3 April 2025 DCRSD Board Meeting Notes

 3 April 2025 Dearborn County Regional Sewer District Meeting Notes

Steve Renihan - President, Brett Fehrman - Vice President, Russell Beiersdorfer,  Doug Baer, and Steward Cline 

ABSENT:  Jeff Stenger

Board Attorney - Frank Kramer

Also present: Mike Hrezo of Hrezo Engineering

Renihan read the Public Access Statement as legally required.

Minutes: March 20, 2025 Minutes- Approved 

Treasurers Report- Baer said they will meet with Lee Ann after tax season. 

Public Comment: 20418 SR 1 Resident (Mr. Glosser?) is looking to hook on and they have confirmed that he is going to be on the sewer line to hook up. Contractor is doing main lines first- then the plant and hook ups. He is supposed abandon the old tank and have proper forms for that. (After the line is hooked up) He also has to do plumbing to the pump crock and the electric hook - up to the pump. That is to be on the outside. Safer to have alarm on outside, in case you are not home. A neighbor could alert you maybe. After installed he is responsible for all maintenance. 

Mike Hrezo said timeline is for installation of Guilford plant by end of Sept and grinders and pumps from Oct- December

Project Updates:  

Guilford- Mike Hrezo reported: passed out papers for board. He will refine and keep track over time on the timeline. Hrezo will confer with installer to show which items were are actually already completed by Hrezo. 

There has to be change order to extend times. There were some staffing changes with installers. Pulling 4 and 2 inch lines together.Had to redo one that tangled. Cline wants to be sure they communicate with homeowners so they know when contractors are coming. 

Baer said he encouraged Meinders to get the pipes to higher ground during rains this weekend so flash floods don’t take pipes. Heavy rains expected. 

Railroad- Hrezo said it took entire month the get RR response. Meinders is to get the insurance for that so that contracts can be executed. Unfortunately, he may have to do this several times as it may lapse  until he gets to the particular site. It’s $1500 and the installer gets it. Cline is concerned that RR is never done until we get that permit. 

Fehrman asked that they be sure to put the top of crocks below the level of 4th basement floor of the homes to avoid back up’s getting into home. Hrezo agreed.

Lake Dildear- Mike Hrezo-  timeline was put out and pipe laying should be easier out there. Frank Kramer passed out agreements for $16,500 for SEI Data easement - Approved. They also had easement for the gas station. SEI Data is a county customer after this. Maxwell calculations on their end for SEI Data may change the cost. Board approved the $16,500 for the easement. Board also approved rewording - saying Kramer should Remove the precise amount for capacity fee and stipulate that capacity fee will be established by DCRSD. 

There are air releases at high points along the sewer line. SEIData had a piece in the agreement regarding odors. DCRSD installers try to put these air releases in an appropriate place. Also have written grantor is responsible for the capacity fees charged by Town of Dillsboro. They further refined the contract with SEI Data to show that they pay the Dillsboro capacity fees to DCRSD, who then pays Dillsboro per contract. Approved the final version. 

Kramer had a Patel easement- “had approved a connection fee.” This was the wording fixed. Approved easement with that change. 

New Business: none

Office Update: Kelly wrote all is well and we should get user agreements updated before we sign people up. It’s with the owner- NOT the tenant. 

An audit was done and office found unpaid sewer bills. Bills are being sent to residents that moved into a home and have not paid the bill in a while. There are 32 people with unpaid? availability fees. They are discussing how to handle those. Extended discussion on options for this billing. Those who haven’t paid but have consumed services will be billed now. 

Claims: Ledger adjustment due to a meter number entered instead of the fee. $6797.12 for Raymond Approved. Adjusted $29.36 for Campbell, Detmer, and one other- Approved. 

Guilford Claim- $1,799- Approved

Regular office claims- operations $5729.42- Approved

Discretion of the Board: 

Baer gave them the Lake Dildear expense ledger for Lake Dildear $2,239,976.76 balance currently- Approved to send to Auditor.

Baer gave them Guilford expense ledger with a small correction moving an item but it keeps balance the same. Contingency is in a separate set of accounts.  Approved. And approved to  send to Auditor. Balance is $4,219,817.52

Fehrman said he was approached to have a plant to take his septic pump outs. It might be ideal when Guilford Plant is up and running. This could bring some income. They would need to get a capacity available. 

Cline- Steve Brock is finalizing rates and he will bring them to next meeting. Steve Renihan will talk to him ahead of that meeting as he will not be at meeting. They need to advertise a public meeting at some point to get new rates out. This should give framework for customers to know costs this year. Want to establish new rates during May. Frank will have to write up an ordinance to advertise. He will know what data he needs to put into that from Brock. 

Renihan thanked everyone for all their work and specifically mentioned extras being done. 

Renihan forwarded Bill Shelton’s resignation. He gave Jeff Bittner’s name as he had expressed interest in DCRSD. Council makes the appointment. 

Board moved to keep the current slate of officers this year. Fehrman asked Renihan if he wanted a break from President duties. Renihan said he was good now to stay on. Renihan as president, Fehrman as secretary, and Baer as Treasurer. 

Adjourn: 7 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

1 April 2025 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

 1 April 2025 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

This meeting is also on Youtube at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUGRp5Xll_Q

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

Also present: Connie Fromhold, Auditor, Andy Baudendistel, Attorney, and Sue Hayden, Administrator

Also present: Marc Emral, Register and Tamara Taylor, Beacon 

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

OLD BUSINESS

Cemetery Board - open 5-yr term position - continued tabled- no recommendation yet. Tabled til April 1st. They had a list pf potential candidates. Tabled until April 15th. 

NEW BUSINESS

EMS Director Appointment- Jason Sullivan - EMA/EMS Director- Thatcher said this was recommended by a consultant for EMS.Thatcher - Jason will visit each EMS and have a checklist of items to audit as he goes to each one. He will compare it from quarter to quarter. Baudendistel noted that last year showed them they needed to have rate list of calls made which are now in their contracts. Thatcher said they have an EMS LIT group. That money is used for staffing ONLY per Baudendistel. They have an option to come and ask if they need to use it for equipment. They can use the supplemental revenue towards that. 

Approved by Commissioners.

EMS Director Job Description Job Title: EMS Director-Part-Time Position Location: Dearborn County, Indiana Reports to: EMS Group Members ______________________________________________________________________ Overview: EMS Director oversees and manages emergency medical services within the county. The EMS Director will be responsible for leading and coordinating all aspects of EMS operations, ensuring high-quality patient care, compliance with regulations, and effective management of resources.

Responsibilities: 

1. Leadership and Management: • Provide visionary leadership to the EMS departments, setting strategic goals and objectives in alignment with the EMS Board of Director’s mission and values. • Foster a culture of teamwork, professionalism, and continuous improvement among EMS staff. • Collaborate with individual EMS agencies to fulfill Leadership and Management duties. • Work with individual EMS agencies reviewing financials to ensure EMS LIT money is being used properly. • Work with individual EMS agencies to ensure requirements of county contracts are being met. • Administer the EMS contract facilitation between the commissioners and the EMS agencies to ensure contracts are in place each year.

 2. Emergency Medical Services Oversight: • Monitor and evaluate EMS services to identify areas for improvement and implement corrective actions as needed. • Review coverage areas and suggest changes to commissioners. • Work with 911 center in obtaining reports to show performance of individual squads.

 3. Resource Management: • Audit the budget and financial resources of the EMS departments efficiently and responsibly. • Coordinate with other county departments and agencies to ensure adequate support and resources for EMS operations. • Monitor monthly reports from individual EMS agencies related to LIT contractual funding. 

4. Community Engagement and Public Relations: • Serve as a liaison between the EMS department(s) and the community, building positive relationships with residents, stakeholders, and local officials. • Collaborate with community organizations, healthcare providers, and emergency response partners to enhance emergency preparedness and public safety.

 5. Training and Professional Development: • Collaborate with EMS agencies on training needs to consolidate training efforts among departments.

2026 Letter of Support for Program Grants- Steve Kelly, Director of Court Services- these have been received 1989 ( largest)  and 2016. $71,005 is requested for offsetting insurance. They usually give us $61,000, though he os asking for more. 

$91,789 funds another position. This year he is asking for $97,000. Community $600,371. They get less each year but still asking for this amount $515,000 is usually given. They fund their own health insurance by paying for their share of county insurance with Highland. Council helped them with $60,000 of this. Approved all grants. He said once approved he will submit this for council budgeting.  

Catch a Ride Authorization Resolution - Erin Thomas, Executive Director of Life Time Resources- she said they are providing ride services for any one at any ages. 16,000 trips for Dearborn.County residents. Section 5311 Rural Transportation grant. They need to be recognized as the public transportation provider. Lifetime will be applying directly themselves instead of having to go thru Historic Hoosier Hills for the grant application. Resolution for this was provided by Baudendistel and signed by commissioners. Approved.  

Looking for drivers- $14/hour starting pay. Duane Bischoff said if they could get job info to him- he’d get it out on County Facebook Page.

Updates for MS4 Permit- Sandy Whitehead, MS4 Coordinator- required by the permit and OHM Consultant provided this info in this packet. Today is her 1 year anniversary of being MS4 Coordinator. She said she has learned a lot and she enjoys it. This packet highlights things from last quarter and last year. She has been meeting with various depts. and they each have to have a stormwater municipal operations plan. This affects Planning and Zoning, Building, etc. Did some inspector training at L-bg Fire Dept with 35 attendees. Spoke to Homebuilders Ass’n in March, Education is a big part of this to protect stormwater. She said she submitted a smaller report for last year. They are working to perfect more of that. Looking at Minimum Control Measures 1-5. Many of these things we were already doing as a county- and now we can certify. EMA and Health Dept particularly do many of these things and they also fit into Stormwater control. 

Thatcher wants her to work with Sewer Board, which he said is independent of the county.  Are we working with consultants with Aurora and L-bg and Greendale?  Thatcher wants her to meet with them to be sure we are all doing things the same way. Also to be sure they all paid for the OHM  consultants ??? Soil and Water shares info that we can put into our education goals. Baudendistel suggested she meet with Nicole Daily about HB 1037 that may impact some things. This MS4 never really ends… Typically it has been that local rules could be as strict or MORE than the state. Now they have to be the same. The reason we might be more was due to our soil types and our hilly topography and increased runoff. But we have to flow state’s less strict rules now. Stacy Goodwin will come down to get an audit- no fees. MS4 is the 3 cities and the county- not the towns. 

Todd Listerman, County Engineer- Epoxy Overlay Quotes for Bridge Preservation Program- this seals them to prevent penetration to the steel. There are 2 coats following a thorough cleaning so they seal. There is a company in Osgood that does pressure cleaning. So it is local. The one in Cincinnati- closed Covid and never returned. 

#19- Chesterville Rd $42,329.94

#28 Hogan Hill Rd $37,574,40

#29 Red Bridge Rd  2 phases as this is dead end rd  $27,850.50

#50 Geiger Rd $6,532.44

#103 North Dearborn Rd $35,667.89

#161 Pribble Rd $62,802.39 in 2 phases. 

McAllister Excavating is doing some minor patching and joint replacements  on a couple of these prior to then sealing.  APPROVED. Listerman will notify with signs and in the media about road closures. County will put it on Facebook page too. 

April is Bridge Inspection Month - we are down to 100 inspected. The Triple Whipple doesn’t count as it’s not taking traffic. The state sets us up as April. 2 get closed- George Street and Bells Branch are Iron Truss Bridges. They have to get a bigger inspection. The state covers state systems highways and interstate bridges. Each bridge gets a numerical rating. We have 16 bridges that get 4 or less so they get more frequent inspections. Ages of  bridges  affect this. We are gradually whittling the amount of bridges inspected down. County is the lead agency of the bridges. Shared bridges are 80/20 ( we are the 80%)

Todd Listerman-FPBH (North Vernon) Contracts switching to Gonzalez Companies, Inc - ( out of St. Louis) They merged with them. We still. Work out of North Vernon- but billing will come from Gonzalez. The contracts stay the same for us. Approved the consolidation of contracts. 

Amendment to Interlocal Agreement wit Ohio County Re: Judicial Employees- Baudendistel-we added that Ohio County will pay 1/3 cost of 2 part time drug testers. They sent $5,000 to this fund. Approved.

ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden- Health Dept moved to Bielby Rd. Coroner moving down to their old space. Denny Kraus is using some center space of the Health Dept for storage. Recorder Joyce Oles- using other portion for her storage needs.

AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold  -Claims/Payroll and March Minutes-Approved

ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- next step in the world’s longest property transfer <Laughter> St E’s Hospital easment- This is due to Alta Fiber lines moved. Approve the Commissioner’s signature on the. easement Approved. 

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:none

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION: none

PUBLIC COMMENT: none

ADJOURN- 9:40 AM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

31 March 2025 Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting Notes

 

31 March 2025 Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting Notes

Present: Dennis Kraus, Jr., Chairman, Jeff Hermesch, Mark Lehman, Joe Vogel, Jake Hoog, Dan Lansing, Jim Thatcher, and Eric Lang

ABSENT: Russell Beiersdorfer

Also Present:  Nicole Daily, Planning and Zoning Director, and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.

(Meeting started about10 minutes late due to a train coming through town.)

Baudendistel read the Title VI statement as legally required.

ACTION ON MINUTES February 24th Minutes- none to review. 

OLD BUSINESS: none

NEW BUSINESS: Just a question from a citizen:

Mr Sears: When you set a zone district- what is the process?

Dennis Kraus Jr. explained how the submissions go in, tech review board reviews. They look to see about compatibility with other uses in the area. If infrastructure is needed, then they have to provide it before it goes thru. Etc. He explained that the PC  gives a recommendation to the commissioners and the Commissioners make the final decision. 

 ADMINISTRATIVE:

MS4 Ordinance and Technical Standards started January 1, 2025—This will cause some changes within the Zoning Ordinance and Subdivision Control Regulations that will need to be discussed. The following items are to be changed, due to  SWPP.  Looking for a Favorable to be forwarded to Commissioners on this. Daily showed the changes on the monitor for board to review. 325 and 330- there is a bill going thru the legislature regarding this. HB 1037. Board and Baudendistel talked about whether this is more stringent than the state. Planning would not be more restrictive- because this will all go to MS4 for the permit. So no problem with HB037 anyway. Lang discussed one of the charts not being pertinent to our area of Indiana. He pointed out to remind Sandy Whitehead about that. Daily said she would add it to her list. 

Daily matched other areas to MS4 now. She also corrected one error regarding back filled and not back field. 

Vote taken on the following Subdivision Control Regulations—regarding the above discussion.  

Text Amendments to Article 2, Section 232 Item #25, Section 272 Item #10 

Text Amendments to Article 3, Section 330- which will become Section 325

Text Amendments to Article 6—Definitions

Repeal/remove portions of Article 3 of the Subdivision Control Ordinance, Section 325, 325.2, 325.3, 325.4, 325.5 and 325.6- as these  will be required permit so these do not need to be in other parts of the Ordinance. 

Plan Commission approved a FAVORABLE RECOMMENDATION to be sent to the County Commissioners. Thatcher ABSTAINED

Discuss Update to the Comprehensive Plan through 2025, workshops for public involvement, surveys, completed studies or plans to be included, separate Bright Overlay Zoning Districts, etc. 

Daily said they were working on some info that started during the COVID era. A survey was not started then. She calls it Survey Phase 1. They need comments from citizens, where they live and work, how long, why they live here. Want perceptions of desired growth for the county. Stable or affordable house, walkability, housing needs and options, business and industrial growth for the county, do they like working elsewhere or were, transportation needs. Strengths and Weaknesses. Comparison to 10 years ago. Thoughts on the future for Dearborn County. ALSO TRY TO GET EMAILS so they can get info to more people. 

Daily said Last update we did we had an advisory committee. Do you feel like this is necessary this year? For housing it would be a specific group. I was part of these groups back in the day. Wants to separate the groups for people who have more expertise in the groups and not just a general group. She wants comments to see if they want changes in the survey. Board to email her about their thoughts. 

She wants a secondary survey for the land use elements. 

Daily is putting a section on the county website at the Planning and Zoning Dept. section. She will put some sections on the site as they are worked on to get feedback and comments. She wants the paper and Beacon involved and the radio station. Looking to see if they can send out one- time notice to give them the website, Facebook page etc. The excuse for not putting it in the tax notices this year was that they didn’t have enough time to get it together before they went out. [Note: The tax notices did have an extra smaller note added to the mailing this year- so it is possible to get  that in the envelope.]

I asked DAily if the topics with people who are knowledgeable of the data etc could all be open to the public in order to enhance public knowledge and ability to see the process. Daily agrees and thinks that the website and the videotaping of these sessions would help also.  

 

Census info, housing, transportation, need more realtor info, also OKI info and data, and Parks and Recreation. There will be things on Park Board’s 5 year plan. She wants this out on website before hand in DRAFT form. These will be focus on first workshop next month. She wants some components of Beth land use elements at each workshop. She will have some maps to draw on. This land use element will be out there the whole time. Lehman asked about roundabouts on the transportation element.

Updates have to be every 5 years to qualify for grants etc. per Daily. 

Stellar Award has up to $8 million that can be used for the County, Dillsboro, and Bright Park. She’s helping Park Board get their 5 year  done. Park Board is all volunteers. Daily talked about all the help she and staff are giving to the Park Board due to this Stellar Process.

 

First Comprehensive Plan Update Workshop will be on April 24th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. in this room and the lobby. 

Next Plan Meeting is April 28th. There is one item on the agenda. She will also try to move info on the April 24th workshop process. 

The Britton Farm Rezone has been requested by applicant to be moved to the MAY meeting.  It’s the Tuesday after Memorial Day. They have not received the water letter yet. They were holding traffic study until they have the water letter. The traffic study is expensive.  

 

Meeting adjourned at 7:18 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

AGENDA- 1 April 2025 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting

 AGENDA

DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

April 1, 2025 

8:30 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. OLD BUSINESS 

• Citizens Board - Cemetery Board – Open position (5-year term) (tabled item)

V. NEW BUSINESS

• EMS Director Appointment – Jason Sullivan, EMA/EMS Director

• 2026 Letter of Support for Program Grants – Steve Kelly, Director of Court Services

• Catch-A-Ride Authorization Resolution - Erin Thomas, Executive Director of LifeTime 

• Updates for MS4 Permit – Sandy Whitehead, MS4 Coordinator

• Todd Listerman, County Engineer

• Epoxy Overlay Quotes for Bridges  

• #19 – Chesterville Road
• #26 – Hogan Hill Road
• #29 – Red Bridge Road
• #50 – Geiger Road
• #103 – N. Dearborn Road
• #161 – Pribble Road

• FPBH Contracts Switching to Gongalez Companies

• Amendment #1 to Interlocal Agreement with Ohio County re: Judicial Employees

VI. ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden

VII. AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold

• Claims/Payroll/Minutes

VIII. ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel

IX. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

X. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

XI. PUBLIC COMMENT

XII. ADJOURN