7 SEPTEMBER 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.
OLD BUSINESS- none
NEW BUSINESS
Mark McCormack- Planning and Zoning- Ordinance Adding Article 19- Solar Energy Systems to Zoning Code- McCormack presented the Solar Energy Systems Ordinance which comes with the unanimous favorable recommendation from the Planning Commission. Thatcher said with the amount of solar coming in to the area they need something on the books so he had asked for this to be done. The commissioners had this forwarded after the July PC meeting. It is compatible with Smart Energy. After Baudendistel reminded them the Public hearing was opened and closed with no public speaking. Commissioners approved with little discussion.
Resolution approving NFA Revenue Bonds- Baudendistel presented and said we are not liable for the St. Elizabeth Hospital bonds or issuing the bonds. They are merely approving the project use for the building of the Cancer Center in Dearborn County.
Elizabeth Younger- from Bond Counsel for St. E’s. said that the National Finance Authority is being used because the bonds are going t be used in two states. Bonds not to exceed $100 million. The resolution was approved by the commissioners.
Todd Listerman, Highway Engineer- Bridge 213 Bischoff Hill Road Slide and Erosion Control Agreement with FTBH out of North Vernon. This is to destabilize the bank and protect the bridge and bank. The adjoining property owners were present. They will do a keyway and rip-rap. Plans will be ready to go by end Nov and early Dec. They want to complete in the winter before spring rains. Council has approved funds. Commissioners approved the design work for Bischoff Hill Rd Bridge 213.
ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden- reminder that next meeting is MONDAY Sept 20 as they are attending an AIC- Association of Indiana Counties- meeting.
AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold -Claims/Payroll and August 17th Minutes approved.
ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- Proclamation prepared for Corp Kelsee Lainhart who was seriously injured by a suicide bombing in Afghanistan recently. They honor and thank her for her service to our country. They will send a copy to the Ms Lainhart as well- wishing her a speedy recovery from her injuries.
If you would like to send a personal card here is the address:
Kelsee Lainhart
Walter Reed Medical Center
8901 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20889
COMMISSIONER COMMENTS Probst- continuing reminder that COVID is here- orange bordering on red status here. We need to be vaccinated. He noted that vaccines prevent severe Covid requiring hospitalization.
Little- watching the football on TV with stands full of people- no masks- we are going to see spikes after this.
Thatcher- really appreciated Sue Hayden and Andy Baudendistel putting together the proclamation and thoughts and prayers are with Kelcey and others injured and killed in Afghanistan.
LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- none
PUBLIC COMMENT- Mrs Huff and Mr Huff ( Sp ?) REMC called and denied a claim on the tree that was cut down. They said it was Dearborn County’s responsibility and that proper protocol was not followed. You notify the homeowner first and discuss it with them. The whole thing could have gone differently. They could have been trimmed.
Thatcher’s response- REMC is always going to say no. REMC hired the contractor to cut down the trees. Todd Listerman had alerted REMC that there was potential problem with the trees. They wanted to be a good neighbor regarding the bridge work out there and now they are missing two 70-ft white pines. They left the meeting saying they were done with helping the county.
Mr and Mrs Heid- from Pinhook Rd. - problem with Board of Health. It started as a complaint about cleaning up their property due to burn barrels and trash etc. Tried to get the property cleaned up in 30 days. They asked for more time. They got it done with the extension.
Then the Board of Health started to look at their septic tank. The system is apparently in flood plain and a certified plumber that looked at it. They still didn’t get the results of his input. They had checked flood stage when they bought the house in the 90s. The Health Dept condemned his house Friday.
Andy Baudendistel- Lok=oked thru the court case files. Certified mail sent out May 24 and shows no response from them. Even though Heids said they responded. ( They had responded to the Health Dept attorney and not the court) He told the they need to get an attorney. They can also go to Cleary’s court and see why their response was not inputted.That’s why the Health Dept. got a default judgement.
Heid said they had they had a lot of meetings with Health Dept and Doug Baer. They sent their response in registered mail to the Health Dept attorney. They also noted that all the people on Pinhook are below them and so they are all in the same boat. Even more in the flood plain than their home. They even had map from the governor’s office showing the flood plain. There are some really nice houses two doors down from them. This will be a big mess- a class action suit. Baudendistel’s suggestion, they will seek a property law attorney, check with Cleary’s court on their letter that wasn’t received, and also said they will file complaints on the rest of the properties on their street.
ADJOURN- 10 AM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
