2 NOVEMBER 2021 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

 2 NOVEMBER 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

NEW BUSINESS

CVG Airport Update- Seth Cutter, Director of Communications and Public Affairs- had a powerpoint presentation but couldn’t give it due to tech difficulties at the county. He gave a quick update. Airport has been impacted by Covid. 2020 was the bottom. 2021 has had increased air traffic for recreation and families but corporate traffic has not rebounded. #7 in cargo transport. Breaking monthly records monthly with the air traffic due to e-commerce. CVG is DHL’s # 2 operation in the world. Outside of the main hub in Germany we are #2 and #3 is in Hong Kong. Amazon project is operational in August. They have been operating out of DHL since 2017.This is a gradual transition to their new facility The hub will be continuously built out into 2026. This means more jobs and also need jobs at the airport maintenance etc for the region. An increasing number of jobs at the airport are coming from IN and OH as well as KY. 

They have recently completed a 175 Million terminal project.  They have consolidated the rental car facility. It’s connected to the garage where they will retrieve their car also. Curb space was filled up- now all the shuttles have been taken off the front curb now. 

Runways are being rehabbed. Recently reopened he main cargo runway. During rehab they were going to a different direction. This cargo traffic is mainly nighttime. They have a tool to see if the traffic is lower and this riser than it should be. 14,000 jobs on the CVG campus. 47,000 are in the region. They want to be sure they are responsive to the community and they want to hear about the impact the airport is having on the neighbors here. 

Probst asked about the Amazon employees. Amazon’s CVG hub is their targets facility in North America. Their number of employees will be at 2000 - perhaps more. The neighboring job sites are worried about their labor supply. This will be competition for other businesses for the labor pool. At DHL and Amazon the transfers and containers are in sortation facility and the put back on another plane. That’s 80 % of the load. The rest is on tracks if it’s less than 500 miles to the buyer. This will increase truck traffic and it is a concern for the  region 

Thatcher asked about the business travel changes with the pandemic and Zoom meetings. They are trying to assess how much corporate traffic will resume. People are still not back in the office. The new normal will be less than before. Hope to rebound by 2024 -2025. Maybe this is the new normal. Corporate and leisure go hand in hand. CVG has the only flight to Paris in the region for example. The business class section of the plane is the moneymaker on these flights. 

Airport has a labor shortage in their concessions. Have less hours to accommodate the labor issue. Kids in high school can work at the concessions. $70,000 is starting pay for airport mechanics. 

They will give commissioners the link for the portal to communicate issues to the airport and also for jobs. Thatcher asked if he could stop that flight that goes over his house at 5:30 in the morning. <Laughter>

Soil and Water Conservation District Update- Jennifer Hughes, Storm Water Coordinator - have been helping get rid of invasive species at the local parks. They are being notified soon if they will be in the MS4 in the next month. Letters will go out in Dec with January effective date. Part of the stormwater program is part of the MS4 program. They did not give the schedule for the new MS4 deadlines. Waiting on EPA. There are definitely new MS4s for Dearborn County.

 Matt Jarvis, NRCS District Conservation- Their year starts Oct 1. EQIP For anyone interested in doing natural resource work on their farm. They usually bring in $150,000 cost share for the county Glad to meet with them on their farm too. They are at 50% staff in their office. They can have 3 people in their office. Often they are in the field. They check messages throughout the day. You can schedule by appointment one at a time. Masks required. 

Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission- Resolution to Dissolve Skally’s Bakery TIF Allocation Area and Resolution to Amend the Boundaries of the West Harrison Are to include the former Skally’s TIF and Supplemental Amendment to the West Harrison Economic Development Plan.Jim Deaton presented. This was presented at the Plan Commission. They signed off. If this passes, then it goes to the DCRC for final approval. 

Deaton gave the history of the project. Skally’s plans fell through and Dyke Industries came in and their project straddles the Skally’s and the West Harrison TIF. They need to dissolve Skally’s allocation area with no production. They will then amend West Harrison TIF to include these parcels back into the West Harrison TIF. 

Baudendistel weighed in on this and commissioner’s approved the two resolutions to dissolve Skally’s TIF and to expand the West Harrison TIF to include the former Skally’s TIF areas. Passed and signed. 

Todd Listerman, Highway Engineer- Bid Award for Replacement of Bridge #44 Turkey Point Rd- on Oct 21st bid opening. Rohe and Sunesis Construction. Rohe was lowest at $1,204,752.85.  They have several things to prep and then will start the temporary runaround in early spring. It will be done by the end of September 2022. They will have the temporary runaround during this time. Approved. 

Agreement for part time construction inspection on Bridge #44. NTE contract for FPBH of North Vernon for $40,880. They go during concrete pours and prior to the concrete pour. About twice a week. They also test the concrete like air, yield, and  slump. The bridge coatings are separate and Listerman does that in 2-3 years. Listerman goes out also- often when they FPBH is not there to observe. Approved.

Listerman updated Commissioners, Met with consultant regarding Community Crossings Grant for submission to LTAC soon. The Bridge asset management plan was considered also for submission to INDOT There are 15 bridges still under 50 points. 

They are planting 18” seedlings in December for DNR requirements on one project. 

Thatcher said he wanted to have Sue Hayden be his witness for bid openings for consistency. He can do it in Listerman’s office at the administration building.  

ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden- none- sorry about the computer glitch this morning.

AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold:

Claims/Payroll and Oct 5th and 19th Minutes- approved

2022 Payroll and Claims schedule- approved

Health Dept Grant approval- $101,892.16 for vaccines and children - already received the money. Approved.

ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- public health emergency has been extend again until Dec 21,2021.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS:

Probst- Vaccines for kids and the boosters are available- encourage people to get it.

Little- KY has announced they are decreasing COVID numbers, 512 kids came through for Halloween special event up in Bright even with the drizzling rain.

Thatcher- encouraged people to get Turkey and Christmas shopping done early due to supply chain. 

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- Todd Listerman - presented issues with the access points for Old Orchard Subdivision now that Tucker is starting up on Phase 3. The access to Jenny Lynn from Old Orchard is an emergency access only now. And that cannot be opened unless the access to Stateline from Jenny Lynn is improved. Tucker stull has to get secondary approval and bonds. Commissioners  will meet with Listerman to see what can be done to improve Stateline Rd there. Might consider stop signs as a measure of safety due to sign distance issues. 

PUBLIC COMMENT- none

ADJOURN- 10:25AM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

AGENDA- November 2nd DC Commissioners MORNING Meeting

 AGENDA

DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

November 2, 2021 

9:00 a.m. Henry Dearborn Room

County Administration Building

165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE

IV. OLD BUSINESS 

V. NEW BUSINESS

1.  CVG Update – Seth Cutter, CVG, Director of Communications & Government Affairs

2.  Soil & Water Update  

1.  Jennifer Hughes, Storm Water Coordinator

2.  Matt Jarvis, NRCS District Conservationist

3.  Dearborn County Redevelopment 

1.  Resolution - Dissolution of Skally’s Bakery TIF Allocation Area

2.  Resolution - Amending Boundaries of “W. Harrison Area” and Approving Supplement Amendment to W. Harrison Economic Development Plan 

4.  Todd Listerman, Hwy Engineer

1.  Bid Award for Replacement of Bridge #44 Turkey Point Road 

2.  FPBH, Inc. Agreement for Part-time Construction Inspection on Bridge #44

 

VI. ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden

VII. AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold

1.  Claims/Payroll/Minutes

2.  2022 Payroll & Claims Schedule

3.  Health Department Grant Approval

VIII. ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel

IX. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

X. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

XI. PUBLIC COMMENT

XII. ADJOURN

25 October 2021 Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting Notes

 25 October 2021 Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting Notes

Present: Dennis Kraus, Jr., Chairman, Russell Beiersdorfer, John Hawley, Mark Lehman, Joe Vogel, Jake Hoog, Dan Lansing, Jim Thatcher, and Eric Lang

Also Present: Mark McCormack, Plan Director, and Andy Baudendistel, Attorney.

Baudendistel read the Title VI statement as legally required.

ACTION ON MINUTES- Oct 26, 2020 Minutes approved (from a year ago) Lansing abstained. April 26, 2021 also approved.  

OLD BUSINESS: none

NEW BUSINESS:

To make a determination regarding whether a resolution and an amendment proposal to the economic development plan for the West Harrison Tax Increment Finance (TIF) District area, as forwarded by the Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission, conform to the County’s plans of development. 

Applicant: Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission Site Location: Near West Harrison, along I-74, U.S. 52, Harrison-Brookville Rd., etc. Sections: Parts of Sections 4, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 Township #: 7 Range: 1 Political Township: Harrison 

Mike Perleberg, Andrea Ewan, DCRC Attorney,Dave Deddens, and Jim Deaton represented the DCRC request at this meeting.

Jim Deaton presented. The item is in regards to putting the Skally’s TIF District back into the West Harrison TIF where it was originally. They want Skally’s TIF to be dissolved FIRST.  After that they want to amend the West Harrison TIF to include Skally’s district SECOND. 

Skally’s Bakery fell through as they lost a partner a while back and Dyke Industries later came in the area. Dykes is in both Skally’s and West Harrison TIF areas. It just puts Skally’s back into the West Harrison TIF. 

Kraus asked if the TIF ending time stays the same. Yes that is true per DCRC members present. It also makes the book keeping easier and clearer on the taxing districts.There needs to be 2 separate votes. And then they sign each resolution. 

Lehman 1st and Beiersdorfer 2nd to approve and sign the Resolution of the DCRC dissolving the Skally’s TIF area. Approved.

Lehman1st and Beiersdorfer 2nd to approve and sign the Resolution expanding the West Harrison TIF area to include the former Skally’s area and including a supplement to it. Approved.  Plan Commission signed both resolutions. 

ADMINISTRATIVE: 

To review and discuss proposed ordinance amendments the Dearborn County Zoning Ordinance—including the Zoning Update Study (involving Text and Map changes) 

New assistant Planner Dan Woods- and will be in charge of the office for about a week.Both other staff are out for surgery or medical reasons.  County Surveyor will look over items and Lehman as VP of Plan Commission should there be any item that Surveyor can’t sign off on. 

Public workshop consultant and survey data is being compiled by TSW Design Group as the consultant. (Alec and Amy) There are comments and emails from people that he will consolidate for them. Prior to the next meeting in November. A lot of the  people he talked to weren’t unhappy with the proposals - just unhappy with some aspects of the transition zone areas. Mccormack referred to this land as being on the edges. Also some issues with some of the zone change text as to what was allowed in the two Ag districts and the three Residential ones. 

Workshop turnout was about the same at all 5 workshops. About 15-20 were there on Saturday. Some wanted to know what changes had been made since the earlier ones in July. ( None) The board has to get the entire set of surveys and comments first.

Discussion regarding how to decide what to do with the maps as requested changes are considered. Maybe invite the people who attended workshops and did surveys and included their contact info. 

McCormack to consolidate the info and get the consultant info also to the board before the November 22 meeting. Public will probably be included after this is consolidated. 

Meeting adjourned at 8:02 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

AGENDA- Oct 25th Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting

 AGENDA- Oct 25th Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting 

Complete agenda and supporting documents can be found by clicking the link below, 

https://www.dearborncounty.org/egov/documents/1634314079_24154.pdf

19 OCTOBER 2021 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

 

19 OCTOBER 2021 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

Present: Art Little, and Rick Probst (acting president)

Also present: Andy Baudendistel, Attorney, and Sue Hayden, Administrator

ABSENT:Jim Thatcher (illness) and Connie Fromhold, Auditor

TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE was read by Baudendistel as legally required.

OLD BUSINESS- none

NEW BUSINESS

Villages of Sugar Ridge Discussion- Dennis Richter- Dennis Richter asked to be put on the agenda for a discussion regarding issues and problems residents in the Villages of Sugar Ridge are having with a builder. He has become a “spokesperson” for the homeowners affected by this builder. Several property owner’s that adjoin lot 54 may speak as well as a few that have been damaged by him.

His experience with the county has been good helping him with their issues with their builder up there, We have a builder in our community that has left property damage to the adjoining properties. They have issues with the golf course also. The county has had issues with the golf cart path. He’s like a bull in a china shop- breaking a lot of things out there. Soil erosion issue as he has back filled properties that are drainage areas. Would like to see problems corrected prior to him building more. Our mission today is to inform and request. 

Property in question is less than half the size of those around it. It’s not good for future development. This was a green space in the community and cared for by the community ever since developer, Macke, went bankrupt.There may be a court action by the people who have been taking care of it.  

They have an issue with the plot- that needs a correction - before anyone starts building on that thing. 

Hidden Valley has an architectural committee that works hand in hand with the county. In Sugar Ridge they don’t have an appetite for HOAs. We are asking for time- to do the research before this gets done. It’s a good community- and we have a little slice of heaven up there. We have an unheavenly body up there and we need some archangels to do battle. Laughter.

Mike Griffin- lives at 121 Oakmont and is next to Mr Weis’s lot. He got a variance to build the house he wants. Weiss needed a variance from him and the other neighbor, Rick. Weiss wanted $28,000 for the lot that he had paid $17,000 for a month ago. He put rocks there to annoy Griffin and said they needed to be off his property or he’d call the police. 

Rick moved there about 3 years ago with Sequoia as builders. I had to make 7% brick and made it the way the county wanted it. I asked him nicely to not be on my lot - he needed a survey. He was dropping boulders on my property. Someone has to check things. Maybe hold his permit to get things checked. 

Dennis Richter said that there is not homogeneous coding up there.

Dave Mink- He’s been a Hamilton County Inspector. He thinks the county inspectors are overwhelmed. Have never seen anything like this being approved. This builder is getting away with a lot of misrepresentation of practices. There is no unity on the way he puts a building together. Somebody needs to keep an eye on this builder. I’ve seen too much of his practices and his abilities. His wrap and Tyvek are issues. Shingles are not appropriate. etc. In this house there is large settlement on the Right Rear corner of the house. There are a number of encroachments on neighbors properties. I moved in May and looked at these lots. There is a number of trailers, rocks etc there that were supposed to be moved by Oct 16.There is equipment and staging materials on the lots. 

Lonnie- a builder and remodeler in the county for 40 years. You don’t have to have a licensed surveyor to plot your house on your lot. You should have to do this to get the setbacks right. I live right across the street from this house. DNR sent out a game warden about the erosion control issues. If we can’t turn to our county for help, who do we turn to? He is essentially storing all his equipment there. You guy’s have run into this guy before in HVL. He thinks he can get away with anything. Many people say we have to do a civil suit. We’d like to have his permit held for 30-60 days. He will start as soon as he can and leave the foundation open.

Rick Murphy- produced the drawings for commissioners. Lived there for 15 years. Had to get a variance to have their houses set back where they are. Macke screwed a lot of people. All we are looking for is someone to help us keep this  nice community. About 85%  retired there.

Rick from next door to this guy- the county had given them the pages of requirements we had to adhere to. Builder Weiss needs to obey also. 

Dennis Richter- you are our guys- you are the ones we need to help us. Don’t let the monster in.

Probst- Thanked everyone for coming- You are the eyes. This allows us to try to take some actions, which we have to think about. Asked Baudendistel whether they could stretch time. Baudendistel said they have to find out if there is a permit issue.

Richter extended a personal invitation to them to see the community. They have 36 buildings going up there. 

Baudendistel-If any of you have any evidence of permit violations let us know. Inspections are public records. 

Resident from Sugar Ridge - He has siding on the whole house. There are 8 different sets of covenants and restrictions in the community per Baudendistel. 

Richter- looking for more of a political than legal solution. Baudendistel said he has to inform commissioners of their legal options.

Richter- Setback is wrong off of Augusta for his property.Thinks he has a friend in the county- getting away with this.

Mark McCormack, Planning Director- took exception with the comment that there was friend in the office. McCormack said they have a history of taking people to court when they need to. Trying to hold people to the standards of the code. WE need to have information that shows a violation.

[NOTE: PUD- planned unit development for Sugar Ridge. HVL has one set of rules for all of their homes. Sugar Ridge has numerous sets of covenants. The developer or HOA or homeowners themselves enforce the covenants and restrictions. Problem is that Macke is bankrupt- and their is no HOA in this section ????? ]

Probst thanked them for coming out and giving them information to look at and see what they can do. No action taken.

ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden- for Gerald Bruns-  Knights of Columbus 1231 Twelfth Annual Prayer on the Square January 21, 2022 at 10 AM-  approved.

AUDITOR –Hayden presented for Fromhold  -Claims/Payroll and October 5th Minutes approved

ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel - none

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS- 

Little- couldn’t hear his comment.

Probst- recognized and thanked Park Board for all the work they do. There is a Park Board vacancy and they are looking for a member that has to be a Democrat. Need some one to do this.

County Planning and Zoning - has a final workshop on Saturday Oct 23 at LBG Library 10-12.

Greater Cinti Airport will be at first Nov meeting to talk about changes that affect us here.

Covid- continue to take protective measures.

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- Listerman - Quote for Structure at Weisburg. Bridge #135 to be completed in 16 weeks. End of Feb or first part of March.

2 quotes- $121,046.48 Civilcon and $145,194.45 E3 Bridge.

Have selected an aluminum box culvert for this. Asked for Civilcon to be approved and signed. Funding already secured from Council. Approved. Listerman will order it tomorrow. Also update it on the website. 

Noticed on SR 48 by Manchester School a number of accidents. Talked to INDOT to see if there is anything they can do to help that curve. They will add additional arrows etc. This is by the ball field. These should have extra luminescence for at night. 

Hope to hear from Community Crossings grants soon. 

PUBLIC COMMENT- Josh Holland- has still not received and acknowledgment of the request for info he submitted per his statements at last meeting.  Oct 5th at Law Enforcement Center is where it was submitted Probst will see what he can find in the next couple days. If not- Contact the appropriate person. He might then go to Public Access Counselor.

ADJOURN- 6:10 PM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

REMINDER- Last Opportunity to attend a Workshop Meeting Oct 23rd 10-12 @ Lawrenceburg Library

 REMINDER- Last Opportunity to attend a Workshop Meeting on the proposed changes to the County Zoning Map regarding Agricultural and Residential Zone changes proposed. The Final Workshop is Saturday October 23 from 10-12 at the Lawrenceburg Library in the Ewbank Room.

You can also see details and the online survey by going to the Planning and Zoning website link below.

https://www.dearborncounty.org/department/index.php?structureid=26

AGENDA October 19th DC Commissioners Meeting

 AGENDA

DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

October 19, 2021 

5:00 p.m. Henry Dearborn Room

County Administration Building

165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE

IV. OLD BUSINESS 

V. NEW BUSINESS

1.  Villages of Sugar Ridge Discussion - Dennis Richter

2.  Knights of Columbus Council 1231 Twelfth Annual Prayer on the Square – 1/21/22

 

VI. ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden

VII. AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold

1.  Claims/Payroll/Minutes

VIII. ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel

IX. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

X. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

XI. PUBLIC COMMENT

XII. ADJOURN

5 OCTOBER 2021 DEARBORN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS MEETING NOTES

 5 OCTOBER 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

Regional Justice Reinvestment Advisory Council- Steve Kelly, Director of Court Services-HRA 1068 requires each local county to have this Council to look over the Justice Center. We already have something similar to this in Community Corrections Advisory Board. This act now has a specified certain officials. This new board also has Commissioner on the board in addition to what we have on the CCAB. This Community Corrections Advisory Board suffices for this new law if we add a commissioner and if we add some of the duties and reports in this new Council. Baudendistel will modify the ordinance to include a commissioner or their appointee and other requirements that need to be added to their duties. That will come back at next meeting. This also will allow Switzerland County to have their own Advisory Council. 

Probst reminded Kelly of a report that had to be in at end of this week.  

2022 Holiday Calendar- Probst was against it because it didn’t  include Juneteenth Holiday. Calendar still approved without Juneteenth. There are 16 holidays per Thatcher. If we add more employees will have nearly a month off. 

ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden- nothing 

AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold  -Claims/Payroll and September 20th Minutes approved

ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel- Legislation suggested having a point person for cybersecurity. We can make Ramsey Nusebeh a Midwest Data our point person for this per the law. Probst motioned and little second to appoint Ramsey Nusibeh out cyber incident reporter. Approved.

COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

Probst- good attendance at Farmers Fair - did not see a lot of covid protection there. Encouraged vaccinations for COVID

Little- Flu vaccinations are ready now. Pneumonia shots too for the elderly. These diseases take a certain number of lives each year. COVID similarly has vaccine. Thinks the COVID infections are down.

Thatcher- Tim Grieve’s mom passed away- just a month after his dad did. Condolences to him. 

LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION- Gayle Pennington, Clerk of Courts- received all information on maps for redistricting. Our precincts were grandfathered in. Have to take a look at the Council Districts. Do Commissioners want to keep the task, they can assign it to the election board and then they will come to Commissioners for approval. Commissioners wanted Sue Hayden to be there- as an unofficial observer. Commissioners delegated Election Board to alter or accept precincts as submitted.

Todd Listerman- County Engineer-  Bridge #44 Turkey Point is out for bid.Opening on Ot 21st. 

Weisberg Bridge plans are 90% complete- trying to get poles for power lines to neighbors and also Aggapie family. Will get quotes by next meeting to select supplier for new 3 sided box structure with wing walls to be installed. Bridge is being designed for this site. He’s not sure they will start till until first qtr next year February and done by June. Weather in Dec- Jan is unpredictable for construction. 

$16,000- FPBH design contract for small structure 616 Thomas Road run-around

Vacation  till the 18th of Oct.

PUBLIC COMMENT- Josh Holland-enjoyed Farmer fair- except for an incident that happened there Saturday. He submitted public records request for the Coroner’s office. There is a situation behind this that needs to be addressed. He wants this on the public record.  

ADJOURN- 9:35 AM

Christine Brauer Mueller

Lawrenceburg Township

AGENDA 5 October DC Commissioners MORNING Meeting

 AGENDA

DEARBORN COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING

October 5, 2021 

9:00 a.m., Henry Dearborn Room

County Administration Building

165 Mary Street, Lawrenceburg, Indiana

I. CALL TO ORDER

II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

III. TITLE VI STATEMENT FOR COMPLIANCE

IV. OLD BUSINESS 

V. NEW BUSINESS

1.  Regional Justice Reinvestment Advisory Councils (JRAC) – Steve Kelly, Director of Court Services

2.  2022 Holiday Calendar

 

VI. ADMINISTRATOR – Sue Hayden

VII. AUDITOR – Connie Fromhold

1.  Claims/Payroll/Minutes

VIII. ATTORNEY – Andy Baudendistel

IX. COMMISSIONER COMMENTS

X. LATE ARRIVAL INFORMATION

XI. PUBLIC COMMENT

XII. ADJOURN

The Public's Right to Be Heard

 The Public's Right to Be Heard

republished with permission of IPR

by Leo Morris

At the conclusion of a recent Allen County Commission meeting, the commission president became annoyed with a woman who refused to shut up when her allotted time expired under the public speaking rules. He warned her that people not following the rules risked having no public comment at all.

“Local government boards,” the newspaper article chronicling the meeting gently reminded its readers, “are not legally obligated to allow public comments at meetings.”

Too true, and a lot of Indiana government units are flirting with the idea of blessed silence at meetings, including Northwest Allen’s and other school boards. “The public” is just a polite term for a bunch of ignorant whiners and ill-informed complainers. Letting them run off at the mouth just slows things down and gums up the works.

Those inclined to complain would probably get little understanding from the Indiana General Assembly, which hammers out the details of major legislation in private meetings of the GOP super majority, letting the public see the result at the same time as the hapless Democratic mini minority.

Nor would they find a sympathetic ear in Congress, whose speaker seems proud of the fact that the public can learn what is in bills running thousands of pages only after the bills become law. Got a comment – oops, too late.

It’s the spirt of the age, isn’t it? On college campuses, professors can be fired for having the wrong opinion, and there are safe spaces where any opinion that makes any student uncomfortable is forbidden. Facebook and Twitter monitor their users for unorthodox opinions on everything from Covid to climate change and transgenderism, and even the president of the United States can be banned.

As someone who has spent a lifetime both offering and combatting opinions, who has always believed that a good, healthy argument is the surest path to the truth, I find this all more than a little distressing.

It was Daniel Patrick Moynihan, in a1983 column in the Washington Post, who observed that “everyone is entitled to his own opinion but not to his own facts.”

It seemed so clear then. Opinions were good or bad, based on the accuracy of the facts undergirding them and our evaluations of their significance, and in debating them, we discarded bits of misconception and glimpsed pieces of the truth.

Today, the line between facts and opinion is deliberately blurred by those who think they already know the truth and have the right, even the obligation, to shout down those who don’t accept it. And I wonder if those who applaud that reality have considered where we might be headed.

Moynihan, some will recall, though a Democrat and a firebrand liberal in many ways, was also a contrarian who for a time served in the administration of Richard Nixon. You remember Nixon. His appeals to the “silent majority” of Americans whose voices were never heard won him the presidency.

And it turns out he wasn’t the first. In 1919, ad executive and Republican Party supporter Bruce Barton wrote in Collier magazine of Calvin Coolidge’s presidential run: “It sometimes seems as if this great silent majority had no spokesman. But Coolidge belongs with that crowd: he lives like them, he works like them, and understands.”

I still believe that airing all the opinions is the best way to elevate the discussion. That’s how the country got started and why we have the First Amendment, because the Founders believed that “from many voices,” truth emerged.

Do you think otherwise?

If you think Coolidge was a lousy president, and you think Richard Nixon was nothing but a crook, do you still believe ignoring a wide swatch of the American people was a good idea? How about Donald Trump? His constituents felt that the ruling elite not only refused to listen to them but held them in utter contempt.

You think they’re not still out there? Perhaps when they get a chance to speak up, they don’t follow the rules of public comment as well as they should. But they will be heard.

Sooner or later, one way or another.

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.