Last updated:  July 2024

Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA), Stellar Pathway Program. The Stellar Pathways Program is a multi-agency, multi-million-dollar investment initiative led by the OCRA.

The Stellar grant is expected to be available in 2026. This allows plenty of time (if we start now) for identifying priorities and getting community buy-in on proposed (shovel ready) projects.  The costs and plan associated with re-opening the Indian Hill railroad crossing and road can be on the proposed list.

On Stellar, I suggested a compromise to make a yes vote contingent on ensuring a process with a timeline was in place to ensure community buy-in on the projects and priorities. When the vote was taken for a second time by the commissioners, no assurance was provided.

Nashville’s Stellar efforts failed in 2014 due to the lack of community buy-in to include an estimate of what the county would need to provide in matching funds. (Ref: Herald-Times)

• • “An anti-Stellar committee claimed that a select few town residents and business owners selected and submitted project proposals without getting input from stakeholders who might have challenged the projects.”

April 22, 2024. Commissioner meeting. – Stellar decision re-visited. No change in vote.

• • Despite the support for this decision at the joint meeting for a more deliberate and collaborative planning process, interim commissioner Wolpert asked for another vote to apply for Stellar via a letter of intent by the May 1 deadline.
  • Once again, Wolpert and Pittman votes Yes, Ron Sander No.  Sanders also explained that his vote was also based on conversations with those involved with one or more of the projects, which indicated that there was no unanimous agreement on the scope of one or more of the projects.
  • The Town of Nashville can apply for a Stellar Grant on their own but choose not to.

April 16, 2024. Joint Commissioner and Council Meeting, attendance by Nashville Town manager and Alice Susmichel – Community Foundation.

• • Stellar will not be available in 2025 but will in 2026.  Agreement that the county needed to be better prepared in identifying needs that could be supported with a longer term vision and strategy. Melissa Stinson’s suggestion that Brown County ask for an exception to the unanimous vote by commissioners rule was rejected by all.

April 9, 2024. My Campaign Position – Stellar 2024

Mar 20, 2024.  Commissioner Meeting Notes: 6:00 – 8:00 – Stellar a No Vote for this Year.  This post at Brown County Matters.  Stellar Grant is expected to be available in 2025.

Audio of the Meeting: – Conversation on Stellar:

Stellar Grant.  Audio: 45:21

• • My questions: 57:50
  • Indian Hill: Randy Pflueger: 59:50
  • The Vote aka Fireworks:  1:11 Opening Comments: Alice Susemichel, CEO Brown County Community Foundation
  • My comments – Compromise: 1:17:34
  • End 1:21

The vote to go forward with a Stellar proposal had to be unanimous. Ron Sanders voted No.  It was stated that the Stellar Grant would be available next year and Sanders reinforced that this will provide sufficient time for proposed projects to be vetted and ensure community buy-in.

Compromise. I offered a compromise. Vote to go forward contingent on the options to cancel the process at a later time if the “promises” on project selection and vetting were not honored.  The risk with this approach could have included another organized protest from citizens if there was opposition to the process and vetting.

The advocates stated that there would be plenty of public meetings.  The plus side of applying was that if Brown County was not selected, we could learn from the process and perhaps be more successful next year.

The initial projects for the county were identified as “wastewater,”  and renovations to the historic courthouse which needs brickwork, and new windows.   The project for Nashville was the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan including a trail to Deer Run Park.

Mar 17, 2024.  This post at Brown County Matters

• • Stellar Grant 2024. Letter of intent due May 1, 2024. We should know this week if the county will jump through the hoops at the last minute to apply for the grant vs. taking any needed time to get community buy-in and then apply next year. The Council meets Monday night at 6:30 and the commissioners on Wed (6:00). There is also a Joint meeting (commissioners and council) on Wed at 1:30.
    The Nashville Utility Services Board (USB) discussed the grant and the options during the last 30 minutes of their March 15 Meeting. Link to the audio below: https://www.townofnashville.org/2024-utility-service…
    Discussion included hiring a PR firm to help with the messaging which led to questions as to why the USB should help provide funding.
    Nashville had previously applied for a grant at the last minute but failed to get community buy-in which led to protests in 2014 when the selection committee visited the county for a walk-thru.
    I do not know if the county is required to provide any matching funds.

Mar 15, 2024. Town of Nashville, Utility Services Board Meeting (link to Audio.

• • The letter of intent is due by “May 1.” The County has the lead. We need the cooperation of the Commissioners, Council, and Nashville Town Council. The previous Stellar application failed when projects were identified and citizens were not involved in project selection.
  • Stellar covered during the last 30 minutes.  Talk about the proponents of expanding sewers hiring a PR firm to sell their message.
  • Projects. Nashville’s desired projects include Salt Creek Trail, sidewalks, and walking/biking trails to include a trail to Deer Run Park.
    • Expanding sewers is a priority for those indidividuals that can benefit from development. Reduces the cost of their projects.
  •  Projects – County.  Include repairs/replacements on the Gnaw Bone Wastewater (Sewer) Plant.
  • Selection Process.  Communities submit an application by May 1.  OCRA selects 4, provides 50K for a plan, and then picks two communities.

Mar 6, 2024, Commissioner Meeting Notes

• • 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.

Aug 15, 2014. Nashville not chosen as a ‘Stellar Community’ in Indiana. by Laura Lane Herald-Times.

• • When they visited Nashville on Friday, July 11, to hear the town’s presentation about why Nashville should be selected, protesters with signs joined Stellar supporters in the room as they promoted the town and its plans to committee members.

  • An anti-Stellar committee claimed that a select few town residents and business owners selected and submitted project proposals without getting input from stakeholders who might have challenged the projects.