16 MARCH 2021 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES
Present: Jim Thatcher, President, Art Little, and Rick Probst
Also present: Connie Fromhold, Auditor, Andy Baudendistel, Attorney, and Sue Hayden, Administrator
TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE was read by Baudendistel as legally required.
PUBLIC HEARINGS ON CUMULATIVE BRIDGE AND CUMULATIVE COURTHOUSE and CUMULATIVE DEVELOPMENT FUNDS:
Baudendistel said all 3 funds were advertised because they had to get it together before they had decided what they were going to do. Commissioners have removed Cum Courthouse and Cum Bridge from the public hearing. If they are ever considered again later it should be noted that those 2 do NOT raise taxes but transfer tax money from County General and put it into cum Bridge or Cum Courthouse
Public Hearing on Reestablishing Cum Bridge Fund not addressed- cancelled
Public Hearings on Reestablishing the Cum Courthouse Fund - not addressed- cancelled
Public Hearing Reestablishing Cum Development Fund currently is .013/$100 assessed value Max value is .0333/$100 assessed value
Questions and Comments from the Public- no questions from the public.
Probst doesn’t support this. There is over $5 million available in the budget for this already. There has been COVID relief money that has freed up money from other sources for this. Funds that are going into safety are freed up and can go to other places. If we raise this tax to $.25/ hundred assessed value. In one example it would be $75 increase. If people are hurting and are on the lower end of the scale it affects them more.
Thatcher said that Council maintains a balance in funds in case they need it. Looking at $2-2.5 million in repairs needed in the Courthouse. Want to move ourselves to save money for the future. For example to get geothermal for the Courthouse and Annex etc. This will save taxpayer dollars down the road. Trying to make long term investments. Increased electric rates, carbon taxes, etc could cost us.
Little had he had nothing to add.
$297,018 would be generated annually estimated- from and increase to $.25/$100 assessed value.
Ordinance- will be considered at the first meeting in April on the 6th.
OLD BUSINESS:
Convention and Visitors Bureau - Judy Clark Director of Sales Hollywood Casino- approved.
PTABOA Appointment- Jodi Wolf , Realtor- appointed.
NEW BUSINESS:
Dearborn County Anti- Litter Initiative- Celeste Calvitto- Request Closure of Stateline Road Hill on April 10 from 8:30- 12 noon and Yorkridge Road- May 15 from 8:00 -12 noon from bottom of hill to Fox Road. Both approved contingent upon getting help and approval from the Sheriff’s dept. for traffic control. The Highway Dept will help with both collections per Listerman and Grieve will coordinate that.
Resolution to Oppose House Bill 1381- Commercial Wind and Solar Standards and Siting- Sue Hayden presented- This was based on the fact that it would remove LOCAL control of where these could be located. It passed the house and is going to the senate. IN Association of Counties,IN Association of County Commissioners, and Council President, Liz Morris, oppose this bill. Commissioners approved a resolution opposing it for Dearborn County. 60 other counties to date have opposed this bill. Thatcher has spoke to Chip Perfect about this and he will consider the county stance when this comes before the senate. Commissioners approved and signed. Rep Lyness and Frye both voted against this when it was in the house.
ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden nothing more
5:30 PM- PUBLIC HEARING WITH SUNMAN DEARBORN COMMUNITY SCHOOL CORP REGARDING CDBG GRANT (COMMUNITY BLOCK DEVELOPMENT GRANT): ADVERTISED FOR 5:30PM
OPEN Hearing on Blight Clearance Program regarding demolition of the North Dearborn Elementary School Building - NICOLE DAILY PRESENTED WITH SUSAN CRAIG OF SIRPC PRESENT VIA TELEPHONE. Dr. Jackson was present from Sunman Dearborn School Corp.
Questions and Comments from the Public- Susan Craig gave a brief description of the project.Said that she, Nicole Daily, and Dr Jackson had been working n this project for several years now. EPA grant helped with a grant to assess brownfields in the school district. Submitting a proposal and full application. OCRA wants a robust public participation. COVID paused this effort for a time and they are resuming it. In 2015 they vacated the Old Elementary and moved the kids to other buildings. This was to combat declining revenue as they went from 4200 students to 3700. No buyers want dates building. Board decided to demolish it and hold on to the land for the time being. It saves about $400,000.The cost to demolish is $440,000 and the grant covers $400,000 and the district covers $40,000. One group wanted them to turn it into a park perhaps. There is no vote tonight. There will be another public hearing before they submit the grant application.
AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold -Claims/Payroll and March 2nd Minutes approved.
ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- Jared Ewbank - Aurora City Attorney asked for 3 tax sale certificates to be transferred to the city. He will be at April 6th meeting. This will get the properties back on the tax rolls. Probst wants the to know what happened to the others they transferred to them the they come in.
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS
Probst- remember even with the vaccine to wear the mask. Encourage people to get the vaccine. This weekend the mobile command truck, water rescue deployed - in the search for those 2 murdered children in the news. National Severe Weather awareness week. Today was a statewide tornado drill that the county participated in.
Little - said he heard how easy it was to get vaccinated from someone who always complains.
Thatcher- its tough to sit up here sometimes - we do think about it and try to do what is best for the county. Hopes that the governor does NOT lift the mask requirement and open up by April 1.
LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- none
PUBLIC COMMENT
Dr Jackson from Sunman Dearborn praised Dr Eliason and the local Health Dept. for looking at the schools data and working outside the state health guidelines to take local control of the standards for school.
ADJOURN- 6 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
