12 January 2026 Dearborn County Redevelopment Meeting Notes
Present: Jim Deaton, Chairman, Dennis Kraus,Jr.,Trevor Bischoff, Jordan Hoffman, Jim Mansfield,Doug Baker.
ABSENT: Tom Tepe in Key West and and Daryl Cutter (non- voting school board member)
Also present: Sue Hayden, county administrator and minute taker, Anthony Smart, attorney, Connie Fromhold, Auditor and DCRC treasurer.
Title VI statement read as legally required by Deaton.
EXECUTIVE SESSION @ 4:45 p.m. preceded this meeting
• IC § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(2)(D): For a discussion of strategy with respect to a real property transaction including: a purchase; a lease as lessor; a lease as lessee; a transfer; an exchange; or a sale; by the governing body up to the time a contract or option is executed by the parties.
IC § 5-14-1.5-6.1(b)(19): To have communications with an attorney that are subject to the attorney client privilege.
Action from Executive Session- No action
Election of Officers for 2026:
Mansfield nominated Deaton.
Kraus Jr. asked if Deaton had wanted tot be president. (This was because Deaton has said last year after being elected that the previous year was his last year, and would stay on as a member.) Deaton said his doctor (who is younger than him ) said Jim Deaton was in better condition than he was. Deaton was fine if Kraus Jr. wants to be president. Hoffman nominated Kraus Jr.
Deaton suggested secret ballot. They decided on Roll Call vote for President, at Anthony Smart’s suggestion. Vote was 3-3. TIED. Decided to wait till next meeting to do the elections until there were 7 members.
Conversation about getting a non-voting school board member- as Cutter isn't showing up. Apparently they cannot get anyone to volunteer to be on the board even from the other schools.
HOUSEKEEPING:
Establish 2026 Meeting Dates and Times will be monthly on 2nd Monday at 5 PM on Monday except for October which will be the 19th.
Approval of Minutes
December 8, 2025 Meeting- Approved
December 17, 2025 Special Meeting- Approved
Kraus Jr reminded the Board that they were supposed to revise their by-laws. Anthony Smart said he would do that and have it for the next meeting.
Claims: BakerTilly $14,525.00 for Whitewater Processing TIF, Clay Township TIF and attending meetings. One Dearborn $13,750.00 for 4th quarter billing Smart Law $3,840.00 Total $32,115.00- Approved
Financials – Review OK
TIF Cash Flow Analysis - Review
ONE DEARBORN REPORT Mike Perleberg- moved up on agenda as he had to leave early.
READI 2.0 Grant Update -ongoing
REDI Cincinnati SSG Site Analysis Study - been approached by them to participate for I-74 West Harrison Business Park Site. It will be good marketing and based on infrastructure there, what would be good businesses to strata to that. No cost-and One Dearborn will do the leg work. There is a 300m question spreadsheet hey sent and he and Gage will start on that.
Baker thanked Perleberg for all he has done for Dillsboro - especially after all the heat he took at the last meeting,
OLD BUSINESS
TWG Development Project Update- last info is that they are on track per Deaton.
NEW BUSINESS-
Mowing Services for 2026- Sue Hayden said bids are due Feb 3rd.
Bayer Becker Engineering Master Services Agreement- first contract was for 3 years and this new one is for another 3 years. Rosenberger has added some AI, insurance changes, and fees. Kraus Jr. said he had not seen this in county government - as they usually get bids. Smart says that the state statute says you do not have to bid out separate tasks. Hoffman said that we could bid out other firms for projects even with this in place? Rosenberger said yes. This covers current on going tasks. There is a 7 day notice to stop work with me at any time. Bischoff asked about ownership of the documents with that contract. Rosenberger told him that they could still use those documents in teh future on Moore drive- as an example. Approved the Master Agreement.
BAYER BECKER REPORT
West Harrison I-74 EB Ramp- way out in the future
West Harrison Moore Drive and Railroad Crossing- INDOT said they do not have to get any approval from them on Moore Dr. He also got the RR approval. $150,000 to do this, and will bid it out in the next couple months.
Downtown Bright Infrastructure- nothing on thsi- but Mansfield asked about Jamison rd and the part about St. E’s with a lot of water trapped there. In front of Old St E is a problem and 13 acres are flowing through there. It would be nice to get underground detention on St E’s. Rosenberger said that a representative from the county has to be there and Rosenberger will initiate that.Kraus Jr. willing to talk to Kris Mangeot realtor for St E’s this coming Friday. Kraus Jr- exit by drive thru on Skyline has been a source that needs draining also. Not sure where the money will come from to pay for this. Alleged that county road work caused it. He has mentioned this to Listerman.
ATTORNEY’S REPORT- the property is the donation and $6,560 is needed for Moore Drive work. Approved.
OTHER BUSINESS: Doug Baker- We went through an aggravating TIF process and he felt that we could do better. Transparency is important. I feel like any property owner in a TIF proposed needs to be notified. He said this does not stop development- it just stopped the flow of dollars. He wants agendas and minutes out there on county Facebook maybe even. Several board members agreed with the notification issue that Baker brought up. Baker said transparency is a word he wants to have brought up. Discussion regarding email contacts to the board members. Deatonalso mentioned they could contact One Dearborn with questions on developments and TIFs.
PUBLIC COMMENT- None
ADJOURNED 5:48 PM
Christine Brauer Mueller
Lawrenceburg Township
