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Health testing, veterans help and a county GIS award highlighted at Monroe County commissioners meeting
Summary
County health officials announced free flu/COVID and STI/HIV testing on June 25; the veterans director described help correcting DD214 records and upcoming Memorial Day events; county GIS staff demonstrated the award-winning Hoosier Character project.
At the Monroe County Board of Commissioners meeting on May 21, county department staff announced upcoming public services and showcased an award-winning mapping project.
Ms. Kelly from the Monroe County Health Department said county wastewater monitoring shows "very low levels" of COVID and that flu activity is minimal, and she encouraged residents to use free tests the department is providing. She also announced a free walk-in testing and treatment event for chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis on June 25 from 3 to 6 p.m., with rapid HIV and hepatitis C testing available during that event.
The announcements matter because they inform residents of no‑cost testing and treatment options and indicate local public‑health surveillance remains low. The county health department is continuing outreach and testing resources ahead of summer gatherings.
Stephen Miller, director of Veterans Affairs, briefed the board on Memorial Day volunteer opportunities and local ceremonies, and recounted a case in which his office helped a veteran correct an administrative error on a DD214. "If you do see an error in military documentation, please reach out to my office," Miller said, providing a contact phone number for veterans seeking assistance. Miller also listed flag-placement volunteer events and local Memorial Day services.
That exchange underscored the county's role in veteran services beyond benefits navigation, including record corrections that affect veterans' access to federal benefits.
John Bateman, the county GIS coordinator, demonstrated Hoosier Character, an interactive, collaborative website developed with the Monroe County Public Library that maps historical data such as field notes, federal land patents and 19th‑century atlas layers. "This is an interactive and immersive project that's allowing Hoosiers to get a better idea of what's going on in the past and where they live," Bateman said, showing searches by last name, address and field note.
Bateman said the project won a special achievement award at the Indiana Geographic Information Council conference and is intended to grow as residents and institutions contribute documents and field notes.
The county also heard public comments from community organizations and federal land managers during the public-comment period and then proceeded with business items.
