County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

say anything really [clears throat] lives with her sister down in Mo 23 coach. So shouldn't be this hard should it? Okay. Florida. Second daughter's husband was working seven to seven. He's an like he works as a doctor. Kind of the way it plays out. You're there long enough, you could set every record Wednesday. That my son was working.

Coach was available. I'm like, "Oh, [laughter] [snorts] It's not working again. [laughter] Woke up from the break yet. Come on. You had one job. You break it, you buy it. Here. You need help? [snorts] [laughter] Yeah. Just give it to your family over. [laughter] That's a good thing.

Buddy bothered me. I got my nap. [clears throat] That's getting Oh, no. Dad, I watched my corn huskers take a beat. Gosh, I can't believe Iowa did. That's right. You're an Iowa guy, aren't you? I just stand by by marriage. You know, sister's married, too. Oh, they took a beating. Yeah, and they did it right before the snow [clears throat] fell because the next day Steve will let us know. He'll get on Facebook and let us know. All right.

That was Nebraska. [clears throat] It was Nebraska. Hold on, little crap. She's getting another thing turned off. We found another button. [snorts] ISIS folk [clears throat] Iowa thing in the middle.

No, it is on. We're good. All right, we're live. All right, you guys ready to get going this morning? Good. Thank you.

Good morning, everyone. I'd like to call this meeting of the Hancock County Board of Commissioners to order. Today is December 1st, 2025, and the time is 800 a.m. This meeting is being recorded and streamed for public viewing. By participating, you acknowledge that your image, your voice, and your comments may be captured and made publicly available. This meeting's been properly noticed in accordance with Indiana Code 5-14-1.5. Let the record show that a quorum of commissioners is present. The commissioners are open for business. We will now proceed with our agenda. And it's at this time I'd like to invite all in attendance to stand and join us for the pledge of allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with justice for all.

[clears throat] And if I can make a motion to approve the minutes for 111825. Second. I have a motion and a second. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. And a motion to recess for drain. I make a motion to recess meeting for the drainage board meeting. Second. It's been moved and seconded we recess for drainage board. All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. We're in recess. I will open the December 1st drainage board meeting. Uh first business, approve November minutes. I make a motion to that we approve the November uh minutes for the drainage board.

Second. Been moved and seconded that we approve the November minutes. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed? Motion passed. [clears throat] Do you want to Yeah, let's do number two. Let's go down the list here a little bit and then we'll jump just a little bit here. Um

let's go for approving claims for uh November 19th and December 3rd. Uh they're there in front of you. Uh you see we have the final u bills that came in for the spraying of the ditches uh along with um some other issues that we had some ditch uh some open ditch bank stuff. And on the second page you have some tile repairs uh some yard repairs. um some things that uh when they break down we go fix them. So any questions about anything that is there?

I make a motion that we approve the date uh drainage claims paid off for 11192025 in the amount of 11,844.95 and the drainage claims paid on 1232025 in the amount of $10,84.94. Second. Been moved in a second that we approve the claims for 1119 and 123 in the amount of $11,844.95 and $10,84.94. All those in favor? I I motion passes.

All right, let's jump down to number five. Let's do uh Blake Thompson's uh variance. Uh we are on You see the screen there in front of you. Uh we are on 300 North um just west of the curve there um off of Fortville Pike. The old farm place is there. He is putting a a new residence in here and septic in this area here. Uh there is a 6-in tile that is running to the ditch currently that is there. He actually installed that d that tile to help [clears throat] drain this little bit of this field. Uh and he's tying into that. So the code says that they don't have an 8 inch tile. Um they're tying into something smaller than 8 inch tile that they have to come for a variance. Uh it's the only thing that's on that tile. So he's actually going to when he builds his house, he's going to run his uh basement drain and uh his other drain straight to the ditch, but he already has a tile in this area over here that's a 6 in. So uh he's asking for a variance from the uh code to run to a 6 in at that point. And I don't see any issue with that. if he only knew somebody to put an 8 inch tile in.

Yeah, I know. Since he does it for a living, but you know, it's just But it's already there and he had put it in about three years ago. So, and it's only running onto his property. My concern was that it was running the property to the north, but it's not. So, it's only on his property. So, yeah. Looking for a variance for to use the 6-in tile. I move we uh approve the variance for Blake Thompson to use a 6-in tile. Second. Moved and seconded that we [clears throat] approve the variance for Blake Thompson to use a 6 in. All those in favor say I. Opposed. Motion passes. [snorts]

All right, we'll go to the next one down on the list. Um, this is 2051 Sunshine Court. So, this is just north of 40 off 200 West off of the Smith and Margaret Johnson. As you can see, this is the second house to the west on Sunshine Drive. Uh they are wanting to put a little addition onto the back of their barn here in the back. This barn's been there since about 1978 uh in this area. Uh they are obviously uh within the 75 ft easement as is just about everything in this area. Uh existing when the ditch was was put been existing for where it's at.

Is it open ditch? Yes, it's an open ditch. Yes, it's there right there. Right there north of stop. Yeah, just yeah, just north of uh across the street [clears throat] from 84 lumber, old 84 lumber. Um have the uh place on the corner that's been a number of things. And then the next house that's over, it's right behind them pitch that runs back down through there. So I have there where it's at shed in the back. Looking to add a little addition right here on the back, putting it a little bit further into it. So he's asking to encroach and wave the fee. Yes.

Does he realize it's not Christmas yet? I [laughter] I bring to you what they bring to me. Well, how much is the encroachment? Have we said or did he's just he's all he's worried about is not paying the fee. He had even asked to encroach yet. Well, he Yeah. So, it's a twofold thing. He would like to encroach within the regulated drain. So he'd be encroaching 35 ft uh into the [clears throat] encroachment, but then he would he's asking to have that u fee waved. So he's asking for two things. So did he ask did he say specify why we should wave the fee for him but not everybody else? Not that I know of. I would suggest we don't wave the fee that

I agree 100%. You haven't even got the encroachment part done yet. I don't being free, right? [clears throat] You'd be encroaching like 40T. It'd be encroaching 35t. It looks pretty tight in there. Is it? It is. It is tight. It's tight all the way down through there. Um I could not find records of the last time that we have actually dredged that area down through there. Um and we is actually in pretty good shape out there. We've done the other side. We put tile up on the other side and out.

Yes. And we've dredged the other side um because it's a [clears throat] little bit more open over by bittersweet and that way we have dredged up through there. We have not dredged this side, but this side really hasn't needed to be dredged. It's actually it's got pretty good fall on it and keeps itself open. [clears throat] But he is looking for an encroachment of 35 ft add onto that barn and then he is asking if that is approved to have that waved the fee wave. So is that barn already encroaching by how much? So So if you look at So here, let me draw it. Papa Bank is about right here. [cough] So you have 50 ft to the barn now. Yeah.

And he wants another So he's looking to come So he's looking to come in about another 15t. Then that'll put He wants to add 15 feet to the barn. Correct. But have a 35 ft encroachment. Yes. The barn's already encroaching an additional 35. Yes. Yes. Because the other was put in about 1978

cause any issues in the future for you? Well, I mean, there's there's things that are closer to the ditch than that's going to be. So, from that standpoint, it's not going to be a problem for me to work around that just because [snorts] I have other things that are closer than it is. That make sense? I I won't have to go around it. I would have to go around things that are already closer than that were put there well before or whenever. Well, you'd have to do the whole hold harmless, right? Right. Right. You still haven't signed the whole harmless. So, we need to get 35 ft even though he's adding 15 to get it up to date.

And that drops us to 40 ft. Is that right? So that would that would put us at well it would give us 35 ft because it's 70 ft through 70 I was having 75. Okay. Oh 75. Yeah.

I'd make a motion that we approve the encroachment but not wave the fee and with the standard hand. Uh too separate is it? Is it? No. He says no. Go ahead. and [clears throat] the county home hold armless. Been moved and seconded that we approve the encroachment of what? 35 35 for Troy Napier and not wave the fee. And not wave the fee. What is the fee? $5 per linear foot. Correct. There you go. Okay. So he would have 25,000.

He would have to sign a standard hold harmless. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. I. Motion passes. [clears throat and cough] All right. Let's jump down to number nine here. So we're [clears throat]

uh so this is Haven Ponds. So this is a subdivision. This is the last section of this subdivision over here. This is a th00and north on your sheet there. So on your sheet is number nine. Uh so you have a thousand north that's here and then field divide that runs through here. They are is this last section that's up in this corner over here. So uh they are coming to request uh two things. Uh one there is a crossing down here in the bottom for a road crossing that will come in there to cross the ditch for the the road there as it comes [snorts] down. [clears throat] That'll be here point where Edgewater Lane here on the map here that I'm showing you here as it's coming through here and they are with the town of Fisers um and town of Accordsville. I guess it's kind of mutual as it works through that. Um they are doing a pedestrian crossing because there is a sidewalk that is coming through here. So they have to do a pedestrian crossing up here in the north goes across uh up here at the top. So they are looking for u approval uh to have a pedestrian crossing and a road crossing and we're looking at all the numbers for everything to make sure that there's no restrictions of flows and things for that uh for that aspect for where

like to add.

Thanks. Yeah. Hi Lance Mroy with Silverthorn Homes. Uh I was here about 6 months ago and the drainage board approved a temporary um turnaround u for that section three. Uh we'll remove that uh continue that that that road across that Chad mentioned with the box covert. Um also in working with the army corps and IDM to get this permitted. There is a lowflow crossing that the the farmer was probably using previously for um getting back and forth. We'll need to remove that. um DNR and the Army Corps will require that to be removed. Uh so we be removing it. Um also maybe not in well I guess it will discharge. We have four small detention lakes that will have 12 that doesn't

Okay. Okay. Sorry. Sorry. Um so the uh and then the the path crossing it is actually a 10 foot wide asphalt path that's up there. So a pretty nice wide path. So, we've got a pretty nice wide and long bridge um that we've worked with Conspan on to make sure that we're clear of the hundred-year flood elevations so forth. So, that's the other incumbrance in the in the legal drain. [cough] [clears throat] Two.

Yep. Move we um approve the pedestrian crossing for Havens Pond and Jonathan Stanbury edition. Second been moved and seconded that we approve the pedestrian crossing and road crossing for Haven's Ponds over the Jonathan Stanbury. Just the pedestrian. We have to do one for the road. Oh, I'm sorry. Do we need a county holdless for these if we're working around them? with the standard county old homes.

Um I think the one to the north is actually in the road right away. Correct. Is it in the road right away at the north? Okay. Second. So we have a we Okay. With the standard old harmless edition. Is that good enough? All those in favor say I. I. I. Oppose. Motion passes. [clears throat] I move we ex uh approve the road crossing for Haven Pond's Jonathan Stanbury with a standard county hold harmless. Second.

Been moved and seconded that we approve the road crossing for the Havens Pond on the Jonathan Stanberry with the standard hold harmless. All those in favor say I. I. I.

Opposed. Motion passes. Okay. So, next on the list, um, let's go to number 10. So, it' be the next thing on your Thank you. Thanks. Um, the next thing on your list is the the highway is doing a u a bridge replacement uh just west of um school on the Lutheran school on 300 South on between 700 and 600 West. Uh they're doing right here they're doing a bridge crossing. Uh they're doing this bridge that's through here. But um there is some utility locates uh that have to change that are there um for where they're at. And so Duke Energy, which was overhead, is now going to be underground. So they are asking for a they're switching sides. They're going to the south and then coming across, but they are going to be going um asking for a a a permission to cross the regulated drain uh with the standard county hold harmless. They're going to be uh they are going to be actually a minimum of 11 ft below the ditch. We only ask them to be 7 feet. So, they're going to be 11 ft below the ditch for where they're going. So, they're doing that as a precursor uh for when the bridge replacement gets started here about a month and a half. So, um, kind of in the search here trying to get her done. So, looking for approval to cross the regulated drain uh going underneath it. Obviously, if the county holds [snorts] and and we usually find them, right? Traditionally, it has been the uh um the say of this board. It is everybody but nine star for a city. You guys have charged the fee for the crossing. But to me, if the countyy's doing some improvements there,

putting a new bridge in and everything, and they're going to put the stuff underground instead of over, they're kind of doing the county a favor. We are precipitating the change. Let's put it that way. And they're they're going along with it. They're going along with it. Correct. So, do we wave it? Wave it since we're going to benefit from it, too. Exactly. You going to make that in one or does that need to be in two? One. I think it can. The boss says one [clears throat] boss. I move we approve the utility crossing Duke Energy at the Dota Creek regulated drain and wave the standard fee with a c standard county hold harmless. Second.

Been moved and second that we approve the utility crossing for Duke Energy over the Dough Creek under the Dough Creek uh with the the and wave the standard hold harmless fee. No, wave the fee. Wave the whole harmless. Just wave the fee here. Or wave the Yes, wave the fee. I'm sorry. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Um number [cough] 11, [clears throat] uh we will have to move to next month. They did not get us updated drawings, [clears throat]

uh for their change, uh that's up there. So it's actually right next door to Haven Ponds, but uh it's a utility crossing for Centerpoint Energy. day at this time. So, I'm going to ask that we move that to the next month. Now, we can walk back with some of the other things that we have here. So, let's go let's go um backwards here. Let's go with number eight. Uh we have an incumbrance uh for Callingwood 21. done that one. Number eight on our list.

Find number eight. Yeah. Right after the uh Oh, approval of the minutes for the dates. Yeah. [clears throat]

Should be right after the approval. The dates should have the dates on the top of the uh regulated. It should dates. Next page should be the encumbrance. Next page after that should be right. Is that where you have it? I don't see encumbrances. I just see all I got to All I got to pay. After the meeting. Is it after the meeting? Yes. That's all I got. Doesn't say for what? Yes. It just says the calling would regulate. We don't have it. Who's it for and why?

The [clears throat] uh calling wood regulated drain. We did work that was in there um and didn't have quite enough money in the fund for it. There will be money that'll come in once the taxes finalized, but we were a little short on fixing a repair that we had in that area. That's just a little short. It wasn't fixing something anybody messed up. No, no, no. We weren't we weren't going back on what something that we had done. Okay. And I understand why you're asking. Yeah. Well, I make a motion we approve the um [clears throat] uh Collingwood uh regulated drain encumbrance in the amount of $2,120. Second.

Moved and seconded that we approve the encumbrance for the Callingwood regulated drain in the amount of $2,120. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed? Motion passes. All right, let's go to number seven. Um so these are the dates for next year's drainage board. Um these do coincide with each of the commissioners meetings for next year course of [cough] the month. Uh as you see two of them change uh May and November that is due to elections. We don't have those either.

We have the dates we were here. We just don't have the dates for next year. But if it's scheduled, [clears throat] that's okay. I think look and see if there's any conflicts and I think I'd ask that you approve it at our organizational meeting in January. So, well, yeah, and that's fine. They they there's no conflicts or commissioner right likes to have notice for we're not really going to approve it till January. Is that what you're thinking? I I motion that we continue it till January. Okay. uh look for conflict. Second. [clears throat]

Been moved and seconded that we move the drainage board meeting date approval until the January meeting. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. All right. Let's do number three and then we'll do pay at the end. Um so should have minor repair bids. Uh we put out for minor repair bids again this year. We have gotten a number of people who have asked for for that and we have I think there are 11

13 there's 13 minor repair bids uh things that are there. So there will be probably three in there that we usually keep for if there are emergencies that are in the field from Blake Thompson to uh Lawrence and to Mike Leonard for for them to do if they're in the field or if they're already doing a project in the area. And we usually look to about have five um on trackers. So, do the math. We're down. You want to just name who's putting in, then you

And then I would Yeah. And if you want to do um the two things I would look at are um probably uh mini excavator per hour is what I would do and then excavator per hour are the two big ones as we go through there. And then like to be able to Steve will need to look at them and then we'll look under it for advisement and then bring them back in January. Uh, I'd like to sit down with each person. Uh, some of the guys I don't know, some of the people are a little further away, understand what all and how all this works.

I don't know if you really want to do minor repairs, but I mean, they may, they may not. I don't know. But so I would say we uh put each one in the record by doing a mini excavator and then um excavator. Those are the two big things that we work off of. How do we weed out the problem people that aren't doing things up to par? Uh that's where we turn around and uh we can when we do our bids we can u exclude them by quality work by quality of work. Yep. Okay. We need that. You got

Yeah. These are all open. [sighs] We see lowest responsible bids. If I remember reading that correctly, right, Steve? Is that how that works?

Brad's excavating. We've never used him before, have we? Nope. There's a couple. There's two. There's two or three new ones in there.

Yeah. Well, this is from You want us to read them off? I would to get them into the record. I would read uh one of the names and then for each one just go ahead and read [clears throat] uh mini excavator per hour and then excavator per hour. Those are just just something so it's we will look at the rest under advisement. I have a big spreadsheet. I put them all in. And

Davis excavating uh mini excavator with operator is 106 an hour. Escavator with operator is 185 an hour. And this is drainage construction unlimited and mini excavator with operator. Uh 15750 per hour and what was the other escavator with operator? Excavator with operator. They should be pretty close. Could that be the down about four or five back? Okay. Escavator with operator would be one 28875. I see what you're looking at.

That's Rick, right? That's Rick. That means I don't want to do all that stuff. That's why we only use him whenever he's already in the That means I don't want to do that. Twice. God loving.

I got uh party pools. Hang on. I can't find the page. Was not prepared. height in about two font mini excavator 106 Eavator 150 and I have uh who's your pride excavating incorporated with mini excavator 160 with operator and then excavator with operator 205 and then Fred's excavating service. He did not put it in here. I don't see it when they came in. So,

that was an easy call. I don't see one here either. He listed what he has, but he didn't list how much an hour it is. Doesn't help. Skooter. There it is. Here. Uh, Augur for small excavator. Who do you have there? Who do you have, Gary? I've got uh Rutledge Enterprises for Freds. Um let me let me make sure he just didn't add it in on its own. That don't make sense. Here we go. It don't it don't it's got Freds. It was not for esavator.

Well, I don't know if that's [snorts] an addition to the to like the large track gear price or There's not an excavator on here. Is that all? That's the Auger small excavator. Where we at? Keep going. Here we go. Here we go. Many here. Two sheets. Okay. Doing what? We're doing Rutled now. We're doing Rutledge and mini excavator with operator $100 and excavator with operator full size is $160.

Ready? Y. Fred's excavating service. Here's a couple more. [laughter] Mini excavator 125. Escavator with operator 180. That's enough, isn't it? That is. Yeah, [clears throat] we need to open each one. We do. Here we go. Record of each person who actually Keep passing. Keep passing. Yeah. Here we go. All here. Okay. You've got that. Okay. I've got this one. Uh, [sighs] let me find out who it is.

We need to read them all off. Is that what you're saying? I've got North Nprises LLC and I'm sorry. North N

North 9 Enterprises uh mini excavator $95 an esavator with operator uh $145. I've got ready. I've got Chuck Johnson. Mini excavator with operator 100. Excavator with operator 150. Ready. Blake Thompson mini 150 full size not listed. [clears throat]

You use it for towel repair if we have it in the field. You ready for your next one?

Yeah. It's uh James Molen and mini excavator with operator $65 and excavator with operator is $100. And I've got [clears throat and cough] Greenfield Landscape LLC. And what did I just see? Damn it. I've got uh I got a jam. No, it's me. Hang on. Where you at? What's going on here? Take a look at it.

There's another one. There's another sheet here. It just Yeah, here we go. Got it right here. Mini excavator with operator 95 and excavator with operator is 155. Got another ready. Yep. Fesler. Tyler Fesler. Uh, mini excavator with operator 100. Excavator with operator 125.

Ready? Y. I have uh Leonard Escavating Inc. from Wilson, Indiana. Uh mini excavator will operator $100 per hour and the operator 150 per hour. Let me have

all in. We'll need a motion to um to accept the bids or receive the bids, I guess, would be the best way to receive, right? Take them under adisement. Take them under advisement. Okay. I make a motion that we acknowledge the receipt of the uh bids and acknowledge what was that other thing you take them under. Take it under adisement. Second the January meeting. Vote on the January meeting. Second. I move and seconded that we have we are taking the bids under advisement. All those in favor say I. I opposed.

Motion passes. All right. Last thing I have on the list is the approval of the drainage board pay for the second half of 2025. Uh, the only question I have is, and this is a question for our attorney, is that we have listed on here the Cranberry Mutual Drain hearing for tonight, which I put that on there just to get I understand that. I understand why you did. I'm just I'm asking from the the make it contingent upon that. Okay. Make it contingent upon those people, everybody showing up because the hearing occurring this evening and they're here. We're going to have the hearing whether anybody shows up, right? But they only get paid for the hearing if they show up. Whoa.

I think if we call it to order, I think they compensate. Oh, you're talking about our board. I thought you were talking about the OR people get paid. I'm making sure that we're not we're not approving their pay if they're not here yet. So So um so that's Yeah, you can make it contingent upon everybody being here for the hearing that evening that's here. Is it happening regardless? Yes, right now it is happening regardless. We'll [clears throat] talk about that here in a second. So, but yes, I'll be there. That's all I know. We'll be there. But there's there's drainage board pay for the second half of the [laughter] year. So, I move we approve drainage board pay for the second half of the year dependent on the hearing tonight's attendance. Second. [laughter]

It's been moved and seconded that we approve this second half Grady's board paying tonight's hearing. [laughter] That seems kind of Couple of things going forward. We didn't vote yet. Vote. All those in favor say I. I. Opposed. Motion passes. All right. Next range board meeting is January 6th. Eric probably will not be here. Is that what you're saying? Yeah. That's a good way to get voted president. I'll be here. I won't I won't I didn't leave yet. Okay. So, not a teams meeting process. We could always teams. Yeah. Yes, we can. We can always do it remote. So, January 6,

do that from the southwest part of the country.

At that meeting, we'll do our organizational for the year along with our minutes uh I mean along with our um our minor repair bids. Uh tonight, the reminder, we have the uh hearing on the Cranberry Mutual Drain obstruction uh at 6:30. There has been um there has been movement and discussion between all the parties um and things are going around but from last I heard there is not going to be an agreement between the people until tonight's meeting. So we will be here for or the hearing. We were hoping we could get it figured out before then but that's not going to happen. So we will be here 6:30 tonight. Doors will probably open around 6 6 o'clock 6:15 somewhere in the neighborhood.

Yeah, I'm not gonna be here. I probably will. It all depends on the way my state house. I say you'd be here, Gary. I'll be here. So, we'll have a quum. Joe involved in No, no, I'll be here. Joe's name. I'm not coming just to listen. No, it's not. Joe's on. So, I do not have a You do not have a steak in the You don't have a dog in the fight. We're down downstream. Well, I knew that, but I didn't know. Yeah, that all you have? I'm not sure what the argument is, I guess, yet. Yep. That's all I have. Motion to adjurnn.

Second. Move and seconded that we adjourn the December 1st drainage board meeting. All those in favor say I. I. Oppos. Motion [clears throat] passes. Yeah, you too. Well, this is for I thought you guys had a green or a commissioner or something already. We got commission conference. Yeah, it begins tomorrow, but the some of the things start. Okay. And I don't And you what?

You don't want to miss the cocktail party in order. Came back to Indiana. You all [laughter] got to care less about I don't do that. [gasps] Like absolutely. Seems like if you knew if it's going to snow, the commissioner should be in their home county managing snow removal. But you're not out driving the roads or something that you don't get out of here. That it. [laughter] Yes, that's it. All right. Have I got repairs? Did I have some big guys? Have a good day. You too, buddy.

Thanks for Thank you. my entire family. [laughter] Same to you, Steve. Have a great day. Good morning. Wonderful. And you? Still full from Thanksgiving. Oh, yeah. Is that? No. Is that all the others we have to sign?

All right, Scotty, are you ready? Go ahead and call our commissioner meeting back to order. The first item up on our meeting schedule is uh county highway update from our engineer Gary P. All right, good morning everybody. Morning. Glad everybody made it here safely this morning. We have no items for signature. Um annual bids we'll receive at the next meeting. So you get your carpal tunnel at that meeting. as we accept those. I I just saw you just accepted the surveyor's bid. So, multiply that 13 of those.

Um Jack and sons, I've already So, that's the thing over there. Uh an offer has gone to Jack and Jamie, his oldest son. They're going to I gave them till June to contemplate that. So, I'll let you know if they get back with it on that. Um road inventory was accepted by the state. Um you probably saw our ratings. were uh top, you know, we we're in the top of the state on our road ratings right now. So, that's good. We'll try to stay there. It's hard work. Um um the prosecutor and old JLCO's amounted about $40,000 have been approved. So, we'll keep working those on the general bonds and seeing if those are okay. I know I owe you an estimate on items at the highway department on that geo bond. I'll try to have that to you within a week. So, I thought uh I think I'm not sure if Corey's been working that or not, the remodel stuff of the highway. You have not. Okay. So, I'll I'll secure that and get you an estimate. Um Miriam's already taken care of HCSS. Good work, Miriam, getting that taken care of. And thank you for trying to support some of our more needy citizens. Uh Indiana's trail grant is already in. It's being covered. Miriam is getting uh close to a closing. I saw the title documents there. So, good work on that as well. Get that closed. That's a beautiful piece of land out there. I think a lot of the citizens of the county will really enjoy using that land, especially being it didn't cost them any money. Um, so we're grateful for Ninstar for doing that as well. That's 56 acres with a pond that everybody really can access from the Pensy Trail. And as soon as we connect over from Greenfield, everybody in Greenfield be able to go there. If you got a kid with a fishing pole, you can go fishing.

I think you better get a license though. In Indiana, kids have to have a license. I do not know. Under 16, I think. Under 16, they're all right. So that that'll be nice. I remember going fishing as a kid. It'd be nice to actually walk someplace and go fish. I thought there was a program that gives him a license for just about anything as a kid. I mean, hunting, fishing, all that. So, just go play in the woods or something. Just get out of the house a little bit. I remember being a kid not wanting to wash dishes, trying to get out of the house and do something. So, give the kids an excuse to go do something.

Commissioner's conference this week. Um, we'll be up there. Um, we have some an event on uh tomorrow that I hope a couple of you will be able to make it there, too. um bridges on three south and four south will close this winter in the December time frame. So depending on uh how much snow we're moving. We've had a little couple early launches this year. Um I think everybody's done a pretty good job. First first snowstorm was a little rough and it always is. Thus last one everybody did pretty good. I think Indianapolis shielded us from the worst of it, but it it cleaned up pretty good. As a reminder, we are county highway department. We've only got 10 trucks and we've got hundreds of miles of road. We can't even touch every road for about 24 hours. So, just people are going to have to slow down. If it's snowing, it's going to be slick and it's going to take us a while to get it cleaned up. But hopefully everybody's a county driver and just realizes uh just take it slow and you'll get there. Um snow policy is online. So, if you want to see which roads we do first and stuff, obviously, it's pretty intuitive. We're going to do Fortville Pike, Six West, three north, like those major roads first, and then we're going to go on to the secondary roads. If there's over 4 inches of snow, we may may as the operative word mobilize a contractor to go into the neighborhoods. It is by ordinance and by the neighborhood um um plat documents, the neighborhood's responsibility if they wish to remove the snow, but we'll come in and help after 4 in because some of the neighbors want to save money, but I do want people to be able to get out. But I want that neighborhood road to be the worst road they see. I don't want to have a nice clean road and get out on a high-speed road and have an accident. That and it costs an incredible amount of money and we'll tear the crap out of their mailboxes and stuff in there with my equipment. So, we try to stay out of there unless it's really needed, but the snow policy is online. People can read that. It's been the same for years. Um, and our accident rate is is is pretty good, so it's working. Um, we'll probably need to do an executive meeting at some point. I'd like to AR it's been, like I said, it's been 10 years on the snow plant. Hey, we need to review it again. I like to

review things, see what we're doing well, see what we need to improve on cuz the county changes and our equipment changes and our organization changes. We should review it, make sure that's good. Um, safety plan. We've instituted everything on the safety plan. You saw in the last one. Uh, it's probably about time I'll come up with some ideas. We'll we'll do it after the holidays with some new safety plan stuff. Just because we're doing good doesn't mean we should sit on our hunches. I was going to ask, do you want that meeting before end of year or after?

No, we'll wait till after. It's really busy this time of year. We'll wait to I'm just put it on your radar. It's going to come up so you can start asking your constituents uh in the news if the constituents have some get if they got any ideas. At least make make sure they're heard. We can't do everything, but I'd at least like to know what their ideas are. We'll at least look at them. Um and we get there's some diamonds in the rough out there. Um so contact the highway department if they wish or or contact their elected officials like, "Hey, I've got an ID or whatnot." Like I said, no promises, but we will look at everything and give it a good look. We have a limited amount of resources, infinite need, but uh we're about ready to finish up the trails. Uh when the penins connected here, which will be a heavy lift between Greenfield and out to the park area um from the highway department's perspective, we're kind of putting down the trail program. We'll let the parks kind of work up into that in the future as they start taking on fee and stuff, but that will connect the majority of your population. they'll be able to get safely on an ebike or something to other places. Now, at some point, if it gets really busy out there, we'll probably have to revisit like Hamilton County does the ebike type stuff, but right now, I don't think it's a I hate to overregulate, you know what I mean? Or ask for overregulation, but if it gets really busy, I'll circle back. If I start having like accidents out there, we'll circle back and if we need to have some ordinances or policies on those things, but as of now, it's just not something that comes up a lot, I'd recommend you leave it alone. Don't re Don't regulate until you have to regulate. You know what I mean? Uh Greenfield Intent, uh had a great meeting with Jenna and Kayla. Um and I and I know you guys have been working well with the mayor. I think he's got some exciting ideas um for downtown Greenfield. Some of that will correspond with what we're trying to help him out with. I think uh from the political side, we're doing a lot better job in Hancock County than maybe they're doing out east. So you guys at least seem to get along. I appreciate that cuz it's hard because there's a lot of everybody has different ideas on stuff, but at least we all talk. So, keep talking with

the mayor and I think uh we all live in the same county, the same cities. It's some of the stuff's really exciting. I think Jenna and Kayla are working on some exciting stuff there. AR. Uh so, we got Amplify the prosecutor's office in the old jail. So, we'll have to AR that when we finish that up. Those projects are coming to a close. Um, so and that will be the end of those projects and then we can talk about the future of those buildings afterwards. But I want to get those projects closed up and look forward barring any questions. That's all I have this morning. Thank you. Did you contact the school church on 300 South just to let them know, hey, this project's going to start December 15th or whatever to close 300 on that bridge.

The contractor has been in contact with them. We do have a construction inspector out there, but he just changed company, so I might have to circle back and double just let let them know. I mean, they've suffered through the and all the people on that kind of spot of road there with 600 West being closed down this year and now this bridge is going to potentially knock them out from another wave getting I'll speak with Duncan Robertson to make sure they do a inface meeting with with them. Okay. Okay. I was just out there and had a brief talk with their maintenance guys who were resetting some of their school flashers, but I don't know if that filtered up or not. So, did we ever speaking of that, did you ever get that figured out? kind of know for a time that that combination or whatever it was was lost and now

we we got it figured out for them. The trick so we train people on it and it's hard for them because we do it all the time and then they they either forget it after a year how to do it. It's really the school's responsibility to do it, but we're going to help them out. If they ever call in and need help, we will help them and we can't run out there for snowplowing or building, but we'll run out there. They and I got the book in there. It's just it's a computer and you're standing on a ladder and if you've never done it before, it's just tricky. So, we they just need a little help. We got to figure it out for them. So, great. No, thanks. Good work this weekend. We appreciate it. Got some more snow coming in tonight. So,

the guys came in. We joked we didn't get quite as much snow as anticipated, but I always tell the guys if we come in, that's a guaranteed way. If you bring an umbrella, it won't rain. Um, if we wouldn't have come in, it would have been six inches of snow in the apocalypse. So, so there'll be some tonight. We're we're bringing in a few guys tonight just in case. Um, like I say to the news, it's a highway to it's county. It's going to be slick if it's snowing. Be careful. Drive snow. We love everybody, but don't go out there expecting dry roads and clear. It's not the interstate. And even the interstate struggled this weekend. I was talking to my peers over at ENDOT. They did not have a good weekend on I7. So, right. Saw that on the news. And they tried and you know they dump salt, right?

That it just it's going to be slick if it rains. The truck can only be so many places. All right. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Next item up on our agenda is an update from our facility manager, Corey Taylor.

Morning, Corey. Morning. Good.

Good morning. All I have is a couple updates. Prosecutor's office has been cleaned. Uh they're in the closing stages of that one. Be able to move in there soon. Uh everything looked good. Um they're about 65 to 70% done in the community corrections. Um things are moving along. No issues. Everything's looking pretty good. We got those uh change orders approved and and taken care of. So, they're moving along pretty good. Um I didn't know if you had an update for me on legal with the Indiana Foundation.

We we're good to go with um the process of calling them and having them come to look at that problem and get it remediated. I've called I think it's Jacob Rose off the contact information that you gave me and he hasn't returned my call yet. But uh we're going to have to go ahead and start that process. Uh just no matter in the in the basement. Okay. So Scott, I'm going to reach out again to them today. Try to get a hold of them. Can't wait any longer. the election folks are going to need to get in there area down there and we don't want issues with that dustiness, you know, left over. So, we're going to go ahead and start working on

Would you like me to reach out to him or you going to reach out to him? I'm going to reach out to him again as soon as this meeting is over. Okay. Um, document all that with photographs and things like that. I can I can Yes, ma'am. Please. I think service master has taken a taken a lot of information as well. Yeah. From them. I will do that. Okay. Yep. That's all I've got. Thank you. Thank you, sir.

Is Dennis Olmstead here? A rightaway dedication. Good morning. Good morning. I got is very simple. It's uh dedicating uh.56 uh acres of additional rightway on uh 900 North in front of the uh uh new subdivision uh for uh Mum's home place edition. You want bring your plat map up here.

You did say.56. Okay.

Special P. Yeah. Thank you, sir. [clears throat] I make a motion that we accept the uh right away.56 acres and the Combs Home Place minor subdivision as presented. Second. Got a motion and a second. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. 50 foot of half or 50 foot 50 foot half right away.

Second page. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. I3 investors.

Morning. Good morning.

Good morning. I'm Matt Dickerson with I3 Investors and appreciate you taking time to listen to us this morning here. Uh we're back in front of the commission uh after a 30-day um extension on a earlier revote consideration for half of our project out there at Buck Creek. Uh we are back in front of the group to ask for two items. uh one that the commission would consider voting down the reszone of 50 acres of the total 100 acres of the project and two that we would uh work through an EDA amendment and extension for the start date of the overall project. Uh just as a quick recap of that project and that EDA uh we worked with the council and the commission during uh 2022 for a period of 12 months to put together both a master plan of the project and an EDA payment structure which was supported or supported 70 by the council and 30 by the commission. That um EDA itself lays out larger buffers. uh it provides for a wider and offset road. We have gone down the route of acquiring the rightway for the relocation and widening of that road. And then that EDA, I think most importantly to the county, provides for 7.5 million of direct EDA payments to the county coffers over a 10-year window. So I think it was uh a structure that was put together with a lot of thought and a lot of benefit to the county and we would ask that the commissioners continue to support that continue to support the project and the funding that would come to uh the county on a go forward basis. Um our project was delayed but it's not uh dead. We are planning on hopefully to start this in 26, but uh obviously if we reszone half of it, we'll have to come back in January and ask for that half to be reszoned back to industrial. Um the

piece does sit within the county's comprehensive plan to be along I7 as industrial. Uh the EDA itself does provide for protections uh and design standards and use standards uh for what can go into these projects. And I think uh as we've been reading [snorts] several counties, the concern is uh these data center users. And as a part of the EDA amendment, we would suggest that we put in there that we would preclude uh any data center type of user going into either of these uh two buildings that are proposed here. Um so I want to kind of go through again that we're asking for the county to vote down the reszone. Uh we put together in total uh a $10 million parcel to be heavily invested in the county. Uh to date we've spent just a little under $300,000 on a roundabout design that would be a part of this uh to which I did not realize is about 60 pages of engineering uh documents, but we have a fully designed or about a 99% designed uh roundabout according to Gary P. So I think we're pretty close there. and uh asking for the continued support of uh the county and the commissioners. So uh happy to answer questions.

Do you have that information with you today? Uh as far as the engineering documents, what the the things that you said you wanted the commissioners to consider? You you should have um a memo that was circulated as well as a I think it's about a two-page amendment to that EDA. Scott, [clears throat] I had a few questions. Um Sure. So in your amendment, your proposed amendment, you have a in construction date of 2029, I believe, right?

Correct. So we had it in there, I think right now is the end of 28 or 27, and I should know that, but it was for both buildings. Um, the build cycle on these is roughly 12 to 14 months. We would not pull these out of the ground at the same time. Um, so it would it would come one and then two. So, the intent there was just to simply tack on uh a small amount of time to the end and allow us to push back the start date to this coming up year of 26 so we can get underway. I think the amendment actually calls for commencement of construction 2027 though. I think we would be willing to try to bump that to 26. Uh it

we just we want to be sure that we have exactly the correct information. there's a little bit of inconsistency. Yeah. If if we need another couple of days or a couple of weeks to iron out what you want, I mean, we're willing to do that with you. Um the other thing is in your in your memorandum, um I was a little troubled by a couple of the statements. The first one was the first page there. Um, second to last paragraph, it says that the county's direction work was slowed and the project was moved to six. I don't think that's an accurate

uh that is how we understand it. We we were originally going to uh put the roundabout in and we were working with our team and the traffic engineers and the construction folks with the intent of putting the roundabout in. Um the only thing that we got delayed on was hey we didn't start it. I think it's not necessary to probably have a roundabout there if there's not a project south. So it was rolled from uh the 25 year to the 26 year with that intent. Uh but we've been working in good faith with uh the county folks to design this engineer that fits the various regulations that are a little above my pay grade on how a roundabout functions. Um, we've bought the roundabout rightway to help fit that in and the intent would be to build the roundabout, deed the rideway and the new roaded in the roundabout obviously over to the county.

Well, I I spoke with our county engineer Gary P and I that is not an accurate statement that you laid with that as a result of anything the county did. This is on I3 and I just want to make sure that's on the record because that is not accurate and it's not a fair representation of what transpired there. You guys had market conditions that you've pointed to and alluded to and that has nothing to do with the county cooperation and the fact that [clears throat] you spent money on the design of of the roundabout. Okay. So [clears throat] I don't that's something that you know we needed to state very firmly and very correctly on the record. This is not this delay and this this the fact that this has been dilatory is not on the county and nothing the county has done has caused any delay in your project. And the other thing is is where's you guys want us to to amend the agreement. Where's the consideration for that? you're just telling us, well, we just want an amendment. What are you offering besides the fact that you've got a restrictive covenant for uh data centers? What what what's the consideration there? I see.

So, those are some of the troubles as the attorney for the commissioners that I have, some of the concerns that I have uh for your request and I the commissioners themselves may have some questions too, but um I I am concerned about that [clears throat] and I I just think there's some maneuvering here that's not appropriate.

Well, I I the only thing I would say I guess in order of your [clears throat] two concerns, it's It's the way we um recall the way this occurred. Uh I'm not trying to be cute with the data or the facts. Our our contribution to the roundabout when it was uh requested of us was $825,000. And the county at the time two years ago asked us if we would help put that in. It was explained to us that it would be cheaper because it's a private individual doing it versus a public bid. Again, we're we're warehouse folks. we're not roundabout construction folks. And we said, "Yeah, we would do that as as a partner of the county." The county's component of that roundabout. I think the roundabouts roughly $3 million. So, if we're funding $825,000, it's absolutely in the county's control on when they want to spend that money. So, that would be the first piece of it. The second piece is um and I apologize. We were talking about the roundabout. You're talking about the uh

the consideration the the consideration I think would be that the county gets to keep the EDA structure they've put together for the economic development payments of $7.5 million and that that's pretty large amount of money going directly to the county and that's the benefit for the county. That was consideration for the original agreement. Now you're asking for a lot more time. That's what I'm talking about. What's the consideration for the extension?

Well, I suppose conversely, if the EDA does expire, there's 7 and a half million goes to zero, right? That's not what the county wants. I don't think that's what we want, but I'm trying to understand. Is there a dollar amount you have in your head or No, no one is. No one's saying that, but there is an absence of it. So, we haven't had that discussion. Yeah. And and we're willing to have that discussion, but we need a red line or more time or feedback. I know we've submitted the EDA amendment agreement, but we don't have any uh I don't believe we have any details as of yet as to what the county would like to see or how the county would like to see it. So,

I think right now we're just going to take your information under advisement. We'll let you know whenever we're ready to speak on the topic again. Okay. Be great. Okay. Thank you. Thanks, commissioners. Appreciate it. Thanks, Scott. [cough] Parks and Recreation Board with Miriam Roz.

Good morning. Morning. Morning. So I'm here representing the parks and recreation board and right now we have five board members and our quorum is three and the problem um of that is the open door policy that we have. So we can't get the good work done. So if I need to meet with other board members to work on projects um with the open door policy that only allows us two in the room. So, um, during our February 20th meeting, kind of like us, Miam, we can't meet where there's It's [laughter] difficult. You're right. It's very difficult.

That's why you guys have little task forces,

right? Um, anyway, I went before our board and I made a favorable recommendation with the board on November 20th to ask if they felt like it would be good for us to ask you all for two additional members. that would be um the quorum would then be five. So we would at least have four heads on the table working on projects to get things done. Um, so I I just want to ask if there would be any opportunity to add two new board members and if so, I would ask um, Attorney Binky, you know, how that process looks and would we need to amend our ordinance and would it be council and commissioners picking those individuals and we could talk about the terms and all those things, but um, I think it's really important with the um donation that Ninstar Connect has given us that we really need more hands on deck and so to make those things happen I feel like we should have more you know minds at the at the table.

What's the what's the park board code look like right now for the amount of members that are on there and who they are appointed by? Is it just is it just three? So, no, everyone's appointed. But is but does Indiana code say it's only three that you have on there or does Indiana code say five on the park board? Five people on Currently, our ordinance says five. Okay. That was why I wanted to defer to um Attorney Minky. There have to be an amendment to your ordinance. Yeah, we'd have to amend them. Yes. And does that ordinance tell us who gets the picks of those?

It does. Currently, currently, um, commissioners pick two, council picks two, and an elected official picks one. Um, I'd have to dive in deeper to find out who would be the one to pick. I would imagine council would pick one. [cough] Commissioners would pick one. We have five, but two left. We have five. We have five. I'm asking for two more to make it seven. To make it seven. So our quorum would be five and I can have four at the table without having an open door policy to have to have a meeting. Does that make sense?

Thing to consider too though is now your quorum goes from three five. So you got to have five members there as opposed to three. And I I can appreciate that. But we have a dedicated board. I'm just me. Yeah. I'm very [clears throat] excited about who our team players are because they're always there. We've we've always had a quorum. Is this something standard in all the communities around us that have park boards that they have a seven member board instead of a five member board or is there I've [clears throat] seen a lot of members on uh their web pages. I really didn't dive deep into how they got there. That's why I kind of wanted to have some attorney. I've seen that.

Yeah. Seven members I have. I mean, ideally, um, a good strong board is nine, but I'm just asking for seven to to make that, um, non-stagnant vote. So, anyway, you don't have to answer today or make a motion unless you unless you're all in agreement, but I just wanted to get that out there so we can start looking if you decide that that's a good idea um to maybe [cough and clears throat] pick someone or two people in January. consider. I think we should consider it. And I agree with that because would the nonquorum be more of a working meeting or would it it certainly [clears throat] wouldn't be a decision making me?

Correct. That's why I I need the four people rather than just two. Um it's really hard to get anything done with just two people working. Uh so four people would be ideal to get jobs done. Um and have more conquer. Yeah. So, but we really need um to dive into that ordinance to to see what that looks like. I just wanted to, you know, put that out here today. I can say that it's definitely there's a process for it and it's not that hard, but [clears throat] the board itself they they approved you coming and talking to commissioners about. Yes. Yes.

So then what would happen is there would be formal approval by the ordinance proceed accordingly [cough] and that [clears throat] can certainly be done and then the amended ordinance would be drafted and approved. Okay, those those steps but that's not an issue getting that accomplished. So with that said, I would need the blessing of Yeah, they need [clears throat] to understand that dynamic to authorize that so I can work on getting the ordinance amended, right? So there's no need to amend an ordinance if I don't have your blessing. So not not today because we are in just going to take it under adisement. Absolutely.

And you know, think about it. But as Scott explained it, it sounds [clears throat] okay. The amendment comes to us and we approve it. Okay. Or we would recommend it. It goes to the planning parks board. Perfect. Comes back to us for approval. Right. So, should I get myself on the agenda in January or end of maybe in a couple weeks? Has your board approved? We had we had favorable we had [clears throat] the favorable recommendation to ask the board for two more members.

Is February too late of a date to get that like first February? Is there any

I am working on the DNR five-year master plan and I need people at the table to help me reorganize. We do have our um pros consulting that's helping us [snorts] with the 5-year master plan. We need to get that approved and uh in front of the DNR for a second time before April 15th. So, I think an early February date would be good, but I I would I think I would re request more towards the end of January if we had to, you know, if we could. The 20th. the 20th is our meeting that's in January.

That would be great if we could move it up to that. Um I can work diligently on amending the ordinance and working with Attorney Binky. Um if that would work. Okay. Yes. Thank you for your consideration. I appreciate it. Okay. Thank you. Thank you for all the work on the uh park property with Ninstar [snorts] as well. We appreciate it. Kayla Sarah. Oh, she's she's right there. Okay. [clears throat] Kayla Brooks. Good morning.

Morning.

So, um I guess continuing off of um what Miriam was um discussing with the Ninstar Park, that property located at the intersection of 300 West and US40. Um with uh discussions brewing regarding a an event at that location, it might be um prudent to reszone it from R1 residential, which is what it is currently, to institutional uh sooner rather than later. This would permit more large-scale park type uses including recreation center um as uh whenever that kind of use um or event is is um requested or or foresee to be. Uh the R1 district um is more residential uh focused uh more of a of a combination of um rural uses and res and those residential suburban style subdivisions. Um whereas the institutional is uh is really set up better for park development as well as other largecale uh public facilities, educational facilities, things like that. Um so because the um park and recreation facility is a special exception in R1 um meaning it would need to go to the BZA um in order to have say a music festival or something like that there um even as a temporary use whereas it's permitted in institutional um it would probably be better to go ahead and and start the reszone process to institutional um now um so one way we can do that is through this for um so you guys tell me would should we go ahead and pursue the reszone of that 53 acres from R1 to institutional

you give us everything that's allowed in institution um a rundown it's it's quite a few uh uses um like healthcare and and I honestly I would have to have the list before me on what all would be allowed there [clears throat] it is more than just park type uses however as part of the reszone process we certainly could limit those uses to just those that are serving park purposes. Is that something you'd be interested in? Yes.

So, is it My understanding of that, too, was we couldn't even have any school activities out on that property while it was still zoned R are one. It really needs to be institutional. Not so concerned about the zoning, but just to make sure school children are able to come out there, earn, and do things. and we're that zoning and make that happen.

Yes, institutional would be much more welcoming of large groups like that, school visits, things of that nature to be out there. Um, it would really just fit better uh for the park type uses that we're foreseeing happening there. If it was just going to be a nature um like a preserve type thing um or a utility substation, it would be [clears throat] um meaning the ninestar type uses. [snorts] It would be better to um you could keep it R1 indefinitely and it would be just fine. I'm so sorry. Is there a tissue up there? [laughter and snorts] Bless you. Thank you.

Oh, you were just tearing up because you really love this whole idea. [laughter] I guess he'd be nicer to Kayla.

All right. But yeah, um so uh so yeah, more as we're getting into this and it's becoming clear that we want to use this site as an active park site, let's go ahead and reszone it to a zoning district that really foresees those kinds of uses. Um this would require a public hearing at the plan commission um probably in January. um which means that uh public notice would go out to any owners of property um within 600 ft or 200 or two lots deep um whichever is less um restrictive and that would include um some of the owners of property in Spring Lake [snorts]

um as well as along US 40 um and so there there might be some some people attending that meeting um to just to kind of better understand what the vision is for uh park type use at that property. Um, but it would be having the conversation, one big conversation about overall how do we foresee this type of a park being used. Um, rather than peace meal every time there there's going to be an event at that site. So, I think what I'm at least hearing between the commissioners is we would like to request that process potentially to start. We're in favor of that, but we would also like to see those uh what's allowed

what is allowed so we can set those in conditions whether that or we don't want that. Want to be able to strike from the allowed uses. We can definitely do that and I will get you that list. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. [clears throat] Make a motion to approve claims and payroll. Second. There's been a motion and a second on claims and payroll. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Uh you ready to start our you want auditor business? Let's get those amplified.

Let's do the amplified dispersement. Okay. [sighs and gasps] make. Let me find here. There it is. Is this the total? Yeah, that's the total of the how many? Four invoices.

Make a motion to approve the affidavit for construction fund dispersement request number 16 in the amount of 1,826,227.73 as presented. Second. It's been moved and seconded. [clears throat] Uh the uh affidavit for construction fund dispersement in the amount of 1,826,27.73 as presented. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes.

What about the consulting? You want to do those? Yes. And there's there's two different agreements, but they're for the same person. They're they're they're for the same person. And uh one of them is the retainer. A retainer. The other is an hourly rate wage. And our county uh advisor. Okay. This is for the hourly hourly rate is and this is retainer. The better way to go. So you want the hourly rate? Yes, we should. We should do that. And that's for additional on HR. Yeah. Yes.

So, all right. I'll make a motion we approve the consulting uh agreement in the for the hourly wage or hourly fee for of $245 an hour. Hour. Okay. Yeah. Per hour. That's for West Bennett. I'm sorry. Second. I'm sorry. Okay. [laughter] It's been moved and seconded. We approve the consulting agreement uh between Hancock County and West Bennett as presented. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Motion passes.

And then we've got another one for West Bennett. Wesley Bennett uh is for her retainer which is is it is retainer else not? We're not doing the retainer. Okay. You're just doing that one. Okay. There was a choice between and we went that Okay, I got you. Then I'll get rid of this. There should have been one in there for Kim Woodward. Yeah, that was in my auditor business just for um some additional HR consulting until you Right. Well, I think that

it could sign. What's this back. Is that was that in there then? Yeah, there's a there's the consulting agreement for there's not like a signature line for you, but so I would say if you guys are so inclined, I would go ahead and sign and date.

Okay, this Oh, here it Okay, this is with Kim Woodard Woodward. Are you opposed to it or No, I think we're I think we're supportive of just using her like we talked about in [clears throat] a temporary

temporary mode to bridge the gap between the time we you know we evaluate the people we have in the process of HR hiring you know, somebody to do that. It just seems like he lost our HR director and all of a sudden the floodgates opened a little bit on some Yeah. Okay. Do it. Is it just Is there uh compensation for this? I didn't see I didn't see anything. Young. It's $100 an hour.

$100 an hour. Okay. Then I make a motion that we approve the consulting agreement for our uh interim HR person and for her work in helping us gap the or bridge the gap in between our interviews and startup. as presented. Have a motion in a second to approve the consulting agreement for our temporary HR help Kim Wood [clears throat] as presented. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Was that all your business?

Um, yeah, that was all my business. And that rate is on that second page. It is on it. I didn't see it, but I was looking quick. Oops. A sign anywhere on that [snorts] page. [clears throat]

Gary sign on there, too. I can do that.

And then that's our only RFPs. That's our only Is that for the the mental health? The mental health. It's Oh, mental health. Okay. Do we need a motion made to our county farm visioning? Now, landscape plan. Was there any reason why we thought maybe we didn't get any fights on that while we're in there to look at that? I I feel advertiseed someplace else. And I had talked to Janine. Okay.

The commissioner's conference is going on. That's going to be my number one priority to see where everybody's advertising. Okay. But I don't So do we want to wait until our readvertising of it if other units of advertising. Okay. I mean there's absolutely no rush. Okay. Let's out why we're missing the boat. Let's seek those people [clears throat] out at our next

Everybody be on a hunt. The mental health [sighs] look like it's two packets, but there looks like be the same thing. It's the same. It's the same. They're going for a grant for $480,000 and that would be to buy a temporary housing unit. So, uh, and this is

opioid matching grant process that the state earlier this year. Okay. So, where do we go from here? I think we take that, we go ahead, take it under, accept that, take it under advisement and with the lady Christine that helped us with our application process and sit down and evaluate that and had to meet a lot of different state requirements that I think probably made several groups just shy away from this as Fire fire.

Well, it's it's really not a bid. It's it's a grant matching grant. It's a request. And they're our community mental health there. Anthony recently, our community mental health provider. So, I' I'd make a motion that we would take accept this these uh grant applications and take them under consideration. Second. Have a motion and a second. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Okay. Do you know if Christine has a copy of that? She does not. Okay. So, we'll we'll have to we can scan that off and send those things.

I don't know if those two documents in there are the same thing and they're just two of the same. They are. They are. Yeah, they are. Yes. Then we'll we'll scan it. They they handwalked it in, but we'll get it scanned and then we'll also go ahead and add our own internal to got her you've got her email address. Okay, great. Great. Okay. [sighs]

And the efficiency RFP if the auditor has no more business. Okay. Well, there's one problem with with his whole thing. He said he had council that was supporting it and they they were not. So So I think there's that. [laughter] We can prove all day long.

Yeah. want to put that carry it over to the next prosecutor reach out to him and have him come to our next meeting and [clears throat] council information. Maybe it would be best if he came to the budget that first meeting of January when we're commissioners and council are together so we know exact we could reach out to Jim and see if he's acceptable as the president of the budget finance committee and we're still having a combined Um, we have it scheduled and it's been advertised. It's been sent to the That's right. There's five weeks in December.

Doesn't matter to me. Either one is fine. So, let's let's set it for the let's set it for the budget meeting. Um, say, "Hey, we'll the commission there." And that RFP and is there anything else? I don't think you um here can't start early. Scheduled for 10 o'clock. Yeah, we can't start early. We could take a break.

So, we'll be in recess until 10 o'clock. Second. It's been moved and seconded we recess until our solid waste meeting at 10 o'clock. All those in favor say I. I. Meetings in recess.

for November. We did have the newspaper bin emptied, so I did have to pay that bill as well. Um, I do have some more advertising that I will be getting invoiced for, but I'm not sure if that'll make it on this year's budget or if that'll end up coming on the 26 budget. And then, um, the Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, they're working on my invoice, but I haven't gotten it yet. Uh, the Association for Solid Waste Districts, I did get that one, so we need to add that to um the invoices. The total amount on that one was $550. And then the Indiana Household Hazardous Waste Task Force membership renewal was um $125. And then um under the event fund, I sent out an invoice to Canoff installation for our fifth glass collection and we have not received that yet as far as I know. Oh, and then the um end of year outlook, I'm projecting um to have a balance of about um $23,000 left over in my budget for the year.

Do we have a motion to approve the invoices? I just have When you have that money left over in your budget, are do you encumber anything for the I've never had this much left over. Usually it's only a couple thousand. So, um I'm not sure. I I typically Anything outstanding or I I won't have anything outstanding. I typically do roll it over into my next year's budget. So, I'm hoping to be able to do that again this year. It just goes back to cash and then it's appropriated in your new budget.

Okay. I'm just checking. [clears throat] The only claims I'm expecting are the a media and the Hanok County Chamber of Commerce money. then you can. So I would just double check on your claim schedule after you can't get that your incumbrance for that to Mary then we that money to 20 outstanding invoices that were officially in

Okay. Okay. Do we have a motion to approve the invoices? Motion all invoices for the solid waste district. Second. Okay, we've got a motion and a second. All those in favor? I I I oppose. Same sign. Passes.

Okay. Um, so, [clears throat] um, the item tire grant, um, they just announced a new tire grant for 2026 and I will be applying for that with your permission. I'm going to request the full 10,000, which is the maximum amount. And depending on how how many tires we get in 26, it may roll over and we'll have enough money that we can use that grant for 27 as well. That's what we did the last go around. it lasted us two years. So, I'm hoping that that will be the case again this time. So, I was just planning on going ahead and applying for the full 10,000 even though we won't need the full amount for the first year. Um, the applications aren't going to be accepted until December 15th. And it's a first come first [clears throat] serve. So, I will get that application in as soon as I can get it filled out once it's released. So, um, do we need a vote on

make a motion then to let DD apply for the item tire grant? Second. We have a motion on the floor and a second to allow DD to apply for the item tire grant. Uh all those in favor I I oppose. Same sign. Approve.

Um and then the item community recycling grant. This has been a long awaited grant. I think I submitted that in August. Um that should be announced this month. So I'm hoping to have good news at our next meeting. Um but that was for um the um community recycling bins for the parks department. Um so hopefully we'll get notification soon that we um they we won that. [clears throat] And then IDM came out with a new grant [cough] called the sorry [clears throat] called the Swiffer grant. And um this is for creating a material management plan for your community. So you can hire a consultant to come in, review what recycling you have available, what you're currently offering, and then they will make recommendations on how you can improve on that. Um the state is um has just completed their material management plan and they're working towards a 50% recycling go goal. So IDM is offering this grant to help counties, you know, help the state achieve that goal. So um that has not been released yet. Um it's open sometime this month. I'm not really sure. Um, but that one also is a first come, first serve. So, I have contacted consultants. I do have bids on those. Um, which we need to go over. Um, and then as soon as that grant application is released, I'll get that filled out and get it in as soon as possible now that I have the quotes, it should be pretty easy to get that submitted fairly quickly. Um, so we do need to go over the proposals and um, I guess select which one you would like to do.

[clears throat]

Um, so let's let's do that first and then I've got more issues to discuss with that. So, um, the first one that you have I believe is um from GT Environmental and I I read through all of them and they're all basically the same. They're all kind of doing the same um data collection and and uh work to achieve all their information. Uh, some of them do have different timelines which I'm sure can be adjusted if we need to speed the timeline up. At this point, I have no idea what the timeline requirement is. So, you know, we'll just have to, you know, adjust things as the grant opens up. Um, but the GT Environmental, um, their quote came in at $37,94. Um, and then I have Caramea came in at $35,000. And then, um, that also includes that phase 7 on there. Also includes, um, $3,000 to help write the grant. Um, I've done a lot of grant writing, so I really don't think that I'm going to need that help to write the grant. So, I feel like we can save $3,000 there. [clears throat] So without that um optional phase 7, their total would be $32,000. Um and this company has reached out to me um I don't know two or three times. We've met um via um Zoom twice. So they're very interested. they wanted to u meet with me upfront to find out what we're currently offering so that they could get a better idea of, you know, what they needed to include on their estimate. So, um I've been really impressed with them so far.

Is this Carabita? Caramea. Yes. And where are they located? Um they're all located Well, they all have offices in Indiana, [clears throat] Indianapolis. Um, I I think I'm not sure what their actual they don't even have their address on here. I'm not sure exactly where they're located, but they're somewhere in Indiana. So, I take it you're wanting to go with Caramea. Um, that's my proposal. Um, the last one was from Unomia and that's the company that did the states plan. So, that's the only reason I included them. They're not local. They're um not sure where they're located. They're a lot more.

Yeah. And they are a lot more. Yeah. So they they'll do it for 40,000 or if you don't want the end result, they'll give that to you for 17. I'm like, how can we do this without the end result? What are we achieving there? So I didn't recommend them, but yeah, I do recommend going with um Caramea. I also think that GT Environmental would be um a good second choice if you didn't want to use Caramea for some reason. But um that's my my proposal. amounts for both of those.

Yeah. So, Caramerama came in at $35,000. Um but there is an optional $3,000 to help write the grant. So, um we don't probably need that. So, that one comes in at 32,000 and then um GT Environmental is 37,94. That that has an optional two. Um, yeah, that that is the meetings, but I feel like the meetings are kind of important. Does the other one offer meetings?

Yeah, that's it's I didn't understand why the meetings are optional. So, I guess maybe you could reduce the number of meetings, which could reduce um the cost. Yeah. So, down underneath below they're they're showing what they're charging for each of the meetings. So, I guess you could reduce that to, you know, fewer meetings and then also reduce that cost as well. But I don't see Kier [clears throat] me to say anything about meetings either.

Um, they did have some meetings. It's not I don't know if I printed all those. I I had to consolidate because some of these quotes were like 34 pages long. So, I just kind of summarized it. Um, I'm sure they have ample meetings. I don't know exactly how many that they're It says bi-weekly check-in meetings. Okay, there you go. I don't know what that means, though. I mean, that's that probably doesn't mean they come and see you. Like, probably be virtual then.

Yeah. I mean, if we need them to come out and do an in-person meeting, I'm sure they probably would do that, but I would think most of the time we could probably handle a a virtual meeting. We need a motion for that or to approve her to go ahead with Carameita. Yes. Could she Deb, could she encumber her monies to pay for this? Have any money? She's doesn't even have the grant. Yeah. So, I have no idea what the the item grant is going to offer. Okay. So, I'm hoping that they will offer enough that we can pay for this in full by their grant.

Okay. But um if not um I was talking to Deborah um I do have the event fund money um which has to be used towards um the business of the solid waste district. So I feel like that money could be used for the grant. I mean unless I'm told otherwise I can contact state board of accounts to verify but I feel like that money you know could be used for this. So I feel like we have plenty of money even if you know the grant doesn't cover the whole amount. But you have to have one picked to do the grant.

Um yeah motion [clears throat] that uh Dee to once she has the information from the ID. Second. We have a motion and a second on the floor. Uh all those in favor I I opposed. Same sign.

Got your permission. Thank you. So, our no cold feet shoe recycling, which is the um the shoe uh recycling collection event that we do through the the all the county schools, whichever ones are interested in participating, I'll be sending those letters out to the principles um this week and then they need to respond by mid January and then we will do that. Um uh they will have their collection the last week of January. We will be going around and picking up all those shoes on um that last Friday of January. And then Saturday um I think um Chad mentioned this last month for me. Um Changing Footprints is overwhelmed with the number of shoes that we bring them every year and they still haven't even gone through all the shoes that we brought them last year in January. So, in order to kind of help them out and, you know, um kind of get them on a better better situation, um what I would like to do is get a bunch of volunteers to come in on Saturday. We're going to meet at the fairgrounds. I've already got a building reserved. Um we're going to sort through the shoes. They can't handle any unusable shoes. Um Nike is no longer doing the grind for those shoes. They're getting overwhelmed with shoes. So, they won't even accept the unusable shoes. So, we're just going to sort through them and pull out anything that's not usable up front. And then we're going to reorganize all the shoes and, you know, separate them, you know, by men's tennis shoes, women's tennis shoes, you know, and just get them all in separate boxes that are labeled. And then that way hopefully changing footprints can just, you know, take down the box that they need, you know, and they can do cleaning or whatever they need to of the shoes before they put them out on the store shelves. So I feel like that'll kind of help them, you know, just just getting rid of the the unusable shoes I think

will be a huge help just upfront. Um because they said that, you know, a majority of the shoes that they get in they can't even use because they're just not in good shape. But I think people expect to be able to send those to Nike to do the playground grinding. So that's why they get so many of them. Um so um hopefully that'll go smoothly this year. I'm going to reach out to some of the schools, the sports teams to see if we can get, you know, those kids to come in and volunteer and maybe a church or so will um come in as well. So that'll be a busy busy weekend for me. Well, how [clears throat] are you getting rid of the unusable shoes?

Um, well, I thought about, you know, passing them on to like Goodwill, but I feel like they're not going to be happy because they're not good shoes. You know, they're not going to be usable. So, I think I'm going to talk to Republic Services to see if we can just dispose of them there. Um, maybe they'll let us just dispose of them for free. I haven't I haven't talked to them yet, but that's kind of what I'm thinking is we'll just throw them away because I don't think they're going to be good ones. So, unfortunately,

um and then, you know, we've already discussed the director contract. Um that will be um I'll work with Scott and we'll get that um ready to go for hopefully the next the first meeting in January. Um, do you still want to wait for the department vehicle um, transfer until then as well or at the first of the year? We might as well.

Okay. Okay. We'll push that off till January as well. Um, and then, uh, under new business, I have our RFP ready for 2026. um which you have one example in your packet. Um this is for hazardous waste. It's the most complex of all of our RFPs. Um the only thing I really changed was the dates on here. So I'm keeping the same timeline. Um and I think that was the only thing that I changed. Um we are going to be at Park Chapel Christian Church for 2026 for our two big events. Um but that this one only um is a bid for those first two event or those two bigger events. Um I do a separate one for the smaller um events that we do in the the towns. And so um yeah, I guess if you're good with this um RFP, I will get these sent out that first week of January. Do we have a motion?

Make a motion to approve the request proposal presented. Second. We have a motion and second on the floor to uh approve the request for proposal be put out uh 1st of January. Uh all those in favor? I uh oppose the same sign. It's good. And that's all I have unless anybody else has anything else. Thank you very much. Thank you. We need a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. So moved. Is there a motion on all in favor? I I opposed. Same sign. Thank you, Dee. Thank you. Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas. Is there is there a thing that's we can

Oh, yeah. the minutes. Um, So, we'll reconvene our commissioner meeting. Is there uh seeing that we've gotten all finished all of our agenda items and action items, is there any public comment? [snorts] Body like to comment publicly?

Motion to adjurnn. Second. Oh. No, [laughter] we all good. Okay, all good. Well, motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Second. So moved. We'll adjourn this meeting and see everybody on this December 16th.