25 September 2025 Dearborn County Master Plan Meeting Notes
Present: Dennis Kraus, Jr.
Also Present: Nicole Daily, Planning and Zoning Director
About 10 citizens were present
Daily gave an overview of tonight’s 2 topics- Economic Development and Environmental and Natural Comment Forms.
This is the last workshop for the Fall
Claire is with Green Umbrella non profit- — covers 10 counties in OH KY and 2 in INDiana, They do several kinds of programs- She is with the Greenspace Alliance- with 40 members. Works with Soil and Water and conservation groups. Try to pull together people working on similar projects.
Conservation Groups say they are working in separate silos- pull this together in a single space. How to choose lands to help community members with conservation and restoration.
Land that is in need of preservation. People with low income, forest canopy height, respiratory index, flooded areas, impaired waters, cancer index and traffic exposure.
Regional prioritization plan is important. They have a map they are developing for these groups. In the grant world that can level up your grant applications.
Greenspace environmental and mitigation modeler is on site for use.
Oxbow Project- Applied for a USDA Forest Landscape Scale Restoration Grant. - But the grant was not awarded as the funding was cut. This project tied in to these maps being created in the region.
Boone Conservancy acquired 360 acres of land across the river from Oxbow.
Some models help with mitigation for development in the area. Like wetlands taken out- where can they mitigate.
Nicole Daily- Where do we want to develop- where to mitigate. Also have to look at agriculture areas.
Matt Simpson- Soil and Water Conservation District. Stormwater coordinator.
Conservation- wise use of our resources that we have.
Preservation- the absence of human intervention.
Conservation mindset- We have changed where the water goes or how it flows- where the plants are, wildlife treatment, how and where people live and the expectations for where they live.
Agriculture and the development in an area. Can clash. Development changes land in ways that you cannot get back. There is a stress and strain for those resources. Certain amount of development to support the population. Need a solution that supports both ideas. Conservation intersects with comprehensive planning There are things that are appropriate for certain areas.
His map is conservation priority zone map. Still refining it for our county.
He wants to see impact around the streams and keep pollutants in waterways, sediment is the number one pollutant in our area. Construction and Agriculture affect this the most.
Daily noted the flood events and our flood areas should have restricted development. Note that tonight’s topics are diametrically opposed in some ways.
Mike Perleberg - One Dearborn and also on Ohio Riverway. Economic development along the Ohio River is important.
There are 8 big ideas that are important as economic drivers.
They work with a variety of stakeholders across the tristate for economic development. Private sector support gets the best bang and for its buck for the county in Perleberg.He joined one Dearborn in 2019.
One Dearborn has many reports and Action Plans they have invested in. You can see these reports on their website.
He touted TIF districts as a way to stimulate the redevelopment. You an pay principle and interest from bonds, debt service, and all sorts of ways to use TIF.
Common TIF projects- but it is also used for residential housing- quality of place, price, fire stations, educational programs Anand sidewalks etc,
Redevelopment TIF strategy- Make an economic Development agreement with a developer. This spells out the obligations of each side - DCRC and the developer.
TIF Helpful Tips- TIF’s do not always harm the tax impact. Often these studies show that there is no impact from the TIF.
There is the But, For the TIF argument that the project would not happen.
Three Case Studies of TIF projects.
1. Siemer Milling Company- An Ag company - They came from Teutopolis IL and Worked thru Nagel and Sons- Brighton Mills. The 2013 EDA ( Ec Dev Agreement) shows the increased workers and wages, They added a rail spur for the raw grain to come in. They made a land swap with Hirlinger (now Cronin Chevrolet) for the 40 acres. Bond is essentially a loan. $50 million expansion.Plus Brighton Mills added to it.
2. Dyke Industries based in Arkansas- 2019- chose West Harrison from N KY. They needed more space. They had a better workforce source, County discounted the land price as an incentive. $12 million in building. $15.7 million in potential output. Indirect jobs from this were captured as well.
3. Another Ag Business now in the process- Kopp Turkey $40.9 million 130 new jobs- $6.6 million annual payroll.
We are supporting the farming Agriculture economy thru our economic development.
$34 million added to tax base since 2006.
With SEA 1 law shifting reliance on property tax to income tax.
Discussion and rebuttal on Ag making no money or taxes from Rhett Dennerline.
Went on to talk about affordable housing.
Gave a series of stats to support the development programs of TIFs and One Dearborn.
Nicole Daily- talked about being able to work and live and farm in the county. Kids in school for electrician and radiology. Hopes they can stay in the county too.
Focus groups - to sign up for if you want to help- check with Nicole Daily
Housing-
Education- include Day Care Centers
Transportation
Parks and recreation
Public safety-
Health and Hospitals and school nurses
Economic Development DCRC
Environmental with Parks
Meeting adjourned at 8 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
