KENTON COUNTY FISCAL COURT

MARCH 29, 2005

MINUTES

The March 29 meeting of the Kenton County Fiscal Court held at the Independence Courthouse was called to order at 7:00 p.m.  Present were Judge-Executive Ralph A. Drees; Commissioners Adam Koenig, Barbara Black and Dan Humpert; Deputy Judge Scott Kimmich; County Attorney Garry L. Edmondson; County Treasurer Ivan D. Frye; Human Resources Director Joe Shriver; Emergency Management Director Ed Burk; Police Chief Bill Dorsey; Public Works Director Joe Murphy; and Guests.

Judge Drees announced that due to a minor illness Catherine Johnston, Fiscal Court Clerk would not be present for the meeting this evening and that Deputy Judge Kimmich would serve as Acting Fiscal Court Clerk.

The invocation and pledge of allegiance were led by Commissioner Barbara Black

Approval of Minutes

Judge Drees asked for approval of the minutes for March 15, 2005.  Commissioner Humpert made a motion to approve the minutes with a second by Commissioner Koenig.  Commissioner Black asked that the minutes reflect that she was present but not voting as she was not in attendance for the meeting. The minutes were unanimously approved by the three members present and voting on the issue before the court.

Delegations

Judge Drees advised there were no delegations seeking recognition of the court.

Resolutions

Judge Drees advised there were no resolutions to come before the court.

Ordinances

Judge Drees advised there were no ordinances to be presented to the court for action.

Consent Agenda

Claims List

Judge Drees advised members had been presented with a copy of the claims list and inquired as to whether there were any questions of the Treasurer.  There being no questions or objections, Judge Drees advised warrants would be issued and claims would be paid.

Handout No. 05-03-Acknowledgement of the receipt of the County Jailers Budget Request for FY 05-06, Ivan Frye reporting:  Mr. Frye advised that the jailer has submitted his budget pursuant to Kentucky Statute and that the budget template that has been presented is absent the information concerning fringes benefits and other items which will be plugged in by the treasurer as part of the overall county budget preparation.

Commissioner Humpert inquired as to whether the adjustments that have been made in the current fiscal year are reflected in the request the jailer has presented to the court.

Mr. Frye advised the narrative before the court is a justification for the request of funds submitted by the jailer and would include the adjustments that have been made throughout the year.

Commissioner Black questioned the court's receipt of expenditures by line item with adjustments and when the court members would receive an update of what changes have already been made.

Mr. Frye advised that the adjustments are reflected in the available funds on the monthly report, as well as the quarterly report but acknowledged that changes in the fringe benefits are not reflected until near year-end.

Judge Drees said there was a lot of work to be done before a final draft of the budget will be ready for discussion by the court.

Commissioner Black made the motion to acknowledge receipt of the jailer's budget for FY 2005-2006. Commissioner Humpert seconded the motion and there being no further discussion on the motion, said motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

Handout No. 05-14-Authorization to seek bids for inmate medical services in the Kenton County Detention Center, Ivan Frye reporting:  Mr. Frye advised the court that this is a request to solicit proposals for medical care for inmates at the Kenton County Detention Center with one provider being responsible for medical, dental and pharmaceuticals.  He advised that this process is one of many under consideration to compare current costs of providing services in the detention center in comparison to those costs associated with the privatization or bundling of services to receive a better overall price.

Commissioner Humpert reminded those present that when North Key had made their presentation to the court there had been discussions concerning the possible availability of advanced nurse practitioners to help reduce costs.  He inquired as to whether this classification had been incorporated in this process.

Mr. Frye advised that in the bidding process the county will specify levels of service to be provided and timeline for those services.  How the services are provided would be left to the bidders in the submission of their proposals.

Deputy Judge Kimmich said it was appropriate to note on the record that a template secured from another agency was being sanitized to remove proprietary information or agency specific requirements used by another jurisdiction in the bidding process and that county representatives have discussed this template with the vendor.

Commissioner Humpert questioned how best to make this public to protect the bidding process.

County Attorney Edmondson advised that the statement entered upon the record by the deputy judge satisfies the requirements of advising the public of any communications with prospective vendors in the process.

Commissioner Black confirmed with the county attorney that his disclosure would not negate any specific vendor from participating in the bidding process.  Mr. Edmondson responded in the affirmative.

Mr. Frye advised the court that the bidding documents have been distilled and that he was quite certain there was nothing proprietary in the current draft document under review by his office.

Commissioner Koenig moved approval of the request to proceed with bidding medical services.  Commissioner Black seconded the motion and there being no further discussion on the motion, said motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

Handout No. 05-15-Authorization to seek bids for the privatization of food service in the Kenton County Detention Center, Ivan Frye reporting:  Mr. Frye advised that this request is similar to the request just approved in that it is a measure to develop comparative data with the data we have for providing food service as an in house operation.  He further advised that the receipt of this information will coincide with the planned review of incoming bids for non-perishable items currently in use in the detention center.

Commissioner Black moved approval of the request to proceed with bidding food services for the Kenton County Detention Center.  Commissioner Humpert seconded the motion and there being no further discussion on the motion, said motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

Handout No. 05-16-Grant permission to declare surplus a phone switch from the Kenton County Police Department and authorize the disposal of same, Ivan Frye reporting:  Mr. Frye advised the court with the installation of the new phone system at the Kenton County Police Department has rendered obsolete the phone switch in question and that the phone company was unwilling to offer a discount on the current system for the switch due to changes in technology.  Mr. Frye advised the plan to offer the system to other agencies that may have a use for the switching mechanism.

Commissioner Black requested that the non-profit agencies that currently receive funding through COLT be notified that this switch is available as it may be better than what some of them currently have in their facilities.  Mr. Frye advised that these agencies would be notified by the county.

Commissioner Humpert moved approval of the request to proceed with declaring a phone switch removed from the police department as surplus and authorizing the disposition of said equipment. Commissioner Koenig seconded the motion and there being no further discussion on the motion, said motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

Executive Orders

Board and Commission Appointments:

Executive Order No. 05-18-Reappointment of Robert Cook to the Kenton Fire Protection District for a three-year term ending April 1, 2008.   Commissioner Black moved approval of the order. Commissioner Humpert seconded the motion and there being no further discussion on the motion, said motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

Executive Order No. 05-19-Reappointment of Elmer Schmidt to the Kenton County Police Merit Board for a four-year term expiring March 21, 2009.  Judge Drees said Mr. Scmidt had been a longtime member of this board, provided a valuable service to the department and brings a lot of experience in law enforcement to the board having retired from Covington as an assistant chief. He advised that it was this background that led him to offer Mr. Schmidt's name for consideration.

Colonel Bill Dorsey confirmed Mr. Schmidt's service to the city of Covington and further advised that Mr. Schmidt has been an active participant in activity at the department who was unafraid to speak his mind and offer valuable input.

Commissioner Koenig moved approval of the order. Commissioner Black seconded the motion and there being no further discussion on the motion, said motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

Executive Order No. 05-20-Reappointment of Joann Walsburger to the Board of Assessment Appeals for a term expiring May 13, 2008.   Commissioner Humpert moved approval of the order. Commissioner Black seconded the motion and there being no further discussion on the motion, said motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

Executive Order No. 05-24-Appointment of James Horner to the Kenton County Public Library District Board to fill the unexpired term of Anthony Durso.  Commissioner Black said she would vote for the appointment although she wanted the public to know that this appointment is a rubber stamp of an appointee submitted by the state.  She said she does not like being a rubber stamp in this or other situations, but that this is one instance in which the court has no options.

Commissioner Humpert said he would vouch for Mr. Horner as he has known him for quite some time.  Deputy Judge Kimmich advised that Mr. John Toelke of the Kenton County Library Board also expressed high regard for Mr. Horner.

Commissioner Humpert moved approval of the order. Commissioner Black seconded the motion and there being no further discussion on the motion, said motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

Personnel:

Executive Order No. 05-21-Appointment of Gerald Jones and Roland Robison as seasonal employees in the Department of Parks and Recreation/Golf Division; and Vicky Schulte as seasonal maintenance in the Department of Parks and Recreation, effective March 29, 2005.  Commissioner Koenig made the motion to approve the appointments.  Commissioner Humpert seconded the motion and there being no further discussion on the motion, said motion carried unanimously on a voice vote.

Executive Order No. 05-22-An order accepting the resignation of Richard Lowe as an equipment operator in the Department of Parks and Recreation/Golf Division, effective March 29, 2005.  Commissioner Black made the motion to approve the appointment.  Commissioner Humpert seconded the motion and there being no further discussion on the motion, said motion carried unanimously on a voice vote

Executive Order No. 05-23-Appointment of James Monson as advanced equipment
operator in the Department of Public Works, effective April 6, 2004.  Commissioner Humpert made the motion to approve the appointment.  Commissioner Koenig seconded the motion and there being no further discussion on the motion, said motion carried unanimously on a voice vote

Citizens' Address

There were no citizens seeking recognition of the court.

Staff Reports

Deputy Judge Kimmich advised that Governor Ernie Fletcher has appointed Kenton County Police Chief Colonel William C. Dorsey to the KLEC Board.  This is the board responsible for the development of training curriculum for police officers from throughout Kentucky.

Deputy Judge Kimmich also advised that the U. S. Department of Justice has announced the award of funds for the local law enforcement block grants (LLEBG) and that the overall portion being returned to the local jurisdictions is greatly increased over previous years.

Mr. Kimmich informed the court that Colonel Dorsey had negotiated an agreement whereby Kenton County would receive $38,000 from this year's grant, more than double those funds received in 2004, $14,000 and requested authorization of the fiscal court for Judge Ralph Drees to execute an agreement to the split of funds between Kenton County, Covington and Erlanger.

Commissioner Black made the motion to approve the request for authorization for Judge Ralph Drees to execute an agreement for a split of funds through the LLEBG.  Commissioner Humpert seconded the motion and there being no further discussion on the motion, said motion carried unanimously on a voice vote

Mr. Frye advised he had nothing else to bring before the court at this time.

Mr. Joe Shriver had nothing further to report.

County Attorney's Report:  Mr. Edmondson advised he had nothing to bring before the court at this time.

Commissioners' Reports

Commissioner Humpert advised he had nothing to bring before the court at this time.

Commissioner Black advised she had nothing to bring before the court at this time.

Commissioner Koenig said he wanted to go on the record stating that he had asked the deputy judge about the willingness of the Kenton Fire Protection District to work on maintaining ALS services for the District and that his vote in favor of his re-appointment was predicated on an assurance that Kenton is working to resolve this issue and maintain ALS service.

Adjournment

Advising that he had nothing else to being before the court Judge-Executive Ralph Drees requested a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Humpert made the motion to adjourn with Commissioner Black's second.  The court was adjourned following unanimous approval.