21 OCTOBER 2025 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES
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Present: Jim Thatcher, President, Duane Bischoff, and Kevin Turner
Also present: Andy Baudendistel, Attorney, and Sue Hayden, Administrator
ABSENT: Connie Fromhold, Auditor
TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE was read by Baudendistel as legally required.
OLD BUSINESS
Property on Westside Drove- Aurora- Baudendistel- owner on westside Drive with a small strip of property along Laughery Creek- appraisals were $17,000 and $14,000. Most of this property is in the floodway and is regulated by the state. This property would be added to the one property owner’s property.They will need a deed to the property - as it is owned by the county there should be a deed. Sue Hayden presented the deed that Connie Fromhold had produced. Commissioners set the minimum bid as $15,500 and no permanent structures to be built on the property. No commercial or industrial uses of the property. It’s a hillside and floodway. It’s very restricted by the state. Baudendistel will make a notice up and bring to the next meeting. TABLED till then.
SEED Grant - Nicole Daily, Director of Planning & Zoning -She got the SEED contract from the state that has to do with the 911 GIS data. Thatcher signed it.
There is another grant for the Park Board for the Bright Part- 2026 campaign Fund for Fitness Grant-up to $60,000.This is part of the Stellar goals. This is to match up to $120,000. This is already in there funded. They have to raise that money- it’s not new county money.She showed them pictures of a wall with a mural and the other side can have some sponsors on it to raise money. Working with consultant for Stellar program to find a spot- near the playground area. There will be one fitness area rather than spread out. Work out equipment is non-mechanical.She was asked several times to be sure it involved no extra money from the county. She said its did not. APPROVED.
Tree planting event at Lawrenceburg HS Oct 31- 20-30 trees. Nicole Daily gave the a flyer to invite them.
NEW BUSINESS
Upgrade Right-of-Way - Dennis Kraus, Jr., Surveyor- JDJ Surveying and Engineering. Seevers owned property at the end of that road and has a buyer for part of that 58 acres. This is land-locked.It does not touch another road. OLD abandoned DogRidge Road goes thru Hylands, Denzel’s, and Seever's property. He wants to create a driveway out of this for that property. County moved the road in 1903.He said the road was there in 1860, 1875 and 1890.
Todd Listerman- County Engineer- county ROW would have to be the standard width. Plus the county has to be asked if they would accept it if they would update it to county standards.Plus it has to be accepted and inspected etc.
Commissioners asked if they would have to maintain if they open it- YES
Greg Hyland and his father spoke- great grandfather signed an easement on this property. Where the thinks a difference of opinion is where this road went.
1937 road went right into their Hyland property. It was abandoned when the bridge went out.
The 1903 easement never went to Seevers- went to New Alsace thru Jackie Kraus’s’
It would actually require the county to say the way back maps would be used.
Flag lots would allow this Seevers property to go thru other Seevers property to North Dearborn instead.
Greg Hyland said they owned 18 acres of the total that John Joseph had in 1900s.The Commissioners bought the ROW from John Joseph Hyland in 1904.Seevers owns 200 plus acres and he can accommodate access to this 58 acre piece thru his other land. Storm washed out the bridge over Tanners Creek and that’s why that part of DogRidge was abandoned. There’s over 1000 acres of landowners here. We don’t want this to become a thru road to East Central.
Mark Hall- Stressed the issues of Ag land being stressed with these kinds of changes. He does not think there is any description of this going to Seevers property. They want to get this tabled so they can get an attorney and research this for a future meeting, We have 2 farms down there. He also read RJ Beck’s letter as he could not attend here. He submitted that letter to the commissioners.
They could Table till November 18th meeting per Commissioners.
Marty Kraus and Rachel Kraus Boland- they came to represent their family too. Also do not want to see a road go back there- One thing can lead to another and this can become more (traffic and people ultimately.)
Nancy Denzler- also does not want this opened up. It brings more people put there. They would lose a lot of trees along this option. Not in favor.
Dan Seevers- We cannot do a flag lot to go over the creek with a bridge. 1/2 mile. The road proposed is ??? Length ( Kraus Jr. answered this below) The purchaser just wants a place to go for recreation. Not planning a house yet. He said he is not looking to develop at all. This is for a personal friend.
Kraus Jr. said it’s 1150 ft plus 1750 ft to Denzlers and Hylands. About 2900 ft. Kraus Jr. said in 1903 the commissioners moved the road for some reason. This was a separate Seever property in 1936- so not sure how they accessed back then.
[Note: Would an old ROW have been 30 ft wide back then? What is the ROW of DogRidge near he end before they discontinued maintaining it? If it is only the width of a driveway then it could not be widened without the owners around it agreeing to give land???]
Commissioners voted to TABLE until Nov 18th. They will try to get presentations on to the screens for that meeting.
ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden- needs to have certificate signed by Commissioner President acknowledging the Heart House so they can submit their budget to the state,
AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold -Claims/Payroll and October 7th Minutes-Approved
ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel-nothing more
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: Bischoff- has had some complaints about other meeting times needing to be later.
Turner- October 9th instructional meeting at OKI- very interesting,
LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION: none
PUBLIC COMMENT: Michael Mizell- Goose Run Road- said he had several ??s at a meeting a while ago and those questions were not answered. He has tried to get the info online. Commissioners nor anyone else have not answered him in all that time. He has been researching notes regarding this and also Soap Hill and Goose Run in meeting notes.
Commissioners said they have found the costs of just the slip ($1.5 million). We have asked the county superintendent to approach the council to ask for money. Michael Mizell said it’s been 21years!
Todd Listerman- Goose run paved in 1999. In 2019 count was very low count- 42/day. $1.35 million is what Council appropriated. Now they are only getting $1million for Community Crossings.He said he can pave roads every 63 years. If he does not get the grant he will be on a 11 year cycle. Bridge and small structure funding is in addition to this.
Michael Mizell asked about when Park and Cross were paved. Not answered, But Todd noted that they were used when 350 was closed. (So they were a detour.)
Todd Listerman- Property taxes don’t pave roads but they do have 3.3 cents per 100 for bridges. Aurora Library gets 15 cents per 100 for the library.
Todd also answered his questions regarding how the consultant evaluates the conditions of the road. So they looks at the depth of overlay etc. Goose Run, Park, Cross, and North Hogan.Mizell asked for records on those 4 roads going back as far as they have records. Commissioners note there is no money. Much discussion- (but still no real solution.)
Next Council is Nov 13 at 5 PM. If he wants to attend. They need to get Council to help get money for it.
ADJOURN- 7:45PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
