First Elected Officials Meeting Held

Minutes Submitted

Elected Official’s Meeting Minutes

March 6, 2025

The Shelby County Elected Officials met on Thursday, March 6, 2025 at 8:15 a.m. at the Courthouse.  Those present were Presiding Commissioner, Terry Helmick, Commissioners, Ray Bacon, Terry Mefford, County Clerk, Stephanie Bender, Public Administrator, Rachael Bichsel, Treasurer, Tracy Smith, Collector, John Chinn, Sheriff, Arron Fredrickson, Assessor, Liz Miles, Recorder, Audrey Buzzard, Circuit Clerk, Tammy Snider and, Prosecuting Attorney, Jordan Force.

Terry Helmick brought the meeting to order be stating the Commission plans to hold this informational meeting the first Monday every month to discuss items that are affecting county office’s, and legislature or other items that will affect the county.

4• Senate Bill 190: This bill freezes the real estate property (the Commission needs to decide what the guidelines on the freeze will be.)

• Office holders need to be thinking about how this bill will affect your office or if it will affect it at all.

Assessor, Liz Miles asked if it was mentioned at the Commissioners Conference how many acres should be allowed for this bill.

They said no, that is something the county will need to decide.  Commission said some counties only put the freeze on the homestead.  This is the house with one acre of land.

Recorder, Audrey Buzzard stated what if you live in an old farmhouse.  You sign up for this, then tear down the house and build a new house.  How does this affect it?

Assessor, Liz Miles stated it would start over and be reassessed on the new house.

Commission is getting information from other counties to see the best ways to move forward.

There was discussion about the application and reapplication process.

• It was stated applying initially then, after that just filling out a form that nothing has changed.   

• Assessor, Liz Miles stated she felt we should make the application process whether initial application or yearly reapplication should be the same process just to make sure changes are not missed.

• Recorder, Audrey Buzzard stated she agrees with reapplying.

• Commissioner, Ray Bacon asked about LLC’s.  We need to think about this.  He stated they would need to contact a lawyer and have it signed off on for who actually lives there.  Trusts also need to be checked into.

• Prosecuting Attorney, Jordan Force stated LLC’s could be made ineligible.   

• More checking into LLC’s and Trust’s will need to be done as to how to handle them.

• Treasurer, Tracy Smith stated we need to check with other counties comparable to our size and tax rates to see what they have done and how much it affected them.

Assessor, Liz Miles stated this year is the increase year and due to the housing market being so high, Shelby County is still out of compliance with where the state thinks we should be on real estate assessment.  The increase will be 14% this year.  There should be no increase in 2026 as it is a year to assess new construction.  If the housing market stays on the upward trend it is on, Liz anticipates another increase in 2027.  Liz also stated she doesn’t really love Senate Bill 190, as it isn’t the best way to go about a tax break.  It should really be done through the Assessed Valuation process.  She is glad the Commission is looking into this so she can inform citizens that ask about it.

Commission asked if there was anything Elected Official’s wanted to discuss that is happening in their offices.

Collector, John Chinn stated he has had two citizens call in asking questions about the bidding process for the jail.  Who was awarded contracts, items like that?

Commissioner, Ray Bacon stated, they as the Commission, need to do a better job of communicating information.  We       are looking into ways to make this happen, and how to make the information more available.   

Treasurer, Tracy Smith stated a website is wonderful idea.  Official discussion, items they are planning to do or done, and motions should be included in the minutes.

The citizens of Shelby County have lots of questions about the jail project and feel like they are not getting any updates on this.

The Elected Official’s meeting adjourned and will meet on Monday, April 7, 2025 8:15 a.m. for their regular meeting.

Today’s regular Commission meeting will resume in the Commission office.