[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6576695,"mediaKeyId","3069631-9cee00ef19d8d3ab57ec946cd4bbbc84","parentId",3069631,"title","Middlebury residents ask Elkhart County Council for public hearing after library board declines roll-call vote on content resolution","audioSeconds",394,"startMs",2000000,"endMs",2394000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3069631-9cee00ef19d8d3ab57ec946cd4bbbc84&start=2000&end=2394","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3069631-9cee00ef19d8d3ab57ec946cd4bbbc84/thumbnail_2000000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6576695/Elkhart-County/Indiana/Middlebury-residents-ask-Elkhart-County-Council-for-public-hearing-after-library-board-declines-roll-call-vote-on-content-resolution","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576695-b1cbaeb4ccc3a4b04e55665cd73103cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770851599&Signature=gLKcovyXQ1YIB~wlC6BtBcQD1bBRjYsWKtTWd37p2k2e8MGhcPohFh5taO89K-bPTRKafHUSQWvw-UHft7c59wQf6BcQcs0T5HOBofS4iZPF1nJ2bzjJ3~-FW15d0uig~LEQH-~9pGB197n-IGz7eSsXQyZfzXVYRmCqNd5aeKxvy47T9CO2fPXIF1aebZ40My119whxzrkGJE4Q-Fi9rXwplduCneuI0B12hqORuegbM9tQsVghvCqZGe0zDhRfzfCvnk2gnixbFw2MV-oH0K5oVFTE3IhtoRYkideGrW6onsQgMVsyuyeG9Z0dPomGenpf76VhrNwV0COn7UACrQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Elkhart County","date","2025-04-18T17:17:50.037Z","article","A Middlebury resident told the Elkhart County Council on April 17 that 524 people signed a petition asking the council to hold a public hearing on whether county-appointed library board members had \"jeopardized public confidence\" by not taking a roll-call vote on a community-backed resolution about sexually explicit or otherwise graphic material in library collections.

Cindy Hyczyk of Goshen said the petition asks the council \"to redress my grievance\" and requested that the council schedule a public hearing to receive evidence and determine whether removal of appointees is warranted under the law. She said the resolution asked the library to make certain graphic materials available to minors only when accompanied by a parent or guardian; Hyczyk said the library president responded that that policy already exists in the library's rules but that community members disagree with how the policy is being applied.

Council members said they had discussed the request and did not \"have much appetite for replacing somebody in the middle of their term.\" Council leadership noted that library board appointments are considered during recurring appointment cycles and suggested the matter could be revisited at that time. The council also asked County Attorney Steve Olsen to review whether statute requires the council to hold a public hearing on the petition. Olsen said he was \"not aware\" of a statute that allows a citizen to demand such a hearing and would research the law on the council’s behalf.

Hyczyk cited Indiana Code \"36-12-2-20\" during her remarks and asked the council to put members on record. She urged a roll-call vote \"as to whether or not to move forward with that public hearing\" at next month’s meeting. Council members said they will await the county attorney’s legal advice and that, absent a legal requirement, they expect to address appointment questions in their regular appointment process later in the year.

All statements attributed in this report are those made in the council meeting record; the council did not schedule a public hearing during the April 17 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Elkhart County Live Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A Middlebury resident representing 524 petition signers asked the Elkhart County Council to hold a public hearing on April 17 to consider whether county-appointed library board members had \"jeopardized public confidence\" by failing to put a community-backed resolution to a roll-call vote.","taxTitle","Elkhart County, Indiana","taxId",5801,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576700,"Elkhart County Parks to use donations, appropriated funds for maintenance; goats to control invasive plants",35,626000,661000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3069631-9cee00ef19d8d3ab57ec946cd4bbbc84&start=626&end=661","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3069631-9cee00ef19d8d3ab57ec946cd4bbbc84/thumbnail_626000.jpg","/articles/6576700/Elkhart-County/Indiana/Elkhart-County-Parks-to-use-donations-appropriated-funds-for-maintenance-goats-to-control-invasive-plants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576700-7a547572f9f5ea423a49be587fa033ad/orig.mp4?Expires=1770851599&Signature=Rf8~zz7CaoKpmTCcNs15t7tQQST7EoopMdg78fDaYqEM-Tj5R4Cj~QK946Gy-k4EdVrNlvyHMt7e6kfrEvKkS1FaC83t1eJu7hGzyElDAAmFlkXouzI1CQMixRo-WtA9CPjtqIegSXD8wmlL~ptKwzSWgoYVVcOBAAqyI6hpv1XEErigLEVStzTNKRUKfTBit7kpXizK-z7Rki3bRRC-bQvbQk6b-H76mW98Ij0dvAm-Le4hlFPNPXG9LaNv4uHBVcKDvmZAKm390xSqVl~UDV-A7vaneQDHp3p-S2hGITHQc-DdDDPlK3sVQtP6mAvXSxP9S4W-2~t53ejwdqYMsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Elkhart County Council on April 17 approved a $120,000 appropriation to the parks department for capital maintenance projects, and county parks staff used the meeting’s public hearing portion to outline several upcoming projects and an invasive-species control effort using goats.

Rhonda Deacare of Elkhart County Parks said the appropriation is the department’s annual capital request and will pay for items ranging from shelter repairs to playground surfacing. She told the council the department is \"finishing up the DeFries house\" and that \"the drywall went up this week\"; she estimated completion in about two months. Deacare also said staff are installing a hexagon-shaped shelter at Corson Riverwoods and that some park restrooms remain closed pending state water and well testing.

Deacare described a recurring, donor-funded goat program to manage invasive plant species. She said a prior donation of $1,000 funded goats and that the department recently received another donation of $2,500 to hire goats again this summer. \"They eat the invasive plants and then it makes it easier for our staff to get into those areas,\" she said, adding that staff follow by spot-treating regrowth with herbicide to encourage native species recovery.

Council members asked about grand-opening timing; Deacare said the DeFries House and the Corson Riverwoods shelter are planned for openings in June or July and that the parks board would provide details to the council.

The council approved the $120,000 appropriation 7-0 and the parks presentation closed with staff noting ongoing construction inspections and state-required water testing for some facilities.","Council approved $120,000 for parks maintenance. Parks staff described near-term projects including completion of the DeFries House, a new shelter at Corson Riverwoods and a donated goat program to control invasive plants.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576704,"Elkhart County Council approves multiple appropriations, interlocal agreements and a new grant fund",761,538000,1299000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3069631-9cee00ef19d8d3ab57ec946cd4bbbc84&start=538&end=1299","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3069631-9cee00ef19d8d3ab57ec946cd4bbbc84/thumbnail_538000.jpg","/articles/6576704/Elkhart-County/Indiana/Elkhart-County-Council-approves-multiple-appropriations-interlocal-agreements-and-a-new-grant-fund","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576704-e55aa43877eeaeb29961a5141c978efc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770851599&Signature=J7v5Hk20GU-MMBRS893iW2mMFF1ivBYrJvltAlz6tgXFAG1SFujugevTjtNMCIOR0gfoKA7hbBy8FEnsct0G8AdRt~pAocCbCR196qOqKfU~R-mumslHJFm5~UE286ixqbPHEyUY6IqbDOX4YRqzFakj1Ek4A09hv9eklhbmVyOon6G3-H3rBQbVVhfRl2Zl970ORQjlskyPEHezt9uNV-NS~30ifKuuPa60ljnAx5qBlWH76vSmClOjeGU6ZBjNFrRm6f-0xYTpdlX2BMSk8ui8591K3sVcXOg7U3BlsyhWk1a0oSZtc6zV6wf3ugKQm3y-x6f3PNYcZ5rBiQ5rmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Elkhart County Council on April 17 approved a series of additional appropriations, transfers and interlocal agreements, and established a new grant fund for Sheriffs Office programs. All roll-call votes recorded in the meeting were unanimous, 7-0.

Council members voted to approve a $50,000 additional appropriation from the Cumulative Drainage Fund for the county surveyor’s office to fund obstruction removal in regulated drains. County Surveyor Philip Barker told the council the request is to close out an old project and replenish the fund; he said \"we have $16,000 roughly left in it, which will be returned if we get this appropriation.\" The council recorded the motion and approved the appropriation 7-0.

The council approved a $120,000 nonreverting appropriation from Park and Recreation capital funds for park maintenance, to be used for shelter repairs, concrete leveling, playground wood chips and similar capital maintenance. Rhonda Deacare of Elkhart County Parks described current projects, saying the department is \"finishing up the DeFries house\" and is installing a hexagon-shaped shelter at Corson Riverwoods. The appropriation passed 7-0.

Planning and development requested and the council approved two TIF-funded appropriations of $70,000 each from the Middlebury Southeast TIF and the Middlebury East TIF to cover roughly half of design fees for the Water Tower No. 2 project in Middlebury; Natasha Weisenbach, the county redevelopment coordinator, said the Town of Middlebury will cover the other half. The council approved both requests 7-0.

A small reduction request from the Emergency Management (Emergency Planning) fund for $75.91 was approved 7-0. The council also approved a transfer of $800 from capital supply to office equipment to replace two printers in the county clerk’s office; Christopher Anderson, Elkhart County Clerk, explained the need and the transfer passed 7-0.

In interlocal agreements, the council approved (1) county funding commitments totaling $140,000 ($70,000 from Middlebury East allocation and $70,000 from Middlebury Southeast allocation) toward replacement of Water Tower No. 2 in the Town of Middlebury, (2) an agreement funding $69,000 from the Middlebury East TIF for East Warren water-main replacement, and (3) a 50/50 shared structural improvement agreement with the City of Elkhart for County Road 6 (between County Road 9/Johnson Street and County Road 11/Osceola Road), with Elkhart County managing bidding and procurement. County Attorney Steve Olsen described the interlocal items and noted legal review; each interlocal agreement passed 7-0.

The council also approved Ordinance CC2025-10 to establish a new nonreverting fund (Fund 9174) for the Spark Good grant (a community grant program from Walmart) with the treasurer as custodian and auditor as auditing agent. The ordinance language notes that all expenditures must be for authorized grant purposes and that some grants may not require council appropriation if not required by law. The council approved the ordinance 7-0. Steve Olsen said the grant fund \"will be subject to appropriation by the council in accordance with its regular appropriation process unless an appropriation is not required by law.\"

Votes at a glance (recorded outcomes):
- Surveyor additional appropriation: $50,000 from Cumulative Drainage Fund — passed 7-0.
- Parks appropriation: $120,000 Park & Recreation nonreverting fund — passed 7-0.
- Middlebury Southeast TIF appropriation: $70,000 (design for Water Tower No. 2) — passed 7-0.
- Middlebury East TIF appropriation: $70,000 (design for Water Tower No. 2) — passed 7-0.
- Emergency Management reduction: $75.91 — passed 7-0.
- Clerk transfer: $800 from capital supply to office equipment — passed 7-0.
- Interlocal agreement — Water Tower No. 2 funding (Middlebury/Town/Elkhart County Redevelopment Commission): $70,000 (Middlebury East) + $70,000 (Middlebury SE) — passed 7-0.
- Interlocal agreement — East Warren water-main replacement: $69,000 (Middlebury East TIF) — passed 7-0.
- Interlocal agreement — County Road 6 structural pavement improvements shared with City of Elkhart (50/50) — passed 7-0.
- Ordinance CC2025-10 (Spark Good grant fund / Fund 9174) — passed 7-0.

Several presenters clarified project details during the public hearing portions for each appropriation. No votes failed or were postponed during the meeting.

The council chair closed the appropriations items and moved to other business after completing the listed approvals.","At its April 17 meeting the Elkhart County Council unanimously approved a slate of additional appropriations, transfers and interlocal agreements including funding for park maintenance, water infrastructure in Middlebury, structural work on County Road 6 and creation of a Spark Good grant fund for the sheriff’s office.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6576691,"County counsel says health department provided handouts to Amish and Mennonite schools ahead of possible measles cases",80,196000,276000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3069631-9cee00ef19d8d3ab57ec946cd4bbbc84&start=196&end=276","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3069631-9cee00ef19d8d3ab57ec946cd4bbbc84/thumbnail_196000.jpg","/articles/6576691/Elkhart-County/Indiana/County-counsel-says-health-department-provided-handouts-to-Amish-and-Mennonite-schools-ahead-of-possible-measles-cases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6576691-a5e91d713977f4a9b66bc0062f17c6d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770851599&Signature=DY2mBNSg02goRnPHlkShlZQqjdpByjw0YDRW-1-4evTx0WH8UFI~9ZXaknJ8t2DskTRYEy3u9HaH4XoQhtvFG-nwKRPcMK5Hyj2hbXk1Ad7QV-AqRpzMBib7BIZVrL1uR9kpGe9oXrPjkYVKMn-1NNQw-IbXYi34kidIKoP79-I~Quyh7QXZYJ65LGZk3ywdZrqEsf3gndfLJXiBjTeBeOQ46jpg4xE3g7C5Di88DSFw6PThEJKGMnJJxCHMaCq0-Lljb1sCuiW~fo-Q81A1wRl1dsgM4y4OTucQBf~cuJ1XOEVaBQcQU7FxGce2T-xnKGPVx4zOE08tjKrGxioxSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","County Counsel read a statement at the April 17 Elkhart County Council meeting describing a health-department outreach effort to Amish and Mennonite schools following reports of measles in the Fort Wayne and Michigan areas.

The statement said the health department’s preparedness coordinator visited the schools and provided teachers with handouts that could be sent home at the teacher’s discretion, and left contact information for follow-up questions. \"Balancing our responsibility for a healthy community and at the same time respecting the beliefs of these communities, we only offer the teachers a handout which could be sent home with the students at the discretion of the individual teachers,\" the counsel said. The statement added, \"At no time did she speak with any of the students.\"

The counsel said the health department received multiple inquiries from Amish parents following the outreach and commended the preparedness coordinator’s approach for managing the topic \"in such a sensitive way.\" The council did not take action on the matter during the meeting; the statement was informational to the public record.","County counsel reported that the Elkhart County Health Department proactively offered handouts and contact information to Amish and Mennonite schoolteachers about a potential measles outbreak, taking care not to speak directly with students and respecting religious practices.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Middlebury residents ask Elkhart County Council for public hearing after library board declines roll-call vote on content resolution

Elkhart County Parks to use donations, appropriated funds for maintenance; goats to control invasive plants

Elkhart County Council approves multiple appropriations, interlocal agreements and a new grant fund

County counsel says health department provided handouts to Amish and Mennonite schools ahead of possible measles cases