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.