Boone County Council approved reallocating APC funds to pay an existing consultant and tabled, until June, a request to appropriate the remainder of funds for a proposed comprehensive-plan contract with HWC.

John Werson, speaking for the Area Plan Commission, asked the council to move $55,000 from the executive director salary line to the planning consultant line to pay a consultant identified as Deb, who has been working with the APC as a consultant rather than a full-time executive director. Council members discussed the merits of keeping Deb under a consultant agreement rather than hiring a new full-time director; Werson and APC members said Deb’s experience and continuity are valuable for the ongoing comprehensive-plan work.

Council members asked for a written contract before final approval. The motion to reallocate funds to the planning consultant line passed after a seconder added the condition that the payment be subject to having a contract in place.

Separately, APC staff and commissioners outlined a broader request for the county to commit up to $400,000 to a comprehensive-plan update being led by HWC. APC representatives said the total contract ceiling is $400,000, with $100,000 already appropriated for this year. APC asked the council to commit the balance so the vendor would begin work; staff and councilors voiced concern about committing the full amount now because state revenue changes and other budget uncertainties make near-term appropriations sensitive.

Council agreed to table the appropriation request until the June meeting so APC can provide a schedule of payments, the executed contract (if any) and clarity on how much of the $400,000 would be spent in 2025. APC staff said work will be phased, that initial steering-committee formation and outreach will drive early invoices, and that much of the spending may occur in later phases.

Why it matters: The APC’s consultant support and the comprehensive-plan update address county land-use and zoning policy; decisions about funding affect staffing, the timeline for plan updates and whether outside funds such as an IEDC economic development payment will be needed to cover the contract.

What was decided: Council approved the $55,000 reallocation to the planning consultant line (subject to a contract) and tabled the request for additional appropriation of up to $300,000 (to reach the $400,000 cap) until June to receive a payment schedule and contract information.

Quotable: John Werson said, “Deb is not interested in changing her relationship with us. Certainly, we would like to have the opportunity to hire her full time, which is not going to happen for her. But we have a very good working relationship utilizing her in a consultant position.”

Next steps: APC will provide the council with the contract or bid breakdown and a payment schedule in advance of the June meeting; council will revisit appropriation once it receives that schedule and after further discussion about IEDC contributions.