Press release: Monroe County Officials Announce Launch of New Resiliency Commission and Adoption of Climate Resiliency Plan

The following press release was sent to the Bloomingtonian:

Monroe County Officials Announce Launch of New Resiliency Commission and
Adoption of Climate Resiliency Plan

BLOOMINGTON — The newly launched Monroe County Resiliency Commission, formed
when the Board of Commissioners adopted Ordinance 2025-07, has replaced the
Environmental Commission. In conjunction with the recently published 2024 Monroe
County Climate Resilience Plan, an extensive report drafted in collaboration with Monroe
County,

the Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute, and key stakeholders,
the Resiliency Commission will expand the county’s capacity to address climate change
while implementing goals outlined in the plan by including key staff across departments.
“I’m proud that Monroe County is the first county in Indiana to complete a resiliency
plan, which will serve as a blueprint for future action to protect the quality of life of the
taxpayers of Monroe County. While the Environmental Commission made great strides
in addressing issues related to climate change, with the Resiliency Commission, the
focus can shift to specific, targeted actions which will benefit all of the residents of
Monroe County,” said Board of Commissioners President Julie Thomas.

“We are grateful for the assistance of Indiana University and all of the community
members who contributed their expertise and wisdom to developing a comprehensive
report,” Thomas added. “This is a living document, and as new challenges arise, we
will be in a better position to address them quickly.”

Commissioner Lee Jones, who contributed to drafting the resiliency plan and will serve on
the new Resiliency Commission said “This is an exciting and important step for the
future of our County. I am particularly pleased to have a Resiliency Commission made
up of appointed public members and County staff, which means we will be actively
working on these projects if money is available in the budget.”

County Councilor Peter Iversen said “Monroe County is at the forefront of climate
resiliency, setting an example for other counties to follow. This progress is made
possible through strong collaborative partnerships with Indiana University and the
dedicated efforts of local community members working together. These alliances are
essential in driving impactful change and ensuring a sustainable future for our region,
despite the regressive cuts at the EPA, NOAA, and other federal agencies that have
affected climate-related initiatives.”

Richard Crider, Monroe County’s Fleet and Building Manager, and head of the new
Resiliency Commission, said “With the new commission, our priorities will include
tackling the ‘low hanging fruit’ in the Resiliency Plan. I’m looking forward to working
with the Climate Resiliency Commission to implement the plan developed to steer
Monroe County towards present and future climate resilience.”

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