2 DECEMBER 2025 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES
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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
Property on Westside Drive Aurora- Baudendistel- the bidding went live on Thanksgiving. Sue Hayden notified the Riddles who were interested.
NEW BUSINESS
Dearborn County Extension Contractual Agreement & MOU - Liz Beiersdorfer, Extension Director- they are not providing 3 educator’s services. Purdue is changing up to regional delivery. For 2026 they will have a full staff though, as transitioning to the changes in 2027. There will be educators that support more than one county. We are a little bit ahead of the game. There has to be an extension office in every county. It will be a smaller presence. They did stipulate that there will be a 4H educator in each county. Taken 100 calls getting help from other educators in surrounding counties since Jeff Hermesch left. There are 3 farmers in the county who also could serve if an Ag educator falls through. Baudendistel noted no December meeting for Plan Commission so that board member spot for extension educator will wait till January. Approved the Contractual Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding.
EMS Remaining Funding Request - Derek Stevens, Moores Hill EMS- and assistant fore chief. Their Phillips Heart Monitor went down and is obsolete. They are $20,000 -$40,000. They have been offered a $15,000 one from Lawrenceburg. This would be $30,000 new. They are asking for reimbursement of $15,000. Approved. He will give them a receipt for the transaction.
One Dearborn Agreement - Mike Perleberg, Executive Director One Dearborn- Thatcher said he wanted him to explain what they do for the county. Perleberg- gave the short version -said a good 5 year period, Dyke, Kopp, etc. $100.8 million. $24 million for income tax revenue. $17.5 million in IEDC programs. Have been able to leverage money for more grants. Return on investment is undeniable. Approved and signed.
2026 City of Harrison Agreement - Rob Hursong, Fire Chief Harrison, OH- Dry Fork Bridge and ramp will be shut down and finished about the time the US52 work begins. Thatcher asked if West Harrison development affects their staffing etc. YES. They also contract with West Harrison and Harrison Township for Fire. Turner noted that county employees got a 3% increase this year- and this contract is a 6% increase. Approved.
2026 EMS Contract Approval - Jason Sullivan, EMA Director- 7 contracts to be approved. $2.9 million for Bright, Aurora, Greendale, Manchester,Greendale, Lawrenceburg,and Sunman (gets less - $70,000) Thatcher asked about Manchester’s chase car. Jason goes out qtly to each squad. Have started asking each unit about ambulances and their turnover rate. Lawrenceburg covers south and Bright covers north county with filling from Manchester chase car when available. Approved
2026 Part-Time Assistant Position - Dave Currence, Veterans Service Officer- requesting additional funding. Reasons are workload that has increased significantly. Serve 3500 veterans in the county and assist other counties. We support our veterans properly first and then help others. Needs assistant and needs someone on board when he retires someday. Sue Hayden found him a place down in basement where he can have an assistant. Legislation in Indiana- will be requiring additional training and additional reporting. This will add to the workload as well. Approved. He needs to go to Council too.
County Engineer, Todd Listerman:
Construction Inspection Contract Bridge #68 York Ridge Road FPBH and Gonzalez Co- NTE$96,500- Approved. 115 day road closure- to be done by Sept 2026.
Construction Inspection Contract Small Structure #217 Grelle Road- FPBH and Gonzalez Co- NTE $15,700- Approved.
2026 County Road Paving CF Contract Agreement- Approved
Also late arrival info-just needed more signatures for performance bonds for County road paving and small structure. Payment maintenance bonds. Approved.
Good news and bad news- INDOT made awards - INDOT did NOT approve $905k North Hogan. But they did approve
$481,871.89 for Beatty Rd.
Thatcher asked about wheel tax. If it is maxed it would bring in $2million for county highway. It can ONLY be spent for highway- MVH purposes. This wouldn’t be budgeted for 2028. You won’t be eligible for Community Crossings extra pot of money unless you had a wheel tax. You have to have your own local buy in- and wheel tax does this. Council will look at this in the spring perhaps.
Dearborn County Redevelopment - Jim Deaton, President- As you know we are doing a TIF in Dillsboro area. We sent you a letter outlining our rationale. Thatcher- Plan Commission said it did comply with Master Plan.
Perleberg gave him the financials on this - showed on screens. $72,732/year TIF
$1,115/year for the county if no TIF.and each taxpayer has $1.04 reduced / $100,000 tax assessment.
Deaton - said that 2 pieces are being farmed continue to farm if they want- it is their decision.
Lake Dildear is filthy. There is a line going in there from DCRSD. There are issues with the dam at the lake also- you cannot drive over the dam.The lake is a sewer essentially. Homes not added due to no sewer and none that can be rebuilt if burned down etc. 116 parcels that have been thru a tax sale over the years at Lake Dildear.
Discussed allocation area is not that big- but the economic development area is big to get to Lake Dildear per Deaton.
[NOTE:This sounds like the purpose of this TIF is to actually develop Lake Dildear property. Is it a HOTIF then? That is what the Bright TIF area seems to be about as the businesses are not making the TIF money- but there’s a nearby area that looks like they want it for housing- again HOTIF? ] Baudendistel said that zoning does not change with this- that is the property owner’s to ask for. This helps them market the properties for people who want to do something with them.
The $72,000 will becoming in from SEIData- in 2026. That’s why they are hurrying to get this done in 2025. Otherwise the cutoff would be $72,000 and the reset for TIF would not get that much money from the TIF. [NOTE Another question might be why DCRC is picking up businesses that are successful and expanding so they can TIF them for what appears to be OTHER purposes than to help that business or other businesses. It’s now appearing to bleed into housing developments.
Duane Bischoff asked several questions and did not like the SIZE of the TIF.
Anthony Smart said they could not split properties- and some were large that were close to the US 50 corridor.
Deaton stressed that it complies with etc county plans. And that Dillsboro Town is in favor of it.
Motion was Turner and then Thatcher because Bischoff would not second it. 2025 Clay Township US 50 Economic Development Area and Allocation Area Request And Resolution- Approved with Bischoff NAY. Baudendistel said at DCRC the 2 who voted NAY signed it and wrote Nay next to their names. So Bischoff could do that on this one.
ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden-nothing to add
AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold -Claims/Payroll and November 18th Minutes-Approved
ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- Hospital property deeds- Title search turned up that needed an affidavit on the deed. Once the documents get finished for them title company on the hospital property. It’s cleaner if it happens this year.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS: Bischoff- thanked Sue Hayden for all the work on the Facebook page for the county. It’s still a bulletin board and takes no comments.
Thatcher- recognized Grieve and crew for roadwork- clearing snow.
LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION:
Sullivan- got his travel advisories signed for over the weekend. Approved and signed.
Tim Grieve- Made an error in not getting on agenda.Presenting the 2026 annual bids for stone, aggregate, hot mix, and fuel. Got a 2nd fuel bidder this year Premier Ag out of Seymour and the regular fuel from Laughery Valley. We accept all the bids as they have to get some things closer to the job site. Many items went up this year. He said labor will have to go up too at some time- to get good quality CDLs etc for the dept. Benefits are not an inducement for some people. Approved the bids.
PUBLIC COMMENT: none
ADJOURN- 10 AM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
