Two vote against; one abstains
Council approves park community bldg.
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Although the issue finally passed at the Tuesday, April 20, meeting of the Ripley County Council, members disagreed on the commissioners' proposal to spend $30,000 of EDIT (Economic Development Income Tax) funds to help with the building of a community center at the Ripley County Park.

Lengthy discussion centered on Council Member Ed Armbrecht's belief that using the $30,000 of EDIT funds was not according to the state's requirement. "If this is economic development, it's supposed to be used
for creating jobs - not bricks and mortar," Armbrecht said after reading the ruling from a similar situation in the state.

Commissioner John Little replied that the building would also be a food distribution center since the county has no place at this time to accept and distribute government commodities.
He also pointed out that some of the county trustees have agreed to add $30,000, and the Reynolds Foundation is providing $60,000 toward the building.

Asked by Council President Donald Dunbar for a legal opinion, County Attorney Neil Comer said the EDIT fund can be used to promote new employment, attract any employment, or retain significant employment. "There's no black or white," he said. "It's a gray area."

Noting that the statute gives authority to the commissioners for the decision, Attorney Comer said, "It's up to you (commissioners). Will it make people want to live in Ripley County or leave Ripley County?"

The building will also be used for storage for the park as well as for the county's food distribution. It will have a meeting room area and a place for the Boy Scouts as well as for storage for the Osgood Beautification Committee, according to the discussion that ensued.

Council Member Armbrecht continued, "My concern is if you do it for one, you need to do it for others."

To Council Member Lawrence Nickell's question, "Is this building
one that the government says the county needs to dispense the commodities?" Commissioner Chuck Folz answered, "If we don't do this, we are going to lose the commodities."

Council Member Dephane Smith ended the major part of the discussion by moving to proceed with the approval of $30,000 requested by the commissioners from the EDIT to be used for a community building at the Ripley County Park.

Voting in favor besides Smith were Dunbar, Lawrence, and Simon. Both Juanita Bauer and Armbrecht voted against the motion, and William Dramann abstained from voting.

Armbrecht requested Auditor Mary Ann McCoy to "let the minutes reflect my vote against the motion was because it is not proper use of EDIT money."

Although discussion was lengthy throughout the two-hour, forty-five-minute meeting, other motions passed unanimously.

With additional appropriations, the council members voted 7-0 to approve $200,000 for the Secure Detention Fund; $65,000 for the Inmate Medical and Dental Account; and to bring 911 Communications Coordinator Judy Schebler's salary from $27,922 to $32,000 starting with the week of April 25.

Ripley County Sheriff Bill Davison explained that of the $27,000 budgeted for Inmate Medical & Dental, already $18,000 of that has been spent. "We have done everything we can: gotten co-pay when possible and requested funds from the Department of Correction. They will pay when the bill is over $250. So far we have received $4,400 from them."

In speaking for a salary increase, Schebler presented a list of her duties to the council and noted that the 911 center is never shut down, meaning she is always on call. She has been with the county seven years as a dispatcher and 12 years as coordinator. Surrounding counties are paying their coordinators the salary she was requesting or more.

The increase, Schebler pointed out, comes from the 911 Fund, not from County General. She also noted that she had requested the salary increase in July, but nothing was done at that time.

Commissioner Robert Reiners spoke in her behalf: "She's deserving of it."

Bauer moved to improve the salary increase; Simon seconded; and the vote was 7-0.

Pat Thomas of the Environmental Division of the County Health Department received approval from council for a mileage rate increase for the county from 28 cents per mile to 34 cents per mile. This also passed unanimously with a motion by Armbrecht and a second by Simon.

Attorney Larry Eaton updated council members and the commissioners present concerning Rising Sun revenue sharing, which was down $87,000 in 2003 from that received in 2000. He said another supplemental distribution is due in October for the third quarter.

Eaton said he would be meeting with the Rising Sun Clerk/Treasurer to look into how it all works out and to find out the methodology of the distributions. "There is more work to be done, but at this point there doesn't seem to be anything drasti
cally wrong."

Pointing to the fact that legal fees were taken out of the second quarter distribution, Eaton thinks the third quarter distribution may not be off as much.

During their meeting council members approved the acceptance of $40,043.00 in Riverboat Gaming Revenue from Rising Sun and $39,453.66 in Riverboat Gaming Revenue from Ohio County.

Later, President Dunbar suggested the county should ask Dearborn County for a distribution from their riverboat gaming funds, especially since Ripley County gets a share from Ohio and Switzerland counties.

Attorney Comer suggested commissioners contact Franklin County. "It would be easier to include Franklin County, who gets nothing, and go together to make a request. My sense is if the state doesn't see revenue sharing in the three counties, they will take it upon themselves."

In other business, the council:

* Listened to a presentation by Betty Brandes of Impressive Dogwood Farms on a program for the developmentally disabled called "Reward Riding Program." Noting that CETA funds had been cut, she requested a contribution for the program.

* Voted 7-0 to return the interest check for $10,840.49 from Ripley County Community Foundation, Inc. and advise them to where to spend it.

* Appointed a subcommittee consisting of Council Members Bauer, Dunbar, Smith, and Commissioner Reiners to decide and recommend to council and commissioners where the money should be spent.

* Voted 7-0 to recommend to the Ripley County Community Foundation, Inc. that a check for $1,000 from the interest be sent to New Horizons to be used for the Reward Riding Program at Impressive Dogwood Farms.

Attorney Comer suggested a new agreement be drawn up with Ripley County Community Foundation, Inc. before December 31.

Regarding tax bills, Auditor McCoy said last year's tax bills need to be completed before this year's can be sent out. "This will run us behind, but it can't be helped."