Well, the numbers are out. The Honorable Johnny Nugent received donations of 271,632.55 dollars. Now that is a lot of money to anyone who is not a politician. I had written a letter to The Honorable Senator asking for a contribution to the campaign of the Republican candidate for Dearborn County Commissioner. The Honorable Senator sent to me a handwritten letter, the salutation of which was Dear "Friend" etc essentially stating that he has no money available; he has to raise cash for his own campaign. It was nearly pathetic. I felt sorry for this selfless servant of the people who calls me "friend."
Lo and Behold, hocus pocus, money suddenly became available for the campaign of Aaron Negangard in the generous sum of 50 dollars. More shocking is the donation to the Republican Central Committee for Dearborn County of 1450 dollars from this Honorable Senator whose campaign he feigns is in penury. This committee, and our Honorable State Senator in my opinion must be the handmaidens of the unrestrained development and increase property tax crowd. They have refused to give one cent to the campaign of the Republican candidate for county commissioner.
Now financially conservative people, and the famous Club For Growth refers to people like these as RINOs. This is an acronym, for Republican In Name Only. This is a breed of political animal which uses the cover of the name of Republican to advance their own personal goals.
Note to The Honorable Senator and his friends in the County Republican Central committee. IF the shoe fits, wear it. This writer was indeed born at night, but not last night.
Alan Stanley Freemond, Sr.
Jackson Township
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
When Money Talks...
VRUC Appeal Dooms Contract Talks with Greendale.
VRUC Appeal Dooms Contract Talks with Greendale
submitted by Jack Arduin
This article appeared in HVL Echoes newpaper this month.
After working with the VRUC board for three months, I would like to give the residents who elected me an update on the affairs of the VRUC. Let’s begin by assessing our current situation. First, we have now spent more than $1,000,000 on fees for the expansion of our territory (outside development) and to build a sewage treatment plant. This is all being done so we can spend over $4,000,000 dollars to build a plant that will need to be expanded at a later date. We currently have not generated one dollar in revenue from these endeavors and we are unable to get a discharge permit from IDEM to operate a facility. In roughly three years our water contract with Greendale will run out and be terminated. We will no longer have water unless the VRUC is able to build its own well. This too will greatly increase our costs over our current fee schedule with Greendale. Our infrastructure continues to leak and we are awash with infiltration problems. We continue to only pay interest on our original $2,000,000 debt incurred in 1996 and have no plans to pay down the principal. For VRUC services you are continually charged one of the highest fee schedules in the state of Indiana.
In order to begin to solve our problems, I contacted Greendale to set up a meeting to ask for a long term water and sewer contract which would lock VRUC/HVL into a low cost contract (less than 30% of your fees go to Greendale) for both water and sewer services that would be far cheaper than our other option of trying to build our own water and sewage treatment facilities. The Greendale fees that would be charged VRUC/HVL would be the same as what is currently charged to Greendale customers. The contract would eliminate the $400,000 per year legal expenses that have been incurring over the past several years. Despite all of the past legal actions that the VRUC board has taken against them, Greendale had enough confidence in Stan Beeler and myself to enter into discussions. Finally, moving in the right direction, the meeting was set for Wednesday September 6th.
Prior to the meeting, Greendale passed an ordinance that called for a $3350 tap fee to be charged in the construction of all new homes that are built that tap into the Greendale’s system which includes Greendale, HVL and outside developments. The tap fees are to be put in a separate account as governed by the state and can only be used to increase Greendale’s capacity, therefore providing an insurance fund for existing customers like you and me from having to pay fee increases to pay for new customers. These tap fees will ultimately be a burden to only builders as they are already charging as much as they can for homes that they build and will not be able to pass them along to new customers. Also, I can estimate that over 80% of such fees would be charged outside of Hidden Valley. The VRUC board president called a meeting that was not to be attended by the public. In the meeting, the ordinance was discussed and we incorrectly interpreted the wording to mean that it would allow Greendale to in effect charge the VRUC tap fees for increases in output. Most of us agreed that we needed to file an appeal by September 5th to get Greendale to amend the wording in the ordinance. Greendale had no plans to charge an additional fee to VRUC. That was not the intention of the ordinance. In a conversation with Greendale over the upcoming meeting, I mentioned our concerns over the ordinance. Greendale, once again, bent over backward to accommodate us and called a special meeting to amend the wording of the ordinance. Greendale asked the VRUC to give them the specific clarifying wording we needed to be added to the ordinance and it would be added at the meeting before our contract discussions. By VRUC filing an appeal, Greendale had to postpone their special meeting because they could not legally amend their ordinance before the VRUC appeal was resolved. I immediately informed the other members of the VRUC board that we needed to stop and not file the legal action and give Greendale the language which I suggested (less than a sentence was necessary), or we would be jeopardizing the much more important contract negotiations. Without my knowledge, the other members of the board opted to file a legal action against Greendale anyway. There was no need whatsoever to file this appeal. Despite our action, Greendale again agreed not to call off the meeting if we could just give them the wording that we wanted in the ordinance and withdraw the legal action. The current board opted not to do so. Greendale was forced to cancel the meetings. Instead of acting in good faith, correcting the ordinance and negotiating a new long-term contract with Greendale, the VRUC board decided it would rather take Greendale to court.
This example should give you insight into how the VRUC’s relationship with its sole and lowest cost supplier has been completely mismanaged. The Board’s actions only proved to Greendale that, despite the turnover of several members on the Board of Directors which was a mandate for change, we would still not act in good faith with Greendale on simple issues in which they were extremely accommodating to us.
After a meeting of the lawyers, the VRUC Board finally dropped their legal action against Greendale at the end of September. Greendale officials have stated that they are willing to negotiate again, but only, with myself and Stan Beeler. Stan and I will continue to negotiate to obtain a water and sewer contract ensuring a long-term low cost sewage treatment service and a low cost water supply for our future.
Thanks for your interest.
Jack Arduin
After working with the VRUC board for three months, I would like to give the residents who elected me an update on the affairs of the VRUC. Let’s begin by assessing our current situation. First, we have now spent more than $1,000,000 on fees for the expansion of our territory (outside development) and to build a sewage treatment plant. This is all being done so we can spend over $4,000,000 dollars to build a plant that will need to be expanded at a later date. We currently have not generated one dollar in revenue from these endeavors and we are unable to get a discharge permit from IDEM to operate a facility. In roughly three years our water contract with Greendale will run out and be terminated. We will no longer have water unless the VRUC is able to build its own well. This too will greatly increase our costs over our current fee schedule with Greendale. Our infrastructure continues to leak and we are awash with infiltration problems. We continue to only pay interest on our original $2,000,000 debt incurred in 1996 and have no plans to pay down the principal. For VRUC services you are continually charged one of the highest fee schedules in the state of Indiana.
In order to begin to solve our problems, I contacted Greendale to set up a meeting to ask for a long term water and sewer contract which would lock VRUC/HVL into a low cost contract (less than 30% of your fees go to Greendale) for both water and sewer services that would be far cheaper than our other option of trying to build our own water and sewage treatment facilities. The Greendale fees that would be charged VRUC/HVL would be the same as what is currently charged to Greendale customers. The contract would eliminate the $400,000 per year legal expenses that have been incurring over the past several years. Despite all of the past legal actions that the VRUC board has taken against them, Greendale had enough confidence in Stan Beeler and myself to enter into discussions. Finally, moving in the right direction, the meeting was set for Wednesday September 6th.
Prior to the meeting, Greendale passed an ordinance that called for a $3350 tap fee to be charged in the construction of all new homes that are built that tap into the Greendale’s system which includes Greendale, HVL and outside developments. The tap fees are to be put in a separate account as governed by the state and can only be used to increase Greendale’s capacity, therefore providing an insurance fund for existing customers like you and me from having to pay fee increases to pay for new customers. These tap fees will ultimately be a burden to only builders as they are already charging as much as they can for homes that they build and will not be able to pass them along to new customers. Also, I can estimate that over 80% of such fees would be charged outside of Hidden Valley. The VRUC board president called a meeting that was not to be attended by the public. In the meeting, the ordinance was discussed and we incorrectly interpreted the wording to mean that it would allow Greendale to in effect charge the VRUC tap fees for increases in output. Most of us agreed that we needed to file an appeal by September 5th to get Greendale to amend the wording in the ordinance. Greendale had no plans to charge an additional fee to VRUC. That was not the intention of the ordinance. In a conversation with Greendale over the upcoming meeting, I mentioned our concerns over the ordinance. Greendale, once again, bent over backward to accommodate us and called a special meeting to amend the wording of the ordinance. Greendale asked the VRUC to give them the specific clarifying wording we needed to be added to the ordinance and it would be added at the meeting before our contract discussions. By VRUC filing an appeal, Greendale had to postpone their special meeting because they could not legally amend their ordinance before the VRUC appeal was resolved. I immediately informed the other members of the VRUC board that we needed to stop and not file the legal action and give Greendale the language which I suggested (less than a sentence was necessary), or we would be jeopardizing the much more important contract negotiations. Without my knowledge, the other members of the board opted to file a legal action against Greendale anyway. There was no need whatsoever to file this appeal. Despite our action, Greendale again agreed not to call off the meeting if we could just give them the wording that we wanted in the ordinance and withdraw the legal action. The current board opted not to do so. Greendale was forced to cancel the meetings. Instead of acting in good faith, correcting the ordinance and negotiating a new long-term contract with Greendale, the VRUC board decided it would rather take Greendale to court.
This example should give you insight into how the VRUC’s relationship with its sole and lowest cost supplier has been completely mismanaged. The Board’s actions only proved to Greendale that, despite the turnover of several members on the Board of Directors which was a mandate for change, we would still not act in good faith with Greendale on simple issues in which they were extremely accommodating to us.
After a meeting of the lawyers, the VRUC Board finally dropped their legal action against Greendale at the end of September. Greendale officials have stated that they are willing to negotiate again, but only, with myself and Stan Beeler. Stan and I will continue to negotiate to obtain a water and sewer contract ensuring a long-term low cost sewage treatment service and a low cost water supply for our future.
Thanks for your interest.
Jack Arduin
23 October 2006 Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting Notes
23 October 2006 Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting Notes
Present: Mark Mitter, Chairman, Patrick deMaynadier, Jane Ohlmansiek, Tarry Feiss, Nick Held, Mike Hall, Jeff Hughes, and Dennis Kraus, Jr.
Absent: Robert Laws
Also Present: Arnie McGill, Attorney, Mark McCormack, Planning Director, and Kate Rademacher, Enforcement Officer.
MARIAH BUSINESS PARK:
Mitter read two letters into the record regarding the withdrawal of the two applications for Mariah Business Park. One was from Nicole Daily of Bayer Becker and the other was from Lisa Lehner the attorney for the owners.
Bayer Becker
October 23, 2006
Mark McCormack
215B West High Street
Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47025
Re- Mariah Development Primary Plat & Zone Map Amendment Applications
Dear Mark:
Bayer Becker, as the applicant, and Owner, Mariah Development Corporation, seek to withdraw the application for zoning map amendment and the primary plat review application for Mariah Development. Consequently, those applications should be removed from the agenda for the October 23, 2006 meeting of the Dearborn County Plan Commission. No discussion of and no action regarding the applications should occur.
If you have any questions please call me at the number above.
Thank you for your time on this project.
Sincerely,
Nicole P. Daily
Planner
Wood Lamping and Lehner LLP
October 23, 2006
Mr. Mark McCormack Dearborn County Plan Commission
Dear Mark:
Our firm represents the interests of Mariah Development Corporation. Mariah Development Corporation as property owner has worked with Bayer Becker as engineer/applicant regarding a project named Mariah Business Park. This letter confirms that the application for primary plat review and the application for zoning map amendment have been withdrawn. These applications should be removed from discussion at upcoming Plan Commission meetings. No action has been taken by the Plan Commission with respect to the applications.
Mariah Development Corporation intends to re-submit these applications in the future. Mariah Development Corporation would like an opportunity to review issues raised during Technical Review and an opportunity for Mark Mitter to remove himself from the discussion and action on these applications given his conflict of interest and appearance of impropriety. Mariah Development Corporation would have preferred that the discussion of and action on these applications be tabled to a future meeting. However, Mariah Development Corporation cannot table the applications because there is no agreement from the Plan Commission to table the discussion and action.
The withdrawal of the applications removed the applications from the Plan Commission agenda. Mariah Development Corporation objects to the presentation of any information regarding this project at upcoming Plan Commission meetings. Mariah Development Corporation objects to the discussion of and action on this project and/or applications by the Plan Commission. Such presentations, discussion and/or action would deprive Mariah Development Corporation of fair play and due process to which Mariah Development Corporation is entitled by law. Such presentations, discussion and/or action would unjustly prejudice Mariah Development Corporation by failing to give Mariah Development Corporation an opportunity to present a plan and/or forcing Mariah Development Corporation to present defenses to public comments and/or Plan Commission comments without the benefit of a filed plan or pending application.
If you have any questions in this regard, then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Very truly yours,
Lisa dehart Lehner
Mitter told the board that he had removed himself a while ago and had asked Ohlmansiek to cover this meeting as chairman.
Daily was present and indicated that Mariah will be back with reapplication later.
Earliest hearing would be December due to the timing of deadlines for tech review per the Planning staff.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
1. Vince Karsteter Sugar Ridge Lane with neighbor Steve Henke addressed the board regarding what will be a formal complaint regarding recent changes in Sugar Ridge development. Apparently these changes were made in 2005 without notice to neighbors and also without the Plan Commission knowing. They found gaps in the files and the plat showing the major change of two large areas- E and G of the plat – from banquet hall and driving green to 37 single family homes was signed on 27 December 2005, which was Travis Miller’s last day at the County Planning office. Karsteter read section 1640 into the record regarding major and minor changes on PUD’s. He noted that PUDs are to help developers achieve higher densities with the understanding that they also keep the required buffers and green space.
Since the 2003 approval, (Karsteter states he attended all meetings and he was not opposed to the plans) there was only 1 notification of changes and it was an easement issue, he had no problems with. This was 31 Jan 2005. There were about 6-8 minor replats prior to this public notification. However on 27 Dec 2005 there is a plat showing the changes from E and G to 37 single-family homes and he does not think this was a MINOR change. No one was notified. The total number of units so far has stayed the same, but he has somehow “lost green space in the entire plan to the tune of 42.8 acres. There have been nearly 2-dozen replats since 2003. At least 2 portions of the project that were open/green are now designated as housing and some is high density.
When Gehring Excavators took out all the trees right to his fence on his nearly 20 acres, they also knocked the fence in 3 places. There are NO TREES left . They have been burning for more than 3 months and ashes are falling on people’s cars. The Fishburn property at the bottom is now getting all this runoff.
Board stated the penalty is $300 per day per offense.
Karsteter was advised to file a written complaint with Planning Office.
DeMaynadier motioned and Held 2nd to send a letter to Macke that he may be in violation and that he needs to come in to the planning office tech review to determine this. He will be advised that if he continues to build and it’s in violation, it will be at his own risk. Staff and tech review will evaluate sections 1640 and 288 and advise the PC. McGill will evaluate the actions for the county and report in executive session, which will be 6PM Nov 20th.
All ayes.
Karsteter noted that Sizemore had recently put in sod and the driving range was done with golf tee offs and now it’s all bulldozed. He also asked that they do a site visit- which board agreed to have Mark McCormack and the county surveyor go up.
2. Tom Kent asked the board for another change on Perfect View commitments. He wants to disturb about ¼ -1/2 acre of land that is greater than 20% slope to put his road straight up rather than wind around the hill and disturb the pond. One of the commitments was to have no grading on sloes greater than 20%. His geotech advised him on this. PC decided he has to come to a public hearing and then on to commissioners again to change this. Kent agreed. This zone change has NOT been recorded yet with commitments- so they will wait to see about his change first.
This is Kent’s 2nd change hearing on his commitments.
3. PC reviewed notes on Master Plan Advisory meeting and these will go out to Committee this week or next. Master Plan Advisory Board will meet Nov 6th and Nov 20th.
4. PC discussed changes to the ordinance including some options for conditional uses when they refer to multifamily units. These will be prepared for a future hearing.
Meeting adjourned 9:30 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Present: Mark Mitter, Chairman, Patrick deMaynadier, Jane Ohlmansiek, Tarry Feiss, Nick Held, Mike Hall, Jeff Hughes, and Dennis Kraus, Jr.
Absent: Robert Laws
Also Present: Arnie McGill, Attorney, Mark McCormack, Planning Director, and Kate Rademacher, Enforcement Officer.
MARIAH BUSINESS PARK:
Mitter read two letters into the record regarding the withdrawal of the two applications for Mariah Business Park. One was from Nicole Daily of Bayer Becker and the other was from Lisa Lehner the attorney for the owners.
Bayer Becker
October 23, 2006
Mark McCormack
215B West High Street
Lawrenceburg, Indiana 47025
Re- Mariah Development Primary Plat & Zone Map Amendment Applications
Dear Mark:
Bayer Becker, as the applicant, and Owner, Mariah Development Corporation, seek to withdraw the application for zoning map amendment and the primary plat review application for Mariah Development. Consequently, those applications should be removed from the agenda for the October 23, 2006 meeting of the Dearborn County Plan Commission. No discussion of and no action regarding the applications should occur.
If you have any questions please call me at the number above.
Thank you for your time on this project.
Sincerely,
Nicole P. Daily
Planner
Wood Lamping and Lehner LLP
October 23, 2006
Mr. Mark McCormack Dearborn County Plan Commission
Dear Mark:
Our firm represents the interests of Mariah Development Corporation. Mariah Development Corporation as property owner has worked with Bayer Becker as engineer/applicant regarding a project named Mariah Business Park. This letter confirms that the application for primary plat review and the application for zoning map amendment have been withdrawn. These applications should be removed from discussion at upcoming Plan Commission meetings. No action has been taken by the Plan Commission with respect to the applications.
Mariah Development Corporation intends to re-submit these applications in the future. Mariah Development Corporation would like an opportunity to review issues raised during Technical Review and an opportunity for Mark Mitter to remove himself from the discussion and action on these applications given his conflict of interest and appearance of impropriety. Mariah Development Corporation would have preferred that the discussion of and action on these applications be tabled to a future meeting. However, Mariah Development Corporation cannot table the applications because there is no agreement from the Plan Commission to table the discussion and action.
The withdrawal of the applications removed the applications from the Plan Commission agenda. Mariah Development Corporation objects to the presentation of any information regarding this project at upcoming Plan Commission meetings. Mariah Development Corporation objects to the discussion of and action on this project and/or applications by the Plan Commission. Such presentations, discussion and/or action would deprive Mariah Development Corporation of fair play and due process to which Mariah Development Corporation is entitled by law. Such presentations, discussion and/or action would unjustly prejudice Mariah Development Corporation by failing to give Mariah Development Corporation an opportunity to present a plan and/or forcing Mariah Development Corporation to present defenses to public comments and/or Plan Commission comments without the benefit of a filed plan or pending application.
If you have any questions in this regard, then please do not hesitate to contact me.
Very truly yours,
Lisa dehart Lehner
Mitter told the board that he had removed himself a while ago and had asked Ohlmansiek to cover this meeting as chairman.
Daily was present and indicated that Mariah will be back with reapplication later.
Earliest hearing would be December due to the timing of deadlines for tech review per the Planning staff.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
1. Vince Karsteter Sugar Ridge Lane with neighbor Steve Henke addressed the board regarding what will be a formal complaint regarding recent changes in Sugar Ridge development. Apparently these changes were made in 2005 without notice to neighbors and also without the Plan Commission knowing. They found gaps in the files and the plat showing the major change of two large areas- E and G of the plat – from banquet hall and driving green to 37 single family homes was signed on 27 December 2005, which was Travis Miller’s last day at the County Planning office. Karsteter read section 1640 into the record regarding major and minor changes on PUD’s. He noted that PUDs are to help developers achieve higher densities with the understanding that they also keep the required buffers and green space.
Since the 2003 approval, (Karsteter states he attended all meetings and he was not opposed to the plans) there was only 1 notification of changes and it was an easement issue, he had no problems with. This was 31 Jan 2005. There were about 6-8 minor replats prior to this public notification. However on 27 Dec 2005 there is a plat showing the changes from E and G to 37 single-family homes and he does not think this was a MINOR change. No one was notified. The total number of units so far has stayed the same, but he has somehow “lost green space in the entire plan to the tune of 42.8 acres. There have been nearly 2-dozen replats since 2003. At least 2 portions of the project that were open/green are now designated as housing and some is high density.
When Gehring Excavators took out all the trees right to his fence on his nearly 20 acres, they also knocked the fence in 3 places. There are NO TREES left . They have been burning for more than 3 months and ashes are falling on people’s cars. The Fishburn property at the bottom is now getting all this runoff.
Board stated the penalty is $300 per day per offense.
Karsteter was advised to file a written complaint with Planning Office.
DeMaynadier motioned and Held 2nd to send a letter to Macke that he may be in violation and that he needs to come in to the planning office tech review to determine this. He will be advised that if he continues to build and it’s in violation, it will be at his own risk. Staff and tech review will evaluate sections 1640 and 288 and advise the PC. McGill will evaluate the actions for the county and report in executive session, which will be 6PM Nov 20th.
All ayes.
Karsteter noted that Sizemore had recently put in sod and the driving range was done with golf tee offs and now it’s all bulldozed. He also asked that they do a site visit- which board agreed to have Mark McCormack and the county surveyor go up.
2. Tom Kent asked the board for another change on Perfect View commitments. He wants to disturb about ¼ -1/2 acre of land that is greater than 20% slope to put his road straight up rather than wind around the hill and disturb the pond. One of the commitments was to have no grading on sloes greater than 20%. His geotech advised him on this. PC decided he has to come to a public hearing and then on to commissioners again to change this. Kent agreed. This zone change has NOT been recorded yet with commitments- so they will wait to see about his change first.
This is Kent’s 2nd change hearing on his commitments.
3. PC reviewed notes on Master Plan Advisory meeting and these will go out to Committee this week or next. Master Plan Advisory Board will meet Nov 6th and Nov 20th.
4. PC discussed changes to the ordinance including some options for conditional uses when they refer to multifamily units. These will be prepared for a future hearing.
Meeting adjourned 9:30 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Saturday, October 21, 2006
A Peek Into the Political Candidates Pocketbooks
Campaign Finance Reports Filed 20 October 2006
Though due by noon- the office was closed from 11:45- 12:50 for a going away lunch for an employee. A few came in around 1 PM possibly due to the office being closed. I was there till 3PM. These are the reports up to 3 PM.
Gary Hensley- Assessor
Contributions 0
Unitemized expenses 1412.00
No attachments were present showing any details or loan to the campaign.
Joan Seitz- Assessor
No form filed for this period by deadline.
Cary Pickens- Auditor
No form filed for this period by deadline
Dan Lansing- D-2 Council
No contributions and no expenses- all 0s.
Liz Morris- D1 Council
Itemized contributions 2,000.00 all from Liz Morris
Expenses 1,977.09
Debts owed 500.00
Tom Cheek- D-4 Council
No contributions and no expenses -all 0s
Dennis Kraus, Sr.-D-3 Council
No contributions and no expenses -all 0s
Ralph Thompson- D-3 Commissioner
Cash on hand- 2661.00
Itemized contributions 3867.58
Unitemized contributions 1260.00
Total Contributions 7788.51
Contributors listed:
Alan and Clara Freemond 1,000 this period- 2,000 total
Irwin and Brenda Diehl 250
Industrial Solutions Group 100
Robert Baylor 300
Clarence and Janet Rais 100
Kathy and Dan Brooks 100
Ralph E Thompson 300
Sam and Nancy Valone 100
Kathy Scott 1617.58
Total Expenses 6400.45
Expenses itemized:
United Mail 2,160.07
Diehl’s Web 74.75
Sign Effects 614.84
LA Signs 759.00
Master Print Center 170.40
Fed Ex Kinkos 508.16
Staples 104.85
UPS Harrison 147.23
LA Signs 363.00
Indiana Oxygen 140.59
Donohue 297.00
United Mail 802.16
Frank Linkmeyer- D-3 Commissioner
Itemized contributions 6,550.00
Unitemized contributions 1,086.00
Total Contributions 7,636.00
Debts owed: 7,842.24
Contributors listed:
James Adams 1,000.00
Jerry Backman 500
Robert Lischkge 500
Don McIntosh 200
Robert Erbs 200
CTLC Scott Perkins (George St) 250
Carpenters Local 1142-200
United Food Commercial Workers Local 1099 – 500
United Pipefitters Int 392 –200
Democrat Central Committee 2,000.00
SE Indiana Board of Realtors 1,000.00
Expenses owed: (7,842.24)
Register ads- 640.50
Aurora Lumber signs 278.33
Kiwanis 4H Auction Purchase- 600
Design Pro banners signs- 2526.12
After Hours Embroidery T-shirts hats- 2402.49
General Graphics printing- 374.54
Visual Impact bumper stickers 15.40
Moreton Printing- 50
Sams Club 34.86
D Karp Catering- 525
Aaron Negangard- Prosecutor
Unopposed- (pretty large war chest for having no opposition)
Contributions Total 5964.01
Itemized Expenses- 3258.20
Cash on hand 2705.81
Contributors listed:
Dave Lorey- 500
William Barrott 1,000
Scott Ricketts 750
Aaron Negangard 100 LOAN
Richard Butler 500
Robert Ewbank 100
Gerhard and Frances Deddens 50
Lynn Deddens 25
Joe Votaw 99
Richard and Birdie Ungerbuehler 50
Dave and Carolyn Lusby 50
James Theobald 50
Anthony Sabo 50
Richard Fox 50
Jeff and Jennifer Hughes 50
Bill Cunningham 50
Arnie McGill 50
Elizabeth Morris 100
Jonathon Cleary 100
Brian Bischoff 100
Marg weaver 99
Aaron Negangard 116.01 (candy)
Rollander Enterprises 500
Johnny Nugent Victory Team 50
Doug Ruter DDS 100
Artistic Floral 25
Freedom PAC 500
Barnes and Thornburgh 500 (County lobbyists)
Premier Credit of North America 250
Expenses:
Bright Beacon 145
Harcourt Industries 1318.09
Votes Unlimited 558.90
Friends of Scott Bevington 100
Republican Central Committee-Pickens- 200
Kiwanis Club 100
Delores Karp 365
Artistic Floral 75
Theobald Music 100
After Hours Embroidery 180.20
Negangard 116.01
Bill Ullrich- State Representative
Cash on hand 776.85
Itemized contributions total 14,238.39
Unitemized contributions total 3320.00
Total contributions: 17,558.39
Expenses total 17,429.41
Cash on hand 128.78
Total Debts owed 6140.47
Contributions listed:
Bob Hastings 300
Rick Weber 400
Robert Ewbank 500
Brinkemper Creative Systems (in kind) 3118.92
Bill Ullrich 8869.47
DC Republican Central Committee 1000+500 =1500.00
Bob Bischoff -State Representative
Cash on hand 50,061.33
Itemized contributions- 51,972
Unitemized 2551.05
Total contributions- 104,584.30
Total expenses- 74,564.69
Cash on hand-31,019.69
Contributors (over $100.00) listed: (Bischoff actually listed all even those 100 and under. Frank Linkmeyer contributed 100 and then Bischoff contributed 100 to him)
John Kirkwood 250
Robert Spolygen 250
William and Betty Bischoff 200
Steve and Penny Brett 400
Kent Moore 250
Carl and Janet Petty 200
Jim Sauerland 200
Howard and Velma Wiesman 200
Peoples Community Bank 403.05
Sprint 300
Duke Energy 300
Hill Rom 500
LEWIS AND KAPPES- (County lobbyists)- 500
Olinger Distributing 400
Stedman Machine 100
EI Dupont 200
Ricketts Jewelry 100
Monsanto 250
United Food and Commercial Workers 1,000.00
Sheet Metal Local 20- 200
Int’l Union of Bricklayers 100
Carpenters Local 1142 – 250
LIUNA Local 741- 250
Int’l Painters and Allied Trades 500
Dearborn/Ripley County Building Trades Council 500
Indiana Firefighters PAC 300
Commercial Bankers PAC 300
BIPAC 300
Int’l Health Care PAC 500
BACK PAC 500
Auto dealers PAC 300
LAW PAC 500
Tel PAC 300
IHLA PAC 300
TRUCKING INDUSTRY PAC 1,000.00
AT&T IND PAC 1,500
IN Credit Union PAC 300
IN Builders ass’n 300
IN Friends of Rural Electric 100
IN State FOP PAC 100
Laborers Int’l Union New Albany 200
IBEW Educ Committee 2,500
Operating Engineers Segregated 250
IN Coal PAC 500
IN Agribusiness PAC 300
Plumbers and Pipefitters 1,000.00
IN Farm Bureau 500
Boilermakers Local 374 –300
IN Federation of teachers 150
IN Pork PAC 300
IN Council of Carpenters COPE- 2,250
Blue River PAC 800
Southeast PAC 250
IPACE (INDY) 20,000.00
United Transportation PAC 100
IN Propane Gas PAC 300
IN and MI Power PAC 500
Distilled Spirits Council 300
Vision Concepts LLC- 500
Hay Murray Castor 300
Lytle for the People 250
Expenses included one large one contribution TO the IN House Democrats on Oct 11- 52,135.50
The remainder was for Bischoff’s campaign.
Johnny Nugent- State Senator
Cash on hand- 118,684.18
Total contributions 171,632.55
Total expenses- 15,080.04
Cash remaining- 156,552.51
Local contributors of interest- TRUCKING PAC- 2,000
LEWIS AND KAPPES- (County lobbyists) – 1,000
Indiana Realtors – 1,000
Contributions of local interest- Donation to the DC Republican Party on 10/3/06 of 1,200.00
Republican Central Committee of Dearborn County
Started with cash of 8538.08
Cash remaining 4628.27
Contributors listed this year:
Joseph Mrack- 500
Lisa Lehner Lovelace- 600
Ewbank and Kramer- 550
Level 5 Engineering – 500 (part of I-74 corridor plan under Vieste/London Witte)
Lewis and Kappes- 500 (county lobbyists)
Paul H Rohe Paving- 300
John J Frock and Associates- 500
Johnny Nugent Victory Team 250 + 1200 =1450
Expenses listed:
Bill Ulrich- 1,000+500= 1,500
Cincinnati Reds 2,198
Cary Pickens 602.35
Dave Lusby- 1,000
Vera Benning- 1,000
IN State Repub committee delegate fees- 1,540
Rolling Pin Catering- 1488.24
Gwen Miller- headqtrs worker- 2180.50
Kelly Newport- headqtrs worker- 464
Ryan Fehr- headqtrs worker- 546
Aurora farmers fair- 160
Artistic Floral 106.30
Beiersdorfers Orchard 210.53
Krogers- 215.74
Nancy Weldon- 240
Karen Ernst- 25
Aurora Farms and Gardens- 390
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Though due by noon- the office was closed from 11:45- 12:50 for a going away lunch for an employee. A few came in around 1 PM possibly due to the office being closed. I was there till 3PM. These are the reports up to 3 PM.
Gary Hensley- Assessor
Contributions 0
Unitemized expenses 1412.00
No attachments were present showing any details or loan to the campaign.
Joan Seitz- Assessor
No form filed for this period by deadline.
Cary Pickens- Auditor
No form filed for this period by deadline
Dan Lansing- D-2 Council
No contributions and no expenses- all 0s.
Liz Morris- D1 Council
Itemized contributions 2,000.00 all from Liz Morris
Expenses 1,977.09
Debts owed 500.00
Tom Cheek- D-4 Council
No contributions and no expenses -all 0s
Dennis Kraus, Sr.-D-3 Council
No contributions and no expenses -all 0s
Ralph Thompson- D-3 Commissioner
Cash on hand- 2661.00
Itemized contributions 3867.58
Unitemized contributions 1260.00
Total Contributions 7788.51
Contributors listed:
Alan and Clara Freemond 1,000 this period- 2,000 total
Irwin and Brenda Diehl 250
Industrial Solutions Group 100
Robert Baylor 300
Clarence and Janet Rais 100
Kathy and Dan Brooks 100
Ralph E Thompson 300
Sam and Nancy Valone 100
Kathy Scott 1617.58
Total Expenses 6400.45
Expenses itemized:
United Mail 2,160.07
Diehl’s Web 74.75
Sign Effects 614.84
LA Signs 759.00
Master Print Center 170.40
Fed Ex Kinkos 508.16
Staples 104.85
UPS Harrison 147.23
LA Signs 363.00
Indiana Oxygen 140.59
Donohue 297.00
United Mail 802.16
Frank Linkmeyer- D-3 Commissioner
Itemized contributions 6,550.00
Unitemized contributions 1,086.00
Total Contributions 7,636.00
Debts owed: 7,842.24
Contributors listed:
James Adams 1,000.00
Jerry Backman 500
Robert Lischkge 500
Don McIntosh 200
Robert Erbs 200
CTLC Scott Perkins (George St) 250
Carpenters Local 1142-200
United Food Commercial Workers Local 1099 – 500
United Pipefitters Int 392 –200
Democrat Central Committee 2,000.00
SE Indiana Board of Realtors 1,000.00
Expenses owed: (7,842.24)
Register ads- 640.50
Aurora Lumber signs 278.33
Kiwanis 4H Auction Purchase- 600
Design Pro banners signs- 2526.12
After Hours Embroidery T-shirts hats- 2402.49
General Graphics printing- 374.54
Visual Impact bumper stickers 15.40
Moreton Printing- 50
Sams Club 34.86
D Karp Catering- 525
Aaron Negangard- Prosecutor
Unopposed- (pretty large war chest for having no opposition)
Contributions Total 5964.01
Itemized Expenses- 3258.20
Cash on hand 2705.81
Contributors listed:
Dave Lorey- 500
William Barrott 1,000
Scott Ricketts 750
Aaron Negangard 100 LOAN
Richard Butler 500
Robert Ewbank 100
Gerhard and Frances Deddens 50
Lynn Deddens 25
Joe Votaw 99
Richard and Birdie Ungerbuehler 50
Dave and Carolyn Lusby 50
James Theobald 50
Anthony Sabo 50
Richard Fox 50
Jeff and Jennifer Hughes 50
Bill Cunningham 50
Arnie McGill 50
Elizabeth Morris 100
Jonathon Cleary 100
Brian Bischoff 100
Marg weaver 99
Aaron Negangard 116.01 (candy)
Rollander Enterprises 500
Johnny Nugent Victory Team 50
Doug Ruter DDS 100
Artistic Floral 25
Freedom PAC 500
Barnes and Thornburgh 500 (County lobbyists)
Premier Credit of North America 250
Expenses:
Bright Beacon 145
Harcourt Industries 1318.09
Votes Unlimited 558.90
Friends of Scott Bevington 100
Republican Central Committee-Pickens- 200
Kiwanis Club 100
Delores Karp 365
Artistic Floral 75
Theobald Music 100
After Hours Embroidery 180.20
Negangard 116.01
Bill Ullrich- State Representative
Cash on hand 776.85
Itemized contributions total 14,238.39
Unitemized contributions total 3320.00
Total contributions: 17,558.39
Expenses total 17,429.41
Cash on hand 128.78
Total Debts owed 6140.47
Contributions listed:
Bob Hastings 300
Rick Weber 400
Robert Ewbank 500
Brinkemper Creative Systems (in kind) 3118.92
Bill Ullrich 8869.47
DC Republican Central Committee 1000+500 =1500.00
Bob Bischoff -State Representative
Cash on hand 50,061.33
Itemized contributions- 51,972
Unitemized 2551.05
Total contributions- 104,584.30
Total expenses- 74,564.69
Cash on hand-31,019.69
Contributors (over $100.00) listed: (Bischoff actually listed all even those 100 and under. Frank Linkmeyer contributed 100 and then Bischoff contributed 100 to him)
John Kirkwood 250
Robert Spolygen 250
William and Betty Bischoff 200
Steve and Penny Brett 400
Kent Moore 250
Carl and Janet Petty 200
Jim Sauerland 200
Howard and Velma Wiesman 200
Peoples Community Bank 403.05
Sprint 300
Duke Energy 300
Hill Rom 500
LEWIS AND KAPPES- (County lobbyists)- 500
Olinger Distributing 400
Stedman Machine 100
EI Dupont 200
Ricketts Jewelry 100
Monsanto 250
United Food and Commercial Workers 1,000.00
Sheet Metal Local 20- 200
Int’l Union of Bricklayers 100
Carpenters Local 1142 – 250
LIUNA Local 741- 250
Int’l Painters and Allied Trades 500
Dearborn/Ripley County Building Trades Council 500
Indiana Firefighters PAC 300
Commercial Bankers PAC 300
BIPAC 300
Int’l Health Care PAC 500
BACK PAC 500
Auto dealers PAC 300
LAW PAC 500
Tel PAC 300
IHLA PAC 300
TRUCKING INDUSTRY PAC 1,000.00
AT&T IND PAC 1,500
IN Credit Union PAC 300
IN Builders ass’n 300
IN Friends of Rural Electric 100
IN State FOP PAC 100
Laborers Int’l Union New Albany 200
IBEW Educ Committee 2,500
Operating Engineers Segregated 250
IN Coal PAC 500
IN Agribusiness PAC 300
Plumbers and Pipefitters 1,000.00
IN Farm Bureau 500
Boilermakers Local 374 –300
IN Federation of teachers 150
IN Pork PAC 300
IN Council of Carpenters COPE- 2,250
Blue River PAC 800
Southeast PAC 250
IPACE (INDY) 20,000.00
United Transportation PAC 100
IN Propane Gas PAC 300
IN and MI Power PAC 500
Distilled Spirits Council 300
Vision Concepts LLC- 500
Hay Murray Castor 300
Lytle for the People 250
Expenses included one large one contribution TO the IN House Democrats on Oct 11- 52,135.50
The remainder was for Bischoff’s campaign.
Johnny Nugent- State Senator
Cash on hand- 118,684.18
Total contributions 171,632.55
Total expenses- 15,080.04
Cash remaining- 156,552.51
Local contributors of interest- TRUCKING PAC- 2,000
LEWIS AND KAPPES- (County lobbyists) – 1,000
Indiana Realtors – 1,000
Contributions of local interest- Donation to the DC Republican Party on 10/3/06 of 1,200.00
Republican Central Committee of Dearborn County
Started with cash of 8538.08
Cash remaining 4628.27
Contributors listed this year:
Joseph Mrack- 500
Lisa Lehner Lovelace- 600
Ewbank and Kramer- 550
Level 5 Engineering – 500 (part of I-74 corridor plan under Vieste/London Witte)
Lewis and Kappes- 500 (county lobbyists)
Paul H Rohe Paving- 300
John J Frock and Associates- 500
Johnny Nugent Victory Team 250 + 1200 =1450
Expenses listed:
Bill Ulrich- 1,000+500= 1,500
Cincinnati Reds 2,198
Cary Pickens 602.35
Dave Lusby- 1,000
Vera Benning- 1,000
IN State Repub committee delegate fees- 1,540
Rolling Pin Catering- 1488.24
Gwen Miller- headqtrs worker- 2180.50
Kelly Newport- headqtrs worker- 464
Ryan Fehr- headqtrs worker- 546
Aurora farmers fair- 160
Artistic Floral 106.30
Beiersdorfers Orchard 210.53
Krogers- 215.74
Nancy Weldon- 240
Karen Ernst- 25
Aurora Farms and Gardens- 390
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Friday, October 20, 2006
Candidate Information
Websites for candidates:
Lane Siekman- Democrat running for State Senator sent this website.
www.lanesiekman.com
Ralph Thompson- Republican running for D-3 Commissioner sent this website. www.ralphthompson.org
Remember that Manchester Area Civic Association is hosting Candidates Night on Tues Oct 24th at the Manchester Firehouse on SR48 from 7:30-9 PM
Citizens in Northern Dearborn County can meet Ralph Thompson on Wed Oct 25th 7-9 PM at the North Dearborn Library. They will discuss issues pertinent to their section of the county.
Pick up the local newspapers each week for continuing candidate coverage. Talk to your neighbors and friends. Become informed and then vote Nov 7th.
Lane Siekman- Democrat running for State Senator sent this website.
www.lanesiekman.com
Ralph Thompson- Republican running for D-3 Commissioner sent this website. www.ralphthompson.org
Remember that Manchester Area Civic Association is hosting Candidates Night on Tues Oct 24th at the Manchester Firehouse on SR48 from 7:30-9 PM
Citizens in Northern Dearborn County can meet Ralph Thompson on Wed Oct 25th 7-9 PM at the North Dearborn Library. They will discuss issues pertinent to their section of the county.
Pick up the local newspapers each week for continuing candidate coverage. Talk to your neighbors and friends. Become informed and then vote Nov 7th.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Ten Candidates Participate at WSCH Candidate Night October 17th
Ten Candidates Participate at WSCH Candidate Night October 17th
[NOTE: There will be no comments on these presentation notes. I have tried to get as many of the candidates comments posted as possible, so as to give a fair representation of their presentations. LOCAL county races are at number 5 and 6]
Ten candidates chose to either give brief 5-minute presentations or else to answer a series questions prepared on issues pertinent to each office.
Tom Snape moderated for WSCH and the live audience consisted of about 40 people, including about 10 officeholders who were not running for office this term. Mark Neff, Mike Rozow, and Tom DeVille helped organize the event.
1.The only 9th district candidate to show was Eric Schansburg- the Libertarian running against Sodrel and Hill. He answered questions on immigration fences and security, thought that 2010 was too long a time to wait to get our troops home, and was strongly in favor of Social Security reform and payroll tax reform. He didn’t get specific on US 50 or I-74 corridor issues.
2.Lane Siekman- Democrat vs. Johnny Nugent- Republican- State Senator
Siekman wanted to get rid of property taxes and said the only way to do that was to go cold turkey. He referred to Hometown Matters to get the cities and towns to come up with taxes as needed. He stated he was a product of public education via Rising Sun HS, Ball state and then Law School. He referenced major cutbacks in funding and how it was necessary for teachers to be allowed to teach. Economic Development is a buzz word- he’s for jobs and serves as Chamber President in Ohio County. Economy needs to be addressed on a REGIONAL basis. We have two boats here that are our biggest economic assets. They can help give money to support local business. He is against eminent domain abuse and wants to protect against it.
Nugent said that property taxes were at the forefront of the legislative session and gave his usual comment about wanting to “rip property taxes out by the roots so it can never grow back again.” He talked about the option of a local option income tax. He said the real way to control taxes was to LIMIT SPENDING! When it comes to schools he said each budget has increased over the previous budget. He thinks school administrators need to answer as to how they are spending money. There are always more “wants.”
On economic Development Nugent went along with the Daniels program for growing jobs and the economy of Indiana. Said we were dying on the vine and now he is pleased to be part of the team bringing changes. He noted that change is hard - as he gets older- including not even liking to have the furniture moved around at home. He noted 18,000 new jobs announced since Daniels began. In terms of school graduation rates, he said he wasn’t sure which study was correct, if any were at all.
3.Bob Bischoff - Democrat vs. Bill Ullrich - Republican- State Representative
Bischoff gave his family history (wife Ardis Linkmeyer from Aurora and 3 children living in Indy plus grandkids) and noted he had 26 years as Rep and 2 years filling a senate vacancy for a total of 28 years in INDY.
He said his greatest accomplishment was retaining the $70 million that the state wanted to capture from our riverboat revenue. He went on in detail about what was tied to that revenue that we use. He said 2 years ago he coauthored the bill to create the first state dept. of Ag. He helped get a 4-year degree program at IVY Tech and also regional sharing of tuition between colleges, a new superior court, and grants for our local fire depts. and rights to hunt and fish in IN.
Ullrich- stated his name and “I approve this message.” He gave his family history including being married for 45 years and being nephew of another state official and son of the owner of Ullrich Photography in Aurora. Ullrich gave his resume including, jobs, public service, Council office, and military service. His motto is No Games No Strings No Bull and he went on to explain his philosophy of each of those three terms. He stressed that he has no special interest backing, that he will be accessible to the public, and that everyone has a right to be heard as long as they are respectful. At this critical juncture in state government he thought it was time for a change. He referenced following the constitution, and ended with “No one can do it all, but together we can do a lot.”
4.Lanning- Democrat vs. Knollman Republican for D-55 Representative (covering North east parts of the county)
Lanning was the only one who showed up. He attended Connorsville HS and IU and worked for Ford. Lanning went on about the Honda plant and spinoffs and that we could take advantage of the fact that they don’t like to be within 55 miles of their main plants so we can put a lot of people to work in this area. Everyone agrees property taxes should be eliminated. He will work with the people, be accessible, and call you back in a timely manner. He ended with his slogan- “Help is on the way.”
5.Frank Linkmeyer- Democrat vs. Ralph Thompson Republican for D-3 Commissioner
Linkmeyer- gave an extended resume and background including his wife, Judy, children, two brothers Larry and Bob and sister, Ardis Bischoff. He volunteered for military duty in 1962 but was turned down because of a disability. He started Links Fence Company, which his son –Steve- runs. He retired from Seagrams in 1995 and developed 3 subdivisions all within ¼ mile of Aurora or Lawrenceburg city limits and well within the master plan recommended areas.
After the primary he was approached by Democrats AND MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY to run. It seemed like people were anti- this and anti- that and people wanted to stop or at least slow down the county growth. But this county has to grow. He wants to prioritize needs of the county and not run it by politics.
Economic development means kids can stay and work here. We have a great opportunity with Honda spinoffs down I-74. But we shouldn’t take away ALL the rural atmosphere. We can’t tell a farmer what to do with his land.
I have a great respect for volunteers, fire dept, Planning and zoning boards, etc. Hopefully with Commissioners Fox and Hughes I can help make this a great county.
Thompson- I have been an engineer for 30 years in both private and public sector work and I bring all that experience with me. For more detailed information on my platform check my website at www.ralphthompson.org. For tonight I plan to deal with 4 issues:
1. The government should be open to the people. The citizens own the government and with the right of free speech every citizen should have the right to be heard. I am for open government.
2. I am FOR smart development and smart growth. Development needs to be done at a pace and place we can handle so we can support it. We need to get a balance in development. Some land uses pay for themselves and some cost the government. We need Industry and Agriculture to balance the residential growth and help balance the tax base. We DON’T need empty box warehouses or storage units. We need to work with the Comp Plan to preserve our rural atmosphere.
3. US 50 is a mish mash and the solutions seem to be a patchwork rather than a comprehensive view. We need ALL THE BUSINESSES on US 50 to be involved, because they have a stake in what is going on. There is thru traffic and local traffic on US50 and we need to step back and look at these two opposing functions to solve the problems.
4. Enforced sewer hook-ups have hurt lifelong and retired residents in the county. They say we have massive septic tank failures, but Purdue University says otherwise – we have a LOW failure rate. Recent editorial showed LMH sewer rate increases being called for because they have to pay for increased lines and maintenance. The editorial also talked about how LMH sends letters saying they can provide service to development and then the ratepayers are subsidizing the development, some of those ratepayers are subsidizing a development they didn’t want.
6. Joan Seitz- Democrat vs. Gary R. Hensley, Sr.- Republican for Assessor.
Seitz gave her history as Assessor since 1976 and has a staff of 6. One has been there 30 years and the least experienced has been there 6 years. She detailed the problems with assessment since the 1999 ruling by Judge Fisher. In 1989 she had the first aerials done in the county. Her office handles 28,600 parcels of land.
She activated the state numbering system for parcels and the public can view anyone’s assessment as public record at www.dearborncounty.in.gov.
Hensley- gave his website (but the last part was garbled at the microphone.) He wants fair and equal taxation enhanced through reliable market data and software. He cited the late assessments and the schools having to borrow dollars. He said Dearborn County was the only county not in compliance.
He’s a certified Level 2 appraiser and works in 3 counties. He said Seitz has not convened the tax appeals board to his knowledge. And that the county has the lowest number of certified workers in the assessor’s office. He thinks market data experience makes him a better candidate. It’s time for a change.
Seitz chose to use her 2 minute rebuttal time: Dearborn County pushed 4 years of reassessment into about 1 year. This is not a market value state yet; it is still done on cost.
Broadcast ended at 8 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
[NOTE: There will be no comments on these presentation notes. I have tried to get as many of the candidates comments posted as possible, so as to give a fair representation of their presentations. LOCAL county races are at number 5 and 6]
Ten candidates chose to either give brief 5-minute presentations or else to answer a series questions prepared on issues pertinent to each office.
Tom Snape moderated for WSCH and the live audience consisted of about 40 people, including about 10 officeholders who were not running for office this term. Mark Neff, Mike Rozow, and Tom DeVille helped organize the event.
1.The only 9th district candidate to show was Eric Schansburg- the Libertarian running against Sodrel and Hill. He answered questions on immigration fences and security, thought that 2010 was too long a time to wait to get our troops home, and was strongly in favor of Social Security reform and payroll tax reform. He didn’t get specific on US 50 or I-74 corridor issues.
2.Lane Siekman- Democrat vs. Johnny Nugent- Republican- State Senator
Siekman wanted to get rid of property taxes and said the only way to do that was to go cold turkey. He referred to Hometown Matters to get the cities and towns to come up with taxes as needed. He stated he was a product of public education via Rising Sun HS, Ball state and then Law School. He referenced major cutbacks in funding and how it was necessary for teachers to be allowed to teach. Economic Development is a buzz word- he’s for jobs and serves as Chamber President in Ohio County. Economy needs to be addressed on a REGIONAL basis. We have two boats here that are our biggest economic assets. They can help give money to support local business. He is against eminent domain abuse and wants to protect against it.
Nugent said that property taxes were at the forefront of the legislative session and gave his usual comment about wanting to “rip property taxes out by the roots so it can never grow back again.” He talked about the option of a local option income tax. He said the real way to control taxes was to LIMIT SPENDING! When it comes to schools he said each budget has increased over the previous budget. He thinks school administrators need to answer as to how they are spending money. There are always more “wants.”
On economic Development Nugent went along with the Daniels program for growing jobs and the economy of Indiana. Said we were dying on the vine and now he is pleased to be part of the team bringing changes. He noted that change is hard - as he gets older- including not even liking to have the furniture moved around at home. He noted 18,000 new jobs announced since Daniels began. In terms of school graduation rates, he said he wasn’t sure which study was correct, if any were at all.
3.Bob Bischoff - Democrat vs. Bill Ullrich - Republican- State Representative
Bischoff gave his family history (wife Ardis Linkmeyer from Aurora and 3 children living in Indy plus grandkids) and noted he had 26 years as Rep and 2 years filling a senate vacancy for a total of 28 years in INDY.
He said his greatest accomplishment was retaining the $70 million that the state wanted to capture from our riverboat revenue. He went on in detail about what was tied to that revenue that we use. He said 2 years ago he coauthored the bill to create the first state dept. of Ag. He helped get a 4-year degree program at IVY Tech and also regional sharing of tuition between colleges, a new superior court, and grants for our local fire depts. and rights to hunt and fish in IN.
Ullrich- stated his name and “I approve this message.” He gave his family history including being married for 45 years and being nephew of another state official and son of the owner of Ullrich Photography in Aurora. Ullrich gave his resume including, jobs, public service, Council office, and military service. His motto is No Games No Strings No Bull and he went on to explain his philosophy of each of those three terms. He stressed that he has no special interest backing, that he will be accessible to the public, and that everyone has a right to be heard as long as they are respectful. At this critical juncture in state government he thought it was time for a change. He referenced following the constitution, and ended with “No one can do it all, but together we can do a lot.”
4.Lanning- Democrat vs. Knollman Republican for D-55 Representative (covering North east parts of the county)
Lanning was the only one who showed up. He attended Connorsville HS and IU and worked for Ford. Lanning went on about the Honda plant and spinoffs and that we could take advantage of the fact that they don’t like to be within 55 miles of their main plants so we can put a lot of people to work in this area. Everyone agrees property taxes should be eliminated. He will work with the people, be accessible, and call you back in a timely manner. He ended with his slogan- “Help is on the way.”
5.Frank Linkmeyer- Democrat vs. Ralph Thompson Republican for D-3 Commissioner
Linkmeyer- gave an extended resume and background including his wife, Judy, children, two brothers Larry and Bob and sister, Ardis Bischoff. He volunteered for military duty in 1962 but was turned down because of a disability. He started Links Fence Company, which his son –Steve- runs. He retired from Seagrams in 1995 and developed 3 subdivisions all within ¼ mile of Aurora or Lawrenceburg city limits and well within the master plan recommended areas.
After the primary he was approached by Democrats AND MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY to run. It seemed like people were anti- this and anti- that and people wanted to stop or at least slow down the county growth. But this county has to grow. He wants to prioritize needs of the county and not run it by politics.
Economic development means kids can stay and work here. We have a great opportunity with Honda spinoffs down I-74. But we shouldn’t take away ALL the rural atmosphere. We can’t tell a farmer what to do with his land.
I have a great respect for volunteers, fire dept, Planning and zoning boards, etc. Hopefully with Commissioners Fox and Hughes I can help make this a great county.
Thompson- I have been an engineer for 30 years in both private and public sector work and I bring all that experience with me. For more detailed information on my platform check my website at www.ralphthompson.org. For tonight I plan to deal with 4 issues:
1. The government should be open to the people. The citizens own the government and with the right of free speech every citizen should have the right to be heard. I am for open government.
2. I am FOR smart development and smart growth. Development needs to be done at a pace and place we can handle so we can support it. We need to get a balance in development. Some land uses pay for themselves and some cost the government. We need Industry and Agriculture to balance the residential growth and help balance the tax base. We DON’T need empty box warehouses or storage units. We need to work with the Comp Plan to preserve our rural atmosphere.
3. US 50 is a mish mash and the solutions seem to be a patchwork rather than a comprehensive view. We need ALL THE BUSINESSES on US 50 to be involved, because they have a stake in what is going on. There is thru traffic and local traffic on US50 and we need to step back and look at these two opposing functions to solve the problems.
4. Enforced sewer hook-ups have hurt lifelong and retired residents in the county. They say we have massive septic tank failures, but Purdue University says otherwise – we have a LOW failure rate. Recent editorial showed LMH sewer rate increases being called for because they have to pay for increased lines and maintenance. The editorial also talked about how LMH sends letters saying they can provide service to development and then the ratepayers are subsidizing the development, some of those ratepayers are subsidizing a development they didn’t want.
6. Joan Seitz- Democrat vs. Gary R. Hensley, Sr.- Republican for Assessor.
Seitz gave her history as Assessor since 1976 and has a staff of 6. One has been there 30 years and the least experienced has been there 6 years. She detailed the problems with assessment since the 1999 ruling by Judge Fisher. In 1989 she had the first aerials done in the county. Her office handles 28,600 parcels of land.
She activated the state numbering system for parcels and the public can view anyone’s assessment as public record at www.dearborncounty.in.gov.
Hensley- gave his website (but the last part was garbled at the microphone.) He wants fair and equal taxation enhanced through reliable market data and software. He cited the late assessments and the schools having to borrow dollars. He said Dearborn County was the only county not in compliance.
He’s a certified Level 2 appraiser and works in 3 counties. He said Seitz has not convened the tax appeals board to his knowledge. And that the county has the lowest number of certified workers in the assessor’s office. He thinks market data experience makes him a better candidate. It’s time for a change.
Seitz chose to use her 2 minute rebuttal time: Dearborn County pushed 4 years of reassessment into about 1 year. This is not a market value state yet; it is still done on cost.
Broadcast ended at 8 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
17 October 2006 Dearborn County Commissioner Meeting Notes
17 October 2006 Dearborn County Commissioner Meeting Notes
Present: Hughes, President, Benning, and Fox
Also present: Messmore, Administrator and Stephanie Disbro sitting in for Pickens.
Absent: Pickens, Auditor, Ewbank, Attorney, who was out of town.
No uniformed police officer was present.
Register Publications covered the first half of this meeting.
1. Commissioners voted to deny the Med Ben Appeal from executive session that preceded this meeting.
2. Gayle Pennington, who was not on the agenda, was asked to present the Lowe’s contract for the Auditor/treasurer software package that Pickens requested from Council and then Commissioners to replace the $250,000 + package that they had approved also at his request only a couple years ago. The “old” package through New World didn’t provide the tax software as promised. Only certain components of this NEW software are compatible with the Assessor’s software.
Ewbank had reviewed the Lowe’s software contracts and the commissioners voted to sign them.
3. Dillsboro and St. Lawrence Schools were “recognized” for getting the Blue Ribbon Award. No one was present from those schools for this.
4. Bob Hrezo of Hrezo Engineering gave pictures and an update on the YES Home and asked commissioners for a letter of support to go to Indy regarding the historic portions of the next phase of the YES Home renovation & remodeling. Commissioners voted to sign letter of support.
5. Todd Listerman – Transportation Director and County Engineer- gave update on the Jenny Lynn Drive and Old Orchard phase 3 issues. He showed the intersections were safe at least as far as site distance at posted speed limits.
At Old Orchard and Jenny Lynn the posted limit is 20 mph and the site distance required is 140 ft. Turn L is 155 ft and R is 500 ft. They will remove some trees at the left side though the residents were hoping to retain as many as possible since it too 16 years to grow them back after the tornadoes.
With 26 houses on Jenny Lynn and 140+ on Old Orchard they may do a 3-way stop sign there.
At Jenny Lynn and Stateline posted limit is 40 mph and minimum site is 280 ft required. South is 800 ft and north is 418 ft. At 55 mph north is 315 ft. minimum, so the intersection is still OK. Only a couple accidents recorded there since 2003.
Listerman posted the stop sign and warning signs of the intersection before the dip in Stateline.
Hughes asked about getting emergency access only there at Old Orchard and Jenny Lynn and not a through street. Fox concurred. They stressed that it was NOT to be a street used for construction, as it would then become a street because people would get used to it being there.
Commissioners felt this Stateline access was not that safe still and didn’t want Old Orchard to create a through street there.
Jim Kinker spokesperson for Jenny Lynn Drive residents thanked them for their decision.
5. Public Hearing for Maxwell Development Zone Change from Ag to R on the Farm Golf Course 124.81 acres on Mount Pleasant near North Dearborn. McCormack presented the staff reports and plan commission certification of a favorable recommendation. There was no public opposition and only one representative from Maxwell Construction present.
[NOTE: I left the meeting at this point to attend the Candidates Night Broadcast for WSCH at the Adult Center. The rest of these notes are from verbal information given by Stephanie Disbro, Commissioner’s Assistant]
Zone change passed with commissioners agreeing that the commitments from PC also be honored.
6. Claims and minutes
7. Messmore- Health Board Appointments: Commissioners reappointed Dennerline and Hankins to the Health Board. Their terms expire on Dec 31st.
[NOTE: Plan Commission reappointment of Rick Pope made prior to expiration in 2003 was voided by commissioners on the advice of their attorney, Ewbank, in 2004. Shouldn’t this same rule apply to this appointment?]
8. Extensive discussion of the Shumway Building and some structural problems was held. This is beyond the scope of the building inspector so they will probably have to hire a commercial inspector.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Present: Hughes, President, Benning, and Fox
Also present: Messmore, Administrator and Stephanie Disbro sitting in for Pickens.
Absent: Pickens, Auditor, Ewbank, Attorney, who was out of town.
No uniformed police officer was present.
Register Publications covered the first half of this meeting.
1. Commissioners voted to deny the Med Ben Appeal from executive session that preceded this meeting.
2. Gayle Pennington, who was not on the agenda, was asked to present the Lowe’s contract for the Auditor/treasurer software package that Pickens requested from Council and then Commissioners to replace the $250,000 + package that they had approved also at his request only a couple years ago. The “old” package through New World didn’t provide the tax software as promised. Only certain components of this NEW software are compatible with the Assessor’s software.
Ewbank had reviewed the Lowe’s software contracts and the commissioners voted to sign them.
3. Dillsboro and St. Lawrence Schools were “recognized” for getting the Blue Ribbon Award. No one was present from those schools for this.
4. Bob Hrezo of Hrezo Engineering gave pictures and an update on the YES Home and asked commissioners for a letter of support to go to Indy regarding the historic portions of the next phase of the YES Home renovation & remodeling. Commissioners voted to sign letter of support.
5. Todd Listerman – Transportation Director and County Engineer- gave update on the Jenny Lynn Drive and Old Orchard phase 3 issues. He showed the intersections were safe at least as far as site distance at posted speed limits.
At Old Orchard and Jenny Lynn the posted limit is 20 mph and the site distance required is 140 ft. Turn L is 155 ft and R is 500 ft. They will remove some trees at the left side though the residents were hoping to retain as many as possible since it too 16 years to grow them back after the tornadoes.
With 26 houses on Jenny Lynn and 140+ on Old Orchard they may do a 3-way stop sign there.
At Jenny Lynn and Stateline posted limit is 40 mph and minimum site is 280 ft required. South is 800 ft and north is 418 ft. At 55 mph north is 315 ft. minimum, so the intersection is still OK. Only a couple accidents recorded there since 2003.
Listerman posted the stop sign and warning signs of the intersection before the dip in Stateline.
Hughes asked about getting emergency access only there at Old Orchard and Jenny Lynn and not a through street. Fox concurred. They stressed that it was NOT to be a street used for construction, as it would then become a street because people would get used to it being there.
Commissioners felt this Stateline access was not that safe still and didn’t want Old Orchard to create a through street there.
Jim Kinker spokesperson for Jenny Lynn Drive residents thanked them for their decision.
5. Public Hearing for Maxwell Development Zone Change from Ag to R on the Farm Golf Course 124.81 acres on Mount Pleasant near North Dearborn. McCormack presented the staff reports and plan commission certification of a favorable recommendation. There was no public opposition and only one representative from Maxwell Construction present.
[NOTE: I left the meeting at this point to attend the Candidates Night Broadcast for WSCH at the Adult Center. The rest of these notes are from verbal information given by Stephanie Disbro, Commissioner’s Assistant]
Zone change passed with commissioners agreeing that the commitments from PC also be honored.
6. Claims and minutes
7. Messmore- Health Board Appointments: Commissioners reappointed Dennerline and Hankins to the Health Board. Their terms expire on Dec 31st.
[NOTE: Plan Commission reappointment of Rick Pope made prior to expiration in 2003 was voided by commissioners on the advice of their attorney, Ewbank, in 2004. Shouldn’t this same rule apply to this appointment?]
8. Extensive discussion of the Shumway Building and some structural problems was held. This is beyond the scope of the building inspector so they will probably have to hire a commercial inspector.
Meeting adjourned at 7:30 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Monday, October 16, 2006
Note- OKI Meeting at Tate Street
Please note- earlier post listed the OKI meeting tonight at an incorrect location- it is at the Tate Street Adult Center.
TWO MASTER PLAN LAND USE MEETINGS THIS WEEK
Two Master Plan Meetings This Week
Reminder:
Master Plan Advisory Members are invited to attend- ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC- the OKI Meeting on Regional Land Use issues tonight (Monday October 16) at Tate Street Adult Center from 7-9 PM
The Advisory Board meets again October 18th- Wed. - at the Administration Building from 7-9 PM. Topics will be re-evaluating the current land use designations and the intended purpose of the future land use plan. These are open to the public to view and they generally can submit written comments if they desire.
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Reminder:
Master Plan Advisory Members are invited to attend- ALONG WITH THE PUBLIC- the OKI Meeting on Regional Land Use issues tonight (Monday October 16) at Tate Street Adult Center from 7-9 PM
The Advisory Board meets again October 18th- Wed. - at the Administration Building from 7-9 PM. Topics will be re-evaluating the current land use designations and the intended purpose of the future land use plan. These are open to the public to view and they generally can submit written comments if they desire.
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
10 October 2006 BZA Meeting Notes
10 October 2006 BZA Meeting Notes
Present: Jim Deaton, Chairman, Jane Ohlmansiek, Jake Hoog, and Mike Hall
Absent: Patty Baker
Also Present: Mark McCormack, Planning Director, Kate Rademacher, Enforcement Officer, and Arnie McGill, Attorney.
Ralph Thompson- Candidate for Commissioner was also present
1. No public was opposed to the front yard variance for a pole barn for A.Wayne Spitzfaden on Mount Pleasant Road in Miller Township on Ag land.
The board ha no issues with it.
Ohlmansiek motioned and Hall 2nd to approve the variance for a 38 ft variance from the edge of the road pavement for the barn citing the variance code as being satisfied.
All ayes. Passed.
BZA “Conditionally” Passes a Conditional Use on to Plan Commission.
2. Conditional Use request for a Condominium and daycare Center on 25 acres of R land on Stateline Road in Miller Township. Owner Landhill Development, Applicant Bayer Becker and Classic Properties represented by James Noyes for president Joe Faruggia.
[NOTE: This land is part of the larger parcel that has been in contention for 7 years. The rezone hearing in 1999 held by the Plan Commission resulted in an eventual UNFAVORABLE recommendation in August of 1999. Sept 7, 1999 two of the three County Commissioners at that time overturned this recommendation. Mark Dole voted Nay. Vera Benning and John Kyle, after privately meeting with the developer on the land, voted Aye.]
James Noyes presented the material for the development after the Planning Staff slide show of the issues and area were presented. 14 of the 16 letters had been received by adjoining property owners.
Of note:
1. There was no information on the sewage except for a letter from Greendale indicating their ability to handle the outflow if it passed through Sugar Ridge’s oversized lines.
2. The traffic information was old, the newest of the data was from 2004, and didn’t have the latest developments figured in.
They intend to do traffic study at primary approval.
3. They arranged uses with eth lay of the land- the open space is primarily sloping too much for development.
4. The day care is 5,000 sq ft and approximate parking spaces are on the map.
5. Noyes attempted to justify the need for condos in this area saying they think there is a demand not being met.
6. The condos will be 2-3 bedrooms.
7. There will be no walking trails as the greenspace land is unsuited to it- too steep.
8. Roads and opens space is owned by HOA.
Public comment:
Judy Niemeyer- adjoiner and opposed. Wants fence and trees and is concerned with safety. Thinks the hilly terrain in open space is dangerous.
Dennis Merk- owns 150 acres north of development. Asked the board to look at whole picture. If you pass this, there are more behind it. It was defeated before because of the single entrance. Said the only greenspace here is what is too steep to use. Stateline can’t handle the traffic being proposed. He has cattle and ponds and needs to protect his interests- we need a fence if this goes in.
There are farms all around this with livestock.
Ralph Thompson- There are quite a few condos in this area- Mt. Pleasant, Sugar Ridge, Whispering Woods, HVL.
There are lots of vehicles in an area with very limited access- single entry is an EMS issue.
Steep hillside with cuts could lead to potential slippage and only a the HOA to cover this.
Fire dept. in Bright recently requested increased funding from commissioners to handle the increased development and they were turned down- as there is NO MONEY FOR IT.
Kathy Scott- Condos can be a large building that looks more like an apt. What are these like? Do they have garages, single floor plans? Noted that in Wildwood in Fairfield they were an example of condo associations for a long time. Sometimes people make apartments into condos.
Sammy Gutzwiller- longtime resident and represents Bachman and Zimmerman and also Red Pine Properties (Andy Temmel). She asked to see the Greendale letter. She noted they were trying to attach to Sugar Ridge and that Farruggia (this property) is in VRUC’s CTA!!! She asked Deaton to read the letter out loud. He did. She then asked to get a copy of it. [NOTE: SO VRUC’s CTA is not currently served and DCRSD took over all land not currently served by sewer. Is DCRSD really in charge of this? Or is this the area DCRSD is allowing Greendale to serve with their agreement?]
Sheila Merk- lives on adjoining 150 acres by the single-family home section of this development proposal. Asked where the play area is for the daycare, which is situated closest to Stateline Road. Noted only greenspace is undevelopable. She thought integrity was important here and she sees this as a more transient population being marketed to with the condos. She also saw the developer as transient- develop it and leave the management to others.
She gave a brief history of the issues with the original development approvals and the sewage treatment plant that they attempted to slip in which would have dumped to a dry creek bed (9 mo of the year) and on to Ohio. Ohio and IDEM communicated and essentially stopped that once Ohio was informed of the problems. IDEM denied the plant. She said these things need to be taken into account when some tells you what they will and will not do.
She discussed briefly, the commissioner’s overturning the PC recommendations on the zone change and was stopped, as this was supposedly not pertinent to the proposal.
She said Stateline is NOT up to date for the houses now, why add more and why with only one entrance? This shouldn’t even be considered.
Linda Mitchell – represents her family, which owns and operates a working farm of 90 acres to the north. She noted the only greenspace is the fall-off areas. They are developing the ridge and we are very concerned about the drainage that will affect our farm. The adjoining lands are 150, 90 8, 23 etc acres. This is TOTALLY OUT OF CHARACTER with what surrounds it on three sides.
She sees a huge safety issue with the daycare close to the road and to Niemeyer’s lake.
In Aug 23, 1999 the principal of Bright Elementary wrote a letter about this stating concerns with health, safety, and space issues at the school.
The traffic figures need to be UPDATED FIRST. Originally Faruggia stated he would fix the dip in the road, then found out the cost. He stated he’d pay $10,000. Kyle made the $10,000 a condition of the rezone. The dip is fixed- the COUNTY TAXPAYERS footed the bill. Faruggia paid nothing. He needs to be made to pay for that part.
Dan Johnson- a commuter who uses Stateline Road daily. He read section 315 conditional use requirements and cited 3 areas of it that he said they didn’t meet. He said it doesn’t meet the character test in b. He said article c talks about facilities and infrastructure and notes the letters are not all in place and only the politically correct ones are coming in from the schools. He was concerned with eth pitfall of an HOA and their ability to keep up the development and infrastructure long term. He figures the taxpayers will eventually pay for that. He also noted the traffic congestion in the next article was an issue with at least 320 more vehicles and more that 1200 trips per day added to the roadway onto a twisting hilly road.
Sammy Gutzwiller- HVL POA pays all our taxes and has 1850 homes in eth most successful HOA with 35 miles of roads that ARE THE BEST ROADS IN THE COUNTY!!! She cited her experience as managing 15 offices and 800 employees.
Sheila Merk- noted that some people RENT condos from their owners.
Public discussion ended at 8:20 and the applicant answered questions from the board.
They will run compaction testing before cutting into the hills. Runoff will be addressed by erosion control with silt fences and hay bales.
Condos are 3 stories high with 11 units to a building; each has garage and some with 2 cars. They all have a personal driveway.
Nicole Daily of Bayer Becker pointed out Sugar Ridge and HVL as answers to being out of character in the area.
There is emergency access behind the daycare.
Daily noted that numbers from 2004 indicated a need for turn lanes on Stateline and they will do a full traffic study before primary approval. [NOTE: This is a conditional use- and as such is asking for special consideration in an R zone. They should have done MORE work ahead of this so this board would have FACTS to work with.]
The site distance issue was corrected when THE COUNTY fixed the dip.
Mark Rosenberger of Bayer Becker said that VRUC was unresponsive to letters and Greendale supplied them. They are going through the formal process with IURC to remove this from VRUC’s CTA for sewers.
Board Discussion:
Ohlmansiek- we need condos, but was concerned with it being dropped into an area with EORKING farms. The Ag surrounding this isn’t just open space. She was concerned with sewers. Day care might be needed in an are with a lot of homes.
Jake Hoog- Thinks the parcel itself is too hilly to be used for Ag. Had problems with the day care and sees a serious safety issue – it needs to be set back further.
Mike Hall- Problems with infrastructure and sewer. McCormack noted it should be taken into consideration and that it will also be addressed at primary approval.
Jim Deaton- This R is never used for farming. It’s right across from high density. Let them ask for it.
Ohlmamsiek went through the 6 criteria:
a- sewers an ongoing problem and adding traffic to Stateline at an entrance 2.5 miles from US 50.
b- on a ridge so it might protect neighbors somewhat from it by greenspace hills.
c- will be covered at primary plat stage [NOTE: passing the buck to PC]
d- won’t impede the development around it. [NOTE: Farms are also developments. What if they can’t pursue their business?]
e- evidence will be provided by traffic study at primary approval. [NOTE Passing buck again to PC]
f- is OK
Some board members had trouble with a and d, some with c and e.
Hall asked McGill- the attorney- do we have to answer ALL 6. McGill said YES.
Mike Hall motioned and Jake Hoog 2nd to grant the conditional use subject to them getting the Plan Commission and related depts. approval of c and e of section 315.
All ayes Passed.
[NOTE: This passes the buck to the Plan Commission and state code is the basis for the 6 conditions. They are not separated by the word “or”. McGill also said they have to all be answered. The BZA needs to take a serious look at this procedure.]
ADMINISTRATIVE:
Monthly enforcement report and stats were passed out.
Meetings with OKI and Land Use Plan for Master Plan were announced on the 16th and 18th.
Nov 2 will be another US 50 discussion- no time or place yet.
The BZA then entertained comments from the audience on the last item. Possible solutions to the issues involved:
Getting the R zone breakdown finished
Having PC review conditional use first then BZA takes their recommendation and goes further. This was how it was handled in the previous ordinances.
Old zone change history of the original zone maps that stripped out roads with R zones was commented on.
Wanting the public to speak up and not talk in the audience and complain later was advised by the board and staff also.
Noting it was hard to sit on the boards and take all the criticism.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Present: Jim Deaton, Chairman, Jane Ohlmansiek, Jake Hoog, and Mike Hall
Absent: Patty Baker
Also Present: Mark McCormack, Planning Director, Kate Rademacher, Enforcement Officer, and Arnie McGill, Attorney.
Ralph Thompson- Candidate for Commissioner was also present
1. No public was opposed to the front yard variance for a pole barn for A.Wayne Spitzfaden on Mount Pleasant Road in Miller Township on Ag land.
The board ha no issues with it.
Ohlmansiek motioned and Hall 2nd to approve the variance for a 38 ft variance from the edge of the road pavement for the barn citing the variance code as being satisfied.
All ayes. Passed.
BZA “Conditionally” Passes a Conditional Use on to Plan Commission.
2. Conditional Use request for a Condominium and daycare Center on 25 acres of R land on Stateline Road in Miller Township. Owner Landhill Development, Applicant Bayer Becker and Classic Properties represented by James Noyes for president Joe Faruggia.
[NOTE: This land is part of the larger parcel that has been in contention for 7 years. The rezone hearing in 1999 held by the Plan Commission resulted in an eventual UNFAVORABLE recommendation in August of 1999. Sept 7, 1999 two of the three County Commissioners at that time overturned this recommendation. Mark Dole voted Nay. Vera Benning and John Kyle, after privately meeting with the developer on the land, voted Aye.]
James Noyes presented the material for the development after the Planning Staff slide show of the issues and area were presented. 14 of the 16 letters had been received by adjoining property owners.
Of note:
1. There was no information on the sewage except for a letter from Greendale indicating their ability to handle the outflow if it passed through Sugar Ridge’s oversized lines.
2. The traffic information was old, the newest of the data was from 2004, and didn’t have the latest developments figured in.
They intend to do traffic study at primary approval.
3. They arranged uses with eth lay of the land- the open space is primarily sloping too much for development.
4. The day care is 5,000 sq ft and approximate parking spaces are on the map.
5. Noyes attempted to justify the need for condos in this area saying they think there is a demand not being met.
6. The condos will be 2-3 bedrooms.
7. There will be no walking trails as the greenspace land is unsuited to it- too steep.
8. Roads and opens space is owned by HOA.
Public comment:
Judy Niemeyer- adjoiner and opposed. Wants fence and trees and is concerned with safety. Thinks the hilly terrain in open space is dangerous.
Dennis Merk- owns 150 acres north of development. Asked the board to look at whole picture. If you pass this, there are more behind it. It was defeated before because of the single entrance. Said the only greenspace here is what is too steep to use. Stateline can’t handle the traffic being proposed. He has cattle and ponds and needs to protect his interests- we need a fence if this goes in.
There are farms all around this with livestock.
Ralph Thompson- There are quite a few condos in this area- Mt. Pleasant, Sugar Ridge, Whispering Woods, HVL.
There are lots of vehicles in an area with very limited access- single entry is an EMS issue.
Steep hillside with cuts could lead to potential slippage and only a the HOA to cover this.
Fire dept. in Bright recently requested increased funding from commissioners to handle the increased development and they were turned down- as there is NO MONEY FOR IT.
Kathy Scott- Condos can be a large building that looks more like an apt. What are these like? Do they have garages, single floor plans? Noted that in Wildwood in Fairfield they were an example of condo associations for a long time. Sometimes people make apartments into condos.
Sammy Gutzwiller- longtime resident and represents Bachman and Zimmerman and also Red Pine Properties (Andy Temmel). She asked to see the Greendale letter. She noted they were trying to attach to Sugar Ridge and that Farruggia (this property) is in VRUC’s CTA!!! She asked Deaton to read the letter out loud. He did. She then asked to get a copy of it. [NOTE: SO VRUC’s CTA is not currently served and DCRSD took over all land not currently served by sewer. Is DCRSD really in charge of this? Or is this the area DCRSD is allowing Greendale to serve with their agreement?]
Sheila Merk- lives on adjoining 150 acres by the single-family home section of this development proposal. Asked where the play area is for the daycare, which is situated closest to Stateline Road. Noted only greenspace is undevelopable. She thought integrity was important here and she sees this as a more transient population being marketed to with the condos. She also saw the developer as transient- develop it and leave the management to others.
She gave a brief history of the issues with the original development approvals and the sewage treatment plant that they attempted to slip in which would have dumped to a dry creek bed (9 mo of the year) and on to Ohio. Ohio and IDEM communicated and essentially stopped that once Ohio was informed of the problems. IDEM denied the plant. She said these things need to be taken into account when some tells you what they will and will not do.
She discussed briefly, the commissioner’s overturning the PC recommendations on the zone change and was stopped, as this was supposedly not pertinent to the proposal.
She said Stateline is NOT up to date for the houses now, why add more and why with only one entrance? This shouldn’t even be considered.
Linda Mitchell – represents her family, which owns and operates a working farm of 90 acres to the north. She noted the only greenspace is the fall-off areas. They are developing the ridge and we are very concerned about the drainage that will affect our farm. The adjoining lands are 150, 90 8, 23 etc acres. This is TOTALLY OUT OF CHARACTER with what surrounds it on three sides.
She sees a huge safety issue with the daycare close to the road and to Niemeyer’s lake.
In Aug 23, 1999 the principal of Bright Elementary wrote a letter about this stating concerns with health, safety, and space issues at the school.
The traffic figures need to be UPDATED FIRST. Originally Faruggia stated he would fix the dip in the road, then found out the cost. He stated he’d pay $10,000. Kyle made the $10,000 a condition of the rezone. The dip is fixed- the COUNTY TAXPAYERS footed the bill. Faruggia paid nothing. He needs to be made to pay for that part.
Dan Johnson- a commuter who uses Stateline Road daily. He read section 315 conditional use requirements and cited 3 areas of it that he said they didn’t meet. He said it doesn’t meet the character test in b. He said article c talks about facilities and infrastructure and notes the letters are not all in place and only the politically correct ones are coming in from the schools. He was concerned with eth pitfall of an HOA and their ability to keep up the development and infrastructure long term. He figures the taxpayers will eventually pay for that. He also noted the traffic congestion in the next article was an issue with at least 320 more vehicles and more that 1200 trips per day added to the roadway onto a twisting hilly road.
Sammy Gutzwiller- HVL POA pays all our taxes and has 1850 homes in eth most successful HOA with 35 miles of roads that ARE THE BEST ROADS IN THE COUNTY!!! She cited her experience as managing 15 offices and 800 employees.
Sheila Merk- noted that some people RENT condos from their owners.
Public discussion ended at 8:20 and the applicant answered questions from the board.
They will run compaction testing before cutting into the hills. Runoff will be addressed by erosion control with silt fences and hay bales.
Condos are 3 stories high with 11 units to a building; each has garage and some with 2 cars. They all have a personal driveway.
Nicole Daily of Bayer Becker pointed out Sugar Ridge and HVL as answers to being out of character in the area.
There is emergency access behind the daycare.
Daily noted that numbers from 2004 indicated a need for turn lanes on Stateline and they will do a full traffic study before primary approval. [NOTE: This is a conditional use- and as such is asking for special consideration in an R zone. They should have done MORE work ahead of this so this board would have FACTS to work with.]
The site distance issue was corrected when THE COUNTY fixed the dip.
Mark Rosenberger of Bayer Becker said that VRUC was unresponsive to letters and Greendale supplied them. They are going through the formal process with IURC to remove this from VRUC’s CTA for sewers.
Board Discussion:
Ohlmansiek- we need condos, but was concerned with it being dropped into an area with EORKING farms. The Ag surrounding this isn’t just open space. She was concerned with sewers. Day care might be needed in an are with a lot of homes.
Jake Hoog- Thinks the parcel itself is too hilly to be used for Ag. Had problems with the day care and sees a serious safety issue – it needs to be set back further.
Mike Hall- Problems with infrastructure and sewer. McCormack noted it should be taken into consideration and that it will also be addressed at primary approval.
Jim Deaton- This R is never used for farming. It’s right across from high density. Let them ask for it.
Ohlmamsiek went through the 6 criteria:
a- sewers an ongoing problem and adding traffic to Stateline at an entrance 2.5 miles from US 50.
b- on a ridge so it might protect neighbors somewhat from it by greenspace hills.
c- will be covered at primary plat stage [NOTE: passing the buck to PC]
d- won’t impede the development around it. [NOTE: Farms are also developments. What if they can’t pursue their business?]
e- evidence will be provided by traffic study at primary approval. [NOTE Passing buck again to PC]
f- is OK
Some board members had trouble with a and d, some with c and e.
Hall asked McGill- the attorney- do we have to answer ALL 6. McGill said YES.
Mike Hall motioned and Jake Hoog 2nd to grant the conditional use subject to them getting the Plan Commission and related depts. approval of c and e of section 315.
All ayes Passed.
[NOTE: This passes the buck to the Plan Commission and state code is the basis for the 6 conditions. They are not separated by the word “or”. McGill also said they have to all be answered. The BZA needs to take a serious look at this procedure.]
ADMINISTRATIVE:
Monthly enforcement report and stats were passed out.
Meetings with OKI and Land Use Plan for Master Plan were announced on the 16th and 18th.
Nov 2 will be another US 50 discussion- no time or place yet.
The BZA then entertained comments from the audience on the last item. Possible solutions to the issues involved:
Getting the R zone breakdown finished
Having PC review conditional use first then BZA takes their recommendation and goes further. This was how it was handled in the previous ordinances.
Old zone change history of the original zone maps that stripped out roads with R zones was commented on.
Wanting the public to speak up and not talk in the audience and complain later was advised by the board and staff also.
Noting it was hard to sit on the boards and take all the criticism.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Friday, October 06, 2006
5 October Dearborn County Regional Sewer District Meeting Notes
5 October 2006 DCRSD Meeting Notes
Present: Chairman, Hankins, Fehrman, Enzweiler, Pruss, Holland, Dennerline, and Maxwell
Also Present: Kramer, Attorney, Quinn, Engineer, and Benning, Acting Secretary
Absent: Doug Baer, Health Dept.
1. Tom Kent Perfect View Subdivision requested letter allowing Greendale to service his subdivision, as he is going forward with primary approval. DCRSD had already voted to allow this. Kramer is to come up with letter and terms for this agreement with Greendale.
Kent said he is running a 4-inch line to Greendale.
Maxwell asked if this was gravity.
It isn’t.
[NOTE: Greendale has gone to considerable up front expense and foresight to install gravity along SR 1. It seems shortsighted to not continue this pattern all along the main along SR1. As needs develop, the line will gradually advance out SR1. If the county can come up with some funds to help Kent continue this line it would be a good step toward the future. SR1 should not be built out- but it is an excellent feeder to SDRSD and all the roads leading down to it could access that line by gravity also. Pressure lines may be cheap now, but we will probably regret this decision to let a 4-inch access this.]
2. Serenity Ridge update- LMH is continuing with extension of their CTA to gain the south half of section 28, 26, and 33 in Logan. This will mean Serenity Ridge may work with LMH directly. Approved minutes would allow Tucker to do this. Residents who already have septic- less than 2 years old are questioning why they should be forced to incur this expense.
Dennerline explained that PRIVATE sewers like LMH couldn’t force them on if their septic is working. He also told the to check RULE 25 which gives citizens the right of recovery for costs of installing lines that others hook onto later.
Maxwell was concerned about having to buy out LMH later at larger costs if the county was able to coalesce all these districts somehow. Wanted to know of we could do a conditional release of these areas to LMH.
Board tabled this till Kramer can explore this further. Will decide at the next meeting. IF THIS DOESN’T GO THROUGH LMH, Hankins told the Serenity Ridge people they were committed to serve them.
[NOTE: Back when this subdivision was proposed by Jim Stotts, the PC knew there were septic issues on some of these lots and in discussion they were supposed to be marked as unbuildable. How did people end up owning them?]
3. Woolpert Update- Hankins said they had a couple small tasks to get answered and final document should be here in short order. [NOTE: whatever that means.]
4. Mariah Business Park- Mark Rosenberger- Bayer Becker Engineering- This is 55 acres – 41 usable- near the St. Leon area around UCB’s newest branch and adjoining the new school property. Benning to get a letter together for Rosenberger to take to St. Leon to allow them to serve this area.
[NOTE: It seems like the county took over all the land not served and is giving it away, piece by piece, just creating layers of paperwork and bureaucracy for anyone trying to get service.]
5. Cole Lane and Stewart St. had to be rebid a 3rd time due to inserting the old due date in July instead of the new one in the bid documents. Bid will be in Oct 25 and Nov 2 should have the recommendations from Quinn. Four bidders are Lykins, O’Mara, Harold and son, and Jeff Meinders of CH&M Excavating.
Maxwell asked if we were installing the main line. Aurora installs the pumps and they own the line. Quinn said we incur about $320,000 in costs to get reimbursed over time. Hrezo designed the main line. If we get Aurora to inspect we don’t have to incur $7500 inspection fee. Quinn to ask randy Turner if they want to inspect, since the line will be theirs. He will also get his a new set of plans.
6. West Aurora and Highridge Estates- Woolpert reviewed those plans- all options are expensive. They could build a wastewater treatment plant in Washington Township. They could transport to Dillsboro. Costs each are about $3 million. Board sees little chance of future payoff. Dennerline wants to see Aurora at contract signing time in Jan or Feb and ask Hastings again- if he’ll sign for a variance and let them dump to Aurora. [NOTE: So Aurora fixes their problem and then adds enough to get out of compliance again? I don’t understand. If we are willing to incur expense to service serenity Ridge- a SMALL subdivision, why aren’t we willing to incur expense here?]
7. St. Leon Update- Hankins met with reps up there recently and there was a spirit of cooperation that we are going to try to take advantage of while trying to install lines on the I-74 corridor. Maxwell noted that St. Leon’s money issues have improved and stabilized and they are more confident now.
8. Claims to be paid- Quinn Engineering had increased expenses due to multiple rebidding on Cole Lane and Stewart Street. [NOTE: If you make a mistake do you charge your employer to fix it?]Quinn’s contract is increased by $2,000.
9. 2007 budget has a line item for DCRSD of about $70,000. Hankins noted- we have our own line item now.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Present: Chairman, Hankins, Fehrman, Enzweiler, Pruss, Holland, Dennerline, and Maxwell
Also Present: Kramer, Attorney, Quinn, Engineer, and Benning, Acting Secretary
Absent: Doug Baer, Health Dept.
1. Tom Kent Perfect View Subdivision requested letter allowing Greendale to service his subdivision, as he is going forward with primary approval. DCRSD had already voted to allow this. Kramer is to come up with letter and terms for this agreement with Greendale.
Kent said he is running a 4-inch line to Greendale.
Maxwell asked if this was gravity.
It isn’t.
[NOTE: Greendale has gone to considerable up front expense and foresight to install gravity along SR 1. It seems shortsighted to not continue this pattern all along the main along SR1. As needs develop, the line will gradually advance out SR1. If the county can come up with some funds to help Kent continue this line it would be a good step toward the future. SR1 should not be built out- but it is an excellent feeder to SDRSD and all the roads leading down to it could access that line by gravity also. Pressure lines may be cheap now, but we will probably regret this decision to let a 4-inch access this.]
2. Serenity Ridge update- LMH is continuing with extension of their CTA to gain the south half of section 28, 26, and 33 in Logan. This will mean Serenity Ridge may work with LMH directly. Approved minutes would allow Tucker to do this. Residents who already have septic- less than 2 years old are questioning why they should be forced to incur this expense.
Dennerline explained that PRIVATE sewers like LMH couldn’t force them on if their septic is working. He also told the to check RULE 25 which gives citizens the right of recovery for costs of installing lines that others hook onto later.
Maxwell was concerned about having to buy out LMH later at larger costs if the county was able to coalesce all these districts somehow. Wanted to know of we could do a conditional release of these areas to LMH.
Board tabled this till Kramer can explore this further. Will decide at the next meeting. IF THIS DOESN’T GO THROUGH LMH, Hankins told the Serenity Ridge people they were committed to serve them.
[NOTE: Back when this subdivision was proposed by Jim Stotts, the PC knew there were septic issues on some of these lots and in discussion they were supposed to be marked as unbuildable. How did people end up owning them?]
3. Woolpert Update- Hankins said they had a couple small tasks to get answered and final document should be here in short order. [NOTE: whatever that means.]
4. Mariah Business Park- Mark Rosenberger- Bayer Becker Engineering- This is 55 acres – 41 usable- near the St. Leon area around UCB’s newest branch and adjoining the new school property. Benning to get a letter together for Rosenberger to take to St. Leon to allow them to serve this area.
[NOTE: It seems like the county took over all the land not served and is giving it away, piece by piece, just creating layers of paperwork and bureaucracy for anyone trying to get service.]
5. Cole Lane and Stewart St. had to be rebid a 3rd time due to inserting the old due date in July instead of the new one in the bid documents. Bid will be in Oct 25 and Nov 2 should have the recommendations from Quinn. Four bidders are Lykins, O’Mara, Harold and son, and Jeff Meinders of CH&M Excavating.
Maxwell asked if we were installing the main line. Aurora installs the pumps and they own the line. Quinn said we incur about $320,000 in costs to get reimbursed over time. Hrezo designed the main line. If we get Aurora to inspect we don’t have to incur $7500 inspection fee. Quinn to ask randy Turner if they want to inspect, since the line will be theirs. He will also get his a new set of plans.
6. West Aurora and Highridge Estates- Woolpert reviewed those plans- all options are expensive. They could build a wastewater treatment plant in Washington Township. They could transport to Dillsboro. Costs each are about $3 million. Board sees little chance of future payoff. Dennerline wants to see Aurora at contract signing time in Jan or Feb and ask Hastings again- if he’ll sign for a variance and let them dump to Aurora. [NOTE: So Aurora fixes their problem and then adds enough to get out of compliance again? I don’t understand. If we are willing to incur expense to service serenity Ridge- a SMALL subdivision, why aren’t we willing to incur expense here?]
7. St. Leon Update- Hankins met with reps up there recently and there was a spirit of cooperation that we are going to try to take advantage of while trying to install lines on the I-74 corridor. Maxwell noted that St. Leon’s money issues have improved and stabilized and they are more confident now.
8. Claims to be paid- Quinn Engineering had increased expenses due to multiple rebidding on Cole Lane and Stewart Street. [NOTE: If you make a mistake do you charge your employer to fix it?]Quinn’s contract is increased by $2,000.
9. 2007 budget has a line item for DCRSD of about $70,000. Hankins noted- we have our own line item now.
Meeting adjourned at 8:30 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Manchester Area Civic Association Candidate Night
Manchester Area Civic Association Candidate Night
Candidates Night is set for Tuesday Oct. 24, 7:30 to 9:00 At the Manchester Volunteer Fire Dept at SR 48 and County Farm Rd. The public is welcome.
Information submitted by Sue Weldon
Candidates Night is set for Tuesday Oct. 24, 7:30 to 9:00 At the Manchester Volunteer Fire Dept at SR 48 and County Farm Rd. The public is welcome.
Information submitted by Sue Weldon
Chamber Meet the Candidate Night Broadcast on WSCH
Meet the Candidate night is scheduled for Oct.17, 7pm, live on
WSCH Radio, Dearborn Adult Center.
People are welcome to attend at the Adult Center on Tate Street in Lawrenceburg.
Thanks for helping to get the word out!
Michael Rozow, Jr.
President / COO
Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce
320 Walnut Street
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
812-537-0814
www.DearbornCountyChamber.org
WSCH Radio, Dearborn Adult Center.
People are welcome to attend at the Adult Center on Tate Street in Lawrenceburg.
Thanks for helping to get the word out!
Michael Rozow, Jr.
President / COO
Dearborn County Chamber of Commerce
320 Walnut Street
Lawrenceburg, IN 47025
812-537-0814
www.DearbornCountyChamber.org
Neighborhood Issues Meeting
NEIGHBORHOOD ISSUES MEETING
WHAT: An opportunity to discuss issues, problems, concerns, etc. common to Northern Dearborn County residents. Commissioner candidate Ralph Thompson will be in attendance.
WHERE: Dearborn County Library Meeting Room North Dearborn Road Bright, Indiana
WHEN: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 @ 7:00 p.m.
Thanks, everybody.
Dan & Linda Johnson
WHAT: An opportunity to discuss issues, problems, concerns, etc. common to Northern Dearborn County residents. Commissioner candidate Ralph Thompson will be in attendance.
WHERE: Dearborn County Library Meeting Room North Dearborn Road Bright, Indiana
WHEN: Wednesday, October 25, 2006 @ 7:00 p.m.
Thanks, everybody.
Dan & Linda Johnson
Wednesday, October 04, 2006
3 October 2006 Dearborn County Commissioner Meeting Notes
3 October 2006 Dearborn County Commissioner Meeting Notes
Present: Hughes, President, Benning, and Fox
Also present: Pickens, Auditor, Ewbank, Attorney, and Messmore, Administrator.
A uniformed police officer was present.
Ralph Thompson, Republican Candidate for D-3 Commissioner was also present
1. CDBG Grant on owner occupied housing was signed.
2. EMA- Bill Black- got signatures for two grants actually from 2003 and 2004 money that had to be spent by the end of October. Benning didn’t want to be rushed into spending. Fox said he was in favor. Ewbank reviewed the contract and advised they sign it. Fox and Hughes voted to sign Benning was Nay. Passed. Money goes to the auditor to disburse.
NIMS- National Incident Management System was discussed- apparently several departments have mot completed training and Black wanted Commissioners to help persuade them to complete it. Benning concerned that we aren’t prepared for terrorist attacks or disasters like hurricanes, etc. [NOTE: Hurricanes?]
3. Old Orchard Subdivision Enforcement issues on Jenny Lynn Drive- Jim Kinker presented for the group of neighbors. In answer to his questions about the legality of the conditions and the safety issues (stop line set back line too far away, sight distance, school bus turn radius, traffic already cutting through on gravel road after school) on Stateline and Jenny Lynn, Ewbank gave the following explanation.
Ewbank reviewed the thorough research from the Plan Commission staff. He separated the discussion into what he called procedural and substantive issues.
Procedurally- the commissioners cannot put conditions on a zone change as was decided in a recent court case here.
Substantively the 2nd issue is that the commissioners are in charge of safety and welfare in the county. And they are in charge of the highway engineer who is the one who will determine that the safety and other regulations regarding road access are followed.
Listerman reported that he’d looked at Jenny Lynn and that as sight distances go it is just the line between being adequate or not. He installed a warning sign of a crossroads for that reason. The stop bar needs to be about 15 ft from the intersection and will be fixed. To go beyond the minimum requirements means the hump in Stateline should be cut back. He also noted they would check the radius for buses.
Jim Kinker also asked if the county attorney at the time would be to blame for not stopping commissioners from putting conditions on the zone change. [NOTE: Aaron Negangard was the county attorney at the time and is the current County Prosecutor]
Benning said she wasn’t really in favor of this at the time (though it was a unanimous decision) but that D-1 commissioner (Dole) really lead the discussion at the time.
Fox thought the county could make Tucker fix the entrance too.
Jim Kinker said that he works with Tucker all the time (as he does utilities) and he’s different lately. He’s pretty much out there some days. He wondered if it was medication effects or just getting older. He says now he’s just going to do it and see if anyone can stop him. Tucker says it will be blacktopped by the end of October before the plants close.
Kinker asked the commissioners to please make it safe.
Listerman will report to Commissioners next meeting on this.
Ron Hoffman who owns property adjoining the connector told commissioners that Tucker said to his face: He will black top in the next 3 weeks regardless of what you say.
[NOTE: This is the old- better to ask forgiveness and permission ploy. The county needs to thoroughly look at these intersections, as 140 more houses means 1400 trips per day. That is considerably more than what exits there now. It’s like with the sewers. When they are in violation and overflows occur- do you add more sewage to the plant?]
4. Bright EMS contract signed.
5, Whitewater Canal byway letter of support signed.
6. Amendment to vacation earning schedule that Benning said was researched by Tracy Stegemiller- Human Resources Officer- for 16 paid holidays and 6 weeks paid vacation after 20 years was not passed. Fox said he couldn’t imagine any industry standard that generous. The schedule stays as is- no increase. [NOTE: YIKES!!!! Were they serious? 16 holidays and 6 weeks vacation!??]
7. Holiday schedule for 2007 was approved.
8. Shumway Building- Fortune Management contract to purchase was signed for 85% of the lower of 2 bids. Purchase price was $467,500. Appraisals were $566,000 and $550,000. Benning added some contingencies to be sure the seller paid for defects, a building inspection, and title insurance.
9. Ewbank reviewed contract for Lowe and Associates for the Auditor and Treasurer’s new software for approximately $300,000. It will be compatible with assessor. [NOTE: We’ve heard this before- to the tune of $250,000 plus about 4 years ago, when Batta, Shell, and Benning were concerned with compatibility issues on the NEW World system Pickens installed.] Commissioners approved the purchase.
10. Benning said there was a terrible parking problem. Listerman was called in to advise about the possibility of opening up the I&M Parking lot where EMA Building exists. They plan to pave and install drainage and remove fence for about $30-40,000.
11. Hughes requested a VERBATIM TANSCRIPT of the county budget hearings. Heated exchange occurred here where Pickens said they could have the tapes but he wasn’t paying for any transcript. [NOTE: This is THREE days of meetings. Most is done away from the podium and Fehrman frequently walks around the room and out in the hall to discuss things with dept. heads before they get in to the meeting. This has to be costly- and it won’t yield much information. I would suggest they get 3 copies of the tapes and let the commissioners listen to them and pick out sections they want transcribed. This is a huge waste of taxpayer money- it would be more appropriate to fix the procedures than to do this. Is there a reason for this request - or is this just Pick on Pickens?]
All 3 commissioners voted to get the transcript, because they want it.
12. Contract for $25,000 for Chamber/Redevelopment signed as usual.
13. County lawsuit from former prisoner is being picked up by insurance.
14. Oct 16 7-9 is OKI Master Plan meeting at Adult Center.
15. Benning wants the PA system fixed- Messmore says they will have bids next meeting on the tapes. Thinks the microphones are fine. [NOTE: There are 7 microphones and 9 PC members- so they need two more. The microphones DO NOT pick up adequately for the audience even if they do pick up for the tape. Perhaps the county isn’t concerned about the CITIZENS hearing them. They need to fix the entire system.]
Meeting adjourned 7:45 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Present: Hughes, President, Benning, and Fox
Also present: Pickens, Auditor, Ewbank, Attorney, and Messmore, Administrator.
A uniformed police officer was present.
Ralph Thompson, Republican Candidate for D-3 Commissioner was also present
1. CDBG Grant on owner occupied housing was signed.
2. EMA- Bill Black- got signatures for two grants actually from 2003 and 2004 money that had to be spent by the end of October. Benning didn’t want to be rushed into spending. Fox said he was in favor. Ewbank reviewed the contract and advised they sign it. Fox and Hughes voted to sign Benning was Nay. Passed. Money goes to the auditor to disburse.
NIMS- National Incident Management System was discussed- apparently several departments have mot completed training and Black wanted Commissioners to help persuade them to complete it. Benning concerned that we aren’t prepared for terrorist attacks or disasters like hurricanes, etc. [NOTE: Hurricanes?]
3. Old Orchard Subdivision Enforcement issues on Jenny Lynn Drive- Jim Kinker presented for the group of neighbors. In answer to his questions about the legality of the conditions and the safety issues (stop line set back line too far away, sight distance, school bus turn radius, traffic already cutting through on gravel road after school) on Stateline and Jenny Lynn, Ewbank gave the following explanation.
Ewbank reviewed the thorough research from the Plan Commission staff. He separated the discussion into what he called procedural and substantive issues.
Procedurally- the commissioners cannot put conditions on a zone change as was decided in a recent court case here.
Substantively the 2nd issue is that the commissioners are in charge of safety and welfare in the county. And they are in charge of the highway engineer who is the one who will determine that the safety and other regulations regarding road access are followed.
Listerman reported that he’d looked at Jenny Lynn and that as sight distances go it is just the line between being adequate or not. He installed a warning sign of a crossroads for that reason. The stop bar needs to be about 15 ft from the intersection and will be fixed. To go beyond the minimum requirements means the hump in Stateline should be cut back. He also noted they would check the radius for buses.
Jim Kinker also asked if the county attorney at the time would be to blame for not stopping commissioners from putting conditions on the zone change. [NOTE: Aaron Negangard was the county attorney at the time and is the current County Prosecutor]
Benning said she wasn’t really in favor of this at the time (though it was a unanimous decision) but that D-1 commissioner (Dole) really lead the discussion at the time.
Fox thought the county could make Tucker fix the entrance too.
Jim Kinker said that he works with Tucker all the time (as he does utilities) and he’s different lately. He’s pretty much out there some days. He wondered if it was medication effects or just getting older. He says now he’s just going to do it and see if anyone can stop him. Tucker says it will be blacktopped by the end of October before the plants close.
Kinker asked the commissioners to please make it safe.
Listerman will report to Commissioners next meeting on this.
Ron Hoffman who owns property adjoining the connector told commissioners that Tucker said to his face: He will black top in the next 3 weeks regardless of what you say.
[NOTE: This is the old- better to ask forgiveness and permission ploy. The county needs to thoroughly look at these intersections, as 140 more houses means 1400 trips per day. That is considerably more than what exits there now. It’s like with the sewers. When they are in violation and overflows occur- do you add more sewage to the plant?]
4. Bright EMS contract signed.
5, Whitewater Canal byway letter of support signed.
6. Amendment to vacation earning schedule that Benning said was researched by Tracy Stegemiller- Human Resources Officer- for 16 paid holidays and 6 weeks paid vacation after 20 years was not passed. Fox said he couldn’t imagine any industry standard that generous. The schedule stays as is- no increase. [NOTE: YIKES!!!! Were they serious? 16 holidays and 6 weeks vacation!??]
7. Holiday schedule for 2007 was approved.
8. Shumway Building- Fortune Management contract to purchase was signed for 85% of the lower of 2 bids. Purchase price was $467,500. Appraisals were $566,000 and $550,000. Benning added some contingencies to be sure the seller paid for defects, a building inspection, and title insurance.
9. Ewbank reviewed contract for Lowe and Associates for the Auditor and Treasurer’s new software for approximately $300,000. It will be compatible with assessor. [NOTE: We’ve heard this before- to the tune of $250,000 plus about 4 years ago, when Batta, Shell, and Benning were concerned with compatibility issues on the NEW World system Pickens installed.] Commissioners approved the purchase.
10. Benning said there was a terrible parking problem. Listerman was called in to advise about the possibility of opening up the I&M Parking lot where EMA Building exists. They plan to pave and install drainage and remove fence for about $30-40,000.
11. Hughes requested a VERBATIM TANSCRIPT of the county budget hearings. Heated exchange occurred here where Pickens said they could have the tapes but he wasn’t paying for any transcript. [NOTE: This is THREE days of meetings. Most is done away from the podium and Fehrman frequently walks around the room and out in the hall to discuss things with dept. heads before they get in to the meeting. This has to be costly- and it won’t yield much information. I would suggest they get 3 copies of the tapes and let the commissioners listen to them and pick out sections they want transcribed. This is a huge waste of taxpayer money- it would be more appropriate to fix the procedures than to do this. Is there a reason for this request - or is this just Pick on Pickens?]
All 3 commissioners voted to get the transcript, because they want it.
12. Contract for $25,000 for Chamber/Redevelopment signed as usual.
13. County lawsuit from former prisoner is being picked up by insurance.
14. Oct 16 7-9 is OKI Master Plan meeting at Adult Center.
15. Benning wants the PA system fixed- Messmore says they will have bids next meeting on the tapes. Thinks the microphones are fine. [NOTE: There are 7 microphones and 9 PC members- so they need two more. The microphones DO NOT pick up adequately for the audience even if they do pick up for the tape. Perhaps the county isn’t concerned about the CITIZENS hearing them. They need to fix the entire system.]
Meeting adjourned 7:45 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
What was Link Thinking? Think Link, Think!
I thought you might be interested that Mr. Linkmeyer posted this sign on my property without my express or implied consent. Could this be just the beginning of Mr. Linkmeyer and his developer/realtor friends intent to disregard the property rights of others?
As an attorney, I am weighing my options in regards to Mr. Linkmeyer.
K. Veid
Dillsboro
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
Sewer Issues Main Focus of St. Leon Area Citizens Meeting with Ralph Thompson
Sewer Issues Main Focus of St. Leon Area Citizens Meeting with Ralph Thompson
Approximately 60 people met with Republican Candidate for Commissioner Ralph Thompson October 2 in the St. Leon Firehouse Shelter.
Thom Hammond gave a brief overview of their progress from May 2005 to their present current legal battle over forced sewer hook-ups at $4,000 apiece. He noted that St. Leon is not suing all 130 people but instead is limiting their suit to 20 – apparently selected “indiscriminately.” Hammond stated suing only 20 was done to avoid the threat of a possible class action suit. Judge Humphrey recused himself from hearing St. Leon’s suit. Of the 3 judges, the choice was narrowed to Judge Todd from Jefferson County (Madison). John Watson- St. Leon’s attorney has filed fro a pre-trial conference with Judge Todd according to Hammond.
Currently about 900 homes are hooked onto St. Leon’s system. Hammond estimated more than half of those were forced on.
Hammond concluded that the group needs to align themselves with good sensible people at the county level and encouraged them to vote on Nov. 7th. He then introduced Ralph Thompson.
Thompson explained the details of increased density development, taxes, TIFs, and school funding. He also gave out his website for more information on his stand on other issues not being discussed at this meeting. www.ralphthompson.org
Other citizens stood up and gave several current examples from other areas of the county experiencing similar problems with development and county officials. The general message was- the people in the northern part of the county are not alone – and we should pool our knowledge to help each other.
Of great interest to the group was the recent zone change reversal request from Maxwell Development on Barber Road where several lots will revert to Ag and be allowed septic sites from the same development plan with the others served by St. Leon sewers. Citizens wondered aloud – why their Ag lands were being forced to hook on and developers were given a pass on parts of their Ag zoned development.
Thompson detailed the master plan concept of “pace and place” for development.
One of the St. Leon citizens went as far as to suggest seceding from Dearborn County as a possible option. He noted that gambling revenues are wasted on tower clocks here and that the county has caused schools to have to borrow money to pay teachers and has not reimbursed them for the interest on those loans even.
Thompson noted the inequity of people living outside St. Leon and being forced to hook onto a sewer system that they had no say in. They can’t even vote for their representatives, as they are outside the town, yet the town controls this part of their lives. He likened it to taxation without representation.
Hammond said that when St. Leon elections came up no one ran and so a caucus was held to fill the spots.
Citizens noted that they need to find good people to run. And they needed to get more press coverage and have a voice for their concerns.
Hammond said- St. Leon made the law and they can amend the law. [NOTE: Similarly- the state statute on this issue needs to be addressed.]
Others recommended seeking out their current state reps who were up for election this fall. It was stated that they tend to listen more when they are up for election.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 so the citizens could attend the St. Leon Council Meeting.
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Approximately 60 people met with Republican Candidate for Commissioner Ralph Thompson October 2 in the St. Leon Firehouse Shelter.
Thom Hammond gave a brief overview of their progress from May 2005 to their present current legal battle over forced sewer hook-ups at $4,000 apiece. He noted that St. Leon is not suing all 130 people but instead is limiting their suit to 20 – apparently selected “indiscriminately.” Hammond stated suing only 20 was done to avoid the threat of a possible class action suit. Judge Humphrey recused himself from hearing St. Leon’s suit. Of the 3 judges, the choice was narrowed to Judge Todd from Jefferson County (Madison). John Watson- St. Leon’s attorney has filed fro a pre-trial conference with Judge Todd according to Hammond.
Currently about 900 homes are hooked onto St. Leon’s system. Hammond estimated more than half of those were forced on.
Hammond concluded that the group needs to align themselves with good sensible people at the county level and encouraged them to vote on Nov. 7th. He then introduced Ralph Thompson.
Thompson explained the details of increased density development, taxes, TIFs, and school funding. He also gave out his website for more information on his stand on other issues not being discussed at this meeting. www.ralphthompson.org
Other citizens stood up and gave several current examples from other areas of the county experiencing similar problems with development and county officials. The general message was- the people in the northern part of the county are not alone – and we should pool our knowledge to help each other.
Of great interest to the group was the recent zone change reversal request from Maxwell Development on Barber Road where several lots will revert to Ag and be allowed septic sites from the same development plan with the others served by St. Leon sewers. Citizens wondered aloud – why their Ag lands were being forced to hook on and developers were given a pass on parts of their Ag zoned development.
Thompson detailed the master plan concept of “pace and place” for development.
One of the St. Leon citizens went as far as to suggest seceding from Dearborn County as a possible option. He noted that gambling revenues are wasted on tower clocks here and that the county has caused schools to have to borrow money to pay teachers and has not reimbursed them for the interest on those loans even.
Thompson noted the inequity of people living outside St. Leon and being forced to hook onto a sewer system that they had no say in. They can’t even vote for their representatives, as they are outside the town, yet the town controls this part of their lives. He likened it to taxation without representation.
Hammond said that when St. Leon elections came up no one ran and so a caucus was held to fill the spots.
Citizens noted that they need to find good people to run. And they needed to get more press coverage and have a voice for their concerns.
Hammond said- St. Leon made the law and they can amend the law. [NOTE: Similarly- the state statute on this issue needs to be addressed.]
Others recommended seeking out their current state reps who were up for election this fall. It was stated that they tend to listen more when they are up for election.
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 so the citizens could attend the St. Leon Council Meeting.
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
25 September 2006 Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting Notes
25 September 2006 Dearborn County Plan Commission Meeting Notes
PLAN COMMISSION DENIES ONE; APPROVES THREE IN 5 HOURS
See ITEM # 3 for additional details not apparent in the public presentation.
Present: Mark Mitter, Chairman, Patrick deMaynadier, Jane Ohlmansiek, Nick Held, Mike Hall, Jeff Hughes, Robert Laws, and Dennis Kraus, Jr.
Absent: Tarry Feiss
Also Present: Arnie McGill, Attorney, and Mark McCormack, Planning Director
Also absent: Kate Rademacher, Enforcement Officer.
Ralph Thompson, Republican Candidate for Commissioner, was also present
OLD BUSINESS TO BE REOPENED
1. Plan Commission DENIES 11-lot subdivision- Phase 3 of Lawrenceville Farms (Jackson Township (60.973 acres) with owner Bill Geisel and Applicant Mike Hall.
Hall stepped down from the PC for this. His wife, Terri, presented the case.
The public speaking in opposition consisted of 3 neighbors, Steve ??last name, Robert Trabel, and Bill Wilkymacky. All three cited water drainage issues, including standing water nearly year round. The subdivision has now sewer- it was questionable that there were even enough viable septic sites. They also asked about having a fence installed.
Geisel said the corps of engineers was out there and French drains were installed. The county engineer said the drain was working properly. The board at first seemed to think that the health dept. would determine the septic sites and that if that meant some lots were unbuildable, then they would have to combine with others. De Maynadier noted that he’d seen the standing water as he drives by the site. Mitter said he had HUGE concerns and sees this development as one big “cess pool.”McCormack answered that in Phase 1 and 2 all lots aren’t built out and some are combined there as well.
DeMaynadier noted that all sites have to show approval of on site septic systems according to Section 216 para 11 of the subdivision control ordinance.
Tech review stated that applicant complied with their 12 items requested.
DeMaynadier motioned and Ohlmansiek 2nd to deny based on paragraph 216 Paragraph 11 – that all septic locations weren’t shown as approved.
Motion failed 3-3 (deMaynadier, Ohlmansiek Held-ayes vs. Hughes Kraus, Laws, Nays)
Geisel said they could do Mound systems.
Kraus, Jr. motioned and Laws 2nd to table to get fence settled. Motion failed also 3-3.
The board offered no further motions. The application is denied due to the lack of motion to approve.
2. Zone change from Ag to R for Maxwell and owner Lonnie and Sally Steele on 124.81 acres on Mt. Pleasant Road- previously tabled.
Laws stepped down for this request.
Changes were made to the plans. The applicant will widen Mt. Pleasant by 2 ft along the development and later in the discussion agreed to fix the vertical alignment (dip) on the southern end of the development on Mt. Pleasant with the county engineer’s approval.
Randy Maxwell presented. Future connections will be made in the plan but Maxwell would not commit to any unless the proposed connection has property values similar to what was in this development.
Maxwell says they have the 50 ft ROW needed.
Ohlmansiek asked about common areas- greenspace- Maxwell said there were 3.
Hall asked about the driveways along Mt. Pleasant. Maxwell said they would be combined and share driveways.
Maxwell agreed to written commitments on density level and street configuration. Maxwell noted there would be some changes in the plans- though minor only.
Sandra Weisgerber wants a fence between this and her land and also a connection to this subdivision to her land. This was not guaranteed.
Maxwell replied to Mitter’s question about the 3 future access sites on the west as being located to avoid ponds and homes in the way.
DeMaynadier motioned and Held 2nd for a Favorable recommendation to change the zone from Ag to R with staff written commitments and land certification plus road widening with the hill addressed as corrected by the cty engineer. Specifically: Certification of land use restriction with the maximum density as agreed. Concept development plan and street plan to match to a significant extent at primary approval and roadway improvements required as depicted on the plat with 2 ft on Mt Pleasant to North Dearborn and a design to improve the vertical profile on the south end of the property.
All ayes. Passed.
NEW BUSINESS:
3. Major revisions to the primary plat approval for Whitewater Point Subdivision on Barber Road by Whitewater Point, LLC (Maxwell Development) in Logan Township on 208.25 acres. This was rezoned R-DP/A
Mark McCormack stated that if the applicant doesn’t live up to the written commitments the zone change reverts to Ag.
One of those requirements was that there was adequate sewer capacity at St. Leon to serve the sub’n. The other two were for feasible roadway design for Chapellow Ridge and also the commitment to connect Chapellow Ridge to Barber Road prior to 2ndary plat submittal.
The legal remedy suggested for Maxwell was to remove the lots for septic from the subdivision. Approximately 90 acres and 5 lots were to be removed. There was no evidence of the suitability of any of these lots for septic. The PC staff and Health Dept opinion was that under no circumstances should there be 2 or more portions of a named subdivision served simultaneously with sewer and individual septic systems.
Randy Maxwell stated that they made a mistake and had originally planned to serve these lots with septic. They are just clearing up something that was previously left out. The Health Dept was out and there were numerous septic sites per lot. They could leave it R or revert to Ag- either way was OK with them.
Doug Garner and Matt Fellerhoff (of Manley Burke) represented Helen Kremer and contend that this would effectively revert the entire parcel back to Ag. They said the density effectively increases on the entire parcel when this 90-acre section is removed. Mitter asked Fellerhoff if he knew of any case law that supported this. He said- "No." He asked if he knew of any statute that supported this. The answer was also "No."
Kathy Scott- gave a 3-paragraph statement that showed the history of the zone change and primary plat approval. After being interrupted a few times by Chairman Mitter who wanted to be sure the road was not being brought up, Scott insisted that the geotech study on the road was not approved yet and therefore the primary plat was still pending and not approved yet either. So there is nothing to effectively revise.
Cliff Eibeck wanted to know if the ground was tested and who did it and when. He had heard they couldn’t afford the pipe and pumping to those lots and that’s why they weren’t going to sewer them.
Ralph Thompson asked if the 2nd subdivision gets sewer later, can they increase the density of it? The answer to this question was yes that was possible.
Maxwell stated- we messed up- we didn’t show this on the original plat. Mitter heard the lift stations were expensive. Maxwell wanted that not to be discussed- insisted this was just a mistake that they left off. They don’t intend to increase the density on the project as a whole.
Mitter read Fellerhof’s letter to himself at this point.
Below is a copy of the body of that letter for the record.
I represent Helen Kremer, Trustee of the Helen Kremer Trust. The Trust's property is located adjacent to the property in question. I appear before this Commission with the assistance of Douglas Garner of Zerbe, Zerbe & Garner, located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The new submission by Maxwell Development is in violation of the zoning conditions placed upon the larger tract of property (including these five parcels), when the original zone change was approved. This new submission is contrary to those conditions and this Commission must, therefore, consider the submission as a submission under the (A) Agricultural designation. Any attempt to consider this under the Residential (R-DP) district, without compliance with the conditions, would result in a zone change enacted in violation of the procedures outlined in Article 5 of the Dearborn County Zoning Ordinance.
DISCUSSION
On January 24, 2005, a hearing was held to evaluate an application made by Maxwell Development for a zone change for 182 acres of a 208-acre parcel from (A) agricultural to (RDP) residential to allow for a single family residential use. At this hearing, the plan commission gave a favorable recommendation to the Board of Commissioners, "contingent upon a written commitment from the applicant to include: 1) adequate sewer capacity exists or will be required by St. Leon Utilities; 2) a feasible roadway design for Chappelow Ridge Road will be engineered; 3) a connection of Chappelow Ridge to Barber Road will occur prior to secondary plat approval." To date, none of these conditions have been realized.
On March 1, 2005, via ordinance 2005-1, the Board of Commissioners of Dearborn County approved the rezoning of the 182-acre tract from (R) residential to (A) agricultural, "subject to any conditions imposed by the Plan Commission." The plan commission approved the primary plat for the rezoned tract on March 28,2005. This tract of land currently includes 126 parcels of land, five of which will abut Barber Road and are larger than the other parcels in the development. The approval of this primary plan is contingent upon several factors, including the rezoning of the tract from (A) to (R) residential. Without the proper zoning in place, development of the proposed parcels included in the primary plan may not take place.
The conditions that must be fulfilled prior to the rezoning of this tract of land were agreed upon by the applicant in accordance with Section 550 of the Zoning Code:
Section 550 Written Commitments
The Plan Commission may require a written commitment executed by the applicant/owner in conjunction with a favorable recommendation of a Zoning Map amendment. Failure to comply with any written commitment shall be considered a violation of this ordinance and shall be governed by Article 6. Any written commitment shall be recorded as described in Section 560 and shall be binding on the owner, subsequent owner, or person who acquires interest in the property.
The Plan Commission shall forward to the legislative unit, as part of the certification of the recommendation, the written commitment incorporated within its motion for approval,. The written commitment shall be signed by the owner and any other appropriate person indicating agreement with the terms of the written commitment. The legislative unit may adopt or reject the application and written commitment pursuant to IC 36-7-608. Any written commitments made as part of the OrdinancelResolution for approval of the rezoning by the legislative unit shall be prepared in writing and signed, as stated above, and recorded as identified in Section 560, by the Planning Department. The enforcement, interpretation, and administration of the written commitment shall be the responsibility of the Plan Commission.
The applicant has not fulfilled any of the conditions required for approval of the rezoning of the entire tract from (A) to (R). Approval of the modification will not, as the applicant claims, "allow [them] to move forward with the platting and sales of the lower lots, via administrative minor subdivision." Section 236 of the Dearborn County Subdivision Control Ordinance requires consideration of whether the plan is consistent with the Dearborn County Zoning Ordinance. If the conditions of the rezoning approval are not met, the approval is not valid, and therefore the entire 182-acre tract as submitted in January 2005 reverts to the (A) Agricultural zoning designation that was in place prior to the conditional approval.
The applicant would like to move forward with development of a portion of the tract in question because, "the conditions of our rezoning will not be met in the short term to allow for us to move forward with the entire subdivision at once." The applicant may only "move forward," with the "platting and sales of the lower lots" with the proper rezoning in place, as these lots are part of the original rezoning application. Further, such piecemeal approval of separate tracts from a previously approved plan does not represent good planning practice and is in conflict with the approved plan.
The application should also be denied because there is no evidence related to the suitability of the proposed sites for individual sewage disposal systems as required by Section 232, Item 29 and Section 216, Item 11 of the Dearborn County Subdivision Control Ordinance and 2526 of the Dearborn County Zoning Ordinance. The fact of the failure to comply with these provisions is detailed in Item 6 of the Staff Report.
We ask that the plan commission deny the request for modification to the Whitewater Point Subdivision primary plat. Approval will not allow the applicant to move forward with development of the lower lots from the primary plan, as the conditions of the rezoning have not taken place and the failure to do so ultimately results in a change to the prior (A) Agricultural zoning designation for the entire 182 acres.
Laws noted- first the people were opposed to R now they oppose Ag!
McGill noted there was no case law either way.
Mitter wondered if this was the proper process for the applicant. The ordinance has a section addressing the issue of changes. He thought this was less invasive and couldn’t see any negative impact on surrounding property owners.
DeMaynadier said- we can let the lawyers make new case law here if they choose to.
He decided to go ahead and approve according to the motion from the tape typed by the Plan Commission staff:
Motion for Whitewater Point.
Mr. DeMaynadier made a motion to approve the request for the application based on the following discussion of the Board Members:
1. There is an absence in case law, statute, or ordinance that can be identified to go against the application.
2. The language of the Ordinance, Section 288-contemplates that developers or applicants may find it necessary to make changes and those are recognized as a typical part of the development process.
3. Due process of this hearing has been fair. We followed our Ordinances and State Statute requirements.
4. The change requested is more restrictive on Applicant then they originally got permission for.
5. There is no net adverse impact on the totality of the property in question.
6. The spirit and the substance of the Ordinances of the County are protected, in that the original conditions that were placed on the rezone still have to be met for it to ultimately be in effect and for the development to go forward.
7. That there be no lots on Barber Road at this time.
Mrs. Ohlmansiek seconded.
Vote: Mr. Hall, Mrs. Ohlmansiek, Mr. Laws, Mr. DeMaynadier, Mr. Held, Mr. Kraus in favor. Mr. Hughes opposed. Motion carries.
These approximately 90 acres of 5 lots are now split off and they have reverted to Ag. P&Z will get a legal description of that and an amended primary plat for the remaining lots on the other piece.
Unless they use the current lot lines that are on the original primary plat approval, before they sell these lots they will have to come to minor sub’n approval. If they have to build a road to them or if they realign the road or build a new one they will have to come back to PC with a new sub’n application. Or do it administratively depending on how many lots and access, etc.
[NOTE: after the meeting I was given a copy of an ad from the 21 Sept 2006 Register. It reads Acreage and nice building for sale. Minutes to I-74, Sunman Dearborn school district, Cincinnati phones. West Harrison, Barber Road. 6 sites available from 4-30 acres. 812-637-5127 or 513-284-0717. The local phone number in this ad belongs to Randy Lyness of Maxwell Development. Would anyone care to comment on the applicant’s confidence of approval?]
[Note: It seems like this development has cost the developer, the county, and the opposers a lot of money. The roadway geotech analysis has been going on for months while the applicant is searching for an economically feasible way to build a steep road to the great view at the top. The county has to spend money on their consultant to see if the opposing answers they are getting from the applicant’s and opposer’s engineers and geotech studies are valid. Whenever there is this much disagreement on a structure the question we should be asking is- WHY ARE WE PERSISTING IN DOING IT? We are not hurting for development sites or lots to build upon in this county. We don’t have to use questionable sites. Sometimes an applicant spends so much money they find it hard to back out. Sometimes we just like to prove we can do something. Personally, I think this may be a big mistake. Getting an engineering stamp of approval may make the construction people feel secure. But the bottom line is- if it fails, everyone connected to it pays either in investment loss or reputation. That includes the buyers, the neighbors, the sellers, the developers, the excavators, the engineers, and the county officials who let it happen. Maxwell has a reputation for doing some fine work in the county. I would hope that this doesn’t end up being an example of something that diminishes that reputation.]
4. Gregory Gerold with surveyor Roger Woodfill received approval for a variance of Article 3 section 315c for a local driveway outside a panhandle on 10 or 80 acres on North Hogan Road in Manchester Township.
DeMaynadier motioned and Hughes 2nd – all ayes.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
1. Board approved a 1-year extension and no more for Stonebrook estates on US50 outside Aurora identified as land with Fehrman realty sign outside. Laws abstained.
2. Date set for Land Use Advisory Board meetings was Oct 18 following the Oct 16 OKI meeting and also Nov 6th.
3. Tax sheets and school info was passed out along with a news release on that meeting,
4. US 50 meeting was at LHS 6-8 on Tues evening.
5. Old Orchard complaint- neighbors were advised to see commissioners first. Staff is also reviewing tape of 11/1999 commissioners meeting obtained from Cliff Eibeck.
Meeting adjourned at 11:55 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
PLAN COMMISSION DENIES ONE; APPROVES THREE IN 5 HOURS
See ITEM # 3 for additional details not apparent in the public presentation.
Present: Mark Mitter, Chairman, Patrick deMaynadier, Jane Ohlmansiek, Nick Held, Mike Hall, Jeff Hughes, Robert Laws, and Dennis Kraus, Jr.
Absent: Tarry Feiss
Also Present: Arnie McGill, Attorney, and Mark McCormack, Planning Director
Also absent: Kate Rademacher, Enforcement Officer.
Ralph Thompson, Republican Candidate for Commissioner, was also present
OLD BUSINESS TO BE REOPENED
1. Plan Commission DENIES 11-lot subdivision- Phase 3 of Lawrenceville Farms (Jackson Township (60.973 acres) with owner Bill Geisel and Applicant Mike Hall.
Hall stepped down from the PC for this. His wife, Terri, presented the case.
The public speaking in opposition consisted of 3 neighbors, Steve ??last name, Robert Trabel, and Bill Wilkymacky. All three cited water drainage issues, including standing water nearly year round. The subdivision has now sewer- it was questionable that there were even enough viable septic sites. They also asked about having a fence installed.
Geisel said the corps of engineers was out there and French drains were installed. The county engineer said the drain was working properly. The board at first seemed to think that the health dept. would determine the septic sites and that if that meant some lots were unbuildable, then they would have to combine with others. De Maynadier noted that he’d seen the standing water as he drives by the site. Mitter said he had HUGE concerns and sees this development as one big “cess pool.”McCormack answered that in Phase 1 and 2 all lots aren’t built out and some are combined there as well.
DeMaynadier noted that all sites have to show approval of on site septic systems according to Section 216 para 11 of the subdivision control ordinance.
Tech review stated that applicant complied with their 12 items requested.
DeMaynadier motioned and Ohlmansiek 2nd to deny based on paragraph 216 Paragraph 11 – that all septic locations weren’t shown as approved.
Motion failed 3-3 (deMaynadier, Ohlmansiek Held-ayes vs. Hughes Kraus, Laws, Nays)
Geisel said they could do Mound systems.
Kraus, Jr. motioned and Laws 2nd to table to get fence settled. Motion failed also 3-3.
The board offered no further motions. The application is denied due to the lack of motion to approve.
2. Zone change from Ag to R for Maxwell and owner Lonnie and Sally Steele on 124.81 acres on Mt. Pleasant Road- previously tabled.
Laws stepped down for this request.
Changes were made to the plans. The applicant will widen Mt. Pleasant by 2 ft along the development and later in the discussion agreed to fix the vertical alignment (dip) on the southern end of the development on Mt. Pleasant with the county engineer’s approval.
Randy Maxwell presented. Future connections will be made in the plan but Maxwell would not commit to any unless the proposed connection has property values similar to what was in this development.
Maxwell says they have the 50 ft ROW needed.
Ohlmansiek asked about common areas- greenspace- Maxwell said there were 3.
Hall asked about the driveways along Mt. Pleasant. Maxwell said they would be combined and share driveways.
Maxwell agreed to written commitments on density level and street configuration. Maxwell noted there would be some changes in the plans- though minor only.
Sandra Weisgerber wants a fence between this and her land and also a connection to this subdivision to her land. This was not guaranteed.
Maxwell replied to Mitter’s question about the 3 future access sites on the west as being located to avoid ponds and homes in the way.
DeMaynadier motioned and Held 2nd for a Favorable recommendation to change the zone from Ag to R with staff written commitments and land certification plus road widening with the hill addressed as corrected by the cty engineer. Specifically: Certification of land use restriction with the maximum density as agreed. Concept development plan and street plan to match to a significant extent at primary approval and roadway improvements required as depicted on the plat with 2 ft on Mt Pleasant to North Dearborn and a design to improve the vertical profile on the south end of the property.
All ayes. Passed.
NEW BUSINESS:
3. Major revisions to the primary plat approval for Whitewater Point Subdivision on Barber Road by Whitewater Point, LLC (Maxwell Development) in Logan Township on 208.25 acres. This was rezoned R-DP/A
Mark McCormack stated that if the applicant doesn’t live up to the written commitments the zone change reverts to Ag.
One of those requirements was that there was adequate sewer capacity at St. Leon to serve the sub’n. The other two were for feasible roadway design for Chapellow Ridge and also the commitment to connect Chapellow Ridge to Barber Road prior to 2ndary plat submittal.
The legal remedy suggested for Maxwell was to remove the lots for septic from the subdivision. Approximately 90 acres and 5 lots were to be removed. There was no evidence of the suitability of any of these lots for septic. The PC staff and Health Dept opinion was that under no circumstances should there be 2 or more portions of a named subdivision served simultaneously with sewer and individual septic systems.
Randy Maxwell stated that they made a mistake and had originally planned to serve these lots with septic. They are just clearing up something that was previously left out. The Health Dept was out and there were numerous septic sites per lot. They could leave it R or revert to Ag- either way was OK with them.
Doug Garner and Matt Fellerhoff (of Manley Burke) represented Helen Kremer and contend that this would effectively revert the entire parcel back to Ag. They said the density effectively increases on the entire parcel when this 90-acre section is removed. Mitter asked Fellerhoff if he knew of any case law that supported this. He said- "No." He asked if he knew of any statute that supported this. The answer was also "No."
Kathy Scott- gave a 3-paragraph statement that showed the history of the zone change and primary plat approval. After being interrupted a few times by Chairman Mitter who wanted to be sure the road was not being brought up, Scott insisted that the geotech study on the road was not approved yet and therefore the primary plat was still pending and not approved yet either. So there is nothing to effectively revise.
Cliff Eibeck wanted to know if the ground was tested and who did it and when. He had heard they couldn’t afford the pipe and pumping to those lots and that’s why they weren’t going to sewer them.
Ralph Thompson asked if the 2nd subdivision gets sewer later, can they increase the density of it? The answer to this question was yes that was possible.
Maxwell stated- we messed up- we didn’t show this on the original plat. Mitter heard the lift stations were expensive. Maxwell wanted that not to be discussed- insisted this was just a mistake that they left off. They don’t intend to increase the density on the project as a whole.
Mitter read Fellerhof’s letter to himself at this point.
Below is a copy of the body of that letter for the record.
I represent Helen Kremer, Trustee of the Helen Kremer Trust. The Trust's property is located adjacent to the property in question. I appear before this Commission with the assistance of Douglas Garner of Zerbe, Zerbe & Garner, located in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. The new submission by Maxwell Development is in violation of the zoning conditions placed upon the larger tract of property (including these five parcels), when the original zone change was approved. This new submission is contrary to those conditions and this Commission must, therefore, consider the submission as a submission under the (A) Agricultural designation. Any attempt to consider this under the Residential (R-DP) district, without compliance with the conditions, would result in a zone change enacted in violation of the procedures outlined in Article 5 of the Dearborn County Zoning Ordinance.
DISCUSSION
On January 24, 2005, a hearing was held to evaluate an application made by Maxwell Development for a zone change for 182 acres of a 208-acre parcel from (A) agricultural to (RDP) residential to allow for a single family residential use. At this hearing, the plan commission gave a favorable recommendation to the Board of Commissioners, "contingent upon a written commitment from the applicant to include: 1) adequate sewer capacity exists or will be required by St. Leon Utilities; 2) a feasible roadway design for Chappelow Ridge Road will be engineered; 3) a connection of Chappelow Ridge to Barber Road will occur prior to secondary plat approval." To date, none of these conditions have been realized.
On March 1, 2005, via ordinance 2005-1, the Board of Commissioners of Dearborn County approved the rezoning of the 182-acre tract from (R) residential to (A) agricultural, "subject to any conditions imposed by the Plan Commission." The plan commission approved the primary plat for the rezoned tract on March 28,2005. This tract of land currently includes 126 parcels of land, five of which will abut Barber Road and are larger than the other parcels in the development. The approval of this primary plan is contingent upon several factors, including the rezoning of the tract from (A) to (R) residential. Without the proper zoning in place, development of the proposed parcels included in the primary plan may not take place.
The conditions that must be fulfilled prior to the rezoning of this tract of land were agreed upon by the applicant in accordance with Section 550 of the Zoning Code:
Section 550 Written Commitments
The Plan Commission may require a written commitment executed by the applicant/owner in conjunction with a favorable recommendation of a Zoning Map amendment. Failure to comply with any written commitment shall be considered a violation of this ordinance and shall be governed by Article 6. Any written commitment shall be recorded as described in Section 560 and shall be binding on the owner, subsequent owner, or person who acquires interest in the property.
The Plan Commission shall forward to the legislative unit, as part of the certification of the recommendation, the written commitment incorporated within its motion for approval,. The written commitment shall be signed by the owner and any other appropriate person indicating agreement with the terms of the written commitment. The legislative unit may adopt or reject the application and written commitment pursuant to IC 36-7-608. Any written commitments made as part of the OrdinancelResolution for approval of the rezoning by the legislative unit shall be prepared in writing and signed, as stated above, and recorded as identified in Section 560, by the Planning Department. The enforcement, interpretation, and administration of the written commitment shall be the responsibility of the Plan Commission.
The applicant has not fulfilled any of the conditions required for approval of the rezoning of the entire tract from (A) to (R). Approval of the modification will not, as the applicant claims, "allow [them] to move forward with the platting and sales of the lower lots, via administrative minor subdivision." Section 236 of the Dearborn County Subdivision Control Ordinance requires consideration of whether the plan is consistent with the Dearborn County Zoning Ordinance. If the conditions of the rezoning approval are not met, the approval is not valid, and therefore the entire 182-acre tract as submitted in January 2005 reverts to the (A) Agricultural zoning designation that was in place prior to the conditional approval.
The applicant would like to move forward with development of a portion of the tract in question because, "the conditions of our rezoning will not be met in the short term to allow for us to move forward with the entire subdivision at once." The applicant may only "move forward," with the "platting and sales of the lower lots" with the proper rezoning in place, as these lots are part of the original rezoning application. Further, such piecemeal approval of separate tracts from a previously approved plan does not represent good planning practice and is in conflict with the approved plan.
The application should also be denied because there is no evidence related to the suitability of the proposed sites for individual sewage disposal systems as required by Section 232, Item 29 and Section 216, Item 11 of the Dearborn County Subdivision Control Ordinance and 2526 of the Dearborn County Zoning Ordinance. The fact of the failure to comply with these provisions is detailed in Item 6 of the Staff Report.
We ask that the plan commission deny the request for modification to the Whitewater Point Subdivision primary plat. Approval will not allow the applicant to move forward with development of the lower lots from the primary plan, as the conditions of the rezoning have not taken place and the failure to do so ultimately results in a change to the prior (A) Agricultural zoning designation for the entire 182 acres.
Laws noted- first the people were opposed to R now they oppose Ag!
McGill noted there was no case law either way.
Mitter wondered if this was the proper process for the applicant. The ordinance has a section addressing the issue of changes. He thought this was less invasive and couldn’t see any negative impact on surrounding property owners.
DeMaynadier said- we can let the lawyers make new case law here if they choose to.
He decided to go ahead and approve according to the motion from the tape typed by the Plan Commission staff:
Motion for Whitewater Point.
Mr. DeMaynadier made a motion to approve the request for the application based on the following discussion of the Board Members:
1. There is an absence in case law, statute, or ordinance that can be identified to go against the application.
2. The language of the Ordinance, Section 288-contemplates that developers or applicants may find it necessary to make changes and those are recognized as a typical part of the development process.
3. Due process of this hearing has been fair. We followed our Ordinances and State Statute requirements.
4. The change requested is more restrictive on Applicant then they originally got permission for.
5. There is no net adverse impact on the totality of the property in question.
6. The spirit and the substance of the Ordinances of the County are protected, in that the original conditions that were placed on the rezone still have to be met for it to ultimately be in effect and for the development to go forward.
7. That there be no lots on Barber Road at this time.
Mrs. Ohlmansiek seconded.
Vote: Mr. Hall, Mrs. Ohlmansiek, Mr. Laws, Mr. DeMaynadier, Mr. Held, Mr. Kraus in favor. Mr. Hughes opposed. Motion carries.
These approximately 90 acres of 5 lots are now split off and they have reverted to Ag. P&Z will get a legal description of that and an amended primary plat for the remaining lots on the other piece.
Unless they use the current lot lines that are on the original primary plat approval, before they sell these lots they will have to come to minor sub’n approval. If they have to build a road to them or if they realign the road or build a new one they will have to come back to PC with a new sub’n application. Or do it administratively depending on how many lots and access, etc.
[NOTE: after the meeting I was given a copy of an ad from the 21 Sept 2006 Register. It reads Acreage and nice building for sale. Minutes to I-74, Sunman Dearborn school district, Cincinnati phones. West Harrison, Barber Road. 6 sites available from 4-30 acres. 812-637-5127 or 513-284-0717. The local phone number in this ad belongs to Randy Lyness of Maxwell Development. Would anyone care to comment on the applicant’s confidence of approval?]
[Note: It seems like this development has cost the developer, the county, and the opposers a lot of money. The roadway geotech analysis has been going on for months while the applicant is searching for an economically feasible way to build a steep road to the great view at the top. The county has to spend money on their consultant to see if the opposing answers they are getting from the applicant’s and opposer’s engineers and geotech studies are valid. Whenever there is this much disagreement on a structure the question we should be asking is- WHY ARE WE PERSISTING IN DOING IT? We are not hurting for development sites or lots to build upon in this county. We don’t have to use questionable sites. Sometimes an applicant spends so much money they find it hard to back out. Sometimes we just like to prove we can do something. Personally, I think this may be a big mistake. Getting an engineering stamp of approval may make the construction people feel secure. But the bottom line is- if it fails, everyone connected to it pays either in investment loss or reputation. That includes the buyers, the neighbors, the sellers, the developers, the excavators, the engineers, and the county officials who let it happen. Maxwell has a reputation for doing some fine work in the county. I would hope that this doesn’t end up being an example of something that diminishes that reputation.]
4. Gregory Gerold with surveyor Roger Woodfill received approval for a variance of Article 3 section 315c for a local driveway outside a panhandle on 10 or 80 acres on North Hogan Road in Manchester Township.
DeMaynadier motioned and Hughes 2nd – all ayes.
ADMINISTRATIVE:
1. Board approved a 1-year extension and no more for Stonebrook estates on US50 outside Aurora identified as land with Fehrman realty sign outside. Laws abstained.
2. Date set for Land Use Advisory Board meetings was Oct 18 following the Oct 16 OKI meeting and also Nov 6th.
3. Tax sheets and school info was passed out along with a news release on that meeting,
4. US 50 meeting was at LHS 6-8 on Tues evening.
5. Old Orchard complaint- neighbors were advised to see commissioners first. Staff is also reviewing tape of 11/1999 commissioners meeting obtained from Cliff Eibeck.
Meeting adjourned at 11:55 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Wednesday, September 20, 2006
19 September 2006 Dearborn County Commissioner Meeting Notes
19 September 2006 Dearborn County Commissioner Meeting Notes
Present: Hughes, President, and Fox
Also present: Ewbank, Attorney and Stephanie Disbro, taking minutes.
Absent Benning, Pickens, Auditor, and Messmore, Administrator.
Also present was Frank Linkmeyer, Democrat candidate for D-3 Commissioner, seated with Tom Kent, developer of Perfect View subdivision on the agenda for a zone change. (see number 3)
1. Todd Listerman – Transportation Director- Gave an update on the seemingly endless problems with the underground storage tanks at the county garage. IDEM requires more testing of the soils and so they need to request another $14,000 from council from the MVH fund to add to the $4,000 available to cover these costs. Commissioners approved going to Council.
600 ft of fence will be installed at county expense from the bridge match funds for Triple Whipple. Fence is to separate ROW and Lighthouse Yacht Club.
2. Candy Turcak- Whitwater Canal Scenic Byway- explained the 100 mile walk alongteh old canal trail over 8 days. Final stage will be at Verastau at 10 AM Oct 2 with a brunch and press conference. Letter to be signed in support was tabled till Oct 3 meeting so Benning could see it also. They plan to raise $200,000 to match grants to purchase the land needed for the park etc.
3. Public Hearing on Perfect View and redone written commitments was presented by Mark McCormack, Planning Director. Kent had nothing to add.
NO PUBLIC WAS THERE TO COMMENT.
“Seeing no opposition,” Fox motioned to approve the zone change with the commitments citing the 5 criteria with no comment on any of them specifically. Hughes 2nd. Motion passed.
4. Text amendments were presented for zoning and subdivision ordinances. All 3 were passed. One was on withdrawal procedures clarifications, the 2nd on surveyor certification requirements and parcel numbers, and the last was on ROW dedications and certificates for article 7 of the subdivision control ordinance.
McCormack also updated Commissioners with all paperwork of research on Jenny Lynn access to Stateline so far. He is still going to review tapes of meetings to further clarify issues. Fox asked about tapes and noted that if the developer agreed on tape perhaps we could hold him to that. They are also going to seek McGill’s legal opinion.
5. Vacation earning Schedule was passed out and tabled.
6. Ewbank brought up the NIMS letter, which was signed after explanation from Bill Black. NIMS compliance and training is to be completed by Sept 30 for Homeland security and disaster preparation.
7. Hughes and Fox authorized each other to sign off on the paperwork that County Farm Board brings in periodically.
Meeting adjourned 7:25 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Present: Hughes, President, and Fox
Also present: Ewbank, Attorney and Stephanie Disbro, taking minutes.
Absent Benning, Pickens, Auditor, and Messmore, Administrator.
Also present was Frank Linkmeyer, Democrat candidate for D-3 Commissioner, seated with Tom Kent, developer of Perfect View subdivision on the agenda for a zone change. (see number 3)
1. Todd Listerman – Transportation Director- Gave an update on the seemingly endless problems with the underground storage tanks at the county garage. IDEM requires more testing of the soils and so they need to request another $14,000 from council from the MVH fund to add to the $4,000 available to cover these costs. Commissioners approved going to Council.
600 ft of fence will be installed at county expense from the bridge match funds for Triple Whipple. Fence is to separate ROW and Lighthouse Yacht Club.
2. Candy Turcak- Whitwater Canal Scenic Byway- explained the 100 mile walk alongteh old canal trail over 8 days. Final stage will be at Verastau at 10 AM Oct 2 with a brunch and press conference. Letter to be signed in support was tabled till Oct 3 meeting so Benning could see it also. They plan to raise $200,000 to match grants to purchase the land needed for the park etc.
3. Public Hearing on Perfect View and redone written commitments was presented by Mark McCormack, Planning Director. Kent had nothing to add.
NO PUBLIC WAS THERE TO COMMENT.
“Seeing no opposition,” Fox motioned to approve the zone change with the commitments citing the 5 criteria with no comment on any of them specifically. Hughes 2nd. Motion passed.
4. Text amendments were presented for zoning and subdivision ordinances. All 3 were passed. One was on withdrawal procedures clarifications, the 2nd on surveyor certification requirements and parcel numbers, and the last was on ROW dedications and certificates for article 7 of the subdivision control ordinance.
McCormack also updated Commissioners with all paperwork of research on Jenny Lynn access to Stateline so far. He is still going to review tapes of meetings to further clarify issues. Fox asked about tapes and noted that if the developer agreed on tape perhaps we could hold him to that. They are also going to seek McGill’s legal opinion.
5. Vacation earning Schedule was passed out and tabled.
6. Ewbank brought up the NIMS letter, which was signed after explanation from Bill Black. NIMS compliance and training is to be completed by Sept 30 for Homeland security and disaster preparation.
7. Hughes and Fox authorized each other to sign off on the paperwork that County Farm Board brings in periodically.
Meeting adjourned 7:25 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
Sunday, September 17, 2006
U.S. 50 Corridor Study Project Alternatives Set For Public Discussion
PRESS RELEASE
U.S. 50 Corridor Study Project Alternatives Set For Public Discussion
Dearborn County residents now have a chance to see proposed alternatives for the U.S. 50 Corridor. The alternatives will be presented and discussed at a public meeting for the U.S. 50 Corridor Study on Tuesday, September 26, in the auditorium at Lawrenceburg High School from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The school is located at 100 Tiger Boulevard.
The meeting is being held to present potential alternatives to address the efficiency and safety needs identified along the U.S. 50 Corridor. These areas of concern were identified largely from April’s public meeting and subsequent public input on the U.S. 50 Corridor Study overview, along with details from the Corridor Study’s existing conditions report which includes traffic data and accident reports.
“The meeting is not just the next step in the process, but is a chance for the public to actually see lines drawn on maps to visualize what these alternative concepts may look like,” said Scott Roush, project manager for the study. “With this meeting, the public will be able to offer valuable input to assist the planning and design of the Corridor. The public’s input at our April meeting was insightful and has been incorporated into our thinking. We are looking forward to their thoughts on the potential alternatives.”
Officials with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) along with Strand Associates and Wilbur Smith & Associates, the engineering firms conducting the study, will present potential alternatives to efficiency and safety needs for the corridor. The presentation will then be followed by a time for discussion and input from the public on the potential alternatives. The study, scheduled to take approximately 18 months, will help officials determine feasible methods for addressing traffic problems by exploring both short-term traffic-management solutions as well as more long-term capacity improvements.
The study is also designed to confirm the findings for the Purpose and Need Report for the corridor. These improvements may be located along the existing corridor or on new alignments. The 18-mile stretch of roadway extends through Dearborn County and impacts traffic flow in the cities of Lawrenceburg, Greendale, Aurora and Dillsboro.
Another public meeting is scheduled to take place in the late winter/early spring of 2007.
U.S. 50 Corridor Study Project Alternatives Set For Public Discussion
Dearborn County residents now have a chance to see proposed alternatives for the U.S. 50 Corridor. The alternatives will be presented and discussed at a public meeting for the U.S. 50 Corridor Study on Tuesday, September 26, in the auditorium at Lawrenceburg High School from 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. The school is located at 100 Tiger Boulevard.
The meeting is being held to present potential alternatives to address the efficiency and safety needs identified along the U.S. 50 Corridor. These areas of concern were identified largely from April’s public meeting and subsequent public input on the U.S. 50 Corridor Study overview, along with details from the Corridor Study’s existing conditions report which includes traffic data and accident reports.
“The meeting is not just the next step in the process, but is a chance for the public to actually see lines drawn on maps to visualize what these alternative concepts may look like,” said Scott Roush, project manager for the study. “With this meeting, the public will be able to offer valuable input to assist the planning and design of the Corridor. The public’s input at our April meeting was insightful and has been incorporated into our thinking. We are looking forward to their thoughts on the potential alternatives.”
Officials with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) along with Strand Associates and Wilbur Smith & Associates, the engineering firms conducting the study, will present potential alternatives to efficiency and safety needs for the corridor. The presentation will then be followed by a time for discussion and input from the public on the potential alternatives. The study, scheduled to take approximately 18 months, will help officials determine feasible methods for addressing traffic problems by exploring both short-term traffic-management solutions as well as more long-term capacity improvements.
The study is also designed to confirm the findings for the Purpose and Need Report for the corridor. These improvements may be located along the existing corridor or on new alignments. The 18-mile stretch of roadway extends through Dearborn County and impacts traffic flow in the cities of Lawrenceburg, Greendale, Aurora and Dillsboro.
Another public meeting is scheduled to take place in the late winter/early spring of 2007.
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