Good morning. I'm going to call to order this meeting in Monroe County Board of Commissioners.
It is Thursday, November 6. And I will note for the record that both Commissioner Madeira and myself
are here and present in the NatU Hill Room. And we will begin with our public statement.
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. And with that, we will move on to our proclamation. Proclamation, Operation Greenlight
for Veterans. Whereas the residents of Monroe County have great respect, admiration, and the utmost
gratitude for all the men and women who have selflessly served our country and this community in the
armed forces,
and the contributions and sacrifices of those who served in the armed forces have been vital in maintaining
the freedoms and way of life enjoyed by our citizens, and Monroe County seeks to honor individuals who
have made countless sacrifices for freedom by placing themselves in harm's way for the good of all,
and veterans continue to serve our community in the American Legion, veterans of foreign wars, religious
groups, civil service, and by functioning as county veterans service officers in 29 states,
to help fellow former service members access more than $52 billion in federal health, disability, and
compensation benefits each year. And approximately 200,000 service members transition to civilian communities
annually. And an estimated 20% increase of service members will transition to civilian life soon. And
studies indicate that 44% to 72% of service members experience high levels of stress during transition
from military to civilian life
and active military service members transitioning from military service are at a high risk for suicide
during their first year after military service, and the National Association of Counties encourages
all counties, parishes, and boroughs to recognize Operation Green Life for Veterans, and Monroe County
appreciates the sacrifices of our United States military personnel and believes specific recognition
should be granted
We, the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, do hereby proclaim November 4th through 11th, 2025 as
Operation Green Light for Veterans, a time to salute and honor the service and sacrifices of
those transitioning from active service and encourage Monroe County citizens to recognize the importance
of honoring all those who made immeasurable sacrifices to preserve freedom by displaying green lights
in a window of their place of business or residence from November 4th through 11th, 2025.
Proclaim the sixth day of November, 2025, the Monroe County Board of Commissioners. Thank you so much,
Commissioner Madera. We have Stephen Miller joining us, our veteran service officer.
Thank you very much, and thank you very much for the proclamation. If it's okay with you, I was planning
to tell you about the Veterans Day events that we have coming up, as well as Operation Emergency Food
from the Indian Department of Veterans Affairs. Briefly, my office is going to be supporting a number
of Veterans Day events starting today. Directly after this, I'm heading up to Meadowood from 11 to 2
for a Veterans Day luncheon and book signing. Then on Veterans Day itself, we're
We're going to be supporting an early morning coffee with veterans at Starbucks on Indiana Avenue with
a number of IU folks. Then we're going to be at the IU flag raising that starts at 730 AM. Then we're
going to be at the Veterans Day Breakfast Social at the Center for Veteran and Military Students from
830 to 11. And starting at 1030, we're going to be at the American Legion for the Veterans Day program
sponsored by them.
And finally, on the day after, on the 12th, we're going to be hosting a Veterans Day Employee Appreciation
Event for all Monroe County Government veteran and military members. We're going to have coffee and
donuts, so if you have folks, please let them know about that. We're real excited.
And then additionally, the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs has produced a program called Operation
Emergency Food for SNAP beneficiaries. Folks whose SNAP benefits are in danger may apply for a Military
Family Relief Fund grant that will pay up to the amount of the SNAP benefits. A couple of things that
are of note, the benefit does count against the $2,500 maximum grant benefit
per individual. So that is a consideration. And we're being told that they're processing checks as quickly
as 72 hours. So if anyone has need, please reach out to my office. We're happy to help get folks connected
to that benefit. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you for your service. Ms. Purdy has your proclamation
for you. And I believe, Mr. Kreider, are we lighting the courthouse green?
We are in honor of this. So it's a good reminder for everyone in the community who sees the courthouse
lit in green over the next week. Wonderful. It's actually a combination because I believe we are doing
it for the hope for the youth and also for the veterans. And it's nice that they agree that everybody's
using the same color. That is wonderful. Thank you so very much. Thank you. Yes.
Let's see if there are any department updates. You can raise your hand and teams are coming here to
the podium in the NatU Hill room. Okay. Oh, Ms. Kelly. Good morning.
Good morning, commissioners. Just a few updates for you today. According to the Indiana Department of
Health dashboard, emergency department visits for COVID-like illness have decreased and wastewater
concentrations have decreased slightly. Flu activity across the state is still minimal, but the Indiana
Department of Health has recorded the first flu death of the season.
Last year's Indiana flu season recorded 660 deaths. The CDC does recommend an annual flu shot for everyone
aged six months and older. And the public health clinic does have vaccines available. You can
call 812-353-3244 for an appointment.
Thank you so much. Comments or questions, Commissioner Madeira? No, I think this is very vital because
I think the weather is supposed to actually turn to very cold weather this Saturday into Sunday. So
a very good time to get those vaccinations. For sure. Yeah. The more time we spend indoors, right? Okay.
Thank you so much. Any other department updates?
We'll move on to our next agenda item. This is public comment reserved for items that are not on our
agenda. We ask each speaker to limit their time to three minutes and to please share your name and county
of residence before you speak. Does anybody have public comments to offer for items not on our agenda?
You can raise your hand on Teams or come to the podium.
see none. We'll move on to our next agenda item, please. I would like to move approval of the minutes
for October 30th, 2025. I will second that. Comments, corrections, edits? I do not have any. I found
one last night, of all things, and sent it to Ms. Freeman. So it's just a typo. All those in favor of
approving the minutes for October 30th, 2025, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries, 2-0.
Next item, please. I would like to move approval of the claim socket for accounts payable for November
6, 2025. I will second that. Ms. Moser, please tell us all about it. Good morning. Good morning,
commissioners. The accounts payable claims docket for November 6, 2025 totals $3,238,936.71. This includes
all emergency claims and adjustments.
Thank you so much. Comments or questions, Commissioner Madeira? No. I don't either. Is there 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 claims, docket accounts payable November 6, 2025, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion
carries, 2-0.
We now have our new business, and the first item are bid openings for hardscape improvements at the
Showers Building. We have Mr. Kreider joining us. I hope you brought a letter opener. Mr. Cockrell has
the letter opener. Good morning, Commissioners. Richard Kreider, Monroe County Building Enfleet, here
to talk to you about hardscape improvements at the Showers Building North parking lot.
The scope of work is drainage improvement, sidewalk repair and replacement, and asphalt replacement.
On July 25th, we entered into an agreement with Specialty Engineering Group to provide professional
services for the project. To date, design and development construction documents have been completed.
We're currently in the bidding phase.
Notice to bidders was published on October 6th and October 23rd. A pre-bid meeting was held at Showers
North on October 24th, and proposals were due by 10 a.m. this morning. And with that, I'll hand these
over to Mr. Cockrell. The first bid is from Milestone Contractors.
Let's see if I can find that. Off of the base bid is $340,820
There are alternatives that had a deduct. And since I found it, I'll read it for these, but I probably
will not search them for any of the other ones. Alternative number one is a deduct of $2,915, and alternative
two is a deduct of $500. The second bid is from EMB Paving.
It has a base bid of $296,000. We will look at the alternatives. Yeah, they're deductions anyway. They're
not additions, so that helps. Thank you. And the third one is from Crider and Crider.
This has a base bid of $467,250. Request that you take these under advisement. Yes. Let Richard and
I go through them and come back with a recommendation next week. I think we need to do the recommendation
next week. Yes. Great. So your agreement to take this under advisement? Yes. Okay. I am as well. Thank you.
both for that. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you. I'm particularly excited about this project, having
seen the state of that parking lot. Yeah. And after the flood. Yes. Oh, absolutely. All right. Let's
go ahead and move on to item B, please. I would like to move approval for award ENB paving, Maple Grove
Road Paving Project, Fund A Motor Beagle Highway, fund number 1173 in the amount of $114,356.
I will second that. Ms. Ridge. Good morning. So we've requested quotes from three contractors for the
paving of this road. We received two quotes. This is to help finish out our paving season for 2025 and
deplete all of our paving dollars. So we would like to award a TMB paving for the low bid of $114,356.
Thank you so much. Comments or questions? Commissioner Medeira? No. Again, I would, sometimes I hear
concern from citizens that we don't award these projects transparently and it always makes me very happy
that we do this on camera like we did today because I can always refer them back to, you know, a certain
date and time. And so, you know, thank you very much just for
you know, engaging in this process in the public and making it transparent. And so I think it's as clear
and concise and efficient as possible. I think we go above what we need to to make sure that we are
transparent or is not a paving project in the last 10 years that I've been in this position that's been
awarded that has not been in public record. Absolutely. Yes. I think we do an excellent job with that.
Thank you so much.
So I noticed some hot patch on my road this morning. So when does the asphalt point close? I thought
it would have been closed by now. It's weather dependent, but it typically close around the first week
of December. OK, so they're going to be able to get this done. Yes, it is scheduled to be done in 2025.
Excellent. Thank you so much. That's great news. I'm sure the folks on Maple Grove Road are going to
be happy to see that.
Excellent. Okay. Any public comment on this item? You raise your hand on teams or come to the podium.
See none. All those in favor of awarding ENB paving the Maple Grove Road paving project signify by saying
aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero. Next item, please.
I would like to move approval for ground penetrating radar systems LLC on call agreement fund named
stormwater professional fees fund number 1197 in the amount of $21,000 I Will second that this looks
very familiar to us from yesterday's stormwater meeting miss ridge Yes, it was presented yesterday and
it was passed by the board and this is actually to do some videos
televised cameras, I guess, through the piping system, drainage system for Curry Pike. The RDC board,
we're moving forward of possibly doing some paving on Curry Pike in segments over the next three years.
This is our first task to find out what's underneath the road, what needs to be repaired before we would
go into the paving mode of that project. Thank you. Comments or questions, Commissioner Medina? No.
This seems to be very efficient because it allows us to actually not displace the pipes.
you know, get a good visual on things. It's very affordable, in other words, other than digging everything
up first. Yeah. And if it's, you know, if everything's in good working order, if something needs to
be replaced, we can address those concerns before we use the funds for paving. The first phase is basically
Bloomington City Limits, which is around Beasley Drive, just north of Phoenix, to State Road 48, just
south of there, because you have boundaries and such. So that'll be our first segment.
that we're looking at, but it does help us repair any infrastructure previous before paving or included
into the project at the time. Totally makes sense to do it and very efficient. But it's not going to
be something we see on television. No. Thank goodness. This would be like the most boring program ever
if you thought. It's boring in my job. It's not. It's not.
But for the general public, you'd be like, what am I looking at? I don't know, though. From what people
find interesting on YouTube, we could have a whole new genre of pipe ASMR television. That is true.
It'll be interesting to see actually what's under that road. It started, I think, oh my gosh. I don't
even need to think of the date. We did groundbreaking. Subscribe on YouTube. Yes, a groundbreaking discovery,
literally.
the ground penetrating. Excellent. Thank you. So I was just like, televised. I was like, well. All right.
So any public comment on this item? You raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. All right. Seeing
none, all those in favor of approving the ground penetrating radar systems LLC on call agreement signify
by saying aye.
Aye. Motion carries two zero. Next item please. I would like to move approval from Marshall security
LLC for stormwater project traffic control flagging fund named stormwater fund number 1197 in the amount
of $95 and 48 cents per hour. Second. Ms. Ridge. So again, this agreement was presented to the stormwater
board yesterday and was approved by the attending board members.
We typically use temporary flagging on different projects throughout the year. So this is just an as-need
basis. It's similar to the contract we've done with Security Pro in the past. Thank you so much. Comments
or questions, Commissioner Maduro? No, this really helps to have these folks on call. It really does.
It makes a lot of sense. And yes, we did.
approve this at the stormwater board meeting yesterday. 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 Marshall Security
LLC for stormwater project traffic control and flagging signify by saying aye. Motion carries. 2-0.
We don't have any appointments today. We had
received the sad news yesterday of the passing of former County Commissioner Charlotte Zitlow. And it's
one of those things where every time I walk in this building, I think about her efforts to ensure that
this historic courthouse was preserved. And there are a number of other
project she's worked on, but I think this is probably the most visual in our community and the most
visible and the one we see most often as well. And I just really appreciate public service and I appreciate
her public service and she will be missed by her family and friends.
I don't know if you wanted to say anything. I'll put you on the spot. Oh, yes, I think consummate public
servant and just humanitarian and loss without words. Yeah, it is tough. But thank you for your service.
It's impressive. I do have...
We just found another typo. I would like to remind the public that county government is closed on Tuesday,
November 11th for Veterans Day. Stephen Miller, our veteran service officer, gave us a whole list of
different programs and events and the communities invited to any or all of them. It's important to take
this time to thank those who
have made the decision to serve their country in such a profound way and to thank veterans for their
service. Also, next week before we meet is the 10th annual Monroe County Childhood Conditions Summit
and it's Thursday, November 13th, beginning at 8 a.m., 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Monroe County Convention
Center. This is
open to the public, free admission. Our rural housing repair program that we utilized ARPA money for
is now being managed by the Bloomington Foundation. So if you live outside the city limits and you have
necessary housing repairs in your home owner occupied dwelling that you need financial assistance with,
please contact your Township Trustee or you can call our office. We continue to hold office hours six
times each month. Join us by looking at the calendar and on our homepage, in.gov slash county slash Monroe,
And while you're there, please sign up for the resident alert system, which will keep you informed of
all emergency information regarding traffic, highway health, et cetera. I'd also like to remind folks that
We continue to co-sponsor the blood drive at Ivy Tech. Thanks, Ivy Tech, for your help with this. The
next blood drive is Wednesday, November 12th, 10 a.m. to 3, and Thursday, November 13th, 1 p.m. to 6.
That is at Ivy Tech, rooms C130A and B. Please make an appointment at redcross.org, but if you drop
by, they'll make it work.
And just a reminder that I don't know if we've got this posted on our website yet with the food. Now,
we're going to be posting some information about where to find food. I know SNAP benefits were partially
restored this week. I don't know how people follow this. I just don't.
Please contact your Township Trustee if you need assistance with food and they can help you with either
their own pantry or one of the other many local food pantries. And we do ask residents to please consider
donating to your favorite local food pantry or to the Hoosier Hills Food Bank, which is where
Local pantries get a lot of their food, so please keep folks in your minds and hearts as we go through
this terrible time in our history. Anything else for the good of the order?
I can't think of anything, actually. Okay. So we do not have a work session today. And we are meeting
next week on November 13th. So we will meet here at 10 a.m. in the NatU Hill Room on November 13th.
And with that, we are adjourned. Thank you, everyone.