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RCRC asks for $150,000 from county
Cathy May, Contributing Writer
The Ripley County Commissioners met on Monday, November 19.
Three members of the Ripley County Redevelopment Commission (RCRC),
Brad Buening, Ted Spurlock and Jeff Volz, came to ask for $150,000
from the Economic Development Income Tax Economic Development
Fund to purchase the Hanson property in Osgood for an industrial
park.
The RCRC had obtained a grant from the City of Lawrenceburg for
$679,530 to purchase the property. But, the city put a stipulation
on the money that the industrial park in Versailles had to be
completed before RCRC started on the industrial park in Osgood.
It took $161,240 to make the Versailles Industrial Park shovel
ready. That left RCRC short the money to purchase the Hanson property.
The commissioners voted to give RCRC $100,000 toward the purchase
of the ground. The commissioners explained they had made a verbal
commitment to the City of Batesville to help them with the widening
of Merkel Road and they didnt have the figures available
for that project yet. The commissioners felt like they needed
to save some money for that project.
Buening, Ripley Countys Economic Development director, said
there have been several inquiries on the Versailles property,
but no one is committed yet. RCRC can make the Osgood Industrial
Park shovel ready, but the state wont advertise it as such
until the Versailles Industrial Park is 60% full.
In other business, Commissioner Chuck Folz said he had a Local
Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC) meeting where the problem
of people abandoning horses was brought up. It hasnt been
an issue in Ripley County, but other counties have had problems
with it. The LEPC suggested the county have a plan in place to
handle the situation before a problem arises.
Emergency Management Director Wayne Peace was asked to join the
meeting to inform the commissioners about the situation. He said
it takes about ??? pound of hay a day to feed a horse, plus three
to four pounds of sweet feed. Folz had talked to the Ripley County
Parks and Recreation board and did get permission to house any
horses there if needed. Folz will get donations for the feed and
then decide how to dispose of the animals.
Peace said there is a horse rescue organization and that he also
consults with Jim Hollis who is on the Indiana Board of Animal
Health and resides in Sunman.
The commissioners spent more than an hour trying to figure out
what happened to a $16,430 check that was issued by the Auditors
office on December 29, 2006, returned on January 4, 2007 and issued
again on January 12, 2007. The check was for new equipment for
the County Highway Department.
The check became an issue because the highway department wanted
to encumber money from 2007 to 2008 in order for the county to
purchase a new dump truck. The issue was resolved by Attorney
Neil Comer who said the money could be encumbered until next year,
but the county would have to get an invoice into the auditors
office prior to the December council meeting.
County Clerk Ginger Bradford asked for the commissioners to pay
the poll workers before the claims are advertised because of the
length of time it takes for them to be paid after the election.
The commissioners asked Auditor Mary Ann McCoy if that was a problem
for her. She replied if that was what the commissioners wanted
to do, she had no objection. So, the commissioners voted to pay
the poll workers before the claims were advertised for this election
and all future elections.
Bradford also reported that Dean Housemeyer had donated and installed
three electrical plugs in her office.
Planning Director Tad Brinson presented a rezone and two zoning
ordinance changes to the commissioners. All had come from the
Ripley County Area Planning Commission with favorable recommendations.
The commissioners approved the rezone to allow a bed and breakfast
on Coonhunters Road in Batesville.
Also, the change to the zoning ordinance regarding more flexibility
with regard to lots on either side of the driveway in agricultural
subdivisions was approved. But the proposed zoning change of having
the accessory building before the primary building on 10 acres
or more was not approved. The commissioners sent it back to the
planning commission for further discussion.
Commissioner Chuck Folz said that he had received several complaints
about Jonathon Smith burning at night and leaving his burn pile
unattended. Folz had Wayne Peace from the health department go
out and speak with him, but the burning has continued. Smith recently
cut several trees down around the courthouse for the commissioners.
The commissioners reappointed Warren Bruns to the Ripley County
Parks and Recreation Board of Directors.
All three commissioners were in attendance: Bob Reiners, Chuck
Folz and Lawrence Nickell. County Auditor Mary Ann McCoy and County
Attorney Neil Comer were present to advise the commissioners.
The next meeting of the Ripley County Commissioners will be held
on Monday, December 3 at 8:00 a.m. at the commissioners
room of the Ripley County Annex.
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