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Dubois County Council declines ERA for Duff Solar Park, approves multiple appropriations and an appointment
Summary
The council declined to designate roughly 775 acres as an Economic Revitalization Area for the Duff Solar Park, citing farmland loss, and approved a slate of appropriations, transfers and personnel moves — all motions passed unanimously (6-0).
The Dubois County Council on Sept. 23 voted against designating about 775 acres identified in the Duff Solar Park abatement application as an Economic Revitalization Area, and approved numerous budget appropriations, transfers and personnel amendments across county funds.
Deputy Auditor Lynn Gosman summarized the Tax Abatement Committee’s review, saying the application scored 30 points and noted only two full-time jobs were proposed and no firm commitment to use local contractors. Under county ordinance the application would be eligible for a two-year personal property abatement (100% the first year and 60% the second), but the committee unanimously recommended against declaring the area an Economic Revitalization Area, citing the loss of productive farm ground and likely negative effects on agricultural jobs and related suppliers. Councilmember Alex P. Hohl moved not to declare the area an Economic Revitalization Area; the motion carried 6-0.
The meeting included a series of budget approvals and transfers. Highlights included a $62,500 appropriation for the Northeast Dubois Fire Protection District; a $20,380 appropriation and a $19,620.92 internal transfer for Community Corrections electronic monitoring; and approval to add $800,000 in LIT-CR Capital Outlay for jail construction costs. The council approved transfers in the LIT-ED fund totaling $1.5 million to support the airport terminal project (a $1,000,000 transfer and a $500,000 transfer), and a $1,009,403.33 transfer in the Distressed Road Loan Fund for road repavement. Several personnel and salary ordinance amendments were approved, including adding a temporary part‑time administrative assistant in Community Corrections and four additional full‑time jailer positions (CPOLE III classification) for a limited number of payroll periods in 2024.
Other approvals included: a $50,000 General Fund appropriation for building and liability insurance; a $54,010 appropriation for jailer-related payroll items; a $95,000 Cum Cap Development Fund appropriation for a highway dump truck purchase; a $3,758.29 appropriation for Courthouse Fountain maintenance; and the adoption of a $135,000 Park Fund reduction ordinance. Council also approved Purdue Extension Agent Lauren Fenneman’s request to travel to an Oct. 15–17, 2024 conference in Boise, Idaho, and appointed Jeannine O’Brien Mundy to fill the Huntingburg Library Board seat vacated by Mary Jeanne Schumacher through June 30, 2028. All motions described above carried 6-0 unless otherwise noted.
Council indicated consensus on several 2025 budget adjustments, including reductions in Park operating and non‑reverting funds, adding $15,500 in LIT‑ED for a dump truck trade-in (to be partially reimbursed by the 4‑H Council), a proposed reduction in Highway Superintendent salary due to retirement, and reflecting potential changes in Pre‑Trial Services IOC grant funding.
