[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6491737,"mediaKeyId","5846819-e5be9009500485cfb228f002a7618e56","parentId",5846819,"title","Elkhart County adopts rules for nongovernmental events on historic courthouse lawn and new judicial center; insurance requirement draws public concern","audioSeconds",1765,"startMs",896000,"endMs",2661000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5846819-e5be9009500485cfb228f002a7618e56&start=896&end=2661","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5846819-e5be9009500485cfb228f002a7618e56/thumbnail_896000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6491737/Elkhart-County/Indiana/Elkhart-County-adopts-rules-for-nongovernmental-events-on-historic-courthouse-lawn-and-new-judicial-center-insurance-requirement-draws-public-concern","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491737-8dcb529681d63f319cf0533d55f4494e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775403703&Signature=EnsqQ321Loijh-C~n~rioKEoDIO52JZ60b9AwFyuDCzqIHOIoCrIDla7tDpm2rMMEYmU65Baut-jcw48TENRQLSDaTdW9xHwox5GiTwyQYYwBQe4NrfYYbE9onnsPaigoocxMtJPqAxhsAqG9Et3FdxCnY~gO1HEMyuZjnfYoSqPmjNlXILNzTMeqE43D28rc6oLzNQ2mOXvnB0kIRFIScIEIUsQVXmSI3bpsJM3UJvXT9XraYQjqjIIofluxC6kqQNGGUE-WK6nM6yRe~WbaX8CRONwEwDCn~H7MFp2j~D4z3Zg0d6epMElPpsyJw9qC~BogOleO-rihOXfWbuDxw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Elkhart County","date","2025-09-23T18:14:11Z","article","The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 29 unanimously approved an ordinance establishing rules and permit requirements for nongovernmental expressive activity on the historic Goshen Courthouse lawn and on the Elkhart County Judicial Center property.

County Attorney Steve Olson told commissioners the ordinance defines the two properties, creates a uniform, viewpoint-neutral application process and sets time, place and manner restrictions intended to allow expressive use while limiting county liability. \"There is an ordinance already in place . . . going back to the 18 hundreds related to use of these properties,\" Olson said, and the new measure updates and clarifies those rules for the two locations and for the new judicial center property.

The ordinance requires a completed application signed by an on-site representative age 18 or older, and lists factors the commissioners may review from a viewpoint-neutral perspective, including prior compliance and whether the proposed use would interfere with government operations or public use. Olson said organizers must accept responsibility and provide indemnification and insurance to protect the county from liability.

Under the ordinance, groups anticipating 50 or more attendees must show liability insurance with limits of $1,000,000 per occurrence and $2,000,000 aggregate. Olson said smaller gatherings of fewer than 50 people may instead provide a personal guarantee rather than insurance, but the county reserves the right to require insurance if attendance rises above the stated estimate. \"If that number grows greater than that, the county reserves the right to have to say the event has to be terminated or obtain insurance immediately on that event,\" Olson said.

The ordinance specifies authorized areas and hours: events may not begin before 8 a.m. and must conclude, including cleanup, by 9 p.m. on permitted days. For the historic courthouse lawn, events on days the facility is closed are permitted on the lawn; for the new judicial center, events during hours the facility is open are limited to the judicial center open area (a grassy area west of the parking lot). Olson said the ordinance also clarifies that interior facilities, gated areas and employee parking remain off-limits for nongovernmental expressive uses.

The code also restates prohibitions: interference with government operations, disruption of public access, loitering (prohibited between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. without prior written consent of the board), vandalism (including affixing or writing on improvements), littering (including the fountain) and other conduct that would damage county property. The ordinance includes a penalty provision allowing fines up to $2,500 per violation and recovery of enforcement costs; the county attorney said the ordinance will take effect on adoption except the penalty provision, which becomes effective Oct. 13, 2025.

Members of the public raised concerns during the meeting. Doug Graham of Goshen asked whether prospective political candidates would have to buy insurance for an event; Olson replied the ordinance is uniform and applies \"viewpoint neutral[ly]\" regardless of the content of the speech. Jennifer Shell of Goshen said she feared the insurance requirement could \"place an undue burden on people trying to exercise their First Amendment rights in a peaceful way\" and warned it could have a \"serious chilling effect on speech in this county.\" Julia Gauche of Goshen raised similar concerns for individuals who are not part of a larger organization and who may find it difficult to obtain a short-term insurance rider.

One commissioner, after public comment, said the board should \"keep an eye on this, even if it's approved and . . . maybe revise it if people are having trouble getting that\" insurance, noting the need to balance protection of taxpayers with protecting free speech.

The board voted to adopt the ordinance unanimously. Olson said the ordinance will be published according to state law and a signed copy will be made available after adoption.

The ordinance creates a permit-based process for expressive events on the two specified county properties, sets insurance and cleanup responsibilities for organizers, clarifies prohibited conduct and establishes fines and enforcement mechanics going forward.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Elkhart County Live Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 29 unanimously approved an ordinance establishing rules and permit requirements for nongovernmental expressive activity on the historic Goshen Courthouse lawn and on the Elkhart County Judicial Center property.","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},6491734,"Votes at a glance: Elkhart County commissioners approve ordinances, leases, appropriations and multiple grants",250,3222000,3472000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5846819-e5be9009500485cfb228f002a7618e56&start=3222&end=3472","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5846819-e5be9009500485cfb228f002a7618e56/thumbnail_3222000.jpg","/articles/6491734/Elkhart-County/Indiana/Votes-at-a-glance-Elkhart-County-commissioners-approve-ordinances-leases-appropriations-and-multiple-grants","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6491734-d02429f359d13b47513d683e20ce4560/orig.mp4?Expires=1775403703&Signature=my1wN-C3CIOKteyTZNW~SgPVppRoqtlqNG-8RN8DaiDB996yXac06hy2m4nzPq-HjuG7mD3aiL6fo3uZ1~-6UfQDtQEFCjySaeib9P75NUi~r0USJBIulL~NRWZF1luYeqIHKyjmAMhCOKfIZTFZp~2WLe-7zMIizaMNts2c1o7ZYJ9N9Uq4TStTbc3k~2HEGCQLC8g~1eSdm3uXhIlRU93pOSmv8UNg8EA8nAT0cu7r6mLH931P4-3gaxNzISXQ6NqhsO2XUJ~xP5EhmGSA~GZBglw0HWWP7i7yqZcxsiebA9eAg4rg758eywEXny2ShYkRmaLbfmlP9MQwtKeOzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Elkhart County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 29 voted unanimously on a series of motions covering minutes and claims, travel, ordinances, leases, loans, appropriations and grants. The board recorded no roll-call oppositions in the meeting transcript; motions passed by voice vote.

Summary of key votes and outcomes (all carried unanimously unless noted):

Approval of minutes and claims
• Approval of minutes of Sept. 22 and allowance of claims — motion approved by voice vote.

Sheriff's office travel
• Out-of-state travel approved for forensic specialist Laura Sliva to attend shooting analysis and reconstruction training in Florida. Presented by Jeff Siegel, Sheriff’s Office.

Electric vehicle parking ordinance (judicial center)
• Ordinance to establish parking restrictions and fees for electric-vehicle (EV) charging spaces at the Elkhart County Judicial Center. The ordinance defines \"electric vehicle,\" restricts EV parking to vehicles actively charging, prohibits parking in EV spaces on Saturdays and Sundays or between 9 p.m. and 7 a.m. Monday–Friday, and authorizes towing and citation for violations. Fees: 50 cents per kilowatt-hour for the first four continuous hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday–Friday and $2.50 per kilowatt-hour for each hour after the first four hours; 5 p.m.–9 p.m. Monday–Friday set at $2.50 per kilowatt-hour. The measure was introduced by County Attorney Steve Olson and approved by the board.

Leases and conduit license with city of Goshen
• Resolution approving two leases and a conduit license with the city of Goshen: (1) lease of space for city courts (use of lower level where Superior Court 4 used to be), term Oct. 1, 2025–Aug. 31, 2030, $1,000 per month rent; (2) lease for city fire administrative offices (main/middle floor near Superior Court 3), same term, $1,500 per month rent; (3) license to use city conduit for county fiber — perpetual/permanent license (100-year fallback) allowing one 288-strand fiber cable, subject to law. The city’s board of works had already approved corresponding documents.

Loan and appropriations
• Resolution authorizing an internal loan of up to $6,222 from the county’s cumulative capital fund to the treasurer’s office for a copier purchase and maintenance project; to be repaid from the treasurer’s budget.
• Additional appropriation of $300,000 from the general fund for independent accounting assistance (auditing/accounting services).
• Additional appropriation of $60,000 from the lease revenue bonds fund for new courthouse expenses (refund receipts to be appropriated).
• Additional appropriation of $600,000 from the general fund to the county self-insurance (liability) fund (covers prior $300,000 and the additional $300,000).
• Additional appropriation of $200,000 from the general fund for renovations to the historic Goshen Courthouse for repurposing as county offices.

Grants and emergency management items
• Approval of AEP Foundation grant for $30,000 (100% reimbursable) to support replacement 800 MHz radios for emergency management.
• Approval of State Homeland Security Program grants for cybersecurity enhancements and for emergency response preparedness (100% reimbursable); the cybersecurity application included input from IT and the auditor’s office.
• Norfolk Southern safety grant of $10,000 awarded for 800 MHz radios.
• NIPSCO safety grant ($4,000) allocated toward training: $2,000 for Matt Overholt and $2,000 for Courtney Matthews to attend a NACO leadership course; the county later adjusted how the grant was applied to radio support.

Procedure and voting
• Most motions were moved and seconded on the record, followed by a voice vote of \"Aye;\" the transcript records each of these actions as carried unanimously.

The board’s next steps include publishing adopted ordinances according to state law and processing signed copies of adopted documents. Commissioners and staff noted they will monitor implementation issues such as access to insurance for event organizers and the need for future ordinance revisions.","At its Sept. 29 meeting the Elkhart County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a slate of routine and substantive items including an ordinance on electric-vehicle parking at the judicial center, two leases with the city of Goshen and multiple appropriations and grants.","actionData","errors"]

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Elkhart County adopts rules for nongovernmental events on historic courthouse lawn and new judicial center; insurance requirement draws public concern

Votes at a glance: Elkhart County commissioners approve ordinances, leases, appropriations and multiple grants