6 JULY 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 HEARING - PETITION TO VACATE A PORTION OF RIGHT OF WAY ON HICKORY AND BUNKUM DRIVES IN HICKORY HILLS SUBDIVISION- Baudendistel presented in Rob Sieg’s (surveyor) absence. This is correcting he old cul de sac that was leftover. It was a unanimous vote for favorable recommendation to vacate the ROW. Seig arrived to answer questions if needed. The vacated portion stays with the Willworth property. Probst asked if we need the ROW back in the future does the county have to purchase it? YES. But the utilities that are in there they remain. Water and telephone and a third utility easement are still intact per Seig. Public hearing was closed. Commissioners approved the vacation of the ROW.
OLD BUSINESS-
Economic Development Agreement with Dyke Industries tabled from June 22 meeting - Diane Bender of DCRC - Council has approved the economic revitalization area. Need an agreement to formalize the commitments that formalize the abatement and the promises that Dyke previously made. This is formalizing it in one document and the Commissioners are the group that do this. No discussion- Approved and signed.
NEW BUSINESS
Updates from Soil and Water- Jennifer Hughes,Stormwater Coordinator and Ken Gunkel, Board Member- Jennifer- said the have emergency watershed protection funds for storm wash outs. they did a River Sweep and cleaned up Lesko Park. Pollinator Workshop Aug 14th at Echoville farms in Sunman. Also doing these at Libraries. They have a monthly newsletter that you can sign up for. The want all bird feeders removed due to songbird deaths. Cutter and Jeffrey Farms in Farmers Retreat are being recognized.
Vicki thru NRCS handles the program on the emergency funds for washouts. Listerman will check with Tim to be sure we are using this.
MS4 will have significant financial impact. Lawrenceburg is preparing for this. Probst said this will take a full time MS4 coordinator. Hidden Valley is ready in this. They need to have some basic paperwork for this and then you have to have a stormwater management plan with in a year. She has been working with tech committee at planning and zoning to get these ordinance started. You can also hire a contractor to help you. Baudendistel said he’s pretty sure that it will take a company to come in and help as it is so technical. She’s encouraging people to work together. County has not been notified yet that they have to do this yet. Hayden asked about getting that group together that was set up a while back.
There are 22 different designations and it’s based on the US census. Our area goes up into Logan and down into Aurora. EPA has made them get MS4 out of Administrative Code now.
Gunkel passed out wildflower packets to commissioners and staff for pollinator gardens.
New Heart House Director-Wyatt Sampson to be introduced by Craig Beckley, who said he was former County Commissioner and retiring as Director of Heart House. He praised Sue Hayden for how much she helps him. He also brought up the controversy over the Outer Loop Highway and said that now 20 years later people agree with the idea as it was turned into the new connection with Markland Dam.
[NOTE: Mr Beckley seems to be rewriting history regarding the” controversial” part of that old plan. For those of us who were taking notes back then, “his” idea of an extension that cut through the heart of farmland all the way to I-74 was an unacceptable duplication of SR 101 just across the county line.]
Employment rate of homeless for past 19 years they have a very high rate. They make the people be responsible. Recidivism is 5%. This compares favorably to the 30-35% of most shelters.
Passed 70% at getting them homes and jobs. They never turn down a child. They have had over 5000 homeless individuals in the past 19 years. He retires in 8 weeks. His family wants him to retire. They found a replacement in Wyatt Sampson. It’s a stressful job. Sampson is ex- military and he’s used to stress. He will take Heart House to new levels.
Wyatt Sampson- look forward to continuing and improving Heart House.
Probst asked about his military experience - 2.5 years US Navy.
Sue Hayden extended her offer to help Sampson.
Funding- Ed Opp, Aurora Emergency Rescue- inundated with a lot of calls outside their service area. They have been having to hire people to replace volunteers as they have fewer and fewer of them. Dillsboro has needed more help now. They (Hayden and Probst) talked about the money that is based on EMS and then the money based on runs. They think that he should be asking for the Runs Funds to be boosted. And they need to request that from Council. That fund was established maybe 15 years ago.
They do not want to increase the funds per unit ( the $20,000) for each EMS vehicle. Opp wants to use the money from the Public Safety tax- and last year he thinks the jail got it all. Commissioners asked about all the grant opportunities too. Opp is utilizing that.
Commissioners approved allowing Opp to approach Council for increased funding.
Disaster Emergency Declaration Ratification - Jason Sullivan, EMA Director- Even though they probably won’t get FEMA disaster funds, Commissioners ratified the declaration. There’s at least $2 million in repairs needed.
Cyclical Reassessment Bid Awards- Megan Acra, Assessor- presented the bids for the next 4 years. Now with Tyler Technologies. Lexar and Tyler Technologies. $1500 difference 792400
793952. Tyler is a little bit higher, but they have been very responsive over the years. They meet all deadlines also. Commissioners approved the bid from Tyler Technologies.
Highway Engineer, Todd Listerman:
Bid Award Small structure #121- Alan’s Branch Road- 3 bids - Rohe $544,352.25 Lowest
Mcallister $572,315.75, and Sunesis $700,553.50. (does a lot of state work)
Commissioners approved Paul Rohe’s bid to be done before the end of the year per Listerman.
Request to Approach Council - $250,000 for design of Bridge #135 Weisburg Road- this is the one washed out in the 7+ inches of rain. Tim is getting with $6,700 to remove the structure. Expensive because of the ROW of railroad tracks and utilities too. It should be under $250,000 for design but needs to have a cushion. INDOT has been notified that is a CLOSED bridge for now. Approved for NTE $250,000 to approach Council.
Bridge #213 Bischoff Hill Road was hit hard with 2 storms. Creek is causing erosion north of the bridge and lost rip rip and protection of the bridge. Prices to correct the north bank and set abutment for NTE $150,000. Utilities are there also. This is required just to repair. The project will need more design eventually. Commissioners approved going to Council.
Vacation for Listerman next week in SC if hurricane doesn’t take it away.
Community Crossings opened up and he’s preparing for that.
19 of the 44 roads are patched and paved. Sealing will occur at the end of the preliminary work. It should be finished in August.
Covered Bridge Certification - Connie Fromhold, Auditor- $1,850 annually received for it. Approved.
ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden:
OKI 2022 Agreement- $16,442 - this is a fiscal year. The rate is determined by the census. About $0.17/person per Probst. [NOTE: 50,000 people divided by $16,442 = $0.32884 - so about $0.33/ person ] Rate is same for last 18 years. Approved.
Support Letter for 2022 Grant Application for Community Corrections and Court Services- Steve Kelly - $552,317 applied again this year same as last year. 3 grants make up this total amount. Approved and signed the letters of support and they have permission to approach Council.
AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold -Claims/Payroll and June 15th Minutes and special meeting Tuesday June 27th- approved
ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- nothing
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS-
Little- Bad weather noticed a lot of limbs and cleanup.Thx for the cleanup
Probst- Understaffed and underpaid - thx
Thatcher agreed.
LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- none
PUBLIC COMMENT- none
ADJOURN- 10:30 AM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
