- I would like to call to order this meeting of the Monroe County Storm Order Management Board.
- It is Wednesday, July 22nd, 2026 at 3.30 p.m. and we are here in the NatU Hill meeting room. Present
- are Commissioner Thomas and Surveyor Tron and Wright Randall. And so we have a quorum, so we are good
- to proceed.
- So first on our agenda is public input for items not on the agenda. We have no one here in the NatU
- Hill Room. And so I would like to see if there is anyone online who would like to provide public input.
- You can raise your hand on Teams. I see no one, so I will proceed. I'm going to make a motion that we
- postpone item four, continue item four until our next meeting.
- Thank you for that. And so I would like to second that motion. Are there any objections to that motion?
- I think we can do the voice votes since we're all in person. All in favor of postponing item four until
- our next meeting, say aye. Aye. Aye. That motion carries. And so we will postpone item four, the stormwater
- expenditure report for May and June 2026 until our August meeting.
- We can, however, move to item three on the agenda, which is approval of minutes for May 27th, 2026.
- I move approval of the minutes for May 27th. I second that. Any changes to the minutes? If I can say
- minutes. I had none. Any? Okay. So with that, all in favor of approving the minutes for May 27th, 2026,
- say aye. Aye.
- that motion carries. So on to new business. I think the first item new business is the Emergency Watershed
- Protection Program. We have formal acceptance of EWPP funding. Yes, I think that we had kind of lumped
- in acceptance of the funding into a task order with HNTB previously. And so this is wanted to make sure
- that we had a standalone
- of it for the record. Can you go ahead and go over the next two and then I can just make one motion
- for the whole thing? That would be great. Yeah, so as part of our funding, we are partnering with the
- city of Bloomington Parks and Recreation. The path of the tornado was through part county residents
- properties as well as the Clear Creek Trail.
- And so to access the logjam removal, debris removal, they will need to access from the trail and from
- private property residences on either side of the creek. And there's no money involved in the MOU with
- the city? Correct. There is in that they're going to pay for half of whatever the
- covered portion of the funding is. So right now, based on the estimate that we received from Bluestone
- for the work, that would come to $7,026 for each Monroe County and City of Bloomington parks. So that's
- specified in the MOU. All of this makes sense and I really want to thank you again for going after this
- because this is huge.
- It's a huge difference for our funding going further. Yeah. So I'm going to make a motion to motion.
- Could you just bring the packet to page 17? If someone's wanting to look at it, it shows the log jams
- and a lot of what's going on. And this is in the effort to remove those just. I know we're really popular
- on cats and such, but I'm sorry to jump in front of that.
- I'm going to go ahead and make a motion to first approve, formally accept the EWPP funding. Second,
- to approve the memorandum of understanding with the City of Bloomington Parks and Recreation. And third,
- to accept the bid proposal by Bluestone Tree for Clear Creek logjam and debris removal. The total cost
- of that for the county will be $7,026. I would like to second that.
- Any commentary? Any public commentary? We have no one here in the Napier Hill Room. Is there anyone
- online who would like to offer public commentary? I'll just say once again, this is spectacular. This
- has been a project long in the making and to have this small contribution on the county level is just
- amazing for such a large project and again demonstrates city county cooperation so thank you so very
- much to everyone who has worked on this and brought this together and as you can see from the pictures
- this is a very it's of inestimable value so do we have to do a can we just do and i think we have to
- do a roll call because that's money okay commissioner thomas yes mr madera yes
- I'm going to go ahead and make a motion, although we're going to have a discussion about this after
- you have to leave, but I'm going to go ahead and make a motion to accept the proposed 2027 budget for
- the stormwater. Pardon. I second that motion. And we're going to talk through some items later.
- as a format. I would do public comment on this one. On that last one, should we? She already did.
- She did. You did? Yes, yes. On the Emergency Watershed Prediction Program? Yeah, we did public comment.
- No, no, no, we're good. And we should take comment on this one. Yes. So before the discussion on the
- budget, should we just do public comment on that now? Yes, yes. Okay.
- So I am opening public comment on the proposed budget. And I don't see anyone here in the Net-U-Hill
- room. And again, the budget is up on the screen. Just calling attention to that. Online, no raised hands.
- So actually, we can open the budget discussion. Or there was a motion. Depending on how much time you
- had available, we were going to move
- to take action to approve it. So if you need to leave and continue the discussion, so there is no actionable
- items. So if we can continue. It is 343. Okay, I can stay until around 350. Oh, I think we can get through
- it. You guys want to highlight, run through it.
- I've reviewed it, I'm comfortable. I could move to just a couple quick questions or my quick statement.
- It's the board's pleasure. I think if Commissioner Redira has anything, she should go first. I did not,
- I was going to see if you guys agree. I, as my guest new to this, and so I am still learning the ways
- of budgets.
- So everything looked sufficient to me, but I might have comments after hearing your comments, if that
- makes sense. I could jump in if you want. This is just a statement. We're all aware of it. I just wanted
- to make sure that we mentioned this prior to the adoption since we might be
- dipping into the cash revenue. If we spend all of this down, I don't think we typically spend our budget
- to zeros every year. And also us allocating the funds aren't necessarily moving us into an agreement.
- So I'm comfortable with that. And why I started with that is the uncertainty about the efforts going
- on with Richland Township in Ellitsville and the reorganization. And I have done some research and on the towns
- they have town of Belitzville Richmond Township Reorganization approved plan and financial impact. It's
- linked there or it was when I pulled the information. Basically they wanted a transition year budget
- which was at $530,000. So a little over half a million. So I just did really rough in the numbers. I
- don't think this is really going to give us.
- of exactly what the impact is. I know that our program manager has looked at this in a way that I think
- give us better numbers, but that could potentially reduce our revenue from two and a half million to
- two million. I also did just some very basic GIS mapping of all the parcels within the Richland Township.
- the parcel ID that last three digits shows that you're in the Richland Township, but not within the
- town of Ellisville. That is, which might be interesting to know to some folks, there's 4,331 parcels.
- And I just multiplied that by what we do with the residential equivalent residential unit fee at $75.77,
- which was 328,000 and some change. So that might reduce the budget
- it does happen to 2.2 million, which I still think we're really good. We have a nice cash balance. This
- budget looks sound. The only thing I would suggest is before maybe we enter into a large project such
- as what we're budgeting for Baby Creek at 1 million, we see what happens with that. So if we have to
- slow that down a little bit, we have the ability to do that. But again,
- This is all unknown and we're getting close to November, so we'll know more definitively. I just wanted
- to say that not to dispute the budget. I'm in support of it, but to make sure that the public knows
- that we're taking this into consideration as we're budgeting for ours. Yeah, and it doesn't take into account.
- businesses and other you know so it's it's yeah so it's a good so it's a good way to ballpark it between
- two numbers so we do have about three million in cash reserves even though our budget spending exceeds
- our estimated revenue and that's with non elvesville richland included of 2.5 million so we're looking
- to spend 3.392 million
- But that one million of that is the Baby Creek project. And I'm not sure that we can slow things down
- because we've done the engineering. So I will have to see. I think we're still OK with our budget no
- matter what, even if that vote goes the other way. I have a quick single question for you, and that is,
- about two-thirds of the way down the page, maintenance, good housekeeping, stormwater, and the hydro
- seating are both removed. Can you explain both of those? Yes. They were removed because we haven't been
- using hydro seating. Then the maintenance, good housekeeping, that was
- one of my predecessors set that line up and we weren't totally sure how it was being used. So we can
- tell you what it was for. Do you remember Tron? The maintenance good housekeeping was for that patch
- of ground at highway where the vacuum truck is emptied and there was a lot of salt and that's what that was for.
- But I don't know that that's an issue anymore, and so that would make sense to remove it. If we have
- a project where we need to remediate something, I think it's a separate project. I don't think it's
- an ongoing whatever, but it was the salt from the sweepers. Because they go through the streets and
- they pick up a lot of salt in the spring. I believe that has been resolved more or less.
- So your question, do you think? You should leave the hydro seating at $1 just in case we ever have that
- use again, because if we budget zero, the line goes away, right? Which is why we've got the $1 equipment,
- $1 vehicle purchase and South Rogers drainage improvement at $1. Yes, because that's going to be a new
- project. So we have a seed mulch compost plantings line. OK, that can kind of work.
- I've done that with my budget and just have operational supplies versus itemizing each individual. So
- we solved your mystery. Yes. And then I did want to make one other note. Our professional fees line
- for 2026 had been increased because we anticipated moving forward more quickly with our long range plan.
- So most of those costs for that will be incurred in 2027. Could I? There was a second.
- a motion to approve in a second. Could I call that to question and could you proceed to the roll call
- real quick? Yes, we'll do a roll call vote. Commissioner Thomas? Yes. Commissioner Madeira? Yes. Surveyor
- Enright-Randolph? Yes. Thank you. Now you can go. Thank you. Thank you so much. You got it all? Yes.
- Thank you for those points. I think that too that we can, depending on the outcome of that vote, we
- can always revisit these items.
- I think our budget is really healthy. Don't forget your water. And. No, thank you so much and thank
- you. Sorry that I have to know you're good. We're all set. Thank you for moving it. We need to get this
- done. It's the deadlines. Yeah, so this was our last chance. Thank you. Thank you. You too. Good luck.
- So do you do you want to talk about the South Rogers?
- a bit. Yes, so our South Rogers drainage improvements project that will be in the neighborhoods south
- of Rogers and Country Club on the west side. So it's that green lab fairway. So it's kind of a three
- phase project where that area is phase three. And so we're having some redesign of the drainage
- and minor redesign of the drainage in that area. We anticipate our crew being able to complete that
- work in next summer or early fall. And then phases one and two are just south of that, Tyler Court and
- Tulip. There's a strange drainage path through that corner lot right there that then goes under Tulip
- and into an HOA managed detention basin. So all of that then drains down behind that and into some homes
- on San Juan Drive. And so all of this is an effort to not only improve the drainage in that area, but
- also reduce some of the outflow to those homes as they've experienced flooding after major rain events.
- So we are looking at the redesign to increase storage capacity of both of that swale, internal, and
- some of the infrastructure, and then working with the HOA on improvements to that detention basin.
- Silted in over time, the orifices are quite large, so they need to be reduced. And then modifying the
- top of the structure so that when it does overtop, it doesn't become completely blocked. So modifying
- that great structure. OK. So you're saying our crew can do all this? The crew would be the north phase.
- And then the other phase one and two are interconnected. And they would be contracted out. OK.
- we're doing phase three first then phase two and phase one. Well, phase three is just separate, but
- it's being designed at the same time. Got it. Got it. That's where I was going next. Perfect.
- That's it. Good. Anything else to talk about on the budget? No. Not so much. Just maybe hopefully with
- our long range plan, maybe we'll find a
- we could eliminate some of these costs in the software area where. Be redundant, but we're not going
- to be there any time soon, so it's just maybe hopefully in four or five years we could kind of help
- reduce some of those costs. That's it. The cartograph cost is our shine. Oh, if it ever gets there,
- we'll see. Um, but. Yes, I was being cryptic for a reason because until we have a good path forward,
- we're not just where everyone's on board. Yeah, because it's a shared cost, right? It's a shared cost,
- but the technology is also like ESRI enterprise. Yeah, a product which we have separately, which
- So anything we could do to offset some of those costs. So I just like to pick on that every year. And
- just so you know, to bring the contract, if you have a contract ready, we need to see it again at the
- commissioner's meeting, the Blue Stone? Yeah. Can you bring it physically with you tomorrow and come
- to the meeting and we'll add you to the agenda?
- I have to go to council first. The way that the grant funds are appropriated, I have to take it to council.
- Because we're going to be out after this week, we're off two weeks. Yes. We're just having claims only.
- That's fine. Just one thing. Next month or not next month, but August, I have a conflict with
- meeting so maybe if we're able to find another day like it takes the three of us to have enough to make
- a decision if there's nothing that needs act on we could even but I will be going to drainage school
- so I so I think that
- sessions for the council or is that in September now? The the budget work sessions are those in September
- start first week of September. OK, so we could probably. If if you felt like we needed to meet.
- We could do. Are you looking at it? Yep. So we had I'm thinking we could do the 19th since we couldn't
- do September. We couldn't delay the meeting a week.
- because of those work sessions. If that helps, maybe the 19th would work. I'll look at my calendar right
- now. I can't think of any other commitments. I have no idea what's on my count. I can send a follow-up
- email to coordinate with you guys to make sure that the 19th will work. If you feel like we need to
- meet, then we should. Okay.
- and we'll do the public notice to make sure that it's updated on the county calendar and everything.
- I just wanted to give you a heads up. They just sent out the dates for the journey school and I think
- I think Commissioner Madeira. They have a conflict on Wednesdays coming up, so yeah, because classes
- do start that week on the 24th, so so I and law school starts before everyone else.
- She may not. Yeah, so she may not be available. So yeah, send an email if you would. Sorry, that's fine.
- I have a hard enough time with my own schedule. I can't manage others. Well, I mean, do we just understand
- update? I have just a couple of updates. So I have provided two letters of support to the SWCD for some
- of their efforts. The first one is.
- for Bean Blossom Creek Watershed Management Plan 319 grant funding. Deadline hasn't passed. I was meaning
- to do one, but I would vacation and getting back to the office. Double check with Martha. I don't think
- the deadline has passed just yet. Okay, I'm so glad you're with me. A repeat of our letter that we had
- sent last year. They're reapplying because they did not receive funding last year.
- So they're reapplying and so this was an updated letter for that. The second letter of support was for
- the Clean Water Indiana grant to provide additional funding for an education coordinator. We already
- provide them commit to $5,000 each summer for a summer intern. Martha and I have been having conversations
- about what that position could really do and grow into and so this would be no change in our
- our current financial commitment, it would just be amplified by receiving the grant funding to make
- it a little bit more year round so that they could get into the classroom and have curriculum. I'm not
- gonna use the word curriculum, I just thought that was wrong, but to use programming that meets the
- state education requirements to really supplement what teachers are doing in the classrooms.
- That's cool. So there's that.
- And then our long-range plan, we are making progress on selecting a firm. And I hope to be able to bring
- that to you in August, though if we're pushed ahead a week, we might not be able to bring it to you
- until September. Yeah. We'll see what that looks like. OK. They end at 3 o'clock. It's an hour drive.
- So if we wanted to push it back the same day, I could be back in town by 5.
- I don't think there are other meetings here, but I'm sure so we'd have to check on that. But I will
- look at all our options and send them to you. OK, so either the 20. What is it? The 626 after five or
- the 19th? OK. Thank you so much. Thanks for your flexibility.
- you. Absolutely Thank you. Just make one quick comment. Um I just wanted to applaud, uh, the stormwater
- team and especially our project manager with, um. Wrangling, uh, things
- that we've been receiving. There's a lot of goals and initiatives. There's a lot of work behind that,
- and I just wanted to express my gratitude and also express the gratitude for all of the folks that had,
- uh, volunteered or voluntold or get paid. Why are there there to go through it? A bunch of the information
- that we've been receiving that we have two folks
- at least go on record thanking them for their time. Thank you. We're adjourned.