Commissioner Meeting, March 6, 2024, 2:00 pm

Commissioner Meeting, March 6, 2024. 2:00-4:00.

Coroners Office – Contract. The Coroners Office has been nearly completed but the original contract is not on file with the auditor’s office. The contractor has been asked to provide a copy. Can’t pay an invoice without a legal contract on file.

Temporary (April 4-10) Ordinance allowing special exceptions for the Solar Eclipse allowing for overnight camping and parking. This was approved on a vote of 2 to 1. Pittman and Wolperts yes, Sanders no. Given the expected traffic projections, people may have no choice but to stay overnight in their cars or elsewhere. A few local businesses wanted to leverage the opportunity to offer overnight camping/parking. Individuals can also use the opportunity to offer camping/parking options on their land. County resources for police, fire, medical, other emergency services and ordinance enforcement will be very limited if available at all. Liability will fall on the property owners – not the county. Commissioners did not acknowledge any conflict of interest, e.g., that they were planning on profiting from the ordinance.

- First Reading of the Ordinance and copies.
- Brown County Democrat:
  - 2024_03_05 BCD Eclipse Events Around the County
  - 2024_03_05 BCD Solar Eclipse “Look up into the Sky

RDC Appointment. Good timing. I got re-appointed to the Redevelopment Commission. Commissioner Sanders and Pittman voted yes, Wolpert No. We need a new County Comprehensive Plan that reflects the desires of the entire county and not just the special interests.

Stellar Grant. ($30-50 million available for up to four counties). The county is eligible to apply for a State stellar grant. “This time around”, the projects will have to be those that benefit residents and add to the quality of life. Projects that would qualify would include replacing bricks and windows in the historic courthouse, trails – Salt Creek, bicycles, bicycle pump track, trail to Deer Run, wastewater projects to support the work needed in Gnaw Bone, and septic system replacements for individuals without access to sewers. Community involvement in project selection is CRITICAL to receiving the grant. The county’s last attempt to apply for a Stellar Grant was rushed, with no community buy-in, little logic on the projects submitted, and no disclosure on the county matching grant-related commitments. Thankfully, we had protestors during the Stellar committee walk-thru that contributed to the county’s non-selection.

READI Grant 2.0 and Affordable Housing. Sue Lindborg of the Housing Partnership, and Habitat for Humanity (and also a member of the RDC), reinforced that receiving grants to fund an affordable housing project would require a more extensive County Comprehensive Plan. She mentioned the town developed an RFP to contract for an update to their plan and suggested the county develop an RFP for a plan as well. Note that the Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) funds a grant up to 60K for the development of a plan.

- READI Grant 2.0
- Comprehensive Plan for Brown County and Town of Nashville

Minimum Standard. The current plan meets the minimum standards and is so vague (11 pages) , that you could make good arguments for or against a project. This created the perception that if you had the right connections, you could get your project approved. And, there has been resistance to updating the plan. I worked on the requirements for a 50K grant back in 2017/2018 – no interest. The Area Plan Commission should have the lead on behalf of the commissioners. Updating the plan requires public meetings.

Bottom-Up. And, the plan shapes the culture of the county. Citizens can identify what they want and do not want in terms of ZONING and DEVELOPMENT. A bottom-up approach would allow citizens to have input for what they want in their area as well as for the county overall. Helmsburg developed its own economic development plan and a 501c3 to control development in their area.

Bicycle Signs. Signs and Installation at no cost to the county. Alyn Brown from Brown County Mountain Biking asked Commissioners for permission to place signs along county roads such as Greasy Creek. The intent is to make drivers aware that there may be bikers on the road ahead. State Law allows two bikers to ride side by side. Mike Magnor of the highway department objected to the signs citing concerns with safety, site lines, and speeding vehicles. Commissioners postponed a decision until their next meeting. Hard to imagine them not approving the signs. Bicycling – mountain, road, gravel, is very popular and Brown County is a desired destination. Bicycling on roads is also supported by state law.