Good morning. I'm gonna call to order this meeting at the Monroe County Board of Commissioners. It is
Thursday, August 20th, 2026. I will note for the record that both Commissioner Madeira and myself are
here and present in the NatU Hill Room, and we'll begin with our public statement. We, the Monroe County
Board of Commissioners, renew our commitment to welcome and protect the rights of all people, regardless
of age, race, color, creed,
disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, economic status, and national
origin. And we affirm the right of every person to live peacefully and without fear. And we will fight
and resist at every step, discrimination and harmful policies, whatever their source. We believe in
diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. And we also stand in support of our county public school
systems, both RBV,
and MCCSC. And with that, we will turn to our agenda and we have department updates. Ms. Kelly? Yes,
Ms. Kelly has her hand raised if he could.
Good morning, commissioners. According to the data for Monroe County provided by wastewater scan, wastewater
concentrations of COVID are very low. The health department does still have free COVID tests available
for the public. Individuals can walk in Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The health department
is still offering free walk-in testing and treatment services for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis.
every Thursday from 3 PM to 6 PM. And lastly, the Morgan County Health Department has vaccines available.
The number to call is 765-342-6621. Thank you so much. Comments or questions? All right. No comments
or questions. Thank you so much. Thank you. Next, we have Ms. Hingle from the Women's Commission.
Good morning, commissioners. Thank you for the opportunity to provide a brief update on the Monroe County
Women's Commission Community Survey. I'd also like to thank you for your continued support of the Women's
Commission and this project. Before I begin, I'd like to acknowledge that this work builds on a community
assessment conducted several years ago through a previous O'Neill School capstone project in partnership
with the city of Bloomington.
That earlier effort identified many of the same concerns we continue to hear today and helped lay the
groundwork for this project. I'd also like to recognize Dr. Diane Henschel for guidance at IU, encouragement,
commitment to the connecting academic research with community needs. This effort began because the commission
recognized a significant gap in our understanding of the experiences and priorities of women and marginalized
genders in Monroe County.
While state and national data exist on some issues, there is very little local data available, particularly
for gender diverse residents. We do not currently have a comprehensive community-wide data set that
tells us what people in Monroe County are experiencing, what challenges they face, what resources they
need, and what they believe should be addressed.
This need has become even more apparent as some longstanding community resources and advocacy organizations
have changed or disappeared. As our community evolves, it becomes increasingly important that we listen
directly to residents and better understand where needs, opportunities, gaps may exist today. To help
address this information gap, the Women's Commission partnered with students from
Indiana University O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs through their V600 capstone course.
Earlier this year, we launched a community-wide survey and outreach campaign to gather community input.
The student team has completed its work and provided recommendations based on its findings. One of the
strongest recommendations was the importance of continuing outreach to ensure we hear from a broader
and more representative cross-section of Monroe County residents.
As a result, the Women's Commission is launching phase two of data collection and outreach. The quality
of our findings depends on the diversity of voices represented. The absence of data does not necessarily
mean the absence of need. Often it means we have not yet reached the people whose experiences most need
to be understood. Our message is simple, every voice matters.
Today, I'm asking for your help. We would appreciate your assistance in sharing the survey through your
networks and community contacts, particularly those that serve populations that are often unrepresented
in community surveys. Reaching underserved communities is essential if we want an accurate picture of
the experiences and priorities of women and marginalized genders throughout Monroe County.
The survey remains open through October 1st, takes approximately 10 minutes to complete, and all responses
are confidential. I brought copies of the phase one report and materials outlining phase two outreach
campaign for your view. We hope this will spread the word and encourage participation through the community.
Thank you again for your time, your support, and your commitment.
to ensure that all Monroe County residents have an opportunity to be heard. We look forward to sharing
the continued findings with you once data collection and analysis are complete. I would be happy to
answer any questions. But I did, I realize I could have put this in the packet, but I did print the
report in the phase two. Great.
Thank you. Any questions? I know. Thank you. That was a lot. Sorry. It's a lot. That's good news. Thank
you for your work on this. We look forward to reading it and putting something out there to encourage
folks to participate. Yeah, and I'd like to also extend thank you to Commissioner Madeira, who regularly
attends the meetings and has been very supportive and. You know, helpful with, you know, just.
Any other department updates? Seeing none, we'll move on to public comment. Public comment is reserved,
time reserved for items that are not on our agenda. We ask each speaker to limit their time to three
minutes. There will be a countdown clock on the screen. Please give your name and county of residence
before you begin speaking.
So anybody wishes to offer public comment today? All right, seeing none, we will move on to the next
agenda item, please. Yes, I would like to move approval for the minutes for August 13th, 2026. I will
second that. Any comments, corrections or edits? None.
All those in favor of approving the minutes for August 13th, 2026, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion
carries to zero. Next items, please. I would like to move approval for the claims docket for accounts
payable for August 20th, 2026 and for payroll for August 24th, 2026. I will second that. It's August
21st. Just tomorrow. That's okay. All right. Ms. Gallardo, good morning. Good morning.
The accounts payable claims docket for August 20th, 2026 totals $1,622,135.33. This includes all emergency
claims and adjustments. The payroll docket for August 21st, 2026 includes $1,604,653.07 in direct cost
and the remaining
$677,592.76, where for indirect costs for a grant total, $2,282,245.83. All right. Thank you so much.
Easy for you to say. I know. It's tough. Comments or questions? None. I don't either. Let's see if there's
any public comment on this item. Can you raise your hand on teams or come to the podium?
All those in favor of approving the claim stock at accounts payable for August 20th, 2026 and payroll
for August 21st, 2026 signify by saying aye. Motion carries to zero. I'll note for the record that we
have received a report from the treasurer's office for July of 2026. Thank you so much. Next on our
agenda under new business,
We have a discussion about the emergence contract, which we had approved pending HR verification several
weeks ago. I don't know if Ms. Kelly has anything to add on it, but we going through the minutes of
the health board meetings, it has not gone past the health board yet. So that's an issue. In addition,
it was on the agenda packet form,
the process. Um it did say that legal had reviewed and approved and they have not. So for that reason,
I'm going to make a motion to rescind the emergence contracts for now. Um and clean slate start fresh.
Um you know, go through the process again if you'd like,
rescind the emergence contract. I second that. All right. Any discussion from the health department
or questions or comments from you? Okay. Any public comment on this item? Again, this does not bar the
health department from
restarting the contract situation again, I just am concerned that we don't have, I'm concerned that
we do have a clean slate that we don't, that things have been muddied a bit, so. Seeing no public comment,
all those in favor of rescinding the emerges contract signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries two
zero. Next item, please.
I'd like to move approval for Habitat Solutions Wildlife and Forest Management Service Agreement, fund
named County General Parks and Auto Reverting Capital, Parks and Auto Reverting Operating, fund number
1,000, 1178, and 1179, in the amount not to exceed $2,300. I will second that. We have Ms. Whitmer joining
us, who is the director of Monroe County Parks and Recreation. Good morning. Good morning. This is actually
a win-win proposal. The park board approved this last night.
for them to pay for this particular section of the Limestone Greenway dissects one property owner. And
that property owner for the last year or so has been taking care of their invasives through a grant
program. So it only makes sense that they're doing this and that we should do the little portion that
we have. So it would be most effective on both of our properties. Excellent idea. Comments, questions?
No, this is ideal, actually. Good thinking. All right, let's see if there's any public comment on this
item. You can raise your hand in teams or come to the podium. Seeing none, all those in favor of approving
the Habitat Solutions Wildlife Forest Management Service Agreement signify by saying aye.
Aye. Motion carries 2-0. Thank you. Thank you. Next item, please. Yes, I'd like to move to amend the
Safe Place contract between the Indiana Youth Services Association and the Youth Services Bureau. Fund
name 1504 Safe Place Grant. Fund number 9103 in the amount of $18,780. Well, second that. I don't know,
Ms. Purdy, do you want to do this one?
I'm just looking at check numbers. Sure. So this is actually, oh, we do have somebody online. Sorry,
we didn't have anybody. It looks like SJ, so I'm guessing that's Sarah Jameson. Yes, it is. Okay. Sorry,
thank you. Ms. Jameson, tell us all about this. Thank you. Hi, yes. So the contracts between
Safe Place and the Indiana Youth Services Association, which is a membership that we're a part of that
runs our Safe Place program at the state level. That was effective July 1 through June 30th of 2028,
was approved by commissioners on July 9th. However, IYSA has since amended the contract to reflect revised
funding amounts. Under this amended contract, the funding will not exceed
$8,930 from 2027 or $9,830 for 2028, contingent upon DCS funding remaining at the current level. The
original contract provided funding for $9,880 each fiscal year, and YSB is requesting approval for the
amended contract. Basically, they came back to us and told us that because of their other funding, they
needed to adjust the amount in our contract to pay for
things that they have to do in order for us to be a member and all those, all those things at Iowa is
a level. Great. Thank you so much. Comments or questions? None. I don't either. It makes sense. And
let's see if there's any public comment on this. Raise your hand on teams or come to the podium.
Okay, none. All those in favor of amending the safe place contract between Indiana Youth Services Association
and the Youth Service Bureau signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero. Thank you so much.
Thank you. Next item, please. Yes, I'd like to move approval for the Toshiba copier 4D court agreement,
fund name, county 4D incentive, F93.
five sixty three funded number eighty ninety five in the amount. I purchased of four thousand one hundred
sixty five and fifteen thousand five hundred forty covering sixty months of service. I will second that.
Good morning. Good morning everyone. We do have a copier that's largely used by the child support vision
the prosecutor's office representing the state in the forty court.
That copiers of end of life and the state has agreed as they did with the previous one to purchase the
copier and pay for the. But since we are entering into a service agreement for the commissioners that's
why I bring that before you today. Thank you so much comments or questions. Let's see if there's any
public comment on the site and you reach your hand on teams or come to the podium.
Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the Toshiba Capia 4D Court Agreement signify by saying
aye. Aye. Motion carries two zero. Next item, please. I would like to move approval for SHI Corporation
Lucidia Professional Services Agreement, fund name 2022 GO bond, fund number 4815 in the amount
of $15,995.45. I will second that. Mr. Crone.
So. Any infrastructure upgraded to current standards? We still had a lingering piece here with two virtual
machines that we need to have migrated that control our firewall appliance and our wireless access points
for all of our buildings. Great, thank you so much. Thanks for following up on this. Any comments or
questions?
I don't either. Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You raise your hand on teams or
come to the podium. I think none. All those in favor of approving the SHI Corporation Lucidia Professional
Services Agreement signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 2-0. Thank you, sir.
All right. It's now the Lisa Rood show. Yes. I'd like to move approval for highway paving bid opening.
Fund name Motor Vehicle Highway, fund number 1173 in Mount To Be Determined. All right. So Ms. Rood
is going to open bids for the Monroe County Highway Paving Program, Stanford Road and Fry Road.
The legal department received four sealed bids. The first one we will open is Milestone. The projects
are to be bid separately.
Stamford Road is $139,448. Fry Road is $193,059. The second one that we will open is from All Star Paving.
I will this as presented. The total overall is $410,396 and 10 cents. Like they do have it broke out
by project just not added.
The third one we have is Howard Companies.
overall, what these two combined is $5.00 and 20 cents. Again, they're itemized in there, but I don't
have a total for each, but they'll be awarded separately. Last one that we have is ENB. That last number,
sir, was 586114 and 20 cents.
And E and B we have. For Stanford Road, we have $144,663. And Fry Road, we have $172,208.50. Our engineering
estimate for Stanford Road was $143,866.67.
And for Fry Road, our engineer estimate was $179,417.88. So we will take these under advisement, make
sure everything's in order. And it would be our goal to have this awarded at next week's commissioners
meeting. Excellent. You OK taking this under advisement? Absolutely. Excellent. Thank you so much, Ms.
Ridge. Appreciate that.
We'll now move on to the next item, please, item G. Yes, I'd like to move approval for ratification
of a utility agreement with South Central REMC for the Baby Creek Road Bridge number 629 replacement.
Fund name Baby Creek Road Bridge number 629, fund number 8167, the amount of $52,553.74. All right,
I will second that, Ms. Ridge.
So I appreciate you approving this at your last a few weeks ago at your work session slash commissioners
meeting. This was enabled us to give the notice to proceed to the utility company. The project goes
to letting October 7th, 2026 for a construction season of 2027. Great, thank you so much. Comments or
questions? None.
that again, this is just moving this important project one step closer to being finalized. Absolutely.
Flowing like a creek. All right. Thank you so much, Ms. Ridge. Let's see if there's any public comment
on this item. You raise your hand on teams or come to the podium.
All those in favor of ratifying the utility agreement, South Central REMC for the Baby Creek Road Bridge
number 629 replacement signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 2-0. Next item, please. Yes, I would
like to move approval for the in-DOT agreement for construction for the Fairfax Road High Friction Surface
Pavement Treatment Fund named Fairfax Road Safety Improvements Fund number 8190 in the amount of $382,500.
I will second that. Ms. Ridge. So this is a highway safety improvement project with federal funds. This
is to enter into the contract with NDOT for 80 or 90 percent of the construction costs. The letting
is February 10th, 2027, and it would be
installing high surface friction treatment at four locations along Fairfax Road in the curves where
we experience a higher crush. Thank you so much. So my question is, this is really unusual, isn't it,
to have INDOT construct? So they have different programs. Most of ours are considered a transportation,
the normal transportation project.
But when you get into the H that funds, which is their highway safety improvement program, they did
a special safety grant call. So we had put this project into that a couple years ago. So we're just
trying to get up to the construction of it. So it specifically targets your areas that you want to do
a safety improvement to we selected Fairfax road is that project.
that. Excellent Excellent. And then the age that came out of the Metropolitan Planning Organization
funding. Supposed to Yes, okay. It's supposed to Yeah, there's different sometimes special pots of money.
But yes, this is ran through MPO. Right Thank you so much. Comments or questions. This is another reason
why we have the best highway I know ever. So thank you for that.
running off the road was one of the one of the issues and Fairfax Road is very windy curvy and I hopefully
this will help. I hope it does. Excellent. Thank you so much for pursuing this. Let's see if there's
any public comment on this item. You raise your hand on teams or come to the podium.
Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the in-dot agreement for construction for the Fairfax Road
high-friction surface pavement treatment signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 2-0. Next sign-up,
please. Yes, I would like to move approval for the on-call hourly agreement with SJCA incorporated for
engineering services. Fund name, local road and street, fund number 1169 in an amount to be determined
or as needed. All right, I will second that, Ms. Rich.
So the department usually has some on-call hourly agreements with some engineering firms, some local.
This is SJCA. We've had other projects with them over the years. This is just for using occasional projects
that we might need some additional engineering design for locally funded projects, smaller projects
than federal aid projects. So that's what we use this just on an as needed basis. Great. Thank you so
much. Any comments or questions?
All right, just call. Any public comment on this item? You raise your hand on Teams or come to the podium.
Seeing none, all those in favor of approving the on-call hourly agreement with SJCA Inc. for Engineering
Services, signify by saying aye.
I motion carries two zero next item, please. Yes, I'd like to move for approval for change order number
one with lens asphalt fund fund name 2025 Geobahn capital projects fund number 4820 in amount of $10,086.
I will second that Ms. Ridge.
So the highway garage parking lot project required some extra asphalt mix to achieve some proper grade
at certain locations. So the extra surface that was needed was 164 tons at $61.50 per ton, which created
the $10,086 change order. I want to thank the commissioners for putting this project into their geobond.
It's been completed. It turned out to be a great project, and we couldn't have done it without that
assistance.
been since 1995. Yeah, we were on ruts and gravel and it was terrible. Sections of the pavement were
down to gravel. Yeah. Yeah. Comments or questions? None. Yeah, I'm really glad this got done. And thanks
to, you know, thanks for bringing this forward. But thanks to the council as well for the for the assist
on the Geobahn. All right. Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You raise your hand
on teams or come to the podium.
All those in favor of approving change order number one with Lentz asphalt signify by saying aye. Motion
carries to zero. Next item. Yes, I'd like to move to approve change order number one for Grimes Road
Bridge number 904 with the city of Bloomington. Fund name cumulative bridge fund number 1135 in the
amount of $16,654 and 89 cents. I will second that Ms Ridge.
I thought I was going to sneeze. The change order is for additional waterproofing membrane on the bridge
deck that was requested by the county for our bridge. It resulted in having to remove the sidewalk on
the bridge and replacing it, which the county requested extending the membrane under the sidewalk for
longevity. So that was what the actual change order was for. Thank you so much. Comments, questions? None.
I don't either. Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You raise your hand on teams or
come to the podium. All right, seeing none. All those in favor of approving change order number one
for Grimes Road Bridge number 904 with the city of Bloomington signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries
two zero. Next item, please. Yes.
agreement with Nature's Way for slope stabilization for the Fullerton Pike Phase 3 project fund named
Fullerton Pike TIF local road and street fund number 4922 and 1169 in the amount of 18,135. I will second
that. Ms. Ridge. We have been working with some of the residents where the backyard property adjoins
with County right of way that we've had for this project.
along Gordon Pike. With the design it created a slope that is very hard at one of the properties. A
lot of times the property owners maintain it because it goes up to the sidewalk even if it would be
county right away it's not impeding the roadway. So we worked with the contractor on different options
so that the residents are satisfied because the county don't have the resources to get out there and
mow it weekly
as a person that lives there and adjoins the property too. So, and with the slope being the way it was
constructed, we wanted to do some stabilization on that slope. So we worked out to where we could put
a ground cover of buffalo juniper installed in this county right away portion of the project. It'll
prevent the county from having to go out to mow it weekly, which again, we can't maintain that.
And then also it's more appealing for that property owner. And then that way they're not actually trying
to mow a slope with a push lawn mower that we wouldn't recommend either. So this is working with the
property owner to satisfy what they'll be looking at every day within the county right of way. And it'll
be, it's a lot less maintenance. So everybody involved.
Nope. Just once that agreement was reached, it was all downhill from there. So the slope stays the same.
now my question is is there any kind of warranty on any of the plants you know getting through as long
as they're watered and everything i usually i think we usually get like a year out of the warranty um
i've talked to uh nature's way on it um it's a very hardy plant it's a plant that we also have in our
roundabout uh roger street and gordon pike i'm not a landscaper i don't know a lot
But it is just really low maintenance. I think the main part is watering it when it's planted, to my
knowledge. So we plan to make sure that that happens so that we continue. And they won't have any maintenance
really to them. Great. Thank you so much. Yeah, it's important to thank you for covering the watering
side of it. I know that's a little extra for your folks.
but I do appreciate it. All right, let's see if there is any public comments on this item. You can raise
your hand on teams or come to the podium. Seeing none.
All those in favor of approving the agreement with Nature's Way for slope stabilization for the Fullerton
Pike Phase 3 project, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero. Next item, please. Yes, I'd
like to move approval for the endowed agreement for the right of way services for Dilman Road Bridge
number 83, fund named Dilman Road Bridge number 83, fund number 8,170, in the amount of $49,871.60. Second.
This is the first step to start right away acquisition for the bridge replacement on Dillman Road Bridge
number 83. Believe it goes to letting in December of 2027. So much comments question. Sounds like we're
getting underway on this project. So it's moving on. Yeah, yeah, it's. It's good that we're at this point.
to do the right away acquisition. That's a good sign. Let's see if there's any public comment on this
item. You raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. Is this right away acquisition permanent or
temporary? So that's still to be determined through the appraisal process and things like that. This
is just to be able to start that process to do the appraising. OK, perfect. Because it's a different
kind of project in terms of relocating roadway. Got it.
Thank you. Any public comments? All those in favor of approving the NDOT agreement for right-of-way
services for Dillman Road Bridge 83, signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries, 2-0. Next item, please.
Yes, I'd like to move approval for the NDOT agreement for Baby Creek Bridge number 629 replacement.
Fund name Baby Creek Bridge number 629, fund number 8167.
in the amount of $305,360. I will second that. Ms. Ridge? So we had some additional, we had a supplemental
from the consultant for $17,360.
to the full 305, 360 for preliminary engineering. Great. Thank you so much. So how much of the 17,000
are we responsible for 20% Okay. All right. Thank you.
I'm sorry. Let's see if there's any public comment on the side of you. Raise your hand on teams or come
to the podium. None. All those in favor of approving the in dot agreement for baby Creek Bridge 629
replacement signified by saying I.
All right, next item. I would like to move approval for the last item on the agenda, disbanding of fund
2502 cable franchise. I will second. Thank you. So this is kind of housekeeping, if you will, in that
we have had a cable franchise fund for
a number of years, I actually don't know the total number of years, and that is fund 2502. And due to
decreasing revenues over the last few years, or actually in the last 10 years, it has now reached a
point where the funding that's received is not sufficient to cover the accounts or the projects, the
expenses that have been budgeted in that fund thus far.
I have previously gone to council and requested that lines be transferred into County General. And so
what this will do is allows you to disband this fund and any receipts currently in that fund will be
transferred to County General and any future receipts will automatically be deposited into County General
unless otherwise directed by a local or state authority.
Thank you so much. Come answer questions. Um, I started on the council in 2009 and we were talking about
this then. So yeah, it's been a long time coming. Um, the money's not going to disappear. It's just
going to have to be allocated out of county general. Um, and, and you know, this is the fee collected
when people sign up for, you know, basic cable, standard cable services.
this fee is collected on top of the bill, but more and more people are choosing internet and streaming.
And so the need, I'm sorry, the fees are not coming in as they used to, and they're very, yeah, they're
not in any way consistent. So we need to be able to count on this money, but we can count on County
General, so that'll work. All right.
Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You raise your hand on teams or come to the podium.
What does the council do with this? Does the council then act on this? They don't. We just make the
transfer already. We've already we've alerted Council. I know that we have. Yeah, accounts in. Okay,
general or anything that's currently appropriated in the fund. It would clearly not be able to be spent, correct?
appropriation there. I mean, if the council wishes, they can, they can be appropriated, but there's
no funds. So you can't spend what's not there. Excellent. Thank you so much. Um, public comments on
this item being none, all those in favor.
of disbanding fund 250 to cable franchise fees signified by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries. 2-0. And
we don't have any appointments today. We do have some vacancies on boards and commissions, so we do
encourage folks to go
to IN.gov slash counties slash Monroe and look to see what's available, what you're interested in, and
you can apply directly online. We do continue to have virtual office hours via Teams each month, and
there are six of those hours, so you can join us
by checking out the calendar on our homepage. And we do encourage folks to sign up for the Resident
Alert System to be informed of weather or other emergencies in our area. It's a free service to all
Monroe County residents, no matter where you live. Go to our homepage and sign up for a text call and
or email notifications.
And we also want to encourage residents to consider donating blood. And in August, next Thursday,
August 20th, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for our blood drive at Ivy Tech. And another one on Thursday, August 27th, 12 p.m.
to 5 p.m., also at Ivy Tech.
to make an appointment. For the blood drive at red cross dot org. Um did you want to. To offer information
about the, um.
that will be held at the- substance use disorder recovery summit. That will run- September first through
third there is information on event bright about that will be held at the Monroe county- convention-
well Bloomington convention center. Now and- I believe there are discounts for students and there are- also-
the exact event right website. But if you go to the county website, it is there. Yeah, it is right.
Um. And a lot of folks in our community who work in the field of recovery and substance use disorder.
So we encourage them to attend. The house, right? Yes, fill it up. Anything else for the good of the order?
All right, we do not have a work session today. So our next meeting is Thursday, August 27th. Wow, the
last Thursday in August already. Thursday, August 27th, 10 a.m. right here in the NetU Hill Room. And
we do want to thank everyone and be safe out there with the move-ins and students K through 12 and buses
and everything else going on. So just a lot more time and be more patient.
And with that, we are adjourned. Thanks everyone. Thank you.