Beth Rumsey, Staff Writer

Employees of the Ripley County Highway Garage spoke to the commissioners at their regular meeting on Monday, December 15 concerning lost wages. According to the employees, when hours were cut earlier this year, going from 40 hours to 36, wages as well as PERF contributions, and overtime were decreased. “Where is the money going?” they asked.

According to Commissioner President Robert Reiners, the cuts were made in order to have money to buy materials for the county roads. “Everything went up,” he said. The commissioners told the employees that they wanted to keep everyone’s job, so that no one lost their health insurance coverage. “We thought it was the best thing at the time,” said Reiners.

There is money left over at the end of 2008 in payroll that has not been used for materials, according to Reiners, and he will ask the county council to encumber the funds to be used for overtime in case of bad weather towards the end of the year.

The employees also wanted clarification on the choice between comp time and overtime. Reiners said that the employee would have a choice, as long as there is money in the budget for it. According to Reiners, there is no money in the 2009 budget for overtime.

Reiners said that the county garage employees would be going back to 40 hours sometime in 2009. The commissioners agreed to have five, eight-hour days during the winter months, and four, ten hour days when there are more daylight hours.

The commissioners, acting as the drainage board, heard an update from the parties involved in Bishoff vs. Bowling, regarding insufficient drainage of a pond on property in Milan. It was recommended that a 12 inch overflow pipe be installed as well as the lowering of the spillway to the recommended depth.

Bowling agreed to lower the spillway, and proposed to lower in increments to see how the changes would affect the roadway. An agreement was made between Bischoff and Bowling to lower the first increment one and a half feet by February 1, with the entire project—including the installation of the larger drainage pipe—completed by April 1. The commissioners will hear an update on the progress on Monday, February 9, 2009 at 10 a.m.

The Ripley County Health Department Fee Schedule Hearing was opened. With no one present to discuss the raise in fees, the commissioners unanimously accepted the fee changes. The commissioners unanimously approved the appointments of Glenn Kamman, Mark Jefferies and Pat Thomas to the Friendship Regional Sewer District board.

Ripley County Treasurer Earline Copeland’s request for the purchase of a new safe for $799 was unanimously approved. The commissioners approved the closing of the treasurer’s office from December 26-31 in order to switch offices with the assessor. The office will reopen on January 2, 2009.

Bids for the 2009 contracts for materials used by the county garage were opened. The bids will be taken under advisement for review by Attorney Neil Comer, and will be awarded at the December 29 meeting. “We greatly appreciate your taking the time to make these bids,” Reiners said.
In other business:

• The commissioners unanimously signed a letter of support for the Osgood Industrial Site.

• Courthouse maintenance Johnnie Lohrum has pinpointed where the clock is leaking in the clock tower and will contact the Versailles town council of his findings.

All commissioners were in attendance, along with Auditor Mary Ann McCoy to take the minutes and Attorney Neil Comer to advise. The next meeting will be held on Monday, December 29 beginning at 7 a.m. at the Ripley County Highway Garage and reconvening at the commissioner’s office in the courthouse annex at 8 a.m.