County Commissioners - Regular Meeting

Call the this meeting of the Hancock County Board of Commissioners to order. Today is 3:31 of 26. This meeting is being recorded and streamed for public viewing. By participating, you acknowledge that your image, voice, and comments may be captured and made publicly available. This ME meeting has been properly noticed in accordance with Indiana code 5-14-1.5. Let the record show that a quorum of commissioners are present. The commissioners are open for business. We will now proceed with the agenda. At this time, if you would, I'd like for you to stand and uh recite the pledge for us with us. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you. Uh can

Oh, yeah. Okay. I must not have been listening. Okay. Can I make a motion we approve the minutes for 3162020? Second. I don't know if I can do that. I wasn't here. No, you can't. Okay, you can. I make I move that we approve the minutes for 316 2026 commissioners meeting. Second. There's been a motion on floor and a second uh to approve the minutes for the uh for the minutes of 31626. All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries.

Uh Mickey, you ready? Good morning, commissioners. Good morning. Good morning.

We have a little situation. I need your uh advice on uh how you would like to proceed. U Mount Comfort um cemetery, which is right next to the Mount Comfort Church, has been under um the uh rule of a trust um and the trust has run out of money. And so they contacted me about um the con the township taking over uh responsibility for the maintenance on that um cemetery of which we're happy to do until uh I found out that the deed is deed to the board of commissioners back in 18 somewhere or another. And so um you own it um I can do one of two things. either you can deed it to the township and I can use township funds to do the do the maintenance or if you want to keep if you want to maintain the the ownership of it um I can keep track of what we have a mower you don't have a mower we have a mower um and and I can keep track of of and have him do that maintenance and then present a bill at the end um whichever way you'd like to go on that I can't use township funds on a county asset that and so um I've got all kinds of documentation that our mower is, you know, qualified and has done it for years and what we spend and I I did up our um budget this year, but with the addition of that um cemetery onto our budget, my budget's going to run really tight.

So, how much it per year maintain that? It's he does he charges per time. Um and that particular cemetery because that's a large one is 150. um each time each time and he does it about once a week um on all of our cemeteries. It's more than some of our cemetery again the Mount Comfort Cemetery right next to Mount Comfort Church. The Memphis is it I can't remember what correct it's Yeah, it's not on the east side of the road. It's not on the east side of the road.

No, it's on the west side. It's got a white fence around it right next to the Mount Comfort Church which is right at the corner of Mount Comfort and 300 North right behind the Pilot or the is that a BP or whatever that new station um gas station is right there on the corner at the roundabout. The church that's off um just to the north of that roundabout and on the west side of or it is on the east side. It is on the east side of the road. Mike, I'm sorry. Okay, you're right. And it's not the church cemetery. Correct. Correct. It's county county. Yeah. And they didn't they didn't set aside perpetual funding for any of that. They did not.

And I mean in in hindsight it wasn't theirs to do anyway. Um so um they they are doing a a few final things with the last bit of money. They had some tree work done and they yesterday were powerwashing the fence and stuff and they they've had some stone work done and so they're they're done. Um, I've paid for one mowing already, um, which was $150. Like I said, our guys did it for them for years anyway. So, he said it's not a big deal for him to pick that up in his regular, uh, mowings. Um, he's bonded and, you know, we've got bonded and licensed and all of that stuff. Um, and I have that information if you want to see so you can ensure that it's being taken care of correctly if you're interested. C can I just say ask something? So a lot of the cemeteries are either deed to the trustees or the county. So So my question is statutoily whose obligation is it to take care of the cemeteries because I know that we're not paying for any other cemeteries. So I I don't have have you looked into that. None of mine all of ours are deed to us. So, I can't I can't speak to what the other cemeteries situation is. Um, and the the only reason um you know that this came up was because of of a money situation.

Yeah. But the majority of the cemeteries Yeah. The majority of the cemeteries are either yours or the township trustees. It's we still don't even the ones that are deed to us, we still don't have a financial obligation because I think and I would I would check on that. I think statuto

no matter who you can't offer assistance, but I just wanted to make sure that we had maybe Scott looked at that. Well, I would say though technically speaking, whoever the owner is is going to have. However, it may be that in practice the trustees have done it, you know, for years. I don't know what the precedent is for it, but somebody's paying for it even though it's in the commission, right? So, it might behoove us to find out how that's working. Well, actually, they had a trust set up for it. Okay. And now the trust is run dry. You think they've done that on other cemeteries and they've set up a trust?

I have no idea. I just knew that the the townships take care of them. So that would be something maybe worth finding out. Well, Eden Cemetery attached to Eden United Methodist Church, they're about out of money as well. So statutoilally the trustees have to take care of the pioneer cemeteries. Well, I don't know the exact answer to that, but I'm just saying that it seems to me that technically whoever owns it is always going to be responsible unless there is a trust set up, correct?

Or some other arrangement. But I'm curious to know exactly the cemeteries are in the the county's name, how those are getting taken care of. If it's not the trust or I I can't speak to that. All of mine we we deeded all of the cemeteries in in our jurisdiction and I take care of all of those. I felt responsible, you know, that to take care of it and I we will um however you want to handle that. Why don't I reach out to Casey at the Indiana Cemetery Association, talk with him. Okay. And get his perspective. He's our

Okay. And just um to put it in perspective, I get a $20,000 budget and with this cemetery, if we if there's it's the same number of mowings as last year, which we have no control over, um I I will uh we'll come up to 185 or something on my budget, which is no tree work, which is no fence work, which is no stone work. Um that's my concern. Um, so even if you would you would deed it to the township, I might need help down the way just because it's a surprise, you know, to my budget and nothing nothing I I'm happy to help you, but I may need help down the road. Okay,

let's find out because I got this will come up again, I think, in other especially if there's another cemetery that's in trust and they're then they're running short on funds. We've got more out there. This may like obviously need assistance, but it might affect a lot of other people. So, it might be something that we want to All right. And uh what would you like for me to do um about mowing right now? Go ahead and keep it mowed, I would think. And then we will get it addressed and Okay. We'll go from there. Okay. I'll I'm happy to take care of your asset. You're welcome. Come here. Let us pat you on the back.

I just want to make sure because it's your property, you I I want to make sure that I'm I'm doing what's right. But, you know, I just wonder how many others are out there that's in our name. They they're either in your name or they're in the township's name, but I was told statutoily that the managing of that falls under the trustees. So, now that doesn't mean that they can't be given money to be able to maintain that. So, that's just kind of the question that I have. Might be worth a call, too. I'll do that. Check the stat. I'll check the statute. Okay. Okay.

Thank you very much. Thank you. Good luck today, Mickey. Yeah. Good luck today. Gary Pool. Good morning. I have nothing for signature today. keep it on your radar um about Hancock County Senior Services. If you guys want to extend it, that contract is expiring at the end of 2026. If we want to extend it, we'll have to RFP it and do a standard wedding in there. So, that I've already talked to the mayor and they have told them to go ahead and put in for that grant from the city. So, how much is that grant worth? 15.

Actually, we're asking 160, I think. Inflated up. Yeah. Yeah. So, probably the next meeting or the following meeting, I'll be asking you for permission to RFP it. I'll have Miriam I'm having Miriam handle it, but I'll probably have to help her with that to get that going if we're going to continue it. But keep in mind, I only saw 150 discussed at the council. Typically, the county has been paying 600,000 and getting 300,000 reimbured. So, we are light. So, the council needs to be on board too. They have to fund it. So, and 70 some percent of those rides are in the field. I don't know. It is.

Okay. So, okay. Um Paul or sorry, uh Scott is working with what's the name of the lady up there? Morzo Beth. Yes. Uh to get the interlocal agreement signed. Uh we need that signed at the 14th April town council meeting to continue that project. So hopefully that I sent it to her. Um, have you heard anything from her? I haven't heard anything. I have not. So, maybe both of us will reping her and make sure she's good. I'd hate for $6.1 million to go back to the state. I'll follow up with her and see where she is. I'd send it to her. I think it's been over a week ago now.

Um, congratulations. Uh, Ann and Miriam worked on a Ninstar park grant for all the trails and infrastructure out there, trees and whatnot, stuff like that. And I just got the email this morning that we rewarded that. So that's uh $376,496 from the state. So it's funny how they go down to the dollar. God bless DNR. Um round it off a little bit, but we got make sure we got that extra $6 to spend on something like Coke or something. Um good job, Ann. We got

Ann and Miriam did a good job. That's kind of an oddball grant, so that was good to do. Um and that'll help out if uh they wanted to do any our stuff. We intended it to be a conservation area, but for big events, you'll be able to use out there for that because it's going to be vacant land that people can go walk around and use. And the trail is now pretty much opened up out there, so people can walk on gravel now and get out, go fishing or whatnot right now. So you talk to any of your constituents that live in that area, they can walk to it right now. And then when we build the rest of that trail over from um from Greenfield over, people from uh what is that? Sugar Creek and those people will be able to uh That's very hip, George. I would agree.

Billy's a 70s child. The uh uh 2027 event that Keley is engaged in, is that I think that was the concert. It It is. But is it is she still counting on the Ninstar Park? I don't know. Or is she counting? It could it can go there because Nin Star is getting ready to move a power station over to an area. So it if it wants to be used for that, it can be set up for that. So, but that's not for me right now. I'm just building getting the park set up. So, it could be He didn't change that zoning. Well, that I don't know if that really even that's not my thing. No, I know. But

physically, it could absolutely happen. So, um that would take a meeting to get that switched over. You guys are in control of zoning, but that's 20. It sounds like it's 2027 now, so you got a lot of time.

We got time to work on it. Uh bridges on three south and four south were closed this winter. We're hoping to get those open by late spring and here we are in spring. They're moving right along. We did have a nice flooding event which put us back a little bit on one of the bridges but this happens. Um on the back this page here I need per permission from the commissioners uh to approach Lisa. Well, Lisa is going to approach you guys about pilot, but something else we need to approach her on is adding some parcels to make sure that they are in our tiff district for a couple reasons. One, we don't want anybody to develop, we don't want a factory or commercial interest to develop in the county that doesn't pay a nice chunk of taxes so everybody can use them for everything like we're using for all these things. Um the tax, it's it's not a burden on the taxpayer if we can uh capture the increment from the AV and use it throughout the county. Um, so I need permission to approach Lisa Lee to have the parcels listed on this, which is listed up to the right, which if anybody's interested, it's on back of the pages in here, and have those added to the Northern Tiff District.

Okay. So, do I have permission to engage her? Yes.

Okay. I take that as I permission from the president to engage her. Um, pilot. Obviously, you guys need to talk about that. There's a lot of stuff going on. Um, I was talking to some of my peers over in the Lebanon area with the Leap District, and I'm really kind of happy we I think we made the right move in the great chess game of taxes, uh, by blocking out a certain area. So, we have use of the tax money versus the state. the Boone County and Lebanon are getting about $1.5 to $3 million a year out of their stuff that's been developed. We get $18 million a year. Um, so I I think that's pretty useful to us. Um, we get to decide what to use for to an extent. Now, the state is getting money. They're getting the rest of that. They actually draw a little bit more, but it all goes to the state to an extent. And so, we the county or the city does not have a choice on what that's spent on. So just to note, I think we didn't know if that was the right move five or 10 years ago. Looking back on it now, circling back, I think it was the right manu maneuver to keep the most options for the local elected officials, which are elected by the locals here. So basically keeps the local population in the most control of what those tax captures are used for.

It was the right maneuver at the right time for what was happen to preserve.

It was looking back on it now. was there were things that could have went wrong, they didn't. Um, but I think looking back, hindsight, it worked out really well. It's nice when things work out. Um, the Shirley Canal connection is underway. That has been stripped up. Soon as we get the PA, the plants are not open yet, but as soon as those open up and get going, we'll finish that Shirley trail connection. We also going to finish a driveway connection over by the school, uh, the New Pal High School. Now, just so you know, especially for you, Bill, that's your district. She's asked several times when they're going to build a roundabout or not. We don't know yet. We We want to build it in the summer. If they can't build it this summer because of a utility relocation, then we'll build it next summer. She's like, "Well, I got to know." I was like, "Well, you're not going to know because I don't know. Utilities will relocate when they relocate and then everything's going to be the same until we build that." So, everything

Steinmeer Road extension start. It's underway now, but we don't know when we'll build that roundabout connection because the school did not want it closed during school operation. The trade-off for that, everything has a trade-off. If you want a very specific schedule thing, we have to give up something. And what we gave up was we don't know if they're doing it this summer or next summer.

So, that's what was going on there. Old jail is nearing a April 1 completion. I think they're working on a punch list right now, final punch list. So, that should be completed. Um, look at the screen. Pulling up the actual punch list. It looks like they're both about 1% under cost. They're a little bit late. Here's my final uh run up on the variances. Everything in red is good for us. That means it's under on the project. Um it looks like we're about 1.6% 6% under on the project.

Sometimes a little bit is that even with all the additional things that we had to do like the ceiling in the Yes. old gym jail.

Um so there we are. They both ran about I was worried they're going to get close to $400 or $500 a square foot. We ended up kind of in the high30. Still expensive, but not like where I grind my teeth at night expensive. But um and we didn't have to really manage much of it. So that was nice. Like you didn't have your engineers working on it a lot. So that was good. And that So this one is the prosecutor's office which is finished. So this is a final number. Over here is the jail and the the uh slideshow I emailed you has these in there. So if you open it up and go to the last page, you can open these up. action community corrections modification is under by 1.1%. So, you know, with a construction project, it's pretty well managed if you're within 5% one way or another on the thing. 10% is kind of average. If you get 15%, you're not doing a good job of managing it. So, I'm I'm pretty happy with that. Being pretty predictable, but we're buying predictability for that. So, that's good. Then we'll talk about the next phases or next uh projects out there if we want to do them probably. I want to let everything wrap up. Talk about next projects because of what the executive branch what you guys want to do. Bridge 67 tree clearing is underway right now. There's near one of the churches out there. So tiff property ads we already talked about that. I'm going to be engaging Ice Miller from earlier to get those added on. Uh just FYI, it's not our road, but on 67 by 400 West where we've had all those accidents south, the railroad tracks, it's kind of an attendable thing. INDOT is going to make some modifications to that that are going to remove a lot of the left turns and through movements. I'm sure it'll cause drama for the

thing. However, we get trucks hung up there all the time. So, this is one case where I'm like, yeah, make it as I wouldn't even care if they completely blocked it off to be frank. It would move it other places, but uh that they're all bad up there. All those crossings are bad. I mean, it was built back in the horse carriage days and it's not worked out. It's not working well with our gas powered vehicles. Certainly not commercial vehicles, but

they're going to move it away from there a little bit and they're going to make it a little bit better. So, hopefully that will reduce it. But, just keep in mind that's coming and when the public comes, you can say it's an INDOT project. Talk to INDOT. especially there. It's right between the Corsville and Forville. It's not even really our part of the county to an extent. I talked about the DNR parks grant. That is good. I'd rather spend I'd rather bring tax money back to the area. Uh population, uh we're looking at our population migration statistics because that affects a lot of things. When I first started here, most of the population came from the good oldfashioned way, babies. Um now we have a lot of people moving here. Um so that's different. I mean, there's been a lot of success with our schools, jobs, what we talked about earlier with how much our job stuff has risen and some of the amenities and we're having a lot of people migrate here. I'm not sure how long that will maintain. You can see below the general migration. Boone County had a little bit more than us. That's probably somewhat linked to their leap district as we have a large thing there. They're just capturing less than money from it. Um, we even passed up Hamilton County so that they usually grow pretty quickly

on all the things. 21 then no matter what to expect 40 to Yeah. It's just it's just the math is starting to do its thing. The um 100,000 hopefully for the Yeah. gap. We're just working to try.

We're just trying to work to make sure we secure the thing. So go 50 years from now. We know this population to make sure that we are still a good place to live 50 years from now. It's great now. I mean, people vote with their feet. I mean, people are coming here. But, uh, we need to make sure we we're working on parks, trails, all these things like that. We had another We had a pedestrian fatality on 300 North. So, I'm still trying to A lot of people say trails don't matter, but every year I swear the fatality we have is a pedestrian or someone on a bicycle. Pedestrians and those things matter. We just We can't It's just so hard. Concerned about your roads, but you got great roads. The roads aren't causing the crashes. They are

roads and trails. I appreciate that. I got a great team working for me and good bosses letting me do stuff. Um, survey at 200 West interchange has started. Um, obviously the Heritage Group's pile of clean field dirt is still there, as they would say. Clean as in they don't have any pieces of debris any larger than a car. um 1231 27 they should be done at the end of 27 27

so it's already manifest that is a material cost to the county and the state of Indiana because they're not out of the way on their commitment but we get it uh that's good that's costing money now as we well we talked about that during the thing however it was a trade-off we did not want to obstruct the I70 added travel lane project because the greater good for safety of the traveling public is that project finished but just so you know we're not paying for this, but the state is they're taking a bit on the teeth um with that late construction finish. Um barring that, that is all I have for this morning. I I think things are going okay. There's a couple things that are still there's always something worrying me out there, but we'll get there. Um any questions?

Thanks. Thank you. All right. Have a great day. Thank you, Corey Taylor. Okay.

Good morning. Morning. Did you enjoy your vacation? It's fantastic. One of the most beautiful. Nice to get away, eh? Yeah. One of the most beautiful areas I've ever seen. And it's amazing. I don't think anything fell apart either. So, yeah. No. Luckily, let's sink hole up. It's always good when Hopefully we got that under control. It's always good when the wheels don't fall off. Yeah.

So, I've got a couple things. First thing for you is a change order for Community Corrections. Uh this is a change order to demo some ceiling out. Uh some old carpet that was not on the drawings. This is at one of the entries into community corrections. A sprinkler head would have to be moved. A light would have to be moved. A new acoustical ceiling installed. electric strike added to a door. Uh, two doors, I'm sorry. And this is a total cost of $8,84847 through Envoy.

My suggestion is that this come from the 2021 geo bond. Yes. I make a motion that we um approve the change order request number four for the Hancock County Community Corrections in the amount not to exceed $8,84847 from the 2021 GO bond. Second. We have a a motion and a second on the floor to approve the uh the change order to community corrections in the amount not to exceed $8,84847. All those in favor say I say I. I oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. Thank you.

Next item I've got for you is an estimate. Um this one is under the $5,000 mark. Just giving you guys FYI. So, this is for the Quanza Hut. Um, I need to replace the other garage door. This is a total cost of $2,960 to replace with a 10x10 non-insulated door um in hallway. The old for $2,960 from T-Man's Overhead Doors. This one I would like to pay from the facilities CCD um fund 1138. That was for again uh that's from T-Man's Overhead Doors. This is for the Quanza Hut.

Cory and I were talking and we were just looking for some clarification. So, a lot of department heads if their money is appropriated and it's in their line items and they they do receive these bills, these, you know, reoccurring bills or um maintenance, that's what the lines are appropriated for. Does do do you still want him to come and and get approval to pay some of these invoices or if it's um or or is it okay for him like this one it would qualify under this line that or this fund that he's recommending? Do you do you still want to know about it?

Originally I believe because I fell under the commissioners I was utilizing commissioner's budget. Anything over $5,000 is what I was informed that I had to come to you with. Question that Deborah and I had to was, do I still need to come now that that is my budget? Do I still have to come for approval? Obviously, I'll let you know. Thanks some time in here. I would assume you wouldn't have if it's under your amount. I Okay. If it was that on the 5,000, you know, obviously I'll still inform up to 5,000,000. Up to 5,000. Yeah. Right. Okay. All right. Thank you. Now that this has been brought up in this meeting, do you want to go ahead and make a motion? And

yeah, but I think it was done to just to give you experience. Sure. Okay. Thank you. I appreciate it. So, you want to pay this out of the maintenance CCD budget? Uh, fund 1138, the CCD I make a motion that we uh approve the Kenan's overhead doors estimate in the amount of not to exceed $2,960 to be paid out of line 1138 of the CCD budget.

Second. There's a motion and second on the floor to approve the uh bill for Tenins's uh for an overhead door and not to exceed $2,960 be taken out of line item 1138 CCD. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor say I. Oppos same sign. Motion carries. Corey, before you go on, I got a quick had power run over there, right? No, sir. I've got that in here. Next. What is the status of that just built?

Yes, the highway department did an excellent job. Those guys had that thing clear in two days. They helped out and got that thing clear. Uh there's nothing inside except for Mr. Simon's uh measure measuring trailer for weights and measures. Um I believe there's a vehicle in there. Paul's not here, but I think there may be a vehicle in there. Um, but there's no light. There's no I need to get just a little bit of convenience. Um, in case they need to run some kind of tool or something and have some light. So, which leads into the next one. Uh, that is the quote from electrical solutions services and that is to bring power into that building. Uh this is to set up um bring new overhead 200 amp service into the building and add convenience outlets, lights, um the panel, um everything needed to power to get power into that facility. And this is a total cost of $8,595.50. And again on this one, my suggestion is a CCD 1138 fund. I make a motion that we approve the estimate number ESS24E1315 for electrical solution service for the Quanet hut in an amount not to exceed $8,595 from uh the CCD fund 1138 and 50 cent oh and 50 cents I beg your pardon Second.

Okay. Was that the on the I think it was too far out. It wasn't getting me. So, uh there's a motion and second on the floor to approve estimate E SS24E1315 electrical solution services to run power to the to the Quanton Hut. Correct. Yes, sir. Out at the highway. uh not to exceed 800 $8,595.50 to be paid for out of the 1138 CCD fund. Uh any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I oppos same sign. Motion carries.

And just to clarify with that, that will come from um the monthly electric bill will come from utilities. Is that correct? Commissioners utilities. If I I can you repeat the question? The monthly uh incurred cost for the power that will come from commissioner's utilities. I forgot about discussing that with the US. Yes. I mean, if it's if it's in the commissioner's name and it's a utility bill, then it will come out of our utilities. Yeah. Okay. So, I need to set that up as power under the board of commissioners. Do you want that paid out of his budget or your budget? No, just go ahead and pay it out of the commissioner. Yeah, that'd be my suggestion. Okay. Okay.

Sorry about that. I forgot about that. That's okay. Do you need What kind of We got two sign here. You just need Gary's signature on this on which one? I'm sorry, ma'am. The estimate for electrical. There's only one line for it. So, okay. You guys have the utility. Is that what's next in your Yep. Okay. Yes, we do.

So, the next item I've got for you is a quote for video. Is it video and um voice recording at the prosecutor's office. This is to replace the old outdated system that was on the drawings originally. uh was part of the original plan to put the old equipment in. That was halted because the county has switched and has used um utility at I believe the sheriff's office and maybe some other locations. Um so this quote is from utility for the prosecutor's office. Um and from what I understand, this covers the entire building through correct

the entire remodel. So once everything's done, this would cover all the equipment to get them what they need. Um I'm not going to break it down exactly because some of this stuff I don't even know what it is, but it's some cameras, some network video recording equipment, um obviously some audio equipment, and a total cost for this is $76,32. um suggestion was speaking to the auditor was the 2022b geo bond. This was in the original project. Okay. To be clear, they just changed who they were using because that was outdated.

Got it. Um and it says back here that there are uh are these maintenance on the anniversary dates? Are those payments? how we're going to make the payments or we just we're going to pay it all in one lump sum. I mean, see, that's one thing we'll have to discuss is

Shelley or Brent, do you guys happen to know how they broke that that down, the invoicing? Um, I mean, it's it's listed on here, but obviously we're not going it may be a year or two before the building's completely done. Um, so we're not paying the total 76,000. We're not paying the total 76,000. I I want to get clarification from they've not done the work yet. So, we really can't pay for it if they've not done the work. But at the same time, if if there's a payment that we need to give them, then we we can do that.

I would say approve it up to the amount of 76,000. My suggestion, two, three, four, four four years of payments upon signature is 30,520 and 80 and then every year for up to the 4-year anniversary that is the cost and then have to be renegoti 11,44530 for up to four years

and this will continue to be paid out of the 2022b is that yes so I guess the initial shel would need to be the 30,000 do we need to go ahead and pay the the year the first years as well yes okay so the suggestion is to pay the 30,52080 do you want to go ahead and approve in the motion the subsequent payments don't have they don't have come back every year because Thanks, Scott. No, I I don't think I would do it that way.

Just wait. Let them come back every year. Okay. I make a motion that we um approve the estimate for utility reference number 20251219-094 731 290 uh for the Titan inter uh interview room bundle at the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office. The total uh at completion will be $76,32. However, today we are uh asking uh we are awarding the due upon our signature of the customer service agreement an amount of $30,520.80 to be paid for the 2022 Bond.

Second. Have a motion on floor to approve IT equipment and services for the prosecutor's office. uh not to exceed $30,520.80. Is there any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppos same sign. Passes. Yeah. I kind of heard a telepathic. Yes.

All right. Next item I've got for you is a proposal from PDF mechanical. This is to add a mini split to the new area of Purdue extension office that we had to make an IT room. Uh that room is a basically closet and has no um climate control in there. So with adding the equipment technology equipment, we need to add um some cooling. So this is for a 12,000 K BTU uh Cabb Breeze mini split um with material and labor we are looking at 14,798 8 cents and this one again I will suggest the facility CCD fund um 1138 this is new something that Purdue has requested their equipment be it's been it's currently in a mechanical room which isn't climate control

overheating. That's what things are getting. So yeah, I make a motion that we approve the Purdue Extension building uh the server room minisplit uh to PDF Mechanical LLC in the amount not to exceed $14,798.

Second. We have a motion and second on the floor to approve PDF mechanical to uh uh do work in the server room for the mini split at the Purdue Extension Building uh not to exceed $14,798. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I motion passes. Go ahead, Cory.

Uh, the final item I've got for you is um with talking to you, Mr. McDaniel, I'd let you know that we had to go ahead and get the cabling repulled. There were some also some issues with the data cabling in that building was old and brittle and uh they were having some connection issues. So, we went ahead and had electrical solution services go ahead and pull all new data cabling um in that building. Okay. This was a total of $11,1560 from electrical solution services. This one also I would suggest CCD fund 1138.

Okay. make a motion that we approve uh the invoice number 54370 for Electrical uh Solutions Service LLC in an amount not to exceed $11,1560. We have a motion to second on the floor to replace cables for computer equipment over at the Purdue Extension. And that's invoice number 54370 and an amount not to exceed $11,000 $11,1560. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same side. Motion carries. And then the final thing I've got for you is just an update on the courthouse elevator. Um the drawings were submitted. So they have to do architectural drawings and submit those to the state. Uh those were submitted and they're waiting on approval. Once the approval is done, you're basically building an entire kit for the elevator. Um they'll order the equipment. So it's at this point we're at the the state's mercy to approve those drawings. Uh once that's done, they'll get the equipment. Um once that equipment is ordered, I'll communicate with the courts and try and give them an idea of when uh we're looking at downtime.

Okay. Appreciate it. Thank you so much. Any update on uh Foundation recovery of So, yes, sir. I did receive a phone call after the meeting u from you knew I believe it was general manager. Uh apparently the general manager we were dealing with is no longer employed. Um, I did speak with Scott, let him know that he did make contact and did agree to still make that payment. But have they? That I don't know, sir. I can I can follow up. I sent him the letter. Yeah, you give him seven days. That's two two or three weeks ago.

I sent him the letter and then I called and the the one guy apparently is no longer with the company because phone was disconnected. So then there was followup though as Cory just mentioned. So they intend to pay it. So, do they they were going to pay in the auditor or what were they going to do? That payment, I believe, was supposed to go directly to service master. I mean, we need to check with them. I can do that. Yes, sir. I will do that. And then when do the fountains come on out in front? Um, as soon as I get some stable weather, um, I want to make sure we don't have any more freezing days. So, um, hopefully beginning of the month. We'll kind of look at the forecast and see, but Okay, cool. Perfect. Get them on. All right, that's all I've got. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Rosary Eden. We have a bid that we need to open. Now, this is for your study. I'm always stuck. What's that? Said I'm stuck. That No, this is for your study that you're done. I said I was stuck. I said no, your study. What what are we looking to actually find out? Pardon me. As the county grows, yeah,

the demands on our justice system grow. My idea is so that we have someone who understands the justice system, understands how the parts interact so we can look for strengths and weaknesses to plot a path forward over the next 5, 10, 15 years. My deep concern is if we do so in an ad hoc manner, we're going to end up with something which is inefficient and more expensive than it should be. Now, I think we're kind of at the crest of the wave. If we look at those things now, I think it will help us significantly to make better decisions in the years moving forward. Okay. Uh

we we already know we're short on people, but at the same time, that's not what you're looking for here. That's going to be inevitably that will be part of it. But you also want to identify where there's inefficiencies. So maybe you don't need as many people if you do things more effectively. True. If we're just looking for efficiencies, that's one thing. But I mean, if we're just saying we need more help, we already know that. So I mean,

right. No, I understand completely. I mean, I think that having someone or someone's from frankly outside that's not politically connected to anybody to look at thing with dispassionate eyes to then see, okay, what's our county population trends? What are these courts doing? What's community corrections doing? What's the prosecutor's office doing? How can we make these things better and more effective?

Um, I mean, and the truth of it is, and I've mentioned this before publicly, if you really want to know what happens in the justice system, the best place to start is the prosecutor's office. every single thing from law enforcement to the courts, probation, community corrections flows through us all the time. And so, you know, the the treasure trove of the data exists within our building. I mean, I'm I'm very motivated to open the doors so we can figure out how to make things work better. I'm really concerned about where we're going to be in five or 10 or 15 years. And we have kind of a special opportunity to do those things now and I think an organized and thoughtful way. And if we don't, I'm conf firmly convinced that we will not like where we end up and that we will end up in a place where we will spend more money than what we probably really need to and we probably won't get the results that we want.

How much what was the price tag that you were looking at there? Whatever comes on the bid. I think when we talked about this and I mean it would we've had multiple meetings. We did um I want to say at different times it's gone between 40 and 60 is what I think it was. I don't off the top of my head. I'm trying to remember really hard, but I've had a lot of meetings on this and I want to not misquote things, but that range sounded correct.

Now, I know council's kind of been bucking at this. Um, do you do you think that you you'd get the funding? I know that we're my belief was that originally they had agreed to the funding and it went to you all and then went back and there was a meeting that Scott and I well Scott was there and I was very confused because thought we were voting on something we already voted for but we voted for it again and at that time there really seemed to be an appetite well let's see what this says let's see what this would do essentially like an an appetite for more specificity before they wanted to write a check which is very reasonable and so at that time it was you know decided to go through with the RFQ to see what kind of bids we would get from what's out there, you know, and then from there we'll make a decision. And that's kind of what was left. I mean, I think that really the the thing I got from all those meetings was kind of what Gary said is if it's just something that's going to tell us we need more people, there really was an appetite for it.

Yeah. And the more narrow it was tailored, the less of an appetite it was for it. But the more broad it was tailored, the more broad of a view it would have, well then the more that there seemed to be an appetite for it. So it kind of depended on that variable. This has been a journey. It It has because I mean they talked about having one done for the whole county and they they did that how many years ago? Just a long time ago. 10 years ago or whatever. And it really didn't tell them anything they needed to hear. So I mean

I I hear you on that and you know and I guess that's something I feel pretty strongly about too is that you know I I don't know a lot about other parts of our county government there. So, you know, what I do know is is that, you know, the justice system is really the kind of the cornerstone community and it is beyond critical that we make sure that we have something that's going to work well and effectively now and years into the future. And I tried to tailor request I worked on with Scott in such a way as to entice people that had specific knowledge of this industry. And it wasn't a general consultant, just all kinds of stuff, but people that generally speaking work in this field and have a broad and deep background, you know, in the justice system, prosecutor's offices and courts because I thought that would be where we get the most utility because having somebody that just does it for businesses usually, I don't think would really be worth the money. They don't have the expertise. No, they don't.

Open the if you open up. Yeah, I will. I was just uh reading through some of the things that that uh the RFQ said. So, which would include office case load. So, we know they're going to come back and say you need more people. Number one on that's that's going to be a part of any measure though. It's going to have to I'm going to go get my cup of coffee. Okay.

All right. Can I ask a question? We had the issue with the mail not delivering on time, although they had the receipts. So, I have included the email in here that you've allowed this to happen and I I I think I want that in the minutes just because we had discussed the RFQ earlier. I just want to make sure that they're covered and you're covered on on opening this. So, did it did it not get here in a timely fashion? It didn't get building not of their fault or Brents or ours. It just the mail it they paid for that and the receipt was there and it's all here in your information. It was sent out several days ahead and wasn't was it certified mail?

Yeah. I don't know if it's certified. It was certified. Yeah. Yeah. So I I told you and this is kind of based on the trial rules. It's steamed filed as of the date of the certified mail. Oh, okay. Yeah. So, they were timely and I I told I already said that whether they lose it or not, it still goes off that way. I think it's timely. Yeah. Okay. Must have been stuck at that Indianapolis Regional Mail Facility on English Avenue,

but we have all but we do have all the documentation here for for the uh qualified delivery. Uh and this is for uh to the board of commissioners from prosecutor center for excellence out of New York, New York. and see here says it's a not forprofit organization.

Trying to find hard find. Yes, it is probably on the last page. I should have just gone there. Look, look a little harder.

Got to put that right on the first page. I'm not seeing a I'm not seeing a dollar amount.

That's a freebie, right? Well, we can accept it in it, right? Accept that bib. We've got another meeting. Yeah, let's just go ahead and accept it and take it under consideration. Okay. We will I make a motion that we uh accept the uh RFQ for from prosecutor center for excellence uh effective this date March 31st 26.

Second. We have a motion second to to accept this RFQ uh RFP uh from prosecutor centers for excellence uh and we will take it under consideration. All those in favor say I. I. Oppose. Same sign. Motion carries. My knowledge. Is that the only one we There's one more, wasn't it? Oh, they went just the just the one. Just the one. Was this the original company you reached out to?

There were multiples I reached. After the meeting where we said we might want to do something council, they made it in Indiana and they made a recommendation for a couple people. I then was directly in touch with more than one person and more than one entity after having touch talked to the prosecutor's terms council in Indiana. This is one of the people that was facilitated there. Therefore, that's one of the people that recommended um in the interim and so I do know those people. if it's something where you know have questions, concerns, I know they'd be very willing and motivated to want to talk to you and so anything I could do to help facilitate that communication I'd be happy to do. Just let me know.

Well, it would have been nice to see a price. Yeah, we'll look closer and see if there's a price in there. Get a fee schedule. Yeah, there should be a price in there. There is not. Is there an extra piece of paper in the envelope? I don't think so. Nope. Nothing. Um, we'll just have to look look a little closer and go through it. See if there we're just missing it or whatever.

Now, have has Gary already signed off on the um request for an RFQ? Did you already did we already sign off on that? This was this was the RFQ came in response, but um did he sign off on our request to do it? Because I've got a blank signature here. This was the notice. He did sign off on that. Okay, perfect. We and we advertise it as well as Brent, I believe. Okay. Just for we just wanted to have all that documentation together just because of the mail mishap. No worries.

It would be nice to have more than one bid, too. Yeah, it would. But super. We We will take a look at it. Brent, we always discuss reopening that. Yeah. So, is there anything else, Brent? Anything else I can do for you today? Not that I know of. All right. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Kayla Brooks. Two things on here. Yep. Get the planning assessment.

I'm bringing Scott Williams up with me today as well so we can both present our bodyguard or what? Can I have coffee?

All right. So, first up is the 2025 annual report. Um, just to go through some highlights of this, uh, I've broken it down, um, by residential and commercial. Uh so for residential development in 2025, 32 new lots were created mostly for residential purposes uh through the subdivision process. Onethird of them were in Sugar Creek Township. The average size was 4 acres. Um no subdivision petitions were denied, but two did withdraw. Two residential projects uh withdrew at the reszone phase with one successfully uh being reszoned. So, that was our subdivision uh summary for 2025. As far as permits go, which is where we get into Scots territory here, uh 158 new resident new single family residential homes were permitted, up 8% from 2024. The average reported estimated value of a new home uh for 2025 was 482,000 uh plus uh up 11%. uh the value of accessory alteration permits, which is where I get a little bit interested in the numbers side of this, uh increased 45% uh from 51,000 to 74,000 approximately across 244 permits. That adds up to nearly $18 million of investments in existing Hancock County homes. So that's people that weren't selling and moving or by putting into new houses, but were actually investing back into existing homes in Hancock County. So that's an important number when we look across that whole thing. Um and that number by household or by permit from 51,000 to 74,000 on average is, you know, pretty significant. So, um, 108 new multif family units were permitted as the first 16 buildings of Whitman Villas, town homes were constructed at Hancock Gateway. Uh, the average cost per unit

was 185,000.

Um, so that's the residential summary. um for commercial and industrial uh and this is really uh where shout out to the building department um because they had some awesome activity uh non-residential commercial and industrial permit activity nearly doubled from 2024 at 81 permits totaling almost $140 million in added improvements to Hancock County. The most numerous of these permits, a total of 33, were in Butt Creek Township. Um, and were each greater than 5,000 square feet in size, which I know that's still small, but it's still a lot for our building department to go out and inspect and walk. And I mean, they really put a lot of time into these inspections. Um, and that totaled $133 million in estimated value altogether. And that was just in Buck Creek Township. And I can and if you have any questions on how many permits and or how many inspections and things like that, talk to Scott because he and Tom do a great job uh getting out there and really checking out some of these very very large buildings.

That's we did a total of 1,860 inspections last year between Tom and I on all these projects. So you're roughly three a day, Senator. It averages about seven a day. About seven. Okay. Good means you're busy. We're busy. Yep.

That additional permit activity uh led to additional revenue for the building department up 78% from 169,000 in 24 to 302,000 in 25. So that's 96,000 over their expenditures. So his numbers came back good this year. Um now, so how are your fees and everything holding up? We um increased our fees. What was that? 24. Yeah. And they're um so far we're doing okay with them.

And I think the state put some new legislation in place to when we can raise our fees. So we'll have to study that and see what the future holds. Maybe you caused them to put new regulations on. Yeah. Well, that that's great. It's always nice to see numbers go up. Good numbers, right? I know. So,

um unfortunately, that was also administratively costly work to the planning department. So, we unfortunately kind of soaked a whole lot of that in our budget up in legal fees. um as you guys know uh with lawsuits that were um filed in regards to some of the industrial use BZA decisions um old zoning commitments that we followed up on which led to extensive correspondence between lawyers and all of that um more contentious industrial land uses were filed which required um more extensive interfacing with the public uh change of venue at one point uh multiple meetings per petition things like that all cost money um and in response I guess planning is reviewing its fees uh now to especially related to those industrial land use petitions to make them line up better. So hopefully we can

match up with building department and at least cover our costs a little bit better. Um it's not going to get any better. I don't think you know the second or first fastest growing community state we're going to be challenged to grow. But that's not a bad thing, right? Oh, it is good.

Finally, last part. Um, just a couple quick updates. U, the planning and building departments, uh, placed more documents online for the general public to view, including this report. It's now available on our website. Um, a zoning quick guide, which it just quickly goes through all of our zoning districts, lot standards, use uses allowed in which lot in which zoning districts. Um, all PUB ordinances. Thanks to John Milbour for linking uh PUD documents to the Beacon GIS layer. Um so now it doesn't just say PUD and that's it. You can actually click on it if the layer is active and then link directly to that PUD ordinance

document. So that's very good. Um and meeting agendas now contain, as you guys know, clickable links to agenda item documents and YouTube recordings. That's it. Uh where are we on the UDO? Thank you. Thanks, Scott. Thank you. I have uh proposal and contract here today. Um however, I did just get some comments back from legal. Yeah.

So, I think what I'm going to have to do is um bring this back to you at the April meeting, hopefully with a clean copy that you can sign. Um okay. But apart from that u the plan commission a small group did uh interview HWC and reviewed the um document you have here in front of you. Um felt very good about the scope of services and the timeline that was presented. Um so we we feel good. We just have to get that contract together. Okay. Do you have any questions for me about it? N thank you. Do you want to catch her on since she's up there already? You had a uh the uh the stable riding stable.

Yes. What's that about?

All right. So, um it has come to our attention that we've got um some interest in our more suburban neighborhoods in still some agricultural activities like riding stables. Um this is uh so currently riding stables is defined as an establishment that shelters and offers upkeep to horses for use by patrons and private owners. Stables generally include grazing pastures and land designated for horseback riding. That's the definition. Um so you can see how something like this adjacent to neighborhoods might be a useful service u to provide to new residents in Hancock County. Unfortunately, our land use matrix shows it as a special exception use only in the agricultural district, rural residential, uh, commercial, regional, or institutional districts. So, it's a special exception in those districts. It is not permitted at all in any other zoning districts, including our R1, our 2.5, um, those kind of more residential districts where we might have more houses and don't permit so many animals. At the same time, we also permit um either by right or special exception livestock raising and breeding in those same districts where we're not permitting writing stables. Um so, uh we're we're a little bit it's not exactly an even playing field. Um and I think this is one spot where we could um permit a commercial use like riding stable alongside traditionally more agricultural uses like livestock raising and breeding. um in a residential sense. Um and so that's really what we're here to talk about today is um if uh this body would want to prepare a resolution to give to the plan commission regarding um riding stables in the um in the R2.5 specifically, but also in R1. I could foresee um adding a special exception

useon riding stable. So, the plan commission couldn't just do this. We could um we could start it at the plan commission level. Um it was one where um we uh wanted to bring it here first to get your take on it whether or not we should start or not. Um and I'll turn it Janine met with uh the same resident that I did who was interested in pursuing this. Um so we're kind of just uh starting here. This is a a couple that wants to build their forever home right next to Walmart now and put in I think they've got 10 acres there, wasn't it? Yes.

And it's about after you take away the portion for their home uh about seven acres left, which would include that would be allotted for about seven horses per acre, one per acre. and they uh I mean this doesn't come along every day and maybe it would a little bit change the landscape of all the concrete we have out there was my first thought and uh these this this couple um I mean these are not just your average quarter or Tennessee walking horses these are DJ horses from Czechoslovakia I mean high dollar stuff

personally think we got the cart before the horse in this uh issue. I really think the direction it should have went, you didn't really have to come here, just a call to us individually. And with that recommendation, and I'm sure each of us would have said, "Hey, let's let's run this by the planning board before it." I mean, it it's ultimately going to come to us, but they would be the first step. Okay, I'll get it on the agenda. Thank you. Thank you. Now this writing stable

are are they ready to go? I mean Oh, they are more than ready to go. Okay. So, but they've not started doing anything yet. No. Oh, no. They have a they have a uh a contract that is good for what? Till the end of May on the property that they're wanting to buy. Okay. So, I'm sure we can get that through the plan commission and figure out where they want to go. Thank you. Thanks,

RJL. We'll come back to them. Uh Debbie Vanickle, a association Good morning. Morning.

Um I was asked that you would like to have an accountability of what we've done so far with the money that we received um from the county. Um a lot of things are still going on. This project started three years ago um when we had a block bathroom that um the sewer we backed up during the fair and we were trying to find funds to get the clay tile fixed. So it ended up being this broad idea of things that we needed to get upgraded at the fairgrounds. So we were granted 1.5 million as a forgivable loan. And with that, we tried to be as efficient as we possibly could with things that had to get done. Um, you have the the um presentation in front of you, so if there's any questions, but the main things that we needed to get done were uh paving the handicap parking spot. Um that was gravel for years and it was just um something that needed to be done if we were going to service anybody that that had um handicap uh necessities. Um with that we had a lot of safety and security issues that we wanted to address. Um we needed security lights. We have had a breakin there so we decided that we needed to get it lit better. Um, we upgraded a lot of the area with asphalt so that it would help with the drainage. Um, we uh are in the process of trying to get a security system. Um, but that was on this next phase. Um, we've we've spent money on uh safety in the show arena and got brand new bleachers. Those do have handrails and steps along with uh areas for handicap and wheelchair areas that we've not had

before and we were glad to get ADA approval on that. That's quite an improvement right there. Wow.

It is amazing. We had our first event with the uh bleachers in in November for our livestock show and we could not believe how much just putting the bleachers in brightened up the whole area. Um, with that now, since we're brought that up, we do have a couple of private people that are getting ready to help us put new mulch in the show arena and get rid of the announcer stand and upgrade it. So, we're making some huge improvements just by what we've done so far that we're pr finding some private dollars as well. Um, how's that going? Pardon? How's it going?

It is going very well. um a lot of things had been neglected and so a lot of people weren't, you know, looking at the facility is a sustainable event center. So now since we're showing improvements, everybody's kind of coming, hey, what do you need? So it's it's been kind of a nice benefit that we didn't expect. Um so on our next phase um right now we're we did upgrade the interior of the exhibit hall. In the next phase we want to do upgrade and refreshening the exterior of the ex exhibit hall. And with that we are looking at extending the exhibit hall so that we can have a 40 to 50 person meeting room that is more rent to help us become self- sustaining. Um, we're going to increase storage area. Then we're going to tear the fair office off and then move that fair office within another room within the exhibit hall and put a porch and um refreshening the exterior with hopefully red red metal. Um, we're working with the architects right now to make sure we can get everything done the way we want it done. Um, we've also surprisingly had a lot of requests to have music events at the fairgrounds and so we have decided to move the bowl the amphitheater up. It needs to be modernized, refreshed, put um restrooms down there so that it is a renable venue. Um, our whole goal with everything that we're doing is trying to become self- sustaining. Um but there was a period there we had a lot of neglect um for a few reasons. One we thought we were moving the fairgrounds and the other was there wasn't the finances. So um so this gives you an

overview of what our our vision is. Um if you have any questions I'm more than willing to answer any of them. But we are very appreciative of what we've received from the county and we're trying to be as efficient and as possible and that all great to hear and all that kind of stuff simply because I mean I've never met anybody from the a association and so I mean it it's nice we we've started actually requiring anyone that is getting taxpayer dollars to come in and explain where they're at. So that that's what we've asked you to be here for. So, I appreciate the update. So,

and out of the uh 1 and a.5 million that you've received, looks like you've been pretty good stewards and done a lot for $979,000.

We we knew this was probably a one-time opportunity. So, we wanted to get as many things done as possible. Like one of the safety things that we felt like was very important. There is never a time at the fair where we don't have a weather emergency. We had one place on the fairgrounds that we could announce sitewide. Now we have four. One's in the sheriff's uh it's not a tent anymore, but a sheriff's building, um the llama bar, the show arena, and the exhibit hall. And we feel like that's a we've not had a child stolen. We haven't had a missing, you know, individual, knock on wood, but we felt like this was an upgrade that was well needed. Um, so you're always welcome to any of our meetings. They are the third Monday of the month and we're always welcome to come and um I'm available along with other fairboard members whenever you have questions.

And right now the remaining money looks to be like 500 around 520. So the 500,000 was from the original 1.5 million that was given to us and we're working on that now. The next phase was approved 1.75 million in a geo bond. So we are in the process of getting all the um architectural things that we need so we can get bids. And I just don't know that because we've already spent the geo bond. We don't have it yet. So I mean we've had so many things that we've had to do,

right? Uh, but I was thinking that you were still owed 500,000 out of the 2025 bond. Yes, we have. It wasn't a bond. It was a forgivable loan as well. We have received that 500,000 paid out because we didn't want to start work on anything that we didn't actually have dollars for. Yep. So, so the 1.75 was approved by county council. So, where it goes from there to you, I'm I don't know where the process is. That's we're going to discuss that tomorrow. Okay.

Cuz it's uh it's it's there. We've got a lot of buildings we have to take care of. So, and that's that's draining a lot of our bond money. So, but we'll discuss that tomorrow with council. Okay. No, thanks for the update. I I think like the commissioner uh McDaniel said, annually we're just going to have people come back in who've gotten taxpayer dollars and it just makes sense to share. I mean, it makes a great PR story. racing, you know, can say, "Hey, here's what is going on at the local fairgrounds with this money." And it's the great things to be able for the public to hear about

and some of the things that we've already done have brought additional events already into the fairgrounds because things have been upgraded. So, that's good for us. It's good for tourism. It's good for the community. So, were we able to secure any tourism grants in their last? Yes, we go um we go 14th of of April for what we've submitted for there. Um they've been great about discussing other things with us. Um I'm working with a couple other entities on grants, so we're trying. Hold on. Thank you.

Thank you. John Dannis.

He's not asking for money. You don't have a tie on. I'm asking asking for a little money. So, the uh the first thing that I wanted to do was was I I know I had sent you a text message last week when I was gone, but really thank you for allowing me to attend the the public safety facilities planning workshop. That was uh it was a little eye opening, but it was fantastic. We we have a very good idea or well, I have a very good idea of what we'd like to see in the future. Now, and hopefully that right that pays off. you can share with us some of that information that we need in updated 911s.

Yep. And we already had, you know, AI create a couple of artist renderings for us. So, because when you're sitting there and you can do it in 30 seconds, it was uh this is pretty neat and we're going to Greg and I will continue doing that. The one thing I will recommend, but not required, is they do this in the fall in Texas as well. If anybody wants to go, I'll be more than happy to go back with because I think it's it's a good experience. It's a, you know, couple days long, a great tour of uh the facility we saw serves a county of half million people. So, but it's to scale. We can we can look at that. So, just keep it in mind when when I know it's coming, I'll I'll let you know and um and we can we can talk about it at that point in time. So, thank you again. Um, what do you have first in your packet for me?

County Crosswalk.

Crosswalk Health. All right. So, Crosswalk Health is a nurse line where we can our lower priority calls, medical calls that we are currently sending uh ambulances on. if they if they hit a certain protocol um and they they gave they ran all the numbers for us um we can transfer this to the nurse line and the nurse then it's our staffed by our ends um this is completely no cost to the county whatsoever um and that nurse can help them potentially guide them to a different thing versus having an ambulance sent to them

and it's not an emergency.

Correct. Yeah. 100% not an emergency. If it comes up where the nurse is like, "Okay, they they did not tell dispatch everything," which does happen from time to time, uh they can transfer it right back to us and then we can send a uh an ambulance to them. Uh Maring County is currently using this. The city of Lawrence, Madison County is getting ready to start. think there's one other county in the state that's that's getting ready to start doing this as well. Um, obviously we're not going to see the numbers that we're going to use this like like they are. Um, but there the call types that they gave to us. I think it's it's a little bit more than we are comfortable with sending to that line. Um, but so we we're probably only looking at a grand total of maybe 200 to 300 calls a year at this point. Um, so it's not it's not an extravagant amount, but again, there's no cost to this. And so and then obviously we can we can bounce out of it whenever we want because all we need to do then is just change the programming in the computer a dispatch system and it we could have a contract with them forever. It doesn't matter if we're not transferring them calls.

So has there been any failures? No.

I mean just put somebody off on it and then all of a sudden they really had an emergency. Well, I wouldn't say it's a failure because they the nurse line then immediately transfers back in that case. There hasn't been a recorded incident where someone has not either been in communication with the nurse line and they follow up. They continue to follow up days and days. It's kind of it's similar to the mental health thing that we're that we're doing here. Um where there's followup done. There have been times obviously where they're not fully saying what's wrong with them to the dispatchers and the nurse transferred them back. The the story that they used was was a female who was complaining of abdominal pain and the dispatcher went through the entire protocol with them. Hit a hit a low priority, transferred it. One of the second things that she goes, "Oh, well, I'm pregnant." Immediate transfer back. So, um, cuz that changes everything.

So, there's, um, why wouldn't she lead with I'm pregnant. I can't answer that question, but that's the that's the one that they that they mainly use as their example of a transfer back because somebody during during during our interrogation, again, we have specific protocols that we follow. Um, and not sure if that's one of our questions in the abdominal. I think it is for under a certain age if that question comes up. But um so it's it's uh the fire departments and the medical director are very much in favor of this. They've been pushing me. Next question.

What's that? Yeah. Yeah. They're they overwhelmingly in our mutual aid meeting as well in our our medical director is one of the people that brought it to us. um they're they're very much overwhelmingly in favor of this because what it does is even if it's you know even if it's 10 calls a year if we keep 10 ambulances in service as we again we're moving into the future here and we're growing and growing and growing. If we keep those ambulance and services 10 for 10 times, it's probably going to be less times that we need a mutual aid ambulance to potentially come from either out of the county or another uh county department. So, and that's that's the whole

not only does it reduce potential workload from a dispatcher, it helps out. It Yeah, it doesn't really help our workload as such. Just I mean other than after the dispatch portion, yes, but during we still have to take the call. We still have to process it like we're sending and then once we hit that protocol or that determinant then we determine and it'll be all it'll pretty much be automated on the dispatch side where it'll it'll give them a prompt to transfer it at that point in time. One concern I do have is you know it kind of sends a red flag to me on risk and liability. I really think that we need to talk to our insurance provider first

before we you know because I could see it all happening now. Well, they transferred me to some nurse and you know, yeah, comes a torque claim. No, no problem with that. And actually, I know the fire department and police department, they're really big on their run times. I mean, how fast they can get to the to the patient. So, yeah. So, are we Oh, that's Yeah. So, if you don't mind, we just take this up. Do you want me to send that or or do you to the I don't have electronic copy, but you probably do. We could get it to Brian Bree. I think we probably have electronic comp. Want to send it to him then? Okay. We'll copy you on it.

Okay. I appreciate that. Copy me and then ask to uh have Brian just give me a call. Maybe we might have to conference John in Okay. Yep. technical questions. I like the that's a that's great. I because it's like you said, it's it's a it's not going to help us a whole ton, but as we grow and grow and grow, we we uh it could it could. Yeah, very much. So, you you've got some uh out of state travel. We have got a lot of out of state travel.

Yes. So, um, the first one is to, uh, at the end of the month, and let me bring those up real quick. I got one for, uh, navigator conference. Yep. There should be one for me and one for David Perry to attend the Navigator Conference at the end of April. And, and my trip is actually zero dollars except for food. So, it's good. Um, the sheriff's office. Should be right behind your or mine was right behind your crosswalk. I'm going for the real one.

Oh, you're okay. Yeah. Did you say Ryan Caulk? No. That's sheriff's department. Sheriff. Hang on. We're getting here. Maybe. Were they mine were paper clipped to that? Yeah. Yeah. Crosswalk Health. Yeah, those. Yeah, but that's my packet. I'm looking for the originals in here. Just use those because Yep, we can.

They don't think I see. There we go. It was under the force tech. It was in his packet. Oh, so um we have permission to travel out of state um for the E911 center and in the amount of $260 for conference fees and That one's just food. That's just for me. Yeah.

Yeah. I make a motion that we approve the out of state travel for uh the E911 for amount not to exceed $260. You got another one there. Well, yeah, I think Perry also. Yeah. And David Perry. Okay. He's a little bit more expensive. I see that here. I had a good I had a good deal on my on uh my uh frequent flyer mileage. So I was able to do that and then the room has no cost and they comped me for the uh conference as well. Actually both of us u were able to work it to where we have no conference fees for that. So,

and then we also have uh one for David Perry to attend the same 2026 Navigator Conference uh with food, lodging, and transportation in the amount not to exceed $1,7.79. Second. We have a motion second on the floor to approve John Jakanis and David Perry to attend the 2026 Navigator Conference. Uh, and one for John is going to be $260. And then for David Perry, it's going to be $1,7.79. All those in favor say I. I. Post. Same sign. Motion carries.

Okay. And then next one will be for the National Nina Conference. Um, we're able to send a few more people to this. We budget for this because there's no flights. It's in Columbus, Ohio. Um, everybody's going to kind of be a little different just because uh myself and two of the people are attending pre-conference course and the other two are are not. So, they're coming in a day later and then they're sharing rooms as well. So, do you want to do this all at one motion? You can.

Okay. I move that we uh approve the permission for out of state travel to the E911 center for the 2026 National Nina Conference to be held in Columbus, Ohio. Uh first one is for uh $900, not to exceed $900 and that is for lodging. Uh the next one is uh

that one's for Jonathan Bowman and the next one for John Yep. First one was Jonathan Bowman. Second one for John Johanis in the amount of $2,57.84. The third one is for Rebecca Payne which would be lodging uh in the amount not and not to exceed $2,559.84. And the last one is for Greg Shamblan.

We have Greg Greg Shamblan uh in the amount of $2,280.84. And for Bridget True Love, same conference and she'll be taking the pre-conference course uh in the amount of $1,165. Second. We've got a motion second on the floor to approve the out of state travel for Jonathan Bowman, John Jakanas, Rebecca Payne, Greg Shamlin, and Bridget True Love. Uh, is there any further discussion? All those in favor say I.

I. Oppos. Same sign. Motion carries. I have one more item left. Okay, just a second here. company. Are you talking about an auto stamp? No.

Okay. Okay.

What's next, John?

The last item is the uh quote from Force Tech. uh force tech force technology solutions. Uh Greg Duda had requested an upgrade in his um video equipment uh including a new uh camera um a wireless microphone set and then a wired microphone. And the total for that should be $3,135.36. He's just trying to keep up with the technology. So when we do our videos and other um promotional things that we're keeping ahead of it. So it's been a while since we we got him a new camera. So um and I don't know where you would like me to pay for it. I I'm not sure if it can come out of my 911 bond. Their money is there for it or if it's or if it's a CCD purchase. So, out of that out of that line item. Um I felt like it could come out of the the 911 bond, but I don't want to make that decision.

Covers it, don't it? What's that? You've got it to cover it. I I believe for equipment. I mean, it falls under equipment. So, yeah. So, I make a motion that we approve the Force Tech quote number 19154 for a mobile video kit in the amount not to exceed 31 or $3,135.36 paid for by out of the E911. Second

motion and second on the floor to uh approve the quote number 19154 for Force Tech for a mobile camera uh to be paid out of E911 bond uh in an amount not to exceed $3,135.36. All those in favor say I. I. Oppos. Same sign. Motion carries. Anything for me? Right. Thank you for your support. Thank you. We appreciate it. So, thank you.

Make a motion that we approve claims and payroll. Second. There's a motion for approve claims and payroll. All those approved or all those agree say I. I. I. Motion carries. What about auditor business? I do have auditor business, but I think your R RJL is here. I want you to out here. I don't know if you want to do that or not. Let's just let's go ahead and do RJL.

Good morning. If I may, I've got a couple things just Okay,

this mayor. Thank you.

First of all, just want to thank you for the opportunity to be here this morning. Uh my name is Jonathan Blake. I'm the vice president of economic and community development at RJL Solutions. Um we are a multi-client um multi-p specialty firm u based out of Teroot but we have offices in Indianapolis and Evansville as well. Um we cover really a broad array of work. Um so we do a lot of advocacy and lobbying at the state house. Our government relations team handles that. We have marketing and strategic communications and then I lead our community and economic development department. In that role, u I oversee uh organizations in times of transition. Uh so when there's an executive change uh within uh LEO or even Ato um we come in and serve in that interim role. Um we can do uh economic development strategies uh for organizations during that time of change. Um we have served as the interim uh for Carol County. Uh we finished that contract up earlier this year. currently serving in that role in uh VGO county right now. Uh and then we also have current clients include uh Vermillion, Spencer, Perry, and Harrison County. Um and those are all full-time um economic development roles. So, we helped them uh first we came in and did a strategy for each one of those communities. Uh kind of figured out, okay, where are we at today? Who do we want to be? Where do we want to uh what industries do we want to target? Um each community is different. each county is different and so you know there's not a one-sizefits-all uh approach. U but then you know also helping with an executive search um for that next leader. Um so VO County actually brought us in uh back in January. They had an abrupt change uh existing longtime standing president of the organization left uh and they brought us in uh to help with that interim uh responsibility. So, overseeing the day-to-day operations of

the department, uh, continuing business retention and expansion, uh, outreach, and then really working with, uh, new industries that are looking to come to the area. Um, so, you know, just wanted to, uh, share with you, you know, some of the expertise and and, um, work that we do across the state. Um, our advocacy and lobbying team helps make connections at the state house. Uh, Mr. Spalding, I know you you're there during session. Uh so you've probably seen our our team around, but um you know have really deep relationships uh with legislators across the state um and work very closely with them to to pass legislation uh to support our clients. And one of the things that makes us unique uh from the economic development standpoint is that we um can pull in those legislators uh folks from the governor's office, IEDC uh to have um deeper conversations about, you know, a particular challenge that a community is facing. uh and then also helping address current needs. So, just wanted to, you know, share some information with you today. Um, you know, would certainly be open to any questions that you might have, but u certainly wanted to make ourselves available to you if at some point in the future you find yourselves needing that kind of support.

Well, we we'll find us find ourselves there here at the end of the year. I I don't know what they're doing about replacing Randy, but at the same time, it's always nice to have options. Yeah. So, actually, Megan was Megan, she actually contacted me. Yep. So, uh and you know, I kind of hit it off cuz we both speak hillbilly. Some told her cuz she's from the south and I I can't get rid of mine. and she'll never get rid of hers either. So, I mean, we found that was funny. So, but it was nice talking to her. Uh, what's an average price tag for,

you know, it it really per year?

Yeah, it really depends. Um, I mean, we for, you know, rural counties, you know, depending on the level of work that they're wanting, whether or not they want advocacy in there. Um, you know, it could be 60,000 a year, it could be 144,000 a year. It really just depends. But we we tailor every contract to whatever the client needs. So, we don't push additional services. Um, we don't push, you know, any type of change orders. You know, the the thing that I that really attracted me to RJL and and for perspective, I spent 20 years in local government uh before I came to RJL. One of the things that really attracted me to them is, you know, when we give you a price, that's the price. There's no hidden fees. There's no, oh, hey, we didn't think about that. We need to charge you extra. Um, you know, we really look at each client, try to understand what it is they need. um and then you know tailor the the contract to that client. So um particularly uh or more specifically like in VO County, we have a six-month window. It's a six-month contract. We're coming in to do initial strategy, some strategic communications, and then um hiring a new executive. Uh and then, you know, in Carol County, we had a a year-long window. Um our work in Perry, Spencer, and Harrison was all supposed to be temporary. Uh but they have all chosen to keep us on uh for annual contracts.

So that is you are actually their economic development company. Yep. That goes out and

Yeah. And and one of the questions we get a lot is, you know, how do you handle conflicts of interest? You know, that's obviously a big big concern, you know. So what if what if a community or a business was looking at at your community and maybe one or two other communities that we work with? We would put all parties on notice. Hey, we've gotten this inquiry. They're interested in Hancock County, they're interested in VO County, and they're interested in Spencer County. Put all the clients on notice. Hey, we got this this inquiry. And then we put we deliver the same amount of information for each community to the to the business and say, here's all the same information, same level of employment data, same level of, you know, economic incentive data, and then let the company make those decisions. We don't put one community in front of another. We just make sure that they have all the same information. But um communication and disclosure is huge uh and building those relationships is very important to us uh because we want to make sure that each client is well represented but we don't want to put in those situations we don't want to put you know one before the other um and what I will tell you is it has worked very well and very rarely I mean when a when an um industry is looking to come to Indiana very rarely uh are you seeing okay we want to go after potentially Hendrickx County and Lake County and Spencer County. I mean, they usually either do a statewide search or they have very specific geographic areas they're looking at. So, you know, maybe the southwest part of the state or the eastern part of the state. Um, but r very rarely do you see, you know, okay, we're going to pick these five counties and it just so happens to be five counties that we're working in. But again, putting everybody on notice, making sure there's uh proper disclosures and and that, you know, working with each of those communities to deliver the same amount of of information.

So, the question, if we were to contract with you to be our Where does your allegiance lie, would it lie with our county or with the state of Indiana? I think the way has the structure set up, it's hard to feel as if you get experience of I'm backing you position because

if if we were to contract with you, you know, our allegiance, our first allegiance would be to the county to the county commissioners. And I'll give you a prime example. We have a a new client that came on. Um the uh council and the commissioners were at odds on you know what to do. Um the council wanted to push um a diff going a different direction and the commissioners ultimately said no this is our contract. This is our our work. And so we actually you know sat down with all parties and said hey you know we report to the commissioners and we've got to deliver what the commissioners want. Um, same thing would go with the state. You know, in I'll talk about in in VO County in particular, the the relationship between VO County and and IEDC has been strained for many years. Uh, one of the first things we did was bring the IEDC in and say, how can we work better together to achieve the goals that the city and county um be county teroot uh want to achieve. Um and those relationships have been started to mend. Uh but again, the first allegiance is to the client and and so if you say, "Hey, we want to be X and we want to go after these three industries, that's what we're going to go after." Hopefully that answers your question.

Yeah. How how often do you get it to where two of your clients want the same thing,

you know? Um the the the situation that would come to mind there would be down in Perry Spencer and Harrison in the southern part of the state. They're all along the Ohio River. Uh they all have some level of port infrastructure. Um, so, you know, as we're talking about things like uh the Ships for America Act, um, we brought Senator Todd Young in, uh, had conversation with all three of those counties, and we're working with the county commissioners in each of those communities to go after the Ships for America Act together, kind of as a consortium, if you will. Not a not a legal entity, but, you know, using the strengths of each one of those communities to go after that uh, potential funding and that that opportunity. Not that ships are going to be built there. Yeah.

But they could help support through technology. They could support through, you know, light manufacturing, uh microchip processing, maybe, you know, sub um systems uh that would go into ultimate uh warships and and that kind of thing. But um working with them collaboratively to think about how each one of those counties can help support uh initiatives like that. So, you know, we would we would want to work with the county to figure out again who are we, where do we want to be and how do we address the the goals of the county commissioners um looking at at the future of you know potential industries. We don't want to go after something that a can't be supported here uh or b you don't have a workforce uh alignment. So, we would want to go after things that that fit uh and we would help you uh work through that.

Good. that yeah gives us some options. Yeah, I appreciate you coming in and presenting to us. Yeah. Well, thank you for the time and um you know, feel free to reach out if you have any questions. All right. Thank you. Thank you. You want to take a break? Motion to adjourn or recess. Second to motion second. All in favor? Hi. So

's office. I will call to order the uh meeting of the Hancock County Regional Water and Sewer District. Morning, commissioners. Good morning. Steve, I'm filling in here for Dan Straw. So, okay. To answer any questions. Looks like you've got one item on your agenda here for consideration this morning. Do you want to say anything about it or anything like that? Nope. Um, believe you just need to adopt a resolution which authorizes um, Hanok County Water and Sewer District Board President Bill Spalding um, to apply and I can read the resolution into the record if you'd like. Y

Okay, go ahead. Excuse me. Whereas the Hancock County Regional Water and Sewer District of Hancock County, Indiana, the participant has plans for a wastewater infrastructure improvement project to meet state and federal regulations, and the participant intends to proceed with construction of such project. Now therefore, be it resolved by the board, the governing body of the participant, that Bill Spalding be authorized to make application for a state revolving fund loan, SRF loan, and provide the SRF loan program such information, data, and documents pertaining to the loan process as may be required, and otherwise act as the authorized representative of the participant. And two, the participant agrees to comply with state and federal reg requirements and regulations as they pertain to the SRF loan program. and three, two, certified copies of this resolution be prepared and submitted as part of the participants preliminary engineering report adopted and passed by the board of the Hanok County Regional Water and Sewer District of Hanok County, Indiana. This 30th 30th

30th day of March 31st blank so I'm okay. 31st day of March of 2026, Bill Spalding, Hancock County Water and Sewer District Board President. So you just need a motion from us. Need a motion adopting that resolution. Adopt the resolution. make a motion that we adopt the resolution for uh on behalf of the Hancock County Regional Water and Sewer District for the SRF loan program. Second. Uh we motion you.

It's been moved and seconded that we adopt the resolution for the application form for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund Loan Program. Any other discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. Commissioners, that's all I have for you this morning. We will need signatures and then work with Deb. We need two uh certified copies to submit with the application. As you can see, there are three other documents that we'll need sign the actual lo or the actual signature. Then we'll open up. Okay. The cost effective uh sheet and a couple. Yeah.

Go ahead and get those signed before we adjourn. They should be right there. They should be in your packet. I will just let you know for information purposes, uh, your next meeting, your quarterly meeting, your annual meeting is next Tuesday. Uh, that's where you'll have your annual election of officers. That's all I have for you this morning. Thank you very much. So, there was this cost effective that the engineer sent last. Soon as the meeting's over, we can certify those comments.

There's just three signatorries here. sheet. This is looking at the most cost effective approach. I caught that one at 4 5:00 last night. So Kate said one more.

That's all I have. Thank you.

Oh, okay. Is that what that is? So, yeah. And and then uh a motion to adjourn our meeting. Motion to adjourn. Second. Been moved and seconded. We adjourn our Hancock County Regional Water and Sewer District meeting. All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion passes. And I will reopen our commissioners meeting. And I got uh Sheriff Burkart. It happens when you set long enough. Good morning. Good morning.

Morning. I just have and you probably have a out ofstate travel for training for Ryan Caulk. Ryan Caulk. Yes. Okay. Got it. What about uh I'll make a motion to approve the uh out ofstate travel for deputy Ryan Caulk. He will be attending the hits K9 training and consulting 2026 in Lacanto, Florida, uh which includes airfare pdium rates for hotel and meals. not to exceed $2,314.11. Would think that you're going to be paid out of the commissary? I both training or commissary. Okay.

Yeah. Second. We've got a motion and second on the floor to approve Deputy Ryan Caulk to uh travel out of state for HITS K9 Training and Consulting uh 2026. All those in favor say I. I. I. Opposed. Same sign. Motion carries.

And then Deb, additional auditor business about the Amplify. Yes, we need um so what we've got is we need a motion to allow Commissioner McDaniel to sign the Amplify uh partnership agreements once they have been finalized through legal. Okay. I make uh a motion that once uh the documents are ready for the amplify agreement that we allow uh President Gary McDaniel to sign off on those after uh legal.

Second. We have a motion and second on the floor to allow President Gary McDaniel uh to sign off on uh partnership agreements for Amplify once they have all been ironed out and everybody agrees. All in favor? I. Motion's carried. Who is this one for? This for Purdue Extension. Okay. Um, let that in here.

Lace is way out and ahead of the game here. Her stuff is Yeah. September. Oh, I make a motion uh that we approve uh permission for out ofstate travel and travel expenses for Leis McCartney from Purdue Extension. It was approved by Mandy Gray, which would include um mileage uh to Madison, Wisconsin, and meals September 28th and October 2nd uh for a total of well, the mileage is 51330 and the meals will not exceed $88. Second

motion and a second on the floor to approve leas McCartney out of state travel to the Purdue Extension Expand Professional Development Conference in Madison, Wisconsin. And all those in favor say I. I. I. Opposed? So be it. Oh, I didn't put my date there.

Oh, well, we all science. They'll figure it out. What next mean?

I make a motion that we approve the bond release for Ryan Holmes, Inc. I L O Nvr, Inc. uh at 8425 Woodfield Crossing Boulevard in Indianapolis. Uh the type of bond was a subdivision bond and the amount of that bond was $96,000. bond number SN40009161 and the date of that bond was uh the 20 October 18th of 26. Um and this is for Noline Estate section 1 and two sidewalks and driveway.

Second. I have a a motion on the floor and a second to release the bond number SN40009161 for Ryan Holmes at an amount of $96,000. Any further and it's for not estates section 1 and two sidewalks and driveways. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries. There's nothing to sign in here for Jenny Shiveley, is there?

Okay, got it. I make a motion that we reappoint uh Jenny Shiveley to a full four-year term ending in 2029 uh for our the Hancock County Parks and Recreation Board. Second motion second on the floor to reappoint uh Jenny Shiveley to the Parks and Recreation Board. Uh all those in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries. Oh, Miriam, congratulations too on the grant award. We appreciate all the work you guys have done on that. Thank you. That's a very big deal. Congrats. Okay, we got the

best way. Uh let's see here. They had gotten rid of the recycling bins and then you had asked for some new pricing. So, what this is is this is just pricing for the one bin. Um, and that did decrease that overall billing and we Oh, we will actually uh see how that works. We We're not recycling anymore. We don't need that. But we may have to go back and get an extra one if there shows a need for it. So for an extra trash. Yeah. If if it's needed. And this is all for the annex, I believe. Is that not correct? No. Everything location. And I think that you on the back.

And Sarah, did you just say that they've already made the motion? They already made the motion. Oh, okay. And to anybody's knowledge, we haven't had any complaints about service or anything with them whatsoever. I haven't received any call experience. So, we just need Gary to sign off on this then. Yeah. Okay, there you go. There's two of them.

Two of them. We'll sign here. out of his budget. There you go. Next we have uh Gibson Tel Data Inc. nonautorene renewing executive assurance agreement. Uh this is for Hancock County government and the IT department. Bernie Harris and it's an annual renewal. It's the annual renewal uh in the amount of $15,55860 quarterly billing cycle of $3,889.65. This is from 21626 to 21527.

Second. We have motion and a second on the floor to approve the auto renewal of IT programs uh in the amount of $15,558.60. It'll be built quarterly for at $3,8895. All in favor say I. I. Motion carries. That's your copy. There's a lot of initials on there.

A lot of them. inside. All right. Next, we have an affidavit for construction fund reimbursement request number 23 for Amplify uh with Hancock County Redevelopment Authority. The total of 1,270,66841.

Second. Okay. Uh motion second on the floor to approve the affidavit for for construction fund dispersement request number 23 and it was which one was it? To the front right third page right there. No, you got to find Here it is. There it is. No. Nope. There's your two. There's another one here somewhere.

There it is. There we go. Okay. For the in the amount of 1,270, 666841. Any further discussion? All those in favor say I. I. Motion carries. Okay. Next we have change order for amplify number eight which includes uh the amount to be drawn on from owner contingency of $156,862. And that includes uh X-ray equipment changes, lab infrastructure and IvyTech HVAC lab infrastructure. That amount will not exceed 156,862. Second motion second on the floor to approve the change order

number eight for uh Veritus Advisors and an amount to be drawn off of it be $156,862. All those in f in favor say I. I. I. Motion carries. This must be it here. Sarah, I sent you an email to if you could sign off. It was a request

from ratio. It's part of the amplify project, but it's designer energy tax allocation

uh relief through their tax. It's what they send in with our IRS form to get a break on their part of their design with the amplify project. Here we go. That's part of this. That's the backup documentation.

Sure. So, at your budget meeting tomorrow, um you are going to need to ask for probably at least another 25,000 for um legal services because you are I mean the year's usually you have 25,000 for the year, but we've had some of those other issues come up and um I would go ahead and at least get that going because should we ask for something more? You were fine last year in that line with the 25. We might have done some budget transfers, but we definitely are going to need more. Your legis is fine. That's a different line. Yes. So, this is just for some additional services.

Okay. Attorney fees the heck out of attorneys this year. Yeah. It's probably time to write 55. How much you think,000? Should we do more than 25,000? I would um that's what I would think. I mean, let's 75 sounds like a 75,000 amount. We don't know what's going to happen with our insurance investig, you know, investig litigating.

Okay, we can come in and ask any bond work or anything that you might need to enlist Lisa for. Well, that'll all be through RDC, right? Will it I was thinking the fire and EMS and I don't I don't know if there's anything we're going to have to do on that. I don't I don't think so. I don't think on that side we will. At least right now, but okay. Probably on amp be aware. I just want to bring that up.

Yeah. So, and okay, we can ask for that. Yeah. I wanted to present this to you both, too. So, Mark BB was the architect for ratio on the Amplify Hancock project, and he had asked if we would sign off on a document that's that is um it's for their tax preparation team. It's a designer energy tax allocation and it just says in an effort to support sustainable building ratio is seeking certification under the energy policy act that the following property meets an energy efficient standards set forth uh in the act and to do so h ratio needs hancock county to verify the following information um about the property and everything that's needs to be verified is on these documents. ments right here. And it's really just for them to get a tax credit saying that they help design an energyefficient building.

Okay. I make a Let me see that here so I know what I'm reading. I make a motion we approve this signature on the uh designer energy tax location uh allocation for ratio archite architects which uh they did uh on amplify Hancock Innovation Center. Second. We have a motion and a second on the floor to approve or to sign off on the designer energy tax allocation form for uh efficiencies out at Amplify. All those in favor say I. I.

Motion carries. I'm I'm at God now.

Sarah, could you send him back a signed that signed copy? I'm just going to lay it on top of the red folder here. Okay. Uh you guys got anything else? Now, I got one more thing and it was concerning the uh email we got from Rhonda about people not was it they're they're looking at a bill to where the the courts, community corrections, and the prosecutor's office are not obligated or whatever to follow our handbook.

Or they they could they could sign off and say they've gotten it all that. I just I didn't know. Did you know anything else about that? I think there's something potentially IC code says that. I don't know. It's She was very thorough on this. Yeah, she was that and um that was Friday. Let me check my right here. Here it is. right here that the uh

county executive county fiscal body all the court the courts prosecutor's office judicial officers public defenders office community corrections program that they were going to be excluded from it. That's probably my belief is the way something that we that's the way it is for next year's legislative changed back. Yeah. Because I mean I mean we don't have any control over them anyway. But at the same time we do have control over community corrections. Well I but that does come under the courts. Yeah,

it's under the courts. But the real struggle is it's still the commissioner's liability. Yes. So, we have the liability and we have to insure them and all that kind of stuff. So, did you give her a call to talk to her further? No, I didn't. I just I I wanted to bring it up here with you guys. That way we can discuss it where we are. I'll ask her about it too because I don't think I was I didn't see that email right I copied on it because I was looking up her. Let me find out here. It also Yeah, you were. Yeah. It also includes uh community corrections and those under a merit board, which would mean sheriff's department, would it not?

What does that say? says here, "Ha uh 1161 by Ethan Lawson contains a provision that I want to that she wanted to make us aware of. Effective July 1. Section 13 of the bill excludes employees of the prosecutor's office, public defenders office, community corrections, and those under a merit board from the provisions of new chapter 21 of IC code 36-2, which means that they do not have to sign off and live by our policy. But it did say that they they would have to create their own handbook or something like that. Well, I'm sure sheriff's department has their own policies.

We have our own policies, but yes, we do it anyway. I mean, we sign off on them anyway. That's why it's not really a big deal for us because we make them sign. So, I'll give policies as well. So, yeah. I mean, and that that was specifically put in that language because of the sheriffs and the merit boards. So, whose policy supersedes what then? if if you you you're continuing to have all your new employees sign off on that. Um and it would really relate to just the deputies, wouldn't it?

Um yes, but most of it just most of it mirrors what the county policy is except for some certain like uh you know times of work you know work times and some just some other you know other stuff but majority of it we coincide with. Okay. Sounds like sheriff's got us covered either way there. So,

this Yeah, he works with us on our policies, but technically I wonder if that could deviate from our county handbook with, you know, future future future sheriffs. So, I I have I my concerns are like um payroll and things of that nature. We h and the deductions that we have to to provide. So I definitely would support your effort to to find out more information about it. I have employees. I I understand

are concern work around that yet. Yeah. And that's counterintuitive because it's like well if we don't have any control of them but yet we're liable that makes no sense at all. They don't I mean

it needs I don't know if the legislature can be lobbyed to address this should be because those are in congruent. It's not unlike happened before where open something up that didn't you didn't necessarily think it would open probably going to be a good look into it and get that changed back as much as we saw Ethan last night so we can throw that right back to Rhonda to

I'll ask her about it too I still couldn't find her I don't looking it up on my phone, but I'll call I'll talk to her about it, too. Found her out. See what she said. I mean, I don't I don't see why we same sheet of music. I just forwarded it to you. Thank you. If you get sued, I think that would be the first That is the first question they will ask. Yeah, of course. Yeah. And

what what are those policy state whatever the instance was? You know, how does that affect our insurance? It it it affects it big time. Yeah, because it actually they asked if we've got a handbook. Oh, absolutely. Everybody has to sign off on it. So, all right. You guys have anything else? I just wanted to talk about it here. gentleman in back. He's been here. I don't know. That's Mr. Colop back there. Come talk to us. I'm sure George does. George does. He's already told me. Been gone for a while. Three minute. Three minute time limit. Three minute time limit.

I might need a little more things gone on while I was gone. Uh, first of all, did you guys happen to read Michael Hicks's um article in the Daily Reporter about data centers and stuff? Mhm.

Well, I printed off his last third page of his deal. I want to point out to the public that he identified that the physical benefits for state of Indiana is kind of lacking because of the tax abatements and incentives the state and local governments give out. And so we're not going to get the tax revenues that we should get by using a data center

if you structure the incentive plan the wrong way. Um, and Hancock County can't afford that. We're losing more and more of the revenue pie every year. So, we need to start protecting that piece of the pie. And so, they're also talking about they may use micro gas fired generations, electrical generation plants. There's also the case for the small modular nuclear reactor which I have sent you guys some information while I was away and they also can use the lithium ion battery storage. Lithium ion batteries have been known to catch fire. The biggest fire I've seen was last year in just outside San Francisco. It burnt for days, filled the air with toxic smoke. The water that they were pumping on it had to be recovered because it contains heavy metals from the batteries. So, I would hope that we don't allow that to happen. And another thing that he didn't mention in here was depending on the cooling system they use. If they use a closed loop uh cooling system, basically a pipe that runs through their electrical stuff, they're going to have to use, and it's a word about that long of a chemical that's highly toxic. And every time they flush that system, they're going to have to capture that water and all that. It has something to do

with what's called resensitivity. It keeps the electrical current that goes through those things from flowing through the water and get into other systems. I know something about that cuz we had a system on on the E4B that does the same thing. came became a problem on the China trip, believe it or not, uh back in ' 84. Um, I think that when we dealing with data centers that if they want to put a data center here in this county that they are responsible for all the cost for all the electrical grids being built into that that county residents should not have to pay for that. And what's happening now, it's being shared across everybody, but it should be them paying for that, not jacking up our our electrical rates because they want to have a data center. Um, and my other thing that came up and I missed it the 16th was the water treatment uh study that you guys had and why I am glad that Charlottesville got mentioned into it. I am not glad and neither should the residents of this county be glad that it's being pushed farther and farther away from being completed. And every time you guys push it down farther out of the way, that plant costs more money.

Greenfield's plant is was is above hund00 million dollars that they just fixed. Now you push it down 5 10 more years. 78 million. Huh? 78 million. 78 million. Okay. You would know better than me. I I'll I was told. And George, just a caveat to your your your conversation here on Charlottesville. A lot of those people have no desire to hook up.

I I understand that. But you have a E.oli contaminated area out there and if you don't know anything about people getting contacted E.coli, it can kill you. Well, of course, but then we also can have in other areas lasting effects on you if it doesn't kill you. And we since 77 best of my mind has known about this problem. So it's coming up on 50 years and not been done. Last time they tried to do anything about it was in 93

and because the people out at East Side was considered low income, they did not do anything about it. It's going to be low income forever. Well, I can tell you the only thing about that study that we can even look at is the Charlottesville because I met with uh Jim down in uh Newal the other Jim Robinson. Robinson and uh they've got theirs under control. They've got a plan for theirs. Okay. the the 500 homes that that she brought to us, somebody didn't do some homework cuz I met with him and he says, "No, those 500 homes we've got plans for."

But Congressman Reeves Reeves I know is doing something for New Pal. He needs to include Charlottesville in that. I don't know if he does he's doing it, but we'll have an opportunity to ask him tonight. Yep. When's that? What is he going to be? Lincoln day dinner. Lincoln day dinner. He's our speaker. Oh. Uh, but anyway, that's what I got for right now. I I just want to I I think it needs to be done sooner than later. It's going to cost more late later on.

It's already going to cost more than what it would have if they had done something back in 93. Well, that's one of the reason we're looking at it simply because the reports, the studies that's been done before are obsolete. So, and they I would imagine the state needs another do another evaluation from the 22 evaluation probably. And so, so but yeah, I know I know the sanitation engineers are frustrated about this too from talking to them and so and our health department I think keeps a pretty close eye on it. Yeah. But anyway, thank you guys. You're welcome. Thank you. Anybody have anything else? Motion to adjurnn. Second.

Motion to adjurnn and second on the floor. All those in favor say I. I. I. Motion pass.