17 FEBRUARY 2026 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

 

17 FEBRUARY 2026 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

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Present: Jim Thatcher, President, Duane Bischoff, and Kevin Turner

Also present: Connie Fromhold, Auditor, Andy Baudendistel, Attorney, and Sue Hayden, Administrator

TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE was read by Baudendistel as legally required.

EXECUTIVE SESSION - 5:30 pm

Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(2)(D): For discussion of strategy with respect to:  A real property transaction including a purchase, a lease as lessor, a lease as lessee, a transfer, an exchange, or a sale by the governing body up to the time a contract or option is executed by the parties.  This clause does not affect a political subdivision’s duty to comply with any other statute that governs the conduct of the real property transaction, including IC 36-1-10 or IC 36-1-11.

Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(4): For discussion of strategy with respect to:  Interviews and negotiations with industrial or commercial prospects or agents of industrial or commercial prospects by:  a governing body of a political subdivision.  However, this subdivision does not apply to any discussions regarding research that is prohibited under IC 16-34.5-1-2 or under any other law.

Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(19): To have communications with an attorney that are subject to the attorney-client privilege.

CERTIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE SESSION- Commissioners certified that they only discussed what was advertised in executive session. It was not solar, data centers, or nuclear. Per Baudendistel.

ACTION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION- none 

OPEN PUBLIC HEARING - Sale of County Owned Property- Mr Riddle  ( 10-8 Holdings LLC) put in $15,500 bid on the property. He thanked the administrator and  commissioners for their help. Looking foreword to fixing the property up and enjoying it when it is not flooded. 

CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING- Commissioners confirmed the sale to Mr Riddle of the property along Laughery Creek. Approved. Baudendistel closed the deal with paperwork signed etc. He will pay at Auditor’s office tomorrow. 

OLD BUSINESS 

Use of "old County ROW" / Dog Ridge Rd. - Dennis Kraus, Jr., Surveyor - Jared Ewbank- Attorney- Talked to Mr Reeves - attorney for the Dogridge Rd neighbors. Planning on meeting next week with the maintenance agreement. Asking to allow them to represent at next meeting. He thinks the shared issues and access necessitate the agreement. 

Mr Reeves said the clients still have strong feelings and they want to meet. Baudendistel said that they can meet at the March 17th meeting. The county will send out meeting notices. TABLED until March 17th.   

Use of "old County ROW" / Old Houston Road off of Bloom Road - Sean York- Tabled as York was not available.

Chambers Vicious Dog Determination- she can walk a dog ON A LEASH- 15 ft inside her property. Insurance and placard on the house required. Homeowners insurance on this. The dog is maintained in the house- not outside- so a fence is not required. Wayne Chambers- father in law- said that the report is wrong. He detailed issues with the neighbor instigating issues with the the Chambers dog. The ordinance says that teasing etc are NOT reasons to have a dog declared vicious. 

Commissioner Turner explained why the one incident off the property resulted in this judgement. 

NEW BUSINESS

Ordinance to Amend Chapter 70 - Traffic Rules of the Code of Ordinances- This was on the ROW issues. Mr Reeves- Attorney -asked what the minimum maintenance procedures are. If the county is not maintaining it- there are procedures favor getting an easement worked out. Ordinance 2026-001- was APPROVED. 

EMA/EMS Director, Jason Sullivan:

Travel Advisories - were all approved

Resolution 2026-001- Adopting Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan 2025- this is an internal plan on how they can mitigate flooding by buying properties and other ways to handle this. There is another plan with outside agencies and states for helping during disasters and hazards. - Approved 

Interlocal w/Ohio Co. for Circuit and SERRC Employees- this was switched over to Dearborn County employees $200,000 was transferred over and $21,718 for part time drug testers. Approved the resolution. Approved the interlocal agreement with Ohio County. 

Ordinance 2026-002 to Create the Court Ordered Detention Enhanced Services (Codes) Fund- a new section  #34.33 for the deposit of charges for juvenile services the parents are ordered to pay. It’s like a user fee. Approved

Ordinance 2026-003 - Amending Section 3.18 of the Personnel Policies Handbook- This had workers in a hotel room during recent snow emergency. This covers those kinds of issues. This makes it legal to pay for these things. Approved.

ADMINISTRATOR- Sue Hayden

Report of Contract Final Inspection - Bridge #64 Sneakville Rd. Sue Hayden for Todd Listerman who is in Seymour at training. Approved.

AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold  -Claims/Payroll and Feb 3rd Minutes- Approved

ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel-nothing more

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:Turner- talked a lot about Solar and thanked the public for input on this and thanked  EMA and LATC committee.

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION:none

PUBLIC COMMENT:none

ADJOURN- 6:48 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

UPDATED AGENDA- 17 February 2026 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting

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AGENDA

DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

 February 17, 2026 

6:00 p.m. Henry Dearborn Room

Dearborn County Government Center

165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana

EXECUTIVE SESSION - 5:30 pm

Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(2)(D): For discussion of strategy with respect to:  A real property transaction including a purchase, a lease as lessor, a lease as lessee, a transfer, an exchange, or a sale by the governing body up to the time a contract or option is executed by the parties.  This clause does not affect a political subdivision’s duty to comply with any other statute that governs the conduct of the real property transaction, including IC 36-1-10 or IC 36-1-11.

Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(4): For discussion of strategy with respect to:  Interviews and negotiations with industrial or commercial prospects or agents of industrial or commercial prospects by:  a governing body of a political subdivision.  However, this subdivision does not apply to any discussions regarding research that is prohibited under IC 16-34.5-1-2 or under any other law.

Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(19): To have communications with an attorney that are subject to the attorney-client privilege.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE

IV. CERTIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE SESSION

V. ACTION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION

OPEN PUBLIC HEARING - Sale of County Owned Property

CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING

VI. OLD BUSINESS 

• Use of "old County ROW" / Dog Ridge Rd. - Dennis Kraus, Jr., Surveyor 
• Use of "old County ROW" / Old Houston Road off of Bloom Road - Sean York
• Chamber's Vicious Dog Determination

VII. NEW BUSINESS

• Ordinance to Amend Chapter 70 - Traffic Rules of the Code of Ordinances

• EMA/EMS Director, Jason Sullivan

• Resolution Adopting Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan 2025
• Travel Advisories 

• Interlocal w/Ohio Co. for Circuit and SERRC Employees

• Ordinance to Create the Court Ordered Detention Enhanced Services (Codes) Fund

• Ordinance Amending Section 3.18 of the Personnel Policies Handbook

VIII. ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden

• Report of Contract Final Inspection - Bridge #64 Sneakville Rd. for Todd Listerman

IX. AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold

• Claims/Payroll/Minutes

X. ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel

XI. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

XII. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

XIII. PUBLIC COMMENT

XIV. ADJOURN

12 February 2026 Stop Solar Farms Meeting- American Legion Hall- Sunman IN

 12 February 2026 Stop Solar Farms Meeting- American Legion Hall- Sunman IN

Also present:

Marc Emral, Register Publications 

Duane Bischoff, Commissioner

Senator Randy Maxwell

Representative Garrett Bascom

Channel 9 News

There are 350-400 people in attendance

40 tables of 6 seats each ( 240)  plus the entire space behind them was filled as well. 

Mark Hall - gave the welcome- thanking people for showing up and discussing the cause. Thanked for money and for putting out the signs etc 

Introduced Stacy Craig.

Stacy Craig- lived in Manchester most of her life along with many family members. On Feb 23 at 6 PM there will be a Plan Commission at South Dearborn HS. Bring as many people as you can. Asking for a MORATORIUM. It’s not a ban-- It’s a pause. Want the zoning code to be updated and then hear it. 

We need a responsible ordinance that respects ur communities, roads etc.

Linnea has 1200 acres. We know about 800 acres and mapped it. The other 400 acres not shown on the map but are in the area. 

Franklin county has 15,000 more acres than Dearborn County. Dearborn County has more people. 

Our protections should be at least as conservative as Franklin Co as we have more rural acres. 

Today it’s solar - tomorrow is data centers, and future might also be smaller nuclear power projects tp energize the data centers. Never believed that this would happen in Manchester - but here it is. 

Emily Hartman- will overlap some of Stacy’s comments. We need everyone at the Feb 23 P/Z meeting. Best chance is to get a moratorium- in order to get the ordinance updated. Compared Franklin Co zones - which was adopted in Sept 2025. Look at the current Ordinance Chapter 19. That will tell you what you might want to see changes. 

Our ordinance does not define or protect prime farmland. It also does not protect the non participating landowners. 

Every solar company will say they support the community and be partners.They want to make generous offer. We cannot fight every developer one by one. We need the ordinance. 

Linnea Energy is pencilled in on the agenda to speak at teh PC meeting on the 23rd. 

End each speaker with I support the Moratorium.

Bobby Rauen- The challenge we are facing is not small 0r distant - it is clear and pressing. This is not simply progress knocking on our door. We need to know what we value etc. Our comp plan speaks when it says the entire community has a stake in how it is used. Industrial solar arrays do not belong in farm land.They belong in industrial zones. He described these facilities- and described the burdens on our services and farmers and communities. It undermines rural character. Should we allow our countryside to be carved up piece by piece? We don’t want our farms turned into glass and steel. See you all on Feb 23.

Mark Hall- We need money. Challenge by a member here who will match everything collected tonight up to $1,000. 

Rhett Dennerline- lives our by Dillsboro.Issues are emotional because its about family. Important to be civl and polite. Follow the rules. Our county ordinance is liking have a house without locks on the doors. We need to have this ordinance revised and updated. To current standards 

Curt Wolford- was raised in Germany. This was in my country. He detailed the issues and ended with a vote for his frond - Joe Volk for senator. 

Senator Randy Maxwell- 1333 is dead- and that language will not end up in any other bill this year. 

Audience :

Questions asked about refurbishing existing power plants.

Questions about Iowa issues with solar and wind and NY lawyers.

Questions about the clean up after these are no longer needed.

Questions- there are a million questions….that should be asked. 

This is pro-developer.

Stacy CraigConcerns about construction equipment.Roads will be ruined and taxes to fix?

Battery storage facility needs to have fire dept to be trained to deal with that. Lithium batteries require evacuation if they burn for days?

We have to get real protectors in place!

The decommissioning part of the project needs to be fixed in the ordinance. If they get sold- does this pass to the new owners….

Can we work with Franklin County ?We should look at other counties. Yes!

What happens if they don’t grant the moratorium?

Take to BZA for appeal. This would be an uphill battle.

There are public and private nuisance laws. This pits developer against neighbors etc. Want to eliminate private lawsuits and not be pitted against each other.

 

Bobby Rauen- Linnea as well as other businesses are young and sprung up in past 10 years. They are for CA and started numerous projects and have one completed. We do not have transparency with Linnea. They have been here since 2022.

Another citizen stressed not letting this go any further. Here is nothing good about any part of this. He called Linnea an investment company. 

Emily Hartman- Announced that Ripley County has their moratorium granted today.

Citizen presented NIH findings concluding that more study is needed and to evaluate the solar panels effect on water and soil.

Solar farms were to provide energy for data centers in some areas. 

Bobby Rauen- IDEM said they are not aware of any long term effects of these batteries and panels. 

He went over the rules on ex parte communications- cannot have these with PC and BZA members. But you can lobby the commissioners- they are elected officials. 

Candidate for State Senator - Joe Volk spoke- I am a farmer- not a politician - talked about the pollution- and how it spreads to farms where you end up eating it. Gave praise to Bobby Rauen and Mark Hall.

Meeting finished about around 7:15 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township