County Council holds last regular mtg. of 2009

Wanda English Burnett
Editor


The Ripley County Council held their last regular meeting for 2009 on Monday, November 16 taking care of several agenda items. The December meeting has been canceled.

The November meeting was the last one for Mary Ann McCoy, auditor, who will be taking the position she was elected to as clerk for the county in January. She thanked the council members and said she had enjoyed serving in her capacity as auditor. The auditor records the minutes from the county council and commissioners’ meetings.

In business, everything was approved unanimously as council president Dephane Smith went down the list.

Both the Circuit Court Judge, Carl Taul, and Superior Court Judge, James Morris, came before the council requesting an additional appropriation of $24,000 from the juror fee fund to purchase a Case Management Computer System. Judge Taul explained it was necessary since the system they have now will not carry the 2010 load.

Council member Ed Armbrecht commended the judges for getting this system without using taxpayer monies. It will come from jury, probation user fees and other funds.

Commissioner president Robert Reiners had several requests. He requested $25,000 from the Cum Cap fund to appropriate funds for repairs at the jail; $30,930.49 from the Cum Bridge fund to build a new bridge on County Road 1000 North. He explained this will help alleviate the flooding problem in the Town of Sunman. He also requested $1,000 be transferred from the Mileage fund to complete year end expenses.

Reiners’ request to transfer $48,000 from the Cum Cap Machinery/Equipment fund to Building Repairs fund, was unanimously granted with one change. Council agreed to allow a $44,000 transfer and suggested the other $4,000 go toward computers needed by Tad Brinson, Ripley County Area Planning and Building. Reiners agreed to the modification.

Under transfers:

• Superior Court Judge James Morris’ request of $184.81 being transferred from the Interpreter fund to the Law Library fund was granted.

• Due to the special election for the Batesville Community School Corporation, Clerk Ginger Bradford requested two transfers that totaled $4,260.00 to take care of printing. She noted the election cost the county $10,642.97 which should be reimbursed by the school corporation.

• Ripley County Technology Director Kelly Vollet was granted $878.00 to purchase switches for the server room. This was transferred from the Consultant fund to computer supplies.

• $1,750.32 was transferred from the Medical Professional Liability fund for the health department to the Insurance fund.

• Mary Ann McCoy requested $3500.00 be transferred from the Office Supply fund to Clerical to finish out the end of the year in the auditor’s office.

• The job description for a maintenance technician as presented by Sheriff Tom Grills was granted with the stipulation it read “part time hourly”. Also granted was a salary ordinance per request of Harley Robinson, Health Board President with the stipulation that the amount of salary not exceed that of similar positions that already exist.

Julie Brancamp and Phil Mohr were at the meeting representing the Ripley County Parks and Recreation. Brancamp reminded everyone of the upcoming Christmas Walk set for the first weekend in December.
Council member Donald Dunbar brought up the fact that Ohio has passed the law allowing casinos and wondered how that might affect Ripley County with their revenue sharing plans. He cautioned the council that money from those funds could go down in future years.

All council members were in attendance at the meeting that lasted about 40 minutes. The next regular meeting will be in January 2010 and will be announced.