- Good morning. I'm going to call to order this meeting of Monroe County Board of Commissioners. It is Thursday, July 17th. I will note for the record that all three commissioners are here and present in the night. You will room and we will begin with our statement. We, the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, renew our commitment to welcome and protect the rights of all people, regardless of age, race, color, creed, disability.
- sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, economic status, and national origin. And we affirm the right of every person to live peacefully and without fear, and we will fight and resist at every step discrimination and harmful policies, whatever their source. We believe in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
- and we also stand in support of our county public school systems, both RBB and MCCSC. And with that, we will move on to our department updates. First, we have the health department, Ms. Linnea. Good morning, commissioners. As of July 5th, COVID wastewater concentrations are low, according to the CDC. We are continuing to monitor the XFG and NB
- 1.8.1 variants, also known as Stratus and Nimbus respectively. Symptoms include scratchy, raspy voice, and throat pain. The CDC reports that an uptick in COVID-19 cases nationwide has been linked to the new variants. They are believed to be highly transmissible, but do not appear to cause more serious illness than previous variants. We continue to have zero measles cases reported here in Monroe County.
- though a case was recently reported in nearby Patnam County. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can lead to serious complications, especially in young children, pregnant people, and those with weakened immune systems. The most effective protection against measles is the MMR. That's the measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine. And we encourage people to get the MMR if they have not previously received the vaccine. Individuals who were vaccinated between 1962 and 1968
- or who are unsure of their vaccination status should consult with their healthcare provider about revaccination or titer testing. Our public health clinic has vaccines available for all ages. Individuals can call 812-353-3244 for more information or to schedule an appointment. The health department still has free COVID tests available. Folks may walk in Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to receive those tests.
- Thank you. All right, thank you so much. Comments or questions? Commissioner Jones? No, I don't. Commissioner Madeira? No, thanks for that valuable information. I appreciate the update on measles as well. Thank you. All right, Mr. Cockrell? Yes, as part of our diligent research, we have noticed that on March 27, you guys approved an ordinance
- which basically changed the amount the traffic commission gets from $25 to $50 a meeting. However, we haven't found in its proper form or with an ordinance number, so I'm just letting you know that you will be receiving that for signature. It's already been approved, but just want to make sure that the public is aware that that's happening. Great. Thank you so much. Any other departments have an update for us? You can raise your hand on Teams or come to the podium.
- We will now move on to our next item, item number four, which is public comment. This is time reserved for public comment on items that are not on our agenda. Each speaker is limited to three minutes per person, and we ask that you provide your name and county of residence. You may raise your hand on teams or come to the podium.
- see none, we'll move on to our next agenda item, please. Move approval of the minutes for July 10th, 2025. I will second that motion. We have a motion. We have a second. Any comments, corrections or edits? I sent mine to Anita, but I didn't send it till yesterday. Okay, thank you. All right. Seeing no questions or edits, all those in favor of approving the minutes for July 10th, 2025, signify by saying aye.
- Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Next item, please. Move approval of the claims docket, accounts payable July 17th, 2025. I second. All right. We have a motion and we have a second. I'm going to hear from the auditor's office, please. Good morning, commissioners. The accounts payable claims docket for July 17th, 2025
- totals $9,382,857.90. This includes all emergency claims and adjustments. All right. Thank you so much. Comments or questions? Commissioner Madeira? None. Commissioner Jones? No, I don't. All right. Any public comment on this item? You can raise your hand on teams or come to the podium.
- none. All those in favor of approving the claim stock and accounts payable July 17 2025 signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries three zero. We don't have any reports today so we will move on to new business please. Move approval of an amendment to the 2021 CARES grant for the health department. I second the motion.
- We have a motion and we have a second. I don't know who's here to present it. I thought Ms. Turner-King was, but perhaps Mr. Cockrell. It's pretty self-explanatory, but oh, there she is. Perfect timing. Good morning. We're on item A. Hi. So I am presenting this for the health department.
- If this is the health department requesting an amendment to a twenty twenty one cares grant that they received in twenty twenty one the health department received funding through the cares grant to create Narcan kids and they just discovered that they still had some funding left from that typically
- And the way CARES grant's fundings work is that you have to expend it by the following year. So they just wanted to make sure it was OK that they could still expend the remaining funds by the end of this year. They did go to the CARES board in February, and they voted that to approve this extension. Thank you so much. Comments or questions? Commissioner Jones? I don't. Commissioner Madeira? Nope. Very important stuff. Thank you.
- Thank you for taking care of this. All right, let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. None. All those in favor of approving the amendment to the 2021 CARES grant for the Health Department signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Thank you. Thank you.
- second please. Move approval of the continuation for the Youth Services Association grant, fund name 1503 YSB grant, fund number $42,860 per year. Second. We have a motion and we have a second.
- Is anybody here from YSB? I don't think we do. I'm here, Vanessa. I'm online. Great. Oh, thank you. Yes, thank you, commissioners. I am just here to request that signature on the continuation of our contract with Indiana Youth Services Association. This is a grant and contract that we have participated in for several decades now, and this is just for the 25 to 27 funds.
- Thank you so much. Comments or questions? Commissioner Madeira? No, incredibly important. Thank you. Commissioner Johnson? No, thank you for taking care of this. Thank you, Ms. Fremont. Any public comment on this item? You raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. Seeing none.
- All those in favor of approving the continuation of the Indiana Youth Services Association grant, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Next item, please. Move approval of Butler, Fairman, and Seifert, Inc. for Eagleson Bridge. Thank you. Number 922, construction inspection. A name, Eagleson Bridge, number 922.
- fund number 8176 in the amount of $510,000. Second. We have a motion, and we have a second. Ms. Ridge? Good morning. So we went through the NDOT process for posting an RFP for this phase of the project on May 5th. We received 10 RFPs for this. We have three scores that read all the RFPs and score them.
- We send our results to NDOT. They approved that Butler-Ferriman Cipher was the highest ranking firm. And this phase of the project is reimbursable within the grant at 80-20. Thank you so much. Comments or questions? Commissioner Jones? No, I don't. Commissioner Madeira? None. Thank you. All right. Any public comment on this item? You can raise your hand on teams or come to the podium.
- see none. All those in favor of approving the Butler Ferman and Seifert Inc. Agreement for Eagleston Bridge number 922 Construction Inspection Services. All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Next slide. Move approval of INDOT change order number one for Karst Trail Extension. Fund name Liberty Drive to Karst Trail.
- fund number 8172 in the amount of $0. Do we have a motion? Yes, I second that motion.
- I was struck by the zero dollars. We don't see that too often. I know it's shocking. It gets a little early. So we're actually trying to do the process to close out this project and accept it into the county. One of these is a change order that generated some more pedestrian channelizers at the time of construction. There was no additional cost to the county because there are funds left on the construction contract, but the change order still has to go through the normal process.
- Thank you so much. Comments, questions, Commissioner Madeira? No, I actually had to Google what it was a pedestrian channelizer when I was going through the packet this week. Commissioner Jones? Yeah, this is something that improves the safety of people using the trails. So I'm happy I found the money to do it.
- Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You can raise your hand on Teams or come to the podium. Seeing none, all those in favor of approving change order number one for the Carson Trail extension, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries three zero.
- Next item. Move approval of ordinance 2025-20, amending various traffic ordinances. I second that motion. We have a motion and we have a second, Ms. Ridge. So these items did go to the Traffic Commission Board in the month of June.
- and were all approved, and they're all in accordance with the manual on uniform traffic control devices for the state of Indiana. We were amending 89-01 for no trucks location on Eller Road between State Road 45 and Garrison Chapel, amend 8606, which is a stop ordinance, for adding Clearview Drive for a state drive and Hedgewood Drive for a state drive.
- and then also amending 00-32 to add the following traffic signal location at the intersection of Curry Pike and Constitution Avenue. Thank you so much. Any comments or questions? Commissioner Jones? No, I don't. Commissioner Madeira? I know these all make a lot of sense. Thank you. Appreciate this.
- all right let's see if there's any public comment on this item you can raise your hand on teams or come to the podium all right seeing none all those in favor of approving ordinance 2025-20 to amend various traffic ordinances signify by saying aye aye motion carries three zero next item please move approval of
- Open Gov software update, fund name, county general, fund number 1,000, in an amount not to exceed $3,500. I second. We have a motion, and we have a second. Planning Director Gellin. Good morning, commissioners. Thanks for hearing me this morning. This is a request.
- just as the agenda states for a contract with the OpenGov software that we use for our permitting. And it's a one-time fee. They're going to update our addresses on the back end to allow it to be a little bit more seamless. So that is this request. All right. Thank you so much. So comments or questions, Commissioner Madera?
- I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the OpenGov software update signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Next item, please. Move approval of Ordinance 2025-21, an amendment due to State Enrolled Act 425 regarding siting, construction, or deployment of facilities, equipment, or infrastructure
- used in the generation of electricity. You have a motion? I have a second. All right, with a motion and a second, Director Gellin, would you like to? I can take this, or if anyone from legal is wanting to take it. We don't have Mr. Schilling here, so if you could do that, it would be great. Thank you.
- So this is an ordinance amendment in response to Senate Enrolled Act 425. And essentially what it's asking for is a one-year term for us to be able to do a bit more research before the, specifically the siting, construction, or deployment of facilities, equipment, or infrastructure used in the generation of electricity. Now this specifically exempts
- solar, wind, public utility, affiliate of a public utility, corporation organized under Indiana code, including a general district corporation, corporation organized under Indiana code that is electric cooperative and any joint agency. So this leaves just private companies that would be fighting in the county and in what they call an energy production zone.
- which could be an old mine or an old electric generating facility. So this timeline gives us the ability to put in any necessary updates in our county development ordinance and do further research since this became effective on July 1. Thank you so much. I'll go to you for comments or questions first. No, I think this is an important ordinance and I'm glad that we're putting this on our agenda now. Commissioner Jones.
- Yes, I really appreciate the fact that this has been brought forward. It helps a whole lot if local governments get a chance to respond to the things that the state decides to do. For the public's edification, I said this on Tuesday night when it was heard at the Plan Commission meeting that this does not include
- solar or wind projects. This is solely electrical generation, not solar, not wind, which equals nuclear in some form, mini or whatever it might be. And one of the concerns we had in reading the legislation was the previous mines being used because we don't know if that
- that includes quarries or not. So we do have some work to do, but I know that staff at the planning department is already working on this. So thank you for that. And we look forward to seeing what has to happen as a result of this. So thank you for this effort. And Mr Schilling, thank you. Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You can raise your hand on team.
- motion to approve the ordinance. All those in favor of approving ordinance 2025 dash 21 signify by saying aye.
- Yes, I would like to move the Dr. Michael Rushton be a county historic preservation board of review. He will finish an existing term that started on January 1st, 2026, giving him a three year term. I'll second that. But just to clarify, it's completing an existing three year term that would end on January 1st.
- Okay, thanks. Yep, so perfect. So with the motion in a second, any comments, questions? Appreciate willingness to serve. All those in favor of approving this appointment to the Historic Preservation Board of Review, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries three, zero. All right, so we'll move on to our announcements.
- And just a reminder to our residents to sign up for the resident alert notification system for weather related emergencies and updates. Just go to co.midrow.in.us and click on the megaphone and determine how you wish to be contacted. The options are phone, text, and email.
- or all of the above. We do have virtual office hours each month, six times each month. So while you're on our website, on our homepage, click on the calendar, and you can find those appointments. They're all via Teams. And we're looking forward to having conversations with our residents. We also encourage you to consider serving on boards and commissions.
- you can do that. Um at that same website CEO dot Monroe dot I n dot us. You can, um. Search boards and commissions and you can see. What opportunities are there and you may fill out an application online as well. We encourage you to do so. Um. The next blood
- August 11th, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Tuesday, August 12th, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. These blood drives are at Ivy Tech in rooms C130A and B.
- the city. If you would like to make an appointment, please make an appointment at red cross dot org. And a reminder for homeowners who need some good basic repairs done on their homes but cannot afford to do so. And these would be folks who live outside the city in the town. Um. Please contact your township trustee.
- So with that, are there any other announcements? Oh, I do have one more. So there is an event on August 20th called Stand Down. And it's for veterans, which will help them with housing, employment, health care, and other types of assistance.
- event is specifically for veterans. It's at the Convention Center, August 20th, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. We really appreciate our veteran service officer, Stephen Miller, for putting this together. It's a great idea. All right, so with that, anything else? And we don't have a work session, correct?
- Okay, great. With that, we are adjourned. Our next meeting is July 24th, right here in the NETU Hill Room. Be well, take care. We're adjourned.