Vanderburgh County Council Personnel & Finance Meeting
OCTOBER 30, 2024
3:30 P.M.
AGENDA
1.
OPENING OF MEETING
2.
ATTENDANCE ROLL CALL
3.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
4.
INVOCATION
5.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
A.
County Council Meeting – October 2, 2024
B.
County Budget Adoption – October 2, 2024
6.
PERSONNEL REQUESTS:
A.
CCPI – Treatment Court / Superior Court – INDOC Grant Treatment Court
1.
Request to create (3) PT Home Verification Officers in 9317/93180000-199000 (Extra Help) and fill with (3) PT Home Verification Officers from 11222503-199000 (Extra Help)
2.
Request to create PT position in 9317/93180000-199000 (Extra Help) and fill with PT position from 11222503-199000 (Extra Help)
3.
Request to create PT Treatment Court Case Manager 9317/93180000-199000 (Extra Help), fill with PT Case Manager 11222503-199000 (Extra Help) and amend hourly rate.
B.
CCPI-Work Release / Superior Court – INDOC Treatment Court Grant
1.
Request to create (2) PT positions in 9317/93180000-199000 (Extra Help) and fill with (2) PT positions from 11222505-199000 (Extra Help)
C.
CCPI-Work Release / Superior Court – INDOC Work Release Grant
1.
Request to fill vacancy for Residential Officer 112222505-931450 and 9314/93040000-931450 (jointly funded)
2.
Request to fill vacancy for Residential Officer 112222505-931454 and 9314/93040000-931454 (jointly funded)
D.
Auditor
1.
Request to fill vacancy for PT Bookkeeper 10001020-199000 (Extra Help)
E.
Treasurer
1.
Request to fill vacancy for Information Clerk 10001030-103122
F.
Public Defender
1.
Request to allow advanced step placement for Public Defender 10001420-142163
2.
Request to allow advanced step placement for Public Defender 10001420-142180
G.
Health Dept – WIC
1.
Request to create and fill vacancy for PT Breastfeeding Coordinator 84030000-199000 (Extra Help)
2.
Request to create and fill vacancy for WIC Clinic Manager/CPA 8403000-840326
H.
Health Dept-Pre to 3 Federal and State Expansion Grants
1.
Request to fill vacancy for Data Analyst I 84350000-843501/94230000-942301
I.
Health Dept – School Liaison Grant/School Liaison Grant 93.323
1.
Request to create School Liaison Lead 84410000-844101 and fill with School Liaison III 84380000-843802
2.
Request to create Public Health Nurse I 84410000-844103 and fill with Public Health Nurse I 84380000-843803
Amendment expanding requirements for the secretary of education fail in the House
By Anna Cecil TheStatehouseFile.com
On Thursday, the House of Representatives discussed House Bill 1002, which covers various education matters. Bill author Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, said the bill is 129 pages long. It was ordered to engrossment at the end of discussion and heads to a third reading in the chamber.
Amendment 3, which would require any governor-appointed secretary of education to have two years of administrative educational experience, failed 28-63.
Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis.
Rep. Ed Delaney D-Indianapolis, authored the amendment. He said the previous set of requirements to become the secretary of education were over-elaborate, but he does not believe the position should have zero requirements. Delaney said the two years of administrative educational experience is the most limited requirement he could think of.
Delaney said an individual appointed secretary of education does not have to have any experience in the education field.
“The system of administering schools is remarkably complex,” Delaney said. “I thought that for somebody to walk in off the street who may have some wonderful credentials but may have no familiarity with the Indiana system of educating and administering, I thought that would not be a good idea.”
Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis.
Rep. Bob Behning, R-Indianapolis, opposed Delaney’s amendment. He said it limits Gov. Mike Braun’s ability to have total flexibility when choosing a secretary of education that he thinks will best fulfill the role.
“We elect a governor who makes an appointment, and the governor is held accountable,” Behning said. “It’s not gonna be something that’s not taken very seriously. … I don’t think we need to tie their hands.”
Rep, Vernon Smith, D-Gary, said he was offended that without amendment 3, the legislature was implying that anyone can oversee education in the state.
Smith mentioned tests, degrees, training, interpersonal skills and other hoops that teachers, principles, superintendents and other types of educators have to jump through to prove they are able to do their job. He said the same types of requirements should apply to Indiana’s secretary of education.
“You must have the knowledge base, and we require that for every career that we license. You must have the technical skills,” he said. “And for you to be effective, you have got to have interpersonal skills. You must know how to work with people … because a good leader is a change agent.”
House Bill 1005, which passed during the 2019 session, replaced the superintendent of public instruction, an elected position, with the secretary of education, a governor-appointed position.
“Just because we made that political decision to change it from the superintendent of public instruction to the secretary of education did not have to have those skills, that knowledge,” Smith said.
Smith, who has a background in education, said that it would be unreasonable to appoint a judge who did not pass the bar, appoint a medical commissioner who knows nothing about medicine, appoint a superintendent of state troopers who had no law enforcement experience or have a secretary of education with no administrative education experience.
“I think that some common sense ought to enter into this situation,” he said. “I’m just floored that we continue to pick away at education in this state, in these United States. We’re going to wake up one day, and we’re going to smell the coffee, and we’re going to say, what did we do to this great nation?”
On Wednesday, the Indiana Department of Education announced that fourth graders now rank sixth in the nation on national reading assessments. Smith said he believes this is due to the current Secretary of Education Katie Jenner’s knowledge of the state education system and her technical skills as a leader.
“That person (secretary of education) ought to have some experience, some knowledge base, regardless of how limited. They ought to have it,” Smith said.
Anna Cecil is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – In a back-and-forth game that featured 18 lead changes, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team outlasted Belmont to take an 80-75 victory on Sunday afternoon inside Curb Event Center.
Gabriel Pozzato led the way with 22 points for UE while Tayshawn Comer added 19 points, 6 assists, and 5 boards. Josh Hughes and Connor Turnbull finished with 14 points and 6 rebounds apiece while Tanner Cuff led all players with 13 caroms.
“Our guys felt like we gave them (Belmont) a win at the Ford Center and we wanted to do everything we could to change that today,” UE head coach David Ragland said after the win. “We came out ready to play from the start. Belmont is a great offensive team and we knew they would hit shots. The key was being able to grab the rebounds when they miss and we did a good job with that.”
An exciting first half saw nine lead changes with Evansville holding the lead for just under 15 minutes. A putback by Connor Turnbull opened the scoring before a bucket by Gabriel Pozzato gave the Purple Aces a 4-0 lead. Belmont quickly tied the score at 4-4 before taking their first lead at 9-6.
Trailing by a score of 11-8, Pozzato scored five in a row to put UE back in front. The squads swapped the lead multiple times approaching the midway point of the half before the Aces made their run. With Belmont up 17-16, UE scored eight in a row to take a 23-17 edge. Tayshawn Comer converted a 3-pointer while Hughes and Tanner Cuff scored to force a Bruin time out.
With 7:23 remaining in the period, Belmont cut the deficit to one while Gui Tesch answered on the other end before a Kaia Berridge triple extended the lead back to six points at 30-24 heading into the final four minutes. In the final minute of the half, a layup saw BU retake the lead. Free throws by each team in the final seconds saw two more lead changes with the Bruins heading to the break with a 38-37 edge.
Evansville’s opening possession of the second half saw Pozzato fouled on a triple. The freshman knocked down all three attempts to put the Aces back on top. Three minutes in, two more triples put Belmont in front – 48-45. With 14:50 on the clock, Belmont retook a 51-49 edge while Evansville countered with a Hughes triple to go up 54-51 a minute later.
The Bruins fought back to tie the game on multiple occasions but UE answered each time. Inside the 8-minute mark, two more Pozzato free throws pushed the lead to two possessions at 66-62. With 5:13 remaining, a drive by Comer made it a 69-64 game. The Bruins were not done, responding with seven in a row to retake a 71-69 lead inside of four minutes remaining.
Following a pair of Pozzato free throws, the defense forced a miss and Turnbull had a tip-in dunk on the opposite end to put UE in front – 73-71. With 1:54 remaining, a second chance basket by the Bruins put them in front, but UE responded just a few seconds later to take the lead for good. Another Turnbull dunk paved the way for a 7-1 game-ending run. UE’s defense forced five missed shots in the final two minutes to seal the win.
Belmont was led by Jonathan Pierre’s 19 points. The Bruins shot 42.4% in the game while UE finished at 41.5%. The Aces wrapped up the day with a 44-35 rebounding edge.
UE is back home on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. game against Southern Illinois.
The COVID-19 pandemic won’t be our last—because what makes us vulnerable to pandemics also makes us human. In this fascinating talk, Smithsonian curator and biological anthropologist Sabrina Sholts explores the history and science behind pandemics and how our own biology, behaviors, and beliefs contribute to their spread.
Sholts, author of The Human Disease: How We Create Pandemics, From Our Bodies to Our Beliefs, weaves together personal experiences, scientific findings, and historical accounts to offer a powerful perspective on how pandemics emerge—and how we can reduce future risks.
About the Author:
Sabrina Sholts is a Curator of Biological Anthropology at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History. She has published extensively in leading scientific journals and was the Lead Curator of the exhibition Outbreak: Epidemics in a Connected World at the NMNH.
Looking for a heartfelt way to show someone you care? Join us for Adult Crafternoon on Thursday, February 6th, at 4:00 PM in the Browning Gallery! This month, we’re crafting stunning quilled Valentine cards—a perfect handmade gift for someone special. Whether you’re a seasoned crafter or trying something new, this relaxing and creative activity is open to everyone ages 13 and up.
All supplies are provided, so just bring your creativity and drop in—no registration required!
FOOTNOTE: EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.
USI struggles to find flow on Saturday, falls to Tennessee Tech
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Women’s Basketball had a difficult time finding its flow in its return to Liberty Arena to begin a three-game homestand on Saturday, as the Screaming Eagles fell to Tennessee Tech University, 81-62.
Southern Indiana moved to 16-7 overall and 8-4 in the Ohio Valley Conference, but the Screaming Eagles left the day still tied for fourth in the standings. Meanwhile, Tennessee Tech improved to 16-5 with a 10-2 mark in the OVC. The Golden Eagles moved up into a three-way tie for first in the OVC alongside Lindenwood University and Eastern Illinois University.
Tennessee Tech started the contest with a 7-0 run. Southern Indiana got going with success inside the paint and trailed only by four, 12-8, by the four-minute mark of the opening quarter. Graduate guard Lexie Green hit a key three late in the first, but the Tennessee Tech lead remained at four, 17-13, by the end of the first quarter.
Green connected on another three to begin the second quarter to make it a one-point game. However, Tennessee Tech responded, as the Golden Eagles went up 26-18 while holding Southern Indiana scoreless for nearly five minutes in the middle of the second. A triple by senior guard Vanessa Shaffordended the drought for USI. In the last two minutes of the first half, Tennessee Tech increased its lead, but a little boost from graduate forward Meredith Raley helped keep USI within six, 31-25, going into halftime.
Out of the halftime break, Tennessee Tech started the second half with a 21-0 run over the first five minutes of the third period. Sophomore guard Sophia Loden got USI on the second-half scoreboard with a three-pointer. A spark off the bench from sophomore forward Chloe Gannon and another triple by Loden helped USI finish the third on an 18-8 run. The Golden Eagles led 59-43 entering the fourth quarter.
Within the first three minutes of the fourth frame, graduate forward Madi Webb scored six points to help bring USI back within 11, 64-53. However, Tennessee Tech answered to halt Southern Indiana’s momentum. The Screaming Eagles came within 11 points once again after a Shafford layup with 2:36 left, but the Golden Eagles closed out the game from there.
Southern Indiana shot for just below 34 percent (21-62) overall and nearly 44 percent (7-16) from beyond the arc. USI missed only one free throw out of 14 attempts for over 92 percent. Shafford led USI in scoring with 12 points and pulled down seven rebounds. Junior guard Ali Saunders tallied 11 points.
Tennessee Tech went for 54 percent (27-50) from the floor and just under 37 percent (7-19) from three. The Golden Eagles shot nearly 77 percent (20-26) from the free-throw line. Tennessee Tech had five players in double figures with graduate guard Keeley Carter scoring a game-high 20 points.
The Screaming Eagles will resume their homestand from Liberty Arena next week. They will play the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Thursday at 5 p.m. and celebrate Black History Month. Then USI will host Southeast Missouri State University for Homecoming and Hall of Fame Weekend next Saturday at 5 p.m. Tickets for all home games at Liberty Arena can be purchased online at usiscreamingeagles.com or the USI Ticket Office.
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – University of Southern Indiana Men’s Basketball lost a battle with Tennessee Tech University, 78-65, Saturday afternoon at Liberty Arena. The Screaming Eagles are 9-13 overall and 4-8 in OVC action, while the Golden Eagles go to 12-11, 7-5 OVC.
USI and TTU traded buckets for the first few minutes of the game before the Golden Eagles jumped out to a six-point lead, 11-5. USI junior guard Damoni Harrisonled a 12-5 charge to get the Screaming Eagles a 17-16 lead by the 9:54 mark.
TTU slowly eased out in front, 25-20, but a quick burst by USI saw the game tied for the fifth time in the half, 25-25. The Screaming Eagles and the Golden Eagles would continue to trade the advantage for the final four minutes of the half until TTU took a 34-31 lead into the intermission.
After the intermission, TTU forced USI to call a timeout three minutes into the final half after extending the halftime advantage to eight points, 41-33, with a 7-2 wave. The Screaming Eagles responded with an 11-2 run to close the gap to 45-44 behind six points by sophomore forward Stephen Olowoniyi and five points by Harrison.
The USI run would extend to 15-5 as the Screaming Eagles knotted the score at 48-48 with 9:38 to play on a Harrison layup. TTU, however, would jump back out in front with a quick 8-0 dash to take the momentum back, 56-48, with seven minutes to play and extended the margin by 6:25 to play to 12 points, 62-50.
USI would close the gap to eight points, 65-57, on a three-pointer by junior guard Jack Campion with 1:52 left, as the Screaming Eagles tried to regain the momentum. Campion would pull USI to within six points with a two-point bucket, 65-59, but that would be as close as the Screaming Eagles would come before TTU closed out the 78-65 contest.
Individually for the game, Harrison posted a team-high 22 points on nine-of-21 from the field, including four three-point bombs. Olowoniyi followed with 17 points on eight-of-19 from the field and one of four from the stripe.
Campion and Randall rounded out the USI double-digit scorers with 13 points and 11 points, respectively.
Next Up For USI:
USI continues its three-game homestand with Homecoming next week when the Screaming Eagles host the University of Arkansas at Little Rock Thursday and Southeast Missouri State University Saturday. Both games are slated for a 7:30 p.m. tipoff.
The Trojans of Little Rock are 13-9 overall, 7-4 OVC, and scheduled to play the University of Tennessee at Martin tonight at home. Little Rock has lost its last two games since winning five straight.
Little Rock took command of the all-time series with USI, 3-2, by posting a 78-58 win in January. Harrison led the way for the Eagles with 17 points in the loss.
The homestand concludes February 8 when USI hosts SEMO, which is 13-10 overall and 8-4 in the OVC, for the Homecoming game. SEMO defeated Tennessee State University in overtime, 89-87, today and visits Morehead State University Thursday before coming to USI.
SEMO leads the all-time series with USI, 7-3, after posting a 77-66 win in Cape Girardeau last month. USI junior guard Sam Kodi led four Eagles in double-digits with 15 points. Junior guard Braxton Jones followed with 13 points, while sophomore forward Stephen Olowoniyiand junior guard Damoni Harrison had 12 points and 11 points, respectively.
Tickets for the homestand and all USI home dates are on sale now at USIScreamingEagles.com.
Lady Blazers late comeback comes up just short at John A. Logan
CARTERVILLE, Ill. – The Vincennes University Lady Trailblazers were on the road again Saturday afternoon for a tough Region 24 road matchup against the Lady Volunteers of John A. Logan College.
The Lady Blazers played from behind for most of the game and looked to be building momentum with a late comeback in the fourth quarter, but just ran out of time as VU fell to the Lady Vols 76-73.
The Lady Blazers got off to a great start Saturday afternoon, riding an early 7-0 scoring run to take an 11-8 lead over the Lady Vols.
VU would hold this lead for most of the first quarter before John A. Logan closed out the opening period of play with seven straight points to take a 20-14 lead into the second quarter.
The two teams traded small scoring runs to open the second quarter of action with VU’s offense having a hard time finding the bottom of the net as the Lady Blazers headed into the locker room break trailing John A. Logan 37-24.
John A. Logan looked to put the game away early in the second half, building their largest lead of the night at 48-28 before the Lady Blazers gained some momentum with eight straight to cut the Logan lead to 12.
The Lady Vols would hold off the VU comeback in the third quarter, getting their lead back to 16 and taking a 61-45 lead into the fourth quarter.
John A. Logan continued to add to their lead early in the fourth quarter and built a 70-51 advantage but the Lady Blazers refused to go away quietly.
Vincennes continued to battle and ramped up the defensive pressure to ride a 22-4 run to get back within one.
John A. Logan would hit a pair of free throws to put the Lady Vols up by three in the final seconds, with VU getting one last attempt to send the game to overtime but were unable to convert as VU unfortunately just ran out of time to complete their late comeback, falling to the Lady Vols 76-73.
The Lady Blazers were led offensively by sophomore Marta Gutierrez (Alicante, Spain) who was close to completing a triple double with 20 points, eight rebounds and a team-high eight assists.
Freshman Delora Pricop (Satu Mare, Romania) also matched Gutierrez with 20 points in Saturday’s game, while also grabbing nine rebounds for the Lady Blazers.
Freshman Ahmya Thomas (Phoenix, Ariz.) was the third VU scorer in double figures, finishing her day with 16 points, four assists and three steals.
Freshman Jazmyn Robey (Sellersburg, Ind.) came away with nine points, eight rebounds and four assists in the game.
The Lady Trailblazers will look to bounce back and get back in the win column when VU returns home to the Physical Education Complex Wednesday, Feb. 5 as VU hosts Lincoln Trail College at 5 p.m. eastern on Community Schools Night at VU.
