Dearborn County IN - Public Forum

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

21 APRIL 2026 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

21 APRIL 2026 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

Livestreams can be found @

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.

EXECUTIVE SESSION - 5:00 pm

Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(2)(D): For discussion of strategy with respect to: A real property transaction including a purchase, a lease as lessor, a lease as lessee, a transfer, an exchange, or a sale by the governing body up to the time a contract or option is executed by the parties. This clause does not affect a political subdivision’s duty to comply with any other statute that governs the conduct of the real property transaction, including IC 36-1-10 or IC 36-1-11.

Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(4): For discussion of strategy with respect to: Interviews and negotiations with industrial or commercial prospects or agents of industrial or commercial prospects by: a governing body of a political subdivision. However, this subdivision does not apply to any discussions regarding research that is prohibited under IC 16-34.5-1-2 or under any other law.

Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(9) To discuss a job performance evaluation of individual employees. This subdivision does not apply to discussion of the salary, compensation, or benefits of employees during a budget process.

Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(19): To have communications with an attorney that are subject to the attorney-client privilege.

CERTIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE SESSION- Commissioners verified that the only discussed what was advertised.

ACTIONS OF EXECUTIVE SESSION- no final action to be taken per Baudendistel

Nicole Daily, Planning Director gave a report to Commissioners on the Solar Ordinance etc. said they were collecting comments still and a promo farmland map using PU and DCSWD. Also looking at solar codes and noise testing at other solar farms. PC meets Monday April 27th. Also working on a resolution if the PC board decides to set up a Citizens Advisory Board. Gathered a lot of information and there will be another update after the PC Meeting on the website. Trying to also have workshops for Comp plan that they had started last year. MS4 Standards for Solar Farms too. Looking at different agencies also.

OLD BUSINESS- none

NEW BUSINESS

St. Leon 1st Responder 2026 Contract- Approved and Signed.

ADMINISTRATOR

County Website Vendor- Sue and Nicole Daily worked on selecting the new vendor. October2025 said they are no longer going to be covering this as of Dec 2026. Narrowed to 4 to look at - Vertical, Epop, Dubstack, and Revise.. The last 2 were considered. Revise- from Troy Michigan - 25 plus years in the business.They have been trying to serve us since we hired the past vendor We looked at their clients. They are doing a 3 year contract. $15,700 to implement. Revise has more calendars and they will save Park Board as it will come on the County site.

What we currently have was cheap. $3735/year. Now we will pay $11,000/year. They do training and have good comments from clients. APPROVED Revise, as new vendor. It can take up to 8 months to migrate this. Migration of data is done by end of October. Revise will go live Jan 2027.

AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold -Claims/Payroll and April 7th Minutes- Approved

ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- recognized Brian Wagner from St Lawrence- ran the Boston Marathon yesterday.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION: Sue Hayden asked - Request to allow Logan Lawrence to use parking lot for his ALS fund raiser to park cars. Approved.

PUBLIC COMMENT:

Jim RedElk- said With the solar ordinance potentially there are a lot of questions that go to to other departments- like Building Inspector, Health Dept, EMS, and Fire. There needs to be updates to these documents and rules, as this technology is more advanced than other things we have ever had here. What can we learn from cleanups from storm damage etc. Who gets called? What is the county’s liability? How can the county benefit from solar here? He delineated types of questions and tech that the inspectors will need to understand. The commissioners hanked him for some good questions to consider.

Duane Bischoff- addressed the previous discussion on solar and citizens advisory board. Reiterated that the commissioners would support it IF the PC decides to go that route. It is going to get emotional at times. He spent some time assuring that the commissioners were NOT telling the PC wha to do. Just saying they would support that Citizens board IF they decided to set it up.

If the PC does not form a Citizen’s Board- then the Commissioners will form one to assist them ( the commissioners ) in reviewing the proposed new ordinance. Commissioners Approved

Shana Drake - Asked if any commissioners had been asked to sign an NDA by a solar or data center company? No.

Jim Thatcher- I have a statement to read. Regarding the spreading of lies innuendoes and false statements on Facebook and videos. The people that read these and see them regard them as fact. They are not. The people that spew this information are not just criticizing county officials which is their right. But personally attacking me in posts and calling me by name, and in the latest post putting my photo out with my name. This is now becoming very personal. This type of behavior is called targeting and it is dangerous. It can potentially put myself and my family at risk. This only takes one person who reads and then believes the rhetoric and decides to cause harm. It happens. I know I am not Charlie Kirk, but it only takes one person to read something, believe it and then decide that one person needs to be taken out. And he was assassinated. This kind of rhetoric needs to stop now - today- this very moment- before someone gets hurt. If this kind of behavior continues, and the people posting lies and misleading videos will show their true color by not ratcheting down the political temperature, but instead seeking political power without regards to the potential harm it might cause.

Thatcher immediately asked for motion to adjourn, saying, We’re done.

ADJOURN- 6:35 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

70 seconds- SEI READI- The Plan to Replace You

SEI READI- The Plan to Replace You

70 second video- click below to view:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk798eIoRQ8

Thou Shall Not Speak Ill of a Fellow Republican....

Thou shall not speak ill of a fellow Republican......

Short video on a quote from the Lincoln day dinner. Click below:

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/RpZAPmEs5bQ

32 Minutes - Responsible Growth with Chris Wernimont on Time with Uncle Sam

Responsible Growth with Chris Wernimont on Time with Uncle Sam

32 minute video - Click below to view:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjSIvB7vn0A

Monday, April 20, 2026

REPUBLICAN GRASSROOTS CANDIDATES

Good Cops Don't Leave Good Departments

28 Minutes with Mike Prudenti and Sheriff Candidate Jason Wyatt

Click the link below to listen to their discussion:

https://youtu.be/lmDPk-CLvt0?si=akS85oWQY_bEbCyE

Saturday, April 18, 2026

AGENDA- 21 April 2026 Dearborn County Commissioners Meeting

Livestreams can be found @

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

AGENDA

DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

April 21, 2026

6:00 p.m. Henry Dearborn Room

Dearborn County Government Center

165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana

EXECUTIVE SESSION - 5:00 pm

Indiana Code § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(19): To have communications with an attorney that are subject to the attorney-client privilege.

CALL TO ORDER

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE

CERTIFICATION OF EXECUTIVE SESSION

ACTIONS OF EXECUTIVE SESSION

OLD BUSINESS

NEW BUSINESS

St. Leon 1st Responder 2026 Contract

VIII. ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden

County Website Vendor

IX. AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold

Claims/Payroll/Minutes

X. ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel

XI. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

XII. PUBLIC COMMENT

XIII. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

XIV. ADJOURN

Friday, April 17, 2026

The Underlying Issue With the Dearborn County GOP Establishment

11.5 minutes- Uncle Sam Mortenson- click the link bekow to watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3n4TaBdfcc

Thursday, April 16, 2026

6.5 minutes- Video from Mike Prudenti, Retired Law Enforcement Officer

Dearborn County--Attrition Rate Conversation from Retired LEO ( Law Enforcement Officer) - Mike Prudenti. Why it's important to consider the rate at which officers leave the Sheriff Dept. and what are some of the reasons they leave. Video is 6.5 minutes Click below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMvxxle98R0

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

95 seconds- Uncle Sam Mortenson Gives County Officials a Lesson on Constitutional Rights

First Amendment Rights in 95 seconds.

Click on the link below:

https://youtube.com/shorts/lxkfUCrw80A?si=Bp3arHfkTpoAbCAc

A Bubble-Wrapped Childhood

Reprinted with permission of IPR

A Bubble-Wrapped Childhood

Overprotection sends an unintended message: The world is dangerous, and you are not capable of navigating it.

by Dan Eichenberger, MD, MBA

In the past 15 years, rates of anxiety, depression, self-harm and suicidal thoughts among adolescents — especially those born after 1995 — have surged. Social psychologist Jonathan Haidt calls this the “Great Rewiring” of childhood: the decline of play-based childhoods and the rise of phone-based ones. The uncomfortable truth is that well-meaning adults helped cause it. We’ve become overprotective in the real world while underprotecting children in the virtual world.

In the physical world, parenting has shifted toward constant supervision. Out of fear — of strangers, injuries, or “what might happen” — we’ve steadily removed independence from childhood. Children who once walked to school, roamed neighborhoods, built forts and worked out conflicts on their own are now closely managed and scheduled (the helicopter parents).

But those small risks were never the problem — they were the training ground. When children climb, explore, negotiate and occasionally fail, they build resilience. They learn judgment, confidence and how to recover from setbacks. Without those experiences, even normal challenges can feel overwhelming. Anxiety disorders don’t come from scraped knees — they come from never learning you can handle difficult situations.

Overprotection also sends an unintended message: The world is dangerous, and you are not capable of navigating it. That message sticks. By the time children reach adolescence — a critical window for brain development — they are less prepared, more fragile and more anxious.

At the same time, we’ve done the opposite online.

We’ve handed children smartphones — often by age 10 or 11 — with few limits. Platforms run by companies like Meta Platforms and TikTok are designed to keep users scrolling. Children now spend hours in digital spaces during the very years they most need real‑world connection, often without learning how to navigate sustained, personal, one‑on‑one conversations.

The effects are hard to ignore: poor sleep, constant comparison, fractured attention and habits that look a lot like addiction. Girls often face intense social pressure and body-image issues. Boys frequently retreat into gaming, pornography and other virtual worlds.

Even outside the home, concerns are growing. Lawsuits and public pressure are increasing around social media’s impact on children, but parents don’t need a courtroom to see what’s happening. The damage is already visible in homes and classrooms.

That’s where schools and families must act.

Schools should adopt phone-free policies. Where they have, classrooms are calmer, students are more focused and relationships improve. Parents should support these efforts, not undermine them.

At home, the solution is straightforward: delay smartphones until high school, delay social media until at least 16, create phone-free times and actively restore independence — free play, time outdoors and responsibility without constant oversight. These changes are easier when parents move together.

This crisis didn’t happen overnight, and it won’t be fixed overnight. But the direction is clear: protect children less from normal life — and far more from the digital world.

Childhood doesn’t need to be controlled. It needs to be reclaimed.

Dan Eichenberger, MD, is an Indiana native with 30 years experience as a primary care physician, physician executive and healthcare consultant. He is the recipient of the Indiana University Southeast Chancellors Medallion.

The Mission

To marshal the best thought on governmental, economic and educational issues at the state and municipal levels. We seek to accomplish this in ways that:

EXALT the truths of the Declaration of Independence, especially as they apply to the interrelated freedoms of religion, property and speech.

EMPHASIZE the primacy of the individual in addressing public concerns.

RECOGNIZE that equality of opportunity is sacrificed in pursuit of equality of results.

Monday, April 13, 2026

13 April 2026 Dearborn County Redevelopment Meeting Notes

13 April 2026 Dearborn County Redevelopment Meeting Notes

Present: Jim Deaton, Chairman, Dennis Kraus,Jr.,Tom Tepe, Trevor Bischoff, Jordan Hoffman, Jim Mansfield,Doug Baker.

ABSENT: (non- voting school board member)

Also present: Sue Hayden, county administrator and minute taker, Anthony Smart, attorney, Connie Fromhold, Auditor and DCRC treasurer.

Title VI statement read as legally required.

EXECUTIVE SESSION 4:30 p.m.

• IC § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(2)(D): For a discussion of strategy with respect to a real property transaction including: a purchase; a lease as lessor; a lease as lessee; a transfer; an exchange; or a sale; by the governing body up to the time a contract or option is executed by the parties.

• IC § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(4) Interviews and negotiations with industrial or commercial prospects or agents of industrial or commercial prospects by: a governing body of a political subdivision.

IC § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(19): To have communications with an attorney that are subject to the attorney client privilege.

Certification of Executive Session- Board certified that they only discussed what was advertised.

Action from Executive Session- no action.

Housekeeping

Approval of Minutes: March 9, 2026 Meeting and March 27, 2026 Special Meeting- Approved

Claims: IN & OH Railway $9,297.50 for 3 invoices for Moore Dr. project; Bayer Becker $2,480 for Task 5B - bidding of Moore Dr. project; Baker Tilly $9,991 for work done on comprehensive TIF updates; One Dearborn $13,750 for 2026 1st quarter billing; Drake Lawncare $450. for mowing W. Aurora and W. Harrison properties 2 times and beds around signage at W. Aurora property; Smart Law $8580 for legal services Jan. 8 thru April 7, 2026; Register Publication $97.28 advertising bid for Moore Dr. project. Total $44,645.78- Kraus Jr. initiated a discussion of Smart’s contract and his changed hourly rate. Smart had sent a notice that he had increased his hourly rate back in December. Board voted the accept the new fee from Smart. And then they Approved the Claims. Bischoff said he wanted to have Anthony Smart submit a new contract each year.

Financials- Approved.

Old Business

TWG Development project update- Perleberg said they are starting design and due diligence and environmental and geotechnical.

Dearborn County Park Board request for funding assistance - update- Perleberg said they have turned in paperwork and will see Council at May 6th Council meeting. Baker said the Park Board feels good about reaching their goal.

2026 Farming Lease- no motion required as it will not be farmed this year as previously decided.

New Business

DCRC 2026 Indiana DGLF report by Baker Tilly- in their packet. It is loaded onto the Gateway per Connie Fromhold.

Project Compass - update- Perleberg- legal counsel is working on this. Tom McCormack from Cushman Wakefield is present to answer any questions.He can’t say much as the process is in the hands of attorneys now. The name of the company is not ready to be divulged yet.

Purchase office for US 50 Business Park 1.0 Acre Site on Randall Ave. & US 50- Proposal from Midwest Marketing Development rep Jay- 15,000 pass by daily. Entry will be from Randall Avenue. Might want to have 2 cutouts- for exit and entrance. Midwest Market Branding. Convenience store- Maybe have coffee shop attached to it. This is his 3rd store like this. Local jobs will fill this. 15 jobs plus 10 jobs.on each side of the store. They followed the INDOT setback- with just parking spaces. They are aware of the zoning there. Deaton said there will be an economic development agreement that goes with this. It could be up and running in a year. Paperwork takes longer than the build.Chris Powell brought this in for tat property. DCRC will make a decision. DCRC countered the offer with $53,000 (appraised value) and accepting an economic development agreement. Jay said he had offered $40,000 as he does not need any help from DCRC. Smart told them they had to negotiate in an executive session or open meeting. Board thought that Chris Powell could negotiate with Jay’s realtor. Then they would get with us. Approved.

One Dearborn Report

READI 2.0 grant update - Perleberg said this is in their packet. This will include $250,000 reimbursements for Moore Dr projects in the grant. - Smart had reviewed it and said it is fine to sign. Approved and notarized Deaton to sign the sub recipient agreement.

REDI Cincinnati SSG ( Site Selection Group) Site Analysis for I-74 West Harrison Business Park site- received the final report of this per Perleberg. This is for Project Compass.He said there were not any big surprises. They had a 300 question survey that One Dearborn filled out. Nice rectangle shape. 500 year flood plain and the utility limitations on site. 26.9 acre site. Land use and zoning questions checked out. Some wetland delineations showed up. Topography- pretty flat site. No historical or archaeological study. Ingress and egress. There is a shared access driveway but they have gotten a second access approved. Rail is on the south side of the road so that probably won’t be on this side. 34.5 kVolt there. Duke energy is willing to build a new substation perhaps. 1.8 MegaWatts available. Natural gas there- small processes- or will need Sycamore gas to upgrade. Wastewater is a bit of a question mark on capacity.And water. And telecom- Fiber onsite. The site selection group looked at the client food and beverage project- and size of that project. Larger projects and manufacturing would be not targets. We were one of 10 participating sites they evaluated. We stack up in them top 5/10 in sites. All the good sites are gone. Having plans and funding in place will improve scores. We are in the middle and we are in the game per Perleberg.

I-74 Business Corridor AG Strategy Activation- Agribusiness and expansion projects are targets. They attended that meeting. Looking at supply chain issues etc. ICare will bring 3-5 Agribusiness leads.

Opportunity Zones 2.0- Game Pace- this started in 2017. Brookville was designated an opportunity zone back then. There is a census tract in Aurora and part of county by them that is a designated opportunity zone.They are working to get that designation to get the investment. These are based off low income and property tax assessment.They won’t know till January 2027.

Bayer Becker Report- Mark Rosenberger:

West Harrison I-74 EB Ramp- nothing new

West Harrison Moore Drive and Railroad Crossing- working with Smart and Listerman on this. Advertised on the 16th and 23rd of April with bids due on May 6th to be presented on May11 meeting. Roesnberger is waiting to see when they will be replacing the track.

Downtown Bright infrastructure- Originally 13 acres - now 11.7 acres as St E’s took some out. Proposing to smooth out curve by Merrilees. Listerman he said was ok with dedicating tot as county road with the proposed pavement replacements etc. Storm-Tech is a costly approach from $450 to $350. Improvements 60k and total cost. 44,000 cubic feet for detention calculated. $280,000 total cost for roadway control and improvements to DS Drew. This is just page one work. The storm detention is a stand alone project and it is very expensive.

Kraus- so we use our money fund that can be used anywhere in the county, for Bright TIF area??? The Bright TIF are projected to only get $50,000 per year.

Board wanted to do a task for Business Center Drive and not Professional Park Dr. St E’s had not helped get this done. Rosenberger to break this out and bring the amount back t0 board. Trying to use just Bright TIF money.

ATTORNEY’S REPORT- nothing

OTHER BUSINESS- none

PUBLIC COMMENT- none

ADJOURNED 6:15 PM