Bremen Area Chamber of Commerce
Minutes of the August 27, 2026 meeting
Accessible text version of the official minutes. The text is reproduced verbatim from the signed record; only page footers and layout artifacts have been removed. The original PDF is also available.
Attendance
Those present: Nate Bailor, Nakia Bailor, Julie Bell, Samantha Betts, Marilyn Boyd, Lydia Carter, David Foltz, Toni Harper, Sue Henwood, Jacqueline Howard, Laura Kennedy, Rich Lines, Nolan Lamar and guests Terra Agosta and Josh Hersberger with Westerman’s, Jessica Martinez, Dee Mowry, Billy Robinette, Matt Schmelzer, Sue Schmitz, Linda Ward, and speaker Jeff Fix and guest Mary Hood.
Program
President Rich Lines welcomed the group to the meeting at the American Legion, Post 20, and led us in the pledge of allegiance. Pastor Linda Ward gave the invocation, and a buffet luncheon provided by the Bremen Drive In was served.
County commissioner Jeff Fix spoke on getting ready for the growth that’s coming; the goal is “manage, not react:”
- Planning land use with the townships and villages, including aligning theirs with county zoning regulations.
- Working to set up tax plans to preserve land and not have taxpayers pay for development; a new community authority can tax new residents, and villages are using grants instead of a tax increase for village services.
- Elevating the quality of living in the county by meeting needs:
- Workforce development center to prepare young adults in the trades to make a well paying living
- Catching up on housing needs through partnership in the regional planning commission
- Making transportation available by LINK buses
- Child care, whose cost can equal a mortgage, might be split three ways among the state, a business and the individual
Data centers in the county bring jobs but must meet four criteria:
- Provide their own electricity and for 400 acres around them
- Have a closed loop system for water use
- Locate outside residential areas
- Give back to the community; as an example, Millersport will get funding for a new village water system and double what they had requested in a school tax levy for 5 years
Nolan Lamar shared how Westerman’s has diversified to critical energy sources beyond gas and oil, to include nuclear and data center tanks, adding 210 jobs over several years and resulting in their own welding training center to fill needed jobs.
Business meeting
In the business meeting, the secretary’s report was received as emailed on a motion by Dave Foltz, seconded by Rich Lines and carried. The treasurer reported the following account balances:
| checking: | $ 2 925,70 |
|---|---|
| money market: | 5 662.14 |
| CD | 13 877.73 |
| CD | 15 357.71 |
| CD | 5 628.77 |
Marilyn Boyd moved to receive the report, seconded by Nakia Bailor and carried.
Announcements
- The Scarecrow Contest entries are available at the village office and the bank as well as on-line.
- There will be a scarecrow workshop at Howell Park on September 23 from 6 to 8 p.m.; Krista Ankrom offered to help with posters.
- Oktoberfest Car Show flyers are available.
- New member Matt Schmelzer is looking for an industrial partner to build on a 15 acre site.
- Free business spotlight ads in the Towne Crier are available through the chamber.
Adjournment
A motion to adjourn was made by Dee Mowry, seconded by Dave Foltz and carried.
Respectfully submitted,
Sue Schmitz, secretary