6 May 2026 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes

 6 May 2026 Dearborn County Council Meeting Notes

Present: Liz Morris, President, Dennis Kraus. Sr., Dan Lansing, Doug Baker, Tim Doll, Mark Dole, and Glenn Wright. 

Also present: Connie Fromhold, Auditor

Title VI Statement read as legally required by Baudendistel

EXECUTIVE SESSION

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.

Council certified that they only discussed what was advertised and no others were discussed.

Action from Executive Session- No action.

NEW BUSINESS:

Lawrenceburg Conservancy District- Amended Resolution- Baudendistel- said Council had had a previous discussion and great writers had requested an amendment to it saying the grant was not limited to FEMA but also more options for grants.  He fixed a missing line in the resolution the continued safety and economic vitality of the city of Lawrenceburg that Glenn Wright had picked up.  APPROVED and signed 

ADDITIONALS:

Juvenile Center- Part-time $43,060 (1001 County Gen)- Josh ( no name given) presented. $40,000 for part time funds and were rotating full time timers to cover. They also had an ER visit. Last year maybe twice to ER. It used to be more frequent. This should take them to the end of year. This job takes special traits, It requires patience and stern and forceful when needed. $3060 from a different fund. APPROVED

Prosecutor- $23,770 Salary for a new hire (1001 County Gen)- filled a position with a new person from Hamilton County Ohio. Just got her certified in Indiana. She presented salary range- for Deputy Prosecutors $80-100,000. She is experienced. Seeking $100,000 with covering both Dearborn and Ohio County. Has John Watson, and herself , paid by state and now this will bring it to 7 deputy prosecutors. Several are part time. APPROVED.

Superior II-Public Defender $ 45,000 (1001 County Gen & 4914 Riverboat Contingency)- Leah Bailey- presented. APPROVED. 

Planning & Zoning- $9,000 Legal Services (1001 County Gen & 4914 Riverboat)- Nicole Daily- this was in addition to retainer, and because they need it for court cases on enforcement as other portion spent for research on the solar and moratorium. APPROVED.

Redevelopment-$100,000 Park Board Donation- Deaton presented- this is for Bright Meadows Park. This is out of their General Fund- not a TIF. Baker said it is a match to the Stellar Program APPROVED with  4ayes -3 nays ( Wright Lansing and Kraus. (This is the 2nd $ 100,000 that the DCRC has asked for the park. That totals $200,000 out of their general cash account. Not a TIF expense. The general cash account is used for all the county. ) 

St Elizabeth Cancer Center-Celeste Calvitto & E.G. McLaughlin $250,000 (4915 Riverboat Growth & Development) This is another installment (3rd) on their money requested. Celeste Calvitto presented how this is so much better for her personally as well as the community. Short trips better than all the way over to Edgewood. Other data given- 104,000 patient encounters so far. 400 no-cost mammograms. They are working in conjunction with grants to make sure women getting this free as needed. Melanoma No More clinic being presented Sept 12th. Working for a nourish pantry if patients need that. They also have pet therapy. Chaplain services 5 days a week.Trying to take care of one, body and spirit. Full time nurse navigator to coordinate care. Free emotional support and survivor support groups. Breast specialist surgeon is available here at the Dearborn Cancer Center..

EG McLaughlin introduced Jan Tyler- 27 year breast cancer survivor. They formed an all volunteer breast cancer support group that existed for 20 years and continued to St Elizabeth. Also Amy Bulach- Jan 2024 diagnosed  and had surgery and treatment before St E’s Cancer Center so was at Batesville and St E’s Edgewood. She said she’s been at St E’s her entire life as a patient. Laura- has passed her 1 year anniversary- praised the entire team at the Cancer Center, and their support. EG stressed that this is a blessing to have it here and thanked the Council for their support. Liz Morris concurred- especially having it here. APPROVED

Park Board-$125,000 Grant Matching Funds (4915 Riverboat Growth & Development, 4914 Riverboat Contingency & 1001 General) - Ralph Calvert Pres. of Park Board - said they only need  $16,400 of that unless the CVTB ( Tourism Board) covers it also. The they would need 0. They need to have this by August 1. But need commitments by June 1. 

Per Nicole Daily. Priority list of projects has widened trail as #1 and on to 7 items. They will add trails to make the loop ADA compliant. They will have total of $1million to match another $1 million Stellar. This part did NOT pass-DENIED 4 NAYS Lansing, Wright, Kraus, and Doll. Doll said he will support getting the rest from CVTB instead.

Park Board-$205,000 (1179 Park & Recreation)- Gene Cleary this is  to go to the match  APPROVED- 3 NAYS Lansing, Wright and Kraus,

AUDITOR-  Resolution of how Riverboat Funds to be Spent- APPROVED,

2026 Redevelopment Report for Gateway.- TIF Report 

Minutes APPROVED

Liz Morris - wanted to have this added to Dept heads- Wants a 5% reduction in their budgets due to constraints due to Legislative changes and add it to Leah Bailey’s letter to Dept heads. APPROVED. 

Also need to sign the grant for the Park Board from the Dearborn County Foundation $125,000

Salary Ordinance  APPROVED

LATE ARRIVAL- Glenn Wright has heard rumors that the county is paying for the defense in the lawsuit. Baudendistel explained- They can only file the 3rd party complaint if the court allows it. If the individuals are mentioned in them suit. Dillsboro and the county are being asked if they are covered. The 2 other individuals sued are not covered by the county - they have their own attorneys. Wright wants to know what was spent on the attorneys for this so far. Connie said they could come in and look at the records. Have to look at individual bills as claims ( digital)

Meeting adjourned at 6 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township