Good afternoon. I'm gonna call to order this meeting of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners. It
is Thursday, September 11th, 2025. This is the meeting that was recessed from 10 a.m.
this morning. We will begin with our public 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,
school system. We stand in support of inclusion and belonging. We also stand in support of our county
public school systems. Both RBB and MCC SC and with that, I will know for the record that I am present
here. Commissioner Thomas with Commissioner Madeira. And, um. Commissioner Jones is absent today. Um
the next item on our
Proclamation Lake Monroe Day.
where is Lake Monroe has been used as a drinking water source to residents of Monroe County since 1967,
and currently provides drinking water to over 130,000 people. And where is Monroe County depends on
Lake Monroe as its primary significant water source. And where is Lake Monroe generates over 40 million
in economic impact annually in our region from recreational tourism. And where is Lake Monroe and its
adjacent wetlands provide critical habitat for wildlife, including the bald eagle. And where is Monroe
County has taken
in an active role in protecting the health of the watershed and the water quality of Lake Monroe and
whereas Lake Monroe and its tributaries provide recreational and scenic opportunities that improve the
quality of life for those who visit or live nearby and whereas Monroe County continues to support community
action related to watershed planning and the watershed plan implementation and whereas we recognize
the importance of Lake Monroe and make a commitment as a community to protect and preserve the lake
and its tributaries now therefore we
the Monroe County Board of Commissioners do hereby proclaim September 14th, 2025 as Lake Monroe Day.
Proclaimed this 11th day of September, 2025. Great. Thank you so much. Next, we have department updates
and we'll have public comment after that. Morning. Good afternoon, commissioners. Sorry, good afternoon.
It does feel a little odd. As of September 10th, emergency department visits for COVID-like illness
have remained steady and wastewater concentrations are trending upwards.
According to a regional representative of CVS, CVS Minute Clinic locations now have the 2025-2026 COVID-19
vaccine available for those 12 and older. So individuals can inquire about this in person or you can
schedule an appointment online. The Health Department still has free COVID tests available. Individuals
can walk in Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. to receive free tests.
and our public health clinic has vaccines available. You can call 812-353-3244 for an appointment. Thank
you so much. Comments, questions? No, thank you so very much. Thank you. Any other department updates?
Right. Is there any public comment for items not on our agenda? Come up to the podium. We do have your
proclamation here, Ms. Sullivan.
Angie, would you pass that forward please? Thank you so much. Thank you for being here. Please come
on up to the podium. You'll have three minutes to speak. We'll ask for your name and your county of
residence before you begin.
My name is Molly Radecki. I live in Monroe County in the town of Steinsville. I was here in April explaining
that I was displaced from my home because of flooding. Not because I live in a floodplain, but because
there was sewage water that came from my shower, probably due to the fact that there wasn't a backflow
device on the septic slash hybrid system that Binyam Fanyam put in.
Until this day, I am not back in my home. I am going to lose my temporary housing. I applied for FEMA
assistance. However, the flood victims between the April 2nd and April 9th somehow got bypassed for
help. I know there was an appeal. I don't know the verdict of the appeal, but I know that many of you
have more power than me. If you could write an email
or pick up the phone and please ask the Department of Homeland Security, the governor, FEMA to please
release some money because right now Binyam Fanyam wants to put a lien on my house to pay a sewage bill
for a house I'm not living in. They will not put a backflow device on my septic until there's another
natural disaster or another
storm disaster. I can't afford as a single mom to fix up my house, get a new mattress, get new clothing,
get new bedding, and set up my daughter for us to be out of our house again because there is no backflow
device. I don't have the energy. I'm already living hand to mouth, and I don't want to traumatize my
daughter anymore. Monroe County has two vacant seats on the Binyam Fanyam board that are not filled,
and you have
a numeral majority to control that board. There's five of 11 seats. So I'm please asking Monroe County,
please do an audit of Binyam Fanyam and make sure they are helping the constituents. And I can avoid
a lot of the issues with them if I could just get the funding from FEMA. Thank you. Thank you.
I just would ask you to please contact the emergency management department and bring your inquiries
there and then to work with our building department and planning department regarding your situation
with your house. We can't change the rules. We can't change as much as we might want to for a particular
situation. We get it. It's terrible. But we have staff members
in our throughout county government that can help, but you have to. I've engaged them all. I have email
engagement and we can't make new rules for you as much as we want to. And that's the and that's the
problem that we have. So but we do appreciate you coming in, but I would recommend you contact emergency.
I have and I've gotten a lot of grass lighting because they don't treat Steinsville. They treat Steinsville
residents as second class citizens.
And I have email verification of that, especially with Jeff, the cocker, the lawyer. I mean, he was
arguing with me about the board power. You have the power to elect two more board members. You have
the power to advocate. And I have engaged the planning and development, and I had to
I would like to remind them that the inner local agreement does say that they have the power of jurisdiction
for development. I had to read it myself and point that out to them before they treated me as if they
would help me. They're aware of that. Thank you so much. Appreciate you.
Seeing none, we'll move on to the next item, please. I would like to move approval of the minutes for
September 4th, 2025. Second. Any comments, corrections, or edits? I think I've got the minute ready.
Okay, great. All those in favor of approving the minutes for September 4th, 2025, signify by saying
aye. Aye. Motion carries, 2-0. Next item, please. I would like to move approval of the claim stock yet
for counts payable for September 11th, 2025. Second. Ms. Monser.
Good afternoon. The accounts payable claims docket for September 11th, 2025 totals $8,995,688.60. This
includes all emergency claims and adjustments. Any comments or questions? I don't either. Any public
comment on this item? You can raise your hand on Teams or come to the podium.
All those in favor of approving the claim stock at accounts payable September 11th, 2025 signify by
saying aye. I motion carries to zero. I will note for the record we have received a report from the
clerk of the circuit court for July 2025 and we will now move on to new business, please.
I would like to move approval forward RLH seal coding incorporated the crack ceiling project fund name
motor vehicle highway restricted fund number 1173 in the amount of a hundred thousand two hundred eighty
five dollars and twenty cents. Second Ms. Ridge. So we are wanting to we sent quotes for three vendors
for the crack ceiling on various county roads we've received two
by highway personnel. The lowest quote was received from RLH seal coding. The department would like
to accept the quote for crack sealing in 2025. Thank you so much. Comments? Questions? No. I don't have
any either. This is a really good way to preserve our pavement. Appreciate the work on this. 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 awarding RLH seal coding ink, the crack ceiling project for motor
vehicle highway signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries two zero. Next item, please. I'd like to
move approval for blue sown tree for Rockport road bridge number 308 tree removal fund name Rockport
road bridge number 308 fund number 1135 in the amount of $65,665. Second, Ms. Ridge.
We contacted three tree service companies about quotes for the project and received one from Bluestone.
The tree removal is for the Rockport Road Bridge replacement. The project goes to letting in February
2026, so it would be for a construction season of 2026. Alright, comments or questions? No. I don't
either any public comment.
on this item raise your hand and teams or come to the podium and that you know. It's being done all
those in favor of approving the blue stone tree agreement for Rockport road bridge 308 tree removal
signify by saying aye aye motion carries to 0.
Next item, please. I would like to move approval for establishing the Ad Maloria Meliora Fund Agreement
presenter. Sorry. No, you're good. I'm going to second that and we have Ms. Kelly joining us. Tell us
all about it.
Yes, this request is for approval of an agreement that has been established between the community foundation
of Bloomington and Monroe County. So they established fund the add Maloria fund. I think I'm saying
that right. So the purpose of this fund is to provide additional support to the Monroe County Health
Department that's outlined in exhibit B under intended uses of this fund agreement. Thank you so much.
I think this is a really good idea given the
politics of the day. Comments or questions? No, I agree with you. This is going to provide a source
of needed funds. All right. And this was already approved by the health board. I believe so. It's been
a while because I think it's been since this summer that we were working on it. Okay. They will have
to approve it too if they haven't yet.
So excellent, thank you. 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 establishment of the Admiral
Leora Fund Agreement signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero. Thank you.
All right. Items D and E together, please. I would like to move approval for Items D, Harold
Fish Incorporated Agreement for Controls Update Phase 3 Hardware, Fund Name 2019 Geobond, Fund Number
4812 in the amount of $47,795. And Item E, Harold Fish Incorporated Agreement for Chiller Communication
Card Replacement, Fund Name 2019 Geobond, Fund Number 4812 in the amount of $7,964.
I will second that, Mr. Crider. Okay, good afternoon, commissioners. Richard Crider, building and fleet
manager. We've combined two gender requests by bond. These two are the 2019 GO bond. Do you want the
grand total of both projects together or individually? No, that's all right. All right, this request
is accept the proposals submitted by HFI in the amount of $47,795 to provide and install
new hardware devices to monitor and control HVAC set point commands sent by the new supervisory software
and the equipment fifth floor mechanical room at the justice center and also the proposal submitted
by HFI in the amount of $7,964 to remove and replace the failed communication card necessarily to command
the chiller staging.
They have two chillers. They don't need to both run at the same time. This card tells each chiller when
to energize. Thank you so much. Comments or questions, Commissioner Madeira? No. All right. These are
both for the justice center,
I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Chiller communication card replacements also for the Justice Center, correct?
Correct, right? Thank you. All right. See if there's any public comment on the site and raise your hand
and teams come to the podium here in the
The Herald Fish Inc. agreement for the controls update phase three hardware and for the chiller communication
card replacement signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero. Next item, please. I would like
to move approval for item F. Herald Fish Incorporated Agreement for Cooling Tower Actuators at the Justice
Building. Fund name 2023 Geobond. Fund number 4817 in the amount of 19,745.
and for item G, Harold Fish Incorporated Agreement for Controls Update Phase 3 Software Engineering
Fund Name 2023 Geobond Fund Number 4817 in the amount of $29,845. Second. Mr. Crider. All right. This
request is to accept the proposal submitted by HFI in the amount of $19,745 to remove existing butterfly
valves that are worn and not functioning properly and to replace with new properly sized valves provided
by the contractor.
The second request is to accept the proposal submitted by HFI in the amount of $29,845 for software
engineering to design program applications for new supervisory software that will be used to monitor
and control HVAC equipment in the fifth floor mechanical area at the Justice Center. Thank you so much.
Comments, questions, Commissioner Madeira? No. I appreciate your work on this. I know this will help us.
with keeping the mold at bay in the future. All right, let's see if there's any public comment on this
item. Can you raise your hand on teams or come to the podium?
Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Herald Fish Inc. agreement for cooling tower actuators
and for controls update phase three software engineering signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries
2-0. Next item, please. I would like to move approval for Steve's Roofing and Sheet Metal Agreement
for roof replacement for the health building. Fund name 2024 Geobond, fund number 4819 in the amount
of $201,800. Second. Mr. Crider.
Okay, on August 28th, we received five bids at the commissioners meeting for the health building roof
replacement after review. It was recommended that Steve's roofing was awarded the bid. They were the
most responsive contractor and and the lowest bid. So that said,
please accept the base bid and alternate to submitted by Steve's Roofing and sheet metal and the amount
of $201,800 to provide replacement of the roof on both levels and loading dock in accordance to the
contract specifications at the Monroe County Health Building. Thank you so much. Comments or questions,
Commissioner Madeira? No, I know that we've needed a new roof on that building for quite a while, so
this is good to move ahead with that project. Yes, it is.
even better because we will be solar ready, which is great. Excellent. 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. All right,
seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Steve's Roofing and Chief Metal Agreement for roof
replacement for the health building signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero.
Thank you, sir. Thank you. All right. Next item, please. I would like to move approval for resolution
2025-38, approval of the issuance of general obligation bond. Fund name and fund number to be determined
in the amount up to $6 million. Second. Mr. Cockrell's not here. Did you want to manage this one, Angie? Yeah.
I should manage this one. Ms. Turner King's like, yes, please. All right. Okay, so this is a resolution
for a proposal of a $6 million bond. And this projects are specifically for, so this bond is to cover
the following projects and their county public improvement needs. Fees associated with the issuance
of the bond, design plans for the improvements
the Monroe County Airport, remodeling of the showers building specifically for our voter registration
and early voting, and improvements within our Youth Services Bureau, our nature preserve, the courthouse
ground, and emergency management has a need for additional sirens, and we're looking at cameras and
other non-lethal force equipment for the sheriff.
There's some additional need for some furniture, tools, and equipment by our aviation department. So
these are all related to improvements and the incidental expenses in connection with these improvements
are part of this proposed bond. The approval is for up to six million. That gives the council the ability
to determine an actual rate
an amount for this particular bond. We have received an excess of four million, I believe it is at this
point in time in projects that are requested. And then this bond is due to recent changes in Indiana
code must be longer than five years. And so this would be a $6 million bond over
six years. What we have done in the past has been a 3.1 million dollar bond each year. And so that gets
paid off that year, the following year. So this kind of drags it out, sounds worse when you hear the
word six versus 3.1, but the effect to our community is spread over a longer period of time and it's
smaller. Does that help?
right yeah no that does help yeah and it would mean an annual bond that would also be more than five
years long because this is these are capital projects that we have a fund called capital cumulative
capital development fund that we utilize but so much of that fund becomes
services department is utilized by the technical services department. It's where our software line is.
It's where a lot of the personnel is in technical services. We have a lot of sheriff's department vehicles
and very expensive things there. And so when we do things like put a new roof on the health building,
of capital development fund money to do it with anymore. And that's why we're continuing to rely on
general obligation bonds. And it is important to note that this $6 million is a threshold, a peak,
a height, and it is up to, which was recommended by the auditor. So it is up to the council
to have that final say, and their meeting is in a couple of weeks, and we will be there to present the
items we have. We're working through that priority list in terms of what do we really, you know, and
of course we know it's voter reg, and that fix at the showers building, but we will have
that priority list ready to go and we can work with the council as we've done every year on figuring
out what that final list looks like. So anyway, did you have anything you wanted to add? No, I think
that we have just this bulk of critical renovations we need to do. So it's essential. Absolutely.
All right. Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You can raise your hand in teams or
come to the podium.
those in favor of approving resolution twenty twenty five dash thirty eight- the approval the issuance
of a general obligation bond signified by saying I. I motion carries. Two zero- so- we do have a- three
PM hearing- in this room so I will be quick with-
living in their homes outside the city of Bloomington who need assistance on required home projects
like plumbing and electrical and roofs. The Bloomington Foundation is now managing the Rural Repair
Housing Program so contact your Township Trustee and they will assist you with the application process.
Just a reminder that we do have
a resident alert system, which you can find on our home page, in.gov slash county slash Monroe, where
you can sign up to receive timely information and updates on emergencies, health, highway, etc.
We are accepting applications for all boards of commissions. Please go to our website, run a search,
and you will find a list of all of our boards and commissions. The membership list has not been updated
yet, so don't worry about that part of it, but at least you can see their tasks and the kinds of things
that they do. But if you're interested in serving on any board or commission, we invite you to apply
on our website. We can run that search for board
commission application. We do have six virtual office hours each month via Teams for the commissioners,
so anyone who wishes to ask a question or share an idea, we invite them to look at the calendar on our
home page for dates and times and join us via Teams. The next blood drive will be held with Ivy Tech
on Thursday, October 9th
from 1 PM to 6 PM and Friday October 10th from 10 AM to 3 PM. Both of these are at Ivy Tech Room C130A
and B and we invite you to go to redcross.org and book your appointment. This weekend is fall festival,
so everyone happy festival and be safe. We'll have the parade.
in Ellisville, so we'll be there. We're looking forward to that. Anything else for the good of the order?
No, just looks to be shaping up to be a beautiful weekend. Yes, I think it will be for sure. And I know
there's Lake Monroe Day celebration at the Fields on Sunday. And I don't remember what time. 3, 5, 5
PM Sunday at the Fields Clubhouse. It's in my calendar. It's not in my head. All right.
no we appreciate everything everyone does every day to make Monroe County better and we are off next
week so our next regular meeting is September 25th 10 a.m. here in the NatU Hill Room and with that
we are adjourned thanks everyone