Transcript — Vigo County Council, 2026-08-11

Machine transcription of the recording of the Vigo County Council meeting on 2026-08-11, aligned to the video timeline. This is not the official record — the clerk's minutes are, and this is unreviewed automatic speech recognition that mis-hears names and numbers. Check anything that matters against the recording.

Each line is stamped with its position in the recording, both as a clock time and as [t=SECONDS]. Those are the same seconds the archive's source links use: open the recording and add &t=<seconds> to jump to any line.

Speakers were separated automatically and named from the meeting's speaker roster where the evidence supported it; an unnamed voice is shown as Speaker <n>, which is a machine label and not a person's name.

Transcript

0:00:00 [t=0] Speaker 0: Please rise for the pledge.
0:00:11 [t=11] Speaker 3: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
0:00:24 [t=24] Speaker 6 (chair): All right, you guys want to proceed with roll call, please?
0:00:33 [t=33] Speaker 10 (clerk): David Thompson is on a business trip. Brad Anderson? Here. Brenda Wilson?
0:00:39 [t=39] Speaker 12 (clerk): Here. Nancy Alsop? Here. Randy Gentry? Here. Vicki Wager? Here. Steve Ellis? Here.
0:00:47 [t=47] Speaker 15 (chair): All right. Correction of the journal. Proceeding meetings if needed. This would be the June 2, 2026 Sunshine Meeting, page 32.
0:01:13 [t=73] Speaker 18: Mr. President, point of order. Yes, sir.
0:01:16 [t=76] Speaker 20: Just to remind, we passed rules back in February, and the videotaping of our proceedings always take precedence. Correct.
0:01:30 [t=90] Speaker 21: Motion to approve.
0:01:32 [t=92] Speaker 22 (chair): Motion by Councilman Gentry to approve.
0:01:36 [t=96] Second.
0:01:36 [t=96] Speaker 22 (chair): Second by Councilwoman Wager. Roll call, please.
0:01:43 [t=103] Speaker 25 (clerk): David Thompson. Brad Anderson? Aye. Vicki Wager? Aye. Steve Ellis?
0:01:50 [t=110] Speaker 12 (clerk): Aye. Randy Gentry? Aye. Nancy Alsop?
0:01:53 [t=113] Speaker 28: Aye. Brenda Wilson? Aye.
0:01:55 [t=115] Speaker 15 (chair): All right, moving on to June 9, 20, 26 meeting, page 36.
0:02:00 [t=120] Speaker 22 (chair): Once again, to Councilman Gentry's point, we are looking at that, but also the video will always take precedence.
0:02:16 [t=136] Speaker 21: Motion to approve.
0:02:21 [t=141] Speaker 22 (chair): Motion to approve by Councilman Gentry.
0:02:24 [t=144] Speaker 33: I second it.
0:02:26 [t=146] Speaker 24: Second by Councilwoman Alsup. Roll call, please.
0:02:30 [t=150] Speaker 12 (clerk): David Thompson. Brad Anderson. Aye. Brenda Wilson. Aye. Nancy Alsup. Aye. Randy Gentry. Aye. Vicki Weger. Aye. Steve Ellis.
0:02:38 [t=158] Speaker 22 (chair): Aye. All right, communications from elected officials, other officials or agencies of the county.
0:02:44 [t=164] Speaker 39: Councilman Gentry.
0:02:47 [t=167] Randy Gentry (councillor): Council is going to discuss an appropriation to community corrections. Based on our rules, we would be prohibited from taking that appropriation up based on the fact that we are not allowed to review an item that had been voted down for 12 months thus i will be requesting that we make a motion that rule 10 of the council rules be modified to allow us to review an appropriation that had been denied previously after six months instead of 12 months so i would modify rule 10 so I make that motion so that we can proceed later in this meeting all right
0:03:46 [t=226] Speaker 22 (chair): motion by Councilman Gentry seconded but seconded by Councilwoman all set
0:03:53 [t=233] Brenda Wilson (councillor): discussion I'm not sure since we're not attorneys that we should be doing anything like this without our council president okay are you suggesting that
0:04:03 [t=243] Speaker 30 (chair): we do not vote on this okay are you making a motion to modify the motion sure yes we have a motion by councilwoman Wilson to table is that where
0:04:23 [t=263] Brenda Wilson (councillor): I'm good I don't want put words in your mouth yes let's table this until we have the our attorney present to oversee and get questions answered about it okay so
0:04:32 [t=272] Speaker 30 (chair): So there's a motion on the table to amend the motion by Councilwoman Wilson to table
0:04:39 [t=279] Speaker 22 (chair): this and not vote on it until our attorney is present. Do we have a second to that?
0:04:45 [t=285] Speaker 57: You have a motion on the floor.
0:04:47 [t=287] Speaker 58: You have a motion on the floor that we have to deal with first, I guess.
0:04:52 [t=292] Speaker 60: Okay.
0:04:55 [t=295] Speaker 22 (chair): Further discussion before we move forward? please keep in mind this will take a two-thirds majority vote which means it would take five
0:05:05 [t=305] Speaker 64: people to pass we have a motion yes sir mr gentry rule 10 you're going to modify that
0:05:17 [t=317] Speaker 66: Rule 10 says what we can
0:05:22 [t=322] Speaker 69: Rule 10 Councilman Anderson
0:05:25 [t=325] Randy Gentry (councillor): Rule 10 currently prohibits this council from taking action on an item that had previously been denied and so we had discussed a month ago that we could not vote on the community corrections 200,000 because it had been stripped by the budget committee and then voted on by the entire council. So to modify Rule 10 from 12 months to six months, since it's been more than six months, it would then allow us to go back today and then vote on that $200,000. So the Rule 10 changes from 12. I'm asking for a change of Rule 10 from 12 months to six months, which would then open the door for us to vote.
0:06:12 [t=372] Speaker 71: So when could we vote on it?
0:06:15 [t=375] Randy Gentry (councillor): Tonight, because the denial of the $200,000 was last fall.
0:06:21 [t=381] Speaker 73: Okay, from the budget? Yes. Okay, that was my question.
0:06:24 [t=384] Randy Gentry (councillor): Yes, it has never been voted on. The $200,000 was not voted on.
0:06:32 [t=392] Speaker 76: It was taken out of the budget, and then the council voted to take that out.
0:06:36 [t=396] Speaker 51: Thanks for that clarification. That eliminates my...
0:06:40 [t=400] Speaker 78: Are you okay with that?
0:06:41 [t=401] Speaker 51: Yes, thank you.
0:06:42 [t=402] Speaker 60: all right any further discussion or concerns from counsel all right we have
0:06:48 [t=408] Speaker 22 (chair): a motion in a second roll call please and once again I want to repeat what this is for this is what we are currently voting on is rule number 10 we want to change the time frame that it takes to vote on something that was previously denied or turned down or voted down from a one-year period or a 12-month period to a six-month period that is what we are voting on roll call
0:07:10 [t=430] Speaker 48: please. Question. Yes, sir. Is that a permanent? Yes, I intend that the motion to be permanent
0:07:17 [t=437] Brenda Wilson (councillor): until new rules are adopted. Okay. Point of clarification, just to be sure. Yes. This means that we can vote on this community corrections tonight. Correct. We would be able to vote
0:07:29 [t=449] Speaker 60: tonight. Thank you. All right. Any other further discussion? I'm sorry. No, you're fine. It's
0:07:34 [t=454] Speaker 10 (clerk): good to have it clarified. Yep. All right. Roll call, please. David Thompson. Brad Anderson. Aye. Brenda Wilson. Aye. Nancy Alsop. Aye. Randy Gentry. Aye. Mickey Wager. Aye. Steve Ellis. Aye. Motion passes 6-0.
0:07:50 [t=470] Speaker 22 (chair): All right. Any other communications from elected officials, other officials, or agencies?
0:07:57 [t=477] Diana Smith (staff): Yes, ma'am. Diana Smith, Vigo County Recorder. I wanted to take an opportunity to address.
0:08:04 [t=484] Speaker 90: Is your mic on? Yes. Okay. Perfect. Thank you.
0:08:07 [t=487] Diana Smith (staff): I wanted to take an opportunity to address the suggestions that Commissioner Morris presented regarding the Beagle County Recorder's office. At no time has Commissioner Morris reached out to me to discuss my office, my staff or the services we provide. I am therefore concerned about how these suggestions were presented without first having a conversation with myself. I have concerns about the impact of this position may have, not only to the recorder's office, but potentially to the public defender's office as well.
0:08:44 [t=524] Diana Smith (staff): Decisions that affect county offices and public deserves communication, transparency, and an opportunity for those directly involved to be heard. This situation has serious concerns for me regarding trust and integrity. Moving forward, it is important that information shared with county officials, department heads, and the public is accurate, transparent, and communicated in good faith. Trust is essential to the way we work together for the people of the county.
0:09:21 [t=561] Diana Smith (staff): In the email that I sent the council, I provided specific numbers outlining what the Recorder's Office contributes back to the County General Fund, as well as the services and support we provide to the other offices within this building. I believe those facts should be considered when discussing any proposal changes involving the Recorder's Office. My goal is not to create conflict. My goal is to ensure that the recorder's office, its employees, the taxpayers we serve treated fairly,
0:09:59 [t=599] Diana Smith (staff): and that decisions are based on facts, communications, and a clear understanding of the work being done every day.
0:10:08 [t=608] Speaker 95: Thank you very much.
0:10:11 [t=611] Speaker 22 (chair): Any other public, or not public yet, but any other communications from elected officials, other officials?
0:10:18 [t=618] Speaker 30 (chair): all right moving on to public comment any public comment all right reports from
0:10:27 [t=627] Speaker 99: committees budget committee any updates we have we have budget committee meetings
0:10:36 [t=636] Speaker 30 (chair): tomorrow and the next couple days okay thank you any further all right
0:10:48 [t=648] Speaker 60: All right, resolutions and ordinances other than appropriations.
0:10:58 [t=658] Speaker 22 (chair): Resolution of reallocation of existing appropriation 2026-2, transfer of funds, page 9, IT.
0:11:07 [t=667] Speaker 108: Any questions on this?
0:11:12 [t=672] Randy Gentry (councillor): Mr. President.
0:11:14 [t=674] Speaker 19: Yes, sir.
0:11:15 [t=675] Randy Gentry (councillor): We had a great conversation. Thank you for taking the time to chat about this. Thank you. It seems at the surface level that this was a very simplistic move of money from one pot to another pot to cover some expenses. but after a very detailed conversation I've come to the conclusion that while I don't oppose this $40,000 transfer I think you've even concluded that this is actually a kind of a situation that maybe we have to rethink this a little bit as well and maybe have to come back in a future month to to get this right so
0:11:59 [t=719] Randy Gentry (councillor): Just for public record, the $40,000 is coming out of a fund that was designed to replace aging and older Vigo County employee equipment. so by pulling that $40,000 from that fund and putting the $40,000 into this contractual services and we really don't know what the contractual services are going to cost at the end of this right that's correct so exactly I would encourage the council to and and I ask you to come back as well I think we're going to have to re-establish that $40,000 because you relayed to me that this is actually going to be a detriment.
0:12:50 [t=770] Randy Gentry (councillor): You're going to slow down the equipment renewal, and we all know what it's like working on a computer that has aged out and is no longer getting updates, those types of things.
0:13:01 [t=781] Speaker 111: Unfortunately, we do have some of those still. Yeah.
0:13:04 [t=784] Randy Gentry (councillor): So, you know, council, as far as the $40,000 goes, he may actually need more than $40,000. That is just an educated guess as to the services required. I think it's also important that the council know in our conversation, as well as the research that I did, that there's new federal laws coming into play. And very much like stores and retail locations and government parking lots must have ADA compliant spaces, websites are going to be mandated to follow ADA compliance. And very, very specific rules that will require that this county as well as businesses comply.
0:13:52 [t=832] Randy Gentry (councillor): and so part of this $40,000 is at least a start to get our website ADA compliant so that we will not be fined by the federal government and that rollout's April 27 and April 28, I think.
0:14:10 [t=850] Speaker 112: Yeah, end of April, I think you're right.
0:14:13 [t=853] Randy Gentry (councillor): So, council, there's more work to be done on this and I would encourage a future appropriation for the $40,000 back into the fund that he's currently asking for this money so that we can continue to update our equipment and keep our equipment new. The other thing is we've got to stay on top of this from the standpoint that if you were paying attention recently in the news, it's easy for foreign entities to try to hack into government equipment. so we must keep our equipment top-notch and uh we try to make it not easy but yeah so there's a lot
0:14:54 [t=894] Randy Gentry (councillor): of reasons to do this thank you thank you by the way for your time on the phone the other day thank
0:14:58 [t=898] Speaker 98: you appreciate appreciate your time a question uh you're talking about more money in the future what
0:15:03 [t=903] Speaker 116 (staff): kind of door are we talking about well we're trying to address that in the budget committee with the new equipment raised there i mean the price of computers are going up they've almost doubled so we're trying to address it there putting the 40,000 back in eventually would help that's a decent we've replaced a lot this year but taking money out of there is going to slow that down a little bit and we still have some older computers just can tell you we do surveys all the time and there's some old ones still out there unfortunately that will be at the top of the list that
0:15:37 [t=937] Speaker 116 (staff): we can still get this year with that money so any further discussion I just
0:15:43 [t=943] Speaker 20: would follow up yeah I just follow up council member wager I believe that what
0:15:50 [t=950] Randy Gentry (councillor): I was suggesting is is to give him the 40,000 back into the equipment fund to make sure that we continue to upgrade our computers to stave off any problems
0:16:02 [t=962] Speaker 20: that we may have if we don't so do we have any emotions on the table motion to
0:16:09 [t=969] Speaker 22 (chair): approve motion by councilman Gentry second second by a councilman Anderson
0:16:14 [t=974] Speaker 6 (chair): once again we are voting on resolution this is 2026-02 roll call please David
0:16:22 [t=982] Speaker 10 (clerk): Thompson Brad Anderson hi Brenda Wilson Nancy also Randy Gentry hi Vicki
0:16:29 [t=989] Speaker 125 (chair): wager hi Steve Bell hi thank you all right moving to 2026 in dash to
0:16:40 [t=1000] Speaker 128: council president that ordinance for establishing Vigo County Sheriff's Office ordinance 2026 dash to has been withdrawn at this time okay thank you
0:16:50 [t=1010] Speaker 129: very much 2026 for
0:16:55 [t=1015] Speaker 133: give me some heads up on that I wasn't aware it's been withdrawn my apologies
0:17:05 [t=1025] Speaker 137: I had a different information I apologize go ahead sir oh I'm sorry okay
0:17:10 [t=1030] Jeff Fox (staff): members of the council Jeff Fox for the sheriff's office in regards to this ordinance establishing the Sheriff's Office Ordinance Bureau at the last meeting there was a conversation concerning authority on who should pass this ordinance I was contacted by attorney modesty with who serves as a county attorney who said that the amicable solution that he would propose and again I can't speak for his conversations was that simply both parties approve it so if the council approves it then the commissioner should approve it and then we've solved the issue that way there's no discussion as
0:17:47 [t=1067] Jeff Fox (staff): to who has proper authority. Councilman Gentry had also suggested that the ordinance or the language be placed into a current ordinance that there was no need to have one outstanding and so we recommend to the council as I sent to all of you that the language simply be placed into the animal control ordinance that's the most applicable place for it and therefore both parties could approve
0:18:13 [t=1093] Jeff Fox (staff): and we can move on to the next topic. It's really pretty straightforward. There's no cost here. Again, as I explained to you folks before, we're just simply trying to meet the trial court technology's requirements that it be established so that we can cite people under these two applicable ordinances. And so I was not aware of any other conversations other than what Mr. Mata said had relayed and that I sent all of you an email based upon his suggestion and the appropriate change in language location. We're not changing the language, so it still could be addressed tonight.
0:18:52 [t=1132] Jeff Fox (staff): We simply placed it into the animal control ordinance as opposed to having a separate ordinance established in the Bureau.
0:18:58 [t=1138] Okay.
0:19:00 [t=1140] Speaker 146: Do you have questions?
0:19:02 [t=1142] Randy Gentry (councillor): Yeah. Mr. President.
0:19:04 [t=1144] Speaker 39: Councilman Gentry.
0:19:06 [t=1146] Randy Gentry (councillor): Several conversations, multiple phone calls on this. I have major concerns as I talk to both Terry Modisett and our council attorney that has been delayed in her arrival tonight. I think one of the things that we have to look at is 33-36-3-1, that's Indiana code, and 33-36-2-1.
0:19:36 [t=1176] Randy Gentry (councillor): there's a sequence of events that must occur whereby we would name a ordinance clerk and then we would need to define exactly what the penalties were in regards to these ordinances
0:19:54 [t=1194] Randy Gentry (councillor): this has long been established as something that was done by the commissioners the fact that there is currently an ordinance on the books that the commissioners actually had passed,
0:20:08 [t=1208] Randy Gentry (councillor): and we are going into a mode where we would change this and try to adopt an ordinance tonight
0:20:17 [t=1217] Randy Gentry (councillor): that not only establishes the sheriff essentially as the clerk of the ordinance bureau, it allows the sheriff to appoint potentially even higher administrative staff clerical personnel law enforcement officers and other staff as deemed necessary so in the conversations that I had with both our County Attorney Terry Modisett and our council attorney it became clear that there was a need to
0:20:53 [t=1253] Randy Gentry (councillor): take another deeper look at this and determine exactly what was actually being asked for and to make sure that we got this right rather than to vote on it so i was under the impression coming into tonight's meeting that this was to be either requested to be tabled for further review or
0:21:13 [t=1273] Speaker 150: withdrawn i'm not sure which language was used but um that that was the last conversations that i had
0:21:20 [t=1280] Speaker 22 (chair): sir. Thank you. I Jeff, I apologize. I also had that same information. I thought it was tabled as well, so I don't I don't if we are going to vote on this tonight, I for one need at least a minute here to read over this just a little bit more because I thought it was
0:21:37 [t=1297] Speaker 158: tabled because there were some issues. Yeah, I'm not aware of any issues. You know, again, obviously the county attorney is not concerned about it because he's recommended that we bring it to the commissioners as well and they'll amend the ordinance so you know he reviewed this document so you know I can't I can't speak for so the
0:22:01 [t=1321] Jeff Fox (staff): county attorney other than we're required by the trial court technologies to establish an ordinance bureau so that if we cite somebody for the two
0:22:11 [t=1331] Jeff Fox (staff): applicable ordinances that they are simply cited to the sheriff's office as opposed to first of all we can't cite them to the sheriff's office so we have no choice but to then either cite them under indiana statute and we can't cite them under the county ordinance or the only applicable court which mr roberts is here today he could speak to this he was part of this conversation i would assume has to be to the court of authority which is a decision by the prosecutor's office so therefore then where do we write an ordinance that says
0:22:44 [t=1364] Jeff Fox (staff): the ordinance shall the fine shall be paid to the sheriff's office and deposited into the two applicable funds which are non reverting funds that are established by council rule and therefore the ordinances have already specified that in regards to mr. Gentry I understand your your point but everything in this ordinance has already been established we already have clerks at the sheriff's office who receive money under these ordinances today we already have deputy sheriffs who are ordinance officers all police officers that are you know sworn in by the sheriff
0:23:24 [t=1404] Jeff Fox (staff): our deputy sheriffs and so we are we are entrusted to enforce counting ordinances so you know I don't think anything in here and I respect your your concerns but I can't find anything in here that would be you know alarming and again I have to go by what I'm being told by the county attorney and mr. Modison and obviously he's the prosecutor mr. Roberts may can may be able to share something concerning this but we are simply trying to be able to follow the county ordinance which is be able to issue a citation to someone who has
0:24:03 [t=1443] Jeff Fox (staff): violated the two ordinances that say you shall pay your fines to the sheriff's office to a non reverting fund the other ordinances aren't there is no language there that does that so therefore if we cite somebody for another county ordinance we have to cite those to the applicable court of jurisdiction and I believe again I will defer to the prosecutor which I believe in this case is division for court so all we're trying to do is follow the ordinances that were established by the commissioners that simply say if you're
0:24:38 [t=1478] Jeff Fox (staff): citing somebody for animal control it's cited to the sheriff's office and you pay your fine and then if you're cited under the false alarm ordinance which is too many alarms if you're cited for those violations you bring those those to the sheriff's office you pay your fine to the sheriff's office it's deposited into the non reverting account we have been doing this now since those
0:25:04 [t=1504] Jeff Fox (staff): ordinances were put in place and so but those always required us to send a letter to these folks and say hey you you know you violated this ordinance and so we simply don't want to continue to do that it makes no sense that we continue to do that you know we and the prosecutor and the courts want us to remain electronic for a lot of good reasons accountability issues and all those kind of things and so just randomly sending letters to people as opposed to following that plus if somebody wants a dispute you know there's a
0:25:46 [t=1546] Jeff Fox (staff): there's a legal standard and process for people who want to dispute a traffic ticket if you will as an example well this would be no other if I issued a
0:25:55 [t=1555] Jeff Fox (staff): citation for an animal control violation and you wanted to dispute that then there's a there's a process that started there that the prosecutor's office then
0:26:04 [t=1564] Jeff Fox (staff): manages that and defers that if I send you a letter that says oh by the way you know your animals were running at large and we want you to come in and pay a fine well how what is the applicable management of that letter and so we're just trying to come into compliance with how the the state statutes and the county ordinances and and how we do business every day so I I don't have any other explanation I mean I can give you an example we had an ordinance violation of dogs running at large that killed another animal, and we had to cite it into Division IV court
0:26:45 [t=1605] Jeff Fox (staff): because we couldn't cite it to the sheriff's office for them to pay their fines. I'm sure that's perfectly fine, and I'm sure the prosecutor's office can address that, but I don't know if the judge is going to be real happy that he's busy managing animal complaints instead of dealing with criminal matters. So, I mean, I respect that,
0:27:05 [t=1625] Speaker 162: but we're just trying to streamline and make us more efficient and do what we need to do. The state of Indiana just told us this was what had to be done.
0:27:14 [t=1634] Randy Gentry (councillor): Mr. Fox, under 33, Indiana Code 33-36-3-1 and 33-36-2-1,
0:27:23 [t=1643] Randy Gentry (councillor): my concern is that the first layer of this is an ordinance clerk. The ordinance clerk is established. In most jurisdictions, that is the county clerk, or in a city jurisdiction, that is typically the clerk treasurer. And the process is, as you talked about appeals, it's clearly outlined in Indiana law that the appeal would occur to the ordinance clerk, and then the ordinance clerk, if it's not resolved, would then forward it on to the courts. So I think we're on the same page. we want to do this right and we want to get this all squared away.
0:28:07 [t=1687] Randy Gentry (councillor): I'm just not sure that this is the fix that gets you to where you want to go. Maybe ultimately it does, but I'm afraid that if we pass this, it would be contrary to Indiana law, and I'm not in the business of wanting to pass county ordinances that don't necessarily comply. So the best case scenario would be is I'm glad to make a motion. I'm not making that motion right now, Mr. President, but I'd be glad to make a motion to table it to allow the lawyers to once again discuss this
0:28:41 [t=1721] Randy Gentry (councillor): as I thought that they were supposed to be doing in the last week.
0:28:46 [t=1726] Speaker 166: Well, there is, in light of that, you know,
0:28:50 [t=1730] Jeff Fox (staff): there is an immunity and liability section of this ordinance that basically says if you guys do something, you violate statute, we just don't do it. I mean, it's pretty straightforward, right? So, you know, there's an immunity and liability section that says nothing in this ordinance shall be construed to create a private right or an action against Vigo County, the sheriff's office, or any employee with the scope of their official duties, and that we shall retain immunities and protections under statute. So, I mean, I understand that, and I respect that, and it specifically addresses Indiana
0:29:25 [t=1765] Randy Gentry (councillor): code 3336 in this ordinance so you know you have a problem with us tabling this until we have the lawyers actually agree to the process forward i i talked to mr modisette he did act as if it was possible that both entities would pass the ordinance considering the original ordinances with commissioners and he is actually the council for the commissioners as well that seems the proper
0:29:53 [t=1793] Randy Gentry (councillor): place for it to start before you're asking us to jump in the middle of this. This ordinance also states that if we pass this ordinance, it would trump and overrule any previous ordinance. And the other thing is the fact that you just mentioned that, well, if we pass it and it's not right, then, you know, why would we do that?
0:30:17 [t=1817] Randy Gentry (councillor): Why wouldn't we just table this until next month and, again, the attorneys can hash it out and we can make sure that we're legally on board I
0:30:26 [t=1826] Jeff Fox (staff): have no issue with whatever this council wants to do you're an elected official you folks can determine the validity of what you're asked to do I have no issue with that obviously the longer this goes the more issues it just creates for us trying to do our job that's all we're trying to accomplish here I have I I appreciate that. When the county attorney hands me this document and says this should be approved, I have no legal basis to argue with Mr. Modisett or anyone and say, well, the language is not appropriate. And I appreciate, and maybe you have more understanding
0:31:05 [t=1865] Speaker 171: of that. Whatever this body wants to do is perfectly fine.
0:31:10 [t=1870] Randy Gentry (councillor): Mr. Modisett relayed to me that the Sheriff's Department
0:31:14 [t=1874] Randy Gentry (councillor): actually drafted this ordinance and gave it to him to look at and review is that is that correct
0:31:22 [t=1882] Speaker 166: yes so you guys drafted this gave it to him it came from the state of indiana so the trial this
0:31:29 [t=1889] Speaker 150: this ordinance is verbatim from from the state court technologies provided a sample and we
0:31:36 [t=1896] Speaker 166: provided it to the county attorney as we do many other things and asked him to review it
0:31:41 [t=1901] Randy Gentry (councillor): and he he signed off on it is there is there what what would be the problem with tabling this to next month to make sure that we get it right you have any issues with that no other than you know
0:31:54 [t=1914] Jeff Fox (staff): we're just going to be handcuffed for the next 30 days again so i mean i i'm fine with it it doesn't matter to me mr gentry it really doesn't i'm just trying to do the work that we're trying to do i'm I'm just trying to keep our department moving along. This got delayed to my lap because it's an information technology issue. So, you know, I'm trying to maintain our computer system. I'm trying to, you know, turn on our new website and do all those other things that Mr. Swann did. I'm fine with it.
0:32:23 [t=1943] Jeff Fox (staff): If that's the discussion, I just want somebody to make a decision so that we can move on about our day.
0:32:31 [t=1951] Speaker 171: And if the council doesn't believe this is appropriate, I'm fine with that.
0:32:35 [t=1955] Randy Gentry (councillor): Well, I don't want to say no to it. I just want to make sure that all the lawyers are on the same page. So, Mr. President, I'd like to make a motion to table.
0:32:42 [t=1962] Speaker 22 (chair): Okay, motion by Councilman Gentry.
0:32:50 [t=1970] Speaker 186: Do we have a second?
0:32:51 [t=1971] Speaker 187 (councillor): I have some discussion.
0:32:53 [t=1973] Speaker 186: Okay, further discussion?
0:32:54 [t=1974] Speaker 187 (councillor): Yes, please. The reverting fund, non-reverting fund, who has control of that?
0:33:02 [t=1982] Speaker 190: I understand.
0:33:05 [t=1985] Speaker 191: And who does it go to?
0:33:11 [t=1991] Jeff Fox (staff): I know that we receive the applicable Radler paid to our office and then it's transferred to the auditor. And then I believe that it's like with any other fund, if it's not appropriated in the budget a request for additional appropriation has to come through. We follow that same guidance and so I would defer to the auditor on the formal process.
0:33:34 [t=2014] Speaker 171: But those two funds are the only two funds by ordinance that we collect revenue for.
0:33:40 [t=2020] Speaker 187 (councillor): And I think, okay, Mr. Fox, I think what we question is why is the council making an ordinance when you've already got an ordinance and that could be changed?
0:33:51 [t=2031] Speaker 195: Yeah, I can't answer that.
0:33:54 [t=2034] Speaker 187 (councillor): You understand you have the ordinance, right?
0:33:58 [t=2038] Speaker 198: I don't understand why the council would be involved in an ordinance. I think the attorney, Mr. Modest, just advised us both to do it because it deals with money.
0:34:09 [t=2049] Jeff Fox (staff): There's obviously going to be money taken from the Sheriff's Department if there's a citation issued and put into their non-reverting fund. Therefore, you folks deal with money. Of course, we can amend or change any ordinance at any time, but since there's money exchanged, the issue we have with Mr. Don Aldridge, the new animal control officer, is we have issues writing citations, in collecting those citations because currently if we issue a citation they come to the commissioner's office on a Friday and we have a discussion with
0:34:40 [t=2080] Jeff Fox (staff): what they did wrong but we have no legal authority to cite them or collect those fees and penalize them for animal control issues so I believe that's why we're here asking for both bodies to approve the ordinance we only address
0:34:55 [t=2095] Speaker 169: those two issues. Animal control and alarms.
0:35:00 [t=2100] Jeff Fox (staff): In code enforcement we keep in-house here through building inspection area planning and they can offer their citations there.
0:35:08 [t=2108] Speaker 171: I would offer you this just that occurred last week. I don't know if the commissioner has been
0:35:11 [t=2111] Jeff Fox (staff): applied. As you were aware the state of Indiana contacted us last week and and does not allow their ordinance folks to write citations any longer under the state system because they do not meet the statutory requirements so therefore they have to manage the system differently and so same kind of thing here they're not going to let us do it because they won't let them do it and so they said you either have to have a bureau or not and then they said that county building inspection did not meet the statutory requirements to use the
0:35:45 [t=2145] Jeff Fox (staff): state's electronic citation and warning system and they removed removed those folks and I had to remove them because they were under our purview and they removed their ordinance bureau as well so I know they're serious about their
0:35:59 [t=2159] Jeff Fox (staff): business so but if the commissioners if the commissioners are willing to do it and mr. modest it's willing to do it and you that council would prefer they to just be handled at their office we're fine with that we just we're just trying to follow what you know mr. modest that said go here and if you guys are comfortable with saying hey the commissioners and if the commissioners say we'll take it and we'll just go ahead and amend the ordinance and move on I mean trial court technologies doesn't care whose name is at the back
0:36:29 [t=2189] Speaker 162: page right they just want an ordinance Bureau established so I can't I I'm happy either way so whatever you guys feel comfortable with
0:36:40 [t=2200] Speaker 210: councilman Anderson did you anything further Yes, ma'am.
0:36:45 [t=2205] Brenda Wilson (councillor): Okay. Simplify. Write it with crayon.
0:36:49 [t=2209] Brenda Wilson (councillor): Are we just crossing T's and dotting I's and doing something that the state is requesting that you do, requiring that you do, and Mr. Modisette had looked over it and said this is who you should talk to about getting this done?
0:37:03 [t=2223] Speaker 194: Absolutely. Thank you very much. You're absolutely correct. That's all we're doing.
0:37:07 [t=2227] Speaker 51: And this makes no sense to me to table it. We should just get it done.
0:37:12 [t=2232] Randy Gentry (councillor): Councilwoman Wilson, I just want to say that last week you weren't here at the Sunshine Meeting. Our council stated that it should be done by the commissioners. We typically follow our legal council's advice. There was conversations to be had. Obviously, our council's not here tonight, but that's on the record from the Sunshine Meeting. So I just want to make sure that you are aware of that. It's not as simple as crossing the T's and dotting the I's. We're trying to do what our council is telling us to do.
0:37:48 [t=2268] Brenda Wilson (councillor): I have faith in our prosecutor, and the prosecutor told him to take it to us. I will not vote for it to table it.
0:37:56 [t=2276] Speaker 223: Okay.
0:38:01 [t=2281] Speaker 22 (chair): Okay. All right. We have a motion. Do we have a second?
0:38:07 [t=2287] State the motion.
0:38:08 [t=2288] Speaker 30 (chair): currently the motion is to table it I believe until the next meeting just
0:38:11 [t=2291] Randy Gentry (councillor): table to next month so that we can make sure that this is legally appropriate that's all I'm asking for I'm not saying no to it I just want to make sure that we are on the same page our council at the sunshine meeting said it needed to go to the commissioners I'm just wanting to make sure that we do it right okay
0:38:29 [t=2309] Speaker 22 (chair): so your motion is the current motion on the table is to motion or to table it tell September meeting no second okay we've got a count our motion by Councilwoman Wilson to approve second by Councilwoman wager all right any
0:38:55 [t=2335] Randy Gentry (councillor): discussion I think it's ill-advised mr. president to move proceed when we have our own legal counsel saying that it needs to go to the commissioners commissioners said they'd take it up I'm not really sure why we're doing this against our own counsel's advice thank you councilman Gentry any other
0:39:17 [t=2357] Speaker 10 (clerk): discussion all right roll call please David Thompson Brad Anderson Brenda
0:39:24 [t=2364] Speaker 12 (clerk): Wilson Nancy also Randy Gentry no Vicki Wager Steve Ellis hi
0:39:32 [t=2372] Speaker 125 (chair): All right. Thank you, counsel. I appreciate your time. Thank you. I really do. Moving on to 2026-4, Building Security Officer, Clothing Allowance, page 15.
0:39:42 [t=2382] Speaker 249: Council President, this was an accident we left off the budget last year. Yes, sir.
0:40:06 [t=2406] Speaker 250: And we just need to correct that.
0:40:08 [t=2408] Speaker 22 (chair): Any discussion, questions? All right, we bet we're gonna move a little quicker before the lights go out Motion I was that councilman Wilson motion to approve by councilwoman Wilson Second by councilwoman also any discussion All right, once again, we are voting on
0:40:32 [t=2432] Speaker 6 (chair): 2026-4 building security officer clothing allowance roll call, please
0:40:37 [t=2437] Speaker 10 (clerk): David Thompson Brad Anderson
0:40:39 [t=2439] Speaker 12 (clerk): Brenda Wilson Nancy Alsop Aye Randy Gentry Aye Vicki Wager Aye Steve Ellis
0:40:45 [t=2445] Speaker 6 (chair): Aye Alright moving on additional appropriation 2026-35 building security officer clothing allowance page 20
0:40:52 [t=2452] Speaker 30 (chair): Discussion? Motions?
0:40:58 [t=2458] Speaker 258: Moved or approved
0:40:59 [t=2459] Speaker 22 (chair): That was by Councilwoman Wilson
0:41:01 [t=2461] Speaker 258: Second
0:41:02 [t=2462] Speaker 22 (chair): Seconded by Councilwoman Wager
0:41:04 [t=2464] Speaker 6 (chair): Any discussion? This is to approve 2026-35, Building Security Officer Clothing Allowance.
0:41:12 [t=2472] Speaker 260: Roll call, please.
0:41:13 [t=2473] Speaker 10 (clerk): David Thompson. Brad Anderson.
0:41:15 [t=2475] Speaker 12 (clerk): Aye. Brenda Wilson. Aye. Nancy Alsup. Aye. Randy Gendry. Aye. Vicki Wager. Aye. Steve Ellis.
0:41:20 [t=2480] Speaker 6 (chair): Aye. Moving on to 2026-36, Commissioners, Susie's Place, page 21.
0:41:29 [t=2489] Speaker 22 (chair): Any discussion or questions? Any motions?
0:41:34 [t=2494] Speaker 263: Motion approved. Second.
0:41:36 [t=2496] Speaker 22 (chair): All right. Who's the motion first? Motion by Councilwoman Wilson, seconded by Councilwoman Wager. Any discussion?
0:41:46 [t=2506] Randy Gentry (councillor): Yes, sir. Mr. President. Yes, sir. I just want to say that my vote's going to reflect my position that we need to utilize taxpayers' money towards our own services and that branching out and continuing to fund nonprofits when we have our own fiscal issues in-house seems a bit overboard. I would also state that this is a small amount of money, and obviously we understand it's a bridge to keep the operation open, but I still have grave concerns over continuing to use taxpayers' money towards nonprofits.
0:42:29 [t=2549] Speaker 267: Thank you, sir.
0:42:31 [t=2551] Speaker 22 (chair): any other further discussion all right once again we are voting on
0:42:40 [t=2560] Speaker 6 (chair): 2026-36 commissioner susie's place request roll call please
0:42:44 [t=2564] Speaker 12 (clerk): david thompson brad anderson hi brenda wilson nancy alsop randy gendry
0:42:50 [t=2570] Speaker 22 (chair): no vicky wager steve ellis hi moving on to 2026-38 lost creek fire prevention protection protection I'm sorry protection district this is for the pump truck repairs purchase of fire PPE washer and dryer page 22 any questions or discussions any motions motion motion by Councilwoman wager seconded by Councilman Anderson any discussion roll call please David
0:43:20 [t=2600] Speaker 12 (clerk): Thompson Brad Anderson hi Brenda Wilson Nancy also Randy Gentry
0:43:25 [t=2605] Speaker 22 (chair): thank you wager hi once again that was on 2026-38 pass 6-0 additional appropriation 2026-39 community Corrections supplement page 23 any discussion or questions motion by councilwoman Wilson seconded by councilwoman wager discussions or questions mr. president yes sir we've
0:43:57 [t=2637] Randy Gentry (councillor): gone over this several times three of the council members have had a meeting with the executive team at community Corrections and we have a request for 200,000 and as I told the director Watson last week I felt as if the 200,000 is not necessarily the problem. It's addressing the issues moving forward. There's been a series of issues that came up at that previous meeting at the Community Corrections. And one of the things that I want Director Watson to promise that he's going to work on is, one,
0:44:39 [t=2679] Randy Gentry (councillor): is that it's the management decisions and the Executive Board of Community Corrections that are making the decisions as to how to spend this money. Previous year, I believe if my numbers are correct, $180,000 was spent for mental health. A process occurred whereby it was approved for them to bring in four employees. And with benefits and salary, we increased to quite a substantial number in excess of 600,000 to provide essentially the same amount of services. And Director Watson last week at the Sunshine meeting promised as well as the executive team
0:45:29 [t=2729] Randy Gentry (councillor): of the community corrections that they understand that the problem moving forward in an environment of reduced revenue, that means the state is gonna provide less money to community corrections, that um that there are going to have to be some tough decisions made and i encourage community corrections to fill every bed as possible i believe when we had the meeting a few weeks ago they had 50 beds in the residential treatments program open i'm sure that that's probably gone down since then but we've got to do a much better job of managing that money
0:46:02 [t=2762] Randy Gentry (councillor): and making sure that we're getting the maximum bang for our dollar so while the 200 000 is not a problem moving forward there's definitely got to be a situation where people are addressing how they're going to move forward and be able to keep the doors open and be able to provide the services so thank you mr. president thank
0:46:22 [t=2782] Speaker 121: you councilman Gentry any further questions or comments okay yes ma'am I
0:46:27 [t=2787] Brenda Wilson (councillor): can't be quiet it's not our place to chastise or reprimand a director who has done an excellent job in running his department I apologize on behalf of the
0:46:40 [t=2800] Speaker 22 (chair): council to mr. Watson thank you miss councilwoman Wilson any further questions or comments any motions oh I'm sorry that's right I had forgotten there is a motion on the table and seconded to approve this once again on 2026-39 community Corrections roll call please David Thompson Brad Anderson
0:47:14 [t=2834] Speaker 10 (clerk): Brenda Wilson Nancy also Randy Gentry aye Vicki Wager
0:47:19 [t=2839] Speaker 22 (chair): Steve Ellis aye motion passes 6-0 moving on 2026-40 veterans insurance any questions or comments motion to approve motion to approve by Councilman Gentry second by Councilman wager any comments or questions all right once again we are
0:47:40 [t=2860] Speaker 6 (chair): voting on 2026-40 veterans insurance roll call please David Thompson Brad
0:47:48 [t=2868] Speaker 10 (clerk): Anderson Brenda Wilson Nancy also Randy Gentry
0:47:52 [t=2872] Speaker 6 (chair): aye Vicki Wager aye Steve Ellis aye motion passes 6-0 thank you 20 26-41
0:47:59 [t=2879] Speaker 22 (chair): prosecutor return of fugitives page 25
0:48:08 [t=2888] Speaker 234: okay any questions or comments council motion to approve motion to approve by
0:48:13 [t=2893] Speaker 22 (chair): councilman Gentry second by councilwoman Wager any questions or comments
0:48:22 [t=2902] Speaker 6 (chair): This is once again a vote on 2026-41. Roll call please.
0:48:27 [t=2907] Speaker 25 (clerk): David Thompson. Brad Anderson. Aye. Brenda Wilson. Aye. Nancy Alsop. Aye. Randy Gentry. Aye. Vicki Wager. Aye. Steve Evels. Aye. Motion passes 6-0. That's a good speech. Thank you.
0:48:40 [t=2920] Speaker 128: 2026-42. Come back. Council President, I'm pretty confident this one's been...
0:48:46 [t=2926] Speaker 125 (chair): Tabled. All right. This one has been withdrawn for the moment.
0:48:50 [t=2930] Speaker 299: I'm sorry table table my apologies motion to table motion to table motion by
0:49:02 [t=2942] Speaker 22 (chair): Councilman Gentry to table second second by Councilman Anderson any discussion we can yes I don't think so I think this is just for the council yeah sorry about that this was 2026-42 there's a motion to table seconded by Councilman
0:49:26 [t=2966] Speaker 307: Anderson I believe that was roll call please I think a generic motion to table just leaves it open-ended my request that I sent out to everyone was that it
0:49:39 [t=2979] Randy Gentry (councillor): be tabled until next month so I will withdraw my motion to table and in
0:49:47 [t=2987] Speaker 22 (chair): a new motion to table till next month all right so the motion is to table until next month by councilman gentry seconded by councilman wager any discussion by council all right once again this is
0:50:01 [t=3001] Speaker 10 (clerk): on 2026-42 roll call please david thompson brad anderson brenda wilson nancy also randy jendry
0:50:08 [t=3008] Speaker 6 (chair): aye Vicki Wager aye Steve Ellis aye motion passes 6-0 2026-43 auditor juvenile medical page 27
0:50:27 [t=3027] Speaker 30 (chair): all right first off discussion or questions by council we got a motion to
0:50:34 [t=3034] Speaker 22 (chair): approved by Councilwoman Wager second by Councilwoman Wilson once again any
0:50:40 [t=3040] Randy Gentry (councillor): questions comments yes sir mr. president I believe this was just an error in last year's budget yes thank you all right anything further once again this is on
0:50:53 [t=3053] Speaker 22 (chair): 2026 dash 43 auditor juvenile medical roll call please David Thompson Brad
0:51:01 [t=3061] Speaker 10 (clerk): Anderson Brenda Wilson Nancy also Randy Gentry
0:51:05 [t=3065] Speaker 121: Vicki Wager and Steve Ellis I motion passes 6-0 2026-44 homes for children
0:51:11 [t=3071] Speaker 22 (chair): non reverting funds request this is on page 28 any questions or discussion by council motion to approve by councilwoman Wager seconded by councilwoman I'm sorry councilman Wilson made the motion seconded by councilwoman Wager questions or comments by council once you're voting on 2020 I'm sorry it's
0:51:34 [t=3094] Speaker 322: all of them or just one this is it's grouped together this is a 2026-44
0:51:49 [t=3109] Speaker 6 (chair): homes for children we are voting on roll call please no discussion yes sir
0:51:54 [t=3114] Randy Gentry (councillor): Director Latimuk, last week Commissioner Morse gave us an update on your residency numbers. One of the things I was just curious is how many of those children are from Vigo County compared to outside the county? Do you have those current numbers?
0:52:14 [t=3134] I don't.
0:52:15 [t=3135] Speaker 172: You don't know how many are from Vigo County?
0:52:17 [t=3137] Director Latimuk (staff): No.
0:52:17 [t=3137] Speaker 331: 75% of them probably.
0:52:26 [t=3146] Speaker 172: Are from Vigo County? Yes. Thank you, sir.
0:52:30 [t=3150] Speaker 333: You know, when we had to open a house the other day when we were down there
0:52:33 [t=3153] Speaker 338: and I was asking some of the people working there and what have you, and I didn't do a nose count, but they said many of them were from Vigo County at this point in time.
0:52:47 [t=3167] Speaker 339: thank you all right any further discussion from uh on homes for children from council
0:52:54 [t=3174] Speaker 6 (chair): okay we have a motion in a second this is on 2026-44 roll call please david thompson
0:53:00 [t=3180] Speaker 10 (clerk): brad anderson brenda wilson nancy also randy gentry
0:53:07 [t=3187] Speaker 341: aye vicki wager steve ellis aye motion passes six zero moving on 2020s i do have discussion yes
0:53:14 [t=3194] Speaker 187 (councillor): I have to discuss. Sure. Your grant you got received? Yes. Does that go into the non-reverting or the general fund?
0:53:22 [t=3202] Director Latimuk (staff): It goes in neither. It's held in a separate account. Okay. That's called Lilly Endowment Grant. Yeah. It can be only spent for the planning of what the next grant would give us. Okay. So it's a completely separate issue. Okay. except the planning of enhancing residential living for children in Indiana. Yeah, okay.
0:53:46 [t=3226] Speaker 348: Well, thank you for working on that. Thank you.
0:53:49 [t=3229] Speaker 14: Thank you, sir.
0:53:50 [t=3230] Speaker 6 (chair): All right, moving on. 2026-45 recorders record perpetuation insurance. This is page 30. Discussion? Yes, sir.
0:53:59 [t=3239] Speaker 183 (councillor): Mr. President, I believe this is just a correction from last year's budget. A motion to approve?
0:54:03 [t=3243] Speaker 6 (chair): Second. Motion to approve by Councilman Gentry, seconded by Councilman Wager. Any questions or discussion? All right. This is 2026-45. Roll call, please.
0:54:13 [t=3253] Speaker 10 (clerk): David Thompson. Brad Anderson. Aye. Brenda Wilson. Aye. Nancy Alsop. Aye. Randy Gendry. Aye. Vicki Wager. Aye.
0:54:21 [t=3261] Speaker 12 (clerk): And Steve Ellis.
0:54:21 [t=3261] Speaker 6 (chair): Aye. Motion passes 6-0. Moving on. Excuse me. 2026-46. Juvenile Justice Center non-reverting insurance. Page 31.
0:54:32 [t=3272] Speaker 183 (councillor): Mr. President. Yes, sir. I believe this is a correction of last year's budget. Is that correct, auditor?
0:54:37 [t=3277] Speaker 358: they actually changed positions and the person that moved into that position took a higher insurance like a child employee child and the person that was in there was only budgeted for a employee thank you mr. president motion to approve motion to approve by councilman
0:55:00 [t=3300] Speaker 22 (chair): gentry seconded by councilwoman wager once again this is on 2026-46 roll call a lot of
0:55:06 [t=3306] Speaker 10 (clerk): questions or discussion roll call please David Thompson Brian Anderson Brenda Wilson Nancy also hi Randy Gentry hi Vicki wager Steve Ellis hi motion passes
0:55:17 [t=3317] Speaker 22 (chair): six zero honorary resolutions there are none resolutions related to fiscal policies of the council sorry I thought somebody said something okay there are none appointments there are none adjournment motion councilman wager to adjourn second by councilman Anderson