[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6238467,"mediaKeyId","3351618-8cf600cb53bf775e926d71f79649e0d2","parentId",3351618,"title","Dearborn County Council appoints sewer board member, approves routine appropriations and purchases","audioSeconds",472,"startMs",529000,"endMs",1001000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3351618-8cf600cb53bf775e926d71f79649e0d2&start=529&end=1001","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3351618-8cf600cb53bf775e926d71f79649e0d2/thumbnail_529000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6238467/Dearborn-County/Indiana/Dearborn-County-Council-appoints-sewer-board-member-approves-routine-appropriations-and-purchases","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6238467-7a948889d5337a192620167462f3dae6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165919&Signature=V9P8Vs~hsZsCJZw4FVegPpTaqRfGnEyrjMtWaZnJTEDygSoMv3YkT6pw29VzBMDPQmP~qmT2Me4fSo5PcFLStCA6vg6D4advGxMhSjP-zBEiS6fQYST8vOcgEAF-m0wUTnmCqGmdOOxXMROBzeNtNepVzcVy~u9xFqxkOzODroHmU~qfjdJUsWBj9qYBKQoL98OXaACDtV4S~fDq2OyO2M50HI-XP5l0sOPYhA~FhPl05o6FC9dU7Z1UERCx0ip8fAao7-SKN1274-7CqncvGNMzR4j-T4DfZCU4f0bVB1x1x8IgDaq~JgYJb2pPj2EMmiyUf~6PlhRCWIdieqU84A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Dearborn County IN","date","2025-05-16T10:32:41Z","article","The Dearborn County Council appointed Jeff Bittner to represent the council on the county regional sewer district board and approved several routine appropriations and departmental purchases during its meeting.

Appointment: The council voted to appoint Jeff Bittner to fill the seat vacated by Bill Shelton on the county regional sewer district board. The appointment was made by motion, seconded, and approved by voice vote.

Appropriations and purchases: The council approved a set of relatively small appropriations and purchases requested by county departments:
- Juvenile center inmate meals: the council approved $100 per month to buy fresh fruits and vegetables for juveniles in detention; supporters noted the county jail supplies main meals but the juvenile program sought a modest supplement for teen nutrition and food-preparation education.
- Copier for treasurer: the council approved purchase of a new copier for the treasurer’s office at about $2,229 (advertised price variance noted in the record; agenda listed $2,299). The purchase was approved after clarification of the advertised amount.
- Planning and zoning publication budget: the council approved $2,025 from County General to pay for advertising and outreach for the county comprehensive-plan update, funding radio ads, website banners and postcards to reach property owners and increase public participation in workshops.

Other departmental appropriations approved by motion included small amounts for the health department, circuit court drug court ($10,000 from opioid settlement unrestricted fund), Superior Probation pay-scale adjustments, and intern funding for a probation office. The council also approved minutes, a salary ordinance update, and routine business items during the session.

Votes: Most of these items were approved by voice vote after motion and second; recorded roll-call votes were used for some larger or contested items but routine appropriations were carried by majority voice vote as noted in the minutes.

What’s next: Appointee Jeff Bittner will be seated on the regional sewer district board per the appointment. Department heads may proceed with purchases and programs authorized by the appropriations and are responsible for following purchasing limits and procurement statutes described by county purchasing staff (purchasing agents can approve contracts up to $25,000 per service or supply; public works follow separate rules).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Dearborn County Council Meeting May 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council appointed Jeff Bittner to the county’s sewer district board, approved a string of routine appropriations and equipment purchases including $2,229 for a new copier for the treasurer and $100 per month for juvenile center fresh fruits and vegetables, and approved several small departmental requests.","taxTitle","Dearborn County, Indiana","taxId",64059,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6238471,"Mayors urge Dearborn County to address perceived 9-1-1 funding imbalance",1197,2573000,3770000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3351618-8cf600cb53bf775e926d71f79649e0d2&start=2573&end=3770","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3351618-8cf600cb53bf775e926d71f79649e0d2/thumbnail_2573000.jpg","/articles/6238471/Dearborn-County/Indiana/Mayors-urge-Dearborn-County-to-address-perceived-9-1-1-funding-imbalance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6238471-82b7b6ac37d5f443b346667dc6d20743/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165919&Signature=ifH2xC0KSXjXWPfT09Yg0C1yh9xyGLuSsTU-oa5SGAsb-OgdtlA4Pp4IInODqRKzWo~6qzj0FpHgzbzGGtuVg9vraTdw7SVG1rDzGgnmF~QeDo11p3TExz73lNI89RG8VaCQAjEzNmnFjfiz4vtx3fIavoS8S~VfF1LV2aMhraQ8UEjy0P1XSFz-Dwv2O5SKpXw38zffTHK87YR0iwdKZa5OnbERRIXZ4fQXFypRk-6FLSCn2THswsU0ZnHhpMkGsIDaJNzlRnqwXoQ6c9ZAEFec4ujNg7jrdkpr02FrylQytvgUOAmAXml2HwHm0zo3BrSDvs52CkQvG4aPlq0~2w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mayors from the county’s three cities told the Dearborn County Council that their residents are paying disproportionately high shares of 9-1-1 costs and asked the council to pursue a more equitable cost-sharing arrangement.

The presenters said the three cities account for about 26% of the county population but generate roughly 55% of 9-1-1 call volume, in part because of tourist traffic, Highway 50, and large local employers. They argued that city residents appear to be “double charged” because local property taxpayers already contribute county property tax revenues while the county general fund is covering an 9-1-1 shortfall that disproportionately benefits the whole county.

The mayors suggested options for addressing the disparity: the county could cover the shortfall out of county general; the public safety local income tax (described in the meeting as the public safety “LIT”) could be increased slightly (an example cited was an increase of 0.06 percentage points to close the gap); or the parties could renegotiate a cost-sharing arrangement among the cities and county. Presenters noted state-level changes being discussed — including Senate Bill 1 and other proposals affecting 9-1-1 funding — and said state action could change the local funding picture by 2028.

Council members and staff responded that some fixes would require broader approval (for example, changes to the public safety local income tax would involve local income-tax authorities and the mayors) and that statutory and administrative constraints limit what the county can unilaterally change. The county’s finance staff explained that the shortfall is currently borne largely by county general funds and noted the mechanics of how local public safety allocations are distributed among municipalities. Several council members invited the mayors to meet with commissioners and county staff to pursue options.

No formal council appropriation or new policy was adopted at the meeting; the discussion ended with an agreement to continue talks and for mayors to pursue information-sharing with county officials and state legislators.

","Mayors from three cities told the county council that residents of the three municipalities are bearing a disproportionate share of 9-1-1 costs, urged renegotiation of cost-sharing, and proposed options including reallocating general fund money or adjusting the public safety local income tax rate.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6238476,"Dearborn County Council OKs park board request to submit Stellar Pathways application contingent on funds raised by Aug. 1",2346,989000,3335000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3351618-8cf600cb53bf775e926d71f79649e0d2&start=989&end=3335","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3351618-8cf600cb53bf775e926d71f79649e0d2/thumbnail_989000.jpg","/articles/6238476/Dearborn-County/Indiana/Dearborn-County-Council-OKs-park-board-request-to-submit-Stellar-Pathways-application-contingent-on-funds-raised-by-Aug-1","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6238476-0f5a584fe94c94275a98ffbd60ac1976/orig.mp4?Expires=1771165919&Signature=CnDhu~p88QCzQANej0ZVNbNLYxtCEt7x8SrQkQWoJYwkIAPx-J4QkSupU7gRSP5cMFh~R95IKLFJ~CDH0D8wpTegE-npCwDGGkwyfBXa9D7d62D-y50yVzW7joIiUoFVBX7agjyod-E5LA23WsWOz6ckOk0UCy5gK3~DceEWTN5Pvk5LsUU2oChnDUhtfnSCoqBFF1EleruexFkq6OV9Y9GDsCx4Xpy~mLc2IP2~EkzLlAvofUHu8hchirQdfEkNJ2MgSxuVue4NkqSpAeGTrVzwe2VmD9qpsxBIy21ym9hVCxYYO48UBVxVYufqrfYvFaSDK8gKdnNvQgzaJVLoqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Bright Meadows Park organizers told the Dearborn County Council Wednesday they will submit an application to the state Stellar Pathways program seeking up to $1 million in matching funds, and asked the council to commit county money as part of that match.

The council approved the application on the condition that any county commitment be limited to the amount of cash actually on hand by the application deadline of Aug. 1, 2025. Council members also approved a $130,000 release from the park board’s riverboat account (Fund 11-79) to be included in the match; a separate request for $133,333 from county general failed.

Why it matters: Stellar Pathways matches local funds 1-to-1, so each dollar the county and local donors raise would unlock an equal amount of state funds. Park supporters said assembling $1 million locally would leverage the state’s $1 million to create a roughly $2 million project that could expand trails, add inclusive playground equipment, improve ADA accessibility, reconfigure entrances and parking, and add fitness elements and an amphitheater.

Park board presenters said current pledged funds total about $320,000 made up of $50,000 from the Dearborn County Community Foundation, $50,000 from the Donovan family, $120,000 already in park fund 11-79, $100,000 pledged by the Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission, and an additional $30,000 the park board voted to request from the county. The park board asked the council to consider splitting the remaining roughly $400,000 over three years (2025–2027) if necessary while the board continues fundraising.

Council discussion focused on the county’s ability to legally commit funds only for the current year and on the application deadline. The council’s auditor and county staff advised that the county can approve appropriations for 2025 cash on hand and include a contingency clause in the grant application that ties the county commitment to funds actually raised by Aug. 1, 2025; future-year commitments (2026–2027) cannot be encumbered today.

The council vote on the riverboat fund release (Fund 11-79) passed. The $133,333 request from county general failed on a separate vote. Later the council approved language to permit the grant application to go forward with the condition that the county’s participation be limited to cash secured by Aug. 1; that motion passed on a roll-call vote.

The park’s presenters and council members discussed grant mechanics and timing: Stellar awards are reimbursable and typically paid in draws as project milestones are completed, and state review can include a federal review step that may take months to a year. The park board and its consultant will refine a master plan and cost estimates over the coming weeks; staff indicated a more detailed cost estimate should be available by July so the park board can prioritize features for the application.

The council also accepted a separate $100,000 donation from the Dearborn County Redevelopment Commission to the park board to be used toward the Stellar match. Park representatives said they will continue fundraising, pursue additional grants (including trail grants of up to about $70,000), and coordinate with community groups for private donations.

What’s next: The park board will report back with updated fundraising totals prior to the application deadline; the council’s approval for the application is expressly contingent on the cash-in-hand figure on Aug. 1, 2025.

","The council approved the park board's grant application for Bright Meadows Park to the state Stellar Pathways program, agreeing the county's commitment will be limited to cash on hand by the Aug. 1 application deadline. A $130,000 release from the park's Riverboat Fund (11-79) passed; a companion $133,333 request from county general failed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Dearborn County Council appoints sewer board member, approves routine appropriations and purchases

Mayors urge Dearborn County to address perceived 9-1-1 funding imbalance

Dearborn County Council OKs park board request to submit Stellar Pathways application contingent on funds raised by Aug. 1