County Council Meeting Minutes

March 8, 2022

Meeting Called to Order by President
Prayer
Pledge of Allegiance
Roll Call: Councilman Reese, Councilwoman Likens, Councilman Alexander, Councilman Steele, Councilman Emery, Councilman Vaughn, President Gale
Also Present: Madison County Auditor Rick Gardner, Chief Deputy Auditor Todd Culp, and County Council Counsel

Play >>  Approval of Minutes for February 8, 2022
Motion: to approve
Moved: Fred Reese
Seconded: Mikeal Vaughn
Motion Passed, unanimously

Play >>  Approval of March 8, 2021 agenda
Motion: to approve
Moved: Mikeal Vaughn
Seconded: Rob Steele
Motion Passed, unanimously

Play >> President Gale, Councilman Vaughn, Councilman Alexander make several statements regarding public comments for each meeting.

Play >> Madison County Auditor gives an update on spending over the last several years.

Play >> Motion: to nominate Kenny Giselbach to the North Madison County Public Library Board
Moved: Mikeal Vaughn
Seconded: Fred Reese
Motion Passed, unanimously

Play >>  Madison County Assessor Larry Davis requests to travel out of state for continuing education.
Motion: to approve
Moved: Mikeal Vaughn
Seconded: Fred Reese
Motion Passed, unanimously

Play >>  Madison County Auditor Rick Gardner requests to travel out of state for continuing education.
Motion: to approve
Moved: Mikeal Vaughn
Seconded: Diana Likens
Motion Passed, unanimously

Play >> Motion: to approve the transfers as presented
Moved: Anthony Emery
Seconded: Rob Steele
Motion Passed, unanimously





Play >> Jim Hunter, Courts Admin, requests new money for grant funds 8188, 9137, 9146, & 9169.
Motion: to approve
Moved: Mikael Vaughn
Seconded: Fred Reese
Motion Passed, unanimously


Play >>   President Commissioner John Richwine withdraws the request for the Windfarm Economic Development Fund – 4956.

Play >> County Engineer Jessica Bastin speaks on the 1^st round of the ARPA fund implementation. She hands out a sheet to the Council members of the details.
1. Jail COVID Mitigation Resources ($562,000) - Providing support to the County Jail and Sheriff’s Department for additional, more robust COVID mitigation measures will improve safety and security at the facility for the public, staff, and offenders. Proposed improvements include air filtration systems, touchless door locks, intercoms, new mattresses, and cleaning supplies.
      2. Jail COVID Mitigation Expense Reimbursement ($319,000) - Since the beginning of the pandemic, a number of mitigation measures have been enacted at the County Jail and the Sheriff’s Department to ensure safety and security for the public, staff, and offenders. Reimbursing these costs will provide much-needed funds for additional mitigations measures and other safety and security enhancements.
      3. Temporary Public Defender ($160,000) - The Public Defender’s Office is experiencing significant backlog due to limitations on jury trials through much of the COVID pandemic. Providing a temporary, contracted Public Defender will enable cases to be resolved in an expedited manner, focusing on those who remain incarcerated due to an inability to post bond. This will allow them to return to the depleted workforce in the County.
     4. Prosecutor’s Office Investigator Vehicles ($140,000) - The Prosecutor’s Office is also experiencing significant backlog due to limitations on jury trials through much of the COVID pandemic. Providing vehicles to four investigators tasked with resolving the backlog cases will improve their operational efficiency and effectiveness. Additionally, these investigators will support a new emphasis on investigating educational neglect and compulsory school attendance violations exasperated by the pandemic.
    5. Health Department Emergency Response Storage Facility ($300,000) - The new facility will provide a centralized location for housing the County’s mobile medical clinic and bulk storage of personal protective equipment and other critical supplies, ultimately improving the County’s effectiveness and efficiency in responding to current and future health emergencies. The Health Department is leveraging non-reverting funds for this proposal.  
   6. Residential Work Release Center Reconfiguration ($235,000) - Redesigning the Residential Work Release Center and strengthening physical security of other parts of the Community Corrections campus will allow better COVID mitigation measures while increasing security, improving operational efficiency, and protecting the integrity and viability of the community supervision programs. Additional funds will be leveraged for this proposal. 
   7. Government Center Annex Emergency Generator ($135,000) - The Government Center Annex houses the Health Department, Coroner’s Office, Veteran’s Affairs, and STI Clinic. Currently, emergency power is available only on a limited basis in the facility, so critical services provided by these department cannot be maintained during an extended power outage. The proposed generator will provide system resiliency and redundance, particularly when responding to current and future emergency situations.
   8. Problem Solving Court/Circuit Court Workspace Reconfiguration ($120,000) - Reconfiguring workspaces in the Problems Solving and Circuit Courts will provide additional conference/training room space for staff and targeted populations to attend virtual training sessions. This flexibility allows the courts to adapt to changing operational needs brought on by the pandemic while providing additional protections, enhancing services, and ensuring operational resiliency.
   9. Youth Center COVID Mitigation Measures and Security Upgrades ($135,300) - The Youth Center is proposing three initiatives to facilitate social distancing, enable contactless screening, and improve security at the facility. Measures include new security cameras, a new property scanning x-ray machine, and a protective contact barrier in the Center’s transportation vehicle. Additional funds will be leveraged for these initiatives
   10. Integrated Security Systems ($72,000) - Establishing and integrated security system using “smart” employee identification cards will allow a cohesive, comprehensive approach to securing County network and physical spaces, improving safety and security throughout the facilities.
   11. Emergency Announcement Systems ($39,000) - Implementing the InformaCast Fusion system throughout the County’s network will establish a comprehensive emergency announcement system while improving network security, reliability, and resiliency.
   12. Juvenile Probation COVID Mitigation Expense Reimbursement ($2,600) - Juvenile Probation is requesting reimbursement for various equipment purchased at the onset of the pandemic to ensure continuity of service while limiting in-person contact. This equipment included webcams, laptops and monitors, and digital signature pads.
   13. Recorder’s Office Media Conversion Project ($93,000) - The Media Conversion Project consists of creating an online digitized Deed Record, expanding access to the information while ensuring operational resiliency. The Recorder’s Office is leveraging funds in order to also digitize Miscellaneous books. 
   14. Codification Project ($20,000) - The Codification project consists of a compilation, digitization, and legal and editorial review of the County’s existing codes. Providing this information online allows for expanded information access and improved operational resiliency. 
   15. Killbuck Creek LARE Grant Match ($25,000) - The Surveyor’s Office is pursuing a grant through the Lake and River Enhancement (LARE) program to remove obstructions along Killbuck Creek, improving its the stormwater management abilities. This request is for the local matching funds associated with this grant application.
   16. Thoroughfare Plan and Traffic Impact Fees Study ($165,000) - Transportation infrastructure is a key component to the long-term economic recovery of our County. An updated, county-wide thoroughfare plan will provide a centralized tool for long-term transportation planning, Additionally, traffic impact fees will provide a new funding mechanism help supplement funds for much-needed improvement projects by shifting the financial burden of infrastructure improvements to the development directly benefitting from the improvements.  
   17. Wastewater Infrastructure and Managerial Needs Assessment ($125,000) - Wastewater infrastructure is another key component to the long-term economic recovery of our County. This proposal consists of a county-wide review of existing wastewater infrastructure, identification of unserved/underserved areas (focusing on those in needs of centralized service) a review and recommendation of managerial options for serving these areas, and a plan for implementation
   18. Drinking Water Infrastructure and Managerial Needs Assessment ($125,000) - Safe, reliable drinking water infrastructure is another key component to the long-term economic recovery of our County. This proposal consists of a county-wide review of existing drinking water infrastructure, identification of unserved/underserved areas (focusing on those in needs of centralized service), an analysis of current and future regional water supply needs, a review and recommendation of managerial options for serving these areas, and a plan for implementation.
   19. Stormwater Infrastructure and Managerial Needs Assessment ($125,000) - Stormwater infrastructure is a key component to facilitating growth and redevelopment in our County. This proposal consists of a county-wide review of the stormwater infrastructure (primarily the Regulated Drains), identification of unserved areas, a review and recommendation of managerial options and existing and potential funding mechanisms, and a plan for implementation.
   20. County Parks and Recreation Managerial and Infrastructure Needs Assessment ($100,000) - Parks and recreational facilities are key components to establishing a foundation for healthy, resilient communities. This proposal consists of a county-wide review of the existing parks and recreational facilities, identification of underserved areas, a plan for implementation of initiatives to ensure smart, cohesive facilities, and development of Impact Fees as a new funding mechanism to shift financial burden of these facilities to new developments directly benefiting from the amenities.
Play >>  President Gale opens for public comment.
                  - Resident John Bostic makes a public comment.
                  - Resident Lorraine White makes a public comment.
                  - Resident Jody Norrick makes a public comment.
Motion: to approve
Moved: Mikael Vaughn
Seconded: Alexander
Motion Passed, unanimously



Play >> On behalf of County Coroner Dr. Troy Abbott, Lisa Cannon requests new money in the General Fund – 1000.
Motion: to approve as presented
Moved: Anthony Emery
Seconded: Fred Reese
Motion Passed, unanimously


Play >> Motion: to approve
Moved: Mikeal Vaughn
Seconded: Fred Reese
Motion Passed, unanimously



Play >>  President Commissioner John Richwine requests new money in the General Fund – 1000.
Play >> President Gale opens for public comment.
                  - Commissioner Kelly Gaskill makes a public comment.
                  - Resident Jody Norrick makes a public comment.
                  - Katherine Callahan makes a public comment.
                  - Resident Kate Smith makes a public comment.
Motion: to table the request for another to receive more information from the Personnel Committee
Moved: Jerry Alexander
Seconded: Mikeal Vaughn
Motion Failed
Roll Call Vote: Yes – Diana Likens, Jerry Alexander, Mikeal Vaughn. No – Fred Reese, Rob Steele, Anthony Emery, President Gale.

Play >> Motion: to approve the request as presented
Moved: Anthony Emery
Seconded: Rob Steele
Motion Failed
Roll Call Vote: Yes – Rob Steele, Anthony Emery, President Gale. No – Fred Reese, Diana Likens, Jerry Alexander, Mikeal Vaughn.


Play >>  President Commissioner requests new money in the General Fund - 1000
Motion: to approve
Moved: Jerry Alexander
Seconded: Anthony Emery
Motion Passed
Roll Call Vote: Yes – Diana Likens, Jerry Alexanders, Rob Steele, Anthony Emery, President Gale. No – Fred Reese, Mikeal Vaughn.



Play >> Joe Humphries, Courthouse, requests new money in the General Fund – 1000.
Play >> President Gale opens for public comment.
                 - Resident Jody Norrick makes a public comment.
Motion: to approve
Moved: Jerry Alexander
Seconded: Fred Reese
Motion Passed, unanimously


Play >> Madison County Auditor Rick Gardner requests new money in the General Fund – 1000.
Play >>  President Gale opens for public comment. No comments.
Motion: to approve
Moved: Anthony Emery
Seconded: Rob Steele
Motion Passed, unanimously


Play >> Motion: to approve Salary Ordinance 2022-2E: An Ordinance Modifying 2022 Salaries in the Public Safety Fund for Prosecutors.
Moved: Jerry Alexander
Seconded: Rob Steele
Motion Passed
Anthony Emery recused himself for the vote.
Fred Reese voted no.

Play >> Motion: to approve Salary Ordinance 2022-2F: An Ordinance Modifying 2022 Salaries in the Public Safety Fund for Courts.
Moved: Jerry Alexander
Seconded: Rob Steele
Motion Passed unanimously

Play >>  Motion: to approve Salary Ordinance 2022-2F: An Ordinance Modifying 2022 Salaries in the Public Safety Fund for Problem Solving Courts.
Moved: Jerry Alexander
Seconded: Anthony Emery
Motion Passed unanimously

Play >>  Motion: to approve Salary Ordinance 2022-3C: An Ordinance Modifying 2022 Salaries in the General Fund for Sheriff/Jail.
Moved: Mikeal Vaughn
Seconded: Jerry Alexander
Motion Passed unanimously

Play >>  Motion: to remove the Admin from the request for Salary Ordinance 2022-3D: An Ordinance Modifying 2022 Salaries in the General Fund for County Admin/Emer Mgt.
Moved: Fred Reese
Seconded: Mikeal Vaughn
Motion Passed unanimously

Play >>  Motion: to approve Salary Ordinance 2022-3D as amended.
Moved: Jerry Alexander
Seconded: Anthony Emery
Motion Passed
Fred Reese voted no.

Play >> Motion: to approve Salary Ordinance 2022-3C: An Ordinance Modifying 2022 Salaries in Grant Funds.
Moved: Jerry Alexander
Seconded: Mikeal Vaughn
Motion Passed unanimously

Play >>  Motion: to adjourn
Moved: Anthony Emery
Seconded: Rob Steele
Motion Passed, unanimously



Regular Council Meeting is scheduled for April 12, 2022 at 6:00PM in the Council Chambers of the Courthouse.