- Good morning. I'm going to call to order this meeting of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners. It
- is Thursday, April 9th, and we will begin with our public statement, this time read by Commissioner
- Jones. 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. We will
- fight and resist at every step discrimination and harm
- whatever their source. Even diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. We also stand in support of
- our county public school system, both RBB and MCC. All right, thank you so much. All right, we will
- move on now to our department updates. We have Ms. Kelly joining us from the health department.
- Good morning. Good morning, commissioners.
- According to the Indiana Department of Health, as of April 7th, COVID wastewater concentrations are
- low and continuing to trend down. Flu activity is still high. The Health Department does still have
- free flu and COVID tests available for the public. Individuals can walk in Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.
- to 4 p.m. to receive free tests. And vaccines are still available through the Morgan County Health Department.
- for appointments or more information. The number to call is 765-342-6621. Thank you so much. Comments
- or questions? Commissioner Madeira? I have none. Thank you. Commissioner Johnson? No, I don't.
- Thank you. Thank you so much. Thank you.
- My name is Adye Kwanwa and I'm the Health and Human Science Educator and County Extension Director for
- Purdue Extension here in Monroe County. And we just wanted to give the commissioners our quarterly update.
- I have a couple of handouts if you don't mind me. You can hand them to Ms. Purdy. Thank you so much.
- I'll start with providing updates regarding our 4-H youth. So we are on track to enroll more than 400
- youth in our 4-H program. Right now, more than 4,000 youth are engaged through local learning events.
- We offer our 4-H youth a wide range of experiences, including participating in clubs, interest meeting,
- workforce skill workshops, leadership development, camp, livestock education, certification,
- and identification events and camp counselor training as well. 4-H has been partnering with five schools
- in our county for their spring learning festival and launching initiatives for intracurricular project-based
- elementary programs, and this will help to engage kids before, during, and after school. Our youth are
- exceeding not only locally, but in the state and national level as well. We have 16
- local youths who have attended the Teen Leadership Weekend. Two youths are representing Manure County
- nationally at Washington, DC. Two youths represent the county nationally at the 4-H Congress in Atlanta.
- And one youth is representing Manure County in Washington, DC at the National 4-H Conference. There's
- a lot of engagement at the state and national level just from one county. So our youth are doing a really good job.
- In our agricultural realm, we have been continuing our partnership with Hoosier Energy for the past
- couple of years to provide drone training.
- And Hoosier Energy is committed to training their personnel, including all our EMCs across the southern
- part of the state, on safe use of drone technology to enhance their operations. The drones help reduce
- the risk to workers, make work more efficient, and assist with identifying infrastructure failures before
- they occur. So this partnership has been continuing for a couple of years, and we've been helping to
- educate Hoosier Energy employees as well.
- In our health and human science realm, we've been offering financial literacy programs to third and
- fourth graders here in our county, educating more than 150 third and fourth graders on saving, borrowing,
- spending, and saving their money.
- The Purdue Extension has been partnering with M Street Fiber Indiana to deploy a mobile classroom and
- that classroom will help to educate and bring laptops to seniors to help educate them on financial literacy.
- So we've been starting that program in the spring and we hope to continue to grow.
- Through maternal and childhood support, we've been offering our monthly program with the Women's Center
- and have been piloting a new Purdue program called Perinatal Mental Health, helping to talk to not only
- moms and their support systems about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, how to identify them, and
- providing moms with the resources they need to take care of themselves and their families. And of course,
- we have our fair coming up in a couple of weeks through the end of June, beginning of July. So we also
- hope to see you all there. Thank you.
- Excellent. Thank you for the great update. What are the dates of the county fair this year? It is June
- 30th to July 6th. Sounds right. Yes, I think so. Yes, June 30th to July 6th. So very end of June and
- the first week of July.
- Thank you for the update and thank you for all the ways that you engage with the youth of Monroe County
- and with all the folks in Monroe County in various ways. Appreciate that. Comments or questions, Commissioner
- Jones? Yeah, I'm just very impressed by all that you're doing, especially for the youth, but all of
- it is sounds like it's things that are really needed and you're doing a great job of supplying them.
- Thank you.
- Absolutely. These events are critical and more so now than ever before. And that county fair is literally
- a couple of weeks away. I know. We're getting ready. Also, we're hoping to do our Citizen Academy Active
- County Fair. So we're hoping to increase engagement. Finding this is a different twist to help engage
- the county members and also kind of increase participation. So we're looking forward to kind of doing
- something new this year as well. Awesome.
- Yeah, and I mean, it is wonderful news that we have sort of national representation. So if that individual
- wishes to come and speak and tell us about their experience, we'd love to have them here. Just let us
- know. Absolutely. We'll do. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you so much, Commissioner. I appreciate it.
- Thank you. Mr. Oh, we have John Baten online.
- an update. Yeah, I'm gonna I'm gonna unraise my hand here. TSC, I am able to share my screen. Hello
- commissioners. Yeah, just here today to give an update from what we're doing with with the early voting
- with the midterm primary. So I'll share my screen. We are working in collaboration with
- the voter registration office, again, to track early voting across Monroe County. To get to our early
- voting dashboard, you can go to the Monroe County main website, click on the GIS division link here,
- and this will bring us view to our award-winning GIS division page with all of our exciting applications.
- And you can click on this, scroll down, and we have a link here to the Monroe County 2026 midterm primary election.
- We're doing pretty good so far this year for early voting in Monroe County for the primary. So you can
- see we've had 339 votes cast over a total of two days so far. We have 27 days until the election, 89,755
- registered voters as of April 7th. You can flip through these little gauges here, these indicators on
- the top of the screen to see how we did with early voting and past midterm elections. So in 2020,
- in 2022, we had 3,433, 2018 a little bit more.
- 2014, et cetera. We also have a chart here that's showing how we're doing at a per day basis versus
- past primary midterm early voting elections. So as of two days, we're doing better than we have in the
- past. Yesterday was actually a record setting opening day for early voting within the
- the midterms. So yeah, this is it. Just kind of trying to get the word out that we're tracking this.
- And as the election comes up on May 5th, we'll be doing live election reporting for that as well at
- a county and precinct scale. That's all I've got. Great. Thank you so much. Comments or questions?
- Commissioner Medeira? Yeah, I have a question. Where's 2024? Because it goes from 2022 to 2026. I know
- that's kind of, oh, yeah, yeah. Sure, this is midterms. Yeah, OK.
- The reason for that is that those... Good answer. Okay. Yep. Excellent. Anything else? I think I need
- reading glasses. We all do. Commissioner Jones, comments or questions? Thanks so much for updating us
- on this. It's interesting information to have. It's great to hear that people are getting out and voting.
- Absolutely. Yep. And just a reminder to folks that we're at 501 North Morton Street on the main floor,
- plenty of parking for this. And I think it's great to have these statistics for residents at any point.
- They can see how we're doing and that may hopefully compel them to vote for whatever reason, but we
- do need voters. So thank you so much.
- Yeah, and I just want to highlight to this is a collaborative effort between the GIs division as well
- as voter registration. So it's been a great kind of teamwork process. So thanks so much, guys. Good.
- Yeah, thank you. I like that. Excellent. Thank you. All right. We have Mr. Cockrell. Yes, I'm going
- to start off with an update, and then I'm going to have a request for you because things are moving
- fast, as I'm sure every as you are aware, we had our
- settlement agreement for the for the jail litigation extended until April 15th of 2025 or 2026 excuse
- me need to make sure I'm right here 2026 we've been we've been continued to have conversations with
- the with the attorney for the Indiana Civil Liberties Union or American the ACLU in the Indiana Division
- I think they've changed their name and and the commissioners are a party to that
- to the settlement agreement, of course. There's been some discussion about the potential to extend that
- settlement agreement for a period of time, and that would require both, well, three parties, the Indian
- Civil Liberties Union, Monroe County Board of Commissioners, and the Monroe County Sheriff to approve.
- We don't have anything in detail, but since it expires before your next meeting, I would recommend and
- request that you authorize
- the President of the County Commissioners to execute that if it meets her standards. Yes, I would like
- to move to allow the Board of Commissioners to authorize the President of the Board of Commissioners
- to extend the settlement agreement. Second. All right, we have a motion and we have a second. Any comments
- or questions, Commissioner Jones? No, not really.
- Yes, that sounds like a darn good idea. Yeah, it's a very good idea. I appreciate you bringing this
- forward and thinking about that timeline, because that is a big one looming. And since we just made
- a motion, we'll go ahead and take public comment on this item. You can raise your hand on Teams or Podium.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of authorizing me to sign off on a private settlement agreement extension
- signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Did you have other updates to offer? I think that's
- the one I had. All right. Excellent. Thank you so much.
- All right, now we will move on. I don't see any other department updates. All right, now we'll move
- on to public comments. Public comment is time reserved for items not on our agenda. Each speaker has
- up to three minutes and we ask that you provide your name and county of residence before you begin.
- Raise your hand on teams.
- or come to the podium. We'll move on to our next item, please. Yes, I would like to move approval of
- the minutes for April 2nd, 2026. Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Any comments, corrections?
- Okay. All those in favor of approving the minutes for April 2nd, 2026, signify by saying aye.
- I motion carries three zero. Next item, please. I'd like to move approval of the claims docket for accounts
- payable for April 9th, 2026. Second. We have a motion and we have a second. This is Guyardo. Tell us
- all about it, please.
- The accounts payable claims docking for April 9, 2026 totals $815,910.80. This includes all emergency
- claims and adjustments. All right. Thank you so much. Any comments or questions? Commissioner Maduro?
- No, I do not have any. Thank you. Commissioner Jones? No, I don't. Thank you. I don't either. Let's
- see if there's any public comment on this item. You can raise your hand on Teams or come to the podium.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the claim stock at accounts payable April 9, 2026 signify
- by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries. We don't have any reports. We will now move on to new business place.
- I would like to move approval for Graber Post Buildings Incorporated Service Agreement, fund name County
- General, fund number 1000, in an amount not to exceed $30,730.57. Second.
- We have a motion, and we have a second. Ms. Whitmer, tell us all about it, please. We have what we call
- a recreation barn, kind of like. It's this rectangle with bays in it. The last storm took off part of
- our roof, so the park board wanted to replace the roof and replace the siding, because that's more cost
- effective. Why they're all there, since the siding is at least 35 years old. It could be 40 some.
- So they just want to get it done. It should last another 25 years. Barring any big storms. Barring,
- yeah, getting hit by a storm. All right. Comments or questions? Commissioner Jones? No, I don't.
- This makes. Yeah. Commissioner Madeira? No, I don't have any. Thank you. Is the roof replacement partially
- covered by insurance? Nope. No. OK. All right. That answers that question.
- All right, 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 Graver Post Buildings Inc. Service Agreement signify
- by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Thank you. Item, please. Yes, I'd like to move approval for
- Richard Hansen Service Agreement, memorandum of understanding.
- Fund name, County General, fund number 1,000 in the amount of $10,000. Second. We have a motion and
- we have a second. Ms. Hamlin is joining us via Teams. Good morning. Sorry, I think I'm good now.
- This is a request for approval and signature on a contract between our office and Rich Hanson for the
- purposes of training cadets at the Indiana Law Force Academy at Indiana University's Police Department.
- We had historically used our staff to train for this purpose in-house. However, we found that it's more
- cost effective to contract with
- to provide these services as the caseloads do not really allow for our staff to take off days to train.
- Um, the funding under this contract has already been approved for the budget for 2026. So no appropriation
- is being requested. Great. Thank you so much. Comments or questions. Commissioner Madera? Uh, no, I
- do not have any. Thank you. Commissioner Jones. Yeah, this is
- I think a great idea. It's definitely a good idea to do this kind of training. I can see how it would
- be a bit much for the office. Yeah. It would be a lot of time. Excellent. Yeah. It does go on for weeks
- and weeks. Yeah. Bringing this forward and the foresight to include it in your budget was very wise.
- All right. Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You can raise your hand on Teams or
- come to the podium.
- Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Richard Hansen Service Agreement Memorandum of Understanding
- signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0. Next item, please. Thank you. Thank you. Sorry. Yes,
- I would like to move approval for Signal Construction Incorporated traffic signal services. Fund names
- Motor Vehicle Highway, County General, and Parks Non-Reverting. Fund numbers 1173, 1000, 1178, and 1179.
- in the amount not to exceed $50,000. Second. We have a motion and we have a second. Ms. Ridge.
- Good morning. So the services provided for the contract is for routine maintenance, emergencies, annual
- inspection, for traffic signals, hawk signals, and the flashing beacons at trail crossings as needed.
- Not routing but routine. Not routing maintenance. It is routine.
- All right. Excellent. Thank you so much. Comments or questions? Yeah, I should probably know this, but
- what's a hawk signal? So if you go on Gifford Road in the curve at the Curse Trail or at Vernal Pike
- and Loesch, it's overhead. Those are called what we call. Well, thank you.
- Comments or questions, Commissioner Madera? No, this is, again, critical. For sure. All right. Let's
- see if there's any public comment on this item. All right. Seeing none, all those in favor, approving
- the signal construction, Inc. traffic signal services, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 3-0.
- We don't have any appointments today and just a few announcements, a reminder that with spring storms
- that it's a good time to go to our county website.
- and sign up for the resident alert services. And you can do so through our website, in.gov slash county
- slash Monroe. You will be alerted about weather emergencies by phone, text, and or email. And we really
- encourage residents to do this for their safety. The next blood drives that we're holding in conjunction
- with Ivy Tech,
- are Tuesday, May 5th and Thursday, May 7th at 200 Daniels Way, room 130A and B. The Tuesday is 1 to 6 p.m.
- Thursday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please make an appointment at redcross.org. If you can't make an appointment
- but can stop in, I recommend that you do because we are always in need of blood products in Monroe County.
- We have already begun early voting, as we saw earlier in the meeting, with some strong numbers. Remember,
- this is at the North Showers building. Lots of parking available. No meters. Thank you. And most of
- the hours are 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- and we have a couple of Saturdays thrown in the 25th of April and the 2nd of May 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and
- the last day for early voting is 4th 8 a.m. to noon and of course Election Day if you prefer to go on
- Election Day is May 5th this year and just a reminder that we do have
- Positions open on boards and commissions, animal management, health board, and even the library board.
- So if you or someone you know would be a good fit, please go to our website, in.gov slash county slash
- Monroe and take a look at the available positions and you can apply online.
- We do have virtual office hours each month, six different hours available. Check out the calendar at
- the bottom of the webpage. We do not have a work session. Our next meeting is April 23rd. And did I
- miss anything? Anything else? I think that I'd just like to highlight that for the folks in seminary
- point apartments, there will be an open house on April 11th. And so that is a very valuable opportunity
- to potentially find other housing opportunities. And actually, I don't know if this is the right time
- to do this, but I was having a conversation with a constituent. And Jeff, there was a question that
- came up. The county actually could not possibly keep these in their inventory, right? We have to turn
- them over to the CIB legally.
- We don't have a housing authority. There's no way that we could have made a land trust of this. I think
- in order, there is a scenario where if these properties were no longer deemed appropriate or necessary
- for the convention center, that there could be opportunities
- I mean, the county does not have a housing authority or things like that, but it would open up opportunities
- for this property. But since this property was purchased with innkeeper's tax for the intent of doing
- exactly what it's being requested for, you've got to honor that commitment. Right. And for that to happen,
- the CIB would have to no longer need those properties. Right. I mean, if the CIB said we don't need
- those properties and never will, that kind of would release you from having any kind of those hooks.
- Which is definitely not the situation. Definitely not. Yes. Thank you so much for clarifying. Yes, I
- think there's still a lot of misinformation out there in the community on that point. Thank you so much
- for that clarification. But I think the open house is a great opportunity. And again, there's a lot
- of help and assistance out there in the community for that effort. So thank you. Yeah.
- forgot to mention that there are a couple of programs being offered to the public from the Youth Service
- Bureau. One is called Empowered Parenting Workshop, EPW, eight-week program. This is free, designed
- to enhance the relationship between parents, guardians, and their adolescent children. And it starts
- April 15th.
- is a free 10-week harm reduction program designed to support adolescents struggling with substance use.
- You can contact the Youth Service Bureau at 812-349-2986 if you'd like to sign up for either of these
- sessions. And again, free to the public. Great, great service that we offer. Anything else?
- So thank you so much. Excellent. All right. So our next meeting is April 23rd. And with that, we are
- adjourned. Thanks, everyone. Thanks, Katz. Thank you, TSD.