Council hires GFC to inventory capital assets
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Ripley County Council members in their Tuesday, February 17, meeting approved additional appropriations and transfers for county offices and hired GFC to inventory all infrastructure capital assets owned by the county.

The GFC agreement, which previously had been signed by the commissioners, will cost the county $25,000. Council members signing the agreement included President Donald Dunbar, William Dramann, Lawrence Nickell, David Simon, and Dephane Smith. Edward Armbrecht and Juanita Bauer did not sign.

During the business session, council members unanimously appointed Chuck Folz to the Economic Development Board and heard information from President Dunbar that the inventory tax could be eliminated by March 30 and the EDIT could be increased.

Economic Development Director Pam Sander suggested having a speaker from the Association of Indiana Counties attend the March meeting to update council members concerning what action they can take.

Council Member Armbrecht's motion to approve the amended salary ordinance of the County Probation (Adult) Department received unanimous support as did his motion to table the request of Judge Jim Morris to change his fifth deputy to third deputy.

Concerning the $790,000 balance of the Rising Sun Budget, council members agreed with a motion by Dephane Smith to budget $500,000 for health insurance; $45,000 for tourism; $45,000 for task units and fire departments; $75,000 for infrastructure; $50,000 for sheriff's equipment; and $75,000 for equipment and technology.

Under new business, Kim Wininger, state representative for Soil & Water Conservation District, requested the district receive the balance of the 2003 budget from the Soil & Water Conservation District Assistance Fund. Council members will make a decision at the March meeting after seeing a printout of the fund.

A resolution that the petty cash fund for the Sheriff's Department be set at a maximum amount of $1,000 received approval with a motion by Armbrecht, supporting votes from Bauer, Dunbar, Nickell, Simon, and Smith. Dramann abstained.

Council Member Armbrecht also moved to approve the Ordinance for Establishing a Rainy Day Fund not to exceed 10% of Ripley County's total budget; supplemental distribution of excess County Adjusted Gross Income Tax funds; supplemental distribution of excess Economic Development Income Tax, supplemental distribution of excess funds from any special account of Ripley County.

Other county officials in attendance at the February meeting in the County Annex included Auditor Mary Ann McCoy, County Attorney Neil Comer, and Commissioners John Little, Chuck Folz, and Robert Reiners.

The next meeting is Tuesday, March 16, at 7:00 p.m.