21 May 2019 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

21 May 2019 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

Present: Jim Thatcher, President, Art Little

Also present:Andy Baudendistel, Attorney, and Sue Hayden, Administrator

ABSENT: Connie Fromhold, Auditor and Rick Probst, Commissioner- who listened over the speaker phone but did not vote.

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

Executive Session: 4:30 p.m.  IC § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(2)(B) For discussion of strategy with respect to…Initiation of litigation or litigation that is either pending or has been threatened specifically in writing.  As used in this clause, “litigation” includes any judicial action or administrative law proceeding under federal or state law.

MEMORANDUM FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION- Baudendistel - read the statement that nothing was discussed except what was advertised.

ACTION OF EXECUTIVE SESSION- Thatcher moved to accept the counter offers for the Stateline and the Bridge 5 properties on East Laughery. Little 2nd- approved the counter offers for both.

OLD BUSINESS

Radio Equipment Finance Agreement – Jared Teaney, 911 Director- Baudendistel read over the agreement and the Commissioners accepted the financing from KC State Bank ( sp?) Approved.

NEW BUSINESS

Redaction Service Agreement – Joyce Oles, Recorder- the four year agreement is switched to a one year agreement. The cost does not change. Baudendistel reviewed it. Commissioners approved and signed it. Thatcher praised Oles for being very thorough.

Ordinance Establishing Prosecutor’s Laboratory Services Fund- Lynn Deddens- presented by Baudendistel. In cases where the breathalyzer is refused and a blood draw warrant is granted, the prosecutor’s office pays for it. They are seeking to get refunds for this from the defendant in plea deals etc. When they get the money - they need a fund to have the money deposited. The fee gets assessed at sentencing. This is a special non-reverting fund for the prosecutor’s office. Approved. 

ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden- nothing

AUDITOR –-Claims/Minutes- presented by Hayden for Connie Fromhold. Claims approved and the minutes from May 8 meeting approved. 

ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- update on Wilker case. Set for hearing last Monday May 13. Wilkers have elected to sell the property through Todd Bischoff in Harrison. Any sales documents will have language in it to hold DC harmless for problems. Not known if there is insurance on it, Current property owner is Melissa Wilker. 

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS- Little- Coming up on Decoration Day and we should remember those who served this weekend. 

Thatcher- For Memorial Day- he read a statement and a short poem.on what we should remember for the price others paid for our freedom.

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION none

PUBLIC COMMENTnone 

ADJOURN- 5:19 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

AGENDA- May 21st DC Commissioners Meeting

AGENDA

DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

May 21, 2019 

5:00 p.m. Henry Dearborn Room

Dearborn County Government Center

165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana

Executive Session: 4:30 p.m.  IC § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(2)(B) For discussion of strategy with respect to…Initiation of litigation or litigation that is either pending or has been threatened specifically in writing.  As used in this clause, “litigation” includes any judicial action or administrative law proceeding under federal or state law.

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE

IV. MEMORANDUM FOR EXECUTIVE SESSION

V. ACTION FROM EXECUTIVE SESSION

VI. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

1.  Radio Equipment Finance Agreement – Jared Teaney, 911 Director

VII. NEW BUSINESS

1.  Redaction Service Agreement – Joyce Oles, Recorder

2.  Ordinance Establishing Prosecutor’s Laboratory Services Fund

VIII. ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden

IX. AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold

1.  Claims/Payroll/Minutes

X. ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel

XI. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

XII. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

XIII. PUBLIC COMMENT

XIV. ADJOURN

AGENDA May 28th County Council Meeting

AGENDA

DEARBORN COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING

Tuesday May 28, 2019 at 6:30 p.m.

Henry Dearborn Room

Dearborn County Government Center

165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana

CALL TO ORDER: 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE- 

CIRCUIT COURT- Judge Humphrey

Pauper Attorney- $50,000 

Other Pauper Attorney- $20,000 

CLERK- Gayle Pennington

Voting machines- $25,000

Wage increase retro to 1^st pay in January- $2,258 

*includes FICA & PERF*

MAINTENANCE- Eric Hartman- Assist Maintenance Supervisor

SURVEYOR- Dennis Kraus 

Increase and Job description change GIS Technician/1^st Deputy. Pay increase of $9,438 additional responsibilities no additional, just a transfer money is already in the budget for 2019. The pay increase is from $31,062 to $40,500.

PARK BOARD- Jim RedElk

Building Demolition & Earthwork- $30,000 

Mowing Supplement-$7,038 

Utility Trailer- $2,200

SOIL & WATER – Jennifer Hughes, MS4 program update.

BUILDING DEPARTMENT-Bill Shelton

Requesting $32,000 for Weights and Measures fuel prover.

Requesting $30,000 for demolition costs.

Transfer $25,000 Part-time to 300 account for contract work for Weights & Measures

COMMISSIONERS- Jim Thatcher requesting $50,000 to be transferred from Workers Comp to:

$10,000Professional Expert Fees 

$40,000 to Furnishings/Other Improvements.

HIGHWAY- Todd Listerman

Requesting $400,000 for Community Crossings matching grant fund.

Requesting $1,500,000 for Road Resurfacing and Pavement/Bridge Preservation.

JUVENILE CENTER- Traci Agner

Overtime money- $17,828  

Holiday pay- $11,885 

Youth Attendant IV- $3,672 existing budgeted amount (increase)

Additional Youth Attendant-$40,019 includes taxes & PERF 

HEALTH DEPT- Connie Fromhold presenting for Mary Calhoun.

Grant- $91,483.48 for vaccinations (HPV & Influenza)

            $ 80,087.26 Tobacco Quitline Trainings & Presentations.

PLANNING & ZONING- Leah Bailey presenting for Mark McCormack.

Printing and advertising-$800

Contract employment- $5,184 (Aurora funds rolled over from last year)

Part-Time- $2,293 (Aurora funds rolled over from 2018)

Part-Time- $2,206 (Dillsboro funds rolled over from 2018)

Clothing with Planning and Zoning seal ($400 Dillsboro funds rolled over from 2018

Greendale Mayor- Alan Weiss- Wants to tell County what a good job Solid Waste is doing.

AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold

Minutes from Feb 26, 2019

Redevelopment report submitted to DLGF on March 28, 2019, due on or before April 15, 2019.

Just making it part of the record.

Salary Ordinance

LIT money reduction and additional.

PUBLIC COMMENT

ADJOURN

Special Meeting for DC Redevelopment Commission for May 23

PUBLIC NOTICE

Dearborn County Redevelopment Special Meeting

The Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission 

has called a special meeting to be held

Thursday, May 23, 2019 at 9 a.m.

This meeting will take place at the

Lawrenceburg Public Library – North Dearborn Branch

25969 Dole Road

West Harrison, IN 47060

The purpose of the meeting is to review property appraisals in the West Harrison economic development area and action related to disposition of property in that same TIF district.  Other housekeeping items may be addressed.

Holcomb Doesn't Need to Beg Us to Stay in Indiana

Holcomb Doesn't Need to Beg Us to Stay in Indiana

by Leo Morris

It’s amazing how so-called professional journalists can report the bare facts and somehow miss the bigger story right in front of them.

Here is the news report from KOB-4 out of Albuquerque, N.M.:

Two girls in Roswell had a plan to get a message to their grandparents in Heaven. Shayla and Haylie Chaves wrote a letter, put it in a sealed bag and tied it to a balloon. The letter eventually landed in a woman’s garden in Indiana.

The woman who received the letter wrote the girls. Now, they plan to pay it forward. "It's very heart-touching that she would actually take the time to send us a letter back, and we plan to do something special for her in return,” said the girls’ mother, Sheri Chaves.

Can you begin to fathom the astonishing but unacknowledged aspect of that story?

No, not the part about mysterious objects in the sky around Roswell, N.M., although that deserves at least a look from the conspiracy theorists, and there’s probably a cable movie in there somewhere. I mean the part about the balloon starting out for Heaven and ending up in Indiana. Come on! Heaven? Indiana? Certainly, the balloon could have gone horribly off course. But what if it ended up exactly where it was supposed to be?

Please don’t go into stone-the-blasphemer mode. I’m speaking metaphorically, as in “heaven on earth,” you know, the kind of place where nice old ladies in gardens will stop whatever they do in gardens long enough to write a letter to two young strangers halfway across the country.

Unfortunately, not everyone thinks so highly of Indiana. Sometimes, I wonder if even Gov. Eric Holcomb likes the state he leads.

He gave the commencement address at Ball State University recently and implored students to stay in Indiana. He told the graduates a Ball State diploma gives them "a fantastic head start" on their careers but added, "Don't run too far because Indiana needs you and Indiana wants every single one of you," including teachers, architects, nurses, artists, entrepreneurs and broadcasters.

If you think you live in a nice place, it seems to me, you won’t feel as if you have to beg people to stay there. Oh, you might remind them of what a good place the state is, in case it slipped their minds, but you wouldn’t automatically assume they are heading for the border before the ink dries on their diplomas.

Some of our communities go further than begging, offering college students everything from money to mortgage help if they commit to staying a certain amount of time here after graduation. What kind of positive contribution to a state will be made by people who had to be bribed just to live there?

Fort Wayne a few years ago even succumbed to the preachings of “urban economist” Richard Florida, who claimed that, to thrive, communities had to attract the “creative class,” those refined types who, unlike plumbers, janitors and construction workers, could take the city to a more rarefied plane. What we were supposed to do was provide trendy restaurants, music hot spots and other diversions with which our saviors could amuse themselves in their idle hours.

Not even enough to keep the right sort of people here. We must also attract the right sort. How drearily cosmopolitan.

I was tempted, briefly, to throw the governor an encouraging shout-out: “Here I am, sir! I am a Ball State graduate, and I will gladly stay here and help out my state.”

But I fear I am not the right sort. As a retired geezer long past his use-by date, I’m sure I don’t contribute to what the governor might define as a vibrant economy. And I wouldn’t set foot in a trendy restaurant on a bet.

The state has even codified its disdain for me. Did you know that the recently passed hate-crimes law does not include age as a protected class that it is wrong to treat with bias?

“Sexual orientation” and “gender identity” for some reason have gotten all the press. Four Notre Dame seniors recently wrote an op-ed for the Indianapolis Star declaring the state unfit to live in because failing to specifically list those two groups as potential “biased-crime” victims violates the principle that “all people should feel safe in their own identify.”

Not a whit of concern, not even a crocodile tear shed, for those of us with identities no less fragile for having been so long in the making, especially those of us who occasionally feel like 16 and wish to be treated accordingly. If I think I’m a teenager, who has the right to say differently?

Perhaps we old fogies should join with others the state wants neither to keep nor attract, a “not the right sort” coalition to remind everybody else that before attractive states can lure people, people have to create attractive states. We could start our own Twitter account and Facebook page.

In the meantime, you might find us out in the garden, looking for balloons sent to Heaven and prepared to respond in a nice way. We might feel neglected from time to time, but we try not to hold a grudge.

 Leo Morris, columnist for The Indiana Policy Review, is winner of the Hoosier Press Association’s award for Best Editorial Writer. Morris, as opinion editor of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, was named a finalist in editorial writing by the Pulitzer Prize committee. Contact him at leoedits@yahoo.com.

AGENDA and Packet for May 20th Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting

Agenda and Packet for May 20th County Plan Commission Meeting

https://www.dearborncounty.org/egov/documents/1557436223_02028.pdf

8 May 2019 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

8 May 2019 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

Present: Jim Thatcher, President, Art Little, and Rick Probst

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

NEW BUSINESS

Election Update- Gayle Pennington, Clerk of Courts- presented by Wendy from Clerk’s office- voter turnout- 19.37% 8952 registered voters. 1734 voted. 1040 Republican

 594 Democrat. Voting process went well with the new process. Nothing is connected to anything online for the machines. Security protects the ballot. There is a tie and one recount. Tie gets decided by caucus or county chairman in a primary. Bills from county get out to the cities for election costs. 

Request to Approach Council for Road and Bridge Work- Todd Listerman Highway Engineer- two requests $400,000 for community crossing grants to get the maximum money of $1mil grant. 2nd request will be for $1.5 million for road and bridge projects. State with Community Crossings wants more maintenance to preserve the roads- like chip and fog seal for example. This makes the road last longer between re-paving. Bridges get a thin epoxy overlay to seal cracks in bridges to extend life of bridge decks. Commissioners gave permission to go to Council to ask for this funding.  

MS4 District Update- Jennifer Hughes Stormwater Coordinator DCSWCD (Soil and Water Conservation District)- MS4 is southern Indiana is an unfunded mandate through EPA. The 3 cities in the county will also be pulled into the program as well as the county. This is to try to control non- point sources of pollution on our properties. The letter they will get goes them 90 days to respond to how they will do the program. Municipal separate storm sewer system is what MS4 stands for. Hidden Valley gets pulled in also. Financial impact small now as first year is mostly writing. HVL spends about $20,000/year because of their employee.  

Property at 125 Conwell Street-Guinevere Emery, Aurora City Mgr- Resolution Assigning Tax State Certificate to City of Aurora. This would be approved at Aurora’s council meeting on Monday. They have other properties on Conwell demolished and in this program for blight elimination. This is being coordinated thru One- Dearborn in their housing plan. This increases housing opportunities in a blighted area. Commissioners approved and signed the resolution presented by Baudendistel. 

Purchase Agreement for Radio Equipment Purchase - Jared Teaney 911 Director- This is already appropriated. Existing equipment is about 15 years old. Windows XP on the computers. Update is necessary. Completion by Fall 2019. Bidding process is done through the state. $414,060.34 cost. $85,835.96 annual costs after that. Council had this appropriated at Budget. Commissioners approved the purchase agreement. 

Modification of Midwest Data, Inc. Agreement- Language added to the agreement for federal regulations that IT services provider has to be aware of. Midwest Data is OK with this. This will also be added to Judge Humphrey’s agreement also. This has to do with the IV-D Child support setup. This was based on Prosecutor’s Office audit. Approved.  

ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden-JAVS - Justice AV Solutions Maintenance and Support Agreement- they do recording systems for county and all the courts and jail. Approved.

AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold  -Claims and April 16th Meeting Minutes and special meeting for semi truck issues on April 23rd approved. 

ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- said there was 30 days to bill elections to cities.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS- Probst will be missing for next meeting. 

Little said that there are orange barrels from here to Myrtle Beach and got to visit Jeff Hughes.

Thatcher appreciates highway dept work on slips and paving coming.

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- none

PUBLIC COMMENT- none

ADJOURN-  9:44 AM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

AGENDA May 8 DC Commissioners Morning Meeting

AGENDA

DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

May 8, 2019 – WEDNESDAY MEETING

9:00 a.m. Henry Dearborn Room

Dearborn County Government Center

165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE

IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

V. NEW BUSINESS

1.  Election Update - Gayle Pennington, Clerk of Courts

2.  Request to Approach Council, Road/Bridge Work – Todd Listerman, Hwy Engineer

3.  MS4 District Update - Jennifer Hughes, Stormwater Coordinator DCSWCD

4.  Property @ 125 Conwell Street – Guinevere Emery, Aurora City Manager

1. Resolution Assigning Tax Sale Certificate to City of Aurora

5.  Lease Agreement for Radio Equipment Purchase – Jared Teaney, 911 Director

6.  Modification of Agreement w/Midwest Data, Inc.

VI. ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden

1.  JAVS (Justice AV Solutions) Maintenance and Support Agreement

VII. AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold

1.  Claims/Payroll/Minutes

VIII. ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel

IX. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

X. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

XI. PUBLIC COMMENT

XII. ADJOURN

Special Meeting April 23 at 1 PM with Commissioners on Semi Truck Traffic on County Roads

DEARBORN COUNTY

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

PUBLIC NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

As permitted by Indiana Code § 36-2-2-8, notice is hereby given that the Dearborn County Board of Commissioners have called a Special Meeting to be held on the 23^rd day of April, 2019 at 1:00 P.M.  

This meeting has been called by the President of the Dearborn County Board of Commissioners to consider an Ordinance addressing semi-truck traffic on County-maintained roads in Dearborn County, Indiana.  No business unrelated to this purpose will be conducted at this meeting.

The Special Meeting will be held at:

Dearborn County Government Center

Henry Dearborn Meeting Room

165 Mary Street

Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47025

Date:  April 17, 2019

AGENDA

DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

April 23, 2019

SPECIAL MEETING

1:00 p.m. Henry Dearborn Room

Dearborn County Government Center

165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE

V. NEW BUSINESS

1.  Ordinance Addressing Semi-truck Traffic on County Maintained Roads 

XII. ADJOURN

16 April 2019 Commissioners Meeting Notes

16 APRIL 2019 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

Present: Jim Thatcher, President, Art Little, and Rick Probst

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

Request to establish Fund for Donated Money and Ordinance Establishing Donated Fund for Park Board  - Baudendistel presented the Ordinance and said Connie Fromhold was right - it did not have to go in front of Council as it does not have any fines or fees attached to it. He read the ordinance and the Commissioners approved and signed it. This is a special non-reverting fund. There will be places on the website to specify what Park the donation is for or if it’s a general donation. 

NEW BUSINESS

Zone Map Amendment from R to B-2 for R & K Sun Valley LLC- Mark McCormack- Planning Director- This was from the March Plan Commission meeting. The property is across from the South Dearborn School entrance. There are written commitments agreed to by Jerry Rollins and his wife. Hrezo Engineering was present tonight also for questions. Four written commitments were agreed to: Traffic study will be prepared if needed  and required improvements will have to be installed before development. Geotech analysis required for any hillside and slope areas if developed. New easement on the site. Certain uses were eliminated from the B-2 zone request. 

McCormack went over the zone request in more detail for commissioners. Basically going over the presentation that PC had. This came to commissioners with the PC unanimous vote from 8 members present for favorable recommendation. Commissioners approved the zone change and commitments with no further discussion and considered the supporting findings of fact from the Plan Commission. This rezone does NOT occur until the land is transferred to R and K Sun Valley LLC per McCormack. 

911 Communications Board Approval of Johnnie Tremain for Fire Chief Representative-  Sue Hayden presented this and said they just need to approve their recommendation. Commissioners approved Tremain. 

INDOT-LPA Agreement for Stateline Road Project Supplement- Sue Hayden for Todd Listerman- this is moving the bid letting to fiscal year for INDOT 2020. this will let about November of 2019 so is in the 2020 fiscal year. Approved. 

ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden- nothing more

AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold  -Claims and April 2 Minutes approved

Grant request for $80,827 grant for health department also approved. 

ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- appraisers on Bentle on Stateline and on Mueller for East Laughery came back and now they have a 45 day window starts for them to respond. Unknown owner parcel on Turkey Point was approved in Court and is recorded. $1300 was the judgement on that. If not claimed in  2 years goes back got county. 

Wilkers Case update as of today is that he filed for the destruction of the structure. They got a lawyer who filed against this and they are waiting on Judge Humphrey to get back.  

125 Conwell Street will proceed with paperwork for Aurora to acquire.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS- Little talked about the traffic issues and some more slips.

Thatcher- Smart 911- rolling out tomorrow. Distributing his info to students and parents. You can plug in all your info about your self and your family- you can add your cell phones and medical issues etc. This helps first responders. Also for fire department. You can register pets etc. It is a great service that is FREE of charge. It is a national database. Your info will pop up if you are in an area with Smart 911. You only put in the info that you want to have available to anyone. 

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- Pennington reported that voting is light so far but easy to do per the voters.

PUBLIC COMMENT- Gray Gellert- Sawdon Ridge- we are an unofficial detour for SR 1 and a lot of tractor trailers who are not following directions. To get the semis off Sawdon Ridge and it is dangerous especially on the hill. If a bus meets that tractor trailer they can’t get thru. 

Thatcher said this was brought up by Phil Darling about Yorkridge also for this. Longer discussion about how Pribble has signs prohibiting the trucks that HWY Dept put up there years ago. Baudendistel to research options. 

ADJOURN- 5:51 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

AGENDA- April 16 Commissioners Meeting

AGENDA

DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

April 16, 2019 

5:00 p.m. Henry Dearborn Room

Dearborn County Government Center

165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE

IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS

1.  Request to Establish Fund for Donated Money (tabled from 4/2/19)

• Ordinance Establishing Donation Fund

V. NEW BUSINESS

1.  Zone Map Amendment (R to B2) for R&K Sun Valley, LLC – Mark McCormack, Director P&Z 

• Ordinance to Change Zoning Classification of Certain Real Estate

2.  911 Communications Board Approval of Johnnie Tremain for Fire Chief’s Representative 

3.  INDOT-LPA Agreement for Stateline Road Project Supplement - Sue Hayden for Todd Listerman

VI. ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden

VII. AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold

1.  Claims/Payroll/Minutes

VIII. ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel

IX. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

X. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

XI. PUBLIC COMMENT

XII. ADJOURN

OUR WATER IS SAFE, UNTIL IT IS NOT

Guest Column

Our Water Is Safe, Until It Is Not

Arsenic in the sugar bowl? That doesn’t sound right. Arsenic in the water? That doesn’t sound right. A recent headline saying that the water from wells near the AEP clean-up site is safe doesn’t sound right either. 

CCRs (Coal combustion residuals or coal ash) contain arsenic and other heavy metal carcinogens. Current owner of the AEP property, Tanners Creek Development,  attempted to add more CCR waste to that site last year as part of their “clean-up." It appeared Tanners Creek Development was looking out for their interests and not ours.

Officials should have been up at arms to protect their citizens. Many claimed they weren’t notified and shifted the conversation to waiting for someone else (IDEM and DNR) to control Tanners Creek Development. Fortunately IDEM is following up on the process thanks to recent court decisions on CCRs. 

I watched the recording of the presentation and read the report from the scientist who spoke at Lawrenceburg’s Utility Board a week ago. LMU hired the scientist. He used available data to create his model for Lawrenceburg and estimates of water usage by wells and recharge patterns for the aquifer. But his model is constrained by the level of information that he had. He did not study the CCR pits. He DID stress more testing sites, more sharing of data, more communication in the regional well users, and more monitoring. 

We do not want to find contamination at any of our test wells. It will be too late to save our supply when arsenic and other heavy metals show up. 

Where do our elected officials stand on the AEP site cleanup issue? It is creepy how quiet our Mayors, Council members, Commissioners, State Representatives and Senators are. These officials are elected to protect and promote the health, safety, and welfare of their citizens. I have been following local issues for 24 years and I’ve never seen such an important issue be met with so much political silence. 

The water aquifer along the Ohio River that supplies water to industry and residents is one of the best in the country. It is one reason whiskey barons brought their production to the area. The storage of coal combustion residuals from AEP poses a very real threat to that water supply. It is NOT our fault that we have this problem. But it IS our fault if we ignore it, and destroy a priceless resource for generations to come.

The old AEP cleanup site is probably one of the most complicated to solve in the state. Its hard to think of  worse place to store CCRs. CCR pits lie next to the Ohio River. Tanners Creek runs between the pits to the river. The CCRs sit on top of a priceless aquifer in unlined and lined pits. The area floods periodically which makes capping the pits and storing in place a poor solution for the long term. 

The potential opportunities for industry, the port, and the workers they bring depend on the very same thing that our lives depend on- a good, clean water supply. What is good for the citizens of Dearborn County is good for business. Not the other way around. 

We need to get our priorities straight and work together. Each city doing studies is a small voice - but combine the cities and county and the voices get stronger. Managing that aquifer will require more test wells, more stacked levels on each test well, and more frequent data collection year round. Insuring that new industry does not pollute that area will require vigilance.

It’s not IF the aquifer will be contaminated, but WHEN will it be contaminated -  unless we remove the threat completely. This has been done by NIPSCO in northern Indiana to a designated engineered site to safely contain it. As was pointed out at a recent CCR informational meeting at the library, the coal ash and CCRs can be taken out the same way the original coal that created it came in - on existing rail lines.

Getting rid of a main source of potential carcinogenic pollution will be a big step toward water safety. It is important, because our water is safe- until it is not.

Christine Brauer Mueller, Lawrenceburg Township, has been attending county meetings since 1995. She writes for the Dearborn County Public Forum at www.dearborncounty.blogspot.com

This column was published in the Dearborn County Register on April 4, 2019. 

  

2 April 2019 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

2 April 2019 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

Present: Art Little, and Rick Probst, Acting President

ABSENT: Jim Thatcher until the sewer part was discussed.

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

Request to establish a Fund for donated money- Jim Red Elk Park Board- Baudendistel can have the ordinance ready for the next meeting. This fund will be a repository for donations that come in via the web site, etc. They would also have it presented to Council. Tabled until the next meeting.

There is a 1996 Dodge Ram truck they want to dispose of. They can auction it or donate it to other entities. Commissioners will take it under advisement for now.

Grant for Guilford Sewer Project- Steve Renihan- DC Regional Sewer District- presented a powerpoint of the process with OCRA. This is for a fix out at Guilford and studied for about 15 years. this is the best opportunity to move forward. This is to provide several alternative concepts for the project. Trying to get a cost effective way to help them. It’s really the number one area on their list. They are also working on Highridge expansion. Outer Drive and Lake Dilldear. Doug Baer from Health Dept- state the septic systems cant be repaired on the small lots there. Community interest and complaints have all been noted. There are septic problems there. Cost of septic $10,000 on the cheapest site and $30,000 on the high end. Usually $12,000- $15,000. Woolpert did first studies on this and Hrezo has some also including this one. Option 1 - Run to Perfect North - but repairs during winter would affect business as the lifts are in the slopes.

Option 2 - run to a wastewater treatment plant there in Guilford area- cheapest cost. 

Option 3- run to effluent to manholes at Greendale- this gets greater about of users and two lift stations needed

Selected Alternative 2- Similar to High Ridge’s plant and located at Bonnell Road. Pumps to Lift station. 

Consultant made them update the plans and the costs- $1.3 million is the total project cost. Will need money budgeted for property acquisition. Legal and rate consultant costs will be in there too as this goes forward. Looked at operational costs to see if they could maintain it. High Ridge operator could do bth - but more salary etc. About $34,000 more. 

Costs of Option is $187/ratepayer if borrowed it all. $93/month if borrowed half the money. If get a federal grant and using cash on hand with it- so then the monthly rate is $60/ month for ratepayers. 

The $700,000 grant plus $604,000 cash from sewer board would achieve this $60/month rate. They need the commissioners to apply for this grant. The county can only have 3 grants thru OCRA at any one time. They want to get everything accomplished so they can file in the November cycle. They will also go out to talk to the people of Guilford with a presentation of these numbers.

They will get this out to Jan 2020 for grant award- if we get it. Then could reapply in June 2020 if they need to reapply. If get the grant on first time the bids go out in July 2020. Construction 2020-2021 and closing the project out by end of 2021. 

There are also costs to Homeowner. Abandoning septic and constructing lateral and grinder pump. Costs about $8,000. There are grants and low inters loans for those who cannot afford that. 

Baudendistel asked about the capacity of that plant. $20,000 gal that can expand to 40,000 gal. Maybe 170 homes total with IDEM approval. If the subdivisions go in- that would come at their cost- not these people. 

Commissioners are supportive of the plan as presented.  

Condemnation for property on Gregory Road as part of  E Laughery Bridge #5- Todd Listerman- Highway Engineer- realignment of both roads to do this bridge. Hoping to get the Slattery’s back to the table but they are starting condemnation process now. Wanting to purchase the old Gregory rd ROW and a little extra. Hopefully this will get them back to the table. Commissioners gave permission to file condemnation proceedings. 

Proclamation for Public Safety Telecommunications Week- Jared Teaney- 911 Director- April 14-20 - Baudendistel read and Commissioners approved.

Tom Craig recognized for 34 plus years of working at 911. He is retiring April 28th. He plans to visit grandkids and play the banjo a bit more per Teaney. August 27th 1984 to the end of this month. Pictures and the proclamation for Tom Craig also. 

April is 911 education month. Can set up smart 911 on the website.

Agreements for Voting Centers- Gayle Pennington- presented by Sue Hayden- Commissioners signed with Greendale and Lawrenceburg. Waiting on Aurora as Hastings wanted the cost of the election. By law the cities are required to assume the major portion of the expense of the election. 

ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden- nothing more

AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold  -Claims and March 19th Minutes from signed.

ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- updated briefly on the condemnation of some properties for bridge right of ways. Appraisal reports are pending. Wilkers case- court ordered -150K bond plus 80K in escrow account due by April 14.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS- Probst- ask media support to get Democrat rep fr Park Board

Citizen Advisory Committee for Solid Waste needed from Aurora area. Also citizens patience with construction from now thru fall. US 50, 48, etc. Plan to leave early and don’t speed. 

Thatcher- apologized for being late- thought it was evening meeting. Also reiterated patience for the construction and it will look great in fall.

Little- If my signatures are not good- it’s because Jim borrowed my glasses. Laughter. Also watch Sawdon Ridge and Yorkridge. 

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- none

PUBLIC COMMENT- Phil Darling- wanted to make Commissioners aware of the issue of semi truck traffic coming up Yorkridge Road from the closure on SR 1 for repairs. 

ADJOURN- 10:05 AM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township