During the Monday, March 9, 2020, Frankfort Board of Works meeting, Deputy Chief of Police Scott Shoemaker presented Charles Baetz for consideration as Frankfort’s newest police officer.
The Board of Works voted 3-0 to accept and Mayor Judy Sheets administered the oath.
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.
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.
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.
Mayor Judy Sheets’ first Board of Works meeting allowed her to introduce to the public the members of her Board of Works and Department Heads.
In addition to Mayor Sheets, Megan Sheets and Mark Mitchell make-up the three-person Board of Works. Mayor Sheets also noted there is no family relation to Megan Sheets or Travis Sheets. The comment was in response to posts on social media asking if there is any family relationship.
Mayor Sheets introduced the following individuals who will serve as her department heads:
John Kirby – Fire Chief
Jason Forsythe – Street Department Superintendent
Bart Kraning – Parks Superintendent
Scott Shoemaker – Police Deputy Chief
Don Stock – Director of Planning and Housing Initiatives
There is currently a vacancy for senior building inspector as Sam Payne retired today, Monday, March 2, 2020.
While a search is ongoing to fill this position, the BOW voted to accept an independent contractor contract with Sam Payne so the city can fulfill housing inspection in the interim until a person can be hired.
The BOW also set the ongoing meeting schedule as the 2nd and 4th Monday of each month at 5 p.m. in the council chambers. The BOW meeting will take place prior to 7 p.m. City Council meetings.
Mayor Judy Sheets took office at 12:01 P.M. on Monday, March 2, 2020.
Mayor Sheets will have her first public meeting at 5 p.m. this evening as she leads the Board of Works meeting in the Council Chambers.
