County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

find my worth my sheet. Yep. Hold up. Hold up. Good morning. [sighs] Uh, I'd like to call the meet meeting of the Hancock County Commissioners to order. Uh, today is March 16th, 26. Time is 8:03 a.m. This meeting is being recorded and streamed for public viewing. My participating 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 there's a quorum of commissioners present. The commissioners are now open for business. We will now proceed with the agenda. At this time, I'd like to invite everybody to stand and recite the pledge of allegiance with us. 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, liberty and justice for all.

Okay. Do [sighs and gasps] I'd like to make a motion to approve the minutes for March 3rd, 2026 commissioners meeting. Second. There's a motion, a second for approving the minutes for 3326. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion pass. Uh Lisa. Oh, okay. Good morning, Lisa.

Good morning, everyone. Uh thank you, Gary. Uh this we are here this morning for the 70 connect 2 project which was a which is a logistics building with related public infrastructure. The estimated investment is approximately $39 million. The county provided a forgivable loan uh for $932,000 worth of public infrastructure. Uh the building has been completed. The infrastructure has been completed. We have with us this morning Adam Broadick of Loth and Scott Friselle of Craig Devault uh council to Loth for this project. Uh they are requesting an estoppel certificate be executed by the board of commissioners and the county redevelopment commission uh as proposed in the loan agreement that was entered into between the parties. uh that estoppel uh certificate is required when uh they are looking to move forward with the sale of the building and I will let uh Adam Broadick give you an idea of the status of the overall project what they're looking to do going forward and then Scott Friselle can discuss with you the specific request and I'll be here to answer questions. So Adam, go ahead.

Adam, you're on mute. That was a good start. Thank you, Lisa. Um, as Lisa said, 70 Connect 2 is uh just over a half million square foot logistics building. We completed in 2022. We leased the building to Houston Logistics, a uh large international logistics company who has a lease in the building through uh 2027, I believe. Uh, and recently we took the building out to the market to for an investment sale. Uh, we've selected a buyer. It's a group Hillwood out of uh, Texas. Hillwood's owned in Mount Comfort, other product um, in the past and we are looking to close the sale with them uh, this Wednesday. As Lisa said, as part of that, we've requested the Estopple certificate uh as we transfer uh and hopefully ultimately terminate this loan agreement. The infrastructure has been in put in place and um uh I think the all the obligations have been met and so it's our uh request that um there no longer be uh the documents that are in place. So Scott can give you the legal reasons behind that, but thank you for your uh attention to the matter and your time this morning.

Thank you. Thank you. Thanks, Adam.

Good morning, everyone. So, there's two items before you this morning. It's the estoppel certificate and then the termination of the loan agreement and economic development agreement. The estoppel certificate simply confirms the current status of the agreements between the county and 70 connect 2. In plain terms, it confirms that the loan agreement and economic development agreement are still in effect, that no parties in default, and that the developer has satisfied its obligations under those agreements. In addition, since the developers fulfilled its obligations to develop this project and will no longer own the property, we are requesting the loan agreement and economic development agreement be terminated simply to close out those agreements. And as Lisa mentioned, um, as background for this project, the redevelopment commission provided 70 connect 2 with a 932,000 incentive funded from TIFF on hand. And so for tax purposes, that incentive was structured through this forgivable loan agreement, which is why those agreements were drafted uh as such back in 2020. Um, so at this time, at this point, the project has been completed and 70 connect 2 has satisfied the requirements of those agreements. So the doppel certificate confirms the status and the termination formally closes out those [clears throat] agreements in connection with the sale of the property. So at this time we're happy to answer any [clears throat] questions and we appreciate your consideration of these items.

One thing I would like to quickly point out and hopefully Scott Binky is is present at the board of commissioners meeting.

Uh there was no abatement provided in these agreements. There were no EDA payments. So none of those nothing is delinquent there. I know Scott Binky looked into the property taxes. There were no delinquent taxes, so there's really there was really no reason to uh not move forward with this request. The redevelopment commission considered it on March 12th and positively approved moving forward with execution in the form and assuming that the board of and only if the board of commissioners also uh approve execution of both documents. There is I do have a few questions uh notwithstanding that those presentations.

So the EDA does require uh written consent by the county of any transfer. So um and of course it's not to be unreasonably withheld. So I do have a look I I think for the benefit of the commissioners. So, who is Industrial Enterprises LLC? Is as I understand it, they are buying the property. Is that right?

Yes. That's the LLC name that Hillwood um the would be their DBA or however you want to look at it. Hillwood uh is the group that's buying it. The LLC they'll use to hold the real estate is the um group you just mentioned. So, and Scott, one thing I would say is if the board of commissioners vote to terminate the EDA and the loan agreement, that consent would go away with that termination. But you do, the county does absolutely need to be comfortable with the purchase going on.

Exactly. it's mood if obviously if it's terminated but I the commissioners don't have we don't really have any information on you know what the new owner is going to do with that property uh if anything additional uh obviously there's a tenant there as you've just explained and so I just I I profer that question because um as I said the agreement does require written consent and it still is in effect until terminated. So, that was one thing that came to my mind. Um, I just we want to have some cold comfort with who's buying the property. Yeah. Um, yeah. So, sorry.

Yeah. So, can you give us a little more background on on what their intentions might be beyond what's already occurred there?

Yes, absolutely. So, Hillwood, as I mentioned earlier, is based out of Dallas. They um are a large uh real estate investment trust. Uh they're originally backed by the Ross Perau family. They I just pulled up their website so I could uh hit these correctly, but they've developed about 243 million ft of industrial. They've acquired about 63 million square ft. Their goal here is simply to renew use and logistics the existing tenant in place for another five, seven, 10 year term depending on what Houston's willing to sign up for uh and continue to cash flow the property. Um outside of that, we Loth and Hillwood and Conversations um relative to Mount Comfort. Uh Loth controls um over 100 acres on the north side of uh County Road 350 to the west of what we call 70 Connect 3. And we're in conversations with Hillwood on a potential JV to develop additional um logistics space uh with Hillwood there. So, they're committed to the market. They're a long-term holder here. And their goal, specific to the 70 Connect 2 property, is to re renew Houston use and logistics. If for some reason Houston wasn't to renew, they would hire a broker and uh look to lease it to a third party logistics or manufacturing company similar to what uh teny you have there today.

Okay, that that's helpful information. Um and I I can confirm uh that you know you are not no one is in default from 77 connect as Lisa mentioned not just real estate taxes but we wanted to confirm that the project was actually fully complete which our highway engineer Gary P has been able to do and so as we understand it now there's nothing no other further obligations of 77 connect um under these respective agreements. So, since you've now provided a little more information about who's buying the property, that was my primary uh issue with with finalizing the execution of the estoppel certificate and the termination of the loan agreement of the EDA. Um and I understood that the funds were were distributed, they were utilized, and the work was done. [clears throat] Um, so I think with that I'm okay as long as the commissioners are okay with what's now been presented with the new owner um, from a legal standpoint.

Okay. Okay. All righty. Any further questions? I have no questions. We can put both these together in one motion, can't we? Should we or should I'd separate them. Okay. Okay. I am make a motion that we accept the estoppel certificate. Um made effective. Oh, it's got the wrong date in here. It says February, but the effective date will be March 16th. Is that correct? Yep.

2026. Okay. Um and the redevelop C Hanokai County redevelopment committee commission has already provided their signatures. Uh moving forward second motion is a second on the floor. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I oppose. Same sign. Motion passes. Um, I make a motion that we accept the termination of economic um, development agreement and loan agreement between 70 connect and Hancock County Commissioners um, also known as an EDA agreement.

Second. There's a motion and second on the floor to uh, approve the termination of economic development agreement between and loan agreement between 70 connect and Hancock County Commissioners. Uh, any further questions? All those in favor? I I the oppos same sign. Motion passes. Thank you, Lisa. Thank you, Lisa. Appreciate that. Thank you. Um Scott, quick question. Would docu sign be appropriate? Would that be okay or do you need wet signatures? Docyign is fine from my standpoint. Adam, is that good? I think I do sign.

Okay. We will work with Deborah and others at the county to get those agreements signed by both parties. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you all. Thank you. Bye. Y bet like magic. I have nothing for signature today. The old jail is set to be turned over I think uh this week. Uh we're working on a couple HVAC things. Um, we're going to I'm just keeping this on your uh the front of your minds. Are we going to extend HCSS in 2027? Because we're when we get into spring, we're going to have to really start working on that contract if we are. Um,

I just talked to the mayor two weeks ago, they're going to actually do everything that they can.

Okay, great. A lot of people are using that. Uh, a lot of our elderly and uh and uh less fiscally secure population. Um, HMA price is under pressure, which is not a uh surprise with current world events. Uh, so obviously the price of asphalt's going to go up. Uh, if things settle down, it'll be all right. If not, we'll reprogram and figure out what we're going to do. It'll be fine. Nothing to panic about. But we will we might have to reprogram a little bit to make sure everything fits in the program. Um, I finished the B10 and F10 for HCSS. Speaking of that, um, so those are underway. I'll get those reviews by the feds here soon and get that finished up. Um, I have Mr. Hartley here to talk about the ADA website quickly. We're going to have to update that. Brian, do you want to speak to that for a second?

Good morning.

Good morning, Ryan. Um, in 2024, the DOJ updated its regulations um for the Americans with Disabilities Act about certain requirements on what their uh state and local governments have compliance compliance um things they need to meet for WCG, WC A or website um content accessibility guidelines. And the date for that is coming up. Um they they base that on size. So based on the size of Hancock County, uh our date would be April 24th is when we need to meet compliance. So I've been working with John Milbour and Carolyn Adams on this. Uh just kind of going over what our website, how it acts, what it looks like. PDFs um that are on there need to meet the compliance uh that the DOJ has has updated. So um we've been inundated with companies uh wanting to uh sell us their uh resources to do that. Uh John Milbour and I have had multiple meetings um with the companies to go over this information and I think we were landed on one that that works for Hancock County. It's called Recite Me. Um, these things can get very expensive, but um, John is is kind of the I'm leaning on him for the tech knowledge. Um, he understands that stuff really well. But basically, I wanted to give you this. You have some some information there I gave you. It's a three-year contract. It's $5,89.50 for the three-year contract. And then we we pay a per page cost to remediate those PDFs. Uh and that's $2 a page. Uh these contracts that I've gotten quotes on have went all the way up to $15,000 a

year and up to $8 to $10 a page. So they can get very expensive. So this is the best option that we found that fits what we need to meet these guidelines. Um, after I can pay for this out of my ADA budget after I do this, then then I plan on um probably doing like a,000 pages at a cost of $2,000 next year and the following year. Um, John feels good about where we're at with this company. Uh, I've checked with Bernie with and it to make sure that uh what we're doing is is going to be copacetic with them and that we can work through all this stuff. So, this is basically just to to let you know that um we're going to I'm going to proceed with this. I gave the contract to John to look at, to Ann Shadler to look at. I've looked at it and I emailed it to Scott Binky ear or Ann did earlier last week to review the contract. As far as I know, everybody's okay with the contract that was presented. So, um I plan on proceeding with that. we can uh divert some of these costs by um archiving some of the content and removing some of the content. So, so John and Carolyn and I'm sure Dusty's going to be involved in this it uh we can go through some of the PDFs that are on the website and remove those so we don't have to pay a remediation cost uh on on things that we just don't need on there. So basically [clears throat] justformational purposes just kind of to let you guys know and if if you had any questions for me I'll be glad to answer them.

Nope. I don't have anything. Thank you. Thank you.

We've had a wet start to the spring. Drainage actually did pretty well. More states struggled a little bit. We're working on that. We had a bunch of leaves and garbage down one of the things. So, um um in the news, I'd encourage make sure we tell people don't put stuff down the drains in your house or in the roads, okay? Use the garbage. Um but that happens. Um we have got the funding for the 900 North 600 West roundabout. Okay. The interlocal needs to be done at their next meeting though. Um so let Beth know that they want the $6.1 million. That's got to be signed at their April meeting. And you and I discussed that. My plan is to get that to you this week.

Excellent. So, um otherwise they'll revert it back to the state and it'll be 100% local project for McCourse. They'll do what they want, but I I think they'd probably rather have the 6.1 million. Um because that's a 7 million. That's a well just under $8 million job. So, but that that's a hot deadline that's got to happen in April. Well, I will thank you for McCordsville because without you, it wouldn't have happened. So, yeah, that was a lift. That was an exciting political exercise there. Um, Indiana Trails Program Grant. Uh, we haven't got word back on that yet, have we, Miriam? Um, no, but I can tell you that they've had some rotation in the higherups and so we should probably in the next couple of months

and that's understandable. There's been a lot of rotation at the state government. A lot of those programs, ochre, all them have been the leadership's been dynamic. Um, bridges on three south, four west are closed for this winter. They should be opening late spring, early summer. They're moving as scheduled. Hopefully, we get them done a little bit quicker. The the contractor is doing a good job out there. Um, earmark grants went well. So, you commissioners and the council and every all the politicians, you guys did well. Um, looks like our region received more earmark than anyone else. So, always good to bring as much federal and state money back to the county as possible. So, thank you for working on that. Thank you. Thank [snorts] you. Good.

Um, so hopefully that all work out. Um, I know you're going to meet with uh, I know we just talked to Lisa just a second ago, but she's going to come present to you guys on payment of Lua tax programs. Um, those are interesting. I know the commissioners and council are looking for ways to help different municipal agencies, schools, and stuff with the new Senate Bill One. I know there's been a reduction to a lot of people's funding and we're exploring options on how to maybe offset some of that. Um, so it's always good to know every tool in the toolbox. You might you don't have to use the tool, but you should know what they are.

Yeah. Um bids for distributor single axle and everything are out. So if any contractors are listening to me right now, feel free to get on our website and pull those up and hopefully we see bids from you soon. Uh road schools this week we're doing a pres this county is doing a presentation on uh on alternate delivery of various types of projects. The county has been successful with that. We're sharing that with our peers now that we're done so they can't take our money. We'll let them know what we did. Um, uh, barring any questions, that's all I have that I don't have anything else. I think I'm good. I'll see you, Rose Gold.

I will see you there. Oh, and if anybody from the public is interested in how projects are elected and funded, there'll be that presentation will be put on the Purdue website and I'll try to make sure we have that on there. People might find that interesting. A lot of people, you know, there's a lot of interest in that and a lot of times people don't know exactly what's going on and it's complicated. Heck, I halfway understand half the time. Um, but it does a good job of uh at least informing them what's going on. That can mitigate a lot of fear because when you don't know something, it it's scary and and thing and I don't want people to be worried about stuff. Well, they should care, but they shouldn't be afraid of anything. It's just county government. We're not that exciting. So, that's all I have. Thank you. Thank you, Gary.

Cory Taylor, util facility update. Good morning. Good morning.

Um, in front of you, you'll have a a proposal from Westco who is handling our rekeying project. Um, we have a quote here to go ahead and do the community corrections uh area that's been remodeled. the prosecutor's office that is this section has been remodeled as well as the IT offices in the basement. This is for 70 cores at 4309 a piece, 68 pinning at 809 a piece and 144 keys uh for 671 total being $4,23746. Um, I need to see if this could be paid for out of a geo bond. I'm not sure which one we're utilizing for that work.

Oh, yeah. [clears throat] Okay. Thanks, Corey. Uh, I make a motion that we approve uh the the master reeen for community corrections. uh the prosecutor's office as well as it in an amount not to exceed $4,23746 cents payable from the 2025 GO bond.

I second. Uh there's a motion, a second on to let facilities uh use the 2025 geo bond for 4,000 $23746 for rekeying uh uh doors at the prosecutor's office, the community uh community corrections and IT offices. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I post same sign. Motion carries. Uh the other thing I've got is Scott, you're aware of the um payment needed through service master.

Yes. So I think I copied you on my call. Their manager phone was disconnected. Yes. Which is not a good sign. Yes, sir. Do we Yeah. Um and I'm assuming they didn't pay it yet. No, I don't believe so. I guess Fritz called me. I I forwarded another I forwarded the invoice a second time and told them they had I seven days before initiate legal proceed. Seems like we might be at that point. I would think we're at the seven days. Yeah, because it was very odd. Do you know if they're are they out of business now or

I don't believe so. They're all over the the radio. I mean, they're pretty big company. Yeah, Fritz has sold his company to somebody else and it just needs to be taken care of. Oh, yeah. Well, it'll take some time now because we have to we'll have to live. But it seems like what I thought was odd was this guy was supposedly the man general manager and uh so I that that my antenna is up because it seems like they that's usually a sign of being insolvent. Yes, sir. Yeah. If you will follow up with that. to kind of get somewhere on that. I'm sure Fritz would love to get that done. Kind of have to litigate it. So, I probably should talk to him because

that'll that'll take some time, unfortunately. Well, please call him and get him on board also. So, there's nothing, Scott, that you need from me as far as we wouldn't go ahead and pay that invoice and then re uh reimbur or look for reimbursement through Indiana. That's what we're going to have to do. Okay. Will you just advise me on what I need to do then as far as getting them? I have the documentation substantiating the silust issue. Yeah. So, okay. Wasn't supposedly going to be any How much was that final that final bill around 63,000 very expensive to remediate

was kidding. just um if you would keep me post on and if I need to present to you guys to try to get that paid before so we can get them paid. I'll look into it and see what what we can do. All right. Thank you. Thank you. The other thing I would add about that it might be an insurance claim Janine. Yeah. Yeah. So, we probably we should alert ARC because that might be something that they would pay. Um, yeah, that would be general liability, I'm guessing. But I would think that we would have to litigate it before they would ever pay it.

Well, they should pay it and then they would subregate. They get sub a sub segregation. Okay. But we would collect in the that may but it may also be that they with us. So, but I just thought of that. I think it I think it there's definitely a claim there. The more I think irrespective of the contractors. Yeah. insurance. Now, if um if we turn this in at claim and then we're reimbursed eventually by Indiana Foundation, is that the correct? Yes. Y

uh we could just put that back in our insurance fund. Well, yeah. They would subregate. They would get reimbursed for what they paid if our insurance pays it then and it would go back into if we're selfinsured on that. would happen. Okay, good enough. Good old Brian. Thanks, Corey. David Gray.

Good morning. Good morning. Morning

for the opportunity to come before you. I have a quick annual update. We have a lot going on at the library. Um, you should have a hard copy and uh I've also got my uh contact information included there as well. Um, that first page we like to go over expenditures, uh, what we spend and then what the state averages are. Uh, for salaries and benefits, we're try to be as lean as we possibly can. State average is 61%, we're just under 53%. Uh, we try to put as much money into the collection as we possibly can. State average is 14. Uh, we're just under 18. We're usually around 19. Uh we had some issues with some uh large book vendors going out of business. So we had some issues getting getting some titles this year. Uh supplies usually hover around 2% which is the average. Other services and charges is a big area that can include anything from uh snow removal to landscaping uh to our internet service uh and utilities. Uh we're at about 17%. Uh the state average is 19. Uh we're a little over on capital we're at a little over 11%. 4% is the average. Uh, as you know, we've, well, maybe not, but we came to the council to do an additional appropriation for boilers and a new chiller last year for a 20-year-old building.

And then this year, we'll be doing some uh major work on our parking lot in Greenfield. Okay,

the next slide is just some 2025 stats. I'm happy to say we have over 2100 card holders. We had almost 460,000 visits to one of our locations this year. Uh kind of a fun fact, if everybody returned all the material that we had, uh we would have just over 252,000 items, which we wouldn't have room for. So, we're happy that we usually have between 35 and 40,000 physical items out at any given time. Uh we had over 19,000 people attend one of 874 events that we offered at one of our locations. And a little bit of a breakdown between physical and electronic. Obviously, we've seen the electronic side of things grow, ebooks, e audio books. Uh we still have a very healthy physical circulation. Uh so just over 634,000 items we circulated physical, just under 300,000 items digital. So that's about a 68% physical, 32% electronic. We're seeing electronic grow about 2 to 3% each year.

Uh not included in that over 21,000 card holders is uh the opportunity that we had to work with all four school systems to give digital cards to the kids. So, we've issued over 25,000 digital cards and those kids have checked out over 89,000 items. A little more of a breakdown for our electronic resources, which is our fastest growing area. We circulated just over 17,000 movies, TV shows last year. Kind of surprising maybe. We circulated more uh e audio books than we did ebooks. About 150 uh 2,000 uh audio books and almost 120,000 ebooks. Uh one thing that we al also offer is tutor.com which uh that can go all the way through adult learning as well. Uh also K through 12 those are live tutoring sessions available online. So we had over 660 tutoring sessions last year and the digital cards will work for those so the students can all take advantage of those. Beyond books we offer experience passes. We have free and reduced admissions to parks, cultural sites across the state. Uh we also have a library of things. We offer board games, learning tools, puzzles, Blu-ray players, uh, iPads, projectors, hotspots, uh, and many more things. Uh, for our events and spaces, we had over 6300 people use one of our study rooms. Um, kind of maybe surprising uh, to you, we had over 53,000 computer sessions last year. So, not everyone has access to a computer or the internet. And again, over 19,000 people attended uh, one of our 874 programs. We can personalize service for you as well. Uh you can book a librarian if you're having an issue with uh technology, genealogology, any of our services. So we try to match you up with whoever might be best for that particular area and schedule uh one-on-one time for that. Uh we can also help you find your next uh next great read. So our librarians will help you with that. Uh parents can also let us know the age range, reading level, and interest of their children, and we can

have a stack of books ready for them to go uh when they come to the library. Another service that we offer is interl loan. Sometimes certain titles can be difficult out of print. Uh maybe something that we wouldn't necessarily buy because it wouldn't circade or another public library in the state or across the country and we can get that title for you. Try to bring our service wherever you are. Uh hopefully you've seen our bookmobile around the county. Uh we made 466 stops last year. Um saw almost 18,000 people. We visit Wilkinson, Shirley, local healthcare community, schools, many more. We also try to do uh the different community nights, parades, things like that. Um hopefully you've seen the bookmobile there as well. We also offer delivery service. So we delivered to 153 homebound patrons last year. And we also created almost 200 special collections for teachers as well.

[clears throat] One of our bigger projects last year was we had uh remote lockers installed at Eastern Hancock schools and they were absolutely wonderful to work with. Uh kind of difficult to put a physical location on the eastern side of the county of where you would put it. Uh the school is the a lot of the hub. We get a lot of traffic there. So, we were able to install these lockers. Uh they're the same lockers at Amazon. U the same lockers you see at Home Depot. They're just branded. Um and the [clears throat] software is set up for our library system. So you can actually request any physical item that we have and we can have it there for you in two to three days and you can also return it right back to the same place. Oh, good.

Summer reading is our busiest time of the year. We try to help the schools with the summer slide. So we had almost 4,200 participants read almost 8 and a half million minutes. Uh we had 8,900 people attend one of our 237 programs that we offered over the summer. Uh, another great partnership we have is the Imagination Library with the Community Foundation. Uh, the community foundation is a great partner. They're the funding piece. We're the administrative piece. We handle all the signups, address changes, um, any other changes. There's a breakdown of uh, where those kids are from. We have usually between 2600 and 2,800 kids in the program at any given time. Uh, we're hovering right around 2,700 enrolled. Graduated is what they refer to as it goes from birth to five. Those are kids that went from birth to five. So, we've had over 3,300 kids go through the program. Uh there is a headline up at the top there that's from the daily reporter. Uh the foundation worked with Ball State and the data that we have on those kids. And um their kindergarten readiness scores did show higher than those that were not participating in the program, which we we kind of knew, but it's always nice to see the data back that up as well. Couple big projects. I know you just mentioned it. We did upgrade our website as well. We want to make sure that we're compliant with accessibility, which we are, and we also want to better feature our library services and spaces. We've also refreshed our mobile app. I always like to include a list of our board members. Uh we have seven board members, seven appointing bodies, uh all four school systems, you, the county council, and also the Greenfield City Council. Your appointment to our board is Zach Schroer. He's a vice president with Elements Financial, which used to be Lily Credit Union. He travels a lot for work, so he was not able to be here today, but he has been a tremendous asset to the board. I also like to include my contact information. That's my cell phone as well. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to give me a call. I'm always happy to talk about the library.

I would I got your number. Yeah. Actually, my mother-in-law uses your library quite often. Good. They come out here from Cumberland all the time. And uh I was just in there the other day with a presentation the other day with our perfect the Brownsfield grant. So there's always parking lot's always full. Yeah. Thank you. Thank you, [clears throat]

Ashton Bennett.

[clears throat]

Thank you. All right. Thank you.

Oh, okay. Good.

All right. My name is Ashton Bennett. I am the library director for the Vernon Township Public Library um serving the towns of Fortville and McCordsville. So you also have in front of you a packet of our annual review. Um the first page there you can see a map of our card holders. So those red blotss um are kind of the dense areas of course mainly focusing around Fortville and McCordsville, but I like to use that as an example um to actually see where our card holders are living. Um we have currently seen an increase of about 13.31% from last year. We average about 10 to 20% increases um each year since COVID when we've started tracking these numbers. [snorts] Um you can see that we use our census population from 2020. Of course, that's sitting right around 15, um 615 residents. We do anticipate mo both towns have anticipated that our um current population is reaching 20,000 plus by the time that we see that in 2030. um any dots that you see outside of Vernon Township um are reciprocal borrowers. So, of course, we have that agreement with Hancock County Public Library and Dave. And then we also have an agreement with Pendleton. So, we are in a unique situation. We're in that northern part of the county. One of our lines is close to Madison County. The northern end is Madison and Hamilton, Indianapolis. Um they're on Carol Road and then the southern part touches the rest of the county for Hancock County Public Library cards. Um we also do have uh several non-resident cards. So, since uh we do have lots of patrons who can literally walk to the library from their house, but they're in Hamilton County, um we offer a non-resident cost of $35 for them to buy a card and be able to use it with us. Um you can see we did a special edition um custom library cards in 2024. Um we did a logo card. I'm going to talk a little bit about Evergreen um because that is different than um what Hancock County Public Library uses. Um, but we also have staff student cards as well that are provided to any student, staff or educator at Mount Vernon Community

Schools. And we work with Guis Monastery, so they don't have um an in-house library. We've pro provided those services recently um in the last year picking up that piece. Um so the next page is Evergreen. So being a smaller library, we do pay into the statewide consortium of Evergreen. There are over 135 um public libraries that participate in that program. And it's basically a resource sharing program. [gasps]

So we um can send we send send and share about 16,000 items a year. Um totes are picked up. Basically when you look at our catalog you can select it to see what's exactly at Vernon Township. Um we do have about 45,000 items in our collection but Evergreen allows us to purchase materials that are specific for um our patrons and then if there's any outstanding items or something really unique, we can transit that from another library. So we share those resources. Um there are some things also that our budget doesn't currently allow us to provide. So board games, video games, um books on CD are slowly publishers aren't um doing as much anymore. So we can get those from other libraries. Patrons pick them up and check them out just like there are material. Um you can see our resources for educators page. So as Dave mentioned, we also do um custom collections for teachers. So they can submit a form if there's a certain topic that their students are doing in class. Um we can bring those items, drop them off. Um, we also go and schedule visits to teach educators how to actually use their library card too, so they can use it in their classrooms. Um, our 2025 statistics. Um, so as you guys know, we have about a 7,900 foot building. Um, on the smaller side, of course, space is one of our biggest issues. Um, but we did see almost 40,000 visitors last year. So, we are continuing to see an increase of people coming in um, not only to check out books, but also to use our space in the best ways that they can. Same with reference. We had a huge increase. We do track um how many questions our team gets at the desk whether that's a phone call about helping them look up something um any sort of resource connections in the community is all tracked in addition to books and checking out material. So um we are pushing almost 20 thou 25,000 questions um and events and programs. So our list we hosted 369 programs last year. Not all of those of course were in the library. We use a lot of the spaces in our community, including the parks, McCordsville Town Hall, um the Vernon

Township Trustees Office, um to host those. We saw um over 700 or 5,73 program attendees. And as Dave mentioned too, summer reading is always our biggest big busiest time. Um so we had 601 um completions last year. Completions mean that they visited the library six of the eight weeks of summer reading. And then we also partner um for 1,000 books before kindergarten. Our program includes community partnerships. So at 500 books they get a Libbyy's ice cream gift card so they can use that within the community and then ultimately reach their goal and get to choose a book. We've partnered with Logan Holmes for them to provide that free book to start their at home library collection. There's a bunch of photos there too. You can see how we utilize. We can see our storytime setup um in last year's summer reading program. We did do a color run at McCordsville Town Hall Park um that we were really really excited about. Um your next page is kind of um my mind um in map form. So you can see um the orange dots are everything that we're currently doing. Um and there's a section that shows you exactly where we do go. So currently we visit uh 14 daycarees and preschools in um Vernon Township and we see over 27 classes of toddlers, preschoolers, babies and that our staff members present those story times too. So we're going on site. Um we also have after school programs at all Mount Vernon schools including the high school and we've started that at Gist Monastertory as well. We do provide delivery outreach to senior living facilities and we're partnering with several HOAs um to have library day and to get the new residents signed up in the community. Um and then our future focuses um I'm going to highlight here our Mccordsville location, but that is our biggest feature coming this year. Um we're also working on a revised strategic plan and creating unique collections. So that will also be part of our McCordsville layout. Um of course we're always focused on literacy development, exploration, um lifelong learning

initiatives. We've seen a lot of people in our community um seeing the need to switch jobs lately. Um last year we focused on partnering with IvyTech and bringing in some secondary resources to help them talk about a transition and how that would even work um as some of our community has lost their positions. We're also focused on community partnership initiatives and our story walk at McCord Square. So we were granted um the community foundation grant last year to install that storywalk in partnership with Mccorsville Park. So we're really excited about that. Um okay, on to our Mccorsville location. So, we have partnered with Ninstar Connect. You see a photo of their brand new building in McCord Square. We have a three leased a 3,000 foot space on the second floor. Um, it follows along the back end of 600 and then faces the south which will actually overlook our story walk that connects us and the new police department. Um, both locations will complement each other. So, I mentioned that we have 7,900T building in Fortville and we will have the 3,000 foot space in McCordsville. The idea is that we will be able to provide all of those um resources that we're currently missing due to space constraints in McCord Square location. So, our main collection will stay in Fortville. All of our new items, bestseller collections, study rooms, meeting room, and a children's area will all be part of the McCordsville build that's currently happening now. Um and then we also have are able to make use of Nine Stars um presentation space. So they have grand stairs, they have conference room that'll also help aid in the in the location.

Very nice. It is very nice. Very nice. We are very excited.

Um and on that next page you can see we have frames going up currently. Um we're really excited about the the pace that it's moving along with. Um we are hopeful to reach a time period where we can actually start moving in in midmay and then ideally we'd be opening at some point early summer. My contact information is also listed on the back. I do have um our board members listed. Katherine Witzmann is with me, which is one of your guys's appointments. Um she has served as our treasurer for um three consecutive years, I believe. Um she's also a wonderful asset. Becky Hyde is our secretary who was also your guys' appointments. And then you can see our other three appointments for Mount Vernon schools. And then two appointments from the county council.

Do you have any questions I can answer or that Katherine can [clears throat] answer? Well, the um expansion into the McCordsville branch. Is that going to eliminate some of your space problems? You

not really. We're just getting new space problems, unfortunately. [laughter] Um but it it will allow us to expand in the ways that we've previously um been been super constrained to. So um we, as you've probably heard me talk about, we have severe issues with fire code um because our building occupancy is only about 47. That includes staff. Um so we'll be able to take story times over to McCord Square where it's much higher. um we'll still provide both in locations, but we can help break up um the amount of attendees that we have sometimes. Um but we anticipate that those issues are still going to remain, especially because these are the things we've always wanted to have. This is what the community is asking for. And so we don't really see the change in Fortville lowering, but just adding a second problem maybe now in McCordsville as we continue to look to the future and hopefully be able to provide more space ultimately down the road as as things change with Sville One.

Thank you, Ash. Thank you very much. We'd like to welcome um Eastern Hancock students to um our meeting today. They're here to learn about the executive branch of county government and uh we'll have questions from them maybe afterwards. So, welcome. Welcome. No sleeping out there. [laughter] Sheriff [sighs]

Good morning. Good morning. Morning. So, I'm here to talk about about surplusing some tables. Um, I talked with Corey

and Corey had some interest in um removing or getting rid of the old picnic style tables in the jail, the old jail, the big heavy metal steel ones. Um, removing those. Um, and so I had a conversation with him about that and I went to um the fairgrounds to see if they may have interest in those um to get rid of some of the old wooden torn up ones and that way they would be more stable and they can move them around. So um the request is is and I've talked with fairgrounds. They were great. They they would want you could get them as just to surplus those. I think there's going to be maybe I think there's 18 in there. I can't remember if there's three in two blocks, but I know most of them are in there's two in most of them, but 18 total. The only thing is being able to get them out. Um, we don't know about that yet. Um, I think the I think they the building was built around them.

Might have been very well possible. So, uh, we've looked at they don't they don't come apart. They do not. We don't think so. You know, that's some investigation we're going have to try to do is to see if it can even work. We may have they may have to be cut out in some fashion. So, we'll we'll we'll see how that goes. But, uh, you know, the request here, you know, currently is just to see if we can surplus those, get them out if we can, and then go from there. If not, then we'll re revisit it. I suppose I I've got absolutely no problem. Make a motion.

Yes. I move that we [clears throat] allow sheriff to uh surplus the up to 18 tables in the uh old jail and uh with the donation to the Hancock County E Association and the uh Hancock County Fair Board. I second that. Uh there's a motion and a second on the floor to allow Sheriff Burkhart to surplus 18 tables from the old community corrections uh the old jail should I say. And is there any other discussion? Okay. All the all in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion passes.

All right. Appreciate it. Thank you. One real quick thing if I could. Um I didn't get it on the agenda, but a couple meetings ago I wasn't here. Um I had a federal equable share document that was signed. I made an error. Uh oh. Uh oh. It doesn't happen very often. It happens [laughter] once in a lifetime for you, Sheriff. We We One time this year. Yes. We got some money right at the end of December. Um, I didn't realize it. It needed to be included on this particular report. So, I just need a signature. Do it if I could. Okay. Down here.

Anywhere? Yeah. Just right here. There you go. Submitted electronically. So, it's just There you go. Thank you. Thank you, Sheriff

Kil. [clears throat] [snorts] Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. All right. Thanks, Hi, I'm Kim Hall. I'm the director of Mental Health Partners. Um, every year since 1998, we've had our annual fundraiser as the Pensy Trail Art Fair and Music Festival. We have this along um American Legion Plaza, South Street on the plaza, and I'm asking permission to use the um courthouse lawn and the annex parking lot for the festival this year. Um we're going to have to move some things around and possibly use the parking lot over here to set up some vendors due to Smashburger needs some space for their clients and so forth. Um, we've had the festival since 1998 and uh, it's our main fundraiser for our nonprofit organization.

That's a Saturday, isn't it? It's a Saturday. Yeah. Okay. I make a motion that we allow um mental health partners of Hancock County use our courthouse lawn as well as our annex parking on Saturday, July 25th, 2026 from prior to 10:00 a.m. to tear down after 5:00 p.m. Yeah, we set up at um 6:00 a.m. and usually are out of here by 700 p.m.

I'll second that. There's a motion and second on the floor to allow mental health partners of Hancock County to hold their Pency Art Trail or Princy Trail and Art Fair and Music Festival on July 25th and use our parking spaces at the annex and use the courthouse lawn. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I post same sign. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you, Kim. I hope you have a good one. [sighs] Me too. I don't see Kayla. [gasps]

Uh, okay. Um, do you sheriff? Is Mary is Mary here? I don't know. On vacation. Yeah, she is on vacation, is she? I remember that. Supposed to be here, but I haven't heard from her. Then we'll we'll see about my Lana Benghazi. Good morning. Good morning.

Do you guys have packets that I sent you? Lana Berghazi. I'm the owner of BCS management. Here to talk about one of everybody's favorite subjects, which is uh failing septic systems and sanitary sewer. Um it should be your favorite topic. is very important for environmental safety and and for neighborhoods. And as many of you know, there's a lot of failing septics throughout Hancock County. Um, and I've been having this discussion with a couple of different commissioners and with Gary P, your county engineer with Ninstar. Um, we managed the Ninstar 200 West project and that went fairly well. Um, and we've been looking for a solution for the many, many projects that you have that need to happen throughout the county that um that don't make a a continual financial drain on the county, which I'm sure you're very interested in. So, after having different discussions and speaking with New PAL, uh, I know Ryan Hartley's here in the crowd because he has a county role, um, but is also on New Pal Town Council, um, I put together a list of projects that I think are the top three priorities. So, the first three projects that I see, even though I think there's probably 10 or 20 at least that we could list uh in the county are um Newal New Palestine septic elimination. So, there's approximately um 500 homes outside of the corporate limits of New Pal, but very close to New Pal that are existing uh residential neighborhoods that are all on san or on septic systems um and do not have sanitary sewer and do not have a solution for sanitary sewer. Um, additionally, there's a couple of lots there that I know there's interest in developing, but there's a limitation to doing that. Um, because you can no longer permit uh small residential neighborhood lot sizes for a septic, and you probably shouldn't either because they don't effectively work on smaller lot sizes. They're intended to work on large parcels and and and country type

uh settings. So, I know that New Pal is very very interested in finding a solution um to and and a path forward for that project, but also noting that these homes are outside of New Pal city limits. Uh these are county residents and so um I have put our planning fee my my company uh we're not engineers uh we do manage and administrate regional sewer districts um small and mediumsiz utilities and then the big thing that we do is actually find the execution path. So determining how different projects can be financed, who's going to operate them, what the legal agreements need to be put in place. We're also not attorneys. We use your attorneys to come up with the terms that will that will work to make these projects happen. Um, you have a proposal in front of you, a statement of work for us that's similar to one that we presented to Newal. Um, I think Newal would need to pay for the engineering if we do this. Engineering is not included. Um, but a big part of this particular statement of work is community outreach. So, we would be doing uh the public meetings. The public needs to be engaged when you're talking about septic elimination with homes of this quantity. Um, obviously, we can't just start designing sewer systems, hire an engineer, design sewer systems, and just start running lines. There has to be community engagement. There has to be prioritization on which communities to do when. Um, and and residents need to understand what the process is of connecting, the benefits of connecting. Um and and a big part of our scope would also be to determine once you have the sanitary sewer in the ground, whose customers are those going to be? Are they going to become the the town of Newal's customers? Are they going to be New Pal Regional Sewer District customers? Do we involve the Hancock County Regional Sewer District, which does exist in some way legally um to to move that project forward? So, I picked that one because if if you work in septic elimination projects, one of the

biggest challenges is usually density, quantity, and distance from an existing treatment provider. This particular area has none of those concerns. It just needs a path forward. And I don't think uh that there's any challenges other than coming up with financing to pay for the resources needed to move that forward. Um so, that's the first of three projects that I've identified on this list. You guys have any question? Feel free to just ask questions. I gave you a big Now the way I look at this th this uh study here would be what? 80 grand. Is that what it is? That is the uh Charlottesville. Oh, wrong one then. That's I gave you a whole stack.

Yep. So the the new PAL is uh all in 150,000 um for and you receive a final report. That's a phased approach. Uh and again it does not include engineering. It includes everything but engineering. So you'd have to hire an engineer or New Palestine would have to hire an engineer separately to design the projects that we determine would be of priority and then we might determine who actually is hiring that engineer from a business perspective. Right. Now what type of community outreach would you have for the individuals that live in these targeted areas?

So typically we do a series of mailings that are followed by a series of community informational meetings. So we would go uh use a church or an elementary school as a facility that's nearby so they don't have to travel far and then we would present the ideas the wise the the benefits of sanitary sewer kind of what the preliminary plan is and then we typically offer a petition where people can sign and say I'm interested in getting further information or I'm not interested or I'm interested but my concern is the cost and we gather that information and that is a big part of the prioritization process. uh ahead long ahead of engineering because people need to be involved in in the process. So, it's typically in-person informational meetings.

So, how well does that work? How well does it work? How how well is it received?

Well, it depends on it depends on the area. Um and it depends on the feasibility of it. Um and it depends on on the people. So, it's typically a mixed bag and there's typically like most these types of projects do typically have a a vocal minority that are not in favor because there isn't a cost associated with it. Um, I know that Ninstar has gotten creative. Ninstar Connect in their sewer projects and offering all kinds of incentives um for connection or even paying for the connections in full or offering some sort of reimbursement for people who do. Um and and the other project we're talking about, we're also finding ways to actually include the lateral connections in um in the uh the project cost. The biggest concern that folks have is there is a cost to connect and there's a sewer bill if you connect to sewer and people don't have that bill right now. Um, but it is a proven proven scientifically proven that sanitary sewer is environmentally uh responsible and better for the envir uh better for communities. When you have that many homes close together on septics, there absolutely is E.coli and environmental issues going on in the community. Uh it's just the the cost that it's of of concern.

Okay. And then um you help families. I mean, when I look at Charlottesville, I I know that there are several people that probably wouldn't want to hook up primarily because of the cost.

That's correct. Um, so another one of the I I put these separately. This is all kind of a comprehensive program, but I put the three projects in three separate task orders just because they are approached differently and they'll probably be on different timelines and they'll probably be funded in different ways. Charlottesville was put on here. Well, Commissioner Gray, it's a priority to you, but I also know that that Ninstar has done some looking at it, and I know you guys have paid for some um some infrastructure studies that weren't promising. The total cost of those projects would be cost prohibitive if just done in the traditional way of let's engineer it, let's bond for it, let's finance it. Those those bills would be unaffordable for those folks. So, the the strategy there is to use those that foundational engineering information that's been made available. it's not a waste. It just proved that going traditional with this is not going to be cost effective for that community. And finding a creative way to do this, whether it's tying on to uh a nearby economic development project that may actually not even be in Hancock County, um but heading towards Nightstown. They're actually closer to Nightstown than they are to Greenfield. um and just finding a creative way to do this, whether that's through a public private partnership or uh some goodwill uh economic development dollars from one of those economic development projects. But it it does require which is what we do a much more creative approach to making it happen because just saying the engineering costs that and the construction costs that and here's your bond, people would have um unaffordable bills and that's not what we're in the business of doing. And the last thing we want to do is shove it down their throats to make them spend money. I mean, I value the importance of this and I'm always concerned about Charlottesville, but um you know, we want to be fair with the residents there, too.

Absolutely. And that uh Charlottesville, the situation there is is not uncommon, an unincorporated village with uh a few homes. But to say that those homes are on septic systems would probably be giving them a little too much credit. A lot of those are not even probably considered septic systems. When I spoke with the health department about it, I think you're aware. Um it's it's pretty bad and and it's it's not good for children and pets and a solution needs to be found and it's just going to require some creativity and those that don't have the septic. Where's that where's that waste going?

It's going right into the waste from a lot of those homes is directly discharging into the ditches and streams. Um there is severe levels of ecoli, dangerous levels of ecoli in the waterways around Charlottesville because of that. Ditch the grab behind in front of that old school. Yeah. Yeah. I know that uh there was discussions probably a year and a half ago um with George Langston. He was he brought it about about a year and a half ago. He brought it up. But we met with Ninstar about a year and a half ago.

Exactly. and Ninstar had some I would rather genius and creative ways along with Lana's company that helped finance ease the burden on the residents cost when it when so maybe that you know there's community meetings and those things can be explained it might be better received

thank you yes sir uh so our statement of work is to dive in and spend the time and meet with the folks and meet with uh the economic development groups and um collaborate with Ninstar to find a way that Charlottesville can be served economically and it's going to take just a creative strategic way of doing it. And you couldn't find a better partner than Ninstar at that because they really they're great community partners. Um they're in business to provide affordable service to folks in in the county. So, um, working together, um, I think we can come up with something, but that that task order is to take the lead on that effort. And then the the third one is the Maxwell uh, regional wastewater treatment plant and um, septic elimination program. Another area where there's uh, known failing septics. Uh, and actually the uh, the the school there, they've done well testing and they found E.coli E coli in the wells from these nearby failing septics that are in the the the school well. It's not all the time, but it has happened. Um, sorry to bring that up in a public meeting, but it is public knowledge. Um, and so sanitary sewer is is needed there desperately. And Ninstar, as you guys know, you've working with Ninstar to do a peer. Uh, Wesler is doing that per it is done or almost done. it it they're working towards I got a call the other day and they said that that's

pretty well determined at this at this point in time.

Right. So, um, what I discussed with Ninstar is that, uh, because the per is with the Hancock County Regional Sewer District and because the Hancock County Regional Sewer District does not actually own any infrastructure, operate or have any staff, um, that that we would be the liaison or the owner's rep between the business uh, side to basically orchestrate the business side of how the bond and the closing and the public relations will go through a Hancock County Regional Sewer District. um and set up an operational um basically how Ninstar is going to operate it legally until it's transferred over to them uh for ownership purposes in the future. So there's just a lot of to the business side of it and a lot of that would be similar to what we did on the 200 West project which is just coordinate um a lot of the project meetings. We'd leave uh Wesler to do the the SRF submission and manage all of that. Um, but we will be doing the public relations, setting up the operational structure, making sure that there's a rate that makes sense after the the bond numbers come back and that Ninstar can be compensated in some way fairly for putting their their staff on the management and operations of that project.

Okay.

So, finally, I've got three task orders at you and you're thinking, okay, this is all kinds of dollar signs. Um the approach here is to uh have the county establish a a fund that it can essentially be a revolving pot, a revolving fund um that the county can be reimbursed at the time the project's bonds close because our fees like engineering fees are um eligible non- construction costs in SRF and and definitely in um if you do private financing, public private financing. ing our fees uh up until that point and the remainder of them that haven't happened before construction starts are a line item in the um in the closing documents of the financing and can be reimbursed back to the county. Um and then you can put that back in the pot to start spearheading another project area. And this is a model that has worked um in other counties. It's growing in popularity. It just it takes a while. Well, it doesn't happen immediately. You have to get the project to a point where it's about to go under construction and your your loans or your bonds are closing and then as that closes, one of your first dispersement uh submitts can be the u the fees that have already been incurred by the county.

So, you're you're already on the schedule for council, aren't you? I think so. On the 8th. Yeah. Okay. So, I'd like to know what they think about it because they do hold the purse strings. So, [laughter] uh, uh, and our other commissioner is not here, so we'll wait till he gets back and then we'll make a decision on that as soon as we hear as soon as we hear from council and Bill Spalding. Sounds good. Any other questions? That'd be it. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Kayla Brooks. [sighs and gasps]

Good morning. Good morning. Morning.

Just got one reszone to bring to you this morning. Um this is a rezone of uh in Center Township um from R1 to Commercial Community. Um it is located at 113 West Junction Street. Um I believe my staff report is in your packet. Um if you want to see an aerial image of of where that parcel is. Um it is if you go um north on State Road 9 and then turn uh west on 500 North also known as Junction Street u which by the little red um I think former barber shop. That's the street this building is on. Um, it is 1.53 acres with a gas line running north south along the along the west border. Um, it formerly had a a house that was in pretty bad shape. And so Austin Bowling, the um the owner, uh, has has torn that that building down and is um looking at establishing a a lawn care business on that site at this time, although his plans are fluid. Um so the built the area behind this is the uh Maxwell grain elevator and that is um zone CC. Um so based on that and the comprehensive plan which shows a mix of uh commercial and residential coming together in this area uh the zoning of CC seemed appropriate to extend to this property um which is between that grain elevator and uh Junction Street or 500 North and also across the road from uh Maxwell Intermediate School. Um the at the plan commission um there was a vote of seven eyes's uh one nay and one abstension in favor um so overall a favorable recommendation to the board of commissioners

and he has made a lot of improvements. Yes. Okay.

Okay. Number on that. I make a motion that we approve ordinance number 2026-3C, which [clears throat] is a Hancock County zoning ordinance number 2007-1B amending [clears throat] uh the zoning map reference from uh from residential R1 to commercial community.

I'll second that. Uh, we have a motion and second on the floor to approve ordinance number 2026-3C. It's mending Hancock County zoning ordinance number 20007-1B uh from uh residential to community commercial community. All those in favor? I opposed. Same sign. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you, [cough and clears throat] Kayla. Uhhuh. The one I just handed you.

Oh, the one that you just handed us the new version. Okay. This one here. Yeah. Okay. The one I gave Gary. Okay. Right here. Okay. All right. This one we're signing. All right. [sighs and gasps]

All right. Morgan Walker. Good morning, Morgan. How are you? Good. Great. And you? Good. Good.

Okay. So, um you should have in front of you um a paper with some different bullet points. One of the reasons that I'm here today is um I'm asking for a request for it says additional case manager, but really what I'm asking for is um back in 2023 and then again in the 2024 budget hearings, we were um two positions were taken away during those times. That was prior to me being here. Um, [clears throat] one of those positions I asked for that back um, last year and I was able to get that position back. Um, but we're to the point now where I I would like to ask for the other one back to get us back where we were before. So, a couple things that I've listed out. Um, looking back at 2021, our average case load in total um, was 96 clients per month and that was with 11 staff members. Right now we have 127 clients. Um, and then we have nine staff members right now. Our 10th is starting on the 30th. So 10 is what we are at, 11 is what we were at before. That's what I'm asking for is to get that 11th back. Um, with with our workload and what it looks like now, I just kind of wanted to talk about that a little bit. So, our case managers are doing a lot more than what we ever were before. So, all of our case managers are doing full risk assessments on every client that enters community corrections. That was not done in the past. Um we are also doing case management on any high and moderate risk client. Um that's an expectation that our department has that was not being

done before. So those things they take more time. Um and then also we've we've added a lot of programming that we didn't have before. I've listed that programming at the bottom, but we have MRT, anger management, substance abuse MRT. Um, and then our domestic violence program. Um, I'm proud to say that we are certified through the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence as a certified BIP location. We're the only, uh, BIP location that's certified in Hancock County now. So, we used to any any person that was um, sentenced in court in order to complete a batter's intervention program, we were having to send to another county to complete that program. Now we have that in our department. So um all of our programs are opened up to all of the other court programs. So probation, drug court, behavioral health court. Um and then I talked to um magistrate as well to open it up to some of the parents with DCS Chin's cases. So with that, it's great collaboration, but it also adds more for the case manager that's facilitating the program. So, just as our program has grown, as we have more work, and as our case load has [clears throat] grown, I'm just requesting that we um be allowed to get that position back. It would be fully funded by our grant and project income. So, the only cost associated would be the cost of the benefit package.

And you're just want looking for a recommendation to council? Yes. Well, I would make a motion that we send [clears throat and cough] uh community corrections additional case manager request uh forward that on to county council with a favorable recommendation. Thank you.

I'll I'll second that. Uh got a motion and second on the floor to recommend to a favorable recommendation to council to fund and more or less bring back a a a body or person that used to be there that is not there now. So the case load is intensified. So uh is there any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I I n same side. Uh and uh motion passes. And you got a travel also.

Yeah, this is um I I submitted one of these a while back for myself and I have another staff member um who was selected for the same training. So I'm just requesting um that she be able to to do that out of state travel. It's all being paid for out of our project income and grant funds. So it's broken down. We use the exact same um the exact same numbers that we used for mine because it is the same training. So, I make a motion that we approve permission to travel out of state and uh the estimated travel expenses of $4,110 for Haley Matthews preapproved by Morgan Walker.

I'll second that. We have a motion on the floor to approve out ofstate travel to Haley Matthews. is for TBRI practitioner training and trustbased relationship intervision is what that stands for. Uh with cost [clears throat] to be at 40 $4,110. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppos. Same sign. Motion carries. Thank you. I don't think we had that in here. Do we? I've got it here. I've got one here. Oh, here it is. I've got it right here. It's in here. Hold that thought. Okay. Thank you.

I stood in the wrong spot, didn't I? Did you? No, you didn't. By your name. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. She also has a grant letter in your red folder if you want to have any questions. [snorts] It's just it's our um our DOC grant that we do every year. Um and also probation's DOC grant. They're they're both requested on that form. It's on one of the action items. And I just thought while she was here, what

like everybody's traveling somewhere but us. Well, we are too. [laughter] Yeah, but we're just going to West Lafayette. You're probably going somewhere warm, aren't you? Texas. I'm I'm not going anywhere, but they are. The reinvestment grant. Yes.

Okay. Okay. Let's see here. I make a motion that we approve the community corrections jail treatment services and just justice reimburse reinvestment grant uh and that we fully support uh the community corrections and the Hancock County Probation Department in their applications for grant grant funding from the state of Indiana for the 200 2027 year. [cough and clears throat]

Uh, I'll second that. Uh, have a motion and a second on the floor to approve the community corrections to reapply for their, uh, community corrections jail treatment services and justice reinvestment grants. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same. Sign. Motion carries. Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. Have a good day. Thank you, Mark.

Okay. [sighs] Save Hancock County LLC. Good morning. Good morning.

My name is Paul Overhouser. I'm here to ask uh you to direct the plan commission to study updates to the zoning ordinance to address creating standards for data centers and recommend changes to this uh committee within a year. Developing these standards for data centers would be good for citizens. They would be rules to ensure that any data centers that are built in the county will be safe and good for the county. Standards would be good for the developers. They would know the standards they would be expected to meet before they come in and make a proposal. It would be good for the commissioners. It would help avoid lawsuits against the county. Right now, there are five pending lawsuits in Indiana over approval or disapproval of data centers. Some filed by citizens, some filed by developers. Those lawsuits are pending in the counties of Hendricks, Henry, Lake, Marian, and St. Joseph. If we have clear standards for data centers, suits can be avoided. Now, six other counties in Indiana have shown their leadership in addressing this data center issue and and they are studying updating their zoning ordinances. Those counties are Fulton, White, Miami, Lake, Marshall, and Putnham. Those same counties have also declared a pause on data centers until their work in evaluating changes to the zoning ordinance there is done. So, I prepared in the form of a resolution that I'd ask you to pass today at this meeting if possible. And I provided this handout to you, which I don't know if it's been distributed to you. It has three documents in it. Uh the first one is the proposed

resolution and all it does is it would direct the plan commission to study this issue and make recommendations. So, the resolution asks that uh the zone commission establish a subcommittee that holds public hearings and recommends amendments to the Hancock County zoning ordinance that addresses data centers. And then I have a number of specific things that should probably be considered by the zoning commission if they do that. And the second thing it directs the zoning commission to do is to promptly recommend to the commissioners here whether the commissioners should implement that temporary pause on data centers until the earlier of whenever the commission completes their study or one year after it begins. the type of things that we've uh the second document in the in the package is a just an example of what was passed by White County. They declared a uh a moratorum and directed their zoning committee to uh consider studies. And then the third document is just another representative one. This one happens to be from Miami County. It is their draft proposed amendment to their zoning ordinance. And the type of things that they might want to consider for the data centers are as follows. What road access an agreement by the developer to repair any roads damaged during construction of the data center. Routes for emergency response. Perhaps a setback for the data center. It may be a setback requiring it that it be located at a certain distance from schools or residences. Uh making sure that large equipment like generators are screened from public view. Making sure that any backup generators

are permitted from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Requiring that the danger centers only used closed loop water or air only cooling systems. That utility lines be underground. that there be security fencing. That the data center provide fire protection training to the local fire departments that would be called upon for response if there was any fire incident at the data center. Making sure there's not interference with airport flight operations and the physical features of the proposed data centers. A description of whatever tax abatements or incentives they may be requesting and a decommissioning plan. You know what happens if somebody starts to build a data center and they get, you know, 5% of the way done and then this data center boom we seem to be in right now fizzles kind of like the way warehouses did here in Anat County. These data centers place a big b uh financial burden on local communities. They affect our sales tax, income tax, real property tax, personal property tax. As you know, the state has passed legislation this uh most recent session uh providing abatements. So, counties are not getting all the money from uh data centers that they would if they were just regular businesses. So these are the issues that data centers create and all that I'm asking this commission to do is to ask the zone commission to study it further including recommendation of whether uh a pause should be put on data centers pending their review. Be happy to entertain any questions if you have any. If not I think there are some others that would like to talk. H well, we will take a look at this [clears throat] and we we've been we've actually been

looking at it, but we'll continue to look at it and see where we can go with this. Thank you. Thank you. Um Scott, have do you have a copy of this? I I don't think so. I just gave them a copy. Oh, you just got a copy. You just got a copy. Okay.

I just had a few things to add to that if I could regarding zoning. Um, so obviously the decision whether or not to allow a data center into Hancock County should be in the hands of elected officials. So, a quick example of how new zoning helped this was recently back in November, um you guys made a zoning amendment so that power generators couldn't be built on agricultural land with um or that they could wait, [laughter] let me screw this up. That at that time they could be built on agricultural land with a special exception. And you guys said, "No, no, no, no, no. You can't do that." And that made sense. Supply plan commission said that these facilities are much larger and more intrusive than when that zoning ordinance was drafted. And the commissioners at that that time stated there's a lot more at stake with these types of power projects like the recent solar farm and we should have the final say. So it's not out of the ordinary to make an amendment like this. All right, we have all that and I'm saying that the same logic should apply to the data center facilities that require these power projects because again there's a lot more at stake with them. As it stands now, the potential power sources of a data center, whether it's wind or solar or power generators, those things require uh special exceptions in industrial zoning and thus undergo more scrutiny than a data center does, which in industrial is considered a permitted use. And as you all know, since data centers fit into industrial, they can go anywhere in the county without the commissioner's approval. If they don't need an abatement, they can proceed within that current zoning without any special exceptions. Um, so if I understand that, that means an individual landowner could sell their property for data center development and

the county would have no say. And I'm all for landowners rights, but that type seems pretty extreme. So, we get to the zoning standards and I would argue they do not fully encompass the needs of a data center. So, Mom Comfort has been slated for industry since 2010, if not before, but the surge in AI in hypers scale data centers started about the early 2020s. So, this wasn't even on the radar necessarily. Um, and in Hancock County, data centers are classified as communication service exchange, and they're permitted in all industrial zoning and by special exception in some commercial zoning. A communication service exchange handles things like emails, text, video conferencing. It might track your data usage for billing purposes, make sure you don't lose reception, uh, provides network security. a hypers scale data center which could fit into that zoning um develops algorithms chat bots. It trains and runs interference for artificial intelligence and has massive storage capacities. This is not the same thing. These are not your 1940s data centers. And like the plan commission noted about the power generators, they are much larger and more intrusive. They need distinct zoning considerations for their impact on resources and on the surrounding community. Adding or amending zoning considerations could put it back in the hands of elected officials whether or not a data center comes to Hancock County. Lastly, pausing to review this appropriate zoning for data centers does not mean that we're hanging a not open for business sign on Hancock County. As Mr. overhouser already noted. It really is beneficial to the developers and the commissioners so that there aren't any curve balls along the way. I [snorts]

wanted to point you to sources um from the data center industry like data center knowledge or the commercial real estate real estate site lightbox and um they say that proper zoning benefits all parties involved and um otherwise can be delayed by uncertainty or mclassification. I share that again simply because it's coming from the data centers themselves. It's not just people who want pauses, it's them too. Um, and I was struck by this. Um, in an interview with Jonathan Lawler, Don Lamb, the director of the Indiana Department of Agriculture, said that when it comes to successful data center development, it should look like the developers and local officials are working together and the local officials need to be able to set the rules and decide what is best for their local community. Thus, I argue that reconsidering our zoning parameters for data centers should begin immediately.

Thank you, Leah. Thank you. [clears throat] Good morning, commissioners. Good morning. I just want to kind of round this out for you. Um,

and I just want to be clear. We're talking about the AI hypers scale data centers, the massive ones that we've seen going up. And I want to be clear about what we are asking for from the start. And we're not asking to ban data centers. We're not anti- business. Um, what we're asking for is just some time to get this right. When we're looking across Indiana, we're seeing the warning signs already. Uh in New Carile, Amazon had construction halted mid- project because of unauthorized wetland destruction. IDM and the Army Corps of Engineers had to step in. Uh in Fort Wayne, Google submitted a permit request to operate 179 diesel generators and over a 100 residents showed up furious and many of them said that they would have never supported the project had they known the full picture. In Indianapolis, neutrality was caught by IDM operating generators without an air permit at all. And just this weekend, hundreds of people gathered at Eagle Creek uh to march and protest the LEAP water transfer agreement. So, these are actually happening in our state now. Uh in the common thread in every single one of these cases is that the community felt blindsided and so did the local government. So, we don't want to be the next headline. Uh, more importantly, we don't want a business coming in here believing they've done everything right only to find themselves in a public hearing facing angry residents because we never gave them clear set of expectations to begin with because that's not fair to them and it's certainly not fair to the residents. Um, so what we're asking for is just one year. Um, it's one year to sit down with experts, work with our county professionals, and understand what we actually have to offer and what we need in return. uh because data centers extract significant resources from a community. They consume enormous amounts of water and electricity and we need to understand whether our infrastructure can sustain that and if we can't what is that going to cost residents. Uh we also need to talk honestly about the

finances. The state's already extended tax breaks to data centers for up to 50 years and that's in that includes sales tax exemptions on equipment that typically gets replaced every 3 to five years. So, that's real reoccurring revenue that won't be coming to us. Um, we need to understand how we keep our county funded when that revenue isn't here. And before, uh, we welcome a facility of that scale, uh, we need to honestly ask, can our emergency services handle it? Can our roads absorb it? Can our drainage sustain it? Because once it's here, there are problems to solve. So, thinking about the bigger economic picture, data centers are high resource, lowemployment facilities. They create very few permanent jobs once their construction is complete. And then we have to ask if potential investor is looking at this community and sees infrastructure already strained by one large tenant, will they see opportunity here or will they go somewhere else? So we don't want to limit ourselves today by these dec not not going forward with a pause. Um so today we're not asking you to vote on that pause. We're not asking you to approve a pause. We're just asking something much simpler, and that's for you to consider the process to start a one-year pause on new data center projects. That's it. So, starting this process is not a rejection of data centers. It's just responsible planning. It ensures we have a clear, consistent playbook, one that businesses can rely on, one that residents can trust, and one that protects the county that we all share. So, we're not asking for a ban. We're asking for a plan and we're asking you to take that first step by directing the planning commission to begin this process so we have the time and information we need to get this right.

That's all I have. Thank you. Thank you guys. [clears throat] I do agree uh with these folks. We do we probably should have our planning commission uh form a a committee and begin to look at this stuff a little closer. Okay. Uh Scott, if you will review that. Uh

well, I think there's some legal implications for rights of various companies to come in already obviously owned industrial things. But I think consensus is this board that These projects have to be really scrutinized carefully. A public statement certainly made in that way. I consider a proclamation sort but the legality of it is there are certain things but certainly they have also you know approval for various things too. So there is some local control already seen with people that have tried to come in.

Should we consider doing what we've done if we can uh what we've done with solar and air? I mean because we made that that where it has to come before the commissioners. So and we did that.

I would certainly be in favor of that. I just feel like um as the board of commissioners and the executive branch of of our government that honestly I don't want to make decisions or have things happen within our county that we don't have the ability to voice ourselves. I think your suggestion that you have committee formed good one and have that committee study the issue might proceed on what you've said as a matter of philosophy and how you want I think that's a very good [clears throat] okay

so we'll reach out to Kayla and also the president of the planning commission and we'll address forming that committee committee probably in the April uh March uh planning commission meeting maybe have they they're yeah because we can't get on the agenda at this point because it's what tomorrow night is there meeting tomorrow night nope week after week after uh 24th I will uh reach out to Mike and Kayla are you going to do that or you want me

I'll do it I'll do So, if nothing else, [snorts] I'll call it a day on on the road. So, all right. Uh, thanks for all the information. Yes. Claims and payroll, I guess. So, um, make a motion to approve claims and payroll. Second. Motion to approve claims and payroll in a second. Is that on the floor? Any further discussion? All in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Auditor business. Have an answer, sir.

Well, it's our day. Okay. Prosecutors, we didn't get any bids, did we? Received an email late. It It was Saturday, yesterday. I mean, then she printed it off. It did not come in time, but it is the only one that we received and we got it via email. Okay. Can we hold this to next meeting? Yep. I think we should. I think so. Cuz I saw that. I just I now I haven't heard from the prosecutor's office. Have you heard from Shelley or So, I don't know if they received anything over there and we just don't have it. But

Well, it shouldn't it shouldn't have gone to them. So, if it did, we'll go ahead and hold that over, Gary. Yep. Hold it over. We have a board appointment. Uh, let's see here. There you go. Do we have any dates? There it is. Uh, I make a motion that we um reappoint Libby Wyatt to a 4-year term ending 12312029 to the Hancock County Solid Waste Board.

Second. There's a motion on the floor and a second to reappoint Libby Wyatt to a 4-year term ending 12312029 to the Hancock County Solid Waste Board. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Same sign. Motion carries. Best way contract. And we just saw that that was handled by Sarah. Yes, it is right here.

And there seems to be a little bit of a difference if we just tell them to take their bin with them when they quit recycling. That's not it. Are we doing a lot of recycling? They they took it away. They did because there wasn't enough business. So that would be a savings. There should be here. Got it.

Got it. [snorts] We were paying $2,410.76 and we took away they were going to actually replace the recycle bin with just another bin. And I mean if we don't if we're not recycling, we don't need a bin, do we? Well, they were going to uh I think it looks like they were going to replace that with an an additional trash bin. Yeah, but I mean if we're not recycling, I would assume that we could possibly need one,

but I think we want to wait and find out, wouldn't we? Well, simply because of it. I mean, people wasn't putting trash in there. [snorts] Are we sure? I don't think we're sure, but um anyway, I mean, we can always bring this back. Yeah. So, I'd say spare the taxpayers money. Okay.

Okay. I make a motion that we uh renew our uh trash situation uh removing recycling and not replacing with a trash container at this point until further discovery.

Second. There's a motion on the floor to remove the recycle bins at different locations because they quit recycling and not to replace them with a regular trash bin and we will see how that goes in the near future. Any further discuss discussion? All those in favor say I. I motion no same sign. Okay. Uh drug court out of state travel. Okay. [clears throat] Looks like first up we have a permission to travel out of state for sir uh drug court. Those individuals would be Beth Engel, Gary O'Neal, Casey Kums, and Katie Dalton in the amount of $3,440. A second motion on the floor to approve out of state travel and expenses of $3,440 for Beth Angel, Gary O'Neal, Casey Combmes, and Katie Dalton for drug court. All those in favor say I. I. Motion motion passes.

Next up, we have permission and a motion for out of state travel for the 911 center uh for Greg Duda, who also serves as our public information officer, to uh attend a governmental social media conference in May uh with a total price tag of $2,689.

Second. Uh there's motion on the floor to approve out of state travel for Greg Dud. He is going to the conference, the government social media conference, and his cost will be $2,689. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. both same side. [clears throat]

Here you go. There should be one more should see that one in there. Should be we'll use this one. Okay,

let's use that. original. We'll just use that. Yeah, about that. Um, we have permission to travel out of state and estimated travel expenses for Brent Eaton be paid for out of the pre-trial diversion, Al Hackathon for public sector and data and AI summit. Uh, in the amount of well, he didn't total it. Amounts for airline $31.80. Cost of class $199. Uh perdm rates for uh lodging is $1,529 and meals of $260.

Okay. There is a motion on the floor to approve outstate travel for our prosecutor Bren Eaton. Uh all those in favor say I. I. Those opposed, same sign. Okay. Uh Etica. Go. Yeah. Good morning, commissioners. Good morning. Morning. How are you? Good. Just fine. You feeling great. Okay. [gasps]

I think I'm missing something. No, I'm not. It's there. It's there. Had to think about it there. Okay. Uh, did this include the other stuff that we were talking about, wasn't it? Go. Okay. Yes. So, uh [clears throat] this uh is a bid to replace the windows and replace doors if needed or rework doors. Correct. And they have given us a a bid of $1,633,300. So, right

uh this will be coming out of our 2026 grant. Okay. And it's not finalized yet. So, but Okay. We will have this on on hand. All right. How long you going to guarantee this number for? Say that again. How long you going to guarantee the number for? [laughter] Well, we could probably be flexible. Depends on when the grant comes in. So, are you expecting that? It's not a grant. It's a geo bond. Oh, it's a geo bond. Okay. All right. Be later in the year, but it's in process. Yeah, it we we just put up they created a resolution need. That's what it was. So, it it's in the works. Okay. All right. All right. Sounds good. Thank you. Thank you.

Okay. [sighs and gasps] Okay. and put this on the back is that

we don't have Mary here so we can't I mean Mary Zerox so you want Sheriff can sheriff can talk

okay come on up sheriff thank you come on down the kids won't know what that is. No, [laughter] heard the nut. Contested. Yeah. On the price is right. Hello again. Hello. Good morning again.

Again. So, a few weeks ago, prior to um the budget committee meeting, uh we presented u me and myself and Marian presented the uh change order for the BOT um on the GMP guaranteed price, maximum price change order. Um that went before the council last week in a public hearing and the funding was appropriated for that. And so, um, what we're looking at for today is just to go ahead and get an approval to get that new contract signed so we can move forward with the, uh, correctional facility support building.

That will be done by Mary and Garmong. Well, Garmong's the the the BO on it. I mean, they're the ones that's the contractor doing the B. And so, all invoices will come through Mary Zerbach. Yes. through from Mary through me to the auditor. Yes. Yes. Okay.

Well, I make a motion that we approve the addendum to a public private agreement and approval of final project budget for the Hancock County Support Services Building located on Malcolm Grassway. Okay, we have a motion and I second that uh to approve the addendum to public private agreement and approval of final project budget Hancock County Support Services Building on Malcolm Grass Way. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I post same sign. Motion carries. Appreciate it. Thank you much. We'll get hopefully break ground April 1st depending on weather. So yeah, around that time anyway. So thank you much. Thank you sir.

You're welcome. Do we have any input from the public?

Uh good morning. Uh my name is Kathy Cooper. I'm from New Palestine and as a private citizen I just want to voice my support for looking at uh the development of data centers in our county more closely. I commend you for putting together a committee to look at this. Uh I agree wholeheartedly with what the uh three testifiers presented today. Um you know I I wish they the county had kind of taken a pause with some of the warehouse development years ago and the data center development is a much bigger animal than the warehouses that we're dealing with. So I just want to voice my support as a private citizen. Thank you.

Thank you so much. And I agree with you if we were to take a little sbatical on the It always it always helps to look at things more closely and and plan and [clears throat] just don't go rushing into things. Thank you very much. Thank you. How about anybody over there? [laughter] Oh, he's got a question. Well, come on up to the microphone. No. No. Come on. Nothing. So, what'd you think? Boring.

It was boring, wasn't it? [laughter] Look at all those yeses. They're all saying it's boring. The one in the middle in the front was about to fall asleep. [laughter] So, we're going to have to do one of these. Supposed to be on it. Now, see, if you were a Boy Scout, you would have just earned your Boy Scout badge. So, forward.

Uh, I'm Megan Long. I'm a social studies teacher at Eastern Hancock. I just wanted to explain why the kids were here. Um, so every week before spring break, we do passion projects. Um, so basically the teachers get to pick a topic that they want to um, let teach. Um, so mine is local government and um, elected officials. Um, which is you guys. Um, but the kids um, I told them that it might be boring, so they were warned. Um, [laughter] but if you guys could just do me the favor maybe of like telling them like what you are um or what area you represent cuz there's a lot of people up here. There was probably a lot of legal jargon they don't understand um and that kind of stuff. So, if you guys are willing to take a moment um of your time just even after the meeting to just explain kind of what's going on.

Well, I'll tell you what. I I I would take a motion to adjourn the meeting and we can do that. A motion to adjourn the meeting. Thank you. Second. Motion to adjourn the meeting. All in favor say I. I. We're going to do

but on here. I'm going to take back that. Okay. Uh we're we're still in session. Mark, you want to step up? Sure. we are awarding your company to do the master plan out at the uh county farm and that way we can get that going and figure out where to go from here. We appreciate it.

Thank you. Thank you. Well, and I would just like to add, excuse [clears throat] me, that you know, although it was a little more expensive, you put so much more uh information into that and what we will gather that it is probably well worth the extra money spent. So, we will not be so far behind the eightball should this all transpire. Yep. So, thank you. Appreciate it. Thank you. Now, motion to adjurnn again. Second. All in favor? I I oppose. Same sign. We're done. Thank you.