17 MARCH 2026 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES
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https://www.youtube.com/@DearbornCountyGov-47025/streams
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
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
Jared Ewbank- Attorney for Graf Family- all negotiations on Dog Ridge ROW have failed. Could not come to agreement on terms. Have to go thru the Apparent ROW process. This was the same with The Dog Ridge neighbors Lawyer- Grant Reese. Ewbank plans to advertise to start the apparent ROW process.
Commissioners denied the informal requests for both ROWs as Mr York has not done anything yet either.
NEW BUSINESS
Juvenile Center Doctor and Nurse Agreements- Sue Hayden- $19,000 Dr Barkdoll and $15,000 Ron Phillips - Approved
ADMINISTRATOR- Sue Hayden- nothing more
AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold -Claims/Payroll and March 3rd Minutes- Approved
ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel-YES Home Restrictive Covenants- EG McLaughlin is here to represent YES Home. They are racing funds to renovate first floor for 10 more kids. They have a Million dollar grant from United Way. The restrictive covenant is on the 11.2 acre parcel. The lease will run out before the lease would. 2045. - Approved.
Baudendistel- Late arrival Previously approved 2026-2031 Master Plan for the Park Board. Nicole Daily wanted tit formalized in resolution. He presented a resolution 2026-003 to approve the 5 year master plan. Approved.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:Duane Bischoff- JUSTR FOR EDUCATION OF CITIZENS: March 30 from 6-8 PM South Dearborn Auditorium- explaining TIF process so the public can learn about TIFs. There will also be a question and answer process. Posting on Facebook page too.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Steve Jordan- actually gave his name tonight (he usually gives a pseudonym) and Thatcher commented that they were making progress. <Laughter> Jordan wants to ask about Kraus’s behavior last meeting. He referenced that Kraus said he worked with the citizens on the rezoning, that he really didn’t and that 6 months later they were rezoned. He was unhappy at being “thrown out” of a meeting for saying that previously. Given Mr Kraus’s authoritarian tendencies at these meeting when he gets p.o.ed and says he has the power to end meetings. He acts like he runs the county. He does not want to give the PC the decision to decide what we don’t want to mention tonight. Wants a citizen board to be on this. I hear it was unanimous on the moratorium vote- but asked Thatcher directly if he was Aye on that vote too.
Thatcher affirmed that he was in favor of the moratorium.
Also asked Thatcher if he thought that saying he was going to shoot the next person who gets up in the meeting is appropriate? ( this was in reference to the last meeting at the end.)
Thatcher said he was not going to address that. But then went on to say it was in jest and people in the meeting laughed. He said he tried to close the meeting 3 times and every time he had the gavel in the air someone else wanted to speak. I know I took a beating on Facebook about that. I think there is a certain group that has a target on my back- I don’t know why. They weren’t saying things when I renegotiated the health care here, saving the county $250,000. Or when I renegotiate liability and saved the county $84,000. When I had these LEDs put in at no cost to the county and it cuts the electrical expense. I had the lower level to the government building renovated for more space at no cost to the county. I mean I do all these things but then this is what I end up on Facebook as. It’s a thankless job. I don’t need to have somebody pat me on the back, but I also don’t need somebody to criticize me and attack attack….
Steve Jordan stated that is not is not what I am trying to do….
Thatcher- But they don’t look at one damn thing that I have done to work for this county and I have worked hard for it.
Steve Jordan attempts to speak-but….
Thatcher- I’m done. Here’s the final thing. I’m not going anywhere. I’m not going anywhere. As a matter fact fact I had thought about not running the next time around. Now I’m going to do it.
Steve Jordan- I would encourage you to do so. I just think it’s important. Thank you.
Thatcher- any other public comment?
Brandon Lang- important to set out another side of the solar farm issue. That is property rights. He then named numerous people he knows that had brain tumors. - starting in 2019. In 2021 when he was approached the first time for solar panels, his first thought was my sisters needed long term income for their old age. And he wanted solar panels, grass, bees, and sheep for his land- not poison. He showed Article 19 from 5 years ago. Unchallenged. It has neighborhood protections in it and it encourages economic development.
He does not like what he calls the Scarlet Letter option in a proposed revision that requires you to notify by signage and make the contracts public. He cited the suggestions that the anti solar farm group had as socialism and the current Chapter 19 as Liberty.
He thinks the citizen review board is a bad idea. This will strip him of his property rights. He said Dennis Kraus and Nicole Daily had done their homework on other counties and they all said a citizens advisory group is not a good idea. Thatcher told him he had to stop him. Thatcher told him that the the PC will decide this- not commissioners. He encouraged them to let PC do their job. Lang said a couple of you had recommended it and he was going to tell them why it was not a good idea. The point of this is a citizens advisory group is made up of citizens. Linnea is not in here. And I am here total you, if they go thru with it- it strips me of all my property rights.
Thatcher told him they were not stripping him of his property rights. If by chance PC moves forward and they decide to have Citizens committee there would be pro people and others and we would strike some sort of a balance there. Now it’s a hot issue- we need to let the process work. For Data Centers and Batteries too.
I cannot adequately express my best interests - only a solar facility can do that- as they have the knowledge. We need adequate representation. That needs attorneys and legal involved. You have promoted economic development well. This would force me to accept scraps and lease my land to farming and it is scraps.
Thatcher - well you don’t deserve that. Appreciate your comments.
Emily Hartman- the citizens advisory board-is not a novel thing- it is in Indiana Code. It is ultimately people interested in the public health safety and welfare. Otherwise not sit on that board.
No one is an expert on the intricacies of solar panels- we do have a lot of research though. We don’t have to be experts to have concerns. Want to get citizens into they room to weigh in. Want to have the ability to get experts into the room. She assured Commissioners that they understand the roles of Commissioners versus PC. At most you could make a proposal to initiate something.
Thatcher -If the process does not work they will talk with PC. Nicole Daily will come in monthly to report on the process. They will also work on Data Centers and Batteries.
Steve Jordan spoke again- no one is bigger property rights than I. He ( Brandon Lang) chooses to have sheep and solar panels and not poison, but he will have poison with that. I am curious how close this gentleman is living near this. There are those of us who lives with these solar panels and batteries every day. You will hear from more of us. He talked about his property rights being threatened for about 4 years now. That’s they only reason you are seeing me.
Samual Mortenson- Manchester township- asked Commissioners to explain how the PC is put together. It was explained by Duane Bischoff and Andy Baudendistel- There are 4 members there by reason of their office. A commissioner, a council member, the county surveyor, and the county extension official. The commissioners appoint 3 citizen members and council appoints 2 citizen members. He complimented Brandon Lang for having the courage to speak up for his rights. He knows that is hard on this subject.
Council and commissioner elections coming and they do appoint 5 members total- so vote for people who will appoint good grass roots members. He also commented on constitutional considerations about this.
ADJOURN- 6:35PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
