County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

One at a time. Who it's from, what it's for, and get your foot rag out. [laughter] There's Marky. Mark.

All right. Good morning, everyone. I'd like to call this meeting of the Hancock County Board of Commissioners to order. Today is December 16th, and the time is 8:02. This meeting is being recorded and streamed for public viewing. By participating, you're acknowledging that your image, voice, and comments may be captured and made publicly available. This meeting's also been properly noticed in accordance with Indiana Code 5-14-1.5. Let the record show a quorum of commissioners is present. The commissioners are open for business. We'll now proceed with our agenda. And at this time, I'd like to invite everybody in attendance to stand with us and uh join us for the pledge. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. [cough] [clears throat] Then if we can get a motion to approve our minutes. I make a motion that we approve the minutes for 1212026, our regular meeting, and the 129 2022 executive session.

Second. There's a motion on the floor and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Now for our county highway engineer, county highway update.

All right. Good morning. Merry Christmas to everybody. And uh we'd like to [clears throat] thank We're going to do bid openings today for our annual bids. like to thank all the contractors and providers and vendors who some of them showed up for taking the time to place bids with us. Um what I'll ask Gary is that you open the bids, say who it's from, what it's for as best you can and an item and then we'll have uh my crew go through them and then I'll continue the meeting as they're assembling all the bids and then we'll come back make sure the bids are complete and then we'll go with lowest bid. All right, so we can begin. Gary, before we do anything, can we acknowledge a really super person in the room today? Sure.

Mr. Paul Durham in the back who really is the brains behind your operation. We all know it. He [laughter] just got awarded an award from the Indiana County Commissioners and acknowledging him as the 2025 road supervisor of the year. So, uh, Mr. Thank you. [applause] back left in green shirt. We He looks very tired. He's been plowing all weekend. [laughter] We appreciate your quiet strength and leadership out there in the in the highway garage. And uh thank you again for all that you do for the community. You're the best. Thank you. He's the one that actually does the work. So we're clear. We're

all right. Carry on. This from Indiana Traffic Services LLC and is for line paint. It says yellow and white. We should say should Oh, okay. Uh 20 cents for yellow and 21.

Okay. This is joint and crack sealant. Uh price is $144 per total price [clears throat]

$141,2064 cents from this is HSC pavement maintenance. Uh this is for gasoline and fuel. Uh it is from Countrymark Refining and Logistics and that isund quantity is 120,000 gallons and it's at 2.1563 per gallons. The way I read it [clears throat] about that fine. Okay. This is from DC Construction Services [snorts] and this is seal joints and cracks. Uh see if I can find a price here. right there. $139,622. So, [clears throat] this is from Who's Your Pride Excavating.

This is uh I don't know exactly what it's for other [cough and clears throat] than masturbating. Oh, equipment rentals. Okay. Trying to find a price. Here you go. Here it's all back here. Uh small dozer.

This small dozer. It'd be $85 an hour. This is from Edco General Contractors. Who was it? Edco EDCO. good for [sighs] uh jointing cracks. And it's a $129 is uh per what what is that actually for per

per linear foot. Okay. One 126,30 $330 even. Where'd that come from? I [clears throat] don't know in there. This is from Crossroads Street Sweeping. Uh, street swimming is at $10,250 and it's uh $25 per price per center line mile. Oh, wow.

What's that? [clears throat] They got a hole materials bid for okay for pipe and it's from Civil Design Supply and Build and what do you want to do? 12 in pipe, 16 gauge 12in pipe

is a 1563 and alternate galvanized 165 1563. Alternate price is 1688. Polymer price is $23.99. [clears throat] This is from Leonard Escavating. Uh, small dozer, $125 an hour. This is from uh there it is from precision contractors and it is uh for street street sweeping $195 an hour. This is from Accurate Striping Incorporated. It is for $23,000. This is from Valley Asphalt,

right? And [sighs]

Give me a price of something here in just a second. Okay. Uh base mixtures 25 millimeter is $62.25 per stone company. That's for Brock. Is that one? Okay [clears throat] stone that. Okay. Uh

50 53 number 53 is 1390 per unit per ton. Oh yeah. And now what is it? Triple already. This is from US aggregate. Uh AW300 is [clears throat]

$147 per This is from uh Oglesby Construction Incorporated. for pavement markings. [clears throat] Uh line paint yellow, line paint white. Uh it quantity or look total price $19,983.88 for yellow and 29,800 for white.

[snorts] [cough and clears throat]

This is from uh gridlock traffic systems. Uh yellow paint line paint is uh $30,84760. White paint 68,000. This is from BLC Outdoor Services. Okay, hang on just a second. Find it here. Back here. Uh, we'll just go excavator. Uh, it' be $170 per hour. This one is from Aeromark Company LLC. [clears throat]

[snorts]

Uh, white paint and yellow paint. Yellow is $18,776.80. White will be 39,000 even. This is Aerrolark Company again LLC. [cough] Great sweeper. It is uh $515 per centerline mile.

Bless you. I just [clears throat] got over it.

And this is from Arrowark again. joint and crack sealant. What's this right here? Nope. There we go. Uh, pavement marking. Uh, total amount contra 255,000.

Total. Okay, let's find it.

Yeah.

[clears throat]

This is from uh bitter. Oh. Uh, skull scoldeller scolded construction joint and crack sealant. Total is $136,1249. Last quicker than I thought it would. Oh lord, we got more. E, we just started. Okay. Uh, total bid, this is from uh, Pavement Solutions and total bid is $148,85512.

Thank you. Make a motion to enter these bids in and have the county commissioner and his team review and bring back the winners. Second. It's been moved and seconded that we uh take these bids and under advisement the county highway engineer will review them and give his results back to county commissioners. All those or any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes.

Okay. For those who came in for the bids, as soon as the team has those tabulated, they'll come out to the out here. So you don't have to waste all day waiting for us to get back into the meeting, but we can at least let you know what the apparent low biders were. Again, thank you for your time [laughter] putting those together. CCMG, we were awarded uh $176,000. So, we didn't get our full award, but a lot of people did not get awards this year. It was obviously shrunk, which you knew was coming. It's a side effect of Senate Bill One and uh the Midstates project. Did we see a little more shrinkage with uh local government other than municipal government? I thought I saw like a trend towards municipals or smaller towns getting a little bit bigger award this time than

they I I don't know if I'd say it that way. I would say people that didn't get a lot of awards in the past, they try to give them an awards cuz we've gotten a full one 1 million 1.5 million each year usually every single year and you see like Hamilton County got nothing. Like a lot of people that have received a lot of awards didn't get awards this time trying to spread it around a little bit, right?

So that would make sense though because a lot of the smaller towns aren't able to bid on those that it's hard for them to get the bids together. So that might be true. There are two um cos for the jail. The project's nearly complete, but I believe that the auditor's office needs a motion to approve those. [clears throat] One is CO2 for cable removal. So, it's this is written here on your thing. So, you probably need to make a motion to pay those so that uh uh the auditor's office can get those paid. Now, did we have a home for those to be paid from was another problem. because the B geob bond 21 is already suspended.

I think I recom envoy uh correct. I think I was recommending 1,01 31200, but then we need a motion to pay that from there. But we're going to have to do a transfer from utilities. Mhm. Um from 3500 3,00 351,000 to 312. So if you'll make the motion to pay it or mo motion to transfer that money and then pay it, that'd be great.

So I'll make a motion that we approve the transfer the auditor to make the transfer funds from utilities to uh fund number 101.312000 in what amount? Uh this amounts right here 1700 791 for change order one and then the cable removal. You just read it as okay in the amount of 17,791.17 for change order one and $20,874 change order two. Second. So we've got a motion and a second on the floor to approve those two change orders. All those in favor say I. I. Motion passes.

I believe Bernie was getting some of the stuff moved as we speak. I spoke with the Amplify [clears throat] team about uh they're working on a shortcoming of money within the school districts for their some of their equipment needs on the new Amplify project. uh with the successful bidding. We had a lot of good bidding on all our projects in the [cough]

um [clears throat] in the tiff area. So that money is still available. We don't have to go back to the taxpayer for it. We still pay it from the factories. Um I'm recommending at this point uh you advise your RDC board to pay for the furniture $1.5 million total. So that's adding on top of what they were already going to get this year. And then we can offset those with uh the payments they were going to receive in future years. Those are just being advanced into this. So in essence, that's a loan, but they're paying for we're advancing their future payments of three [laughter] $400,000 in the future into the 1.5 million. So they can purchase all the furniture and equipment they need to make sure all those students are ready to go this fall.

And the schools are good with that advance. They understand that. They are good with that advance. Ready for that to buy? I think they'd like to have their money back, but I said we'll talk to about it then. They'll be the first person not to get money if if there's not enough. So, you would like a motion from us to go to the RDC to make that? This is more advisement uh when you're talking to the board because the RDC will make that call. Okay. So, you want a favorable recommendation from the commission? Yes. So, when you speak with them about that, let them know you're favorable with it.

All right. Well, let's I would make that motion that we uh make a favorable recommendation to our RDC board to recommend them to go ahead and pay $1.5 million for the uh FFN school furniture for Amplify. uh understanding that the the school um line understands that it will be shorter for the next uh several years due to the to the payback of that money. Second motion and a second on the floor. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Motion passes.

Yes. Where will we pay that out of the RDC be 4616? Thank you.

So at some point we'll have to make a motion to increase the allocation we make for the schools that 1.5. So I when I talk to the RDC board I will mention that we're going to have to do an additional appropriation. So that money won't be available until February. We'll have our January meeting. I'll recommend the increase and if they accept it then it'll advertise and then in February the appropriation be increased. Now the [clears throat] what's predicating that is I'm talking about we had a some successful letting we kind of stole some ideas from [clears throat] u um Hendricks County able to save us about 3.5 million on our construction out there which I was scared of because it was already it was much higher than we were anticipating already. Um, I don't know we'll be able to pull the same tricks to me because our peers will figure out what we did. But what that does for 2026, you can see here that used to be $5 million for our segment F, which we just let. It's going to be a lot less than that now. So that lowered that expense. Mark Witzmann said that the McCordsville expense for the roundabout 3.1 million will be later on in June. And further down here, you can see I put it in yellow because it's not approved by RDC yet. That's increased to 1.5 million. That was at 300,000. So we'll be increasing their allocation by uh we've reduced 2.5 and we're going to increase that by 1 point or sorry 1.2 on top of that just so you know what the money is doing here. Our risk sheet here's how many years out. So I still have some issue here seven. This is the low 95th percentile. Here's our average here we're above. And our high average

here is over 10 million. We have some risk about seven years from now with the spending plan, but it's still within the 90% band you like me to stay in. You were still at 91%. Standing on that and that was predicated we were hoping to end this year at a smidge higher number u but here we are. Uh we're hoping to end around 7.2. [clears throat] We end up 6.6 six, but with our bids and stuff coming down, that's offset. We're sometimes right about revenue and sometimes right, we're never right, but we have a band where we know about how right we are and that's how they're fitting into that. [cough] I [clears throat] don't think you're at any heavy risk. The risk will manifest in years 2031 and 2032, our current spending rate. I'm trying to keep track. I'm trying to we got planned out the 2044. I just want to make sure we can make decisions today that can hurt us far in the future, but we're Hoosiers, right? balance [clears throat] budget people. So there's your risk level. We're also not cowards. We have to take some risk. So I think 90% is what this board was comfortable with and that's where you land.

All right, moving on. I hope Stymire letting goes well because I know there's a utilities project, but we won't know that until next month. That will let in January. But that comes out of uh cap. That's not out of that comes right out of the uh the regular county fund. So mid January we'll have some news on that. The 600 West roundabout landscaping was delayed because we're snowplowing and it's really cold. So we'll wait to do that when it's a little better weather.

Just an update too with that roundabout. Thanks for putting that in. My daily drive has normally been 300 South to County Line down to US 52 and you would wait during school times probably 7 minutes or so to try to enter that traffic queue. Now, it's just a pump on the brakes, less than 30 seconds to get around that and go through. So, it's it's been a great help to traffic in that area, 300 south and 600 west. Certainly, I appreciate that, Bill. I'll I'll make sure the guys know that the uh it certainly helped with capacity and a lot with safety because it was kind of hair raising there.

Um, we're going to reup So, our dash cam and GPS is flaky and that's mainly how we track our snow pile and stuff like that. So, we might need to We're exploring some different options there. It's hard to be blind. It's hard. The guys are good. They'll make sure they get all their stuff, but uh having the GPS work is kind of key for us. So, we'll we'll be circling back on that probably February. So, we're going to hit it hard this uh December, but Mother Nature decided we need to be plowing instead. So, um till Thursday when it's 50 and it's all melting during Christmas. It's a great time to get technicians.

Um so, that's been delayed. We're all right. We'll keep plowing. Uh, we might have some misses, but the public's really good about letting us know if we missed something. So, um, Marshall, I misspelled that. So, there's some marsh land north of bridge 71 that [snorts] is they're buying uh that's the word ninstar dedicating some land. DNR when I calculate the flow that goes under my bridge, we're only allowed to use storage when they're doing that hydraulic calculation on land that we own. So, a nice side effect is that this that bridge 71 and there's an old rail bridge north of that that we're trying to secure some rightway on. This kind of fortuitously fell upon us. Um, I would like uh permission to spend $1,000 for the closing cost. They're donating the millions of dollars of land, but to donate the

or to per to provide out of well out of the bridge fund because it's kind of a nested use um to pay for I think it was $1,000 I think $800 some dollars of fees, but I needed approval for that for the auditor to disperse funds for the closing of the park from the bridge bridge fund. Yeah, that sound about right. Yeah, it does. I just wanted to make sure I think now that that um you Miriam and your email explain. Yeah, that wasn't clear before. Yeah. I just cuz you know if it was for make sure that's memorialized. We need to make sure that's memorialized so when they look at that expense they can say all right it's doing for a DNR flow calculation for bridge 71.

Okay. I just need your support. [clears throat] I make a motion that we uh allow uh Gary to pull from the uh bridge fund approximately $800 to $1,000 for closing costs for donated land. Second to support bridge 71s for bridge hydraulics. Okay. Um any discussion? I I'd just like to add I think this is a good idea. I mean it's part of what the issue is here with pot ditch. there was a a local government that owns some storage area and property, we would be without the issue. So, it makes sense for us to do this and it'll it'll help that calculation. So, any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes.

In a similar measure, we um have 25,000 for the Skilman area, which is the where the Pension Trail may end up going. I'm not sure if that bridge will be useful or not. Um, but there was some rightaway work done for that. It fa It was a Pensy Trails effort. They failed, but uh we did spend the money on the stuff in an attempt to get that rightway secured so we could analyze that bridge if it was useful or not. Um, similar I would like to pay that up bridge because it's a bridge. So, total I don't have a number for that. It's the old It's the old uh Pinzy Bridge over Sugar Creek

for a total of 25,000. No more than 25,000. Make a motion to approve the uh $25,000 for the bridge over the Pency Trail. That's over Sugar Creek. Yes. Or I mean Sugar Creek on Pency Trail. Second. It's been a motion and second on the floor. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes.

And that will be the end of our work. All the rest of that work is going to be done through my department. So, uh, Pensy Trail can focus on doing maintenance and things out there, but we'll be done doing any work with the Pensy Trails of Hancock County for the near term until something else sets up. Uh, commissioners conference in uh, information. We do have some legal things going in with Senator Krider. Obviously, with the redistricting, a lot of the oxygen was taken out of the room. So, we're reinitiating our regular workday. Uh, so we're working with Mr. Krider on several bills there to assist some things. Um, I was not able to get a champion for the corner cut bill. So, I'll circle back on that later. Uh, funding info, obviously, we'll have to see how our funding situation shakes out on several different items. U, I'll let you know as that comes up. There's a lot of discussion about it, but it was a lot of it is trying to read the tea leaves. I can confidently say that I don't think anybody understands exactly what's going to happen. So, we're going to what that means is we're going to be a little conservative because I don't know how much federal aid is going to come to Indiana for for a lot of our projects. And obviously, I'm doing 20 to $30 million of grants a year total. So, that has an effect on us if those go down. Um, as of now, everything's funded though. Bridges on 300 South [clears throat] uh just to the west of Newal and 400 South just to the east of New are closed. Uh they should be closed for about four or five months till get them back open with the new stuff. They're actually still working, but it's been [laughter] cold so it slows down. We're hoping to get a good December month of work and we're not. So it could delay it. Snow policy is posted. Uh we might have to get a little thrifty on the salt. Obviously this December has been almost like a January. We didn't plan on that. So, I'll try to recut a new uh deal for that. If necessary, I'll circle back to the council for a reappropriation for

some additional salt money if needed. Probably will be uh that a problem will hit by February. I just don't want to wait till February till it hits. So, we're going to work on it now. Uh I do have two items I need surplused. These pieces of equipment have served us for a long time and they're they're done. They're not working anymore. Um, so I would need the two items listed on the bottom declared surplus so that we can uh sell them and get the money back to the taxpayer for whatever they're worth. They're probably scrap metal at this point, but [clears throat] not my stuff, not my money. I need to get back to the taxpayer so we can pave with it.

Well, I make a motion that we surplus 2000 tandem distributor Volvo WG64 bought in April of 2000 for $111,565. uh last four digits of the bin uh 0990 and the 2005 PA Caterpillar 2 AP655C bought in April of 2005 for $248,948.37 and the serial number to that is AYP0000241.

Second. It's been a motion and a second on the floor to surplus the items requested. That's the first one. Um, is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Motion passes.

Withdraw bar. Any questions? I'll be back. I'm going to withdraw to the surveyor's office. We'll work on those bids and then when I come back in here, we'll have those ready to go. Um, if anybody from the uh the biders has any questions, I'll I'll go out the back real quick. We can talk real quick and I'll get out together and as we're waiting we'll pull it to the out the thing so you know if you won your parent bid or not. Okay. Are any questions? Thank you. Okay. Thank you. [cough] [clears throat]

[cough]

I know. We're just We're just going to keep it going, right? Strengthening immune systems. Is that what we're doing? Yes. Gary, would you like your title, too? We've signed it. Or does that go to I didn't know if the auditor gets that or if you get that. Yep. That goes to Gary. Okay. Yeah, it's been signed. [clears throat] So I just

Okay, sure. [cough and clears throat] No, that Corey Taylor, uh, you want to come on up for a, uh, facilities update.

Morning, Corey. Morning, ma'am. [clears throat and cough] Morning. Morning. Good morning.

Uh, first item I've got for you is u with being down an employee, I've had to call an assistance from uh, Feny Snow Removal. I have provided for you um an hourly rate for per person for shoveling and salting um of $100 an hour per person, $130 per plow truck uh per hour and $150 per salt truck per hour. So just requesting a signature on these just making you guys aware that I am having to call on on Feny for assistance. make a motion to [clears throat] uh approve of the uh hourly rate for snow removal and salting that Corey has just mentioned.

Second. It's been moved and seconded. We approve the uh contract between Vincefeni and Hancock County with the hourly rates listed for the winter help for the 2025 2026 snow season. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I.

I. Motion passes. [clears throat] [snorts] Next item I've got for you is a couple quotes uh from electrical solution services. Uh first quote is for the highway department maintenance garage. They have some uh need for some cord reels, LED high bays, um couple strip fixtures, and then supplying the electrical and wire and conduit that that's needed to get these items uh for a total of $5,747.18. My request is that it get approved but it be under the understanding that it comes from facilities maintenance budget for next year. It will not be done or invoiced until after the first of the year. So it would come from the 26

for the [clears throat] same thing. You're just taking the lower bit. Uh no, there's actually two separate quotes for two two different things. Oh, two different things. So we just need to approve the quote for the recommended service. We won't be paying for it until 2026. From the 2026 facilities maintenance uh budget line. Okay. Okay. Make a motion that we uh [clears throat] approve this bid for $5,74718 for electrical work to be uh paid out of the 2026 uh facility maintenance budget and it will be paid after the first year. Second

motion and a second on the floor. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I.

I. Motion passes. Okay. Next item I've got for you is this is for the Quanza hut at 601 West Oage. the uh property that our tenant vacated that we now are looking to utilize that space for weights and measures. Um he's got some equipment that he needs to keep stored at least undercover. Um there's no electrical, there's no plumbing. Um we're fine on the plumbing. The quote that I've presented is to get some power ran to that building. There's a gantry in there that could be utilized by myself, the highway department, um any any of the departments, um to be able to utilize, but we just need to get some power in there. So, the quote from electrical solution services is to put a 100 amp service, um add some uh convenience outlets and add some lights. Okay,

for a total of $7,96866. And again, I would request that this one come from the 2026 uh facilities maintenance budget. Make a motion to approve the bid from electrical solutions services for electrical work to be done in the quant hut on Osage and it's for uh outlets adapters 100 amp services just a basic more or less needs for storage and stuff like that and it as presented by and it' be paid out of the after after the first year out of the facilities maintenance budget.

Second. It's been a motion and a second on the floor. Is there any other discussion? [clears throat] All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Thank you,

Corey. [clears throat and cough] The last item I've got for you is a proposal. So the French drains that were put in uh with that install, they placed two pumps. Those pumps need to be tied in to discharge. Um, so this quote is from PDF Mechanical to tie that plumbing into um the two [sighs and gasps] got two sump pump pits. Um to run PVC inch and a half PVC schedule 40 [clears throat and cough] install check valve discharge inch and a half PVC and insulate PVC fiberglass insulation. Uh this total is $14,354.91. Can we pay for that uh Deb out of our 2025 bond?

I don't remember. Do you have the Do you have the appendix for the 2025? That was going to be my request is to see if it could come from uh GEO bond if there's bond money available or um drawing a blank. Well, I think I think the previous bonds have all been committed. So, this would be the only one. I want to say that last. Um, 25 was actually building maintenance and thlock there. There was a section for that. Yeah, I think at number four on your exhibit allows you to do that.

I just couldn't remember. 2025 bond. I would agree with that, too. So, we'll pay it out of that.

Okay. Make a motion to approve the uh bid or the estimate for services to run uh inch and a half schedule 40 PVC pipe to two sump pumps uh to two 6-in cast drain cast iron drains using inch and a half pipe. They're going to act you uh insulate the PVC with half inch fiberglass fiberglass insulation. Total amount is $14,354.91 as presented to be paid up paid for out of the 2025 geo bond. Second.

Then a motion and a second. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. [clears throat] Motion passes. Um, [clears throat] just to make you aware, I will have to have an electrical quote done as well. [sighs and gasps] I'm out of power in the basement, so that entails adding a panel. Um, which is going to drive the cost up a little bit. Um, but there will be the additional cost of getting power, which is those pumps

will be coming to you hopefully with next commission meeting. Um, but I'm working on getting quotes for that. Um, the last thing I've got is I wanted to see your guys' opinion on designating an area for county vehicles in our lot here. Um, vehicles are kind of all over. I'd like to try to mitigate risk of plowing [snorts] into one of the vehicles parked. Mhm. So, with your permission, I'd like to uh use the southeast corner, designate an area for uh Hancock County vehicles to be parked, and add some signage. Great idea. Yeah. Keep them out of the way anyway. Okay. Okay. All right. That's all I've got. Thank you.

Yeah. We I have one thing and I sent a letter to Scott yesterday, but we've reached out to [clears throat] Indiana Foundation. have not heard back from from them in the last 10 days. And we just directed him to craft a letter to uh have them respond and you know see what they are their plan is to uh just mitigate clean up what's left over down in your basement. Okay. But to continue on with service master and direct them to make sure that the clerk's cage gets uh cleaning first out of all that and we'll see what resolution we get from the letter. But that's just let you know that's ongoing. So go ahead and proceed with service master. Yes. Okay, I will do that. All right. Thank you. Thank you. What?

I just need you. I just wanted to just clarify. We talked yesterday about the BCR uh Buck um Buckeye Construction [cough] [clears throat] and you Oh, yes, ma'am. I feel like I saw an email come in after you said, "Yeah, we were okay." So, are we still good to go ahead and pay? Yes. The the email that I responded to was from Envoy on the Oh, okay. Good. I [clears throat] just want to make 23 East Maine. Is that the one you're talking about? No, this is the This is one for the masonary repairs at the courthouse, but Oh, I did not respond to that one. That one is okay to pay. Yes. Okay. Thank you. I did not respond to that one yet. I apologize. Do we need to do anything with that Buckeye invoice and that's out of

It's out of the 2023 bond. You've already approved it. If you want to go ahead and make a a motion just since I brought it up, that's fine. [clears throat] Okay. So, it's um here I'll let you have that so you can take a look at it. [cough] You said it's already been approved or has there been a motion on it? I I believe the quote or it was allocated and it was part of that project, but this is a a payment that's made. It's a pretty substantial payment.

Make a motion to approve the payment for uh for for the 23 go bond. 2023 GO bond uh for Buckeye Construction for uh the Hancock County Courthouse masonry repairs in the amount of $122,38.89 as presented. Second motion and a second. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Whatever it Thank you. Thanks, Corey. Thank you.

[cough and clears throat] Uh [sighs] Bernie Bernie Harris with Cisco contract. [clears throat]

Hey, good morning. Um Scott left. Um we have we we had uh decided to uh implement a Cisco ICE program. What it is is a uh it's a it identifies all the hardware on our network so we can tell who it we need [clears throat] help getting the the framework in place and we had contracted we're trying to contract with SHI systems to uh help us get this framework in place and it's just professional service. they'll help they'll they'll they'll log in and help us set up all the uh the framework and in the system for that. Once we get that in place, we can add devices and so forth and so on. We've already been approved by the fund. So I we have a contract before we need to sign with to between us and SHI.

Does that need to be reviewed by Scott? Scott has has looked at it. I did just I've looked at it and uh I don't see any issue with that, Bernie. Okay. Yeah. So, we're going to we'd like to start this in in January, probably toward the end of January, start this project off. So, if we could get [cough] [clears throat] from that and get it back to them, we like to do that. Second here trying to It's on the uh I'm looking for a dollar amount. 34 page, I believe. Oh,

it's on third page. Okay. I don't see a price on the third page. Is it uh 34,320? [clears throat] Uh that's uh page 9 of 12. No problem. Janine, go ahead and make a motion. Oh, okay.

You already found it. I didn't. I make a motion that uh we accept uh the bid and engage with SHI International Corp. to assist with the implementation of Cisco's identity service engine ISC in their wired environment. The customer currently has ISC implemented leveraging ISC-PIC in their network environment consist of murky access points in the amount of not to exceed 34,320. Second. Is that an annual fee? No, it's a onetime fee. Onetime fee. And is that out of the IT budget or is that [clears throat]

What was that? Shoot. um beverage. They they council approved it for food and beverage.

All right. [clears throat and cough] So, there's a motion and a second on the floor to approve the SHI agreement presented by our IT director. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Hey, I have one other thing that I don't I don't have the had a

Oh, come on, Bernie. Had equipment failure this [laughter] morning. We uh our uh our UPS is going to be up for uh maintenance renewal in January. $5,400 for that. I'll get that paperwork to you, but $5,400 for the uh typically that's pay out of building maintenance type things. So, um, okay. Okay. So, it's it's protecting the county data, so it's something we need. So, thank you. Thanks. Got it. Thanks for the update.

Uh, Mike Gibson with the Pring Farms Miner Sub rightwayway dedication. Okay. Thanks for your patience this morning. Appreciate it. You're welcome. Good morning. I'm here uh requesting a rightaway dedication for the Prangy Farm minor sub. It's located at 7759 West Steinmeer Road. The uh rightway acreage is 0.243.

It's half rightway. Half rightway. And so 50 foot 50 foot half rightway. 50 foot half right away. Um, as soon as Yeah. You want to do the motion? Go for it. Okay. I can. Yeah. Go ahead. Yeah. Make a motion that we approve the 50 foot 1/2 rideaway for Prank Farm minor subdivision as presented.

Second. There's been a motion and a second on the floor to approve the uh rightaway dedication presented. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Voila. Quick and easy.

And it was just the one page we had to sign in, right? Okay. Great. Great. Great. Hey, Merry Christmas. Caleb Brooks. Morning.

Good morning.

Two items to discuss this morning. Uh, which one would you like to start with? Uh, did you get my email as far as this one here? I did. Has it been corrected? Uh, it has not been revised. It certainly can be if you wanted to. Typically, then we'll just hold this till next month or the next meeting. um till it gets corrected. We are getting close to that 90day mark. Um we can definitely add it and uh let's see because I know that was part of the the original agreement

for them to replace if they died. We could definitely um add that in even just by printing it on as an additional additional um uh number if that works and doesn't hold this up. [clears throat] Can we're okay to add that to that amendment then we're just adding a line in there. That's there's something about trees. Yeah, it's uh they they actually agreed to put it on their ground and all that, but they needed to replace them if they die and it's not in here. So, we could approve it contingent contingent on that and there are they aware of the I go ahead and just move forward with her presentation because there's things in here we didn't agree to.

We never agreed to have it on our ground and I think that needs to be part of the discussion going forward. But that was the original uh you want to come up and well okay well let's address the first like there may be additional issues there. Um and just going to ask if if they were aware of the fact that that wasn't in there and needed and they're saying there's other things there not there. Yeah. So let's let's we'll wait till everybody has an opportunity.

Okay. All right. So let's start with good and ground maintenance then. Um so the proposed amendment um to the zoning map would reszone approximately I think it's 8 and a half or nine acres uh from CN toC. So commercial neighborhood to commercial community. Uh this is located at 3859 and 3863 West US40 in Sugar Creek Township. This property was a uh contractor's storage yard prior to Mr. Gooden purchasing it in 2018. It was owned by the Mattingly family and so at that point it was a non-conforming uh use being taken over by non-conforming use like for like. Um Mr. Good has been doing very well with his business and now would like to build a uh office uh warehouse combination on the north side of the parking lot uh on the north side of his property um which is near US40. I believe I included my staff presentation as part of your email document on Friday. Um so as part of that uh process it was recognized that this is a non-conforming use at this point. In order to expand a non-conforming use you need to get it legal more or less. So that brought us to the process of reszoning the property and then also getting a special exception to allow a contractor's storage yard at this location even though it already has existed for many years. To expand it, you have to reszone it and get that special exception. Through that process, it was recognized that the Pensy Trail now ex goes along the south side of the property uh in the back um which is on the opposite side of the property as the improvement that Mr.

Gooden would like to install, but it is still adjacent to his property. Um in an effort to better maintain the railroad bed, uh Mr. Gooden did remove um vegetation which was uh a lot of Japanese honeysuckle which is an invasive. Uh however uh the fact that the Pensy Trail is newly installed in that area also then gives trail users very clear view of the back of his storage yard. The plan commission and the BCA in their findings and and conditions did uh want to see screening restored in some way. Um, and that's what's gotten us here today. Um, the plan commission was in favor of reszoning the property to uh commercial community. It makes more sense usewise. Uh, really works better for this location as it doesn't have access currently to water or sewer. Um, so the use uh makes makes a lot of sense at this location. The the reszone to commercial community. Um what we've come down to is really uh how to handle the area that is adjacent to the Pensy Trail and how to address that. That is when we ended up with the commitment that was attached to the ordinance uh that I sent you yesterday and also sent to um Eric Glasco, Mr. Gooden's attorney. Um and which I'm sure he has some more to to talk about with you. Um and that that's kind of where we ended up today. Both the plan commission and the uh board of zoning appeals have more or less put this in your lap as the commissioners to decide the appropriate commitments uh to go along with this reszone um at this time. Do you have any questions for me?

Well, I got one. They're saying there's things in there that they did not agree to. How do we come up those and how did if they've not agreed to them, how why are they in here at this point? The the commitment is something that is um that has not been Yeah. reviewed by Mr. Glasco.

He received it yesterday. Probably needs more time to um to review it. It is a commitment that could be uh recorded, I believe, separately uh from the zoning ordinance. It could be this has to be recorded before all of this proceeds. Um but certainly um certainly we want him to be comfortable with the document with what's in the commitment. What's the 90day what's the 90-day deadline? End of uh this month. We have a meeting on the 30th, correct? Does that meet the 90-day?

Not no. I believe the 26th would be 90 days. If it's continued, if they are still working with it, does that count? we're kind of staying that 90-day limit. It's possible that that would in fact [cough] both sides working through it. I think the board would be able to agree to that, but that's up to them. I'd be open to it because we are still working on it. We're not just sitting on it. So I mean

and I feel like that if their legal counsel just got this yesterday as well as us there's probably some time they would like to dig into that a little bit more than hey come to a meeting today and get this figured out today. Be what we call like a tolling tolling agreement in a sense if both sides are in agreement with that. Okay. So we'll just hold on to this and you can work with their attorney. We need a motion. Do we need a motion to that or do we need to ask their legal counsel if you're okay with that? Because normally if if there is if you're not done within 90 days, it automatically reverts to what the planning commission's recommendations are.

Yes, just come up, state your name and who you are.

Yep. Eric Glasco with the firm Stevenson rife here on behalf of Good and Ground. Um I I'm fine with this wholeing agreement. I think one of the one of the problems that that we've run into, we being Kayla and I, is we discuss, we kind of get an idea of what we think's going to be acceptable, we go in front of a board or a commission, we get push back, and then we work on something else, we go in front of another board or commission, we get different push back. And so then we've met uh count Commissioner McDaniel walked the site with us. We've had somebody from the engineering department walk the site with us. We thought we kind of had something that might be workable. Um, obviously there's I think the main thing was I don't know that we we never I don't think that we agreed to have the trees on our property because of the the proximity to the fence and the potential of it causing issues with fence.

The engineer is the one that come up with that to be on your on their property simply on just the edge because the p we can't get rid of the rock. Yeah. Well, and and the rock goes all almost all the way to the fence. The ball the b and that's so but there's enough room there to put trees. Yeah. Well, I mean there's rooms to put trees anywhere, but when you're wanting 30 foot trees, 25 30 foot trees and you put them within, you know, 15, 17 feet of a fence, they can they can get into the fence and cause issues. I think part part of the problem may be too in the county's area is that we would probably not want to plant trees in our rightway because there's always the

possibility of the expansion of the Penzy Trail. Yeah. Yeah. Well, and I think so there's there's obviously a lot to kind of go into this. So, initially it would be better. Yeah. And that's why I'm saying I don't know that I mean we can do a tolling agreement but if it's Kayla and I sit down and discuss

and come up with something and then the engineer doesn't like it or you don't like it and you [clears throat] know initially this started with you know Kayla and I's conversation was landscaping wasn't really an issue because this is a building on the northwest portion of this property. This is not an expansion of the storage yard or anything like that beyond what's being used. This is him building a building to move his operations, his office out of a old ranchstyle house that's on the property to a nicer building with a nicer conference room that they can have some training and some stuff like that. And historically, the county has not in when they've done something like that, they're bringing a prior non-conforming use or a legal non-conforming use into conformity by, you know, reszones and and getting the the special exceptions. They haven't required landscaping in the area that's not being changed.

The reason the landscaping was required because he took out the blind for the trail without our permission. Okay. Well, this is this is the very first time that that's been said. So, I mean I he cleared out the Pinsy Trail blind, the the foliage that kept the trail the people on the trail from seeing I'm I'm not I'm not disagreeing with you. I know there was some that was removed when the Pinsy Trail was put in. I know he removed some from his property. Whether he went across or not, I I'm not aware of. He's here. He could talk about it. But what this once again, this is what I'm kind of getting at. This is the very first time that we've been told we're doing this as punishment. It's not punishment. Well, you just it's just replacing the blind that was there.

Yeah. And it raises another concern because we're looking for screening. We're now being told, well, you can't print, you can't plant evergreens. We all know that because we've got five, six feet of railroad ballast underneath there. It's not going to support it. So, we're doing deciduous trees which aren't screening and won't be for 20 25 years. So, [clears throat] and it's a substantial amount of money. Initially, it was going to be the highway has extra dirt. They can bring you some. And we thought there'd be some. When we met with the engineer, he said maybe we've got, you know, less than what was initially thought. Maybe we've got one, maybe two triacal loads. Now it says that we can request it. We're not guaranteed to get it. So now we're having

the thing is it's because he may not have it. I mean it's

I I completely understand. But I think we get to the point where these conditions are a denial. They become pro cost prohibitive. You know it's it's now going to be a $50,000 job because if they're going to do it, it should be done right, you know, which is kind of one of their things. It's like if we're going to if you're going to plant stuff on the piny the piny trail one should be get rid of the invasive species and we can call it foliage but it's invasive species that's what's there and that was what was being removed. Um, we've also been told there's going to be no maintenance on what we planned that the the highway department doesn't want to do any maintenance along the Pensy Trail and that's fine, you know. I mean, so a lot of this is us trying to reach some kind of middle ground and it just keeps getting pushed back on costwise to Gooden to where it's a substantial undertaking. He just did the plants. If he just did the trees and the shrubs, the ornamental

just did the trees on his property on the southern side of the fence. What's the issue there? Well, I think the issue there was the size and we don't think we don't think they're going to survive.

We don't think that the ground, the amount of soil that's there with the railroad ballast underneath it is conducive. It's definitely not for evergreen. We don't think it's conducive for deciduous either. And you know, maybe not so much a question of if, but when. And if that when happens to be when they're 20t tall, you either have them falling onto the Pensy Trail or you have them falling onto a our fence. And there is ample public record here that indicates we don't think they're going to survive. So if they fall in the Pensy Trail and hit a person, what does that do? you know, and if and if and if we think they're not going to survive and fall on our fence, we're just, you know, setting us up for, you know, possibly damaging equipment if it gets equipment that's on the property or the fence itself. So, we we have some concerns. We've been trying to work with Kayla, you know, you know, Commissioner McDaniel, we're trying to work through this. Um, like I said, I I I don't think there's things in there we didn't necessarily agree to. This is our first chance to look at it. Um, I think we need to figure out the, you know, the where the trees if they're going to be on our property or their property. But I think the bigger concern

in the next two weeks is enough time to to sit back and say, "Hey, here's where we are." I mean, yeah, possibly. But I think the bigger concern is, you know, why is this being done? because it's not so much screening now other than it it could be you know but when we talk the other thing to consider here is the Pensy Trail is about 18 feet of slope above good and ground maintenance which is why when we talk about there not being screening when we plant these trees for them to get to mature if you did the fastest which is a blaze you know you're looking at close to 20 years for that to get to maturity which would be 20 20 feet high

which is where you're you may actually get some screening at that point. So, we're talking decades away from getting there depending on what size of tree you plant with. Yeah. You know, originally on Yeah. And it's got to be something that's going to be able to be supported on how much top soil, how much soil are we getting back there. So, there's there's there's still a lot of uncertainty about the logistics of how this works. Let not let alone, you know, what the actual terms of a commitment might be. Do we get there in two weeks? I don't know. And is [clears throat] it something that Kayla and I can get figured out or is going to involve you? Yeah. Engineers, other parties?

Well, for us though to rese, I don't think it's fair for us to try to make any kind of decision on that today. Even though that the decision may be the same we would have made today if we, you know, got to the end of that that road. So, I'm just trying to ask if you think maybe the next two weeks is enough or do we need to extend into January? Um, I think we could look at trying to get it done in two weeks and if that just doesn't happen, we could look at extending into January. I would recommend you just do a 30-day 30-day tolling 30 day or 30. How about if realistically you've got a you've got the holidays and everything,

but can we make that instead of the 30 days like the date of our our commissioner meeting? That's the next closest out. So that way if anybody has to come up and say on public notice, you said you gave us 30 days, but you made a decision in 27 days. That's your that's your discretion. Okay. So by with the six we're going to we may be pretty busy. The six wouldn't be near 30 days

and it wouldn't be 30. Yeah, it wouldn't be the 30 days. So the 20th is the next meeting date that would come. It's going to give them more than 30 days, but it's but it it gives them 30 days, right? So are you good with 20 the 20th the meeting on the Sure. So I can get a motion to approve the tolling agreement between Good and Ground Maintenance Gooden Ground Maintenance and Hancock County to agree upon the next meeting date to potentially resolve this issue would be January 20th of 2026.

Is that in the form of a motion? Would you like one? Um, I could make that I just make that motion second and just Okay, there's a motion on the floor. Um, any additional discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. So, we'll continue to work with you to try to come up with some agreement before the 20th as well. Excellent. Okay. Thank you. Um, can we get a break really quickly? Yes. Yes. Okay. Uh just a motion to recess. Motion to recess like to um okay let's finish with you Kayla then we will we'll take a break. Sorry.

All right. I had one other item um which was the reimbursement of the American Citizen Planner course for our plan commission uh President Mike Long. Um this was a I included the um handout for this program which is run through Purdue University Extension. Um as you can see it was uh a commitment um that uh Mike made to further educate himself in planning and zoning matters by taking and passing the exam for this course. Um so I would ask for uh u his uh course fees of $200 to be reimbursed if possible. I would do this out of my own budget. However, um since Mike is on not my employee, um the auditor's office has let me know that that's not how this works and it needs to come to you guys and I I suppose the council

do I'm sorry. So, my office said that we couldn't reimburse you. Uh not through my budget because Mike is on a board um that is he is not an employee. Okay. But he's been paid for planning meetings and what we actually need is we'll need a copy of the agenda and the meeting itself notice and then we just need a direction where you want us to pay it from. So I would I would the commission I think we've got a training line that we could probably

and if not we can go ahead and do our end of the year budget transfers to to to pay that but we would just need the appropriate documentation. Um, okay. Any issue [clears throat] with paying Mike Long reimbursing is $200. I I don't have a problem with it. Okay. Um, I do think there's a the commissioners have a training fund. It was like$3,000. That's where I would think you would want it paid out of. I'll make a motion that we uh allow uh the auditor to take $200 with the proper document

documentation. take $200 out of the commissioner's training line in order to repay a sitting board member for furthering his education for what he does for the county. Second. There's a motion on the floor along with a second. Is there any discussion? [cough and clears throat] All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Thank you. And that is a good course by the way. I don't know if it's offered up to everybody else on the uh the planning commission, but it comes out annually and I took it before I became a commissioner. I thought that it was a great help to me just being a novice and thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. Um okay, now make a motion to recess for a couple of minutes.

Second. So move and seconded that we recess. All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Oh that to her. It needs to be submitted with the claim for reimbursement. Yeah. Not that just like when you do the claim form it just needs to be attached to y'all are not used to sitting there.

call back to order our commissioners meeting. Um it looks like there's an update from County Highway on bids.

Okay, we've completed the aggregation of the bids. We have recommendations as you see on the screen in front of you or to the audience up there. We have the results of the bids. Ryan will bring forward the uh bid in order. The first one I'm recommending the green. It's your choice. I'm recommending you accept the bid in green and then sign. I've tabed it for you. First one is Street Sweeper. The apparent or the winner was Precision Contractors at $195 a mile. Make a motion to approve the contract or the bid for Precision Contractors for uh uh Street Sweeper. uh $195 per mile as presented. Second

motion [clears throat] and a second on the floor. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. [clears throat] The next item I should sign that is joint and crack ceiling. Uh I'm recommending the winner be edco at $126,330. Sorry, I missed that. Okay. I make motion that we approve Uh, Acra Ac Edco.

Oh, EDC. Okay. I thought you moved the line. That's what it was. So, EDCO for uh crack ceiling uh for $126,330 as present. As presented. Second. It's a motion and a second on the floor. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. This is Oh, thank you. Oh, and this is the top. That goes top. Bigger is better. Mess that up. I just go bigger. Go home.

Next item I have is payment markings. I'm going to recommend that we award accurate striping for $36,143.76. Make a motion that we approve the bid for street striping for accur accurate striping for $36,143.76 as presented. Second motion and a second. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I.

I. Motion passes. That goes with that. Okay. Let's catch up for a second. Next item. Be for fuel. We had one bidder from Country Mark. I'm going to recommend we accept the fixed uh prices. They were less than uh they were within 10% of the variable prices. I'm going to recommend we go with the fixed price of $2.32 cents per gallon for gasoline, uh 298 for fixed on-road diesel. Okay. Make a motion we approve the [clears throat] bid through for country mark for fuel uh at uh $2 uh $2.32 for for fixed gasoline and $26 or

298. 298 for fixed on-road diesel. Second. It's been moved and seconded or we have a motion and a second. [cough and clears throat] Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes up. And that goes on top of check make sure everything was signed.

Next item is aggregate. Um we are recommending US aggregate at $10.30 for US or for number 53 stone. Make a motion that we uh accept the bid for number 53 stone at uh $10.30. 30 cents per ton. Is that what it is? Yes. Per ton. Yes. As presented through US aggregates. Second. It's been a motion and a second on aggregates. All those in or is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes.

[snorts]

Next item we have is pipe materials. We only had one bidder for Civil Con. Make a motion to approve the bid for Civil Con for uh piping uh at uh 15 $1563 for 12in pipe as presented. Second. And a motion and a second for pipe materials. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I.

I. Motion passes. Next item we have is small equipment. That's line B2. Um, we are recommending who's your pride excavating for that. Make a motion that we approve the bid for who's your pride escavating for uh equipment rental at $85 per hour for a small dozer as presented. Second.

Motion on the floor for equipment rental. There any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I.

I. Motion passes. Next item is heavy equipment rental. We're [clears throat] recommending Leonard um be awarded. Make a motion to uh approve the bid from Leonard [snorts] Escavating for equipment rental at for small dozer at $83 per hour as presented. Second

motion on the floor for heavy equipment rental. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. It's like Santa's little elves in here working. Everybody's doing something. Yeah, it is assembly line there or something. Last item we have is for HMA. We had one bidder. I'm recommending Valley Asphalt. Uh they had low bid only bid. Uh 6225 for base.

Okay. Uh, I make a motion that we approve the uh uh valley asphalt for uh material and labor. Uh, it'll be asphalt at $62.25 per base and then 6725 for surface as presented. Second motion on the floor for HMA. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I motion passes.

Okay, Deborah, we'll scan all these and send them to you. We'll also post them for the public. They'll be on our website here. Probably takes us a day or two to go to scan it up on the website along with the apparent bid results and that'll be right where the bid tab is on our website. It'll be right where you looked at the bids. It'll be placed right there so you can go through all the bids. You welcome. I have no further business. All right. Thank you. Thank you very much. Oh, wait. Oh. Oh, yes. I apologize. I do have some more business. Yeah,

we haven't raised the uh the permit fees. We haven't adjusted since I've been here. Uh in front of you is a new set of permit fees. And I'll need a motion to amend ordinance. Do we just pass a new ordinance 153? I have it on my I thought I put that in.

So Deborah, we need to amend 153.03b with this new menu of fees for How do we go about that? Um I I think we probably need to have something drawn up reference this number. Yes. Okay. Mike, I need you to send that. Have Scott have not had it yet. Okay. Send it to you seen the Okay. Send the current. It would just be styled an amended ordinance and original [snorts] number would be on there. Got it. And then we put the new number on it and then you can introduce it probably. So send that information over to Mr. Binky. Actually we just hand that down to him. right now and uh we'll get that for the next meeting

or maybe not the next meeting. Are you going to have a meeting on the 30th? Is a question. Dour. That's your joint meeting. Council wanted us to find out if you still wanted to have the joint meeting or if you were going to they were council said they would not be there. Sorry, I forgot about that. [laughter] Yeah, council. There's not enough council members for the holidays. We don't have to decide that right now. I don't put you on the spot right now. Oh, no. Um, we won't put we won't have that on the next meeting. So, don't worry about that. If you don't have it, it won't be 20th 6th. That'd be the next meeting. Oh, the ordinance his ordinance for the six. Yeah, we got that's a simple That's a simple because we still need to do the Do we ever Did we ever complete the stop signs and speed limit? Do we ever finish that up?

I feel like I thought we I think we need to finish that up, too. That's been reviewed and everything. We just need to get that approved. So, we'll do it all at the same time on the six or whatever the And your amendment to this um permit fees is going to be effective as of 2026, correct? Yes. Scott will take a look at that and then we can get that on that next agenda. Got it. Okay. Thank you. Thank you and your team. Merry Christmas. I'll share that with them. We'll have a merry Christmas. It's going to be warm over Christmas. So, no thousand. No snowstorm, please. Okay. [sighs]

Cost you guys $50,000 an inch [laughter] browsby this year. It's probably a little higher than that. Yikes. Hey, the next two groups on our agenda, TK House and Greenfield Church of God, are coming with recommendations from the council to receive opioid monies. And the um we're just going to have you come up one at a time and present your present yourself and then we'll make a decision as soon as you both presented and on on uh money. So, TK House, go ahead and come on up. Good morning.

Hey, good morning. My name is Sandy Miller and I'm a member of the board of the Tithkum Women's Recovery House and I am here because Linda Ostawig could not be here this morning and I am here with Amy Burmeister. Do you want to introduce yourself?

Yeah. Um I'm the executive director for Partnership for affordable housing. We are assisting U TK House on either a rehab or construction capacity. Um, and our board has also um voted to match a large part of any of the opioid recovery funds that they received this year. So, you received a full application. Our plan is to uh rehab uh facilities so that we can have between six and nine apartments for the women who leave the Tothum Recovery House. As I know you know housing is very expensive in our city and this will allow women an opportunity to have a lower rent period of time up to two years so that they can transition back into uh a normal world. [snorts] So I'd be happy to answer what questions you have. As you know, on December 3rd, we made a full presentation to the council and uh the council granted us $300,000 uh toward our $750,000 total budget to rehab these six to nine apartments in concert with the uh partners for affordable housing.

So, they granted you an additional $300,000 in addition to this opioid money. No, the 300,000 was from the opioid money. Okay. I think it was just a recommendation to come before the [laughter] commission. It wasn't subject to your approval. Yes. Yeah. I was just going to say the record should reflect for the today's the council uh voted to recommend that the allocation be 300,000 for Titha 300,000 for the Greenfield Church of God

contingent on board of commissioners agreement that was the motion made and voted affirmatively. So it it is now in the hands of the Sandy, do you have property already?

We do not uh because we did not have the funding yet. We looked at many many properties during 2025 and either they were sold quickly and we did not have an opportunity to even come up with the funding or they weren't really suitable for the project that we envisioned. So, so part of the issue for TK is that they can't most sellers won't allow them to tie up a property for some an unexclosed amount of time while they go either find raise the funds or apply for the funds or what have you. So, this will enable them to close like actually take down you know an existing property and new construction is as you that's been cost prohibitive.

And what is your match? Your organization's match? I'm going to match a majority of um about an 80% 300 if and your goal is 750. Our our total goal is $750,000 and we Tifa Kum has about $200,000 set aside. With the $300,000 of opioid money and the match from partners, uh we can see a very bright future for this transitional housing. Okay. Thank you. Thank you.

Uh Greenfield Church of God. Morning. Good morning. So far so good. Y'all ready for Christmas? Yes. Are you ever ready for Christmas? [laughter] So, we've come before you before and spoke about our project. We've got a [clears throat] little more advanced uh progression in that um and that we have now blueprints. Um we own the land that we're going to put this on. Um he's [clears throat] going to come show you what we're looking at. Okay.

Um this would be a duplex home um that could house up to eight men. So our focus is going to be on men transitioning from the Hancock County Jail. We're doing this in partnership with the Hancock County Sheriff uh Birkhart.

Um he's been working with us. We're going to we're going to continue those programs that they already have been in recovery within the jail. Um, and we're going to bring these eight uh eight men at a time. So, it's going to be rotating bases depending on where they get. It's going to be affordable housing for them. We'll continue re uh connecting them with resources um to continue their recovery. And um we will be a level one uh recovery home um as we work through this process. Uh we're very excited about this. Um, and we this uh opioid money actually will allow us to get rolling on construction.

I know you said you have the property. Do you have any other funds uh that you're going to put towards this? We've already purchased the property, right? So, that was 150,000 that we purchased. Okay. Do you have And then we're we are in the process of uh seeking funding elsewhere as well. Okay. What um what do you estimate a double like that costs?

Our our total project cost we believe is going to land because we're going to furnish it completely uh would be right around 450,000. So with the opioid monies we're 150,000 out. So that that really does tremendous for us toward the the ultimate goal. We don't need the 150,000 above and beyond the opioid money to to launch. We can nearly build the facility fairly closely. Uh there's a a couple of unknowns uh that we're dealing with. One of them being the septic system uh because we're we've already met with the city uh waste treatment and there's nothing close by. We would nearly spend $300,000 just to try to get them to us. Uh so we're looking at mound systems now uh that we're going to have to do and to see how the all that shakes out for us. And then the fire department, I don't know if they would require us to have the electronic system that would alert them if there were a fire. Uh that's the only two conversations I have not had as of yet. But outside of that, we're inside of where we need to be.

Is is this a one time ask? Yes, sir. I mean, what what's going to support it after if you were to get

pay rent? They they do pay rent just like just like TK House, they pay rent. Um, for us, we're we're going into this without any overhead. We we don't owe uh for the property. Our goal is is by the time that we cut the ribbon uh on the facility, property is complete. Uh building is paid for. Um, and so, and our goal is to have this done before the sheriff leaves office. [laughter] Uh, so we have a little bit of work to do. Um, but our church is in full support. Matter of fact, we have a few folks from the congregation that are with us uh this morning. And, uh, we're excited about it. We're excited about the potential. And one of the things that I desire to do is we're I've already talked with uh Anthony um a database to allow us to come back and just share with you uh the statistics. How well are we doing? Um not just on a financial sense, but also on how how are the men honestly doing? Uh do we have guys that are transitioning back in to the facility or are we really seeing some progress? And they claim, national statistics claim that if the men have a place to go once they come out, the the success rate is right around 80%. That's national.

And that's our goal is to give a kid back their dad, to give a wife back her husband. So, we'll see what happens. That's our our ultimate goal. We realize life's not perfect. uh we're going to deal with some things, but at the same time, for every success story that we have, uh for me, that's a celebration moment. And when you think about it costwise, the recidivism, it's about $100 a day to incarcerate someone. So, you know, you think about an 80% success rate, something like this will pay for itself. Oh,

in no time. If I get half, if I just do 50% out of those men, um I give you back half your money, 35,000 per year per inmate is what I'm told uh from the sheriff's department is what it cost us to [clears throat] maintain an inmate. I want to change the mindset from inmate to uh you know a resident, somebody who's actually connecting back into society and becoming a taxpayer uh not a problem maker. Yeah. And so this request is for it's not a general operating support request. It's a it's a camp it's a um capital request.

Just just for capital. That's all we're asking. And it will it will maintain itself the way that we have everything laid out. We don't come back and ask for operational funds. Um, can I answer it? Sure, you can answer their question.

So, we've made up our board of business and heart, right? Um, I'm the business side of it. So, I'm just I'm white knuckling it over here that I don't feel like we've answered your question. So, uh, Mr. Spalding, you've asked the question of where are the additional funds coming from? How are we going to ongo? Um, we've split the business in two different parts. So, the Church of God is getting the capital asset. Our nonprofit is going to run the dayto-day. Um and so we've got the congregation that will be it is a line item on our donation um to be able to donate and fund this um nonprofit. We're also working um with other vendors, construction vendors to see if we can get some um offset of some of our costs as well. Um but the ongoing is just it's going to be funded um by the individuals themselves. And since the church owns the asset, the property tax, all of those funds will be paid by the church. And then the nonprofit will be um you know, we'll be fronting the money on the front end for the gentleman to get started that first, you know, couple of weeks since they're not going to have anything coming out. Um, and then we will be paying they will be paying the rent at a minimal charge paying about, you know, 200. We're estimating about $200 per individual right now.

No, she's wrong. It's actually 375 a month. 375. Thank you. The numbers have changed in all fairness since our last meeting. So um about 375 per individual per and then that would help um for the ongoing utilities and obviously they'd have to pay for their own staff as volunteer. Um they will be house they'll be in control of themselves with the level one. They'll be a house manager. One person will be kind of designated as the the head of household you might call it. Um and but they will have to self resolve. Yeah. We don't take care of their meds or anything. So on on level one,

it's a self-govern. It is it's self-governed, but for lack of a better term, we end up we've had everyone that comes in. So we'll pick one, for lack of a better term, to be a house dad. There's chores that have to be done and the guys will have to take on responsibilities. Yes. U so you know, uh slowly but surely bringing these guys back into reality. Uh but when the day comes that they launch out and then then the real world hits and Yeah. Uh because rent has gone crazy. Uh so I think that $375 is per person is fair. Yeah. [snorts] And we'll connect them to resources for employment as well. A lot of times when they're coming out of jail, they already have a job,

but we also our goal is to upskill upskill. So look for resources and training. his background is construction, so he can bring in that training. Um, we also have an electrical uh contractor that goes to our church who's offered his expertise as well in training, so we can start moving the upscale training so they can move into something um beyond what they may have started coming out of. And what' you say the house cost to actually build? To actually build, our goal is 450,000. That's complete. And what would one of them septic system actually cost?

Probably for a mound system. And the question is is with eight people uh using that facility. That's the only question that I have. Do they have to upscale this for a mound system? I [clears throat] doubt that the property would probably pass uh as far as like a soil sample. Um, I it it's possible, but the way that it's laid out, I don't know that we can necessarily fit it all in the way that it really needs to. So, a mound system would be the resolve. And I don't know if we have to go to a larger size for eight people uh for both units to be put into the one. So, normal right around 35,000 is where they start. Mountain system.

A mound system. Yeah. But it could be upwards of it could be we could be upwards close to 50 by the time we're done with that. [clears throat and cough] Yeah. But you still think 450 450,000 overall is where you you're at and you've got 150 of that already taken care of with the property price. So you're looking at 300,000. Is that No [clears throat] is what we that was not 450 not the 450 builds the house. We've already put in 100%. Gotcha. Gotcha. I'll invite y'all to the ribbon cutting. That would be great. Absolutely.

Well, I think it's, you know, I applaud you for thinking [clears throat] far enough ahead that, you know, your operations will be covered without additional assistance from the county or or the city. Um, has the city worked at all with you? We are not in city limits. We are in the county. So, we are out being outside the city limits. We're not able to ask for those funds. Yeah. And we're working handinhand with the sheriff on the men that have gone through all the programs. And the programs that they [clears throat] offer have been phenomenal. They have already some great success rates uh for men not coming back at the revolving door back inside. We have some graduates attending our congregation as well.

Yes, we do currently. And what happens is they oftentimes have to leave the community and become disconnected with the community to reintegrate. And our goal is to keep them here so they can reintegrate into their community. You know, the place where they live, the place where they've built their resources that they feel like and we can help them reintegrate into Yeah. We don't want to do institutional uh style. This is going to be literally a living place. This is going to look like home.

And that's the mindset we want them to step back into. I could throw bunk beds in and put four guys in a room, you know, and then that's not that's not the goal. The goal is is that there's a max of two men per space. Um, and so there's there's two of the men going to have a room to themselves. I I want that mindset to come back and and for the men to realize this isn't a right to come here. Privilege, don't blow it. We've already got some game plans in for some conversations [clears throat] with the men and um but we're excited about it and uh the the churches on board full support u and again our congregation takes up some of the lag uh as the men come in

they have nothing. So food, clothing, things of that nature, toiletries were already in process uh and ready to start the process of any other questions. Yeah, I don't have much to add.

I just wanted to add a quick story. Um actually over the weekend I spoke with one of my inmate workers. Um he's the laundry guy. Um, he's due to get out of jail here soon. Um, he's got he experiences addiction. I mean, that's what he's here for. Um, but he's working through all that. So, I asked him when he left what his plans were. And he said, "Well, I'm from Indianapolis, but I really don't want to go back there." And what we kind of teach them is that you can't go back to where you came from unless you really want to get back to where you were doing. And so, he said, he goes, "What I'd really like to do is I'd like to live here." So, so what that means is we're doing good. And for him to want to be here,

I think this transition transitional piece um coming out learning what he's learned inside there, but being be able to stay here um would benefit him in the long run. So, that's just you as our sheriff would not mind him being here.

Absolutely not. Um you know, we And you got to understand, you know, going through that and and being there and and listening to them, you got to understand the trauma that they've been through and, you know, 80% of the people that come through that facility are not bad people. They just took the wrong direction. And so, um, if you can get them well, you can get them healthy, get them past the trauma that, you know, they've dealt with their entire lives and how the environment that they were brought up in, um, you know, they're not bad people. And, you know, we we teach them skills to do better. We teach them skills to get jobs. And you know, I have no problems with them staying here and being a successful person inside this community to pay taxes like anybody else.

So that's that's just my two two cents part of it because you know that it kind of impacted me when I spoke with him over the weekend. So well, we're really lacking for for the gentleman in the county. Sarah, could I ask a question? Sure. I'm just curious about the programming of it. I know that you had said that you're already working on conversations that need to be have with your residents. Um is that the the programming and the kind of um the training that you're going to or the assistance you're going to be giving them? Do you have things in place already? Are you going to be working with the sheriff to our next step is we're meeting directly team finding out exactly what goes on.

So we are continuing that program on the outside as well. So that's that's our next meeting is to meet with their there's going to be somebody there with them then during that whole time. They're just not going to go live in this establishment on their own without their we'll have counseling sessions for the we group and things that nature and there are still requirements oftent times when they're coming out on from a legal standpoint. Yeah. They may be on probation.

They they could be on probation. So, you know, my jail navigation team, you know, as they as individuals get to the point to where they're time to exit the facility, um, you know, we work with them to make sure they have appropriate places to go, a sober living location um to fulfill and can continue on with the rehabilitation. That's what we work with with the hospital and their justice system and having them come in as well uh to find those transitional housing. We we you know we utilize transitional housing for you know male and female throughout Indianapolis because that's where they're at. We use TK um for the female. We just don't have a male you know place in Hancock County which would benefit our navigation team to be able to transition those in into our community to be able to continue on with where they were at and what they're doing. And so I think there's a benefit, you know, to being able to have that local transition and then continue on with a, you know, whether it's their, you know, more recognition the therapy, um, what they're doing, um, that can be transition into there if they need to, um, if they modify out. So there's just a lot of things I think it can be done, um, transitioning out of the facility into a facility like this, like we do, TK, um, for a male for a male location. So Okay.

Thanks, sir. Thank you [clears throat] from us. Thank you. 500,000.

Yes, I'd go for that. Okay. Okay. And then remember how much [laughter] the 10,000 was for uh the lady in South that's money that comes out of that total I think when they when the council put this request together they had crunched the numbers to make sure they brought it up at their last meeting that they failed to remember that 10,000. So, I just wanted to make sure that I'm

how much we have on hand. Well, we can give 100 or you're right. You're I know what you're talking about. I mean, [snorts]

let's wait and see. So, Scott, I think our our consensus amongst the commissioners is while the uh council made a favorable recommendation to give each group $300,000 that we really lack in our community a group. Uh we don't want to forget the TK women's group at all, but uh the commissioners would like to see the bulk of those funds go to funding the building of this men's transi transitional house. Are we within our uh right to say we would like to see $500,000 of that money go to the [clears throat] Greenfield Church of God and their building project and then the remainder $100,000 to go to I think what you would do um [clears throat] you'd make a a motise that not agreeing with the record that was made but contingent said earlier

first would do that don't agree with that allocation here's how we would like to have the ultimate authority funds are allocated of course the council has to they would consider what so I that's how you should proceed

so do you want to go ahead make that motion that we're not in agreement. I make a motion to uh inform the council that uh we are not in agreeance with their proposal, but we would like to recommend that uh the men's recovery h uh house would get 500,000 and we'd give TK uh I mean 500 100,000 and I I think because we we we we got plenty we we serve everybody that I mean that we can. We serve the kids. We served the women, now we need to serve the men. So, but not forget about TK. So, so I believe that was a motion. Can I get a second? It was kind of a and a second.

Yeah. Okay. Is there any other discussion with that? been moved and seconded that we send information back to the council on the uh disapproval of our the allocation their allocation request of 300,000 each and that the commissioners request the allocation numbers be changed to $500,000 for the Greenfield Church of God and $100,000 to TK House. All those in favor say I. I. I motion passes. Thank you everyone. Thank you all for coming. We appreciate it.

Clarification that goes back to the council then for their approval. They're they're the fiscal body. So they they they spend or they they control the money, right? So it would go back and they would you got to wait until very the very you got to wait until the very end to ask. Oh, I thought you when No. Um, we're just we're just finished with that right there. But then we've got some other little minor housekeeping things to go ahead and go through. And if you have any questions about your applications, you're more than welcome to call either Sarah or myself at the auditor's office if want to get along on that process. All right. Thank you. Thank you.

Sure. [laughter] I carry one of these in my pocket. [laughter] [sighs] Thank you. Because I have to ask myself a [clears throat] question constantly. Make sure it's in. Well, it's a good thing for this season, too. We need to prepare our hearts. Yes, for sure. You're very welcome. I got your number. Agree with that.

They Yes, they should. It It does really make sense though because of the lack of a men's support unit that we try to re enforce that plus continue to give for the ladies as well. So, we can continue to help both. You're welcome. travel safe.

Next item up on our agenda is the uh Hancock County Plan Commission certification for favorable recommendation. The I3 reszone from industrial business park to agriculture in Buck Creek Township. Is there anybody in here? uh i3

from i3 group. Is there any opposition at all? So this is from a matter that was tabled back I think more than 30 days ago for us to figure out whether we were in approval of changing this back to the a zoning or to going forward with it. And um I I I'm going to let each commissioner speak if they so desire on this, but we've got some points of consideration for this matter that um this I3 project, it's over near 300 West and 500 North. There was supposed to be the building of a warehouse or warehouses and uh that was supposed to be done before the end of 2024 and it hasn't and it just appears right now there was a breach of contract. So, I'd like to list off some points [clears throat] that led us to this decision that I3 did not request any extensions prior to uh the [snorts] expiration of the time to commence construction on December 6 of 2024 and complete that construction uh December 6th of 2027. Uh they just recently began discussions with Hancock County after a long breach of the agreement for failing to commence construction by last December of 2024. They have given no consideration in exchange for the request of additional time. Uh I3 initially sought time to complete construction of a year uh to December 2028. uh and now in their proposed amendment they want to start construction in December 2027 with completion in 2029 of December. They've really been inconsistent in their requests and currently it really gives us no reason

to believe they're going to meet their obligations uh even if we gave them an extension and uh we're the commissioners [clears throat] aren't really responsible for the market changes that some of these developers are under. we are here um to serve the constituents of our community. So [clears throat] I don't think they really have any justification for the breach. And um in my own um humble opinion, it would be right for us to go ahead and ask that zoning that they have right now that's industrial business park to be set back to agriculture. I would make a motion that um we reszone um back from industrial uh business park to agricultural in the Buck Creek Township.

Can I add something? Uh what about the the foundations and all that kind of stuff that are out there?

So go ahead and share your you can share that story. You know, I I approached them this spring as a request to get rid of all the the cement out there, the cement foundations and all that kind of stuff. And they said, "We'll work on that. We give us a couple of weeks or whatever." Couple of weeks went by and they're still there. And that was months. So, how do we get rid of those? I mean, do we are they required to come in and get rid of those or or leave them as it is? We can discuss the legal implication of that. Okay. All right. I will second your motion.

And Sarah, they were notified to come to this meeting as well. Correct. Okay. That was the other thing I wanted. Let the record reflect that the county sent an email to the I3 uh people Matt Dickerson responding in the positive that would he would be here for this meeting and so far today he's not contacted anybody to say anything any different. Okay. So now there's this motion on the floor. Second

to um take the I3 uh properties from industrial business park back to agriculture in Buck Creek Township. And it's been moved and seconded. No other discussion. I believe all those in favor say I. I. I. Uh nays. The same sign. Let the record reflect all three commissioners voted in the affirmative to change this property zoning back to a from Industrial Business Park. And that ends our just general agenda. Now we're going to go on to action items on our list. I make a motion to approve claims and payroll. Second. It's been moved and seconded. We approve claims and payroll as presented. All those in favor say I.

I. I. Motion passes. Auditor. Um, I just have something that Bernie needs to discuss with you. What? You're letting him speak for you now or what? He just [laughter] he just text and I'm all my auditor business is done. So,

as you know, we're they're remodeling the prosecutor's office. They're wanting to move uh one of their divisions to the new space. We don't have connectivity back there for uh network connections. Well, we I' I've worked with Ninar. Near can get there after the fifth. Uh contractor is there now. I don't know what they're doing, but nothing's happened yet. So, we're proposing as it we can go in and run a cable from the front to the back to get them up and running temporarily to know if that's okay with you to go ahead and do that. And it but it won't be a permanent fix. It's not a permanent fix. Temporary. Okay. I can go with that. I can I can deal with that. All right. [clears throat] We'll have to get some cable and get it done. We'll get it done tomorrow. So, Okay. Thank you.

Thanks, Bernie. Uh, County Farm RFP readvertise. Make a motion to do that. Uh, yeah. I And I would like to just interject that um Gary and I had some time with some uh potential uh biders out there because we didn't have any and they recommended bid prime. Bid prime. Bid prime. So, um I'm wondering so Bid Prime would be a place to go put our RFPs or RFQS online to be able to and a lot of the people go to that site to actually Okay. Yeah. [clears throat]

There was one other one, but and when I looked at it, it didn't seem as farreaching as bid Prime. So, and it's your desire that we continue to do the bids on or advertise that and get some type of um subscription with Bid Prime, get a quote or at least some maybe somebody from the company that might come and speak to us on that if they and there is a way on if you go to bidprime.com you can set a meeting or call them [clears throat] and uh you can get a free trial for one month.

Thank you. that we're all in agreement on that. We'll look into What about just send up a team's call so that way if you guys have any questions, you can do that. Sure. Do that. But we would like to get this on Bed Prime if we can right away. Get this the re advertisement for the uh county farm. Uh oh. Yes. RFP. Okay. We need to vote on that or is that just just probably a motion to readvertise? Okay, I'll make a motion to readvertise the county farm RFP. Second.

It's been moved and seconded to revertise the county farm RFP. Um, is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. And here's the real real important item on the action item list. The December 30th joint meeting. If you're all in agreement, I I don't have any issue why I don't think we can't carry our business over to the first meeting. I think we can of January. I think we can. I'll make a motion to uh cancel our December 30th meeting and move all business to our first January January 6th meeting of the new year. Right. And and notify the uh notify the council of that too. So, and the paper and all that. Yes.

Any uh any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Sheriff, do you He's outside. We can move that. We can move that down and have him just Okay, Sheriff, do you have anything any input on your um incon cleaning contract? I just submitted it. I don't know. I don't know if you had a chance to look at it or not. I know it's been a while.

Get up to the mic here. Um, I I submitted it. I can't remember when I submitted it. Um, it's a contract that we I just had need to renew. Um, we've been using this company since we opened up the jail. It's a pretty vague contractor. I mean, there's not a lot in it. Um, there is a there is a termination piece to it. Um, we do have the insurance information that I can provide. Um, but it's just a it's not it's not like legal attorney type contract um that you would normally say. You know, they basically it's come in, this is what we do, we clean and this is what you owe us.

So, um, and then there is a termination, the 30-day termination if they're not performing, not that usually is that an annual analing, isn't it? It's for cleaning the admin. Per cleaning. It's I'm sorry. Per cleaning. Per cleaning the the cost. Yes. Yes. Per cleaning. Um, and we clean we clean once a week. Okay. Uh, and you've been using them all along. We've been using them all along. They do a good job. I've talked to my staff and you know, they don't have a problem with it. I I don't have it here in front of me, but their cost went up this this time. A little bit. Not much. I mean, 100 bucks maybe. Okay.

If that. Um, but they do all the admin downstairs in the jail. They do the admin upstairs um in the above the jail. They don't do any of the secured part of the facility whatsoever. Um inmate workers do that. So um Okay. So I mean they I mean they got quite a bit of square footage to cover. Um and like And you're satisfied with the work they do? Yes. Yeah. I would not be here with a contract if I weren't was not. Um [clears throat] I just did this. It hasn't been a yearly thing on the contract signer, but they wanted to redo it because the cost went up a little bit, but I just did it for the year just because I'm only going to be here for a year and so I didn't want to extend it farther than that. Somebody else could make different changes.

I don't see any issue with that at all. Okay. It's it's like I said, it's I'm assuming they have insurance. They do. And I have the I do have the certificate of liability and [clears throat] forms for that. So, okay. I make a motion that we approve the uh contract between the Hancock County Sheriff's Department and Icon Cleaning Janitorial Services as presented. Second. It's been a motion on the floor to approve a cleaning contract with Sheriff. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes.

All right. Thank you. Thank you. And real real quickly, while I'm up here still, I got one more thing. [laughter] It just came up yesterday. It came up yesterday. Sorry. Um, and so a few months back, I don't know how long back it's been. I came to you and um mentioned about Greenfield Central having a police department and them maybe interested in purchasing one of our old police cars. Okay. Um, we've kind of come to agreement with one of our cars. It's got 90 something,000 miles on it. It's a 2019 Tahoe. Um, it was the one that at one point in time Misty was using uh over at Homeland Security. She returned that back.

Is that the one with the bad transmission? No. Well, it it doesn't seem to be having one. I mean, was a 2017, wasn't it? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So, this one seems to be fine. If Scott or we'll we'll figure that out, but I don't think so. It looks like it's in decent shape. We've come to agreement that they're willing to pay 19,000 for it. What's the market value? Um about that. About that. It's about that. Now, it's got some lights and stuff in it, but the the lights we can't put them in anything else. So, I just kind of other than throwing them away, we just left the lights in it and we just said we would agree upon the 19.

So, basically just all I need is to surplus this um 2019. I have the title. Sarah was able to get it early this morning and get it to us. Um, and then that way I can work out the pay. Okay. Make a motion that we allow sheriff to uh surplus his 2019 Tahoe and uh come into agreement with Greenfield Central School Corporation to purchase for $19,000. Second. And that uh last for the VIN numbers 3412. So I second. Okay.

There's a motion and a second on the floor. Uh is there any other discussion with this? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Thank you.

Thank you. Okay, that's uh I'll make a motion that we uh agree to the contract for hiring a uh educator director for solid waste. Uh we have the contract here and I make a motion that we allow President Bill Spalding to sign it. Just one quick thing on that. Um, under the benefits section, we did make it clear she was not going to be having benefits,

but there is the one sentence pertaining to her hours and her vacation time. That was the only thing that I was like, okay, is that something that the the board solid waste district board still wants to do? Do they wanna, you know, or is that something they wanted to be flexible? So, well, this is that this reflects her current salary is what it does. Yes. And but we want to make sure that her status is independent contractor. Yes. And she is. And she wants to. Yes. So, I just want to make sure that that part of it isn't exercising too much control by saying, "Well, you're only going to have so much vacation time." that

as long as you think it doesn't establish her as a permanent employee versus a contractual employee. Your belief is that this still keeps us where whatever would happen, she'd be considered a contractor. And that's why I'm bringing that part up. Now, the only other thing about it is she hasn't signed it yet. Signed today. Okay. But I'll get it to her and if there is going to be a revision or something, we might just initial that. Okay. Technically, we're not paying her vacation. We're just taking her her uh just getting salary and spreading it over salary fee dividing it by months 5,000 and change what

and there was originally some discussion about her keeping track of our y that would be the only other thing I would add if that's if you want me to that's not in there right now but I personally think she ought to keep track and the reason being is the council always wants uh some justification when you come back like I need more money because I'm doing more of these things and if you don't have the ability really to show what I'm doing per se then that that's a hard thing to I could add those I could add those per so if you could add that okay well I mean we could just approve this at the

contingent okay then I would actually make a motion to approve the contract with our solid waste directorucation educator uh contract contingent on our represent our legal representation to add the part about keeping track of your hours. Yes. Second. All right.

Okay. There's a motion and a second on the floor. Uh any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Make a motion to approve amplify uh change change order number five and that would be in the amount of 939717. 7 cents. Second

motion and a second. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes.

Are we accepting this? Is that what we're doing? You don't have to sign it. You just have to There's a stack. Oh, so okay. All this. No, no, it's not. It's all in here, eh? So, they're all separate for Duke. Oh, the energy. Yeah. Oh, for Duke Energy. Yeah, I think it was just a one. The Duke Energy was just a one pager access to the east. Oh, right. had a piece of property that looked like it was at 300 north and 500 west. I think it was the souththeast corner property right there. Yeah. Uh but there's a few pages there. There's four pages.

Yeah. uh make a motion to accept an easement from Duke Energy uh parcel number well 30-06-2-2000-0000100-006.

We're granting access to granting the Oh, you're granting access.

Okay. as presented. Second. Okay, there's a motion on the floor [clears throat] granting uh easement access for Duke Energy. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. And I'll make a motion that we approve the request number 17 for Amplify. And that is in the amount for the uh the educational center out to amplify uh an amount of $18,640.80 as presented. Second.

Uh there has been a motion and a second to approve uh ch or dispersements number 17 from Amplify Hancock. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes

and I would like to mo make a motion to approve the consulting agreement with our HR consultant uh Kim Woodward and Wood Wood Woodland Enterprises. Uh, starting as of today, see, I think it was it $100 an hour. Is that what it was? It just is that what it was? Is that the new

Yeah, HR, she's signed it. We just need to sign it uh as presented. I was thinking it was $100 a day or $100 an hour. $100 an hour. $100 an hour. Okay, that's what I thought. It's Yes. Yep. Similar. It's been moved and seconded or excuse me. Um we have a motion on the floor for consulting agreement approval from our uh interim HR director. Uh any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. That's all I got in my folder. Um,

we've got some [laughter] uh bonds, the animal control agreement. Animal control. We've already signed off on that. Did council sign off on that yet? Well, here's here's what transpired. So, they had a couple questions about it. I address those with great uh Morlock and I'm satisfied that that this can be accepted and approved by you as presented in this draft.

So are they in agreements to it? Well, I don't I mean, it's your contract with the with the animal control and so the only two questions were one on the permission to enter in to like the municipalities and so forth. And Greg Morlock explained they already have an understanding with every municipality. [clears throat] It's apparently in writing in some way either by correspondence. So, that alleviated that concern. Um, the other concern he also stated was not something we need to and I'm convinced it's not an issue either. So, with that said, I think it's the commissioners as long as you're okay with this draft and I'm I am legally and I think you should sign it because it's an agreement that you would sign

correct to start with. Certainly the council's uh you know opinions were noted and and I did proceed to speak to about those. I'm satisfied that this is final. This is this final. Yes. Okay. I will be so happy.

I will make a motion that we uh amend the interlocal agreement regarding department of animal management service and to share the cost thereof. Uh, and that means cost uh of [clears throat] taking care of animal control throughout Hancock County uh in the amount of $465,000 to be per year or for this year. Hold on, we got something else. 26. 2026. [clears throat] Uh, hang on.

Yeah, that agreement is revisited every year. [clears throat] Our cost last year was 465, wasn't it? This year it it's Hancock County should pay to Greenfield the sum of $488,250, but I've got a foroot provision so far 2026. Give me just a second and paid two equal installments. We agreed to 465 this year. That's this year. Well, that was for the 2026 calendar. Yeah, the contract. We got two different sums.

Calendar year or 2026. You have two different sums. 65 number says Hancock County. [clears throat] This is two-year agreement 27. And and I think that they were going with I think 5%. Okay. And uh Yes. And I'm good with that. Okay. You guys are good with that. I'm good with that. I'll I'll state that in a row.

Make a motion. We agree. We uh sign this contract between Greenfield and us. Uh first year, it's a two-year contract. First year will be $465,000 for calendar year 2026 and the second year uh do it it paid two different installments but the second year Hancock will pay the sum of $488,250 for year 2027 as presented. Second. there. I have [clears throat] a motion and a second on the floor to approve the amended interlocal agreement regarding Department of Animal Management between Hancock County and the city of Greenfield. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I.

I. I. Motion passes. Okay. Does the council need to sign off on this agreement too? Yeah, I believe so. There should Is there a signature page? There's a long signature page attached to that with uh us and but they don't normally sign [clears throat and cough] off on contracts. So, right. I don't I don't think that agreement requires their signature if they if they put their signatures on. Okay. Sarah, there was supposed to be a resolution from the U council. It is. Yeah. [clears throat and cough]

Okay. Okay. Not very. So, do you want to use one of these for it? Because there's not one in here.

Well, there's not a new resolution. [clears throat] This one says county council urging. It's stating everything to the council. I think we just we just have to give approval for them to use uh legislative services for their request. I'm not sure if that means it total new resolution. That's so when you am you contracted legis right that on behalf of the county but they have to well they really operate technically underneath the

so any group that uses them has to say to the commissioners can we legislative service for whatever it may be that's what the council and I don't have a copy this. So, this resolution is your [clears throat and cough] original resolution when you when you hired them. Are you so you think that you want to have some changes made to it? Is that what what you're you want that in the body of the resolution to [clears throat] reflect that anyone utilizing Legis Group needs to

I think your authorization. I think all we have to do is just to approve their resolution, which it's a resolution of the county council urging the clarifying legislation be pursued during the 2026 legislation session uh in regard to the countyy's special local income tax rate for libraries. But we just need to make sure that the libraries, their boards, and our our Greg Geratas are all in agreement on how this should spend down.

I I think they are, but this is all this agreement really says is that the lobbyists that we hired can work for the council at the state legislature to do that. But I think they are they are That's good. [snorts] They're already Greg Garrett, Greg and uh Ronda Cook and the council all in agreement about where that potential u tax should come from outside the rate and inside the rate. Yes. So you do a motion to adopt it. Okay. Go ahead, Janine.

Okay. I make a motion that we adopt resolution number 2025-12-1, a resolution of Hancock County Council urging that clarifying legislation be pursued during the 2026 Indiana legislation session in regard to the county's special local [clears throat] income tax rate for libraries. Second. So there's a motion and a second on the floor for resolution number 2025-12-1. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Do we just want to sign? What do you We don't have sign. We don't have to sign it. We don't.

Well, you can go since she's already signed. Go ahead and sign it all and we'll just make sure that we have that and we'll attach minutes to it. I I guess and in regard to what you were talking about, Bill, do you want like a like a a process laid out in order so that you know who's utilizing that or I mean is that what [clears throat and cough] you're looking for? Technically, I think that's the way it it should go. It's just uh this is a more formal way of doing it through the council and I think um our legislative lobby says it just it it's a cleaner look for them and then they know where the work that they've done for.

So, are are you asking that they seek out authorization before they utilize them or is this just a blanket cover? I think they should because technically the way they were hired in they were hired in as lobbyists for the commissioner, right? We'll work on an SOP for that because it does affect your budget and you have a certain amount of money budgeted for their services. So, if

other people start utilizing that, they need to pay for it. Well, and I think on their end too is that's that's where they probably want to be able to maintain, hey, are we do we have less server this year or our services the same or okay, we've see this increase in use over time. Now, we really need to know whether we need to pick up some additional help to help the county. Sounds good. [clears throat and cough]

[clears throat]

Scott, can I read into the record a text I just got from Mr. Dickerson or should I save that? See what Um, I just received an email or excuse me, a text message from Matt Dickerson. from I3 that just says, "Gentlemen, I've been traveling and missed the email for today's meeting. Our legal team just informed me of the vote. We'll be in touch from Matt at I3 Investors." So, I just wanted to add that to the record. Um, any other public comment? Um, wait for Scott has a

morning. Hey, good morning. Um, I'm here to have some guidance on a okay

issue that came up with an unsafe building we had in Spring Lake, the one that we demolished um here a few months back. So, the homeowner has um [clears throat] is under contract to build a new home. The builder was installing footings and he hit the old footings of the house we tore down. In my contract with uh the company I hired to do that, it said that they were to remove and bust out all foundations. Well, they didn't. So now it's going to cost the homeowner more money to have his new builder remove everything. So I just need some guidance on where to go from here cuz it's going to get

You can't just call them up and say, "Hey, you didn't complete your job." Uh I certainly can do that. That's what I would do. Yeah, that's what I would do. Where do we Where do we stand though? Because I think you said too we've already signed off on that. Oh yeah. Yeah. It's all it's met our So satisfaction. Well, they're in breach of your agreement. They didn't remove [clears throat] those. Okay. So, but they were buried, weren't they? Yeah. So, you couldn't see that they were still there. That's right. And that's been his So, on Facebook, this all blew up over the weekend. Did. You saw it all, too. I did. Everybody Yeah, it was. If it's on Facebook, it's got to be true.

It's all true. That's right. So, just reading through those comments, yeah, the the contractor saying, "Well, the county signed off. [clears throat] They paid us, so they're all fine." Have I had a conversation with them? No. I think I would have a conversation with them telling them, "Hey, you you buried the evidence. We couldn't see that they were there. Now, they've dug up the ground. Now it's there." Right? Here's what you agreed to in your contract, and obviously you missed it. You right? So then they would be responsible for any additional cost that the homeowner is going to have because they didn't pull them out. Okay. So I would explain that to him and then if I need to get involved

I'm I'm sure you will be involved. Okay. You got to get Mr. Reason. Do you have a Do you want to come up to the mic and and and introduce yourself? Roger. Now you got do it up here. Roger Wilson. Sorry, Roger is a former Hancock County Commissioner by the way. Oh, blame me for that. [laughter] Uh, one thought I had. Are you sure that the foundation was u not there even prior to the one that was the house that was taken out? Oh, like a 1900's house or something. I have no idea. That's a possibility before you get too far into it. But

that's what was left. have to look to see how many homes have been built on that exact parcel, I guess, or lot. Better get the answer to that question. So, there's there's some pictures.

Hard to tell from this, but that's a massive foundation. That appears like it's probably not old old. I mean, it's not with a concrete block. Yeah. Roger. But with that much left over, goodness gracious, you couldn't have missed that. You had to have in my opinion. Did you take any pictures when you went out to inspect these pictures? No, no, no, no. When when you signed off on No, no, no. They they were out there, I think, four days, maybe five. And I'd go out there periodically and just see progress and and talk with them.

That is a lot of concrete. Yeah. So, I guess I'll get a hold of the contractor, tell them that, you know, they need to go remove it or what? I mean, what what leverage do I have? Their leverages are breach. they're in breach of the agreement and that the Hancock County will pursue legal and the contractor I mean the homeowner might also right okay

so might be they might join in that action so they they really need to notify their insurance company probably I can take it from there you you and I can confer okay all right well I'll give him a call and I [snorts] sound them out first. Yeah. Let's make sure we have the These [clears throat] are good photos, but let's make sure we have the evidence that Okay. All right, [cough] George, [clears throat] before you get up, we've got just a little bit more to do. We just found in a packet. We're almost there. The bonds you have some bond accepting. I

Okay, I didn't have it in there, so go ahead. Lead away. Um, I make a motion that we approve a cash bond deposit and accept it for RNF Development, Inc., uh, located in Greenfield, Indiana. It is a performance bond in the cash bond amount of $44,000, dated 19 of November 2025. The document number is 628 and the CODUS number is 060984. Second. It's a motion and a second on the floor. Is there any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes.

Have another cash bond deposit and to accept uh same company RNF Development Inc. in located in Greenfield, Indiana. It's also a performance bond. The cash bond amount is $39,300 dated the 19th of November 2025 with an expiration date of 19 of November 2028. Document number 629, Coyotus number 060985. It's for asphalt in Rockfield Estate section two. Second. Another motion and second on the floor. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes.

A third cash bond deposit accepting um under the business of RNF Development Inc. located offices [clears throat] in Greenfield, Indiana. That's a performance bond in an amount of $15,000 even. Uh the date the bond was posted was seven of November 2025 and the expiration date will be 7 of November 2028. Document number 626 and Coyotus number 060907 for Rockfield Estates section two street signs and street lights. Second. Have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All those in favor say I. I

I motion passes. Have uh another bond to accept. Um the principal is Specialties Company LLC. It is a maintenance bond in the amount of $9,353. Bond number 30259821. The bond date was 29th of September 2025 and the expiration be the 29th of September 2028. It's for Rockfield Estate section two uh cement stabilization. [clears throat] Second. Uh a motion and a second on the floor. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Motion passes. Okay.

Another bond to accept principal KS Inc. K A R Ns Inc. type of bond is maintenance in the amount of $7,884. Bond number 2660742. The bond date was the 23rd of October 2025 with an expiration of 23rd of October 2028. This is for Rockfield Estate section two concrete curbs. Second. We have a motion and a second on the floor. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Motion passes. Okay.

Another bond to accept from the principal of Floyd Crimson Suns Inc. It's a maintenance bond in the amount of $9,900. bond number 441424R. The bond date is 22nd of October 2025 and the expiration would be the 22nd of October 2028. Uh it is for Rockfield Estate Estates section 2 asphalt binder. Second. Last bond uh motion on the floor in a second. Is there any discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Now, George, if you would like to come. [laughter] George, we've missed you. So,

we almost sent out a third party for you. I gave him a welfare call yesterday. [laughter] Oh, yes, you did. George Langston. Um, first of all, I hope everybody has a merry Christmas and a happy new year.

Same to you. Um the opioid money that you're passing out, I think it's a very good use for the money. Um the amplify the education center really think we did a real good job of making sure we're doing good on that. Um my next comment is a is my own personal opinion because I wasn't here for the public hearing. I haven't heard the comments or or anything about this this justice center. We have spent millions [snorts] of dollars rehabbing the old jail over here. Probation hasn't even moved into the darn thing. And now we're discussing building a justice center. last spring. I come before you because for pretty close to 45 years, this county has ignored a problem on the east side of this county. East side of this county needs a water treatment plant to cover the contamination out there in Charlottesville. And we keep kicking the can down the road. It's got to take be taken care of somewhere along the way. I know the people out there don't want it because it's going to cost them money, but it's a public safety problem and it should be handled. Enough's enough. This thing started back in the mid70s when uh Senator Krider when he was with the DNR made a report on this. I believe it was late 77 or 78. You can find

these people over here, the sanitation engineers are just waiting for this body and the county council to fund it where they can take care of this problem and we need to do that. And if we can find $50 million or whatever it costs for the justice center, like I said, I don't know. But if we can do that, we should be able to do this out here. Just for you know, I was talking to a Lana Barangghazi just while we were at at the uh conference up there. So it it's it's not been slipped under the table. We

I'm not saying you're sweeping. I mean, we're we're thinking about it. We are not being ignored in our conversations with her as well, [clears throat] George. You know, that's I live out there. uh not so much in Charlottesville, but that is part of my my district. I understand and uh I too have spoken with her on several occasions and that is at the top of my wish list. So she has been very helpful in trying to figure out how we could move that forward. Okay.

So it's not gone unnoticed. I know you mentioned it. We've been talking about it for a couple of years anyway. Um, you know, but and then on the justice center, as fast as this county is growing, we are outgrowing every space so quickly and the courthouse is becoming more and more expensive to uh in full fully maintained. Uh judges yesterday it was uh 60some degrees in their offices. They have to buy gloves with no fingers. So, you know, our courts are outgrowing themselves and it's hard to provide court security within an area like that. We're working towards that, too. This is not something that's going to just poof happen. I mean, but we've learned through building our new jail that we have to do our due diligence, and that's exactly what we're doing right now.

Well, I'm just But we are we are talking to this gal. I mean, okay, this lady that's been ongoing, too. By the way, it has to get some kind of help with from the state to help build something like that.

We will reach out anywhere we can to to get the help. Right now, we just hadn't done it. Well, there there is a revolving fund that the um [snorts] I think Jim McGoff at the uh I'm not sure if it's the what his title is, but it in an area that deals with water, you know, to where you can get some matching grants for your communities. And there are ways that I think the county is trying to work along with Ninstar and uh functions with that water that when we get some uh costs back that eventually they're going to catch up and help us build that water treatment plant. I think we should be protecting

have in the ground. I would be concerned about saying contamination right now with anything because item has not come and told us anything's contaminated. Well, they haven't done they haven't done another study since like 21 was the last time that they did a study if I if I remember right when I presented to you guys and stuff. That was the latest study I could find. But like I said, it's just been so long sitting out here and it just seems like it's not nothing's being done. The last time they tried to do something was n was in 93 the county. Yeah. when I was talking to this lady, I mean, it it she's been trying she's actually been pushing it herself.

She's been reaching out to us and all that. So, we're we're working. I mean, we we just [snorts] try to do what we can do. But, uh, we I mean, this started long before this board ever had it. So, I mean, this has been a few years in the works, actually. It has. So, we are working. I got one other question and it involves what you guys did a little while ago with I3 when you when you changed it back to a does that change the value of the land usually. So So that so it's going to go back to agricultural prices instead of the Well, they probably already bought the land. It's they won't sell it for agricultural prices. You can bet on that.

Well, no. I just thinking about taxes and all that kind of stuff. You know, here we are paying property taxes and all that kind of stuff. I hate seeing people getting a hell of a tax break on their land when they don't want that. Yeah. I3, they want to hold on to it, but at the same time, they're in breach of contract. That's why we do it. Yeah, that's the right thing. Anyway, thanks for being concerned about me. [laughter] Trust me, the 17th I was in no condition to come in. [laughter] You made mention of that yesterday. So, but said happy new year and merry Christmas. Merry Christmas to you, George. Thank you.

Any other public comment? Seeing none, I'll take a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Second. It's been moved and seconded we adjourn our meeting. All those in favor say I. I. I. Oh, we are adjourned for a year. For years.