A zoning change impacting 221 acres of county-owned property in Jefferson Proving Ground was approved by County Commissioners Thursday, to advance plans to develop a campground at Krueger Lake.
Last year, our Southern Indiana Regional Development Authority awarded the county $3 million in Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative (READI) funding for the campground, which is anticipated to develop 55 RV hookups in the first phase, and approximately 184 when completed.
The rezoning was needed because the property had dual zoning for agriculture and R1 low-density residential. Special exceptions for campgrounds are allowed in areas zoned for agriculture, but not in areas zoned R1. The change now rezones all 221 acres as agriculture.
Although the area has now been rezoned, the project will still need to go before the county’s Board of Zoning Appeals to receive approval for the special exception, since while campgrounds are allowed in the area zone agriculture, it is still by special exception.
The action by the Commissioners followed a vote on July 1 by the County’s Plan Commission approving a favorable recommendation on the rezoning.
Commissioner David Bramer said no responses have been received on the county’s request for qualifications (RFQ) for an operator for the Krueger Lake campground. Bramer said the county needs to do a better job advertising the position, stating the notification has only been placed on the county’s website and needs to be promoted where potential campground operators might be more likely to find the RFQ.
In other business, the Commissioners:
• Awarded small business grants to 27 recipients for a total of $64,784, finally exhausting funds that originated from a Revolving Loan program that started in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to help businesses retain low-to-moderate income jobs. The county had received a $250,000 grant from the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs, to which the county added $50,000 for a total of $300,000.
The Revolving Loan program was set up over 48 months, with the small business owners paying back the loans with 0% interest through monthly payments. If, after two years, they were in good standing, then half the money was repaid and the other half forgiven.
With that money coming back to the county, the fund has been used for additional rounds of loans, with considerable administrative work for the county. In order to end the program and disburse the funds, the program was modified as a cash grant program and final grants were approved to end the program.
There were two awards for $7,392 — Tailgators Bar and Grill and Chief Fitness LLC through Mad City Crossfit, both involving veterans. There were five awards at $4,000 — Blades Styling Salon, Bohman Bee Company, HH Apothecary, Jennifer’s Simple Fashions and Mary’s Shear Perfection. Awards for $1,500 went to AKKT Trucking, Ashley’s Auto Detailing, Big Creek Metalworks LLC, Bright Beginnings Daycare, Camri’s Lil Caterpillars, Fiction Wraps LLC, Grumpy’s Diner, Hanover Implement Inc., Hartman Poured, Helton Eye Care, Higher Grounds, Honey Bean Coffee Company, Leach and Brown Construction LLC, Peak Enterprises, Perfect Timing Massage Company, Rivertown Vitality, Second Chance Farm, Simple Farm Life Boutique, The Derma Bar and The Grime Scene.
- Approved a limited use agreement with Frontier Geospatial LLC to use the parcel layers on the county’s WTH mapping software for a data project for the town of Dupont
- Wetlands delineation is scheduled to begin on July 21 on the county’s 50-acre property where the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and Criminal Justice Center is located. The work is being done by Three Rivers Wetland Consulting in anticipation of the county building a new Jefferson County Animal Shelter on the property and making sure construction does not impact wetlands
- Ani Morley introduced herself as the interim director for Jefferson County Court Services, replacing Jason Cranney who has resigned from that position
