1 JULY 2025 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

 1 JULY 2025 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

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.

OLD BUSINESS- none

NEW BUSINESS

Matt Jarvis, District Conservationist – Dearborn County Soil & Water Conservation District- works with Soil and Water Conservation District and passed out a paper detailing what they help with. The county has supplied things to the district and State funding. ISDA is listed too. They have services they can offer thru other specialists. Practices installed last year and 75,000 brought in to the county. For every dollar the county provides they can provide an additional $4 to the people they serve in the county. He concluded that it’s a pretty good investment to the county. 

Ken Gunkel, Vice Chair – Dearborn County Soil & Water Conservation District- formerly Chairman- now Vice. Board has changed-Rocky Schroeder had to retire for health reasons. (One other change I did not catch)Dan Kemper has moved up to be a supervisor. Had to postpone a summer program due to heat. Found out that Green Umbrella has a training session for comprehensive plan training July 2 at Library from 4-5:30. Matt Simpson and Nicole Daily will be presenting at that.All are invited 

July 18th back to school- giveaways and backpack and school supplies. This will occur at the Health Dept building across from the hospital. 

They submit their budget to Council in August. Asking for a 2.5% increase for rent office equipment and computer lease.

Changes in NCRS and USDA Federal Funding:  We are in NRCS offices along with FSA on Randall Avenue. Some other offices are closing and merge with others. NRCS can move but Dearborn County Soil and Water District needs to be in Dearborn County. They are exploring all the options but they are trying to see what is the best plan.

Matt Jarvis said they are waiting from input from National. At the end of this lease we will go on a month-to month basis for their lease. Their lease has a 90 day out option. Suspect it could take a long time for USDA to figure out the national plan.Other federal agencies are downsizing and moving people. NRCS will have a presence and staff in every county.

Ken Gunkel- asking national etc and being proactive. 

Thatcher- asked them to stick around after meeting to talk. 

  

Highway Property Clean-up – Sandy Whitehead, MS4 Coordinator & Tim Greive, Highway Superintendent- passed out a summary of what they need do there at highway property on Randall Ave. Three tasks - need fill and wetland consultants  - prices - from $3450 or $9000 . Could just be a pond- there is an unnamed tributary( that extends thru Randall Avenue thru their property ??), IDEM wants to be sure they are not encroaching on a wetlands. Army Core of Engineers and IDEM gave her a list of those consultants. Regardless, we have to clean out things that are not clean  and fill there. They have quotes from Bestway and Osgood has places to do this. SWPPP has to be determined for that sight. There is a pond that overflows and so it has to be fixed as it is overflowing onto their land and the neighbors. Between hillside and retention pond that has to have a SWPPP and plan for keeping things on that site. They have a date for corrective action plus they have a 60 day extension. IDEM is lenient as long as we are working on it. There are penalties for open dumping. 90% of the dumping is ours per Grieve. Trash and trees. Camera catches these people and police were able to get some of them. (These items are probably NOT approved for the dump site)

There is no budget for this in highway per Tim Grieve. 

Denis Kraus, Jr said this has been going on since 2008 The dump has been increased 4 fold they think.

Baudendistel-  Below $25,000 and less than 1 year- the purchasing agent ( Dennis Kraus, Jr) can execute that.

Additionals have to be in today per Connie Fromhold- so Kraus, Jr. will write that up for her and Council. Talk is to ask for $200,000 to cover that cleanup cost before deadline. 

[NOTE: per Google search- so our readers understand what SWPPP stands for and means for MS4-in brief- 

Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plan

• What it is: A SWPPP is a site-specific written document that identifies potential sources of stormwater pollution at a site (often a construction site) and outlines the steps to prevent pollution from occurring in stormwater runoff.
• Purpose: To prevent harmful pollutants (like sediment, debris, chemicals) from being picked up by stormwater and discharged into the environment, including into MS4s.
• Who needs one: Sites seeking an NPDES permit, typically those engaged in construction activities disturbing one acre or more of land, or industrial facilities with potential stormwater pollution sources.
• Key elements: A SWPPP typically includes a site map, descriptions of potentially polluting activities, Best Management Practices (BMPs) to control pollution, inspection procedures, and plans for keeping the SWPPP updated. ]

   

Todd Listerman, County Engineer: part of program to update and maintain small structures and bridges. They had a reprioritization due to the recent update. Tim Grieve has done some in house. These 3 are bigger than what can be done - in - house. 

Small Structure Design Agreements with Civilcon Consultants 

SS 532 Replacement on N. Dearborn Road $72,800

SS 533 Replacement on Van Wedding Road $64,200

SS 619 Replacement on Kocher Road- $71,100

All were programmed last year so money is in the budget for these 3. Commissioners Approved and signed.

2025 Line Striping Contract with Oglesby Construction $153,949.03 has been awarded,

Line Striping Form 96- and the contract were both Approved and Signed. 

Completion date is early October. Line striping reduces accidents 33% for centerline and 11% for edges. We do this for 1000 vehicles per day or more in our county because of this safety factor. 

Listerman update- INDOT contacted them that SR1 will be closed later this year by Cook Rd. It will be done by nails so it is less time. This is the same they are doing on Pribble Rd- same contractor. Sawdon Ridge and North Dearborn will be the primary detour. 

Having more repairs on Huseman Rd. 

Community Crossings Funding - changing. 2nd call will be October, 2025. In future there will be only one call in July. More competitive and a lot less funds. 

ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden-  Auction Update - ended June 23. Had 127 bidders, 13 vehicles ,2 trailers, and miscellaneous items from jail kitchen and office supplies - $51,600. These funds go back to depts who had items, This takes these off the insurance also - so saves that money. 

AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold  -Claims/Payroll and June 27 Minutes-Approved

ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel-hospital property and the surveys that Seig did- will be ready for signatures at July 15 meeting, Also the parking lot agreement. Then they will have a closing for St Elizabeths. He will see about setting it up so Thatcher will be approved to sign at that closing. 

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:Thatcher- talked about 4H Fair- he attended a pie auction- They were “fricking delicious.” 

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION: Todd Listerman- Just now received INDOT notice of a permanent installation of  a 4 way stop at Stateline and North Dearborn  Rd. These will be flashing signs- not a flashing stop light. Commissioners want to know what data supports this. Commissioners want Listerman to question INDOT on this and push back a bit.  He is to report back to them at next meeting. He said he will email also - as soon as he hears back from INDOT

PUBLIC COMMENT: none

ADJOURN- 9:30 AM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township