County Council - Regular Meeting

Heat. Heat. Kim, you want to lead us in the pledge? Sure. 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. Okay, you need a minute to go over the minutes. They were emailed to us. I didn't see anything. I didn't.

Anybody else see anything? Danny, I'm going to abstain from voting on these minutes because I wasn't at the council. That's fine. Okay. There's no additions or correction. I'll entertain a motion to approve. I'll make that motion. Bill makes a motion to approve. I'll second. Ashley seconds. Any other discussion? All those in favor? I. Any oppose? Okay. Abby, court services.

Good morning. Um I am here to share with you guys that the three grants that we have applied for for um court services salaries. So, it's for three different sections within court services. So, the first grant is the probation officer grant, which is funded through the Department of Corrections. We've received this grant since 2017. This year, um, Eric Atkins fills this role. It's our specialty probation officer that deals with our moderate and high-risisk felons. Um, and he has a bunch of over and over and beyond standards that he has to meet compared to a misdemeanor or a low-risk probation officer. Um, so his salary is $58,473 and that is what that grant is applied for um to cover his salary out of the Department of Corrections. The first one, the second grant is the community corrections grant. So this covers all case managers and our field officer salaries. Um this is the grant that the department funded through the department of corrections they have told us that is going to take the biggest hit this year. Um we are looking at a 20 to 25% cut in funding from the department of corrections. Um which is unfortunate but every county is facing that same budget cut. Um our organi our state organization called IAC has requested that when we applied for our grant funds to put our entire budget into um DOC what we need for the entire year to survive. um where in the past we have solely requested salaries because we pay um our everyday cost from user fees and things like that. Um so our total budget for 2027 that we've requested from DOC is $52,816. Um and that includes everything. We know we will not get that money. Um and most

of that will be supplied from user fees that we have um like we plan to do. But the point of asking for that amount is to show DOC that you keep cutting us, but costs are rising, right? You're wanting us to do more programming, have more intensive services, you're sending us more offenders out of DOC, which is rising cost, but you keep cutting our funding. There's got to be a balance somewhere. So, all counties are asking for that. Um, putting their entire budget in the grant. Um, and then the last grant is for our wellness court grant, problem solving court grant, drug court grant. They all go, we call it here locally, wellness court grant. It's run out of judge Bailey's office. Um, that is for a probation officer salary, FICA, PEF, benefits, all the works. Um, it's $127,865 is what we're asking for. And this would be funded through the Indiana Office of Services. Anybody any questions? I think the commissioner's all signed off on them already, so I'm letting everybody look at it. Okay.

Thank you.

Well, they're looking. Sheriff, you want to go over your commissary report? Yes, sir. mandated. Here's your quarterly commissary report's 129th, elements of change. Really nothing out of the ordinary there. It is there for your review. Look at them. Thank you.

Happy to entertain any questions you might have. We had January, February, we went through three or four weeks. When it gets warm, doesn't it tend to go up a little bit?

Most parts. Any other questions? Okay. Thanks, sharing them. I'll entertain a motion to approve all three grants. So moved. Rick makes a motion. I'll second. Ernie seconds. Any other questions? Discussion? All those in favor? I.

Any oppose? Okay. Three of them in here. Sign. Yes. Thank Chris. Okay. Ryan, you're taking the mayor's place.

Yes.

Last week I emailed you the um proposal for the interlocal agreement. It's the PAP, which is a public safety answering point. Um another fancy word for the 911 dispatch, but uh we've been working on this for over a year. We've had several iterations of this uh agreement, and we finally landed on this one. Um it's very similar to what we've had in the past, the agreement between the county and the city to agree to pay for 5050 split with the 911 monies. Um and so the only difference there's some some differences, but one of them is the um kind of broke up the committees. We have now have a currently have an executive committee which is the mayor, a commissioner, uh county council member which is Ashley, and a city council member which is Rodney King. So that's that's an executive committee that would meet periodically only for budgetary items maybe for some um employee issues and then we have an advisory board and that that has a seven member and you'll see that in your packet the seven member advisory board. So um those will meet uh monthly

or quarterly. Is that right? By monthly

the Yeah. So, um, that kind of breaks up those boards with different responsibilities, but other than that, it really lines out how the county and the city coordinate together to pay for the um dispatch. Uh, we like the county is responsible for the building. We own the building, so we take care of the maintenance and so forth. Um, the dispatchers are all county employees. Um, but when it comes to raises, when it comes to budgetary items and things like that, we split that 50/50. So, um, we have the county attorney, the city attorney has both, um, checked off on this. The city council, the mayor has checked off on this. Yesterday, the county commissioners did. So, now you're the last piece of the puzzle to get this approved.

Okay. How long is this agreement for? This is a one-year agreement. Um I think previously we've had some longer but because of the Senate enrollment act one and not sure how like the lit local income tax and all that's going to affect next year and how all that the monetary so we decided to just do it for one year and then revisit this next year um because it is kind of a a fluid piece with the monies next year. Okay. Yes. That's correct. public.

That's correct. We had a a consultant, Barry Ritter, that this is what he does for a living and he kind of maneuvered us through this um this kind of a revision of our our agreement. It hasn't been looked at for a while and so he came in and and kind of worked it over.

Yeah.

But to clarify on Anything that does station one or Greensburg fire station two. They would they would do those things. That's all dayto-day preliminary stuff. If it can't operational, thank you. When it comes to executive decisions, that's where the board money raises um disciplinary action for employees. Um like higher level, not not day-to-day disciplinary like somebody's late for work, Leanne takes care of that kind of stuff. But when it comes to, hey, we might need to replace an employee, that's where it comes to the executive session. Mike.

Yeah. budget.

You got four members. Four members on the executive committee. That's correct. What do you do in in the case of a tie? We're going to call you. I do. I can handle it with that. You know, I don't I don't know. So you guys brought that decision up in case there was a tie or something.

We did we did discuss it. I don't know

the same reason why we also

six very important part of whether or not work or not work. I get it. I get it. Yeah. Just wonder what the

We're gonna find a friend. I I say call Nate. Call Nate. Yeah. There we go. Any other questions? concerns. Everybody signed off on it with us. I'll entertain a motion to approve. I'll make that motion. Kenny makes a motion to approve. All those in favor? I. Any oppose? Okay. Thank you. One thing I just mentioned, Brian,

a lot of times these kind of things get put on and don't get looked at just, you know. So, is there something in here that says it's evergreen? If it's not acted upon, it just automatically rolls over. Well, because it's a one year that we will look at this again next year, but there's dates on the calendar already to do that. No wait until No, no, I don't believe so, but I know that not yet because we had to get the signing officially. Our next meeting is May 7th and will be with our new government and that is what we will also review. Okay.

Okay. Okay. Jeremy guy with all the numbers.

Good morning. Um, so I went back and looked and it has been just over a year since the last time I came to talk to you guys about funding on the fairgrounds project. It was actually uh April 15, 2025 when we were dealing with the whatifs um and what do we do with the state funding from ready being paused. Uh so we're just over a year now. And so where we've been so far through 25 and here into 26. And I had sent you guys all an email here, but just to outline it, uh we have tiled the track and the horse arena to mitigate the flooding and the water drainage issues there at the fairgrounds. We've also uh refurbished, completely remodeled the bathrooms in the farm and home building. They now have HVAC, uh which folks were incredibly um joyous about having that. Uh I don't know how many different people I heard during the fair that we're very happy about that. Uh and the community building has been completed. Uh now we're moving on to the phase two part of the project for the electrical work and then also uh part of the ready proposal had included paving of the midway and the backtrack entrance. Other improvements to the horse barn. And so I'd handed uh out to all of you guys before the meeting uh an actual price sheet uh that includes all of the costs for phase two of the project. Um when you look at different things on here, I know if you had watched or or I talked to you after our commissioner meeting yesterday, there were some things that we had discussed on how to proceed if we were to proceed on them. Specifically, I would highlight there on your price sheet. um the midway paving. Uh there had been discussion during our commissioner's meeting on whether or not we bid that out ourselves um or if we go through the b. The discussion yesterday landed on we will leave it in the b u because that way we

don't have to manage it. We don't have to manage the dealing with the water drainage ordinance portion of this because we are going to be over an acre of uh solid surface. So, we will have to deal with that part of the project. Um, getting getting where'd Doug go? Getting approval from Doug's office to make sure that we're in compliance with that. Uh, we talked with Tim during our uh commissioners meeting that the highway department will be able to help us get tile ran down to the tile that's on the hill uh there at the track anyways, tap into those tile lines and move it out towards the creek. Um, so I think that's something that we can do. But also at this point, we wouldn't have anybody if we bid it out ourselves. This the price that we were seeing uh from the bids that Scott uh Barnes had provided did not include bonds or insurance is what most of them had stated. So that very well the prices that we had seen on those very well may go up. Uh whereas we don't have to worry about that with the So what's the benefit of the midway paving? Um when you look at the fair, it's going to rain. uh you can guarantee at least one maybe two nights uh every year during the fair. The midway is going to be muddy. Uh it's going to be difficult for wheelchairs, folks with strollers moving around the midway. Uh so it will definitely be a benefit to the fair. And when when you look at revenue generation at the fair, that is where you see a large portion of your money coming in from is from the carnival, from the rides with lures. This is something that Lures has conveyed to the fair committee that they would like to see as an improvement. Um, we've had a very long lasting relationship with Lures. And when it comes to the available midway presentation that Lures brings to the fair, it's going to be really hard to find a comparative organization that brings in the same quality of rides for the price that they charge us. Um, and once you get beyond the fair, you're also looking at alternative uses. Um, I know in the diagram that had been

provided to us at the last fair meeting, um, there's a big loop, uh, that goes out into the midway, but there's also a larger area of that looks like a parking lot, and that is exactly what I would intend for it to be when it's not fair. Uh, one of the biggest things that we've heard as commissioners for the new community building is that we don't have enough parking for the new community building. And that would put more parking readily accessible that's hard surface so folks aren't walking through grass or gravel to come to the new community building. You can also very easily envision Power of the Past, Owens Auctions, those different organizations using this additional asphalt loop for more events and more of their presentations of the different things that they have for sale. So, I think that this is something that will increase the viability, long-term productiveness of the fairgrounds. And at the end of the day, uh, we are still supplementing the fair the fair committee. And so if this is one step that we can get further down the road of being able to stop providing additional funds because all of the dollars that are raised at the fairgrounds go to the fair committee. And so when we can continue to increase their ability to earn income, then we can stop providing tax dollars to them because it's going to be a self-generating, self-perpetuating entity. So I think that when you're looking at all of the things that are on this list, I think that's that's what it can provide as well as it can enhance um the experience for 4ers and other organizations that are using the fairgrounds. Um the one part and if you had watched the meeting or you go back and watch it, the one part that I had a question on uh was the landscaping at the community building. Um that was one that I had had questions on and we decided as commissioners to leave it in there and then we'll make a decision later on. Um, but it was uh it's $18,810 for landscaping at the uh community

building in between the parking lot and Park Road and 200. Um, I had some questions on that. So, we'll have to have some further discussions about maybe how we can do that and what exactly the idea is. All of the numbers that you see here though for that $870,72, those are max figures. Um when you look at different improvements like with the horse barn um I don't think at the end of the day I don't think it's going to take 72,000 it may when they actually get in there and tear the roof off and look at the pearlings um on a 360 degree you know all the way around them there might be more work that has to be done than what they've seen so far. Uh but this is a max number. Uh also it includes the owner approved contingency there. So 870,000 uh when we're talking about funding availability, uh so far the county has paid uh two 2,240,85927 uh to the uh community building, the fairgrounds project. We still have of the initial $1,950,000 uh we still have $519,636.89 89 available from the state through ready funding. We currently have $617,63062 available at the community foundation. That's in the form of donations that had been made and also seed money that was put in there initially back I think in 2022. U and so we have 1,137,26751 that's available right now. Um, and so I know when I came to you guys, uh, back in April of 2025, when we had talked about how we were going to handle the the project, how we're going to continue to move forward so that we didn't lose momentum, the agreement that we were that we made was that we were going to

pay back funds um to EDIT. Uh so when you look back at where edit was at at the end of 2025, we were at 1,992,520.72. Since then, it's gained $340,000 uh in the last three months. Uh and so if you look at what we have available and what we can return right now, if we go forward with this project, we would be returning $267,194. That's before we get to the pledges. And so I'm always hesitant to talk about pledges uh just because I mean they're pledges. It's it's not cash in hand right now, but we have over a quarter million dollar in money that has been pledged to this project. So that so then we're looking at over $500,000 that could be returned. It's not the full $800,000 um because the county was obligated to uh spend $1.2 $2 million, actually1,250,000 um on this project. Uh so it's it's not going to be that full, but we would be able to return over $500,000 of what would have been the the 800. Uh so when we're looking at this total project, we're able to wipe out a large portion of improvements at the fairgrounds once and for all. We don't have to be sitting here in the future with what we all know is more than likely going to be a a restrictive revenue environment uh where funds are not going to be easily allocated to different projects. We have the funding available right now. Um we don't have to try to pinch and squeeze to figure out where the extra money is going to come from to get these projects done that may be a necessity at the end of the day. And so I I think that the best option now is that we go ahead and we move forward. We we knock out a large portion or we knock out all of these projects and a large portion of the improvements out at the fairgrounds so that at the end of this project the fair

committee can continue to make to make dollars. They can continue to then be self-funded so that hopefully at the end of this we don't have to continue supplementing them. Questions? I know my email contained a whole lot of information, a whole lot of numbers and I just threw more at you today. What is general conditions? I think from what Scott had said was that that is going in and doing some of the grading, receding, those kinds of things that will be required. Yep. Nope. I It's kind of I had the same question. It is very broad. Yes. Yes, it is very broad. The midway paving is that the number Scott come up with or who

Scott? So that that without going through and disclosing all of the bids that I've seen just in case at some point we are forced to um bid this out. I don't want to disclose anybody's specific number. That is not the specific number that Scott Best had provided. What what do you have that midway midway paving back at? I mean you're going to have pretty good load on that top sales in there and trucks come in. I know it's uh 53,000 square feet total. Let me pull up that email. Ernie,

well, he's looking for that. Ernie, we um I've seen trails like that black topped in the past and where farm equipment has to go to the inner side of that, they simply put a 25 foot piece of concrete, you know, that's Well, I'm just going to look like a spiderweb in two yard. That's a crossing, a place where you cross. You don't cross other places. You cross there. And I think that's what would be needed.

So, the square footage is 53,300 square ft. Uh, it's going to be dug out so that the asphalt actually sits level with the dirt. Uh, so that you don't have a step up or a tripping hazard, anything like that. Uh, 4 in of 53s is a stone base, 2 and 1/2 inch binder, one and a half inch surface paving. Which I think when you look at what that that's probably more than the rest of the fair grounds that everybody else is already driving on. No. Yep. Yep. I do. It is maybe the most complicated drawing if you can decipher it. Um

I did not It would probably be worse if I had drawn it. Good luck, too. You got You got You got to cipher it out. I got one somewhere and I'm still studying it.

So, if you look and Ernie, if you if you look down towards the bottom of that page, there's the largest rectangle. Yeah, you find church right here. This is right here.

So, this is where you're at right here. Yeah. And you got to have parking for that new building. I mean, it's Yeah. You have all the money.

Yeah. We we have we have a surplus at the end of the day. We we have the money that's available. Um we have projects that I think are very beneficial to the community and to the fairgrounds as a whole. I'm not asking you um for anything more than um final approval on this because we have to sign an amendment with uh Greg Marts on the bot because we're going over the $4 million original contract price. Uh and I also had the agreement with you guys April that we were not, you know, that we were going to be paying back that $800,000 and I'm not getting back to that $800,000 number with the figures that I'm seeing now. Is there a chance when we get in there and some of these numbers come in below that that amount that we can pay back to edit creeps up? Yeah, I think so. And also, I mean, Dennis Fogle and I are are still actively pursuing uh donors at this point in the project, even though we're at the very tail end of it. Um, so we're we're still working towards that. Um, but it's not going to be the full number. And it was

there's nothing to say that in a year, two years or whatever, if there's $300,000 available, which is that's the shortfall that goes back to edit, the fair committee or whoever is responsible for those finances couldn't well put that back in there. Right now, um, we are appropriating I think it's $60,000 to the fair committee every year. So it only takes you a couple of years, five years, and you're making up that $300 that 300,000. future could get it back to where correct and everything good to go.

So of that earlier I I know I had said that the county had paid 2.2 million uh of that it was only 2,50,000 uh that had come from edit 165,000 had come come from ARPA uh and then there had been I think that some had come out of the foundation um 29,000 had come from the foundation. Um, so we we had gone just over uh $2 million um from edit. So it wasn't the full 2.2 million that had come out of it.

I don't have I without getting some kind of study or me doing, you know, a very rough estimate on what I think we're going to do. I can't really shoot from the hip on that one, can he? Yeah, I know that we already have folks that have booked it into 27 uh and we're seeing uh folks that are wanting to come in um making it a yearly visit to Decar County that haven't been here before for their events,

right? Yep. I was part of some of the landscaping out here on Broadway back years ago. And when it's on paper, it really looks nice because you don't have to spend money to trim it. You don't have to spend money to maintain it and all that kind of stuff. So, I would just ask that in the landscaping column be minimal. Yeah. you know, it has to look nice certainly. So, the the discussion was about putting boulders there to keep people from driving through the grass.

And with that said, I think in this county, we could find 63 boulders that wouldn't cost anybody any money. We could county, you get all your We could come up with that pretty easy. So, just a way to Yep. save a little cash and Yes.

not have to spend a lot of money to maintain. And and that was the discussion that we had had was um one of the inind donations were some big planters. I don't want us having to worry about going out and weeding, you know, flower planters and they're they're awesome. Um but I also don't want to have to send Jake or somebody else out there to go weed them because I know I don't like weeding the ones that my wife plants. Um so I know I'm not alone in that boat. Exactly. Yeah. Yep.

Yes.

Yep. I want to see it done. I want to see it done. If you got the money, my my opinion is finished. Need a motion. Let's get it done. If we need a motion, I'll make that motion. Bill makes a motion. Any seconds? Any other questions, discussions, concerns? All those in favor? I. Any oppose? All right. Thank you. Yep.

No, so RMC uh has already done the flagging for the electrical. Uh they're going to be getting all of the pedestals in place and then Rossfeld will be getting the electrical hooked up to all of the different parts of the fairgrounds. Uh the goal is to have this done uh have the electrical done, have the paving done by the fair. So I still have the list that um we had initially um when we were doing the ready proposal. Um, and so I mean on that list we still have the paving for the back uh track entrance and we probably need to discuss anyways getting uh some additional loads of stone taken down there uh for the rest of the the area working because I know it was a couple of years ago I think where some of the the trucks had actually gotten stuck from the rain. I think it was tractor pull night if I remember right two years ago. Um and so we probably need to discuss that. So the paving in that area was one of them. Uh also either terracing the hill at the track or putting up bleachers at the track. Um and then there is still discussion about uh new horse facility, a new horse barn and a new horse arena.

RV parking is was not included here for the electrical side of it. And that was really dictated by REMMC um because uh they wanted to focus on the design and engineering of how the layout was going to be at the fairgrounds and then we can move to that side of it.

Yes. Yep. Absolutely. And I think I think if it we look to the bleachers and the terracing the hill at the fairgrounds, we will then have to have a very real and honest conversation about the event coordinator position at the fairgrounds. Um because I know that our discussions had been to dual role somebody that was already working with the county to be the event coordinator for the community building. if we're going to do the investment of terracing the hill or putting bleachers on the hill, we need that track to be used. Um, and at that point, I think you could truly see an event promoter, event coordinator position that is full-time. Uh, where they they are promoting the different, you know, venues that we have at the fairgrounds. Uh, so that would cost us money, but I think at the end of the day, if you have somebody that is in that position, we could have track events uh down there. uh we could have more events at the community building just on the fairgrounds in general. Now, with that being said, it would also bring added cost because with the track events that we have now during the fair, um the track is manned ticket booths, food concessions, um gates, all of that. They're manned by volunteers. And then a lot of the equipment that is being used to prep the track for whatever event is coming in, a lot of the events privately or a lot of the the machines are privately owned machines or donated by an implement dealer here in town. Uh and so we would have an additional investment uh where we would have to be looking at buying other equipment to be able to run those events. So of course that's a discussion for another day where we'll have to weigh those costs versus what the potential upside is. Um, but I think if we're going to be talking about doing the terracing or doing the bleachers, I think that's an honest discussion that

we could have on where exactly we're going with an event promoter. All right. Yep. My goal is just to make that thing self-sufficient. Yep. I think we're well on our way. All right. Thank you guys. Okay. Thank you. Nepro abatement resolution. You gave Nero an abatement. Yeah. How many years ago has that been? Three. Three. Was it 23? 23. I think it was 23. I guess there was We didn't sign a resolution for it. Is that how it works? Correct. We are not finding a resolution anywhere. You got anything to add to this, Brian, or you know? No, I mean back.

I know. We gave them five years on personal property and seven on real property to help them because they had to run a water line down there from South Decator. So, do they have that the new park going now? They do, don't they? I think so. Not quite yet. Oh, it's not. Well, we're not. That's what it was on was a new addition. Yeah.

Okay. What's resolution number? 2026-10-10. Yes. Danny, I wasn't on the council then. Do I do I take part in updating this for? I think Yeah, I think so because it's this resolution. We we approved it back in 23. Yeah, I got everything. So, yeah, my I would say it's fine. Yeah, once again, I'll be abstaining from the vote since the mero is my brother-in-law.

Okay, Dan is abstaining because of her brother-in-law. Okay, I'll entertain a motion to approve resolution number 26-10. Kenny makes a motion. I'll second. Ashley seconds. Any other discussion? All those in favor? I.

Any oppose? Okay, there's two of them in here, so make sure you sign both, I guess. Okay, Kim, ladies and gentlemen,

morning here to discuss the salary ordinance. So, basically I did I gave you a copy of the 25 salary ordinance. Um, so where we set at just kind of where we're at, I'd like to get back to this salary ordinance as the positions is where I'd like to get. There's been some controversy, confusion where we're at, where we're not at. Um, basically falls down to 29 employees for the core is what it takes to run. Uh, just we use snow as example. We run a full snow crew. Everybody full crew is 29 employees for the highway department. That's what it takes to do it. So like last winter we were not full crew. That's bottom line. So we could not cover all the road possible period. That's what it takes to even get across once. So right now we'd be down three positions on that is where we'd be. All the positions are in the funding. They're funded right now. So there was three positions I know that was not funded originally. They were in there was not funded with the salary ordinance to begin with. And that was an agreement on them three uh to be funded at some point and be filled at some point. So, one of them is an assistant mechanic. That'd be the only one I'd like to go ahead and add in as an assist mechanic when we come along. Uh but there's two positions there that we have not filled. Wasn't planning on filling them, but I'd almost like get them positions to a point that with the commissioner's approval,

we could fill them and it'd be utilized for employees is going to retire. Uh, so we get somebody back fill them, train them. So, you know, we got one that's going to retire in November this year, end of November. We really need train them, get on before we get into snow removal season. But like I said, so if you look at that piece of paper I get, the three positions down there, them would be by commissioner's approval only is when we would utilize them positions to back fill our good candidate. We probably got I'm going to guess five positions probably going to retire in the next two or three years is where we're at. So get them trained, get new ones in there. That's where we're at. So um the other thing is is you look at our project because we're down our project numbers been dropping every year what we've been accomplishing. So I mean part of that's just how much people got to work with. The other component is is we took and went from two bushwhackers. So we run two bushwhackers. One year we'd cover this county with them tractor bushwhackers. We went to a dedicated machine, one machine, thought with additional reach and moving faster that it could take the place of it. Well, come to find out it's just not worked out that way. We just it takes us about a year and eight months to get around the county right now. And now we're starting to respond to complaints. We're just not getting a moat back. It needs to be mowed back every bottom line. So we need to add that other bushwhacker and that operator in it. So right now our bushwhacker runs every day it can possibly run period. So it' be both of them that way. So like I said all the funies in here everything perf everything's within the budget they're accounting for. But I would like for clarification that this is where we would be is what I'm asking for.

How many you want to add? So it' be three positions right now where we're at because we had one step down that went into that fourth position. and super positions open. So it'd be three right now we would want to go ahead and hire add like I said them other three positions only be at discretion commissioners it require commissioners approval before we would fill them it's going to be like a temporary type situation it's not going to be so you want to be at 29 yes 29 is a full career and and that's what it takes to snow removal et your new positions will be CDL before you hire or you have to

so right so right now we are still CDL required But when we come for budget this year, I'm going to ask that a the CDL not be required for certain positions. It will be a cost reduction because we won't be paying for that. But we have some positions that don't require CDLs. So right now we're paying for CDLs and some positions don't have to. So we're paying more money to get them positions and they're harder to fill. So when budget time comes this year, yes, I'll be requested for some of these positions to be CDL optional so we can hire some of our heavy equipment operator stuff without CD. And these three positions you're want to hire right now. Yes, I would like three guys that's getting ready to retire in the next

we these three positions. Yeah, I got one's going to retire by November. So that's where I would use the commissioner's approval if I could back fill that position. You know what I mean? So that would be permanent. That' be by commissioner's approval only. Yes, they are in the budget right now. Yes, I got maybe I got a silly question. Huh? I might have a silly question answer, but you want to add three, but we're taking 256,000 out of insurance. You want to transfer out of group insurance for equipment? So, we're taking 256,000 out of that error from the last time. So it got put into group.

Okay. Well, why you'd be taking 256,000? It is It isn't for this request. It was a clerical learn on a couple fund numbers is what it was. So yeah. No. Very very well pointed. Yes. I mean, I'm just looking. You know, I perfectly understand. I do. Yes. I do understand that. You know. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. You know, going to add three, but we're taking insurance away from I I agree. So, and there's a couple transfers on there. We got into Ruben, they're a little bit in the gray area, level road and street. He said it could trigger something in the audit. So, we went ahead and do a try make that all legal on that part of it.

Just for some context, it looks like from 2020 through 2024, the salary ordinance included 23 or 24 positions. Then for 2025, there were 26. And for 2026, there's 25 positions. Just so you guys understand kind of how it's growing. Yeah.

And we split the money out. Yeah. I mean it and it and we split the money out. Yeah. I mean it and it he wasn't going and I can remember Yes. Mark said we're not we won't fill in positions again. Well, I'm not going to say. I mean we tried different things. I'll be honest with you. Just like the Bushwhacker, we thought it was the right decision. We really did. it just didn't pan out. That's just the bottom line. So, so is the reason that you want to jump three right away instead of maybe slowly adding people in? I

mean, that really gets us where we need to be. I mean, it really does to accomplish what we need to do. Right now, we're robbing Peter Pay. I'll be honest with you. I mean, we can go back when we had go back and comp plan this year for okra for the for the application. We had go back the last like 10 years on projects of what we've invested in infrastructure. You know what I mean? Our projects just been going down every year. I mean I can get you a list. It's just you see the cut in personnel. The work just gets cut. It's just it's one to one ratio.

That project down by uh the three arch bridge. Yes. Did the county do all that work there? Was any of that subbed out to anybody else? No, that's all that's all our crew%. Especially what they've done down there. If you're doing that all yourself, why you could see it paying off? That's 100%.

We will. I mean, they're going to be full-time position. I mean, they will be full-time positions. You know what I mean? But we would need, like I said, so the yellow is what would be full-time position. That would be full-time positions. Okay. Nine tour is what it be. You know what I mean? We could be at 3031 while we're training somebody, but that's only on commissioner's approval. Anything above 29 will take I want commissioners and everybody be on the same page with why and understand it's not a permanent position staying there. It's a temporary fill in to train only. I'd tell the council possib That Community. resources already.

Who does QC of our projects? for the actual projects. No, the ones that we're doing. So like like our bridges. So we have a bridges inspection firms required by the federal government being inspected. So they have to be inspected every two years minimum. Okay. So like when we do a bridge construction project plans engineer duh all that gets bundled up once it's done goes to the bridging inspection firm. They come out do inspection all their stuff. So all the bridges are on that. Okay. our roads as far as

we got our own inspection guys that run behind the contractors that stay with the contractors the mainten specs. So basically the spec is written by the state with the contractor we bid by that. So basically we usually got two guys out there just verifying their matching specs. Okay. So like our chip and seal right now we bid the contractors required to do the testing and submit it back to us. Now if we think there might be some we hold the opportunity to go in and test oursel also that make sure it checks and balance that. Now the general public expects a lot of it. Yes they do. Yes they do and rightfully so. So the three guys you have now.

Yep. Nope. Yep. Yep. Did you hire Greg Na'vi? Yes. I didn't see him on the Well, because he's 25. He got hired 26. 26. Yeah, he's 25 is what I utilized. Any other questions, concerns? I just like to see it stay at 29. I wouldn't want to I know you got those other three underneath there, but I'd like to see it stay at 29 if it's possible.

And and like I said, the reason that's the reason I ask if we do it, put the commissioners over it so it's not a permanent, you know, I mean, it's only and that's the reason I put that that's the reason I'm saying approach it that way because we don't want the illusion now we're all a sudden a 32 permanent, you know? So that's the reason I'm approach it that way is so it retire other approval. So what do we The way I'm understanding it is you'll be at 29 until three more. You'll hire you'll hire a green one. So you'll be 30 until November. Yes. When your guy retires and then you'll be back. Yes. That's exactly correct. Along that way. Yes. It would only I mean like I said it' be in the commissioners that way. It's not a permanent in there.

Yes. It's it's an as needed situation. And then also they got the control of how long they're in that position. The green is your wish list. Yes. That's exactly right. Good. Have you ever done any numbers? And I may be speaking out of turn Jeremy here, but how much inind work the highway department does for this county in general? I mean, we do I mean, yes, we've generated.

I think that's important that you're really more of an asset to the community than just the highway. Yes. And I mean, we track project specific. I mean, it's within our database. We can generate them numbers. Yes, we can. They done all the tiling. Yeah, that's what I mean. They did things like that. Yeah. I understand that. They built the back entrance. We're doing all the dump trucking for the pool. Yeah. There was a day that that didn't ever happen. Yes. Yeah. I entertain a motion.

I'll make that motion. Bill makes a motion to approve three. I'll second it. Any seconds? Any other discussion? All those in favor? I. Any oppose? Okay. Thank you. Okay, Doug. Place couldn't burn up, right?

Good morning. Um, last week I provided you with some quotes for a copier and a laptop. Um, the copier that we had was 9 years old. Uh, the manufacturer notified us that they were going to no longer service uh that copier. And as some of you know, the we had a visit from the fine men of the Greensburg Fire Department because it began to overheat last week. So, um I want to thank you for allowing us to go ahead and move forward. Uh but I am here to get an official approval to spend $4,193 to purchase a copier to replace the copier that we had through uh Kumcap. You still need a laptop, too.

I still need a laptop, too. to the laptop we have um in our office that we use for like our APC meetings, our BZA meetings, as well as other presentations that we have um will no longer receive updates. It was purchased March of 2017. Uh I checked with it to see if they had any other laptops that we could use that were newer. Um they did not. Um so I'm here to request to purchase a a laptop for in the amount of $1,538. That was um through the IT our IT department. The quote was through our IT department. That but I did not stage it.

Yeah, exactly. He called me an hour later and I'm not sure what happened to it. What duck did? Yeah, he had powder on. We better give him a laptop before that one catches fire. Yeah, Kenny makes a motion to approve. Deanna seconds. Any other questions? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay. I als I'd like to also give you an update on the comprehensive plan. Sure.

Um we will be having the big ideas open house for the comprehensive plan. Um on Thursday, April the 30th, there will be two sessions for the And this is open to the public. Uh the first session will be from noon to 1. The second session will be uh from 5 to 6. It'll be at the EMA training room um at the at the county annex. I've already got um the notice posted on uh the social media, the county social media. What times were the

uh noon to 1 and 5 to 6? Um I've forward it to Bill Riffle Lake uh as well to get it in newspaper. We'll get it. And I've also contacted the 812 and and and then I need to also contact WTRE to get that on all the media outlets. Um but in addition to that um we're we're phasing through the comprehensive plan. We should be done around October and then once the comprehensive plan which is you know the the document that that describes how we want to evolve our county. Um after that gets completed typically what we do is we start to look at the ordinances that that puts the decisions that we make uh into action for the comprehensive plan. So, I've begun the process of getting some I would call them soft quotes from the firm that's doing the comprehensive plan on what that looks like to um to to look at our present ordinances to revise our ordinances, create new ordinances. Um we've allocated um funds for the comprehensive plan. We were able to get a grant. So, there's still $60,000 that's sitting in edit that's been allocated for the comprehensive plan project. Um, the quotes that I've gotten so far from the firm that's doing the work is um between 80 to 95,000 for the ordinances. And then if we want an an energy ordinance on top of that, which we we do, it's between 10 and 20,000. So, I'm not coming to ask for an additional. I'm just kind of laying the groundwork uh going forward of what those costs may look like depending on what you know the the steering committee decides is the best direction um for for the county as far as the ordinances are concerned.

So the ordinance just puts teeth in the comp plan. Exactly. Yep. That's that's what makes the comp plan the ordinances. Yeah. And then there's it is not and then historically, you know, we've we've got a the comp plan has I know the last comp plan took a long time for it to be completed and then it's like every once it was completed, people were just kind they were just done. So, a lot of the ordinances never really got put in place to put the teeth into it. So, so that's kind of where we're at. Any questions for Doug on that? Okay. Thanks, sir.

Thank you. Okay, Janet Morning is gonna hand you out some papers. Um, so we recently at the end of the year lost our bookkeeper we had for about six years um due to medical reasons. And so during that time when she was new to be retiring, she we hired a bookkeeper that didn't have any experience. So she could double train um working part-time while the bookkeeper was training her. Once she was ready to take over that role, she was one realized the extent of what our bookkeeper had to do and that just wasn't it was too much for her and also she was offered a job with more pay. So that left us um without a bookkeeper and with you know no training. So we set out to find someone with some experience this time to try to help and most of the applicants we received that had any experience in bookkeeping all made $25 or more an hour. Um and so you know I worked with Patty on that trying to find someone and I ended up finding um Susie Harpering. She came with um 40 plus years experience as bookkeeping. She retired from a bank and she was making um over 55 an hour at the time. And she has done an amazing job. um and I was just wanting to see if it's possible to at least raise her pay to what our prior bookkeeper was making um to um 2278 an hour since I do already have that budgeted for the bookkeeper for the year. Um she's currently now making 2170. I know that's nowhere clear, you know, close to what she did before, but as I

said, she is to retire, so she is able to take on this role. She has um done an amazing job. She's exceeded my expectations to be honest. Um she really likes it, but she's brought all our reconciliations on our accounts current. Um she's found and already corrected, you know, many previous mistakes, updated our our reconciling and reporting systems. We have numerous accounts. So she's been working closely already with state board of accounts, Odyssey Child Support Bureau from the state, um, Civitech, you know, Gateway, the detention center. We deal with bonds a lot and that's very detailed. So we have to be really careful with the money on that because it's dispersed to so many different places. Um, and I just want to try to keep her. So I wish I could offer more, but that is what I have in my, you know, budget for this year. So that's what I was asking if I could raise or pay to that. That would have been plus the raise

plus the raise. 2278 would have been 3% raise. But that's what we that's what we came from. That's what that Yes. That the former employee was making in that role. Yes. Yeah. above what's in that additional

category. I mean, are we not hiring in at levels of experience we're supposed to be doing? We're trying to. Yes. And then um with the chart that Wagner, Irwin, and Sheiley is coming up with that will take into account experience as well. Tell us experience on there. We just don't have that yet.

Yeah. Is it 3%? Well, it's 2170 was to see what what was hired in at last year's budget what it was. It follows

I think it does. That's me. I think it I mean with experience it's you know you know Any other questions? Ashley, anything? Okay. Want to entertain a motion to approve? I'll make that motion. Kenny makes a motion to approve. I'll second it. Diana seconds. Any other questions? Discussion? All those in favor? I. Any opposed? Okay, thank you.

Okay, Mr. Harder.

Morning everyone. Council for taking time to hear me. I did submit a letter, just a one pager, detailing my request here today, which is to formalize the creation of a victim advocate position in our budget using funds that have already been set aside from an attorney spot to a part-time what I'm calling director of victim services position. Um, essentially every year on the forms that we submit, we have to write in what um, not fund number, but what line item, I guess, uh, we want folks paid in. And I've been putting one in that is sort of a a bogus number, just sort of a placeholder 1000.10 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa and so on just to alert the auditor's office and the council that at some point this was going to be a position that I'd be asking for. What I'm asking is to replace that AAA number with an actual number and to transfer the dollar that have previously been set aside for a partial year of a deputy prosecutor full-time position and move that funding into transfer it into the new account for the victim services director. Uh essentially the shift is because of the number of cases that we are filing and what we think is the best use of the dollars you've allotted to us. Uh we saw a downturn after CO in the filed and for the first couple of years we were expecting a bounce back to the numbers that were precoid and that's one of the reasons we were asking for this anticipatory part year of an attorney and then growing into future years. that

hasn't materialized and so we haven't in good conscience filled that deputy prosecutor position that would obligate us to also pay insurance and to have a pay more in line with a deputy prosecutor and as we were evaluating the upcoming year's budget and also with a few folks in the community who might have the background that we're looking for um sort of spurred us to think maybe we need to shift directions here and instead Instead of pursuing another attorney, add this victim services director. We have a constitutional obligation under the Indiana Constitution to uh make sure that victims are informed of and presenting public hearings and that they have the chance to confer with the prosecution. And right now, it's sort of I think we do pretty well, but I think we could do better. uh we are it's on my staff and on the prosecutors themselves to try to arrange that contact with victims of crime and having somebody who is dedicated to that has long been a goal or a desire of my office and so what I've handed out to you is several years ago Wagner Irwin Sheileely when they were putting together the job descriptions I said I'm I'm going to be asking for this would you please go ahead and write me a job description so what you have and what I've just handed out to you is the full-time job description as it was drafted back when I thought that was what I was going to be asking for. This is a really good launching pad for drafting the part-time job description, but you can see in there the kinds of jobs that we would expect this person to do the successful candidate um and the value that they would add to the office and to the community, specifically victims of crime. Uh whether that is liazing with them, making sure that they have the opportunity to seek restitution, uh keeping them a breast of when hearings are, making sure that they have a chance to meet with the prosecutors ahead of trial or depositions,

um connecting them with services like the critical intervention or with the domestic violence shelter here in town, New Directions. Uh there are just a lot of opportunities there for connecting victims of crime with what they need that I think might be slipping through the cracks. We're we're letting them know of the ultimate outcomes of cases. When we have trials, we're letting them know, but that's a pretty small number of the cases and then we're sometimes scrambling to say now what was the phone number for that person and and trying to find them at the last minute when we're making these tough decisions. Having a dedicated person who has an established relationship with those victims and survivors um will allow us to have better communication and ultimately get better justice. So that's the nature of the request. Um I did also include in the letter we do have the physical space. Uh we are running out of physical space but we still have the space to do this uh by converting what is now a conference room into an off back into an office. I think it was Deb Shelling's office or Debb Cruz's office for a long time upstairs in the annex. Um, but because we put money into the grand jury room down here, uh, we can move a lot of the conferences, depositions that we have to have into that space if we need to. So, I I think I've covered u the proposal and a lot of the bases that I have, but I'm happy to answer any questions that you guys have for me. or do you have somebody in that position?

I don't have somebody in that position and I have had a couple of conversations with people in the community who might fit the job description and have the qualifications. I guess what I would say is this. If our worst case scenario is that the best applicant to put in is somebody that I've already talked to, we're in really good shape. If somebody better comes along, that's even better for Decar County. So, I don't have somebody picked. We're going to open it up, do all the same interviews that we would always do. Um, but I'm optimistic that we have a couple people on the hook that would be very good candidates. Doesn't require doesn't That's one of the reasons I asked for a range on the part-time pay. I was going to say pretty broad.

It's a very broad range. And that's because it could be somebody fresh out of high school that um doesn't have a felony record and that's all they've got going for them other than being a good fit on the team and they would get towards the low end of that. It could be and one of the people I've talked to is somebody with uh over a decade of experience and a master's degree and I'd like to be able to pay them what they're worth to make it attractive to them. So it'll just kind of depend on where the successful candidate falls on that spectrum. But theoretically, depending on the hourly rate, it wouldn't make a difference because you're saying here if it goes above and beyond to 20,500, you're going to cover the the extension of that anyway. It would not ultimately affect county general. Correct. It's the same funding from county general either way.

Everybody understand? reading the biggest part of the of the job description and I know it was done a long time ago, but there's a good portion of that sounds to me like is clerical is working as needed with other staff in there. It's not just victim focused. So, do you see that continuing this being probably what it'll end up being where she where this individual works for victims but also does a whole lot of other stuff within the process?

No, I expect what would be paired down from the full-time description would be the other duties and we would be focusing just on the victim responsibilities. And I I foresee this potentially not being a 30 hours a week part-time gig, but being like a 15 hours a week part-time gig. um depending on what we negotiate and navigate with the successful candidate, but I I see it being paired down to just victim services.

We are doing the best we can, my attorneys. So, it's it's suboptimal. Um and and it's not uniform either. So, you're spending the time of those who should be making this to do somebody's work that could be making this. My my attorneys are doing a lot of this work which on an hourly basis you guys know what they make annually. Um they're sending out letters to victims. They're taking phone calls um when they could be in hearings or drafting documents and research.

When I was K and I was a victim of a crime some years ago and the attorney that took care of that worked with us on all the victim ends of it. what you're saying is there be somebody else that will do that

would take point on that you would still get the opportunity uh somebody in your shoes would get still get to talk to the deputy prosecutor but it right now it's victims call in and the staff goes hang on I need to see if they're in court or if they're in a deposition or if they're in a meeting here there would be a number for the victim advocate or somebody to transfer that phone call to that would always be the point person there would not be a time when You're saying, "Well, that attorney is not available right now. We'll have to have him get back to you."

I think I know that there's one or two students, seniors at Greensburg High School that have a desire to maybe go up this ladder at some point from an attorney point of view or whatever. And do you see this being that a role that could accommodate part of the JAG program that's going on that an individual could fill that role? I'll confess that's a new that's a new thought to me, but I'm not opposed to it. Uh it certainly would be consistent with what I've proposed as far as the broad hourly range. Um I had envisioned somebody being able to walk right into it with years of experience and and but um certainly that was why I designed it was to have that flexibility.

This takes a little pressure off your lawyers. That's the idea.

Prosecutors their experience. So when you're talking child sex. reliate that. Yeah, I'm optimistic that this will provide a better experience. I think we're meeting our constitutional obligations. I think we can meet them better.

I'll entertain a motion to approve. I'll make a motion to approve. Ashley makes motion to approve. I'll second it. Bill seconds. Any other questions? All those in favor? I oppose. Thank you, sir. Very kind. Thank you. Thank you. transfers. I get a copy of those. I think the last two or three pages are insurance transfers. Correct. Correct. Quarterly

moving it out of everybody's every department to our health insurance fund. Okay. Our normal quarterly transfers. I make a motion we approve the transfers. Bill makes a motion to approve transfers. I'll second. Ashley seconds. Any other questions on them?

All those in favor? Any oppose? Okay. Additionals. Everybody seen the additionals. EMA $71. EMA transfer additional $71. Entertain a motion to approve.

I'll make that motion. Diana makes a motion. Any seconds? Any questions? All those in favor? I oppose parks and rack. 5,000 for equipment, 30,000 for recreation league equipment. It's already in your account. You just need to move it around. What is the equipment?

Uh that was like that was jerseys and baseball.

It was not really equipment. It's consumables that are part of Yeah. What are you building out there at the park? I see there's something going in there on the west side. That is that was

Oh, this is for your youth leagues and the 5,000 equipment is Did I Did The 30,000 is jerseys, right? So the five grand is actual assets. That's will be. Okay.

And speaking of assets, I'll just bring this up so the council can hear it. The Optimus Club that that had the deal at the fair all these many years has decided since the improvements out there that there's we're not going to do that anymore. We've got our flag programs and some other events that we do that help fund the optimists and their activities in the community. And we've got a couple freezers and a couple refrigerators, maybe um hot dog warmers, those type of things. And we're going to donate those to the parks department so Rob and everybody involved can have those use them for concessions at the pool or wherever they see fit. So that's That's great.

Put that down as our incon someplace, would they? What's that? In kind. Get that down as in. Well, that's a good idea, Dan. I didn't think about that, but we should do what I some kind of inind forever. How about that?

Okay. I'll entertain a motion to approve the parks department additionals. One for 5,000, one for 30,000. I'll make that motion to approve. Rick makes a motion to approve. I'll second. Ashley seconds. Any other questions? All those in favor? I.

Any oppose. Okay, we have a second reading here while they're signing under resolution 2026-8. This would be for the for the abatement for uh it would be the gas gas project. You want to give you want to give us tell us what's going on?

Sure. This is a part of the process to enable us to uh uh essentially uh comply with our end of of the potential economic development agreement with the Kan project. This is a waste heat capture project uh that's going to go go at the uh Rex pipeline pump station there just outside of St. Paul. Uh this is no new land taking the ground needs to be reszoned or anything. This is simply an investment in uh property there that will be installed on said property. uh is a renewable energy project uh that we be able to produce up to 10 megawatts of of energy that they pump back into the grid. Uh and this enables us to um provide the incentives that key us to be able to take on impact negotiating. So uh it's just a step in the process. They have not submitted their SP1s yet for that payment portion. um from the initial I think it was two three years ago we started on this discussion um prices obviously have gone up on some of this stuff so they are getting us new numbers as far as what the be uh likely higher than what the initial estimate was. So this is just establishing that we are able to incentivize that project. Again, not to incentivize it necessarily, but to enable that uh they made it take place to move it over to us.

They they didn't agree to the 30% floor, did they? After it's over with. Oh, after Yeah, I was on that one. I tried to push a little bit but however it does because of the uh projected agreement that we do have uh verbally at least in place within that as it's progressing uh it will produce income for the the county beyond that. Why did they change because at first they didn't want to do this right because it was too far to get to the grid or No they they actually they were looking for an offtaker at the time. They couldn't find off.

Yeah. and they they found one. They they're um it's a great it really is a great project. Um and they just are opening one in midmay actually in Washington courthouse. They finished. I was just over there in that neck of the woods. Drove by. Um you can see the construction. Not too much. You know, there is additional equipment you can see, but as far as a foot footprint, not much added to it or anything like that to what what is out there already. So again, it's already zoned. It's already been out there for some time. We'll have to adjust it once we get their numbers. We know on our economic development, we have to adjust.

Yeah, they were just looking for they just couldn't find anybody to sell electric to.

Now, believe it or not, that they've found one because people need power. So, this is one of the u again a renewable energy project. We're going to be seeing more and more of these um re renewables. Um they're not going anywhere and this is one benefit taking advantage of infrastructure. Yeah, they equipment they and I I don't know exactly how they they because I didn't know the before and after from what I saw, but um yeah, essentially they collect that heat off the pumps there and runs a turbine actually.

Would you call this emerging technology? Definitely call this emerging technology. I I like that I knew renewable. I I I heard I hope more of these kind of things come out. Yeah. where we can capture stuff that was going off into the act. Right. Yeah. So, appreciate it. We approved it the first time. We just have to approve it for a second reading. I think everybody read it the last time and understands what's going on. So, I'll entertain a motion to approve. I'll make that motion. Bill makes a motion to approve. I'll second. And a second. Any other questions, concerns? All those in favor? I. Any oppose?

Okay. I will say that this doesn't commit us to anything whatsoever. We still they still have to submit their application.

Do you have anything else for us, Brian, or is that pretty much it? Uh, ready is I'm catch I'll catch you Dickens if you don't.

Ready is uh 40% um expended which is leading in the state. Uh they're very impressed with the way we're uh knocking out projects such as the fairgrounds project and such. Um, we have a we're going to be submitting for some blight funds through the LEI portion, the Lily portion of the Ready Foundation, which um, Shelby County and Rush County have some pretty good uh, established programs. We want to bring those out regionally, and I know Doug's been working with with Mason and that u maybe get some funds here for Dei County to tackle some blighted areas. Uh, we're very hopeful on that application. Um, ready one's finishing up. We have two projects out. One of which is the preserve main street project uh which we're focusing on 112 South Franklin over here in downtown as well as the uh the old bank building here on the south side. Uh and we hope to have all those um follow the timeline to be able to be completed by the end of uh end of this year um in you know fall of this year really. Uh so we can kind of close out ready one alto together. Um other than that uh yes we are getting more projects interested in in the area. Um I have a meeting uh about such a project today and hopefully I can come up and hit you guys up again at some some point with more discussions but uh things are are busy. It's springtime so other than that questions or anything

that Brian maybe can add to it but we were at the surfy meeting last earlier this month. Um there are planning grants available I think for uh brownfield and housing opportunities. Um, and there are back in the old days there was an owner occupied rehab grant that the county had applied for for upgrading of low-inccome housing. So, do you guys have contacts for that or I have a contact and get you?

Yeah. Did did the Decar County went for a low-inccome housing owner occupied because I know the city city did through ARRA and they still actually have funds out there for uh some of those um homes. They extended that that period because some of them actually uh that they had committed to uh they either didn't fill out the the qualification uh documents properly or something. I got confused. So there are are additional funds for the green city proper. I didn't know about the county if

okay that could be an option for the county. Now I know cersy as far as blight funds uh they will be circled in in some way shape or form with the this ready application as well. Um I think it's intend um is who they they're working with. So uh there'll be some coordination there. Brownfield sites that be rehabbed into housing is something they really were wanting to focus on. So if yeah, you're aware of those blighted areas within the county and want to sign those up, they're looking for a list.

Oftentimes, Cersy has funds and I don't know if they have funds now to help uh identify brownfields. Um I I knew year or two they had some funds that they needed to to utilize, but a lot of times there is if we have suspected brownfields and stuff, uh you need need to be able to identify them properly and have a study done to show that and that that includes not it's not not just chemical and industrial kind of stuff but also organic mean mold and and that kind of

this sounded like a list of property addresses that we could get to ser and then they would come out and look and address those sites and evaluate them towards what Brian said the planning and all that of it.

Yeah, they um and this again this is the RA um that the Brownfield's program was um utilized for the old St. Mary school actually to get the asbestous out. Yeah. Yeah. So, you know, if if someone has suspect uh suspected brownfields or or wants their building to be assessed for it, I would say get in touch with Doug or myself. Everybody's aware my message. There's some opportunities there. Thanks for what you do, Brian. Don, you got anything for us? I know you've been cutting ribbons like style. I get an email about every other day.

Yes. Uh we are currently out of Red Ribbon. Um ordering more, but yeah, have to go over here to curio shop or something and get another batch.

Yeah. Um it has been a very busy spring and that is not traditional um for our springs. Um so we're excited that we've got all that movement that shows growth. Um it shows enhancements. It shows that um business is very healthy in Decar County, which is a good thing. Um coming up we do have a networking event tonight leaders and loggers from 4 to 6 at the tap. We will be featuring Dy Designs um owner is Alyssa Riniki and that's a really sweet story. Um she started out very small in a space that we have already seen growth potential from in other businesses. She is moving her location and adding in um what she is describing as a boho clothing um to her footprint. So excited to see her growth potential and and to hear about some of the future plans for that. So we're really excited about that. We will be cutting a red ribbon for her um coming up. So all of that is on our social media. So that is our next networking event tonight from 4 to 6. Um that is open to the general public. So please come out and join us and hear a little bit about Dy Designs. Um we also have an HR power hour for quarter 2 coming up on May the 7th. that is from 11:30 to 1. Tickets are required and that will talk about and discuss the new um chamber care healthcare benefit that the signed on with through the Indiana Chamber. So that is geared towards small businesses with employees of 2 to 50 I believe is the range. So if you are a small business, small business owner, whether you are a chamber member or not, we would encourage you to come and listen to what that has to offer. you will need to be a chamber member to be able to sign up um through the chamber care benefit enrollment, but we definitely want to make sure that you're getting that information um on the front hand. We will have the Indiana Chamber and

SIHO with us talking about all of those details. So, there's more information on our website for that. And then after that, we are looking at the Women in Business Conference that is on Thursday, June the 11th. That's an all day conference 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. That will be held at the Greensburg Elementary School. Um, we do have vendor spots currently available, but I will tell you they are going super quick along with registrations are moving along very quickly as well. So, that is our next large major event that is coming up in addition to the smaller ones I've already mentioned. I will also like to um talk about Rolley. Rolley jobs is on our website. It is trending very well right now. I did not bring analytics with me currently. Um, but talking with the founders of Roly Jobs are very excited to see the traction that we have through our website. We will be getting that added the link added to economic development's website as well in the future. So there will be two different locations that people can access the job opportunities and again that is scraping the websites of all of our chamber members. So nearly 400 different companies websites are being scraped for the job opportunities and housed in one centralized location. So um a super great resource for all of Decar County and our region in general um to be able to find those opportunities and whether that be an internship, an apprenticeship, a a part-time or a full-time position, those are out there and available. So definitely look at our website um GDC chamber or excuse me greensburgchamber.com and then there is a tab that says job postings. So that's just a great resource for the community I want to talk about a little bit. Any questions for me?

Anything for Don? Okay, perfect. Thank you. Good work. Annie, I got one last real quick thing. Um, go ahead. I'm part of a committee that is at the historical society and they're getting ready to do some stuff for the July 4th parade to celebrate uh 250 years. And I think maybe they've reached out to the commissioners, but

yeah, we're we're working on that. The committee is with the Kathy and Emily and myself. There's also going to be an opportunity to recreate a picture um that had been taken many many years ago. 1918 1918. Yes. And um you'll be able to purchase uh a red t-shirt um and gather on the courthouse lawn for a recreation of that which I think is pretty cool.

Giving them away. Is that what they're going to do? I know we're supposed to get sponsors um for that to to help fund some of that. But anyway, just kind of mark that on your calendar. It'll be July before we know it. And it'll be nice event on the 4th and whatever the parade is is at the southwest. You see a lot of red shirts just go there.

So anyway, if you guys hear anything about it, just letting everybody know. Okay, thanks for the info. Okay, for none of all of you didn't go up to that conference the other day at Indie, I didn't get her Shelbyville pretty vague. Diana may have more about it than I do. I talked to Ruben yesterday about must. So, he's gonna do some research on it and kind of come back in June and kind of go over some things what's going on because I think that there's a couple emails in our county email that talk about must and it has to have council members on it, that kind of thing. So,

yeah. So there's a there's a push from the m municipalities to put these meetings through as quickly as possible for whatever reason. Um I know know they're meeting with AIM um in a couple of weeks early May I believe. Um the AIC the association of India um will have the must is going to be a committee that is put together with uh individuals and going to sit down and try to negotiate um unanim or unanimously uh uh what the numbers should be cooperatively. Yes.

Um I when when this law was being divided or devised and when I was sitting down on all these calls about it I said are we trying to do a survivor type meeting or what are we doing here? Um but um the AIC is pushing for us to not do those meetings hastily um so that we can get the informed numbers before we sit down with the city and make those decisions. Um we do have a state called meeting for all of Indiana County Council Association um on June the 13th. So we'll know a lot more after that June the 13th meeting. Um they are advising us to not get into those meetings until potentially even August. It doesn't have to be decided until October.

Okay. Anybody have anything else? Make a motion. Okay. Next motion to adjourn. There any second? All those in favor? Any opposed? All the ladies.