- Good morning. I'm going to call to order this meeting of Monroe County Board of Commissioners. It is Thursday, August 14th. And I will note for the record that both Commissioner Madeira and myself, Commissioner Thomas, are present here in the NatU Hill Room. And we will begin with our public statement, please. 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.
- We also stand in support of our county public school systems, both RBB and MCCSC. All right, thank you so much. I would like to make a motion to amend our agenda to add item M, the letter to council regarding the 144 forms.
- I would like to second. Okay, so we have a motion and we have a second all in favor of approving a revision to the agenda. Signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries. Two zero. Next we have our departmental updates. First, Ms Kelly. Good morning. Good morning, commissioners.
- As of August 12th, emergency department visits for COVID-like illness have increased and wastewater concentrations are trending upwards. Wastewater concentrations have remained at a moderate level as of August 5th, though they are still lower compared to previous years during this period. All flu vaccines for the 2025-2026 season are trivalent.
- So trivalent flu vaccines are formulated to protect against three main groups of circulating seasonal influenza type A and B viruses. We are anticipating doses to arrive in around the next month. The health department is partnering with the city of Bloomington to host free car seat safety checks. This will be held on September 26th from 3 to 5 p.m. at 320 West 8th Street.
- and our public health clinic has vaccines available for all ages. You can call 812-353-3244 for an appointment or more information. All right. Thank you so much. Comments or questions, Commissioner Maduro? I don't have any. Thank you so much. Thank you. Appreciate you. All right. Next, we have an update from Life Designs.
- Chris Hardesty.
- My name is Chris Hardesty. I'm the senior vice president here at Life Designs in Bloomington. I have Houshee Wang with us. He is our grant manager, sorry. We change titles so frequently. We just wanted to come say thank you. You guys have been a huge support to Life Designs for many, many years and just wanted to take an opportunity to say thank you for all that you've done for us to allow us to do the things we do here in this community and just make sure you guys are still currently
- familiar with what we do. We provide wellness coordination. We provide services of employment. We help people find jobs. We help our folks with residential services, with group home services. We offer day services to take people out into the community and be involved in their community, volunteer sites, those sorts of things.
- We are looking to start a new program here in town where we're going to be picking up folks who are living in a nursing home and taking them out in the community. We did that pre-COVID. COVID kind of, they locked down the nursing homes, put the kibosh on it, and we're working to bring that back and bring that back as something we're going to offer here in town. So just wanted to give you guys an update, remind you that we're still here, say thank you for everything you've done for many years to support us, and just kind of give you some information on that.
- We do have an upcoming event that how she's going to share some information and invite you all to attend if you would like to. We have a we have an event that we invited all of our clients with development of disabilities in Monroe County. We also invite Special Olympics Morrill County going to be there and we have an all ability choir. We have clients from Stone Belt and our own clients to perform there at 2 30 p.m.
- on September 18th at Cars Farm. We picked a location, Sophia Travis Playground. Sophia Travis used to be our previous Eboard, and she pushed that all ability playground there. So we would like to host that event there. So I'd love to see you guys there. It's all free. Free ice cream too. Got me at the concert, but ice cream doesn't hurt. You guys have any questions for us? We do not have any. Thank you.
- Thank you for all you do. I know it's hard work, but it's important work. Thank you. Thank you all for the opportunity and the support. Thank you. All right. Next, we have an update from our technical services department. Mr. Crone. Good morning, everyone. As of last Monday, we have moved over to the state of Indiana's website hosting, also known as their CMS.
- This has been a year and a half long project with the hard work of the different departments here in the county. And with Venkat Gosheny, I brought here with me this morning, who's our webmaster. We had a lot of data to clean up. As you know, with the old website, searching was difficult. Also with the migration to the state, we were allowed basically 1,000 objects in our website. We had 12,000 when we started. Most of that was data that was unstructured that needed to be cleaned up.
- For the last year and a half, Mr. Gosheny and the departments, like I said, have been working to get the data cleaned up, restructured, and then linked into the new site. So it's been a lot of hard work. We're really proud of what we've got done here. I think everyone will agree it's a lot cleaner. It's more informative. The searches work.
- And as of today, we know that all the redirects from the old website, so if you still try to visit the old site, it will redirect you to the new pages, even the departmental pages. That took a few extra days to get straightened out. We had a little issue there. But I'd like to take a moment to have Vinh come up and talk to you a little bit about our new site. Hello. Good morning, everyone. Thank you. Hey. Good morning, everyone. My name is Vinh. I've been working on this website the last three months.
- Then I touch base with every department. What are the more concerned people are worrying about calling them to fix those problems? I made a user-friendly redesign for every department pages. So hopefully, everybody is easy to access user-friendly. This website is user-friendly on the cell phones. People use 90% on cell phones. People are easy to access everything for everyone, for the public and everybody.
- I will just say thank you for all your hard work. I don't think people realize how many months and how many hours it takes to move a website. And it seems so simple, but as you noted, there was a lot that had to be restructured, cleaned out, and it's like going through grandma's attic. There's a lot there. But I will say,
- You know, visually it's not as dynamic as our previous site, but you know what? Search is much better. And we can't help the visual. That's the state. So I just want people to know that. But it is a really good site. And so our email addresses, suffixes will be changing in the future. Is that true?
- In the future, yes. Right now, we have not moved over to the state's domain. This was just the website move. Got it. We're in discussions with them now trying to plan that road map out so that we make sure there's a lot of places that domain name goes. So if you make a mistake, things break. So it's it's a planning, but we're hoping within no later than the next year we're moved completely over to that domain. We've already secured that sub domain. When we go to that will be Monroe County dot in dot gov will be our domain at that point.
- Oh, that'll be nice. Okay, good. I was hoping it wasn't the county slash Monroe, the whole thing. So yeah, yeah, great. Do you have questions or comments? No, thank you. Yeah, just heard great, great things from staff across county government that it was great to work with you and you did a wonderful job. So thank you. Thank you. Really appreciate it. Thanks. Any other departments have an update to offer?
- Raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. Seeing none, we'll move on to public comment. This is a portion of our meeting reserved for items that are not on the agenda. We ask each person to limit their comment to three minutes per person and that you provide your name and county of residence. You may come up to the podium.
- or raise your hand on teams. Good morning. My name is Carson Hendrickson. I believe I've met you at my home where I live. I'm failing to understand why we have to leave so suddenly on October 1st of 25 after I've lived there for nine years. I've taken very good care of that property.
- And I still do. I have two children that live there with me and my three dogs. And two months is really not enough time for me to find a place and to move all my belongings. And I'm here to request honorably if I can have more time. Thank you. We'll take that under advisement. That's why this happened. I'm building a habitat humanity home.
- to your process, and I've been working at that very hard, and it's a hard program to go through. So if you would consider it, I'd really appreciate it. Thank you, sir. Appreciate you. Thank you. Any other public comment for items not on our agenda?
- Seeing none, we'll come back for approval of minutes. One motion will be fine for both. I would like to approve the minutes. I would like to move approval of the minutes from July 24, 2025, and from August 7, 2025. I will second that. Any comments, corrections, or edits? All in favor of approving the minutes for July 24 and August 7, 2025, signify by saying aye.
- Aye. Motion carries to zero. Next item, please. I would like to move the approval of the claims docket for the accounts payable for August 14th, 2025. I will second that. Good morning. Good morning.
- The accounts payable claims docket for August 14 2025 totals two million three hundred ninety five thousand fifty seven and ninety nine cents. This includes all emergency claims and adjustments. Thank you so much. Comments or questions, Commissioner Madera? I have none. Me either. Any public comment on this item? You raise your hand on teams or come to the podium.
- I would also like to move approval. That's right. We're good. Just waiting to see if there's public comment. Okay. Seeing none, all those in favor of approving accounts payable August 14, 2025, signify by saying aye. Motion carries to zero. Now, our next item, please.
- I just got a lot of energy this morning. That's good. I'd like to move approval to ratify the claims for August 7, 2025, August 7, 2025, and also to ratify payroll for August 8, 2025. I will second that. And we'll note that these were heard last week. And because I was out of town, and you were here, and thank you again for being here,
- We have to ratify them today. So any public comment on this item? Raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the ratification of claims for August 7th, 2025 and payroll for August 8th, 2025, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero. I will note that we have received a report from the clerk
- of the Circuit Court for June 2025. All right. We'll now move on to new business, please. I would like to move approval for the Indiana Department of Health Disease Intervention Services Grant, fund name STD Strengthening, fund number 8112, grant amount $58,835. Second.
- We have a motion and we have a second and we have Ms. Kelly here to tell us all about it. Good morning Good morning So this is for additional funding for our disease intervention services. This has been a little bit of a long process So we were contacted at the end of 2024 that the state of the Indiana Department of Health was going to be looking at doing some redistrict
- of these services and asked if Monroe County would be willing to work with them to take on additional counties because we already had an established program. We would be receiving additional funding at that time. We talked through some plans of, you know, taking on that additional work. The original plan at
- leaving 2024 going into 2025 was to have three full-time grant funded positions and one full-time position funded out of Health First Indiana who would be concentrated just on Monroe County. I contacted the council liaison in late 2024 about some of these changes and that we would be needing an additional position to be able to take on this additional work. So conversations were being had throughout that process. We did receive a grant award.
- beginning the new term started in March and we have asked for additional positions so we have received an additional amount now for a fourth position so we would no longer have a position paid out of Health First Indiana. All four full time positions would be paid strictly out of this grant and be covering all 16 counties. So while we are happy to see this additional funding we still do
- need an additional position approved to be able to carry out the terms of this grant. So you will notice on page 5 of 12 of this document that does have a line in there about vacancies need to be filled within 90 days. So if this contract is approved today, that essentially starts that 90-day period. And so I am still continuing to try to request that additional fourth position and hope that we can be able to meet these deadlines to keep this full grant award.
- that's great. Wow. Amazing work. 16 counties is a lot. Comments or questions, Commissioner Madeira? No, I'll just note that STIs have been on the rise, and so this is very, very pivotal. Thank you so much. This is what public health is all about. I am really sorry that you're struggling with getting a new position.
- So I hope that this gets addressed quickly and I would just ask our council colleagues to please see to it that this gets completed because we'd hate to lose this fourth position. Excellent, thank you so much. 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 Indiana Department of Health Disease Intervention Services Grant addition, signify by saying aye. Aye, motion carries two zero. Next item, please. I would like to move approval for the Ivy Tech Classroom Rental. I will second that, Ms. Kelly.
- So as you have seen coming through to you previously, we're really just working on making sure that all of our plans are up to date and that we're working with volunteers and members of the community. So some of the MOUs that have come to you previously. So this is just
- to be able to have a site that we can gather all the individuals that we would be working with the most closely in the event of an emergency to do some education and training on those pod sites or point of dispensing training. So those are sites that are held to distribute either supplies or education or medications in the event of an emergency. So there is no cost for use of this facility, but there is an agreement.
- Thank you so much. Comments or questions, Commissioner Medeo? No, this is wonderful. And I think that this is going to be really invaluable training. I'm really glad that this is getting done. And one of the key issues going on right now at the federal level relates to this kind of thing, where if there's an emergency, how do we get
- medications out quickly how do we get them developed quickly if it's bioterrorism or if it's a disease that spread quickly how do we do it and we've just lost half a billion dollars in funding for mRNA vaccine research which could save lives and it is so disheartening and sorry to take a moment from your
- planning in your good time here, but thank you so much. All right, let's see if there's any public comment on this. You raise your hand in teams or come to the podium. Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Ivy Tech classroom rental agreement, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero. Next item, please.
- I'd like to move approval for the Indiana Department of Health Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant. Fund name Public Health Emergency Prep PHEF. Fund number 8104. Grant amount $20,000. Second. Ms. Kelly.
- So this is standard grant funding from my understanding. The department has been receiving for many, many years. We were actually concerned that we might not receive this funding or that it would be a less amount, but we have received this $20,000 award. It's going to be helping to us to replenish supplies, pay for services, training, mileage, and travel expenses. Thank you so much. Comments or questions? Commissioner Medura?
- Nope, none, thank you. I'm glad we got this funding. I know that was, yeah. All right, let's see if there's any public comment on this. You can raise your hand in teams or come to the podium. I see none. All those in favor of approving the Indiana Department of Health Public Health Emergency Preparedness Grant signify by saying aye.
- Aye. Motion carries to zero. Next item, please. I'd like to move approval for the Indiana Department of Health Harm Reduction Grant Amendment number two, fund name Harm Reduction, fund number 8153 in the amount of $71,391. Second. Ms. Kelly.
- This is additional funding that will support the salary expenses of our harm reduction specialist. So this is an amendment, the second amendment. So the first amendment that we received, there was no additional funding awarded. It only extended the date of the term that would be ending May 31st of
- So the term is still the same within this agreement, but there is additional funding. So we are really happy to receive this additional funding. We only had enough funding left to support that position through October of this year. So once we expend all those funds, we'll be able to move right into this funding and then hope that we can continue to get some year after year. Excellent. That's good news. Thank you. Comments or questions, Commissioner Madure?
- Just that this this is really critical at a time when harm reduction is not only underfunded But it just has a bad name and so many administrations and again It allows us to continue programs like the Monroe County syringe service program which are falling like flies all over the country And so I'm very very grateful that we can continue these critical services. Thank you Yeah, I mean they do great work and it and it benefits everyone in this community We're really grateful
- that we're one of the few left in the state. Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You raise your hand in teams or come to the podium. Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Indiana Department of Health Harm Reduction Grant Amendment number two, signify by saying aye. Motion carries two zero. Next item, please.
- I would like to move approval of the milk bank incorporated memorandum of understanding. So this was a program that we actually started looking into a little while ago when we got the new position for our maternal child health coordinator. So that employees has received certification and lactation counseling.
- But this program here we think just kind of goes along with our maternal child health services because it provides an option for those who are unable to provide their own breast milk, an option to still receive that through our department. There's no cost to us. They provide all of the supplies and the equipment, cover shipping costs.
- what our cost is that we are essentially donating our time and our space to be able to provide this service to community members in need. Thank you so much. Comments or questions, Commissioner Madure? No, again, critical and it can actually save lives. Yeah. This is what public health is all about again. Thank you. 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 Milk Bank Inc. MOU, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero. Thank you so much. Next item, please. I'd like to move approval of the Forte Service Agreement. Fund name, 2023 GEO Bond. Fund number 4817 in the amount of $31,144.73. Second. Mr. Cron. Good morning again. Good morning.
- We've been up here several times on these courtroom audio, and every time I put it out there, we hope we do this one and we can stop for a minute. The response from the universe has been, hold my coffee and watch this. This is just another example of a systemic failure of the audio systems in some of the courtrooms. Same as before, using the same company. Forte was previously AVI, so that was the vendor name you'd seen on the other ones.
- Again, we'll go through this one and then see where we're at and reevaluate and see if we have to do any more. But this is for audio, for the microphones only. That doesn't have an amplification system in the room. It's one of the smaller courtrooms. But the mixer system has failed on it. My staff keeps plodding it along and we get about another week and then we have to go jumpstart it again. So this is to get them taken care of. Great. Thank you so much. Comments or questions, Commissioner Madure?
- I look forward to no more mic drops here. I guess we need to emphasize, too, that when we get this new justice complex, this is a system that we can easily take and use in the new courthouse. This is not a sunk cost. And so that's a wonderful, wonderful part of this. This is not wasted taxpayer funds because we really hate to do that.
- We've completely gotten away from the hardwired mic systems and went to the wireless. So yes, it makes it so much easier to move components around and like that move it to a new facility. Absolutely. Yes, for sure. Yeah, I appreciate all the planning that goes into things like this. I think people would be surprised at how much it takes to organize this and ensure that it works. All right, let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You raise your hand in teams or come to the podium.
- None. All those in favor of approving the Forte Service Agreement signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 2-0. I think your mic did drop there. I think so too. Sorry about that. All right. Thank you. All right. Motion passes 2-0. Next item, please. Yes. I'd like to move resolution 2025-34, the technical services department surplus property.
- All right, it's time to purge again. We hadn't for a long while. We're moving around some storage space to make room for other departments that's going to be occupying space in the showers. Additionally, with COVID, we hadn't done PC refresh for a good period of time. So there's been a big push to get everyone in the county upgraded. It's important to note that most of this equipment here
- While there may be, it appears like it's a whole computer, a lot of these are pieces and parts. They've been cannibalized over the years to keep other systems going. So while this seems like a large amount of equipment just going to recycle, it's not actually serviceable equipment that we've been able to find a market for because they are incomplete. I'm working with our vendor that supplies us our computers moving forward if we can turn over at a certain rate.
- There's a little bit of a trade off we can do there as far as turning in old equipment. And I'm also speaking with some nonprofits that if we have serviceable equipment that we can't use, they may be able to so that we're not sending everything to recycle. But unfortunately, this is just a big pile of trash at this point that we're looking at trash with some very
- toxic bits in it. It's not going to the landfill. This does all get melted down and the precious metals removed. Yep, absolutely. Yep. And just a note for the future. There is a note on here about working in the resolution on working with the solid waste district. It's actually the waste reduction district now.
- It's changed names, so we just need to get that addressed. Just a little detail. All right. Commissioner Madure, any questions or comments? No. Unfortunately, this is a critical part of the useful life of items. You have to plan for their demise as well. And unfortunately, manufacturers don't because they don't take these items back. So thank you so much. This is critical. Thank you. Thank you very much. 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 resolution 2025-34 on technical services department surplus property signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero. Thank you so much. All right, next item, please. I would like to move approval for Reed and Sons construction on CARS athletic complex contract number one and change order number six and contract number two and change order number four.
- Fund names County General and Parks non-reverting, fund numbers 1,000, 1178, and 1179. Second, Ms. Whitmer, Director of Parks and Rec. Good morning. Good morning. This is a simple one. Contract one, change order six. Contract two, change order four. If you add them both together, it's not exceed $5,811.92, paid by the Parks Department. Thank you so much. Comments or questions, Commissioner Medeira?
- I do not. I was trying to actually do the math this time, because last time we had that issue, and I actually couldn't quite figure it out. Oh, on this one? Yeah, but that's OK. So I mean, I got it here, but then going backwards to the last, it got a little gray. So anyway, but I'm assuming it's correct. It is. I appreciate it. All right, let's see if there's any public comments on this item.
- I'm really excited about this project. Oh, yes, yes. Seeing none. All those in favor of approving Reed and Sud's construction karst athletic complex contract number one and change change order six and contract number two change order number four signify by saying aye. I motion carries to zero. Thank you. Thank you. Next item, please.
- like to move approval for ordinance 2025-24 to amend the Monroe County code chapter 270 adding section 270-82 which creates the Monroe County Parks and Recreation Donation Fund. Fund name Parks and Recreation Donation Fund, fund number 4113, that's a proposed number. I'll second that. Mr. Cockrell, I assume you're the one doing this? Yes. As a result of the
- donation of the property for the Huntington property, there was also a trust fund that will give us annual payments. This fund is, we discussed it with the State Board of Accounts, they recommended that we create this fund to capture that funding as well as any other donations we may get in the future. So this is just putting that in place so that we have a landing spot.
- Thank you so much. Comments or questions, Commissioner Madeira? Nope, this makes a lot of sense. Thank you so much. Appreciate the work. 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 ordinance 2025-24 signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero.
- Next item, please. I would like to move the approval of the granting of an easement to the city of Bloomington regarding the front sidewalk in front of Centerstone. Second. Yes, and I know I'll leave this in, but there are representatives from the city here if you have questions. This is for an easement for zero point zero zero nine acres in front of the Centerstone building where they are going to basically make sure that this sidewalk in the multi-use trail is continuous.
- along that route, and so it's a pretty small piece of property, and it's the front side of the building, so it's kind of important that it has good access. Yeah, that makes sense. Good morning. Would you, any information you'd like to impart? Please give us your name. Yes, Kendall Kenoki, City of Bloomington Engineering Department. So we are reconstructing Rogers Street adjacent to the Centerstone building,
- And there is a curb ramp in the pull-off area on the west side of the building. By federal law, we're required to reconstruct that curb ramp. However, it's actually on the county commissioner's property. So normally, we would do a right of entry to get onto the property. But we looked, and this public sidewalk is actually crossing into the property and then going back out. So the best way to formalize this for the future is to just put it in a pedestrian access easement, typically what we do. So that's what's before you today.
- No change really in the use of the property or anything. There's going to be a new curb ramp constructed for center stone And the roadway is going to get resurfaced. So happy to answer any other questions Comments or questions commissioner. We do. Nope. I'm just glad to make it a pedestrian matter to ease the season clever I thank you for being here and
- I do have a question. So once this pathway is built, is it the city's responsibility to maintain it and snow clear and all of that? So the sidewalk that will be within the pedestrian access easement, that will become the city's responsibility. However, the city pushes snow removal onto adjacent property owners. So that'll still be the
- responsibility. Got it. Thank you. I didn't know if we maybe got an exception or something. I'm just trying. Thank you so much. I appreciate you. All right. Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. Raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. All right. Seeing none, all those in favor
- granting an easement to the city of Bloomington for the front sidewalk in front of center stone signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 2-0. Next item please. I would like to move approval to award milestone LLC the remainder of Lambkins Ridge Road Paving Project.
- fund names Motor Vehicle Highway and Motor Vehicle Highway Restricted, fund numbers 1176 and 1173 in the amount of 115,788. I will second that. Mr. Turner. Hello. Good morning. Welcome. Good morning. Yeah, we requested quotes to go ahead and do another section on Lampkins Ridge Road. This is just to award that project to them as they was the lowest and most responsive bidder.
- It's about 1.3 miles there, and adds on to what we already have in the community crossing project. Great. Great. Thank you so much. Thanks for getting that project moving along. Comments or questions, Commissioner Madera? Nope, this is a critical project. Glad to see it move forward. Thank you for being here.
- Always good to see you. Yes. Any public comment on this item? You raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. Do you have an estimated time frame for when this will be done? It'll be done very soon because we actually took advantage of the community crossing. We already had that under contract. So to add on to that, it's the same contractor. So good pricing. They're already there working. So great.
- I would say it will be done. We've been waiting on this the community crossing portion because Friendship Road has been flooded this week. It's just recently receded and milestones wanting to get done. So I would say within the next month. Perfect. Thank you so much. It's good. Just a heads up to the people who live in that beautiful part of the county.
- I don't see any public comment. So all in favor of awarding milestone LLC, the remainder of Lampkins Ridge Road paving project signified by saying aye. Motion carries 2-0. Thank you, sir. Next item, please. I would like to move approval for ordinance 2025-23, the Hunter Valley Historic Landscape HP overlay rezone. Second.
- I believe we have Mr. Myers joining us via Teams. Yes, there he is. All right, let me go ahead and start my slideshow here. All right, this is ordinance 2025-23, also known as REZ-25-4. It is the Hunter Valley Historic HP Overlay Rezone. And it is a site located in Bloomington Township, section 30.
- The whole site is 98.6 acres. It's zoned North Park 2 PUD, or Planned Unit Development. The petitioner is Packinghouse Road LLC, which is owned by Milestone Contractors. Of the 98.6 acres, the petitioner requests to rezone approximately 11.14 acres to add the historic preservation overlay. That is detailed in exhibit B of a recorded commitment, which was a condition of approval for ordinances 2024-40.
- Ordinance 2024-40 amended the North Park 2 PUD to add mass grading with filling operations as a permitted use for 27.5 acres of the petition site. North Park 2 was created in 2004 as an addition to the general North Park area. The petition site contains two use areas of the North Park 2 PUD a quarry slash heavy industrial district and the light industrial district.
- proposed ordinance amendment added the use of mass grading with filling operations to the list of permitted uses to both use areas. And this petition for you today is a way to satisfy one of the conditions of approval for that PUD amendment that milestone requested and was approved.
- The request to have a portion of the site zoned with the HPE overlay came through recommendations from the Historic Preservation Board of Review and was also backed by the Plan Commission. We'll get to that when I get to the recommendation slide. On the screen is the petition site as well as the green area that exhibits the Historic Preservation area that is proposed. It does cross over two parcels, both parcels being owned by the same owner
- The background map that you see here is from information that was provided during the I-69 studies. The black borders that you see are areas that the I-69 consultants identified as property that could be eligible for historic preservation based on the historic quarry landscapes in the area. So a portion of the site that is going to be preserved as a green
- And then this gray site here is that proposed fill area that was a part of ordinance 2024-40. Here's the location map, as well as the site conditions map for the site. And we do have comments on the screen as well. Highway did not have any comments at the time based on being outside of right of way. And the storm water program manager, Erica Pena, stated that
- The proposed Mass Fill project is required to implement appropriate stormwater pollution prevention measures in accordance with the Monroe County Stormwater Management Ordinance and conditions placed on the stormwater grading permits for the Mass Fill operations. Any additional measures may be required around sensitive geologic features, but she had no other comments otherwise with respect to the historic preservation overlay of the site. On the screen now is a 1923 aerial view looking northeast of Hunter Valley Quarry Field.
- So this is some of the information that was provided and reviewed through the Historic Preservation Board review process. Here is another aerial imagery that gives some identification of some of the historic limestone quarrying that happened in the area. You've got reed quarries in the northeast, B.G. Hoadley quarries in the north, the site of the Hunter Brothers and Stone County Mill, Company Mill. That is where the name Hunter Valley comes from.
- And we also have the sites that is under this rezone application, which is just to the southwest of the interchange of State Road 46, 45 and State Road 37. On the screen now we have the historic preservation overlay criteria. So this is the information that the Historic Preservation Board reviews in order to determine if a site is eligible for the historic preservation overlay.
- And through this process, they were able to distinguish that many of the components here are worthy of the historic preservation overlay and should be designated as such. On the screen now, we have the original petition letter with respect to the historic preservation overlay from the property owner and the representative.
- Here's some exhibits that was provided by the petitioner. So on the top of the screen here, the dark gray is the historic preservation overlay zone, 11.45 acres. And this is all north of the proposed Massville area that's occurring on the southern portion of the property here. And the historic preservation zone is capturing a lot of the historic quarry landscape area.
- Now on the screen is just another image that shows that mass fill area that was approved under ordinance 2024-40. And this is just a zoom in of that gray zone of the sort preservation overlay recommendation.
- You'll also see that hatching that says development free zone. That was actually a part of the North part 2 PUD. So that's embedded in that PUD ordinance. So this is just an extra layer of protection for the historic preservation portion of things on the western side. And then you can see that it extends, this gray polygon extends to the east, capturing more of the historic quarry landscape area.
- Here we have the original letter from the Historic Preservation Board of Review that requested this historic preservation overlay process as part of Ordinance 2024-40. This is all included in the packet. Here we have a historic map of some of the quarrying areas of Bloomington and Monroe County. Again, you can see the Hunter Valley name here in the northwest side of Bloomington.
- And then also on this page and the next page is just some resources from the shard database. So that is the state historic architectural and archaeological research database that the state hosts. And it is a resource for the historic preservation board to review areas in the county that have been surveyed by the state historic preservation officials and may have historic resources on site and that can help evaluate whether an HP overlay
- designation is acceptable, or even a state or national register is on the table. All right, so that brings me to the recommendation. So on March 17, 2025, Historic Preservation Board reviewed forwarded this petition with a positive recommendation to the Planning Commission with the following three conditions. One, the petitioner adds information on the historic preservation exhibit that accurately names and identifies each of the historic resources within the proposed designation area.
- Two, the petitioner locates and documents all existing historic structures within the proposed designation area. And three, the petitioner submit a written commitment and work with the legal department to consider the feasibility of the following. Should the petitioner locate any of his Ferg limestone quarry equipment outside the proposed designation area, the petitioner shall arrange said equipment to be given to the Monroe County Board of Commissioners for use in the county-owned property on the north side of State Road 46.
- and then on May 20th 2025 the Planning Commission voted six to zero to forward a positive recommendation to the Monroe County Board of Commissioners with the same conditions. And then finally on the last couple slides here we have the finalized draft of the written commitment that was required as number condition three. The Monroe County Legal Department has reviewed this condition or this written commitment and it is set to be recorded if it has not already been recorded by the petitioner
- They may have done that this morning, but it has been reviewed and is acceptable by the county legal department. I can now take any questions. Thank you so much for the really well organized and clear presentation. Questions for Mr. Myers, Commissioner Madeira.
- None. That was very, very interesting. And I have long wondered about those queries. I know a little bit about them. But through that and other information in the packet, I learned a lot more. I really, really appreciate that. Thank you. The historical background is interesting if anybody wants to read it at the packets online. But I just want to give a shout out to this petitioner because they wanted to do something
- i.e. use the site for fill, that a lot of us were not very keen on. And what they've done elsewhere for their petition dealing with testing of the fill and all of those and the groundwater and the springs and everything else, which is great, they did this. And this is a gift to the community.
- And it may be that some of this equipment does end up in the Quarry Park with the remainder of what we think is going to be an outdoor limestone history exhibit. So it's very exciting. And we really appreciate the way this petitioner worked with us to make a fill site palatable. So good for them. All right, let's see if there's anyone who would like to speak
- Uh, first of all, I'd like to see if the petitioner is present. You know who the petitioner would represented? Yes. Are they here? Um, it would either be a member of by Nathaniel or a member of milestone. Um, they are aware of this meeting, although I am, um, I don't see anyone online. Okay.
- seeing the petitioner and that's totally acceptable. Without seeing the petitioner, does anybody wish to speak in favor of this petition? You can raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. Does anyone wish to speak in opposition to this petition? You may raise your hand on teams or come to the podium.
- Anyone have any general public comment on this item? Seeing none, any final comments, Commissioner Madeira? No. Okay, I don't either. Thank you, Mr. Myers for working on this. All those in favor of approving ordinance 2025-23 signify by saying aye. Aye.
- Motion carries 2-0. Thank you. Item M, our new item. I would like to move to approve the August 14th letter to the Monroe County Council regarding Form 144s. Second. So each year we are presented with Form 144 as a budget estimate, a proposed salaries and wages, our role in this process by state statute.
- is to provide a recommendation to the Monroe County Council for consideration prior to setting the salaries and the budget for 2026. And looking at the consumer price index, we can see that 3% over the past year has been the increase that we've all felt. And so we do recommend the council provide
- an increase for all employees, except those who are statutorily mandated salaries of at least 3%. And we do want to note that from 2021 to 2024, there was a period of very high inflation and cost of living increases. And while we were under the stress and strain of we understand budgets are limited and finite,
- And they're getting even more so. So we do appreciate the difficult work the council has to do. As a former council member, I could say that. But we are about still about five percentage points behind where we should be. So anything else the council can do, we would greatly appreciate. And again, we do know that this is a
- a difficult time, and a lot of uncertainty in our economy, in our local economy, in the federal government, at the state level, we know. And we do appreciate the council and wish them well on their journey through budget land in the next couple months. Anything else you'd like to add? No, I would just add that our greatest resource is a county
- is our staff, right? Our residents, of course, but our staff members. And so the most we can do as elected officials is help to take care of them. Yeah. It helps us retain our quality staff. They're gifted. I mean, we've seen examples of our gifted staff. We see it every day in our office. But we do see it at our meetings.
- recognize their hard work, but we do also understand the exigencies of economics at the moment as well. But we're all facing that. So yes, we do appreciate the work that our employees do every day for all of us in the community. All right. Let's see if there's any public comment on this.
- The next council meeting where we could present this would be in, I believe, September. So we're going to send this forthwith, once we sign it, to the council members directly via email because they are not having a regular meeting next week or in two weeks, as we had thought. So we're doing our due diligence and meeting state statute.
- And if I'm wrong on that, correct me, Mr. Cockrell. We're good on state statute. I think the way the presentation is not well defined. And so I think presenting them the letter, I would file it with the office as well as sending it individually to the people and consider that a print. Sounds good. Ms. Purdy's on it. She's already got a plan. Excellent. Thank you so much. Any public comment on this item?
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the form 144's letter to the Monroe County Council signify by saying aye. Motion carries to zero. All right. Just a couple of quick notes. Whichever website you go on, please sign up for the Resident Alert Program.
- This is your opportunity to be informed about storm and roadway emergencies and other urgent matters in our county. As they come up, you can be contacted by phone or text or email or all of the above. The Monroe County Veterans Office is hosting a veterans-only event called Stand Down to assist veterans with housing, employment, healthcare,
- and other types of support. This event will be held at Monroe County Convention Center on Wednesday, August 20th from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. For more information, visit the Monroe County Veterans Affairs Office located at 214 West 7th Street, or you can call them at 812-349-2537.
- The rural housing repair program continues, but it is being managed by the Bloomington Foundation. If you live in your home and you need, outside the city of Bloomington, you need repairs on basic necessities, roofs, carpentry, HVAC, electrical plumbing, please contact your Township Trustee and they will assist you with the application process.
- I will remind everyone again that whether you visit our new website or our current website, you will find a calendar at the bottom of the page. And we have six office hours each month available for county residents. And we invite you to join us. Just click on the calendar and run a search. The next blood drive
- will be Wednesday, September 3, from 12 to 6, and Thursday, September 4, from 12 to 6. This is at Ivy Tech, 200 Daniels Way, Bloomington, and it is in room C130A and B. To make an appointment, please go to redcross.org. Do we have anything else for the good of the order? Yes, I have a couple of things I'd like to say.
- Last week there was an article in the Herald Times that actually had to do with the Monroe County Nature Preserve and some residents who claimed to have been displaced. And I've had a lot of people reach out to me. I think over 30 people reach out to me over the past week. So I thought I'd just say some things about that at the conclusion of this meeting. So while the county
- and myself as a county commissioner, I'm really happy and grateful for the news coverage in the community. But sometimes the dots aren't necessarily connected in a matter that I think reflects what's actually occurring. And I think the matter in which the dots were connected on this particular matter reflect unfairly on county officials who are just trying to do their jobs to the best of their ability. So the trust for the new Monroe County Nature Preserve didn't mention leases or properties at all.
- which meant that we as a county didn't really have a choice. The residents just can't stay. The residents actually had extensive and generous notice. Leasing from a trust alone is different, really different from leasing from a private landlord. The property owner who generously left the property to Monroe County in trust died in November of 2023. The leases had actually been month to month for years, and that's a fact that was not mentioned in the Herald Times.
- County officials did request that the residents be allowed to stay on as caretakers, but the judge's order that was referenced in the newspaper article did not allow for that possibility, which the residents knew earlier this spring. The judge's order also said that the residents had to leave as soon as the county began to develop the property as a recreational area, and that this requirement had to be fulfilled for the trust to begin, or else the county actually loses the property.
- The residents on the property actually knew this earlier this spring when the judge's order was issued. If the property was actually not given to the county for the benefit of the taxpayers and was developed, the residents would have actually had to leave anyways. They would not have had the opportunity for generous notice. They would actually have not received the free rent that was referenced in the Herald Times.
- And the taxpayers of the county would have been complaining a great deal more about abominably different traffic patterns, and the community would have lost the benefit of hundreds of acres of nature preserve.
- The rent that the residents are paying of $700 and $400 isn't enough to pay insurance for the property, let alone to pay for the substantial repairs the tenants have requested, like tens of thousands of dollars in substantial repairs, new windows. The county has a responsibility to use taxpayer funds in the highest and best use. They cannot use taxpayer funds to subsidize the residents' stay. This puts the county in a catch-22. It's damned if it does and damned if it doesn't.
- Our duty as elected officials is to all taxpayers. The situation is very sympathetic, and the county has been as generous as it can. So actually I'm taking this opportunity, a matter of personal privilege, to address this matter so that if you are bothered by the situation, like the 30 people who reached out to me, I'm sorry, but the county, that's basically the material that did not make it into the story.
- And unfortunately, sometimes our duty as elected officials is to make the hard choices. And this choice was an easy one for us to make. We took the property in trust to use it for the benefit of taxpayers. We will all have the beautiful property to walk on and to enjoy for generations. And unfortunately, hard choices had to be made, but those choices would have had to be made under any eventuality. And so in other words, here there was no choice at all.
- Yeah, I appreciate that. And yeah, everything in the article was correct, but it just didn't tell the whole story, which is unfortunate. And appreciate you explaining that. Anything else for the good of the order? Nope. OK, so it is 11.06, and we have a work session with a couple items on it.
- So can we come back at 1120? Yep. Excellent. So our regular meeting, our next regular meeting is August 21st. And with that, our regular meeting is adjourned. Thanks everyone.