Commissioners Meeting for March 15, 2021
KAtie Forte - Reporter
Harrison County Commissioners Meeting - 3/15/21 7:00pm Harrison County Government Center
New Bids:
Boone Township Fire Department and Elizabeth Township FD approached the commissioners about being put into the cycle to receive funds; as it was Palmyra's turn, but they have stepped back because "they are not ready". The representative from Boone FD said that Boone and Elizabeth would be sharing the funds, if the commissioners allowed them to be up again. Motion was approved.
New Business:
James Yeager approached the commissioners about the request for the county to vacate the exclusion on Suellen Ln. Chris Byrd discussed what he had learned from the lawyer regarding the plan to address this request.
A sales call was made by a representative from Rumschlag-Janssen and Spans Engineering regarding their qualifications to address any needs that would come up related to the county's roads and bridges.
County Officials:
Terry Smith - Harrison County Planning Commission
Smith with updates on recent recommendations from the Plan Commission.
Commissioners approved recommendations.
Terry also brought up a change that had no recommendation from the Planning Commission that had been tabled since the last meeting:
Don Smith explained and advocated for a zoning change of his 2 acre plot from AR to a I-One/light industrial that would allow him to manufacture car parts on his 2 acres of land. "Unless you are going to give me a permit to grow marijuana on that 2 acres, it's not farm ground." 33mins
Mr. Stepro encouraged Mr. Smith to pursue another avenue. Nelson Stepro also voiced concern about giving Mr. Smith an I-One due to the problem he has with "sexually oriented businesses". Don emphasized that he wanted to be in compliance... "If its’s zoned properly, then my grandkids won't have to worry about it." Mr. Smith decided to withdraw his application for now. Mr, Heitkemper offered up that "if it is AR zoned, you could do dirt work now."
Greg Reas - Director of Emergency Management
Reas gave an update on the small expansion that's taking place at a communication site at Hayswood that they manage. He briefly explained the changes that were occuring and let the commissioners know that they would have to sign off on any "contractual stuff." He also touted the $90,000 of income the small agency that he runs brings in for the county.
Kevin Russel - Highway Department
Additional funds were requested to cover an engine overhaul and to cover overtime related to the spring snows, Motion to approve was passed.
Personnel Issues:
The hiring of a candidate selected to work at Animal Control was approved.
FMLA extension for quarantining was approved.
Other Business:
Carrie Spencer approached the commissioners as a follow-up to the emails she had made to the commissioners and prior discussion at the last meeting regarding the possibility of moving the covid testing site in order to open Rhoads Pool.
Contrary to his comments at the last meeting, Charlie Crawford said that "lives were involved with covid testing" and so he no longer supported moving the covid site. Carrie asked if they had considered the back lot of the Government Center. Jim Heitkemper said that he thought that it was being moved and didn't realize "we had stalled" adding that the Government Center was "always a possibility". Heitkemper then questioned Larry Shickles, superintendent of Parks, regarding the readiness of Rhoads. Shickles assured commissioners that Rhoads pool was ready to go and the only obstacle was the hiring of lifeguards. Heitkemper ended the Rhoads pool discussion with, "I'm going to see what I can do."
County Auditor addressed appropriations requests.
Meeting adjourned.