26 January 2023 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes

 26 January 2023 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes

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

Also present: Connie Fromhold, Auditor

Title VI Statement read as legally required by Morris

ELECTION OF PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT: 

Current President- Liz Morris- approved for 2023

Current Vice President- Allen Goodman- approved for 2023

CITIZEN BOARDS: all approved for 2023

Alcoholic Beverage Board- Glenn Huismann (1-year term)

Park Board- Robb Calvert(Democrat) & Kevin Vincent (Republican) Frisbee Golf Course

PTABOA- Mary Booker (1-year term)

Lawrenceburg Public Library- Jerry Hacker

APPOINTMENT OF BOARDS AND BOARD SEATS:  all approved

Emergency Management Board- Kevin Turner

Convention and Visitor’s Bureau- Glenn Wright

Solid Waste- Tim Doll

Community Mental Health- Allen Goodman

Community Corrections- Liz Morris (not up until 12/31/2025)

Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission- Allen Goodman & Dave Deddens

Greendale Redevelopment Commission- Dan Lansing

Juvenile Advisory Board- Liz Morris

Personnel Advisory Committee (PAC)-Liz Morris, Dennis Kraus 

 1^st Alternate- Allen Goodman

 2^nd Alternate- Tim Doll

Planning Commission- Dan Lansing

NEW BUSINESS:

St Elizabeth Cancer Center- Celeste Calvitto & E.G. McLaughlin- E.G. presented- he and John Maxwell serve on the Dearborn Cancer team. He introduced Dr Kotlov and Mike Schwebler ,Angela Roberts - VP St E’s and is a long time employee of the former hospital also and lives in Milan. Sara Sechrist  and Celeste Calvitto also on the team. High Point Health was here and made the request for $1million for the Cancer Center. He went on about the St. E’s leadership team that made a presences during Covid and going forward with St. E’s bringing an increased level of health care here. The Cancer center has broken ground. Completion in 2024. Funds are still needed. They are going throughout the community for donations. The Foundation is making a request of $1million. 

Celeste Calvitto spoke to give a personal statement about the cancer center, She had radiation treatment 5 days a week and had to go to Edgewood. Having a center like this in the community would be a great plus. Even during Covid- her treatment was seamless at St E’s. 

Dr Matthew Kotlov- one of the lead oncologists there at St. E’s. Great getting to know all the locals and learning how to pronounce the names of our towns correctly. He’s a native of rural upstate New York. His dad practices medicine in rural New York too. Our new cancer center- hating n a few points. Radiation needed in treatment care. Special services and palliative care on site. Lung cancer big problem in the area. Breast cancer also. Need it to be easier to get the care, so people will do it. We talk about treating the WHOLE person. We have nurse navigators to get questions answered during the process. Integrative care and alternative therapies. Screening early on to get cures and treatment. Clinical trial can happen here in time. Thank you for your consideration tonight. 

EG McLaughlin thanked the Council for listening tonight.Family members have had cancer- this is a big decision tonight- maybe one of the biggest. You want to get Cancer n stage 1 or 2 when it’s more treatable- and not stage 4. The more advanced surgeries will still be in KY. This is mainly outpatient. 

Morris said that people can review the information here and make decision at  budget time. 

AUDITOR:

Reimbursement Ordinance - Fromhold said it raised from $25- to  $60 /day with gratuities for meals. Approved.

Morris commented on the sheriff’s work saving money in his dept. also 

Planning and Zoning- Part time to full time employee- PAC committee met with Nicole Daily. She combined 2 part times. She has advertised 15 times in the past 2 years. Hard to get people for this. Approved. 

Salary Ordinance- signed this for the position above after it was approved. 

Approved and signed item for Listerman for Highway Dept. (not on agenda)

Interlocal & Resolution with Ohio County for Covid Health Grant- $50,000 from each county and combined the funds. This formalizes the agreement permanently. Commissioners already approved. Approved both the resolution and the agreement. 

Nursing Immunization Grant- its the yearly immunization grant for kids and flu etc. Approved.

Additional meeting for ARP Recommendation & Rainy Day Fund Contribution.- need to set date in March for this to act on this. March 9th was planned at 5 PM for this meeting.

Minutes- Approved 

Morris brought up the letter from Jeff Hermesch regarding a Park Director.

ROBB CALVERT- regarding BRIGHT PARK- he visited it as he was going to be on the park board. He saw 5 overflowing trash cans and the fields needed to be maintained, etc. He thinks that it would be really important to have someone to manage the parks. 

LATE ARRIVAL-none

PUBLIC COMMENT-none

Meeting adjourned at 5:55 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

23 January 2023 Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting Notes

 23 January 2023 Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting Notes

Present: Dennis Kraus, Jr., Chairman, Russell Beiersdorfer, Jeff Hermesch, Mark Lehman, Joe Vogel, Jake Hoog, Dan Lansing.

ABSENT: Jim Thatcher, Russell and Eric Lang.

Also Present:  Nicole Daily, Zoning Administrator, and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.

5 citizens were in the audience.

Baudendistel read the Title VI statement as legally required.

Election of Officers - Dennis Kraus Jr is Chairman, Mark Lehman is Vice chairman, and Nicole Daily is Secretary. 

Andy Baudendistel was reappointed as Attorney. 

ACTION ON MINUTES- December 19, 2022, January 27, 2020, February 24, 2020- [NOTE: 2 of the 3 minutes are from 2020] Minutes approved separately. They were amended to show that Bill Ullrich was in attendance for the 2020 ones. 

OLD BUSINESS: none

NEW BUSINESS: none

ADMINISTRATIVE:

Signatures for Interlocal Agreements - these are with the Aurora, St. Leon, Dillsboro, and ?? were approved at the Commissioners meeting. The Plan Commission members approved and signed the agreements with increases in the fees. They are automatically renewing for 3 years. 

Review and discuss proposed ordinance amendments and updates to the Dearborn County Zoning Ordinance, specifically with respect to the draft Zoning Map alternatives and the draft text(s) of: Articles 9 and 10, regarding Agricultural and Residential Zoning Districts; Article 25, regarding General Standards; Article 27, regarding Definitions

Nicole Daily went over the changes. The kennel licenses are for a commercial establishment- not for people who are just trying to keep a lot of dogs.No catteries are in it as they’ve never had requests for them. They worked to exclude R2 and R3 in the animal standards. Animal units are on a per acre basis. 

They added 10 rabbits to the section 4 b in addition to the chickens allowed in the R2 ZONE. 

PUBLIC COMMENT-

Corey Dawson- Brought up several examples of larger amounts of animals working n smaller lots. 800 sheep on 5 acres. He was told there is a way to get a variance with the BZA if they can demonstrate how they can do the increase. He likes a lot of what they have put in this. He sees some problems with some limitations. He offered his services to help the board. 

Matt Probst- Noticed a lot of land going to Ag Homestead and Residential. There was discussion of no water, sewer, and poor internet. He noted that  Old 350 doesn’t have a population of residents. Daily noted the homes there. He asked her if they were occupied or vacant homes. Are you basing it on access or lot size? Daily said both and other considerations. He noted with utilities there they are inadequate for increased development. Daily and the board told him that developers have to show that they are bringing adequate service. That is when the utility company gets consulted. 

Chris Mueller- asked if the board wants to make it easy for development by zoning Residential along the utility lines. This sparked more discussion of what the map is trying to do. The board is trying to create transitions between uses. Also talked about the master plan advisory committee recommending a current land use map as the transitional zoning map to make it more defensible.  

Steve Perrine asked about what the value is of Ag Homestead since all the issues are based on acreage in the text changes. 

Closed public discussion.

Daily used state code for the large operations and concentrated feeding animal operations . CFO. That is different from Confined animal feeding operation. They defined several terms like tiny homes and short term rentals.

Daily introduced the new office manager who takes notes at the meetings too. Angel Shinkle. 

February meeting have all the text  looked at. Then go to the maps after that.  

Meeting adjourned at 7:40 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

AGENDA- January 26th Dearborn County Council Meeting

                         AGENDA DEARBORN COUNTY COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26^TH, 2023 @ 5:00PM

HENRY DEARBORN ROOM

DEARBORN COUNTY GOVERNMENT CENTER

165 MARY ST, LAWRENCEBURG, INDIANA 

CALL TO ORDER-.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE- 

NEW BUSINESS:

ELECTION OF PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT:

Current President- Liz Morris

Current Vice President- Allen Goodman

CITIZEN BOARDS:

Alcoholic Beverage Board- Glenn Huismann (1-year term)

Park Board- Robb Calvert(Democrat) & Kevin Vincent (Republican) Frisbee Golf Course

PTABOA- Mary Booker (1-year term)

Lawrenceburg Public Library- Jerry Hacker

APPOINTMENT OF BOARDS AND BOARD SEATS: 

Emergency Management Board- Kevin Turner

Convention and Visitor’s Bureau- Glenn Wright

Solid Waste- Tim Doll

Community Mental Health- Allen Goodman

Community Corrections- Liz Morris (not up until 12/31/2025)

Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission- Allen Goodman & Dave Deddens

Greendale Redevelopment Commission- Dan Lansing

Juvenile Advisory Board- Liz Morris

Personnel Advisory Committee (PAC)-Liz Morris, Dennis Kraus 

 1^st Alternate- Allen Goodman

 2^nd Alternate- Tim Doll

Planning Commission- Dan Lansing

St Elizabeth Cancer Center- Celeste Calvitto & E.G. McLaughlin

AUDITOR:

Reimbursement Ordinance 

Salary Ordinance

Interlocal & Resolution with Ohio County for Covid Health Grant

Additional meeting for ARP Recommendation & Rainy Day Fund Contribution. 

Minutes- 

LATE ARRIVAL-

PUBLIC COMMENT- 

ADJOURNMENT- 

Food for Thought

 

Let the Hoosier Mystique Be

by Leo Morris

reprinted with permission of IPR

I have always been proud to be a Hoosier, proclaiming it boldly even to coastal snobs who almost think of it as a confession of mental deficiency.

I was not born in Indiana, but I was raised enough here to have adopted its values as my own – hard work, thrift, loyalty, integrity. Consider me a backward rube if you must, but I wear this state’s nickname as a badge of honor.

But it turns out I may have been a little reckless in my enthusiasm, because “Hoosier” is not official. It has never been formally adopted by the state legislature, which as we know is a prerequisite for acknowledgement in polite society. Just ask supporters of the mastodon, our approved state fossil, and the lovely Say’s Firefly, our sanctioned state insect.

So, “Hoosier” is just a rogue phrase, which should be whispered instead of shouted lest the nickname police hunt us down and shame us like the sobriquet-spewing dogs we are.

Happily, the General Assembly is coming to the rescue. After ignoring the issue all the way from its 1816 inception, that venerable body is finally considering a resolution to make “the Hoosier State” Indiana’s official nickname. We can all come out of the shadows and never have to deny our true nature again.

Of course, the legislator behind the resolution – Republican Rep. J.D. Prescott of Union City – is going a tad too far, as legislators tend to do. He wants not only to ensconce the name but formalize an origin story as the accepted version of how the name came to be.

And that is just so wrong.

You’ve heard some of the Hoosier legends.

It goes back to “hoozer,” a dialect term from England that meant anything large, like a hill. It evolved from a greeting a visitor heard when knocking on a cabin door in Indiana, “Who’s yere?” Indiana’s early settlers were such violent fighters that whenever a barkeeper saw a stray ear on the floor, he asked, “Whose ear?”

The version Prescott wants to immortalize is the one about “Harry Hoosier” an itinerant Methodist minister who, though, illiterate, preached with such passion that his congregants became ardent followers and gladly took the name “Hoosiers” in his honor.

I’m not saying this story is impossible, just improbable. For one thing, his name may actually have been “Hozier.” For another, he was well-known throughout the country, and his preaching took him to several states – why did his name stick in this particular one? Also, there was another fellow, name of Sam Hoosier, who was hired to build a canal in the 1820s, a decade before the nickname took hold.

But advocating the improbable with sincere conviction is what lawmakers do, and the closer something gets to highly improbable, the closer they get to absolute certainty. So perhaps we will be stuck with the story of Harry Hoosier.

The problem with that is not that it would be wrong. It’s that it would be forever accepted as reality, correct or not, and that would destroy the mystery our nickname has always had.

Let’s face it. Indiana is a mid-size state of no particular distinction in the middle of the country, no prefect weather, no outstanding geographical features, no historic milestones of epic proportions. All we have is the reputation we build from the present on.

And the mythological allure we can preserve from the past, which is what our nickname does.

No other nickname can match ours. The Buckeye State and Bluegrass State? How prosaic. The Show Me State? Too corny by half. The Empire State and Golden State? Gaudy and pretentious.

Only the Hoosier State has a nickname that remains elusively, tantalizingly mystical and enigmatic. Replace the perplexity with certainty, and the magic will be gone.

In other staggering news of legislative significance, the General Assembly will consider a measure to make the breaded tenderloin our official state sandwich, so put down that baloney on white with mayonnaise and promise to sin no more.

And from this day forward, pi will be 3.2, so go square all those circles.

Leo Morris, columnist for The Indiana Policy Review, is winner of the Hoosier Press Association’s award for Best Editorial Writer. Morris, as opinion editor of the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel, was named a finalist in editorial writing by the Pulitzer Prize committee. Contact him at leoedits@yahoo.com.

 

AGENDA- 6 PM NEW TIME- Dearborn County Plan Commission

                                                                 PLAN COMMISSION

AGENDA

Monday, January 23, 2023

6:00 P.M.

*Location: Henry Dearborn Meeting Room; Dearborn County Government Center

1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

1. ROLL CALL

1. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

1. ACTION ON MINUTES—December 19, 2022, January 27, 2020, February 24, 2020

1. OLD BUSINESS – NONE TO BE RE-OPENED

1. NEW BUSINESS – NONE

1. ADMINISTRATIVE

• Signatures for Interlocal Agreements

• Review and discuss proposed ordinance amendments and updates to the Dearborn County Zoning Ordinance, specifically with respect to the draft Zoning Map alternatives and the draft text(s) of: Articles 9 and 10, regarding Agricultural and Residential Zoning Districts; Article 25, regarding General Standards; Article 27, regarding Definitions

17 JANUARY 2023 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

 17 JANUARY 2023 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

911 Communications Board - Jeff “Leroy” Sterwerf as Fire Dept Representative-  Hayden said the Fire Chief’s voted to keep him as their rep. Commissioners approved.

NEW BUSINESS

2023 Litter Initiative- Celeste Calvitto: These are the ones they know about for now. There may be more coming. The Logan Cleanup has been going on for a long time - very organized. The Stateline one usually goes well also. Sheriff has approved and Tim Grieve has always been great with helping pick up the bags etc. with Hwy Dept helpers. East Central FFA does one around the school area so needs no road closures. She also had an elderly couple who had someone drop an oversized chair on their property with not way to get out out. Probst will check that out and see if Hwy can help perhaps. 

March 11, 2023 Annual Logan Cleanup- Whites Hill Closed from Route 46 to Gaynor from 8:30-10 AM and North Dearborn Hill closed from Pinhook Rd to Stateline from 10-noon

April 22,2023- Stateline Cleanup between the Augusta Dr entrances from 8:30-noon

May 6, 2023- Yorkridge Rd Cleanup from Guilford Hill bottom to Fox Rd from 9-noon

All the roads above were approved for the times listed.

Nicole Daily, Director of Planning and Zoning: Amendment to Article 2 Subdivision Ordinance on Types and Review Procedures and Ordinance to to Amend the Subdivision Ordinance- 

There are just small pieces taught have been changed. These are changes in how surveys are recorded. Having them on Mylar is current method. They created an alternative with a bond paper that will work. They tested it with etc Recorder’s Office as well. They took out the public hearing section and set it to refer to the appropriate section of the code that was amended last year. They are abiding by IDNR’s best data as well as the flood maps and both those layers are on Beacon’s website. They don’t have to go through the state to get that. The Stormwater Pollution Protection Plan replaced the old name “Rule 5”. This has to do with MS4 too. 

Mylar is still accepted- and the alternative is specified in the ordinance.911 addressing is in this part of the ordinance. Grading sections were moved to another section of the ordinance. Condominium rules were moved also and disposable of excavation materials.Commissioners approved the Amendment to the Ordinance. Thatcher explained why he had abstained on the Plan Commission vote on this previously.   

Thatcher congratulated Daily on her new position as Director of Planning and Zoning.  

Nicole Daily- Resolution to Authorize Entry into Interlocal Agreement with Certain Cities and Towns - Dillsboro, West Harrison, St. Leon, and Aurora- Baudendistel- explained that he had updated these as well as the costs . This is a 3 year agreement. At the end of the 3 years there is a 3% increase at the end of 3 years. Daily said- there are still termination clauses in these. They automatically  renew after 3 years unless terminated. All the agreements are signed per Daily except for St. Leon, as they haven’t met yet until Feb 1st. They have budgeted for this. Commissioners approved the resolution and these agreements and signed them. 

Park Board Appointment- Kevin Vincent- Baudendistel wants Council to consider this appointment perhaps. Alan Miller also said he would be willing. Commissioners TABLED both until next meeting to check on the political requirements. 

Juvenile Center - Nurse and Doctor Agreement - Sue Hayden said they were for $11,500 for tDr Dobbs MD and $13,000  for Ron Phillips the nurse per year. Commissioners approved.

Ordinance to Amend Section 34.14- Sheriff Criminal Investigation Fund- Baudendistel- This is what Sheriff McHenry asked about. The seized asset fund was before. They decided to Amend the section to show where the source of the funds were. Thatcher asked about the 70% sheriff 30% to the prosecutors fund. Currently the special crimes funding all went to the prosecutor. Expenditures out of this fund have to be approved by County Council. We are not going them a checkbook. Approved by Commissioners. 

Resolution Approving Entry into Interlocal with Ohio County on Health Grants- Baudendistel- the COVID- 19 clinic was paid by both Counties. This was done before. Recently we redid our interlocal so that these won’t have to be redone each year if the COVID 19 Grant money is renewed. Approved by Commissioners.

OHM MS4 Master Agreement with cities and Agreement with OHM and Dearborn County- Baudendistel said this is the consulting firm for MS4. $25,000 will cover the things that are they same for 3 cities and Dearborn County. $17,161.17 is the county share of this. The County also has a $15,000 agreement separately with OHM. The cities also have separate agreements. They will file notice of intent to comply in April. The consultants have been amazing to work with. Approved.

Basement Annex Project Contracts with MAXWELL and DLZ- Hayden $184,714 is the combined amount out of ARPA Funds. $148,000 Maxwell. $20,090 Maxwell. $15,000 DLZ. Probst disagreed with the complete project on several levels. No need for screening fence for paper storage. No need for bathrooms there. Didn’t like how it didn’t come to Commissioners.   Says the money is needed more elsewhere. Thatcher said the basement was set up for future development of the Annex. He thought it was appropriate. Commissioners approved with Probst voting NAY. 

Hogan Water Company $1,112,763 project using ARPA money. Council has to vote on it too. Council will meet in March. They will get it advertised. 152 day project. Favorable recommendation to pass to Council to approve the money so they can become a water corporation again. 

Review and Acknowledgement of Encumbrances- Fromhold needed them to say they had reviewed the encumbrances. Highway dept and others that had contract that carries over to 2023. Commissioners acknowledged that. 

ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden- Juvenile Center Sign- needed to be updated. The highway Dept can order it in metal with no names on it so it is more permanent. Approved.

AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold  -Claims/Payroll and January 3rd Minutes- Approved

ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- nothing more

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS- Probst- LINK-101 meeting- Committee meeting he attended. They are to receive citizen input as it proceeds in developing potential route alternatives. OKI said there is no federal money going into this yet. They are consulting on this which is unusual as they usually only do federal money projects. Outside the construction area there will be many areas affected. If it were a federal project they usually look at parallel routes for biking for example. Summer of 2024. 5:30 Tomorrow night will be a meeting at Dillsboro School. They are in the environmental study part. No one knows where it will come out yet per Thatcher. 844LINK101- is the phone number to =contact the state, 

Thatcher- Sometimes Change is a good thing.  

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- none

PUBLIC COMMENT- none

ADJOURN- 6:13 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

AGENDA- JANUARY 17TH DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING

                                                                       

                                                                              AGENDA

DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

 January 17, 2023 

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 

1.  911 Communications Board - Jeff “Leroy” Sterwerf as Fire Representative

VI. NEW BUSINESS

1.  2023 Litter Initiative – Celeste Calvitto

1.  March 11, 2023 - Annual Logan Clean up 

• White Hill closed (Rt. 48 – Gaynor) 8:30 a.m. - 10.:00 a.m.
• North Dearborn Hill closed (from Pinhook to Stateline) 10:00 a.m. – noon

2.  April 22, 2023 - State Line between the 2 August Entrances 8:30 a.m. - noon

3.  May 6, 2023 - Yorkridge, bottom of Yorkridge Hill to Fox Road 9:00 a.m. – noon

2.  Nicole Daily, Director of Planning & Zoning

1.  Amendment to Article 2 - Subdivision Ordinance – Types and Review Procedures

1. Ordinance to Amend Article 2 – Subdivision Ordinance

2.  Resolution Authorizing Entry into Interlocal Agreement w/Certain Cities & Towns

A.  Interlocal w/Town of Dillsboro

B.  Interlocal w/Town of West Harrison

C.  Interlocal w/Town of St. Leon 

D.  Interlocal w/City of Aurora

3.  Park Board Appointment – Kevin Vincent

4.  Juvenile Center 2023 Nurse and Doctor Agreement

5.  Ordinance to Amend Section 34.14 (Sheriff Criminal Investigation Fund)

6.  Resolution Approving Entry into Interlocal Re: Health Grants

1.  Interlocal w/Ohio County

7.  OHM MS4 Master Agreement w/Cities

1.  OHM MS4 Agreement w/Dearborn County

8.  Basement Annex Project Contracts 

1.  Maxwell

2.  DLZ

9.  Review/Acknowledgement of Encumbrances

VII. ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden

1.  Juvenile Center Sign

VIII. AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold

1.  Claims/Payroll/Minutes

IV. ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel

X. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

XI. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

XII. PUBLIC COMMENT

XIII. ADJOURN