Wanda English Burnett, Editor

The agenda was light for the last meeting of 2008 of the Ripley County Council held on Monday, December 15. The motion to reappoint Jeff Volz and Sue Meisberger to the Ripley County Redevelopment Commission was unanimously approved. Attorney Neil Comer told the council that it was important to have members already knowledgeable of the RCRC projects, especially the Belletech factory project.

Council approved the encumbrance requests made by the Ripley County Child Services and the Ripley County Highway Garage. Child Services requested $570,000 to pay bills through the end of the year. The motion to give the county auditor permission to encumber additional funds requested by the child services department, with proper documentation, through the end of the year was unanimously approved.

In other business:

• The fund transfer request made by the Ripley County Park was unanimously approved. The amount of $7.91 was transferred from machine and equipment to the gas and diesel account.

• Appointments to the Southeastern Indiana Solid Waste District and the Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission board was held for the January meeting.

• The council unanimously approved the 2009 contract for the Ripley County Sheriff. Sheriff Grills noted that the terms were the same as last year, with no raise.

Council President Dephane Smith thanked the departing council members for their service, and welcomed the new ones. “It has been a pleasure,” said departing member Mark Busching.
All members were present with the exception of Ben Peetz. The next meeting will be held on Monday, January 19 at 7 p.m. in the commissioner’s room in the courthouse annex.