Water Board Meeting
The board met and they approved their December 2, 2025, meeting minutes. The board signed a financial agreement that was discussed from last meeting. The agreement includes boring under railroad tracks and under Highway 46 for the INDOT Main Street reconstruction agreement.
Aaron Schwendenmann provided the board with his Monthly Report of Operations (MRO) and he stated that things are going well overall at the plant.
The board approved claims and took time at the close of the meeting to thank Aaron and his hard-working team for all that they do.
Board of Aviation Meeting
The board voted to approve the agenda along with the minutes from the December 2, 2025 meeting.
Dr. Jon Dooley was named President for 2026, with Bill Ernstes selected to serve as Vice President.
The board approved the financial report as presented.
John Feister of BF&S presented several items for board consideration. The board approved payment of invoice No. 110605 in the amount of $498.33 and invoice No. 110731 totaling $38,991.37 for work completed on the Apron Project. In addition, the board approved submitting IAP 24 Pay Request No. 6 to the FAA in the amount of $39,490.02 for reimbursement of the two invoices. The board also approved submitting IAP 27 Pay Request No. 2 in the amount of $38,573.72 to the FAA for reimbursement for payments made to Paul Rohe.
Feister reported that a final walkthrough of the Apron Project was conducted in December. He noted that only a few minor items remain for the contractor to complete and that the overall walkthrough went very well.
Feister also received unanimous approval from the board to apply for the ATP grant program. If awarded, the $2.7 million grant would fund 95 percent of the costs associated with constructing a new airport terminal, with a local match estimated at approximately $140,000.
The board reviewed a proposed agreement to lease airport farm ground to Jay Hatton at a rate of $125 per acre for a four-year term. Board members discussed the need to install drain tile due to severe wet spots on the property. Following discussion, the board expressed concerns regarding the length of the agreement and the per-acre cost and voted to meet with Hatton in person before revisiting the agreement at a future meeting.
Airport Manager Jerry Scheidler reported that there are currently nine individuals on the hangar waiting list. He also shared that the airport will be taking possession of its new courtesy car in the near future.
The board concluded the meeting by approving payment of all outstanding bills.
Redevelopment Commission Meeting
The meeting opened with approval of the December 2, 2025, meeting minutes.
Zach Wirrig, Director of Public Projects, reported that the Economic Development Agreement (EDA) for the Iron Men Apartments has been signed and returned. He stated that Iron Men representatives are scheduled to appear before the Board of Zoning Appeals in February and that the project remains on track to break ground in the spring. Wirrig also noted that he has a meeting scheduled for Monday to discuss a 12-acre parcel currently being marketed for sale by the RDC.
Bryan Robbins of the Economic Development Corporation addressed the commission regarding the recently completed housing study, highlighting its emphasis on the need for community amenities. Robbins noted that Allen Memorial Pool was specifically mentioned in the study as an important amentity that families are looking for.
Decatur County Commissioner Gabe Nobbe appeared before the commission requesting its support for the Allen Memorial Pool project. Nobbe reported that the project is currently in the deconstruction and investigation phases. He stated that the Decatur County Commissioners voted the previous day to enter into a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) agreement with Blue Escapes Pools in the amount of $3.9 million to construct the pool.
Nobbe added that funding commitments include $1 million from the Decatur County Community Foundation and $1.5 million from the Decatur County Redevelopment Commission, with a total project budget goal of $4.5 million. At present, the project is approximately $2 million short of that goal. A representative from the Decatur County Community Foundation shared that approximately $27,000 has been raised and would receive matching funds.
Commissioner Mark Klosterkemper questioned the status of the previously anticipated $1.5 million in READI funds for the pool. Nobbe explained that those funds could not be utilized because the previous commissioners did not have a path forward following the defeat of the food and beverage tax. As a result, the READI funds were reallocated to another community.
Commission member Timmy Langston asked how the remaining $2 million would be secured if additional funding assistance was not available by the RDC. Nobbe responded that he is confident the remaining funds can be raised through continued fundraising efforts. He also noted that he appeared before the Decatur County Council last month to request $1.5 million, and that the council plans to consult with its financial advisor regarding the request.
Commission members expressed concerns that their ability to assist with projects in coming years may be limited, as projected funding levels are not expected to exceed current assistance commitments. Given the amount of information presented, the commission voted to review the materials further and revisit the discussion at the next meeting.
Chris Noblitt, Decatur County Parks & Recreation Director stated that overall, during 2025 the baseball diamonds netted $112,000. This profit was reflected of 92% of the tournaments only being played on 4 of the diamonds. Noblitt stated that the diamonds saw 175,000 visitors during 2025.
The commission approved Wirrig’s request to contract with American Structurepoint, Inc. for $18,000 to complete a Retail Gap Analysis for Greensburg.
Wirrig reported that another Economic Development Agreement with Seneca Landing is approximately 99 percent complete. The commission voted to consider approval of the agreement through an electronic vote prior to the February meeting.
Wirrig also presented an offer for a 1.5-acre parcel owned by the Redevelopment Commission, located at the northeast corner of Veterans Way behind the First Financial offices. The offer included a four-month due diligence period to allow time for design review, potential zoning variances, and completion of other due diligence items. While the offer included a down payment, the terms required the down payment to be refunded if the purchase did not proceed. The offer also restricted the commission from marketing or entering into another contract for the property during the four-month period. The commission voted not to accept the offer, citing concerns about tying up the property and the possibility of missing another sale if the deal fell through.
The meeting concluded with approval of all claims.
