This is the WFHB Local News for Monday, June 30th, 2025.

In today’s newscast, Gerard Pannekoek walks through the mission of the recent Granfalloon Festival. You’ll get a deep dive into the “how and why” of Granfalloon later in the show in a feature report.

Also, you will hear Maggie Sullivan, watershed coordinator for Friends of Lake Monroe, a grassroots nonprofit watchdog for the lake and the streams feeding it. Learn more later in the show on a new episode of Activate!

But first, your daily headlines:

Monroe County Board of Health Considers New Public Comment Policy

The Monroe County Board of Health met on June 26th. A large portion of the meeting was devoted to discussing changes to the board’s policy on public comment. The proposed change would require the public to sign up for public comment in advance, and it would require that they state what their comment will be about ahead of time.

A long-winded discussion ensued, with board members arguing both for and against the changes. Some believed it provided protection against non-serious or non-compliant public comment requests, while others believed public comment should remain more easily accessible and that the change would make public comment more cumbersome. Board Chair Aurora DiOrio announced that they have a new online form for members of the public to sign to sign up for public comment.

DiOrio said her goal is to get a draft for the policy, and then host a public hearing on the draft in July.

Board Member Lisa Hanner-Robinson shared that she has three concerns with the proposed policy.

DiOrio responded, and Board Member Kay Leach chimed in as well.

Hanner-Robinson then made the argument that members of the public should not have to sign up for public comment in advance. Board Member Stephen Pritchard clarified the language used, as prior to the meeting, rather than in advance.

They discussed how they have members of the public sign in when they are attending virtually. DiOrio pointed to the online form as the solution. Hanner-Robinson asked what other boards and commissions do in this situation.

County Commissioner Jody Madeira was in attendance at the meeting, she was able to answer Hanner-Robinson’s question, along with County Administrative Attorney David Shilling.

In the end, a new draft was accepted that tightened the rules surrounding public comment whilst removing the prerequisite to sign-up ahead of time.

Moving onto new items, Health Department Director Lori Kelley requested the board’s approval to submit an application to the Opioid Settlement Application Review Board. Following large cuts

Kelley explained that the Opioid Settlement Fund monies could be used to pay the full time harm reduction specialist and to hire part-time workers to support the program.

Board Member Lee McKinley asked if there was a backup option if the application is not approved. Kelley said there is not, and the position will end in November.

The request was passed unanimously. The Monroe County Board of Health will next meet on July 17th.

Monroe County Commissioners Tackle Funding Cuts, Storm Damage and Emergency Preparedness

The Monroe County Council met on June 24th and discussed reestablishing Minimum Cash Fund Balances. The county’s consulting firm, Financial Solutions Group, recommended the County lowers minimum balances for the Motor Vehicle Highway Fund from $1 million to $750,000 and the Health Fund and Election Fund each from $1 million to $500,000.

Council Member Marty Hawk reminded the council that budget discussions later will determine the amount actually allocated to the funds. She said that putting too much money in frozen levy funds could restrict the flexibility in the County General Fund.

County Auditor Brianne Gregory expressed concern about the election fund being cut down to half a million dollars. She said maintaining a higher minimum balance smooths out costs over multiple years.

The council approved reducing the minimum cash balances as recommended by FSG, but set the Election Fund’s minimum at $750,000 instead of the suggested half a million.

The council then discussed approving compliance findings, such as job creation and wage levels, for businesses receiving tax abatements. Approval is required within 45 days of the reports being filed, meaning by July 1st. Council members expressed frustration that the item appeared on the agenda so late in that timeframe.

Hawk voiced her concern that the short notice meant businesses were not invited to speak at the meeting.

All businesses were found to be compliant with the abatement requirements, so the council allowed the resolution to pass automatically with no formal action.

Building Commissioner Robert LaRue gave an update of the county’s response to recent storm damage. He explained that the county is prioritizing power restoration and expediting inspections.

Council Member Trent Deckard asked if the county could subsidize the permit cost, saying the county wants to support people facing hard times. LaRue said he would get an estimate.

The council also discussed moving two health emergency preparedness positions to different funding sources because of recent state legislation passed restricting Health First Indiana funders to Indiana citizens. Health Administrator Lori Kelley said moving the positions to other funds would ensure services continue to reach all Monroe County residents.

Council Member Peter Iversen supported the resolution, saying it provides access to healthcare for all Indiana residents.

Council Member David Henry asked about future funding for preparedness supplies and training once they are removed from Health First Indiana. Kelley explained that grant funds, reserve funds and county funds can cover the costs, although funding would be reduced.

The council unanimously approved the funding shift. The next Monroe County Council meeting will be held on July 2.

Feature Report:

130,000 people depend on Lake Monroe for clean drinking water and none of them are in charge of protecting its water quality. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers owns the land, and the state manages the lake, and the city treats the water they pull from the lake…but no official entity safeguards the supply. Maggie Sullivan says this is why Friends of Lake Monroe is so important – a grassroots nonprofit watchdog for the lake and the streams feeding it. Sullivan is the Friends of Lake Monroe watershed coordinator, and she’s here to bring people together around protecting Lake Monroe, on a new episode of Activate!, coming your way right now on the WFHB Local News.

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