2 NOVEMBER 2021 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES
Present: Jim Thatcher, President, Art Little, and Rick Probst
Also present: Connie Fromhold, Auditor, Andy Baudendistel, Attorney, and Sue Hayden, Administrator
TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE was read by Baudendistel as legally required.
OLD BUSINESS
NEW BUSINESS
CVG Airport Update- Seth Cutter, Director of Communications and Public Affairs- had a powerpoint presentation but couldn’t give it due to tech difficulties at the county. He gave a quick update. Airport has been impacted by Covid. 2020 was the bottom. 2021 has had increased air traffic for recreation and families but corporate traffic has not rebounded. #7 in cargo transport. Breaking monthly records monthly with the air traffic due to e-commerce. CVG is DHL’s # 2 operation in the world. Outside of the main hub in Germany we are #2 and #3 is in Hong Kong. Amazon project is operational in August. They have been operating out of DHL since 2017.This is a gradual transition to their new facility The hub will be continuously built out into 2026. This means more jobs and also need jobs at the airport maintenance etc for the region. An increasing number of jobs at the airport are coming from IN and OH as well as KY.
They have recently completed a 175 Million terminal project. They have consolidated the rental car facility. It’s connected to the garage where they will retrieve their car also. Curb space was filled up- now all the shuttles have been taken off the front curb now.
Runways are being rehabbed. Recently reopened he main cargo runway. During rehab they were going to a different direction. This cargo traffic is mainly nighttime. They have a tool to see if the traffic is lower and this riser than it should be. 14,000 jobs on the CVG campus. 47,000 are in the region. They want to be sure they are responsive to the community and they want to hear about the impact the airport is having on the neighbors here.
Probst asked about the Amazon employees. Amazon’s CVG hub is their targets facility in North America. Their number of employees will be at 2000 - perhaps more. The neighboring job sites are worried about their labor supply. This will be competition for other businesses for the labor pool. At DHL and Amazon the transfers and containers are in sortation facility and the put back on another plane. That’s 80 % of the load. The rest is on tracks if it’s less than 500 miles to the buyer. This will increase truck traffic and it is a concern for the region
Thatcher asked about the business travel changes with the pandemic and Zoom meetings. They are trying to assess how much corporate traffic will resume. People are still not back in the office. The new normal will be less than before. Hope to rebound by 2024 -2025. Maybe this is the new normal. Corporate and leisure go hand in hand. CVG has the only flight to Paris in the region for example. The business class section of the plane is the moneymaker on these flights.
Airport has a labor shortage in their concessions. Have less hours to accommodate the labor issue. Kids in high school can work at the concessions. $70,000 is starting pay for airport mechanics.
They will give commissioners the link for the portal to communicate issues to the airport and also for jobs. Thatcher asked if he could stop that flight that goes over his house at 5:30 in the morning. <Laughter>
Soil and Water Conservation District Update- Jennifer Hughes, Storm Water Coordinator - have been helping get rid of invasive species at the local parks. They are being notified soon if they will be in the MS4 in the next month. Letters will go out in Dec with January effective date. Part of the stormwater program is part of the MS4 program. They did not give the schedule for the new MS4 deadlines. Waiting on EPA. There are definitely new MS4s for Dearborn County.
Matt Jarvis, NRCS District Conservation- Their year starts Oct 1. EQIP For anyone interested in doing natural resource work on their farm. They usually bring in $150,000 cost share for the county Glad to meet with them on their farm too. They are at 50% staff in their office. They can have 3 people in their office. Often they are in the field. They check messages throughout the day. You can schedule by appointment one at a time. Masks required.
Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission- Resolution to Dissolve Skally’s Bakery TIF Allocation Area and Resolution to Amend the Boundaries of the West Harrison Are to include the former Skally’s TIF and Supplemental Amendment to the West Harrison Economic Development Plan.Jim Deaton presented. This was presented at the Plan Commission. They signed off. If this passes, then it goes to the DCRC for final approval.
Deaton gave the history of the project. Skally’s plans fell through and Dyke Industries came in and their project straddles the Skally’s and the West Harrison TIF. They need to dissolve Skally’s allocation area with no production. They will then amend West Harrison TIF to include these parcels back into the West Harrison TIF.
Baudendistel weighed in on this and commissioner’s approved the two resolutions to dissolve Skally’s TIF and to expand the West Harrison TIF to include the former Skally’s TIF areas. Passed and signed.
Todd Listerman, Highway Engineer- Bid Award for Replacement of Bridge #44 Turkey Point Rd- on Oct 21st bid opening. Rohe and Sunesis Construction. Rohe was lowest at $1,204,752.85. They have several things to prep and then will start the temporary runaround in early spring. It will be done by the end of September 2022. They will have the temporary runaround during this time. Approved.
Agreement for part time construction inspection on Bridge #44. NTE contract for FPBH of North Vernon for $40,880. They go during concrete pours and prior to the concrete pour. About twice a week. They also test the concrete like air, yield, and slump. The bridge coatings are separate and Listerman does that in 2-3 years. Listerman goes out also- often when they FPBH is not there to observe. Approved.
Listerman updated Commissioners, Met with consultant regarding Community Crossings Grant for submission to LTAC soon. The Bridge asset management plan was considered also for submission to INDOT There are 15 bridges still under 50 points.
They are planting 18” seedlings in December for DNR requirements on one project.
Thatcher said he wanted to have Sue Hayden be his witness for bid openings for consistency. He can do it in Listerman’s office at the administration building.
ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden- none- sorry about the computer glitch this morning.
AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold:
Claims/Payroll and Oct 5th and 19th Minutes- approved
2022 Payroll and Claims schedule- approved
Health Dept Grant approval- $101,892.16 for vaccines and children - already received the money. Approved.
ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- public health emergency has been extend again until Dec 21,2021.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:
Probst- Vaccines for kids and the boosters are available- encourage people to get it.
Little- KY has announced they are decreasing COVID numbers, 512 kids came through for Halloween special event up in Bright even with the drizzling rain.
Thatcher- encouraged people to get Turkey and Christmas shopping done early due to supply chain.
LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- Todd Listerman - presented issues with the access points for Old Orchard Subdivision now that Tucker is starting up on Phase 3. The access to Jenny Lynn from Old Orchard is an emergency access only now. And that cannot be opened unless the access to Stateline from Jenny Lynn is improved. Tucker stull has to get secondary approval and bonds. Commissioners will meet with Listerman to see what can be done to improve Stateline Rd there. Might consider stop signs as a measure of safety due to sign distance issues.
PUBLIC COMMENT- none
ADJOURN- 10:25AM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
