Wanda English Burnett, Editor

Representing the Rising Sun Regional Foundation, Ted Spurlock came before the Ripley County Council at their April 21 meeting saying the foundation was pleased with the way the county had used the funds granted them. Over a 10-year span RSRF has awarded the commissioners $9,280,162 in grants. That does not include the many grants that have gone to various towns, schools, fire departments and more in Ripley County. The total grants for the ten-year span is over $20M.

Spurlock, a charter member on the board of directors for the RSRF, noted that the county has been responsible, and put the money to good use and handled it well. Recently, representatives from the foundation toured the county seeing first hand where the dollars were spent.

Robert Reiners, president of the commissioners said Spurlock has “represented our county well and we are thankful for the grant money.”

All council members with the exception of Ed Armbrecht were present at the meeting. All decisions received unanimous approval. The commissioners were also present for the meeting.

Approved agenda items included:

• Judge James Morris’ request for additional appropriations of $2500 for training to replace present office staff. Joyce Smith is retiring. He noted that a retirement get together is being planned for May 9 and invited the council to the event.

• A final payment for work done on Bridge #76 on Hopewell Road in the amount of $2,393.91 was approved. This was a bill that hadn’t been paid for a number of years according to Chuck Folz. He said the county hadn’t been billed from the state.

• Recorder Tammy Borgman was given permission to use $20,000 from her Identification Security Protection Fund for computer contracts and upgrades.

• Assessor Shawna Bushhorn was approved to use $11,334.63 from the Reassessment Fund for the purchase of a new server.

• Ripley County Parks & Recreation was given the nod for use of rental deposit funds in the amount of $650; and $500 from the Park Banner Grant for banners and hardware.

• Ripley County EMS Wayne Peace was given permission to move $500 from the shelter fund to fuel fund.

• Tad Brinson was given permission to consolidate two positions in his office, making the assistant building inspector also have office duties. He said this will work out better for their needs at this time. He noted that the office load is lighter, while the field work is more complex. He said there were 651 open permits at this time in the county.

• A resolution for Julie Brancamp (Ripley County Fairgrounds Park Manager) was approved. This had to do with how her Public Employees Retirement Fund (PERF) is set up with the state.
There was discussion on how to use the Ripley County Quality of Life Improvement Fund money, with no final decision made. It was noted that last year some of the funds went to help non-profit groups in renting the Showmobile stage. It was discussed that could be done this year as well. Also, Volz said the Milan Food Pantry was in need of money right now. He said they were needing upgrades to their facility. “It’s just food for thought,” he told the council, saying he really didn’t intend any play on words. Those attending laughed and Juanita Kaiser said the matter would be “tabled”, which brought another response.

The meeting adjourned just before 8:00 p.m. with the next council meeting set to take place in the commissioners’ room of the Ripley County Annex in Versailles May 19, at 7:00 p.m.