SPECIAL MEETING OF THE. JASPER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  AUGUST 19,2024  PAGE465  The. Jasper County Commissioners: met this date at SAMLCSTE905S-R. Rensselaer, Indiana with the following members present: Rein Bontreger, James Walstra and Jeffrey DeYoung. Also present were. Auditor, Donya Jordan, Deputy Auditor, Treasure Gilbert and Eric Beaver, the Attorney that represents the Commissioners. Those present stood and recited the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mr. Bontreger. There was a brief moment of silence following the HEALTHDEPARIMENTI REMODEL BIDS: Mr. Bontreger asked Ms. Louck to give an update on the process. Ms. Louck said the process has been good and they had aj pre-bid meeting last Friday. She said that Mr. Kennell, from Tecton, would be reading aloud the sealed bids. Mr.  Pledge.  Kennell read aloud the following: 1A General' Trades: -Big Benl Builders Inc -Melton's Construction 1BI Doors & Hardware -Central Indiana Glass & Gazing -Mulhaupt's) Inc. -Central Indiana Glass &Gazing 1DI Floor Covering -Jackl Laurie Group -Miller'sl Flooring -Flooring Express 1E1 Painting Heritage Classic 1FI Plumbing -Ziese Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc -Brenneco 1G HVAC -Eberhardt Heating &C Cooling -Ziesel Plumbing, Heating & Cooling Inc 1H Electrical -Brand Electric -Craig Wagner -Kevinl Moore Electric Inc. $34,800 -Ra-Comm! Electric -D&KI Electric Inc Combination Bids -Ziesel Plumbing, Heating & Cooling  Totall Base) Bid $157,700 $137,172 Total Base Bid $25,809 $27,458 $11,700 Totall Base Bid $52,600 $55,400 $97,357.89 Totall Basel Bid $21,400 Totall Base) Bid $10,967 $21,950 Total Base) Bid $224,000 $200,950 Totall Basel Bid $107,500 $65,275 $112,000 $67,480 Totall Basel Bid $10,967  ALT #3- New' Toilet! Partitions  $2,500 $1,950  1C Storefront & Glazing Totall Base Bid  ALT #3-) New Toilet Partitions ALT #3-1 New' Toilet Partitions ALT #2-1 New HVACI Diffusors  $608 $6,777 $5,000 $10,000 $871 $7,636 $4,000 $4,700 $6,777  ALT #1 New Light Fixtures  ALT#3-1 New Toilet Partitions  Flooring Express did not fill outt thel bidi form but, their basel bid was $97,357.89. Mr. Roberts, with Tecton, thanked the Commissioners for allowing them to be aj part of this. He said they will take all bids under advisement and then work with the Commissioners and Ms. Louck to: finalize and get a recommendation letter of approval. He saidi it looks like they are within budget and should Mr. DeYoung motioned to take all bids under advisement, Mr. Walstra seconded and the motion  ber readyt to start in October.  carried.    SPECIAL: MEETING OF THE. JASPER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  AUGUST: 19,2024  PAGE 466  CONFERENCE REQUESTS /RECORDER IA ASSESSOR /C COMMISSIONERS: There was conference requests from the Recorder and Assessor. Mr. Walstra motioned to approve the two The Commissioners have a conference December 2-5,2024. Mr. DeYoung motioned to approve the Commissioners, as well as the two coming into office, and Mr. Haberlin going to the MICHELLE LAGESTEE / SARA DEYOUNG /JASPER COUNTY TRAILS CLUB: Ms. DeYoung, with Jasper County Economic Development, said that twelve years ago JCEDO commissioned: at trails plan withl helpi from Mitch] Barloga, from thel Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission. She said that Ms. Lagestee, with the Jasper County Trails Club, and her group are very passionate about trails and wanted to update the plan. She said they worked the Jasper Newton Foundation to get a $50,000 grant and work with an engineer, Kimberly Horn, to come up with the plan. Ms. DeYoung said the reason why JCEDO isi interested in working with this group is because of community development and economic development. She said trails are valuable tot the quality ofl life. She said ini the future, ift they could add this as an addendum to the Ms. Lagestee said they have been a 501c3 fort two and al halfy years now. Shes said their club consists of passionate citizen volunteers. She talked about how important trails are and how they attract tourism. She provided al handout which included their master plan and a survey from 610 people from the community about trails in. Jasper County. She also talked about how trails are beneficial toj peoples' health. Mr. Bontreger said this was a good idea and the county has al lot of wide-open areas that weren't designed witht thisi idea ini mind. He asked] how muchi it would cost] per mile and howt they would worki it out with right of ways ande easements. He also asked] how far they thought children would be willingt to walk to school on ai trail. Ms. Lagestee said probably ai mile walking Mr. Bontreger asked ift they were thinking about putting at trail in each community or somehow linking them. He asked how they would connect DeMotte tol Rensselaer. Ms. Lagestee said their goali ist to connect the communities. She saidt theirt thoughti ist that] KVI High Schooli tol Kersey would be an easy road for the DeMotte and Wheatfield area. She said for DeMotte to Rensselaer, they thought going by Fair Oaks Farms would be a good idea. Ms. DeYoung said that bringing in an engineering team would! be essential. Mr. Bontreger asked what would be the next step they would like from the Commissioners. Ms. DeYoung saidt thei next step would be applying foral DNR Grant and getting al letter of support from the county. Mr. Urbano reminded them to get engaged with the landowners and get as many landowners involved as possible because ofi regulated drains. ANDY BOERSMA / REQUEST TO REPLACE EMPLOYEES: Mr. Boersma requested to replace ane employee att the annex who also works fort the Sheriff. Mr. Walstra motioned to approve, HOLLY ELDRIDGE /UMR MAILING: HR Director, Ms. Eldridge, asked for approval for a UMR mailing for $230.00. Mr. DeYoung motioned to approve, Mr. Walstra seconded and the TORI NUEST /ANIMAL CONTROL. /SHED REPLACEMENT/ /SIGN REPLACEMENT CAMERA SYSTEM / 2024 STATS: Ms. Nuest was unable to attend the meeting SO, the SOLAR ORDINANCE AMENDMENT: Attorney Beaver said this ordinance is product of the joint public commission that was putt together earlier this spring tol hear the voices ofa number of different people who'vel had different interests regarding the commercial solar energy projects. He said the whole point oft the ordinance is to account for new developments that have occurred since it was last revised in 2019. He said the group had put together a series of proposed recommendations. and) he formatted them to fit the. Jasper County Code. He said he has  conference: requests, Mr. DeYoung seconded and the motion carried. Commissioners conference, Mr. Walstra seconded and the motion carried.  comprehensive plan, it would help when they apply for larger grants.  but, they could goi further on al bike.  Mr. DeYoung seconded: and the motion carried.  motion carried.  Commissioners tabled it for the next meeting.    SPECIAL. MEETING OF THE. JASPER COUNTY BOARDOF COMMISSIONERS  AUGUST: 19,2024  PAGE4 467  SOLARORDINANCE: AMENDMENICONINUEDA incorporated all the revisions as directed by the Plan Commission. He recommended that the Board of Commissioners make an action to approve or not approve the Plan Commission'sn recommendation. He said at this point he does not believe it should be sent back to thel Plan Commission with any proposed revisions. Mr. Bontreger thanked. Attorney Beaver forl his extensive work on this. He said his intention ist to engage the study committee once this fall and in the winter. He thanked everyone for their input and time. Mr. Walstra motioned to approve the solar ordinance amendment, Mr. DeYoung EDP RENEWABLES: Mr. Bontreger said that EDP Renewables withdrew from the agenda. RENSSELAER MONUMENTS INVOICE: Mr. Bontreger said they had an invoice from Rensselaer Monuments for $2,000.00: for the repair ofthe1 monuments inl Makeever Cemetery. Mr. Bontreger told Attorney Beaver they need to follow through with transferring over the deed to Newton Township. Mr. DeYoung motioned to approve thei invoice, Mr. Walstra seconded and the JASON DEYOUNG CONSTRUCTION / QUOTE FOR MAINTENANCE BUILDING: Mr. DeYoung said he reached out toai few people and got one bid back. He said he had a quote from Dream Homes, LLC, d/bla Jason DeYoung Construction for the pole barn at the Highway Department. He said thej prices were: for the whole floor. The dividing wall would be $4,430.00, $17,560.00: for half oft the floor and $29,120.00 for 40' x112,6"t thick for the whole floor. He said for the rough in bathroom with plumbing, toilet and sink, it would be $4,800.00. Mr. Bontreger said he is waiting to hear back about spray foam. Mr. DeYoung said the estimated quote was $38,350.00. Mr. Walstra motioned to approve the quote, Mr. DeYoung seconded and the motion BF&S/SAFETY GRANTS: Mr. Dammarell said there's two opportunities for grants, one being SS4A, which is the Safe Streets for All program. He said this is done through the federal government. He said this application is due by the end of August and they have already been working oni it.) Hes said there'sa also an application for HSIP funding thati is handled through INDOT. He: saidt these applications aren'tviewed untili thei first week ofOctober. In order to dot theset things, they would want tol have a small working agreement where they are contracted hourly on ai not to exceed $3,000.001 to complete all those efforts onl both applications for the county moving forward. Mr. Bontreger asked Attorney Beaver if he had yet reviewed this subject and he said he had reviewed the big one so, he is fine with this one. Mr. DeYoung motioned to approve agreement, Mr. Walstra seconded andi motion carried. Mr. Walstra motionedi to approve Mr. Bontreger signing on! behalf oft the Commissioners, Mr. DeYoung seconded and the motion carried. VINCEURBANO/ZEIESIRAT TOCOVER/ ATTORNEY FEES: Mr. Urbano said to follow up from the Special Drainage Board meeting last week, Commissioner Deyoung put it on Zelestra said that they were going to cover all the costs. He said they need their attorney'si numbers tallied up: and Attorney Ahler had already sent his. Attorney Beaver said he didn'thave anything and he HIGHWAYUPDATE Mr. Bontreger said he saw the blinking stop light on 1000 and asked how many intersections they had these on now. Mr. Cain said he had ordered a few and they are significantly cheaper than led stop signs. He said his idea with all of the highway construction going oni ist to start] putting them up ont the detours. He: said they are getting ready to shut down 114 JACKSON'S: STRIPING: Mr. DeYoung said Mr.. Jacksoni is going to attempt striping this coming  seconded and the motion carried. Ordinance No. 08-19-2024.  Attorney Beaver said they will put them back on the agenda in two weeks.  OTHER BUSINESS  motion carried.  carried.  was covered for the year.  from 651 to the county line.  Sunday.    SPECIALMEETING OF THEJ JASPER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  AUGUST: 19,2024  PAGE 468  SHERIFF VILAMSON/REPIACEI EMPLOYEE: Sheriff Williamson requested to replace a correctional officer Mr. Walstra motioned to approve, Mr. DeYoung seconded and the motion HEALTH DEPARTMENT ORDINANCE FOR STATEWIDE ONLINE NETWORK: Attorney Beaver saidt thisi isa al Health Department initiative that has to do with the Health Department being able toj join as statewide network to be able to access electronic records from the other members. Hes saidt the other members are] probably everyhospitali int thes state. He saidi ita allows: for ther member to access whatever information that comes to them. He said this is in regards to communicable diseases and they can share information that way it is secure and digital. He said the fees are $1,750.00 tol have an initial annual fee that sets it up and about the same amount per year for 3 years. Hes said ordinarily, he always sayst that the Board ofCommissioners: should be the contracting party however, thisi is a very unique situation and het thought it would bel better ifit was the Health Department. Mr. DeYoung motioned to approve the contract and authorize the Health Department CARMENFORINEY/REQUESTORNEV, SHED: Ms. Fortney. joined via Zoom ands saidt that they needa a shed at thel Extension Office. She said they are currently sharing a storage space with the Surveyor'so office but, they are needing to add more thingsi in there. She said they are looking ataf few different sheds and one oft them was about $400-500 SO, they are asking for permission to purchase one. She saidt they are wanting to get a shed thati is 10x5. There were some soundi issues REBECCADEARDORE: Ms.) Deardorf asked ift there was a definition ini the solar ordinance that defined prime farmland. She said one of the changes was to emphasize the protection of prime farmland. Attorney Beaver said the existing ordinance requires a landscape buffer that includes planting oftrees. He said the study committee said after 30 or 40 years those trees are full grown and too hard to remove for farming so, the approach is to increase setbacks and eliminate the landscape buffer. Mr. Bontreger said the topic ofj prime farmland isi in the ordinance but, he doesn'tbelieve the definition ofj prime farmlandi isi int there. Ms. Deardorf: askedi ifa an animal getsi inside the fencing ifthey could get out. Mr. Bontreger said there would be a one-way door for the animal to get out. She also asked who is liable ifa person tries to go inside and gets hurt. Mr. Bontreger said Ms. Deardorf said shel believes the speed limit going through Teft is 30mph but, there is another speed limit sign that says 5mph that was put up in the last couple of weeks. Mr. Cain said it was not the Highway Department that installed ita and itis 30mph through there. Ms. Deardorfs showed Mr. Cain aj picture oft the sign and askedi ifi itj just stays there. Mr. Cain said he will check it out. DAVEHERMAN/IEMAR/REQUEST) TO TRIM TREE ON 114: Lemar representative, Mr. Herman said there is a sign out on State Road 114 by the fairgrounds with a McDonald's advertisement on both sides. He said they! have requested to have a tree trimmed, which Lemar would cover the cost for. Mr. Bontreger asked Attorney Beaver if this was their decision or the Fair Board's. Attorney Beaver said the as the owners of the property, it would be the Commissioner's decision. Mr. Bontreger asked Mr. Cain ift they would be able to supervise; he said yes. Attorney Beaver saidt they would) havet tol hold. Jasper County harmless. Mr. Herman said they hold Jasper County harmless. Mr. DeYoung motioned to allow Lemar to trim the tree, Mr. DOREEN RAY: Ms. Ray asked if the property guarantee was included in the new ordinance. Attorney Beaver said yes andt there'sar requirement that they give an offer ofa 5-year guarantee to all the residential property owners within al 1-mile radius, at the time of application for special exceptions. He said the five years will begin at the time of the commencement for commercial  carried.  to enteri intot the agreement, Mr. Walstra seconded and the motion carried.  att thist time so, Mr. Bontreger asked] her to come to the next meeting inj person.  PUBLIC COMMENT  essentially, that person would be trespassing.  Walstra seconded and the motion carried.  operations.    SPECIAL MEETING OF THE. JASPER COUNTY: BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  AUGUSTI 19,2024  PAGE469  MICHELLE. HOFFMAN: Ms. Ray said there was an online comment from Ms. Hoffman that she would like to be read aloud. Ms. Hoffman submitted an online comment as follows: "Good morning Commissioners, I will be as brief as possible with thei items Iwould like to discuss with you1 today. First, I would liket to makei it publicly known that a few ofu us have requested the leases obtained by land agents fors solar, wind, or any other type ofl land leasel be recorded within 45 days ofexecution: int the office of] Jasper County records ort thosel leases become void. Therei is anl Indiana Code32312-,Necesiy ofRecording, for lease ofr real estatei fora aj period longer thant three years whichs states;Not: moret than forty-five (45) days afteri its execution, al lease ofr freal estate for aj period longer than three (3): years shall be recorded: in thel Miscellaneous Recordi int the recorder's office of the county in which the real estate is located.; I would like our county to uphold this Indiana Code. Iwould alsol liket tos see the county make any lease submitted to records be voidi ifp passed 45 days of its execution. Second, I would like to see the commissioners protect the residents by requiring filing for a solicitor/ peddler/ transient license/permit by all single solicitors not a blanketed company permit, whether it be land agents soliciting for leases or salesmen. This will comply with IC1 Title 25. ARTICLE37. TRANSIENTMERCHANI, and more specifically IC 25-37-1-3 Necessity for License & IC: 25-37-1-4 Application for License; Attached Statements. This permit should be required to be on the person at times and available when asked to viewi it while they are soliciting. The reason] Iask thisi ist twofold. By implementing this type of willl keep the County Government informed of what is taking place within the county and further the provision for the public health, safety and welfare oft the citizens. It will give residents the ability to access records to; whoi is soliciting, the company they work for, and what they are: soliciting for. Giving residents aj peace of mind that these strangers who show up: really are who they say they are. Iknow from first hand experience and know ofa gentleman who told a similar story, Kirby salesmen tend to travel inj pairs and the driver will drop his partner off at one. house and proceed to the next." There are times when a homeowner does not see this man being dropped off and all they knowi ist thatt therei isas strange man ont their property without ai means oftransportation wanting to give a demo without any equipment, because iti is supposedly in the vehicle with their partner whoi is att the neighbor'sl house. It would be nice to see the permit tol know what they are saying is the truth. It's crazy that we have to worry about such things, but this is the world we livei in now. Attorney Beaver said these are many of the issues that should hold up the passing of today's ordinance and] he willl bel looking intoi it. He saids some ofthis may not be within a zoning or land- use ordinance but instead, it would be under the authority of the Commissioners to protect the health and safety ofp property owners. Mr. Bontreger saidt this is an ongoing topic of discussion. JACOBMISCH: Councilman, Mr. Misch, saidi int the past! hel has offered his criticism around solar ordinances and he wantedi tot thank the Commissioners: fort takinga action and protecting the citizens. He also wanted tot thank Ms. Scheurich and the Plan Commission for their actions. He said he also appreciates Mr. Bontreger saying they will have future discussions and) keeping that moving. DOUGI BURTON: Mr. Burton said he's been attending the Commissioners' meetings for awhile and he thinks it'si important to follow along what is going on in the county. He said he finds it difficultt to do sometimes andi for example, there was an approval for the zoning ordinance forsolar and! he doesn't even] know what was approved. He saidi it'si important for the peoplet to understand whatt the issues are before the Commission votes on those issues. He askedi ifit was possible for someone whoi isn't able to attend, tot think of some things that the Commissioners don't think of that are relevant toi thec decision. Mr. Bontreger saidt thisi is why they havel had the study committee, which included people who were across the spectrum in being affected by solar. He said this included non-participating landowners. He said they have had many discussions and it did go through the Plan Commission so, itl has been back and forth between meetings. Hes said what they didi isi increased setbacks and differential setbacks iftherei is more than one around aj property. He said also, from the property line andi nott the foundation ofas structure. He said they addressed some ofthel landscaping, fencel heights and! battery energy storing systems, whicht they: are trying to direct  Thank yout for your time, Michellel Hoffman"    SPECIAL MEETING OF THE. JASPER COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS  AUGUST19,2024  PAGE470  DOUG BURTON CONTINUED: most of that activity towards the Schahfer campus sO that batteries amongst the community would bet ten acres or less. He said these were the topi items that Attorney Beaver saidt there'srequirements for the implementation ofthese projects toi includer road- use agreements, decommissioning agreements and economic development agreements. He said the economic development agreement may or may not contain an abatement by the Council. He said ita also requires the offering ofa five-year property value guarantee to residential landowners withina al 1-mile radius. Hes said att thet time ofas special acceptance application, the five-years begins at the time of commercial operations. Mr. Bontreger said construction compliance monitors are also aj part oft the process now. Mr. Urbano added that he believes Ms. Scheurich has these things available tot the public aftert the Plan Commission meetings in thel Planning & Development office. Mr. Burton asked ift there was more land available for solar development than there was before these revisions int the ordinance. Mr. Urbano said, "T would say no." Mr. Bontreger said this will makei it more restrictive for people to comei in andt try to answer tot thei new: specifications. He said theyt tooki input from participating neighbors, Surveyor's Office, Highway Department, Council, a NIPSCO representative and people across thel board with different opinions. He saidt they weighed int to carve out thel language. He: said he understands that these adjustments may needi revisited but, Mr. Burton said he thinksi iti is important for the public tol have an opportunity, likel hel had today, to weighi in ont these documents that Mr. Urbano iss saying are available to them. He said he thinks thej publicr needst to weighi in ont the decisions before they are made, based upon thel besti information available. Mr. Bontreger said that Mr. Burton was a part oft the weighing inj process when he held the public meetings, which was aj part of gathering information to craft the new ordinances. He said by attending those meetings and the comments he's made before, he was a part of the information gathering. Mr. Burton said he understood. Attorney Beaver added that the Plan Commission also holds a public hearing before they make a recommendation to the Commissioners andi in this case, it was held back inl May. Mr. Burton said he needs to understand before the meeting and have an opportunity to weigh in on whati iti is they are going to be voting on before they vote oni it. He: said witht this information, he thinks that willl help. Mr. Haberlin asked ift they post the minutes on the County website after a meeting. Ms. Gilbert said as soon asi minutes are approved at a meeting, she goes back and uploads them. Mr. Bontreger saidt thei minutes are ont the website andt they are int the process of updating the website. Ms. Gilbert said that she's been working with IT on the soundi issues and they are going tol be replacing some There being no further business, Mr. Walstra motioned to adjourn the meeting, Mr. DeYoung  they adjusted.  they arel headingi in the right direction now.  cords. Mr. Bontreger apologized for any disruptions with the sound.  seconded and the motion carried.  ATTEST:  fuaune Milt Depaly Kudibf Donya G.. Jordan, Auditor of Jasper County  Le Rein] Bontreger, President anRata James A. Walstra, Vicel President 4