Monday, July 31, 2017

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? IT IS US

Economic
Development?
It Is Us



"Governor Eric J. Holcomb today signed an executive order creating a new cabinet-level position in state government to serve as Indiana’s chief talent and recruiting official." — July 27 press release

by John Kessler

Will the economic development projects currently being pursued by Indiana make the state more attractive to young people? I can’t foretell the future, but I doubt that they will. What the politicians think will attract young people may not be what young people are really looking for.

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Providence, Rhode Island, to teach economics at a summer camp at Brown University. On the plane, I sat next to a nice young woman in her twenties who was coming to Rhode Island to do some training for teachers. She is a teacher at a charter school in Silicon Valley that uses technology to teach their students, and she was coming to train other teachers how to use the program.

As we talked about education and life she mentioned that she had a serious boyfriend and they wanted to get married. The problem was they weren’t sure how they would ever be able to have a family or buy a home — even with her teaching income and his income as a firefighter — because of the cost of living in the Bay Area.

I hear stories like this all the time when I travel. People complaining that the cost of living has risen so much in major cities like Chicago, New York, L.A., and San Francisco that young college graduates are not sure if they can afford to live there, even with a good job. Housing prices are a major part of the problem.

One young man I met this summer was really excited because he was recently able to find a place to stay in San Francisco for $600 a month — he rents the closet in someone’s apartment and sleeps in a hammock. My young teacher friend from the Bay Area is paying $3,000 a month for a small two bedroom apartment and she said the closet seemed like a really good deal. I then told her that there was a place where for less than half that amount one could buy a 3,000-square-foot house with a three-car garage and a quarter acre of land. Her eyes lit up in disbelief, so I told her my story.

I understand her concerns about the future. My wife and I lived in Phoenix, Arizona. The cost of living was high enough that we needed two incomes to make ends meet for just the two of us. My wife always dreamed of being able to stay at home and raise children and we were not sure how we would ever swing that if we stayed in Phoenix.

When I got offered a job in Fort Wayne the primary reason we decided to move from Arizona was because we could afford to have a family. We said goodbye to friends and family and set off on an adventure to make the life that we wanted, not because of Parkview Field and a renovated downtown, but because Fort Wayne offered the promise of the future that we wanted.

Today we have four children, all born in Fort Wayne, and my wife has the privilege of living her dream as a stay-at-home mom.

We don’t need a $100-million riverfront development to attract young people — we already have everything they are looking for. We just need to embrace it and advertise it. If Fort Wayne wants to attract and keep young people we should pursue policies that continue to make our housing affordable, make our city safe and make our schools great.

Then we should go to San Francisco, Chicago and New York and advertise the low cost of living and how college graduates can move here and build the life that they want. They don’t need a city created in the image of what politicians of a different generation think is attractive. Instead, they will create the “cool” city that they want. They will come and they will make the city fun and exciting just by being here.

As we landed in Rhode Island I handed the young woman my business card and said, “If you really want to get married and have a family there is a place you can move and afford to do that. Come join me in Fort Wayne, Indiana.” She laughed as she replied, “I already wrote it down — Fort Wayne. If it is as good as you say we are already packed.”

John Kessler, an adjunct scholar of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation and head of the IPFW Center for Economic Education, is an economics instructor at Indiana University-Purdue University in Fort Wayne.


Readings

Drek Thompson. "Why It's so Hard for Millennials to Figure out Where to Live." The Atlantic, Nov. 19, 2014.

Emily Dryfuss. "The Year in Housing: The Middle Class Can't Afford to Live in Cities Anymore." Wired, Dec. 31, 2016.

David Morris. "Why Millennials Are About to Leave Cities in Droves." Fortune, May 28, 2016.

 

The Indiana Policy Review Foundation is a non-profit education foundation focused on state and municipal issues. It is free of outside control by any individual, organization or group. It exists solely to conduct and distribute research on Indiana issues. Nothing written here is to be construed as reflecting the views of the Indiana Policy Review Foundation or as an attempt to aid or hinder the passage of any bill before the legislature or to further any political campaign.

Sunday, July 30, 2017

AGENDA- August 1 MORNING- Commissioners Meeting

AGENDA
DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
August 1, 2017 
8:30 a.m., Commissioners Room
County Administration Building
215 B West High Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana


I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. OLD BUSINESS
1.  Motion/Vote on Previous Discussion of Administrator’s Position

IV. NEW BUSINESS
1.  Change Orders – Chris Grabosky, Project Manager, Maxwell Construction

2.  Donation of Bookmobile by Friends of the Library – Barbara Bonney, Director LPLD

3.  Animal Control Ordinance Changes – Pat Hawkins, PAWS Secretary/Treasurer & Beckey Reiter, PAWS Board Member & Boone County Animal Shelter Director

4.  1 Voice - Area for National Drug Awareness Day – Wyatt Sampson & Dianna Jones

5.  Highway Engineer – Todd Listerman
1.  Bid Award for Bridge #59 on Salt Fork Road
2.  Construction Inspection Contract for Bridge #59
3.  Title Sheet for Bridge #24 Plans

6. a.) Agreement to Transfer Personal Property 
    b.) Ordinance Transferring Personal Property to Dearborn County Clearing House

7.  Ratify Signature on Letter to USDA for Funding Laughery Valley Watershed Damage

V. ADMINISTRATOR 

VI. AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington
1.  Claims/Minutes
VII. ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel
1.  Happy Hollow Road Vacation Ordinance

VIII. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

IX. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

X. PUBLIC COMMENT


XI. ADJOURN

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Pribble Road Hill Closure July 27

Road Closure – Pribble Road

Slip Repair

Pribble Road will be closed from Kaiser Drive to the top of the hill on Thursday, July 27th, until further notice.

Closure will be from 8 am to 7 pm.

No through traffic.


Denise Strohl

Dearborn County
Highway Department Office Manager
10255 Randall Avenue
Aurora, IN 47001
Telephone – 812-655-9394
Fax – 812-655-9424

25 July 2017 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes

 25 July 2017 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes
Present: Liz Morris, President, Dennis Kraus. Sr., Dan Lansing, Charlie Keyes, Ryan Brandt, Alan Goodman, and Bill Ullrich. 
Also present: Gayle Pennington, Auditor and Sue Hayden, County Administrator
The meeting room was full of people.
Morris called for a moment of silence for Bill Ullrich’s wife’s passing.
She then read the Title VI statement as legally required.
HOSPITAL BONDS-  Dearborn County - Brad Ruwe with Dinsmore and Schoal and The CEO, CFO, and hospital attorney. The bonds were 30 year bonds with 3.6 million paid down. Proceeds from new issue of bonds will pay off the 2006 series of bonds. Two reasons for doing this. Letter of credit was provided by 5/3 bank in 2006 has become too expensive. That cost is passed along to the client which is DCH. Because interest rates are relatively low now and the hospital wants a fixed rate series of bonds now. The proposed series of 2017 bonds will have  reset of interest in 3 years. In this case the bonds will be held by the bank will hold these bonds themselves. They will negotiate the rate at that time. These are payable solely from hospital revenue. If Council approves this tonight they will go to Lawrenceburg as that is the city where they are located also. They do not have to go thru any other hoops for this. Under tax code there is something called a re- issuance. So now they technically they do not need to come back to Council at the 3 year interest reset date. The amortization is still April 2036. There is no financial obligation or risk to the county. Goodman motioned and Ullrich 2nd to reissue the bonds. All ayes. Passed.

PROSECUTOR  - Lynn Deddens- TABLED- she had asked to be excused for tonight.
Transfer funds

AURORA EMERGENCY RESCUE – Edward Opp- Discuss the status of EMS- Western side- Aurora, Dillsboro, Manchester, and Moores Hill all working together. They rely on paramedic truck from Lawrenceburg as an intercept. And want to upgrade their people for 24/7 service. Dearborn County spends $400,000 for EMS and the surrounding counties spend $1.2million. Lawrenceburg has a paramedic and Bright has just 1. Only Ripley County has paramedics of surrounding counties. He said the county was divided into regions when they did it with Terri Randall. This was to unify some of the individual units. App did not know how they could liquify some of their non-profits to do this- but they could explore this. It’s tough to draw everybody together. But for now this proposal would require $600,000 to get the paramedics started up. They do soft billing to insurance for insured patients. For $600,000 they could get a paramedic truck and more paramedics for Region 1. $376,000 is for a 24/7 paramedic on duty and the vehicle. The don’t interact with Sunman which covers a small part of the northern part of county. People and business coming in will look at our EMS and Fire Dept coverage. Insurance coverage for homeowners looks at this too as well does the insurance coverage for businesses. It’s all part of the infrastructure. They want future working meetings with all members go Region 1 and Council. Council wants a comprehensive county wide look. Jason covers the Region 2 area and the only area left out is Lawrenceburg which has their own dollars. We cannot compete with that. There is only one private transport which is Tri County and they are based in Batesville with a station in Greendale. Discussion on whose budget covers EMS services. Riverboat money does some of this as a set percentage. Region 2 and Lawrenceburg do not miss runs- but Region 1 does. They need help per Brandt. Morris kept wanting a comprehensive look at the whole county. Bright and L-bg have a medic and region 1 does not. Council made no decision. 

RECIND THE RIVERBOAT ORDINANCE- Morris said the SBOA has tried to be of assistance to the county and there are complex attempts to fix this- there are conflicting opinions on the state level on how to remedy this. They decided to TABLE this indefinitely. All ayes with Keyes Nay- he didn’t want it tabled but decided to let it go. Alan Weiss - Greendale Mayor said THANK YOU. 

AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington- St. Paul’s school in New Alsace is closed. So their money from tax money was voted to be moved to the General Fund now. 
PAC Committee heard from Commissioners that they vacated the adm secretary and promoted Sue Hayden to the administrators position. Approved.  
Minutes from June 27, 2017 approved. 
PUBLIC COMMENT- Jason - President from Bright EMS and their only paramedic- agreed with Ed Opp and also with Council that they get a comprehensive look at the whole county. They have worked hard with commissioners to get ideas to work together. He reminded them that the county pays each EMS unit the same $20,000. He said they combined fire and EMS to make it work. The fire dept money is key to this. He said they submitted a proposal to cover Bright and the northern part of the county. Average response time is 6 minutes but there is a wide range in those times depending on where the need is. They do run as far as East Central HS. Sunman staffs with just one person who waits for someone to come to make the run. Pay rate is $14 /hour now. This will not get people hired. Jason spoke at length about the issues of the time it takes to get to the patient. In the alliance they are required by the county to attend 3/4 of the alliance meetings. Paramedic services are not self sustaining. The ones in Hamilton County are using tax money. Billed $390,000 and collected $162,000. Medicare pays about $162 for a $1000 transport. Fuel and drugs are expenses too. Hospital used to give a basic supply in the black boxes with Epi pens- that discontinued when the Epi pen price went up so high. We are coming to the Council saying hear us- we are working for solutions. They all have different needs, but they all play the same game. 
Council said that their dedication and commitment is greatly appreciated. Jason said its a rewarding job. But stressful. They talked about a Public Safety LIT ( Local Income Tax)

Terri Randall- former county administrator- Even the municipalities are assigned a territory that goes beyond their city limits for example. There is only so much you can do to get to some of the rural areas in time. Commissioner Lynch and McHenry couldn’t be there. She said McHenry said the commissioners needed to work together with the alliance.   

ADJOURN- 7:50 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

Monday, July 24, 2017

AGENDA July 25 Council Meeting


AGENDA
DEARBORN COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
6:30 p.m., Commissioners Room
County Administration Building
215 B West High Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana
CALL TO ORDER:

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

HOSPITAL BONDS

PROSECUTOR  - Lynn Deddens
Transfer funds

AURORA EMERGENCY RESCUE – Edward Opp
Discuss the status of EMS

RECIND THE RIVERBOAT ORDINANCE

AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington
Minutes from June 27, 2017
PUBLIC COMMENT


ADJOURN

Tuesday, July 18, 2017

18 July 2017 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes

18 July 2017 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes

Present: Art Little, and Kevin Lynch, acting president

Also present: Andy Baudendistel, Attorney

ABSENT: Shane McHenry and Gayle Pennington, Auditor (covered by Sue Hayden)

Baudendistel read the Title VI statement as legally required.

OLD BUSINESS: none

NEW BUSINESS: Lynch announced that Sue Hayden was hired as the new administrator effective yesterday 7/17/17. Randall has moved on to become the Director of One Dearborn. W

ADMINISTRATOR- Sue Hayden - nothing to report yet.

AUDITOR-  Sue Hayden covering for Gayle Pennington. Claims approved. 

ATTORNEY- Andy Baudendistel- ordinance next month for sheriff for van to be transferred to Clearinghouse, a 501c3. 

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS- Little- thanked Sue for taking the job. Lynch echoed it as well- looking forward to a lot of good things.

PUBLIC COMMENT- none

LATE ARRIVAL- none 

Meeting Adjourned at 6:04 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

Sunday, July 16, 2017

AGENDA- July 18 Commissioners Meeting

Attached is the agenda for the July 18th BOC meeting.  Shane McHenry will be absent from the meeting so housekeeping items will be covered.  Other subjects that may come up will be handled during Commissioner Comments or Late Arrival Information.

AGENDA
DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
July 18, 2017 
6:00 p.m., Commissioners Room
County Administration Building
215 B West High Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana


I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. OLD BUSINESS
IV. NEW BUSINESS
V. ADMINISTRATOR 

VI. AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington
1.  Claims/Minutes
VII. ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel
VIII. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

IX. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

X. PUBLIC COMMENT


XI. ADJOURN

Thursday, July 06, 2017

Obituary Bille Lee Ullrich, Wife of Councilman Bill Ullrich

Obituary Billie Lee Ullrich, Wife of Councilman Bill Ullrich

Billie Lee Ullrich, of Aurora, Indiana, passed away July 4, 2017 in St. Elizabeth Hospital in Ft. Thomas, Kentucky.

She was born February 13, 1943 in Cleves, Ohio, daughter of the late William Heimann and Evelyn Wright Rudolph. 

Billie enjoyed Word Search Puzzles. She was "Homemaker Extraordinaire". She loved to decorate her home and took pride in every aspect of homemaking. She was a wonderful wife and mother. She was very devoted to her entire family especially her grandchildren and great grandchildren, She will be greatly missed.

Surviving are her loving husband of 56 years, William "Bill" Ullrich of Aurora, IN; children, Mike (Carol) Ullrich of Dry Ridge, KY, Tina (Pedro) Orellano of Fayetteville, NC, Kim (Joe) Hamilton of Crestwood, KY, Eric (Annette) Ullrich of Aurora, IN; siblings, Terry (Lynette) Welch, Sharon (Richard) Reynolds of WI, Missy (Garrett) Krug of Sumter, SC; grandchildren, Billy Ullrich, Joanna Ullrich, Brittney Gonzales, Chelsea Murphy, Chris Deutsch, Tim Davis, Eric Ullrich Jr., Nathan Ullrich & Brady Ullrich; great grandchildren, Ian, Emilia and Leilah.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Evelyn Rudolph, step-father, Harold Rudolph, Father, William Heimann and brother Floyd Heimann.

Friends will be received Monday, July 10, 2017, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the St. Mary's Catholic Church, 203 Fourth Street, Aurora, Indiana.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church Tuesday, at 11:00 am.

Interment will follow in the River View Cemetery, Aurora, Indiana. 

Contributions may be made to the St. Mary's Catholic Church or family. If unable to attend services, please call the funeral home office at (812) 926-1450 and we will notify the family of your donation with a card.

Visit: www.rullmans.com

Wednesday, July 05, 2017

5 July 2017 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes

5 July 2017 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting Notes

Present: Shane McHenry, President, Art Little, and Kevin Lynch

Also present: Connie Fromhold covering for Gayle Pennington, Auditor and  Andy Baudendistel, Attorney

ABSENT: Terri Randall, Administrator and Gayle Pennington, Auditor. 

Baudendstel read the Title VI statement as required by law.

OLD BUSINESS: none

NEW BUSINESS:

Contracts for Cyclical Reassessment- Gary Hensley, Assessor- This is a 4 year contract from 2018 until 2022 and includes a ratio study and new construction each year. There is a base amount of 750 parcels a year. There is also a site visit and reassessment of all 30,701 parcels in the county over the 4 year period. Contract cost is $852,777 and is $60,077 more than the previous contract that is ending this year. Same contractor is the only one that bid, though it was advertised. Tyler Technologies. commissioners had no questions. Commissioners approved the agreement. 

Jack’s Forever 3 Run- Casey Fox- Formally requesting the road closures for the early morning run. Commissioners approved the request. He is to touch base with McHenry the week prior. Sneakville Road and Garden Meadows and Garden Green subdivisions back behind it. 

Ordinance for DCH Revenue Refunding Bonds- Brad Ruwe, Dinsmore $ Shohl, LLP- Mike Schwebler, CEO,  and the CFO and attorney  for the hospital were also present. 
In 2006 DC issued revenue bonds for $30 million. There is over $26 million left. These are adjustable and are supported by a letter of credit by 5/3 bank. These letters of credit are becoming very expensive. To get out of these bonds, they have worked with 5/3 to get a private placement of these bonds. These are revenue obligations. No tax money goes to pay for these bonds. Towards the end of August they will go to the council for their final approval. The hospital is a 501c3. Baudendistel reviewed the ordinance and the changes needed were done. Ultimately there are cost savings for the hospital per Ruwe. 
Baudendistel read the ordinance and Commissioners approved the ordinance. 

Aurora Emergency Rescue - Ed Opp- there for Aurora EMS only- discuss status of EMS in western part of county. Gave the history of the EMS services and their service areas. He discussed their funding and finances and their motto is that they will respond as if their life depends upon it. Volunteers are getting harder and harder to sustain. Plan to get 24/7 coverage. They want to have 2 people on staff at all times. $222,000 plus to do this. Recently Lawrenceburg changed their protocol for transport to the city. They ned paramedic on the west side of the county. $376,000 first year start up cost for this including vehicles etc. They do use grants and they bill patients as appropriate. Looking for a potential safety tax for a revenue stream for EMS services. Aurora gives them $17,000 yearly. They get about $7000 from the utility bill donations from customers. $40,000 from commissioners and $10-13,000 from council. Plus their soft billing for patients. Requirements coming from the state keep coming at them- and it costs. Lynch said he agrees and supports them 110%. As the county grows, the needs are there.Training is necessary and a big commitment for them. Thanked him for this proposal. they are looking at it. Opp wants to take it to Council at budget time this year. McHenry said that the revenue sharing money that is being pulled from municipalities might be able to be used for this instead. Ok to approach council. 

Transfer Agreement with Water Rescue- Bill Black Jr.- transferring a van and Baudendistel reviewed the agreement. This is being transferred back to EMA as they use it more than water rescue. This should finalize every vehicle ownership to appropriate debts. Approved. 

HIGHWAY DEPT. Todd, Listerman, County Engineer:
Bridge #88 Johnsonville Rd- Title sheet presented.

Modification #1- Stateline/Georgetown Project- Lawrenceburg Township with GRW Engineers and Baudendistel reviewed. 80/20 split project. Approved. 

Bridge #77 Woliung Rd- Bid Award- 4 bidders. $1,150,000. was engineering estimate and low bid was  $984,226.75 Lykins out of Sunman. 
McAllister, Paul Rohe, and Robertson were other 3 bidders. 
Approved Lykins.

Bridge #77 Woliung Rd- Construction Inspection Contract. 4 quotes and lowest was Landwater Group for $31,160 as a NTE (not to exceed) contract. 
HWC, Certified Eng., FPBH were other 3. 
Landwater Group was approved.

As part of permit process for this bridge #77 they have to hire a state approved group to take pictures before #77 is demolished as it is an historic bridge. $2,660 for Ball State to do this. Approved. 

Final Dearborn County Highway Plan- Tim Hunt- HWC Engineering- This is the transportation assessment plan. LTAP approved it. They can now submit for 50/50 match up to $1 million for Community Crossings grants. This justifies the projects they will do with overlay and rejuvenations. 16 miles overlays and 14 miles of rejuvenation. They should find out in August if they get an award. The actual work wont get started till spring/summer 2018. The commissioners were given a summary of the roads they plan to treat. 
The bill now says we can use ANY money for our match- not just certain taxes or rainy day fund. 

McHenry asked about Pine Ridge - a subdivision street that needed repair. Listerman said if this program works we will have $2million to ave that we didn't have before. Dead end subdivision roads suffer the most- as main roads get the attention. Give is working on a patch for it. McHenry wants a plan and a cost. The complete report has a reconstruction cost for all the roads in the county. McHenry said they have a bunch of letters and need an answer. 

AUDITOR- Connie Fromhold for Pennington- Claims and minutes approved

ATTORNEY- Andy Baudendistel- Thursday had hearing on vicious dog status and he will send findings on that for their signature by Friday. Then he will turn it over to Sue to turn over to dog owners. There is an appeal process of 10 days- and he may extend that time in the future.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS- Lynch- thanked all the communities for Independence Day celebrations 
Little- Wanted to remember what July 4 is all about. 


PUBLIC COMMENT- none

LATE ARRIVAL- none

Meeting Adjourned at 9:45 AM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Townsh

AGENDA July 5 Commissioners Meeting

AGENDA
DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING
July 5, 2017 
8:30 a.m., Commissioners Room
County Administration Building
215 B West High Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana


I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. OLD BUSINESS
IV. NEW BUSINESS
1.  Contracts for Cyclical Reassessment – Gary Hensley, Assessor

2.  Jack’s Forever 3 Run – Casey Fox

3.  Ordinance Re: DCH Revenue Refunding Bonds – Brad Ruwe, Dinsmore & Shohl LLP  

4.  Aurora Emergency Rescue - Ed Opp

5.  Transfer Agreement w/Water Rescue – Bill Black, Jr.

6.  Highway Engineer, Todd Listerman
1.  Modification #1 Stateline/Georgetown Project
2.  Bridge #77 - Woliung Rd. Bid Award
3.  Bridge #77 – Woliung Rd. Construction Inspection Contract
4.  Final Dearborn County Highway Plan – Tim Hunt, HWC Engineering

V. ADMINISTRATOR – Terri Randall

VI. AUDITOR – Gayle Pennington
1.  Claims/Minutes
VII. ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel
VIII. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

IX. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

X. PUBLIC COMMENT


XI. ADJOURN