Updated  Dec 1, 2022

Dec 13, 2022. New book – “Cause Unknown”: The Epidemic of Sudden Deaths in 2021 & 2022 by former BlackRock broker, Ed Dowd is a meticulous data-based analysis of what has happened. Every fact he states is accompanied by a Q code so you can go straight to the source.

Follow-Up Reports.  For updated reports on the excessive mortality rates, see Margaret Menge’s Crossroads Report at substack.  Example:

• • June 15, 2022. BREAKING: Fifth largest life insurance company in the US paid out 163% more for deaths of working people ages 18-64 in 2021 – Total claims/benefits up $6 BILLION

Update: ‘It’s the jab’: Top insurance companies report spike in excess deaths. ‘You can debate why; I know why, you know why’ By Art Moore, Published February 17, 2022 at 8:07pm

Now, a former Blackrock portfolio manager, Edward Dowd, has followed up by compiling fourth quarter death claims data from major insurance firms.

• • Dowd cited fourth quarter rises in death claims, compared to the 2019 rate, of 57% for Lincoln National, 41% for Prudential, 32% for Hartford, 24% for MetLife and 21% for RGA.
  • Dowd said the Dutch insurer AEGON saw a 268% increase in claims in the U.S. in the third quarter.

• Financial Meltdown 2.0: Covid Vax Kills Life Insurers BY MIKE / 21 FEBRUARY 2022

The original article

“Indiana life insurance CEO says deaths are up 40% among people ages 18-64”.  By Margaret Menge,  The Center Square, Jan 1, 2022.

• • Twitter:  OneAmerica Life Insurance CEO Scott Davison explains to the Indiana Chamber of Commerce what his industry is seeing in terms of alarming death rates, and what the impact will be to employers 
  • “We are seeing, right now, the highest death rates we have seen in the history of this business – not just at OneAmerica,” the company’s CEO Scott Davison said during an online news conference this week. “The data is consistent across every player in that business.”
  • “Just to give you an idea of how bad that is, a three-sigma or a one-in-200-year catastrophe would be 10% increase over pre-pandemic,” he said. “So 40% is just unheard of.”
  • Most of the claims for deaths being filed are not classified as COVID-19 deaths, Davison said.

Follow-up stories on the article by others

What if the largest experiment on human beings in history is a failure? A report from an Indiana life insurance company raises serious concerns. By Robert W Malone MD, MS

• • (Video) – Bannon’s War Room Episode 1,532 – What’s Behind The 40% Death Increase In Indiana, with Dr. Robert Malone & Steve Kirsch, War Room, Dr. Malone, Steve Bannon

Insurance CEO: All-cause deaths jump by ‘unprecedented’ rate while COVID down. Vaccine inventor sees ‘massive, massive failure of public policy’ By Art Moore, WND, Jan 3, 2022.

• • It’s an unprecedented rate that is four times higher than a once-in-200-year catastrophe, said Scott Davison
  • Malone noted that the reported COVID death rate in Indiana was lower than the death rate for people with employee-based insurance.
  • “This suggests that these people that are under the insurance mandate, are highly jabbed, have an enormously increased mortality rate compared to the general population,” Malone said. … He cautioned that a causative relationship can only be inferred, but “there is no question that the federal policies are an abject failure.”

Unprecedented: Deaths in Indiana for ages 18-64 are up 40%. This is huge. Something is killing healthy people at an unprecedented rate. It isn’t COVID. Could it be the “safe and effective” COVID vaccine? I think so. Here’s why. By  Steve Kirsch

Insurance companies – just like banking, not so boring anymore! Make a call to your insurance company and ask if you’re covered if injured from injections. By Jessica Rose, Jan 3, 2022 

Coverage of the Story – No Reference to Margaret Menge’s article

Now People Are Dying from the Vaccine by Via Via Paul Craig Roberts, Jan 6, 2022

• • Video Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi: “These Vaccines are Killing the Young and the Old, They are Killing our Children” By Dr. Sucharit Bhakdi.  The original source of this article is Doctors for Covid Ethics

• • This claim is not verifiable at this point:  “Massive Death increase that can not be explained unless the Vaccine caused it.”  

• • The number of hospitalizations in the state is now higher than before the COVID-19 vaccine was introduced a year ago, and in fact is higher than it’s been in the past five years, 
    •  … In other words, more Americans are dying since the vaccine than ever before.  That last paragraph may be the beginning of a huge upcoming bolus of evidence showing that the anti-jabbers were right all along: the injection that rejoices under the misnomer of a “vaccination” is, instead, a life-taker, not a life-saver.

Doctor Sounds Alarm: Stillbirths Explode in Canada (Video), RAIR Foundation. Nov 29, 2021.

• • Stillbirths in fully vaccinated women are exploding in Canada. For example, in Waterloo, Ontario, 86 cases have been reported in six months, compared to typically five to six per year, says doctor Daniel Nagase. “That is highly unusual.”

 Included in the Brown County Matters Facebook page banner is the reference to the Brown County Leader Network (BCLN). This program was developed through a grant from the State (5k) and a matching grant from the county (5k) as part of the Hometown Collaborative Initiative (HCI).

Disclaimer. Independent Voters of Brown County IN is my personal website and reflects my opinions  and perspectives and not necessarily that of the BCLN,  its volunteers or my fellow Admins at Brown County Matters.

Overview of the BCLN Concept

We were the first group in the history of the HCI program that selected “Leadership” as opposed to Economy and Placemaking, for a capstone project. Consequently, it is taking a little more time to work through the learning curve. We developed a website and a proof-of-concept project. Covid slowed our momentum, and we are reengaging starting in January. We recently applied for support from the IU’s Student Agile Response Teams (START).  These teams are are designed “to leverage the vast skills, passion, and time of our students to more efficiently and effectively support our community”  Copy of the BCLN application.

Community based quality improvement initiatives are not new and not common. THE BCLN is unique in that it can support individual as well as group improvement efforts in any area – government, secular, non-secular, non-profit, and private sector.

 Improving the Quality of County Government

In America, by law, “We the People” are top management. Elected and appointed officials along with county employees, are accountable for serving the interest of all citizens. Citizens are responsible for electing and supporting leaders with the expectation that changes will result in outcomes where everyone benefits or at least, are not any worse off in the long term.  This expectation requires the identification of priorities, goals, objectives and plans. An annual report on the “State of the County” would include assessing results from the prior year (s) accomplishments and identifying the areas needing further improvement.

• • Need for new and updated to plans?   The County Comprehensive Plan needs to be updated to better reflect the needs of residents as to what they want and do not want in terms of development and investments of tax dollars.
  • Capital Improvement Plan and Budget.  The county does not plan or budget for infrastructure related costs.  This is one of the more critical plans needed to  identify the funded and unfunded requirements associated with infrastructure investments to include maintenance, repair and replacements.
  • Economic Development Strategic Plan.  The county spent approximately $45K on this plan. The plan was approved for “payment” but not reviewed for content.

The design of our system of government, envisioned a limited role for government and more responsibility on citizens.  Improving any system requires a shared vision for what “more perfect or better” looks like, the feedback needed to assess progress, a method for leading change, and then determining if or when the change results in an improvement.

The Missing Piece?  The American system of government enables citizens through the Constitution and Bill of Rights to work together in pursuit of a more perfect Union and community.  However, we’ve lacked a shared method for determining when a needed change via policies, laws, and regulations result in systemic improvements in the short and long term. This has contributed to the polarity and divisiveness within the country and county where the interests of the few can takes precedence over options that can result in outcomes where everyone can benefit, or at least, are not any worse off in the long-term.

• • An example of suboptimization is on the oversight and management of the revenue from the innkeepers tax.  Elected officials have historically taken a hands-off approach as to expenditures and the effects on  the quality of life on all residents.  Preventing overtourism that negatively impacts the County is the responsibility of the county elected officials. 
  • What is Brown “County’s” Economic Engine? Spoiler Alert: It is NOT tourism.  This fact alone warrants providing residents the opportunity to provide input on what they believe to be the best investments of the revenue from the innkeepers tax. For example, historical preservation may be among the priorities.

The BCLN provides materials to support continuous improvement. It  includes information on conducting assessments, decision-making, strategic planning, and project management. An example (cycle 1) and proof-of-concept is provided by the Jackson Township Trustees Office.

In reference to Benjamin Franklin’s quote on the importance of planning, the strategic planning outline introduces a systemic approach through the awareness of the effects of change on all stakeholders in the near, mid, and long-term.

In terms of “needs”, the Constitution identifies the appropriate scope of change.  Indiana State code identifies the missions and functions that are to be provided by County Government, Boards, and Commissions. In Brown County, the condition of roads and bridges is considered a priority by the citizenry.  Additional needs are and can be addressed by the non-profit and private sectors.

Community-wide quality improvement initiatives are not new and are not common. THE BCLN is unique in that it supports individual as well as group/organization improvement efforts.

Application Opportunities within County Government

Transparency and Accountability. Investment in the new Brown County website allows all the departments to update their own pages. At a minimum, each respective page should identify the respective mission and functions as required by statute. In addition, it should also include at least a one-page plan that identifies priorities, goals, and objectives for the year. Minutes, agendas, and audio recordings from meetings should be immediately (within 24 hours?) be made available to the public. An annual “state” of the department, commission, or board, should also be posted on the respective pages. These annual reports can be consolidated by the Commissioners and Council and included into their respective annual reports.

Top Management within County Govt.  Commissioners are the county executives that execute a plan supported by the citizenry. I am not aware that the County has a documented plan. And, any political party platform can be devoid of any specifics. People tend to vote for a label, and/or a name as opposed to electing individuals that have the capability and desire to develop a plan with citizen input and then executing it successfully. A seat of the pants approach does not produce the best results.

• • Utilizing ad-hoc groups to propose and develop major changes and using their work as the sole justification for approval is an example of government at its worst.  Typically, “solutions” can support a special interest with no clear identification as to the scope and extent of the respective problem.

Commission Meetings. All meetings start with a Prayer. The Christian worldview includes the belief that actions motivated by love result in more needs being met, resulting in less harm to people when their needs are not being met. Given limited resources (tax dollars), priorities as to spending become critical:

• • What are the needs and priorities of citizens? What is being done to meet these needs?  What harm is being caused when these needs are not being met?

Including “Prayer” as an integral part of a government meeting establishes the expectation for a higher standard of performance including being prepared to defend the practice.

• • Justifications: In addition to the book  – The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel, that was also turned into a movie, I would recommend a book (short, and concise) by Mark Mittelberg, The Reason Why: Faith Makes Sense.  For the atheist that wants to see the proof – the evidence that Christianity is true, I would recommend the following from J. Warner Wallace – a former atheist and homicide detective:

• • • God’s Crime Scene: A Cold-Case Detective Examines the Evidence for a Divinely Created Universe

  • In the area of Quality Leadership, I recommend the book by W. Edwards Deming – The New Economics for Industry, Government, Education.  Deming was a devout Christian that supported a secular approach to improvement. His contributions were recognized by Fortune magazine as being among the 20 that have shaped the modern world of business and by U.S. News and World Report as one of nine turning points in history.

Barriers and Challenges. Any perceived change to the culture, status quo, comfort zone, “the way we’ve always done it”,  is most always perceived as a threat from those that are benefitting from the current system. And, few people enjoy getting out of their respective comfort zone unless the perceived benefits are greater than the perceived risks. Further, many may accept the belief that the devil you know may be better than the devil you do not know – this is especially true in the area of straight-ticket voting.

Leadership. Within a group, the role of Leadership has always been to support a needed shift from the old status quo to the new. From the political aspect, 2022 is an election year. It provides an opportunity to elect or re-elect individuals with the desire and capability to support the types of changes that lead to outcomes where everyone benefits, or at least, are not any worse off in the long-term. Meeting this challenge requires leaders with a vision, a plan, and a method.

 Updated: Mar 22, 2022

Mar 4, 2022. Interim Report: State of Quality in the County

Mar 2, 2022. Commissioner Meeting. Commissions confirmed and Reinforced No Question policy.

Feb 15, 2022. COUNTY NEWS: County implements new virtual meeting option. Commissioners refuse to allow citizens to ask questions on topics discussed during the meeting.  But you can always a question via email – but don’t hold your breath on getting an adeqate or timely response. My requests submitted via email, below.

Requests for information (RFI) from county officials can be made via email, letter, or formally through Indiana’s Public Access Counselor (PAC).  The Public Access Counselor provides advice and assistance concerning Indiana’s public access laws to members of the public and government officials and their employees. Formal Complaint Form

On formal complaints, as of Dec 29, 2019, I have made three.  One was asking for the customer list for the proposed Bean Blossom Sewer Plant, one was to obtain copies of the draft septic ordinance policies and procedures manual from the Health Department, and the third was asking for a list of legal settlements made by the county – this one is still ongoing.  The process within Indiana is not bad – the federal system is much more bureaucratic and lengthy.

Generally, county officials have within 30 days to respond to a request. Typically, responses are mush faster and on the same day in many cases.

I’ve created this post to keep track of my RFIs.  Commissioners meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month at 2:00, Salmon Room, County Office Building and via Zoom.

Pending Requests for Information and Action

Feb 3, 2022, BCRSD. OPEN. Requested a copy of the presentation by Clint Studabaker that included a justification for 300K of ARP Funding.

• • Mar 10, 2022. They have refused to provide.

Jan 16, 2022. Council.  OPEN. Request a review of the Brown County Regional Sewer District (BCRSD).

• • Watch List – BCRSD.

Jan 7, 2022. Assessor. Closed.  Music Center not obligated to pay “property taxes. ” On assessments,  (By law) Cyclical reassessment looks at properties every four years  (but can occur more frequently). Typically hotels/motels are valued on their income and expense statements.

• • The Music Center paid 54K in property taxes.  Is the Music Center required by law to pay property taxes?  Unlike a jail or a courthouse, a venue with the purpose of generating a profit and increasing tourism from out of county residents,  is not a “public good.”
    • Jan 6, 2022. Innkeepers tax hits $1 million: Checking in with visitors bureau, music center By Suzannah Couch
  • Assessments in Nashville.  What are the options for how commercial properties in Nashville are assessed?   When I’ve looked at trends throughout the county, Nashville had the smallest amount of increases.   (Increases for residents are based on sales/market. Little turnover in commercial properties.)

Jan 6, 2022.  Closed.  Commissioners — ABC Appointment?  No info – website.

Jan 5, 2022. Commissioners. Closed – Mar 22, 2022,  Request information – Brown County Music Center (BCMC) Finances. Note: Commissioner Biddle and Councilman Bryd are the elected officials that serve on the BCMC Board.

• • Does the Music Center show a profit last year and this year?  Is the mortgage payment factored into the calculation as to profit and loss?   What was the impact of the revenue from the county (239K) and the feds (2.737)  million regarding profit or loss?
  • Has the financial condition of the BCMC ever been independently audited?
  • When will the BCMC’s independently audited financial statement for 2021 be available?  Is the auditor Blue and Company?

 Dec 23, 2021. Request for Council – OPEN   Requested a documented position by Barnes and Thornburg attorneys regarding the councils’ review and approval of the CVC budget.

• • Innkeepers Tax Revenue – Govt Oversight

Dec 22, 2021. Request to Commissioners. CLOSED.  Requested copies of correspondence (including Petitions) between the RR and the County regarding the RR Crossing on Indian Hill Rd.  (Background Info Part 1: Closure – Railroad Crossing – Indian Hill Rd”

• • Filed a formal request through the State. County notifed Feb 9, 2022.
  • Mar 10, 2022. Copy of Letter Received. Indiana Hill Road closing letter 5-20-2019
• Dec 14, 2021.  Commissioners. CLOSED.  Request for copies of proposals submitted for the first round of funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

  • 2022/23 ARPA Funded Projects – For the Record

  • No response from the commissioners. I was able to confirm I had current copies.

Dec 14, 2021. BCRSD. Closed Jan 1, 2021.  Requested copies of minutes that documented the discussion regarding the postcard notification to 600 residents that include a summary of water testing results.

Dec 11, 2021. Auditor. Closed. Request for information regarding receiving any money (crossing closure funds) from INDOT to help with closing the railroad crossing on Indian Hill Rd.

• • As of Jan 18, 2022, Auditor not aware  of any receipt of money from from the crossing fund.  County did apply for 10K and and Jerry Pittman acknowledged the 10K. Working to confirm the county acutally recdeived the 10K.
  • Mar 2022 (or about). Per follow-up with the Auditor, this (10K) is a reimburseable grant.
  • More info: Part 1: Closure – Railroad Crossing – Indian Hill Rd

Dec 11, 2021. Auditor. OPEN. Requested a copy of the new BCMC Admin Agreement once signed.

July 2021.  Commissioners and State. CLOSED (Mar 21, 2022 — see FB post). Requested a list of all the legal settlements (case/amount) made by the county over the past 10 years. Made a formal request to the State Public Access Counselor that resulted in “paper dump” that did not include the requested information.   Made repeated follow-up requests to the commissioners with no resolution.

• • Jan 05, 2022. Follow-Up – Commissioners.  Request information on the settlement with John Simpson. If the settlement was made, it was not listed as a county claim – it would have been provided by the insurer (GIE?).

14 CHARTS THAT ILLUSTRATE OUR FISCAL SITUATION AS WE CLOSE OUT 2021 – Peterson Foundation

For the Record. This post includes a link to all my posts on the Farmer’s Market controversies. The city of Bloomington instituted new polices to manage any future protest of a vendor (s) for any reason.  Covid had its effect on the Market in 2020, and the targeted vendor chose not to  participate in the Market in 2021. They did choose to take legal action against the City. I do not know the status or disposition of the case.

May 29, 2019 thru July 2020.  Farmers Market Controversies: For the Record. Wanted: Tolerance, Understanding, Collaboration, Progress. Blog post maintained throughout the controversy including a timeline of key events and links to media coverage.  About 50 pages with links to several thousand more pages.

Jan 1, 2020 (Update). A Better Way to Deal with the Bloomington Farmers Market Controversy

• • The effects of the controversy involving the Bloomington Farmers Market (BFM) identify an opportunity to take a fresh look at the methods and strategies for how the community addresses challenging issues.The methods applied so far to address the BFM situation have resulted in a reduction in market attendance in July from 40,000 to 16,000. They have also resulted in unflattering local and national attention, which attracted the interest of what is perceived to be far-right and far-left groups. These groups’ involvement contributed to the perceived need to shut down the market for two weeks. This shutdown had an adverse economic impact on almost all the vendors.

Nov 3, 2019. Part 3:  Discord in the community – better strategies needed?   Saturday’s (Nov 2, 2019) “circus” at the Market sponsored by the “Purple Shirt Brigade” with support from No Space for Hate and witnessed by the city’s attorney was interesting.

• • The situation with the market does raise a question:  Are the policies and actions regarding protests creating and supporting the conditions that will lead to a  justification to permanently close the market?   The protestors are currently targeting a specific vendor – Schooner Creek Farm, and the city claims that given the constraints of the First Amendment, they are powerless to stop it.

Oct 8, 2019. Bloomington Herald-Times, Guest Column by Tim J. Clark. “Bloomington Farmers’ Market – What’s Next?   Submitted on Oct 8, 2019 (submission id 171) as a Guest Column for the Bloomington Herald-Times.  It was not accepted for publication. Despite a request, no explanation was provided.

Oct 4, 2019. Part 2:  Discord in the community – better strategies needed? This post introduces a method that can be adapted as needed, to address some of the issues associated with the controversies surrounding the Bloomington Farmers’ Market.

Sep 25, 2019. Update: Sep 24, 2019 Bloomington Farmers Market Discord.  Background. The controversy with the Bloomington Farmers Market started in Nashville. A summary of the issues provided in my post: Discord in the Community …

Sep 4, 2019. (Updated Sep 14, 2019). Part 1 – Discord in the community – better strategies needed ?

• • The controversy over personal beliefs and professional conduct involving the Farmers Markets in Nashville and Bloomington, Indiana escalated to the point that resulted in regional, state and national attention.  The issues are unlikely to be resolved any time soon by applying current methods that include demonizing the opposition until they admit the error of their ways.   An attacking (suboptimal) approach typically results in making a situation even worse.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)
Updated Jan 20, 2022

Misc: ARPA-Funding –  Inspired Marketing?

• • Prosperity-thru-Equity-Final-Report-1020 – Rural America Thomas P. Miller and Associates. This group develoed the Brown County Economic Development Strategic Plan . The plan was approved for payment but not content. It met the minimum requirements for the state funded grant.
  • Results were determined from a non-statistically valid survey (page 2) – anecedotes and heresay.
  • Note also County Council Scott Rudd started his own company to support funding by the Feds for expanding broadband.

    • Local Scott Rudd is bringing his broadband knowledge back home to Brown County by starting his own consulting business. Rudd recently started his own business, Rudd Consulting LLC, and one of his first clients is Thomas P. Miller and Associates. Rudd will work with TPMA as a strategic advisor.  

  • Brown County 2019 – Econ Development Strategic Plan and Timeline

Dec 8, 2021. BCD. Objectives set for how first round of relief funding will be spent, commissioners to discuss requests this week by Suzannah Couch

• • Earlier this year it was announced that Brown County would receive nearly $3 million in relief funding from the American Rescue Plan Act to help with the local response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The amount the county is getting through the ARP is almost six times more than the $494,248 the county received in CARES Act funding last year. The ARPA money will be split into two payments. The county received its first payment this summer, totalling around $1.4 million.

  • Before administering any of the ARPA money, the Brown County Commissioners planned to set up objectives for how to distribute the money.

    At the Nov. 17 meeting, Commissioner Diana Biddle announced the objectives for the first round of funding would be to provide funding for projects that “develop and advance essential infrastructure improvements.”

Updated: Dec 8, 2021.

Town of Nashville – Current Noise Ordinance Ordinance 2012-14

Ordinance 2021-07 (Link) Town of Nashville Ordinance Regulating Sound –draft #1

• • PDF Copy: Ordinance+2021-07+Town+of+Nashville+Ordinance+Regulating+Sound+-draft+#1+jtr

Brown County Matters – Facebook Post (of this post). Nashville NOISE Ordinance and Outdoor Music – Changes needed? The topic was discussed at the Town Council Meeting on Nov 18, 2021. This is a quality of life issue for residents. And, it’s understandable that a business catering to the tourist industry would want an entertainment option that increases sales of food and alcohol. What are the priorities?  What is Brown “County’s” Economic Engine? Spoiler Alert: It is NOT tourism.

The desire for outdoor music in Nashville has been expressed by business establishments catering to the tourist industry.  Hard Truth Hills built an outdoor music stage in 2019 that received numerous complaints from surrounding residents.  Modications to the stage were made in 2020 but have not resolved the complaints.   

A Noise Committee was established  in 2021 and being led by Town Council member Nancy Crocker.  However, no meetings have been scheduled and email is being used initially to share information on proposed changes. At the Nov 18, 2021 Town Council meeting, resident Deby Rogers expressed her oppostion to the “email” option and wanted actual committee meetings.

Ms. Crocker stated that making “no” changes to the exisitng ordinance is a possibility. The emails have included ideas (below) on possible significant changes to the ordinance:

• • IDEAS for Changes – Town Noise Ordinance  (distributed via email).”..It shall be unlawful under this ordinance to: “Intentionally create sound/noise louder than 90 decibels between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Sunday through Thursday or between 11:00 p.m. and 7 a.m. on Friday or Saturday.”

Nov 18, 2021. Town Council Meeting – Noise Ordinance – Audio

• • Comments from residents:  Deby Rogers 1:50:30 to – 2:03  and Brandon Harris: 2:07 – 2:21
  • Nashville has an existing noise ordinance that is not being enforced and difficult to enforce. Complaints after 4:00 pm are managed by the county sheriff – not the Nashville PD. The county does not maintain records on calls and disposition.
  • Issues of excessive noise caused by motorcyles was also discussed.  This was the issue that prompted development of the ordinance.
  • The application to build a stage was approved by Nashville but no application was approved allowing outdoor music, Nor was there an application for an RV Park.
    (Ref: Nov 18, 2021 Town Council Meeting)

Nov 4, 2021. Town council approves short-term noise ordinance committee. Abigail Youmans. Discussion about noise complaints in town spurred the creation of a short-term noise ordinance committee to further look at the issue following the Nashville Town Council meeting last month.

July 7, 2021. Does town still need a noise ordinance? Feedback wanted on changes. Sara Clifford. The Nashville Town Council is asking for feedback about changes proposed to its noise ordinance — or whether the town even needs a noise ordinance at all. 

June 3, 2021.  Hard Truth Hills requests changes to noise ordinance by Sara Clifford. 

• • It’s nighttime porch-sitting weather again and pandemic restrictions are waning.
  • The result: Live outdoor music is coming back in a big way in Brown County.
  • Three owners and a vice president of Hard Truth Hills approached the Nashville Town Council on May 20 to ask for modifications to to be made the town’s noise ordinance or a new ordinance to be written, taking into consideration the impact that live music has on Nashville’s and Brown County’s culture and visitor draw.

Jan 13, 2022. Looking forward: Parks and rec submits 5-year plan to DNR; public comments still welcome By  Abigail Youmans

• • Brown Couty matters – Facebook post of the article

Dec 14, 2021. LETTER: County parks and rec thanks volunteers by Mark Shields.  To the editor: Brown County Parks and Recreation would like to extend our sincere appreciation to a small group of dedicated volunteers. Collectively, these individuals have contributed nearly 400 hours this year of mowing and groundskeeping labor. With their help, the playing fields, walking trails and natural features at Deer Run Park have continued to accommodate both residents and visitors alike. Special thanks to Keith Baker, Ed Wrightsman, Travis Sommers, Dean Keefauver and Clark Greiner for all your efforts. We truly appreciate all you have done. With your help, we look forward to continuing to provide a well-maintained park for our community. – Mark Shields, director, Brown County Parks and Recreation

Dec 9, 2021. GUEST OPINION: Feedback needed on draft of parks and rec five-year master plan, by Kara Hammes.  According to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources website, there are many reasons to create a five-year parks and recreation master plan.

• • Time for public comment and questions will also be provided at the December 15th meeting of the Brown County Parks Board. The BCPR Board meeting will be held at 5:15pm on Wednesday, December 15th at the BCPRD Office at Deer Run Park:

Comments on the Plan – Including posts from Brown County Matters 2021_12_15 Parks and Rec Master Plan Comments

• • Brown County Matters – Facebook Post

Link to the the 5-Year Plan – Overview and Full Document

• • Overvierw – bcpr-master-plan-2022-2027-overview
  • Full Document – bcpr-master-plan-2022-2027

Email Message – Kara Hammes Monday Dec 6, 2021.

I am sending this e-mail to share that the draft Brown County Parks and Rec 5-Year Master Plan is available for review and public comment.  Many of you were directly involved in the development of this plan, while others do work that’s critical to Parks and Rec’s ability to fulfill it’s purpose in the community – either way, thank you.

A lot of work has already gone into collecting data and feedback from the community, and developing the plan to this point, but our final plan is only good if it accurately represents the needs and desires of the Brown County community at large, which is why we’re sharing the plan and asking for anyone that is interested to take some time to review and provide their feedback.

An electronic copy of the plan can be downloaded at www.bcparksrec.com/5-year-plan/.  Paper copies are available for review at the Purdue Extension – Brown County Office (802 Memorial Dr) or the Brown County Parks & Rec Office (902 Deer Run Ln, Suite B) during regular business hours (M-F, 8am-4pm)

The first draft of our plan is due to Indiana DNR by January 15, 2022, and the Brown County Parks and Rec Board is accepting written comments and questions until 4pm on Wednesday, December 15^th, 2021.   Time for public comment and questions will also be provided at the December 15^th meeting of the Brown County Parks Board.  The BCPR Board meeting will be held at 5:15pm on Wednesday, December 15^th at the BCPRD Office at Deer Run Park.  A virtual options for attendance at the meeting will also be provided.

I’ve included the write-up that was submitted to the Democrat below, because it has more details about why you should care about this plan, the priorities that were identified, and how to submit any comments or questions you may have.  Feel free to forward this e-mail to anyone else that may be interested.

Thanks in advance – I hope to hear from many of you, or see you at our Board meeting on the 15^th!

Kara Hammes, MPH

Extension Educator, Health and Human Sciences & Ag and Natural Resources

Brown County Extension Director

Purdue Extension- Brown County

802 Memorial Drive, PO Box 7, Nashville, IN 47448

O: 812-988-5495

E: khammes@purdue.edu

Write-up submitted to the Brown County Democrat (version that is published will have some edits compared to what is shared below)

According to the Indiana DNR website, there are many reasons to create a 5-Year Parks and Recreation Master Plan, including but not limited to:

• Formulating a written framework for future action that acts as a guide for sensible facility and service development
• Providing community input opportunities
• Ensuring that the public actually wants the facilities that are developed
• Providing an opportunity to share information about your programs and facilities with the public
• Giving a clear sense of direction for the park system
• Improving funding opportunities

I have served as a member of the Brown County Parks and Recreation Board for the last 2.5 years (since being hired as the Purdue Extension HHS & ANR Educator in May 2019) and I can confidently say that I whole-heartedly agree with this list of reasons for why we need a 5-Year Parks and Recreation Master Plan in Brown County.

 It’s for all these reasons and more that I’m excited to share that the Brown County Parks and Recreation Department (BCPRD) is in the final stages of preparing a draft Parks & Recreation 5-Year Master Plan to submit to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for approval, and we need your feedback before we do! 

 Our first draft is due to DNR by January 15, 2022, and our final report will be submitted prior to April 15, 2022, which will make the Brown County Parks and Recreation Department eligible for Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Grants in 2022.

 A lot of work has already gone into collecting data and feedback from the community, and developing the plan to this point, but our final plan is only good if it accurately represents the needs and desires of the Brown County community at large.

 What is the Brown County Parks and Rec Department and why should the Master Plan matter to you?

The BCPRD owns and/or manages four properties and over 200 acres of land in Brown County.  The primary property is Deer Run Park (72 acres) and the other three are land on SR 135 N (140+ acres), the Salt Creek Trail, and the Sycamore Valley Community Center.  In addition to these physical amenities, the BCPRD offers youth and adult sports leagues and other special programming, along with community events like the annual Easter Egg hunt, Trick-or-Treat on the Trail, and more.

 Historically, BCPRD facilities and programs have served residents, neighboring communities, and tourists alike, and remains committed to making BCPRD facilities and services available and accessible to anyone, regardless of resident status, ability to pay, or physical/mental ability. However, as part of this planning process the Brown County Parks and Recreation Department and Board are reaffirming our focus and responsibility to specifically serving the citizens and community members of Brown County.

 How was the plan and its priorities developed?

Much of the data and input for this master plan was gathered during the “Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces: Creating Healthy Communities” (EVPS:CHC) process – a Purdue University Extension Signature Program which was undertaken in Brown County from late-2019 through mid-2021 and has been covered in more detail previously in the Brown County Democrat. 

 The EVPS:CHC process consisted of four in-person community “Open Houses” held in September, 2020 (24 attendees), a community survey that was available for response from September-December 2020 (336 responses), and four working groups that met virtually three times between November, 2020 and February, 2021 (22 community participants and 6 Purdue Extension facilitators).

 Issues identified based on public, Board, and staff input

Based on all the data, feedback, and suggestions gathered throughout this planning process, the following issues have been identified:

• More programs needed for all ages, going beyond youth-based programs and sports leagues
• More options needed for indoor and year-round community-focused spaces and programming
• Lack of accessibility of facilities, programs and policies
• Addressing long-term maintenance needs of existing amenities and facilities
• Lack of certain desired “signature amenities” within the community (most popular requests include an indoor, multi-purpose sport and community facility; bicycle pump track; outdoor pickleball court(s); splashpad/water feature)
• Limited availability of funding and manpower across the board

• Lack of a safe, multi-use trail to access Deer Run Park via foot, bike, or other non-motorist transportation options
• Lack of a detailed and comprehensive land use plan for Deer Run Park

 Proposed 5-Year Master Plan Priorities (2022-2027)

• Finalize a detailed and comprehensive land use plan for Deer Run Park, which should address issues and future plans for (at minimum) the:
  • Four lower ball diamonds in the floodway
  • Old office building
  • Disc golf course
  • Additional shelter house(s)
  • Maintenance equipment and supply storage
  • Possible access points for future multi-use trail from Nashville
  • Potential for future “signature amenities”
• Create new educational, experiential, and “life-long learning” programs for people of all ages
• Identify ways to increase accessibility throughout existing facilities and programming.  Improvements may need to be phased in for cost reasons, but need to be a priority. 
• Increase focus, planning, and fundraising for the development of a safe, multi-use trail to access Deer Run Park via foot, bike, or other non-motorist transportation options.
• Overall greater and more targeted fundraising efforts

 How can you help?

All of the data and feedback that was used to identify these issues and priorities – and much more information that’s relevant to BCPRD facilities and programming in the future – is covered in the full Brown County 5-Year Park and Recreation Master Plan and we invite all interested parties to review the plan and provide their comments, suggestions, and other feedback for the BCPR Board’s consideration. 

 An electronic copy of the plan can be downloaded at www.bcparksrec.com/5-year-plan/ .  Paper copies are available for review at the Purdue Extension – Brown County Office (802 Memorial Dr) or the Brown County Parks & Rec Office (902 Deer Run Ln, Suite B) during regular business hours (M-F, 8am-4pm)

 Written comments or questions should be submitted by 4pm on Wednesday, December 15, 2021 by either:

• E-mailing: khammes@purdue.edu
• Mailing to: Brown County Parks & Rec, PO Box 299, Nashville, IN 47448
• Or dropping off in-person to the Brown County Parks & Rec Office, located at Deer Run Park

 Time for public comment and questions will also be provided at the December 15^th meeting of the Brown County Parks Board.  The BCPR Board meeting will be held at 5:15pm on Wednesday, December 15^th at the BCPRD Office at Deer Run Park:

902 Deer Run Ln, Suite B

Nashville, IN 47448

A virtual option for attending the meeting will also be provided.  Please contact Michelle Mosley at (812) 988-5522 or mosleymr@browncounty-in.us to request the details for the Zoom link.