Commissioners hear county needs

SPENCER COUNTY — Spencer Health Department reported at the county commissioners meeting held Tuesday, Oct. 17, that the transportation insurance policy does not cover actual vaccines while in transport.

The health department transports two types of vaccines, publicly funded and privately funded.

The publicly funded vaccines could be covered within reason at the state level, said the health department representative. However, there is no guarantee of coverage and the county could have to absorb the loss, should vaccines be damaged in transport.

Privately funded vaccines would be at a loss, the health department representative reported.

County health department representative discovered Dubois County policy covers up to $50,000 of the supply. Spencer health department representatives estimated they transport between $25,000 and $30,000 in vaccines.

The Board of Health will make the final decision. However, they asked county commissioners their opinion on the quotes, whether they should add to the current policy, search for another provider or set a compensation fund for themselves to absorb the cost of loss.

Since the health department has never had a loss in transporting so far, Commissioner Tom Brown considered the transportation low risk. Brown also suggested that if another driver causes the accident, their policy could cover the loss.

Commissioner James Seiler asked what the insurance agent recommended. The health department responded the agent said the coverage for vaccines would be an additional cost to the insurance, as it is an exceptional coverage.

Spencer County Health Department transports vaccines in personal vehicles. Commissioner Heather Gries questioned whether or not the health department should be transporting the vaccines. Gries also questioned whether health department nurses should be responsible for the manual labor, lifting and carrying the vaccines. Gries suggested having available ambulances transport the vaccines.

Another consideration is talks with the Council of Aging to use a CoA van for transportation in the future.

Veterans Services assisted 28 veterans in the first week of October processing benefits, a little on the shy side, reported Veterans Service Officer Rick Biggs, due to a personal medical issue. Biggs also spoke with around 41 people through phone conversation. Biggs also set up with a medical center mobile at Spencer County Fair, as a contact point and for veterans to sign up for Veterans Appreciation Night. The week following the fair, Biggs assisted 48 veterans with about 70 phone call assists.

Commissioners approved the county jail to receive 11 new control unites for the air conditioning (HVAC) units for $25,900. Servicing on the old control units regulating the HVAC units was reaching $1,200 per call to repair, with two breaking down completely. American Rescue Plan funds will cover the cost.

Mark McNeece with United Consulting reported in lieu of the county highway department. United Consulting has been assessing county structures and bridges. McNeece reported the county has 167 structures over 700 feet mandated to inspect; and 166 bridges over 20 feet.

Currently, only the Anderson River bridge is scheduled for annual inspection. It is the only "superstructure bridge," McNeece reported and scheduled for replacement by the county.

Two of the other bridges are recommended for rehabilitation, McNeece said.

Spencer County has more bridges than average compared to other Indiana counties. McNeeces also reported only 67 bridges are over 50 years old — replacement recommendations is at 75 years.

Plan Commission reported three new homes in September totaling about $630,000. New accessory buildings totaled $600,000; addons totaled $133,000; two duplexes were added as well.

The plan commission will also add the wind and solar ordinance to the comprehensive plan going forward.

Other business

Other business that came before commissioners during the regular meeting Tuesday, Oct. 17.

Circuit Court has been awarded $15,000 Community Foundation grant for different programs.

A road dating back to 1862 in the town of Enterprise has been approved to be vacated. The road has been unofficially vacated since the 1960s, but required correct process. A public hearing will be held at a later time to allow adjoining landowners time to speak.

SRI is the county tax sale and auction vendor. They reported several properties have continuously failed to attract buyers, being less desirable. When a property does not sell on tax sale, the property reverts to county standing. Commissioners must then send to auction, setting a minimum bid for a commissioners sale. At a commissioners sale, properties are waved of all former taxes, penalties and fees for the buyer.

A public service award was issued to ###, a 911 operator who aided in delivering a baby over the phone.

Commissioners approved changing road 425 West to Linda Yerby Road.

County courthouse is having water issues in the basement. The first step will be to seal cracks in the concrete.

Public comment

In a recent court decision, Spencer Circuit Court Special Judge Amy Steinkamp Miskimen of Warrick Superior Court ruled in favor of Grandview Solar Project LLC to continue construction of the solar project.

At the Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2023, commissioners meeting, a Spencer County resident who will have two sides of her property surrounded by solar fields confronted commissioners. She questioned what commissioners have done to help those who live in the area that will be used as solar farms.

Commissioners responded they have done all they could within legal right.

Dating back to November 2019, court documents attested the Town of Grandview issued zoning permits to "the two mile jurisdictional fringe of the Town of Grandview." In the Findings of Fact, the court ruled "Since solar facilities are permitted in agricultural zones within the two mile jurisdictional fringe of the Town of Grandview, the Project area does not need to be rezoned but rather, remains zoned as agricultural."

On December 12, 2019, following public comment and discussion, the Town BZA unanimously voted to approve the application for Special Exception and issued and approved Minutes reflecting the Special Section Approval. The Town's Zoning Administrator ... signed and attested the Town BZA's Special Exception Approval.

At the Oct. 17 commissioners meeting, County Attorney Jeff Lindsey commented that is was a buffer zone dispute due to Grandview council acting on a buffer zone but having no jurisdiction over one.

Lindsey responded to the county resident, saying, "The county doesn't have the right to intervene in a lawsuit." The judge and court found the permit had to be issued.