The Clinton County Board of Commissioners moved forward with a long-running rural property condemnation, approved a rezoning in Edna Mills to avoid a potential vacant building, and heard updates on storm damage, emergency preparedness and county operations during its June 16, 2026 meeting.
In a meeting that ranged from land use decisions to storm recovery and internal contract housekeeping, commissioners voted to solicit bids to remove a condemned mobile home near 2203 South County Road 1300 East after years of unresolved septic and structural issues, approved a rezoning request to return a former commercial property in Edna Mills to residential use, and took steps to formalize several service contracts and emergency preparedness roles.
Commissioners press ahead on 1300 East condemnation
Commissioners voted unanimously to move forward with seeking bids related to the condemned property at 2203 South County Road 1300 East, saying the matter has been on county books for several years without a workable solution from the owner. Area Plan staff member Kathy “Kat” Bell told commissioners she had re-posted the property for condemnation at their direction and had spoken that morning with owner Trent Newton, who reported he could not attend the meeting because of medical appointments. She said Newton still had no resolution to the underlying problem: while the property has a septic system, it lacks a perimeter drain outlet and needed legal easement, and prior efforts to secure that easement through an attorney had gone nowhere.
Commissioner Jordan Brewer noted the county’s patience had limits. “Although I’m sympathetic for having doctor’s appointments on the day we have meetings, this issue is not a new issue,” Brewer said. “I don’t foresee how an extension of three weeks to our next meeting…is going to provide a solution. I would recommend that we move forward with it.”
Fellow commissioners agreed, with one calling the case “dragged on more than long enough.” The board then approved a motion to “continue with posting bids,” clearing the way for demolition or other contracted action.
Neighbor Jack Stowers, who lives next door to the mobile home, used public comment to describe years of problems with the property’s condition and its impact on his family. Stowers said he had spoken with landowner Ryan Campbell about a possible $2,000 easement arrangement that would have included limits on entering the farm field during growing season and requirements to repair any damage.
He also said the mobile home and outbuildings had deteriorated, with shingles blowing off “for the last two years,” debris in the yard, a glass door left loose, and structural issues underneath the home. “The foundation’s giving away,” Stowers told commissioners. “I don’t know for a fact that even if they pull it back up whether it would take it or not.”
Commissioners indicated Stowers’ description only reinforced their decision. “You know we can condemn this, right?” one commissioner told him, later adding, “Well, that’s where we’re headed.”
Edna Mills Property returned to residential zoning
Earlier in the meeting, commissioners unanimously approved Resolution 2026-04 to rezone 8605 West State Road 26 in Edna Mills from neighborhood business (B-1) back to rural residential (R-1), following a favorable recommendation from the Area Plan Commission (APC).
APC staff explained the property was likely built as a single-family home, later rezoned and used for a real estate or insurance office, with an upstairs apartment added above the commercial space. In recent years, however, the building has been used again as a single-family dwelling, even as the B-1 zoning prevented it from being marketed as a house.
“The owner wanted to rezone it back in hopes that maybe it might be a little more successfully to be sold,” the APC representative said, noting that buyers had not been interested in purchasing it as a commercial site. She added that staff supported the change to avoid the property sitting empty and potentially becoming a “blighted” vacant structure.
Commissioners raised no objections. With no discussion beyond brief acknowledgements, they approved the rezoning on a 3–0 vote.
Grass extension denied; condemnation lifted on Hillisburg home
Commissioners took action on two other property maintenance and enforcement items raised by APC staff.
They unanimously lifted a prior condemnation order on a home at 8938 East Hillis Street in Hillisburg after the owner completed septic work and received a certificate of occupancy. “I make the motion that we drop our action effective immediately,” one commissioner said, adding thanks to the owner “for following through with the work that they have done.”
In a separate case on West County Road 650 South, APC staff reported an occupant had requested extra time to mow an overgrown yard after being cited for tall grass and trash under the county’s Unified Development Ordinance. The occupant cited health issues and asked to extend the mowing deadline from June 22 to July 1.
One commissioner said the original compliance timeline was sufficient. “I would like to stay with the 22nd personally,” he said. “I think that’s plenty of time. We’ve got another almost a week. Nice weather.” Commissioners voted 3–0 to deny the extension while leaving a June 30 deadline in place for removing trash.
Highway: storm cleanup, INDOT detour and bridge work
County Highway Superintendent Rick Campbell reported his crews spent overnight and early-morning hours clearing downed trees and debris from roads following recent powerful storms. He said they had to use backhoes to remove 14 trees, were out from midnight to 3 a.m. and again from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. Friday, and expected to finish cleanup that day.
Campbell also presented an “unofficial detour” request from the Indiana Department of Transportation related to U.S. 421 near Rossville. INDOT plans to reroute traffic onto County Roads 600 West and 800 North during a structure project now scheduled through roughly Nov. 15.
Commissioners approved the detour agreement, though not without reservations. “We’ve done these detours. Have we ever received any compensation from the state for damages?” one member asked. Campbell replied, “No. I don’t ever remember receiving anything.” Another commissioner voted to approve “even though…they would be doing it anyway,” and the board’s president remarked the motion carried “with a lot of reluctancy.”
Campbell additionally noted there is about $85,000 remaining on Bridge 60, with at least one more bill pending, and said the project looks good. “They did a good job,” he said, describing newly painted I-beams underneath the span.
Health: emergency preparedness roles and state visit
Health Department Administrator Melissa Hodson-Ostler updated commissioners on the county’s Public Health Emergency Preparedness (PHEP) grant and asked them to formally designate two internal coordinators required under the state contract.
Hodson said historically the county hired an outside contractor who used almost the entire $25,000 grant to manage preparedness paperwork and inventories, leaving little for equipment and maintenance. Over the past year, the department piloted a different approach by appointing in-house staff as PHEP coordinators and directing more funds to the county’s incident command trailer, supplies and technology upgrades.
Under the current contract, Hodson said the state requires the county to designate a primary and backup coordinator who meet specific FEMA and emergency management training standards. She recommended naming environmental health staffer Rodney Wann as primary coordinator and Karina Martinez Garcia as backup, with both receiving limited compensation from the grant outside their regular county roles.
Hodson stressed the work is ongoing and not easily tracked by the hour. “The role of a coordinator is to always be ready to go into action and to always be available,” she said, adding that the grant-funded work includes maintaining volunteer lists, equipment inventories, risk assessments and readiness drills.
Commissioners expressed concern about mixing grant duties with regular county time and asked that any extra work be clearly handled outside of normal hours through a written memorandum of understanding, similar to a recently approved cleaning contract. They unanimously approved the designation of Wann and Martinez Garcia as coordinators, while directing Hodson and County Attorney Tom Little to refine the MOU and compensation structure in consultation with the county council.
Hodson also noted that Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver is scheduled to visit Clinton County on July 30 or 31 for a listening session with local health partners, likely at the Paul Phillippe Resource Center. She said the event will focus on how state public health funding changes are affecting local services.
EMA and public safety: storms, fair planning and flooding cleanup
Emergency Management Agency (EMA) Director Renee Crick reported that National Weather Service staff confirmed last week’s severe weather brought straight-line winds, not a tornado, to parts of Clinton County. She said she spent much of Friday in the Kirklin and Avery areas conducting “windshield damage assessments” using a state app and coordinated with the Area Plan office on homes with structural damage.
Crick told commissioners another round of storms was expected, with the National Weather Service placing the county under an “enhanced risk” level of four for the following day. She urged residents to charge phones and maintain multiple ways to receive warnings, noting that the most serious storms were once again forecast after dark.
She also announced a July 2 public safety meeting at the EMA office with local first responders, fair board and fair council leaders to discuss plans for the county fair.
On the 911 side, Crick said carpet at Central Dispatch had been soaked during heavy rains a few weeks earlier. While Servpro dried the area, she is now seeking quotes from Steam Master to clean the carpets.
EMS Director Steven Deckard told commissioners the department’s overhead tone system at headquarters has failed and may require significant repair or full replacement. The current estimate for an amplifier repair is about $1,600, and if that does not solve the problem, a new overhead system likely will be needed.
Sheriff’s report: Sheriff Brendon Bright reported that three deputies are in week seven of the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy and on track for an Aug. 21 graduation. He also introduced his new chief deputy, Tobe Leazenby, who started June 15, and said they are reviewing the department’s vehicle fleet and replacement needs.
Contracts, equipment and other business
Commissioners approved several contracts and internal housekeeping items, including:
- A cleaning contract for the county highway office and clerk’s office with an existing staff member who will perform cleaning work outside regular county hours
- An unofficial INDOT detour agreement for U.S. 421 using county roads through mid-November
- A pest control agreement consolidating service for multiple county buildings under Reliable Pest Control
- A three-year renewal with Crossroads GIS Solutions for Central Dispatch mapping services, with fees starting at $12,500 this year and rising to $14,000 by 2028; the contract was amended so any legal disputes will be handled in Indiana rather than Illinois
- Purchase of a new large-format scanner for the recorder’s office from Eastern Engineering for $18,349, replacing a 15-year-old unit that is increasingly difficult to repair
- A $5,000 bond for Jail Matron Britt Osler through RLI Insurance Company
- A lease and contractual agreement allowing Frankfort Youth Baseball, a local nonprofit, to use and maintain a county-owned baseball diamond at TPA Park through the end of 2026, pending a likely transfer of ownership to the City of Frankfort.
Commissioners also acknowledged that Deputy Auditor Janet Lloyd has now formally dropped the “interim” designation and is serving as county auditor.
The board approved routine claims, payroll and minutes and agreed to continue tabling an interlocal agreement between the city and county, as well as a Commonwealth Engineers contract for a Kirklin stormwater project that is still under legal review.
The commissioners’ next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 7.