Good morning. I'm going to call to order this meeting of the Monroe County Board of Commissioners. It
is Thursday, September 3rd, 2026. And I'll note for the record that Commissioner Madeira and myself
are here and present in the NatU Hill room. And Commissioner Jones is joining us via Teams. Good morning.
So exciting. We're going to begin with our public statement, then we're going to hear from Commissioner Jones.
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. And with that, we will hear from Commissioner Jones. Good morning.
I'm not getting any audio. Uh-oh.
we can hear you. Audio is correct. So I can't hear you. OK, so should we suggest that she. You can speak
out so I sold her. She said we can hear you, but she can't hear us so.
she could speak. The team's channel is getting audio online. So she can use transcribe to see what's
being said or she can log off and log back on. I still can't hear anything you're saying.
have it all the way up.
Okay, since you can hear me, I'd like to go ahead and address the very understandable questions about
my prolonged absence from meetings. A little over a year ago, I was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia.
And at the time, I underwent chemotherapy, which was not successful. So it was determined that I needed
a bone marrow transplant. Last April, I was admitted to the bone marrow transplant program at Franciscan
Hospital in Greenwood.
basically have been in the hospital most of the time since then. It really wasn't supposed to take quite
that long. I had anticipated it would be more like six to eight weeks that I would be in the hospital.
But unfortunately, I've had three different bouts of pneumonia, which have extended the time quite a bit.
but I'm feeling quite a bit better now, quite a bit stronger, and really hope that I can get to all
of the meetings from now on. So anyhow, that's what's been going on, and I'm sorry I've had to miss
so many meetings. I will tell you, we've missed you so much, and-
Okay, how are you? I've kind of told her a center of text that says we love you and we are so happy
you're back. Yeah, there you go. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah, it's. Strong, courageous woman and so appreciate
her. So happy to see her. Yeah, yes, yeah.
And what she went through is nothing short of hell. Yeah. Yeah, that's I can't imagine the struggle
every day that she went through. So, yeah, good point. Absolutely. OK, so before I start blowing my
eyes out, let's go to department updates and let's see if we have an update from the health department.
Commissioners, just a few updates for you today. According to the data from the Indiana Department of
Health, wastewater concentrations as of September 1st have continued to decrease. The Health Department
is still offering free walk-in testing and treatment services for chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis
every Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m.
and the Morgan County Health Department has vaccines available for all ages and for those who are insured,
uninsured and underinsured. The number to call is 765-342-6621 for an appointment. Alright, thank you
so much. Comments or questions? I'm just glad we have that available close to home. Yeah, sure.
Thank you. Thank you.
We now have an update from his Ridge. Good morning. I wanted to state that our highway garage network
is down this week. I do not have a timeline of when it will be back up. We have the phones switched
to two cell phones myself and the highway Superintendent, so I'm getting a lot of calls of just people
hanging up because they get my voicemail and think they're not calling the highway garage. So if you call,
We will address your situation the best we can. We're just trying to run as normal as possible. Again,
I don't have a timeline of when things will be up and running, but please bear with us through this.
But if you do call our lines, I'm hoping they're all going to a cell phone and we'll try and get to
you and try and address your concerns. So thank you. All right, thank you so much.
Does any other department have an update for us? Seeing none, we're going to move on to public comment.
This is time for public to speak on items not on our agenda. We ask each commenter to limit their time
to three minutes and please provide your name and county of residence when you begin speaking.
Good morning, commissioners. This is Christopher MG from the Greater Bloomington Chamber of Commerce.
First, I want to say it's wonderful to see Commissioner Jones back with us. That is a wonderful update.
I want to echo the sentiments of Commissioner Thomas and Commissioner Redira on that. It's wonderful
to hear that. Taking off my chamber badge for a second for my community badge, the American Red Cross
is doing a blood drive, and you're like,
They're usually doing a blood drive. But this is a unique one with Indiana University. It's part of
the Big Ten. They're doing a Big Ten challenge. So it's who, which university can donate the most blood?
I did yesterday at a fun drive, and the amount of swag they have is just incredible.
They also can get a free IU shirt. So it's wonderful. They always need blood. It's really the least
you can do. It's a way I honor my father who was always giving blood. I remember the stickers,
which was, be nice to me. I gave blood today, which I think they should bring back. I could use all
the sympathy I can get. So I encourage everyone in the community to, even if you haven't or you're a
little blood shy, give it a shot. Donate some blood.
It's go to the drives. There's drives happening all the time. Great way to give back a little bit. Thanks.
Thank you. Weeding cream and crimson. Yeah. Any other public comment for items not on our agenda?
I see that Commissioner Jones isn't back on yet, so we'll move on with our items. Item five, please.
Yes, I'd like to move approval of the minutes for August 27th, 2026. I will second that. Any comments,
corrections or edits? I have none. I don't either. All those in favor of approving the minutes signify
by saying aye. I motion carries 20. Next item, please.
Yes, I'd like to move approval of the claims docket for accounts payable for September 3rd, 2026 and
for payroll for September 4th, 2026. I will second that.
Good morning. The accounts payable claims docket for September 3rd, 2026 totals $1,110,076.65. This
includes all emergency claims and adjustments. The payroll docket for September 4th, 2026 includes
$1,603,262.39 in direct costs, and the remaining $676,356.42 were for indirect costs for a grand total of
2,279,618 and 81 cents. Thank you so much. Comments or questions? None. Still isn't on, so I will see
if there's any public comments on this item. You can raise your hand on teams or come to the podium.
All those in favor of approving the claims docket accounts payable September 3rd 2026 and payroll September
4th 2026 signified by saying I. I motion carries to zero. Thank you, ma'am. Right I will note for the
record. We've received a report from the clerk's office for July of 2026. Will now move on to new
for requesting general election additional appropriations. Nope. My apologies, I think that's the draft.
That's the draft, okay, sorry. I'd like to move approval for the master service agreement with the WSP
for the long range stormwater plan. Fund named stormwater professional fees, fund number 1197 in the
amount of $264,772.80. My apologies. That's all right, I will second that.
our stormwater director Ms Pena is joining us good morning good morning yes the master service agreement
with WSP was brought to the stormwater management board last week and approved on the condition that
we work with our legal team to finalize the edits on that master service agreement which we have done
and you you have it in front of you so this will guide our program for the next 10 to 20 years but we'll
have to look at it again in 10 years and
to come back with a new plan. Excellent. Thank you so much. And thank you for all your efforts to get
a group of folks together to do the interviews and ask questions. And it was a really good process because
we had to talk about our priorities and what we think the stormwater program should be working on. So
that was really good exercise
I think that's a great way to do it. I think that's a great way to do it generally anyway. So thank
you for that. Thank you. Yes. Yeah, it was a great collaborative effort between stormwater board, drainage
board, Highway Department staff. Um I was I was glad to bring that great group together. Yeah.
Really good. Um, comments or
I feel like we just did the last one, but it was a long time ago. But it's an important step. All right,
so let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You raise your hand on teams or you can come
to the podium. Being done and I see that Commissioner Jones is not yet back online.
So all those in favor of approving the master service agreement with WSP for the long range stormwater
plan signify by saying aye. Aye. Motion carries to zero. Thank you. Happy Labor Day. All right. Let's
see the next item, please.
Yes, I'd like to move approval for an addendum to an HFI agreement to update or repair the courthouse
chiller fund name cumulative capital development fund number 1138 in the amount of $5,500. I will second
that Mr. Good morning. Good morning commissioners. How are you? Good hopefully. Yeah, it feels good
in here. What do you mean we need a chiller? Unfortunately, the fan speed controller has I've been joking.
So I submitted an exhibit, which is a graphic picture of our fan speed. As we know, it was suboptimal.
We've had a few instances this summer where we came in quiet morning. Unfortunately, that sets off alarm
bells. Senses, we call it the spidey senses. And so because of that, there was enough
there was insufficient flow past the cooling coils, shut down the chiller unit for the courthouse. And
so it was real cozy in here. All right. Any comments or questions? Well, we can't tell people to chill
out if we don't have this, right? And so I'm a fan. So we have to
I think move forward with this. And for goodness sakes, this is one of the more inexpensive repairs.
Yes, absolutely. Thank you so much. Not a chilly reception from us, so we appreciate it. Let's see if
there's any public comment on this item. You raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. Commission.
Back online.
I don't see her yet. So I wanted to see if she can come back on camera and we could see her and hear
her. I don't see her yet. So we'll go ahead and do the
to the HFI agreement to update repair. The courthouse chiller signify by saying I. I motion carries
to zero. Next item, please. Yes, I'd like to move approval. For the ratification of the Indiana door
and hardware specialties, Incorporated Emergency Door Hardware Repairs Fund named Killota Capital Fund
number 1138 in the amount of $23,968. I will second that. Mr Crider.
I think that's me. It is you. It's the emergency doors at the Justice building that I signed off on
last week. That is not the. The amounts throwing me off here. It's actually $7840. Oh, that's better.
I was going to ask you how it jumped to that. So we had two exit devices fell at the Justice Building
and due to the secure nature, Commissioner Thomas went ahead and signed the agreement so we could get
that going. This request is to ratify the agreement with Indiana Door and Hardware Specialties Inc.
in the amount of $7,840 for the replacement of two delayed egress exit devices at the Justice Building.
Thank you so much. I'm going to go ahead and move that we change the amount to $7,840. I will second
that. All right, we have a motion and a second. Any comment on the amount? All those in favor of amending
the motion to $7,840 signify by saying aye. Aye.
The motion is now amended, so it is amended and ratification. Can I turn the mic on? It says your mic
has been enabled, and then it says unmute if you'd like to speak, but it's turned on. We can hear you,
Commissioner Jones. I don't know if... Okay.
have a public comment on the item as amended. Come back for a voice vote. All those in favor of approving
the amended ratification of the Indiana door and hardware specialties, Inc. Emergency door hardware repair
if you can give Beth Hamlin an audio. Thank you. Okay, I can now hear you guys. Yay. All right. Yeah.
Next item, please. Yes, I would like to move approval for the VOCA grant contract.
fund named VOCA grant fund number 8121 in the amount of $144,994 and 17 cents. I will second that. I
think Miss Hamlin is online. I am good morning everyone. It's good to see you, Commissioner Jones. Yeah,
thank you. This is our it's a two year contract for our Victim of Crimes Act funding. It funds four
partially funds four of our victim assistant positions. This grant will run from 10-1 of 26 to 9-30
of 2028. All right, thank you so much. Comments or questions, Commissioner Jones? No, I don't. This
is something that's near and dear to my heart because it can literally make a life and death difference
for victims and so wonderful, so happy.
Yeah, you have a great staff of victims assistance personnel and it's I'm grateful that at least they're
partially funded for this position. So wonderful work that they do difficult work, but important work.
So yeah, life saving for sure. Let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You raise your
hand on teams or come to the podium.
Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. All right. Next item, please. Yes, I'd like to move
fund name cumulative capital fund number 1138 in the amount of $23,968. I will second that Mr. Crone.
Good morning everyone. Email has historically been and will. It's only increasing to be the case as
the largest utilized attack vector for hackers to try to get into systems.
We typically, on an average day, see over 10,000 emails trying to enter our system that all have to
be filtered. Microsoft's 365 filters are very basic. By their own admittance, there should be a third-party
layer added to that. We currently utilize the Know Before system to do our phishing training and email
training, and that's a state-supplied contract comes at no cost to us. This agreement is an additional
add-on component to that base component supplied by the state that
adds that extra filtering layer for us, does a much better improved job of what Microsoft's doing to
try to stop it. But not only that, the emails that come in that get quarantined, like when you guys
report a phishing email to me, I'm manually going through those, verifying it, then reporting back to
the user why that's a bad email. This system takes care of that for us. So where I'm having a little
bit of an issue keeping up with the volume of emails,
to get back with the users, this system will review it, notify the users. Another system that I like
in this, a manual process. If we have a phishing email that does make it through our system, I have
to block it, but then I have to go through and try to manually remove it from the email boxes. Typically
what you see is I'll send out a notification, hey, if you're getting this, you received this email,
do not open it. That system takes care of all that, knocks it out of all the mailboxes, automates that
process so the user will never see it.
Another nice portion of this, as it blocks email, it educates the user. It shows them why that email
was blocked, so it takes that guesswork out. They don't have to wonder or ask TSD, hey, why was this
blocked? It will also take legitimate phishing emails that have come into the system. It will recreate
the links, let the user click it, and then redirect them as an education. Hey, this is what would have happened.
if you didn't click on that link. So there's a big training portion of that, which helps knock down
the amount of time that I'm having to take employees away from their work and to do these training programs
and things like that. And it will also help keep our users from doing those clicks that ends up forcing
them into the required training. So this is an entire suite that adds multiple layers to what we have.
Amazing. Okay. Um, comments or questions? Commissioner Jones?
I think it's going to save a lot of work power hours. And it's also going to be just transformative.
I can do. Yeah. And I've been so I've been reading that even there are even some
Maliciously guide you to logging in and using your own Two-factor authentication, but then they now
have access to everything in that account. Yes, that's exactly right And that's why you've seen a shift
in policy for our MFA where you're getting prompted daily because if that Whenever you do that MFA it
creates us what's called a session token that token follows you everywhere You go and says hey this
person's been approved they can be in the system
have figured out how to hijack that token so they appear as you they go around according to Microsoft.
Hey, everything is OK. So we went to that 24 hour to help toward that. But with this software that will
put another layer on there that will not let them execute that MFA request that prompt. So just another
layer of security there. Yeah, great. Thank you so much. Really good news.
any public comment on this item? You can raise your hand on teams or come to the podium. Being none.
All those in favor of proving, um, I'm going to have Mr Schilling call the roll on all those in favor
of approving the S H I Corporation know before agreement.
Commissioner Thomas? Yes. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you very much. Next item, please. Yes, I'd
like to move to approve the amended in-dot construction contract for Eagleson Bridge number 922.
Fund name, Eagleson Bridge number 922, fund number 8176 in the amount of $5,336,229.62.
I will second that. Ms Ridge. Did you read the amount that was on the front of the sheet? Yes, yes,
it's the total. It's actually 40,000. It's 40,000. Yeah, but it's actually 5,366,229 62. Alright,
thank you. Sister, we're good. OK. And this is actually to add 40.
$50,000 to the overall construction contract for an additional inspection. For the materials, so it
just that way the $50,000 cost only cost the county 10,000 for our match. Yeah, got it. Thank you. Alright,
any comments or questions? Commissioner Jones. No, I don't. No, it'll be good to again. Just move forward
with this project. Always forward. Yeah,
It's set to close on Tuesdays. Wow, and it will be for a year. Yeah, yeah, that's yeah, that's crazy,
but it has to be done. Yes, so thank you for working on this. I know this isn't normally our bridge,
so right. Just want to highlight that again that you stepped in and helped out. Let's see if there's
any public comment on this item. You can raise your hand on teams or come to the podium.
Mr Schilling. Will you please call the roll on the amended in dot construction contract for the Eagles
and Bridge 9 22. Mr Jones. Yes. Commissioner Thomas. Yes Mr Madeira. Yes. Aries. Thank you so much.
Um, next item, please.
contingent upon the removal of the last paragraph in the contract. Fund name, County General, fund number
1,000 in the amount of $20,000. All right, I will second that. Ms. Prudy? Yeah, this is a request with
Halliwell Consulting Services who will provide professional communications for the Board of Commissioners,
your county government,
that we're going to be doing. Um using strategy positioning. Um looking. Development of those messages
working on media relations and public relations and engagement. I'm going to provide deliverables on
our progress outcomes and recommendations. Thank you so much. Um comments or
I don't either, and I appreciate Ms. Purdy's work on getting this contract together. So this is contingent
on the removal of the last paragraph, something we want to see happen, and they need to agree to it
before this will be enacted. And let's see if there's any public comment on this item. You raise your
hand on Teams or come to the podium.
Good morning. Good morning, commissioners. My name is Jamie Ford, and I'm a Monroe County resident.
I'm here to wish Hallowell Consulting the best of luck because, in my opinion, they've got the work
cut out for them. Make no mistake, I am not actually in favor of this government spending $20,000 for
a public relations consulting company. I believe this decision is one of the most wasteful uses of taxpayer
money. No amount of future PR damage-controlled spin will make me forget when you, Commissioner Madeira,
said in the 12-May council meeting, quote, we've done our due diligence investigating properties across
the county.
in quote, about the justice building project. And then yet, approximately a week later, you contradicted
your previous statement on your Facebook page by saying, quote, a decision for Thompson at this point
is irresponsible since we don't have our due diligence done on that site, end quote. You then said,
quote, North Park is the only site we have ever done our due diligence on, end quote. Commissioner Thomas,
you declined to participate in the Collaborative Justice Project Working Subcommittee, stating in an
email on May 29th that it would be premature to publicly discuss
discuss or evaluate additional properties before litigation counsel is retained, and that, quote, legal
guidance will ensure that any property related work is aligned with the realities of the pending ACLU
litigation, end quote. Yet, less than a month later, you were publicly discussing property related work
for this justice building project at a Rotary Club meeting. It seems to me that you all wouldn't need
to spend $20,000 for a PR consultant firm to develop, quote, a strategic communications framework designed
to improve public understanding of the project and establish a consistent cadence of communication,
or, quote,
develop a clear, fact-based response to recurring questions and concerns surrounding this project,"
if y'all didn't repeatedly say one thing and then contradict yourselves by saying and doing the complete opposite.
I hope the public is paying attention. More importantly, I hope the council is paying attention. Budget
hearings have started and departments are trimming their budgets as much as possible in an effort to
allow a mere 2% COLA increase for its employees. Meanwhile, y'all are throwing $20,000 at a PR firm
to help you keep your story straight. Clearly your budget is overinflated and therefore council needs
to slash it to the bare minimum. Thank you. Any other public comment? You can raise your hand on teams
or come to the podium.
Mr Schilling, will you please call the roll on the hollow consulting services agreement? Commissioner
Thomas. Yes, Commissioner Madeira. Yes, Commissioner Jones. Yes, ocean carries. Thank you so much. We
don't have any appointments today, but we did. I neglected to do this during department updates. We
did want to talk about the Thompson camp.
encampment closure. And I don't know if you'd like to start and we can go from there. Yes, I believe
that we should provide a public update on that. We were both there when the operation began and just
a word about how it began. So the sheriff, I believe, I don't remember exactly when he brought the plan to us.
But he contacted us and said, in light of everything the public security concerns that we have about
that property, we believe that it's time to develop a plan to move forward with the closure of the encampment
early if possible. And so he proposed a plan to us to close that encampment. And I believe the Thursday
before the camp was closed on the 25th,
We did provide notice in person, both at individual campsites and posting on the property. And on the
morning of the closure, we gathered with the sheriffs and with frontline providers, and we witnessed
an operation that went smoothly, that went compassionately, and that went forward in a very organized
fashion. And one of the most, I think, wonderful things that I saw was
I'm not even exactly sure how to describe when I saw it, but multiple trips by side by sides with tons
and tons of individuals' possessions just piled. And I think that was something that surprised me, both
that individuals provided help inside the camp and that individuals accepted help inside the camp. And
so I saw a lot of partnership and teamwork going on.
And I think it's always unfortunate when camps are closed down. And so I'm trying not to become emotional
when I describe this, because I don't like the circumstances under which we had to close the camp. I
don't like the law that necessitated these actions. And I despise everything that we are forced, the
positions that we are forced into. I think they're deeply inhumane. I know that streets disability are
working to put us in a better position.
to house those that need housing and provide help to those who are in those positions. But I just despise
having to be in this position in the first place. But what I saw in that situation where people faced
those needs and were confronted with the need to move their property out of the depths of the woods,
I'm glad that our first responders and our police officers were able to help meet those needs.
I think that, um. You know, there was a piece in the Bloomingtonian that really was not an accurate
depiction of anything we saw. Um and, um, it was collegial. It was helpful. And, um, as
their way behind the utility vehicle. Their goods were unloaded carefully with their supervision, and
they were met by folks from stride or health net and offered assistance immediately. It was a very
we know that encampments are not the answer. And so, um, that's something that's
But a huge thank you to Richard Crider, our sheriff, sheriff's deputies, and our parks department helped
out immensely. They've just been great. They just, you know, what do you need when you need it? And
they've been really helpful with sort of grounds maintenance there.
of the utility vehicles that were used came from the were borrowed from the, um, Monroe County Fire
Protection District. So thanks to them. Um so, um and you know, heading home. Um was aware of what was
going on, but they've been focused on sort of the downtown zone. For the
that we need to remember is that, um. A different zone. For example, the Thompson property could have
been chosen and it wasn't. Um and. When that happened. To have then, um, city administration going around
and saying, Oh, you need to close that encampment
the best ways we can use to. To do this, but yet you're going to, you know, criticize us for. Not this
banding it sooner. It's it's it's mystifying to me. Um but, um. I did want to. Um note that we have,
uh, the council has
and we'll see it on our agenda, I think on the 17th. And we challenge the city to also contribute. Hopefully
they will do their share as well. So this is, it's an important program and it's, you know, we do nothing.
We end up where we are now, which is terrible. But
it's important that we help find a solution for this ongoing problem that has plagued our county and
the city. So that's kind of what I wanted to add. Commissioner Jones, did you have anything you wanted
to add? No, I was unable to participate in this and
can't really add anything to it. Okay, thank you. Can I just ask for a moment? I have good news, actually,
that is related. I'll add that Erin from Heading Home did consult with Stride that morning and was there
with the Stride folks. And so the Streets Disability Leadership Program, which is the Clutch Program,
just for the public's knowledge about how these zones are chosen and where we are in the process. So
the zones are chosen on the basis of a large number of factors, including need, including the stability
of that zone, I believe. And I think it was that that perhaps made the power lines or Thompson camp perhaps
the site that was not chosen because we were not sure at the time when the camp would be closed, but
I think that may have had something to do with it. But we knew at that point it would be closed in September,
and I think the program was not starting until the middle of August. But the zone, the zones that are
chosen, I think
For the public's knowledge, they're chosen with a consultation of a large number of community input,
not only the frontline providers, but also elected officials, as Commissioner Thomas said, and also
input from, I think, the Chamber of Commerce, and also input from residents ultimately, also input from
many, many representatives of the community.
Like, for example, I hear from different constituents and would relay that knowledge. For example, the
residents of Osage neighborhood. And I have a wonderful, wonderful bit of news, again, that almost makes
me want to become very emotional here. The streets disability program was able to place four people
in apartments last Friday.
that is something that I think no other program that has been tried in the community has been able to
do. And so in order to accomplish and keep this rolling, which is the, I think the very, very critical
part we're trying to achieve right now, we need funding from every single source. So that is something
that we just have to make sure gets done. There's some sort of matching grants that they become eligible
for if they can.
we're going to be able to cobble together enough funding. Yes, and it's critical that everyone who can
contribute does contribute so. Or else the problem the program will not be as successful as it can be.
So and lives depend on it. Yeah, for sure. Um, OK, so I do want to note that. The blood drive dates
for September. These are at Ivy Tech rooms.
and the next dates. Well today until four o'clock Tuesday, the eighth from 9 to 2. Friday, the 18th
from 92 and Wednesday, the 23rd from 12 to 5. Please make an appointment at Red Cross dot org, but they'll
figure out a way to help you out. If you fail to do so,
and we do continue to have office hours, six hours each month. You can go to our calendar at i n dot
gov slash county slash Monroe. And see the dates and times and join us via teams. For a
of our county residents to keep you informed about emergencies. Um um, highway health. Weather events,
especially given our chances for storms
the sky just got so dark. Uh, so, um, we are, um. Not meeting. Next week on the 10th, but our next meeting
will be on September 17th and it will be right here in the net you Hill room. We don't have a work session
today. Anything else for the good of the order, Commissioner Jones?
No, I don't. Commissioner Madeira. I'd like to wish everyone a safe and happy Labor Day. Yeah, for sure.
And thank you to everyone who works in Monroe County. You make our county work well. And with that,
we are adjourned. Thanks, everyone.