5 March 2026 Dearborn County Regional Sewer District Meeting Notes

 

5 March 2026 Dearborn County Regional Sewer District Meeting Notes

This was a 2 hour 40min meeting 

Board

Doug Baer Treasurer  County Board of Health 12-31-2027 

Brett Fehrman VP & Secretary City of Aurora 12-31-2025 - Acting Chairman 

Steward Cline Board  County Commissioners 12-31-2025 

Russell Beiersdorder Board County Commissioners 12-31-2025

Jeff Stenger Board  County Council 12-31-2028

ABSENT: Steve Renihan and Jeff Bittner and Attorney, Frank Kramer

Also present: Hrezo Engineering- Mike, Christy, and Kevin

Stenger read the Public Access Statement as legally required.

Minutes: February 19th Meeting- Approved  

Public Comment: 

Lynn Allen ( Council Pres in Moores Hill) and Rafferty Development (for Dollar General) - Kevin was going over the plan for getting the sewer line across SR350 for Moores Hill residents. 

Cline asked about the manhole for a single use. 

Mike explained that it is there to allow options. The cost for the lateral would be a cost to the requester. 

Cline thought there might be a different strategic solution that might not be all DCRSD cost. He was trying to get more gravity feed in the plan.They run out of gravity when they hit Hogan Hill Rd. 

Doug Baer- If we expend these funds, whose customers are these. We can’t be spending these funds and giving it away.

Stenger was looking at the gravity options to have less pumps and problems. Take $7,000 off as there is an existing manhole right there. 

Cline- There has to be an interlocal agreement for a bulk rate for the homes. The Dollar General takes more. And it will take longer. The couple with the house restoration need an answer in 4-6 weeks.  

Doug Baer- If sewers are available, they should be a primary option. Could maybe do a temp pump and haul if the tank is watertight. 

The owner reminded them that it would be difficult to sell with pump and haul. 

Jeff Hughes Redevelopment Moores Hill- They could sell it with a septic tank- and the new buyer could tap in to the sewer when it comes.Final idea was to see what it would cost for themto put a lateral just for them to go under SR350. If that fails to be able to be done then Baer would have to check with Atty and health officer.

Dollar General wants to connect- starting to build in Sept.There is a manhole across SR350 for them too. There would need to be an interlocal and there is a time frame when they would end up getting annexed. Baer asked about wetland characteristics there. Lift station is 25 ft deep. They will definitely need sewer. Check with soil and water district on the wetland woods area. 

Committee to look at the Moores Hill interlocal- there will be 3 from DCRSD and 2-3 from Moores Hill. 

MANUFACTURER REP Mr Layton FROM COVALENT- for grinder pumps. He wants the project to be successful. They do secondary homeowner training and also for contractors and the pumps. You want have a sealed system and not use old piping. You get infiltration with old pipes. Don’t just cut off the pipe at the septic inlet and pipe to the grinder. Baer said this is for homeowners. E1 system is 20-25 yer lifetime. Board discussed that we already have an installer program using an approved list of installers. 

Meinders noted that they will have to be tight in Dillsboro as they will be costing more to treat infiltration with the bulk rate. E-1 pump - Layton said they don’t have blockages much. The board thinks these instructions and training are good- and they are glad to know about the problem with the piping from the houses. Date for warranty is the date of substantial completion of the project. 2 year warranty for factory defects.    

Project Updates: Christy reports Guilford building is still ok- boring under RR tracks and march and April.

Dillsboro- Headworks wiring and electronics not done yet with all the rain. Lift station next and pump installation. Will need to get the specs updated and plumbers they recommended updated too. They want to be sure downspouts and sump pups are not going thru the grinder pumps. This would protect the DCRSD investment. With a pressure check we also have a baseline. Derek Walker should expect flow to Dillsboro in a month per Meinders. SEIData is starting up first. 

Baer said we do not have user agreements signed yet- NEEDS to be done ASAP and the agreements updated. Meinders contract has him giving them the agreement to sign before he puts the grinder in and hook them up. The gas station owner is ready to hook up now. Magnetic meter and runtime meters are to have current pricing and availability from Hrezo. 

Christy said the users agreement is in the asset management plan in their folders. 

Cline - will ask Kramer if they can put a penalty on the bill for sumo pumps, downspouts etc. It should be big enough to get people’s attention. Board agreed.

Mike Hrezo has things for claims that were in packet. Wants to be sure we are good to go on these that were submitted last week: 

Payout 3- Guilford- $ 283,116.63

Payout 4 - Dillsboro Lake Dildear - $239,712 (retainage is taken out of that)

No action required on these tonight. This is back up verification of things already. Some estimates already. 

Revised chainlink fence cost. Only material- no labor. If cost goes up- the insurance costs go up at end via auditing the increases. There is an additional bond. Per Meinders. Mike Hrezo was citing cost issues and variability with tariffs. Engineers were approved to bring these 2 change orders in next meeting. 

Change orders- needed a floodlight and receptacle at the control panel for additional price. Approved.

Guilford- 3 air release valves $5,883 each. Water line casing crossing to bore it. The RR license question- we need them to sign it at the correct time when construction is ready to go. Have a 60 day window. Weather is the issue.RR lady will sign it in mid March per Meinders. Timing is about 2 days. Have to pay a RR flagger to watch them for that time. Approved.

Also another light and outlet like at Dillsboro. $2,755.75 Approved 

PAY #5- for next meeting’s claims-to them so they can review. 

Kevin also provided at Cline’s request a set of fees for customer requests for the board to review. 

Christy had standard operating procedures for asset management plan. Draft PER is continuing to be refined. Application for SRF ( State Revolving Fund) has to be received by the end of the month.Onsite expansion of High Ridge Plant is at  $3.2-5.3 million. There were estimates for $2.5-4.4 million grant and debt service. The application has to be ready by next meeting and has to be approved then. Approved for her to complete that. 50 people are still paying availability fees and others on the other side who are available. They would have to start a rate study for this eventually.

RFP Discussion and Review.

Motions to Proceed with contract negotiations to hire CH& M as our contractor to run the DCRSD. 4 AYES and 1 Nay (Cline wanted to negotiate with contractor first) Approved  

Office Update: 

Baer and Cline brought out budget for board to review. Working with Christy for asset management. And items needed for the SRF grant. 

Baer showed change orders and contingency funds. Got some interest too- almost $30,000. Using it for overages from change orders. Trying to work the contingency out. $777,000 contingency. Guilford had a much bigger contingency there. Concrete bridge still needed for Gas co. Just wanted everyone up to speed on money.

Cline wants to set money aside for certain items. And not use operating budget. Agreed.

Claims:

Lake Dildear $243,118.01

Guilford $288,932.87 

Operating Claims $16,223.25 All APPROVED

Cline wanted to have the contract for Jeff Meinders with his and Clines comments and markups for next meeting. 

Discretion of the Board: Brett Fehrman- apologized for the length of the meeting.

Adjourn: 7:40 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

Hearing on Candidates Challenged by Republican Party

 Hearing on Candidates Challenged by Republican Party 

THERE IS A YOU TUBE VIDEO OF THIS MEETING CLICK BELOW ( THANKS TO UNCLE SAM MORTENSON FOR PROVIDING THE VIDEO. NOTE THAT THE CHALLENGERS WILL NEED TO HAVE VOLUME INCREASED TO HEAR THEM CLEARLY. 

https://youtu.be/LZQZSYRnpTU?si=7wJTYyteyQt-ZXa3

2 March 2026 10 AM

Citizens present: Tamara Taylor, Jim Thatcher, Jeff Cotton, Bobby Rauen, Alan Thorup (GOP Chairman for Dearborn County), Kathy Prarat, Joe Volk, Glenn Wright, James Gabbard, Sam Mortenson, and Danessa Mortenson.

Election Board Members: Jared Ewbank ( Republican), Wendy Beatty, County Clerk, and Peggy Clapp (Democrat)

Jared Ewbank was made chairman of this meeting,

Set the rules for the meeting procedure. People will be sworn in.

Challenger- Alan Thorup- chairman of DC GOP. Filed 3 challenges. Elected 3/1/25. Retired mortgage banker and volunteers for Meals on Wheels. He is one of the officers of the GOP and the others are present and agreed to the challenges. 

Ewbank swore Thorup in

David Baumgartner - per Thorup had to vote in 2 primaries. He only voted in one primary. He agreed with the challenge and is not present. Rule 1-24 is the challenge. He did not ask Thorup for a verification instead. 

James Gabbard- per Thorup- 2024 Republican 2016 as Democrat. There have been email communications to to Gabbard.  Gabbard was present and did not wish to fight the challenge. 

Sam Mortenson- per Thorup- He is not challenging Sam Mortenson as he has an excellent Republican record. He has met Sam 5 times. Two issues- one is technical- He put in Uncle Sam and nothing else. He reached out to other party members. He got a printout about printing names on the ballot.  It addresses how the nickname should be printed. He thinks voters need know who they are voting for. The rule does not apply to candidates for precincts committeeman or delegate per info from Wendy Beatty. Practical honest opinion- is that the people know Uncle Sam as 

39,000 plus are registered to vote in Indiana. Uncle Sam for Indiana and his Facebook page have 7,000 plus followers. 

88 people filed and 87 used their actual names. Similar with the Democrats filed. 

He said a website search does not produce Uncle Sam. It would be misleading regardless of who used that name. 

He wouldn’t allow the parenthesis around them nickname either. 

Sam Mortenson was sworn in. Code is to how the clerk files this.

Unequal justice .

He challenged the all caps - only 3 candidates registered like that.

Uncle Sam for 20 years

Strangers know him by Uncle Sam. Cited an instance. Others out of the county. Then cited more instances. 

Unequal justice.- technical  issue on one- then do it on all candidates. 

He will file it correctly from now on.

He was told by clerk it was ok.

There were numerous candidates who do not file properly by the law. He does not want to challenge them but….

This does not apply to delegates or precinct committeemen per the law. 

Wendy Beatty - Agreed that the one code also said the rules were different for delegates and precinct committeemen. I called the Indiana Election Commission and this is going to change the form for 2028.

Sam also said it is important to GROW  the party not PICK the party. 

Joe Volk- sworn in- Talked about how the state level sign in experience was. He cited what happened this year when a 17 year old signed up here in the county - he was allowed in without any voting record and not challenged. It takes courage to sign up. The door opens when the GOP lets some in and they close others out. The laws are there, The party chooses to do it or not. This is disturbing to me- what is going on here. Ewbank extended his time. This happened 2 years ago too - Mark Dole was GOP chair and Volk’s wife was challenged.Common people should run the government not just the establishment.

Bobby Rauen- sworn in.- I did not know Uncle Sam 2 months ago. We have an issue out in Manchester Township with solar farms. Uncle Sam shared his group and contact list with us to help us with the solar issue. People in this county DO know Sam Mortenson as Uncle Sam.

Sam Mortenson- Clarified the law allows discretion for the GOP chair. This grievance has been going for a long time. When this law was passed. They passed this law about 2 primaries needed to prevent Dems for going over as Republicans. The law does say that the chair has discretion. But we are defaming the party by doing this. He showed examples of current Republicans that were former Democrats even at state level. He wants a strong Republican party- and I disagree with these other being removed. If these games continue to be played , grassroots may start voting Democrat.

Ewbank- You do agree this board needs to uphold the law?

Sam Mortenson- Yes!

Al Thorup- got up to say why he allowed Lucas Preston to  run as a 17 year old. He  went on in detail and enumerated all the things he did for the party. He said very few people had a resume like this young man- Lucas Preston. 

JIm Thatcher - sworn in- there is a lot of info that can strengthen the candidate law. He would be OK if he wrote Uncle Sam for Indiana. He insisted that he never used Uncle Sam on Facebook.

Sam Mortenson- Uncle Sam for Indiana  I believe is more than 20 letters. (18) He said he is NOT Uncle Sam for Indiana- that’s just how he used it on social media. He said again that he was OK with correcting it. On the ballot. Samuel  (Uncle Sam) David Mortenson.And Mr Thatcher should have all his last name capitalized not mixed up caps and not. 

Jared Ewbank- Cited code for the form.- 3-10-1-14

Sam Mortenson did in fact fill out the form correctly in parts

He also said the form allowed him to put the nickname in.

Legitimate challenges made by Republican chair of the county. And he went on about he detail of the code. 

Sam Mortenson- Uncle Sam appeared in the boxes on the form where a nick name could be used.

Peggy Clapp Dem Party Rep- Given opportunity- but you refused

Wendy Beatty if we accept the challenge, then his name does come off the ballot

Has spoken to state election commission and this will be fixed.

Jared Ewbank- this is a spiral into other problems written in the law. There is a law in point but it is buried. Cited Abe Lincoln- Best way to get a bad law repealed is to enforce it strictly. This board is a “democracy first “ board. We are bound by these rules and strictly enforce this law. 

Code 3-10 is clear as a bell- so we HAVE to accept the challenge. I hope Mortenson continues to run again. 

The 3 person Board accepted the challenge- Samuel (Uncle Sam) David Mortenson is OFF the ballot for delegate. 

Danessa- Mortenson- sworn in- Thankful that the others weren’t challenged on this code or there would have been 50 more. If we looked back at Candidate forms. In my opinion.

Ewbank read through the code and noted that the nickname goes in parentheses etc. He thinks if Mr Volk gets elected - he should get these laws fixed to be less ambiguous. The noted that the language has a job for the clerk as to capitalize names and then that candidate has other rules. 

Adjourned 11:10 AM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

3 MARCH 2026 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

 3 MARCH 2026 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

  Livestreams can be found @

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

Video failed at 9 minutes but audio works.

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 (tabled until March 17, 2026)

Use of "old County ROW" / Dog Ridge Rd. - Dennis Kraus, Jr., Surveyor 

Use of "old County ROW" / Old Houston Road off of Bloom Road - Sean York

NEW BUSINESS

Travel Advisories - Jason Sullivan, EMA/EMS Director- Feb 26th 7011AM and March 1-March 2 advisories lifted- Approved. 

Circuit Probation Grant- Juvenile Problem Solving Court for $16,000- Approved.

ADMINISTRATOR - Sue Hayden

AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold  -Claims/Payroll and February 17th and 24th Minutes- Approved

Ratify Signature of CommissionerThatcher - Riverboat Revenue Fire and EMS Revenue Sharing Contracts- Connie Fromhold- Approved

Kevin  and Duane- Get community more involved in the Solar - get Nicole to report to them 2nd meeting of every month Approved.

ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel-nothing 

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION: Todd Listerman- INDOT closing SR 1 south of Cook Rd sometime this month.This is for when PNS closes. Using an unofficial detour. So they can track any damages due to the excess traffic. INDOT video tapes the official detour. There will be NO TRUCK signs on the unofficial detour. Sawdon Ridge, North Dearborn, McCann, North Gaynor and Sawmill.- Approved to restrict trucks for 60 days from when SR 1 closes. 

Also doing bridge on Yorkridge in May. Also in the summer SR 1 has 2 small structures north of Dover to do. 

PUBLIC COMMENT: Bobby Rauen- Thanked them for supporting the moratorium on Solar Farms. Have about 2300 petitioners now. People have faith in him to led this. Part of this is to have a Citizen Advisory Board to participate in the ordinance revisions. He talked about how his group has done a lot of research already. This could take more than a year- should not rush this. There seems to be resistance to having a Citizens Advisory Board involved. 

Baudendistel also noted the plan commission is in charge of how that is set up. Will we have a meeting that is open to the public or with less public officials it may not be open to the public.

Rauen- What would your recommendation to get the public involved?

Baudendistel- Thinks everyone is taking a step back to catch a breath and there is no meeting items on March agenda. 

Thatcher- Nicole did indicate she would take input from the community. We will be monitoring this to when they bring a report to us on the 2nd meeting of every month. 

Rauen- Can we get a March meeting with PC to just address this idea of citizens advisory committee.

Turner- We cannot just mark up to Denny like we’re on the yellow brick road- but individually we can talk to him. 

Duane said- they  would see if they can reschedule March to get Andy there.

Sam Mortenson - learning on Planning and Zoning. Asked who is in charge of the group? 

Baudendistel clarified that the PC can legally create the citizen Advisory Committee. The PC is in charge of creating the ordinance revisions and then sending on to the Commissioners for approval. Commissioners could recommend to PC. So the PC has to decide about that Citizen Advisory Committee/Board. They can do this without Commissioner approval. 

Sam Mortenson- Are the Commissioners able to recommend this citizen advisory  board? 

Baudendistel Yes. 

Kevin Turner- reflected on what was done with etc EMS LIT group. Try talking with all sides to see how this will work.

Denny Kraus Jr. and Nicole Daily just showed up to the meeting. They both said that they were hearing that PC was being discussed on Solar ordinance. 

Denny Kraus Jr- Said this was up to them PC to decide. 

Nicole Daily said she wanted to present this to the PC first. 

Denny Kraus Jr- He is not saying he doesn’t want public participation.

Duane Bischoff -asked about anything that was his big before?

Both Denny and Nicole talked about several items this big.

Bischoff asked about being able to reduce the conversation to representatives versus a roomful of them. He also asked about the comments on social media to get input. 

Nicole Daily - There are people being afraid to speak from the other side calling some the Manchester Mafia. We are trying to steer away from that. Don’t want people to be afraid to come forward. 

Bischoff- Well then they won’t come to a public meeting either. 

Daily- But they will send an email.  

Thatcher- the decision rests with PC. They will talk to Nicole Daily.

Baudendistel- I know there is concern about only 12 months. But we already have a baseline ordinance on both solar and Data Centers. We are not starting from scratch.He s not concerned as we have really good start.

Kraus Jr. - I welcome the recommendations, but we ask that you let su do our work.

 Bischoff- get 2-3 from the Solar group- find others that are not necessarily pro solar- to do this.

Kraus, Jr- It won’t be simple. Another county did not recommend the citizen advisory group. Try to do it on your own. We are not going to make everybody happy. There are companies all the time. 

Turner- People still ticked off on.  group that had to decide on the LIT money.

Commissioners decided to monitor the progress as discussed earlier and let the PC do their job. 

Thatcher- If any one else steps forward, I am going to shoot them. I am only kidding. Is there any other public comment?Tried  to adjourn.

Chris Mueller- Only have a short comment- If you want a model of Citizens Advisory Committee -you can look at the Master Plan from 2004- the way that board was decided, was not by just using people that had done research. They picked people from each of the townships in the county to sit on other to try to get a cross-section of everybody in the county. There were people who were really interested in the master plan and also people who were just representing their townships and maybe had 2 from more populated areas. 

Thatcher -All right - thank you- anyone else? Asked for adjournment. 

ADJOURN- 9:15 AM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township