Public hearing held on rezoning 390 acres for Morgan County Economic Development Corporation; residents raise water, road and tax concerns

The board opened a public hearing on rezone petition PUD‑25‑01, filed by the Morgan County Economic Development Corporation, which seeks to rezone about 390 acres from Ag R3 to Planned Unit Development in Monroe Township. The area is described as generally bounded by State Road 42, West Union Church Road, Keller Hill Road and Antioch Road.

Residents who live near the site told the board they are worried about local water supplies, narrow roads and higher property taxes. Stacy Howe, a resident at 8011 Skunk Hollow Road, said, "There's no water. How are they going to support six wells?" Steve Cook, a resident at 8100 Skunk Hollow Road, told the board, "We had to go almost 50 feet to get our well, and it's limited," and said school buses already had difficulty using his road after snow.

A presenter responding for the petitioner said the development had given up about an acre of land to meet a county ordinance and described possible well solutions, including shared pumping with holding tanks. The petitioner said he had contacted local well companies and that contractors install systems that pump during the day into a reservoir or holding tank to address intermittent groundwater. The board set a three‑minute time limit for individual speakers, with a caveat that those repeating points already made could be limited. The board emphasized that it will only make a recommendation on the rezoning; the final decision rests with the county commissioners.

The transcript shows the board called the petitioner to present slides after the public comment period; the record excerpt ends before the petitioner presentation was completed.