Grant County adopts 2025 comprehensive plan; area plan fee schedule updated

The Grant County Board of Commissioners voted Oct. 20 to adopt the county’s 2025 comprehensive plan and to approve an update to the Area Plan fee schedule.

Consultants from Taylor Seager Williams presented the plan’s process and findings, noting the plan follows Indiana statutory requirements and contains 13 required elements. The consultants summarized public engagement, an economic and demographic analysis, and an implementation section containing 71 goals and 97 strategies, 36 of which were identified as high priorities.

The county used a $60,000 planning grant awarded by the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs (OCRA) and contributed $7,500 in local funds to the project. Taylor Seager Williams will provide the county with a PDF and an editable word version of the plan and hard copies; staff said final bound copies and flash drives will arrive in one to two months.

Separately, Area Plan staff presented Ordinance 15, a required five‑year update to the fee schedules in Appendix A of the area‑wide zoning ordinance. The presentation said the county’s assessed valuation change from 2018 to 2024 generated a 27.8% adjustment applied to the fee tables; the ordinance adds or clarifies fees (including a demolition permit and planned unit development fees), removes an obsolete solar fee entry and aligns fee language with Indiana state code references. Commissioners opened a public hearing on the fee ordinance and, hearing no public opposition, approved Ordinance 15 following a favorable recommendation from the Area Plan Commission.

Commissioners then opened the public hearing for the comprehensive plan; no members of the public addressed the board. The commissioners adopted Resolution 6‑2025, which formally adopts the 2025 comprehensive plan. County staff indicated they will complete required grant closeout paperwork and post the plan online.