[0:21] I'd like to welcome everyone to the September 3rd Jefferson County

[0:25] Commissioners meeting. Join me in the Pledge of Allegiance to

[0:28] the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag

[0:33] of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands,

[0:38] one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you,

[0:44] everyone. >> [clears throat]

[0:50] » Okay, I would entertain a motion to approve the minutes from August 20th.

[0:55] » I'll make a motion to approve the minutes from the August 20th meeting.

[0:58] » I second. >> All those in favor,

[1:00] » signify by eye. Eye.

[1:02] » Motion to approve the accounts payable vouchers.

[1:04] » I'll make a motion to approve accounts payable vouchers.

[1:07] » I second that. >> All those in favor, signify by eye.

[1:10] » Eye. >> And a motion to approve the payroll

[1:13] vouchers as submitted. >> I'll make a motion to approve the

[1:15] payroll vouchers as submitted. >> I second.

[1:17] » All those in favor, signify by eye. >> Eye.

[1:20] » Okay. Now, you want to run with this Terracon?

[1:24] » So, we sent out a request for proposals to do phase one environmental site

[1:29] assessment for the property for the new campground project. Um Terracon was

[1:34] selected. Um we did some scoring. They were

[1:39] up there and their price is very agreeable. The price is $5,006

[1:46] for the phase one assessment. And they submitted an an agreement. We've had our

[1:51] attorney look at it. There's some comments. We've got those

[1:54] changed. So, I think we're ready to move forward with

[1:57] this phase on environmental site assessment.

[2:02] So, I'll make a motion we approve the agreement with Airfoam for these

[2:06] services. >> I have a motion.

[2:08] » I'll second. >> I'll second.

[2:10] » Okay. Any discussion?

[2:13] All those in favor signify by I. >> I.

[2:16] » Motion carried. Okay.

[2:24] WTH status here. I think you probably want to run with that.

[2:27] » Yeah. So, um we have several um agreements like this. Basically, it's

[2:34] CoreLogic, which is um a mortgage servicer. They do a lot of

[2:41] escrow payments for people that have their property mortgaged. They

[2:46] are needing information from WTH. They will pay WTH, then WTH will pay us in

[2:52] return for that data.

[2:56] Pretty standard.

[2:58] » Pretty straightforward. >> Yeah.

[2:59] » Okay.

[3:02] » [clears throat] >> I'll make a motion we approve the data

[3:05] share request for CoreLogic. >> I second that.

[3:09] » I have a motion and a second. Is there any other discussion?

[3:12] Hearing none, all those in favor signify by I.

[3:14] » I. >> Motion carried.

[3:17] Okay.

[3:21] John, looks like you have the floor, sir.

[3:29] » I'm here to ask for permission to apply for CDBG. I have a final or financial

[3:35] commitment letter for each of you to sign.

[3:38] Uh we have to have approval from from them

[3:41] uh and you guys to fill out the form. So.

[3:55] » We do the seat here. >> Yes.

[4:25] So my next one is going to be a It's going to be a sent us agreement.

[4:30] We've done several of them here past couple months.

[4:34] It's a 60 months term agreement. It's basically going to knock our bill

[4:40] down from 187 to about 150 weekly.

[4:46] I'm going to be able to >> [clears throat]

[4:48] » outfit every employee that we have in a uniform on this agreement.

[4:54] That's what we would like to do. If we would stay with our original

[4:59] pricing, it would put us in a rough shape,

[5:03] for sure. So this will help out quite a bit. If we

[5:07] would have stayed with our, you know, our original supplies, we would have

[5:10] went from 186 to $40 a week. So which is, you know, that's a big

[5:16] number. But, you know, adding uniforms will help

[5:20] quite a bit. So.

[5:23] Put this here.

[5:26] I think I just need I just need one signature.

[5:28] » Is it $40 a week or did you mean more or less?

[5:30] » So under under what we have now as supplies we get from from them, it would

[5:36] knock it down to $40 a week. But I've added uniforms, so it's going to put us

[5:40] to about 145 to 150 a week. >> So no uniforms now with the We're just

[5:47] trying to understand >> Yeah, no uniforms at all right now at

[5:49] the county highway. This This would actually give each person 11 uniforms a

[5:53] piece. >> Standard

[5:56] » Standard across >> Unity all the way across.

[5:58] » across the board. Um, mechanics already have them. We already

[6:02] paid for that. Um, the going on this program will actually make theirs

[6:05] cheaper also.

[6:09] » I probably didn't do that in the first >> Yeah.

[6:12] » So, I'll make a motion we approve the contract with Cintas for the county

[6:16] highway department for >> Uniforms, what else? Rugs and stuff,

[6:20] too, or >> It'll be uniforms and supplies.

[6:22] » Supplies? >> Yes.

[6:24] » I'll make a motion we approve the contract with Cintas for uniforms and

[6:27] supplies. >> I second.

[6:29] » I have a motion and second. Any other discussion?

[6:32] Hearing none, all those in favor signify by

[6:35] » Aye. >> Aye.

[6:36] » Thanks for your research. >> Yep. Thank you, guys.

[7:08] » Department heads down here. >> So, I should have stayed up there.

[7:12] » Do you want to go? >> I'm sure. Go ahead.

[7:16] » What were you going to say? >> Get out of the way.

[7:18] Unless Brandon really wants to get up.

[7:22] Um So, just a little update, we are still

[7:25] chip sealing. Um, we're

[7:27] pretty close to wrapping up. We've probably got I'd say a couple more

[7:31] weeks and we'll be done. Uh, we're still mowing.

[7:35] We're having some issues with some tractors right now, so with the heat,

[7:38] that don't help at all. Um, but we're trying to keep them on the

[7:42] road. Get get to everybody as quick as we can, for sure.

[7:45] Uh I'm going to go ahead and have, you

[7:48] know, with the with that CCMG, we do we do pull from a fund called 9102. Uh we

[7:54] wanted to have it, you know, on record if State Board of Accounts ever needs

[7:58] anything. So. >> That is where the match is coming from.

[8:03] » Yep. Yep. Yep. Um and I will give you a little update

[8:07] on FEMA. Um they are providing us with some money for our poor little Brushy

[8:11] Fork on the side repair. Um so we'll be tackling that here pretty soon, once we

[8:17] get the funds. Should be about $90,000. So.

[8:24] Any questions? >> And make sure that guys watch this heat.

[8:29] » Yeah. Yeah, we've we've been stocking up on water.

[8:32] » Plenty of breaks, I mean. >> Yeah. We've been stocking up on water

[8:35] pretty good, especially being out on the chipper cuz it gets hot, real hot.

[8:39] » Yeah. >> Uh

[8:41] Yeah. Yeah. >> Safety first. We can get the roads

[8:43] later. >> Mhm.

[8:44] » [clears throat] >> Yep.

[8:45] Thank you. >> Thank you.

[8:51] Brandon.

[8:54] What what I talked tonight. >> Yeah. How's Brandon?

[8:57] » He's all right. Yes. >> He did good.

[8:59] » Um so currently we have we have four uh four new CAD PCs being installed. And

[9:05] he's here for the training up now. Um We also got a a board this week.

[9:12] Uh excellence in training award.

[9:16] Um so Rapid SOS, the the software that I told

[9:21] you we recently implemented. Um We were recognized for uh

[9:26] excellence in training. We were the second in the nation to receive the

[9:29] award. And Clark County, so that was pretty

[9:33] pretty awesome.

[9:36] Also uh tender

[9:39] the There is a rate contract um

[9:42] that was coming due um this year. Uh I went ahead and extended it 5 years.

[9:48] I wanted to get you guys' blessing for it. Um I I didn't want the coverage to

[9:52] lapse and then us be out. So, I went ahead and did it in the meantime.

[9:56] Um but but I I did the 5-year um that would make it the $7,548

[10:03] a year, which is just a marginal increase from what we were paying for

[10:07] it. Um

[10:09] We do have some training scheduled. Um we have to

[10:13] better utilize the rate system. We have There's some

[10:16] different agencies are using it for different reasons. Um we we kind of

[10:20] see that we're underutilizing it, but we've got some training uh scheduled to

[10:24] to hopefully utilize it better and and notify people.

[10:28] Yeah.

[10:31] Other than that, that's all I've got. >> Okay.

[10:36] I need a motion. >> I'll

[10:40] I'll I'll upgrade contract.

[10:43] » Yeah, I just read it from the memo. >> I'll make a motion to

[10:46] the rate contract for 911.

[10:52] Well, I say we don't want it to lapse. >> Yeah, that's that's why I went ahead and

[10:55] did it. Um they were a little bit late on getting it to me and then they said

[10:59] it would lapse on the August 31st and it wouldn't give me time to to get here.

[11:03] So, I I went ahead and did that.

[11:07] » Mhm. >> And sure everything was

[11:10] » I second that. >> Okay, I have a motion and a second. All

[11:13] those in favor signify by I. >> I.

[11:17] » Any question?

[11:22] Research you got. >> Congratulations on the award to you.

[11:25] » Yeah, we need this done. >> And I'll have to fix

[11:29] » I don't have anything. I'll try to keep it as expeditious as you guys have

[11:33] anything for me. >> No, I don't think so.

[11:35] » I went to football.

[11:42] » Good morning, everybody. Um

[11:45] just giving you guys um just some general updates. So, we did get um

[11:50] our two grant letters. We don't have the actual contracts yet, but we got letters

[11:54] from uh Office of Court Services. Um so, basically this year they gave us $2,002

[12:02] and $391, which essentially is the amount they

[12:06] gave us last year plus the supplemental grant. So, we are very grateful for

[12:10] that. That um additional helps us with drug court. Um however, it still doesn't

[12:16] negate the other 100 and something that we were cut through DOC. Um but they did

[12:21] help with funding with um our drug court grant that we normally get 4,500. We

[12:25] ended up getting Exactly.

[12:31] Well, you know, oh, 44,208. So, that's extremely helpful. And then so, that

[12:35] helps supplement the salary that was cut by DOC not funding that. Um we have

[12:41] currently we have I think one more interview for the field uh or for the

[12:45] pre-trial officer position. My field officer retired

[12:50] uh last week, 2 weeks ago. So, we are posting uh that's in the second position

[12:57] and then we're moving to part-time. So, we will be posting that um

[13:01] in-house first and then opening that up if there are any county interests. Um

[13:06] other than that, things continue to go well. We continue to move forward with

[13:11] um our third JCAP. Uh

[13:13] we have lots of The next cohort will be males. We have the most applications

[13:18] that we have had, which I think is good. Um we've got a lot of partnership

[13:21] between pre-trial and drug court. Um that that

[13:25] process has smoothed out. I feel like that there are

[13:30] that continuity of care starting in jail and with kind of that understanding of

[13:33] potentially them wanting to go to drug court. I feel that that's helping keep

[13:36] them in that service and treatment bubble. So, those are all awesome things

[13:40] with that. We're continuing to grow numbers in our

[13:44] drug court. And

[13:47] I think that's it for now. We're still waiting on the justice partners, which

[13:50] is the federal grant that started 91. So, hopefully I'll get that allocation

[13:56] soon. And I did request that additional

[14:01] unspent funding from office of court services.

[14:05] They back and I sent another request of all

[14:09] the things that we changed hoping that that may be different, but I fully

[14:12] expect that money to go back to the state.

[14:16] So, but other than that, we continue to operations with continuous normal poll.

[14:20] Our drug coordinator is going to run that until he gets somebody hired in.

[14:23] So, we will still have someone at the the jail every day.

[14:27] Questions and comments? >> Keep up the good work, yeah.

[14:32] » Thank you, gentlemen. >> You got it. Paul's a good guy.

[14:34] » Yeah, he is. I'll keep him. >> You got it. I would.

[14:39] Anybody else back there? Brian.

[14:44] Come on down. >> Excuse me.

[14:48] All right, just a couple things real quick.

[14:50] Uh update on the park plan. So, Don sent an update a few days ago. The

[14:57] data gathering is mostly complete. The public survey we were doing, that ended

[15:02] August 31st. Um

[15:05] It closed at roughly 190 responses. It was pretty good.

[15:10] Pretty good turnout on that. Um You should have an interim report on the

[15:14] survey results in the next couple of days.

[15:17] And he plans to have a draft of the plan available for us to review by the end of

[15:21] the month. So, that'll It's progressing pretty

[15:24] well, right on schedule. But, it's pretty aggressive schedule,

[15:27] too. Uh as far as the animal shelter, our

[15:31] ready funding is still under uh

[15:35] Ernst & Young compliance review. So, I did get another request yesterday

[15:40] for some some more information. Not really a

[15:44] request for a request for some clarification on some information. So,

[15:47] it's nothing as significant. Um It's frustrating to keep getting these

[15:52] requests, but it does show that they are looking at it and that is in the review

[15:56] process, so. I did speak to someone with the RDA today. They They anticipate

[16:00] it'll be done in a few more weeks before you hear anything, so.

[16:04] I'm thinking more than a few, but

[16:08] we'll see. >> But, I mean, we found out with the when

[16:10] we were having the same issues with the campground, everybody else is having

[16:13] these same issues. It's not just us, unfortunately.

[16:16] » No, it's not just us. Uh but but it is progressing and they are not them off

[16:20] the list from what I hear, so. As the list gets whittled down, we

[16:24] should get more attention on personally. Hopefully, it'll accelerate a little

[16:27] bit. Um [clears throat]

[16:30] Our architect, Bill Carr, he's going to be here September 14th with an update on

[16:35] the design and cost estimates. Um

[16:39] I think he sent you guys around the meeting

[16:42] invitation. So, I'm not going to be able to make it that day, but uh

[16:46] but he'll share all of this information if you can make it to.

[16:49] And then, later that evening, Bill's going to present our setback variance to

[16:53] to the city BZA. And don't really anticipate any issues

[16:56] with that. And

[17:00] last thing, since Trisha's not here, uh

[17:04] the Friends of the Jefferson County Animal Shelter are having a fundraiser

[17:07] on September 12th, Saturday. It's a walk and wag.

[17:13] And it means I think it's all walk. Yeah. I I looked

[17:17] up there's information on it. You can find details and an application.

[17:22] If you wanted to join the jcasfriends.org

[17:26] or their Facebook page. But it's going to be around the hospitals. You can

[17:30] bring your dog. You don't have to You don't have a dog you can come anyway.

[17:34] But there are some I think there are some restrictions on dogs if you got to

[17:37] have you know, vaccinations valid or current

[17:40] and all that. So anything like that. It's on their Facebook page if anyone

[17:44] wants any information on that. It's a way to support the New Hanover shelter.

[17:47] So. That's about it. Any questions for me?

[17:51] Okay. You've been busy. All right. You have Thank you. Thank you. Thanks.

[17:58] Thank you. That's good for the department news, isn't it?

[18:02] I don't see anybody else. Good food.

[18:07] Eric? Anything? Come on.

[18:11] » Okay. They want to be counted. >> Yeah. They're gone.

[18:14] They're gone. Goodbye. Yeah. >> Tell us how you really feel.

[18:20] » Sir? Mr. Lee.

[18:24] Plugging along with the Yuby Center re-remodel. We've met with Josh today

[18:28] and got some more new numbers. Moving along.

[18:36] So we published the request for proposal qualifications for the design and

[18:41] construction of the campground. That went out on Friday.

[18:44] And uh they have six weeks, I believe, before the

[18:48] proposals will come in. So they got some time.

[18:51] Got a few questions. Got a few letters of interest. So already. But so it's

[18:55] moving forward. >> Okay.

[18:58] » I don't have anything. >> [clears throat]

[19:01] » So we will go into public comment. Go to the podium. State your name and

[19:06] address. Three minutes.

[19:15] » Or is there anyone else? >> If no one else.

[19:18] » No one I'm the only one to speak. >> You have the floor, sir.

[19:21] » All right, sir. Appreciate it. Warren Oxford, 3611 West Ohio River

[19:26] Road. I'm here as a plan commission member and I'm speaking as a plan

[19:30] commissioner. I am not speaking for all of the other

[19:33] plan commissioners as such. So you'll hear I in this quite a bit, but

[19:38] however, I am very aware that um our other plan

[19:43] commissioners took very similar steps as to what I'm going to outline in my

[19:47] comments to you this evening. And uh

[19:51] want to start There have been concerns in our community about my giving a

[19:54] prepared presentation on the data moratorium question. After closely

[19:59] listening to all the public input at last night's plan commission meeting, I

[20:03] determined that there had not been any new information presented which changed

[20:07] the conclusions I had previously included in my presentation document. I

[20:12] want to assure the public and the commissioners I carefully considered all

[20:17] of the public input and four more before coming to my conclusion that a data

[20:22] center moratorium is not in the best interest in the county's best interest

[20:26] at this time. I read each of the emails which were

[20:29] sent to the plan commission, many of them several times, and I reviewed the

[20:33] material which was included with the emails. I went online and I listened to

[20:38] the numerous data center moratorium comments made at commissioner's meet at

[20:42] past commissioner meetings and the commissioner's response to those

[20:46] to the public. [clears throat] I reviewed the record of the public

[20:50] comments which were made at the B at A BZA data center appeal hearing. I

[20:54] reviewed all the court filings which have been made to date in the BZA appeal

[20:59] case. I reviewed Indiana statutes and or past court cases regarding the adoption

[21:04] of the moratorium. I consulted with the plan Commission attorney on moratorium

[21:08] legal procedures. I reviewed the county's comprehensive plan, unified

[21:12] development ordinances regarding land uses, future land uses, development

[21:17] standards and heavy industrial districts. I revisited and studied the

[21:21] nine-page Planning Commission administrative staff report determining

[21:25] data centers are allowed use in heavy industrial district. I brought up the

[21:29] county GIS map and aerial views of the two industrial districts to determine

[21:34] the makeup of the adjoining properties and the potential impact on them. I

[21:38] determined that the data center moratorium would only affect the Marble

[21:42] Hill property, which consists of less than 1/4 of 1% of the land area in the

[21:48] county's zoning jurisdiction. I did online and offline research on the

[21:52] potential negative effects of data centers on surrounding properties and

[21:56] communities in general. I then summarized my conclusions and

[22:00] supporting rationale in the presentation document I used at last night's meeting.

[22:05] I am sorry that my prepared presentation gave the impression I did not consider

[22:09] the public input we received. However, I will not apologize for preparing for a

[22:14] meeting, considering more than the public's input, and reaching a different

[22:19] conclusion than some wanted. After the meeting, I was told I was a

[22:23] coward. I can assure you it takes more courage to say no to a loud public

[22:28] outcry than it does to just go along with it. I want you all to know that I

[22:32] take my position and the public to know on the Planning Commission very

[22:36] seriously. Thank you. >> Thank you.

[22:38] » Thank you. >> [clears throat]

[22:56] » Ann Hester, again,

[22:58] State Road 56, Jefferson County resident.

[23:02] You may wonder why I'm being so relentless, why I keep showing up.

[23:06] Because I'm worried about the negative health and environmental impacts of data

[23:09] centers. The effects will be felt far wider than

[23:13] just the percentage of the county that they are being built on.

[23:17] They're not just confined to those zoned areas and property lines. Eminent domain

[23:22] means infrastructure build-outs, pipelines,

[23:25] high voltage transmission lines, roads affected for years, additional traffic,

[23:30] storm water systems, construction water, waste water, construction dust.

[23:35] That's going to affect more than just the footprint of the build site. After

[23:39] completion, the noise, the low frequency noise, the generator noise, and the

[23:44] lighting does not just stay on the footprint of the build site.

[23:49] It will affect adjacent properties, people, and wildlife.

[23:52] All these negative effects, if we don't put in protections, they're going to

[23:56] have your names on them. I'm sorry. The people who are supposed to protect us.

[24:02] It seems no one in the public office who could do something about negative

[24:05] impacts wants to. Our concerns are treated like they are of no consequence.

[24:10] We can't ask questions and get answers. What does that tell people who voted for

[24:15] you? Seems like we're being silenced at every turn.

[24:19] The BZA hearing, they would not answer questions.

[24:23] Commissioner meetings, now we get 3 minutes.

[24:26] If I at last time I asked a question at the end of 3 minutes, but I didn't get

[24:29] an answer. I I immediately went and sat down, but nobody answered my question.

[24:34] My time was up. The plan commission president decided the public um the plan

[24:39] commission meeting was not going to be a question and answer

[24:43] session, and there would not be any public comments. Only those who made the

[24:47] agenda were allowed to speak. Only after we got there were we told we would be on

[24:51] a timer. What does that say to the public? It

[24:54] seems to say we don't want to hear from you.

[24:57] There should be a public hearing where the public gets to speak their concerns.

[25:01] Five members of the planning commission seem to not want to do this for the

[25:05] public. It seemed to be that they It was

[25:08] presented that they already knew what you, the commissioners, were going to

[25:11] decide on that. We followed the process that we were

[25:14] told to follow by the county attorney for a moratorium.

[25:19] It seemed to be a foregone conclusion that you were going to not have an

[25:24] appetite for that. And they were not swayed by public

[25:28] opinion, but what about facts? What about valid facts concerning data center

[25:32] effects? It seems there's a clear message that no one wants to hear from

[25:36] the public about data centers. I didn't think this was how things were supposed

[25:40] to be done in local government, but I haven't been involved with local

[25:43] government only since April. It seems very short-sided to allow data

[25:48] centers to come into this county without any protective ordinances. Our UDO does

[25:53] not even mention data centers one time. That is no longer acceptable for our

[25:58] county. So, my three questions tonight,

[26:02] can you guarantee that data centers are only allowed in those two heavy

[26:06] industrial zoned areas? Because in lots of other places, farmland is being

[26:11] bought, it's being rezoned, and data centers are being They're taking up

[26:15] farmland. That's not good.

[26:18] Has anything been submitted for a data center at Marble Hill to anyone in our

[26:22] local government? Yes. No.

[26:26] » No. >> No. Correct.

[26:28] Who can add data center safety ordinances to the UDO?

[26:31] » Who can add data center safety I mean, you know

[26:33] » ordinances to the unified development ordinances? Is that you guys? Is that Is

[26:37] group What Who can do that? >> have to start If the planning commission

[26:40] thought they wanted to add some, they could add it, and then it would come to

[26:42] the commissioners for final approval. >> And will our future data centers only

[26:48] allowed in those two zones? >> According to the UDO, yes.

[26:53] » Okay. No farmland can be zoned for destination

[26:57] » Nothing is acceptable other than those two.

[27:00] » Those two places are >> uh heavy industrially zoned areas.

[27:05] » I do have a motion to put >> Picture this.

[27:17] » Okay. Anybody else?

[27:27] » Hi, my name is Tonya Hess. Good evening. I'm on Pleasure Ridge Lane, Madison,

[27:31] Indiana. Good evening. My public comments tonight

[27:35] have to do with county government and ethics. In researching, I tried looking

[27:38] up if Jefferson County had a standalone independent local ethics commission or a

[27:43] singular comprehensive ethics policy document. I could not find one. So, I

[27:48] wonder does the county officials rely on the ethical framework in the Jefferson

[27:52] County code of ordinances coupled with Indiana state law and what is Indiana

[27:56] code? Specific administrative policies and state statutory compliance would be

[28:02] best. But, as a reminder, a county government official should follow

[28:05] conflict of interest guidelines and statutory compliance.

[28:09] County officials and employees are strictly subject to Indiana state

[28:13] conflict of interest laws. Indiana code 35-44.1-1-4.

[28:19] And as far as disclosures, members of county boards such as county

[28:22] commissioners are required to formally submit conflict of disclosure forms,

[28:26] which must be voted on and accepted during public meetings if a private

[28:30] financial interest intersects with public duty.

[28:33] Hypothetically speaking, once upon a time, there was a 501c3 nonprofit with a

[28:38] completely volunteer board of members within an unincorporated township of a

[28:42] county jurisdiction. That nonprofit held countless meetings and logged in lots of

[28:47] hours securing many grants for a particular project to be housed in a

[28:51] local abandoned building in this rural community.

[28:54] A lease of that building had to be secured first in order for that

[28:58] nonprofit to secure the grant funding. The grants were awarded, but in order to

[29:02] be dispersed, the nonprofit needed the building lease in its name.

[29:07] Also, this nonprofit, in order to secure some grants, would need a sponsorship,

[29:11] like the county commissioners to help it out.

[29:13] The particular project was guaranteed grant money in the millions. This

[29:17] nonprofit's hard work was paying off. A feasibility study had been completed to

[29:22] say such abandoned building could be used for the community as a nonprofit

[29:25] wished. The community building would have benefited many. It was slated to be

[29:29] multi-purposed. I think we would all agree we need to

[29:32] address rural health issues and the health and needs of our veterans in this

[29:36] country. Well, like in this story, this

[29:39] hypothetical nonprofit had interests from a public health department and a

[29:43] veterans group to be housed in their dream building, along with other

[29:46] organizations, which would have benefited that community's mental and

[29:50] physical well-being. But this nonprofit could not secure the lease from the

[29:54] township, which owned the building. What gives?

[29:57] This nonprofit could not get a board, like the county commissioners, to issue

[30:01] the sponsorship. Well, that's weird. The nonprofit was very puzzled on this

[30:05] lack of progress. Whatever could be the hold-up? What is more important than

[30:10] backing something that could benefit an entire rural community, which has vast

[30:14] needs? It would be a conflict of interest and

[30:17] unethical if a public official was blocking the attempts for a project that

[30:22] would have uplifted so many in a public rural community under his or her purview

[30:27] all for an exclusive private pet project that would have benefited him or her.

[30:33] It would be a conflict of interest if that official would try to piggyback on

[30:36] the grants already awarded to said building, coupled with the promise of

[30:40] some funds from a data center project, which also in the future could have been

[30:45] under his or her decision-making purview.

[30:48] Some stories have sad conclusions, like this story. Instead of the board members

[30:53] resigning from the hypothetical 501c3 nonprofit, the nonprofit has dissolved.

[30:59] It is no more. Grant money all forfeited and/or returned. The local abandoned

[31:04] building still sits with the community's hopes and dreams.

[31:07] Moral of the story, hypothetical story, ethical choices matter.

[31:12] And with my remaining time, I just have a question for Commissioner Lee. Could

[31:15] you tell us why your fellow county commissioners all across our state in

[31:19] many counties, including two just today Jason to Jefferson County, have recently

[31:24] adopted data center moratoriums? Both Clark and Switzerland adopted theirs for

[31:28] 12 months, but some counties have issued theirs for four to six months as well.

[31:38] » Moratorium if that's what they want. That's what they do.

[31:42] » I just wanted stuff for them.

[31:55] » Well, when no one stood up, I almost start timing people, so

[31:59] » Bill Kelly foreign 762 West 3rd Street. I'll take a lot less 3 minutes.

[32:03] I just want to point out and note that this I have been involved in local

[32:07] government for most of my life here in Jefferson County

[32:11] and it just feels like hot potato. Feels like no one is taking our concern

[32:15] seriously. I teach research. There's a method of research where you you look

[32:18] for things to confirm your already concluded

[32:24] » [sighs] >> opinion and kind of felt that way last

[32:28] night. Uh there's you're stating that only 0.1% of land uh would be involved

[32:35] in the moratorium, but a moratorium is meant to

[32:40] pause so we can consider the future. We don't know if other projects will come

[32:45] in. We don't know if the Board of Zoning Appeals will will change zoning on other

[32:49] farmland. And so that that is why we're asking and it's really frustrating to

[32:53] get these appeals to ignorance where we say, "Well, we don't know what's going

[32:55] to happen and they're not going to do bad things. These companies aren't going

[32:58] to do bad things." I mean, look at history, y'all.

[33:03] Yes. It's just It's It's just really frustrating and

[33:08] um It's really all I got to say.

[33:10] Didn't take 3 minutes to say that.

[33:17] » I'd like to say something if I could. Are you going to need that either or

[33:21] that meter? My name's Dan Ernst and I'm Jefferson

[33:24] County resident. Been with my wife, I'm still married,

[33:27] and four kids. They all live here except one.

[33:31] And I'm sorry that someone called you a coward the other night. I was here.

[33:35] I think it takes a hell of a lot more bravery to come up and speak from the

[33:38] side who's getting squashed all the time cuz you're all officials. You got that

[33:42] power. You got that power right there. And you take that seriously.

[33:47] And I think it's a complete disrespect of these people who come out here with

[33:51] their time and their opinions and their heartfelt reasons, good reasons, why

[33:55] they want to pause on this and they're totally ignoring us all.

[33:59] I take it as a personal insult and it makes me angry.

[34:04] And I'm coming from a person who doesn't consider himself very religious, this

[34:09] may seem odd to end with, but my favorite story in the Bible is

[34:13] when Jesus showed anger and flipped the money

[34:16] tables cuz this is all about money and you all know it is.

[34:20] It makes me wonder how many of you people get paid off.

[34:23] » You're you're already going over.

[34:29] » Here. Here.

[34:34] » You know

[34:37] » My name is Clark 82 North Olive Lane. I don't have a prepared speech. As far as

[34:41] the moratorium, as I believe Danny said about being safe in the heat, very

[34:46] important, very sweet comment. Safety, everything revolves around

[34:50] safety. That's all all a moratorium is is common sense safety. Do the research,

[34:56] do the studies. You get online, you Google something and you get two

[35:00] separate answers right after that or from the same Google using the same

[35:04] words. I've done it many times. Everything online, in business, in life,

[35:09] in business, if business is good, everybody wants to be involved.

[35:14] These data centers have to come in and lie, cheat, steal, and pry

[35:19] and often sue to get into a community. Only a

[35:22] community that feels desperate in need of cash

[35:26] bends over >> Yes.

[35:28] » Yes. >> for

[35:29] a data center. And nobody wants them. You know, these are the facts. Why would

[35:35] anybody in their right mind, as you said, safety. Don't get on asphalt or

[35:39] concrete. Correct, 100% gold. But you you don't want to invest in a

[35:45] company that's going to change the character of community, destroy your

[35:49] roads, require infrastructure build out. You

[35:53] can't maintain the roads you got now. I went to Big O Tires to get wheels and

[35:56] they said, "No, don't put aluminum wheels on this. They'll bend on you."

[35:59] Okay, county roads. We need to maintain what we have before

[36:04] we try to do this. I've heard on the on the internet it would take 7 years to

[36:09] even get the electrical line out to run this data center. It won't even be

[36:12] feasible by before construction is complete.

[36:17] And if they do away with Indiana property taxes, you won't even get any

[36:20] taxes out of it. >> Yes.

[36:22] » And depending on how far this is from the 2-mile jurisdiction, I wouldn't be

[36:26] surprised if court court he doesn't try to to

[36:29] annex that into city limits and get that sit that tax money coming into the city.

[36:35] » All right. >> You know, you all are dealing with

[36:37] criminals. I understand it looks good. But when a business looks really good,

[36:43] everybody lines up for it. If if that data center is legitimate and

[36:47] honest one, they would go and say, "Hey, this is me. This is my company and this

[36:51] is what I can do for you. And you'll never find anybody do it

[36:54] better and if you do, I'll come back and do it again."

[36:57] You know, a data center is like, "Don't worry about that.

[37:01] But this is this is what I can do for you."

[37:04] And you prove that, don't worry about it. How you going to do that? Don't

[37:06] worry about it. We just need to get in here

[37:09] and get it done. That's why they're rushing. They want to beat legislation

[37:12] [clears throat] and that's it.

[37:14] There's no common sense protections. So, that's all moratorium it is. It may not

[37:18] change anything. If they're legitimate, all you got to do is say we're going to

[37:21] do a moratorium and if they're upright, they still build the data centers and

[37:26] everything's good to go with nothing to worry about. If they don't, everybody

[37:30] knows that you guys are not reflecting the wishes of the majority of the

[37:34] public. You're only doing you're walking around

[37:38] like you're saying, "Well, I went through all the rules and bylaws or

[37:42] whatever and this is not our deal."

[37:45] Yeah, probably half of the counties in Indiana, it's their deal

[37:50] and they're the same commissions. So, what's the difference?

[37:53] » You need to wrap up. >> Uh

[37:55] » You need to wrap up. >> Okay.

[37:57] Out of respect for you all, I will because I have respect.

[38:00] » Thank you for your comments.

[38:11] » Okay. >> What is the deadline to get on the

[38:13] agenda for the next commissioner meeting?

[38:17] » Normally, I post agendas on Tuesdays. So, before next Tuesday or before the

[38:22] » We We meet every two We meet every two weeks, so

[38:25] » So, 15th next time. That's right.

[38:28] » 16th. >> That's 16th. So, for deadline

[38:32] » So, it have to be that Monday. >> Monday, yeah. Yeah, Sunday. Okay.

[38:37] Thank you.

[38:40] Thank you, Byron.

[38:44] Okay. I know we've asked you this before, and I'm not going to ask you if

[38:48] you've signed an NDA, but I am going to ask you if you've signed any agreement

[38:53] or had any private communication, such as meetings, phone calls, text messages,

[38:59] emails, with any developer, company, land owner, or representative regarding

[39:05] any current or potential projects that could affect Jefferson County. Mr.

[39:10] Braymer? >> Sure. I mean, I've had discussions about

[39:13] the campground. There's a project that's >> No. No. This is

[39:16] » You said any project that affected Jefferson County. So, yes, I have.

[39:20] » I'm talking about the data center. >> Well, you didn't say that.

[39:23] » Well, this is what I I've corrected myself. So, yes or no?

[39:26] » Sure. I've had people call me, ask about projects.

[39:29] » Mr. Little? >> Yes.

[39:33] » Well, people with integrity do not conduct business in the shadows. They do

[39:37] not profit off the decline in the quality of life of others. The choices

[39:43] must be made by the people, not for the people. Data centers of this scale are a

[39:49] crime against our community and the natural world. This is a quote from Mr.

[39:54] Hubbard from Payne Hall. The selfish man wants more than his

[39:58] share, a higher seat at the table than he is

[40:01] entitled to. Your job is to protect and preserve.

[40:07] Taking time to understand the real costs and benefits is not anti-growth. It is a

[40:13] basic due diligence, and that is your job

[40:18] to stand behind us, to represent us. Who do you represent? Do you represent large

[40:24] large corporations or do you represent the tax-paying people of Jefferson

[40:29] County because we're the ones that live here and we are the ones that are going

[40:32] to have to suffer for the consequences of this.

[40:37] And also, are you planning on putting solar fields between the battery and the

[40:44] proving ground? On that ground, has there been any discussion on that?

[40:49] » No, I'm not. >> Has there been any discussion? Because

[40:53] » And while while you're up there, I want you to I want to ask you a question.

[40:56] Explain profit. >> Profit?

[40:59] » Yeah, how am I going to profit? >> I'm not saying

[41:02] » No, you said and you when you read it, you said to profit.

[41:06] Explain that. >> Profit is to take away from the our way

[41:12] of life. >> No.

[41:13] » Our land love of nature. And because, you know, you've got $3 million and

[41:19] you've got it for that campground. Well, that's wonderful if you do it right, if

[41:24] you protect the species that are up there. But, if you put a data center in

[41:29] there, just like if it goes in next to Big Oaks,

[41:35] » Have you ever Have you ever camped at Cliff Falls?

[41:38] » You asked me that before. I live next to Cliff Falls.

[41:41] It has no >> It's a mile It's less than a mile to the

[41:45] It's less than a mile to the power plant, right?

[41:48] » Man, that's old. That's old. >> You asked me that before and have no

[41:53] relevance to this subject. >> Yes, it does. If you think if you think

[41:57] there's a It's a bad idea to be next >> comes directly across that from the data

[42:03] center and the noise, it's just a waste. It's a waste of $3

[42:08] million. It would be a wonderful if you didn't have a monstrosity next to it.

[42:12] direction is the the campground at Clippedy Falls from Clippedy

[42:17] electricity generation plant? Do you know

[42:20] I can't that would make mega? It would make

[42:24] 12 IKEs, maybe more. It has no relevance in the connection whatsoever.

[42:31] » No. >> No, I told you that before, yeah.

[42:34] » Yeah, let's go look at the stacks at IKE and look at what's

[42:38] » Well, we see those stacks every day. What are you talking about, sir?

[42:42] » So, what comes out of them, sir? >> What comes out of what? Steam vapor,

[42:46] mostly. I've worked down there for many years.

[42:51] » All right, I'm Ronald Black. >> Ronald Black, 2188 Long Branch Road.

[42:56] With the status center and everything, several times. I have driven through the

[43:01] proving ground these last several weeks. And I don't think anybody's road driven

[43:06] out there and what. Um, you know,

[43:10] the city mass is cleaning hazardous materials tank out there.

[43:14] Nobody was saying anything about that. City mass owns that company.

[43:20] So, y'all should really think about what

[43:23] you're You need to think about the whole thing.

[43:26] And originally when they when they wanted solar panels and or they wanted

[43:31] to put solar panels in Jackson County, everybody said, "Move to proving

[43:35] ground." Well, now they moved something to

[43:37] proving ground, now we're having an argument about that. So,

[43:41] that's all I've got to say. Just drive through the proving ground and see

[43:44] what's out there. Go check out what they're doing. And including the place

[43:48] that's owned by my where I retired from, the Urban Jungle, all those rail cars

[43:52] over there. That were That were being

[43:55] » Ronald Black, I think you have special interest here.

[43:59] » No, I don't have a fire department. >> Yeah.

[44:01] » I don't have no special interest. >> I don't think you do.

[44:03] » I don't think you >> Hey, hey, please state. Hey.

[44:05] » We're done. >> We're done. We're done.

[44:08] » We we We don't We don't let people from the community speak speak to you when

[44:13] you're speaking, so please don't, okay? >> Well, you do it all the time. You men

[44:17] have wrapped my wife numerous times. You're rude.

[44:21] Very rude. >> There's a lot of stuff in Jefferson

[44:23] County that nobody said anything about. So, I'm just making a point that

[44:26] I'm just making a point that I think as residents, and which I've done that as a

[44:31] resident, not as a fire department member.

[44:34] I've done that as a resident because

[44:38] I'm also big on safety. And

[44:43] the my my position on that is is that we would set up new protocols if you want

[44:48] to know about fire department side protect the first responders from

[44:51] getting hit from people driving to accident scenes and not

[44:55] slowing down. So,

[44:57] everything I do is about safety. So, I did some of my research by just driving

[45:03] through to see what this was all about. That's all I did. Had nothing to do with

[45:07] fire department. >> I drive through there all the time.

[45:09] » So, but now this is imperative to have Anyways, the hazardous patrols out

[45:13] there, you really need to check into that.

[45:15] » Good. Thank you. >> I have a question for I have a question

[45:18] for you. It says no trespassing in the JPG, so we don't just drive through

[45:22] there. But if you want to >> Those are Those are Those are old signs

[45:25] from when the proving ground was open. >> No.

[45:30] » We're done. We're done.

[45:35] » You were saying that you had

Commissioner Meeting 9-3-26

Transcript