20 OCTOBER 2026 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

 

20 OCTOBER 2026 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

  Livestreams can be found @

https://www.youtube.com/@DearbornCountyGov-47025/streams

Present: Jim Thatcher, President, Duane Bischoff, and Kevin Turner

Also present: Connie Fromhold, Auditor,  Andy Baudendistel, Attorney,  Leah Bailey, Comptroller (covering for Connie Fromhold), Jason Sullivan,911 director   and Commissioner-Elect- Jeff Cotton. 

ABSENT: Sue Hayden, Administrator and Connie Fromhold, Auditor

TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE was read by Baudendistel as legally required.

OLD BUSINESS- none

NEW BUSINESS

Appeal of Vicious Dog Determination

Open Public Hearing- Officer Steve Hoffstetter from Animal Control. 30 Sept had to deem 3 dogs vicious -from a Sept 28 incident where they attacked a neighbors dog that passed away as a result. Dogs have 10 day quarantine at home. One of sheriff’s officers witnessed dogs on the 28th also. 

Susan Rohr - owner of deceased dog- the 3 dogs were pulling on 3 separate limbs at once. They do have insurance. There is fence but not necessarily in the best condition. It would not meet the ordinance for vicious dogs. 

Noted-Owners Walking on a leash with a muzzle during the quarantine. 

Susan Rohr sp? North Manchester Rd. Her privacy fence is what kept the dogs out. They broke thru her fence and had her dog in the yard. She ran to her husband and died right after that. This was her daughter’s dog who passed away 3 years ago. These were 3 Rottweiler dogs. Her dog was a 20 lb dog. They have not reported previous incidents. They are not the dog owners. 

Sarah Boot- owner of 3 dogs. Received a phone call on 28 or 29th of Sept at 6 pm. The 2 years olds were in her dining room the 1 year old pup was in her yard.  She said Susan said her 110 lb Rottweilers had gotten thru a slat in fence. They have now bungee corded her gate too. She has had $1000 of dollars on her dogs with surgeries etc. They said they have taken precautions with extra chicken wire and they know it’s the front gate that they got thru. Their dogs are often on our property but did not report it. Has has 5 dogs - one who is 3 -legged.

Susan has 2 dogs- a lab and the one that was killed. Postmaster won’t deliver packages to Susan’s address? They have never been muzzled at the Harrison vet clinic and they play with others there as proof of them not being vicious. They have put up all new fence. Rohrs fence has 20-30 ft of their privacy fence. Boot’s have a new fence has posts 3 ft in the ground and 620 ft of chain link fence. They want to be responsible dog owners. 

Commissioners questioned the Boots- Jesse and Sarah.

Thatcher wanted to understand  why they think something else could have done this? 

Turner asked Officer Hoffstetter about the various steps were taken regarding fence and signs.

Susan Rohr verified that the fence was built - too little -too late. 

Andy Baudendistel read the ordinance on vicious dog determination. 

Kevin Turner moved that the 3 dogs are vicious dogs and because the Boots have taken the time to remedy the situation, no fine is being collected. 2nded  Approved.

    

Close Public Hearing 6:40 PM

Presented by Leah Bayley and Andy Baudendistel - Interlocal Agreement with Dillsboro for 911 Dispatching Services $22,432.69- Approved

ADMINISTRATOR –absent

AUDITOR –Leah Bayley submitted in Fromhold’s absence  -Claims/Payroll and October 6th Minutes- Approved 

ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- Resolution and Interlocal with Dillsboro for 911 -$4700/year for 3 years and can be renewed after that. Approved both.

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION: Jason Sullivan- 3 applicants for the the EMS training at St Elizabeth. Approved the contracts 

PUBLIC COMMENT:none

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:Thatcher- Not easy to deal with people’s pets like what we did today- did the best we could with that.

ADJOURN- 6:50 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township