County Council - Regular Meeting

You should see. Okay. So, when I'm done with this, you're right. I'm sorry.

I guess we got people from Lincoln dinner. What's up?

She sent me an email. I didn't respond because I didn't want to put this one out. She got spot on. I I got to grab Steve last year or two years ago. That's to do the

I'll get back. Well, I'd like to see the uh I heard that they rolled up today with a school bus. Well, I know. Can I set it? I'd rather have it, too. Can I set it out, too? Right on my forehead.

I'm just so squeaky. Oh, yeah. Oh, I appreciate that. You know what's funny? He came up. So happy.

No, we're done. We're still in West in West Virginia, though. Actually, still you still made snow yesterday in West Virginia. Not Michigan. Michigan's done. We tried making some snow this week, but couldn't make it happen. But West Virginia snow Well, we were making snow in Michigan, but it said windy stay on Tuesday. Oh, I was wondering some of these airports had a bunch of problem Buffalo. It was good. Longer than average, good crowd. What was really nice for us this season is it got cold and stayed cold.

So, the conditions stay when it's free, free stall, the snow kind of gets kind of junky. So, when it gets cold and stays cold,

leaves us in better better conditions, right? Good. This one too. I ski probably five or six times this year.

I usually get up like an hour and a half and everything. I take lots of pictures and stop and look at a lot of things. I always try to go do it for fun, but it never happens that way.

Yeah. Older Hey, I got two riskmanagement thing in your life.

But maybe figure out. Sorry. Can you still referee Are you done with that? I did a few games early in the season.

Yeah. That's a fun age. Yeah.

Stay out of the stuff where the parents get too. That's right. Listen. Sometimes Sometimes parents forget what we're teaching our kids in those moments, don't they? Yeah. Your daughter in our career or something that two of them. Yeah. My my oldest daughter did archery last year and the second youngest one started in the school. Yeah. The schools have really nice

out the county farm park. There's a archery range. Oh, yeah.

That's a nice facility. A lot of upgrades new solar out there.

I guess it's a great facility making investments in that. chicken to hear about your brother passed away there a couple weeks ago. Hey be got lots of hats today.

Everyone will join us in standing up for the pledge of allegiance. I pledge to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. As a recipient of federal funds and it supported Debor Countyy's efforts to ensure non-discrimination and equal access to all citizens, the county gathers fiscal data regarding participants in county activities. Therefore, we have provided a voluntary title six public involvement survey at this meeting. You are not required to complete this survey. However, the form is anonymous and will be used solely for the purpose of monitoring our compliance with title six and ADA. Thank you, Andy. First on our agenda is highway. I think Leah is presenting for highway.

Um this is for a request to create account an account in River Road Commission's fund for Van Wedding Road and then transfer $500,000 into that account to get that project started. Simply a transfer. Yeah. Okay. Is there a motion to approve the transfer of funds for uh this new project on Smalls 533? I'll make the motion. I'll second it. A motion to second. Any other discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion passes. Thank you. Next on the agenda is Mr. Kelly for the

Good evening. I appreciate your time. So, I've got three additional requests this evening. Uh, the first request is for a wage increase for a new um it's for an officer I've had with me for about eight years now, but uh Jamie Billingsley has been being moved into a quality assurance officer position. Um, if you guys recall when I took over, a lot of you won't recall this, but when I took over community corrections in 2013, at that time we had uh I was the chief probation officer and then we had a director of community corrections who was a completely separate entity. We merged into one department into a unified court services department and I took over the management of both departments. So, uh, we we got rid of that director position. I kind of took over the management supervision of both departments. However, that's a lot of work to do when you're managing two different departments. So, um, we are promoting, uh, Jamie Billingsley into a quality assurance position. She is not a manager, but she will be directly helping me oversee, uh, the community corrections portion. Uh, we're funded about half a million dollar, a little over half a million dollars a year for community corrections, uh, through grant funding. And because of that, there's a lot of, um, requirements that we have to do to meet the DOC standards. and I need somebody who directly oversees that agency to make sure that we're um that we're meeting those standards. Uh Jamie has a masters in public administration. She was in the uh US Army for um six years as an interrogator, so she's obviously highly qualified. And then she's been with me for another eight years, so she's obviously highly qualified uh to take over that position. Um, we're asking it's a $5,000 raise, but then Leah put in there the Perf and FICA and all the fringe that goes along with that. So, total increase out of the probation user fees would be $5,943. So, that's my first request. I don't know if you want to take them one by one or

Let's take them one by one. Is there a motion? I move we approve the additional request. 5,943. I'll second. Any other discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. Oppos? Nay. Motion passes. Your next request is for $15,000 out of open unrestricted.

Yeah. So, this request is we're currently working with a um with the consultant agency Gilman Partners out of uh Cincinnati. um they have been putting on a leadership program um for the chamber for the Lawrenburg Chamber um or for the Dear County Chamber uh for I think six or seven years now where they have local um up and cominging leaders uh in the community come and you do a six-month program with them. Uh and you attend leadership training for uh three hours a day for once a month for six months. Um and it's just training people to be better leaders and um uh better employees in the in the agency and and kind of develop as many leaders as possible. Uh I went through that class two years ago and it was something that I found very beneficial.

Broad is it pretty much for foundation type?

Well, this this is broad. So when I went through the class, there was uh people in the banking industry, people with um MGP, people just all over just any type of businesses or agency in Dear County is people who attend that. So, I found it was very beneficial to me. Um, and I didn't want to just send one person at a time to that. So, what we're doing is all of my probation officers, all of my therapists for JCAP, and all of my case managers for community corrections are going through that program. It's at a reduced price than it would cost if I sent everybody individually to the chambers um thing. And and once again, I could only send so many people a time if I did that. So, uh, Judge Mclofflin and I decided we wanted to send everybody through that program. How many people are we talking? What's How many people?

17 17 17 people. Yeah. And that like I said that includes all the JCAP therapists, um the director of JCAP, myself. I'm going back through it because it's important that we uh go through as a as a group. Um all of my probation officers and all of my case managers. Steve, can you remind us the the opioid unrestricted fund that's from a settlement from the state as a result of

right currently? I don't have the exact fund, but we're currently over $1.4 million that we have in that. And we have two different funds. We have the restricted opioid funds. And once again, that's the settlement from um the uh the opiates that were given out, the lawsuits that happened because of that. So, each county uh is given so much money in opioid settlement funds. Um and we're currently in our in our account. And then we have about $1.4 4 million total between the restricted and unrestricted. The unrestricted I think is a little over three, and don't quote me on these because I don't have the numbers in front of me. I believe the unrestricted funds are a little over 300,000 and then we have about 1.1 million in the restricted funds. The restricted funds,

right, the restricted have to go specifically towards substance abuse. Unrestricted, you can use on whatever you want. I'll make a motion for 15,000 out of for education and training out of the 1238 opioid unrestricted fund. Thank you, Tim. Second. Thank you, Doug. Any other discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Nay. Motion passes. This the middle school prevention program. Yeah. So, this this is actually I'm presenting this for uh the prosecutor's office uh for Len Dens. Um, every year she goes to the local middle schools and they do a prevention program. All of them.

All of them. We're going to all this year Lim will take. Um, Chris Herren, if you guys have ever heard the Hering Project, uh, Chris Herren was a um out in the East Coast, was a was a basketball phenom um as a high school. He was on Sports Illustrated. Um, he was on a lot of different documentaries and things like that. His dad was a famous high school basketball coach and he went to college and got addicted to heroin. Got drafted to the NBA, played for the Celtics while with the Celtics, was addicted to heroin. Uh there's an ESPN documentary on him that's really good if you've never seen it. Um and like he even talks about how he would like at halftime run out and buy drugs on the street while in his Celtic jersey and then go back in and play basketball and heroin. So anyways, he's been sober for about 20 years now and he goes around the country. He has a nonprofit agency now, but he'll go around the country speaking to um a lot of schools and things like that. And um Len and I and Christina and I work together on getting him to come to Dear County. He's going to present the 13,500 plus what they have to use from CASA because they have a CASA grant. We'll cover all three of the Dear County middle schools. And then Ohio County is covering he's going to go to Ohio County as well and they're going to cover the Ohio County portion for that. So

who's they? It's going to be Ohio County. I don't know what funding, but it's all that funding for the Ohio County school is from Ohio County. Um, we're just paying for the Dear County portion of it. So, that fund will actually be set up um in the prosecutor's office and they'll be able to pay that amount. I'm just here speaking on their behalf because I help with that that grant process. So, I'm looking for an approval of 13,500 for that funding. Once again, out of the restricted. To be honest with you, I think this one because it falls under prevent prevention could go unrestricted or restricted. But well, this is was it only advertised out of unrestricted? Yeah. Yeah, we're going to do it under unrestricted, but it would That's too bad because I'd like to use the restricted. So, that's the request here.

Seemed like that'd be allowed out of there, didn't Yeah, but it wasn't advertised that way. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen. I'll make a motion to approve the 13500 for middle school drug prevention program out of the 1238 opioid unrestricted. Is there a second? I will. Doug. Any other discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I oppose. Nay. Motion passes. I do. They don't talk about just like drugs. Do they talk about like vaping and alcohol? Yeah, he talks about all that. He'll talk about alcohol use and vaping because if you watch his story, a lot of it started with alcohol use and cigarettes and things like that. So, because there's been recent stories about how alcohol is having a resurgence,

right? Right. Go figure. And vaping of course is a major issue right now with the with the teenagers unfortunately. Thank you very much, Steve. All right. Thank you guys. Veteran services that you live. Oh, I'm sorry, Dave. I didn't see you.

Okay. Good afternoon, Dave. For those of you who may not know me, I'm Dave Currence, the veteran service officer, and uh thanks for your time today. I'm here to ask for additional funding for part-time assistant veteran service officer to help me out. Um our requests year over year have exponentially gotten larger and larger, and it would just be nice to have another resource uh trained to do benefits and claims for our Dearborn County veterans. I I agree. is an important service. I do have a question for Leah though. This amount is this for an annualized is this figure an annualized number or just for the remaining months of the year.

I believe it's annualized. Okay. I think it is too because I think I think in budget we about 27,000 in that neighborhood. Yes, it is for per year. Right. Okay. Thank you. And Dave, I don't remember if I read it in an article, if it was something you gave us at budget time, but you had talked about the number of visits of veterans and and the rates that that is up coming through your doors. You remember those numbers off the top of your head?

Uh, I think I've got it here. So since 2021, we've seen an 89% increase in office visits, 386 to 731, and 115% increase in claims processed. Uh 245 to 527. It's an important surface. I think it's unfortunate that some of the other surrounding areas don't support veterans to the extent that D County does. that we have people coming from Kentucky, Cincinnati, which to me is a little shocking, but yeah, I'd like to commend Dave for his reachout efforts. I saw your little thing on uh I think it was Channel 9 or Yes, sir.

It's a couple months ago. It really you made Dearborn County look good. Thank you. I appreciate that. The just the sheer numbers of veterans being served by your office, it's uh to be commended for that. Thank you. Um, and then I have another request for additional $600. There's new legislation that passed this year that uh is going to increase the training requirements for county veteran service officers. And now we are required to attend a 4-day training uh just outside of Indianapolis. And my uh current budget for travel is about $400 for the year. And uh that's just not going to be enough to cover.

Will this be enough for you and the new person or just you? Well, this one I just put in for me because I don't have the person on board yet, but I will need it for the new person as well because I my hope is to train them to do exactly what I do even though they're the assistant so that uh we'd have complete support across the board. Makes sense. You want this as one motion or separate? We can do it as one motion. I believe both come county general. I move we approve both requests from the veteran service officer. Thank you, Mark. Is there a second? Thank you, Daniels. Any other discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. Nay. Motion passes. Thank you very much.

Thanks, Dave. Amy Rose for the health department.

Good evening. Thank you guys. Um, bear with me. I didn't bring my glasses. This is a little worry. Uh the first one, the 36 2743, um there was one county in the state that opted out of HFI. So the rest of us got a little bit of a bump from that one county opting out. So that's what that 3627 is. And that would just go into our general clinic operations. Okay. So you have two requests out of 1161. So I think we should probably take care of both of those in one motion.

Yeah. The first one is that additional bump and the second one is roll over from the first year. We have the capability right now when our vaccine fridges and the freezer go out to keep them running for about an hour and a half. But power outages don't always last an hour and a half. So uh just for peace of mind, we would like to purchase an additional generator. or a vacine. No, but this generator be like gas powered. So, it's I apply it should not be gasoline. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know much about generators. If there's natural gas up there, I think the best way to tap it in is with natural gas because then you don't worry about the fuel running out.

I mean, I'm not an expert on that. I don't take any advice you want to offer me. What What building is this on, Amy? Is this at the top of the hill or Okay. Yeah. So this would only be covering your power outage. Yes. Not the upper level which is still empty. This is like going to be a freestanding that you got a company a price to install. I'm sorry. You got a price from some company to install? Not yet. I just uh this is just very beginnings. I just want to make sure that when we can get there.

Yeah. I mean that seems like a very high number. We just built a new building and got the got RMC put a freestanding generator. They service it and everything. There's some, you know, yearly cost a few hundred dollars, but it was less than $10,000 and it it basically runs our whole building. So, I'm sure that would probably be adequate. You know, Dr. and I talked about out of both of our wheelhouses. Uh, so let me ask you, that's how they power them if it's already if it's natural gas.

Okay, that's that to me is the way to go. If there's natural gas up there, that's the way to hook it up because then you don't worry about the diesel or the gasoline running out and it should automatically kick on. So, that's a win-win. So, the numbers probably high. It just rolls back whatever you don't use. So, we have these two requests for uh the health department out of 1161. Is there a motion to approve these requests? And this request if if that amount isn't needed it will roll back in. So you're okay and it wouldn't be used for something else. No, these are state funds. So but we don't have a quote yet. No. No. This is from Health First Indiana.

Yes. Health first funding. I think we should table the second request for the $100,000 and get a quote before we blanket. No problem. Yeah. Because we don't want to give them an open checkbook,000, but Yeah, I guess I have more faith in the fact that they would probably handle it appropriately, but I appreciate if we want to table the second one, we can, but then we need two different motions. I'll make a motion to approve the 36 2743 out of 1161. Do you want just one quote? No. You usually get three. Yeah, those three is and I would contact your electric company. It's probably utility.

It is. Who did who did you put down this for the second? I put Mark. Mark. Okay. Okay. And all those in favor signify by saying I. I. Nay. Motion passes. On the second request for the generator. Is there a motion to approve or is there a motion to table? I move we table. Y'all are talking talking stereo here. I'll second Glenn's motion. Any other discussion? All those in favor of tableabling signify by saying I.

I post nay. Motion passes. And I think that there's support for this but with some real hard harder numbers. Absolutely understandable. And then you have 1159 funds for tissue health fund

the 4,000. Um, I participate in a maternal child health consortium and so those funds were funds that were paid to me and then I just put them in our account. So, uh, we just want to pull those out and use them to put on a community baby shower and that would be in May. Um, and then the $10,000 that was from a $50,000 donation that we received. Um, and that's just going to go to promote our oral health prevention program that we're doing with soil and water. You're doing with whom? Um, soil and water conservation district. Okay. Is there a motion to approve these two requests?

So move. Second. A second. Any other discussion? All those signify by saying I in favor sign. Any opposed? Motion passes. Thank you. Congratulations for the work you're doing. Thank you. Next on the agenda is a BCA appointment. It's currently Andrea Shooter if she's willing to serve again. Is there a motion to approve this appointment? Second. Yeah. Seconded.

Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I I post nay. Motion passes. Have a resolution. Andy, are you presenting or Oh, see Nicole's here.

Good evening. Nicole Dailyaly, director of planning and zoning and Jean Flurry, uh member of the park board. Um this evening we're looking for is a um approval and uh support of the uh 2631 uh 5-year master park plan. Um the park board and myself have been working on this for over a year. Uh we finally received approval through IDNR um which is one of the steps that has to be taken. it has to be approved through the state before all the approvals come down to the county. Uh so we went to the commissioners for their support resolution and we're coming to council for a support resolution on that as well. Um because we want to be able to include this in the master plan and the park board will be doing their final resolution approval of the master plan in their April meeting. So that is what our request is for this year.

But materials were emailed to us. I don't see them in the packet. Andy, do you have 104 pages? This is the my I did read a lot of it. It was But we did it emailed to us. So yes, you have the whole thing emailed to um you um and officially it's still considered draft until um the park board does their resolution at their April meeting. Um but we wanted to be able to include um these resolutions of support for that plan. uh being that it's a five-year plan and the park will be able to go after grants and stuff throughout those five years um for um improvements that are listed within that plan.

So, do you have the resolution or does Andy had it? I have the resolution here. Go ahead. This is a resolution in support of the five-year plan. We would need a motion to approve the resolution 2026-002. Is there a motion to approve this? I will. Is there a second? Thank you, Mark. All those in fa any other discussion? I got a question. Yes. Uh 48 Shooting Sports uses a range there on the call.

Yes. So that's not an issue with them continuing to use that. No. Um and actually what we've discussed and what's in there is to um possibly some uh future improvements in that area to maybe expand usage of it um for other educational purposes as well. I was up there this weekend, Glenn, and uh in the last two years, they've replaced the structure that archery shoots from. I think that's partly so they can host events up there. They're also adding solar on the building. Instead of running power back, they've added solar because it's so far back off the road. So, right, there's a great group of individuals that volunteer at that park and it's it's really made some nice improvements in the last few years.

Okay, we have a motion, a second to approve the plan. Any other discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I post nay. Motion passes. Everyone does need to sign this. So let's finish before you move on. Thank you. You'll sign pass and we'll make first I'll sign before this is

Nicole, will you be providing a copy of this to auditor office? Yes, actually the next items that we'll see. I think Bonnie said she sent this out, but he did email

him made archives. That's just signal. Are you waiting for this resolution? Yeah, I just want seen that somewhere. like plan is Okay, next on our agenda is the conservancy district and first item is the resolution of support.

Oh, how may we approve the resolution of support? We have a motion to approve the resolution support. Is there a second? A second. Madame President, before we go to a vote, um I would like to address something about that resolution very quickly if I could. This uh resolution, if I may, if I if I may. Can we do that after we we're going to do the financial part also?

Sure. I understand. But I want to address that with you because um I don't think the understanding of what this resolution is for uh may have gotten expressed clearly. Um, so what it is is this resolution. I was I was given a copy today and it's missing the most essential part of it. Basically, there needs to be some statement of the 4.2 million in this. And uh so what I would ask is that this resolution be amended. So I I'll tell you real quick just in you know this is a lot of legal ease. I didn't write it just to be clear with everybody. Our grant writers wrote it. But right now what this resolution says without that 4.2 too is is that the county is against just in simple English is against people drowning. I mean it's basically you're pro levy but it really doesn't talk about any financial support in the document itself. This document is necessary. It's the key that we can then say hey county Lawrenburg Greenale and the LCD all agree that we're willing to throw 4.2 into a pot. Um and that pot that that is basically what FEMA is going to look at as what they're going to be giving her. So it really what their grant is going to be. So what it is is that we have a 25% match on that FEMA grant then they're going to give us 75%. But if we come with them to only showing the 4.2 from Lawrenburg LCD and Greenale that in fact will reduce our grant by you know the about $16.8 million by

Okay. The only thing we're prepared to do tonight is to entertain this resolution. There's been a motion and a second. Any other discussion by members of county council? All those in favor of adopting the resolution. Um, it says 2026002, but it must be 003. Andy, is that correct? Uh, it's written as a joint resolution. Um, oh, because it's joint. Yeah, it would be on the commission. Any other discussion from county council members? All those in favor signify by saying I. Something I don't I don't understand. Uh where does it leave us if we do this?

It's basically just that you don't you guys are pro levy. I mean that's all it says on this thing. And I understand that uh the the issue the fear and everything else like that that all of a sudden a blank check. In fact, I even saw on the agenda that even says that this money is to come out of the county general. I know for a fact that's impossible to take 4.2 million out of the county general. Um, so really what it leaves us with is nothing. Um, so what I would what I propose I I have an amendment and I just if I could read that to you guys to see that even though you would pledge this, you wouldn't be on the hook for it. Certain conditions would have to be met and the biggest one is getting an interlocal done, right? Because I can't ask you to put 4.2 million out of your general budget. I mean,

well, I don't think anyone tonight is prepared to approve a 4 Oh, no, no, I'm not asking that.

Well, you're putting that in writing. Can can I can I show you what I'm putting into writing real quick? And then I think that would probably maybe explain the situation. So what I'm this is what I'm asking for. Any commitment, obligation, or appropriation by Dearburn County to provide funding in an amount not to exceed $4.2 million dollars for the project contemplated herein is expressly contingent expressly contingent upon the satisfaction of each of these following conditions. So the first one is the parties shall negotiate, execute and deliver a written interlocal cooperation agreement in form and substance acceptable to both Durham County and LCD setting forth the terms, conditions, responsibilities, and obligations of each party with respect to the project. And two, the project shall receive a formal grant award from the federal emergency management FEMA or a FEMA administered program providing funding for the project. So really what it is is it's a contingent resolution. The main point of it is is there has to be an agreement of how you guys are going to fund this because if it's just 4.2 it's done. We got to come up with some uh better ways that we can go through an interlocal to talk about when the money is going to be given because obviously we know you can't write a check for 4.2 million, right? That's an extraordinary ask for the LCD. So, what we're asking for is maybe a plan or some other way that the county could pay this money, however which way, but something that is not to be contemplated at this meeting, but a meeting after we get this grant, if we get the grant, that we would then get into negotiations about how we could do this 4.2. So, I'm not asking you to get 4.2. Um, it really is contingent upon whether you got it, right? This year, you don't got it, right? We know that. we got to talk to your auditor and it just it's not there yet. So, we get that.

Well, it's going to be less there going forward because of Senate enrolled act and out of state l credits. So, if we can't afford it today, we can't afford it in 2027.

I I would disagree with that and this is why I would disagree with that is that what you can do is find ways to pay for I understand there's going to be less money coming in, but the issue is is that this and you know, like I said, I I'll I'll let you go ahead and do your vote and whatnot before I get in my program or what what I would like to present to you, why this is important. Um, is that this project is a generational project. Um, and you know, like I said, the importance of it. I understand about the lit, the loss of money. I just want to say that this probably if I if I could think of what was one of the most important things I've ever touched in my life, this is probably one of the most important things I've ever worked on. And this for this council, like I said, this is a generational thing. Um, we all know that we live in a clay bowl next to the Ohio, right, in the city of Lawrenburg and whatnot. And so, like I said, it is in it is of life and death importance to see if we can repair these. and you know the LCD. I've got all my members here today of the board. They take this seriously as well. Uh we have members from Lawrenburg here. We have the mayor of Greeno here. This is a community project. And like I said, it is one and I like I said, I represent the city of Aurora. I get it. Money is tough. We are scared to death of that SP1 coming out, right?

It's already come out. It's already affecting us in 2026. Understood. Understood. The issue is is that we know what what the gauntlet is before us, right? The issue is I have seen how smart this council is. I've seen how you debate it before. There is a way to get this done. And if the the

the issue is of such importance that it must be done, there must be a way to do it. And so, like I said, um you know, in fact, my uh speech that I prepared, my first thing I talk about is getting past no, right? Um, but any event, I I'm fine with you guys taking a vote. I just would ask for that amendment to put that on there because otherwise it's pretty much useless for our purposes with FEMA. So, is there a deadline when you guys had to have this? Well, that's why we're having this meeting tonight because they said we had to have a meeting now. Yeah. And so, we were trying to be accommodating.

And I appreciate I appreciate it. It's coming coming very quick. It's coming in uh probably early May, late April. Um, of course, with the government shutdown, we may be stuck waiting a little bit longer. Uh, but it is coming. And so, what it is is the process itself is they give you like a week's headroom to get all your documents in. Now, we have a great grant writer that's getting all of our ducks in a row so we can make that pitch to FEMA as soon as possible. And I can't thank you enough for just putting this on the agenda to get this this when when are you actually requesting the money from from council

it the actual one the first step is we got to get the grant right so we get the grant we get the engine the engineering hasn't even been fully finished or we get the grant we start our engineering and then we have to get uh shovel into dirt. So it' be 3 to four years possibly from now that we would actually be asking for this money. So we there is some time uh before we would we would ask you to write some money and then even then the questions it wouldn't be the total amount. I mean it like periodic we we can do what that's that's the issue with the interlocal is coming up with how could we get this done for you over the next couple years. But if you got a grant you got to have you got to have the money earmarked before they're going to approve the grant.

Not with this one. Not with this one. They want to show the support that it's there. Right. So, you're used to some of those those statewide grants and whatnot. The federal government, what they want to see is that the cities and adjoining communities would be willing to put themselves in that position. You know, if it falls through and we can't match it, well, we might be on the hook for your portion of it, right? That could happen. But the issue is this is we're trying to get our foot in the door

to get FEMA. And I I just want to say this, you know, we talk about grant programs. This one right here, every dollar that the county would spend to this is equal to $12 of federal funding. I mean, we're getting a 12:1 ratio. You're getting a 12 to1 ratio on this. We're getting a 12 to1 for our money. Uh so is Greenale and so is Lawrence. I thought they I thought it was uh 25% and and they're matching it with 75%. That's correct. So that's 1/4 times basically four because of four entities. Yes, because there's four entities. So it actually we're I know the way that's the way not the way that's fuzzy math there. It's well 25%'s 25%.

If I was talking about your commitment to this, every dollar you send is going to get us 12 bucks. Like without you, we can't make it. Um so I don't know if like I said, I I'd like you to to pass that amendment tonight with us. Um, and I had a copy to your attorney to append exactly how I wrote it, uh, to this resolution, but this would get our foot in the door with them. Um, you know, one thing I want to say is, you know, I think everybody knows how critical this is. Uh, basically,

there's no question about that. We have, we have heard the pitch. I've been to the meeting. I understand the importance of the levy. County council is responsible for county government. When we did our budget for 2026, there was a shortfall in property tax revenue because of Senate Real Act One. There was also a shortfall, which at the time of budget, we did not get those numbers, but there was a shortfall in lit by about $400,000 due to the out ofstate credits. So, that's been phased in. So, this year, LIT, instead of being going up a little bit or even flat, went down. So, in the I don't have a crystal ball, but I can see this pattern for a while that the county is going to be in less and less and less of a position to do anything other than taking care of different county government. So, I feel like this is something that I'm not really that com comfortable with your um your amendment because I'm not sure that different county government could honor it. Now, if you're saying that if different county government can't honor it, perhaps other entities could fill that gap. I could live with that understanding. But I mean, to me, it's almost like smoking mirrors if we were to say that we are agreeing to this amendment of a commitment of this amount knowing full well that it's highly unlikely that we could come up with those kinds of dollars.

So, but thank you for that. So, let me tell you, it's not highly unlikely. there's a possibility, right? So, uh, me and Mr. KD, we got a chance to talk to your auditor. Uh, we got to look at some of the accounts, found out most of, like I said, I understand where where you're coming from, uh, President, but, uh, it's tough, right? But there is sources of of money there. Uh, one of the big ones we saw was the hospital fund, right? It's restricted for 10 years. $10 million in that. Okay. There's $5 million in that.

Five. Okay. There's $5 million in that. that's restricted funds right now. Um I think it's in CDs. I think you're getting interest on it. Um but that's the kind of thoughts we're giving is is that the money may not be available today and we you may need that money for other you know you've said it that they're taking away a lot of your revenue and first of all I didn't do SB1. I wrote a letter to the governor on behalf of Aurora asking why would you do this to us right especially for a little municipality like Aurora.

I'd like to say this much this about the hospital money. This was money. This is a onetime opportunity for different county government to be having our nodes above water. That will never happen in my lifetime again. So the monies that we received, the county received from the highpoint sale to St. Elizabeth was a onetime revenue stream. It has allowed Don County government for the first time in forever to have what we should have in the way of reserves and things that are going to like in the next five years when that money can be released, who knows what our needs are. Sure. But

so for you to say that we've got this, you know, sitting out there and we could expend that for that $4.2 million, there's no guarantee that we would not need it for, you know, some bridges that failed or whatever. I just find it a little bit um I guess inappropriate for you to decide that we've got x number of dollars that are available perhaps down the road.

Well, I I never mean to be in inappropriate. I swear I don't. Uh like I said, I have a problem, right? That is not just a problem for me. It's a problem for this county. It's a problem for the citizens of Greenale. It's a problem for Lawrenburg. And what I'm the only thing I'm asking this council to do is help me problem solve. Right? This isn't um I think there's a there gets into some positions that you know only 10% of the population lives here. We got 90% of the other county to worry about. That that strikes home to me. I get it. Why why would someone from Bright care about this? Why would somebody from Manchester care that Lawrenburg floods, right? Why would they care? Everybody should care because there's a revenue stream there and

we got we got the most jobs, the most tax base and everything down here.

I I absolutely agree with that. The other reasons I agree with that is also we're the main point of transportation to the entire county, right? US50 are spurred to 275. You can get out of the county on 74. I agree. But this is this is where most people are funneling if they want to go to Cincinnati, Ohio to their jobs elsewhere or people from Ohio or Kentucky would come, they come through our area. We are protecting those roads right there. Um, so I'm glad I'm glad that you guys kind of understand this. This is really and like I said, uh, uh, President, you you stated, this is the first time we have our nose above water. Uh, we're looking to keep your nose above water, literally. And the issue is is that the threat is real. Um, you know, I just last year I helped clean up the city of Aurora. They don't have a levy system like that. We were scrubbing basements. Businesses were done. The whole city shut down for almost two weeks. Cost the city about $50,000. That's, you know, Trump changed most people. For us, that's a real real hit. And so, you know, through the years, you know, like I said, President, you stated it. You understand how d you know, you look out the window right there, there's a levy. You know, we know it's protecting us. We know that, you know, throughout the years, uh, anytime it gets over 57 ft of flood level, this courthouse, if but for the levy, our socks would be wet right now. We would have to evacuate the prison. we'd have to close down county business. Probation would close down. Everything we're talking about is done. Basically, this levy is kind of the bedrock we sit on. So, you know, I I don't want to beat to death that's important. And I don't mean to be inappropriate. Like I said, you know, I think the issue here is is a lack of solutions, right? And I think the solutions are there. It just takes some mathematics. It takes some work. And we are willing to help you with that if you can help us. And I think that this council and you know if we look at the

the levy in general, this project that levy project when it was first built in 41 was kind of like the federal government gave us a Corvette, right? This is one of the best pieces of infrastructure ever created by man. It's the second most complicated levy system uh after the first they had in Montana with our our uh relief wells and the other facilities. Um, and we got this thing and you know what happened is is that I think there was a little shortsightedness about the l the longevity of keeping this levy up. Uh, you got some political infighting. I don't think money was spent the way it should have been. And now we're sitting here looking at this levy. We need to get this thing accredited to make sure that we can continue to allow Lawrenburg to survive. And so we have right now kind of a Rubicon, a river we're crossing here. Um, are we going to be able to keep these levies solid or are we going to have to come up with another plan where we start diminishing our capacity and the like? Meaning that we're going to basically because we don't have the money to do it, we're going to have to shrink the very cities that we have our income from, our our our ways of travel, um, employment. The county government uh, would possibly have to move. I mean, I don't want to get that drastic. I think I think we're going to find a way, you know, to to do something. But this right here is an opportunity. It has come up. We have a wonderful uh representative and uh representative Aaron Hchin. Um she's pro this levy system. You know, she came to us and said, "You guys uh this is a perfect vehicle for something that we could do as a federal government to help fix these levies for you." And by fixing them, what we've done then is create safety and security both in life, property, and in anything else for at least another 60, 70 years, right? Um,

in fact, the plan here is this is that I was talking to Mr. KD, we had a long discussion and the issue is not so much how do we fix them currently, but how do we keep them fixed moving into the future? And so me and uh Jim been talking seriously of how when I leave this position, which I won't always be the attorney here, he won't always be the chairman. He keeps trying to not run for the next one, but it'll happen. How do we set this up that we can be financially secure into the future? And so the plan here is is that we have a magic opportunity right now. And of course, we know the county has its challenges, city of Lawrenburg has its challenges, Greenale has its challenges, we of course have our challenges, but this is our opportunity. Could you go back and explain how your addendum would um work if the county were not able to honor that?

Well, basically the addendum has two contingencies in there. Basically, it's done. If we can't come to terms on how you guys are able to appropriate those funds and the like, there is no agreement, right? We we would we can't there's no legal. Basically, we're saying here you owe us 4.2 if we can come to terms on a separate agreement. That doesn't happen. There is no agreement for 4.2. Yeah. So, it's got to be 4.2 or nothing. It's got to be 4.2 or nothing. Wait, wait a minute. Now, what what if somebody else comes to the table with more money and we come with less money?

You're saying they I mean there's or somebody wants to bond some part of it. I mean, there's there's other avenues. You can't afford it and you're ask but you are asking us to commit $4.2 million subject to these contingencies. Yes.

Mr. Palm, is that something you want? I was just going to echo what Jared's saying. The resolution's not binding. The what would be binding the contractual relationship would be the subsequent interlocal agreement. So Greenell's done a resolution or Larnsburg's done a resolution. They've got their 4.2 million in there. But the LCD can't go to Greenale and say, "Hey, we want our 4.2 million right now." Because there's no contractual langu There's no contractual agreement between them because there's no interlocal agreement between them yet. So the amendment Jared has would add that language in there. Add the 4.2 in there, but contingent upon an ex the execution of interlocal agreement plus contingent upon them actually receiving a grant.

Does that make sense? The resolution, it's not a contract. So Mr. Bank, you have a you have a resolution provided by the city of Lawrenceburg for 4.2. Is that correct? That's correct. You you have one from the city of Greenale for 4.2. That's correct. You have one from the board for the conservy district. Yes, that's correct. And if if we pass one at a lower rate, can any of those resolutions be amended to get you to the 25% that you need? I don't believe so. Um, and the reason being is is that what they want is a a shared equal partnership between the local uh state. Yeah. FEMA. Shared. FEMA wants shared. Yep. They want a shared community. You want a certain amount of money and you want four people to participate. Correct. But it doesn't have to be

even shared. Yeah. What what four people? So, City of Lawrenburg, City of Greenale, uh, US, the LCD, and the Dearber County. So, those are the Who decides those four?

Those are the local stakeholders of overlapping jurisdiction. So, if this was only for Lawrenburg, we would still be asking the county because Dumer County is is Lawrenburg and vice versa. So, we would still be asking for money even if it was just for Lawrenburg. Uh, if it was just for Greenale, we'd still be asking you for the money. Um, but like I said, our jurisdiction are is Greenale, Lawrenceburg. Lawrenburg's jurisdiction is Lawrenceburg. Greenale's jurisdiction is Greenale. The county is everybody's jurisdiction. Um, so I hope that did that answer it. Go ahead. I got a question. Uh, flood insurance. Yep.

Are there any properties in Lawrenburg that have to pay any flood insurance?

Zero. Okay? Because I've talked to business owners on down US50. I've heard prices from $4,000 a year to $20,000 a year. And I was setting real estate closings for residential properties and seeing people personal property just real estate for a house residential. pay up to the thousand dollars a year for flood insurance.

But because we have the levy, the city of Lawrenceburg residents and businesses do not have to pay. Correct. Why don't we go to the residents that pay there's going to be a flood insurance assessment?

Yeah. And so one of the things we priced that out basically to look at could the could if we did a special benefits tax could that cover the the project and it is well we I mean the issue with this is I think I I I don't have the math in front of me but we were looking at 30 $40,000 a person to cover some of this to get up to that 60 or uh 60 uh8 uh million dollars that we're going to be asking the federal government. You're looking for the 4.2 million. Why couldn't the stakeholders in the town of Armsburg that have residential and the commercial businesses put something in on this to help pay for this 4.2 million because I agree with Liz, we I can't commit to something that we don't have. And I don't know. And here's another problem, Gary. And I know and most taxpayer people in the county don't understand the difference between the city of Lawrenceburg and the LCD.

Correct.

I totally understand that. But last week on Monday, I was driving down US50 there was announcement on radio said call the city hall sign up for your sixyard free dumpster. Okay, that's one thing I've heard. Another thing I've heard in the past that the city of Lburg and I know people that got it got 10 yards of concrete and I don't know whether it was the labor for it or the actual materials and then I saw on the paper or on Facebook somewhere we're having a city picnic in order to qualify for any of the prizes you have to be a resident of Lawrenburg. Now I know and understand that that seems like nickel and dime stuff.

I don't think but the average person out in Florida Manchester Cure Creek Township does not understand why we need to spend the county's money to support this. I I see where you're coming from. But the thing for most of the residents out in the county, it's a pretty hard pill to say, "Hey," and like this year my property tax going up $300. So like property tax is going up 300. Now all of a sudden you're committing a full.2 2 million, but you're still getting free dumpsters, free laptop computers,

college solid tuition paid for your seniors, and on and most people don't don't see the difference. I hear, let me ask you something. Do the uh residents of Lawrenburg and Greenale pay the same county tax as county people? I'm not sure. I don't know. They pay more. I mean, they at the city rate. Well, I know that, but uh you're talking about this. You still pay a county tax. Yeah, you pay correct county. But I want to say one thing, Glenn, that's by the township. It's usually they have they post that what the tax rate is per Liam probably can tell you that. I don't know off top my head.

You know, Glenn, you asked a a good question. Here we are. You got Lawrenburg who uh basically writes a check to everybody else. I mean, Aurora right now. If we don't get that riverboat money from the county, we're toast, right? Lawrenburg gives that to the county, you know, there's really no agreement that Lawrenburg gives it. They do, but you know, it's a uh it's one of these issues. You said it. We're not Lawrenceburg. I, you know, do I disagree with you. I wish Lawrenburg would contribute the whole 60 million. Could they do it? Probably, right? They ain't doing it for whatever political reasons they have. Um, to me it's you look at it and you go why why are we why haven't we resolved to tribalism? We're all Dearborn County citizens. We all live in used county. I mean the the when I when people ask me where you from, I say Dearborn County, right? Dear county is my home, right? It doesn't matter where I live. You know, here I am. I live in Greenale. I work in Lawrenburg and I represent the city of Aurora, right? Um, you know, a lot of people live that same life. for trans citizens of the entire county. I can't talk for Lawrenburg. I don't know. They're giving away all this free stuff and they're kind of freeloading and here we are asking you guys with a tight budget to give us 4.2 million. Why don't we shake Mayor Kelly and say give us some more money to do this? say this in defense of the city of Lawrenburg that um I would give them the grace of their being willing to step up if they see that there's no possibility for the county to to meet that level that you're asking for which I totally in agreement with Glenn and as I said previously even looking down the road I don't see us being in a position to honor that level of of funding We have a motion on the floor. It's been discussed quite a bit. I'd like to call for a vote to

if it does them no good. I don't understand why we're doing it because it does show that we are supportive of the

and I think you're looking for $68.7 million with a with a 25% match up. So you're looking to get $16.8 $8 million or between the four entities. And I don't really think FEMA cares who put puts in how much as long as you got the commitment and the and and and the support on paper. Um and and if we if you can come up with the $6.8 million, you're going to for every dollar you put in, you're going to get three more dollars if the grant ever gets approved. Right. And and I mean I know that they've had some roadblocks here with uh Trump administration did away with the brick grant and I don't know how that's affecting everybody or or I mean or how how they plan to get the the grant money or where it's going to come from now. But you correct me if I'm wrong, but if if we commit some dollar, not the full amount,

that reduces the total amount of the me match, so 25 to 75 versus if the conservancy district or whoever puts more money in, then they're going to get $4 returned on $3 returned on that dollar put in. Yeah. And I I have a simple understanding of that as well. My CL grant writer says it has to be equal. That's where I'm getting that from. Um, you know, so maybe I just find that hard to believe. I kind of question it myself, Madam President. But, uh, that's what they're telling me is is that one thing, excuse me, if you'd like to come and comment, I'm going to ask you to come and identify yourself and please keep your comments brief.

Absolutely. So, I think one thing for this board to consider is if it floods, if this levy fails, if you guys think lit affects you guys and the decreases that you guys are currently receiving affects you guys, imagine when the casino pulls out. Dylan Little, Lawrenceburg City Council. Imagine if the casino closes down because there is a catastrophic flood in the city of Lawrenburg. How does that affect your guys' gaming rabbit? Appreciate your comments. I think we're all very much aware of that. Thank you very much,

Mr. Eubank. I think everybody up here agrees with your comments of the significance of the levy. Nobody is questioning that. We realize that it's multiple stakeholders, right? I think uh one of the things I'm hesitant is we're throwing a number in there that we all are very uncomfortable with and even if it even if there's exit strategies or clauses for that it implies a certain level of support that none of us are comfortable that we can even see a future. I think we're all willing to put pen to paper and do the work on budgets in the upcoming years for whoever sits on this board. I think I think there's a strong support to get behind and and help with this project. Uh but the call us all equal stakeholders in this uh is not I don't think everybody up here is going to agree with that comment and um I I'm not comfortable with the number that you have proposed in that resolution and I don't know how much time we have to to amend that resolution but uh I'm not in comfortable I'm not comfortable giving the implication that we might be on board for that amount because I don't think that's reality.

We don't even know where our funding's coming from 18 months from now. I understand. understand. My question to you, Mr. Bell, what would put you into that comfort level? What would you like to see from us? Because like I said, this is the most important thing I ever touched. Uh I'm willing to put the work in. I know my board is willing to put the work in. We I mean at whatever we can do to show you how you could do it or how we could fund this or other options for financing, we're we're asking for a commitment four years down the road. And it's to be good stewards of the county's money. We don't even know where our revenue is coming from 18 months down the road. Sure. So, it's hard to commit to something four years down the road.

And if we do have the ability to hang on to those kind of funds, the most responsible thing for us to do is to make sure that we maintain low taxes so those dollars roll back into the pocket of the taxholder, not to commit to a project that I personally believe somebody else should have more skin in the game. So, I would like to I would like to see where it says that they have to be four equal shares in this in this. So, if I got you that, that would be something that would be the next step. Well, can I ask this then? Right. Since since you've asked these questions, I don't have the answer to it. I I wish I could tell you why it has to be an equal contribution. Would you ta would you be willing to table this rather than just vote no?

Let me tell you this. We had this meeting tonight because we were told that there was a timeline pressure and that's why we had not scheduled a meeting for tonight and we're holding it tonight. And now you're saying it because it had to be now or never. And now you're saying table and we will do it later. I mean that's president you're you're that's that's you're making an argument that is not there. The issue is this is so important making please look. The issue is this

is that if we have to punt for a year to make sure we can get this project done. We're going to punt for a year. Right? If we have to do it next year we're trying to go for this year to get this project going because right now we got the support of Lawrenburg and Greenale. We kind of got on a a hot roll here. We got a postponed year. right? You things change in those times and whatnot, right? So, we're trying to hit now, but it's so important that if you pass if you say no to this, we're done, right? There's the levies, you know, you're talking about equal payment, everything else. So, that that's that's tough. Now, of course, hey, Jared, we one thing.

Excuse me. Would you like to wait until you get to the microphone, identify yourself if you're going to make a few comments and please keep them brief. I just want to again thank you guys for the time tonight. But one thing about the resolutions in those resolutions if the county does not give their 4.2 then Greenale and Lsburg is not going to contribute. So when we say that's that's built into their resolutions that you guys I think or should have been

we've never seen their resol. uh you you have your attorney's been provided with me. He actually created this resolution in front of you based on those. So, um I'd be happy to print those out. And like I said, that's why I would rather table this for another 3 months and we come back with some more information for you than just a straight note. Now, um if because if you haven't seen this stuff, like I said, in three months, I don't see where we're going to have a $4.2 million. We don't have it today. We're not going to have it in three months. Well, I thought we were giving you a yes by passing this and then discussing how much we thought how much this board could Yeah, I think collectively afford that.

I think that got missed probably in translation somewhere when we did our other meeting. But the issue is this is that this right here, this this resolution is our ticket that we put those together. We send that to FEMA along with all the other requirements. So, as I understood, you said that if the 4.2 to that is in there just because it should be in there and is no real binding commitment on the county's part, right? And then if I understood Mr. KD's statement, then if we were not able to honor this non-committed middle of the 4.2, then the whole project falls apart.

That's correct. So I I I I think what Well, you're missing the biggest point. The reason we want this is so we can talk to FEMA to see if the grant's even available, right? If we can get the grant and then we can't match it, well, the grant's done there. That's another contingency. What we're trying to do is get over the first contingency that we have four partners that are willing to pledge 4.2 million. But if we don't feel like D County government is in a position to pledge, we are in favor of the project. We would like to come up with some dollar amount, but the dollar amount is not $4.2 million.

Okay. Well, I like I said, I think that takes further discussion because if it's not the 4.2, what is that number? And I don't want you guys to answer it right now because that's I'm telling you, I like I said, I went over your budget. It's it's tough and I can absolutely see. Thank you for in our books. That wasn't the purpose. I I really wanted to make sure this is understood. You're saying though no, I think this has been very combative and I didn't want it to be this way. I think the issue is this is that we were we were trying to be accommodating. Well, you are you have been accommodating. We thank you.

We held this meeting specifically to try to help with this project which we understand about the flooding and everything, Mr. Little. We understand about all that. That is important. The levies are extremely important, but I just find it just a bit much. Yeah. I'm going to tell you this right now. The the comment about auditing it, that's not a fair comment. The comment it should be is what we're trying You told us earlier and I hate to be this combative but you told us earlier you're going to show us how we can afford it. No, what what I said what I said is I want to assist you in any way I can and this is an important project. I mean I the issue is this is I can't tell you how to spend your money, right? How where to get from

you said if you're going to show us how we can afford it down the road that there there is accounts there. I mean, I just want to make sure you guys are aware. When I saw that on the internet,

very much aware, okay, of what's there and we're very much aware that it wasn't that long ago, we ended a year with something like $64,000 is all we had in county general. We passed a a jail lit that over the seven years of its existence has generated a little over $21 million. If we hadn't passed that lit, what our balance would have been at the end of 2024 would have been maybe two million maybe for a county this size, it's not nearly enough. So between the one time once in a lifetime from High Point Health and the fact that we've passed two lits that benefit the county, we passed an other lit, the EMS lit, which benefits every entity, including the cities and the towns in the county. I think we've tried to be as as good a stewards as we can and we started 10 years ago with very little in the bank and that's why I'm saying and I think Mr. Glenn Wright said the same thing is that we are finally in a position that is a lot more where the county is a lot more solvent. There are any number of things that can go south in a county this size. If a bridge washes out, who has to pay for that? The county.

Have we had that happen? Yes. So because sitting here today, if you look in my checking account balance or the county's check balance, maybe things look pretty good today, a few things go south and all of a sudden you find yourself in difficult straits. So, I just really am just a little bit taken aback about, you know, the statement that you can show us how we can approach.

And like I said, I that statement wasn't made to offend you or to tell you it was basically in in regards to trying to come up with a problem solution, right? And so, I do not want to tell you how to do your job. And if that came off that way, I apologize to this council. And per first off, thank you council. I'm the resident county. You guys have done a great job over the years uh keeping my property taxes low, but like I said, Liz, I this is the most important thing I've ever touched.

I'll I'll give Greg Mike and I'll just be done here. But like I said, it's one of the most important things I touched. Uh and like I said, I'm willing to do whatever to help. If it's uh you know, problem solving, come up with any solution, I'm willing to help with that. I'm willing the board's willing to help with that. We're not here to audit your books. That was not the intent. It was just to understand, right? And we have an understanding. It's a tight budget. In fact, it is a very tight budget. There's no no issue or rhyme or reason that it isn't. So, maybe I'll let Mr. Greg McAdam speak. And council, I just want to say thank you for, like I said, can't thank you enough for giving us even time to talk today. So, we appreciate it. Thank you, J.

Hi. Thank you for letting me speak. Uh, Greg McKenzie, conservancy district. Uh, we've talked about a high water event, but we're not covering something else. If we lose our accreditation for the levy, you're going to see businesses bail out if they have to pay for flood insurance. You're not going to see new business come. Mr. Seymour made that point the last time we all were here.

Okay. Well, I just want to make that point again and uh make sure everybody's saying about that because those are your tax dollars also and a lot of it. So, that's how why folks in Manchester and everything should be worried about this because they may have you may have to do a rate increase to get that additional money and that you're going to lose possibly. That's all. So, you're telling us to raise taxes? Oh, I don't. You said a rate increase. I said you may if three four large businesses down here go out of business. That's less money that you get. Correct. Yes.

Okay. So then how do you cover your budget? You're saying you're so tight now. How do you cover your budget then? Thank you. being me being a uh living in Larsburg, the levy is very important and I just want to comment that I would be willing to to commit to their because we would figure it out down the road. Commit to the 4.2 million just like we figured out when we built this building and built the jail. We figured it out.

Well, it took us a very long time to save the money to be able to pay for these projects. And if I remember correctly, you voted no for those projects. I did. That's county dollars. Well, so with the four point, I'm not I'm not telling you how to vote. I'm telling you how I would vote. I didn't want the board speaking for me when we said we're not comfortable with it because I am comfortable with it. Okay. That's all I'm saying.

Well, you're in fact by saying that you're saying that you would be in favor of some kind of tax increase. I don't know where else you get the money. Well, I I voted on the last two t the tax increase we had. I voted them down. Yes, you did. So, maybe I would be this time. I thought it was going to a good uh project. So, the public safety lit and the jail in the I mean it's okay. I think we've gone down enough roads. We have a motion and we can either table it or we can uh vote on it. Sure.

We have a motion and a second and I think I think we should go ahead and vote on it. It's not going to hurt anything if we choose to amend it and we come up with some other kind of way that we can support it or or a different number. We can always amend it and put it in there. Is that right, Andy? If there was if if we adopted this resolution, we could amend it if we wanted to come back and add a number. Yeah. And likewise any other any other entity could do that as well. You have a meeting schedu

but we're voting on the resolution here as it's written. Correct. As written without Jared submit. Correct. That's the motions and the second. You want to you're willing to go forward with your motion? I am. Okay. Any other I'd like to pull my second then. Is there a second? If there's no second, the motion fails for lack of a second. I just figured it sure it can't hurt it hurt them any, you know. So

second thing on our agenda was uh discussion of monetary support for the grant. Since we're not supporting the resolution, I don't see any point going forward with that tonight.

Anyone have a different opinion on that? That's why I wanted to pass the resolution. You don't think that conversation could help lead to other help if anybody else's amendments need to be changes? Any other resolutions from any other communities need to be changed? I I hear Mr. Eubank's comment about equal share, but that seems incredibly off to me. So the second part of the uh agenda called for a discussion of monetary support for the grant said resolution for support and monetary um support for the grant. So resolution for support and discussion of monetary support for grant.

We dropped the uh motion I guess for the resolution. So you consider this all done? Well, I mean I if we don't have the support for the resolution, what's a sense in discussing that? That was my point. I mean, well, we didn't we didn't support that the resolution as it was written. Okay. Right.

I mean, I'll discuss whatever you guys want to discuss. It's kind of counterproductive here at this point if you ask me. But I think we should show our support for the project and if we don't want to come up if we can't if we're not comfortable as a whole board coming up with the the amount they're requesting, then tell them what amount we are going to come up with. But you have to have both of them. So I guess that's my uh what I'm struggling. It's like if we don't have the resolution adopted, do we do the second part of the of that agenda item? See, Mr. Jagal is thinking that perhaps we could go forward.

I'm I'm asking procedurally, can we can we make a different resolution other than what was presented presented here tonight whether that is of use to them or not? We can at least show support through a resolution. Um the as written the resolution the motion to approve the resolution failed for lack of seven. If there are amendments to what is written so we we didn't vote it down it just failed for lack of a second. So it didn't so we can still amend that motion resolution computer this whole time if you wanted to make any changes to it. So I mean if council wanted to make any changes to it that that that's certainly within your

then I think we should move forward with the discussion and then if somebody wants to make an amendment they can make that motion. That's my personal opinion as long as that according to our lawyers discussion of what what level of support might be uh there might be an appetite or financial backing from this board. So, the monetary support for the grant. Yes, I'd be open to having a discussion. I got a question for Jerry. Uh, you quoted a a value of 30 to $40,000 per person, I believe.

Is that to fund the whole project you're talking about, or it would be to fund the whole project. Has there been any capitalization done as far as the citizens of Orangeburg paying X number of dollars towards flood insurance? Uh it's about so what we looked at was the Greenale area. We didn't actually do a report on what Lawrenburg because you know there's 700 properties in Lawrenburg, right? And so we looked at Greenale which only has about 80. So um Jim, do you remember what that number was? It it was it was substantial. It was

I mean as far as what the potential income from collecting some money from the residents towards flood insurance which basically prevents them right now they don't have to pay a penny for it. Correct. Correct. So you're saying there's 700 houses in Lawrenburg that are protected by this and only 80 in Greenale. And the federal grant writers are telling you they have to be equal partners in this.

Yes. cuz what so just just to see so and I know that sounds different but the issue is is that the Greenale levy the Lawrenburg levy it's all one facility all one system and yes it's there's many walls pumps um trenches and the like throughout both areas but the Greenale levy protects Lawrenburg and Lawrenburg protects the Greenale so it's it's kind of all one project together um so basically it's I don't want to say it's impossible I'm not an engineer I can't really tell you exact if it could be engineered where we could, you know, leave Greenale out of the system. I don't know that. My engineers are telling me it's all one system and we need to look at it as one piece. Does that answer I feel like I kind of got

Well, you're I understand you're looking at the project as one piece, but that doesn't make everybody e staple. Understood. Understood. And you know, one I like I said, you know, if we could get something from this board, you know, well less than the 4.0 you're not willing to pledge, that's at least something I can get back to my grant writers. So I I truly appreciate the continued conversation on this that if you believe that the county has less of a state at least we could have some number to them that which was the purpose of doing a resolution saying that we were supportive of the project and then secondarily on our agenda was a discussion of a monetary commitment. So I guess that's why I got a little surprised that resolution is apparently not to be helpful.

Told me it wouldn't No, no, no. that that that number, the numerical number on there is the most important thing on there because that's what FEMA's going to look at to figure out the grant, right? So, um you have to have the number on the resolution and they're going to look at an accumulation of all the numbers on all the resolutions. I believe so. Yeah, I believe so. I think that's probably accurate. Does Nicole know how many parcels are in the county real? Oh, property partials total. the last check around 33,000

and do you know what percentage of Well, you probably don't off top of your heads, but I'm just wondering what percentage of those fall within the 100redyear flood plane. I mean, you know, let's take West Harrison as an example. Imagine there and you set real estate closings like I have and seen the amount of money these people have to pay for flood insurance, you know, and here if you're buying a property in the city of Lawsburg, you're paying zero, but you're wanting somebody in West Harrison that has to pay flood insurance, give up some money so Lawrenceburg doesn't have to pay anything. And that's that's the thing that's hard.

It's hard for me to swallow. I understand that it's one of the the issues here is is that the reason why Lawrenburg has the money the tax base that it does is because they're not paying those those flood taxes, right? They're paying those flood taxes. I can tell you this right now, the Greenale levy area there. I mean, who you know you have cow tent, bunch of other uh factories, a bunch of other different, you know, high price things that keep the engine of government going. I mean, basically, the engine of government isn't made on the 1% tax rate you can get on residents. It's built on the 3% you can get off of businesses. That's a huge area. And I know that there's been, you know, I don't want to bring it up, of course, it's been tiff. It's not going to be tiff next year. So, that that money right there all of a sudden starts flowing into the county again um with the growth. So that that's one of the issues is that why if I was a a resident of Harrison, why I would be in support of it is because those companies in Greenale, Lawrenburg are helping to support my road infrastructure, you know, like the taxes from there. If that tax base is gone, I mean, heck, it's easy to skip pop and jump over the Ohio River and go to Northern Kentucky for a lot of these businesses. Um, you know, they're here. We want to keep them. We want to keep them in Deer County. I think that the citizens I've seen some of the arguments about, you know, building, expanding or doing any kind of infrastructure out in the county. People don't want that. They don't want to build factories out there in West Harrison or but we got them here in Lawrenburg, right? We have the, you know, the distillery and everything else like that. Those are worth keeping because they do offset the amount of money the residents would have to pay. So that that I hope that answers that question.

Then what? It's tough, right? I mean, I get you. Uh it's it's a it's a hard argument if I was sitting in West Harrison like why should I care about Lawrenburg? Why do they get cheaper taxes and all this other stuff? Well the I'm sorry not cheaper taxes. Why don't they have to play flood insurance? The issue is because the countyy's going to get extra money because those businesses are there anyway. Thank you.

Any other I had some concernation over the dollar amount that Mr. Eubank had included in his amendment the rest of the verbiage on the on his amendment that he was suggesting. Is there anything in there that gives you pause? Can you speak to those since we haven't seen that amendment before just tonight?

No, I I think that's I know that he's not here tonight. I know Commissioner Turner had raised concerns about entering into something that's not supposed to be binding and only to find out later that it was binding. I think there was an issue in Dillsboro when he was out there. I I'm I I think the contingencies um are are are good. I think they they protect the county as written. Um again, the contractual relationship, I think it's the next item on our agenda is an interlocal agreement. I mean, we have one with Ohio County after this discussion. So, that's the contractual relationship and that's the same thing that Greenale would need to have with the LCD, Lawrenceburg would need to have with the LCD um before any money can change hands. Uh, I mean, if you said,

well, I just feel like the number that you're including in there is not good faith bargaining on on our part. I don't I'm not going to put a number in there that I don't think there's any way we can stand by. That's that's where I get caught up. I'm comfortable putting a number in there after having some discussion with this board and hopefully we can come to a an agreement. Maybe it's zero dollars. I don't know. But some I think it's worth having a conversation. I would like to pro provide something to say to recognize that this board all understands the significance of this levy. This board wants to do their part to the extent that we can it's financially prudent. We want to be um judicious with the funds and be responsible of those and get as many of them back in the pockets of the taxpayers as possible while still protecting the integrity of this levy, the integrity of our community. We realize that even though there might not be county houses in this area, it's a major throughway and it's the heartbeat of Dearborn County. Our our courthouse resides here. Our jail resides here. We all understand the significance of it. And that I guess I can't say we all. I I understand the significance of of these buildings and us having skin in the game and we want to come to the grant writers and say, "Yeah, we want to have skin in the game. We want to be a participant, but I'm not going to throw out a good a bad faith number that we we cannot stand by." So I would like to open the conversation if anybody's willing to have it about is there a number that you are comfortable with that we could include in this resolution. They can tear it up when they leave this room. But I feel like we at least need to have a good faith effort conversation to say what level of support are we comfortable with.

I agree with that. And I'd say too I think the way it was written it was an up to 4.2 is how you had it written. So I think that I understand what you're saying. You don't want to say hey we're committed to 4.2 too when there's nobody actually leaves right up to $1 billion in there and see if they what they do with it.

Right. So just to just just to play devil's advocate so that it says up to 4.2 million. Um and I think if they're saying that they're not even actually going to come to the county for the ask for three or four years then that's where that hard dis even harder discussion is going to have be of okay we did a resolution up to 4.2 2 million of okay what actually can we contribute and and with Senate Bill one from last year and then they messed with that again this year and they'll probably mess with it again next year especially with it being a budget year I mean there's we coming next too yes I mean it was discussed at the state level this year and they tabled it

the intention of putting it off till next year that's a big that's a big bust coming if it does come so So, how do we get started on a number? Well, it's to me right now is a chicken of the egg. Are we revisiting the resolution with the amendment with it going only with the understanding that it's not going to be 4.2, but the language says up to we're not obligated to that? Are we revisiting that or Yeah, that that failed for a lack of motion as it is written. Right.

So I think we need a motion to amend that with a number. I think that's one conversation with a firm with a hard number that we're committing to. Not still the not to exceed language. So you're because it's f we're talking about future here. So you're good with the amendment that Mr. Eubank has provided as long as Mr. Bonded is still with with a change of the number. as long as as long as our county attorney says that he is okay with those amendments from a legal standpoint.

So yeah, it's a not to exceed 4.2 million. So it's the up to the $4.2 million, but that's contingent upon the negotiation between the county and the LCD of an interlocal agreement. The interlocal agreement would need to be approved by the LCD's board as well as county council and county commissioners.

Negotiate that. That sounds like a mess. As somebody who went round and round with the cities and towns about 911 and our locals for the past few years, it can be a mess. It can be very stressful. Um, and it's contingent. The other contingency is that they actually receive a grant. Um, they can't just say, "Hey, we're calling that 4.2 million due even though we don't have a grant." Well, since we called this meeting tonight specifically to try to address this, I am not happy walking out of this building with this not being addressed. I mean, it's been talked about, but with no definitive action. I totally agree that we cannot afford the 4.2. If the language up to does not commit the county, which it sounds like you're comfortable in saying that it does not, I would be willing to reopen discussion on passing the resolution with that amendment so we actually have the papers together tonight. And if that's not possible, then we'd have to wait till May.

He just said before, if we don't commit 4.2 million, Lawrenceburg and Greenale are out. That's what they're not responsible for their resolutions. I thought you said we can't get that's basically why I told that we want to get give him a hard number and see what happens and we can go from there. Well, I don't know that we can we don't have the way to do the paperwork. What? I'm sorry, Dennis. What? make the motion and I'll second. Well, we got to come up with a number.

Well, you also have to have a document that can be I mean, can you make an amendment that's not even ex in existence? Oh, I would while I'm sitting here, I would add this in and ask Leah very nicely asking Leah to print it off before you guys left. I would add if if if the if the motion was to approve the resolution as amended by with the LCD's requested language, then I would add this in and have it printed off. I'll be

Are you good with that or I'm not sure I understand what what they're asking for. I mean, when we when he started out, there were commitment was that the county the C county would be committed to $4.2 million. They're a quarter up. And he said if they don't if we don't do that and how do we commit to that four years down the road is my question.

Well, when the the matching funds come due after they've done all their engineering and they've gone through the process, the grant process, they've worked with Senator H or Representative Houchin on that. When that grant when those grant funds come due, then that's when representatives from the county, representatives from the LCD sit down and say, "Okay, what number are we putting in the interlocal agreement?" Knowing that the resolution was an up to 4.2 million number, not to exceed 4.2 is how it's written. But if we don't think we can come up with our 25%, aren't we wasting everybody's time? It's a good question. I mean, well, the only other

I mean, the mayor of Greenale's here. I know he he wants this and needs it, but I mean, if we're sitting here saying we don't think we can come up with a $4.2 million, why go through a process here that it's that we're going to put commit a bunch of people to a bunch of time and and everybody's going to pull the plug? I mean, that I'm not sure I'm that this is making sense to me. Councilman Do, could I answer this real quick for you? Sure. Because it's important, right? I know. I know. I know.

I agree. It's important, but if if we're if we can't we feel and I think I mean Dan's made a commitment that he and I mean and Dan's the councilman from that area and I totally understand that, but if we the board is a what I'm hearing here is they're uncomfortable going forward with that number. I mean, are we just going to keep beating this and hoping that everybody at some point says, "Okay, we're going to take Rob Peter to pay Paul here or take money here or we're going to raise taxes somewhere to do this or or the conservy I don't know what where this conservy district gets its revenue stream." And I I talked to uh to uh Mike Mclofflin at at length about this and he explained to me that at one point there was a a revenue stream there and when the boat came they they they quit the the levy tax or whatever and which probably should have kept going it sounds like but uh but I I don't know is there any plans for future revenues then for the conservative district. Well, let me before you get going here, Jim. I mean, like I said, I hope you heard me before. One of the main points of this is that this doesn't happen again, right? So, I've had me and Jim have talked at lengths, how to create a reserve fund, right? Because what, you know, I'm not just worried about repairing the levy. What happens if there's a disaster? How do we how do we respond to that? What's our emergency? So, one thing we've done uh is come up with a hazard. For some reason, we weren't including the hazard mitigation plan, even though we would be the first to know that we're going to flood, right? But any event to that we have talked at length right now. How do we keep a reserve large enough because like I said it's not just you know um doing this little job this little job that we could we could face millions and millions of dollars of liability trying to fix some stuff to keep the county rolling and keep Lawrenceburg and Greeno going. Um, so that is one of the issues and I like I said I think I I started talking about you know I don't know the

sins of the father or whatever that this there was some shortsightedness I believe in the early part when these levies were done we got the corvette of facilities um the issue is I don't think we were completely prepared to keep it the upkeep when it first came back in 41. We got a board right now that's serious. They're looking at this as one of the, you know, one of these boards that's saying, "Hey, not only do we have to protect these people, we got to figure a way to protect these people at infant item moving forward." And so that's the goal moving forward here. This is kind of our first step. This is has a good reserve fund for $36 million. They're using it for the day-to-day operations. Yeah. You absolutely. And so that reserve fund, what we're living on is all about luxury here.

Oh, I know. But listen to this. We're living on a fixed income on that, too. We can blow through that 35 million. That's what I'm asking. what's the what's the plan going forward for a revenue

so the you know I don't want to commit the the LCD my opinion on what we need to do is get the special benefits tax going back again right so I'm not commending the board hasn't decided to do that yet um we've worked with the county auditor have already asked questions on how we could keep that jurisdiction again how we could start uh you know basically doing our special benefits that hey you're a resident of Lawrence pero you're protected by this you will pay towards it we I don't know I think everybody the casino came and everybody jumped for joy everybody's going to be rich and we took away the the levy tax. We should never have done that. I I don't disagree. Um but right now we're looking at the current problem. How do we solve the levy infrastructure now? How do we do this that when I'm long dead and buried that there's still going to be levies protecting this city in Greenale? Uh and Mr. KD of course uh is on board with it as well. So I I'll let Mr. KD continue here. I just wanted to say, Mark, our revenues, it's one point, we get $1.7 million from the city of Lunchburg on the lease, the river boat sitting on our property. So, we get $1.7 million. And in our interest income, we have $37 million invested laded out five years. And we get about $1.5 million in revenue and interest. That's it. That's our revenue streams. And again, interest rates go down. of course our revenue stream.

I mean going forward you're going to have to come up with some kind of better revenue stream right in order to maintain this thing like Jared's talking about. The only way would be tax. I mean I don't know and I don't I don't really understand what the prior revenue stream was. It was some kind of levy tax or something and I don't know who all paid that or how it exactly worked. I mean, that's kind of why we're at at the point we're at now, right? Is you guys don't have any revenue stream to build up your rent? You're actually working off of your in in the lease on the boat? Yeah.

Who pays the lease, the Hollywood or the city? Runs through the city of Lunchburg. They have an they have a lease with I'm assuming with the boat and at one point I think you guys were getting more money from that lease, right? Less actually we were getting $500,000 and we got it up to 1.5 and we get a 1% increase every year. So it's up to 1.7.

That's not even the cost of living. So, we have been around the barn a number of times. I'd like for us to come to some kind of final resolution of this agenda item. Um, if if you're willing to do the amendment um with the language that Mr. Bondistl is prepared to add to it. Do you have any level was doing that more?

Yeah, I mean I'd like to have him read what the amendment is so we understand and and it's also under the understanding that we're we're supporting this up to whatever the it could be a million dollars but we know we don't have that much. So, I guess my my point is is

well, I I I just a quick clarification on my end. That's what I was talking with Greg about and um I Jared did send me I had word copies of these resolutions that I worked off of on my resolution. So, apologies for not sharing those. I don't have a PDF of the signed Greenale resolution. I do have one from LRsburg, but Councilman Little, I don't see the language in the LSburg one about it being contingent upon the other entities approving 4.2 million. The signed version I have now, the word version I had had that language in there, but that and then I don't know, Mayor Carststeader, if your guys's included the contingency.

I haven't seen the the signed version. So, I just wanted to um bring that up real quick. Um, but what uh Jared had drafted was any commitment, obligation or appropriation by Dearborn County to provide funding in amount not to exceed $4,200,000 for the project contemplated herein is expressly contingent upon the satisfaction of each of the following conditions. One, the parties shall negotiate, execute, and deliver a written interlocal cooperation agreement in form and substance acceptable to both Dearborn County and the Larksburg Conservancy District setting forth the terms, conditions, responsibilities, and obligations of each party with respect to the project. And two, the project shall receive a formal grant award from the federal emergency manage agency management agency or through a FEMA administered program providing funding for the project and and I hear I heard you say any amount. Did I hear that?

Up to Wouldn't they rather have the amount that we're willing to put in there rather than up to when I think it's the consensus? I mean, I'm kind of ask Mr. KD, I guess. I think again though, almost positive in those resolutions, it says that each of the four entities would give $4.2 million. If you decide to give less, yes, you decide to give less. I mean, I'm not sure if that I mean, if we're going to pass a resolution based on the words up to and concessence of the board is we're not anywhere, we're not there, right?

I mean, wouldn't you guys as the controlling entity or the people requesting the grant, wouldn't it be more beneficial to to you to have a number? I would think so. Or would you rather have the up two knowing that we're we're not there? I doesn't make sense to me. I guess I think I wouldn't want again this is me talking. I wouldn't want you to say you're going to get 4.2 and you have no intentions of doing that or can do that. I would think you wouldn't want to do that. That's my point. And I and I feel like we should support this project and both on paper and monetarily.

But what we're hearing in conversation and not in writing is that they have to be four equal partners. Well, that's what they say. But I guess if you give who's they what the resolution say 4.2 the city who who determined that all four partners need to give the same amount. I just find that very very strange and I I totally agree. I mean there's no question the levy is important right

there's no question that the county would like to give some level of support but different county government is not in the position of doing 4.2 too. And I just I would like for us to to resolve this and I and I hope the conservancy district understands that we're supportive of your efforts.

But I think that it's also important for you to understand that we're the fiscal body for the county and as such we've been elected by the people. We have a sacred trust to do what we feel is appropriate for DE County government recognizing all the benefits of the levy system and how dependent everyone is on it. But we also have to live within whatever we're able to afford. And

for me 4.2 is is not a number that is is realistic. So, I think that we would like to give you a document that says that we've whatever a document that says that we are supportive of your grant request and I'm certainly willing to vote in favor of a dollar amount, but we cannot come anywhere near approaching the $4.2 million. And I don't know where anyone got the idea that every entity has to give equal percentage. That would be different for me.

I think I could help a little bit. The grants are all done on a scoring system and the more community cooperation you have and when they were talking to us and I sit in on all the phone calls. I've heard everything and our goal was is you didn't identify yourself but you are

Paul Seymour. I'm superintendent of the conservancy district. So what happens in these grant situations is you get grades. You get you they judge you and and they give you scores on different things. We've done costbenefit analysis. Part of our grade is going to be can we get Greenale to commit? Can we get Lynsburg to commit? Can the conservancy commit in the county? It's about elected officials in our area. So that's going to give us a more competitive score. If you guys participate and that's how that's how this grant is being approached, we're not going to have a chance at all if we don't get your support. You're right. It's going to cause me problems if I don't get the whole amount. I don't know whether I can work through these problems or if I can work through them. So, you know, we need a yes or no vote or a commitment of some type and then and then we'll have to have conversations and and talks to see how how we're going to if we're going to be able to work through this. But, but the whole reasoning behind this is is to score the grant to get these people to recognize this. And if they see that, man, look at this. They're want $70 million. They're protecting this. They've got all their county officials on in on board and now we're noticeable. Now we're noticeable. Uh it it just gives us a better chance and and it puts us in the game instead of not being in the game. And and that's one thing I wanted to say to clear that up. And I also wanted to say you guys been great. You gave us time. You was good in the presentation. Whatever you decide, you know, I'm personally good with. I've lived here my whole life. I understand

everybody's got commitments and things I got to think about. It's just that I'm pretty passionate about this. I know how important it is and I know the the other thing that just happened this morning. Me and Jimmy got a call from Washington DC. It's Aaron Hson's office. They we got people interested in us and they are interested in seeing how we do and what they can do for this area. So before this morning, I was one of them that thought, I don't think we're going to get a grant. But after we had that phone call, I I'm all excited about it because I this is the first time and we've been working on this a long time, and that's the most encouraged I've been about this grant chasing for quite a while. Uh but that call this morning got me excited. after all the work you put in, it had to be a big discouragement when they do away with the brick grants because that parent was dangling in front of you quite a while.

But here's here's the other part of it to the timing of it. When these people called this morning, they're asking us things, you know, are you ready? Are you ready? Uh we're not ready and we're waiting on one thing and guess what it is? Cooperation from the county. That's that's what we're waiting on. we're we're either going to get it or we aren't. And and when you make your decision, we'll figure it out. You know, that's that's all I can say is is is you guys are sitting at this table. I've said it this kind of decision making thing. Again, I understand it totally, but we really need a decision because we got thinking to do. and and if they call us and they say, "Hey, Paul, Miss Houchson says if we got to have something turned in by May 15th," and that's the way they operate. If we don't have it, we don't have it. And and I don't want to not have it for the community. We've been working on this, Jimmy, for how long?

Long time. Been quite a while. But I just wanted to say that I want to say thank you for all your cooperation because you have cooperated very, very good,

Mr. Seymour. I think you and your entire board should be commended. You've done a great job of running this, doing the studies, circling it from every single direction like you should. You've been responsible. You've been you've been watching it for years. You've been setting aside money for years. And I agree that every single one of us, every one of those four stakeholders should have some skin in this game. I personally believe that. I don't believe that it's an equal share. We can wait for somebody to share that, but I just want to start the conversation and say personally, I'm not comfortable with putting that number out there if it's not a real number, even though you told us it has to be equal. I I'm I'm at the 10 10% of that number. I'm at $420,000 is what I think we can bring to the table in a responsible manner for the citizens of Dearborn County recognizing so you have all four players in the game. That's a level that I personally think that we can fund and I don't want to commit beyond that because I don't know what the future council is going to be for next year that the year after that and when when the piper comes calling. I don't want to have somebody pointing out a number that we can't stand to and say that it's going to appear like we negotiated in bad faith.

I don't believe 4.2 is a a good faith number from us. We we came in here asking and and we expected, you know, to have this conversation and you guys got a decision to make and and I'm not one that's going to make the decision for you. You guys, you guys know everything.

Tim made a very excellent point. I think that Darren County government is trying to show that we are understand the need. We want to be supportive, but we need to be supportive in a fiscally sound way. And I totally agree with the number. he's he's talking about. It's I know it's only 10% of what you're asking, but it's a big number for Don County government, but I would be in favor of supporting a contribution of that level toward that grant and whatever document you need that supports in language, if you need to have that as part of your grant materials and a commitment from the from a a an actual commitment from the county of a dollar amount that we can actually honor.

Um, hey, I appreciate We appreciate everything you do.

Yeah. Um, so with what Tim said, if we sign that resolution that says we're committing up to 4.2, but you all right here know that we're not going to give you 4.2. You want that resolution to show FEMA that we're all together, but yet you know that if you get that grant, you're going to have to find the other money. I get I get what you're saying and and that I I don't want to do it like that because here's here's probably what would happen and I've been through it once when I was on council over at Orangeburg. Um when it came down to it if if because FEMA's going to come up to us and say, "Hey, you know, we're we're putting our 50 $555 million into this. you guys have committed this. Uh and now all of a sudden I got to say, well, we don't have it. We're We're going to have to turn the grant down. We're just going to have to turn it down. Um I would rather honestly go into it upfront knowing what we got to do. And that's what I mean about, you know, whatever your decisions is, these guys now have, we we've got a lot to talk about. We've got to talk to our grant people. We got to figure out the money and we got to make a decision which which way to go next and and deal with whatever happens. What what happens if you commit the 400,000 and Lawrenceburg calls or Greenale calls? And I don't want to make it sound like you guys would do this, but the the truth is somebody just might say, "Well, if they ain't going to pitch in that, I'm not pitching in what I got." So So those are the things that none of us in this room know that's going to happen, but we need to sit back and talk and figure out, all right, here's what we got out of the meeting. They committed.

We got a good letter, but now how do how do we make it to our 25%. Maybe we could, maybe none of us can. Maybe it's not feasible. It, you know, maybe this just isn't feasible for me to get that in my head with all the money that's came through this area. And I'm not picking on the county or Greenale or Lawrenburg or the conservancy, but I find it a shame for the citizens that after 20 years of seeing all this boat money come in here that we can't figure out a way to make this happen. And if we can bring $50 billion of federal money in here, I hope we can figure out a way to keep this grant chasing alive. I mean, I I hope that my board can get together and figure that part of it out because it would be a shame if we can't make this pursuit. So, you know, that's all I got to say.

Thank you. Any more questions? I I have another one. you uh Greg mentioned accreditation and uh how often does do you go through that and when is when is that up?

That's supposed to happen every 10 years. And I don't know where I mentioned it the last time, but if if we were to do the this relief well project and the pump station in Greenale, you're you're not going to have a project of this magnitude 10 years from now. you you you you're just not going to have it. Uh our relief wells right now are 85 years old. So So you're probably none of us are going to be alive when this big of a project comes back again. But it this would put us in place in Lawrenceburg and Greenale if we can make this happen 30 40 50 years. 50

I or more. It really would. You're talking about maintenance, upkeeping of pumps. Uh it it's just it's it's not you're you're not going to come up with another 70 $80 million project until you've used the life out of what you had again. And hopefully hopefully and and you know hell I'll take blame for part of it but we've been trying to educate people for a long time and it just seems like you know I've had meetings at the adult center. I' I've really worked hard on getting the importance of all of our infrastructure and everything. It's it's really the most important infrastructure we have. But I would be willing to bet you that when we get this project done, whoever's in charge and got my job is going to have the same struggles I had. When they come up and got to do this again, nobody knows what this levy does. Nobody knows how much we protect. They all think we just cut grass. Far from the truth. We got five pump stations, eight floodgates. We we 170 relief wells. There's a whole lot to this system and it takes money to do it. And the sad part is is 50, 80 years from now, there's not going to be the money that we've had the pleasure of having the last 20 years here. So whatever we pass on to the future here, they ain't got a prayer of doing what we've got a chance to do right now to put this city in a spot where it can be taken care of for 50 years or longer depending on how well you do the maintenance. So it's it's a lot to think about. So, so one last thing on if awarded the

grant as a guesstimate when would the money be due? I, you know, after that phone call today, uh, I mean, she's really, she's wanting to put something in front of some important people. I mean, I I uh I think realistically in my eyes, what I'd like to see happen is is a project starting in three or four years. I would like to see us apply and them call us and say, "Hey, we got something for you. Let's get the stuff turned in." And in that year, year and a half, cuz grants aren't fast. I don't want to make it sound like I think it'll happen fast, but I would be hoping that in a in a two-year period to threeyear period, we'd we after that phone call today, I I I got that hope. Uh I I really do. I I I was very encouraged and some of my guys don't even know that we got that phone call. I was going to update him with tomorrow night's meeting, but uh you know, it's pretty encouraging and you know, but I don't know whether it'll happen or not, but I I do know that all the talking I've done and all the listening I've done, it's all about a score. It's all it's it's all about how well you you grade out on the application you turn in and and they really look at community partnership and things. So, so that's that's why

how much more work do you have to do before you present the grant? I mean like do you have all the numbers like of how many businesses you got, how much revenues generated and all that kind of stuff. Is that something you guys could share with us? We got everything. We got cost benefit analysis. I've knocked on every door. Is that something that you could share with the council? Absolutely. I mean, I that would have been beneficial to me to have to to, you know, weigh out the county's revenue, what what's coming from where and and all that kind of stuff.

I mean, I got letters of support from from businesses and and and freeholders and and we we really the only thing left we got to do is what we're doing here tonight. That's that's that's where we're at, guys. That's the bottom line. Mark, we'll get you that cost analysis. It's very interesting. Okay. Yeah, I'd appreciate that. The benefits. I mean, that might kind of answer some of Glenn's questions as well as he's talking about, you know, other people in the county and and like Aurora and West Harrison, you know, and you know, right?

Yeah. I I know. I ask questions. I get asked that a lot, Glenn. I you know, hey, Paul, what's it going to cost if our levy gets descertified? And and you know that the thing there, we're not doing anything to help with them with flood mitigation, you know, other than maybe go help them clean up when after they get flooded again.

Yeah. I I've actually went to the insurance company. I build a new house over on the corner canal and you would cost me right now $2,800 a year to buy flood insurance. Doesn't sound too far out of line. Guess what it cost if the levy gets descertified? They won't give me a quote, but he gives me examples. I'm probably looking at having to pay 10 $15,000 a year if the levy gets descertified. That's just on a home. You know, we we those are things we can't have happen. Well, saying that's part of my question.

Okay. Because basically, as long as that being a certified, your flood insurance is costing you a zero versus $2,800. Yeah. Here, am I correct? Now, do you guys pay flood insurance on anything or do you pay insurance on things? Oh, yeah. Well, I mean I mean the county, do you pay insurance on the jail, the courthouse, the things? They've got all kinds of insurance. We understand that flood insurance would be an impact to the county. Yeah. But school systems, my question is, you know, like you're saying, $2,800 on your new home. Mhm.

On down there, but you're saving $2,800 a year. And my question would be, well, instead of paying 2,800, what if you had to pay a,000 a year? Mhm. put some skin in the game, you know, to get this done. And and how many He's saying taxes, man.

I I'm in full agreement with you. Look, the first thing I'll tell you is is we can't tax people enough to do this project. We can. However, if we are able to do this project and we get these relief wells, along with these relief wells comes maintenance. So, I fully agree with you. there's going to have to be a tax. And Jared said it and I agree with him now. And he also said it's up to the directors. It's not up to me and Jared, but I living down here and in full agreement with you that that tax would need to be put back in place because we're going we don't want to get in this situation again. We we want to be the smart people that set up the next six generations to know how to do this and do it right because we obviously haven't done it right up to now.

That was my point. Going forward, you guys, just based on the numbers Mr. KD said, you need a better revenue stream going forward somehow or another, whether it's, you know,

we we all need to think better looking forward. I mean, I I know that. I agree with that. But it it look I don't like looking backwards. I got a problem right here in front of my eyes. These guys gave me a job. I'm trying to solve it and this is the way I know how to solve it. And and I think that that the four groups of people are our government uh coming together to do this the same way they came together to build these two levies. By the way, I mean everybody came together to build them. So we need everybody to be together to take care of them. That's that's just my train of thought. Any more questions? Thank you.

All right. That's the end of the conversation. Um I'd like to make a motion to adopt the resolution that was presented earlier with Mr. Mr. Eubank's and I'm going to have you read it before we move forward. But with Mr. Eubank's adjustments, however, I think the number that I feel comfortable in my motion putting in there is 420,000 up to 420,000, not 4.2 million. Would you like to read the version that you have?

Yeah. So with the resolution that you had before you at the end of paragraph 4 um I've so paragraph 4 would be changed to that Deburn County Indiana fully supports the Larksburg Conservancy District's efforts to pursue grant funding for the LFPP and the GFP through the donation of an amount not to exceed $420,000. And then it would be new paragraph five. Uh any commitment, obligation or appropriation by Debburn County, Indiana to provide funding in an amount not to exceed $420,000 for the project contemplated herein is expressly contingent upon the satisfaction of each of the following conditions. A. The parties shall negotiate, execute, and deliver a written or local cooperation agreement in form and substance acceptable to both Dear County, Indiana, and the Larsburg Conservancy District, setting forth the terms, conditions, responsibilities, and obligations of each party with respect to the project. And B, the project contemplated here in shall the project contemplated here in receiving a formal grant award from the Federal Emergency Management Agency or through a FEMA administered program providing funding for the project. Mr. Eubank, that meets your criteria that's needed.

Absolutely. So, are you able to redo this paperwork so we can act on it and Yeah. So, it's I've got it all ready to go here is if that's what you guys make a motion to approve the amendment as read by Mr. Bondistl. Is there a second? I'll second it. Have a motion second. Any other discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppos? Nay. Motion passes. Yeah. So, I'll email it to Leah and then So, don't run off because she'll have to she'll have to print it off before you guys head out of here. Thank you.

And then secondarily, we have on our agenda and it's been advertised to actually make the appropriation tonight of an amount that Mr. Uh Doll mentioned, is there a motion to approve $420,000 out of county general that would be held by the county but uh with Leah held by the LEA held by the county the 420 held by the county but earmarked for that specific purpose. We have to redo that every year guys approve any that come through so you can see it. Okay.

So, do we have a motion for the 420? Yes. Is that yours? Is that your motion, Tim? Yes. Is there a second for the $420,000? This is out of county general. Thank you, Dennis. Any other discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Nay. Motion passes. And we need to all stay here until Leah gets that printed off as it needs to be signed. Business still. Thank you, gentlemen. Thank you to everyone who came tonight. Appreciate you. Appreciate it. Thank you.

Next on our dinner is between Ohio and different counties. the resolution. That's the way it sounded. Yeah. For them to sign. I know. Sorry. Yeah. Tim, your motion just clarified was to approve the resolution as read by you as I read it. Okay. That's what Andy was just asking for clarification.

That's why I want to make sure Mr. Eubank was comfortable with your what you read. Okay. So we need to all stay until we have that for us to sign tonight. Correct. Please. Next on our agenda is an interlocal between Ohio and Dearborn counties.

Uh so this is uh something we did a few years ago. Um all of the circuit court employees are Dearborn County employees and Ohio County sends us money to help offset the cost of their their uh salaries and the benefits and whatnot. Um so our circuit court's the last of uh actual circuits and uh so we have a little bit of a unique situation here. So we have a interlocal cooperation agreement to um authorize that um relationship to continue the amount sent and actually we've already received these funds. um $200,000 for the circuit court employee salaries and benefits and then also a 21,000 an additional $21,718 for the part-time drug testers that are used by community corrections and um probation. So the first step would be to motion to approve the resolution to enter into the interlocal agreement. We have a motion to enter into the interlocal.

So move second. Doug. Thank you. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Oppos. Wait. Let's let's do the vote again. Those Let's do a roll call. I I I I. Motion pass it. Thank you. I couldn't hear if there was enough. Thank you. And then uh the next would be a motion to actually approve the interlocal cooperation agreement. Is there a motion to approve the the u

right pretty much or brain dead if it's any discussion? All those in favor of the of the motion to approve signify saying I. I. Motion passes. Okay. So, next on the agenda and remember we need to stay. Do I already have it? He just said,

"Oh, this is the woman." Okay. Yeah. Thank you. And I'll pass down. This is the resolution as amended and printed all for me.

And it's got the 420. Yes. And uh we'll need to have it on your agenda next meeting. Do we need to date this or just leave that blank? What's that? I'm sorry. There's a date on here for county council on the 18th of March 2023. Is that the is that the local? That's hopefully the levy thing. No, this is the interate. Sorry.

Do we have the one for a Yeah, it's coming right there for Yes. We're going to take a minute to sign everything and get it returned before we go off. But I would like to say I appreciate everyone's willingness to make a commitment to the conservancy district on their grant request. I think we need to do something that is appropriate for different county and as the fiscal body for the citizens. I think we had to do what was right for the county. I understand is a major project and there are a lot of benefits to it, but I think that the m motion we made tonight and the action we took was appropriate for us at this time. So, I thank everyone for listening to the arguments pro and con and coming to a consensus on what is appropriate to do today.

It was a lot. Well, it's good for them that we had no descending It was all full support to the whole fold. Well, did you get all these uh signed agreements? Yes. Okay. All right. I think we're good. Let's get them to just Do you present the auditor? Yeah.

Let's let's get these to that table before we go to the next thing. I don't want to walk out of here any Yeah. proxy for Mrs. Rmhole. Um, I have the meeting minutes that need approval from the January 21st meeting. Those were emailed to everyone. I don't think there were any corrections. We have a motion to approve the minutes. So, move Is there a second?

Second. Thank you, Dan. Any discussion? All those in favor signify by saying I. Opposed? Nay. Motion passes for the minutes. And then the only other thing I have is an updated salary ordinance with just some normal housekeeping. Everyone has assigned that. Correct. Okay. Is there a motion to approve the new salary ordinance? So move. Second. Thank you. Any discussion? Doug. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion passes.

Is that all you have? Any late arrival information? Being none. Is there a motion to adjurnn? Yes. Yes. You want to second the adjournment? Dennis seconds the adjournment. Dennis, do you second the adjournment? Okay, we have a motion and a second to adjourn. Is there any uh discussion? Hopefully not. All those in favor signify by saying I. I meeting's adjourned. Thank you everyone for your cooperation.

Need some water, Dennis? I don't want to show a lot to you.