Versailles Town Council works to upgrade cable
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Versailles Town Council members Sue Meisberger, president, John Holzer, and Jim Taul voted unanimously to allow Ripley County officials to bore under Main and Monroe streets for the purpose of upgrading the fiber cable from the Ripley County Annex to the Ripley County jail.

The decision came at the Thursday, May 12, meeting of the Versailles council at Town Hall with Technology Kelly Vollet and Commissioners Robert Reiners and Lawrence Nickell in attendance.

According to Vollet, the second year of the three-year technology plan consists of upgrading the fiber cable in order to have a redundant data route in the instance of a fiber break. Blue River Telecommunications will install fiber from the Annex down the public alley north of the Wesleyan Church to the jail.

The county will restore landscape after the boring, according to Vollet, who added that the action was a recommendation from a network analysis that was completed with the support of the Rising Sun Regional Foundation.

In other action, the town council members voted unanimously to approve the continuation of Ohio Rod's tax abatement for another year.

They also agreed to have a member of the Versailles Police Department on patrol at the South Ripley school crossing during morning and evening hours when traffic is at its height. "Let's do what we can to deter any accident this time of year," said Holzer in making his recommendation.

Marshall David Adams noted that the cause of the recent accident at the school crossing was not speed related. A pickup truck hampered the view of both the driver and the pedestrian.

Marshal Adams said the Deputy Marshal Joe Mann had attended law enforcement training recently in Indianapolis that covered the subjects of meth labs and homeland security.

During the month of April, the Versailles Police Department took 10 cases, issued 10 warnings, and assisted other departments 10 times. They issued seven citations and made six arrests in addition to other activities.

Water/Street Superintendent Kevin Hensley told council members he had gotten estimates on a town truck that was rear ended recently. He noted that the state will inform the town by the first of July concerning the water main at the Wye.

According to Hensley, the painting of the large water tower will wait for a grant for which the town has applied. Town workers have sewed grass and repaired the landscape on North Adams, where a storm drain was recently installed.

Clerk-Treasurer Ted Spurlock told council the town has received a check from FEMA in the amount of $6,451.91 to cover the damage from the snow emergency in December.

Reporting for the wastewater management plant, Mark Salyers said everything is working as it should.

Brad Samples, representing MainSource Insurance, was present to discuss insurance proposals. A meeting for Monday, May 23, was set for the purpose of discussing the proposals.