Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Grants And Public Comment topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Grants approved; resident raises concerns about fire-board merger and property taxes
Summary
Commissioners approved several departmental grant applications including an IDOC grant (about $580,000 requested), while public commenter Chris Redden urged officials to reconsider a fire-board consolidation that he said could raise property taxes and expressed frustration about recent cost increases.
Floyd County commissioners approved a slate of grant applications from county departments and heard extended public comment about a proposed fire-board consolidation.
An agency official (speaker 4) presented multiple grant requests: a Community Foundation of Southern Indiana capacity-building request (about $20,000) for technology upgrades, an annual E. Todd Grama drug-testing grant (about $5,000), a Subaru Indiana Automotive Foundation request for four laptops ($13,414.10), and an IDOC grant request (the speaker said she would request about $1,000,000 initially but was advised to request no more than the current year’s amount and instead asked for about $580,000). She also listed a Caesar Foundation request for $25,000 and another Community Foundation assist grant for drug-testing supplies or office equipment.
"If you don't approve that one, you need to find a new job. Please," the presenter said about the IDOC grant request, emphasizing its centrality to departmental funding. Commissioners moved to approve the group of grants so departments could proceed with public filings and applications; the motion passed by voice vote.
During public comment, Chris Redden said he was frustrated with a proposed fire-board merger, which he said looks like "a money grab" and could shift tax burdens among districts. He said he paid $17,120 in property taxes in 2025 and that his home insurance rose 72 percent; he urged commissioners to consider alternatives to property tax increases and expressed concern about a shift from volunteer to paid fire positions.
Chair and other commissioners responded that the commission does not set property tax rates and suggested Mr. Redden raise concerns at the remaining fire-board public meetings; the chair also invited Mr. Redden to speak with Jason (a more informed participant) after the meeting.
The commissioners scheduled a public meeting on the solid waste issue for Feb. 17 and noted there were multiple public meetings remaining on the fire-board question; they encouraged residents with concerns to attend.
