Also, public art will continue on courthouse grounds; Lipinski wants BESS moratorium extended; board appointments made for 2026
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Nuisance properties have been put on notice. On Dec.15, the Howard County Board of Commissioners passed a resolution to contract with a compliance officer to oversee enforcement of the county’s new nuisance ordinance.
The board also approved the continued presence of public art on the courthouse grounds, sought to further restrict the development of Battery Energy Storage Systems in the county, and made appointments to various boards for 2026.
During discussion on the matter of nuisance properties, Commissioner Jeff Lipinski disclosed that the Howard County Recycling District has expressed a willingness to help fund the compliance officer position. The nuisance ordinance, passed in April 2025, prohibits the presence of abandoned vehicles, garage, and junk on private property. It authorizes a compliance officer to investigate any complaint of alleged nuisance and gives property owners 10 days to remediate their property upon being found in violation of the ordinance.
Failure to do so enables Howard County to pursue a remedy in court, seeking permission to abate the nuisance and assess the cost of abatement to the property owner. That cost can include the actual administrative costs in the issuance of the notice, filing and attorney fees not to exceed $300, and the actual cost of abating the nuisance. Additionally, a fine of $100-$1,000 may be levied.
The board authorized Lipinski to discuss the matter further with the recycling district at its Dec. 16 meeting.
The board also renewed a lease agreement with the Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance, allowing for the continued placement of statues and public art along the walk path on the west side of the courthouse grounds. Like in previous agreements, the county will not incur any expense for maintaining or insuring the works.
Lipinski also requested that Howard County Attorney Alan Wilson explore the possibility of extending the county’s moratorium of battery storage facilities. The county put a hold on any proposed development of such facilities, which are designed to store electrical energy in enclosed battery “farms.”
A proposal to construct a Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) along South Goyer Road was strongly opposed by surrounding neighbors in October 2024 and was voted down before the moratorium was established. State law allows such moratoriums to remain in place for just one year. Wilson agreed to research the matter further.
In support of this moratorium, Greentown Volunteer Fire Chief Stan Oyler addressed the commissioners at the conclusion of their meeting.
“This is not something we want,” said Oyler. “I’ve been researching this for the past eight to 10 months. I can’t find anything good about it. If you can’t do a moratorium, we need to get a ordinance in place that restricts them because this is not good for people in the community.”
A BESS groups batteries within closed units to store excess electricity from the grid for release during times of peak usage. While a BESS is considered a clean and reliable way to support power demand, older technology utilizing lithium-ion batteries has been known on rare occasions to overheat, causing a critical failure known as a thermal runaway,
In those situations, toxic gases can be released into the atmosphere unless special precautions are taken in the design of the BESS. Further, emergency responders must be trained and equipped to suppress these fires.
Finally, the commissioners made appointments to various administrative boards. Joe Martino was reappointed to the Alcoholic Beverage Commission for a one-year term. Dr. Robert Mason was appointed to the Howard County Board of Health for a four-year term. Mike Ullery was reappointed to the Howard County Drainage Board for a three-year term, and Pam Isaac was reappointed to the Howard County Convention and Visitors Bureau board of directors for one year.
Cheryl Graham was reappointed to the Howard County Planning Commission, and Tyler McClish, Scott Waymire, Brad Bray, Larry Hayes, and Ted Miller was appointed to the Taylor Regional Sewer District Board.