[{"_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",6178484,"mediaKeyId","5225557-a6d7d5efcb5c4d51c0d997173af3ac1d","parentId",5225557,"title","Commissioners press for accounting, workforce data and possible ordinance review amid solar-project concerns","audioSeconds",1240,"startMs",3690000,"endMs",4930000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5225557-a6d7d5efcb5c4d51c0d997173af3ac1d&start=3690&end=4930","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5225557-a6d7d5efcb5c4d51c0d997173af3ac1d/thumbnail_3690000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6178484/Pulaski-County/Indiana/Commissioners-press-for-accounting-workforce-data-and-possible-ordinance-review-amid-solar-project-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178484-5522a2eb40c7c61376badf653c1e559e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770956991&Signature=HzCNWvC3oZwnhV4j5g-xgDIXSliKGmoDQlueerOOQ7dVCTWyaLKBoFm5saWf3K0mLHdU5NaBJWL5TJvREvdMVFiRMEMk13I2wFTmFHBDkLY6iVJCEJMbnbwVc4EPejM~UvuCE7Vd6MmSvw6tb5eSxwkker-BGkGNSHi6JDYktpqTj3cpw-jX1buKDRuxxEhUk-JnJGfm5wQQHwjovYC0hMpRveA5Vx92qGUCupAHOM-WMiVGHdpTrs3fFz5uQa~Q47D6U2IGFM6JZo4-zYQPNVYJ~SkGR5It3XTjJDm31auBt-~dtJzwS6z~O7EpQl1ARrgxqWrPiqZ-phb65cJdUg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pulaski County IN","date","2025-07-07T15:40:40Z","article","Pulaski County commissioners devoted a lengthy portion of their July 7 meeting to public comments and staff discussion about large commercial solar developments in the county. Speakers raised questions about financial accountability, employment projections used to support tax abatements, enforcement of local development standards, and whether to pause new project approvals while the county’s unified development ordinance (UDO) is reviewed.

Accounting and payments: Commissioner comments and public speakers focused on a $225,000 sum that county materials show was to be provided by solar developers to cover consultant and legal work (items cited included drainage, a model UDO, road-use agreements and decommissioning planning). Commissioners said two vendors — Tankersley Law and Baker Tilly — confirmed they received payment directly from developers; one firm (Barnes & Thornburg) had not yet provided confirmation to the county. Commissioners requested a records review to trace whether county funds were used to pay any of these providers and asked staff to search county and treasurer files for evidence of payments since January 2020; several commissioners called for a formal audit or third-party review if documentation cannot be reconciled.

Workforce numbers: Commissioners and residents discussed a discrepancy between developers’ employment estimates used in impact studies and actual hiring. The economic-impact materials reviewed earlier in the development reports assumed 25% of construction-phase workers would be Pulaski County residents. Commissioners said a company (Grama Solar) reported 360 employees on-site with just 3.8% from Pulaski County — about 13 local hires instead of the 90 that 25% would imply. County staff noted some local hauling and subcontractor labor may not have been included in the primary headcount; commissioners pressed for names, addresses or other supporting data to validate resident-hire claims because the county’s tax-abatement and development agreements relied on projected local employment.

UDO, setbacks, fencing and enforcement: Several speakers complained that developers were combining parcels under continuous fence lines that effectively encase adjacent private property and restrict animal movement and hunting access. Residents urged the county to enforce chapter 7 and chapter 8 setback rules (transcript references: 75- and 150-foot setbacks cited by a speaker referencing the county ordinance) and questioned whether compliance monitoring had been delegated to private compliance firms. County staff confirmed vaccination of compliance-liaison services (VS/Bechtel) acts as a liaison but that enforcement actions such as stop-work orders or official removal of permits remain within county officials’ authority, particularly the building inspector and drainage superintendent. Building-inspector authority and the drainage superintendent’s role were discussed as the primary avenues for enforcement.

Next steps and oversight: Commissioners asked county staff to compile invoices and payment records for the consultants who worked on solar-development agreements and to seek documentation from developers showing who paid those invoices. At least one commissioner urged an internal review immediately rather than waiting for a potential State Board of Accounts audit, which staff said may occur within the next six months. Commissioners discussed collecting worker lists and addresses (to verify residency and local hiring percentages) and requested clearer data on subcontractor involvement.

Public comments at the meeting reiterated the call for a moratorium on new large-scale solar approvals while the UDO and enforcement processes are reviewed; commissioners and staff discussed formal scopes of service to review the ordinance and said they had submitted a scope in June and awaited a fee proposal to begin a UDO update process. No moratorium vote occurred at the July 7 meeting; speakers and some commissioners requested expedited study and a follow-up discussion in coming weeks.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Pulaski County Board of Commissioners, 7 July 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners and residents on July 7 pressed county staff for documentation and oversight of recent large-scale solar projects, raising questions about $225,000 in consultant payments, disparities between promised and actual local hiring, and enforcement of setback and fencing rules under the UDO.","taxTitle","Pulaski County, Indiana","taxId",71132,"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},6178488,"Commissioners approve starting formal vacation process for section of Merle Avenue; action contingent on attorney write-ups",470,1230000,1700000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5225557-a6d7d5efcb5c4d51c0d997173af3ac1d&start=1230&end=1700","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5225557-a6d7d5efcb5c4d51c0d997173af3ac1d/thumbnail_1230000.jpg","/articles/6178488/Pulaski-County/Indiana/Commissioners-approve-starting-formal-vacation-process-for-section-of-Merle-Avenue-action-contingent-on-attorney-write-ups","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178488-889581938df5e7f971002bcd3fc2cfc9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770956991&Signature=PdFLWNn8swuPk5QF-dABXB0kSn5SClZpqvvLukgB9bAJAKedmffk5Q7HJOQuSq8K05ICSV9kukdMu0H8mMZ9FkZUtgBZVMAWOhVEC~pZ8kS-rYatrhpJbs7krFoUdOaMiXYcoeg7KN1rPaT2r3Jd0tHDGtU0c5~Mrectdg2nsjIpZrNpAcXZDEdA8Zo1jOXIIeX5JfmmEkSpeiPc2zSasHRKyIWGqgREj1rynhn3pqzyv4F2-qj3WdaayYyLrGmP8HGBqrQtgVK6V7joPn6~eYkgBKcEIUw3~K37nQDt3qZ9V00Q7il2pCCqtMqq8wFomW9fqjD9v-gMisqVM6R2QQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pulaski County commissioners on July 7 voted to begin the legal process to vacate a section of Merle Avenue in Whipplecrest Subdivision after neighbors and property owners discussed a local compromise.

Commissioner and resident statements at the meeting described a proposal to close Merle Avenue from the north end of 300 South to the southern edge of Lots 23 and 36, while leaving the road open south of that point so Mark Ingram’s property would remain accessible from Ray Road. Residents said they had walked the site, sought a compromise that would preserve emergency access, and discussed distributing the vacated 20-foot strips to adjoining owners if the road is vacated.

Ginny (identified in the transcript as a resident and participant in the site visits) described conversations with adjoining landowners Tom Miller and Jerry (last name not given), and indicated the group had reached a workable compromise; Tom Miller told the board emergency vehicles could cross his property if needed. County staff said the next step involves the county attorney and the developer’s counsel preparing vacation paperwork and that additional surveying or legal descriptions may be required. One county official noted past practice in other counties had required an ordinance and statutory process for a county road vacation.

A motion to close the identified segment of Merle Avenue passed after a second; the motion explicitly required attorney write-ups from both the developer’s counsel (identified in discussion as Vigil’s attorney) and the county attorney before the closure is finalized. Commissioners instructed county staff to coordinate with property owners, confirm who currently maintains the grassed road segment, and prepare formal paperwork for a future meeting.

The transcript records the vote passing on a voice vote; commissioners and residents emphasized the action was intended to preserve property access while reducing maintenance burdens and respecting neighboring owners’ rights. No final conveyance instrument or effective transfer of right-of-way was completed at the meeting; the action is a procedural approval to proceed with vacation documentation and surveying.

","Following site visits and neighbor discussion, Pulaski County commissioners voted to initiate the vacation of a segment of Merle Avenue in Whipplecrest Subdivision, with completion contingent on written attorney instruments and any required survey work.",{"_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},6178493,"Network of Care representative demos statewide resource portal to Pulaski County commissioners",995,107000,1102000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5225557-a6d7d5efcb5c4d51c0d997173af3ac1d&start=107&end=1102","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5225557-a6d7d5efcb5c4d51c0d997173af3ac1d/thumbnail_107000.jpg","/articles/6178493/Pulaski-County/Indiana/Network-of-Care-representative-demos-statewide-resource-portal-to-Pulaski-County-commissioners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178493-50f8eebbd254f2f94ad8382a0335816e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770956991&Signature=K4oBgvsRhrvuRVsQ1YG9dGZIZNfub5tRS3qmSKsHc0BTshWdxaZS64jsB949w8fNF8lRTyqBRqeex5gBDni2Zn7G2Vgrulh8LfILRr~F~5N7Eo2cwc~vnMLuR~0G6q-nH9KTN8d8TSuBmRdUnHWDlVAsGg-pvBwj5nUkojmY~GykSGSwMgN03HFt0d~NSp7a6ahM~vYnqEYPfL0Agu96~Gv26WZptpd2y4iAG2kZwUiydeyexmevyE16U5aaZYWFrp6Yfq~2HC1sEkU0gZAEiYXff8D9zbD-wqY8E3AG2ETtv5k4rsfmSZnMUyWpxgQIzNEdH8emBhqyImjEsSbOkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pamela Frank, representing Network of Care and presenting via Zoom, demonstrated the organization's county-level health and human-services portal to Pulaski County commissioners on July 7, explaining how the platform gathers and standardizes local resource information and makes it searchable, shareable and accessible in multiple languages.

Frank said Network of Care has been operating for about 25 years and that many state and local partners have adopted versions of the site. She showed how users can search plain-language queries (for example, “I’m struggling with addiction”) and receive treatment, housing and recovery resources, along with contact and access options. Frank said roughly one-third of site visitors are searching on behalf of someone else — a family member or caseworker — and highlighted features that allow saving, emailing or texting resource cards and printing agency details for clients.

The platform supports Americans with Disabilities Act–compliant pages, translations into more than 110 languages and a geo-mapping feature to show nearby providers. Frank said the database is maintained with manual review and monthly updates driven by sampled verification; providers are contacted and updates are made within 48 business hours if corrections are reported. She noted licensed content partnerships (for example, Healthwise) provide clinical information and that legislative trackers and clinical-trial lists can be added on request.

Commissioners asked whether any Indiana counties currently use the service; Frank replied the state of Indiana once contracted for a statewide site roughly 15 years ago but that at the moment no Indiana county was using Network of Care individually. Commissioners also asked whether the site supports voice query; Frank said voice search was not yet available on the full site but was on the product roadmap and expected on the mobile version in the last quarter of the year.

Frank offered unlimited publishing for clients, configurable category labels and an agency-rating option. She invited county staff to send follow-up questions and contact information; commissioners indicated they would continue research and that Network of Care had a scheduled presentation for the county council the following Monday.

","A Network of Care representative demonstrated a county-tailored resource portal that indexes health and human service providers, offers multilingual support and a shareable resource card system; commissioners asked about local implementation, voice search and state usage.",{"_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},6178498,"Votes at a glance: Pulaski County commissioners approve insurance, change orders, payroll items and road vacation pending attorney review",1706,0,1706000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5225557-a6d7d5efcb5c4d51c0d997173af3ac1d&start=0&end=1706","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5225557-a6d7d5efcb5c4d51c0d997173af3ac1d/thumbnail_0.jpg","/articles/6178498/Pulaski-County/Indiana/Votes-at-a-glance-Pulaski-County-commissioners-approve-insurance-change-orders-payroll-items-and-road-vacation-pending-attorney-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6178498-d588d70977a7009075452f759dec0926/orig.mp4?Expires=1770956991&Signature=NztTTAugnV5cAlYapM2B52iqN5w-VjSbDfDDCSa2Rw9lger9tviM92ljO5a-3AT5~iLten8RcKnNnZ3TxvcOeDXG0Q5IVFFzxcBFJ5lsgc5N1QLNASxIN-fZkc6hQgx7o7Md3QwW1meFBlm2jIbAUnDaehipB9xy6PaNhLZx7sRo6Q6AVHuiD3Vv53n63lVUpgwsDrALiUGPoQbrJEgnsp8b8~lv9iTr4NNd5VGwozGDALzxLOxWdh5t8~kt-DSE6DzX~s3SwYljzsNbDoXKQUHaVPiMXon6WGC63aqbPW-UZzuxOtU8VNeOhaVt9R96dkN7N4L~T7Uepquh8yttCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Pulaski County commissioners on July 7 approved a bundle of personnel, finance and project items in voice votes, and moved to pursue a formal road vacation pending attorney review.

The board approved renewing the county’s medical-insurance plan with a reported 9.5% premium increase and the county continuing the long-standing cost-share arrangement of 70% employer / 30% employee. Vision and dental rates were reported as unchanged. The motion to accept the insurance expense and the stated cost-sharing passed on a voice vote.

The board also approved two change orders for ongoing courthouse renovation work—Change Order 79 and Change Order 80—totaling $11,359.62 to add lighting in the bell room and to repair and replace floor tile in a north-side vestibule. The superintendent said the items were previously green-lit via email by two commissioners and sought formal public confirmation; the board approved the items by voice vote.

Administrative approvals included routine claims and payroll, approval of minutes from the June 16, 2025 regular session, authorization for an INPRS (retirement) designated agent signature process, approval for the prosecutor’s annual victim-assistance grant application, a request to process a $5,100 supplemental prosecutor billing (split payment for a Cellebrite account upgrade), and administrative sign-offs to migrate time and leave accruals into a new timekeeping system and to confirm Medicare as the secondary payer for employees enrolled in both plans. All passed by voice vote as recorded in the meeting transcript.

On land-use procedure, the board voted to start the process to close a section of Merle Avenue from the north end of 300 South to the south end of Lots 23 and 36 in Whipplecrest Subdivision, pending written attorney approvals from both the developer’s counsel and the county attorney. Commissioners moved and seconded the action and approved it by voice vote; staff were directed to proceed with attorney write-ups and additional surveying or procedural steps as needed.

Most votes in the meeting were recorded as voice votes without roll-call tallies in the public transcript. Where explicit roll-call counts were not provided in the record, the minutes record the results as approved by the board.

Votes recorded in the meeting transcript (summary):
- Medical-insurance renewal with 9.5% premium increase; county to remain at 70%/employee 30% cost-share — approved (voice vote; tally not specified).
- Change Orders 79 & 80 (courthouse lighting and floor tile repairs), $11,359.62 total — approved (voice vote; tally not specified).
- Claims and payroll approval (regular) — approved (voice vote).
- Minutes from June 16, 2025 — approved (voice vote).
- Payment of $5,100 to cover prosecutor split billing for Cellebrite upgrade — approved (voice vote).
- INPRS authorized-agent designation/signature process — approved (voice vote).
- Prosecutor’s annual victim-assistance grant application — approved (voice vote).
- Advance-time/timekeeping migration signatures to move PTO/accruals into new system — approved (voice vote).
- Medicare secondary payer form for Anthem (confirming Medicare as secondary payer) — approved (voice vote).
- Travel/conference requests for treasurer and assessor staff — approved (voice vote).
- Motion to vacate a segment of Merle Avenue (from north end of 300 South to south end of Lots 23 & 36) — approved pending attorney write-ups (voice vote; commissioners instructed staff to proceed with legal steps and any necessary surveying).

Notes: The transcript records approvals as voice votes and frequently records “Aye” without roll-call. The public transcript does not contain explicit numeric vote tallies or recorded dissent on the motions listed above. The Merle Avenue motion included a procedural condition: the closure is “pending attorney write up from Vigil’s attorney as well as county attorney,” and staff were asked to confirm surveying and property-line details before final action.

For reporters: motions are summarized from the board’s verbal actions; exact roll-call tallies were not specified in the available transcript.

","At their July 7 meeting, the Pulaski County Board of Commissioners approved a series of routine and project-related items including a medical-insurance renewal with county cost-sharing, two small construction change orders, several administrative forms and a motion to vacate part of Merle Avenue pending attorney write-ups.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commissioners press for accounting, workforce data and possible ordinance review amid solar-project concerns

Commissioners approve starting formal vacation process for section of Merle Avenue; action contingent on attorney write-ups

Network of Care representative demos statewide resource portal to Pulaski County commissioners

Votes at a glance: Pulaski County commissioners approve insurance, change orders, payroll items and road vacation pending attorney review