Transcript
County CouncilSep 8, 2026
About this transcript
Automatic transcription, not the official record. This is what speech recognition heard at the meeting; it mis-hears names and numbers, and no editor has checked it. The clerk's minutes are the official record. Every line links to the moment in the recording — check anything that matters.
Voices were separated automatically and named from the meeting's speaker roster where the evidence supported it. An unnamed voice shows as Speaker 12 — a machine label, not a person's name.
- Meeting
- Vigo County Council · Sep 8, 2026
- Length
- 1:33:52
- Lines
- 368
- Transcribed by
- mlx-community/whisper-large-v3-turbo
0:00:00 — open the recording at 0 seconds Thank you.
0:00:30 — open the recording at 30 seconds Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
0:06:00 — open the recording at 6 minutesSpeaker 0 All right, would you go ahead and proceed with roll call, please?
0:06:02 — open the recording at 6 minutes 2 secondsSpeaker 2 David Thompson. Here.
0:06:04 — open the recording at 6 minutes 4 secondsSpeaker 5 Brian Anderson. Here. Brenda Wilson. Here. Nancy Alsop. Here. Randy Gentry.
0:06:11 — open the recording at 6 minutes 11 secondsSpeaker 7 Here. Vicki Wager.
0:06:12 — open the recording at 6 minutes 12 secondsSpeaker 6 Here. Steve L.
0:06:13 — open the recording at 6 minutes 13 secondsSpeaker 10 Here.
0:06:15 — open the recording at 6 minutes 15 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) All right, correction of the journal for August 4th, 2026 Sunshine Meeting. I apologize, I don't have pages.
0:06:28 — open the recording at 6 minutes 28 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) I know. If somebody finds the page, go ahead and splurt it out. What time? I'm sorry. 26. Thank you.
0:06:45 — open the recording at 6 minutes 45 secondsSpeaker 25 Motion to approve. Motion by Councilman Gentry.
0:06:51 — open the recording at 6 minutes 51 seconds Second.
0:06:52 — open the recording at 6 minutes 52 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Second by Councilman Thompson. Roll call, please.
0:06:54 — open the recording at 6 minutes 54 secondsSpeaker 32 David Thompson
0:07:03 — open the recording at 7 minutes 3 secondsSpeaker 31 Aye Brad Anderson Aye
0:07:07 — open the recording at 7 minutes 7 secondsSpeaker 32 Brenda Wilson
0:07:07 — open the recording at 7 minutes 7 secondsSpeaker 36 I abstain I wasn't at that meeting Nancy Alsop Aye Randy Gentry Aye Vicki Wager Aye
0:07:14 — open the recording at 7 minutes 14 secondsSpeaker 38 Steve Ellis
0:07:15 — open the recording at 7 minutes 15 secondsSpeaker 17 Aye Motion passes 6-0
0:07:17 — open the recording at 7 minutes 17 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Alright moving on to August 11th 2026 meeting and that's going to be page 31.
0:07:46 — open the recording at 7 minutes 46 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) And if anybody's got a motion, feel free.
0:07:50 — open the recording at 7 minutes 50 secondsSpeaker 24 Motion to approve.
0:07:51 — open the recording at 7 minutes 51 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Motion by Councilman Gentry
0:07:53 — open the recording at 7 minutes 53 secondsSpeaker 44 Second
0:07:54 — open the recording at 7 minutes 54 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Second by Councilwoman Wiger Roll call please
0:07:58 — open the recording at 7 minutes 58 secondsSpeaker 46 (clerk) David Thompson Brad Anderson Aye Brenda Wilson Aye Nancy Olso Aye Randy Gentry Aye Vicki Wiger Aye Steve Ellis
0:08:08 — open the recording at 8 minutes 8 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Aye Motion passes 6-0 Communications from elected officials, other officials, or agencies I'll start this one off Also keep in mind we will have a three minute, a strict three minute rule this evening as well one happy birthday to Nancy also just to follow up on a few things last time can you hear me can you guys hear me out there okay last time we spoke about casa and their positions and we talked about what we didn't discuss is that we had thought that those were being funded through the opioid fund and that's for those of you that watch the budget committee meetings that was the
0:08:50 — open the recording at 8 minutes 50 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) direction that we had moved we are going to go I believe in the next budget meeting or so we're going to talk about maybe bringing the opioid funds back to the council and we will work on getting that those positions funded next is I did speak to in reference I know many of you are here for the school so I just want to give you some updates I have spoken to Kevin Gardner accounting assessor and got quite a bit of education on some of the implications of some adjustments with personal property taxes and real property taxes for that matter. Our meeting is going to be on August the 29th.
0:09:30 — open the recording at 9 minutes 30 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) And then also in addition to that, I have reached out to Dr. Hemsle and I'm awaiting a response from him for a meeting with him as well so that we can perhaps start making some progress forward.
0:09:40 — open the recording at 9 minutes 40 secondsSpeaker 56 You met September 29th, didn't you? Excuse me.
0:09:43 — open the recording at 9 minutes 43 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) I'm sorry?
0:09:44 — open the recording at 9 minutes 44 secondsSpeaker 56 You said August 29th. I'm sorry.
0:09:45 — open the recording at 9 minutes 45 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Thank you. September 29th. Thank you.
0:09:47 — open the recording at 9 minutes 47 secondsSpeaker 56 I'm sorry for interrupting.
0:09:48 — open the recording at 9 minutes 48 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) All right. Any other elected officials?
0:09:53 — open the recording at 9 minutes 53 secondsSpeaker 59 President Ellis, members of the council, Mark Klinkenbeer, Divico County Commissioner.
0:09:59 — open the recording at 9 minutes 59 secondsMark Clinkenbeard (commissioner) Yes, it is. Sorry. I'm not as close as usual. Can you hear me now? Okay. Regarding that meeting that was proposed at the last meeting, We said that we would meet within the next seven days from that time. I did give, let's see, on September 2nd at 10.36 a.m., I emailed Steve Ellis, Randy Gentry, Nancy Alsup, Mark Elliott, Chris Schweitzer. And as I said, as I promised, I have some dates below to offer for possible meeting times. The plan is to have this live streamed and open to the public. Therefore, we will need to advertise this 48 hours in advance and follow up all open door laws.
0:10:42 — open the recording at 10 minutes 42 secondsMark Clinkenbeard (commissioner) Possible dates were September 8th, September 9th, September 10th, September 11th, and September 16th. Several people confirmed that they could do September 16th, but then I didn't hear back from you until this morning. So I guess my question was, we agreed that it would be within seven days of last week's meeting for this meeting of the committee. and commissioners.
0:11:06 — open the recording at 11 minutes 6 secondsSpeaker 67 So are you saying you did not hear back from me until this morning?
0:11:09 — open the recording at 11 minutes 9 secondsMark Clinkenbeard (commissioner) I heard back from you the first time, but then I asked several times about what time it would be. Mr. Gentry never did respond, but then you responded this morning that he couldn't do it until the 28th or 29th. My question is, we agreed to do this in seven days. Why are we waiting until the 29th to do that meeting?
0:11:28 — open the recording at 11 minutes 28 secondsSpeaker 61 So obviously I have to find a date that all three of us were available. That happened to be the first date that all three were available, so that's the date that we scheduled it.
0:11:39 — open the recording at 11 minutes 39 secondsSpeaker 59 Well, again, we agreed last week that it would be within seven days, so that's my point there.
0:11:47 — open the recording at 11 minutes 47 secondsSpeaker 72 Now, having said that, I am taking lots of steps to reach out to speak to people
0:11:53 — open the recording at 11 minutes 53 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) so that hopefully when we do have a meeting, we have lots of answers walking into that meeting. Okay, just want to make that point. Thank you. Sure. Thank you so much.
0:12:01 — open the recording at 12 minutes 1 secondSpeaker 68 Mr. President? Yes, ma'am.
0:12:04 — open the recording at 12 minutes 4 secondsSpeaker 75 I'm sorry? Yes, ma'am.
0:12:06 — open the recording at 12 minutes 6 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) Okay. Before I make a motion, I want to briefly explain why I believe it's necessary. This is a motion that I don't take lightly. The council attorney occupies a position of trust. We must be able to rely upon our attorney for objective legal advice, professional representation, and above all, representation of the entire council, not a select few members of it. I no longer have that confidence. And this concern is not mine alone.
0:12:32 — open the recording at 12 minutes 32 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) Our elected auditor, Larry Hutchings, has submitted a formal written request in the form of an email to the entire council asking this body to remove our current legal counsel. Larry specifically stated that he does not believe Samantha has the best interest of all seven council members on an equal basis. He also expressed concerns about her relationship with the auditor's office, described her as argumentative and difficult to reach when needed, and concluded we need and deserve proper representation. I agree. What occurred last week's Sunshine meeting only reinforced those concerns.
- Highlight drawn from this moment: Auditor's complaint and a heated appeal revive the push to fire the county council's attorneyHighlight drawn from this moment: Council rejects a bid to pull the school-funding resolution back from committee for an October voteHighlight drawn from this moment: Commissioner says the council broke its promise to meet on school funding within a week
0:13:06 — open the recording at 13 minutes 6 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) Constituents asked legitimate questions about the new committee that President Ellis had formed, what type of committee it was, and why it was created, how its members were selected, its purpose and scope, and how long it was intended to exist. The president was unable to answer any of those questions and instructed the attorney to find the answers. Those questions deserved clear and professional answers. Instead, the exchange with our attorney became argumentative and unnecessarily adversarial. Then, when the constituents' questions still unresolved,
0:13:43 — open the recording at 13 minutes 43 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) Samantha packed up her belongings, stood up, and appeared prepared to leave. Someone in the audience asked where she was going, and I asked whether she was going to answer the question that had been asked. This was during a meeting that ultimately lasted approximately four and a half hours, with citizens who had given up their evening to participate in their government and with significant business still before the council. I found her conduct unprofessional and disrespectful to the public that we serve. But this is about more than one incident. We were elected to make tough decisions.
0:14:16 — open the recording at 14 minutes 16 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) We're going to disagree, sometimes strongly. That is precisely why all seven of us need an attorney we can trust to provide objective legal advice and professional representation of the entire council. Not four members, not three members, not just the president, all seven of us. I also want to be very clear that this is not about option 6.2. It is not about silencing disagreement, and it's not a retaliation against anyone who supports or opposes that proposal. This is about whether the council can have confidence in its legal counsel.
0:14:47 — open the recording at 14 minutes 47 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) Based upon my own experiences, what I witnessed last week, and the independent concerns formerly raised by our elected auditor, I no longer have that confidence. Therefore, Mr. President, I move that the Vigo County Council terminates Samantha D'Wester service as attorney for the Vigo County Council, effective immediately, subject to any applicable contractual or legal requirements.
0:15:13 — open the recording at 15 minutes 13 secondsRandy Gentry (councillor) Point of order, Mr. President. Yes, sir. I believe that in our rules, Rule 6C reads, the President may appoint an attorney licensed to practice law in Indiana to conduct and oversee and audit the county's financials. It is the sole responsibility of our President to appoint the attorney. If we move forward with this motion, it would be my opinion that you could just simply reappoint the attorney because it is not something that we vote on as a
0:15:51 — open the recording at 15 minutes 51 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) council as a whole. Thank you, sir. Thank you. Mr. President, I would appeal that. Okay, I'm going
0:15:58 — open the recording at 15 minutes 58 secondsSpeaker 93 to wait until to see what happens with this first. Okay, so first off, I hear you clearly,
0:16:07 — open the recording at 16 minutes 7 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) and I will tell you there were many of us on the council last year that felt the same way. and despite us feeling that way there's always going to be someone that feels like the attorney does not represent their particular view again there were several of us that felt that way last year and we didn't have a say because ultimately the the attorney is the president's appointment and so last year when I disagreed with a whole lot of things I just had to sit there and I couldn't do anything about it because it was ultimately the president last year's president's
0:16:44 — open the recording at 16 minutes 44 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) appointment. The next thing I'd like to say is while it would appear that she stood up and walked out she was not standing up and walking out on the meeting. It was something that and I and I apologize I'll take accountability for this I should have spoke up. I had told her beforehand knowing that she had a long drive and knowing that there were going to be a lot of speakers and knowing that public speaking is not usually a debate I had already told her that she could cut out after the meeting was over before the public comments.
0:17:20 — open the recording at 17 minutes 20 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) When you said that it got a bit heated, I don't remember exactly what words you used, but you're right, it did get heated, and it got heated with more than just her. Both of you had raised your voices to the point where I don't remember who was speaking at the time might have been Mr. Caddick and I had asked both of you to step out. So because it was being disruptive to the person that was speaking at the time. So I agree we do need to be more civil and we shouldn't be raising our voices and yelling in here but by no means are we going to replace the attorney especially in the middle of budget
0:18:01 — open the recording at 18 minutes 1 secondSteve Ellis (chair) time when we need her most simply because a couple of people or one person or whatever it is decides that they don't like her position or the way she has handled something
0:18:16 — open the recording at 18 minutes 16 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) that's not what happened that's not the reason for this at all she was extremely disrespectful i apologized to mr caddick i apologized to mr felling for my part in the disruption but if If she had not, if she had answered the question, that was my whole issue. It has nothing to do with me personally. It is because a constituent asked a question, and she blatantly refused to answer it and was ready to leave without answering it. That was my only concern, and I am not the only one. As I said, the auditor sent a letter to all of us requesting her to be removed as well,
0:18:51 — open the recording at 18 minutes 51 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) and I don't believe I'm alone in this.
0:18:54 — open the recording at 18 minutes 54 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) So, again, I hear you loudly, and with all due respect to the auditor, he and I have spoke about this since then as well. I highly respect him and his opinion and his position, but at the end of the day, the appointment of the attorney is not that of the auditor as well. As he mentioned, she is not his attorney and that she is the counsel's attorney. so at this moment we are going to continue on with with current counsel and if things change in the future then we can there is a motion on the floor okay the motion is out of order though you can't you can't vote out somebody
0:19:33 — open the recording at 19 minutes 33 secondsSpeaker 67 who's a that is an appointment
0:19:36 — open the recording at 19 minutes 36 secondsSpeaker 107 it's not your decision
0:19:41 — open the recording at 19 minutes 41 secondsSpeaker 109 I disagree because let me see I've got I've got the written thing here
0:19:50 — open the recording at 19 minutes 50 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) council rules say that you have the authority to appoint but Indiana code clearly says that you as a whole can hire and fire I'm sure there will be a
0:19:59 — open the recording at 19 minutes 59 secondsSpeaker 109 debate but state code trumps the local rules may I ask for mr. felling to come
0:20:05 — open the recording at 20 minutes 5 secondsSpeaker 115 forward no no this is not public testimony at this point mr. president may have the floor yes thank
0:20:24 — open the recording at 20 minutes 24 secondsRandy Gentry (councillor) you councilman gentry you gave up the floor it went to the chairman and then you interrupted to take the floor back i i would like to mention after this personal diatribe attacking our attorney you have a history with mr wester and to do with that and you may say it has nothing to do with that but i think the public has to understand that there is a history and that you already had animosity towards her and now what you're trying to do is remove her and
0:20:59 — open the recording at 20 minutes 59 secondsSpeaker 130 it's the president's appointment
0:21:09 — open the recording at 21 minutes 9 secondsSpeaker 136 mr. president can he be removed can he be removed if he continues down I'm gonna
0:21:15 — open the recording at 21 minutes 15 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) ask again I appreciate your position but I'm gas that you don't blurt out okay
0:21:20 — open the recording at 21 minutes 20 secondsSpeaker 72 Thank you.
0:21:21 — open the recording at 21 minutes 21 secondsSpeaker 143 Mr. President, I need to respond to that. Here's what we will do.
0:21:23 — open the recording at 21 minutes 23 secondsSpeaker 141 We will take it under advisement.
0:21:24 — open the recording at 21 minutes 24 secondsSpeaker 143 I will look into it this week. I need to respond to that. Yes, ma'am. Go ahead and respond. Because it has absolutely nothing to do with anything.
0:21:30 — open the recording at 21 minutes 30 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) There's not a history with her. She did her job, whatever it was she was hired to do. Sure. She had to do it. Not a problem. My boss did his job in that situation. It has absolutely nothing to do with this. My reason for this, which as he said, I don't really even have to give my motive, but my reason for this was simply the disrespect that she showed to the constituents and the taxpayers by her actions last week. And that's my reason for this, and I backed up by the feelings of the auditor.
0:22:06 — open the recording at 22 minutes 6 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) I appeal your ruling on this, and I want to put it to a vote to the council to suspend or to overrule your ability to throw this out.
0:22:20 — open the recording at 22 minutes 20 secondsSpeaker 72 What I will do is take this under advisement. I will look into it this week. You have my word. I will look into it this week.
0:22:24 — open the recording at 22 minutes 24 secondsSpeaker 149 It's part of the powers of the council to deploy a legal council.
0:22:28 — open the recording at 22 minutes 28 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) I will look into it this week. and my understanding currently is that the attorney is the appointment of the president. It is in our rules that way.
0:22:40 — open the recording at 22 minutes 40 secondsSpeaker 72 If I am incorrect, then we will absolutely take a vote on it. But I do not at this time believe that I am incorrect.
0:22:46 — open the recording at 22 minutes 46 secondsSpeaker 151 There is a state statute that overrules the local laws and the local rule.
0:22:50 — open the recording at 22 minutes 50 secondsSpeaker 141 Okay. Council President. We are going to move on. Yes, sir.
0:22:55 — open the recording at 22 minutes 55 secondsSpeaker 152 I'd like to second the motion.
0:22:56 — open the recording at 22 minutes 56 secondsSpeaker 154 And I would like legal advice, please. Kelsey?
0:23:04 — open the recording at 23 minutes 4 secondsSpeaker 156 No. You cannot do that.
0:23:07 — open the recording at 23 minutes 7 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) This is for public officials' time to speak. The motion is out of order. You cannot remove someone that is an appointment. Otherwise, we would have potentially done that last year as well. You cannot remove the appointment. The appointment last year was yours to make. Even though there were several of us that were not happy with that. We could not remove your attorney because that was who you chose. The attorney is the choice of the council president. It is in our rules. I will look into it this week. If I am incorrect, then we will take a vote on it.
0:23:44 — open the recording at 23 minutes 44 secondsSpeaker 159 All right.
0:23:49 — open the recording at 23 minutes 49 secondsSpeaker 61 Are there any other elected officials that would like to speak? I do. Yes, sir. Do you want to go first?
0:23:56 — open the recording at 23 minutes 56 secondsDavid Thompson (councillor) Yeah, I can. This is in regards to resolution 2026-2, the one that was struck from the agenda this month. I'd like to make a motion that to the extent of resolution 2026-2 concerning the new Viggo County High School has been referred to any committees. Number one, the committee is dissolved from further consideration. Number two, the Secretary be directed to place Resolution 2026-2 on the agenda for the October Sunshine meeting for the first reading and discussion. And following the first reading and subject to all applicable notice requirements,
0:24:34 — open the recording at 24 minutes 34 secondsDavid Thompson (councillor) Resolution 2026-2 be placed on the agenda for the October regular meeting for consideration and a vote.
0:24:41 — open the recording at 24 minutes 41 secondsSpeaker 168 I second it.
0:24:45 — open the recording at 24 minutes 45 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Okay. Once again, it has been sent to committee. I just wanted to once we once we are it is that committee and once we have had a at least a few meetings then it will come back and then at that point you can put it on or somebody can put it back on to vote on I appeal your ruling and make
0:25:08 — open the recording at 25 minutes 8 secondsDavid Thompson (councillor) a motion to council determines whether your ruling should be sustained I second
0:25:12 — open the recording at 25 minutes 12 secondsSpeaker 177 it repeat your your request one more time I am appealing your ruling
0:25:19 — open the recording at 25 minutes 19 secondsDavid Thompson (councillor) And I make a motion that the council determines whether the ruling should be sustained.
0:25:24 — open the recording at 25 minutes 24 secondsSpeaker 55 Second.
0:25:27 — open the recording at 25 minutes 27 secondsSpeaker 67 I would like advice from our attorney, if possible, if they can do that, or if we are able to proceed forward.
0:25:38 — open the recording at 25 minutes 38 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Okay. Hey. Guys, please be respectful. So listen, that is not an easy position for anyone to be in. I can count numerous times where prior counsel did not know the answer when we asked it and said they would have to get back and advise on it. No one that is sitting in that chair is going to know every answer to every question right there on the fly. Sometimes there are people sitting up here who have already consulted with counsel, not counsel, and have found what they believe to be the answers. and so sometimes we can speak to it as though we'd know fully what we're
0:26:18 — open the recording at 26 minutes 18 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) speaking of it is only fair to give the person sitting in that chair be it Samantha or anyone else I don't care who is it sitting in that chair they have to have at least some time to look into this and figure out whether or not it's legal if you don't mind is that something that you can look into while we're sitting here or is that something that you need some time to look into
0:26:42 — open the recording at 26 minutes 42 secondsSpeaker 186 Okay.
0:26:43 — open the recording at 26 minutes 43 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) So are we going to recess? Not at the moment. But if she has an answer by the end of the meeting, I will, then we can come back to this.
0:26:55 — open the recording at 26 minutes 55 secondsSpeaker 177 If there is an answer by then. Are there any attorneys in here that know the answer? Okay.
0:27:01 — open the recording at 27 minutes 1 secondSteve Ellis (chair) Again, our attorney, our council attorney is sitting right there. She doesn't know the answer. But I'm going to follow her advice. You could have 30 attorneys out here. At the end of the day, she's the one that works for the council.
0:27:15 — open the recording at 27 minutes 15 secondsSpeaker 192 Does she though?
0:27:16 — open the recording at 27 minutes 16 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) All right. Larry Hutchings, you had a comment.
0:27:20 — open the recording at 27 minutes 20 secondsSpeaker 194 I do not care who sits in that chair right there as long as we have adequate representation. We have a hard job to do in that office over there. We have questions too that need legal advice. and I was told at one point that she doesn't work for the auditor. That's concerning to me because who does?
0:27:46 — open the recording at 27 minutes 46 secondsSpeaker 197 The county attorney.
0:27:47 — open the recording at 27 minutes 47 secondsSpeaker 199 The county attorney. The county attorney.
0:27:48 — open the recording at 27 minutes 48 secondsSpeaker 197 The county attorney.
0:27:58 — open the recording at 27 minutes 58 secondsSpeaker 194 Yeah, it's, and frankly, last year we didn't have to worry about that. So, and again, I don't care who sits there. All I'm saying is when we have questions, legal questions, sometimes State Board of Accounts will not answer us because it's, they leave it up to the county. We have to have legal representation. And thus far, even in budget, we've asked a few of you to get some information from her and none of that has been to this day given to us okay I think one of your
0:28:38 — open the recording at 28 minutes 38 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) concerns was her writing up the for the for our payroll is that correct was that one of the concerns that you had salary ordinances was am I correct is that one
0:28:51 — open the recording at 28 minutes 51 secondsSpeaker 210 of them okay
0:28:53 — open the recording at 28 minutes 53 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Okay, so I will look into both of those, the other two. But the salary ordinances, I think we have our answers on, correct? Am I correct on that? I'm asking. I'm not. Genuinely, I'm asking. You're talking to her. Well, I guess I'm talking to you, but I think Samantha had indicated that she was going to do salary ordinances. Is that correct? Yes. Yes, okay. okay all right all right so after the meeting you and I will get together and discuss what your other two concerns are and you know I understand everything
0:29:36 — open the recording at 29 minutes 36 secondsSpeaker 194 else going on in the county right now that's great but I have a responsibility to the employees of this county to make sure we get this budget passed I
0:29:46 — open the recording at 29 minutes 46 secondsSpeaker 137 completely concur okay I and I couldn't agree with you more you are absolutely Mr. Correct.
0:29:52 — open the recording at 29 minutes 52 secondsSpeaker 223 Mr. President. Mr. Yes, sir.
0:29:55 — open the recording at 29 minutes 55 secondsBrad Anderson (councillor) At the last meeting, I asked if we could do an executive session for the whole council to meet with the school corporation and the committee that decided on this. It would be much easier if instead of an ad hoc, which is what we decided that was, Okay. Committee, if we could do a special meeting, if the executive session does not work, have a whole meeting, televise it, do it, ask the questions to the people we want to ask the questions to. But all seven of us, if we give it to the committee after thinking about that, it's just you've got to respond to us and we need to learn it. Right.
0:30:45 — open the recording at 30 minutes 45 secondsBrad Anderson (councillor) So I really would rather see this go to a special call and have the people in front of us we want to have in front of us to ask those questions.
0:30:56 — open the recording at 30 minutes 56 secondsSpeaker 228 And I actually like that idea as well. And I spoke on that. Right.
0:31:00 — open the recording at 31 minutesBrad Anderson (councillor) And I think it would be much easier than giving it to another committee, and that committee trying to give the information to us. Let's put it all out there on the plate and do that. So how about you have questions we can have a meeting in 48 hours as long as it's advertised and so maybe could do a special call.
0:31:25 — open the recording at 31 minutes 25 secondsSpeaker 235 I don't dislike that idea. One we need to make sure that's legal to do which.
0:31:31 — open the recording at 31 minutes 31 secondsSpeaker 237 It's legal to do. We can have a special call.
0:31:33 — open the recording at 31 minutes 33 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) You're saying you're saying open to the public. Yes. Okay yes that is legal to do for sure. I thought you were wanting to do an executive session.
0:31:41 — open the recording at 31 minutes 41 secondsBrad Anderson (councillor) No, because if the executive session doesn't work, we can do a special call.
0:31:44 — open the recording at 31 minutes 44 secondsSpeaker 235 So your first choice is an executive session if it's legal, and your second choice is a call, a special call? Yeah. Okay.
0:31:50 — open the recording at 31 minutes 50 secondsBrad Anderson (councillor) And after talking to Mr. Gentry, he thought the executive would not work.
0:31:59 — open the recording at 31 minutes 59 secondsRandy Gentry (councillor) Councilman Anderson, I just believe that the executive session is limited to legal matters, personnel matters,
0:32:06 — open the recording at 32 minutes 6 secondsSpeaker 243 but I have no opposition to holding this as long as we can get the answers we need sir that's all
0:32:14 — open the recording at 32 minutes 14 secondsBrad Anderson (councillor) yeah yeah so if we can rather I'd rather give the answer the questions to the people that
0:32:19 — open the recording at 32 minutes 19 secondsSpeaker 236 have got us this far and got this thing going and I think if we hold council we can do that
0:32:26 — open the recording at 32 minutes 26 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) if we do a special call let me ask are you available is everybody on this panel available on the 29th if we were to all get together on that date. I know there are at least three of us that have already said yes.
0:32:38 — open the recording at 32 minutes 38 secondsBrad Anderson (councillor) We can do it at the end of this week. I don't care.
0:32:43 — open the recording at 32 minutes 43 secondsSpeaker 252 We don't know if you just go over where you can.
0:32:45 — open the recording at 32 minutes 45 secondsBrad Anderson (councillor) Well, right. We have to check, and then we can do it next week. I don't care. Sure. I think waiting until the 29th is not going to give us enough time and questions, because we get questions we may want to ask them again. Right. And these guys have volunteered their time to do all this, but that's the only way we can pick their brain.
0:33:07 — open the recording at 33 minutes 7 secondsSpeaker 256 It's a lot of people to get together, so just find a day.
0:33:11 — open the recording at 33 minutes 11 secondsSpeaker 243 Mr. Anderson, I think that one of the thoughts was as well is it wasn't a delay tactic. It was making sure that the people that we wanted to ask questions of were available. Sure. No. Because, again, I mean, this is a very complex situation. So making sure that there is availability and that we can have different people come, trying to do it quickly is sometimes hard to get people scheduled to do that. So, again, I think the 29th was one of the dates that came up that would make more people available to answer more questions. So that was kind of the reason behind that, sir.
0:33:49 — open the recording at 33 minutes 49 secondsSpeaker 235 Okay. Go ahead. It was the first date that the three of us happened to all have available.
0:33:54 — open the recording at 33 minutes 54 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) if if the others are also available it would make sense that we all show up if
0:34:02 — open the recording at 34 minutes 2 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) that's a possibility a little bit of an issue with that because in your news interview it's on okay if I get closer it sounds like I'm yelling which I'm not really yelling I'm just talking normally but it sounds loud okay which is what happened last week. In your interview last week you said you chose the three people that you chose because of their availability and their willingness to be on the committee. Had any of the other of us been asked for this, I have a very very demanding full-time job. I have made this a priority. I have attended
0:34:41 — open the recording at 34 minutes 41 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) the oversight meetings. I have watched everyone that I wasn't able to watch I would have sat on this committee if there was if it was required that we have one I was not asked and the actually you said that it was because of their availability availability a month away is would you like to be on the committee I don't think there should be a committee but I'll be I'll be on the committee you bet and I will my role in that will be to move this along and get the questions answered and get them the meeting scheduled in a very very timely
0:35:16 — open the recording at 35 minutes 16 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) fashion not three and a half weeks away sure I'll be on the committee if you
0:35:20 — open the recording at 35 minutes 20 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) want me to be Nancy would you mind if I replaced you with her okay all right so
0:35:26 — open the recording at 35 minutes 26 secondsSpeaker 246 the committee will now consist of Brenda Randy and myself however we will still
0:35:34 — open the recording at 35 minutes 34 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) continue with a full meeting and actually I can't do that because I've seconded the motion that it be disbanded so I don't think I can actually be on
0:35:43 — open the recording at 35 minutes 43 secondsSpeaker 265 the committee I mean I will if I can does the attorney have an opinion on
0:35:51 — open the recording at 35 minutes 51 secondsSpeaker 218 that can she be on the committee I seconded the motion to disband the
0:35:58 — open the recording at 35 minutes 58 secondsSpeaker 284 committee he just asked me to be on the committee when I made the second of the
0:36:06 — open the recording at 36 minutes 6 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) motion to have it disbanded doesn't that seem kind of like a conflict I guess
0:36:12 — open the recording at 36 minutes 12 secondsSpeaker 292 I'm not going to withdraw it.
0:36:24 — open the recording at 36 minutes 24 secondsSpeaker 265 I'm going to take that under advisement and find out for sure. Yes. There's a motion on the floor.
0:36:30 — open the recording at 36 minutes 30 secondsMark Clinkenbeard (commissioner) Just in speaking for the commissioners and the school board and the oversight board, we will make any time available between now and next week, wherever that is, whenever that is we will be there i would like to get this i would like to get this done before the 21st because we want to be on the october agenda and the 21st noon we have to turn our in our request now if you're willing to go ahead and give us that okay to be on the agenda then we can schedule this meeting whenever you want but we want to make sure that we're on the uh october
0:37:03 — open the recording at 37 minutes 3 secondsMark Clinkenbeard (commissioner) agenda okay so mr president yes sir may i have the floor yes sir commissioner
0:37:10 — open the recording at 37 minutes 10 secondsRandy Gentry (councillor) I'm a little offended that you as a commissioner are trying to run our meeting. So here's the situation. We need more input than the commissioners and the oversight committee. There are financial requests for reports that are outstanding. We're continuing to try to gather information.
0:37:37 — open the recording at 37 minutes 37 secondsSpeaker 127 and there are people that I know I want to hear from that have additional information that would be very fiscally prudent for us to hear. We can run and do this next week. We can do it again the next week. We can do it again the next week. The key factor is no one said that this is going to be one meeting and done. We've got to ask these questions to make sure taxpayer protections are in place and so please understand this isn't just a repeat of another slideshow and the commissioners we have to bring in additional personnel and people that have expertise in this process
0:38:23 — open the recording at 38 minutes 23 secondsSpeaker 127 I want to remind everybody in this room including you there's never ever been anything like this in the state of Indiana we are the first there's no rule book there's no guidebook there's absolutely nothing to follow we have to make sure that we get it right as we move forward
0:38:44 — open the recording at 38 minutes 44 secondsMark Clinkenbeard (commissioner) that's all we're trying to do thank you mr gentry and i would just like to know that i'm not trying to run your meeting you were had a proposal up here to have another meeting and i'm trying to let you know that we will be available whenever and when whenever that is we will be here and now i you know i do regret though that last week i stood up here and came up with a proposal and and we all agreed on it, we would have stayed here until midnight and answered your questions. Now I do regret that because it seems like that didn't really mean anything.
0:39:11 — open the recording at 39 minutes 11 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) So there are questions that, one, I've reached out to Dr. Hemsle for, and I'm hopeful that he will meet with a few of us prior to a meeting. I'm happy to ask him in front of people, but I think they're questions he's not gonna know the answers to, so rather than to call him out and in front of people where he doesn't know the answers, I want to give him time to find the answers.
0:39:36 — open the recording at 39 minutes 36 secondsMark Clinkenbeard (commissioner) I think it's safe to say that Dr. Hemsworth would have any answer to any questions you ask him. He has answered every question multiple times, and I believe he would do that again.
0:39:47 — open the recording at 39 minutes 47 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Okay, well, I'll be happy to speak to him.
0:39:50 — open the recording at 39 minutes 50 secondsSpeaker 312 So I have reached out. All right, Council President.
0:39:55 — open the recording at 39 minutes 55 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Yes, sir. Where are we on the motion on the floor? moment it is under advisement i am waiting to see if she ends up having an answer today if we can go ahead and proceed with the meeting until the end and if we have an answer we'll rule on it then why is it under advisement can you explain that to me because i don't know that i don't know that
0:40:16 — open the recording at 40 minutes 16 secondsSpeaker 313 it's not out of order second thing i have and then i'll be done yes i'm a little bit confused there was a committee and now it's is it the whole council or is it a committee it is a committee
0:40:29 — open the recording at 40 minutes 29 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) however the whole council no it is a committee it is a Brenda if she chooses
0:40:34 — open the recording at 40 minutes 34 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) to do it Brenda Randy and myself however that does not mean we cannot I'm sorry
0:40:39 — open the recording at 40 minutes 39 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Councilwoman Wilson I'm sorry what did I say Brenda oh okay so but that does not mean that we cannot all still be present and meet and ask questions so if we can call an executive session legally that's that would be my preference if we cannot do that legally then we will we can just have in the public meeting for that matter
0:41:11 — open the recording at 41 minutes 11 secondsSpeaker 324 all right any other elected officials mr. president yes ma'am I'd like to suggest that everybody starts being just a little bit nicer in this room we're friends and neighbors and we're talking about building a school for some children and I think if if we just soften it up a little bit I mean I see I look out here and I see every friendly face that I've known for a hell of a lot more years than most of you been born by the way I want I want everybody to soften their tone just a little bit I love your face by the way and and let's
0:41:56 — open the recording at 41 minutes 56 secondsSpeaker 324 just try to be nice for the rest this meeting and treat each other like dear gentle people that we are let's try to proceed with that that goes for all of us including my own self because I can be a real snaggle puss thank you that's
0:42:14 — open the recording at 42 minutes 14 secondsSpeaker 329 all I got to say about that thank you have a good time all right
0:42:19 — open the recording at 42 minutes 19 secondsSpeaker 67 we have we have eight people signed up for public comment I'm gonna ask if you
0:42:27 — open the recording at 42 minutes 27 secondsSpeaker 72 have already given public comment please let the people who have not had a chance I guess everybody's gonna have a chance so it doesn't matter so eight people will just go in order the first one summer and I apologize I can't read the last name okay
0:42:42 — open the recording at 42 minutes 42 secondsSpeaker 337 All right. Hello. Summer Liggett, again, special education teacher at North High School. I don't have a speech.
0:42:53 — open the recording at 42 minutes 53 secondsSummer Liggett (resident) I wasn't even going to talk, and I wasn't even going to come here because I feel like crap, but here we are. I'm tired of fighting. You guys are the ones we're supposed to look up to, and quite frankly, my seven-year-old could do a better job at getting people together on the same team. I mean, it's just, we talk about people wanting to leave because of the schools. That's very true, very valid. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for my kids. But you guys don't make anyone want to stay and fight either. And I'm not calling out any one individual. It's all of us.
0:43:26 — open the recording at 43 minutes 26 secondsSummer Liggett (resident) You've all been elected by the people of Terre Haute, Bego County, and you should support all of us. It's not about Ms. Wilson and Mr. Ellis, Ms. Wager. it's about everybody coming together for the good of these people because without these people you guys wouldn't have your part-time gigs that you've got right now and not to mention
0:43:48 — open the recording at 43 minutes 48 secondsSummer Liggett (resident) i've got one stab and then i'm done part-time means more than prn hours so those of you who work full-time i understand the struggle and the challenge of scheduling however part-time payment requires and should have respectfully part-time availability which to me is
0:44:08 — open the recording at 44 minutes 8 secondsSummer Liggett (resident) anywhere between what 15 and 32 hours a week for the average employee I think it's unfair that we're waiting until the 29th to have a meeting that could very easily with 20 some hours of part-time availability be scheduled sooner but at
0:44:29 — open the recording at 44 minutes 29 secondsSummer Liggett (resident) At the end of the day, I'm the one who knows who I vote for, and I know who I won't vote for. So moving forward, I hope you keep that in mind and stop worrying about what's best for me and number one and worry about what's best for our children, some of whom are out here today,
0:44:46 — open the recording at 44 minutes 46 secondsSummer Liggett (resident) and some who can't be here, others who don't even want to waste their time because they don't think public discourse does any good.
0:44:54 — open the recording at 44 minutes 54 secondsSummer Liggett (resident) And what I'm seeing is that it doesn't do any good for the public to come up here and give their opinions.
0:44:59 — open the recording at 44 minutes 59 secondsSpeaker 344 That's all I got. Thank you very much.
0:45:08 — open the recording at 45 minutes 8 secondsSpeaker 345 Last name may be Bridgewater. Okay.
0:45:12 — open the recording at 45 minutes 12 secondsSpeaker 349 Hi. My name is Lydia Bridgewater. I live at 21 North 36th Street. I'm standing here because of this kid and those kids. I work at the high school. I hear the stories. You guys have heard the stories. I want you to remember that this opportunity before you is for these guys. There's a proposal on the table that can help them do something amazing and have opportunities that we didn't have. Hell, I have chalkboards in the classroom still. When I was in high school up in West Lafayette, my freshman year in 06, we all had smart boards. There's an opportunity out here.
0:45:47 — open the recording at 45 minutes 47 secondsSpeaker 349 You guys can make a difference. Your names are going to go down in history, yes or no. Your names are going down in history. You will be remembered for the choices you all make, the
0:45:56 — open the recording at 45 minutes 56 secondsSpeaker 345 decisions you make. Please keep that in mind. Thank you so much. Last name Potter.
0:46:11 — open the recording at 46 minutes 11 secondsTerry Potter (resident) Hi I'm Terry Potter 221 Woodbine. I'm a teacher at North. I have ties to North as a student, aunt, parent, teacher since the 80s. Okay so I know Patriot Pride. I know school pride. But We are so tired of people asking, if it's good enough for the middle schools, why not high schools? If we're tired of hearing, let's vote on it. We're tired of, they aren't maintaining schools, so why build new ones? We are so tired of people not paying attention to the same things that have been repeated over and over and over again. We all have full-time jobs. We all do.
0:46:49 — open the recording at 46 minutes 49 secondsTerry Potter (resident) I thank those of you who I've seen at all the meetings, because being a teacher is tireless. Tireless. So unlike the rest of us, you guys chose to run for an elected office. You were paid by the taxpayers to put in the extra work. Not putting in the extra work, it's like a high school coach saying, I know you hired me and are paying me, but I have a full-time job, so I'm not attending any practices. Then in the fourth quarter of an important matchup, going to the refs to postpone the game so you can go watch film. That coach would be fired while the rest of us are on the sidelines
0:47:23 — open the recording at 47 minutes 23 secondsTerry Potter (resident) doing what we can, watching it all play out, but unable to do anything for our players. But the main reason that I'm here today is to address those who are still on the fence for 6.2, especially those concerned about West Terre Haute. My dad was postmaster in West Terre Haute for years when I was a child. I have great memories of spending time in West T. I had lunch at that counter in the original Grandma Joyce. Believe me, I've got ties. So here's the thing. The key terms are operational and efficient. Those are basically your two options. You vote yes for 6.2.
0:48:01 — open the recording at 48 minutes 1 secondTerry Potter (resident) West Vigo, middle, and high gets a remodel, states operational and efficient. Vote no, and there are maybe a few years left for the middle and high school. If lucky in the future, the elementary schools can house the sixth grade, 7 to 12 will no longer exist because the buildings will not be operational or efficient. Maybe Chris Schweitzer's oldest child will be lucky enough to attend West Vigo High School, but not his fourth grader. These are not threats and they're not scare tactics. It's reality and there is no alternative. There isn't an alternative. Pay attention.
0:48:38 — open the recording at 48 minutes 38 secondsTerry Potter (resident) By continually kicking this down the road, we are running out of time. So ask yourself, is that the legacy you want to leave? Do you want to be known for keeping educational opportunities in West Terre Haute and the rest of our community or shutting it down because you've only got two options bottom line thank you
0:49:00 — open the recording at 49 minutesSpeaker 361 Caroline Potter
0:49:08 — open the recording at 49 minutes 8 secondsSpeaker 363 hi my name is Caroline Potter I am a graduate of Terre Haute North I went on to Purdue after that for my undergrad and then Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. I did complete an externship down in Tennessee as well so I did move around a lot but I decided to come home to live closer to family and serve my community. So back in high school I was valedictorian vice president of my student council yearbook editor and the Carl S. Riddle recipient I was very proud of my experience here and I wanted the same for my future kids however these
0:49:52 — open the recording at 49 minutes 52 secondsSpeaker 363 schools are not what they used to be so if the consolidation does not happen I will likely be moving to Brazil and my future kids will be going to the clay community schools okay it's very disheartening to see how the heart of our community is degrading and i think it's something where we do need to think about this and i hope that you guys want
0:50:22 — open the recording at 50 minutes 22 secondsSpeaker 371 us as young professionals to stay in town thank you thank you so much
0:50:30 — open the recording at 50 minutes 30 secondsSpeaker 372 kylie reed
0:50:37 — open the recording at 50 minutes 37 secondsKylie Reid (resident) Hello. My name is Kylie Reid and I'm the head coach of the Terre Haute South Bravettes. My reasons for supporting 6.2 are simple. My kids. The two that call me mom and the 22 that call me coach. There is nothing that I wouldn't do for my kids. It's not about the new building. It's about the resources that come with it and the increase in opportunities for all students. Athletics provides more than just physical activity. It provides an outlet and opportunities for students from all backgrounds and socioeconomic status. Those ripples can extend far beyond the playing field.
0:51:10 — open the recording at 51 minutes 10 secondsKylie Reid (resident) One of my graduating seniors last year was from an immigrant family. She is now attending college as an athlete right here at Indiana State. She and her mom have also started a local business. I have been a coach for 15 years this season. I spend more time on a weekly basis at Terre Haute South than I do my own home. I am no stranger to the conditions of the buildings or the lack of adequate facilities to support students and athletes. When the school was built, it was not built with female athletes in mind. My team shares a locker room with two other teams.
0:51:42 — open the recording at 51 minutes 42 secondsKylie Reid (resident) Our equipment is kept in a ticket booth that was turned storage cubby. I've lost hundreds of dollars in uniforms to mice, roaches, and environmental damage. And my girls take it in stride. By now, they're used to it. They are used to less, and they are successful in spite of it. But I long for a day where they don't have to be great despite their school, but because of it. My girls are smart, compassionate, kind, and hardworking. They volunteer in their community, they have jobs, they're involved in student government. They're exactly the kind of humans that we want in our community long term.
0:52:16 — open the recording at 52 minutes 16 secondsKylie Reid (resident) And getting them to continue calling Terre Haute home starts with 6.2. They won't benefit from the new school, but I hope their kids will. And our community will benefit from these incredible humans choosing to stay in Terre Haute. And if a new school puts me out of a job, that's okay. Because it's never been about me. It's always been about them.
0:52:37 — open the recording at 52 minutes 37 secondsSpeaker 370 Thank you.
0:52:38 — open the recording at 52 minutes 38 seconds Thanks.
0:52:43 — open the recording at 52 minutes 43 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Maybe Steven Allen, perhaps? Did I get that right?
0:52:47 — open the recording at 52 minutes 47 seconds Sorry.
0:52:48 — open the recording at 52 minutes 48 secondsStephen Allen (resident) Hello, I'm Stephen Allen. I've got a little bit different perspective on this. I've nearly 20 years in the construction industry, and I can tell you plainly, no responsible project moves forward this scale without land, drawing, scope, transportation, the impacts that that will have, the cost details clearly defined. This is why I want to thank the council members who have listened to residents and asked questions before considering a 20 year multimillion dollar commitment. This is not a delay. This is responsible government. The people who will pay for this deserve answers.
0:53:30 — open the recording at 53 minutes 30 secondsStephen Allen (resident) People in the county sign up for long term obligations. The issue tonight is not whether or not education matters. Of course it does. We all know we need a new school. the issue is whether or not the county should commit public major public money and to a project that is still in basic that still has missing basic project answers the oversight committee showed how the county can afford to help but affordability is not the only part of this decision a payment plan is not the same as a complete project plan right now the major questions
0:54:01 — open the recording at 54 minutes 1 secondStephen Allen (resident) remain unanswered whether exactly where exactly is school going to go has land been secured where the drawings what is the final design what are the full scope of this project what will bus routes look like for students from prairie creek blackhawk coal bluff and any other outlying communities in this county and on bus routes saying someone drove 10 minutes in a personal vehicle and it only took 10 minutes does not answer the question i invite that person to ride on a bus on an 80 degree day from any of our outlying towns and ride the route a bank would not loan money to build a house if
0:54:35 — open the recording at 54 minutes 35 secondsStephen Allen (resident) the borrower had no land no drawings prepared yet this council is being asked to consider county funding before those same basic pieces are in place that would not be acceptable on a private construction project and it should not be acceptable without tax with taxpayer money we were told at the meeting last week that this is approximately six months of engineering and architectural work left before this project will even get off the ground that much work before it is fully defined and the county should not be asked to provide funding yet finishing the engineering
0:55:07 — open the recording at 55 minutes 7 secondsStephen Allen (resident) securing the land drafting drawings provided to the public and then come back with facts the oversight board also provided something important the school corporation has the funding to build the new school but did not answer but did not have enough to cover the renovations of west herhote if that is the real gap then say it clearly do not sell residents a board a broad vision where avoiding direct answers about the county is actually being asked to pay for. I'm gonna run out of time. I just want to thank you guys for your
0:55:35 — open the recording at 55 minutes 35 secondsStephen Allen (resident) due diligence. We all know we need a new school. Whether the oversight board provided a plan. I have not seen a plan. My background's construction. I have direct interest in this. My kid, I have four kids school age and the schools are in deplorable condition. We know that. They have been for 20 years from when I graduated the fact is the corporation has not done any major upgrades in 60 years of these schools being built thank you thank you
0:56:04 — open the recording at 56 minutes 4 secondsSpeaker 204 Rosemary Scott
0:56:07 — open the recording at 56 minutes 7 secondsSpeaker 386 Hi, I'm Rosemary Scott.
0:56:22 — open the recording at 56 minutes 22 secondsRosemary Scott (resident) I echo most of what this gentleman said, if not all, of what he talked about. You guys are kind of like the bank. the loan officer and any of us that have ever gotten a mortgage know that there are applications, there are forms, there are income checks. There's a lot to it. So, I agree with that analogy. There's a lot to this. This is nothing you should be rushing into. And I think yesterday I was in the Labor Day Parade with the Eugene V. Debs Foundation. Shout out to Debs for the 40-hour week. We talked to people from every walk of life. We talked to Teamsters. We talked to nurses.
0:57:12 — open the recording at 57 minutes 12 secondsRosemary Scott (resident) We talked to doctors. We talked to waitresses. Anybody you could think of. And I had so many people tell me they did not agree with this consolidation. They worry over these children. A man said to me, 3,000 kids? Even if they go down to 2,500, what are you doing? Are you stamping out tires? Are you sending children out into the community? These are things that are not being considered here. Yes, this debate about the horrible state of North and South and West Fico, it's gone on forever. I agree. But that doesn't mean you rush through this now. Now, when you have a golden opportunity
0:57:59 — open the recording at 57 minutes 59 secondsRosemary Scott (resident) to make a difference, you want to rush through it They make a poor decision that the community, remember, lives with this. In the early 70s when they were designing these schools, did they look out to now? It doesn't seem as though they did. They built them both at the same time, so they fell apart at the same time. There may be a part of me that knows that they could have been designed better, but I was in middle school. Flat roofs, of course, have contributed. But we've got to do something that's going to help these kids. And I don't understand why if you're against 6.2, then
0:58:44 — open the recording at 58 minutes 44 secondsRosemary Scott (resident) you're against children. I want the best for every one of these kids, as though they were mine. I want them all to have everything this community can possibly give them. And cramming them all into one high school is not the best. It's not even second best. We can do better. We should do better. I want everybody to have an opportunity. You do not need to only build one big building. It has not been explored in other directions of what else we can do. And until we look at all those options, I say no to 6.2.
0:59:25 — open the recording at 59 minutes 25 secondsSpeaker 95 Thank you so much. Jody Akenbo.
0:59:30 — open the recording at 59 minutes 30 secondsSpeaker 393 Good evening. My name is Jody Akimbo and I stand here again asking you to please reconsider involving yourself with the school project. The cost is astronomical. The funding is not guaranteed, and the claim that this will not raise taxes is quite frankly laughable. You can move money from one bucket to another and call it something else, but the money is still gone. Those county funds are supposed to be used to run county government. When future needs arise and those funds aren't there, where will the money come from? Bonds? Other taxes? Other revenue? That is robbing Peter to pay Paul.
1:00:24 — open the recording at 1 hour 24 secondsSpeaker 393 And please don't mistake the same few people repeatedly showing up at meetings, repeating the same talking points on social media recruiting others to repeat them and creating the appearance the parents of overwhelming support as proof that the majority of Vigo County wants this there are approximately 106,000 people in this county an echo chamber is not the majority
1:00:45 — open the recording at 1 hour 45 secondsJody Akimbo (resident) repetition does not make something true and how dare people personally attack people simply because they have the courage to stand in opposition we have every right to question the cost the funding the comparisons and the long-term consequences disagreements is not disagreement is not disrespect running running accountability does not make someone anti-school or anti-child Vigo County is unique the IDOE considers us metropolitan we are also one of the few school corporations that essentially covers an entire county we have
1:01:22 — open the recording at 1 hour 1 minute 22 secondsJody Akimbo (resident) significant poverty and some of the highest free and reduced lunch rates in the state. So when we compare ourselves to smaller, non-metropolitan districts with completely different demographics, we are comparing apples to oranges. And let's remember what education is actually about. The quality of education matters, not the shiny building that is new. A new building doesn't teach a child, a bigger gym doesn't improve reading scores, and bigger doesn't automatically mean better. Our investment needs to be in education, recruiting and retaining those highly effective teachers.
1:01:54 — open the recording at 1 hour 1 minute 54 secondsJody Akimbo (resident) The 6.2 being shoved down our throats as a solution may look impressive, but it is smoke and mirrors. We need to live within our means because the shiny building won't stay new forever, but the debt, the maintenance, and the consequences of today's decisions will be handed to our children and our grandchildren. I just want to make a point to encourage the public to go and watch the CIB meeting from today. was very very um revealing there are some people in this room that stand to make a lot of money off
1:02:22 — open the recording at 1 hour 2 minutes 22 secondsJody Akimbo (resident) the property they are wanting to make a travel sports complex they asked the cib today for 500 000 for five-year commitment for um the lease of 100 acres um to build the sports complex with the hopes of partnering with the vega county school corporation and i would ask their county county council to please help make their meetings more respectable and remove people who disrupt thank you
1:02:45 — open the recording at 1 hour 2 minutes 45 secondsSpeaker 304 thank you all right moving on to reports from committees yes sir
1:02:57 — open the recording at 1 hour 2 minutes 57 secondsSpeaker 399 okay yep mr mr. Elliott
1:03:03 — open the recording at 1 hour 3 minutes 3 secondsOrville Earl Elliott (resident) I got here early to get a good seat my name is Orville Earl Elliott 57 West Lauren Boulevard, Terre Haute, Indiana. We're here because the Indiana State Legislature passed a bill solely for use by Vigo County setting up this oversight board process to study the Vigo Cool School Corporation school building funding dilemma. A process that would not require a property tax referendum a process that would not require a property tax referendum applications for oversight board members were requested received reviewed and the members were individually selected by the county commissioners mayor of
1:03:52 — open the recording at 1 hour 3 minutes 52 secondsOrville Earl Elliott (resident) Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce etc your responsibility is to determine whether or not the county is willing to provide funding that has been requested by your County Commissioners concerning funding the oversight board consulted with its financial consultant Tim Berry of Crow he was here last week who had reviewed and vetted the 2025 through 2023 comprehensive financial plan for Vigel County Indiana dated July 8, 2026 prepared by Jason Simler of Baker Tilly. They accepted Mr. Berry's report stating his belief the county could afford up to
1:04:42 — open the recording at 1 hour 4 minutes 42 secondsOrville Earl Elliott (resident) 15 million dollars up front for this process and then six million dollars a year for approximately 20 years thereafter. They reported its acceptance of Mr. Berry's recommended county contributions to the county commissioners and along the way received favorable comments from the county auditor and the county assessor concerning this funding. The county commissioners submitted an action to the county auditor concerning this funding. The president of the county council assigned the review of this action to a three-person committee consisting of himself and council members also and Gentry.
1:05:27 — open the recording at 1 hour 5 minutes 27 secondsOrville Earl Elliott (resident) I wonder how the other four council members feel about that action. The funding from the county, the Casino Foundation, which expires December 31st, and the city of Terre Haute leaves a $62 million funding deficit that could be met by the school corporation uses its 162 million dollar bonding capacity and then the remaining hundred million dollars of their bonding capacity covers the renovation costs of West Viggo High School. The work on both high schools could possibly occur at the same time. Again your charge is just to address whether or not you wish the county to fund this. If you have
1:06:15 — open the recording at 1 hour 6 minutes 15 secondsOrville Earl Elliott (resident) questions I suggest you direct them to Commissioner Clinkenbeard as to who you want to ask them to thank you and what they are. Thank you. Thank you Mr. Aller.
1:06:28 — open the recording at 1 hour 6 minutes 28 secondsSpeaker 413 Mr. President members of the council Eddie Felling 400 Ohio Street I promise you I'm not trying to be funny or obtuse but you're out of order with regard to the motion that was made earlier. There was a motion made, a second, and then there was an
1:06:43 — open the recording at 1 hour 6 minutes 43 secondsSpeaker 303 appeal of the president. Mr. President, point of order. Mr. Gentry. I question this is a time for
1:06:49 — open the recording at 1 hour 6 minutes 49 secondsSpeaker 243 a public comment. This person is trying to give us legal advice, which you've already previously
1:06:56 — open the recording at 1 hour 6 minutes 56 secondsSpeaker 413 said you would not accept. I'm just reading Robert's Rules of Order, which is part of your rules. So it's very clear in Robert's Rules of Order, and I highly suggest you take some time and read it an appeal takes precedent over every other item on the agenda that motion has been made so every moment that you you take longer not making not ruling on that or allowing it a vote totally disregarding robert's rules of order and your own rules so i believe our lawyers thank you so you're not going to take any action at the moment no sir okay would you mind asking your
1:07:27 — open the recording at 1 hour 7 minutes 27 secondsSpeaker 413 attorney for some direction because you're definitely out of order thank you sir yes sir
1:07:32 — open the recording at 1 hour 7 minutes 32 secondsSpeaker 10 all right thank you all right moving on to reports from committees
1:07:42 — open the recording at 1 hour 7 minutes 42 secondsSpeaker 421 yes sir hi um i would just recommend that you all take use of our lovely county public libraries and check out a copy of the revised book robert's rules of orders because you know it's bad when a local government body starts to look like a federal subpoena thank you thank you
1:07:59 — open the recording at 1 hour 7 minutes 59 secondsSpeaker 426 yes sir
1:08:02 — open the recording at 1 hour 8 minutes 2 secondsSpeaker 429 Hello, Marty Mars, local business owner, lifelong West Arrow resident.
1:08:13 — open the recording at 1 hour 8 minutes 13 secondsMarty Mars (resident) There's three things we all can agree on. We need school improvements. We don't want property tax hikes. And a referendum will never pass. We need new school. The problem with the new school is the first thing I see is we're gaining a building. If we're gaining a building, we need a plan for the old buildings. The casino money is great. No property taxes is the biggest thing of why I'm here, but we need a plan. We can't just wing it like the previous administrations have done. My concern from the west side is that this will pass. We will get the new school.
1:08:55 — open the recording at 1 hour 8 minutes 55 secondsMarty Mars (resident) We know when the new school is built, the west side will gain students, and that's great but the problem is if funding is only available for the new school and then we've run out of money for the west side the option will be a referendum that will never pass especially if a new school is already built we we have to have a plan that all this works together i look at putnam county right now they have four high schools in putnam county all four have made major improvements to athletics football fields all getting turf all athletic
1:09:31 — open the recording at 1 hour 9 minutes 31 secondsMarty Mars (resident) departments getting improvements putnam county smaller than us four high schools all getting major improvements athletics keep students whether we want to agree with that or not athletics get our students here the more students will get the better education options they have we have to keep our students the amount of students that leave for these other schools to play athletics is crazy. After last last week's meeting and the whole circus and all the everything went through I got up early next morning to watch the news report.
1:10:03 — open the recording at 1 hour 10 minutes 3 secondsMarty Mars (resident) On the news the following morning there was a story about Edgar County Illinois. All the schools in Paris, all the city schools got complete upgrades to HVAC equipment. All funded by the city sales tax no no property taxes no referendums all funded by sales tax is that an option in vego county or the city of terreau to have some sort of sales tax to help fund projects where everyone can be a part of the of the funding not just property owners or business owners for people who work no matter how rich or poor can we work to figure out a sales tax for the
1:10:47 — open the recording at 1 hour 10 minutes 47 secondsMarty Mars (resident) city or the county so all can contribute thank you thank you sir yes ma'am hi my name is kelsey
1:10:58 — open the recording at 1 hour 10 minutes 58 secondsKelsey Hankwitz (resident) hankwitz i'm a local attorney i'm also a resident 3712 north shrinewood street i'm a spouse my husband currently works at vigo county school corporation and most importantly i'm a mom of two a two-year-old and a almost eight-month-year-old so first of all in regards to indiana code 36-2-3.7-5 county council has the power to employ legal and administrative personnel to carry out the county council's functions yes you guys do have county council rules but the state statute overrides those rules second of all in regards to your statement earlier mr gentry you say that you
1:11:36 — open the recording at 1 hour 11 minutes 36 secondsKelsey Hankwitz (resident) that you wanted to hire your own people to advisors, et cetera. On whose dime would that be?
1:11:42 — open the recording at 1 hour 11 minutes 42 secondsSpeaker 307 I didn't say that, ma'am. Yes, you did, sir. No, I didn't. I said I wanted to take testimony. I'm not asking.
1:11:47 — open the recording at 1 hour 11 minutes 47 secondsKelsey Hankwitz (resident) That's okay. I know what I heard. In regards to you, Mr. Ellis, you stated that you already had meetings with people in the last week. Who were those people? What questions did you ask? If you're asking the questions of the people, shouldn't we know what questions you asked and know what those responses were? Thank you.
1:12:02 — open the recording at 1 hour 12 minutes 2 secondsSpeaker 436 Thank you.
1:12:06 — open the recording at 1 hour 12 minutes 6 secondsSpeaker 304 all right yes ma'am I I don't know if that's legal or not if it's legal I
1:12:15 — open the recording at 1 hour 12 minutes 15 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) don't have a problem with it okay yes 40 seconds I think is what she said she
1:12:22 — open the recording at 1 hour 12 minutes 22 secondsSpeaker 439 has can you do 40 seconds or not
1:12:36 — open the recording at 1 hour 12 minutes 36 secondsSpeaker 444 stop at 220. I give you I give you my 40 seconds to talk. You guys are awesome thank you.
1:12:45 — open the recording at 1 hour 12 minutes 45 secondsSummer Liggett (resident) You guys are awesome I promise I don't need it. Yeah okay. All right. Again Summer Liggett, special education teacher at North. I just wanted to come up here and clarify some of the what I perceive as confusion from certain people on both sides of the spectrum. I want to make it known that I'm not for a big fancy building. I'm for a building better than what some of the kids I have in my classroom have at home. They shouldn't have to worry about water falling on them or seeing cockroaches and mice and having all their personal things destroyed in a school.
1:13:19 — open the recording at 1 hour 13 minutes 19 secondsSummer Liggett (resident) For some of them, God forbid, that happens at home. Our job as citizens and humans is to make it better. I cannot allow my students to thrive I can't help them to thrive if the very basic layer of Maslow's hierarchy has not been met and quite frankly it's not
1:13:41 — open the recording at 1 hour 13 minutes 41 secondsSpeaker 10 met right now thank you thank you all right moving on to reports from
1:13:49 — open the recording at 1 hour 13 minutes 49 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) committees I assume nothing on the budget at the moment nothing resolutions and ordinances other than appropriations this is going to be 2026 3 I'd like to say that before we can pass this we must first unanimously vote to set aside 96 2-1996 per our rules so if anyone would like to make a motion on that that would allow us to then move on to vote on 2026 dash make a motion to remove ordinance 96-2-1996 motion from councilman gentry second by councilwoman wilson wagon wager sorry i know uh any discussion or comments roll call please David Thompson?
1:14:41 — open the recording at 1 hour 14 minutes 41 secondsSpeaker 466 Nay. Brad Anderson?
1:14:43 — open the recording at 1 hour 14 minutes 43 secondsSpeaker 470 Explain where you're at right now.
1:14:46 — open the recording at 1 hour 14 minutes 46 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Okay, so on 2026-3, number 7, 2026-3, there's a request to change the ordinance that was
1:15:00 — open the recording at 1 hour 15 minutesSpeaker 174 in 1996. On the animals?
1:15:03 — open the recording at 1 hour 15 minutes 3 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) No, this is on the forfeiture of RICO actions.
1:15:10 — open the recording at 1 hour 15 minutes 10 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) So money that is seized by the county, for them to be able to appropriate this where they want to, they needed to change the ordinance.
1:15:22 — open the recording at 1 hour 15 minutes 22 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) For us to change the ordinance, we have to first unanimously get rid of 96-2-1996.
1:15:32 — open the recording at 1 hour 15 minutes 32 secondsSpeaker 473 Okay, they have one changes, though.
1:15:33 — open the recording at 1 hour 15 minutes 33 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Okay. Are you wanting to?
1:15:37 — open the recording at 1 hour 15 minutes 37 secondsSpeaker 315 Yes. It wasn't explained. I understand it, no.
1:15:39 — open the recording at 1 hour 15 minutes 39 secondsSpeaker 304 Okay. All right. So just to clarify for the record, David Thompson, you'd like to vote how? Aye. Yes. Okay. And then now you can proceed. Any other questions?
1:15:48 — open the recording at 1 hour 15 minutes 48 secondsSpeaker 475 That's why that was the one questioning. Okay. Okay. Yes. Aye.
1:15:52 — open the recording at 1 hour 15 minutes 52 secondsSpeaker 41 Brenda Wilson? Aye. Nancy Olson? Aye. Randy Gendry? Aye. Vicki Weger? Aye. Steve Ellis?
1:15:58 — open the recording at 1 hour 15 minutes 58 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Aye. Motion passes 7-0. Moving on to Ordinance 2026-3, and I don't have page numbers, so I apologize. If anybody has that, feel free to yell it out. Nonetheless, an ordinance amending Ordinance 96-2-1996, providing for the reimbursement of expenses incurred during an investigation and prosecution for forfeiture and RICO actions.
1:16:33 — open the recording at 1 hour 16 minutes 33 secondsSpeaker 486 It's on page 18, Mr. President.
1:16:35 — open the recording at 1 hour 16 minutes 35 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Thank you, page 18. And if there are any motions, feel free to speak up.
1:16:39 — open the recording at 1 hour 16 minutes 39 secondsRandy Gentry (councillor) Mr. President, may I have the floor first? Yes, sir. So there has been a lot of conversations with the prosecutor's office in regards to 2026-3, back and forth. It's been revised, and I think Chief Deputy Prosecutor Rob Roberts said that we just got back a new version of this, which is what's submitted. Is that correct? And that came from IP Indiana Prosecutors. Indiana Prosecutor and Attorneys Council.
1:17:15 — open the recording at 1 hour 17 minutes 15 secondsSpeaker 414 Alright, so just give me one second, Mr. Roberts.
- Highlight drawn from this moment: Council rejects a bid to pull the school-funding resolution back from committee for an October voteHighlight drawn from this moment: Commissioner says the council broke its promise to meet on school funding within a week
1:17:18 — open the recording at 1 hour 17 minutes 18 secondsRandy Gentry (councillor) So in this conversation, this came up at a previous meeting and what we're trying to accomplish is that under Indiana state law, the old ordinance became null and void, and we're trying to update it so that our ordinances are in compliance with Indiana state law. There is a distinct process by these funds being sorted, and it becomes part of a judge ruling, and they have to follow a very outlined scenario provided by state law. So the orders that are currently being sent through are breaking the money into various different puddles to be used for very different purposes.
1:18:11 — open the recording at 1 hour 18 minutes 11 secondsRandy Gentry (councillor) The new ordinance does still seemingly have a small flaw, and I'll let Mr. Roberts address that, but in talking with the auditor's office it seems like that they can fix that from the standpoint that if you're going to push all the money into one particular account that each part that's ordered by the judge that's following the state law would then have to be tracked by the auditor's office so that future use of the money would be appropriate so my only concern was is I felt like it would be easier on the auditor's office to have multiple funds
1:18:48 — open the recording at 1 hour 18 minutes 48 secondsRandy Gentry (councillor) for each piece that the judge orders out on a forfeiture money. That's not necessarily part of the ordinance. I don't have a problem with that other than I think the auditor's office will now have a little bit more difficult time sorting out the different pieces that are required. So that's where we're at and that's how we got to the ordinance
1:19:09 — open the recording at 1 hour 19 minutes 9 secondsSpeaker 243 that we have and it complies with Indiana law and we should be good to go.
1:19:16 — open the recording at 1 hour 19 minutes 16 secondsSpeaker 324 And let me just add, for those of you who have no idea what the heck that was all about, this is money that's captured during arrest of bad guys and then the prosecutor has it and they give it up and they give it to, like, the police department and the sheriff's department and all the good guys to use to capture more bad guys. Simple enough, Rob?
1:19:39 — open the recording at 1 hour 19 minutes 39 secondsSpeaker 494 It's an accurate description. Okay.
1:19:42 — open the recording at 1 hour 19 minutes 42 secondsSpeaker 10 All right. Is there a motion on the table?
1:19:47 — open the recording at 1 hour 19 minutes 47 secondsSpeaker 497 I make a motion to approve the new ordinance.
1:19:49 — open the recording at 1 hour 19 minutes 49 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Motion by Councilman Gentry.
1:19:51 — open the recording at 1 hour 19 minutes 51 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Second. Second by Councilwoman Wager. Any discussion? Roll call, please.
1:19:57 — open the recording at 1 hour 19 minutes 57 secondsSpeaker 46 (clerk) David Thompson. Aye. Brad Anderson. Aye. Brenda Wilson. Aye. Nancy Olson. Aye. Randy Gentry.
1:20:03 — open the recording at 1 hour 20 minutes 3 secondsSpeaker 41 Aye. Vicki Wager. Aye. Steve Ellis.
1:20:05 — open the recording at 1 hour 20 minutes 5 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Aye. Moving on to 8A. 2026-42, prosecutor seized assets slash drug task force. And I'll take a motion if anybody has one.
1:20:21 — open the recording at 1 hour 20 minutes 21 secondsSpeaker 331 Motion to approve. It's basically the same thing. I'll second it.
1:20:25 — open the recording at 1 hour 20 minutes 25 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Motion by Councilwoman Wager. Second by Councilwoman Alsop. Discussion. I am, just for the record, I am going to mention one more time, Is there any chance any of these funds will be spent at a business that I own?
1:20:42 — open the recording at 1 hour 20 minutes 42 secondsSpeaker 491 From what has been provided to me at this point for the intention for these funds,
1:20:47 — open the recording at 1 hour 20 minutes 47 secondsSpeaker 509 nothing is expected to go towards firearms or anything that would be in any business that I'm aware of that you own.
1:20:53 — open the recording at 1 hour 20 minutes 53 secondsSpeaker 302 Thank you so much.
1:20:54 — open the recording at 1 hour 20 minutes 54 secondsSpeaker 414 Mr. President, may I ask Mr. Robertson one more question?
1:20:57 — open the recording at 1 hour 20 minutes 57 secondsRandy Gentry (councillor) Yes, sir. Does the appropriation 2026-42 comply with Indiana law? Yes. Thank you, sir.
1:21:05 — open the recording at 1 hour 21 minutes 5 secondsSpeaker 513 okay roll call when ready please
1:21:07 — open the recording at 1 hour 21 minutes 7 secondsSpeaker 46 (clerk) david thompson aye brad anderson aye brenda wilson aye nancy also aye randy gentry aye vicky wager aye aye motion passes 7-0
1:21:18 — open the recording at 1 hour 21 minutes 18 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) additional appropriation 2026-47 sheriff gasoline
1:21:23 — open the recording at 1 hour 21 minutes 23 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) make a motion to approve motion by councilman gentry seconded by wager aye councilwoman wager any discussion or questions
1:21:33 — open the recording at 1 hour 21 minutes 33 secondsSpeaker 46 (clerk) roll call please david thompson aye brad anderson all right brenda wilson nancy also randy gentry
1:21:39 — open the recording at 1 hour 21 minutes 39 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) vicky wager aye steve ellis aye motion passes 7-0 honorary resolutions resolutions related to fiscal policies of the council there are none appointments there are none next meeting is on october the 6 2026 this time it will be in the city courtroom 17 harding I will mention I know there are a lot of you out there that may want to say more stuff to me I will stick around and talk to anybody that would like to speak to me afterwards I'll take a motion if anybody has one
1:22:13 — open the recording at 1 hour 22 minutes 13 secondsSpeaker 223 I have a discussion Yes sir We saw two motions made and seconded
1:22:20 — open the recording at 1 hour 22 minutes 20 secondsSpeaker 524 But they were refused right? As out of order?
1:22:29 — open the recording at 1 hour 22 minutes 29 secondsSpeaker 526 I believe they are out of order That's correct
1:22:31 — open the recording at 1 hour 22 minutes 31 secondsSpeaker 529 and I've never seen that before but okay thank you
1:22:37 — open the recording at 1 hour 22 minutes 37 secondsSpeaker 121 motion to adjourn
1:22:39 — open the recording at 1 hour 22 minutes 39 secondsSpeaker 529 nay
1:22:40 — open the recording at 1 hour 22 minutes 40 secondsSpeaker 154 you don't want to adjourn? nope not until my motion is ruled on we've had an hour and 15 minutes to do research
1:22:48 — open the recording at 1 hour 22 minutes 48 secondsSamantha (council attorney; surname uncertain in ASR) (attorney) yes thank you for noticing that I did so under Robert's rules it appears that if there is an appeal there was a preposition and a second denied and then appeals um it requires you can call a vote and requires a majority to reverse what
1:23:07 — open the recording at 1 hour 23 minutes 7 secondsSpeaker 218 you had just said or done okay i'm going to be honest i didn't follow that would you say it one
1:23:15 — open the recording at 1 hour 23 minutes 15 secondsSamantha (council attorney; surname uncertain in ASR) (attorney) more time um so there was a you denied whatever was proposed right so they've appealed so you would need to take a vote and it has to be a majority to reverse your decision okay so we are we are
1:23:29 — open the recording at 1 hour 23 minutes 29 secondsDavid Thompson (councillor) currently on the motion to what to overturn your ruling about the resolution so I appealed the ruling and made a motion that the council determines whether your ruling should be sustained so a no vote would overturn ruling on what though let's clarify on what what was your original motion my original motion was to extend resolution 2026-2 concerning the new will be a county high school that the committee was dissolved the secretary be directed to place resolution 2026-2 on the agenda for the october sunshine meeting for the first reading and
1:24:09 — open the recording at 1 hour 24 minutes 9 secondsDavid Thompson (councillor) discussion and following the first reading and subject to all applicable applicable notice requirements resolution 2026-2 be placed on the agenda for the october regular meeting for
1:24:21 — open the recording at 1 hour 24 minutes 21 secondsSpeaker 66 consideration and a vote okay so first off does everybody understand what the motion is
1:24:26 — open the recording at 1 hour 24 minutes 26 secondsSpeaker 543 I just want to be clear. Excuse me. Yes, ma'am.
1:24:29 — open the recording at 1 hour 24 minutes 29 secondsBrenda Wilson (councillor) I just want to be clear. We vote yes, it means this, and no, it means that. What does it mean?
1:24:36 — open the recording at 1 hour 24 minutes 36 secondsSpeaker 66 She'd be like clarification as to which way you're.
1:24:38 — open the recording at 1 hour 24 minutes 38 secondsDavid Thompson (councillor) So we're voting on whether your ruling should be sustained.
1:24:43 — open the recording at 1 hour 24 minutes 43 secondsSpeaker 546 So a no vote would overrule your determination that we weren't going to vote on. Okay.
1:24:51 — open the recording at 1 hour 24 minutes 51 secondsSpeaker 414 I want to hear the motion one more time. You've got a lot in there.
1:24:55 — open the recording at 1 hour 24 minutes 55 secondsSamantha (council attorney; surname uncertain in ASR) (attorney) I just want to make sure it should be a point of order under Roberts rules a point of order regarding what he's proposing Not necessarily a motion and that's we could turn that into what it is and it was Out of order is what I believe you said and so that it was appealed so that it goes to a vote of
1:25:11 — open the recording at 1 hour 25 minutes 11 secondsSpeaker 550 He said it was out of order the point of order. So would it be sustaining what?
1:25:17 — open the recording at 1 hour 25 minutes 17 secondsSpeaker 304 Okay, so let me let me let me see if I can clarify just so we're all on the same page in
1:25:21 — open the recording at 1 hour 25 minutes 21 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) in a nutshell not exactly what you said you're challenging the committee that I set up you're suggesting that instead of having the committee we take this back and put it back on the agenda
1:25:32 — open the recording at 1 hour 25 minutes 32 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) for next month correct all right now if you vote if you vote no then you are saying and I I had
1:25:42 — open the recording at 1 hour 25 minutes 42 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) said that I believe that was out of order so if you vote no then you're saying that I am incorrect
1:25:47 — open the recording at 1 hour 25 minutes 47 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) it is not out of order and that we need to vote on that correct if you vote yes then what you're voting on is that huh you're you're sustaining your decision
1:26:01 — open the recording at 1 hour 26 minutes 1 secondSpeaker 460 right yes does everybody understand that okay question Ms. Wager what is your
1:26:09 — open the recording at 1 hour 26 minutes 9 secondsSpeaker 324 opinion of is it in order or out of order I don't know if I need to give a
1:26:17 — open the recording at 1 hour 26 minutes 17 secondsSamantha (council attorney; surname uncertain in ASR) (attorney) legal opinion in my opinion about that you're allowed to do this process and then an appeal can be made and then a vote is taken on just the point of order i'm with you on that how'd you vote
1:26:30 — open the recording at 1 hour 26 minutes 30 secondsSpeaker 559 i don't i think it's irrelevant how i would vote i think it's up to it's up to you guys uh to follow the process and procedures
1:26:41 — open the recording at 1 hour 26 minutes 41 secondsSpeaker 564 mr president yes ma'am no i'm a sir but oh sir i'm sorry that's okay
1:26:47 — open the recording at 1 hour 26 minutes 47 secondsRandy Gentry (councillor) So, Mr. Thompson has read numerous things, including the idea on his original motion was to disband the committee. And there's a lot of different pieces to this. It's not just the one piece. so on the first vote that we're taking we're going to determine i'm asking i'm not telling we're basically saying that we are you've declared him out of order for whatever reason he stated a lot of stuff including dismantling a committee which not sure again that's a president's prerogative to set up a committee but our first vote is going to be whether we want to sustain your out of order ruling
1:27:47 — open the recording at 1 hour 27 minutes 47 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) or overrule you is that correct the first vote is to sustain the out of order ruling if if
1:27:57 — open the recording at 1 hour 27 minutes 57 secondsSpeaker 42 i'm just going to call it david's side so just to keep it straight if the ruling goes towards
1:28:04 — open the recording at 1 hour 28 minutes 4 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) David's objection or motion then we would then need to vote on whether or not we would actually disband and and again I don't I don't I don't think you can vote to disband it but if the counter the council votes that you can then so be it we would then have to vote to disband the committee and in his motion is
1:28:29 — open the recording at 1 hour 28 minutes 29 secondsSpeaker 42 saying also put it on the agenda for October so the first ruling or the first
1:28:34 — open the recording at 1 hour 28 minutes 34 secondsSamantha (council attorney; surname uncertain in ASR) (attorney) vote is to vote I don't believe that's true I think it was point of order was in what he stated and you said it was seconded and you said out of order they appeal I think it's appealing your decision that it's out of order I don't think you need to take votes on moving it and more votes on disbanding it if you disband a committee it usually takes two-thirds majority to disband a committee of the council this is an appeal on your decision saying it's out
1:29:02 — open the recording at 1 hour 29 minutes 2 secondsSpeaker 304 of order so then let's clarify I apologize for you guys are sitting out there but we I don't want to get this wrong you're saying we're only going to
1:29:09 — open the recording at 1 hour 29 minutes 9 secondsSpeaker 141 do one vote for all of it or is that what you're suggesting point of order
1:29:14 — open the recording at 1 hour 29 minutes 14 secondsSamantha (council attorney; surname uncertain in ASR) (attorney) was unless he's got multiple points of order his point of order was asking
1:29:18 — open the recording at 1 hour 29 minutes 18 secondsSpeaker 550 about but I've understood disbanding the committee and moving something on an
1:29:23 — open the recording at 1 hour 29 minutes 23 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) agenda next one right but i think i think his first object was to objecting to my correct saying he's out of order so i correct i feel like we have to vote on that first and then if that is overturned then we vote on whatever the motion the motion the motion that he had correct which is to move
1:29:42 — open the recording at 1 hour 29 minutes 42 secondsSpeaker 572 everything to october and disband yes so i believe there's two votes there there is okay all right so
1:29:49 — open the recording at 1 hour 29 minutes 49 secondsSpeaker 127 So a vote no is no against his point of order?
1:29:57 — open the recording at 1 hour 29 minutes 57 seconds No.
1:29:57 — open the recording at 1 hour 29 minutes 57 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) No. A vote, let's just do it this way. Instead of doing yeses or nos, can we literally just say, huh, affirm David's objection?
1:30:10 — open the recording at 1 hour 30 minutes 10 secondsSpeaker 67 Let's do it that way or deny David's objection. Can we do that? My motion. How do you think it begins?
1:30:17 — open the recording at 1 hour 30 minutes 17 secondsDavid Thompson (councillor) Yes. My motion is that the council determines whether the ruling should be sustained.
1:30:23 — open the recording at 1 hour 30 minutes 23 secondsSpeaker 546 So your ruling was that we were not going to vote on it. So a yes vote would be, you're right, we're not going to vote on it. A no vote would be, we are overturning you, and we can vote on whatever the motion is that I make.
1:30:36 — open the recording at 1 hour 30 minutes 36 secondsSpeaker 581 Correct. I agree with him on that.
1:30:38 — open the recording at 1 hour 30 minutes 38 secondsSpeaker 546 So a no vote is to overturn. A yes vote is to agree with you.
1:30:44 — open the recording at 1 hour 30 minutes 44 secondsSpeaker 582 He and I agree on this.
1:30:46 — open the recording at 1 hour 30 minutes 46 secondsSpeaker 546 Yes, we do. All right.
1:30:48 — open the recording at 1 hour 30 minutes 48 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) All right. Any other questions on the council? A no is towards David's position. A yes is towards my position.
1:30:58 — open the recording at 1 hour 30 minutes 58 secondsSpeaker 119 Did I just say that right? Yes. Yes.
1:31:02 — open the recording at 1 hour 31 minutes 2 secondsSpeaker 587 Would you?
1:31:04 — open the recording at 1 hour 31 minutes 4 secondsDavid Thompson (councillor) I make a motion that the council determines whether the ruling should be sustained. again a no vote means all right let me say it one more let me clarify one more
1:31:21 — open the recording at 1 hour 31 minutes 21 secondsSpeaker 61 time I apologize so David made David made an original motion basically I'm
1:31:27 — open the recording at 1 hour 31 minutes 27 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) gonna paraphrase disband the committee send everything back to the agenda in October I said I believe that to be out of order because the president has the right to set up a committee and send items from the agenda to committee to be studied all right if you believe that my motion is my arm I'm sorry if you believe my position of him being out of order is incorrect because he then said hey I think your motion is incorrect I want to vote on it all right so now what he's saying is I want to vote and see if the president had the right to do what
1:32:07 — open the recording at 1 hour 32 minutes 7 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) he just did you can vote yes that I had the right or you can vote no I did not have the right if you vote no if you vote yes we're done if you vote no I did not have that right then we're gonna go on and have one more vote and that vote is going to be yes or no to his original motion which was to to disband the committee and move it October so your vote right now is yes I had the right or no I didn't have the right that is that is correct I believe that but but she is not giving her personal opinion on this she's trying to stay out
1:32:50 — open the recording at 1 hour 32 minutes 50 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) of it on a personal opinion all right does anybody have any more questions yes or no did I have the right to say that he was out of order yes or no okay
1:33:07 — open the recording at 1 hour 33 minutes 7 secondsSpeaker 46 (clerk) roll call please no yes yes motion passes for three all right
1:33:26 — open the recording at 1 hour 33 minutes 26 secondsSteve Ellis (chair) Motion to adjourn.
1:33:29 — open the recording at 1 hour 33 minutes 29 secondsSpeaker 72 Motion by Councilman Gentry. Do I have a second?
1:33:32 — open the recording at 1 hour 33 minutes 32 secondsSpeaker 599 I'll second.
1:33:33 — open the recording at 1 hour 33 minutes 33 secondsSpeaker 72 Second by Councilwoman.
1:33:35 — open the recording at 1 hour 33 minutes 35 secondsSpeaker 304 All sup? All in favor say aye. Aye. So moved.
- Highlight drawn from this moment: Council approves $502,000 forfeiture appropriation for police vehicles and gear after a September deferralHighlight drawn from this moment: Council approves $110,000 to cover the sheriff's office gasoline shortfallHighlight drawn from this moment: Auditor's complaint and a heated appeal revive the push to fire the county council's attorneyHighlight drawn from this moment: Council passes updated forfeiture and RICO reimbursement rules, first unwinding a 1996 ordinance
1:33:51 — open the recording at 1 hour 33 minutes 51 secondsSpeaker 602 Gee.
Marked moments above are where the archive's reviewed highlights were drawn from. Everything else on this page is unreviewed.