New Lease For Fairground’s Discussed – Amended Budget Certificate Lowered to $8,882,928 – Goose Creek Crossing

The first meeting today features discussion and work on a new 20 year lease at $1 a year between the Preble County Commissioners and the Preble County Agricultural Society. This could be finished up as early as Wednesday, February 17. At issue is the liability protection of the County Commissioners who hold title to the property for the citizens of Preble County. The concern from the county side appears to be building a firewall of protection against claims like a steam engine explosion and barn fire suffered elsewhere in the state. Another issue that arose was the current condition of the Preble County Fairgrounds and the responsibility of maintenance and repair. Representatives for the Ag Society at one point brought up that current damage should be noted in the new lease. Commissioners maintain that the Ag Society has held the lease for up to 140 years and should have been addressing the issues all along and hold that it is required by Ohio Revised Code. The crux of the debate appeared to be that this was a new lease with new signers. The commissioners’ stance appears to be that the lease is for $1 a year and the responsibility should fall on the Ag Society. Joe Kimball from the Society will call a special meeting of that organization's board and the hope of the commission is to finish the new deal next week. CORSA will insure the buildings for the county but the Society will be required to have liability insurance for events held under their management. At the Budget Commission meeting it may have only been February but the Amended certificate was reduced $291,000   from $9,173,928 to $8,882,928. The Auditor has concern that as unemployment benefits run out it will negatively impact property tax collections. Real Estate taxes was the only segment of county income really up last year. Marty Votel mentioned there was some disagreement on the Budget Committee over the almost $300,000 reduction. There is also concern over surrounding counties lowering their tax valuations. On the Goose Creek front a representative from Kleingers told the County Commissioners and those in Chambers: ..Certainly grants by themselves are not going to get it done. Really for any piece of this roadway, infrastructure or water, waste water. Again, we need some direction, what the tolerance is for some of the funding, loans. The water wells look like they will be capable of putting out 150,000 gallons a day per well. The Pilot truck stop has shown interest in tapping in and they currently use 8000 gallons a day. Rough numbers on current Rt. 127 - Orphans Rd. Scheying Rd. and Hazelwood Dr. were put at $2.6 million - $3 million for the first phase roadway build out.  The cost of adding water and sewer to the Travel America Truck stop was put at $495,000. Commissioner Stonecash reported that the Pork Fest had agreed to have the Bennett letter go away and not lock up the Expo building on February 6. There is supposed to be a meeting on February 25 at 7:00 p.m. with the full boards of both the Preble County Pork Festival and the Preble County Agricultural Society invited. On the countywide Broadband Internet front prospects continued to dim. Commissioner Dave Wesler mentioned having spoken to a DP&L official about claims made in a recent Connect Ohio meeting in commission chambers.  According to Wesler the DP&L official felt that by the time a county fiber loop was completed it may well be rendered obsolete by microwave. The County Engineer was in for his monthly meeting but it was not reviewed. Preble County, Ohio County Commissioners February 8, 2010 Meeting audio and review File 1 Opening End 3.04 minute mark on CD, 721kb File 2 9:15 A.M. – JOE KIMBALL (FAIRGROUNDS LEASE AGREEMENT) 9 minute mark     $1 a year - for 20 years 10 minute mark     one week to get it executed. 11 minute mark     commissioners shall maintain insurance... 12 minute mark     CORSA would provide commission insurance for structure. 13minute mark     David - this takes the pressure off of us that you guys still have insurance for any damage that was done for catastrophic. County insurance covers events like tornado... CORSA insures the buildings. If there was negligence like a tractor pull or a fair employee there could be an attempt to collect under the other liabilty. 16 minute mark     Does not normal wear & tear include dry rot?  Currently there is termite damage.   18 minute mark     Bob - if for 140 years the Agricultural Society has maintained it and now we walk around and see all these dry rots who's fault would that be? If it's a $1 a year lease doesn't that require proper maintenance by the Agricultural Society? 20 minute mark     Chris - I think the issue you are confusing here is that you are obligated by ORC to be doing this anyway. You've been in charge of t he Fairgrounds so whatever your assuming, your assuming by your Society previously. So I guess I fail to see ... Commissioners position is that the Ag Society has been in charge of maintaining the site by ORC and that renewing the lease means the Society should be still be responsible for what the Society has not previously done. Apparently they (Joe?) wants released from prior condition caused by prior boards’ inactions. End 25 minute mark on cd   22 minutes - 5.03 MB File 3 Chris Day - believes it is a mute point.... Downside of being on the Board 26 minute mark     Bob -  same thing happened when we became commissioners. 27 minute mark     Joe - Question on how many county fairs have contracts with their commissioners and claim of less than 50% Dave - need to reduce "county" liability. 29 minute mark     Additional liability insurance will be required of fair board and buildings for Society events. Need of insurance when events are liability held. 38.5 minute mark     accomplish this by next Wednesday. Commissioners own the grounds, Society is responsible for up keep. 42 minute mark     Scheduled back in on February 17. End 46.5 minute mark on cd   21.33 minutes - 4.93 MB File 4 10:00 A.M. – JOB & FAMILY SVS. MONTHLY MEETING 47 minute mark      Last unemployment rate that we got was 12.3% 51.7 minute mark     Linda Ray retiring June 30. IN Administrator, been there at least 25 years. 58 minute mark     David - question on Steven Kiefer and ACHIEVE. Becky Sorrell - Looks like a good thing to me. End 1hr. 1.5 minute mark on cd   15.02 minutes - 3.44 MB File 5 10:30 A.M. – BUDGET COMMISSION MONTHLY MEETING 1 hr.  6 minute mark     Mindy - Property tax chart Calendar years 05 & 06 . 1 hr.  8 minute mark     Some of the other counties have reduced their property valuations 1 hr.  10 minute mark    Sales Tax was a little bit higher than what it was in 2003. Sales tax in 2009 was $3,963,000 Sales tax in 2003 was $3,940,000 Cash Balance for General Fund on February 1, 2010 -  $1,045,411.11 Cash Balance for General Fund on February 5, 2010    $832,587.68 Estimated Cash Balance for February 10, 2010                 $782,859.51 1 hr.  14.5 minute mark    January income fell short of estimate by $57,000 Sales tax exceeded estimates by almost $25,000 Advances from Goose Creek were $87,500 that had not been refunded. (It has now) 1 hr.  16.25 minute mark    Budget Commission reduces Amended Certificate $291,000   from $9,173,928  to $8,882,928  1 hr.  18.75 minute mark    Claim of unemployment averaging 12.4% for 2009.  People exhausting unemployment. 1 hr.  20.5 minute mark    Budget Commission has reduced estimated 2010 Sales tax from $4,265,000 to $3,965,000 Property tax valuations estimate lowered $70,500 to $1,614,310. 1 hr.  30 minute mark   Marty Votel in room 1 hr.  31.5 minute mark   Chris - we better start looking at our appropriations 1 hr.  32.5 minute mark   Marty Votel - Some disagreement on budget commission about reducing certificate $300,000. (may lead to lay-offs) 1 hr.  36.5 minute mark   Bob - we have to look at this very seriously, where do you project the balance at the end of the year. Mindy - feels $800,000 is plausible. 1 hr.  37.75 minute mark   Bob - but by doing that we are going backwards. 1 hr.  39 minute mark   Mindy - over last 6 - 7 months expenditures have bee running close to $600,000 figure. 1 hr.  41.75 minute mark   Mindy believes property tax will be down $70,000 in part because of unemployment funds running out. End 1hr. 45.25 minute mark on cd   43.44 minutes - 10 MB File 6 Mary Bullen  in office to announce  HIT foundation - New Director - Bill Hutton. Previously had interviewed a few years ago for County Administrator post and worked at Bullens. End 1hr. 46.6minute mark on cd   1.11minutes - 280 kb File 7 11:00 A.M. – COUNTY ENGINEER MONTHLY MEETING End 2hr. 6 minute mark on cd   19.2 minutes - 4.43 MB File 8 COUNTY ENGINEER MONTHLY MEETING End 2hr. 17.25 minute mark on cd   11.15 minutes - 2.57 MB **** RECESS UNTIL 1:30 P.M. **** File 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 1:30 P.M. – GOOSE CREEK CROSSING FUNDING MEETING 2 hr.  20.5 minute mark   Local revenue source discussion for matching g