13 November 2025 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes

 13 November 2025 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes

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Present: Liz Morris, President, Dennis Kraus. Sr., Dan Lansing, Doug Baker, Tim Doll, Mark Dole, and Glenn Wright. 

Also present: Connie Fromhold, Auditor and Leah Bailey, Comptroller

The room was filled tonight - approximately half were from Goose Run area requesting their road be fixed

Title VI Statement read as legally required

ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS: 

COMMISSIONERS- $295,558-1236 EMS LIT- Various requests- this is all that is left from them $3 million LIT. They should keep 10-15% of balance in the fund per Baker Tilley recommendation. The state decided our LIT would be less in 2026. This should be a trend for the next 2-3 years. LIT comes in monthly.  

MOORES HILL FIRE & EMS-$208,932 Derek Stevens- Asking for assistance with a 2009 ambulance and want a remount. Did one before and using company in Indiana- Crossroads. They deliver a quality product. Looked at brand new ambulance option- did not fit their needs now. $314,711 for new . Remount is $208,932. There runs have improved now. 570 runs in previous year and now at 642 runs. Current ambulance is a 2015 with 60,000 miles on it. Lead time on remount is 18-24 months out. So 2027 when the payments is due. October 15 of 2025 is the quote. Some are 3-4 years out. This company is in northern Indiana. The 2015 is actively in service. Bright loaned them a squad previously when theirs was out for routine maintenance.

Glenn Wright asked about the ones sitting outside their building. It’s a 90’s one and it has run out its  service- They are trying to sell it for another use. The quote price is good for 2 days now. It is good even though it will take 2 years to get it completed.  

GREENDALE EMS- Ambulance-$256,167 - Tommy Craig Jr.- Andy Brookbank presented - he’s treasurer and EMT. Thanked them for support. Was all volunteer and are now paid part time. 625 responses last year and now over 700 calls year to date. 31 part-time personnel they can support now. Want support for a new ambulance. Had a 2001 and 2006 ambulance. $275,000 to replace the 2006. Now trying to replace the 2001 with a June 7, 2022. Deadline is April 29, 2026 Tom Craig said tariff issues are slowing this down. Ford, Chevy, and Dodge are the companies doing this. Now is $331,000. Fire is part of the city - EMS is separate. They do Gove them housing and equipment, and some utility reduction. They have money set aside and a grant from DC Community Foundation. These costs don’t include the equipment inside the ambulance.  Their good ambulance is 2024. Chassis last over 20 years as long as they are maintained. They have 20,000 miles on that 2024 ambulance. Even though they are close to St E Dearborn. 

LAWRENCEBURG FIRE DEPARTMENT- Ambulance-$ 349,000 Patrick Myers- just need $100,000 to put toward this. Not the whole 349,000. They have 3 ambulances and going down to 2. 2400 runs a year. The new ones they are looking and will get delivery Fall 2026. They are going to buy a stock truck and gas system not diesel. They have merged fire and EMS now. They get a lot of calls to nursing homes too.All staffed out of Tate St location. 

Liz Morris gave a recap of how they are able to fund since 2024 . Most is for staffing. Primary need was staffing per the Hanifen report. Time and training have made the volunteer situation a thing of the past. There is not a whole lot available for anything other than staffing, She said they are very aware of the needs and trying to distribute it fairly across the county. Response rates are improved- but the reality is that the fund gets about $3 million a year. Almost all of this is one staffing, 

Mark Dole thinks Moores Hill has greatest need and older ambulance. Morris said they could use it for them. Lansing thought it was for equipment. Glenn Wright asked what Dillsboro EMS situation was. Liz Morris said she had no idea. Tim Dole said they want to help you all - you have done a great job. 

Doll Motioned and Wright seconded to fund Moores Hill request for $208,932. That was the greatest  need of the 3 requests. Approved.

Baudendistel said the LIT income is $3.4 million and contracts are for $2.9 million.

CONSERVANCY DISTRICT- Grant request Conservancy District- Paul Seymour Jr.- said they are chasing the grant - most important since 1937. They are wanting to get the levee system certified. They want to have a work session or special meeting with them and Commissioners so they can have questions answered for the county so they know why they need this money. We hope we end up getting your participation. The grant team can bring them in from east coast has availability at the end of December. He will be at Commissioners meeting December 18th with same request. Looking at $17 million total. He wants both entire boards and knows it has to be advertised. Morris will coordinate with Commissioners.
They are chasing more than one grant. They will be matching this. Erin Houchin contacted them and  is helping them so they will be ready to pursue this. 

CORONER: Leah Bailey presented

Transfer $5,088 from Drug Testing 31200 to Part time 11400 to cover rest of year- Approved

Transfer $1,110.60 from 25001 protective clothing to 30000 for Misc Operating Expenses. Approved

JAIL: Leah Bailey presented for Sheriff McHenry

$25,836 Jail/ Correctional LIT 1233 for part time through 2025. Approved

$5,943 Jail/Correctional LIT for money to cover the last payroll holiday. No more money so needs this.  Approved

HEALTH-Leah Bailey presented $20,000 1159 Health General to 21537 Oral Health Supplies. Approved

DEARBORN COUNTY COURT SERVICES- Steve Kelly have $243,000 that covers a lot of programs. It’s just under $1 million they get to provide these 11 employees. They do not always cover full cost of Health Insurance. Hoping to have other options for 2026. Looking to not replace one of his employees who is leaving.  $14/day or $65/day difference between home detention cost and jail cost. Morris said grants have been flat for 10-15 years. Got a 5% increase in 2019 per Kelly. 

$15,000 1237 Opioid Restricted to 30018 for Mental Health Professional Assessments. Approved

$30,000 1001 County General & 1238 Unrestricted Opioid to cover Health Insurance. Approved from County General. 

JUVENILE- Josh Beshears sp? Director

Had 3 staff out on Family Leave - get a percentage of their pay. If they use sick time and time off they can get paid 100%. About 50% of residents are form Dearborn and Ohio county. Rest are from out of the area. 

$11,885- 1001 County General for Overtime 1001.18500.000.032- Approved

$32,295- 1001 County General Part Time 1001.11400.000.032- Approved

PROSECUTOR-  Leah Bailey presented for Lynn Deddens 

Liz Morris asked Bailey to relay to the Prosecutor that the Council needs teh sheet for request filled out in the future.

$1,500 1001 County General for Supplies 1001.21519.000.018 Approved

SUPERIOR II- Leah Bailey presented for Judge McLaughlin 

$2,691- 4913 Bail & Pre-Trial to 11289 Interns- Approved

$500-1001 County General to General Supplies 1001.21500.000.028 Approved

$20,000- 1001 County General to Public Defender 1001.31502.000.028 Anticipating more mental health exams  and public defenders. Approved

VETERANS-  Leah Bailey presented 

$5,000-1001 County General Vehicle Maintenance one of handicapped vans had a repair issue. Approved

HIGHWAY- Tim Grieve Supt. Commissioners asked him to check out Goose Run. Had slip design person come out to estimate. Identified 3 different potential slide $1,385,162 . 

Slide 1 is 393,826  fix with solid nails and shotcrete. These slides are spread out with houses between them. This is contract work. It won’t happen until 2026. It’s a complete closure to do this as it is so narrow.

Site 3 slip is the big one- 354 ft- sheeting and soil nails. $689,000 estimate 

Slip 2 - 140 ft - steel and nails $300,000 .

$ 1,400,000 MVH Substitute 4916 & County General 1001 to 32933 Slip Repair (Goose Run)

Commissioner Thatcher wanted the Council to know that If this comes out of Riverboat but it will directly impact 2026 budget for Grieve. 41 car count in the past. Dole said they could get one under contract in 2025 maybe. This is a design build situation. 

Wants to do Site 1 for $400,000 Dole motioned and Lansing 2nded.  Approved

$155,654 MVH Restricted 1173 for slide on (Schaich Road- a dead end) off Jamison. Washout a couple years ago and now it needs to be fixed right. Using pins and shot rock and shotcrete. Hope to get it done before year end- only 110 ft long.  Approved 

Mark Dole asked if both projects would be out for bid before year end. Yes.

Highway Engineer- added to agenda - Commitment letters for federal aid application 80/20

Bridge 73 St Peters Rd $3million- county  portion is $600,000.

Bridge 218 Lower Dillsboro- $3 million- county portion  $600,000.

ORDINANCE 2025-001- Amending policy for working remotely. Baudendistel- similar to Covid- but this is for the government shutdown.This is retroactive to October1st for 3 employees with soil and water conservation district. Approved

AUDITOR-

Salary Ordinance-2025 updates & 2026 Salary Ordinance- Approved

Minutes- Approved

2026 Meeting Dates: APPROVED- 

Wednesday Jan 21, 2026 5 pm

Wednesday March 18, 2026 if needed- 5 pm

Wednesday May 20, 2026- 5 pm

August 10-14, 2026 Budget Workshops 9-4:30 

Wednesday Sept 2, 2026-  9 am

Wednesday Sept 23, 2026- 9 am

Wednesday November 18, 2026 - 9 am

Letter of Support for this grant - Campaign Funding Fitness Grant- Planning and Zoning- for bicycle and pedestrian access for active and healthy lifestyle. Nicole Daily has all the match - this is just to notify council. Approved 

Baudendistel- BZA had two members recuse and asked that there would be alternate member for the missing board members who cannot be there. He recommends Pete Johns. Two of BZA had to recuse themselves. Approved. 

Michael Mizell- Thanked the Council for what they have done tonight. He has done a lot of research. Different overlays were needed over the years and they have not been paved. The road is trash- back to gravel in a lot of places. He outlined that other roads feeding in to Goose Run that HAVE been paved. It’s falling in the creek. When they paved CrossRoad and SoapHill. We want ditches cleaned. Discussion with Council about wanting a plan for this so he does not have to keep coming. Council reminded him that they appropriate the money- but the decision to spend it lies with Commissioners. 

ADJOURNED- 6:50  PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township