The Decatur County Commissioners met on November 18, 2024, at 8 am.
The meeting began with the approval of November 4, 2024, meeting minutes, claims, and payroll claims.
Todd Houk, Highway Superintendent, said that the Highway Department continues to be working on maintenance including bridges and signs. Todd said that he sent the four new employees that are newly CDL certified drivers to Purdue University to do the Snowplow simulator. Todd said that the department has been approved for the Community Crossing 2024-2 grant. Todd also received approval to move forward on the NOFA grant for work to be completed on Bridge 106.
Jeremiah, Court Services, came to the commissioners to receive approval to apply for a $15,000 grant from the Community Action Coalition. These funds will be used to pay for urine drug screens, equipment for employees, portable breathalyzers, and additional items that are not purchased or included in their normal budget. The commissioners voted to approve Jeremiah to move forward and apply for the grant.
Zach Wirrig, City of Greensburg Director Public Projects, came to the commissioners to discuss the parking lot at Rebekah Park. This was a follow up to the conversation that occurred during the April Commissioner meeting. Zach would like to get the commissioner’s approval to move forward with constructing the parking lot which will include 37 parking spaces with landscaping and curbing. The city has received the bids back and the lowest bid was presented to the city from O’Mara for $195,000. The city included the parking lot into their scope of work. The commissioners voiced concern over the proposed lot, only being 37 spaces, at the April meeting they voted on the 75-80 parking space plan. Mark Koors stated that they currently have 12-15 parking spaces and go to a 37-parking space lot. They are being asked to spend approximately $8,000 per space. Mark also asked if curbing and landscaping would be required by the city. Zach told the commissioners that they would be required, however if they wanted to they could go to the city and request a variance. There were additional concerns about the efficiency of the parking lot and at the end of the conversation commissioners requested that Zach come back with plans and costs for the original discussed 75-80 parking spaces.
Chad Smith, Attorney, presented the Biosolids Ordinance for its 2nd reading. He said that they have been making edits over the past few weeks. Those edits included exempting Westport Utility Plant, St. Paul Utility Plant, and Bex Farms (within the allowable limits). Evan Daily, Biocycle LLC, said that he is requesting to be exempt from the ordinance as well. He states that he is currently IDEM approved and follows any guidelines that IDEM requires. He said this is overreach and is possibly illegal for the county to attempt to create an ordinance that is different than what IDEM will allow and specify. He asked the commissioners if they received his letter last week from his attorney and all three commissioners agreed that they had received it. Evan told the commissioners that if he is not exempted and this ordinance is approved, he will file a lawsuit. He is currently requesting the same from the Bartholomew County Commissioners and if they do not answer his request he plans to file a lawsuit as early as this week. Evan admitted that he is not currently testing any Biosolids that are coming into his facility. When asked questions Evan continued to state, “I will follow IDEM regulations”. He states that his intent is to fertilize his own crops. The commissioners decided to table the ordinance approval on its second reading so that they can discuss the matter with their attorney.
The commissioners received two proposals for the BOT agreement at the fairgrounds. Both contractors teamed up with GM Development. The two contractors are Barnes Construction and Ferguson Construction. The commissioners stated that they wanted to keep working locally and spoke highly of Barnes Construction. Dawn Lowe, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, spoke up and said that Ferguson Construction employs 23-25 local employees, are chamber members, and have an office in Greenfield, IN. The commissioners voted to approve Barnes Construction.
The commissioners received positive feedback on Building Commissioner interviewee Tim Kremer from the interview committee. The commissioners voted to hire Tim Kremer as he has approximately 30 years of experience in construction.
Rob Dehoff came to the commissioners to state that there had been a change order of $1,447 on the project. This change was for a cosmetic addition on Diamond 1. Mark Koors asked Rob to go back to the project leaders and ask that this be negotiated as part of the project price. Mark said that as a project leader it is out of the ordinary that we have not broken ground and are already seeing a change order. The commissioners approved Rob to continue forward with the project.
Dawn Lowe, Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, provided her annual report. She states that this Friday is the Chambers Annual Dinner. She states that currently the chamber has 367 members up from the 2023 numbers of 345. They are tracking at a 95% retention rate. The Chamber has proudly reinvested $22,000 back into the community throughout 2024. Dawn added that they were recently published in the Indiana Business Journal.
Minde Myers, Animal Control, provided her monthly updates. She let the commissioners know that the HVAC has been installed and is completed, and Kfab is currently installing her troughs throughout the building. Minde told the commissioners that the shelter received an extension on their 2024 Save Them All Grant for a period of 6 months.
Dave Alvey, ABC Farms, came to the commissioners stating that he “needs to get paid for services.” Mr. Alvey was the property owner that the Greensburg & Decatur County Animal Shelter provided housing for the animals that were removed due to neglect in May 2024. He provided the following numbers to the commissioners on the amount of feed per day- 3 bales of straw, 9 bales for feed, and 2 bags of grain. Jeremy Pasel asked Mr. Alvey why they were paying for this and spent over $5,000 for grain throughout the time the animals were there. Mr. Alvey said that he never asked for the grain to be purchased or delivered. He stated that “Minde would just show up with it.” There was discussion over communication concerns. The commissioners stated that they have invited Mr. Alvey to multiple commissioner’s meetings, and he has not attended. Mr. Alvey said that this was due to getting the harvest done. Mr. Alvey stated that he did what he was told when writing up the invoice requesting payment. Jeremy Pasel asked about the cattle that Mr. Alvey received from another surrender case. Mr. Alvey admitted that he has sold all the cattle and made approximately a $17,000 profit on them. Mark Koors asked Mr. Alvey if he charged and received transportation fees from the county. Mr. Alvey responded, “Minde told me to write up a bill.” Mark Koors said that the county did pay that invoice for transport. The commissioners approved the remaining claim to get Dave Alvey paid for the boarding costs.
Fred Beck came to the commissioners concerned that the guard rail in front of his home had been hit and needs to be repaired or replaced and wanted to know if that could be done. The commissioners said that it must be fixed ASAP and the automobile insurance company that hit the guard rail should be billed for the costs.
The meeting was adjourned.
