Okay, ladies and gentlemen, it's 530. It's the beginning of the Monroe County Planning Commission meeting
for May 7th, which is Thursday. And why don't you go ahead and call the meeting to order. Please conduct
a roll call, please. David Bush? Here. Eric Clements? Ron Enright-Randolph?
Yes. I mean, Rudy Fields is here. He's here. Am I big? OK, gotcha. And I can see you as well. So I will
change you to present. Jeff Morris here. Julie Thomas here. Van Deventer. And Bishop here. David Henry is.
yet. We do have a quorum. Please introduce the evidence. I will do the introduction of evidence. I'd
like to introduce the following items. The Monroe County development ordinance as adopted and amended.
The Monroe County comprehensive plan as adopted and amended. The Monroe County plan commission rules
of procedure as adopted
cases that were legally advertised and scheduled for hearing on tonight. Move approval of the evidence.
Second. On and write Randolph. Yes. Paris yes. Rudy Fields yes Morris yes Julie Thomas yes. David Bush.
Yes. That moves us toward the approval. We'll talk about the agenda first. On the agenda, there are
going to be two items that we are not going to talk about this evening that are going to be continued
to a subsequent meeting, and that is the point PUD outline plan for the EO Bay garages and also
The Pratt Prince Administrative Subdivision Type E Access to Lot Waivers Request and Furniture on Improved
Streets Waiver Request. Those will not be heard this evening and there are only two items on the agenda
as I see here unless you have any other changes. Motion to approve? Motion to approve the agenda. Second.
Motion to approve the agenda and a second. Greenfields? Yes. Morris? Yes.
David Bush. Yes. And off. Yes. Yes. Very six to zero. Okay. Next up is approval of the minutes for the
meeting on April 21st, 2026 to have a motion to approve. Second. There's been a motion in a second to
approve the minutes.
for March 17th, 2026. Billy Thomas? Yes. Jeffrey Morris? Yes. Rudy Fields? Yes. Scott Farris? Yes. John
Benwright Randolph? Yes. David Bush? Yes. Okay, that takes us to administrative business. First up is
SIA 24-7, Holland Field Subdivision Phase 3, Request for Reduction of Financial
guarantee amount. So this is a request for reduction of a financial guarantee amount. We currently have
a letter of credit on file that expires December 12, 2026 in the amount of $2,942.28 and we kind of
hold that money under the SIA-21-7 and the
Commission had approved back in December 2026 a performance-grade extension. We do have all the current
performance bond document and SIA document agreements filed for this and so they're there. We worked
really hard with the highway department and their engineers and come up with an estimate that we all
could agree upon for the remaining improvements that are still
and fields phase three subdivision this is an older aerial but several of these other lots have actually
built out and did get submitted an essay from them and we supplied comments back on March 30th and then
they came back with a few and directed a few things in the as
and reviewed by the highway department. This was their original estimate at $56,000. We wanted to make
a few upgrades and improvements to unit price amount and ended up
There are a couple of the changes that we did. One thing that we had entertained was to rather than
look at the sidewalks that needed to be removed and replaced, we had considered using a fine item in
the INDOT spreadsheet called sidewalk concrete reconstruction. And the average price for that, I'm going
to push this up to
$26,000 more than what they were expecting. If we had been looking at phase one of Holland field subdivision
where those sidewalks are so fiber optic utilities like indoor consideration I think the highway department
and planning would have pushed for using that reconstruction line item but instead we found it more
fair in this instance.
with an estimate that we all thought made sense. So with that, approval of the request for a new performance
with the county revisions dated April 26 and with an approved reduction in 44,000
following required conditions and that is subject to engineers report in this program. Mission one is
a new financial guarantee may be submitted in the form of either letter of credit or cashier's check
for the total amount of $58,800. If the new posted amount is desired prior. Asking for a reduction,
they would need to swap out letter of credit and deal with their bank
The performance bond document shall be signed and recorded. Number three is the subdivision improvement
agreement. The petitioner apply for a right of way acceptance.
Let's go to the Commission. Anybody to my left have a question?
I just wanted to make a recommendation to the group for item number one to not accept a cashier's check
because financial instruments of that type become void after 180 days and the extension of this project
exists beyond that. A modification to the existing letter of credit would be reasonable. Otherwise,
a new letter of credit would be or some sort of bond would be ideal.
Otherwise, the financial institution that the cashier's check would be drawn on if it exists past the
180 days would be at their discretion, not their obligation to cash.
answer with the cashier's check when we receive that we can we automatically deposit into its own line
and it's difficult to get it out but we don't have to worry about it expiring on our part which is a
little easier on that sense with the letter of credit we have to be hyper vigilant make sure these I
did a while ago that we do not do mm-hmm yeah one more question that if you're depositing those they
go into an interest-bearing account
I know that does occur at the county government level and I don't know if these specific assets are
allowed to do that, honestly. That's the treasurer's office. Right, yeah, there's certain restrictions
on that for IELTA accounts and ASCRO accounts, things like that, so I don't know if it falls within
that purview, but if it doesn't, then. I don't think it does. I think it has to be ready to cash in.
The developer wants it back.
have one question and that is that you have in this recommendations additions one through four you have
discussed that with the petitioner I assume and everybody's in agreement correct they were given a copy
of the report and we agreed on the estimate so they already have the two on file if they want to give
us another letter of credit
that reduced amount, we just ask that file with the correct amount. And fourth one, yeah, if they don't
get their acceptance completed, then they need to come back here to the performance period extension.
All right. Looks like Tron, you got a question. Go ahead. Not really a question. I just wanted to let
Ms. Behrman know that
her mic is going in and out, maybe if the microphone was adjusted a bit. I'm hearing like one word out
every 10, so I'm able to repeat the recommendation and everything, so I'm good. Also, I appreciate Mr.
Bishop's comments from his expertise, but yeah, just for the public and for Ms. Beerman, we are able to,
Thank you, Tron. I'm the only one in here with the old microphone. And Julie just brought me a new one.
So there we go. Perfect. Teamwork makes the dream work. Thank you. All right. Because this is administrative,
we really don't have a requirement unless somebody tells me that I'm wrong. Make a statement. Nor do
we need to take and have public comment. Correct. I have a motion from one of the members
I move approval of the request for a new performance guarantee amount based on the current engineer's
estimate with the county revisions dated April 28, 2026 and with an approved reduction in the amount
of $44,048.23 with the following required conditions subject to the highway engineer reports and stormwater
program manager reports.
One, a new financial guarantee may be submitted in the form of either a letter of credit or cashier's
check for the total amount of $58,894.05, $102,948.42, original LOC minus $44,048.23 reduction request
if the new posted amount is desired prior to the completion of the required public improvements.
Two, a performance bond document shall be signed and recorded within two weeks of submitting the new
amount of the financial guarantee as stated in condition one above. Three, a subdivision improvement
agreement document shall be signed and recorded within two weeks of submitting the new amount of the
financial guarantee as stated in condition one above. And four, petitioner apply for a right away acceptance
on or before December 12, 2026. I have a friendly amendment.
as long as I don't have to read it again. Yes, backwards. I think we should add to your hauling field
subdivision phase three. I accept all that. I'll second.
request for the new performance guarantee amount for the division phase three. 24-7. Based on the current
engineer's estimate, county revisions dated 8th, 2026. Approved reduction in the amount of 44,000 or
conditions
listed in the staff report, not reread at this time. Or in the stormwater program. I'll go ahead and
call the roll. David Bush. Yes. On and write Randolph. Just a clarification. Oh, friendly amendment.
I'm sorry. The friendly amendment was nothing more than adding the the SAA 24 seven.
and making it clear that the subdivision was for phase three. Oh, absolutely. Sorry, Mr. Ferris. For
some reason, the audio is just really bad on the virtual. I vote yes. Scott Ferris. Yes. Rudy Fields.
Yes. Jeffrey Morris. Yes. Billy Thomas. Yes. Motion carries six to zero. All right. That moves us on
to new business. And we have
Rd 26 one, which is a new road name for the improved road segment off of the twenty hundred plus or
minus block of West Gordon Pike, which is adjacent to the Southwest Library Library of Bachelor Middle
School and. Thank you. As mentioned, the request is to establish a road name for what is currently a
section of driveway. The purpose of this is to take it into the Monroe County Road Inventory and make
it a public road.
The petitioner is the Monroe County Highway Department. And more specifically, they are requesting a
new road name from West Gordon Pike from the roundabouts that now forms an intersection with West Gordon
Pike, South Clearview Drive and West Fullerton Pike to its northern terminus, which is the driveway
for bachelor middle school.
The proposed 385 linear foot road in question is currently a driveway that provides access to the Monroe
County Southwest Public Library and the bachelor middle school. This petition is again requested due
to the highway department being interested in taking that section of driveway and see the Monroe County
road inventory. A current signage and map applications such as Apple Maps refer to this driveway as
bachelor school drive
but this was never officially approved nor taken into the Monroe County Road Inventory. Indian State
Statute 36-7-4-405 gives authority to the Planning Commission to assign street names and numbers. So
the following alternative names were suggested by the library themselves, such as Library Road, Literacy
Lane or Drive or Way, Enlightenment Lane, Drive or Way, Learning Road,
Sorry, Reading Road, Learning Lane or way, but it should be noted that Branch Drive and Branch Road
have been rejected as there are multiple other roads in the county that have the word branch in their
names, such as West East Branch Road. The goal is that every road name should be unique and unmistakable
from other road names that are existing. The following names have been independently suggested from
other county departments involved in this petition.
Knowledge Lane, Seekers Drive, Scholars Lane, Readers Lane, Cognitive Drive, Intellectual Drive, and
Education Drive. Alternatively, the Planning Commission can choose to officially designate the road
as Bachelor School Drive. The Bachelor Middle School and the Monroe County Community School Corporation
have not provided any recommendations at this time. Emergency Services has stated that any name would
be acceptable to dispatch
so long as it is not similar to any existing road name. Comments from various county departments are
as follows from the planning department in terms of addressing it appears that the public school that
the public library and the bachelor middle school are the only two addresses that will be impacted along
this section of roadway having the addresses of
9 of 890 West Gordon Pike for the library and 900 West Gordon Pike for bachelor middle school. The final
determination for new address numbers are pending the establishment of road ranges. In regards to historic
preservation board, they often review and provide input regarding road name changes. However, this petition
has not been reviewed by them as this time. It is scheduled to be heard by the board during their meeting
on May 18th, 2026.
Here is a view of the entrance to the proposed road from the roundabout that is the intersection of
West Gordon Pike, West Rollerton Pike, and South Clearview Drive. And here is a picture of the roadway
itself. And here is a sign that is publicly posted along the roundabout showing it as Bachelor School
Drive, which again, the board can either, the commission can either
vote to approve or change. Here's just a GIS view showing the rough path the road follows in blue, as
well as an isometric aerial view of said road along with the two properties that connect off of it.
Staff does have a recommendation for the road name. Staff recommends that the roadway be named South
Learning Lane, conditional to review by the Historic Preservation Board.
and I will take any questions. Ron had a question. Yeah, thank you. I guess, does highway have
a recommendation? The reason I asked that is there's already existing sign that costs money to remove
a new one to be installed. I guess my additional
question on that as well. Daniel is or it's more to wait until the history plays in. Is there any urgency
here? I'm amenable to the direction that the planning commission wants to go. But those are just so
I know that some members of the highway department have had their opinions
expressed, particularly the first six names on this list were suggested by Ginger Young. I know that
Lisa Rich expressed a liking for South Education Drive, but I believe those were more personal preferences
than in their roles as members of the highway departments. I do remember an email where Lisa said it
was not an inconvenience to change the sign name that's out there. They would have had to change it,
I think, anyway because of road
the North Southeast West. So it needs an upgrade. Awesome. Thank you. Is there urgency? I kind of that
two part question. I don't believe there's any real urgency to this petition, but they are requesting
a waiver of final hearing. Okay, thank you. Appreciate that. Commissioner Thomas. Thank you.
So I had a discussion with my colleagues on the board of commissioners today about this item just to
kind of get their input. And there's an interest in just leaving it as Bachelor Drive. But then one
of my colleagues suggested adding her first name, which is Laura, L-O-R-A, I believe. We'll have to
look that up and verify it. But calling it Laura Bachelor Drive might be a nice
way to commemorate who the school is named after. And being a leader in education in our community,
I think it's a nice thing to do. And it fits in with both buildings. So I'd like to suggest that we
consider that. Okay, let's go back up to the commission. Anybody else on the left here have a comment?
I agree with Commissioner Thomas. I think this is a really good plan.
Yeah, before Commissioner Thomas spoke, I was going to recommend keeping it as is just because it's
been called that and the signs already up, but I like Commissioner Thomas. I agree with Commissioner
Thomas. That's a nice option. Alternatively, I've got wisdom way. This is going to take. I also support
Commissioner Thomas's comment.
I guess we need to go to the petitioner which is County Highway or are they going to speak or are we
pretty much have their position here? No petitioner. All right. We go to the public. We have go to teams.
Anybody online or in the room would like to take and speak? And I don't see anybody any either for or
against and so I guess we are ready for a motion. Go ahead.
I move that case number RD 26-1, the new road name from West Gordon Pike in preliminary hearing, waiver
of final hearing requested. We move that we roadway be named Laura Batchelor Drive. I'll second that.
I'll second that. Do we need to ensure that we have
name spelling correctly we make it conditional to that yes we need to we need to verify the spelling
of the first name I found it in one location but I would want staff to verify the spelling of the first
name well I don't want to offer that as a friendly amendment as I'm the second step that for a conditional
Unless Mr. Fields restate his motion to include that. I'm you know based on what I've heard here I'd
like to also recommend that that is conditional based on the Historic Preservation Board's review. I'll
second. So my question for Ms. Bierman is if the Historic Preservation Board says they don't like that road name
What happens next? Does it come back to us? It doesn't have to. Okay. Thank you. Motion in a second.
I guess my question, want to make it conditional to the review or do we want to finalize it? I'm sorry,
I know there's a motion. We have a motion in a second.
There's been a motion and a second to new road name RD-26-1 to segment of road along West Gordon Pike,
Laura Bachelor Drive. And this has the condition that one, that the spelling for Laura is confirmed,
that it is historically correct.
and two, that the HP, the Historic Conservation Board of Review, reviews the name. Go ahead and call
the roll. David Bush? Yes. Ron and Wright Randolph? Yes. Scott Ferris? Yes. Rudy Fields?
Yes, but does it need the South in front of it? Based on road, on how road names work, it would have
the South in front of it. So it would be South Laura Bachelor Drive. Julie Thomas? Yes. All right, motion
carries six to zero. All right, that concludes the new business. Let's go ahead and go to staff reports.
Anything from the planning department?
officially acting director. Congratulations. And from legal. No report. So we don't have another meeting
in May. Correct. We canceled the May meeting that was regularly scheduled for the 19th.
And I guess we need to take and address those things not on the agendas or anybody has any items that
they'd like to bring up. Okay. Move to adjourn.