Commissioners give okay to close road


Wanda English Burnett, Editor

Attorney Larry Eaton, representing Hansen Aggregates, presented a petition to close the entire section of County Road 50W at the regular meeting of the commissioners on Monday, March 23. According to Eaton, the road is narrow, not heavily traveled, and closing the road will not cut off access to any neighboring properties.

Eaton told the commissioners that the adjacent property owners have been notified of the closing via certified mail. As of the time of the meeting, there were no objections to the petition. The motion to permanently close CR 50 was unanimously approved.

Ripley County Treasurer Earline Copeland requested approval to pursue the collection of innkeeper’s tax for the Browning’s Campground. According to Copeland, there are cabins on the property that are rented, and therefore require the payment of innkeeper’s tax.

Copeland told the commissioners that the attorney for the treasurer’s office has written several letters requesting the owner pay what is owed. She further noted that the tax has not been paid for several years. The commissioners unanimously agreed to allow the attorney for the treasurer’s office to investigate and pursue the collection of the taxes.

Commissioner Gary Stutler gave an update on the benefit held for county highway employee John Vanosdol. According to Stutler, almost $7,000 will be placed into a trust fund for Vanosdol to help with medical expenses.

Stutler also thanked everyone who donated money as well as items for the auction. “Everybody had a good time,” Stutler said.

In other business:

• The installation of six electrical receptacles for the treasurer’s office was unanimously approved.

• The motion to table the request of John Gause, Apex Benefits Group Insurance, to have a third-party administrator for the COBRA program was unanimously approved.

• The motion to accept the bid from Tyler Technologies to perform the reassessment for the county was unanimously approved.

• The commissioners unanimously accepted the quote from Smith Implements in Greensburg for two John Deere tractors and two Diamond mowers on the condition of approval by the county council. Included in the quote was the trade-in of three tractors.

• The commissioners unanimously approved the signing of utility coordination certification and the right-of-way certificates in order to move forward on the application for funds from the stimulus package for road projects throughout the county.

All commissioners were in attendance, along with Auditor Mary Ann McCoy, to take the minutes, and attorney John Ertel to advise. The next meeting will be held on Monday, April 6 beginning at 7 a.m. at the Ripley County Highway Garage in Osgood and reconvening at 8 a.m. at the commissioners’ meeting room in the courthouse annex.