Monroe County Surveyor Randolph asked the Monroe County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 14 to give preliminary approval to pursue a SEEDS (Sowing Enriched and Enhanced Datasets) grant from the Indiana Geographic Information Office. Randolph told commissioners the request is an early step to build an application and that formal approval would be returned to the board if required.

Randolph said the grant's priorities focus on data harvest and bringing local datasets into the state schema. “We just kinda need approval from you to pursue this grant,” Randolph said, adding his office is working with legal and the county auditor’s office and plans to collaborate with an existing contractor and TSD to build scripts and crosswalk tables to meet the state schema.

The matter arose under County code reference Chapter 2.72, Section 2.72-2, which Randolph cited as requiring commissioner approval. When Commissioner Thomas asked whether a formal vote was required, Mr. Cockrell responded, “I think what that code section says is that you're some kind of verbal go ahead,” and later clarified that formal approval is required before executing an application or contract that imposes a burden on the county.

Commissioners indicated they were comfortable with Randolph pursuing the application and returning later for any formal approvals needed to submit or execute the grant. Randolph said his office would follow each step carefully and return to the board as necessary.

No dollar amounts, application deadlines, or award terms were stated during the discussion. The surveyor said the office is optimistic about the opportunity and noted the state has signaled other forthcoming programs (for example, an ATLAS grant) but did not say whether the county would be eligible for those future programs.

The discussion lasted several minutes during the work session; no motion or formal recorded vote took place. The board did not provide additional conditions or directions beyond the request that staff follow legal and auditor guidance and return if formal approval is required.