• • Indiana: Risk Limiting Audits (RLA)

Commissioner Meeting Notes, Aug 16, 2023.

Town of Nashville Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan – Sandie Jones. This project was sold by a former commissioner as a “Joint” endeavor funded with a grant of 20K from the Indiana Department of Health, and 20K from the County. The source of the funds is from the ARPA money. The Plan would be used to apply for grants to fund the construction of the paths/trails. Cost likely in the millions.

There was only one bid for the project that came in at 51K – 11,000 over budget. Nashville proposed that the County add in another 5,500 and the Town would add in 5,500. Given the commitment to funding, Commissioner Pittman questioned the “jointness” of the project.

Another contract stipulation was that the commissioners were to allow contractors to trespass on private land to conduct trail-related surveys. Commissioners Sanders objected to this stipulation. Commissioners are to make a final decision at their next meeting.

Scenic Overlook on 135. The Parks and Rec Board asked the Commissioners to transfer the deed to Parks and Rec which the commissioners have agreed to do. The county received the deed to the land from INDOT. The plan is to build a new shelter to replace the one that INDOT decided was beyond repair.

Position Descriptions. Commissioners approved a new ordinance reinforcing that the Commissioners are responsible for “job descriptions.” The Council retains responsibility for determining funding (salary/grade).

Standard practice (State and Federal) is for a position description to be classified. “A job classification identifies a group of positions to have sufficiently similar duties, authority, and responsibility such that: 1) the same qualifications may reasonably be required for, and 2) the same schedule of pay can be equitably applied to all positions in the group.” Ref: ISPD.  https://www.in.gov/spd/files/compensation-definitions.pdf

The County Council has concluded that Brown County’s system needs to be re-engineered.  Should be interesting – reminds me of the quote from Einstein: ““We can not solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them.”

Updated – Sep 7, 2023. 

County GOP Leadership – Precincts. The direction of the county is heavily influenced by just a few people.  Six of 11 precinct chairs (a majority) and their like-minded co-chairs can elect a new GOP chair.    All 11 precincts will be on the 2024 ballot.

Sept 7, 2023. IPR 2024 Budget Hearings; Public Meeting Reqs.  Development and management of the budget is the core task of the county council.  Our closed (monopoly) of government is not capable of producing the quality of results all citizens should expect.

Aug 28, 2023 – Updated. Post 2.  Council Meeting – Sept 5, 2023, – NEW commissioner assistant position or a “4th commissioner”?     County GOP wanting more control …

Aug 15, 2022. Post 1. Vote County Interests in the 2024 Republican Primary – Cross-over Votes Needed 

Non-partisan – Local Elections. This will be the first in a series of posts that are intended to engage voters in the 2024 primary election in supporting a more deliberate strategy to improve the quality of county government. This strategy can be supported by Democrats as well as Republicans that can choose to support a non-partisan county platform in the May 2024 Republican primary.

A platform could include what a candidate identifies as specific goals, objectives, and feedback indicators. A platform could also be developed for a slate of preferred candidates. An example of a 2024 County Election – Non-Partisan Platform – WIP. Another example:Nonpartisan Political Platform.   For the 2020 election,  the Democrat candidates for Commissioner and Council developed their platform (positions). Republican candidates did not.

Monopoly on Power. Brown County has a one-party monopoly on political power which is never a good thing. A monopoly represents a closed system that is the least effective in producing the best results for everyone. Centralization of power always corrupts and a closed system can lead to the moral corruption of those that work within the system. Consequently, among the responsibilities of citizens is to prevent corruption. Among the best antidotes is transparency that at a minimum, includes the publication of government meeting agendas, minutes, and audio.

Precincts. The primary election determines the winners in the November county elections. Next year’s primary ballot will also include the election of the 11 precinct chairs.  The precinct chairs, who appoint their vice chairs, elect the party chair and other officers including Vice-chair, secretary, and treasurer.   The Party Chair does not have to be a precinct chair or vice chair (?)

• • The majority (7) of the precinct chairs and vice chairs elect the party chair.  Only Precinct chairs can elect candidates to fill a vacancy for an elected office. More Information:  Brown County (GOP) – Organization, Governance, Precincts

History – Cross-Overs. Reportedly, the county has always had a one-party monopoly on political power that transitioned from Democrat to Republican. Many candidates who at one time voted as Democrats, have crossed over to the Republican party in order to get elected  The school board elections are non-partisan as are the Nashville town council elections.  In the 2022 county elections. Ron Sanders was not the preferred GOP commissioner candidate and the cross-over vote in the primary helped him get the votes needed to win. His opponent was running for an unprecedented 3^rd consecutive term.  Are voluntary term limits a good thing?

Top Management. In America by law (see Constitution), We the People are “top management.”  We can hold elected and appointed officials “accountable” for actions supporting desired changes but we always retain responsibility for the outcomes. Our Constitution and Bill of Rights were designed with checks and balances on power to enable us to work towards “a more perfect Union” and county.  This requires us to identify what we define as more perfect and identify the feedback needed to assess results. We also need a method for determining what change results in improvement.   The Brown County Leader Network supports this strategy.

• •  A short presentation and overview of the BCLN concept

The BC Democrat is owned by AIM Media Indiana. Per Wikipedia, AIM Media Management is a media company based in Dallas, Texas. Through its subsidiaries AIM Media Indiana, AIM Media Midwest (also known as Digital AIM Media), and AIM Media Texas, it publishes dozens of daily and weekly newspapers in Indiana, Ohio, and Texas, respectively. The company was founded by Jeremy Halbreich in 2012 to acquire Freedom Communications holdings and later acquired additional newspapers.^[1]

Aug 9, 2023.  A “NEW” addition (watchdog of government) to the local paper – Brown County Democrat. “In the coming weeks and months, we also plan on sharing some of the exact requirements and obligations the state imposes on local governmental groups for transparency.”   This post at Brown County Matters.

• • The County invested over 6 figures in a new website to make it easier for offices and departments to keep citizens informed on their contributions. Commissioners (meet two times a month) have not been posting meeting agendas, minutes, or audio. The council meets monthly – they do not post minutes or audio. Will be interested to see if or how soon this fact changes.
  • As of Aug 8, 2023 – Snapshot Website Agenda Center. 20230810 Agenda Center – Brown County IN – CivicEngage
  • Note:  After the resignation of the last editor of the BC Democrat, no reporters from the paper have been attending commissioners and council meetings
  • On the Aim Media/BC Democrat “watchdog” role, this is interesting. In what other papers are they doing this?   And, they stopped publishing the calendar of government meetings on June 28.  They do not even send a reporter to cover commissioner and council meetings. Former Editor Sara Clifford always reinforced the open meeting laws – this emphasis went away with her. ^]

Commissioner Meeting Notes – July 19, 2023,  6-8 pm.“Interesting” meeting and very contentious at times.    The AUDIO 

Note: Commissioner Sanders was elected by the voters over the local GOP’s preferred candidate. The animosity and lack of support by the GOP faithful have been quite evident at meetings.  This continued lack of respect may help prompt voters from both parties, to take a harder look at precinct elections in order to have more of a direct impact on the quality of representation. Brown County Republican Party (GOP) – Organization and Governance

Summary of the key issue – New full-time commissioner assistant.  This topic was “introduced”  at the July 5, 2023  commissioner meeting. Commissioner Pittman did not disclose that it was decided that a new full-time position was needed and a consultant was used to provide advice regarding the job description. Wolpert stated he knew nothing about it.  It was also not disclosed that the request for approval and funding for the position would be made at the county council’s  July 17 meeting by Commissioners Pittman and Wolpert. Commissioner Sanders was not included in the decision-making process.  When 2 of the 3 commissioners make a decision in the absence of a public meeting, it may represent a violation of open meeting laws and result in vacating the decision.

 Commissioners Assistant Position.  Commissioner Pittman (elected) and  Commissioner Wolpert (appointed) at Monday’s council meeting, pleaded with the council to immediately approve and fund a full-time commissioner assistant position at a grade 14 (42K).  Commissioner Pittman said he/they had been working on the job description for a month and had had contractor support. The argument from the commissioners appeared desperate indicating a vital need.  Link to the July 17 council meeting notes and audio

• • Note the council’s policy regarding a new air upgraded position is for the need to be identified before the end of June at a council meeting.

They would not take no for an answer nor compromise on the grade.  They believed they would be lucky to find anyone that would do the work at that pay grade although several employees have expressed interest in applying.  The discussion lasted for about 90 minutes and the council voted 4 to 3 to approve. The legality of the vote by Councilman Rudd who attended via Zoom, was questioned at last night’s meeting by Sanders, and the county attorney was asked to provide an opinion.

The Commissioners never had a vote on adding the position and I expected this to occur during last night’s meeting. Given the Pittman/Wolpert argument made at the council meeting, I asked Sanders if a vote was going to be added to the agenda and I told him I would accept the position on a volunteer basis at no pay.  After the discussion at the council meeting, I was curious to learn more about why the position was suddenly needed,  the operations of the commissioner’s office, the workload, and the distribution of the workload among the commissioners. I was also curious to learn more about the culture and working conditions within the building.  At a special meeting of county employees and elected officials on July 19, many significant issues were discussed which makes me interested in learning more about county operations and supporting improvements.  I will be posting my notes on this meeting today or tomorrow.

Note that a volunteer basis provides more flexibility for both parties as opposed to a paid position.  In fact, posting the need and opportunity may lead to even more volunteers that are interested in learning more about and improving the quality of government services.

Sanders questioned the decision “not to have” a vote and mentioned that someone might offer to do it at no pay on a volunteer basis.  Wolpert immediately replied that this would not happen.  I then re-stated my offer to the commissioners to accept the position at no pay on a volunteer basis and asked the county attorney what might be needed.  Pittman stated the commissioners did not have to vote on adding the position, and Wolpert said it was a done deal and “gone over a million times.”

As a precedent, Pittman referenced the work by the council on the restructuring and approval of the HR director position and the part-time commissioner assistant position with no vote by  the commissioners at a public meeting.  The fact that the commissioners now want a change indicates the problem with a lack of transparency and public input.  The agreement also included a supervisory role of a council rep and auditor over a position that is a commissioner’s responsibility that cannot be delegated.  What is the harm of the commissioners discussing this type of action (new position) at their meeting and going on record with their acceptance via a vote?

The new position is posted on the county website. A county employee questioned the detail in the job description and was dismissed. https://www.browncounty-in.gov/Jobs.aspx

I requested that the county attorney provide a written opinion on this issue, e.g.,  that  No vote was required. It may not be legally required but what would be the harm of defending the argument at the commissioner’s meeting?  Especially, when Pittman/Wolpert did not mention at their July 5 meeting that they made the decision (not in a public meeting)  and intended to request the council to approve. This may be in violation of open meeting laws – they decided on a course of action outside of a public meeting.  The audio discussion starts at the 1:14 mark

The meeting was “contentious ” at times.  Allegations have also been made that the new position has been pre-selected which may lead to a formal complaint and investigation depending on the person selected for the position.  The “fast-track” process for this position by the commissioners without the opportunity for public discussion, can undermine the legitimacy of the position and the person selected.

Part 2 – Other items.

Overlook and Shelter.  Commissioners approved transferring the overlook from the county to Parks and Rec with the caveat the Parks and Rec board would accept the transfer.

Salt Creek Trail. A committee has been formed – $2 million in grant money may be available and will require county matching funds.  This only will cover the construction of the trail from the Red Barn to the YMCA. DOES NOT INCLUDE land acquisition which falls under the State/DNR.  Salt Creek Trail and Bridges – For The Record

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