Scott County renews $30,000 economic‑development contract, appoints transfer‑station manager; resident urges data‑center moratorium

Scott County commissioners on June 17 approved a one‑year, $30,000 renewal with 1 Southern Indiana to continue local economic development services, appointed a new transfer‑station manager and authorized several operational contracts and payments.

John Launice, representing 1 Southern Indiana, summarized the organization’s January–June activities and regional marketing work. “We always just like to start off with our primary functions of business attraction, retention, and expansion,” Launice said, and he described recent efforts including business‑retention visits, regional marketing at SelectUSA and the Area Development Conference, and workforce outreach. Launice told the board 1 Southern Indiana has supported projects that brought roughly 350 jobs to the area, citing two Conco projects of about 175 jobs each.

Launice asked the commissioners to renew the county’s service agreement with 1 Southern Indiana at the same cost and to designate a county designee to serve on the group’s new economic development council and executive council. The board moved to approve the one‑year contract for $30,000; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote.

In a separate IT discussion, staff described a proposed five‑year Spectrum secondary internet circuit to serve as a failover for the county’s primary connection. As staff explained, “if we lose our Internet, we lose our phones as well,” underscoring the continuity rationale. The contract was presented at $999 per month for five years; commissioners approved the contract contingent on council funding.

The board also filled an operational vacancy: James stepped down as transfer‑station manager, and commissioners nominated and approved Steve Horne to assume the role. Horne will receive the $1‑per‑hour premium associated with the manager position, as discussed at the meeting.

Commissioners handled a series of routine financial and administrative items: they approved payment for an initial five‑hour cleaning the county had received and agreed to move to a monthly interim cleaning schedule, authorized a county employee (Greg) to sign titles so sheriff’s vehicles can be sold at auction, approved regular and special invoices and payroll for June 12, and accepted the minutes for the June 3 meeting.

During public comment, resident Mister Wheatley urged the county to adopt a moratorium on new data‑center construction, citing a site near Madison and its proximity to Clifty Falls State Park. He also raised concerns about local Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts, saying a presentation he watched noted about $850,000 in annual TIF revenue and a possible 0.25 percentage‑point property tax reduction if the districts were eliminated. “I’m here to request a moratorium on data centers,” Wheatley said, and asked commissioners to investigate the paused YMCA construction and prior TIF expenditures. Commissioners listened and acknowledged the questions while noting they would take the concerns under consideration.

The board accepted the lowest bid to cut a tree and clean the site at a county cemetery after reviewing multiple quotes (one bid listed $3,500 to grind a stump; another listed $2,200 to cut and clean without stump removal). Commissioners voted to accept the lowest bid and discussed available cemetery‑fund money to cover the expense.

The meeting concluded after brief parks and community notes, including plans to meet about fisheries improvements at Hardy Lake, and commissioners voted to adjourn.

Votes at a glance - One‑year service agreement with 1 Southern Indiana for economic development — motion approved by voice vote (amount: $30,000; term: one year). - Five‑year Spectrum secondary internet contract ($999/month) — approved contingent on council funding by voice vote. - Appointment of Steve Horne as transfer‑station manager (manager premium $1/hour) — approved by voice vote. - Payment for five hours of cleaning services and a shift to monthly interim cleaning — approved by voice vote. - Authorization for Greg to sign sheriff vehicle titles for auction — approved by voice vote. - Sheriff PTO buyback item — tabled for further review. - Acceptance of lowest bid for cemetery tree removal/cleanup — approved by voice vote.

What happens next: The service agreement with 1 Southern Indiana is a renewable annual contract; the Spectrum contract is subject to confirmation of council funding. The sheriff PTO buyback will return to a future agenda for additional review.

(Quotations and attributions are taken from the meeting transcript.)