County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Good morning everyone. Like to call this meeting of the Hancock County Board of Commissioners to order. Today is uh January 20th of 19 or 2026. Wow. And time is 8:03. This meeting is being recorded and streamed for public viewing. By participating, you acknowledge that your image, voice, and comments may be captured and made publicly available. This meeting has been properly noticed in accordance with Indiana Code 5-14-1.5. Let the record show that a quorum of commissioners is present. The commissioners are open for business. We will now proceed with the agenda. At this time, I invite the attend the everybody to join stand and join us for the pledge of allegiance.

I pledge allegiance 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. Gary Pool. All right. Good morning, everyone. Nice cool morning. We'll begin today's uh highway section with we have microsurface bids. We'd like to thank everybody that put bids on there. I I would like to apologize. I had the date wrong on there for my So, everybody figured out how to put them in.

Wait, they got to my house. They got to Mike's house or something. So, that's good. So, if we could open those up and read them into the record, and then we'll have Scott and Miss Shiloh do a quick review of them, and then we'll award the lowest bidder. First bid, I'll give you a hand.

Oh, thank you. Microsurfacing is from Hang on. I'm getting there.

You're good. You're good. It's all part of the proposal.

It's not Oh, here we go. Right there, Janine. Okay. Um, this is uh microsurface double end dot 2024 411.01 to 411.08 and 411.15. 50% of the course of fine aggregate type shall be air cooled blast. that on. I got to read all that. The company and the price. There's uh Who's the company? Yeah.

Yeah. So, I hadn't even gotten back to all that stuff yet. There. Go ahead. Find it. Might be what you're holding. That's what I thought. Right here. Okay. Okay. Let me get it in order. that back a page or two. This is from Pavement Maintenance Systems LLC. Um, bid was received on time. Grab it from me before. I'm sorry.

It's usually a That's the last page of it. You find it, I'll read it. up here.

They're making it hard on us, Gary. Good lord. Mhm. 37.

Okay. Pavement Maintenance Systems LLC 384 Industrial Parkway in Emlay City, Michigan. Um, Microsurface Double Course, CCMG26. Um, three $357,952.86. All right, there's that. Okay. And then we've got um Microsurfacing Contractors LLC uh of Bridgton, Missouri. And our uh total amount is $269,18320. These all came together. And then we have microsurfing contractors.

Same one. Um, no, this is uh $490,33012 and this is for CCMG26 microsurface. That's good.

Are you able to open your email? I'm not able to get my Wi-Fi connected. Is that what it is?

Cuz I mine's not fired up either. So And this is from Pavement Maintenance Systems LLC in the amount of $192,9168. That again uh CCMG 2026 microsurfacing on selected county roads. Uh total bid is $332,42720 and that is from payment solutions if I failed to mention that. And last but not least, we have Payment Solutions Inc. uh 2026 Micro Surfacing. Again, uh that total bid is 1 70 $178,000 393 and60 here in a second. That's all of them. We'll get them reviewed.

That's it. There should be two. Well, that went off swimmingly, didn't it? Perfect. Perfect. First time I got caught up into it, I had a stack of them over there. Oh god. Deb had to wipe sweat. All right, Scott. We'll check those and then Ann, if you go through these and break in the lows for these projects. But they did. Right.

Uh the bridge on 300 South uh west of New Palestine is closed now or it'll close on the February the 2nd. So the next next meeting we have it should be closed. Um should take them 6 months to complete it. Hopefully a little bit faster. Depends on uh hopefully it warms up weather.

Yeah. I had to nail in some fence post for my wife this weekend. It was hard. So, I imagine a bridge pile is just going to be just as hard. Um January um the 15th leting came out. We had a good letting for Stymire Road. Um we're working right now to try to get INDOT to participate more in it. Um I know we were in it for uh $3 million. We've reduced that to $1.4 million of county participation. We hope to get that all the way down to $700,000. Uh but we're still working on that. I got a meeting Friday and then hopefully we'll have that rounded up. We were successful in getting the additional funding for the other two projects we've let this year, but you never know. You don't have the money till you have the money. So, we're fine. We have it covered. I'd rather just the state tax money return.

Um, speed and stop sign ordinances. Do we have those again? I sent them in. Yes, we do. We do have them. Excellent. So, I assume they'll be signed at some other point or you want to sign them now? Let's go ahead and read them in. Do we have ordinance numbers and everything? Uh, you can read them in as one ordinance and they they'll spawn out or go out to each of the different specific

I've got just the one two ordinance for the highway department attached to it. So, we have the driveway. Uhhuh. That's all I have. I don't see this. Well, let's do this one today and we'll wait a minute. That's No works. Okay. No. Well, we're just doing the um we did we did get the email though. Yeah, we got that is for the permits. Huh? We did get the email. I do know that ordinance for the permits is what? I think number check there's a there's no hurry.

Just want to make sure I have insurance. I make a motion that we approve and sign off on ordinance number 20261B amending Hancock County Code of Ordinances uh chapter 1 53.03 permit forms and documents. Second. We have a motion and a second on the floor. Any other discussion? All those in favor? I I oppose. Same sign. All these are pass. Yeah,

I'm done with We uh sent 20 tons of salt to New Pal. So, a lot of our we had a really busy It's been a cold year, so we've been a little more conservative with our salt use. Some of our peers have not. So, we're trying to bail some of them out right now. It's hard to get thing. I mean, we'd all like to use all the salt we want on every single snow event, but if you're getting extra snow events, you're going to have to spread it out or people will be out in February or March. So, we're good. We've been rationing our salt. Um I think it's still been good use. The roads have been decent. Um uh but some of uh we're going to check in. I think Greenfield's done a pretty good job watching it, too. Some of the little towns are out of salt.

That's good. So, like, hey, you can feel good. Everybody calls in and complains about salt and you just throw it. That's great until you can't throw any salt at all in March. Actually, they I've actually heard good things. Yeah, it's been good. It's good. Um but we're going to we're going to help them out because I want them to have some stuff, too. But I I gave him the pep talk about use science. Don't just throw just Yeah. Use the right amount for the right stuff because these little snows you can just use a little bit of salt. You shouldn't see any after the stuff's gone. That means you use too much. But it's hard to get right though, too. Yeah. Um, we've negotiated some more. So, I negotiated 800 tons more and it should be enough to back field everybody. I'm going to check in on Greenfield, make sure they're all right, too. This one had insurance.

Um, Jack and Sun has not accepted the offer that we sent to them. So, we'll come back around. We're going to talk to them in February about that. Did they counter? They did. So, but it was higher than what we're allowed to do. Yeah, we're government. It's not like negotiating with your neighbor. It's understand. Now, they were good enough to use an actual licensed appraiser, so that helps. They So, so we'll talk about that in February. They've got till June to decide on it. So, travelers say, um, I'd probably recommend uh you speak with Mr. the mayor if you get a chance, hey, do you guys want to participate at all? Stuff like that. So,

I'll reach out to him. We definitely want some assurances if we take care of that for the city that we're not going to have grief from the city or their staff about the property. Okay. We're doing it for the city. I know the city has talked about that for years. They've been unable to get it done. We've been able to get it done, but I don't want to buy it and them have us immediately turn around and start trying to hit us up on a bunch of DNR stuff. Okay. Cuz we don't need it. We don't need it. Yeah. But the the citizens of Hancock County could use it. Um, which the Greenfield citizens are, but I just want some assurances there that we're not going to buy it and then immediately be given grief. Yeah.

Um, as I said, Stein Road successfully bid. I went to the council. I think I must have uh had brain rot or something in June. So, I had a couple problems with my budget, but we're fixing that. Um, so it's on the second page that I've got there. And Gary, you were at the meeting anyway. So, I'm going to I'm going to advertise a $1.2 million increase in a 4616 U so that's my um um uh that is the RDC budget and actually it's not really advertised then we're reducing by 1.2 point to another. So, we were able to get the remember we're talking about the the construction. We had 300 North. INDOT was able to participate uh about $1.5 million more than we hoped. So, that's good. And so, we're we're passing that on. The school was unable to get their furniture their FFN covered for Amplify project. So, the RDC through that INDOT grant through my department is going to be shipped to the RDC and then that will pay for that furniture and stuff so we can get that school open. And then if we can uh we're right now saying we're pulling your future payments from that for it, but we could probably return those at that if if the commissioners and RDC decides. So that's underway. Um we're going to reduce DLGF had a um um what is that letter 17 what is that? I can't remember. 1782 came because I miss I double counted some income into um my regular MVH. So we're reducing that by 2.5 million. Uh we should be good to go though. Our program's still covered just to other grants we've gotten. I'm advertising $700,000 in the bridge fund to purchase bridge construction equipment. I've typically paid for that out of MVH, but like the mower the mower heads and stuff were used all around the bridges.

It's appropriate for Bridge to pay for that, especially being I've just put pressure on that account. So, we're going to transfer some of those over to um bridge. So, that this is all listed here. So, check so the public can see it, too. And another item I'll be adding um I didn't for some reason add in my large culverts and small culverts fund, which I put in every year to fix those things. But I do intend to fix those in the summer. So, I need to add those back in. I was wondering why my uh bridge looks so healthy cashwise. Like I didn't I don't know why I didn't add those on. I think I signed the pages and handed them in and then I added them in the system and I never turned around and sign them because that was on me. But we're getting it fixed. It'll be fine by spring or by the time we're not working on any culverts right now. So,

that's just what's going on there just so you have a heads up. You might want to read through the rest of the stuff I talked about. Um, but that just handles some fiscal items there. And Miss Shider, have we gotten to a selection, a recommended selection for the commissioner? We have two projects, right? So, what's this first one I'm looking at?

Okay. So, we got CCMG 26-1. So, this is a federally, this is the state participating one. We are recommending to award to pay the lowest bidder, payment solutions incorporated. Um they had the lowest bid for $332,42720. I'm going to bring this forward to you. That's the next one.

You want to vote on these one at a time? Okay. I'm recommending Appreciate that. It's not a morning if we're not I make a motion that we approve the CCMG 2026-1 microsurfacing on selected county roads uh from Pavement Solutions, Inc. in the uh lowest bid amount of $332,42720.

Second. We have a motion to second on the floor uh all the for uh pavement solutions be awarded their the contract for for $332,42727 as presented. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I

oppose same sign passes. While you're signing that, the next item, these are some additional microsurface roads we did not get CCMG for, but we still want to complete the work. Um, we're recommending the low bidder, which is again Pavement Solutions Incorporated. Um, I'm recommending you assign that 2026 microsurfacing on selected roads in Hancock County for a bid price of $178,39360.

Okay. make a motion that we uh approve the 2026 microsurfacing on selected roads um with Pavement Solutions, Inc. in the amount of $178,39360. Second. We have a motion and second on the floor to award uh Pavement Solutions. Uh the the bid of $178,39360 as presented. All those Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I.

Oppos? Same sign. Motion passes. Okay. I'd like to thank everybody that put in a bid if they're here for taking time to put that in and hunting hunting me down yesterday. I appreciate that. Um everything else is on schedule. Amplifi's on schedule. The jail and um the old jail and prosecutor's off office office are uh coming up on completion. They're hunting down a piece of equipment, but nothing big uh going on there. So should be successfully completed here before the snow melts. Barn, any questions? Later on, uh Hanok County Senior Services will be talking with you. I see she is here. um about the future of that program and make sure we get that squared away for this year. So, all right. Thank you. Thank you,

Susan Darren Gowski. Is that it?

Good morning. Love the hat. Um I am coming to you because uh uh it is time uh Indo Indigo has opened up the uh grant for purchasing assistance for new vehicles. We have two in the fleet that are one is a 2010 which is a small bus and one is a 2016 minivan. Both of those probably are overdue for well I know the 2010 is for sure but both are overdue for being replaced. So I just wanted to communicate to you my intent of applying for that uh grant assistance to purchase those vehicles. um HCSS will probably apply for the money for the bus um and um under the 5310 funding source which is for nonprofits that uh transport uh for seniors and disabled persons which we would still use for public transportation. And then I was coming to you to sort of just gauge your interest in um applying under the 5339 funding for to replace the uh minivan, the 2016 minivan, which comes with a local match. Obviously, they posted as a 20% local match. Um the last two rounds it has come through as a 15%. We can't count on that. It's advertised as a 20% local match. Um the vehicles were running u it's an estimate we're running about 75,000 last year.

So where's Rainfield on this? Are they involved in it also?

Um not on this particular item. No. Um we have been spending down the ARPA dollars that they help that they uh awarded us. um for the last three funding three invoices. So um this is a little bit of a separate situation and we could go as as a nonprofit and go and apply for those ourselves. Um and then we would probably go look for other grant funds to do that. But I wanted to give you guys the opportunity to understand that's where we are. Those two vehicles that we're replacing um both were initially purchased with the nonprofit funding, the 5310 stream. Um the next round we have eight that were all uh 2019s. So obviously we won't be replacing all eight at once. We will um phase those in, but we've been trying to spread those out a little bit. Um, and so I just kind of wanted to propose that to you. Um, if it causes um, you know, concern, obviously we will go looking for other funding. So

So you you your proposal would lead us to believe that the two vehicles would cost about $75,000. Well, the bus will be much more than that, which is the one that we're going to um apply for as a nonprofit. Okay, the bus from what I'm being told, which we it's helpful for us to have at least one more than a minivan. So, that holds nine passengers plus a wheelchair. And that purchase price is more in the uh ballpark of 115 to 120,000 match or

that's the total price. So, it be 20% a local match on that on both both vehicles. They're just different types of vehicles. And you're saying the van 75? Yes. That's with the um customization that's required for it to be wheelchair accessible. And that's purely an estimate at this point. We don't have the official price list or the official shopping list from the state yet. You may need about $38,000 it looks like. Then

20% match. Correct. Okay. I am going to apply and whichever way we go, I'll I will let you know. But um I wanted to float it past you all because there is a local match requirement and you all have been gracious enough to participate. Um and at the end of this year is when that RFP will have to be resubmitted and we'll have to re apply for to be the vendor. Obviously, we'll have to respond to that. So, In the event that we aren't the vendor in the future, obviously then those bands will be your responsibility. So,

are you on the council schedule as well to share with them this information? I I'm not at this point, but it certainly can be. We'd suggest it. Okay. So, all right. Yeah, that application is due very soon. They don't allow you a very big window. It's February 6. So, we'll be applying either way and then we'll uh I will definitely get on the council's agenda as well. All right. You Thank you, Caitlyn Dennis. Not here. Then, uh that's

uh I make a motion we approve the minutes for December 16th, 2025 and January 6th, 2026. Second motion on the floor to uh approve the minutes for 121625 and 16 2026 as presented. Any discussion? All in favor say I.

Oppos? Same sign. Motion passes. Uh do you have Cambria Sparks? Not yet. Uh She's not in here. Who? Oh, who's this? Camera Sparks or Caitlyn? All right. Thought I heard you guys say my name.

All right. Hello. I am Caitlyn Dennis. I am the Hancock County Health Department Emergency Preparedness Coordinator and I'm here to talk to you guys about pods because I'm getting the Mount Vernonou signed by you guys today. Do you guys remember about pods when I had this the signing of the one for Southern Hancock schools? It's a Eastern and new PAL we've already done. I just didn't know if you want me to go through them again through it again. Probably should highlight

highlight. Okay. So I do have a pod overview sheet that you guys can see in front of you. A pod is a mass dispensing site that provides medical counter measures such as medications or vaccines to the public during a public health emergency. The main operational activities happening in a pod is registration, form review, and dispensing. A pod is staffed by medical and non-medical personnel. A pod is where healthy individuals come to receive medications or vaccines. The main target is the exposed population. So we do not treat sick individuals. We give the that is for the hospitals and the doctors. We just help if we need vaccines to produce for example like COVID uh for COVID clinic shots. we would just take the pressure off the health related and let them work on the sick and we take the healthy who just need vaccines or medications. And so a goal for POT is to prevent the spread of illness and decrease the number of visuals who may get ill and decrease the number of individuals who are uh sick and provide information to the public about the threat and treatment being disposed and to provide the medication or vaccinations to the exposed populations in a quicker time period. A pod is not an emergency room, urgent care, trauma center, doctor's office, a hospital, a shelter, or a consultation service. And like again, I'll just state it again. We do this is not for treating sick individuals. It's just for treating exposed populations. And then do you guys have any more questions? So

it and it's exactly the same thing we did for uh Eastern and yes, it just says Mount Vernon this time. We need a motion for that. Mhm. Okay. I make a motion that um we approve the get this all correct the pod overview and the uhou between Hancock County uh health department commissioners and u Mount Vernon Community Schools.

Second. We have a motion and a second on the floor to approve the pod overview and it be between Hancock County Commissioners and uh Mount Vernon Community Schools as presented. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Thank you.

Thank you. right here. Chairman and Bill Cambria Sparks. Not yet. Okay. Uh, auditor business.

I did want to let you know that um we're going to be moving uh Jane Clemy's public hearing to February 3rd. We just um for advertising purposes. Will that meet her deadline? She talked about some deadline that needed to meet. Will that make it then? Um yeah, she said that'll work. Okay. Uh, sheriff my because I don't see the others. There's John right here. Can't see him back there.

Did you have manpower? Morning. Good morning. You have a couple things I think. Um, you should have a letter in there from me um for the solid waste vehicle to sign and take care of. Got a title, which you can do later, but I just right now needs to sign that one. There's a sheriff policies. Don't have that letter.

The title for the No, no, no, no. So, that's already been taken care of. Okay. So, the title had been switched. They had the vehicle. It was just a matter of the solid waste. She needed some sort of a letter, right? Um for her contract. Okay. Um showing the $1 thing and so I just did that so she could have that record and you could sign off on that.

Okay. Um secondly, um there should be a contract that I had given a while back, um LITAC 360. Um I'm just looking for the approval on that and see where we stand. So, what this is is a new policy platform for the sheriff's office or for our personnel policies um through an app and makes it a lot easier to follow. I make a motion that we accept uh the software and service hosting subscription as presented by the sheriff from policies 360.

As presented as presented second we have a motion and a second on the floor to approve the uh policies uh 360s. the software uh hosting subscription agreement as presented by the sheriff. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppos. Same sign. Motion passes. Thank you. You need to sign. Okay. Four places. It looks like

Yeah, I don't think I think it was just probably something they needed to read or I don't know if you need any motion on it or not. Okay. If you just acknowledge that it helps in the minutes for us to track it on our end. Oh, there it is right there. Yeah, I think it was something DD requested or needed in that last meeting she had. So, yeah, I did not send that to her. No. No. Um

I thought maybe it need be standing. Okay. Um, I make a motion that we um accept and agree with as presented the request to declare vehicle surplus and transfer ownership from the Hancock County Sheriff's Department uh to the Solid Waste District on vehicle 2019 Tahoe Chevrolet. Last four digits 910 0 of the VIN.

Second. We have a motion and second on the floor to approve the uh letter transferring uh a 2019 Chevrolet Tahoe surplus and then transferring uh to the Hancock County Solid Waste Management District. Last four of the the VIN number is 91 0. All any discussion all those in favor say I. I post same sign. Motion passes. Do you want to you want Gary to sign off on this copy and send it to you? Right here. Yeah.

Okay. And lastly, I have on the on my agenda um last week I went to council um we discussed um my vehicles patrol vehicles for 2026. Um I don't know if you have a copy of that in your packet or not. Yeah. Okay. Um with a total of for 15 cars, a total of eight $833,280. um they wanted me to come back to you um and talk about um or at least bring it up um that being paid out of the 2026 geo bond. Yes.

Um you were there, weren't you? Yeah. Yeah. Um and so um before they would kind of give me the fully fully thumbs up um to go ahead and order them, they wanted to make sure that you you would be in agreement uh to put that in the bond. They would they would I think they would initially pay for it out of something else and then reimburse the bond once the bond is you know actually formulated and so I think there was a resolution to that. Yes. Yes, that's correct. Yes. I did a resolution reimbursement for the council. Okay. To be reimbursed out of the 2026 GO bond. Yeah.

But we need to make a note of it so that when we do our exhibit A and resolution need for the bond that that's in there. So, do we need a motion on that or 833? Yeah. 833280. That's for 15 patrol vehicles. So, instead of them coming out of the 2025 bond, it's going to come out of the 2020. Yes. So, so we So, the ones that we got in 25, we paid out of 25 bond. And so, there's thinking since I think it's 25 is pretty much maybe taken care of. Yeah. that we would take it out of the 26.

Very good. I'll make the motion. I move that uh we send forward to the council with a favorable recommendation the uh to pay for the 2026 sheriff's vehicles in the amount of $833,280 from the 2026 GO bond which will be uh council will be reimbursed from whichever line item they pay that from.

Second. Uh there's a motion second on the floor to uh move forward with a favorable recommendation to the council for 15 new vehicles for the sheriff's department. Average cost each vehicle is five $55,552 and total amount being $833,280 to be paid out of the 2026 GEO bond as presented. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I opposed the same sign. Motion carries. Thank you much. Appreciate it. Thank you. That's all I have. Thank you. Thanks. Miriam Morales.

Yeah. I need to talk to you about that. Thank you.

Good morning and thank you for the opportunity to revisit this um request to add two members to the parks and board. Um we currently meet a quorum as I had spoken before. Um we have three members and expanding the quorum to five would allow the board to function more effectively to keep important projects moving forward. I can give you an example if you need that. um at the December 1st meeting, a question was raised whether we um our current ordinance that you have in front of you um needs to be modified and this is a legal uh question. But before we get there, I wanted to know um as the duties of the park board expands um and you may not have a answer today since we've been so busy. um if you would be open to moving forward to adding those board members. I want to defer to legal counsel um to request the review of our current ordinance that you have in front of you and then the review of that to determine whether code 3610 342 section 2 I've highlighted section two for you on um that second handout. That's not passed as an ordinance or anything. That's his job, not mine. Um, but I in order to expand, I don't want to ask you if we can add the two without legal counsel looking over the ordinance to make sure it's in compliance because um the judge would be the one. No,

no, no. So again, this is legal a legal question, legal review. Our current ordinance doesn't state who that appointing body would be. So that I don't know who that appointing body would be to add the extra two board members. Scott, did you want to weigh in on this? Yeah. So, um, and Miriam and I were going were going to discuss this, um, additionally, but so Miriam, the, as I understood, the original reason that you wanted to expand was partly because you want to have some committees that are going to look at things and come back. Is that right?

Yes. So, right now, if I have three people in the room, I have to have public notice because that presents a quorum. If I have two extra board members, I'll have a quorum of five, which allows at least four people in the room to do work.

And that's part of what I want to talk to you about. Actually, that's not the situation. U there's been some recent legislation within the last year or two here. If you have two park board members uh that are on a committee, you have to have an open meeting. So changing the number of members does not help that situation. Um you can form subcommittees, but they can only have one park board member on them. Otherwise, you're going to have to hold a public meeting just like you would the regular park board. So I don't think you were aware of that. Um and so that kind of obviousates the need to have any additional members from that standpoint. Now my recommendation and this is also true for the commissioners would be to you would go ahead you leave the members the way they are but you can do your subcommittee and add to those people that are not on the board and but you need one park board member on those committees.

Okay.

And they are not subject to uh the open door law. So if you need to discuss something in private like a land acquisition sensitive issues that can be done in those subcommittee meetings. Now they can only make recommendations. They can do some deliberation but they can make they can only make recommendations to the regular park board but you can have disinterested you you can have people on those committees should say that are interested in parks. Okay. But are not on the board specialist like they may have information on that would be helpful from a finance standpoint. Those kind of things. So the point is I think you can accomplish what you want by forming these subcommittees but with just one park board member but increasing the actual members doesn't get that accomplished for you.

Okay. Yeah. So, and that new legislation states that if you're going to have two board members, I don't care how many you have total, you're going to have an you're going to have a public meeting. Okay. Uh yeah, I was understanding that three was a quorum. No, no, two is a quorum. That's not a quorum. We're not talking about we're just talking about you have to have a regulations with the open door law. You have to have a public meeting.

The circuit court judge is not a part of our creating ordinance as far as appointments and that's why that is not applicable here but I don't think you need to increase your members to accomplish what we understood you wanted okay all right well so we can talk about that let's circle back on that then but that's yeah that's where there's been some confusion about that so

we have a input session coming up in February and it's um going to be in regards to nine-star park and what the community wants to see that park become. So, we want to have the community's input on that and in order to make that meeting successful. I just want to make sure that I'm in compliance with the IC code for parks and recck so we can have um everybody working to make that a really great input session ahead of time. You have it. You're it's in place right now. Yeah. Without Okay. anything else for you to have. And then I have another item.

I just just want to make sure here. So what what we're saying is uh second amended ordinance number 2024-4C stands as as is. Okay.

Okay. Thank you very much on that one. Um I also need to ask for consent of property owners. You should have a document in front of you. Um I don't believe that the planning commission will ask for it to be notorized. That is a decision um that the planning commission will um either request or deny since the county um elected officials and the board of commissioners own the property and we're having an open um discussion right now on this document. I'm kind of ambiguous on whether it needs notorized since it's not going to be recorded in the recorder's office, if that makes sense. But I would defer back to you all um and the plan commission to see if it needs notorized. Mary Bmer can surely do that in your office when someone one of you signs. So get back to the action request. consent of property owner is to reszone um the the property we just purchased on December 17th known as it was a very um great donation of 41 acres and we closed on that for the park. So, um, we want to reszone that from agricultural to industrial. And the reason to do that is because if we decide to have like program activities on the land, uh, it will be like for any events that we want to have or any educational uh, functions such as maybe the Eagle Scouts going out and and and doing any type of events on the property. We'd like it resone from agricultural to institutional. So it would just be for programs or

institutional, not industrial, right? Did I say industrial? Institutional. Okay. Institutional. Yes. Not industrial. Yes. Institutional. So the document is in front of you. I believe it actually says um it says industrial. Does it say industrial in your copy? Because I I will need to update that. You've got the It does say institutional. What I'm looking at says instal. You got the right one. Good. And the exhibit is attached. Can I ask a question? Yes, you can. So, so this is just you're just changing basically the name of the rideway. Is that or the Oh, this isn't a rideaway. This is 41 acres. It's 41 acres. Well, then I would think and and it's not going to be recorded.

Oh, this will be this is a different document. I'm just confused cuz you said it wasn't going to be recorded. This is an actual consent of owner with the legalist hatched. That's so planning knows which property we're talking about. Oh, okay. Yeah. So, this isn't being recorded. They're we're giving the blessing to change the zoning to put it through the process. Gotcha. It will not be recorded, but we need consent of owners and the board of commissioners, Hancock County government owns the property. Does that make sense? But it it has to be recorded somewhere though. I I would say just go ahead and notoriize it. Yeah.

So once the consent happens then it goes to her office. The consent of property owners is typically part of the application materials. It is not part of any recorded document that goes follows through to the reszone. It simply uh indicates that the property owners, the board of commissioners consent to Miriam as the park board president representing this reszone for them. Okay. So, this is just part of the paperwork you need to actually go forward. But correct. Yes. Is this the This is the Ninstar Park, right? It is. Right. Did didn't we pass something maybe at our last meeting or meeting before

we agreed to change? You did. However, there's another document in that process that was sent to me. Um, and it's typically typically I would if um I was on the board of zoning, I would speak with the property owner in their home and say, "I need your consent to do this. Can you sign on the dotted line? Here's the legal description and all the document, you know, information here." But since Hancock County government is the owner, we need your signature or one of your signatures consenting. Even though you've said that they have a document that needs signed for that. Okay.

So that's their process. I'm just coming in the middle as a third party from point A to point B to get it taken care of so we can get it reszoned. signing the document that this is just a consent at this point, but the you're going to have you're going to have your opportunity to review everything and then go through that consent and then you'll bring forth an ordinance to reszone. Okay. Gotcha. And you can sign that. That's when we'll get the ordinance. Yeah. You can sign, one of you can sign that consent in Deborah's office uh to be not notorized up there.

If it's typically something from the planning and zoning that we just don't don't normally see, that's then what if it doesn't typically need to be notorized, that's probably between I don't think and Kayla. We're okay with it. You go ahead. Make a motion. Make a motion. Okay. I make a motion that we uh sign off on the consent of property owners for the Ninstar property which is currently described as containing 53755 acres

currently. We had to put the current legal description. That document hasn't come through to be recorded. Didn't mean to interrupt. Deborah, is that all right for her to announce that acreage that way? Or is it 49.980? It is. Okay. Well, let me restate the the motion. I make a motion that we sign the consent of property owners form uh for the purchase of the nine or for the donation of the Ninstar property containing 41.980 acres.

Second. Uh we have a motion and a second on the floor to approve the signing of the uh consent of property owners for the nine-star park to be turned from agricultural to institutional. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I oppose same side. Motion passes. Thank you all very much. Any more questions? All three signatures on it then. Well, if it's going to be notorized, the notary has to be here. Yes. Three are fine, but I mean, if we're sign it, we have to have the or the

Mary Bmer is a notary and she's watching from upstairs. So, but it does I I guess it doesn't typically have to be notorized, right, Kayla? Typically, we would require this document to be notorized in the case of say somebody coming into our office who we were not aware of who they were. we would send them down to the surveyor's office and that's where Corey would notoriize the document. In this case, it's in a public meeting. We know who everybody involved is. So, for the planning department's purposes, that seems sufficient. Okay. Go ahead and sign. Okay. It's okay. Thank you all very much. Thank you.

Thank you. Caleb Brooks.

Okay. Good morning. Morning. Good morning. We have two ordinances to discuss this morning. Okay. Would you like to start off with I3 or with Gooden? Let's start off with Gooden.

Okay. So, this document came up the reszone of the Gooden ground uh landscapecape contractor uh from CN to CC, so commercial neighborhood up a category to CC. Um that was a given a favorable recommendation by the plan commission in September. Uh, and then it f went through to the board of zoning appeals where it received a favorable um or approval, sorry, of a special exception use. This had been occurring on the site where it's located at 3859 and 3863 West US40 as a nonconforming or legal grandfathered in use uh for years previous to now. Um, however, since Mr. Gooden would like to build a office building uh warehouse toward the front of his property, he was required to um get his prop get his property properly zoned and also get that special exception to make his use legal um for expansion. We have a rule that says you cannot expand or build new structures um related to a legal non-conforming or grandfathered in use. So, in order to build that new building, Mr. Gooden was required to go through the proper zoning and BCA steps to get to this point. Um, in that process as well, um, there were some comments about, uh, the Pensy Trail um, and landscaping along it. Uh both the BCA and the plan commission indicated that they would like that requirement or an agreement um some sort of zoning commitment to be determined by the board of commissioners. Um if there needs to be a landscaping commitment of some sort along the Pensy Trail, um Mr. Gooden's

property does border the Penzy Trail for approximately 550 ft. Um, we've been back and forth um with Eric Glasco, Mr. Gunn's attorney, over the last month. The latest uh document that came through was just yesterday. Um, it pretty closely mirrors what um Mr. Gooden and uh Mr. Glasgow, Gary P, uh Gary McDaniel and me uh discussed um upon meeting at the property the first time, which is um 24 Black Hill Spruce uh spaced along the the 550 segment of the trail um to be uh planted in a staggered pattern on his property. um with commitments to install clean soil and place fertilizer tablets in each hole dug for the trees. Um a commitment to water the trees for one season. Uh a stake any leaning trees on the one-year anniversary of installation. Um but not a prolonged um promise to replace the trees um following that that one. Well, yeah. Uh so basically if they survive they survive is what this latest agreement says. So um apart from that I don't have any comments on the document. I would like the attorneys to figure out who's doing the prepared by statement um since uh I think it probably should be Mr. Glasgow's name at the bottom of this um since he de developed the most recent uh document not Rhonda our uh plan commission attorney. So just didn't want to misrepresent her at all. Um, but uh that's all I've got to say. Um, do you

have any questions for me or should I turn it over to the petitioner? I don't have anything with it. I don't have anything. Me neither. So, we're by the agreeance of the agreement. I'd like to see. So, you're going to the trees will actually be on his property? I think that Well, that seemed to be the consensus, at least in my opinion, that it shouldn't be on county property right away. It should be because obviously that changes legally who's responsible for me. Yeah. So he understands that they're on his property.

So are I mean everybody's in a grants? That's good. Okay. Then we're good. You got another one? I do. All right. Might as well stick around. Okay. There will be there would need to be a motion to approve the agreement, but I think who has seen you have you seen the agreement yet? Well, we're not I don't think we have on anything. We wouldn't have seen the agreement yet. So,

okay. I don't know if that's the case or not, but it might have. No, that's pretty short notice. Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Ultimately, we will need to vote on a a reszone ordinance for this. So, as when you're ready, is that correct? We'll need a we'll need a vote on approving the agreement, too. So, let's do that first. Okay. get through it and then I think there's an understanding that that's going to be acceptable, but we'll review the agreement and then you can formally approve it. Okay. All right. Thank you. Thank you.

Um All right. So, item number two is the I3 reszone which um a motion was made on that at the last meeting uh but a ordinance number um was not uh included. have an ordinance because I I we did not at the last meeting. Um but in their red folder and I did talk to Rhonda Cook about this. So what we'll do today is uh we'll introduce the ordinance. We will rules and adopt but that we're going to need to do that because we didn't do it when we did the original motion. Okay. We're still within the 90day period as I understand it. Yes.

Mhm. I'm not seeing the ordinance in here.

Ordinance. Uh, no. Temporary drives. This ordinance once again is for reszoning the east half of the I3 property from IBP back to agricultural in Buck Creek Township. Wait, in front of us? We don't have it yet. We don't have it yet. We're getting it.

Okay. While she gets that, can I make a motion to approve claims and payroll as presented? Yes. Second. There's a motion on floor to approve claims and payroll. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion passes. The auditor don't have any business either. So, about the uh uh furniture payment for the uh prosecutor's office

prosecutor's office. So, need a dollar amount.

There's like 42 something. Yeah. Thank you. What is the ordinance number here? 2026.

I make a motion that we approve uh ordinance 2026-1C amending Hank Hancock County zoning ordinance number 2007-1B amending uh from back from uh what was it? I industrial industrial to industrial to agricultural IBP we would introduce it right it's a motion then you can suspend to see first it's a motion to introduce first yeah suspend the rules and then then um make a motion to suspend the rule because the a motion to introduce doesn't need a second or anything you've introduced it okay motion to what did you

suspend the rule suspend the rule introduction. Okay. And then we do not need a motion on this ordinance or we do you need a then you'll do introduce approve it. Huh? Introduce it. I'm going to introduce ordinance number 2026-1. You already did that. Okay. You introduced it. Okay. And then now you can say I make a motion. Okay. And that was voted on. No. The introduction. Must we don't we don't vote on the introduction. No, we didn't vote on the uh suspension of the rules. We need to vote on the suspension. I'll do a motion suspend. Yeah. Motion. Motion to suspend the rules. I know you're straight. You're You just You've got that look on your face like you know exactly what's going on here.

Confused the water. Okay. Call the role. How about I I'll go ahead and make the motion. Um I make a motion that we suspend the rules on the day of introduction um 2026-1. Ordinance number 2026-1- C as presented. Second. Okay. There's a motion, a second on the floor to uh approve

to suspend the rules uh on the day of introduction and to introduce ordinance number 2026-1- C. All those in favor? I I opposed, same sign. Motion passes. Amen. Okay. I make a motion that we adopt ordinance number 20261- C, which will be replacing ordinance 20007-1B. And this will be a zoning map referenced in section 156.2000 or 020 for Buck Creek Township from IBP to back to agriculture.

Okay. Second. There's a any motion in a second on the floor to uh adopt ordinance number 2026-1- C uh reszoning this property from uh IBP back to agriculture. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Opposed? Same sign. Motion passes. That's it. Thank you. I'm exhausted. And do we sign off on it now and just go ahead and get back to Deborah? John Dana.

That's just a second copy in case they wanted to look at it. Oh, so there's that. So it's pages. Okay. AB the sign off sheet. done yesterday. If not, I have There we go. All right. The contract. Okay. And so that and then the you said that you already had changed. Thank you for welcome. Change.

Let me see that vision. It's come back. We have this one. Don't sign this one. Don't sign that one. All right. We got the new We'll sign one of these. Okay.

Okay. Good. All right. The county attorney has agreed that we're good to go. So, um, this is a, uh, contract with, uh, Rushi Outdoors to build a build office space on the, uh, north side of the building. Um, and the on the EOC side, um, this will be it's a grand total of $18,000. It will be paid for out of the if approved, it will be paid for out of the 911 bond. All right. whiddling away at that 911 bond. We are slowly getting there. We're almost there. Okay, it

have anything to add? Okay, I make a motion that we approve the construction contact contract agreement between Hancock County and Rushi Outdoors with an amount not to exceed $18,000 uh to perform the construction as listed below. Second. We have a motion, a second on the floor to approve the construction contract agreement between Hancock County and Rushi Outdoors for the amount to uh for the amount of $18,000 to be paid for out of the 911 bond. And is there any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I.

I post same sign. And then uh next meeting um we will we will want to work on the door access stuff for 123 East to try and figure out where we're going to pay for that one. Um and then I'm going to have another um contract for you. This one's good, but I will send you an email explaining what this one is. that has to do with um our medical protocols and an option out there for us uh that our EMS providers are very wildly in favor of um that may help them out a little bit. So, but I will send that all to you and we will look at that. I'm not sure if it'll be for this that one will be for the next meeting or not, but we'll uh we'll see in February. So,

how's your dad? How's your dad? Uh hopefully going home actually on Wednesday. So unreal. Thanks. He's got nine lives. I think he's on I think he's on number eight right now. So at least he's still with you. Yeah. So very happy about that recently. So thank you John. Thank you John. And we've already done the sheriff. So action items. So it's off the table. And did Cambria ever show We got times still yet. So, uh, we have an attendance policy. We do

that we needed to update. Do we have anything here for that as in writing? Is that we talked about yesterday? Yeah. From Kim. I didn't get anything. I didn't either. I sent her an email. I didn't get one back. So, hang on a second. She She's probably here. No.

Um I don't think she was going to um She did send us a copy. Copied on that. Deborah, I don't think I originally was copied on it. Who was that from? Kim. Kim.

Uh, leave revision. Um Sarah, if I uh forward this to you,

I think that involves a change to the handbook. Yes. Want to make it effective this year. Okay. So, uh, we have some board appointments that we need to take care. Jonathan Albbright, what what Jonathan Albbright contacted me and said his position was up, but he'd like to be reappointed. I just don't know what board

the information. I think it's the public defender board. It is public defender.

I think so. He just said he would accept the reappoint.

What was the term? Four year. Three. Three years. Okay, take a vote. I make a motion that we approve Jonathan Albbright to the uh Hanok County Public Defenders Office Board of Directors with a three-year term ending would be in 2029. Second. There's a motion on the floor to re reappoint Jonathan Albbright back to the public defenders. What board? What? Uh public defenders.

The executive board or executive board. Uh public defenders office. Uh all those approve. All agree say I I I can't talk today. Oppose. same sign. Motion passes. We've also got three more. There be are they the ones in red? Okay. It's for Sarah Joe and Bobby Eager. And

wait a minute. Are do we have any more appointments on this uh sheet? You're right. Okay.

So, we want to just make these motions and make them solid now. Okay. Um I make a motion that we appoint to the capital improvement board. Uh Jamie Bowler Smith reappoint for a two-year term ending in 114207. Second. There's a motion on the floor to uh appoint Jamie Bowler. Jamie Bowler Smith uh to a two-year term uh at the uh uh capital improvement board. ends his term ends in January 14th, 2026

7. Oh, 277. Okay. Uh is all approved say I I I post some same sign. Motion carries. I make a motion that we um to the economic commission Hancock County HEDC uh Janine Gray uh will be replaced with Gary McDaniel for a one-year term ending 1231 of 2026.

Second. We have a motion, a second on the floor uh to uh replace Janine Gray with Gary McDaniel for a one-year term ending in uh 1231 2026 to the Economic Development Commission. All those in favor say I. I oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Um, I make a motion that we uh replace Gary McDaniel for the seat held previously by Bill Spalding to the Economic uh Development Council of Hancock County for a one-year term ending 1231 of 2026. Second

motion and a second on the floor to uh replace Bill Spalding with Gary McDaniel for a one-year term to the Economic Development Council uh term ending 1231 2026. All those in favor say I. I oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Okay. for the personnel advisory task force, previously known as the uh personnel committee. Uh Gary McDaniel will replace Bill Spalding in a four-year term to close out Bill's term with that expiring on 1231 2028.

Second. There's a motion second on the floor to replace Bill Spalding with Gary McDaniel to the personnel advisory task force pre previously known as Kabini uh for a 4-year term ending at 12312028. All those in favor say I. I post same sign. Motion carries. Then we have um for the tourism commission uh with Bridget Jones as executive director, we have replace Karen uh Willis. She is on the board of the uh Shirley Visionaries. Replace her with Aaron Garvey. Is that

replace Aaron Garvey with her? Isn't it okay? Replace Aaron Garvey with Karen Willis. She is on the uh town of Shirley Visionaries for a 2-year term that would end on 1231 of 27. Second. There's a motion and second on the floor to replace Aaron Garvey with Karen Willis. She's on the board of Shirley Visionaries for a two-year term to the tourism commission uh with Bridget Cook Jones, executive director for a 2-year term ending in 1231 2020.

That's a one-year term. This is 26. No. It would be a two-year term ending on 123127. 2027. Yep. to your term ending on 1231 2027. All those in favor? I I oppose. Same sign. Mot motion carries. And uh right now uh Bob Starret, we're reappointing to the tourism commission for a two-year term which would end on 1231 of 2027.

Second. And we're reapp there's a motion second on the floor to reappoint Bob Starret for a two-year term to the tourism commission. Uh two-year term ending in 12312027. All those in favor say I. I.

I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Okay. Um I make a This is regarding the Hancock County Impact Fe. Uh member number one. I would like to uh make a motion to accept Sarah Joe Acre for a 2-year term ending on 1231207. She will be the realator uh appointee and also for Bob Jagger in a 2-year term ending in 1231 2027 uh which would be the engineering piece of this impact fee board.

Second. There's a motion to second to appoint uh to the Hancock County Impact Fe Sarah Joe Akre and Bob Joerger uh to a two-year term ending 1231 2027. All those in favor say I. I opposed. Same sign. Motion carries. Is all we have there. Okay. Do we have Cambria Sparks? Nope. Uh, oh, no. I don't think there's an attachment. We've done the board appointment dispersement.

Oh, yes. We'll go ahead and do the want to do the apply. Yeah. Um, want her to come up now or have a seat. Come right ahead. Camera. We'll get We'll get her first. She's in here. Hello. Who's that guy you brought up with you? How you doing, Bob? I'm good. How is everybody? Wonderful. Wonderful. Patrick's coming also, but he's uh He's He's not running on schedule. He's not running on schedule,

so he'll be late. So, do you guys want to hold off or what? We're fine. We can go ahead and get this over. She's She's the main speaker. So,

good morning. I'm Cambria Sparks. I'm with the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs. I am Bob and Patrick's district service officer. Um, the reason I'm here today is to discuss the service officer accreditation standards. some things have changed. So, I'm just coming to let you guys know what's going on and that way you guys are informed. Um, the paper I gave you guys is the actual standards. So, I'm just going to go over that and if you guys have any questions, just ask me. Uh, these standards set clear required rules for the accreditating uh service officers who help veterans file benefit claims in Indiana. So, Bob and Patrick, this applies to all the county and uh city service officers helping the veterans file federal and state benefits here in Indiana. Um, anyone that's sitting in this role, they have to be accredited and they have to maintain the standards within the IDVA. Chapter two is going to go over definitions. I'm not going to read those to you guys. You guys can read those. But the main one that we want to focus on is the commission means it's the Indiana Veterans Affairs Commission. Operational business. That just means any work that the Veteran Service officers do, whether it's in the office or doing outreach or being any place outside the office helping veterans. The office hours, um, they must be posted and, uh, they have to be paid by the county or city. They have to work at least a thousand hours a year, which is approximately 19 hours a week. So, each service officer has to work the 19 hours to remain accredited. Currently, Bob and Patrick, their hours are posted and they're both working at least 19 hours a week, so they're uh within standards.

office space. They must have a dedicated private office space to assist the veterans because they're talking about health information, bank account information, items like that. So, we don't want anyone overhearing that. As of now, they're fully meeting the state standards. Technology. During posted office hours, the service officer needs reliable internet, phone, a capable computer, fax machine, and an electronic signature pad. Um, at this time, Bob and Patrick are fully within standards. the claims management system. They must use the IDBA required claims management system for all work, filling out forms, logging, interactions, intake and responsibility forms, and only fully accredited uh service officers get this access. At this time, Bob and Patrick are both meeting standards. The personal identity verification card. This is the car that card that allows them to securely access VA systems and get into veter veterans records. They have to follow all VA security rules and breaking any of those rules will um account in loss of accreditation. Both um CVSOs here maintain their active PIV card. They use it appropriately and access the VA systems appropriately. So at this time they're fully meeting state and federal standards. Mandatory use of required technology. All this technology must be used properly and securely every day while helping the veterans. Both CBSOs utilize all the required technology and equipment and they're fully meeting statements. The training and testing requirements.

Each year the service officers uh must attend and pass tests for a one-day spring training in their district and a three to four day summer training that the state hosts and then a one-day fall training that's within the district. If they miss one for good reason, then they'll have to go to a different district to make that up. As of now, they're both fully meeting state standards. We'll have the first training in I think it's April that they have to attend. Then we'll have the annual training in June and one in September. All assigned online modules and tests must be completed. Both CVSOs have um completed all mandatory online training up to this point and passed the associated proficiency exams. So they're both meeting state standards. Federal training. The service officers must complete the VA's trip training, pass the test, and take any other steps needed for federal accreditation. That was the uh original test that CBSOs had to take when they first got the job. Now, we're making that mandatory that we have we all have to take that yearly. So, at this point, they're both meeting state standards and federal standards. The initial service officer training. New hires must complete orientation within 30 days and full new hire training with all tests included within 90 days of starting. Both Patrick and Bob have been here for a while. So, they're fully meeting statements and federal standards for that. Now, if something happened and one of them left, then we'd have to get that new CVSO up to speed on that standards of performance. All activity must be reported in the claims management system. The IDBA can

request reports at any time to check compliance. Um, the CVSOs are required to report information and activities within that claims management system. and provide any requested data, records or logs to IDVA for verification. Right now, they're are fully meeting the state standards. Performance is measured by active PIV card use, training, attendance, and passing the test and properly using the claims management system for intake forms, claim uh procedures or logging claims. spelling these can lead to corrective action or loss of accreditation. The CVSOs here meet all key performance indicators fully complying with state standards at this point. Non-compliance. Any CVSO that fails to meet these standards can result in loss of accreditation. If there is a problem, the IDVA will send a notice to you guys letting you know that there's an issue and the CBSO has 30 days to submit a fixed plan, then 60 days total to correct it. If it's not fixed, then it'll go to a uh the commission for a hearing for a possible revocation of the accreditation. If needed, the commission does send a formal hearing notice with date, time, location, and rights. And that'll go to the commissioners along with Bob and Patrick. At this hearing, the CVSOs can submit evidence and arguments on their behalf and the commission reviews everything and decides by majority vote. Once that majority vote is done, it's final. Failure to appear. If the CVSO does not appear to that hearing, the commission will continue with the hearing and

they'll make their decision and discipline can still be imposed. If accreditation is revoked, the officer immediately loses all their rights to help with claims or access systems. So let's say one of the commissioners, not commissioners, I'm sorry, one of the CBSOs lose their accreditation. They can remain in the office and you guys can keep them in the office. They just can't assist veterans in any way and they can't file claims or anything like that. So, those are the new standards that have been put in place by the IDA and the federal VA. Do you guys have any questions of me?

Sounds like we're in compliance and our people are accredited and they're doing a great job assisting veterans. Yes. Yeah, they're fully accredited. They have everything that they need and they're doing everything that they should. Nice report card. Way to go, Bob. Yeah. A lot of that Not a lot, but some of that is brand new to us. Yeah. Um, it came into effect January 1st. Yeah, it's Senate Bill 433 is what this is all addressing. Does require a little more effort on our part that we weren't doing before.

May need an adjustment in his Yes. to do that. So, uh, when will you know if he needs an adjustment? We'll figure that out today. We'll sit down and figure that out today and Bob can let you know. Okay. Well, thank you. Oh, thank you. Thanks for your time. That's right. Thank you very much.

Okay. Can we get a cup? And then also at the budget meeting have discussion about the veterans did not submit their project right budget meeting. I thought it'd be a good time for the council discuss what we needed to do but I'm waiting from DLGF and how that's going to impact our 1782. Thank you. Kim Woodard,

you want something approved? Oh, yes. Thank you.

Sorry, four I commissioners. I I apologize. Um I had uh presented the three of you with an amendment to the Hancock County government employee handbook. Um it that amendment to the handbook is actually additional content that was not here to for covered in the handbook. Um, in essence, it states that um any employee who has um run out of job protection under uh the f the Family Medical Leave Act, FMLA, or the Americans with Disabilities Act, would then be entitled to continuation of benefits through the county for a period of 30 days um from the period that um that the job protection ceased. Um this was not here to for covered in the handbook. Um it is an important delineation u for our insurance company to understand when does an individual move from active employment under benefits to COBRA. Um and so I have submitted to you a paragraph that I would like to add retroactively to the handbook uh which would encompass this provision. I've read that paragraph did and I certainly agree with it.

I I think so. Retroactive to January one this year, right? Uh actually it was retroactive to November of 2025. Okay. Even better days specifically so we can Okay. November one. Yes. Well, I would make Yep. I'll make a motion that we approve the changes to the uh employee handbook retroactive to November of 2025 regarding how did you want me to put that in the um the definition of employee after uh job uh protection ends that

yes thank you second okay we've got a motion on and a second on the floor to retroactively amend and our employee handbook. Yes. To uh indicate when they lose protection for insurance. Yes. At the end of when they no longer have FMLA time and any donated time to them, which are associates do uh back to November 1st, 2025. All those in favor I I oppose. Same sign. Motion passes. Thank you so much. Can I ask a question? just how does how does the short-term disability is that is that affected at all?

Probably not. No, short-term disability would not be affected. Um because short-term disability, if you qualify for that and FML or Americans with Disabilities, ADA, those run concurrently. And so it's likely that you will um or it's possible, I should say, that you would um exhaust your short-term disability um before the job protection ends. FML is for a specified period of time. And if you qualify for ADA protection, that is also for the duration of your disability. Um so short-term disability would be unaffected. Okay. Thank you for clarifying that for me. Oh, yes, of course. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Good morning. Thank you. Uh got that. Go back to amplified dispersement. We have a affidavit for construction fund dis uh dispersement request number 19 uh by the Hancock County Development Authority regarding Amplify and that amount is page

$351,8776. Second. We have a motion and a second on the floor for approving the affidavit for construction fund dispersement. Quest request number 19 in regards to Amplify Hancock and the amount of $351,877 on the floor. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppos. Same sign. Motion carries. Oh my good.

I just messed up. Did cuz Bill's the president daddy, aren't you? Or does that mean? No, you go. Yeah, you you as the president, my commissioner. Yeah. Um Sarah, are these all the documentation to back up that payment number invoices? Okay. Yes. Okay. The fair and the ferris. Well, no. I've got all the commissioner's vehicle that was taken care of by the sheriff, wasn't it? I think so. What I thought. Yes. What about the prosecutor's furniture?

Prosecutor's office furniture. We need a a uh we just need a uh total because this is all we have and there's no total on there of the email and where where it's going to come from.

Say that again. Yeah,

I think the last time we talked about CC, some reason that rang in my head talking to Mary about that capital funds to pay for furniture. Yeah, you can. We don't have any bond. Those bonds have run out for for the prosecutor's office. Yes. Is there money in that fund or it's all spoken for? At least the earmarked. It's earmarked. I I was not in that conversation about the CCD, but we can go ahead and pay that out of there if you want.

I don't know. I was just for some reason it's floating around in my head that it was a conversation with Mary. I could be totally wrong on trying to figure out where that would be paid out of. Well, you want that out of the commissioner's line, right? Yes. Okay. Well, we can go ahead and make sure that we pay that out of the commissioner's budget. And I'll double and I will go to the CCD first if you're agreeable with that. Do we need a motion on this?

Okay. I make a motion that we approve uh invoices for the prosecutor's office furniture. And uh first one is invoice number 39 uh 329337 in the amount of $46,68 and second is invoice 330562 in the amount of $2,200.

Second. We have a motion, a second on the floor to approve the purchase of furniture and to be paid out of CCD. Uh the commissioner's line. Uh first one invoice number 3293337 for 400 46,600 and the second would be invoice number 3300562 in the amount of $2,200 as presented. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppos. Same sign. Motion passes. So, we going to get opioids. You want to talk about the the opioids at this point?

Is there anything is it on our agenda to talk about it? It's it's an action item because we just need to go back and reaffirm what the council has approved and we've approved for each of the uh recipients. And uh we agreed and as the recipients were happy that they the uh Church of God men's transitional home was going to be funded at $450,000. and then uh Titha uh uh women's facility at $250,000. Uh I don't know if we need a motion on this or just a We've already

need motion. Good. I move that uh we approve the Church of God men's transitional housing uh in the amount of $450,000 and um the Chithkum uh women's drug rehab for $250,000. Um and that will part of that will come out of uh food and beverage. Second

motion and second on the floor to approve the O op opioid distribution amounts and recipients. $450,000 will go to the Church of God men's transitional home and then 250,000 uh for the Toa women's uh facility and I think 100,000 100,000 that coming out of food and beverage and it be a total of $250,000 as presented. Is there any further discuss discussion? All those in favor say I. I oppose same sign. Be it done.

You're welcome. Just to add for the the minutes. uh we reviewed u the issue of church and state in that in this allocation and uh I've advised my opinion that there is no concern with the constitutional violation um based upon this distribution allocation of funds to the church first church of god so um I just wanted to put that on the record thank you thank you thank you thank We would we would like some reporting. Oh, absolutely. So,

I'll keep you I'll keep you apprised as the process goes. Uh at least every six months. We'll have a process that you'll be sending us receipts and reports. So, we'll get with you when when we're ready to get started on that. Okay. It'll definitely be a contractual a contractual agreement so we can track a lot of that. helps to keep that separation and like the commissioner McDaniel said, it'll it'll also say, "Hey, yes, we'll work we'll work with you on that. I'll be your contact person." I'll be your contact person. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you very much. Something on here. Commissioner Vh.

Yeah, I thought that was a sheriff deal or it may have been. I think so. I don't know anything else. Put it on there. I don't I don't Deb and Sarah commissioner's vehicles was that was that the sheriff's deal? Um go ahead Sarah. She had a question about it and I I we we're going to you're going to have a shortage come the end of the year but I just didn't a shortage of money to pay for vehicles. Is that Yeah, for your commissioner's vehicles. So we um I think uh AP wanted to just let you know to keep that in mind for additional appropriations later in the year. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Is that it? I think that's it.

Do we have any input from the public? No kidding. George isn't sick anymore. He called it sick last week. He called him sick. Um, no. I just u Gary called me Saturday night. I sent a link about small modular reactors uh that uh from um I forget the Indiana Devil Element Corporation or something like that or involved in and I just wanted to make sure you guys got a chance to look at it. And I called him because it looked like it might have been a

Yeah. Yeah. deal. I mean there's no definition to it or whatever. or just here you

for the for the public's uh if they want to see the link it's up on my Watchdog 46140 Facebook page where they can go look at it there. It's a little long but it's fairly interesting and it's not using typical reactor like control rods. It's using a small diameter um pellet that they swirl around. to make and stuff. So, it's it's different technology than what people normally associate with reactors and stuff, but it's contained in a 40 foot uh shipping container that can be set anywhere. So, that I just wanted to let you guys know what's going on and that kind of stuff and give you the information.

Thank you. Thank you. Motion to adjurnn.

Just one more thing to say. Um I know you guys might have watched the game last night on TV. Um for those of you that didn't get to go to Miami the game, uh went to Assembly Hall and watched a watch party with a bunch of fans. It was pretty cool. Um, I don't think I'll have the opportunity to see that again in my lifetime, but I will say that NIL has really changed the playing field for sports and it has for Indiana football. But, um, at after that game, it was just incredible and all I have to say is hoohoo hoo hooas go IU. There's motion second on the floor. All in favor say I. Okay.

Oh, same