Marion County Commissioners Meeting - March 17, 2026
Marion County Commissioners Meeting - March 17, 2026
The Marion County Commissioners met on March 17, 2026 at 2:05 p.m. in Room 260 of the City-County Building to appoint a new member to the Indianapolis Public Library Board, receive updates on nonprofit tax lien sale properties, and approve an abutting landowner property transfer. The meeting was presided over by President Joseph O'Connor.
Consent Calendar
- Approved meeting minutes from December 16, 2025 without additions or corrections.
Appointments
- Appointment to Indianapolis Public Library Board: Elizabeth Nicole Johnson (known as Nikki Johnson) was unanimously appointed to the Indianapolis Public Library Board of Trustees. Johnson is currently a business librarian at Butler University with 15 years of experience as a librarian in Indiana, including service as community branch manager for the Martindale Brightwood branch from 2019 to 2021. She was sworn in at the meeting.
Nonprofit Tax Lien Sale Update (2022 & 2023)
Ryan provided an overview of parcels from the 2022 and 2023 sales transferred to qualified nonprofits. From the 2022 sale, five parcels were not redeemed; two transferred to INHP (520 North Gray and 2128 North Delaware) and three to Martindale Brightwood CDC. From the 2023 sale, five executed project agreements; two to INHP (3612 North Only and 3209 North Priscilla), two to Martindale Brightwood (2844 Brookside and 2641 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.), and one to Send (status update deferred due to litigation).
Martindale Brightwood CDC Update
Jasmine Buchanan, Senior Director of Real Estate for MBCDC, presented updates on properties acquired through the tax lien sales:
- 2749 Station Street: Partial renovation funded by a $20,000 Urban League Round 4 grant. Total budget $135,000; completion projected by end of 2026. Anticipated appraisal ~$140,000.
- 4500 Hillside Avenue: Planned new build after demolition; not awarded funding in prior round. Exploring partnerships with Purdue Extension (3D printed housing) and Habitat for Humanity.
- 2844 Brookside Avenue: Received $125,000 in Round 4 funds. Partnering with a Jumpstart Indy graduate as project manager. Jumpstart Indy is a nine-week annual course for local residents on real estate development.
- 2641 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.: Vacant lot seeking funding; planning formal partnership with Flanner House for future application.
- MBCDC emphasized the community's priority on homeownership over renting, based on a resident survey where approximately 80% of 120 respondents were renters.
INHP Update
Jeff Hasser, Director of Housing Strategy at INHP, reported on several properties:
- 520 North Gray Street: 3-bed, 2.5-bath near-east-side rehab. Total budget ~$330,000; sale price $225,000 with down payment assistance for 80% AMI buyers. Completion projected September 2026.
- 2126/2128 North Delaware Street: Two units (2,000 sq. ft. each, 4 bedrooms, 3.5 baths) in the Herron-Morton neighborhood. Budget $326,000 and $333,000 respectively; sale price $320,000 with down payment assistance. Completion expected April 2026.
- 3209 North Priscilla & 3212 North Bolton: Two homes (1,500 sq. ft. and 1,400 sq. ft.) funded in January 2026. Budgets ~$290,000-$300,000; sale prices $200,000-$210,000. Completion expected early 2027.
- 3612 North Only: Property was demolished due to severe blight (flooded basement with raw sewage). INHP took a risk on demolition costs despite not yet having full funding. Exploring funding sources including Federal Home Loan Bank of Indianapolis (application due June).
- 2611 Adams Street & 1326 West 26th Street: Acquired in 2024 sale. 26th Street property pending litigation (tax sale objection). Seeking funding for redevelopment.
- INHP's First Look Program gives INHP clients two weeks to view properties before public listing. Recent market interest has moderated (2-3 offers typically down from 6-7 previously).
Abutting Landowner Program
- Parcel at 5300 East Burgess Avenue was offered through the abutting landowner program. The property is a split house; the purchaser is the owner of the other half of the dwelling. Staff recommended declaring the property surplus and transferring to the highest bidder. Motion carried unanimously to approve the transfer.
Key Outcomes
- Appointed Elizabeth Nicole Johnson to the Indianapolis Public Library Board (unanimous).
- Approved the abutting landowner transfer of 5300 East Burgess Avenue (unanimous).
- Noted that the next meeting is scheduled for April 15, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. in Room 260.
- Adjourned the meeting at approximately 3:05 p.m.
Meeting Transcript
All right, I'll go ahead and call the meeting to order. This is the Marion County Commissioners meeting. And my name is Joseph O'Connor. I am the president of the County Commissioners. We it is March 17th, Aaron Gobra, Hoppy St. Patty's Day. It's March 17, 2026, approximately 205 p.m. And we are in room 260 of the City County Building. First order of business will be introductions starting on my left. Thank you, Mr. Chair, Milo Eldridge, serving as the Marion County Auditor and for the Secretary for this Great Commission. Good afternoon, and I am Barbara Lawrence, Marine County Treasurer and Vice President of the Commission. Thank you. Next order of business will be to approve the meeting minutes from the December 16th to 2025 meeting. Do we have any additions or corrections? Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion. Mr. President, I move approval of the minutes as submitted. Second. Okay, we have a motion to approve and a second. All favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. Minutes are approved. Moving right down the line, we have with us today, Elizabeth. Sounds like you go by Nikki, though. So we have Nikki Johnson, who is a candidate for the county commissioners, which appoint to the Indianapolis Public Library Board. We have two appointments. We had our longstanding appointee Patricia Payne, who decided to she was gonna you know do fun things in her life, so she was winding down. And uh so today we have someone with us who's interested in filling some pretty big shoes from Dr. Pat Payne as our library board commission uh appointment for the county commissioner. So good afternoon. How are you? I'm I'm good. Good afternoon to you all. Good. Why don't you just you know tell us a little bit about yourself uh, you know, and then why you wish to serve on this board. Absolutely. Um so just to provide clarity, I am Elizabeth Nicole Johnson, but I am more commonly known as Nikki Johnson. Um, however, I respond to both Elizabeth and Nicky. So and I am currently business librarian at Butler University, um, which has been a rewarding experience. Um I just met my year anniversary in that position. Um I've served as a librarian in the state of Indiana for 15 years now. And um one of the biggest reasons why this is such an honor and a privilege is um because during my experience I was a community branch manager for the Martindale Brightwood branch from about 2019 to 21. And within that experience, I was introduced to the just the genuine ownership that the community takes with their resources and how to provide them. Um so serving in as a public service librarian and providing um not only resources but advocacy to the communities that we serve. I thought that it would be a great opportunity to learn how to effectively um support them, support and work with them while facilitating their process for meeting their needs. Great. Do we have any questions today for Mrs. Johnson?
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