County Council - Regular Meeting

Is that our new camera up there?

There's a new camera there, there's a new camera here, but it's not, it's not hope.

Right. They're looking at the stars. Yeah, not really aimed very well.

We're going to aim one right at you, Andy.

We can zoom in on them.

Rising Sun has one of those owls and it turns based on who's talking.

Oh, really?

Yeah.

That's what the alcohol beverage farm uses.

So did a sewer board use that when they had one in the middle of the table.

But they also have a much smaller room and it just sits right in front of us. I don't even know what that is.

How could they do? All right.

Well, everybody's early today.

Is it running? And you said when it says the video decode or whatever, you just click it and it starts running? Oh, nice to know.

Well, it doesn't start running. It brings you to the standard out there.

Okay, you guys ready?

Yep.

Before we start the meeting, I want to make sure everybody understands we are not Going to appoint a review board tonight, we are going to discuss how we're going to potentially do that. So just in case there was some miscommunications, and I just want to make sure everybody's clear before we start tonight's meeting. And with that, welcome to the Dibber County Board of Commissioners meeting, July 21, 2026. Please rise. Join me in a pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag, Andy?

Yes. As a recipient of federal funds and in support of Dearborn County's efforts to ensure non-discrimination and equal access to all citizens, the county gathers statistical data regarding participants and county activities. Therefore, we have provided a voluntary Title VI and public involvement survey at this meeting. You are not required to complete the survey. However, the form is anonymous. We use solely for the purpose of monitoring our compliance with Title VI and ADA.

Thank you, Andrew. There is some old business that we need to take care of. First thing up is a discussion on the Citizens Review Committee.

But before we start that discussion, I would like, Kevin, if you make a motion to- I make a motion to appoint Dwayne Bischoff as the head of the committee, the representative of the commissioners on the committee.

I'll second that. All in favor? Aye. Motion carries. Congratulations. Thanks.

Maybe.

All right. I think we need to, I think why we're, we're going to discuss potentially.

Can you turn it up a little bit, the microphone? Yeah.

I can't hear you guys at all. Well, I can't turn the microphone, but then you speak loud. We can do that. Okay. Speak louder, please.

So the resolution for the Citizens Review Committee did call for one of the commissioners to be on that committee. And so they just motioned to have Commissioner Bischoff be the commissioner representative on that committee.

Thank you.

Okay. So I think we need to have a discussion as to not about appointing, but how we're going to appoint six folks to be on the review committee. So I'm going to just open it up and let you guys talk.

Your ideas. Well, I had an idea and Sue just brought forth kind of the same thing, but in a few different formats was instead of trying to argue it out individually, We have all the applications now printed out. So go through them individually between now and our next meeting. Looks like to me, the first issue, the first one that's going to be taken is solar. Do you know the order of how they're being prioritized?

Right now, the Bank of Michigan decided to prioritize solar.

What will be next? Do you know?

No. They're just going to probably go hand in hand as far as this. Okay.

So if we look at solar, so if we use solar as our representation to get this board formed now, there's six, 17, and four. Six is anti or against, 17 neutral, and four pro. If you go across their choices, It sort of works out keeping that board fairly even using those 6, 17, and 4. As we move forward, we could also sub out someone on that board for one of the other ordinances if we need to.

So you're talking about two from each one of those?

If we go with a 2, 2, and 2. Okay. But the idea was sort them. We decide tonight those are the six, 17, and four. You go through the six. You would place your six as your top six, your pick from top to bottom. Six, who you would want first, second, third, all the way to six. Kevin and I do the same thing. For all three categories? For all three categories. And then at the end, we just pick the points. I mean, it's just a vote then. It's a silent vote.

There's no...

we all have the same information to review as far as what their qualifications and what they, how their feelings are.

So there's no cherry pick on everything.

There's no cherry pick. And it's just a, it's a point there's, I mean, you could do, there's other ways I've been through committees where you choose like scholarships and stuff where they'll do points for certain things. And one of the things Sue brought up does that, that makes it a little bit more, more work. Cause there's a lot of, a lot of reading in some of them. But either way, individually we make our picks between 617 and four pick them in those put them in those top and then we just put the papers together and okay if there's a tie then we would have to discuss the fix a tie but well we should have a some kind of a discussion before we actually run into that so we know what to do if there is a tie i mean flip a coin or whatever Yeah, it could be. If we do the point system, I bet we don't have a tie.

Okay.

If you assign points like five being the highest. And part of it is experience.

Right, I'm holding you to it. What do you got?

Anything? So are you wanting to go with this whole thing here with the point system here? Okay.

That would be number two. It would be option one, individual scoring.

Oh, okay.

If you look at the second page there.

The ranking method. Yeah. Top 10 applicants and assign the points. First choice, 10 points. Second, nine. Okay. No, no, not that one. Not that one? This one.

Okay. You're wanting option one. Option one on the second page. Okay. Sorry. Basically, it says you get one to five points for experience, commitment to the community, ability to be fair and objective, time availability, diversity of perspective or background. And then if you do those five categories and points, I think you're going to, I think it will get narrowed down to, I think we would get our top two to two.

One thing we need to take into consideration is also if any of those six that eventually end up on the review board What if one of them gets sick or something would happen that they would have to no longer be on that resort? I think we should maybe try to understand how we might be able to have an alternative.

Go to our next on the points.

Okay. As long as we're done.

Okay. Then we've made our choices through whatever happens. If somebody gets hurt, sick, whatever, or just can't do it because of job, we go to the next person on the list and that's the person to fill that spot. Or if somebody... Decides they don't want to do it no more. We just moved to the next. Next vote. Okay. In that category. In that, yeah, in their perspective area. Yes. Or choice of, I don't know, what word do you want to use for that? Your choice.

Because my idea of, you know, I've mentioned this several times back, you know, each person picking two, that still kind of does the same thing as what I said.

Yeah, we're just, but we're extending it to pick everybody. So we've answered every question from now until this is done.

So it's not just a decision by one person saying, oh, that's Kevin's pick. That's Dwayne's pick. That's right.

And if somebody has to quit, we won't have to go back and re-decide the whole thing again. That next person's already picked. Okay.

One to five. Okay. Yeah. If I could jump in here real quick, and I'm going to preface this by saying this is nothing against either of these individuals because I think they're very knowledgeable and I think that they will have a role to play in this. But in an effort to try and whittle this down, Sandy did put in to be on the review committee as did Ken Gunkel. If any projects such as this, such as what would be considered here would ever happen, at some point that project is going to come under the purview of the MS4 coordinator, and it's going to come under the purview of the Soil and Water Conservation District. The committee has been charged with reaching out to experts and For assistance. So I think that would be the role for Sandy to play or Ken to play or someone else from Soil Water Corporation.

Oh, they shouldn't just draw their names.

I don't think that they should be in consideration for the committee because if anything that the committee is going to be reviewing would ultimately come up, they're going to be dealing with it down the road. Be a biased. Well, I don't think they would be biased. I just think... It's a citizen committee, and Sandy and Ken are both in positions where their respective positions may review something like this down the road.

And like you said, though, if the committee has a question about soil erosion or whatever, we can bring her in as a witness.

Right. Sandy's obviously willing to assist, so I think that would be the role is the committee would reach out to Sandy as the MS4 coordinator and say, hey, please help us understand MS4's role in all of this.

So I would assume we could just, as a group, remove those two as a choice?

That would be my suggestion.

Can we just scratch her, or does she need to submit anything?

I would say, I mean, you could motion to say you're not going to consider Ms. Whitehead or Mr. Gunkel's application, given the roles that they're currently in, or you could request that they withdraw. So moved. We're going to ask that they remove that.

I have a question. my question is i mean mr bischoff's going to be on this committee too and he's going to make a final decision on some of this stuff no he's not

I mean, on the final when we all three will make sure I'm saying, but he's going to be part of that decision. Same as Sandy will be part of that decision. And Ken will be part of those decisions going into it. Don't you think?

It's a little different. I'm hoping I'm there is just as the leader of the group that my decision won't be necessary in those discussions. I'm hoping that those six.

You're a.

mediator but a final vote if there needs to be a vote but there's really it's a recommendation that group's going to form recommendations on xyz i'm hoping that that group i just wanted to call to attention yeah i know there is a But that was the only way to set it up to have, we thought, as a way to keep the control, the group control kind of. And to work. And to get, yeah, somebody to keep it moving forward.

Okay. Do we have a motion?

I'll make a motion that we remove Sandy Whitehead and Ken Dunkel from the choices for the reasons stated by Andy. Seconded.

All in favor?

Aye.

Sandy, we thank you. Sandy. Sandy can't hear me either.

And she'll probably be used. So we're down to 50. Do you understand?

I understand. I mean, I have some thoughts about it, but I understand what you're saying, that you would use me as an expert. So, I mean, I will just plan on being there because I think you need people that do have some technical background and not just citizens. I am a citizen, but I have some technical background.

Okay. And we would appreciate you being there.

We appreciate you. Okay.

So, we're back to any other discussion.

Yeah. No, I think we got it. Plan to move forward. I think we should, we have an option to move forward. I believe we should just take this information that Wayne has provided us with, and you agreed to, let's just think about it, and at the next meeting, we can move on it, if that's acceptable to everybody.

Move on, that's going to be our choice, or we move on?

Yeah, this would be our choice, or something else might...

I would almost like to have our choices by the next meeting. Because we're into August already.

I know, but even though we have this choice, are you talking about, okay.

We go ahead and score these.

When are we going to have something to actually review? Even if we have a board, we don't have anything for them to review. When do you expect something to be reviewed?

Honestly, I can give you an update. Do you want me to kind of go in the middle of you guys so you have a better idea?

Well, we could do it all in one night. If we had to, we could accept that and do what we needed to do as far as option one is concerned.

I'm me personally. I'm going to go ahead and go through these and I'm going to score on this way. I'll and I'll be ready. No, not tonight. Oh, before the next meeting. I would like that. I would like that. OK, just to have have our decisions the next meeting in case there's that way, too, if you pick. Bill Smith.

Let's go through it and do what we need to do. But we're not actually. Are you saying we should adopt option one? Yes, that's what I'm saying.

We adopt it. But we still have a little bit of time before we actually have something to review.

And I think that's one reason we were.

My only fear, too, is to wait too long to give these people time to start making plans that, hey, I've got to do this. I need to get this on my schedule.

Well, they're not going to be able to do anything until we have something.

Right, I know, but be in mind that they're now responsible when they're called to.

I make a motion to adopt option one of the individual scoring, points one to five, and then present our findings at the next meeting to determine who's going to be on the committee.

All in favor? Aye. Motion carries. Okay. Sandy, you want to come up? And I guess there was an update.

I think Nicole's next.

Oh, Nicole's next? Oh, you're right. I need my glasses. All right. Nicole, if you would.

Good evening. Nicole Daly, Dearborn County Planning and Learning Director. So where we stand with the writing updating the ordinances. The Plant Commission has a meeting this coming Monday at 6 p.m. And we do have one case. And then after that, we will be further discussing solar issues. The Plant Commission had decided at the last meeting to focus on solar. So that's what we are doing. And just to let everybody know, we are continuing to receive emails. We will continue to take emails, comments, suggestions whether that's solar data centers or the battery storage doesn't matter which topic we continue to take those and continue to receive them for the upcoming meeting i am working on several aerials to show different setbacks this was asked by the plant commission so they would have a visual of what that would look like on a kind of make-believe solar area That way they could just see what... Are you talking 1,500 feet? Well, I won't have one for 1,500. You will or won't? I won't. So in looking at it, I've already looked into it. That's the first one I started with. I started with 147-acre track. It wasn't going to work. I went to 236 acres. With those setbacks, you would have one acre of development. out of 236 acres. In order to have just 20 acres of a solar development, you would have to have 2,800 acres at that setback.

Okay.

Which setback?

1,500.

1,500 feet. Okay, thank you.

So 1,500 feet from all property lines, if you're just taking a generic... shape as simple as I can get it, it would be 2,800 acres or just 20 acres of development. Okay. So there's nothing for me to compare that to, to have that kind of set that. And so even in looking at similar property or getting a gist of the property in Dearborn County to find something similar, Um, there's, um. Or parcels and I'm going to. This is by saying it's not a 100% accurate information because we're taking some quick data on how many parcels. Are 250 acres and more because parcels can be split. By section lines and stuff like that. So. Just a quick estimate without section lines included, there are four parcels in Dubert County that are over 250 or plus acres. So in looking at that 1,500 foot setback, there's just no way to draw it. Reasonably, we're even taking a different county's kind of parcel layout of any sort.

What did Franklin County's, what was theirs in their ordinance they just passed?

Not off the top of my head. I think it was similar to the Boone County. I think they took bits and pieces, majority of it from the Boone County, Indiana ordinance. but that's the first one I started with as I was making an exhibit, and I can't make it work with any.

We don't want to get you off the track. I mean, a lot of this stuff will be answered.

Yeah, but I will have different suggested setbacks. There were 500, 150. There were different other options, so I will have exhibits of those that will show what that will look like. Um, and then, um. We will also have, um, we will also be supplying to the plan commission and to the public. It's either this Friday or Monday. It'll be that Monday of the meeting. Um. Uh, some draft ordinances on some of the, um. I hate to use the word simpler parts of the ordinance, but things as far as the purpose and intent, solar that won't require a permit, definitions, certain, I'm gonna have some stuff on the safety standards, something like that, just for people to review. We're gonna have them, for them, like I said, either Friday or Monday, not to make a decision that night, because I think there's gonna be a lot of things that we're gonna be talking about to get some more guidance towards other parts of the ordinance. But that way the Planning Commission and the citizens have a month in between each meeting to review what is put out there for them to bring back comments and have discussions on those in the August meeting. That's kind of where we're at. The reason why I can't give a specific time frame on that, it just depends on how those meetings go.

We need a timeline as to when things are going to get done.

I think we'll have a better idea.

We need to know you're going to be done by this time and you're going to be done by... Data centered by this time and batteries, whatever.

Well, I also need guidance from the Planning Commission. It's been hard to get.

And if you have to have extra meetings, you have to have extra meetings.

Well, and that's one of the other things. I've looked at the calendar to try to have a couple extra meetings in between. I am bringing that up to the board on Monday. So I've looked at a couple dates.

If you look at where we are and where we need to be, you only have six, seven, eight more meetings to get it all done. So you may have to squeeze more meetings in there and draw yourself a timeline and then try to meet that goal.

At least have a goal.

Yeah. So I found what Garrett sent me. He represents Frank, him and Jefferson represent. Garrett Baskin and Jefferson Kaiser represent Frank County Board of Commissioners. And it looks like they didn't mess with their setbacks when they did their stuff recently. What he sent me, he said, this is what we adopted in place on the planning and zoning recommendations. It's 140 feet from the center line of any public road, 100 feet from any non-participating adjoining parcel. It does say 650 feet. from any SES outer edge of the solar energy system and any dwelling. So it's 650 from the edge of the system to the edge of the house, nearest house, and then 250 from any cemetery. But then he did say that they had also appointed a committee to continue looking into this, but that's where they're at. It looks like what they did when they initially Doctored their ordinance, it was more adding language about equipment installation decommissioning. layer minimization and things like that doesn't look like at least at that outset, and that was from January that he sent that to 650 on the borders 150 or 140 yeah so basically six on the edge of the last solar panel to the nearest dwelling sides.

And along the roads running just do. So right.

Okay, anything else, Marshall? That's it.

I have a question. On your agenda, it's been requested for experts in their line or field related to solar to speak and answer questions. Who has requested the experts?

A citizen has requested that the experts come to the meeting. And what I told them is because this was last week, I said because the way we've been handling this, they wanted a... a lot amount of time to do presentations. I said we are past that deadline for that to go on the July agenda. So that cannot happen. Of course, we cannot stop anybody from really speaking at under public comment sessions. And there are a lot of three minute times that we've been allocating to people during those times. But I put those names on there because that's what was given to me so that it was out there because they have stated that they were going to make a request by the deadline for the August meeting to try to have some times for slotted presentations.

So can you not tell us who's requesting them?

It was Brandon Lane. Is he paying for them? I have no idea.

Because I just, I mean, I, I was provided a. The kind of a summary of their expertise, so I just did my own because I don't trust. Sometimes what I see, and it's basically a. It's a solar promotion. I mean, 1 is a marketing director of energy storage. Leading environmental energy development across the country. 1 is a paid witness. For regulatory commissions and counties. So, I mean, it's a, it's a very biased 1 side. And I just, I saw the list and was just wanting to make sure that we weren't it wasn't us bringing it was not our department.

It was not the plan commission. It was not commissioners and I've put that out there. Someone asked me the same thing that Nicole hired. Nope. Well, that was not even us reaching out to any experts or anything like that. Because I like to, I'll, I'll, I'll be about to be key for a little bit, but yeah, no, these were not done by anybody of staff or anybody at the county.

All right, so if so, if.

Anyone against solar and it would be no different than what we've had in the past as far as people bringing their attorneys in and wanting their attorneys to be able to have. a slot amount of time to make a presentation.

So when would their deadline be for the August meeting?

This Friday. But I put that on there. I added that to agenda when I got it, just because I'm not hiding anything. It was put on there. It's not at this time whether or not they will make that deadline as well.

Okay.

All right.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Thank you. Okay. Now, Sandy, if you would. I think most of the stuff has already been answered. Thanks.

Thank you.

Sandy Whitehead, Dearborn County MS4 coordinator. So I came to this board back in May, I believe it was, maybe June. Anyway, you had some questions for me about what exactly a stormwater utility study, well, We answered some questions about the basics of what it would do, of what having a stormwater utility would do. And then you had some questions about Because I mentioned that this fee, if we were to do it, how it would be collected. So I contacted some counties in Indiana that have a stormwater utility. And I either called them or it was on their website. And so five counties that I contacted put that fee collection mechanism on their property tax bill. I had a discussion with Floyd County and they were very, they gave a lot of insight about it. Even recommended another company to me that I have reached out for a proposal. It's a company that they use. So the other question that you had asked me was like, so if we get this stormwater utility, we have this money, who's going to do the work? It would not be Tim Greiby and his men, because they're already burdened. This is stuff that we would have to subcontract. So that's how that would be handled. So I'm still waiting for one proposal from the company that I mentioned, and their name is ERC. But my other proposals that I've received range from 45,000 to 117,000. And so my ask today is just if it's okay for me to go to council to request the funds to have a stormwater utility conducted.

It's an unfunded mandate. We knew this from the beginning. We have a choice on the matter.

Okay, when you talk about collecting the fees, you know there's issues with property taxes and what that might be in the future.

It would go on as a special assessment.

It does. If we have property taxes.

Yeah. Well, you're going to have them. I mean, there's a lot of people that collect this stuff. You'll always have to keep them.

Right. So you're still saying we could collect it through property taxes?

You can. The only bad thing is, is if it doesn't take a whole entire township or taxing unit, then it's going to be a pick and choose. And that's a lot of work for our office.

Fortunately, excuse me, but fortunately, like when I talked to Floyd County, they have someone, they contract a Baker Tilly who, and I did reach out to Baker Tilly. They contract someone like that to do that kind of work. And then they provide that to the auditor's office.

But what I'm saying, Sandy, is you have to touch every individual property. And that's a lot if you've got a lot. Because we can put a special assessment on, but we literally have to go in there and put the taxes on.

And that's what I'm saying. They do that for you.

No, we won't let them in. We don't want anybody in that tax system but ourselves. And I don't think Baker Tilly does that for them. They would tell you how much and maybe give you a list. But literally to go in there, they're not going to let them do that.

Okay, I don't understand exactly how it works.

I'll show you tomorrow.

I mean, and it would be nice maybe...

It's the same as a sewer lien or something like that. We literally go in there and the county gets a $15 fee and all that kind of stuff for putting a sewer lien on. It's recorded downstairs. I don't know if you'd have to record them or not.

It would be really nice.

If it's a tax that's on there every... Do what?

It would be nice if you could talk to someone like this gentleman from Floyd County that I spoke with.

I really know what it is. We've went through this before trying to do this. And it's another assessment. And we can do that in there. But what I'm saying is if you don't literally have like a rate that you put in for a taxing unit, you have to individually put them on properties. And it's a lot of work.

Okay. Well... I don't know. I mean, we either want to try to move forward and, you know, do our, have an MS4 fully as we should, or we just kind of hang back.

The first thing is going to be get the study to see where we're at. I mean, it's going to be, council's got to prove spending the money. Right.

You kind of have to take the steps.

And see, and then make a decision, you know, is that, Is that something? And council also is going to be on the end of that too, is deciding if that's what's going to happen.

Yeah, absolutely.

So are you going to propose going with the $45,000 one?

Well, I'd really like to hear back from ERC because that company, that's all they do is stormwater utility.

I think we have the answer that we need to postpone until you receive that information.

Which will be in before the next council meeting.

Well, when is the next council meeting?

In August.

I know.

It's too late for additionals for August, though. They had to be in already. It's already too late. It'll be November. November.

So I guess I'm not sure why... For us to give you the approval for which one you're going to go to. Oh, I don't want you to. I didn't think that's what I was coming here for.

You're just giving us information?

I'm giving you this information, but I thought that I would go to council because they would be the ones who would truly determine how much I could spend and and discuss this with that.

You don't know how much you can spend because you don't have ERC. Well, she's going to be in November now anyway. Well, that's what I'm saying. That's not what she's saying.

So you need... To be able to do this contract, you need an additional appropriation?

Yeah.

Okay. So it's not in your budget already?

No, it's not.

Okay.

So Connie's saying that... And you have to know how much. You can't just go and say, I'm going to go from...

I didn't know how much by then, but I thought that I was just coming here for you guys to say... Yes, it's okay. You can go talk to council about this.

Is that all I need to do? Yeah. Okay. I'll make a motion to allow Sandy to approach council to get the rate study done when she has all the votes. Seconded.

All in favor?

Aye.

Thank you very much.

I was confused also.

I think the council will ask some additional questions. If you give your additional appropriation, then whoever you end up selecting, their contract would then be signed by the commissioners. but the money has to be there first.

Yes, absolutely. Thank you very much for your clarification. Appreciate your time.

Next under old business is the amendment to the education certification of You still have reimbursement agreement.

That was correct. I didn't do the agenda. Yeah, I know. We fixed that. Well, we'll get into it, everybody. So it's my understanding that this agreement was approved by Commissioner Bischoff and Commissioner Turner at the meeting that Jim and I were absent from. However... It was entitled as a reimbursement, which makes it sound like the applicant is paying the money up front and the county is reimbursing them. This is money that council has set aside for the county to be able to pay the upfront costs for these trainings so that we can get more EMTs and paramedics. We can get more of those individuals in our county. And then in exchange, there is a three-year program. work period in Dearborn County. So the agreement has been amended to note that it's not a reimbursement. It's a sponsorship and service agreement. And then also there has been language added at the bottom, just directing the applicant to turn in the completed form to Jason, as well as that the forms will be reviewed in the order that they come in because there is a finite amount of money available.

Yeah, 50,000.

So that's what the changes were. So if you're fine with those, just ask for a motion to approve the modified agreement.

I move to approve the modified agreement. I'll second it. Motion carries.

Thank you.

Thank you, Andy. All right. New business changes for environmental health fees.

Okay.

No, it'll be when they come in. So the form has been approved. When the applicant turns in a form, those forms will come to the commissioners.

Do we need to sign for the amendment?

No. You just approve the agreement, a blank form, the blank agreement. An applicant will fill it out, submit it to Jason, and then Jason will bring it to the commissioners. And then when you execute those agreements, you'll sign them at that time.

So each time somebody... comes from Jason, you will sign that agreement individually with that one person.

Yeah, right. Okay. Okay. Doug?

Thank you. I'm here to try to answer some questions you may have in regards to the B organization in front of you.

All right. This is changes to environmental health fees.

Yes.

All right. Tell us who you are.

Well, basically, it's just incremental fees.

I mean, you know, I'm just citing the agenda. You can call it whatever you want.

So now it's we're raising the fees just incrementally. That's what the board had talked about. Tell us who you are.

Tell us who you are.

Oh, that's very environmental health specialist. Sorry about that. But that's what the fee ordinance was for. We ran it through our board, and the board agreed with the changes. And they're not major changes. They're incremental changes is what they appear to be.

When was the last time they were changed or updated?

Three years ago. Three years ago?

Yes. Okay. And was everything updated at that period of time?

Please?

Was everything updated at that period of time?

Yes, at that time in 2023, yes.

Okay. I don't have any questions about those.

Looks like you added some ones to it, the tattooing and microblading. Yes. Yeah, okay.

We're currently doing those free, and we really need to be charging the facilities and the people for the inspections that we're having to perform. I understand.

Do we need to motion these then? Yeah, we do. Are you okay with everything? Yeah, I'd looked at them all that he had sent out and there's nothing.

It is 007. There's no extravagant change.

It's just minor changes. Probably not as much as inflation would be No, it's been three years, so it's more than fair.

So if this is approved, so because we're dealing with money here and increasing these fees for this office, there is a publication requirement. So Connie, if we got up to the paper by Friday, it could go in Thursday's paper?

No, it has to be in there before 10 on Thursday.

Okay, so if we get there tomorrow, it would be in Thursday's paper?

Yeah, yeah.

So that would be July 30th, and it's 30 days after publication. So if you are going to motion to approve this, I would ask that you approve the ordinance 2026-007, effective September 1st. That would give us time to get it to the paper and get it published.

On the back page, it says...

Does that make sense?

Yeah, I was anticipating that.

That's the old ordinance. That's 2023. Got it. I motion to what Andy said. The fee starts September 1st. Is that correct? Yes.

Seconded. All in favor of that? Aye. Motion carries. Thank you, gentlemen. All right. Mr. Listerman, County Engineer, final acceptance letter for Bridge 33 North Hogan Road.

Todd Listerman, Dearborn County Engineer. It's part of the Federal Aid paperwork that's required for projects that are funded through Federal Highway and administered through NDOT. At the end of every project, there's a final report, final inspection report. It's an IC 639 that basically states that all the job has been completed, all the punch and slide is uncompleted, all the failed material, if there is any, had been replaced. It's done a final inspection with in dot and the contractor as well as the county. And everything meets payment smoothness has been met. Pavement markings are in accordance with the and there's no encodements left on the right away. So, with that being said for bridge 33, which is North Hogan road. They're right by Union Ridge. That was actually completed and open last spring or last fall. We have to go through a period of time to make sure we get all our growth for IDEM. So we have our notice of termination. So I got grass coverage and everybody is happy. So the last piece of paperwork that we have for the county commissioners is to sign off as the county commissioners accept the project as complete. Questions?

No. I'll make a motion to accept the project as complete for bridge number 33.

And you'll sign me up and you'll approve the IC 639.

And also approve the IC 639. Second. All in favor? Aye.

Now, this is an end up form for some reason. They only need two signatures. So you guys get to pick which two people get to sign it. That's the way they do this. There are two copies. So whichever two want to pick and sign it are more welcome. Just want to give you an update. I didn't know if you saw the email today for the controller from end up. To the gut or for the governor, as everybody knows the governor suspended gas tax. So we were short on our distribution for June. our most recent distribution. However, they are going to make it whole. So hopefully within the next week, we will see that come to fruition. So they had released.

I read it's going to be two or three days. What's that? I heard it was going to be two or three days. Well, government, so hopefully. Yeah.

So, but we used all the letters. So it, uh, As everybody else knows, that's the first month. So I would assume that'll happen again next month and the following months until gas prices come back down. Actually, I think it's going to end soon because of law. we'll be back at our normal distributions, but this is the first one we will receive in the first make us whole payment. We'll be forthcoming in the next few days. That's all I have.

Okay. Thanks, Todd. Ms. Hayden, update our website.

Yeah, I've been working with the company Revives to get our new website up and running. Nicole has been helping me out immensely, I can't thank you enough for all the help that she's given. So in your packets, I did put a screenshot of what the color palettes that we chose are going to be like, and we've gone with the whites, blues, and a splash of gold. And then of course, our green seal will follow through on every page. Commissioner Bischoff had a question about how it will show up on the different phones, the phones, the iPads, laptops. And I did check with them and they are what they call 100% responsive on any screen size. They could not give me an example because it's still in the design phase, but they use or they do the city of Troy, Michigan, They do Largo, Florida, and they do Cedar Rapids, Iowa. So you could Google any of those on your iPad phone or laptop, and you could see examples of how it stretches and shrinks and fits 100% responses, what they told me. On the sheet that you're looking at, that's just to give you an idea of what the color palettes will look like. And those are all stock photos. And we will exchange the photos with our own Dearborn County photos. So that's my update as of right now.

Thank you. You're welcome. What about the other update?

The CTI digital video project. I've spoken with Commissioner Bischoff. And I thought that he would be a good fit to do our press release because he does the video on Facebook of his meetings in a minute. And so if it's okay, you graciously said that you would do this. And in your packet, I have dates that you need to get with me for this press release for you to work with our producer to do that. video press release. And what that would do is it would just tell the public that we are, we're going to be working with CGI and in the near future, keep an eye on the website and we will have four videos. So the next step would be the short press release. And Dwayne, it'll be done in an app called Open Reel. And I think I sent you some of those links already.

I've looked at them already. Yeah, it's pretty simple.

After that short press release, we will be doing a pre-shoot meeting, and that's scheduled for August 18th at 11 a.m. Nicole has also been helping me with that. And Gage Pace, who used to work with One Dearborn, he is really tech savvy on all this stuff, and they've done several videos for One Dearborn in their Stellar program. So he has asked, he has moved positions. He's with the Tourism Bureau now down in Marksburg on Walnut Street. And they've given him the okay to go ahead and work with us. So he's going to be working hand in hand with us also. And so we need to, we'll go over at this pre-shoot meeting, we'll go over scripts, what shots will be made. and finalize what stories we want to tell about Dearborn County. There'll be four videos. Each video will be one to one and a half minute long. And then on August 24th through the 27th is when they're scheduling the possible shoot days in Dearborn County. They will send a videographer with a drone and Gage has agreed to take the people around to where he feels and where we agree to have these shots taken. So those are the steps that we're doing on that right now.

Thank you. Ms. Frumhold, claims? Yes.

Mr. President, I'll make a motion to approve claims. Second.

All in favor? Aye. Motion carries.

Make a motion to accept payroll.

Seconded. All in favor? Aye. Motion carries. minutes.

Yes, July 7th.

Make a motion to approve July 7th, 2026 minutes. Second.

All in favor? Aye. Motion carries. Mr. Bodendistle, do you have anything for us?

Nothing this evening.

Thank you. Do we have any later rival information?

Okay.

Public comment, if any. All right. Oh, amen.

My name's Ed Yelton. I live out of Manchester.

Takes you that long to stand up?

My hair and everything's working.

That's a bad joke, Ed.

That's all right. This one's on my back. Everybody gets a good laugh. I want to thank you, Nicole, for your work in the suburbs. I want to remind the commissioners it's very important to move forward with this board, or at least commit. You know what I'm trying to say.

Yeah, we do.

And I'm going to ask if it comes down to the timeline, let's crowd another meeting in. And because it's important to me, it's important to a lot of these people sitting out here. I made a trip. I did take a vacation after five years, went to South Alabama, and on my journey, seen a couple solar fields being constructed. And it's been a while since I've seen one. I worked for a company that actually built one. And it just was a reminder, seen a couple solar fields, and I mean, they were huge. So I'm not against them. I think that the rules, we need something to get it laid out before we run out of time. And I know how time runs out. So I'll shut up. Thank you.

Thank you.

I just have really quick two minutes or less.

Okay.

And I'll thank you, Dwayne and Jim. I have to pivot on the fly. Jillian Collins is my name. I'm a resident of Dearborn County. Cause you both already addressed the comments that I came here prepared to say. So thank you in advance for that. Jim, I appreciate, I was just coming to ask for like a clearly documented comment. timeline, with milestones, actions to get us to February, realizing we're sort of at like halftime, if you will. And in our 12 months that, you know, there's a lot of people who are sort of doing this on the side of our own families and jobs and, you know, all of our other things that we have going on. And just appreciate your willingness to continue to sort of ask for that documentation and that timeline. Appreciate that. And Dwayne, appreciate your perspective on the experts. I was also a little bit confused when I was reading this morning and I had also done a little bit of research. Felt a little lobbyish to me. I'm not, I don't know what the rules are. I'm sort of newish to this over the last couple of months. But I appreciate you expressing concern and looking into that and doing research on that. So really just wanted to say thank you both. I appreciate it.

All right. Thank you. Anyone else for public comment?

Oh, thank you all for giving me the time. Lisa Lee, Weisberg Road. I just have a couple questions I'd like clarified. You talked about the count was six against 17 in the middle and 4-4. You took out two. What's the new numbers?

Oh, those were neutral, so it'd be 15. Hang on.

So the medium was the 15 come out of those.

The 15 are neutral. So it doesn't change the other. Sorry, I should have said that.

Yeah, I didn't know if it took one of our good people against it.

We pop it up. So yeah, it took the neutral down to 15.

Okay, thank you.

Yeah.

And I had one of the advisory group. Did they all live, are you picking them all that live in Dearborn County?

That was part of the criteria.

Not just have property in Dearborn County.

Part of the criteria is they had to live in Dearborn County. Yes. Okay. That was one of our original rules.

Somebody, different county, even if it's county over, being able to do that because otherwise other people from other states could come in and be against it.

That was on our original rule list.

Okay. That answered it. Thank you for your time. You're welcome.

You're welcome. Anyone else? Okay. Kevin, do you have commissioner comments?

No. What?

No. Motion to adjourn. Not yet. Oh. I'm gathering here. Okay. On a personal note, I wanted to thank the Beacon and PG Gentry for doing a story on my dad, who was a veteran. in World War II. As you can see, it's a little emotional for me. But he survived, was the only survivor of his squad. And he was shot and laid on the ground and people were actually laying over him for over a day. And he was shot in the back and he would manage to come to and made it all the way back to camp. So the article was very well written. My dad would be very pleased and humbled and I'm just a proud son with that whole journey. Thank you.

I don't know.