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Brett W. Todd has 984 articles published.

Brett W. Todd is the managing editor of Clinton County Today. Clinton County Today is a community-focused website to provide individuals of Clinton County Indiana and surrounding areas with information impacting their lives. Clinton County Today is a service of Progressive Partners of Indiana, LLC where Brett W. Todd is its managing member.

Frankfort City Council Discusses Travis Sheets’ $4,250 Agreement, Board Of Works Has Ultimate Decision

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During the old business portion of the Frankfort City Council meeting Monday, March 9, 2020, Councilman Michael Brite raised the topic of the independent contractor agreement between the City of Frankfort and Travis Sheets.

“I know there is some concern with this Travis Sheets’ contract,” said Councilman Brite. “And, I think it needs to be addressed. There is an awful lot of public comment going on about it. I don’t want to put it off to the next meeting. I am going to give you my personal opinion on it if this is the right time.”

“We hired a gentleman (new Parks Superintendent Bart Kraning) and are paying him good money to make these kind of decisions. My personal thought on this, nobody forced Travis to leave. We hired someone to do this job and I think he is capable of doing the job. To pay Travis the amount of money we are paying him, I don’t think it is in the best interest of the citizens of Frankfort to be doing this.”

Councilman Brite then asked the Council for their thoughts on this matter.

Councilman Joe Palmer spoke first.

“It would be a big loss to this city if we lose him (Travis Sheets),” said Councilman Palmer. “I can tell you right now if he is gone here in the next couple of weeks we (the City) are going to spend $250,000 landscaping that park over there (Prairie Creek Park).”

Councilman Palmer then directed a question to Parks Superintendent Bart Kraning who was sitting in the audience.

“Bart, how familiar are you with a lot of plants?”

“If the job fell on me to plant them, I could get them done,” said Superintendent Kraning. “And, I am extremely confident I could get that done.”

Councilman Megan Sheets, who is also a member of the Board of Works, commented:

“I think we have a responsibility to meet with Travis because he does have a planned visit back here to the community in March. I would like for those of us, that need to, to sit down and discuss with Travis and reveal some expectations even if it is a short term arrangement, maybe not the full 18-month arrangement as the current contract is drawn up for.”

“So, rather making a quick decision and flipping the switch off, I would like for us to have some further conversations with Bart and Travis before we do that and deciding with the ending date should be.”

Councilman Steve Beardsley then directed a question to City Attorney Les Bergum as to whether this matter is legislative (Council) or executive (Mayor) decision.

“It’s an executive matter, the board of works,” said Bergum. “But that’s certainly not to say the council shouldn’t have some input.”

Councilman Palmer added:

“I am not defending Travis, I am defending his knowledge.”

“He has all of the plans. He knows the “ins and outs”. So, I hate to see that amount of information wasted. Yea, it’s costing us. But it would also cost us a lot more if we had to go outside the loop to do this.”

Both Councilman Palmer and Clarence Warthan commented they did not know if the duration of the contract needed to be 18-months long.

Mayor Judy Sheets then added, “Myself and the Board of Works have met and discussed this and we are going to put a plan in place. We intend to speak with Travis when he gets here in March and determine exactly what direction we want to go with this.”

Councilman Palmer spoke to Travis Sheets’ travel to Frankfort.

“He flies in on the 20th of this month and I think he starts on the 23rd.”

After the close of the City Council meeting, Councilman Brite spoke with Clinton County Today.

“I am not against Travis. My concern is two-fold. Number one, the public does not know what is going on. The council says this will save us money in the long run. I don’t have a problem with that, but we need to explain to the public how it’s going to save us money. And, we need to explain to them why we are not intrusting our new Parks Superintendent for this job.”

“To me, he is able to do it. I am all for with what Megan (Sheets) has stated with the council sitting down with Travis and the new Parks Superintendent and see what we can work out. I just want to make sure that as council members, we are responsible for those that put us in here and we are responsible to make sure they understand what is going on.”

“My other concern is though with all of the negative comments that I have been reading and hearing. Not one person showed up to this meeting to complain. So you can’t sit back and complain about something and then not show up to voice your concern here and let us know how you are feeling because that shows very little concern on those that have a problem with it.”

The next City Council meeting is Monday, March 23, 2020, at 7 p.m. The next Board of Works meeting is immediately prior to at 5 p.m. Both meetings are held in the City Council Chamber at Old Stoney.

Pay Increase For Frankfort Parks Superintendent Placed On Hold

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During the Monday, March 9, 2020, Frankfort City Council meeting, City Attorney Les Bergum explained to the members of the City Council that Indiana Code 36-4-7-3 allows only the Mayor to increase or decrease a salary of specific positions, parks superintendent being one, once the salary budget has been set for the current year.

“As I read the statute, it is pretty clear,” said Bergum. “The Mayor, as executive, has the authority to increase or decrease the parks superintendent’s salary during the current year. So this would be Mayor Sheets’ responsibility.”

For the parks superintendent’s to have increased, previous Mayor Chris McBarnes would have had to issue an executive order. He did not do so.

Current Mayor Judy Sheets could take action via an executive order. “So, like in 60, 90-days if we do an evaluation and decide this is something we would like to do, I as the executive can do that with an executive order.”

With the information presented, Ordinance 20-04 died on its Second Reading.

$4,250 Per Month For Travis Sheets as Frankfort Parks Consultant On 18-Month Agreement

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Clinton County Today has reviewed the Independent Contractor Agreement between the City of Frankfort and Travis Sheets. Sheets is to be paid monthly in the amount of $4,250 for 18-months. The contract became effective January 1, 2020, and runs until June 30, 2021, unless otherwise extended by written agreement signed by both parties.

An agreement reached by the City’s Board of Works and Sheets during the Mayor Chris McBarnes administration, calls for Sheets to be paid on the last day of each month during the agreement period. As the agreement is written, Sheets could be paid $76,500 over the 18-month period plus reimbursement for “transportation between the City of Frankfort and the Indianapolis Airport for trips required in connection with work performed or to be performed by Contractor pursuant to this agreement.” Or, “City shall provide transportation” between the City of Frankfort and the Indianapolis Airport for Sheets.

Sheets “shall be responsible for all traveling expenses to and from Indianapolis and Contractor’s residence in Arizona.”

The agreement does make note the work and pay for Sheets in 2021 is dependent upon the City Council budgeting process. Sheets’ “work to be performed in 2021 and any payments for work to be performed during 2021, shall be subject to appropriation of necessary funds by the Common Council of the City of Frankfort.”

In addition to monthly payment and reimbursement for transportation between Frankfort and the Indianapolis Airport, Sheets is to receive for use from the City of Frankfort when working in the Frankfort area, “a City owned vehicle and gasoline for use only in performing work described in this agreement.”

As Sheets will perform his consulting work remotely as well as in the City of Frankfort, “there shall be made available to Contractor sufficient desk, office area and supplies to conduct his work in the City of Frankfort, as needed.”

The agreement does allow for the agreement to be terminated with or without cause by either party with 30-days notice given to the other party. “This agreement may be terminated, with or without cause, by either party giving the other party 30 day’s written notice to terminate.”

Should the agreement terminate mid-month, Sheets is to receive prorated payment. “If this contract is terminated for any reason prior to the end of a month, the monthly amount paid hereunder shall be apportioned to reflect payment only for the portion of the calendar month during which services were performed.”

The Agreement states Sheets “holds expertise in various aspects of landscaping, zoo and aviary construction and operation, swimming pool operation and maintenance and various other construction and maintenance issues associated with parks and their capital improvements.”

And, the City “desires to utilize and benefit from Contractor’s expertise and to hire Contractor as an independent contractor to perform consulting, advisory and related services in connection with the park, zoo and aviary matters.”

The Agreement identifies Sheets’ general scope of work to include the following:
* Will serve as the owner representative for the design and construction process of the aquatic center
* Will advise on zoo and aviary habitats, health, and wellness needs and USDA regulations and requirements
* Will serve to prioritize capital projects
* Will assist in setting up the PCP kiosk as an appropriate park boutique
* Will serve as a resource regarding playground safety and regulations
* Will advise on horticulture issues
* Will advise on downtown pots and hanging baskets
* Will be available “as needed” for phone/email consultation

In addition to the above list, Sheets’ “shall perform … consulting, advisory and related services in connection with the City’s operation of its park area, zoo and aviary, using Contractor’s expertise to maintain and improve such areas in a modern, neat and safe condition. … Contractor shall make suggestions to employees of the City and shall review their findings and work in various projects.”

Under this Agreement, the hours Sheets works on any given day is entirely up to him. “… The hours the Contractor works on any given day shall be entirely within the Contractor’s control.”

The Agreement continues, “the City will rely upon the Contractor to put in such number of hours as is reasonably necessary to fulfill the spirit and purpose of this agreement.”

The City of Frankfort does state the dates Sheets “shall work in the City of Frankfort shall include, on a full-time basis,” the following:
* Three (3) weeks in March for greenhouse planting, general landscaping (where needed) and PCP landscaping.
* May 20th through July 5th for general operation, Fourth of July, capital projects and preparation for summer.
* Two (2) weeks in October to outline and prepare for Holiday Festival of Lights.
* Three (3) visits for consultation and work related to completion of the Prairie Creek Park Project and development and implementation of the TPA Park Aquatic Center Project.

Sheets must maintain his own motor vehicle insurance policy while operating a City of Frankfort vehicle. In addition to motor vehicle insurance, Sheets must pay by himself all required worker’s compensation insurance and unemployment compensation insurance for himself and his employees. Those items are in addition to general liability insurance and such other insurance as the City may require.

The Agreement was signed by Sheets and the three members of the Board of Works; Mayor Chris McBarnes, James Siegfried, Jr., and Kenneth Estes.

Jami Pratt New Center Township Trustee

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The Republican Caucus met at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 7, 2020, to hear from 4 candidates for Center Township Trustee.

Cory Boyles, Tom Bush, Jami Pratt, and Steve Teegarden each took 3-minutes explaining why they should become the next Center Township Trustee in front of 18 precinct committeemen in attendance.

Jami Pratt was selected on the first ballet receiving 10 votes.

Pratt will be sworn in Monday, March 9th at 9 a.m. in the Courthouse Clerks Office.

State of Indiana Releases School & School Corporation A-F Grades, Frankfort & Clinton Central Appeal Grade

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The Office of Accountability for the Indiana Department of Education has released the 2018-2019 A-F Grades for Schools and School Corporations.

Public Law 2-2020, signed into law by Governor Holcomb on February 12, 2020, requires that a school’s A-F grade for the 2018-2019 school year may not be lower than that same school’s A-F grade for the 2017-2018 school year. In order to determine the final 2018-2019 A-F grade for each school, the Indiana Department of Education (Department) compared each school’s 2017-2018 grade to its 2018-2019 grade, as calculated pursuant to 511 IAC 6.2-10, and assigned the better grade received by the school between these two school years. Schools received all performance and accountability data for the 2018-2019 school year regardless of the hold harmless application.

The provided image shows the grades assigned to the respective schools and school corporations in Clinton County.

The Community Schools of Frankfort and Clinton Central School Corporation have each appealed its assigned corporation grade. They are 2 of 7 corporations in the state that have appealed.

Frankfort High School and Clinton Central Junior-Senior High School have each appealed its school grade. They are 2 of 9 schools in the state that have appealed.

Below is a breakdown of the Grades statewide:

2018-2019 Hold Harmless Grades for Corporations (289 School Corporations)

A: 50
B: 161
C: 66
D: 2
F: 2
N/A: 1
Appeal Pending: 7

2018-2019 Hold Harmless Grades for Schools (2,158 schools)

A: 680
B: 722
C: 423
D: 177
F: 69
N/A: 78
Appeal Pending: 9

Death Investigation Underway in Frankfort

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On March 5, 2020, at approximately 7:15 a.m., The Frankfort Police Department, Frankfort Fire Department, and Clinton County EMS responded to Turtle Creek Apartments for an unresponsive child.

Upon arrival, a 4-month-old infant was found unresponsive and was transported to IU Health Frankfort Hospital. The infant was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. Detectives are investigating along with the Clinton County Coroner. More information will be released at a later time.

$4,720,735 To Take Water From Jefferson To I-65

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With two (2) new projects recently announced at the I-65 & State Road 28 interchange (NHK manufacturing facility & Five Below distribution center), those respective projects are dependant upon the utility expansion from Jefferson to that area previously announced in June 2019.

During the Tuesday, March 3, 2020, County Commissioners meeting, Jon Query of HWC Engineering provided the Commissioners with a report on the bids for Divison “B” (Water Project) of the I-65 utility expansion from Jefferson. A total of six (6) bids were received.

The I-65 utility expansion project comprises two parts or divisions. Division “B” is the water portion while Division “A” is the sewer portion.

Division “A” of the project and has not been bid yet due to waiting on EDA grant funding status before that portion bids.

HWC Engineering received a total of six (6) bids on February 20, 2020, ranging from $4,720,735 to $5,635,390.

The low bidder was J.G. Case Construction Inc. of Muncie, IN. HWC Engineering has worked with J.G Case Construction Inc. on prior projects and “that work has all been acceptable and good,” said Query.

The low bid of $4,720,735 came back close to the revised estimated of $4,750,000. The biggest reason for the change in estimated project cost was the change from a 12″ to an 18″ water main.

HWC Engineering recommended the Commissioners accept the low bid from J.G. Case Contruction Inc. in the amount of $4,720,735 pending the final review from the financial advisor, Baker Tilly, and the funding agency, SRF.

“Given the schedule with the developments (at I-65), we need to proceed with this pretty quickly,” said Query. “They (the independent project developers) are wanting water service early next year…we need to get notice to proceed to the contractor in the next few weeks.”

“(I) was very pleased the amount of bidders that we received,” said Commissioner Josh Uitts. “It made it a competitive bid and I think we saw the results of that with the bid coming in right where we thought it would, our estimated budget.”

The Commissioners voted to accept the recommendation, 3-0.

Clinton County Commissioners Agree To Table Solar Farm Overlay Decision

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When the Clinton County Commissioners met on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, they did so with a full room. Those in attendance ranged from the public concerned with the proposed solar farm to department heads to representatives of Invenergy, LLC, the parent company of Hardy Hills Solar Energy LLC.

Liz Stitzel of the Area Plan Commission came before the Clinton County Commissioners to present the favorable recommendation voted by the APC on Wednesday, February 26, 2020. The legal document is known as Lupac #02-20-358 Ordinance 2020-04.

The Lupac is a binding legal document, including the commitments previously agreed to, not only on the company but all individuals who hold interest in that land.

The presentation made by Stitzel came after the public portion of the Commissioners meeting where three (3) members of the public spoke on the topic of the Hardy Hills Solar Energy LLC proposed project, all three spoke against the proposed project.

The three individuals spoke on issues ranging from a potential loss of property value, groundwater contamination, impact on wildlife, and the perception the commissioners are rushing to make a decision.

“The only thing we could do this morning if we wanted to, is approve the rezoning of the overlay district,” said Commissioner Josh Uitts.

Commissioners Uitts made the recommendation to table the decision on voting on the Lupac at the meeting today and take it under consideration at a future point.

Stitzel informed the Commissioners under state law they have 90-days to either vote to approve or deny the Lupac or the Lupac becomes effective the way it is recommended by the Area Plan Commission without action.

“I think we have a lot of good conversation. We still have letters coming in and I just read two more,” said Commissioner Steve Woods. “I’m more than willing to wait to get this done, done the right way.”

The Commissioners’ next meeting could see a vote taken on the APC recommendation.

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