | 00:32:43 | |
That's all I'm going to say. | 00:32:47 | |
I do want to thank. | 00:32:49 | |
Christy and Rick for their work on that and. | 00:32:51 | |
Getting us the best deal possible. | 00:32:54 | |
With that, I would ask for approval and to allow the President to sign the agreed entry and order resolving all pending issues in | 00:32:57 | |
that tax sale litigation. | 00:33:02 | |
So moved second. | 00:33:06 | |
All right, Motion, a second. Any further details of the settlement that I didn't cover in the timeline? I think you covered | 00:33:09 | |
everything. | 00:33:12 | |
All in favor. | 00:33:16 | |
Aye, aye. | 00:33:17 | |
All right. Thank you. | 00:33:19 | |
We do have the one board appointment that we add to the agenda. | 00:33:21 | |
That is for the Highlander Fire Protection District. | 00:33:25 | |
And I believe we have a nominee and a. | 00:33:29 | |
In place on that one if you'd like to speak to him. | 00:33:33 | |
Nominate Billy Stewart. | 00:33:38 | |
I'll second. | 00:33:40 | |
OK, I have a. | 00:33:42 | |
Motion in a second for Mr. Billy Stewart to serve on the Highlander fire prediction. | 00:33:44 | |
Protection District board, does that affect it immediately? OK, all in favor, aye. | 00:33:49 | |
Alright, thank you. I as well. | 00:33:54 | |
All right. Approval of Commissioner meeting minutes from February 18, 2024. | 00:33:57 | |
Make a motion to approve. | 00:34:03 | |
2nd. | 00:34:04 | |
All in favor. | 00:34:05 | |
Approval of payroll claims. | 00:34:07 | |
Motion to approve. | 00:34:10 | |
Second, all in favor, Aye aye. We had a stormwater meeting board at 4:30 today. Our next commissioners meeting is March 18th, 2025 | 00:34:11 | |
and 6:00 PM. | 00:34:16 | |
Are there any elected government officials that would like to come? | 00:34:21 | |
Comment tonight. | 00:34:23 | |
All right, I do have one member of the public who would like to speak, Mr. Lynn Owen. | 00:34:27 | |
Mr. Own, we do. | 00:34:38 | |
Public comments, usually the three minutes, but since I think you're the only person up tonight, I think that I know we'll go 5 | 00:34:39 | |
for you since you signed up and maybe two or three for the other folks, but we'll give you a. | 00:34:44 | |
32nd warning. How's that? Quickly as I can, I appreciate the opportunity to speak. | 00:34:49 | |
My name is Elaine Owen, I live on Thai Ave. in New Albany. | 00:34:55 | |
And I am here about. | 00:35:00 | |
Whatever kind of water. | 00:35:02 | |
You call it. | 00:35:04 | |
I buy water. | 00:35:06 | |
From Indiana, American Water runs right across. I buy water. | 00:35:07 | |
The New Albany sewer sends me. | 00:35:12 | |
What is wastewater? | 00:35:15 | |
It's what Bill. | 00:35:18 | |
And I have problems that tell me one thing. | 00:35:19 | |
In the city. In representatives of the city or the county. | 00:35:22 | |
I don't know which. Tell me something else, OK? | 00:35:26 | |
My house was built in 62. | 00:35:30 | |
It was a new development called Hauser Heights. | 00:35:33 | |
It's between. | 00:35:37 | |
Corner Lane. | 00:35:39 | |
And Wet Weather Creek to the east towards Old Saint Joe Rd. | 00:35:41 | |
OK. | 00:35:47 | |
Went in there and the houses had nothing. | 00:35:49 | |
But electric line Outback. | 00:35:52 | |
No water. | 00:35:56 | |
No sewer. | 00:35:58 | |
And everything worked fine, both myself and my neighbor. | 00:36:00 | |
Have partially finished basements. | 00:36:05 | |
And what? | 00:36:07 | |
Started messing. | 00:36:09 | |
Up with our basement drainage. | 00:36:11 | |
Wet water. Wet water. | 00:36:15 | |
Anyway, water would come into our finished basements no problem, you know. | 00:36:18 | |
And it started. | 00:36:23 | |
After. After. | 00:36:25 | |
The sewer winding. | 00:36:28 | |
I have elevation. | 00:36:29 | |
Drawing after this thing. | 00:36:32 | |
With my the path of the LP gas. | 00:36:35 | |
The guy was walking down my street and dropping flags. | 00:36:39 | |
And I said, hey, you know what's going on, you know? | 00:36:44 | |
He said they're getting ready to put in a new LP thing. | 00:36:48 | |
I advise it right straight off. I advise it. | 00:36:51 | |
Stay away from. | 00:36:55 | |
Thai Ave. because it's so messed up. | 00:36:58 | |
I have told every representative that came. | 00:37:02 | |
That water in my basement. | 00:37:05 | |
Comes up from the green. | 00:37:08 | |
And and you have to remove it physically. | 00:37:11 | |
And I've. | 00:37:16 | |
It's gotten. | 00:37:17 | |
Larger as time goes on. It's like a snowball. | 00:37:19 | |
Came home. | 00:37:24 | |
From Thanksgiving. | 00:37:26 | |
I had water. | 00:37:28 | |
In my basement I had mold. | 00:37:29 | |
Growing it. | 00:37:32 | |
And I had both representatives. | 00:37:34 | |
From the city or the county, whatever. | 00:37:37 | |
It's kind of like. | 00:37:40 | |
We can't really tell you, that's our authority, but anyway. | 00:37:41 | |
Umm, that guy combed up. | 00:37:48 | |
And that's when I started asking around. | 00:37:50 | |
And then it came. | 00:37:54 | |
That was after Thanksgiving and then during I was working with it, everything else. | 00:37:56 | |
I on the weekend just a few weeks ago. | 00:38:03 | |
That we had the big snow. | 00:38:07 | |
I went to bed on Saturday night. | 00:38:12 | |
And I thought. | 00:38:16 | |
She, you know, OK. | 00:38:18 | |
And it was snow everywhere. | 00:38:20 | |
Anyway Fort and got ready church the next morning. | 00:38:23 | |
Got to go down and check. | 00:38:27 | |
Know what it's going to be. | 00:38:29 | |
Sure enough. | 00:38:30 | |
I didn't go to church that day. | 00:38:31 | |
I drug 2/5 gallon buckets up and dumped them in the in the street. | 00:38:33 | |
But. | 00:38:39 | |
Once the water kept quick coming up. | 00:38:40 | |
I knew it would drain. It's always drained before. | 00:38:44 | |
I've been down here. | 00:38:48 | |
And people don't want to admit that I've got a. | 00:38:49 | |
Underground. | 00:38:53 | |
That takes water away from my basement. | 00:38:55 | |
Then the very next day after that Sunday. | 00:39:00 | |
I was out to. | 00:39:06 | |
Breakfast. | 00:39:09 | |
And it started raining in my first. | 00:39:11 | |
Better get home. I got home at 1:00. | 00:39:14 | |
And sure enough. | 00:39:18 | |
Water on the floor. | 00:39:20 | |
I said this is it. | 00:39:21 | |
And I, you know, shot back out. You have 30 seconds, Sir. | 00:39:24 | |
OK, oh Gee. But anyway. | 00:39:28 | |
It's worse, but now I've got it all fixed. | 00:39:31 | |
And now I want to go back and I want to sell a sound house. I'm not going to live there forever. | 00:39:35 | |
Every time. | 00:39:42 | |
Every time. | 00:39:43 | |
That I went and I complained. | 00:39:44 | |
I got to silent treatment but now it's the last one they had guys from. | 00:39:47 | |
People. | 00:39:52 | |
From both houses. | 00:39:53 | |
They came down. | 00:39:54 | |
They looked at my problem, they said pretty simple. | 00:39:56 | |
It's always worked before, why didn't it work now? | 00:39:59 | |
Comes in, Gushes one thing I told. | 00:40:02 | |
Always starts out as a gush. | 00:40:04 | |
Once I get it down to where it's not coming out, it drains away. | 00:40:07 | |
Every professional person. | 00:40:12 | |
I've offered help. | 00:40:14 | |
Every professional person that I talked to. | 00:40:17 | |
And I said I'll help you. | 00:40:21 | |
And I offered. | 00:40:24 | |
And it just was a no word. | 00:40:26 | |
Well, now I got to call somebody. It was very unprofessional. | 00:40:28 | |
Not one of them offered to come down and look for. | 00:40:33 | |
Where I recommended that they come. | 00:40:35 | |
Linear over by about. | 00:40:38 | |
40 seconds. | 00:40:40 | |
Now it's shared. | 00:40:42 | |
And everything that comes down, I'm at the middle or the bottom. | 00:40:45 | |
And whatever comes down. | 00:40:50 | |
It's come from ahead, it's come from above, Mr. Owen. | 00:40:52 | |
We're gonna have to. OK. I'm sorry. That's all right. You're welcome. But you're welcome. I'll still make my offer. | 00:40:56 | |
That if you send some reps out, I'll work with them and we'll try to. | 00:41:03 | |
Other than that. | 00:41:07 | |
It's going to be a long dry spell and it's caused. | 00:41:08 | |
Every uh. | 00:41:12 | |
Homeowner Every property owner with a roof on it. | 00:41:13 | |
To be with the storm water tax. | 00:41:16 | |
That squared ended up right. Now we've got Mr. Owen. I'm sorry. Thank you. OK. | 00:41:20 | |
I'll hang around everywhere, carry on like it's. It's nice to hear a thank you, some responsible person. | 00:41:26 | |
Thank you. And I'll be around afterwards to talk further if you wish. Yeah, I've got lots of, lots of remedies, yeah. | 00:41:33 | |
And. | 00:41:43 | |
A ratio if you have a minute afterwards too. We may or may not. | 00:41:45 | |
Be able to speak to him too. I don't know, you know, I know that you guys have worked on that before, but. | 00:41:48 | |
OK. Do we have any other public comment tonight? | 00:41:54 | |
I know that. | 00:42:00 | |
No one else signed up but. | 00:42:01 | |
As I said, I've never felt better. I think I said this meeting at the stormwater meeting. | 00:42:03 | |
I've never done better so I was going to open the door for more comment but. | 00:42:08 | |
I'm not seeing any SO. | 00:42:12 | |
Very well. | 00:42:15 | |
Closing comments, I guess. We have board committee reports which we've done routinely, and I noticed that the federal government | 00:42:17 | |
is wanting people to give 5 bullet points per. | 00:42:22 | |
Week on what they've done so I thought we should follow suit in that, you know, so if you have any. | 00:42:27 | |
Week that you'd like to do, yeah. So on the on February 24th, I met with some representatives from Kipta as I was recently | 00:42:34 | |
assigned to that. | 00:42:38 | |
Board this year. So just a brief overview on what they do at Kipta and how they can benefit us. | 00:42:42 | |
And Floyd County. | 00:42:48 | |
They're already involved in a multitude of projects that. | 00:42:50 | |
We are currently or have been involved in. So it was great to understand that on the 25th of February, I met with Keith Young, who | 00:42:53 | |
the Union President from Highlander Fire. We discussed everything from their operational issues that they're currently facing to | 00:42:58 | |
us on the pay issues. | 00:43:04 | |
From their membership perspective as well that they're trying to workout. | 00:43:10 | |
On the 25th I also attended the joint Commissioner and Council meeting. I won't speak that I'm sure. | 00:43:14 | |
Probably will. | 00:43:19 | |
On the 27th of February I did attend the KIPPED a meeting. | 00:43:21 | |
Via Zoom. | 00:43:25 | |
And then on. | 00:43:26 | |
3-4 met with the building authority and department heads. | 00:43:28 | |
Regarding some of the changes that they made there with some of their staff and. | 00:43:33 | |
I've got to hear some of their thoughts moving forward in the future, so good meeting. | 00:43:38 | |
That's all I have. | 00:43:42 | |
All right, Mr. Luke. | 00:43:43 | |
I can't, I can't compete with that. | 00:43:46 | |
All right, take the same thing. | 00:43:50 | |
Yeah, on 2/20. | 00:43:53 | |
We had. | 00:43:57 | |
Park steering committee meeting and then. | 00:43:59 | |
Public meeting with one SI. | 00:44:02 | |
Over in Jeffersonville. | 00:44:04 | |
The joint meeting on 225 and again, that's all matter of public records, so. | 00:44:06 | |
No highlights from that. | 00:44:11 | |
Southern Indiana Tourism Bureau annual meeting and dinner that night. | 00:44:14 | |
When I said quarter when waiting on 2/27. Met with Tyler Warman from the Indiana Association of. | 00:44:19 | |
County commissioners on 12/28 who excuse me on 2/28, who gave some of the data that I. | 00:44:25 | |
Mentioned earlier today about lost revenue of some of those property tax. | 00:44:31 | |
Propositions go forward and then today, I don't know when we have 30 or 40 minutes with the Indiana department. | 00:44:36 | |
Natural resources. | 00:44:41 | |
And uh. | 00:44:43 | |
We learned a lot about a lot of things and we do respect their authority and we're looking forward to working with them and | 00:44:44 | |
preserving the habitat, but also. | 00:44:48 | |
To expeditiously get the old bridge open while we're. | 00:44:53 | |
Waiting to break ground on the new one. | 00:44:56 | |
So. | 00:44:59 | |
Any closing comments? | 00:45:01 | |
If not, I'll look for a motion to adjourn. | 00:45:03 | |
So moved. | 00:45:05 | |
Second, all right. | 00:45:07 | |
Adjourned. Yeah. | 00:45:08 |