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Clinton County Commissioners - page 4

“There Is No Way To Sugarcoat This”

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The three Clinton County Commissioners – Steve Woods, Scott Shoemaker, and Joshua Uitts – issued a statement to residents on April 2 warning of the need to take action to adhere to social distancing.

“Our hospital is prepared, our county is prepared but we cannot take care of all of us in the worst scenario possible.”

The Commissioners asked residents to research COVID-19 to understand the science behind the coronavirus. They offered a website to understand the impact the pandemic could have on Clinton County in a worst-case scenario.

“There is no way to sugarcoat this. There are not enough hospital beds and ventilators for our 33,000 residents to be cared for if we don’t slow the spread now. Please visit covidactnow.org and click on Indiana.”

The website mentioned is COVID Act Now and here is the direct link to Clinton County, https://covidactnow.org/us/in/county/clinton_county

The included chart with this article came from the referenced website when looking at Clinton County Indiana.

“You can see how easily our healthcare system could become overwhelmed. Even with the small percentage of persons who could become deceased from COVID-19 our states Coroner and Morgue Services will quickly become overwhelmed. While we understand the virus doesn’t show severe symptoms in most cases, we need to do whatever we can now to keep people alive.”

The Commissioners conclude by providing ways for residents to help in flattening the curve.

“Stay home. Stay away from people that don’t live with you. Do whatever it takes to stay healthy. People of any age can be affected. We need your help, follow the rules. It’s no fun to be shut in your house but you have to find ways to make it work. All of our lives depend on everyone doing their part.”

Message from Clinton County Commissioners

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April 2, 2020

Good evening,

Clinton County has experienced low numbers with Covid-19. With the warmer weather we are seeing more traffic on our roadways. The Governor has given a broad set of rules to follow for essential businesses to remain open. The County Commissioners have the authority to ban all travel under Indiana State Law. We are trying to refrain from doing so. We need to see a significantly reduced amount of traffic and social interaction.

Please research the science behind this virus. Our hospital is prepared, our county is prepared but we cannot take care of all of us in the worst scenario possible. There is no way to sugarcoat this. There are not enough hospital beds and ventilators for our 33,000 residents to be cared for if we don’t slow the spread now. Please visit covidactnow.org and click on Indiana. You can see how easily our healthcare system could become overwhelmed. Even with the small percentage of persons who could be come deceased from Covid-19 our states Coroner and Morgue Services will quickly become overwhelmed. While we understand the virus doesn’t show severe symptoms in most cases, we need to do whatever we can now to keep people alive.

Stay home. Stay away from people that don’t live with you. Do whatever it takes to stay healthy. People of any age can be affected. We need your help, follow the rules. It’s no fun to be shut in your house but you have to find ways to make it work. All of our lives depend on everyone doing their part.

Sincerely,

Steve Woods
Scott Shoemaker
Joshua Uitts

Clinton County Commissioners Order County’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan Activated In Response To COVID-19 Pandemic

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Clinton County COVID-19 Press Release

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic the Board of Clinton Commissioners instructed, via executive order, Clinton County Emergency Management Director Darrell Sanders to implement the County’s Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. Director Sanders will activate and deactivate the portions of the CEMP that are needed to respond to the rapidly changing situation. Currently the Communications and the Health and Medical portions of the plan have been activated by the EMA Director. Clinton County Central Dispatch Director Renee Crick is in charge of the Communications portion, and Clinton County Health Department Administrator Rodney Wann is in charge of the Health and Medical portion.

It is important to note that the CEMP also includes all City of Frankfort Agencies and the input of Frankfort Mayor Judith Sheets. As we always have, everyone is working together for our community.

As of right now there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Clinton County. As more testing becomes available that statistic is likely to change. Dr. Tharp and Dana Longenecker of the Clinton County Board of Health have been working to make testing more readily available in Clinton County. The Clinton County Council took emergency action yesterday to make sure the funding is in place to be used to purchase tests if need be.

We would like to again ask that all citizens of Clinton County continue to adhere to the guidelines that have been issued by the President Trump, Governor Holcomb, and the CDC. The more stringently we adhere to recommendations the sooner we will defeat COVID-19.

One more thing, please resists the temptation and refrain from going to our local stores and hoarding items that everyone needs. We’ve said it before and it needs to be reiterated, that type of behavior has no place in modern civilized society. We all have families to look out for, but we also need to look out for each other.

Best regards,
Scott Shoemaker
Steve Woods
Joshua Uitts
Clinton County Board of Commissioners

County Commissioners Keep Solar Farm Overlay Decision Tabled

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With the restrictions communicated to the public regarding public gatherings do to the coronavirus, the Clinton County Commissioners were faced with a decision regarding the solar farm overlay at its Tuesday, March 17, 2020, meeting. Bring it up for a vote, or leave it tabled.

“We know it is a hot topic and folks are very interested in that,” said County Commissioner Josh Uitts. “So, we made the decision to take that off of the agenda because we didn’t folks coming in here being unnecessarily exposed to anything or take any kind of risk. And, at the same time, we didn’t want to make a decision of that magnitude when folks can’t be here. It’s just not the right way to do things and we are going to make sure that folks, one way or another, have the ability to attend a meeting – whether that is here physically; hopefully, in the near future or virtually.”

The solar overlay, also known by its legal document as Lupac #02-20-358 Ordinance 2020-04, could become effective even if the Commissioners do not vote.

Liz Stitzel of the Area Plan Commission informed the Commissioners at the March 3, 2020, meeting that under state law they have 90-days to either vote to approve or deny the Lupac or the Lupac becomes effective the way it is recommended by the Area Plan Commission without action.

The Commissioners asked County Attorney Tom Little to look into whether Indiana law would allow for virtual meetings. A finding will be communicated once research has been concluded.

$4,720,735 To Take Water From Jefferson To I-65

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With two (2) new projects recently announced at the I-65 & State Road 28 interchange (NHK manufacturing facility & Five Below distribution center), those respective projects are dependant upon the utility expansion from Jefferson to that area previously announced in June 2019.

During the Tuesday, March 3, 2020, County Commissioners meeting, Jon Query of HWC Engineering provided the Commissioners with a report on the bids for Divison “B” (Water Project) of the I-65 utility expansion from Jefferson. A total of six (6) bids were received.

The I-65 utility expansion project comprises two parts or divisions. Division “B” is the water portion while Division “A” is the sewer portion.

Division “A” of the project and has not been bid yet due to waiting on EDA grant funding status before that portion bids.

HWC Engineering received a total of six (6) bids on February 20, 2020, ranging from $4,720,735 to $5,635,390.

The low bidder was J.G. Case Construction Inc. of Muncie, IN. HWC Engineering has worked with J.G Case Construction Inc. on prior projects and “that work has all been acceptable and good,” said Query.

The low bid of $4,720,735 came back close to the revised estimated of $4,750,000. The biggest reason for the change in estimated project cost was the change from a 12″ to an 18″ water main.

HWC Engineering recommended the Commissioners accept the low bid from J.G. Case Contruction Inc. in the amount of $4,720,735 pending the final review from the financial advisor, Baker Tilly, and the funding agency, SRF.

“Given the schedule with the developments (at I-65), we need to proceed with this pretty quickly,” said Query. “They (the independent project developers) are wanting water service early next year…we need to get notice to proceed to the contractor in the next few weeks.”

“(I) was very pleased the amount of bidders that we received,” said Commissioner Josh Uitts. “It made it a competitive bid and I think we saw the results of that with the bid coming in right where we thought it would, our estimated budget.”

The Commissioners voted to accept the recommendation, 3-0.

Clinton County Commissioners Agree To Table Solar Farm Overlay Decision

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When the Clinton County Commissioners met on Tuesday, March 3, 2020, they did so with a full room. Those in attendance ranged from the public concerned with the proposed solar farm to department heads to representatives of Invenergy, LLC, the parent company of Hardy Hills Solar Energy LLC.

Liz Stitzel of the Area Plan Commission came before the Clinton County Commissioners to present the favorable recommendation voted by the APC on Wednesday, February 26, 2020. The legal document is known as Lupac #02-20-358 Ordinance 2020-04.

The Lupac is a binding legal document, including the commitments previously agreed to, not only on the company but all individuals who hold interest in that land.

The presentation made by Stitzel came after the public portion of the Commissioners meeting where three (3) members of the public spoke on the topic of the Hardy Hills Solar Energy LLC proposed project, all three spoke against the proposed project.

The three individuals spoke on issues ranging from a potential loss of property value, groundwater contamination, impact on wildlife, and the perception the commissioners are rushing to make a decision.

“The only thing we could do this morning if we wanted to, is approve the rezoning of the overlay district,” said Commissioner Josh Uitts.

Commissioners Uitts made the recommendation to table the decision on voting on the Lupac at the meeting today and take it under consideration at a future point.

Stitzel informed the Commissioners under state law they have 90-days to either vote to approve or deny the Lupac or the Lupac becomes effective the way it is recommended by the Area Plan Commission without action.

“I think we have a lot of good conversation. We still have letters coming in and I just read two more,” said Commissioner Steve Woods. “I’m more than willing to wait to get this done, done the right way.”

The Commissioners’ next meeting could see a vote taken on the APC recommendation.

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