Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Yeah.

Every day. [laughter]

I think helped us. Right. So like just mad we got a first. Yeah. I don't know what you do. This is great. It's just a discussion. discuss.

I'll rise for the pledgece to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Right. Welcome everyone. Porter County Board of Commissioners meeting Tuesday, March 10th, 2026. Consent agenda. Approval of payroll February 27th, 2026. Approval of claims February 19th, February 26, 2026, and March 5th, 2026. Approval of minutes, December 18th, 2025, January 6th, 2026, January 27th, 2026, and February 17, 2026. I move we approve the consent agenda. Second. We have a motion, a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Motion carries.

Announcements. I'd like to bring up the county corner, Cindy Dykes. We have a special um special honor today. She'd like to present. We are honoring Doris. I'm going to mess his name up. Doris here. Doris here.

Bring her on up. How are you, Doris? For 25 years of service with the corner's office. That's outstanding. Have this beautiful award for you. I'd like to present this to you. Thank you. It's heavy. It's heavy that Doris in honor of your 25 years. We thank you for the county foring service. Thank you. [applause]

Say [clears throat] anything, Cindy? I'd love to. I'm gonna read this really quick. Um, can you go by a mic, please? Right next to you up there. Or you can sit there at the table.

Sit here at the table. I'm used to this seat. [laughter] Um, Doris was hired as the administrative assistant by coroner Roger Klest and she became a certified deputy coroner within two years of being hired and has worked for five elected coroners. I have had the distinct pleasure of working with Doris since January 2019. Doris manages this office with diligence, efficiency, and expertise. Throughout her years, she has built strong, positive relationships with police agencies, funeral homes, doctor's offices, and the county health department, along with treating families with respect and compassion. In 2022, Doris was awarded Deputy Coroner of the Year by the Indiana Coroners Association. My deputies and I are grateful to have such a selfless and dedicated person at the helm. She is definitely the heart and soul of the Porter County Coroner's Office.

Thank you.

Thank you. You do another 25 years, Dor. We make that brass. Congrat Okay. Next, commissioners are accepting applications for the Westchester Public Library Board. No political affiliation necessary. Applications are due by Thursday, March 26 at 4:30 p.m. Applications must be turned into the commissioner's office or emailed to melan.griffin porterountin.gov. The appointment will be announced at March at the March 31st commissioners meeting. Okay, moving on. We have Danielle Harold, Grant Wright Services.

Oh, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Sorry. We got a few added here. Next, we're going to do quickly uh Indiana Dunes Christine Livingston. How are you Christine?

So, [laughter] how is everyone today? Good. I just have a few quick updates from the tourism world. Uh, we were on the agenda and I think there were some technical issues, so we got bumped to this. We have screens today.

Yeah. So, we we'll uh we'll get through this quickly. Uh the three items we wanted to discuss were the National Park long-term lease agreement, the gift shop, and the community videos that we've been working on. So, the unfortunately I don't have a lot to share about the National Park lease today because we're still negotiating that with the national park. The extended shutdown really shut down that process. So, we're a little bit behind, but thank you for granting us the sort of temporary extension. I think it was six months that you guys gave us. I think within six months, we should be able to wrap that up. So, uh Jason, the superintendent of National Parks, and I've been working diligently all last year really to try and hammer out new terms. The goal here is to just get a longer term lease in place so we have to keep coming as frequently. We know what we want. were vested in the relationship and we just he wanted to have a little more detail in the contract and we wanted to have a little more time, you know, so let's have a an agreement where we really put our minds to this and make it something that will hopefully be a 10-year agreement is what we're trying for. So that hopefully will happen within the next few months sooner if possible. It's in their hands now. So, our board worked uh with his team and me to hammer out the maps and it's it's a different lease. It's got a lot more detail in it for uh you know their request after um the discussion about our gift shop which is uh what I'll talk about next. So, that'll be coming. We're looking good there. The gift shop uh we embarked on the gift shop, the visitor center improvements. Uh really when I first took my position here a couple years ago, we started right out of the gate. So, uh, but the latest improvement that we've just wrapped up or are wrapping up is the, uh, improved gift shop area at the visitor center. So, this is a a huge, uh, improvement for

us. It's a huge opportunity for us to really share our local businesses, local artisans in a much more meaningful way in our space. Uh we had a really small park gift shop uh before that um will again become a park gift shop, but our space is a lot larger and um shout out to Gary Up. I think I saw them on the agenda. They did an amazing job. We came in um ahead of schedule and under budget. So what that allowed us to do was add uh a couple of sidewalks that we need to get up to the new gift shop space um that we weren't even foreseening we'd be able to do. So, we really got a lot of bang for our buck out of that. And our gift shop looks amazing. So, come see us. We've also expanded to include farmers markets in the winter. So, this is a way for us to work with our chambers to bring in local artisans into the actual visitor center in the winter months when we don't really have a lot of traffic. Uh they've been really successful. So, we've continued to grow that and the chamber has a hard time selecting the vendors because everyone wants to be part of that. We have a lot of traffic at our visitor center. So, it's a great way for them to get exposure. So that's going very well. And then um the last thing I wanted to share a little bit about was one of the things we started doing also a couple of years ago was meeting with each of our communities regularly to talk to them about how tourism might be able to help them put their best self forward. you know, create an image that really how they see themselves through video, digital marketing, um, rack cards, whatever the case may be that each community feels would really help them put their best image forward. This is what we do. So, we can really add value here to especially for some of our smaller communities. So, sit down with them on a regular basis. That's been going exceptionally well. And for the most part, all of them have taken us up on the offer of promotional videos, but other each community kind of has their own unique needs. So, South County, you know, we do one set of things. We've

helped them with their website. Up here in Valareerezo, everyone is a little different, but all of these meetings have been fruitful and and we've really been able to add value to each community in a unique way such that it was so successful that we decided we'll expand this to include a Porter County video. Barb helped us put together a steering committee. Mike Jabbo was part of that and uh through summers and others. So we kind of sat down with the county and just talked about what are the things we really want to showcase uh that make us special that make Porter County unique and and so we just wrapped that up and the committee has approved the final product. So we're ready to present that today. So unless there are any questions about any of the other topics that I covered, I just wanted to share that with you and then you can get on with your meeting. Oh, that's great.

It's northwest Indiana, the front porch of the dunes. And yet, it's really someplace else. It's the Midwest. It's Porter County. It's the land of sand and steel. We've all heard the slogans, we know every line. Of course, there's more than corn in Indiana. It's true. We're the crossroads of America. And yes, every one of us is a hooer, even if some of us don't know what a hooer is. But here, 45 minutes southeast of Chicago, along the shore of Lake Michigan and surrounded by the Indiana dunes, we know something you don't. We know that we don't have to choose between convenience and easy living. We see the power of working together. Where else can you find steel mills rising over national and state park lands or have the amenities of the big city with the cost of living of middle America? Where can you still afford to take a risk as a small town entrepreneur with neighbors who have careers at international companies? Here you can. Here industry and nature thrive side by side and water. Here there is a diversity of place that's hard to describe. From manufacturing to farming mom and pop shops to world trade, there are always ways to elevate yourself in Border County. While we have the comforts that come from prosperous communities, proudly supported local awardwinning chambers of commerce, excellent school systems, engaged volunteers, and committed civil servants. We also have modern public infrastructure and unique transportation utilities. With our proud past with heritage and opportunity, we are poised for the future. We have access to abundant freshwater systems, major interstates, quantum technology corridors, active maritime deep sea ports, fiber network hubs, and both a local Southshore double track train, making us America's agricultural industrial resource. But we're investing even more. We know that our current

students are tomorrow's leaders, and we're ignited by what's coming next. With educational institutions like Valarezo University and IvyTech, we are cultivating what's to come. Every year, over four million people visit the Indiana dunes. Most come for our beaches, but many stay here. They security, safety, and a chance for something more. They see arts, culture, and history along with skilled laborers and potential customers. But more than anything else, they see a quality of life and place that's more than attractive. It's sticky. Once you're here, you won't want to leave. They know that if you can imagine it, you can build it right here. No, we're not defined by region. We are the region. We are Porter County at the crossroads of everywhere. And whether you're looking for a new place to live, work, or play, life is better in Indiana.

Thank you. Done.

Thank you. Excited to share this. And Benjamin and I had been talking about how we might be able to share this, but uh just to add, we do uh share this digitally. This is part of our campaign strategy. and we work with the state and we work with Northwest Indiana Farm and to ensure that this video is reaching uh the people that we're we need it to reach. So, uh over the past couple of years, this community campaign, not to get into the weeds on numbers, but we've um had 22 million impressions. So, these are big campaigns and we're getting the word out about our area in a big way. I want to add one more thing about the gift shop that I skipped, which was um we are committed to sustainable tourism. we've seen the impacts that tourism can have in a community that are negative. So, we really spend a lot of time and and put a lot of thought into the campaigns that we do here and ensuring that they are also um good for us and good for visitors and improving quality of life for the people here. So, toward that end, our gift shop uh has a strong sustainability theme. A lot of the things in our gift shop are upcycled, recycled, or have some sustainable component. Um but also we're upd updating our car charging station. We have electric car charging station. So we were able to get a grant for that to cover half of that uh improvement. So that's underway. So we are walking our talk. We really um work closely with the national and state parks to help people understand how to enjoy this resource in a responsible way. And that's the way we pitch it and it's because we care about the people who are here. So I think that's all I have. Thank you. Bane, Ray, before you leave, can you just talk about your collaboration with Fluid as an example of the kinds of partnerships that you can have with local businesses as well?

Yeah, Fluid is a really great example of one of the things with these, you know, the community relationships that we're building. It's a similar structure for our local businesses where we try to help. We have an amazing, powerful economic engine right in our backyard. Four million people come to the Indiana Dunes. 230,000 people come right through our visitor center. So, I don't think locals really fully appreciate that they have this captive audience. And so, sometimes they don't realize like how branding with the Indiana Dunes, co-branding, working with us can really help their brand um elevate them. People come here to see the Indiana Dunes. It's what people love about this space. It's why our kids stay here a lot of times, the kids who do. So we work with local businesses to help them kind of understand the power of this brand and fluid. We started working with them actually a couple years ago when we started our Sand and Steel campaign, another local initiative that we're working with regional partners on also. But they just love this brand so much that they did a Sand and Steel themed coffee bean. Uh and they really took it, you know, they really took it to heart and really made it theirs, which is the whole idea. So they took this theme and we also have a coffee trail that helps visitors connect with local businesses, local independent coffee shops. So they can come into the um communities and have this coffee experience. I don't know if you know but coffee is kind of a big deal for some people and they will do a coffee trail. We found it was very successful. So Fluid was on that uh that tour. So each independent coffee house has a coffee that's branded some aspect of the Indiana Dunes and um and it sells and and so that's the thing that we're trying to help businesses understand is if you co-brand with us and work with us and we can work together to to give this story collectively, it works and and so Fluid actually is going to be located.

We have a little mini sort of pilot area where Fluid is going to have a presence in our gift shop. So we'll have fluid coffee there and they'll have their sand and steel coffee and their Diana the deans coffee drink and and so they've really embraced this and it works for them and so they're just a great example of how we and there's many other businesses. That's just one really good example but uh Tens did an Indiana Dunes chocolate bar and so this is the word we're trying to get out and help local businesses understand how they can really capitalize on this brand. If you go to this fluid right over here you can get the Diana of the Dunes coffee drinks. There you [laughter] go. Yeah, they're great partners. Great. Any other questions? Do you have any announcements or anything coming up that you'd like to advertise?

Um, we have our annual event that's invitation only, so it's not open to the public, but uh we're hoping to be able to do a a a launch uh of the gift shop. We have a a volunteer who's really committed to our uh mission there and she made a big donation for us. We have an art piece that we're going to be celebrating and she'll be cutting the ribbon. So hopefully you'll be there and be able to share in that experience. We're really looking forward to showing what we're doing, but also what we do at that uh event is get the national park and and the state park in front of our community in a way that they really don't have the opportunity to do very often so that people understand kind of that value and what their goals are and what they're doing for our communities and we get that networking opportunity so everybody can meet and synergize.

Perfect. Well, thank you. It was outstanding. Thanks. Thank you. Okay. Next, I'd like to call Mr. Mike Jbo up here to give us an update on the southwest Porter County Fire District analysis we've been working on. Mr. Jabbo. Good morning, commissioners. I do not have a video. That's fine.

In the time since you announced this initiative, we've been doing a lot of due diligence. I know some of the elected officials have I and others and we've come to a conclusion of a of an organization and I dropped on your desk before the meeting what an org chart of this might look like and in summary it's three committees al together the overarching committee would be a committee of government officials which would include the townships the county and the town of Hein and then by invitation we're suggesting we bring the two superintendents of the two school districts that represent that same area for their input. Schools tend to be kind of a sounding board of a lot of public comment on that as well. So, we wanted to make sure to uh get them involved and that everybody's in here. One of the first orders of business would be to prepare a memorandum of understanding or anou. Um it's not committing anybody to any financial or ordinances or anything. It's just simply a commitment to explore and discuss and find alternatives and options for consideration. Um we would like that the members other than schools be elected officials so that there's flexibility. They could have a council member or another commissioner or whatever attend in theirstead. Then we feel there should be a technical committee which is mostly mostly the emergency services type people. The fire departments 911, EMA, West Porter Fire District is also one in there. These people could be the horse that kind of helps define what the parameters are. We can start getting into costs and options and budgets and things like that. uh we may uh through the whole process any of these committees we may get other technical such as financial an or bond analysis mapping etc like that. So this

committee would be kind of its own committee of just purely uh technical back people. Then lastly what we talked about initially was the resident committee and that would just be purely 100% uh residents. they would need to be a property owner of e either hein or the two townships. I would recommend five members of of that committee. And so the structure of the way this would work is the resident committee and the technical committee kind of work in their own space. They report to this government agency and we're trying to portray everything in a transparent fashion so that each of these government agencies, they've got people they they respond to their their constituents. So we find that this flow of this information this way would be the proper way to do this. So in a nutshell that's what we're proposing and discuss with you today.

And are you outside of these three boxes kind of it or do you actually fit to one of these boxes? I would view my job more working with the technical and the resident committee and we'll let the elected officials they they know what they're doing. They can do that. We'll report to them. Okay. any comments?

And again, it's, you know, with theou, it's just an agreement to have a discussion. You know, sit down and look out what the future has to be. You know, there was some legislative changes. Um, when it comes to townships, way fire departments are going to turn out to exist in the future. So, you know, the state pretty much made it clear, you either figure it out yourself or we'll figure it out for you. So this is just to get everybody in a room and talk about the future. That's correct. Clear on that.

Do you think of anybody from the state that um can educate as things have changed um to educate these different groups on the current uh statutory environment and the you know what you the rules that you have to play within. Now, Commissioner Morales few months ago, right after he announced the committee, shared with me a he went to I uh Indiana association county commissioners conference and there was a presentation that was made and I got a copy of that and there's some people from southern Indiana that Yeah, there's there's there's several counties that have already taken the initiative, you know, because SB1 the funding cuts to townships

and local units of government where they already have explored this and and have done some things like this And you know at some point it would be smart that we bring in some of these people in to give their opinion and how they did it.

But things are moving fast. I mean things are changing in in certain areas of of government and especially when it comes to public safety and you know so basically what this you know what this turns out is is you know the way we're going to see firefighting in the future is going to be much different than the way we see it now. and rather than wait, you know, we should get on this and discuss with our, you know, our firefighters, our elected community leaders to see exactly what that future is going to look like down the road because it's going to be different. There's there's no doubt about it. Um, you know, there's there's government consolidation coming. Um, townships have been on that block for many, many years. They have passed some legislation which will dual a point system and we'll consolidate some townships and that's going to change uh some of the rural areities the way things happen in the future. We don't know what that is, but right now is the right time to have this discussion. And again, it's a discussion and we want to be as transparent as possible and bring everybody into the room that that have a vested interest in this and and see what their ideas are. And to some extent, this isn't anything new. Um, this has been happening and and we've seen it for quite some time. I was trustee for several years in Porter Township. And you know this there's always been this growing discussion that things will probably be different in the future. And again, it's just a discussion. So that's where we're at with this.

Well, I know Commissioner Bixs and I started a a public safety commission and we became aware very quickly that fire protection was changing and we needed to figure out how to meet the the evolving needs of of fire protection. So, I'm really glad uh that we're doing this. Are you asking for a vote on your organization structure or just you're presenting this? Just a presentation today and we've talked with the county attorney. We're going to draft an draftou present it to the other body and get their buy in. Well, great job. But board needs to approve Scott move forward with drafting an

correct pay for it. So Oh, sorry. So, we need a motion to approve a draft for theou. That's that's what's on the discussion. Do we have a motion? Some moved. Second. We have a motion, a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries. Uh the next thing is I I think it's fair to say we could start uh asking for applications for these as well. We will come up between the attorney and I will come qualifications so you can advertise. We can advertise. Yes. Okay. Do you think that'll be at our next meeting? Before the next meeting. Okay. Okay. Thank you for your time. Thank you, Mike.

I have one more announcement before we move on. um our facilities uh director uh we've had an interimm uh fill that position after uh Mr. Wasawati uh stepped away last year and uh we've had uh his second in command Mr. Phil Kabachi who has filled that position and I think uh after watching his uh his performance over the last several months the commissioners have decided to make that a permanent position. So you will permanently be the uh facilities director and uh we want to make that announcement that you've done a good job uh up to this point. So we're confident that that you can you can continue handling everything and move forward. So

congratulations Phil. Okay, next we have uh Daniel Herrell, grant writing services agreement for 2026. How are you? Thank you. Thank you.

Okay. Okay. Would you like to take us through this?

Yeah. So, I've been working for the county on contract since 2021. And just for context, um through those years, I've been able to make the department uh from various departments grant money totaling about $1.3 million. Um this past year, uh the memorial opera house left the county contract. Um, but we were able to do grants with Porter County Parks Department, uh, Emergency Management Agency, Porter County Hazmat, who has a new director, um, the Sheriff's Department, and Porter County Juvenile Services. Now, so far this year, we've only brought in 2,000 in awards, but we have five grants that are still yet to be determined. And those grants could bring in anywhere from 87,000 to 629,000. Um, and we're not sure when we're going to get the results for that.

Do you have any grant requests for 2026 so far?

Uh, yeah. So for 2026, we've already applied for Porter County Community Fund for community change grant um and Indiana arts commission. This week we'd also be completing triricappa. Um and then there are the upcoming grants. Um this is the great long is energy efficiency and conservation block grant program which could provide some solar panels for the emergency management agency. um Firehouse Subs and Northfor Southern Grant. One of the big goals this year is to build up hazmat um because a lot of their equipment is starting to expire and they need new equipment. So, we're working on getting grants for them to get PPE and emergency equipment.

So, the ones are you looking to apply to the Porter County community? Porter Porter get funds from them to get grants from them, money from them. Yes. Yeah. So, for Porter County Community Foundation, Community Change Grants and I, we've already applied for 10,000, 2,000, and $4,000. And who are you applying on the behalf of? Um, for all three of those, that was for Porter County uh parks

department. Yeah. And then the next couple that are coming up are either EMA or Porter County Hazmat. Okay. Is there any other questions? No. Thank you for the information. But I would like to request we spoke briefly before is that you provide the commissioners because commissioners are given the responsibility to approve the contract. Give us a quarterly report as to what you know

activities. Yeah. that that you're you're going through at this point with whatever department that is just so we have a a a sound idea the worth of your contract. Absolutely. Yeah. I move that we approve the grant writing services agreement for 2026 not to exceed $21,000 with Danielle Herrell. Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you Danielle. a safe drive home. Thanks. Okay, next we have a opioid settlement fund award health department 911. [clears throat]

And actually, if we could just correct that. Um, we're not discussing um the source of those funds being from the opioid settlement funds. We're going to be talking about a different location where those funds are coming from. So, okay.

Okay. So, if I can, I'd like to give you guys an update on Heart Safe Porter County real quick. Uh, so everybody knows, it's a countywide collaborative initiative led by the Porter County Health Department to reduce death and disability from sudden cardiac arrest. Our goal is to build strong partnerships among residents, first responders, healthc care providers, businesses, and community organizations to increase handsonly CPR, expand AED accessibility across the county, and raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and heart disease prevention. So, I'm going to talk a little bit about all the people we've worked with. Um, Porter County Dispatch is helping to identify and integrate AED locations. Jake at the parks department and Christine at Dunes Tourism are working with uh municipal departments to prioritize 247 accessible AD placement. The sheriff's department and the library system are helping to promote awareness of sudden cardiac arrest. And even Sheriff Balon did a video uh a promotional video about one of these to make sure that we can get the word out. Since October, we've made really great progress. Porter County has joined the CARES registry. Uh hands only CPR training has increased by 10% and four additional school corporations have committed to becoming project atom hearts safe schools. We've been able to install 14 community accessible AEDs and purchased 25 AEDs for first responders and secured a grant to implement the pulse point responder program. So with the funds from this, we'll be installing two more 247 Safe Heart stations with AEDs, one at the Expo Center and one at Sunset Hill Park. And then we'll also be using a portion of the money to integrate pulse the pulse point app with a or with E 911 which Debbie knows way more about than I do. So

yeah, could you briefly explain what that program is?

Yes, I'd be happy to, but I'd like to just say that regarding the promotion of this, there was also Val Fire had uh is working on a countywide promotion of which our very own assistant director Andrew Barber is the star from the 911 center. So look forward to seeing that when when that is officially out there. So for a highlevel view of this um there's some functionality aspects that I provided to you but I won't get into the weeds there. I want to really talk about the benefits of this integration. This is not only a benefit to responders in 911 but it's a public facing app as well. So if you have an individual I'll give an example so people understand the benefit of this. If you have someone who would go into cardiac arrest in front of our building, um the the the geoence location, it would be 400 feet. Any anywhere there's an AED within 400 meters, I'm sorry, of that location. Um the person who has the Pulse Point app would get notified that there's a person in need. Um now, these individuals have to have CPR training. So, the this is a public from the public perspective. they would be notified and potentially if they're within that area, they could get there before even our responders. So, that's that's a really good benefit that this API creates. But also, um the benefit to responders is we would have um immediate uh AED locations and pulse point information that's just turned on as a feature within our medical protocols. And then in addition to that, all CAD notes will be pushed out through the app to all responders. So, um there's a little maintenance on the back end, but it's it's a feature that right now um far exceeds what just the limited information of just sharing with MDTs. So, all you have to do is is get credentialed essentially, have the app, and have all of our CAD notes at your fingertips. So um and then the other benefit is if somebody calls into 911 if you can

identify that if there's an AED located close to them so that uh and we know that minutes count when it comes to the you know really the effectiveness of the AED so you can actually alert them to if there is an AED within you know close proximity to them as well.

Exactly. Yes. The other thing that I um when we met with Matthew, I asked him especially at Sunset Hill Park, I don't know, we maybe want to do this at the Expo Center also and some of our other facilities where we have the external um AEDs is to have classes for people who frequent it like at Sunset Hill Park moms who bring their kids to the playground. They might want to learn how to, you know, stop the bleed, use the AED. There's a couple other things you just want to mention that you teach.

Yeah, we can do Narcan training. We can do stop the bleed. We can do um any of the AD hands only CPR we can do and we can do full CPR training if people actually wanted to sign up for that also. I think that would be really valuable especially there where you have people outdoors and running and doing all sorts of things playing on playground equipment. accidents can happen, heart attacks can happen, and and to have to know that people can get trained so they can feel comfortable with using the AED. I think the more people get trained and feel comfortable with using an AED, the more likely they are to use it and to even realize that that is an AED on the building. They might not even realize that.

Yeah. One of the goals of Hearts Safe Porter County is to get 26,000 additional people uh CPR uh certified. So, do you want to just talk about the heart shape thing that you have going on in this building? Well, that is that is one of the things uh you know they were able to become uh project atom certified for the whole building. Um you know having an ad on each level we have uh drills to make sure that we can uh get to somebody quick enough if uh if a cardiac emergency were to happen. It's it's gone really well. uh you know, our our nursing department's really jumped on that and taken off with it. Where do we have these placed currently?

Currently, I'm sorry I don't have all the locations off the top of my head, but we have three in the building uh right outside the elevators. We have one in the park across uh the way right by the bathrooms. Um other than that, I would have to get you a list. I'm sorry. We have several locations that are Yes. set up. Okay. And so in terms of the funding, can we just talk about that? Yes. Um, master negotiator, Commissioner Bixs, do you want to explain the deal that you got?

Well, it's been brought to my attention. You know, you know, I see the agenda opioid settlement fund award 40 grand, but that these funds are coming out of the opioid settlement fund uh grant. or not grant but funds and uh which I was surprised to hear. Um so we you know we spoke with you Matt and uh and that uh and the commissioner spoke briefly about where we could come up with 40,000 because of the you know this is a very very worthwhile very serious you know subject matter you know it's it's a reality you know we need these machines. Um, so, so my understanding is you're look for 20 grand. We're going to look for 20 grand within our budget. Uh but still, you know, I'd like to, you know, make clear to everybody that when these funds were set up were brought in um into county government. They were set up with um a resolution from this board that was passed on to the county council as to how these funds were to be spent. And it's um you know I've been made aware of that uh these funds are not being spent as the committee has um and the resolution has reflected they they were to be spent um with no explanation from the county council as to why they've deviated from from that resolution and from that vote. uh and not even a phone call or a email explaining to why they're deviating or decided to deviate away from that. It's my understanding that they're funding at least one or two full-time positions,

permanent positions, one in county government. Um and I should re I should uh you know uh everybody should be aware these are temporary funds. Now I don't know what logic that anybody on the county council may have used to use temporary funds to to fund a permanent position. Um but historically Porter County Council has not done that and it was it's certainly something that the board of commissioners would never recommend to do uh to use temporary funding to to you know to fund anything permanent uh you know reoccurring. Um very disappointed in hearing that. Um so but you know this program is very important should be very important to all of us including members of the county council um that we see see it through and uh so we're going to make the commitment the commissioners are going to make the commitment to funding money and thank you so much for agreeing to make uh uh to make that commitment with your budget as well. And I move that we approve the request to buy the two AEDs, one for Sunset Hill Park, one for the Expo Center, along with the software necessary to integrate with 911 with us contributing $20,000 to that effort.

Second. We have a motion, a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. I. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you, Debbie. Next up, Skilman. How are you, sir? Good. How are you guys? Good.

Right. Uh on the agenda, we just have pay applications split up for the jail and the highway. Uh so I'll run through the uh jail payouts here. Um number one is H&T electrical payout. Number 10 in the amount of $76,5915. Number two is quality control payout. number nine in the amount of $371,979.15. Uh FE Moran, pay up number 10 in the amount of $392,9005. Stafford Smith, pay up number five in the amount of $16,172.32. Stans Painting, pay up number seven in the amount of $39,900. Clenchner Interior payup number nine in the amount of $13,677.34. And the final one is Gary payup number 10 in the amount of $429,698.30.

I move that we approve uh the payoffs items 1 through seven under the gill on the agenda. Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I.

Motion carries. Okay. For the highway department, Daria, pay up number 15 in the amount of $137,769. Stance painting, pay up number seven in the amount of $4,560. Bloomfield, pay up number 13 in the amount of $17,714.65. Circle R Electric, pay up number 14 in the amount of $13,739.17. I move that we approve the payouts one through four under highway on the agenda. Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. And carries. Thank you. Thanks, Paul.

Thank you. 911. Debbie Gun. We have approval of the standard operating procedure from County Chesterton and Porter's call handling and initial dispatch procedures. Go ahead, Debbie.

Um I'm just excited that um this has been a long time coming [clears throat] and we've met several times and we've talked several times um about this uh need. And so I'm just really excited to bring the communities of Chesterton and Porter up to the dispatch standards that we have here at PCC. And also at the same time obviously reducing um some of the response time associated with the disperate system. Okay, any questions?

Debbie, just uh real quickly, what is what is the whole purpose of doing this? I know you brief for a second there, you touched on it. Um but uh what is your you know from a technical you know uh proceed procedural uh point of view? Um there's several reasons I'd like to touch base a little bit on the legislation. This will bring us into compliance with the legislation that was mandated a start date of 2008 which Valco PD and Portage PD came on board 2008 and 2009. So legislatively aside, um this is important to identify and and recognize that there is delay associated with servicing the residents of Porter and Chesterton during our call flow um when calling 911. I provided data uh to this point and this will [clears throat] significantly decrease that delay associated with that. So regarding public safety, that's paramount. But um there are also things that we have uncovered um through my research and with the help of attorney Mccclure that um indicate that this is really a move that from my opinion should have been done far before now um and has been well within our legislative right to do so. So can you just talk about um who you currently dispatch this way and now we're just bringing um Chester Porter into the fold of doing it the way you're doing it. Can you just say who you've already dispatched to?

Yes. Um, so I'll start with police. All police departments within Porter County, we have Hebrin, Couts, the Sheriff's Department, Valzo PD, Portage PD, Ogden News PD, Burns Harbor PD, and Beverly Shores PD. All of those police departments, if you reside within that those communities, you will call 911. We will answer the call. We will enter the call into our CAD, and we will dispatch that call. Um the only two departments that are outside of that currently are Chesterton and Porter. The call flow in those situations is when you call 911. We are the PAP, we are the Ezet, we are um the location that has been determined by um Indiana state legislation for the call to to come into. So we are technically the um custodian of the call at all times and have been. The call comes into our center. We have to go through a series of questions. We once we determine that that call does not require either fire or medics, which for the record, we dispatch every fire and medical agency throughout the county in addition to the police departments that I already described. Um, if we determine that this is a police matter involving Chesterton and Porter, we transfer the call to that agency. So, as you can imagine, you're transferring the call. they are then um essentially it's redundant um information gathering because of the disperate location and then they gather that information and then they dispatch their officers. This will eliminate that aspect. So can we just get it right? So the only change here is you are d dispatching to every police department other than Chesterton and Porter and you're dispatching everything else. And so this um uh standard oper operating procedure just makes Chesterton and Porter like everybody else in Porter

County. That's correct. With 911 calls, I'd like to also mention I know that um we have had consolidation discussions which they are not interested in. This would allow them to maintain autonomy with their administrative calls. So if they have someone who wants to call the administrative dispatch center and say my my lawnmower was stolen from my shed last night, that would not involve us. This is strictly 911 calls that come into the center that that are essentially the purviewer of. And so the towns of Chesterton Porter will be treated exactly the same way as every other city and town in Porter County. Absolutely. There's no variation at all. None. No.

All right. I move that we approve the standard operating procedure for the towns of Chesterton and Borters call handling and initial dispatch procedures. I would just like to add to your your motion uh to be activated April 1st. Okay. To be act to be activated April 1st. Second. Okay. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Motion carries. We look forward very much look forward to working with the towns in Chester and Porter and uh and we hope to help them make a better dispatching system for everybody in those those two communities.

Thank you for mentioning that. I was going to put that in. I would I would love to meet with them still to discuss this operational change. Thank you. Very good. Next up, we have Billy's department, Mr. Phil.

How are you? Good morning. Morning. Okay, first up, you got the JDC. We have the payout for Mechanical Concepts. It's payout number four for 194,850. I move that we approve. Second. Motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries. As for that project, we're actually moving very well with it. We're actually hoping done with it completely by the end of March. Nice.

Very nice. Uh for the admin, we have the restore works request for the concrete for around the parking garage. It's just the additional work they were doing for us to do uh patching on the outside. Okay. Can you state the dollar amount? Uh 8,255. I move that we approve. Second. Motion in a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries. And for the 157 Franklin Restore Works to do masonary on the ephus, they're for the lentils behind them. They're worried about penetration and the for additional work on that one. I thought we were done with that. It they're pretty much done with it.

Okay. All righty. I move that we approve. Second. We have a motion in a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries. That's all I have. Bill, I just wanted to you know because you know we I think we had put you on a because you were brought in as inter request the outgoing facilities director Mr. Wizawati and we gave you 20 days. Yep. And uh um I think you've what 60 60 about almost 90 now.

Almost 90 now. Okay. And the and the reason the commissioners have have expedited that today is that you're you're doing a great job and you know we ask you to do something it gets done. We've seen there's been a visual u you know improvement of the cleanness of this building for sure and I noticed walking up you know how it was seen I my goal is every it's we just have seen a difference so you know just keep at it um and if you have any questions commissioners congratulations I appreciate thank you guys thank you

congrat [clears throat] How are you late? I'm well. Yourselves? Good. All right. Le for us?

Sure. There really what I'm asking for? Well, Microsoft changed the structure of how we do licensing and which forced me to look at other options for our email system. If I go with Office 365, which is the way that most governments are going these days anyways, it'll cut our costs by 50% now as if we stay with the system we're using now. So, um, because of the increase such an increase in licensing, I have I'm asking your permission to go to the council and ask for $300,000 for this project, which will, like I said, this is 50% of the cost. Should I [clears throat] ask for licensing on our what we're currently using? Unfortunately, these software manufacturers don't want you to own anymore. They want you to rent or

Exactly. It's for almost everything anymore. Yeah. Or rack it. It is. Motion approved. Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I I carries. Thank you very much. Thank you. Highway department. Mr. Blair.

Good morning. Morning.

So, you have some quotes of purchase Ford F250 standard cab available delivery one week to be paid out of highways budget. Now, this is a continuation of last month. Uh, all these quotes are four vehicles that are in stock, and I verified this morning before I came in that the three lowest biders of these next three are all still in stock as of this morning. Scott, can we do these three together? Yes. Can you um just verbally say the recommendation along with the dollar amount?

Uh, the F250 standard cab recommend hearing for in the amount of 44,972. The F-250 crew cab field Fieldhouse Ford 51769.25 and F-150 Super Cab Curry Ford 47393. I move that we approve. Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Motion carries. Thank you. Okay. Number four. Yeah. Um this just annual by two minutes bids that we send out every spring. Uh, I just need to make a correction that we'll be awarding them on April 21st at your meeting. Okay. I got the

April 21st. Correct. Yep. I move that we approve. Second. Motion in a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries. Um, the next is for our countywide sign replacement grant. It received uh when the bids came in through INDOT for that grant, it was about double what the amount of the grant was. Y so Martin is working with DLZ. We have to redo the bid docks and send it back out through INDOT to get rebid. I'm I move that we approve design contract amendment number one with DLC in the amount of uh 12,600 increase. Second. We have a motion and second. All those in favor signify by saying I.

I. Motion carries. Um, next is just an on call agreement with A&Z engineering. We have some jobs coming up where we need to get some surveying done and some cing samples such as 1050 North and Mervah Hill Road around the outside of the airport so we can know what the subbase of those roads are like and elevations and such on 1050 North. This just gives us the chance to work with somebody when our engineering department. Can you just verbally say the amount? Yeah. For uh not to exceed $100,000. I move that we approve. Second. Motion and second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. I. Motion carries. Thank you. Thank you.

That that cap that cow had that other cap. Uh yeah, it was still 10 more to go. Development, storm water management, Mr. Jbo.

Morning again. First in the agenda is a supplemental agreement number three with Short Elliot and Hendrickson, Inc. for the Marquette Trail Reroute. Um this would be an amendment in the amount of $79,950. We're going to be extending, as you know, we bid last year. We're under construction for the half of the project to meet our obligation for our grant funds. We need to extend the trail so we can exercise and squeeze all that money out. Yeah. So, we'll need the consultant to go ahead and do a little bit more work so we can get that added to the contract. I move that we approve.

Second. A second. All in favor signify by saying I. I motion carries. Next, pretty self-explanatory. Contract with DLZ Indiana LLC Kand Avenue, CSX River, bridge number 1014 in Liberty Township. This is a rehabilitation project design professional services not to exceed $350,500. Move that we approve. Second. Motion a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries.

Number three. Next is uh supplemental agreement number one with lock Mueller group. This is for the project of the division road over the Hutton ditch crooked creek bridge bridge number one and and Morgan Township unused funds go to cover additional environmental review. This results in a net change net zero change the contract. So the contract still remain the same as before 38724. Move that we approve. Second motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries. Number five.

Kind of in the same circumstances with Lock Miller Group County Road 250 West over Philips Dip. Number four, bridge 66, Boone Township Bridge placement amendment number one. This is also a net zero change. The contract is exceeded amount will not change from the 35366. Move that we approve. Second. We have a motion and second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries.

Next, uh, and they are here if you have any questions, but this is pretty pretty standard fair. Haven's home is doing a performance agreement for Sienna residential subdivision phase one. This is the project that's located south of State Road 2 on 100 West on the east side of the road across from Emerald. I think it's Emerald Green subdivision. This is a typical standard fair. We've agreed with the engineers's estimate for the public improvements. We also have a certificate bond or a letter of credit from a bank covering set things. This is simply the agreement binding them to the terms of the work. I move that we approve. Second.

Motion a second. All those signify to say I. I. Motion carries. Next is Sir 5 LLC or Chaires. I can't pronounce it right. I apologize. Uh they are doing some improvements on the land. They are required to give a deed dedic public road right away on county road 600 625 west. Front of you have the deed dedication document accepting said right away. We recommend approval. I move that we approve. Second. Have a motion a second. All those in favor by saying I.

I motion. Then last on the agenda today, um Good Oil is here to make a presentation. This will be the first reading of a request for an ordinance uh amending the zoning map. Um the location of the uh property is 597 West US 30. It's actually the northeast corner of US30 and 600 West. 600 West, the school that goes north to the Union Township Schools. kind of puts you in the ballpark. Currently, it is zoned CH, which is high intensity commercial. They're requesting to downgrade the zone PM, which is medium medium intensity commercial. The distinguishment between the two, just for the record, CM has or CH, as you know, is very high intensity. It's got a lot of your fast feeders, a lot of things that draw a lot of activity. The thing about a CM zoning is lot sizes all have to be five acres a minimum otherwise you go to the BCA to get a a variance to that effect. CM is something left the lots could be as small I believe don't quote me but I think it's 15,000 square feet so it gives a less smaller lot size. The medium density commercial is a lot of the characteristics of the CH except some of the more high traveled and generating uses are not there. So by and large and they will make they want to make a presentation. So there'll be a slideshow so you can see the product that they're working with is they're asking for a downgrade and at the plan commission meeting which they will go over to they made commitments to only certain uh uses on the property and the number of maximum number of lots that doesn't mean they may not get the maximum but they

cannot go over that amount. So without further ado, be before we that what did what was the recommendation to the commissioners from the plan commission? Plan commission voted uh with one negative vote but in the affirmative to grant favorable recommendation. Okay.

So I will let the petitioner come up. They will introduce themselves and uh describe their project. See, sure. Thank you. Thank you. Sorry. Thank you. Benjamin goes.

It's always going to choose to mirror extended display. Stand up. There we go. This is computer. Let me bring up settings.

There we go. There you go. Okay.

Hi, I'm Matt Rossman with ICS representing good oil uh company for the development here. um have Adam here uh as the engineer for the uh the project and I we have the presentation in front of you for route 600 and route 30 uh it's the norththeast corner of that intersection go through that you know there was a few things we identified uh for this property is the uh density which we've talked to before originally we came to this project with uh six buildings and the first feedback was that that density was too much for this property. Uh so we reduced that down to four uh additional buildings not counting uh the sea store. So originally it would have been seven buildings total for the entire site. Uh the traffic we have not done a traffic study yet. Um we have talked to INDOT. Uh there was uh some additional concern about additional access uh to the east of the property. Uh predominantly I think for emergency egress access and uh the conversation with INDOT is I do not believe they provided us an email or a letter yet. Uh but they did extend that they would not um be in favor of any additional access points onto uh into our property off of Route 30. Uh and that also kind of addresses the emergency uh access uh on that second page there as well. The types of permitted uses we're asking for down zone. Um and I think even though what's listed there for additional uses uh later on as we have that um CM listing there what we really envision here outside of the sea store is um our our ideal uh user. Can you just explain um your

[clears throat] terminology? So when you say ste sea store, can you just explain

uh gas station convenience store? So out there we have um eight pumps and then there is I believe it is a 5,000 uh square foot um convenience store. Um, with the other buildings there, the users that we're anticipating are going to be, you know, your HVC contractors, your plumbing contractors, uh, people that are in the trades that need an office area up front and they need a warehouse in the back to store, you know, vans and merchandise that they're they use throughout their uh, jobs. I don't the buildings don't really inherently lend themselves to retail or really any other use. So that that there there could be some other types of uses there, but I think that would be a the trades would be a good representation of of what would be there.

Is there going to be a restaurant in this uh convenience store? There would be a food option inside. I wouldn't define it quite as a restaurant because there I do not believe there will be any sit down area in there. Uh there will be a drive up window on the west side of the building. Will it be a named like franchise or will it just be whatever the convenience store? Um I I believe that's not finalized yet, but I believe the intention is for it to be a national brand. Okay. Um store.

Okay. Um the um yeah on the your original on page three actually shows what we originally um had um submitted and what we would have liked to originally do which was obviously a lot more density there. Uh and then on page five uh this drawing is different than what uh I have provided you with here. Uh we have made some changes uh to this from this the page that's on um slide five. Uh the main change being that um the retention pond is slid further to the east and there's a septic field up along 30 and there's an additional retention pond behind the sea store.

So I get how many total buildings are you? Five total buildings. And how many acres? eight and a half. Okay. And why did you um was this at the recommendation of the plan department for you to add the sea store detention spond or was that something that you came something that we came up with uh due to further site analysis with the engineer? Okay. And with the septic design team I'll let you speak a little bit to the septic field too.

Sure. Good morning, Adam McAlpine with McAlpine Consulting. Um, with regard to the septic system, because this is a commercial development, septic design will need to be permitted by the Indiana State Department of Health. And part of that process requires our team to examine the soils based upon the soil conditions. um you make an analysis and you submit a pre-application to the Indiana State Department of Health letting them know what the intended use is of the convenience store and of the four proposed buildings. And based upon um that estimated wastewater use and based upon the current soil conditions um they then respond to you as the applicant and let you know what how the septic system needs to be designed. What's the g what are the gallons per day that you need to design and meet?

And then we move to the next step of designing the system. Um what we have learned in this area is that these soils are very sandy. It's within a mile of the sand mine. Um the area was served by a septic system when it was a restaurant and motel. The whole surrounding area is also served by a septic system and according to our consultant this area is very conducive for a septic system. So this would be a shared septic system. So that convenience store in these four um proposed buildings all share a common system which would be common and um the maintenance of that system would be common to all of the users and um so that is our plan at this at this stage of design.

And uh for the sanitary district um that's up the road from us. We do have we have a letter attached to the front uh that we received from them saying that they would not provide us um a connection to their to their uh system. They uh I believe they have told us or somebody in the team that they are over capacity 60% of the time. Uh so it would be our wish to connect to them if we could. Uh but at this time they will not allow us to connect to them. So we're not we're not looking that any further unfortunately because we would have liked to have connected to them.

Okay. So when you said it would um they would share that the septic um is everybody then leasing something and that's part of their lease agreement or h how does that work then that they have a shared responsibility? Yeah,

it would look work very similar to shared access points or retention pond that would be part of the uh the HOA or the CAM fees uh that would be shared on all the members. So they would all be responsible and if somebody uh was not paying then they would obviously like any HOA would have legal action they could seek but it would fall on the other members of that um of the property owners to to to make the repairs necessary maintain. Mike, Mike, I want to ask you, is it proper? I'm listening to this and it I mean, we're asking for resistance property yet. There's been no there's been no report back from the state agencies as to what type of system would be supported on this property.

This is typical course. This is the first step of many steps before they even get building permits. They will have to adhere to all that later. Um, keep in mind they may have been agreed a maximum of four lots, but if during the course of the design and the state comes back said you need more space for a septic field and that impinges on their lots, then they'll have to make a business choice. It won't be four lots. It may be three lots. It may be two lots. So, I guess that's what we're faced with today. I mean, they could go there today to put a gas station and all these things in as long as they didn't subdivide and they but they would still have to go through the process of doing the design, the detailed reports, the concurrence from INDOT, the concurrence from the board of health at the state level before we'd even grant permit. They would be coming back to the plan commission for subdivision in that case. And even if they just didn't do want to do subdivision, they wanted to build the uh convenience store gas station, they still have to go through all that process yet themselves.

Well, I I I understand all that. I guess what I'm concerned with is most critical piece of this development is whether or not they receive the res. I think we can all agree that because without the reasoning, none of it happens. Uh yes and no. under CH they could go in and put the higher intensity uses and they just couldn't subdivide. They just couldn't subdivide. But they could put higher density uses in there today, right? Which would would say that again

as it's zoned CH today as long as they didn't subdivide. They can make application and then go through the process for approvals to put a convenience store gas station and as many of those uses as the property would allow them to do with the utility, the septic and the well and the storm water management. They could do that today. The only difference between what they're asking today versus what they could do today is they're asking permission to subdivide. And that there there lies my concern because the subdivide allows more more function more buildings on that property. Yes and no. They have agreed to limit

Mike. Look, it's either yes or no. Does it or doesn't? Well, it's at all how you look at it. At the plan commission, they agreed they would not do certain uses that. I'm I'm not going to go on on what they promise. I I I sat on that board long enough to know you can tell me one thing when you're in front of me, but once you get that reszoning, they could turn around and sell that property. But but but if you if you approve this, there will be commitments that will be legally recorded along with the property. They shall do that. Okay. So, let me ask you, Mike, let's say we don't reszone. Um but they could still put these buildings on there. They just can't subdivide it, but they could still put the buildings on. Correct.

Simply put, yes. Okay. Maybe Scott can add color to that, but the plan commission came with commitments. You as commissioners can put commitments on this. Those become legal documents that get recorded with the property. Is that correct? Correct.

Well, I guess I guess my my my concern here is that you know the work hasn't been done on what this property support in the way of And you know, rightly or wrongly, I I just think we're getting the cart before the horse here that we'll we'll go ahead and reszone this knowing that it's going to allow you to subdivide it, which in in in uh essence it allows you to put more structure structures on the building without knowing what kind of septic system will be supported here. Now, I I get that. Well, none of this other stuff could happen, Jim, if they if they if they can't if they, you know, but the but the damage, in my opinion, has already been done. It's already been reszoned.

Well, that's my concern. And what I would add is a slight twist to what Commissioner Big said is if the sanitary isn't whether the resone occurs or not the septic commercial if the development. Correct. Correct. No matter if we don't reszone or we do, you don't have a sanitary option. Correct. Correct. So either way, we're going to have to do the commercial state. system. Correct. Just want to make sure that

I guess I guess what I'm telling you all I know you put a lot of work in into this and u and I want to call you mayor. Okay.

Um I apologize for not returning your call. I got caught up in some stuff. Otherwise I would have absolutely returned your call. I get I guess where I'm at to be as fair as I possibly can to all of you is that if you if you put in front of me what this property will will accept in the way of septic system and that septic system reflects that it will hold what you're proposing. Um I I will accept that. uh more readily than what I'm going to I I can't vote for this. I can't support it without that. I just I've been been at this a long time and I just know on once you get that once you get that reszoning a lot of things can happen. So um Commissioner May sir, we're we're at the first reading. Obviously this is going to come back for a second reading. Um, so even if it was approved based on a condition of first reading only, we would still have time to bring that answer to you hopefully before the second reading would be in place. So that way you know exactly what the limits that property would be if subdivided.

I see what you're saying. And so,

well, I'm I'm willing to entertain that if the board president is, you know, I spoke briefly with with Commissioner Morales as well as very briefly with Commissioner Riggnets about this case and that, you know, this board appoints a representative to set on the plan commission. our representative, although the only negative vote, no vote, has come back with a no with and with all due respect for him, um I'm not I'm not going to uh subvert his opinion of it. He's the one that set in on these meetings. I didn't. Neither did Barb. So, but on the other hand, if he's willing to to consider that, you know, giving you time to come back with that report and that report uh does indeed support a reasonzoning of what you're recommending here, then we've got something to consider. And I'm not I'm not Mr. Chairman, I'm not throwing this all in your lap. I just I'm respecting that position you have on the on the plan commission. And if but if you're willing to let them come back uh during the second reading uh with the report u I'm willing.

Yeah. I mean those were and I I want to speak so you guys can get your questions out. The things I didn't like about it was was the fact that first you came with six and then we scaled it back down to four. I don't really see that as a reduction but but I'll live with that. and the fact that all these are going to be tied up into a sewer. And here's a letter you can't hook up to the sewer. So, now you're going to be septic. Now, I do have one question though. Is this going to be a good gas station convenience store or is this going to be something else? It's going to be a good branded uh store. So, so that's that's okay. I just want to make sure.

The other thing that I didn't care for it is that Okay. Well, now we know what they're probably going to be. So, they might be warehouses. that are going to do uh you know like heating and air or some type of of thing like that. Well, you still only have one way in and one way out. So, you're gonna I mean they're going to have to get supplies. You're going to have semis going through there. So, the other concern I had was this this jam up right here with the traffic situation. You know, I mean, sure, you're going to get some box trucks, but look, even medium-sized companies, they get they get semi- loads. They could be offloaded with four trucks. So, my other concern was a one way in, one way out. Okay. Coming into the gas, which the gas station's going to do well. I'm sure that would be a great spot for it. Um, and that's going to be busy on its own. But those were my two concerns. But one, if we could hook up to the septic down the road, but we now find out we can't. Uh, so that puts us all on septic now instead of utilities. Um, and and the fact that, you know, will you be able to put four buildings? I still think it's a little bit much, but I I would be willing to see as well. I have I have full intention that you're going to put something nice. That's not the issue. But a lot of times when something gets reszoned and then it comes back and it turns out to be nothing that it was and you can't take back to zoning it out, the property shot. We have a lot of those in the county that turned out to be a giant mistake. So that's my biggest concern and unfortunately that's the way the steps are. You know, you would think it would be different, but you know, that's the real you. So I I would entertain if if you could bring us any more information. You know, again, I'm not I'm confident you're going to build something nice. That's not the issue. But the issue is is what this turns out to after the zoning's been redone and then what.

So yeah, I don't have a problem. I have two I have two questions. Um, first I'm wondering if it makes sense for us to do the first reading today since No, no, we need to do the first reading. We need to do the public hearing. Okay. We need to go to second reading. We're not making a decision today. Okay. So, I could so the board board should understand that we could recommend we could vote yes on the first reading. Correct. to move this along. But that is no guarantee that on the SPE rating you get the same vote.

As I think as I stated and as Commissioner Morales and I I I think the Commissioner Riggnness is also kind of uh filling herself along with the same thing. come back to the second reading with something substantial that so we can believe that we're I'm not going to get a call or we're not going to get a call five years from now. Hey, that septic system ain't working. Well, can I just ask you? Um, so I understand your preference would have been to plug into the public utility, the sewer, but you are being forced into the situation where you have to do a septic. Um, what kind of ramifications does that have on both your gas station convenience store as well as those other four buildings that you have? What kind of ramifications does that have? it it limits us what we can do in the future and flexibility. So when we design the system, uh I believe currently what we've told the septic designer is there's 20 people per building. That's the occupant load that they're going to design under. Um if we were to exceed that when we go to apply for a permit in the future, we would not be able to to accommodate that. Um same for the sea store. it can't convert into a full-blown restaurant because it's going to be designed for a certain capacity for what is on the table now. Um, so it it further restricts the site naturally. Okay.

Just because of what the system's going to be designed for. Okay. And had you thought about the kinds of restrictions that you were thinking about putting that would be part of the um the covenants of this zoning? Had you talked about the uses that you were going to eliminate? There were further uses that were listed that I have not got to yet that we've offered to further restrict that I believe would be um I I don't know the legal process and how but even I mean we're not going to own it or live forever. So at some point I believe those those restrictions would carry with the property. Right. So I can't speak to the the legalities of that how that's enforced. That correct?

Say that again. that the restrictions if the property were sold they're moved on with the the new owners. Yes. Done correctly with written commitments come out of plan get here. They stay with the property. They're recorded with the property and those go with the change of ownership.

The property would also internally have an REA which would be a restricted easement agreement for the property owners. So you can't even if they came here and said, "Hey, I want to paint the building orange." We're not going to allow them to paint the building orange. They're going to have to go through the steps internally to the to this. Right now, the plan is we would own retain ownership of everything. But the main reason why we want to subdivide it is each parcel would be its separate um uh property ID then. So we could have a separate loan structure for each property. So there would be the potential where we could sell off an individual building. If a tenant was there and um they reached out and they wanted to purchase it instead of relocating and we're finding a new tenant, we may sell it, but we would want to retain ownership where they can't change one building and it and affect the rest of the development. uh in in that some of the changes as far as access goes. We did I mentioned earlier we talked to the state and we would have loved to obviously as a developer have an additional access on route 30 uh and they I we also went through the exercise of asking them about an emergency access uh capability uh and ultimately their opinion was that that was a no on on on any access additional to 30. We did however uh extend the road in design down to the property line. So the future developments that would happen down the road would access would be able to create more access for this development and for future development. So they would have an easement right to to attach to that property and what's being proposed now. Uh, I think that road is only 800 feet long. And so then it would reach that that T in the road there. And then that's we kind of delineated that a little bit more. So when you reach there, you could take a left and hit 30 or you could take a right and go to 600. I know it's not quite it's not nearly as good as having

a second access at the end of the road to Route 30. Um, but it but an 800 foot road and then you do have two separate roadways that you can have access to. Is there I'd like to I guess Is there a way to design that to if there were an accident right there at the end of that drive going out on 30 uh and then something would occur in one of these buildings where they needed an ambulance. Is there a way to design that so they can get around whatever's blocking that? You know, you know, I guess where there's no ditch, that ditch was covered up. They could drive a fire truck or an ambulance around or a squad car.

Oh, from Highway 30. Yeah. Is that what you're asking? Well, I'm trying to envision different scenarios. Uh there could be one scenario where a vehicle could be parked on Highway 30 potentially and then respond to an emergency situation. Um there is a driveway to the east of this residential driveway that conceivably emergency vehicle could pull into. you when you come back could you know have have some some more thought to that more thoughts to that to provide the board

can I ask Mike a question so I know that in in not is loathed to give multiple ingress and egress they just don't like those cuts in and out on third correct that's their typical this one's special because INDOT bought limited access right away not only did they buy the rights they bought all the access rights along the stretch of 30 except where they existed. Who did INDOT? INDOT. They did it in the 80s when matter of fact I was working at InDOT when they did it and they bought all the rights to the access. You cannot cross that line.

So So and there there have to be a lot of different uh businesses that are attempting to do something along 30. How did they get around the problem? with only one access point from 30. When they bought the limited access right away from everybody, they made sure every lot at phase US30 had at least one access.

Yeah. and what the state DOT has told us um preliminarily we've reached out to the rideway coordinator with the Leaport district and in her opinion a third access point to this development didn't appear warranted because it's on a corner and there are already two access points to the property and based upon her experience the amount of traffic generated at this development would not warrant a third access point you're saying there's two there is two access there is an access point on county road 600. Okay.

Yeah. There's there's an access point here and then back here as well. And this is this is not going through the gas station portion is fine. Okay. It's here that there's one access. Okay. Oh, okay. You know, and that's that's what's in question. Why couldn't they put another drive here? They won't have one. You know, realistically, maybe maybe you add one in the back, but they won't allow indo influence comes this far back on the property. It can the cuts from 30 into the No, no, no. I'm talking about a cut from this isn't 30. This is a drive. Why can't you put something here?

Um, INDOT's language and far how their their jurisdiction can extend is ambiguous. So, the second we modify this entrance, it gives them control over anywhere else in the development. Um, I don't think they have an issue with this with this access though. We had

Can could I approach and show you something real quick? based off this road. So come here. So we were trying to also address here.

Okay. So, it is coming out. Okay. So, there's no access to the gas station here. Is this a curb? Right here. And right here, this is what we're trying to do is create this separate, right? So, if I'm coming out of here, I could if I'm going this way, I could always just go here instead of coming out here. Okay. And and that changes based off of Okay. And I I'm assuming that there's going to be those going to be pretty plenty wide enough to get an emergency vehicle. Absolutely.

And I would assume that I'm sorry down here. This dead end down here. It does dead end down there, but it it has an access easement that will allow the adjacent property owner if it ever and when they develop to access it. Okay. If I got to bring a fire engine down here, how do I turn it around? We would create a turnaround. You could either navigate through the parking lot or we you could pull in there. Yes, I would. We're making progress here. So, I'm ready for a public hearing.

Okay, let's move on to the public hearing. Okay, so we're going to close the commissioners meeting and open up the first reading on the oil company or oh ordinance for Sony map amendment. Do we have anyone here that wants to speak in favor of this project? Mr. Chair, yes, we we we've closed the commissioner's meeting and open it up to Okay. Right. that I just said. Yeah, I'm sorry. Uh again, is there anyone who would like to speak here in favor for the project?

Third time. Is there anyone here like to speak in favor of the project? Okay. Is there anyone here would like to speak in favor against or should say against the project? Anyone here would like to speak against the project? Second time, anyone here would like to speak against the project? and third time anyone would like to speak against the project. None. So, I'd like to close the hearing and open up the commissioner's meeting. Back to the commissioner's meeting. I move that we approve the ordinance for zoning up amendment uh from CH to CM on first reading. I'll second for discussion.

Gentlemen, you're getting a second time at that. Okay. You Everybody understands the importance of that. So try harder and I I would recommend you work, you know, stay contact directly with Chairman Morales since he does sit on the plan commission because I'm not going to make any but I I'm going to go as he goes. Okay. So he's the guy that you've got to you know I because I do understand Ed's concerns about this. However, if you're willing to get us more information to and and where he's more he's more comfortable and and uh you know resing this forever uh than I am. So, yes, Mike, before you before you take your vote, I think I heard what the concerns were. If maybe we could restate those so that they're real clear instructions. I think one was Does the sept septic field work? Is that correct?

Yes. That uh that they're going to come back with uh with you know some kind of report u it's from the state the state or whoever you're going to get capacity capacity capacity dictate whether four three or two units. Yes. And then the other the other issue I think there was two main ones. The other one was the circulation of traffic on the property in and out. Yes. and that and that uh that there was there was adequate turnarounds for fire engine or ambulance to turn around on that road to get back out.

And then I'd also like to add if you vote on this or if they go they're going to appear before the BCA and the plan commission again because BCA that you know that the issue about two two entrances in and out of dead end that is a variant situation. So they would have to peer the BCA to get permission that that'll be touched to the property. So all those other conditions are downstream element.

I I you know I get to I get the sense that you want to do the right thing. I get the sense I I just think that you need some help in get getting that information in front of us and then eventually to I look forward to the second reading and and Mr. Mr. Chairman, when would we set that? How many how much time you going to need before it gets in front of us? We have another meeting at the end of the month. If we're not prepared, we can ask for deferral meeting. Doesn't matter. Okay. Right. Have to recheck. I'll second Barb's motion. Got a motion, a second. All in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries.

Thank you. Look forward to being back in front of you guys. Okay. Next, we have a We have Mr. Tim Russell. No, Tim Russell just has a request to use the norththeast corner of the courthouse grounds on March 29th from 2:00 p.m. to 3 p.m. to provide 20 or 30 minutes of prayer service during the Sunday path event. They will be using a small portable speaker and microphone. I move that we approve. Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. Motion carries.

Any other matters would like to come before the board of commissioners and like to speak. Are you guys coming up? Yes. Okay. How are you?

How are you? Chris, how you doing buddy? By the way, I stopped down the other day and the outside door was locked. What time? I wanted to say it was like 3:30 or something. Oh, we might have been at the VA. I'm sorry. Because we were at the VA for two different Oh, okay. Okay, sir. But my intention was to stop and say hi. So Oh, thank you.

My apologies. I thought we had coordinated everything so that I'd be actually um you get warning and I'd be I'd appear on the agenda. But um it's been crazy couple weeks. I understand. We're happy to have you.

Uh we've we've had our own uh bit of craziness at the IDVA. We've had some staff changes and and territory reassignment. Uh but I'm Mark Borley. I'm with the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs. I'm the I think they're calling me the North District Service Officer. I was formerly the Northwest District Service Officer, but like as I said, we've realigned our territories. Um I come here uh before you to fulfill the department's obligations to provide each county executive with a bianual report uh pertaining to veteran services in your county. This change came out of the 2025 session of the General Assembly that altered uh Indiana code 10-17-1. Um so my presentation today uh is just limited to introducing the service officer accreditation standards that were finalized by the Indiana Veterans Affairs Commission back in December of 2025. Um these take full effect on uh July 1st of this year. Um these standards are intended to basically provide a more oh what's the word? Uniform.

Yeah. uniform uh experience for veterans throughout the state of Indiana as far as the quality of service received when interacting with a IDVA accredited veteran service officer. Within this there are um there's seven different chapters that pertain to how a an accredited service officer will will operate. The most pertinent are the chapters on technology. What uh equipment will be used uh to maintain claims management uh by the service officer. We have a claims management system. It's a piece of software called Vetrospect um that each service officer is required to use in order to maintain control over what a claimant, a veteran or surviving spouse or or other eligible individual would uh have as far as what benefits they're applying for and to manage all the forms associated with that. Um,

can I just ask you is all of this being funded then or are these unfunded mandates that they have to so with our find the money to the

with our claims management system the state does pay for one user license in each county and then should when the county chooses to employ additional accredited service officers the burden of that expense does fall on the county. It's u the user license fee is approximately five500 $550 per year. Okay.

Um so so we make sure one service officer in each county has access to that. And then again if if you and you guys have chosen you have two full-time accredited service officers. I think you're up to four part-time. Two part time. Just two. Yeah. Two part time positions. One important one. Okay. So, um so we handle the the one and then you guys have uh responsibility for the other three

user accounts. Um and then the the associated expenses with maintaining office space and what and they are your employees.

Right. Right. Okay. Um yeah, these standards are they just broadly define what technology assets the VSO should have at uh access to as well as requiring them to maintain a what is known as a personal identifi identity verification card. That is a identity card issued by the federal VA that allows them access directly to the F federal veterans benefit management system so that they can more quickly look up the status of a claim or records pertaining to uh veterans benefits per individual that that the VA the federal VA has on file. uh makes makes it a faster process when evaluating what what claims work has been done in the past and what the veteran may be eligible for in terms of new claims or if necessary appeals. Um this does mandate the um the use of our claims management system for data reporting. This what your VSOs's input into the system is used to generate reports that appear on our transparency portal that we have created that is available on the IDVA website dva.in.gov gov and then it defines a few key performance indicators again that we intend to reflect our reports that are on that transparency portal. Finally, there's a chapter on non-compliance which I don't foresee us using here in Porter County anytime soon, but it does should uh one of your VSOs fall out of

compliance with our accreditation standards, there there is a uh what amounts to a 90-day process to either remediate the lack of um fulfillment of these standards or to get them back into compliance. So this what does that do to him and his department? Anything? Is he already doing everything that he needs to be? He's he's already doing everything he needs to do. This just finalizes things so that we are in full compliance with the changes that were made last year to the Indiana code as it pertains to veteran services.

Well, I would like to brag about Chris and his department. We constantly get compliments about the role that they play and the job that they do and the help that and assistance that they give to our veterans. I can't tell you what a what a benefit they are to the community. So, and I'm hoping that that's the case all around the state, but I'll tell you it is definitely in Porter County. It's it's good to hear that I've trained him well. [laughter] Uh

if there are any other questions, I'm glad to entertain them. No, we do get I've gotten a few where people come in and you do a fantastic job. You know, we always get the opposite. You know, when something's broken down or asked, but it was real pleasure reading some of that. Thank you very much. Thank you for Thank you all for your time. All righty. Thank you. Any other matters that may come before the wondering when you guys were what you were doing there for so long. [laughter] Okay. Well, we will adjourn this meeting. Our next meeting will be on March 31st, 10:00