County Council Work Sesssion, Budget Approvals, Pay System, Oct 4, 2025

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County Council debates public notice, advances 2026 budget, by Courtney Hughett, BCD.

County pay fix: New job system, fewer stipends, clearer raises, by Courtney Hughett, BCD

    • Their main message was that the current pay scale, from pay grade 1 to pay grade 35, doesn’t explain why one job pays more than another, so it has grown unevenly over time.
    • The firm urged the council to switch to a system that scores each job by what the work actually requires – skills, responsibility, and working conditions – and then places jobs into plain categories such as office support, road and trades, professional/technical, 911 and other civilian public-safety roles, non-elected department heads, and sheriff’s merit deputies.
    • Council members also talked through the price tag, which is $826,343, to get everyone to the ideal pay or the “external midpoint”. The consultants cautioned that those are wage costs only and benefits and payroll taxes would add roughly 20 percent on top. They also noted that not every dollar comes from the General Fund because some jobs are paid from highway, health, 911 and other special funds. The point, they said, is to set clear targets and phase in raises in a consistent way the county can afford, with priority given to the toughest hiring and retention needs.

Commissioner Meeting Notes Oct 1, 2025, 2:00 pm – 4 pm.

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Commissioner Meeting Notes Oct 1, 2025, 2:00 pm – 4 pm.  

Commissioner Clark: Selling Music Center is not feasible, by Courtney Hughett, Brown County Democrat.

Post at Brown County Matters 

    • October Bridge Inspections. All 84 of our bridges are required to be inspected in Oct.. Egis was awarded a four-year contract to update the county plan, which is funded with federal dollars.

    • Estimated Costs for repairs, maintenance, and some replacement costs can range from $12 to $ 14 million. Some federal and state money is available. For instance, the cost to replace the Elkinsville bridge is approximately $4 million, and we have been awarded a federal grant to initiate the new bridge design for this project.

    • Capital Improvement Plan and Budget. We continue to improve upon our capital improvement plan and budget. This will also identify the costs for repairs and maintenance of all our buildings and grounds. We did have to borrow $4 million via a General Obligation (GO) bond in 2024, which will cover some of the costs of capital improvements. We are also working to build up the Rainy Day fund to cover future infrastructure costs, which may help prevent the need for another bond and lead to a reduction in property taxes.

 

 

 

Council Budget Hearing and Salary System Study, Oct 3, 2025, 9:00 a.m.

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This meeting (Working  Session) was moved from Thursday from 9 am to Noon to Friday.

The two main topics were the budget review and approval process, and the study reinforcing the need for a new job classification and compensation system. 

Brown Indiana Government Meetings: Brown County Council Work Session – 9:00am – Oct 3, 2025. 

Study: Waggoner Irwin Scheele & Associates (WIS).  Job Classification and Compensation (Salary) Study.    

The job classification system that supports compensation levels discussed in the WIS Report was developed at the federal level in 1949 (and adopted at the state level).

    • The federal job classification system was established in its modern form by the Classification Act of 1949 to promote fairness, consistency, and efficiency in how federal jobs are described, evaluated, and compensated.

In Indiana, each county council has the autonomy to do its own thing despite proven and better practices. Until recently, starting around 2024, there was little to no commitment to reengineering the system.

Brown County’s decision to make minor adjustments to accommodate unique situations over the years had reached the point of absurdity, and it was time for a change. 

 

BCD: Govt Updates Sep 23, 2025

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Brown County Democrat (BCD) – Articles covering Commissioner, Council, and RDC meetings.

This post at BCM. 

    • BCM – Press Release – Arrest of former county Surveyor. Background: Following the arrest of the former surveyor (an elected position), various county offices received numerous calls expressing concern and requesting more details. With the advice of our attorney, the Board of Commissioners issued a press release to provide a county response.

Commissioners debate Music Center’s future, delay ordinance, give updates on projects
By Courtney Hughett -September 23, 2025 

County Council holds budget hearing, discusses IU partnership, legal costs, and court evaluations By Courtney Hughett -September 23, 2025

    • “… unresolved legal costs connected with employee compensation matters…” The information was presented out of context and without an understanding of the total situation and the facts.

    • An executive session was held with the council on Friday, Sept 19, 2025, and the issues were explained and discussed, which led to better understanding and support.  The council has no authority to dictate the decisions commissioners should make, which require legal support.

From homes to planning: Redevelopment Commission grapples with affordability and community input  By Courtney Hughett -September 23, 2025

    • A recurring theme of the RDC discussion was the need to update the county’s comprehensive plan with real community input beyond Nashville. Commissioner Clark told the Redevelopment Commission that their role could be to help with the public engagement side of the update. Members agreed that the plan should be broken down by community, Helmsburg, Gnaw Bone, Elkinsville, Bean Blossom, Story, and others, so that each area of the county has the chance to say what it wants, rather than Nashville dominating the process. Some communities, Clark said, are adamant that they want to be left alone, and that preference also needs to be respected.
    • The group discussed holding open-house style sessions in familiar places, such as libraries, churches, and fire stations, where residents could write down or speak about what they want and don’t want in their neighborhoods. Clark noted that the surest way to pack a meeting room is to change something close to home, especially zoning, because “people don’t know what zoning really means until it changes next door.” That reality, combined with the speed at which rumors and social media can spread, led members to emphasize the need for plain, clear communication. They said the county has to focus on the “why, what, how, and who” of any proposal so that misinformation doesn’t take hold before facts do.

Charlie Kirk: Turning Point USA

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Founder John Adams famously warned in 1798, “We have no Government armed with Power capable of contending with human Passions unbridled by morality and Religion. Avarice, Ambition, and Revenge or Galantry, would break the strongest Cords of our Constitution as a Whale goes through a Net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious People. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”   

“The American way of life is very simple. I want to be able to get married, buy a home, have kids, allow them to ride their bike till the sun goes down, send them to a good school, have a low crime neighborhood, not to have my kid be taught the lesbian, gay, transgender garbage in their school. While also, not having them have to hear the Muslim call to prayer five times a day. That’s important.” – Charlie Kirk    Is the Bible Real?  Charlie’s Answer

Oct 12, 2025. Homily, A homily, by Fr. Adam Blatt who was not familiar with Charlie’s Kirk but took the time to learn about it, pray and reflect.   Post on LinkedIn. 

    • “The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.” Charlie was shot at 12:23.  
      “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. * Amen, amen, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat;r but if it dies, it produces much fruit. Whoever loves his life, loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life . Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be. The Father will honor whoever serves me.

      (John 12:23}

    • Transcript Homily Charlie Kirk by Fr Adam Blatt

Oct 14, 2023. Trump awards Medal of Freedom posthumously to Charlie Kirk.  “Right now Charlie Kirk wears the crown of a Martyr.  … Why does this happen … ” the blood of the martyrs is the  seeds of the church ” Charlie shot at 12:23 (John 12:23):

    • The hour is come that the Son of man should be glorified. Amen, amen, I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, Itself remaineth alone. But if it die it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it and he that hateth his life in this world keepeth it unto life eternal. If any man minister to me, let him follow me: and where I am, there also shall my minister be. If any man minister to me, him will my Father honour.

Catholic Cardinal Dolan: “WOW! Cardinal Timothy Dolan: “The more I learned about [Charlie], I thought this guy is a modern-day Saint Paul. He was a missionary, an evangelist, a hero. He’s one I think that knew what Jesus meant when he said, ‘The truth will set you free.’” ….  And to do it,  Now, I understand he was pretty blunt and he was pretty direct. He didn’t try to avoid any controversy. He didn’t even try to avoid confrontation. The difference is the way, the mode, the style that he did it, always with respect.”

    • EXCLUSIVE: Bishop Robert Barron says Charlie Kirk ‘died with a microphone in his hand,’ as faith under attack  . To Barron, the attack reveals that something “basic to our civilization is in danger of being lost.”  Barron described Kirk as “a man of great intelligence, charm, and goodness of heart.” Charlie, he said, embodied a tradition of open debate stretching back to the roots of Western civilization. “He always made it clear that the most important thing in his life — the thing he most wanted to be remembered for — was not his party affiliation or political philosophy but his Christian faith.”
    • FR. ANDRE MAHANNA_ What Charlie and Erika Kirk Teach Us About the Union of Catholics and Protestants _ Joe Hoft …  it seems that both Protestantism and Catholicism have a major lesson to learn from @charliekirk11 and his wife the wonderful @MrsErikaKirk namely from their spiritual and Christian conduct. Coming from Catholic and Evangelical background and traditions, and united in the holy matrimony as husband and wife, it seems that they both lived what Saint Paul told us to do: “They tried to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace and to live a life worthy of their vocation”. In Ephesians 4: 1- 13, St. Paul tells us how our gifts can be used to unite us as a Church: GO BACK TO THE SOURCE, maintain the spiritual wealth and the treasure of faith and true knowledge we have acquired from both traditions: Catholicism and Protestantism. We can be again One Faith, One Baptism One Lord.

Sep 21, 2025. Charlie Kirk’s  Memorial Service 

Sept 14, 2025. Charlie Kirk Memorial at the Kennedy Center

 

Sept 21, 2025. Turning Point USA – Memorial Service. The morning of Sunday, September 21, at State Farm Stadium, home of the Arizona Cardinals, in Glendale, AZ.  Remembering Charlie Kirk — “he led the resistance that restored free speech in America.”

The White House – Tribute to Charlie Kirk

How the West Lost Its Soul – by Paul Kingsnorth, The Free Press. We’ve abandoned the founding religious story that has sustained us for 1,500 years. The result is the greatest age of abundance we’ve ever known—and a complete lack of meaning. 

Post- Chad Prather: The reason you feel Charlie’s death so deeply is because grief doesn’t measure itself by proximity. It measures itself by meaning. You didn’t have to know him personally to feel the sting of his absence, because when a voice like his goes silent, something in the atmosphere shifts. …. We are bound together by shared purpose, by shared longing for truth, by the Spirit of God Himself weaving us into a fabric that cannot be torn apart. This loss pulled at that fabric, and every one of us felt the tug.

    • Brown County Hcco Park – elder JR sharing on CWTP. “Charlie Kirk Martyred for his Faith”
    • Seán Ono Lennon on X I am against violence. I am against celebrating violence. I’m praying for peace. I’m praying for healing. I’m praying for the family, especially the children. I know what they’re going through. I’ve been through it.
      • I did NOT agree with Charlie Kirk’s views on MANY important topics. I know he helped get Trump elected and people hate him for that. But he was a conservative Christian. What do you expect a conservative Christian to believe? How can those views surprise you? He argued those views calmly, reasonably, and considerately as far as I’ve seen. But no matter what he did not deserve this. His wife did not deserve this. His kids did NOT deserve to have their world torn apart! The way some people are being so cold and uncaring and even celebrating is disturbing and repugnant to me. It is making me physically ill. If you are celebrating the murder of a non-violent man for his opinions then you are NOT the better person. Look in the mirror. Imagine telling his kids how you feel. Step back. Take a breath. Remember we are all humans. We are all just flickers of consciousness in an endless eternity. Love IS the answer. I really mean it.

Charlie Kirk’s beloved wife, Mrs. Erika Kirk, addresses the Nation. Erika, their two children, and Charlie’s parents were all present at Utah Valley University.

    • Erika Kirk_ A Widow Defiant – Rod Dreher’s Diary.
      • The courage of this woman is off the charts. Her message is an important one to hear. If you can get through the part at the end where she recounts their three year old daughter running up to her yesterday asking, “Where’s Daddy?” without weeping, you are a stronger person than I.
      • In her address, Erika Kirk urged people to find a “Bible-believing church” — for those not familiar with the phrase, it means a church that takes the faith seriously — because “spiritual warfare” is real, and we are in a spiritual battle above all.

      • This moment in the life of our nation — of the Western world, really — has been an apocalypse in the strictest sense of the term. It has been an unveiling. We are discovering how evil many, many people are.

Charlie and Erika – First Date – Marriage

Post at Brown County Matters.  Included links to The Free Press article “Charlie Kirk’s Murder and the Rise of Political Violence”  by Ben Shapiro, Senator Mark Kelly, Matthew Continetti, Katherine Boyle, Konstantin Kisin, Eli Lake, and Maya Sulkin on Charlie Kirk’s murder and
what it means for America. 

Rod Dreher: A ‘Je Suis Charlie’ Apocalypse.  I realized that I am from a country, and will return one day to a country, where more than a few people would just as soon have me killed for believing the same things that Charlie Kirk did, and talking about them in public.

Turning Point USA

Gary Varvel: Charlie Kirk is alive in his heavenly home

C-Suite for Christ  – Linkedin –  Paul M. Neuberger.

    • Charlie Kirk was murdered yesterday.
    • Evil struck in broad daylight.
    • Evil didn’t hesitate. Evil didn’t wait for a convenient time.
    • Evil doesn’t care about your feelings.
    • This world is in the middle of a full-scale spiritual war, and one of our boldest warriors has been cut down.
    • Charlie wasn’t just a conservative voice. He was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ.
    • He put God first. He was unapologetically bold.
    • He willingly walked into hostile territory — college campuses dripping with secular indoctrination — and told the truth anyway.
    • He fought not with weapons, but with ideas, logic, conviction, and courage.
    • He stood tall on the foundation of biblical truth while others caved to culture. That’s why the enemy wanted him silenced.
    • And now, in his death, we see just how desperate the other side is.
    • The Bible makes it plain: “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world” (Ephesians 6:12).
    • When your movement has no ideas, no truth, and no light, all you have left is violence and intimidation.
    • That’s why attacks like this happen. That’s why churches are targeted. That’s why Christians are mocked.
    • The other side is terrified of the momentum of truth.
    • Charlie Kirk’s legacy is a roadmap for us: put God first, be bold, challenge the status quo, stand firm on principles, and never stop fighting with the only weapon that matters — the Word of God.
    • He showed us that even when the world hates you, you stand tall anyway.
    • I’ll never forget being at a C-Suite for Christ event in Nashville with my friend Riley Gaines. An employee of TPUSA Faith leaned over and said to me, “You remind me of Charlie.” I can’t put into words what that meant then — and what it means now. I will wear that as a badge of honor until the day I die.
    • And I vow, before God and before you, to do everything in my power to carry forward his torch, to cover the world in Christ, and to never let the Gospel go silent.
    • God bless Charlie Kirk. God bless Erika and his family. And God bless all of us who refuse to bow to the darkness.
    • Prayer is the most powerful weapon we have, and today I wield it boldly.
    • Darkness may have struck yesterday, but the light of Christ cannot and will not be overcome.

      — Paul M. Neuberger (PMN)

America 250: America Prays

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‘We Are One Nation Under God’: Trump Announces Plan for Prayer in Schools, CBN.

    •  “I am pleased to announce this morning that the Department of Education will soon issue new guidance protecting the right to prayer in our public schools,” 
    • Trump blasted what he called indoctrination and “antireligious propaganda” and cited the need to “protect the Judeo-Christian values of our founding.”

This post included at LinkedIn:  ‘We Are One Nation Under God. ‘ “God is love” (1 John 4:7-12). Love can be described as willing the good of others. The aim of the Constitution is to enable We the People (top management) to work towards “a more perfect Union.” Perfect in a Biblical context is that all needs are met.

    • Working towards “more perfect” is supported through continual improvement of systems and processes. This is achieved by reducing variation from the ideal, nominal, or optimal. As more needs are met, there is less harm caused by unmet needs.
    • Within the quality profession, the Taguchi Loss Function reinforces that the closer a product/service gets to the ideal (i.e., more needs met), the lower the cost and less harm to individuals and society.
    • W. Edwards Deming, whose contributions were recognized for improving quality worldwide, starting in Japan after WWII, reinforced that “the aim of every system is for everybody to gain- stockholders, employees, suppliers, customers, community, the environment–over the long-term.“  The 7 Basic Tools of Quality can be applied to help resolve 95% of problems.


AN INVITATION TO

PRAYER & REDEDICATION

OF THE UNITED STATES AS

ONE NATION UNDER GOD

The president also launched the America Prays initiative — a call for Americans to unite in prayer for the nation’s strength, peace, and prosperity as the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaches. CBN

“When faith gets weaker, our country seems to get weaker. When faith gets stronger… good things happen for our country. It’s amazing the way it seems to work that way. Under the Trump Administration, we’re defending our rights and restoring our identity as a nation under God. We are One Nation Under God — and we always will be,” he said.

Trump blasted what he called indoctrination and “antireligious propaganda” and cited the need to “protect the Judeo-Christian values of our founding.”

“As we prepare to celebrate two and a half centuries of freedom, I am inviting America’s great religious communities to pray for our nation and for our people. From the beginning, this has always been a country sustained and strengthened by prayer. So important, if we bring religion back stronger, you’re going to see everything get better and better and better. You are going to see it get better and better. So, as we chart our course for the next 250 years, let us rededicate ourselves to one nation under God.” – President Trump, Iowa, July 3, 2025

Mt. Tea State Forest / Access via Pumpkin Ridge Road.  Notes from the Aug 20, 2025 Public Meeting

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Mt. Tea State Forest / Access via Pumpkin Ridge Road. 

Timeline of the Project, Supporting Documentation

Notes from the Aug 20, 2025 Public Meeting

Executive Summary

The Mt. Tea State Forest access project has raised concerns about cost, environmental impact, safety, and communication with residents. While initial plans proposed a $7 million INDOT road upgrade, public feedback has pushed for more modest alternatives. Key issues include protecting the rural character of Brown County, ensuring fair decision-making with stakeholder input, and improving transparency in communications. Road options range from full INDOT upgrades to minimalist or county-led improvements, with “do nothing” also being considered. No final decision has been made, and commissioners have committed to ongoing updates and public involvement before moving forward.

History

Concerns

  • No evidence of public meetings between 2022–2024 to gauge community support or define the scope of the problem.
  • Commissioner Sanders (term began in 2022) was also unaware of such meetings.
  • At the August 20, 2025 commissioner meeting, citizens voiced strong opposition — highlighting the risks of pursuing solutions without clear agreement on the problem.

Decision-Making Process

Role of Elected Officials

  • Expected to identify the best solution for the county.
  • Must listen to all stakeholders and apply a transparent process.

Why the Process Matters

  • In controversial issues, groups typically fall into:
    • A vocal minority strongly for or against a change.
    • Many are indifferent or uninformed.
    • A persuadable middle who can support change if engaged.
  • Public input and open meetings reduce conflict and improve outcomes.

Citizenship and Decision-making

The decision-making process can also parallel a citizen’s responsibility when serving as a jurist, which includes: 

  • Listen to the information and scenarios presented from all sides of the argument.
  • Assess the facts and evidence, consider the closing arguments, and agree on a decision.
  • Deciding after hearing only the opening argument without a more complete understanding of the situation would not yield the best outcomes.

Stakeholders

  • Property owners (potential land sales).
  • Residents who use Pumpkin Ridge Road.
  • Residents in surrounding areas.
  • Countywide residents and taxpayers.
  • Visitors to Mt. Tea.
  • DNR, INDOT, and the Governor.

Elements of Good Decision-Making

  • Establish facts and assumptions.
  • Identify constraints and risks.
  • Define decision criteria.
  • Compare positives and negatives of each option.
  • Select a solution and implement it with a clear project plan.

Reference

Concerns with the Road Design

Issues Raised by Citizens

  • Environmental impacts
    • Threats to endangered species.
    • Water quality risks in ponds and streams.
    • Disruption of possible historical sites.
  • Road and construction concerns
    • Safety risks at a hazardous intersection.
    • Ability to navigate during construction.
    • Long-term effects on rural character.
  • Community and cultural concerns
    • Protecting Brown County’s natural beauty.
    • Preserving quality of life for nearby residents.

Economic Context

  • Brown County’s culture is rooted in its rural environment.
  • A large part of the economy depends on residents who live locally but earn income outside the county.
  • About 77% of wages earned by county taxpayers come from outside Brown County.

Project Cost Concerns

  • Original INDOT estimate: $7 million.
  • Many viewed the cost as excessive, leading to speculation about the project’s intent and scope.

Current Status

  • INDOT is preparing more modest alternatives.
  • Goal: reduce financial burden while addressing key safety and environmental concerns.

Road Options Comparison

Option

Description

Pros

Cons

1. INDOT 30 MPH Road Standard

Full upgrade to meet 30 MPH speed limit

Meets state standards, designed for higher traffic

Costly ($7M), strong community opposition, seen as impractical

2. Minimalist INDOT Option

Scaled-back version, possibly unpaved, lower speed (≈20 MPH)

Lower cost, preserves rural feel, similar to park roads

Less durable, details still in development

3. County-Led Upgrade

Local project to maintain Pumpkin Ridge as a county road

More local control, potentially lower cost

County bears responsibility, funding uncertain

4. Do Nothing

Leave road as-is

No cost, no disruption, preserves status quo

Does not address safety issues, may limit access

Top of Form

Funding & Safety Note

  • The 2022 INDOT plan was drafted to support a state funding request.
  • A 2025 survey conducted in Mar/Apr may allow for lower-cost alternatives.
  • Savings could be redirected to improve the hazardous Pumpkin Ridge–Hoover Road intersection.

DNR – Property Management

Citizen Concerns

  • Increased visitors due to improved access.
  • Mt. Tea is remote, with no water supply or privies.
    • Risks include fire response challenges.
  • Potential road damage from logging trucks if logging occurs.
  • Worries about future expansion to include:
    • Horse amenities.
    • All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) use.

DNR Response

  • Current plans do not include horses or ATVs.
  • Facility development remains limited (primitive camping, campfires only).

Communications

Ongoing Challenges

  • Limited citizen awareness due to:
    • Declining newspaper readership.
    • Inconsistent social media updates.
    • Low sign-up rates for meeting agenda notifications.
    • Reliance on neighbor-to-neighbor communication.

Effects on Engagement

  • Many residents miss notices of pending projects.
  • Lack of information leads to skepticism and opposition.

Emerging Solutions

  • Establishment of neighbor networks to ensure project updates reach more households.

Miscommunications

Public Misunderstandings

  • Many believed commissioners would vote on August 20, 2025.
  • In fact, no vote was scheduled.

Timeline of Key Events

Date

Event

Notes

2022

INDOT develops road upgrade concept

Supported by previous commissioners

2023

Funding requested from Governor

Backed by Commissioners + DNR

2022–2024

No public meetings identified

Raised concerns about lack of citizen input

May 22, 2025

Commissioners vote against approving INDOT agreement

Clark & Sanders oppose

June 2025

Executive session with INDOT, DNR, project engineer

Sought deeper understanding

July 16, 2025

INDOT presents video and answers questions

Commissioners postpone decision, seek more citizen input

August 20, 2025

Public meeting with strong citizen opposition

Highlighted environmental, financial, and cultural concerns

Key Takeaway

  • Miscommunication about the vote created frustration.
  • Clearer messaging on meeting purposes and timelines is essential.

The Way Ahead

  • The INDOT agreement will not be signed until:
    • A mutually acceptable solution is identified.
    • A project plan aligns with the terms of the agreement.
  • Key considerations moving forward:
    • How construction changes could alter project scope.
    • How modifications will be approved.
    • Risks and mitigation strategies.
    • Eminent domain authority will not be delegated by commissioners.

Next Steps

  • Progress updates will be shared at every commissioner meeting.
  • Special public meetings may be scheduled to allow deeper discussion of key issues.

Additional Information

Key Issues at a Glance

Environmental & Cultural Concerns

  • Potential impact on endangered species and historical sites
  • Water quality risks to nearby ponds and streams
  • Preservation of Brown County’s rural character and natural beauty

Financial Concerns

  • Original $7 million INDOT plan considered excessive
  • More modest alternatives under review
  • Possibility of redirecting savings to hazardous intersection improvements

Safety Concerns

  • Hazardous intersection at Pumpkin Ridge & Hoover Road
  • Road usability during construction
  • Fire risk from primitive camping without water access

Community & Communication Concerns

  • Lack of early public meetings (2022–2024) raised trust issues
  • Misperception that a decision would be made on Aug 20, 2025
  • Ongoing need for better communication between commissioners, residents, and agencies

Brown County Democrat – Articles on the topic