Commission Chairman Will Carpenter called the Butler County Board of Commissioners to order at 9:00 a.m. Present were Commissioner Phil Anderson, Commissioner Randy Doll, Commissioner Bill Shriver, Commissioner Mike Wheeler, Administrator Will Johnson and Clerk Brenda Brychta

Commissioner Carpenter called the Public Hearing to order and asked for any comments regarding the amended 2004 Budget. There were no comments.

Commissioner Doll motioned to adopt the amended 2004 Budget. Commissioner Shriver seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Darryl Lutz, Director of Public Works, came before the Board for approval of the revised structure of the Solid Waste Management Planning Committee. The revision creates an additional category for an at large municipal representation and specifies 3 city members to be representatives of all Cities of the 2^nd Class and specifies 1 city member to be a representative of all Cities of the 3^rd Class. A similar scenario is proposed for representation of the unincorporated area of the County.

Commissioner Carpenter motioned to approve the revised structure of the Solid Waste Management Planning Committee and allow the Chair to sign. Commissioner Wheeler seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Darryl Lutz, Director of Public Works, came before the Board for approval of the proposed increase in landfill fees and policy revisions for 2004.

Item #1 – Eliminate $2.00 minimum charge for carload of trash.

               It was the consensus of the Board to approve eliminating the $2.00 minimum

               fee for each carload of trash.

Item #2 – Increase the minimum load charge from $6 to at least $8.

               It was the consensus of the Board to approve increasing the

               minimum load charge from $6 to $7.

Item #3 – Do away with disposal fee for tree limbs and yard waste.

               It was the consensus of the Board to approve the elimination of the disposal

               fee for tree limbs and yard waste.

Item #4 – Implement a fee of $27 per ton for tree limbs and yard waste contaminated

               with trash.

               It was the consensus of the Board to approve the implementation of a $27 per

               ton for tree limbs and yard waste contaminated with trash.

Item #5a – Change landfill closing time from 5:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. Monday through

               Friday.

               It was the consensus of the Board to leave the hours the same, but have Mr.

               Lutz discuss, his with staff, a way to cover the current hours, more effectively.

Item #5b – Change landfill closing time from 4 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. on Saturdays.

               It was the consensus of the Board to have Mr. Lutz discuss, with his staff, a

               way to cover the current hours more effectively.

Darryl Lutz, Director of Public Works, came before the Board for approval of a site analysis and cost feasibility study for expanding the construction and demolition landfill.

The proposed site would be the balance of the property north of NW 40^th Street.

Commissioner Anderson motioned to authorize the Department of Public Works to solicit qualifications and fee proposals from consulting engineers for the purpose of studying the development and operating costs for a new construction and demolition landfill and include the existing construction and demolition site. Commissioner Wheeler seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Darryl Lutz, Director of Public Works, came before the Board for review of the

Landfill Capacity Analysis.

The report was received and discussed, but no action was taken.

Commissioner Carpenter called a recess of the Board for 10 minutes at 10:45 a.m.

Commissioner Carpenter reconvened the meeting of the Board at 10:55 a.m.

Commissioner Shriver motioned to approve the minutes of October 6, 2003 and October 7, 2003 as amended. Commissioner Anderson seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Commissioner Wheeler motioned to approve the vouchers for October 13, 2003 in the amount of $218,418.24. Commissioner Shriver seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

There were no Adds and Abates.

Todd Kennemer came before the Board to report on the latest Planning & Zoning meeting. Mr. Kennemer reported that there were 4 rezoning requests approved, a Conditional Use Permit for Harshman/SW Butler Quarry approved and the Wind Farm Regulations were approved.

Commissioner Shriver inquired about the dust issue around the rock quarry. Mr. Kennemer said he would provide the Board with copies of Harshman’s Rock Quarry Conditional Use Permits and a detailed map of the area, for their review, before the approval of the CUP is presented to the Commission at the October 28, 2003 meeting.

Administrator Johnson asked for approval of a one-month lease extension for Court Services on Gordy Street. Commissioner Shriver motioned to approve a one-month lease extension for Court Services on Gordy Street. Commissioner Doll seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.

Administrator Johnson stated that the Sales Tax Committee should have a recommendation, for or against placing a sales tax on the ballot, by the end of this month.

Commissioner Carpenter asked if we have received audits from entities funded by the County. Administrator Johnson stated that only a few Fire Districts provided an audit.

Commissioner Carpenter asked Don Engels, Financial Director, to send a letter requesting audit reports from entities such as Big Brother/Sisters, Historical Society, Flinthills Services, etc. and that audit reports will be required for any future funding.

Commissioner Carpenter called a recess of the meeting of the Board, for 35 minutes, at 11:55 a.m. to attend Department Head luncheon.

Commissioner Carpenter reconvened the meeting of the Board at 12:30 p.m.

Departmental budgets were discussed with each department head.

Commissioner Shriver motioned to adjourn the meeting of the Board at 12:55 p.m. Commissioner Anderson seconded the motion. Motion carried 5-0.