Officials answer questions at Boone County State of the Community event

Jacob Musselman, The Lebanon Reporter, Ind.
·4 min read

Jan. 27—Community members and public officials gathered in the Witham Pavilion at the Boone County 4-H Fairgrounds in Lebanon Thursday morning for the annual State of the Community, a chance for people from all around the county to interact with their elected officials.

Utilizing an electronic question system, various community leaders — Boone County Council President Elise Nieshalla, Boone County Commissioner Jeff Wolfe, Advance Clerk-Treasurer Shari Johnson, Jamestown Town Council Member Cookie Leeke, Lebanon Mayor Matt Gentry, Thorntown Town Council member Sara Fairfield, Whitestown Town Council President Clinton Bohm, and Zionsville Mayor Emily Styron — shared what's going on in the jurisdictions and answered questions.

Here are the things you need to know about what was discussed at the State of the Community:

Possible 10,000-acre development

Described as the 'elephant in the room,' a rumored 10,000-acre development in the area of County Road 500 West and State Road 32 is a project shrouded in mystery even to members of the County Commissioners. Wolfe answered the question and said he, nor any other member of the county, have had contact with the people proposing this development.

"We don't know what they're planning. We don't know what they're trying to do," Wolfe said.

Wolfe said the county would release new information as it becomes available.

Big 4 Trail economic opportunities

Styron fielded the question first and said the trail provides families the opportunity to access businesses in downtown Zionsville without the need for a car. She said the town wants to add signage to encourage those who are hesitant to bike or walk on the trail downtown. That signage would display times to get downtown via the trail.

Gentry added to the question on the trail and talked about how the county is trying to become a place where young professionals want to come to live, which will then attract more businesses.

The Big Four Trail system received around $5.9 million in state funding from the Next Level Trails Connection program, Nieshalla announced. The state funding will go toward the connection of the trail so one big trail can be created.

Looking at mental health needs

The Zionsville Police Department (ZPD) created its Reach program, that follows up on mental health related calls that ZPD receives. The mental health professionals will try to provide continual care to those affected and bring more of a focus on mental health awareness to Boone County.

Bringing a qualified workforce

Gentry said the work the City of Lebanon has done on improving the town amenities, the parks and playgrounds, including building an American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant playground, is designed for current and future residents in mind. He said the county needs to keep trying to improve the quality of life, which will then bring in more workers.

Multiple members of public offices for towns in Boone County spoke about how they are also looking for ways to attract residents, as well as employers.

"Putting things together, we are trying to make this destination that once people get here, they never want to leave and that's been our goal and our focus over the last couple of years," Bohm said.

Plans for additional housing

Gentry said Lebanon has seen a lot of voluntary annexation. He added to that by saying he understands how people can be upset if, for the last 10 years, they have been looking at a cornfield and now, they see a housing development.

"But at the same time, we do live in America and there are property rights and if someone wants to sell the property, they have the right to do so," Gentry said.

Rural broadband internet

The Boone County Commissioners have been working with various providers, trying to get a grant to be able to offer internet to rural communities.

Wolfe said recently they have made an agreement with a company to provide the first $250,000 of a $2 million project. The initial funding will be used to connect 450 buildings with internet.

Preserving agricultural heritage

Boone County is historically a rural area of the state. Gentry spoke about how the county is changing and in the future, may not look like the Boone County of the past.

"There's a transition happening. Nobody up here is forcing anyone to sell, they're responding to market force," Gentry said in response to farmers selling land that is turned into housing developments.