August 15, 2007
BOARD OF FRANKLIN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Chairman Roy C. Dunn opened the budget hearing at 6:30 p.m.
Roll Call: Chairman Roy C. Dunn present, Commissioner Donald R. Stottlemire present, Commissioner Donald C. Hay present, Commissioner John E. Taylor present and Commissioner Karen S. Farrell present.
Chairman Dunn asked all in attendance to join him in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Moment of silence to reflect.
Doug Harris gave a presentation on the budget overview.
Clarence McIlvain 421 S Poplar Ottawa asked what new positions were unfunded.
Dennis Pratt 612 E. 15th Ottawa discussed Commissioners are elected to represent people, spend according, not set budget and ask for money, need to budget like people have to budget and spend what is available.
John Berton 2216 Labette Rd Ottawa discussed that things need to be looked at, that are important to the County and take pride in the County.
MaLinda Manis 1004 N Cherry Ottawa asked if it is the Commissioners budget or the people’s budget.
Leroy Hildebrandt 2645 Indiana Terr Ottawa discussed Commissioners are elected by the people for the people, they need to set budget that people can afford, keep in line, cut out excess and that a lot of people can not afford their taxes.
Shirley Coffman 3281 K-68 Hwy Ottawa discussed when there was 3 commissioners they ran the county, what happened to that. She lives on Social Security and money needs to go where it needs to go and that is it. Do not need a new jail, budget can be cut a lot and the commissioners need to do there own job.
Vicki Hildebrandt 2609 Indiana Terr Ottawa discussed her husband works for a big company and they have lay-offs, employees have to pay part of their insurance, the county needs to get rid of employees that are not needed and check into other insurance companies.
Della Sandgren 2408 Brushcreek Dr Lawrence discussed that we do not need a county administrator, he is telling the commissioners what to do, he is trying to run the county like a city, the $2 million dollar drug bust money can be used for part of the Sheriff’s expenses, we do not need a new jail, the County Attorney’s budget is out of line and do they really need all of the attorney’s they have, HR Department is not needed, when you are in business you do not spend all of your money, need to reduce funds to Mental Health, OFCED, COF, Extension Council, County Appraisal Office needs to do their job and bottom line cut expenses.
Ron Spencer 2246 Ohio Terr Ottawa is a farmer, chemical costs increase, fuel cost increase, the county costs have increased and levy needs to increase, the county needs to progress.
Joyce Wasmund 2997 Finney Rd Princeton discussed the county needs an administrator, we have a good hospital, good ambulance service, good roads and a good health department.
Leroy Hildebrandt 2600 Indiana Terr Ottawa discussed that homes are being repossessed, the budget needs to be cut, the sheriff get a salary for being the sheriff and is also paid for teaching school for USD 290.
Freone Hollinger 3090 Neosho Rd Ottawa owns one piece of property, more changes need to be made and cut the budget, and delinquent tax list is long in the paper.
Gene Hirt 1112 Augusta Lane Ottawa discussed tax burden to farmers with all of the other losses this year from flooding, people are going to leave the county, to many people on fixed incomes and have no way to increase income, they are going to have increases this year and next year, the city is reducing and the county can also, need to do only needs no wants and the county should not charge employees for health insurance.
Vanessia Ochs 1550 Rock Creek R Ottawa discussed that sales tax is to high, permit fees have been raised, we are not getting what we are paying for, should not have to pay more in taxes, need to collect what is owed, county business needs to be run like a personal business if you do not have the money you cut back, department heads need to pick up more of the work and need to do more bidding.
Brenda Bazel 2139 Iowa Terr Ottawa discussed the county needs to be prudent with the money, remember everyone has a story, a lot of people on fixed incomes and the new signs on Old 50 Hwy a waste of money.
Elbert Swank 1018 Arkansas Williamsburg discussed the need to do something about crime, put the heat on judges and jail should be an unpleasant place.
Butch Riddle 2389 Old 50 Hwy Ottawa asked how much it cost to put all the sings on Old 50 Hwy and it is a waste of money, emergency management should be cut, people should have been warned about the flood waters rising in the middle of the night.
MaLinda Manis 1004 N Cherry Ottawa asked about health wellness program and what proof there was to show that it cut costs, if the commission would run their own business the way they are running the county and the $325,000 for equipment in Road & Bridge includes wants not needs.
Leonard Cheasbro 2638 Kingman Rd Ottawa discussed retired people are going to be driven out of homes because of taxes and we need no new taxes.
Shirley Coffman 3281 K-68 Hwy asked how many counties comparable to Franklin County have this kind of levy; we are going to lose people and businesses.
Chairman Dunn closed public comment at 8:05.
Recessed at 8:05. Back in session at 8:15.
Commissioners all made comments.
Commissioner Taylor moved and Commissioner Farrell seconded to close the public hearing at 8:38.
___________________________________ ___________________________________
Clerk Chairman