19 NOVEMBER 2024 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

 19 NOVEMBER 2024 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

Present: Jim Thatcher, President, Alan Goodman, and Rick Probst

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

Marc Emral Register and Tamara Taylor Beacon were present. Duane Bischoff also attended the meeting. 

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

OLD BUSINESS- none

NEW BUSINESS

Juvenile Justice System Grant Funding - Judge Negangard and Lynn Deddens, Prosecutor-postponed until Dec 17 meeting

Brief on Election Process and Outcome- Wendy Beatty Clerk of Courts- 40526 registered turnout 66.24%. No issues. Small issue with getting ballots checked in but they were all there on election day and counted by 3 AM Wed. There was a technician there as they are every election. 23 provisionals and 8 of those were counted. 

Special Use of EMS Building- Coroner, Cameron McCreary- for a morgue cooler in there. Medical death or very late in evening would be main use. They contract for St. E for 2 spaces now. They were booted out once from there per contract when St E’s needed the space. Everything has to go to Hamilton County. The cooler would be 10x12 ft and can hold 16 bodies is necessary. They are looking  for a cooler and costs a  little over $15,000 and they will need to add HVAC and power. The EMA building is secure but the would have a lock on the cooling unit too. In criminal cases they take the body to Hamilton Co.morgue. Commissioners asked him to be sure there is video surveillance on EMA building and also to get more quotes- at least 3 per Baudendistel.   

Interim 911 Director (Jared Teaney resigned effective Friday for a new position elsewhere in the state. Chris Heitmeyer is the new interim director- Approved. And said they should come to them if he has any issues. 

Bright and Aurora EMS 2nd Supplemental Distribution 2024 for Equipment Purchase- Baudendistel presented- Bright and Aurora had requested these distributions for new ambulance units. He EMS LIT money was put in place. $352,532 Bright and $256,840.70 Aurora and if the county has first right of refusal if they are at the end of the vehicle’s life. Approved.

ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden:

Lawrenceburg Conservancy Support Letter- Paul Seymour had attended earlier meeting and asked for support for grant for wellheads around the levee. This is the letter. Signed and Approved. 

Aurora Lifesquad EMS Representative Appointment- Sue said Oden Morris said they were fine with that request that it be a commissioner or someone they appoint.. Kevin Turner is doing it for Council. Thatcher will be the Commissioner’s rep Approved.

AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold  -Claims/Payroll and November 6th Minutes- Approved.

ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- nothing for this evening

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS- none

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- none

PUBLIC COMMENT- none

ADJOURN- 5:25 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg TownshipFromhold

AGENDA November 19th Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting

 AGENDA

DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

November 19, 2024 

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. OLD BUSINESS

V. NEW BUSINESS

• Juvenile Justice System Grant Funding - Judge Negangard & Lynn Deddens

• Brief on Election Process and Outcome – Wendy Beatty, Clerk of Courts

• Special Use of EMS Building – Coroner, Cameron McCreary

• Interim 911 Director

• Bright & Aurora EMS 2^nd Supplemental Distribution 2024 for Equipment Purchase

VI. ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden

• Lawrenceburg Conservancy Support Letter Request
• Aurora Life Squad EMS Representative Appointment

VII. AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold

• Claims/Payroll/Minutes

VIII. ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel

IX. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

X. PUBLIC COMMENT

XII. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

XII. ADJOURN

County Receives $1,500,000 Community Crossing Grant

 

PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release:

Todd Listerman, County Engineer

11/14/2024

Dearborn County was notified on November 7, 2024 that they have received a $1,500,000.00 grant from INDOT as part of the Community Crossing Matching Grant Program.  These funds will be used for roadway paving in accordance with the County’s Pavement Asset Management Plan to help the county achieve the goals listed in the plan.

 

The following roads will be resurfaced:  

East Laughery Creek Road from Hueseman to Road-56, 

West Laughery Creek Road from Roberts Road to SR-262, 

Cross Road, Park Avenue (county portion) Soap Hill Road, and 

St. Peters Road.

 

Work will include hot mix asphalt overlay, shoulder stone wedges to eliminate pavement edge drop-offs and yellow centerline or white edge line markings depending on roadway width and traffic count for safety.

14 November 2024 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes

 

14 November 2024 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes

Present: Liz Morris, President, Dennis Kraus. Sr., Dan Lansing, Kevin Turner, Tim Doll, Mark Dole, and Glenn Wright. 

Also present: Connie Fromhold, Auditor

Title VI Statement read as legally required

REDUCE of ARPA FUNDS $49,133.71 out of Fund 8980- Approved

Additionals:

Commissioners: Council agreed to take these 2 items separately with Kevin Turner voting Nay

Bright EMS & Fire-Emergency Unit ($352,532)- Dan Lansing asked about the price increases. Chief Kendall said that the price went up from $283,114. And now the manufacturers at Ford went from van to F series chassis. This wet from $327,000 and the to $352,532 this summer price increase. Now tag $352 532 went to $361,000 now. They did 2 summer fundraisers for the $8,600 and $7,000 radio system. Need a new cot but $50,000 for a new cot. So $65,000 is being funded by the dept fundraisers. Bright has 2 functioning units with 2 cots only and the 3rd 2011 unit is there also.That is to be replaced at some point. It is not uncommon for us to have 2 squads out at a time. Glenn Wright asked about the ambulances being the county property after they are done with it. Andy Baudendistel will work with him on the language for that agreement. It’s like a right of first  refusal.This is something the consultant has recommended. Approved the $352,532 with the county attorney wording the agreement that the county has right of first refusal.

Aurora EMS- Emergency Unit ($256,840.70) & Discussion of an Appointment of a member to serve on Board of Directors of the Aurora Emergency Rescue Unit. Matt Pyles from Aurora noted that they have a $19,000 possibility in their contract if it’s more. He has a different manufacturer with Medex. $313,537 is their total but they already have money saved for part of it. Approved the $2566,840.70 with the county attorney wording the agreement that the county has right of first refusal. 

The appointment of a member to serve on a board of directors from Council. They are having a City council Pam Hartford and Mayor will have access to citizen on it too. Asked for a Commissioner also which is Jim Thatcher ( or a person selected by Commissioners to be on it as they will discuss at Tuesday meeting. They are using an EMS Director structure now. This is like Ohio County Rescue does it too. They want it to help with transparency.Chief Kendall of Bright noted that they use business people in the  community to avoid conflict for interest. Liz Morris didn’t think Council needed to be on it- but Council did.  Kevin Turner will be on it. Approved. 

Circuit Court- Judge Negangard presented

Transfer-$4500 Contract for research attorney 1001.11400.000.025 to 1001.31500.000.025- Approved

Pauper Attorney- $25,000 (1001)- For this year about $19,000 short and need to cover 2025 too. Approved from County General

Jury Management System Software-$80,000(1001)- Approved this from money to be under regular software which was already there from Jazz Update 

Resolution 2024-002- $16,718-( coming from Ohio County) Judge Negangard- Approving Interlocal Agreement with Ohio County Concerning both Ohio and Dearborn utilizing part-time drug testing employees. Ohio County will cover a portion of their salaries.Baudendistel explained- This is tied to the agreement for 2024 but adding he part time drug testers. Approved

Interlocal Agreement between Dearborn and Ohio Counties-Supplementing 7 full time Circuit Court employees and Southeast Regional Community Corrections part-time drug testing employees. Approved

Juvenile Center- Education Services $15,000 (1001) Judge Negangard  Brought in $200,000 for out of county juveniles and price increased for them. Leah Bailey found money so the $35,000 was reduced to $15,000. Invites them to come in a see it- lots of changes and classes, art, music, gardening, military recruiters, etc and get them outside. They take in people from all over the state.  12-15 population. Usually 2-3 from our county. Approved

Dec 12th at 11AM Christmas Party at Circuit Court Offices- invitation to the county council from Judge Negangard.

Prosecutor-$10,562 Deputy Prosecutor & 2 Law School Interns (1001) Lynn Deddens outlined the issues with Attorney changeover and pregnancy issue. Approved Out of County General.

Superior Court II- $6,000 Research Attorney for Special Projects (4913) - Leah Bailey for Judge McLaughlin. Approved.

Superior Probation-$47,205 Health Benefits (2101 PUF)- Approved

Southeast Regional Community Corrections- Steve Kelly presented. these first 3 are from user fees

Part-time Wages-$16,148 (4919 User Fees)- $15 to $17/hr raised. 

Drug Testing-$30,000 (4919 User Fees)- About $70,000 per year

GPS Monitoring-$25,000(4919 User Fees)- $260,000 spent each year and Negangard is using his more than previous judges. Approved all 3 above from 4919

$86,000- Health Benefits (Opioid Settlement Unrestricted Fund 1238)- these are pilot program from state in 2010- They spent about $200,000 on Health Insurance. They were short $86,000 for these 13 employees. This is for grabs funded positions. Approved and also $47,000 for drug Court Health insurance $47,205 out of 2101- Approved

$97,000-IRACS Program (Opioid Settlement Unrestricted Fund 1238)- This is a one time funding. We do not want to drain this fund. They have to get their 30% match elsewhere in 2025. They need the funding to get this money. This was started in Choices and they need a recovery program and is now with One Voice locally. He wants a monthly invoice from One Voice to monitor this recovery program. The County Auditor will pay that monthly then. Approved

Building-$30,000 New Vehicle (1001)- Connie Fromhold reminded he needed this at budget- Approved

Sheriff-Transfer $17,000 (1170.34200 to 1170.45100) Insurance settlement to be used for a new vehicle. This was received from a vehicle that was totaled. Approved

Dearborn County Law Enforcement Center-$60,000 Inmate Medical Expenses (1001) Leah Bailey presented - Approved out of County General.

Veterans Service- $300 Supplies (1001) Leah Bailey - Approved

Highway- $146,056.22 Purchase of Equipment (8950) Leah Bailey transfer to ARPA moneys.  Approved

Highway Transfers: Total $2.1 million 

$1,500,000-Matching funds for Lower Dillsboro Slide-7303.41500 to 7303.32962

$268,000 Matching funds for Bridge #64 Sneakville Rd -7303.41500 to 7303.32954

$380,000 Matching funds for Bridge #33 North Hogan-7303.41500 to 7303.32960

Approved all 3 items above

Purdue Extension Office-$3,530 Copier Maintenance (1001)- Leah Bailey - she bought copier with grant so this is just maintenance agreement. Includes ink, toner, and servicing- Approved.

DCRSD Amendment for Guilford and Lake Dilldear- Total $777,521.34 ( $150,000 Dilldear and $627,521.34 Guilford. These are going from DCRSD ARPA to County General for Highway Bridge letting in December. They will agree on it tonight but it will be advertised for the Dec 12, 9 AM meeting for approval.  Approved.

Andy Baudendistel told Council about he and Anthony Smart are looking into the money that DCRC owes back to DCRSD for sewer line DCRSD paid for in West Harrison TIF and the money  should be paid back. Number is possibly $3 million. Just letting them know that DCRSD needs the money for other projects that they had put on old when they used it for DCRC sewer line to Harrison for TIF district 

One Dearborn- Stellar Pathways Update- Mike Perleberg passed out the proposal and they are in competition for this in January 2025. Approx $8 million is available. We have engaged 1000’s of Dearborn County residents via survey and with pop up events, and 3 Schools with 7 and 8th grade kids. Vision Statement on p7. About 80% are in favor or supportive of the vision statement. 

Page 8 has overview of various investments we are proposing. Bright Meadows Park improvements is a big one on that. Senior apartments in Dearborn Village, and rental occupied  housing in Greendale and Dillsboro. 

He gave a chart about how they arrived at ours. Parks and Trails Funding for Bright Meadows Park. Land Water Conservation Fund - can be done for the walking path enhancements at Bright Meadows. DCRC provided $100,000 for Bright Meadows Park. This will net $200,000 then. They have a concept plan.- but it may look different than that. Looking about reviving the Bright Community Festival there. Morris said that would likely have a parking issue if it was a big event. Maybe new swing sets and amphitheater. But that only goes so far- Stellar wants to have more input with a Bright plan there that is happening with the DCRC. So maybe could look at ways to get there on foot or bike too. We have 3 target investment areas in the county, so that gives a more regional coverage. Turner said the ones suggested for Dillsboro will be great too as they are the gathering area for Caesar Creek and parts of Washington Township too. Greendale and Dillsboro Main Streets Programs help too. Perleberg- Need programming to activate that space. Bright Area Business Ass’n helps too. Kraus noted the asphalt trail and its condition.  Lansing asked if it was a negative that we have Riverboat Revenue. Perleberg noted that some of these places only get a littler bit of that- but they are leveraging that money to get more and better place- making. This helps places that don’t see as much revenue from the state.

Wright asked about the RFP for a Bright Master Plan. Perleberg said that will probably take place next year with the DCRC running that. There is a $350,000 match for Bright Park so could get $700,000 total to spend. 

Rob- Calvert  President of County Park Board- asked about reviving the Bright Festival that Brian De Bruler  has brought up. He is worried about the liability issues. Bob Ewbank their attorney said this would be a good thing and legally they would be covered. Next meeting is Dec 5th at Ewbanks Office for Park Board. Invited them to come. Liz Morris- The land by Fire Dept that was a park was given to Fire Dept years ago. She said shuttles would be needed. He is inviting DeBruler and Commissioners and Council if they need to weigh in on it. Baudendistel said that the Park Board has powers and they don’t allow alcohol in county parks- so they have to decide if they would allow it and also set limits on time to end etc. Going to have Ewbank talk to the Attorney for the organizers- Kirchgassner. They are concerned about where the fund raiser money goes. The church lots can be used for shuttles maybe- as they did for other fundraisers. Ended with the meeting at Ewbank’s  office on Dec 5 to discuss further. 

Wright asked about Dillsboro EMS and status for county- Thatcher is working on it. But there was no knowledge of what the Dillsboro EMS is doing per the Council 

Auditor- Minutes- Approved. 

2025 Meeting dates- Approved

Tuesday- January 28, 2025 @ 5:00pm (Reorganizational Meeting)

Tuesday February 25, 2025 @ 5:00pm (if needed)

Tuesday- March 25, 2025 @ 5:00pm (if needed)

Thursday- May 15, 2025 @ 5:00pm

Monday thru Friday- August 5, 2025 10:30 to 4:30

August 4,6,7,8, 2025 @ 9:00-4:30 as needed (Budget Workshops)

Friday, August 22, 2025 @9:00am (Budget Hearing)

Friday, September 5, 2025 @9:00am (Budget Adoption

Thursday-November 13, 2025 @ 5:00pm 

Late Arrival-2025 salary Ordinance - Approved

Meeting adjourned at 7:10 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

Letter from Hilda Jimenez and Tyler Costa Regarding Bright Area Redevelopment Proposal for TIF

  11/7/2024

Hilda J Palacios Jimenez & Tyler Costa

Property: 1772 Jamison Rd. West Harrison, IN

Parcel in question: 15-01 -35-302-004.000-06    (5.4070 acres)

Subject: Concern Regarding Bright Area Redevelopment Proposal

To Whom It May Concern,

I am writing to express my strong opposition to the proposed redevelopment plan for the Bright area. I recently became aware of this initiative on November 6, 2024, through a social media post. Upon reading the details, I was deeply disturbed by what appears to be a proposal more focused on increasing profits for developers rather than genuinely improving the quality of life for current residents.

What struck me most was the lack of direct communication with those of us who will be most affected by these changes. My property is mentioned in the redevelopment documents, yet I did not receive any formal notification from the authorities or developers regarding how my land would be impacted. This lack of transparency and outreach is disheartening, especially considering that many of us have invested in this community and built our lives here.

I am particularly troubled by the timing of the public meetings related to this proposal, which were held at times when working residents like me would be unable to attend. This appears to be an undemocratic process, where decisions are being made without the meaningful input of those most impacted.

As I reviewed the 34-page document outlining the redevelopment plans, several concerns stood out to me:

1. Loss of Community Character: The proposal seems to prioritize economic growth over preserving the rural, small-town charm that so many of us love about Bright. Many of us chose to live here for the tranquility, natural beauty, and sense of community. We value the slower pace of life and don’t mind traveling a little further for work in exchange for the peace and beauty of the area. This development threatens to turn Bright into a mini-city, eroding the qualities that made it a desirable place to live in the first place.
2. Increased Traffic and Strain on Resources: The proposed changes will inevitably lead to more traffic, congestion, and pressure on local resources. These are problems that we are not prepared to handle, and they will diminish the overall quality of life that we currently enjoy.
3. Property Values and Tax Increases: While the proposal suggests that property values will rise and that new jobs will be created, it fails to consider the financial burden this will place on current residents. If property taxes increase and home values rise, many long-term residents may be forced to sell due to rising costs. Furthermore, for those of us who wish to stay, such changes would make it financially untenable to remain in our homes.
4. Concerns Regarding My Property: My personal concern is the future of my property. I have worked hard to create a home where I can live in harmony with nature. I have no intention of selling, and I do not wish to see my property taken from me. If I were to sell, I would require a price far beyond what is reasonable, simply to replace the unique environment I have here.

In addition, I would have appreciated a more detailed explanation of how my property is specifically affected by these plans, as well as the options available to me as a homeowner. Learning about these plans via social media, rather than through formal communication, only added to my frustration.

At this point, I urge you to reconsider moving forward with this redevelopment project. While I understand the concerns regarding population growth and the need for housing, I believe there are alternative solutions that can address these issues without compromising the unique qualities of our community. For example, I believe that limiting the number of rental properties owned by individuals and prioritizing local homeowners could help alleviate housing shortages while preserving the area’s character.

In addition, while job creation is important, many residents, myself included, are content to commute to nearby cities for work in exchange for the peace and serenity that Bright offers. The current development plan seems to ignore this balance.

Finally, I respectfully request that you consider leaving my land untouched. I would also like to know whether this redevelopment could require me to seek legal counsel to protect my rights as a property owner. I am prepared to take whatever steps are necessary to ensure that the Bright area retains its charm, sense of community, and quality of life.

I sincerely hope that you will take my concerns into account before making any further decisions. As residents, we deserve better communication, transparency, and consideration for the future of our homes and our community.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely,

Hilda J. Palacios Jimenez