WEBVTT 00:00:01.058 --> 00:00:07.964 - Good morning. I'm going to call to order this meeting of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners. It 00:00:07.964 --> 00:00:15.074 - is August 27th. And I will note for the record that Commissioner Madeira and myself are here and present 00:00:15.074 --> 00:00:19.678 - in the NETU Hill Room. And we will begin with our public statement. 00:00:21.474 --> 00:00:26.596 - We, the Monroe County Board of Commissioners, renew our commitment to welcome and protect the rights 00:00:26.596 --> 00:00:31.363 - of all people, regardless of age, race, color, creed, disability, sexual orientation, gender, 00:00:31.363 --> 00:00:36.638 - gender identity, marital status, economic status, and national origin. And we affirm the right of every 00:00:36.638 --> 00:00:41.810 - person to live peacefully and without fear. And we will fight and resist at every step discrimination 00:00:41.810 --> 00:00:47.085 - and harmful policies, whatever their source. We believe in diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. 00:00:47.085 --> 00:00:51.294 - We also stand in support of our county public school systems, both RBB and MCC SC. 00:00:52.578 --> 00:01:00.551 - Thank you so much. We will now move on to our department updates. We have an update for us, 00:01:00.551 --> 00:01:09.390 - health department. Ms. Kelly is online. Good morning. Good morning, commissioners. Just a few updates 00:01:09.390 --> 00:01:18.142 - for you. According to the Indiana Department of Health, wastewater concentrations increased in early 00:01:18.142 --> 00:01:22.302 - August, but they're trending down now as August 00:01:22.434 --> 00:01:31.674 - 25th. Monroe County has still only had eight cyclospora cases since May 1st of this year. The multi-state 00:01:31.674 --> 00:01:40.653 - outbreak was linked to Taylor Farms lettuce and products should no longer be available. And the Morgan 00:01:40.653 --> 00:01:49.371 - County Health Department has vaccines available for all ages. Individuals can call 765-342-6621 for 00:01:49.371 --> 00:01:51.550 - more information. Great. 00:01:51.650 --> 00:02:02.330 - Thank you so much. Comments or questions? I have none. All right. I don't either. Thank you for joining 00:02:02.330 --> 00:02:12.907 - us today. We appreciate you. Thank you. Other department updates? All right. Seeing none, we will move 00:02:12.907 --> 00:02:15.166 - on to public comment. 00:02:15.490 --> 00:02:20.946 - time reserved for items that are not on our agenda. We ask each commenter to limit their time to three 00:02:20.946 --> 00:02:26.349 - minutes per person and to give us their name and county of residence before they begin speaking. Does 00:02:26.349 --> 00:02:31.646 - anybody have general public comment for us? You can raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. 00:02:44.034 --> 00:02:51.099 - My name is Don Cross. I'm a resident of Monroe County for 58 years. Working at IU for 33 in the media 00:02:51.099 --> 00:02:58.164 - school. I and a few others pray with people at the Justice building from time to time for the past 10 00:02:58.164 --> 00:03:05.368 - years. We are genuinely impressed with the staff that we have met and who work in the Justice building. 00:03:05.368 --> 00:03:10.494 - The clerk's office, prosecutors office, judges, courts, public defenders. 00:03:10.978 --> 00:03:18.897 - in the jail and others. We found them as friendly, diligent servants of our county who really care about 00:03:18.897 --> 00:03:26.439 - their work and the people that they serve. Many of our prayers over the years and especially lately 00:03:26.439 --> 00:03:34.056 - have been for health issues related to negative physical conditions in the justice building, some of 00:03:34.056 --> 00:03:40.542 - them very serious. As Monroe County resident, it is deeply disturbing to me that many 00:03:40.898 --> 00:03:49.861 - justice building workers must deal with and endure such negative conditions on a day-to-day basis year 00:03:49.861 --> 00:03:58.736 - after year. Conditions that I would not want to work in, nor would I want for people I cared about to 00:03:58.736 --> 00:04:07.612 - work in. I urge that positive steps be taken as soon as possible to relieve this situation short-term 00:04:07.612 --> 00:04:08.830 - and long-term 00:04:09.314 --> 00:04:25.208 - for the sake of the people who serve our county so well. Thank you so much. Anyone else have public 00:04:25.208 --> 00:04:38.718 - comment for items not on our agenda? Well, just to offer a brief review, we have had 00:04:38.882 --> 00:04:49.393 - we continue to have problems with that building because it's structurally and unsound and we continue 00:04:49.393 --> 00:05:00.006 - to fix update where possible certainly maintain everything that goes on in that building from the jail 00:05:00.006 --> 00:05:07.838 - to the offices and it is a failing building and we'd like to move out of it 00:05:08.578 --> 00:05:19.281 - And we've been stymied in that effort. And that's unfortunate for everybody that works there and everybody 00:05:19.281 --> 00:05:29.484 - that is housed in the jail or works in the jail. And we actually hear a lot of these issues raised in 00:05:29.484 --> 00:05:36.286 - the media and elsewhere. And the thing is, we continue to have mold 00:05:36.674 --> 00:05:43.861 - remediation and testing done in every one of our county buildings, because the mold levels are very 00:05:43.861 --> 00:05:51.480 - high in this county in the summer anyway. But the situation last year led us to have an ongoing contract. 00:05:51.480 --> 00:05:58.954 - That work goes on and it continues. And in fact, we invited, because somebody complained about the mold 00:05:58.954 --> 00:06:05.854 - levels, we invited the Indiana State Department of Health to come to our building and check it. 00:06:05.986 --> 00:06:13.649 - and the mold levels inside the building were lower than the mold levels outside the building. But we 00:06:13.649 --> 00:06:20.705 - are continuing to remediate test for mold. We are continuing to maintain that building. I've 00:06:20.705 --> 00:06:28.368 - heard suggestions, well, why not overhaul the building? Well, that would be a down to the foundation 00:06:28.368 --> 00:06:34.590 - kind of reconstruction project. And that is far too expensive for a building that 00:06:35.330 --> 00:06:42.559 - We don't think we're going to be in. So I appreciate your concern. I appreciate the concerns of employees. 00:06:42.559 --> 00:06:49.586 - Nothing's ideal in that building. Nothing. And I get it. But we're doing everything we can. And we have 00:06:49.586 --> 00:06:56.477 - done a lot to try to get us out of that building as soon as possible. So thank you for your comments. 00:06:56.477 --> 00:07:02.558 - All right. I don't see any other public comments. We'll move on to the next item, please. 00:07:03.074 --> 00:07:10.665 - Yes, I would like to move approval of minutes for August 20th, 2026. Second. Any comments, corrections? 00:07:10.665 --> 00:07:18.620 - Neither, although I may find one later as I did last week, sorry. All right. All those in favor of approving 00:07:18.620 --> 00:07:25.992 - the minutes for August 20th, 2026 signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries 2-0. Next item, please. 00:07:25.992 --> 00:07:32.926 - Yes, I'd like to move approval of the claim socket for accounts payable for August 27th, 2026. 00:07:33.602 --> 00:07:44.333 - I will second that. Oh, and we have Ms Freeman joining us. We miss seeing you around, but I know you're 00:07:44.333 --> 00:07:54.651 - busy. Yes, very busy. Good morning. Good morning. The accounts payable claims docket for August 27, 00:07:54.651 --> 00:08:03.422 - 2026 totals $8,929,197.56. This total includes all emergency claims and adjustments. 00:08:03.554 --> 00:08:12.540 - Thank you so much. Appreciate you. Comments or questions? I don't. Okay. I don't either. Thank you. 00:08:12.540 --> 00:08:21.705 - Any public comment on this item? You can raise your hand on Teams or come to the podium. All those in 00:08:21.705 --> 00:08:31.230 - favor of approving the claim stock and accounts payable for August 27th, 2026 signify by saying aye. Aye. 00:08:31.394 --> 00:08:43.897 - Motion carries to zero. Thank you, ma'am. I will note for the record, we've received a report from Weights 00:08:43.897 --> 00:08:56.050 - and Measures, and this is from August 2026, although the month's not done yet. All right. Yes, I'd like 00:08:56.050 --> 00:09:00.958 - to move approval of the... I'd like to... 00:09:04.098 --> 00:09:09.703 - like to move to approve the Shoesbury change order number five for baby Creek funds named stormwater 00:09:09.703 --> 00:09:15.363 - fund number 1197 in the amount of hundred and seven thousand seven hundred dollars I will second that 00:09:15.363 --> 00:09:20.968 - I think at the stormwater board meeting it was one hundred and twenty five thousand dollars as a not 00:09:20.968 --> 00:09:26.462 - to exceed amount so we can go with that if you're all right with that okay great yeah good morning 00:09:26.658 --> 00:09:34.875 - Good morning. Yes, I was going to make note that yesterday stormwater board did condition their approval 00:09:34.875 --> 00:09:42.700 - recommendation to you the commissioners with a not to exceed of $125,000 so I Do remembered as well 00:09:42.700 --> 00:09:51.230 - So this will be our next iteration of redesign for baby Creek crossings and it will significantly reduce the 00:09:51.970 --> 00:10:00.022 - impact area by removing the run around and just make each crossing more affordable for us to accomplish 00:10:00.022 --> 00:10:08.075 - in the timeline as presented. So hopefully finishing construction of the final crossing by 2029. Great. 00:10:08.075 --> 00:10:15.817 - Thank you so much. This has been a long project, as you know. Excellent. Let's see. Do you have any 00:10:15.817 --> 00:10:17.598 - comments or questions? 00:10:19.458 --> 00:10:28.506 - public comment on this item. You can raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. Being none, all 00:10:28.506 --> 00:10:37.554 - those in favor of approving the Shrewsbury change order number five for Baby Creek signify by saying 00:10:37.554 --> 00:10:43.198 - aye. Motion carries to zero. Thank you. And next item, please. 00:10:43.650 --> 00:10:50.690 - Yes, I'd like to move approval for Groundbreakers LLC for Televising Services, Curry Pike Phase 2, 00:10:50.690 --> 00:10:57.801 - Fund Name, Storm Order, Professional Fees, Fund Number 1197, in an amount not to exceed $20,489.80. 00:10:57.801 --> 00:10:59.934 - I will second that, Ms. Pena. 00:11:00.482 --> 00:11:07.307 - Yes. So this is our phase two of Curry Pike. Phase one was completed this summer. Last year around this 00:11:07.307 --> 00:11:14.000 - time we televised the first section. Now we're doing the second section, which is approximately third 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:20.759 - street through up to Vernal Pike. We need to know what our infrastructure looks like to make sure it's 00:11:20.759 --> 00:11:27.518 - replaced before the road gets repaved. Perfect. Good planning. Comments or questions? Done. All right. 00:11:27.906 --> 00:11:36.981 - I don't either. Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You can raise your hand on teams 00:11:36.981 --> 00:11:45.880 - or come to the podium. Seeing none, all those in favor of approving ground bakers LLC for televising 00:11:45.880 --> 00:11:54.779 - services, Curry Pike phase two signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries two zero. All right. Thank 00:11:54.779 --> 00:11:57.598 - you so much. Next item, please. 00:11:57.762 --> 00:12:08.031 - Yeah. I would like to move approval for award paving projects to ENB Paving and Milestone Contractors 00:12:08.031 --> 00:12:18.501 - Fund named Motor Vehicle Highway Fund number 1173 in the amount of $311,611,656.60. I will second that. 00:12:18.501 --> 00:12:25.246 - Ms. Ridge. Good morning. So we open sealed beds on 820 here at the 00:12:26.114 --> 00:12:35.207 - commissioners meeting. We received four sealed bids. We would like to award EMB Paving Fry Road in the 00:12:35.207 --> 00:12:44.211 - amount of $172,208.50 and Milestone Contractors for Stanford Road $139,448. These were the two lowest 00:12:44.211 --> 00:12:53.039 - most responsive and responsible bidders. Excellent. Thank you so much. That was a quick turnaround. 00:12:53.039 --> 00:12:55.422 - Appreciate it. Yeah. Yeah. 00:12:55.746 --> 00:13:06.042 - Any comments or questions? No, just good again to have that. Any public item? Raise your hand on teams 00:13:06.042 --> 00:13:16.137 - or come to the podium. Seeing none, all those in favor of awarding the paving projects to E&B Paving 00:13:16.137 --> 00:13:23.934 - and Milestone Contractors signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero. 00:13:24.674 --> 00:13:31.411 - Next item, please. Yes, I'd like to move approval for etiquette group for on call engineering services 00:13:31.411 --> 00:13:37.951 - funding local road and street fund number 1169 in an amount to be determined or hourly as needed. I 00:13:37.951 --> 00:13:44.818 - will second that. So occasionally we have on call engineering service contracts with various engineering 00:13:44.818 --> 00:13:48.350 - firms and we just use this and on an as needed basis. 00:13:51.138 --> 00:13:56.921 - This has worked out really well for us in the past, and you don't have to come to us for a specific 00:13:56.921 --> 00:14:02.819 - contract on an item. Something can get done more quickly. Yeah. Question? Nope. Again, it's excellent 00:14:02.819 --> 00:14:08.197 - when you have these types of needs. You can't exactly go and or go without an enormous cost. 00:14:08.197 --> 00:14:14.210 - So thank you. Yeah. All right. Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You can raise your 00:14:14.210 --> 00:14:16.350 - hand on Teams or come to the podium. 00:14:20.162 --> 00:14:30.060 - be done. All those in favor of approving the etiquette group for on-call engineering services signify 00:14:30.060 --> 00:14:39.764 - by saying aye. Motion carries to zero. Thank you so much. We don't have any appointments today, but 00:14:39.764 --> 00:14:49.662 - we do want to remind folks to think about boards and commissions as this year is in its order. Crazy. 00:14:49.890 --> 00:14:55.651 - Do you want to talk about the Recovery Summit? Are there any spots left available? Yes, there's always 00:14:55.651 --> 00:15:01.411 - spots left available, and we urge people to sign up as soon as possible. We've got a wonderful lineup, 00:15:01.411 --> 00:15:07.060 - and again, information about that can be found on the county website. And I'd also like to emphasize 00:15:07.060 --> 00:15:12.709 - that continuing education credits are available. I know that it's very difficult, especially at this 00:15:12.709 --> 00:15:17.854 - time of year, to get those continuing education credits, especially for interesting topics. 00:15:18.114 --> 00:15:26.074 - We have a plethora of those offered over the summer, but there's plenty available at this conference 00:15:26.074 --> 00:15:34.113 - as well. Excellent, excellent. And just a reminder to folks to sign up for the resident alert system. 00:15:34.113 --> 00:15:42.073 - And you can go to our website, in.gov slash county slash Monroe and click on that item. You can sign 00:15:42.073 --> 00:15:47.038 - up for a text phone and or email alerts. Got a few last night. 00:15:47.138 --> 00:15:58.577 - So it's really good to keep us all weather wise because fall can be a interesting weather time as well 00:15:58.577 --> 00:16:09.905 - as the summer and the spring. And there is a board drive today at Ivy Tech. We're co-sponsoring that. 00:16:09.905 --> 00:16:15.902 - Room C, 130A and B. And that is from noon until five. 00:16:16.354 --> 00:16:23.771 - If you can, please make an appointment at redcross.org. And if you don't have time to do that, but you 00:16:23.771 --> 00:16:31.044 - do have time to donate, just show up. They'll figure it out. They will figure it out. We do continue 00:16:31.044 --> 00:16:38.317 - to offer office hours every month. And again, you go to our website and look at the calendar and you 00:16:38.317 --> 00:16:43.646 - can find those times. And that's a one-on-one conversation with one of us 00:16:44.322 --> 00:16:54.388 - and we learn a lot and we really appreciate it. We always appreciate the folks who make an effort to 00:16:54.388 --> 00:17:04.454 - connect with us. So the other thing I wanted to note is that we did sign for Stormwater Department a 00:17:04.454 --> 00:17:13.822 - letter of intent regarding a grant that we'd like to apply for. And thank you, Ms. Penna, for 00:17:14.242 --> 00:17:25.939 - that information. Um getting that information finding that information. Um this is related to the June 00:17:25.939 --> 00:17:37.863 - 2026 tornado. And, um, the hope is that we can get some good Creek clearing of log jams and things which 00:17:37.863 --> 00:17:40.702 - will help keep. Everyone 00:17:40.834 --> 00:17:49.989 - that's one of those long term impacts of a tornado. We just had a grant related to Clear Creek from 00:17:49.989 --> 00:17:59.236 - previous tornadoes, so this one is new and very exciting opportunity, and I hope it works. I hope it 00:17:59.236 --> 00:18:07.934 - happens, and it would be great if it did. All right, so the other thing I want to note is that 00:18:08.450 --> 00:18:20.334 - meeting. Um our next meeting is September 3rd and we are not going to be here on September 10th. Um 00:18:20.334 --> 00:18:33.169 - so just a note for folks. Um and we. We're planning to issue a statement at the council meeting on Tuesday, 00:18:33.169 --> 00:18:37.566 - and unfortunately. We were unable to 00:18:38.210 --> 00:18:45.257 - we ask for your indulgence. So the June 26 tornado, June 2026 tornado, brought criticism that I think 00:18:45.257 --> 00:18:52.166 - we had not done enough. The facts do tell a different story. I think we had done our part that just 00:18:52.166 --> 00:18:59.006 - as we do with every single disaster our community faces. And so we issued an emergency declaration 00:18:59.426 --> 00:19:04.604 - and we had done things like consider and approve contracts for roll-off dumpsters. We received updates, 00:19:04.604 --> 00:19:09.683 - we asked questions, and we offered assistance. In short, we did our job. Also, the Monroe County Fire 00:19:09.683 --> 00:19:14.662 - Department, the Highway Departments, and Emergency Management also performed admirably, immediately 00:19:14.662 --> 00:19:19.790 - following the tornado and throughout the days of recovery that followed. They did their jobs, and it's 00:19:19.790 --> 00:19:25.217 - important, I think, that we really keep the record straight and give credit to the people in the departments 00:19:25.217 --> 00:19:28.254 - who do respond effectively when our community needs them to. 00:19:29.186 --> 00:19:36.619 - Yeah, absolutely. And, you know, we're being blamed for not doing something and that makes no sense 00:19:36.619 --> 00:19:44.275 - at all. It makes no sense at all. And so the Emergency Management Advisory Commission may be the place 00:19:44.275 --> 00:19:52.302 - to go for information for the council member who is concerned that we're not doing something. The Emergency 00:19:52.302 --> 00:19:58.174 - Management Department reports to the Emergency Management Advisory Commission. 00:19:58.466 --> 00:20:07.745 - they don't report to us. So we're limited in what we can do. But one of the things we did do is this 00:20:07.745 --> 00:20:17.392 - letter seeking grant funds. And we have been, as you've heard in statements over the last several weeks, 00:20:17.392 --> 00:20:24.926 - we have been very concerned about the level of respect that has not been shown to 00:20:25.922 --> 00:20:36.500 - and we want to say that, um. Us as commissioners us as women. Um there is a basic level of respect that 00:20:36.500 --> 00:20:47.587 - is owed to any. Public official of any public any political party. Um and, um. We want to say that counselor 00:20:47.587 --> 00:20:54.910 - David Henry crossed the line. By issuing a threat of violence. Um. At a 00:20:55.842 --> 00:21:03.537 - to be clear, this threat was not only issued at a public meeting, but it was issued against women who 00:21:03.537 --> 00:21:11.533 - serve this community as Monroe County's Board of Commissioners. And it was also issued against our staff. 00:21:11.533 --> 00:21:19.303 - This threat of violence cannot be tolerated. It was a despicable, cowardly utterance. It is especially 00:21:19.303 --> 00:21:22.622 - awful because it was uttered against women. 00:21:23.138 --> 00:21:29.607 - every day in this community. Sadly, women are abused. Violence against women cannot and should not be 00:21:29.607 --> 00:21:36.266 - tolerated. And speaking a threat like that makes violence against women more acceptable. There are women 00:21:36.266 --> 00:21:42.735 - who serve our communities, Monroe County employees who heard your threat of violence. We demand to be 00:21:42.735 --> 00:21:49.268 - respected everywhere in Monroe County government, including and especially at county council meetings. 00:21:49.268 --> 00:21:51.678 - There are women across this community 00:21:51.970 --> 00:22:00.274 - who heard your threat of violence, and they are outraged and demand your respect. And women and girls 00:22:00.274 --> 00:22:08.416 - across this county who now wonder if this is how women should be treated or will be treated if they 00:22:08.416 --> 00:22:16.883 - choose to become a public servant, a public official, or work as an employee of Monroe County. Misogyny 00:22:16.883 --> 00:22:18.430 - is not acceptable. 00:22:18.722 --> 00:22:25.338 - from the White House to the bullies who hide behind a keyboard on social media, and boy, we have a lot 00:22:25.338 --> 00:22:31.826 - of them. Threats of violence are inexcusable and are the words of cowards. So what's the best way to 00:22:31.826 --> 00:22:38.313 - deal with this? Join in because it's fun, get on that bandwagon. No, we're going to shine a light on 00:22:38.313 --> 00:22:44.094 - this intolerable language, the threat of violence against women, and we will call it out. 00:22:44.482 --> 00:22:52.320 - It was not only shocking to hear a council member advise us to wear body armor to attend a meeting, 00:22:52.320 --> 00:23:00.157 - it was shocking to us that his colleagues on the county council let that threat of violence go. And 00:23:00.157 --> 00:23:07.995 - it went unchallenged. Silence is complicity. So shame on you, Mr. Henry, shame on all of you on the 00:23:07.995 --> 00:23:13.246 - council for failing to speak up and failing to do the right thing. 00:23:13.826 --> 00:23:21.066 - you have to do better. And that's all we really wanted to say. So unfortunately, we couldn't deliver 00:23:21.066 --> 00:23:28.450 - that Tuesday in person, because it's important to look these bullies in the eye. But there we have it. 00:23:28.450 --> 00:23:34.686 - So thank you. All right. Anything else for the good of the order? I think we'll leave. 00:23:35.522 --> 00:23:45.657 - All right. With that, we are adjourned until September 3rd, where we will be here at the NatU Hill Room 00:23:45.657 --> 00:23:50.334 - at 10 a.m. Thank you everyone. We're adjourned.