[PAGE 1]
202600259
FILED FOR RECORD IN
FULTON COUNTY INDIANA
DEBRA BOCK, RECORDER
02/03/2026 03:32 PM
FULTON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS REC FEE: 0.00
PAGES:4
Monday, January 20, 2026
RECORDED AS l?RESErHED
MEETING CALLED TO ORDER at 6:00 PM. In attendance Commissioners Rick Ranstead, David
Sommers, Bryan Lewis, Auditor Katherine Adamson, and Attorney Holli Shorter-Pifer.
HIGHWAY DEPARTMENT-John Geier discusses permit requests (three for NIPSCO). Rick Ranstead
makes motion to approve permits, Dave Sommers seconds. Motion carries 3-0. Highway Department
working heavily on snow removal. Federal Aid project discussed with INDOT which is five years out.
Speed Limit sign on Wabash Ave still waiting permission.
SHERIFF-Travis Heishman states 118 inmates as this morning and invoiced $107,272.10 for holding
out of county inmates. Of the inmates, 47 were Grant County and 1 for Howard County. Nothing further
discussed.
COMMUNICATIONS-Brittany Thompson reports that for 2025 RPD increased inbound/outbound calls
compared to 2024. She states a lot of overtime due to sickness.
TRAVEL AUTHORIZATIONS-Motion to approve by Rick Ranstead, motion second by Bryan Lewis.
Carries 3-0. Stack of travel authorizations for Rick and Carrie Ranstead approved by Bryan Lewis, second
by Dave Sommers carries 2-0. Authorization for approval for Dave Sommers to go to AIC, Bryan
motions, Rick Ranstead seconds. Carries 2-0.
MINUTES- Meeting minutes from January 5, 2026 presented. Rick Ranstead makes motion to approve,
Bryan Lewis seconds. Motion carries 3-0.
CLAIMS- Commissioner Rick Ranstead motioned to approve the claims as submitted. Commissioner
Bryan Lewis seconded; motion carried 3-0 .
. -··---·"·---·····-··----- ----·····-·-············-···· -·-··----- ........... ---··-···---·~·--·-····-·-···········-·······-----·-····--·-···"··-···--·-··-·--·----····-·-·····-·······--········----- .
I__Regicms Bond hymen(_ _ _ _______ __ _____ L$384,718.00 _ _ ______________________________________ .
,,, l Utilities _ _ _ 1-$28,~60.~~- ___ ___ _ _ _ _ _
i GDI to GDM/GDM E~ d to i~ G gl D l/3 I 0 ________ - I ! $14,470.86 _______ ,
j H~s-tF;;s-1\;t:~n_th $33,33333 - - - - -
C s I Wheel/Sur Tax Distribution I $49,482.35 ----:_::=~-==:=_-_:--~~~=:
[§i~~ify~§p~~ific a~d Aggregat~_§_(~p):'~-~~-----11~9-_14Q}Q_=~~:=~ -
::::, 1
i LIT Distribution I $861,613.49 _ __ __ ___ _____ __ _ _ __ _ j
()
i Wheel/Sur Tax Distributi~n \ $50,-528.i6 ___ ____________________________ '
.~0 :!:;t1~t:/~/20~~~~~-:~:: __
6
C: -=--~=--~-~--~=~~=:- ----~-~=-J_-~i2 ~==---_:=: ___- --~::::==~==--~:-=--:--==-·
'::::,
0;!_6°5~87
r+ r
L!?!§?!~-:_~\!tll!_!l_~!~-~~y 1'?].~S___ __ i $803.40 ____________ __________ _ _ ____________________________ __
l;t:J i Misc Claims J:m 20, 2026 ----- - ! $544,405.9?
',, (1)
0
0
·a
OLD BUSINESS - None
CD
:.,
NEW BUSINESS - A lengthy discussion happened with community members and commissioners in
regard to Data centers potentially coming to Fulton County. Please see Exhibit A. Commissioner Bryan
Lewis made a motion to send the amended zoning ordinance back to the Area Plan Commission to revise
the ordinance concerning data centers. Commissioner Rick Ranstead seconded, motion carried 3-0.
96tSlOv:x1
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[PAGE 2]
RECESS - Motion to adjourn by Commissioner Bryan Lewis, Commissioner Rick Ranstead seconded
the motion; motion carries 3-0.
FULTON COUNTY BOARD OF
COMMISSIONERS
Rick~
~~~~ ~~
Attest: Katherine Adamsor{~tor
I affirm under penalties of perjury, that I have taken reasonable care to redact each social security number
in this document, unless required by law: Katherine Adamson
Prepared by: Katherine Adamson
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[PAGE 3]
January 20, 2026 County Commissioners Ethan Trotier- 32:38
Meeting
• Page 14 1-1.11 clarification
James Zimmerman- 16:10 • Property Values 1-1.11 (d)
• Page 33 Added-Tier 1 Battery/Data
• Water table concerns
Centers
• Property Values
• Tax Abatement- N.o ne ..
.
·.
'
Rich Solano-37:03
• Setbacks 500' -600'
• Meeting Information
• Moratorium
• 2 mile buffer?
Lynn Studebaker- 19:45
Lindsay Shambaugh-41:45
• Noise Restrictions
o Why Data Center on Ag?
• Property Values
• Well Protection Tara Taylor- 43:00
Valerie Gordan- 21:30 o Are Commissioners Under NOA?
• Quickly moving Lida Moehler- 43:20
• Any Opposition in AP Meeting
• People are unaware-Advertising
• Advertising
Angela Madeford-46:30
• Water
• Electric Bill
• Noise Concerns-Ambience
o Air Quality • Employment-
• Noise- Backup Generators
• Runoff-
Dawson Honeycutt- 27:30 e No REMC in Akron
David Fox- 50:44
o Habitat Concerns-Lakes, Rivers,
Pond, Land, Agriculture, Animals
• Louisiana Experience
• Well Concerns
a Cancer Rates Increase from
• Drain Lakes- Town Lake generators.
• Taps on water use? o Not enough Electricity
• Replace wells that are dried? o Wells Dry up
• Property Values decrease
Chuck Shane-54:45
Pat Brown- 30:45
Can go next to landfill
®
® Tax Abatements/Assistance • Data Center Size- Micro or Small
e Low number of Employment
• Water Table

[PAGE 4]
Nicole Martin-58:30 Ron Ditman-1:31:57
• Water Table concerns • County Financials-Not Bankrt..i'pt, Not
• River being so low Flush with Money. Rates have not
gone up, assessed value has due to
Darlene Drudge- 1:02:30
the state, not Fulton County.
• Accountability
Gt~l\(i\f,\,
i-tri
Jarod Williams- 1:03:30
~(Didn't catd1 a name}- 1:34:30
• How motion would be handled
• Why Akron area was picked?
Charles Drudge?- 1:05:00 • Fred McGlothin- Due to that power
line. Akron wasn't targeted, the line
• Aquafers- Indiana Water Specialists
was. Benefit to REMC member with
(2008) Study
extra load.
Mike Gearhart- 1:05:40
??? (Didn't catch a name)- 1:37:20
• Fire Protection with lower
• Would like a Pros & Cons list
watershed
Terry Gearhart- 1:06:50
o Pros and Cons list
Andrew Horstman- REMC 1:08:30
• Significant Tax Revenue
o REMC Lower Rates
• Help Public Projects-Funding
• Insist Water Consumption less that
18 hole golf course
e Water Tables don't go down-fix
them
• Pay 100% of all costs up front
• Pay Public Projects in Community
• Dawson Honeycutt-Who Pays wells
if dry?
James Zimmerman-1:31:11
o Surplus Account