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 innkeepers tax for the Brownings
Campground. According to Copeland, there are cabins on the property
that are rented, and therefore require the payment of innkeepers
tax.
Copeland told the commissioners that the attorney for the treasurers
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 treasurers 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
treasurers 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.