- Good morning, everyone. I'm going to call to order this meeting of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners.
- It is Thursday, December 18th. We've had lots of end of the year activity in our office, and so I apologize
- for the start. We're going to begin with our public statements. 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 stand in support
- of our county public school systems, both RBB and MCCSC. All right. And with that, we will move on to
- our department updates. Ms. Kelly's here. Good morning. Good morning, commissioners.
- Just a few updates. According to the Indiana Department of Health dashboard, as of December 16th, there
- have been no increases in emergency department visits for COVID-like illness, but wastewater concentrations
- are continuing to trend up. According to data from wastewater scan, we are now seeing moderate levels
- of flu, but very low levels of RSV.
- The health department still has free COVID tests available. Anyone can walk in Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.
- to 4 p.m. to pick up free tests. And the public health clinic located at 333 East Miller Drive has vaccines
- available. You can call 812-353-3244 for an appointment. Great. Thank you so much. Comments or questions?
- Commissioner Jones? No, I don't. Thank you. Commissioner Madeira? No, thank you. Thank you so much.
- any other department updates for us for items? It could be on teams or you can come to the podium here
- in that you hill room. Okay, seeing none, we will now move on to public comment. Public comment is time
- reserved for items that are not on our agenda. We ask speakers to limit their time to three minutes
- per person.
- and to please provide their name and their county of residence when they speak. You raise your hand
- on teams or come to the podium here in the NETU Hill Room. We have someone online TSD called with the
- name or the initials ES. Good morning, commissioners. Can you hear me okay?
- We can thank you. Yes, this is Eric spoon more proud Monroe County resident and taxpayer. I would like
- to encourage the commissioners to establish just some basic standards of decorum for your meetings.
- We hear the opening public statement each week and see the sign that's displayed there behind you that
- says this is a space for no hate or something to that effect yet.
- The community is becoming routinely subjected to some of the most hateful, vulgar expletives in the
- English language in these meetings. And it kind of gives the perception that control has been lost.
- And I can't imagine that's the perception that some of you are going for. Or maybe it is. I really don't
- know. But I do think we can debate flashpoint issues in a spirited way.
- that doesn't involve cursing and shouting obscenities to make our points. And so when it feels like
- control has been lost in these meetings, it becomes less welcoming and less inclusive for the community
- as a space. And I think that preserving an inclusive and welcoming environment are the kinds of values
- our community wants to see reflected in your management of these meetings. So please consider establishing
- some basic standards of decorum. I think it would be easy. You have the ability to do that if you want.
- and I'd encourage you to do so. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else have public comment for items not
- on our agenda? All right. We will now move on to the next item, please. Move approval of the minutes
- for December 18, 2025. Second.
- We have a motion and we have a second. Any comments, corrections, or edits? Seeing none, all those in
- favor of approving the minutes for December 18th, 2025, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0.
- Next item, please. Move approval of the claims docket, accounts payable December 18th, 2025. Second.
- We have a motion and we have a second. Good morning. Good morning. I have two items I'm going to read.
- The first is the accounts payable claims docket for December 18th, 2025, which totals $113,777,463.57.
- This includes all emergency claims and adjustments. Okay. Thank you.
- I'm going to I have two things. So first I do want to ask a question. There was a unapproved claim that
- was in the second motion. Okay. Is that all that's in the second motion? Yes. Okay. And does this amount
- include that amount? Okay. Thank you.
- questions. All right. I'm going to make a motion to remove. A $30,000 item from this claim. Because
- we have not heard it here. At a commissioner's meeting.
- Second. All right. We have a motion and we have a second. Any public comment on the motion to amend?
- Good morning, Council. My name is Clark Greiner. I'm the interim president for the Bloomington Economic
- Development Corporation. I wanted to just mention that I think funding of the BEDC is an important thing
- to consider from now into the future, and I'd like to see if there's anything we can do to get you to
- reconsider those opportunities. The BEDC has been instrumental, particularly over this last past year,
- with the CEMTRA,
- Tax abatement. We led the way on that work very closely with the county on this. We have lots
- of opportunities now we're working on out at the airport and many, many other things that we do. We
- we act as I believe the lead economic development organization for Monroe County overall. So we continue
- York would appreciate your support financially to help us continue to level up our expertise and our
- business attraction business retention program so.
- Thank you. Thank you. It's not, we're pulling it out of the claims because we don't have anything that
- we've approved on our agenda. Okay. It's a technicality. So we will be considering this, I believe,
- in January. I don't know which meeting, but early first or second week of January. All right.
- Thank you. Well, then I'll get it. I'll get to come back and say it again. Keep an eye on the agenda.
- I'll do it. Thank you, sir. Appreciate you. Any other public comment on the amendment? Seeing none,
- all those in favor of approving the amendment to the claim, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0.
- You have another item. I think you just voted on the amendment. You might want to vote on the rest of
- the claim document. But it sounds like there's another potential amendment here. I think it's a separate
- item. It's totally separate. OK. It's not part of this. All right. Great. I didn't know if we had amendments
- coming from. No. No. Excellent. OK. So now we'll be taking public comment on the
- amended claims docket. You may raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. Seeing none, all those
- in favor of approving the amended claims docket for Council Pable, December 18th, 2025 signify by saying
- aye. Aye. Motion carries three zero.
- The uncertified claims docket for December 18th, 2025 totals $15. I'm not sure we do. We have to vote
- on this. Mr. Cocker. I think you should because it is a claim request. Okay. Um, that doesn't mean that
- we're supporting its payment, right? Okay. I think that if,
- If you approve the uncertified, then it will get paid. If you do not approve the uncertified, then it
- will not get paid. I think that's the gist of it. I'm picking up what you're putting down. All right.
- So I'm going to go ahead and make a motion that the uncertified claim of $15 on the claims docket today
- is not paid. So a vote yes is a vote not to pay it.
- Do I have a second? Second. Any public comment on this item? All right. Seeing none. All those in favor
- of denying the unapproved claim signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Was that sufficient, sir?
- Yes. Thank you. Something new all the time, you know, doing this for years. All right. Um, so we don't
- have any reports today. Um, and we'll move on to our next agenda item. Please move approval of integra
- realty resources agreement. Fund name reassessment fund number 1224.
- in the amount of $17,170. I'm not sure what this amount is. Could you tell us what the amount is, ma'am?
- Of course. I'm Judy Sharp, county assessor. Gil, put the glasses back on. The total amount, phase one,
- will be $17,700. Is that what you're asking?
- Can you go ahead and finish your motion? The amount is $17,700. Second. We have a motion and a second.
- Assessor Sharp. Okay, thank you. Good morning. What this is is two appraisals that I'm going to have
- to have with David Hall Integra tax again. They've been doing our appraisals for us.
- I have to have an appraisal when this goes up to the state, when an appeal goes. These two are at the
- state. I'll lose if I don't have an appraisal. That's bottom line. And so anyway, David will do this.
- We've spelled this out to you guys. It's a lot to read. I know the scope and all of this kind of stuff.
- phase one fees valuation or report 5900 then they have to do the written is 4300 and then it just you
- know goes on and on this is not overnight this doesn't get done overnight so but he does put a cap on
- on how much the appraisal will cost what I don't know yet is when we if if we go to state which we're
- going to the state I mean it's already set but sometimes if the if the people that
- are filing these things against us. They don't have an appraisal and they don't usually want some of
- them. Yes, let me. Most of them will get an appraisal, but these two so far not one would have not had
- an appraisal. So with our appraisal and they see it, maybe they'll pull it their appeal. If they don't,
- what happens when we go to the state? It's a it's a court of law and we'll be up there
- depending upon the most I've ever had to sit there, it was five days. And, uh, God, please never have
- to do another five days, but, um, it will be two or three days. And the, unfortunately our, um, appraiser
- has to be there also because you have to listen to the other side, you know, Jody, you've done this.
- So that's where the fee comes in. That will be a little bit more, but we'll keep you guys appraised.
- This comes out of reassessment. So,
- That's for this year. We'll see what happens next year. All right. Thank you so much. Comments or questions?
- Commissioner Madeira? I have none. Thank you. Commissioner Johns? No, I don't. Thank you. I don't either.
- We've done this before. We've been there before. All right. Any public comment on this item? You raise
- your hand on Teams or come to the podium.
- all those in favor of approving the integral realty resources agreement signify by saying aye aye motion
- carries three zero thank you everyone have a great holidays you too we'll see you the new year you too
- thank you don't think we have to be back so anyway thank you we do but you don't um next week you're
- not working next not a commissioner's meeting not a commissioner's meeting we have a meeting monday
- night thank you okay
- The fund never ends. All right. Next item, please. Move approval of the Harold Fish agreement to replace
- the controller in the clerk's office. Fund name 2025 GeoBond. Fund number 4820 in the amount of $23,845.
- Second. We have a motion and we have a second.
- Mr. Crider. Good morning, Commissioners. Richard Crider, Building and Fleet Manager. More controls expansion
- at the Justice Building. This request is to accept the proposal submitted by HFI in the amount of $23,845
- to replace HVAC controlling devices in the clerk's office and integrate the devices into the new supervisor
- software. Thank you so much. Comments or questions, Commissioner Jones?
- No, I don't. Commissioner Madeira? No, thank you. I don't either. Any public comment on this item? Raise
- your hand in teams or come to the podium. Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Harold Fish
- HFI agreement to replace the controller in the clerk's office, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries
- 3-0. Next item, please.
- move approval of waste of the waste management district green business network agreement renewal fund
- name county general fund number one thousand in the amount of five thousand four hundred fifty dollars
- second we have a motion and we have a second mr krater
- Okay, this request is to accept the annual service contract renewal with the Green Business Network
- for recycling pickup at multiple county buildings in the amount of $5,445. The contract details or community
- corrections, that's 900 for one pickup a week. Courthouse, 900 for one pickup a week. Curry Building,
- 900 one pickup a week. Health Building, $475 for two pickups a month.
- Justice building, 900 for one pickup a week. Showers north, 900 for one pickup a week. Youth Services
- Bureau, $475, twice a month. Okay. I don't think this math is correct. Uh-oh. It is not correct. I don't
- think. So we have $4,500 with the one, two, three, four, five at 900. We have
- Okay. I think that's where I got
- Okay. Nothing to see here. All right. Uh, comments or questions? No, I don't. Commissioner Madeira.
- Nope. Um, glad we're using the waste reduction district. Um, this is an important program. I know there
- are some things they can't take like shredded paper as we found out on our tour of the health building
- last week. Uh, but that doesn't mean that that can't be taken.
- ourselves down to self walnut. But it really is a good program. And this is I encourage local businesses
- to consider adding this to their services. All right. 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 the Waste Reduction District Green Business Network Agreement
- renewal, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Next item, please. Move approval of resolution
- 2025-53, surplus property for multiple departments. Second. We have a motion.
- And we have a second, Mr. Crider. OK, this request is to approve surplus of items from multiple departments.
- The Auditor's Office 21 office chairs that are damaged and or past service life. They will be discarded
- as trash. Commissioner's Office 18 vehicles past service life. I'm recommended that these go for trade.
- The Highway Department damaged aluminum street signs that will be sold for scrap to damage office chairs
- that will be discarded as trash.
- from the parks department, a broken kitchen stove from the commons building at Karst. This will also
- be sold for scrap. Probation department, vehicle CC8, this is a typo. It's not a 2001 Ford Escape. It
- is actually a 2011 Ford Escape. I just recognized that this morning. And from the prosecutor's office,
- a broken metal shelf that will be sold for scrap. Excellent.
- Thank you so much. Comments or questions? Commissioner Madeira. I find myself longing for the pictures
- of the offending items. But I think I'm good otherwise. I do have one question. When it says go for
- trade, what does that mean? It means, OK, this would mostly be police vehicles. And the vendor we purchase
- new vehicles from, they'll do a trade-in evaluation of the vehicles. And then we receive credit. Gotcha.
- Very efficient. Thank you.
- Thank you so much. And I do have, I thought I included it in the packet. I, there is a, an exhibit a
- with photos. I can get that to you. We'll just have to look at those. I always like to see a pile of
- bad office chairs. They're in there. No, I don't. Thank you. Thank you so much. Um,
- that the ARPA number? It is. The 8150. But that's the edit. This relates to the edit, not ARPA. Oh,
- that's right. But I don't think that's the... I think we just leave the fund number off. Just leave
- it, yeah. Yep. Okay. Sorry. It's okay. So, you know, it's the last meeting of the year. This is where
- we do this stuff. Improvisational meeting.
- So did you have any questions or comments on the items for? No, I don't. Okay. Any public comment on
- this item? Raise your hand on Teams or come to the podium. Stay remembered where we were even. All right.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving resolution 2025-53, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion
- carries three zero.
- Thank you. See you next year. Okay, not if we see you first. All right, next item, please. Move approval
- of Toshiba copier fleet agreement, fund name, cumulative capital, fund number 1138 in the amount of
- $208,547 for a five-year period.
- We have a motion. And we have a second. And we have Mr. Crone joining us. Let me get that. Good morning,
- everyone. Greg Crone, Technical Services Department. About three years ago, we did a complete inventory
- and appraisal of our fleet copiers. And at that time, we broke it into two groups, aging and dying and
- soon to be. So three years ago, we replaced approximately 32 of the aging and dying.
- We're three years into that five-year agreement, and now it's time to do the other 34 that we have in
- our fleet. With this offset and the Toshiba working with us, even the combined of the two is less than
- we were playing our previous vendor, so it is a cost savings even though we're gonna be running two
- separate leases. So we've done our best to try to delay this out so we can get closer to the end of
- this lease, and this is about as close as we could get.
- Machines that we still have under Rico are old enough now. Parts has become difficult to get and they're
- going to start changing their costs or discontinuing them altogether. So we've pushed as long as we
- can drag that out to try to save some money. Thank you so much. Comments, questions. Commissioner Jones?
- No, I don't. Commissioner Madeira? No. Thank you. I don't have any questions either. It seems like you've
- got a batch working
- in various cycles you just are doing this in great chunks. We're trying to keep it within two for the
- management situation and it becomes a kind of a mess to try to track all those contracts and keep everything
- up to date. So we at least wanted to get 75 to 80 percent into the current lease agreement before we
- took on more and like I said we're getting ready to approach year four that original five-year with
- Toshiba. So we've done pretty well with that. Good deal. Thank you.
- All right, 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 Toshiba copier fleet agreement signify by
- saying aye. Aye. Motion carries three zero. Thank you very much. Thank you. Next item, please.
- Move approval of the Strengthening Prevention Grant Amendment Number 2 for Disease Intervention Specialists
- Fund Name STD Strengthening Prevention Fund Number 8112 in the amount of negative $58,835. Second. We
- have a motion and we have a second. Oh, Ms. Kelly, tell us about it.
- So we are here for approval for this is an amendment to our STD grant contract that provides grant funding
- for our disease intervention services. So unfortunately we did not receive approval to move forward
- in the hiring process for an additional grant funded position to provide these additional services.
- Therefore this grant funding is being reduced.
- This current grant ends February 28th, 2026. The Indiana Department of Health will still have to find
- someone to provide the services for the additional four counties. So still yet to be seen what will
- happen with this grant next year. Comments or questions? Commissioner Jones. That's certainly unfortunate
- that you won't be able to
- take advantage of this, but. I hate to leave free money on the table for something as critical as STD
- disease prevention, especially when the numbers are climbing, so. Yeah, this is hard for me to understand,
- and it's not on the health department. I don't understand
- I understand a hiring freeze, but if you have a grant funded position, then that person could be hired
- until the grant is gone. And so we've missed out an opportunity here to hire somebody locally, potentially
- in our community to do this important work. So very disappointing. That's the least of my words today.
- 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 of approving
- the strengthening prevention grant amendment number two for disease intervention specialist signify
- by saying aye. Motion carries. Thank you.
- Move approval of the Koenig Equipment Inc. Service Agreement, fund names, county general, and parks
- non-reverting, fund numbers 1000, 1178, 1179, and 4113 in an amount not to exceed $3,000. Second.
- All right, we have a motion and we have a second.
- Yes, this is for K-Nig equipment. They repair big things on our John Deere tractors. But we have an
- in-house mechanic who does most of everything, except if it would be, you know. And John Deere tractors
- last 40, 50 years. So we try to take very good care of them. Excellent. Comments or questions? Commissioner
- Madeira? No, thank you. Commissioner Jones? No, I don't.
- any public comment on the site and he raised hand on teams are come to the podium. I see none all those
- in favor of approving the caning equipment in service agreement signify by saying aye. I motion carries
- 3, 0, thank you, ma'am. Thank you. Happy holidays. I'm going to make a motion that we
- I'm going to move item H, which is ordinance 2025-49, as apparently there are some other amendments
- that need to be made on this, and we can hear this in January sometime. I won't set a date. That's my
- motion. Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor of removing item H from the agenda,
- signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. All right.
- On to item I. Move approval of the ARPA plan amendment number 11. Second. We have a motion and we have
- a second. Yes, this is somewhat of a housekeeping item and I would say it's somewhat related to K and
- that that's a housekeeping item too. Neither of these have any change in appropriation or budget for
- the ARPA plan. So the fund name, fund number and stuff aren't
- aren't necessarily for either one of those items. But this is just kind of having our expenditures conform
- with what we've actually done over the course of the year. I think the biggest change is we put a little
- bit more money into our accounting group to do that.
- This is essentially just to get the plan to match up with our current expenditures so that next year
- when we go through the audit process, it's a clean audit trail for the people looking at our project.
- All right, any comments, questions or edits?
- We have not reallocated the money yet. We have to meet with council. Yeah, this does not change. I think
- that what we're talking about is we are at the final stages of determining what a septic amount in the
- contracts are. It looks like there's probably going to be over $200,000 more in that fund than we will
- have contracts out for from that December 1st deadline, just kind of
- that's not included in this motion that this motion still has a plan having the same amount in it. That
- is a conversation for the council and the commissioners to have and will amend the plan after that again
- once occurs. Right. But this is just a recognition that there's no physically possible way to get in
- these septics by December 1st of 26.
- Is it a very small window for installing? It's a high risk, right? The things we have under contract
- now, we've talked with the vendors. They know they're a priority to make sure they're done first half
- of next year, if possible. And if they can't, they're going to come back to us. So beyond that, it was
- a huge gamble. If we have a really wet year again, we think we can get these in. Yeah.
- It's still a bit of a gamble. And so this might still change, but at least it's a recognition that there
- is some money at play. But there are very specific requirements for how that remaining money is used,
- which if this is a restricted fund, so it goes back to restricted. It's only open projects, projects
- that are not complete yet. It's a very small number. So we can't take on new items.
- I know we're probably going to get a lot of suggestions from folks, but we can't create new projects
- at this moment. Correct. I think we have to look with the projects we have and allocate the
- money accordingly. Great. Any other comments or questions? Colleagues no? Okay. Any public comments
- on this item? You raise your hand in teams or come to the podium.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the ARPA plan, amendment number 11, signify by saying aye.
- Aye. Motion carries. Three, zero. And next item, please. Move approval of ordinance 2025-50, approving
- the capital improvement plan for the economic development income tax or edit.
- Fund name, edit, fund number 1112, in the amount of the edit cash balance, which is $22,501,043.70,
- and estimated revenues, which is $24,692,000, oh, I'm sorry, $24,692,724. Second.
- motion. We have a second. This one's going to take a little explanation and then I think we're going
- to be making some amendments. Yes and and let me start with the explanation. Pursuant to state code
- we have to have an edit plan in order to receive the economic development income tax and you know current
- estimates are we're getting going to get a little over 12 million a year for the next two years and
- then of course
- 28 occurs and this funding source goes away. But in order to keep receiving those funds into there and
- not have them segregated from the rest of our funds until we get this plan in place, we need to have
- a plan in place. The plan has to encompass at least 75% of the revenue we expect to receive over the
- life of the plan. So if it's two years, it has to be at least two years. And so since we anticipate
- the plan will end
- or the funding source will end at the end of 27, that really the number you've got to hit is about 19
- million in the plan because five years, we're still getting the same amount of revenue because after,
- yeah. So that's the reason we have the plan on the agenda. We had a discussion with the county council,
- with some county council members at our work session, I think two weeks ago, the county council reviewed
- and at their meeting,
- voted to recommend some amendments to the plan and so what you have in the packet is really two different
- versions of the plan the first is the kind of the original one that was talked about at that meeting
- and then given to the council for review and the second one is the amendments the amendments aren't
- really clear from from how it's organized in the packet so i'm just going to go through them really
- quickly right now the first one is that they they recommended that the plan expire
- on December 31st, 2027 and again in order to do that we'd have to make sure it is in place by the end
- by December 31st, 2025 because it has to be at least a two-year plan. The second is they wanted to have
- the justice center project to be numbered project one justice center project and they wanted the general
- or to be titled project one they wanted the general description to be
- county justice center and or county jail project and they wanted the estimated cost to be changed from
- 225 million to 150 million. And then I went ahead and renumbered the rest of the projects based upon
- that. So, just to be clear, I'm sorry, just to you have to exhibit is correct.
- You're looking at the second exhibit. Yeah. And I'm explaining the difference between the first exhibit
- a and the second exhibit. Okay. Okay. Thank you. I'm just making sure we're all on the same page.
- All right. Please continue. Okay. And so those are the basic changes the county council had requested.
- Um, I did some renumbering. I think, uh,
- I think the other thing that we would wanna think about is if we wanted to move it to December 31st,
- 2027, we would also look at the transit portion of that because it says 200,000 per year, but in the
- projected budget, we'd had a million, so clearly we would change that number to either 500,000 per year
- or the total budget of 400,000.
- In addition, I think after discussing, after talking with the airport director and then knowing that
- we've received probably over the last three years, well over 750 million in projects that we're looking
- at locating at the airport, that the term for the airport terminal project be changed to airport
- economic development project would still encompass the terminal building if that's the direction we
- chose, but it would also allow for that money to be used for maybe some infrastructural needs for maybe
- some of those projects if we ever landed one. So I think that would be the recommendation from staff
- to change that as well. Can you give me that language again? To change the airport terminal building
- project to airport economic development projects. All right, yeah, it's much looser, bigger.
- broader, okay. Economic development projects, plural, I would say plural. Can I ask a question just
- for clarification on the 4.667, I believe that the council has put in, is that going to be, is that
- specific to 26 or is it also for 27? It says 2026 operational costs. Yes. And it is listed in the budget
- just once.
- and the total for the two years is that same amount. It's not each year. Are you saying it needs to
- be each year? I'm concerned it should be. If we get through budgets in summer of 26, gosh, it sounds
- so far away, but it's going to be here before you know it. And it's determined that additional monies
- are needed
- another five million, for example, to for dealing with this is insurance, um, a county expense. Can
- we change this plan again? This point could be amended. Okay. Um, so, so at any point, let's wait and
- see, let's wait and see. Is that all right? Yeah. No, I'm glad you raised it. You're right. Wait and
- see amend later. Okay. All right. So, um,
- Now is the time to make some edits. So I am fine with setting the date at December 31st, 2027. In project
- one, I would remove the Orr County Jail project and I would change that amount back to 225 million,
- which doesn't remove anything the council has asked for. Item three,
- So that's part one of my motion to amend. Item three, airport economic development projects, plural.
- So just retitling it. Item five, transit 500,000 per year to come to that million that's in the budget.
- That's my motion. Second. Thank you. Other, well, let's do this one first and then we'll hear other
- motions to amend. Is that okay? Any thoughts or comments on what I've of the motion? Okay. Any public
- comment on the motion to amend?
- My name is Peter Iverson, a resident of Monroe County, and I am the President Pro Tem of the County
- Council. Madam President, thank you for your amendments. We certainly appreciate keeping the dates as
- we all know that the changes to edit are looming, so we appreciate that. We would prefer to keep the
- and or in the description, but we understand the rationale.
- the estimated total cost of that project we felt was inflated given the fact that we don't know where
- we're going at this point. But of course, that can be edited. And I just wanted to thank Mr. Cockrell
- for his work on the airport. We certainly think that's a worthy project here, and we're glad to see
- that transit is expanding.
- We would prefer that we keep the Justice Center and County Jail Project estimated cost at $150 million.
- So we don't see the inflation in that. But otherwise, we are thankful for the amendment. OK. So before
- we vote on our amendment, I have another question
- The budget at the end does not include project one in that second exhibit one. So the projects are not
- numbered correctly on our packet page 135. I understand and I can correct it for project
- 2 through 5, I can add Project 1. I just would say that it was organized that way because I think we're
- all under the understanding that under the current legislation, Project 1 can't be financed, right?
- I mean, we could put Project 1 in there, but particularly if we're expiring this before in 27, unless
- there's a legislative change, Project 1 is something that I think
- everybody is interested in doing, but until those legends. So we, we kind of put within that project
- and it's why it wasn't numbered. We put in that project kind of the legislative changes that were going
- to be necessary in order to make that viable. And then there is language in there that if those come
- and become viable, then this becomes the top priority project. Right. And so we kind of, it was organized
- with the acknowledgement that yes, this would be our prop top priority if
- the legislation was changed to allow it to become that, but right now it's not. And so it was kind of
- organized to recognize that, but to kind of still meet the statutory requirements for funding that that
- are possible. Okay. So then, um, so of course, if we, um, put more in our plan than we have to expend,
- that's, there's nothing wrong with that. Right. So legally, if,
- If it says make a plan for $20 million and you put $40 million worth of planning in there, it's okay,
- right? Legally. Yes. Okay. So what I would ask is to, I mean, I would consider this just a Scrivener's
- error. I would say that that project one needs to be listed and then, you know, project one, the total
- amount to 25, if this amendment passes,
- and then you have to renumber the projects at the end. So they match what's above two, three, four,
- five, six. So delineate, yes, this is our priority. This is our second priority. And just list it that
- way. And that way it's both in there. They're both in there and everything's listed correctly. Does
- that make sense to everybody? I just think Scrivener's thing. Okay, so anyway, we've had public comment
- on the amendment.
- on the modifications of the expiration date, the titling of Project 1 and Project 3, and the amount
- for Project 1, $225 million, and Project 5, $500,000 a year. So we've had public comment. All those
- in favor of approving the amendment, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Okay, so now it's
- an amended.
- and I want to see what other questions, comments, amendments you all have on this item. Have we covered?
- Okay. Okay. So in terms of just the layout, you understand my point about put project one in there,
- draw a line under it, say this is our priority, but legislative yada yada and then list projects two
- through six.
- So they match the the numbers above. And what I had actually what I had done and maybe I need to change
- it is I put I just put project one at 225 million in that expenditures during the term of the plan and
- I think that okay because I think the the legislative stuff is already in this plan. Yeah it seems to
- me it is so okay I just didn't know if you weren't you were uncomfortable leaving it as here's our project
- one two three okay perfect all right.
- anything else on this item from my colleagues? Any public comment on this amended? Word Nance. Driver
- some thank you, Madam President. First of all, I want to recognize that this is one of the examples
- that we can hold up of the Council and the
- We had that really healthy discussion at your work center. And then when we brought it to council, I
- think we were able to work very closely with staff to make sure that the projects articulated.
- We're put placed in here and I hope that as we move forward, we can hold this edit plan up as an example
- of how we can work not only efficiently together but effectively together. And so I would also point
- out that as we talked about this in the council.
- the expenditures during the term of the plan on the second page was incredibly helpful for council members
- that weren't part of that work center conversation to be able to see, oh, okay, project one has this
- outflow, project two has this outflow, there's the total, it's under that 75% that the legislature has
- set. So again, just I wanted to come up and say kumbaya. All right, thank you.
- Any other comment on this? Yes, sir. What did we miss? Well, I was listening to what you said, and I
- think this also encapsulates it. At the end of it, we have where we said the percentage of the projects
- included in the plan. We have an asterisk, I think, adding to the language of that asterisk that the
- percentage excludes the Justice Center project to
- due to the current statutory framework not allowing for the financing of that project, I think would
- be helpful in clarifying how all those numbers get put into place. Okay. I'm going to make a motion
- that we amend the plan thusly. That's my motion. Second. All right, we have a motion and a second. Any
- public comments on the second motion to amend?
- And go ahead and read that again, Mr. Cockrell. If you would. At the the asterisk at the end of the
- document includes ads language after estimates to the percentage excludes to justice justice center
- project due to the current statutory framework not allowing for the financing of that project.
- public comment on that? All those in favor of amending ordinance 2020-50 signify by saying aye. Aye.
- Motion carries 3-0. So now we have an amended, amended ordinance. Anything else? No, my only comment
- is that I think it's really important to keep the $225 million in there to send a clear message to the
- legislature. Yeah.
- we are really serious about these. Even if that's not the amount that actually ends up getting spent,
- it sends a clear message that we are intent upon building this facility. And that message is important
- to send. Absolutely. And this will never cover the whole project anyway, but it is certainly the plan,
- the hope, the dream that we will have some information coming
- um, from the legislature in early 2026 that they've helped us get this going. Um, and then it's a matter
- of finding a piece of land, but we'll cross that rickety bridge when we get to it. Um, thank you for
- that. Uh, I'll do another round of public comment on the amended amended, um, ordinance 2025-50
- all right all those in favor of approving the amended amended ordinance uh 2025 50 signify by saying
- aye aye motion carries uh three zero i don't have an amount for that item k that's what we're missing
- we need an amount one moment there's no amount okay there's no amount there we go thank you all right um
- Next item, please. Move approval of an amendment to ARPA agreement with the Convention Center Management
- Company, fund name ARPA, fund number 7950. 8950. Oh, sorry. My handwriting. 8950. Thank you. All right.
- We have a motion? Second. All right. Who's presenting this? I can present this.
- and she is here to maybe fill in any factual holes in mine in my presentation. We approved a contract
- for the Convention Center Management Company to utilize what we had allocated for ARPA to improve the
- areas of the Convention Center. And as Richard Crider was working with the Convention Center Management
- company. We actually got contracts and we actually got, you know, indications of this is what we're
- going to spend here and there, where there was some general language of audio visual and things like
- that in the original contract. So what this does is it takes out that audio visual language from the
- contract or from the from the agreement and the list of exhibits. Exhibit B is what we're actually spending
- it on, and exhibit A is what the original
- intent was just to kind of so people can look at and say, well, here's where the changes were made along
- those lines. So we're really just trying to clean up that contract to make sure it conforms with what
- actually occurred. Again, this is done mostly for audit reasons to make sure that when the the audit
- group comes in to audit our books, they have a clean, clear trail of how things were spent and the lines
- of authority for that spending.
- Any comments or questions, Commissioner Jones? No, I don't. Commissioner Medeira? No, thank you. Ms.
- Coppock, did you want to add anything? Good morning. Hi, good morning. Talisha Coppock, Convention Center
- Management Company. And just wanted to say the bottom line stays the same. We tried for a year to get
- the existing building and the new building to talk
- other with audio visual and it was just not making sense at all and so now the existing building audio
- visual be taken care of by the capital improvement board so that just made a lot more sense and then
- in the meantime with all of that we had some significant you know like the water heater that needed
- to be replaced so
- Just thank you so much these projects were invaluable for stabilizing the building and you know as you
- know it's a hundred year old building and it's rocking at full tilt most of the time. So so we appreciate
- that and appreciate your patience and.
- I'm also impressed with the level of activity and detail and just my hats are off to all of you for
- how, what a challenging job all this, all the topics that you deal with. But thank you to the auditor's
- office, legal department, commissioners, everybody. Season's greetings. Greetings. Thank you. Thank
- you for the, for the.
- nice words we appreciate it yeah it's it's there's a lot of plates spinning all the time yeah you do
- the same thing just in a different world yep all right uh any public comment on this item raise your
- hand on teams or come to the podium let's see none um all those in favor of approving uh the amendment
- to the arpa agreement with convention center management company signify by saying aye
- aye motion carries three zero next item please move approval of milestone change order number one for
- moores creek road stormwater project fund name stormwater fund number 1197 in an amount of negative
- sixty seven thousand six hundred eighty nine dollars and eighteen cents second
- the motion in a second. Thank you for your patience and waiting and welcome. Good morning. I'm happy
- to end on a money back to us. Yeah, nice. So our milestone Moores Creek Road project, they paved it
- last November, November 2024. They spent 2025 doing minor finishing up touches. So we're closing out
- the contract and getting everything finished out.
- So the total of our under run was $74,628.58. There was one change to the treatment of the subgrade
- that cost an additional $6,939.40. So our total under run was $67,689.18 below the contract. Great,
- it is nice to
- have some money come back to stormwater to be used for something else. Amazing. All right. Uh, comments
- or questions, commissioner Jones. No, I'm just pleased that we'll have this extra money for stormwater.
- We could use it. We could use it. Uh, commissioner Madera. I think this is a good way to get money back.
- Um, good way to end the meeting. Thank you. Yeah. We always, um, just like to remind folks that the,
- three members of the board of commissioners and the surveyor make up the stormwater board. So we're
- very happy. We've seen the money going out and we're so glad this project's done. So thanks for all
- the hard work on that. That's not been an easy project. Yes. So the Moores Creek side is done. Stip
- road is the other portion of that and that's finishing up. They're done paving. Guardrails went in so
- the road should be opening
- Hopefully by the end of this week, there's just some finishing touches, then they'll spend portion of
- 2026 doing the final stabilization and final details. Good news for the folks who live out there, especially
- because I think we're supposed to get an inch of rain today. Yes. I didn't know that. It's good to see.
- Yeah, it is. Thank you for all your hard work and happy holidays to you from all of us. Any public comments
- on this item? You raise your hand in teams or come to the podium.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the milestone change order number one for the Moores Creek
- Road stormwater project signify by saying aye. Motion carries three zero. Give me one moment. Let's
- take a quick 30 second pause if we might in the meeting. I'm gonna recess the meeting for a minute.
- Thank you.
- It's on the website. I would just add it as an item. Exactly, yeah. I pulled it off the website so I'm
- sure it's there.
- Thank you and we're back to our meeting. Thank you for your patience. We have an additional resolution
- that is available on our website. It is not part of our packet. I'm going to go ahead and make a motion
- to introduce and approve resolution 2025-58, a resolution regarding notice to homeless encampments.
- second. All right, so we have a motion and we have a second. Mr. Cockrell. Yes, the resolution is based
- upon the conversations that occurred at essentially the work session last Thursday. At that work session,
- the discussion, the request was that the commissioners allow
- uh, or require 30 days notice in the event that we are going to remove a homelessness encampments encampment.
- Um, so this resolution recognizes that it also recognizes that we won't issue that 30 day notice until
- March 2nd of this year or next year, 2026. Sorry. In the future a little bit there. Um, and that, that
- this will, this is enforced unless
- Uh, the commissioners get notice from, or unless you rescinded any notice meeting, or if the emergency
- is determined and emergency is determined by law enforcement, the Monroe County health officer, or if
- the removal is requested by the city of Bloomington. So I think we've, we've covered our bases with,
- you know, I used the word if something became unstable at that, which
- Granted is a pretty generic term, right? I agreed with them, but those are the people who can help,
- who will let you guys know if it's unstable. And of course, if you can determine on your own, if it's
- unstable, that is. And then it also has a section where you are going to request other Monroe County
- and City of Bloomington elected leaders to meet and discuss
- the steps to address the homelessness in the community. So those are kind of the two components of this
- resolution. So I will say I appreciate that those authorities that may impact decision-making are delineated.
- It's very clear, very transparent. I would
- we've been stuck in paralysis by analysis for far too long. And so, um, I think we need some action
- and, um, we'll be sending, um, an email invitation to our colleagues
- Um, in a, the creation of a working group to determine, um, the next steps and, um, we'd really like
- some action and some numbers and some specifics that would be incredibly helpful. Um, do you have any
- comments or questions? Commissioner Maduro.
- I just wanted to thank everyone for participating in the discussion last week. And it was, I think,
- very, um, very eye opening and very beneficial. It was, and we do appreciate residents who have, um,
- stepped up and we do expect and hope that they will continue to be part of that process. Um, of finding
- a better way out of this. Um, so I, I agree with that. Um,
- Any public comment on resolution 2025-58? Ms. Whitmer. I have not read the resolution, so forgive me
- if I'm completely off base. For instance, at a park, if we have one tent, is that an encampment? And
- the reason why is because in the old procedure, we would put the sign up
- to tell them what we're doing. I can't remember, it's like five days total. But if that tent stays for
- 30 days, we might have two tents and then three tents. I'm not sure what the resolution says, so. Well,
- I think the resolution says that a reasonable person would conclude that the property is associated
- with a homeless encampment. In my mind, one tent does not an encampment make, right? But if it grows to
- two or three or four, then I think we're, it becomes an encampment, right? So we still go back to the
- old procedure, which I don't have in front of me. Yeah. Okay. And we want to provide at least 30 days
- notice. So it's not. For wing 10? Because that's not what- For, I guess- I'm glad you're asking these
- questions. Thank you for- I think to clarify,
- The intent is for this to deal with homeless encampments. If you have any other reasons that someone
- is storing personal property on a county property, those rules are still in place. What this is essentially
- doing is that if you were dealing with a homeless encampment, that 72 hour notice that's required under
- our current code is going to become a 30 day notice for homeless encampments only. Right. More than
- one tent. Correct.
- Good questions. Peter Iverson, Monroe County residents, county council. Just the resolution is a little
- hard to find. So I just wanted to encourage folks that when you go to the board of commissioners website,
- you have to go down to the, all the way down to the agendas and packet section to get to the resolution.
- I will say this,
- The meeting on December 11th was really helpful. And the county council stands in solidarity with you
- in wanting a working group to talk about these issues. Clearly this resolution is a first step toward
- that. And we see it as that. And I would just encourage you in the now therefore section that
- when you direct people to give that notice, that 30 days notice, that it not only include Mineral County
- staff, but also those street outreach folks, particularly through the contract that we have through
- Health Net. So thank you for this, and I look forward to continuing this conversation. That wouldn't
- be... There's nothing in our code that allows somebody who isn't a county personnel to issue that notice.
- Right. It has to be counties.
- staff who issues the notice for removal. That's a helpful clarification. It would not come from Health
- Net. Health Net is called in to help before that time as early as possible. We notify them. And they're
- there to take care of their patients. Right. They're not, they're not, they don't give notice. No. It
- has to be the county that does it. Yes. Because it's county property. Right.
- And then with the 30 day notice be public or would this be a notice solely to those experiencing
- homelessness. Typically it's posted at the site with some conversations and you know it's not just like
- quietly posted at dark and people run away. There are conversations that occur at that time.
- Um, and again, that's a minimum, so it could be 60 days. It could be more. Yes. I can add that, um,
- I reached out to Mary Morgan, um, and she's willing to act as the focal point for notices. So, um, if
- there is such a notice, it would go, we could send it to her and she would ensure that it gets to health
- net to beacon, um, wheeler, um, community kitchen. She would ensure that that way it's noticed.
- And I guess from my perspective, I think this is a resolution. It's not amendment to our code or anything.
- Sure. Precisely to give that, you know, that last two line thing has a lot of value here. It's precisely
- to give that group the ability to make recommendations and to discuss how do we how how do we want that
- done and what what areas do we want done? I mean, all those are great things, but I think that is something
- we we left
- intentionally vague in this. There were commitments made at the last week meeting, and we want to make
- sure that those are involved. The other commitment was, hey, we're going to get together and work. Look
- at this. And I think all those questions you just asked are great things for that group to kind of provide
- feedback. Sure, sure. And the rationale for me bringing up the notice was that the last this last incident
- that happened, the notice hit Reddit first. That's where some of us saw it first. And I just want to
- make sure that
- that doesn't happen again, because of course that started a rumor mill and that started all sorts of
- hearsay. So I just wanna make sure that, you know, we're not, you know, we're just being above board
- and we're being clear with what we're doing. We can look at that issue, but from our perspective, if
- you have somebody who is,
- If you're trespassing on county property, then the notice doesn't have to be voted on because that wrong
- has already occurred, right? It's already an inconsistency with the legal standing of people on that
- property. So we wouldn't vote on it publicly because that would mean we'd have to vote on everything we do.
- But it's certainly something we can look at and will look at in terms of how the information gets out
- to the community. But the information is targeted for and at that very specific location where there's
- an encampment. And we don't want to make the situation harder for them.
- Yeah. I think it's a very fine line, very fine line for the purposes of public comment. I think I'll
- just leave it as I'm looking forward to continuing the conversation. We definitely have a lot more to
- talk about for sure. Thank you. And any expenses that we've ever incurred as a result of clearing is,
- is only in the cleanup. It is in bio one in D is who we use. We do have a contract right now that we haven't
- implemented, activated. But that's the only expense we incur. And that's a cleanup, including biohazards
- and syringes. And that's I think that's going to be a really helpful conversation to have as we move
- forward. Yep. Thank you. All right. Looks like we have
- of DH online. I see a second-hand race, but I can't see it on my screen. So we'll, oh, it's Mr. Henry,
- County Council. Can you go ahead? Yeah, good afternoon. Yeah, good afternoon, commissioners. Thank you.
- I'm going to make comments. David Henry, Winter County resident. Though I'll be putting on my hat as
- a practitioner of emergency management and adjunct at IU's O'Neill School. I think the challenge I'm
- having as I've seen this work through this,
- resolution and the encampment over the past few weeks is that the fatal flaw is in the 2019 ordinance.
- The resolution may address the ordinance, but the ordinance itself is the flawed piece here because
- there's a almost dispassionate discussion about this being a property problem and a trespass problem
- and not a humanity problem. If we were to imagine 70 people displaced from a tornado,
- in our community that we'd have to find shelter for and connect to social services. We'd conduct this
- work in a very different way. We would be leveraging our emergency management agency. We'd be writing
- plans and preparing in advance with the partners we're tasking like Health Net and Beacon and Heading
- Home and the Sheriff's Department that have roles in how to move a clearing or encampment. And that's
- not what's going on in the ordinance. That's not what's going on in the resolution. The language still
- speaks to a sort of
- Uh, criminal trespass and then property management problem, which really, um, as I look around the room
- and the people tasked with that, um, do not have the qualifications to manage an emergency like, um,
- like we would a tornado, right? And so it's not really, I think, fair to our staff to utilize them in
- that way when we have an emergency management agency and partners that are preparing for.
- Things like encampments and so I look forward to bringing that into our conversation when we all meet
- that the ordinance itself is the problem at this point. And it's really just putting mandates on the
- gunshot wound that we've created with displacing people with nowhere to go. And then we really need
- to recenter our thinking on this and it kind of gets back to a point, which I've made in the county
- council meetings that we've yet to see in any.
- conversations, the plan, the point of contact for this activity, and then who the media goes to. And
- even in the context of this discussion, I just heard kind of revelations about health nets contacted,
- having homes contacted. And yet that's not a plan. There's no checklist for that. And so I think those
- are very important things we have to do to manage this better. And it's clear that, to me anyway, that
- we can make a 30 day notice, 40 to five day notice, 15 day notice,
- It's still just adding pieces to an ordinance that itself is not treating the challenge we're having
- with encampments as the emergency they are. It's not a natural disaster. It's an economic one. And we
- should start treating it that way to treat the humans in there with a little more dignity. Thank you
- for your time. Thank you. Commissioner Madure, did you want to respond?
- I think that the resolution is just a very tentative first step, and we have many, many conversations
- to engage in, and those conversations will inform what takes place. So those factors certainly are among
- those to be considered, but I think it's even broader than that. Yeah, and really, this is in response
- to what folks wanted, what people in the community asked for. So I don't see this as
- a wrong move at all, it is certainly temporary and we recognize that. You can tell that by the way that
- it's written. And I don't appreciate the implication that there's no checklist or process because there
- is a process and we've just now heard of another change in the process, but there is a process and we
- have followed that and it is a bigger, broader problem, but it is not one the county can solve alone.
- and it is not one emergency management can solve. It is one that is solved across the community that
- includes the city. So we will be issuing an invitation soon to begin that process. We do recognize it's
- a bigger problem. We said the same thing last week. So I'm not sure that there's a clear understanding
- of what this
- Um, is for, um, it provides exactly what, uh, the community, um, requested and we've done that. Um,
- we also have Ashley with a hand raised if, uh, TST, if you could promote Ashley and then we'll come
- back to the room for Mr. Davis. Uh, thank you commissioner. My name is Ashley Chaunting. I'm a resident
- of the Thompson property that started this conversation.
- I would like to push back. This is not what the community asked for. It is honestly, it has so many
- caveats as to make it almost meaningless as protection against winter evictions. And it is very concerning
- to me the lack of transparency and the lack of community involvement that are involved in the proposed
- next steps. So we also look forward to continuing this conversation with you guys via the means available to us.
- Thank you so much Ashley. Lee is also online. I know Lee has been waiting, but hadn't had their hand
- raised. Well, we'll go ahead and hear from Mr. Davis in this room and then we'll. Hello, I think I got
- it. Okay, go ahead. Yes, Ashley. Hi, my name is Lee.
- The green paper, I just wanted to say, I object to the last minute addition to the agenda. I think that
- if we're gonna, if this is important enough to do, it's enough to give adequate notice to everyone in
- the community to know that this is gonna be on the agenda and be able to be here and think about this
- as we go forward. Thank you. Thank you. And to both Ashley and Leah, I'd like to say that
- What this does is it provides the assurances that were requested by the community. It doesn't solve
- a long term problem. But what it does say is that there will be a minimum of 30 days notice that there
- won't be a notice issued before March 2nd, 2026. So it has, it reflects what we had heard
- our concern was that if we did nothing, we would be into January and folks would still not have that
- certainty that they had been seeking last week. So again, it is the beginning, it is not the end. And
- we do hope that the community participates as we move forward
- looking at those next steps because that's an integral part of creating any solution. It's not just
- going to be created amongst a few people. It will take the entire community and their input to make
- this right. So thank you both. Mr. Davis, please. Even though I've introduced you. Introduce yourself,
- please. And you'll have three minutes.
- look to see the countdown it is on that screen okay so I talk TSD would you provide a larger clock on
- one of the monitors please there you go thank you yes would you turn that okay that's that's great there
- you go I can look at that one over there there's one right there easily
- We got you covered. I'll try not to get whiplash. Can't do right for doing wrong. All right. Thank you
- very much. My name is Joe Davis, Joseph B. Davis, and I would like to make some comments, ask some questions
- regarding the resolution. I do think it is an improvement from the previous limiting two or three day
- notice that
- existed before. 30 days is certainly much better. The first question I would like to ask, I'm sorry
- I have not read the resolution. I just read on Dave Askin's Thursday email that he sends out to the
- public that the commissioners were having a meeting today and
- I'm grateful to Dave Askins always for his community information. So the first question I have is there
- a definition for what constitutes a homeless encampment?
- So we won't answer questions, but we will take your questions under advisement. So please continue,
- we're interested in this. Okay, I'm sorry, I got the impression from when our council person was making
- comments, there was a dialogue back and forth, and I thought that was what was appropriate
- in this circumstance. Okay, the second question is, which properties owned by the county
- are going to follow these guidelines. For example, if someone were to camp out here, a single person,
- that's an encampment. If they're more, then it's a larger number. But if a single person camps out here
- on the courthouse grounds, are they going to have 30 days notice? Are they going to be able to move
- their stuff out
- be treated civilly. The next thing that I would like to ask is, is there a means for filing injunctions
- when people are removed from the status quo? I know from media reports that some of the folks who were
- cleared out
- of that property recently had been there for maybe three years. The status quo was that they have been
- there. And in our courts of law, injunctions have the ability to maintain the status quo until this
- issue gets before the court. So this brings, oh, I'm out of time.
- I'm so sorry, three minutes is too little. You are invited to send additional questions you have to
- us via email or you can call us or contact us in some way with your questions because they're
- very interesting questions. We appreciate that. Okay, there's just one more thing I would like to mention.
- This is a technical issue. My friend Lee Grundhafer who just spoke from online,
- monitor spelled her name L E E. We don't control that. That's produced by the person who is signing
- in. OK, well. And then the caption. The caption is the caption. Yep. We don't have somebody actually
- typing. It's AI generated. So is there a way to train the AI so that they spell her name correctly?
- I don't know. I don't know. Sorry. Thank you very much. Sorry. They get me wrong all the time. So it's OK.
- Exactly. That's why we need to train the AI that is serving our people. Thank you. All right. Okay.
- So with that, I do want to see if there is any other comments or questions from my colleagues.
- No, I just wanted to address something that I just heard. Just to make clear, there was no one removed
- from the encampment. And so there was a suggestion that some people who were removed had been there
- for three years. No one was removed from the Thompson property. So just to clarify that the the actual
- encampment that was was handled, I believe, on Monday, Browns Woods that Monday on December 8th was
- actually a city property. That's city. That was a city encampment. So that was not the county.
- I know it can be hard to keep the two distinct on some areas. Yeah, for sure. All right. All right.
- So we're ready for vote on this item. Okay. All those in favor of approving resolution 2025-58 signify
- by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries three zero. And despite the fact that we heard somebody say, well,
- this isn't what we wanted at all.
- This is what we heard. This is what we heard most folks wanted. And we know this isn't the end. This
- is the beginning. So we appreciate everybody's participation and assistance with this. All right. So
- do you have some appointments? I'm going to go ahead and make a motion for the Historic Preservation
- Board of Review
- These are four-year terms through January 1st, 2029. These are reappointments. Don Hall, Michael Rushton,
- and Colby Wicker. For the licensing board, this is a two-year appointment ending in January 1st of 2028.
- Bill Rigert. The Monroe Fire Protection District. These are four-year appointments that run through
- December 31st, 2029. Vicki Sorensen, John Bernstein, Mike Baker,
- Kevin Robling for the Opioid Settlement Board of Review. This is a two-year appointment ending December
- 31st, 2027. I have that wrong in my notes. And that would be Kathy Hewitt for the Redevelopment Commission.
- These are one-year appointments ending December 31st, 2026. Richard Martin and Mike Jones.
- motion. Second. We have a second. Thanks to everyone who have who have been serving and serving so ably
- and capably and doing so much for Monroe County. These are all reappointments so thank you for re-upping.
- We appreciate it. All those in favor of approving these appointments signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion
- carries three zero. I will note that
- We have some pretty important openings on boards and commissions, and this comes with a bit of news
- as well, but we have three members of our Board of Health are stepping down, and that includes Lee McKinley,
- but Aurora Don DeOrio,
- has, she's currently the chair of that board, has really made a big difference for Monroe County and
- public health. And Dr. George Hegeman, who has been on that board for more than two decades. It's amazing.
- He's a professor emeritus in biology from IU.
- And he's very active elsewhere in the community. We are going to miss him. And we really do hope that
- he stays in touch and keeps providing public comment and input because he's so thoughtful. And we're
- going to miss all three of them. But my gosh, more than two decades on a board of commission.
- that is impressive. So many thanks. So we do have openings for the Board of Health. We also have openings
- in animal management. There are a number of those. So we're going to try to figure out a way to post
- something on the homepage, Angie, that the real way. Angie, if you would, we're gonna try to figure out
- Um, some way to post a notice so that folks know exactly what's available, what's open and what we need
- help with. So we would appreciate it and you can apply online. You don't have to come in. Um, and we
- really do appreciate those, those folks who serve, um, is, um, another announcement, um, uh, we are
- planning as of now to meet on Monday.
- uh, December 22nd at five PM. And this is a, uh, related to the Monroe Fire Protection District. Um,
- and it concerns, uh, Bean Blossom. And I know that we have had conversations with Polk Township, Salt
- Township, and we've, we've had, um, some, uh, conversations about
- we're going to be holding those. Questions off until 2026, but early in the year, so stay tuned,
- but we are. I'm going to meet Monday 5
- that we had a pretty good turnout at both, um, to have these initial discussions and to talk through,
- um, the tax issues and other things for residents. So, um. It's it's been a very, uh, interesting process.
- Um, and, um, so so folks who, um,
- questions. Um, please come to that meeting. You can join via teams or you can come here to the net you
- Hill room and you are welcome to submit comments via email and it, um, we can, um, we will note them
- during our meeting what we've received commentary wise and they become part of our record.
- of decisions. So what you have to tell us is important. We have heard from a number of folks at Steinsville
- over the course of these meetings. But we are under a time crunch because this is for, this would take
- effect January 1st, 2027. And that's why we need to act sooner. Just a reminder as well,
- that we do have office hours six times a month. You're invited to look at the calendar on our homepage
- and join us on Teams for a conversation. We do recommend folks
- that. Um sign up for the resident alert system, especially. It seems like there's no bad time of year
- to do it. But with winter weather. You never know. So we do need, um, we do need that. Um. And, um.
- I will note that we are closed. Oh, I don't have my
- I'm gonna go look at the calendar. Yeah, I believe so too. I just wanna get that clear. Yeah, 24th,
- 25th, 26th, January 1st and 2nd, correct? 31st. Right, 31st, 1st and 2nd. Okay, so there you go. That
- was clear as mud, sorry. But we do.
- We do want to wish everyone in the community happy holidays, whether it be Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah,
- a peaceful winter solstice, Happy Kwanzaa. There's a lot to celebrate this time of year. And I really
- appreciate my colleagues. I just want to thank you both for an amazing year. And I do want to just put
- out a message
- and this is for our colleagues in county government. It's for everyone in the community. Let's just
- try to be more kind in 2026. That's just what I'm gonna ask for. Anything you wanna add? Anything you
- wanna add? No, I just appreciate my colleagues. I appreciate everybody in county government and city as well.
- We work so hard to serve the public in these buildings and I appreciate when the public responds and
- recognizes that It is always very nice and everybody who works for the county enjoys hearing that too.
- Yeah for sure We have great employees in this county boy. They got us through that storm last weekend
- But they did it they figured out how to do it We have amazing employees every day
- they come to work to serve residents. And that is mind blowing. And it's a thankless job, but it is
- a good idea to thank them. All right. Our next meeting is January 8th of 2026. Sounds like a long way
- off. Blink will be here. And I do want to thank everyone, all of our colleagues in our office and legal and
- everywhere. TSD, thank you. We appreciate you. Yay, thumbs up. Cats, we always appreciate you. And unless
- there's anything else, happy holidays, happy 2026. We are adjourned. Thanks, everyone.