911 Coordinator asks for fee increase
Cathy May - Contributing Writer

Judy Schebler, Enhanced 911 Coordinator, appeared before the Ripley County Council at the June 14 meeting to ask for a fee increase from $1.50 to $1.80 for 911. She stated the fee had not been raised since 1993. The increase was supported by the 911 Advisory Board.

Schebler stated this would enable 911 to pay for one more salary and relieve the county $32,282 a year. Attorney Neil Comer had prepared an Ordinance to raise the fee. However, Councilman Ed Armbrecht said he would rather wait until the budget is adopted. The Ordinance had to be approved unanimously on the first reading. The vote was 4 for, and 2 against, and 1 abstention, with Mark Busching and Armbrecht voting no and Bill Dramann abstaining. The Ordinance will be brought up again.

Schebler also requested she be allowed to purchase a new radio system because of officer safety issues. The county received a grant for 800 mhz radios, but there was not enough money for everyone to have one. This meant 911 was working with two radio systems. A new system would alleviate the problem. Schebler said 911 has the money for the new system. Council authorized the county auditor to advertise for bids for the new system.

Marianne Wiggers gave Council an update on the Versailles State Park Inn project. After 18 years, the Department of Natural Resources has given permission to go after private development.

The project has been advertised three times. Any Request for Proposals will be opened on August 8.

Wiggers said any private developer would be subject to local taxes. To help encourage a developer, Wiggers asked for there to be a notation in the minutes that expressed Council would consider tax abatement for an inn. A motion to that effect was passed.

Sally Morris, Director of the Ripley County Community Foundation, came prepared to present the council with their distribution check from 2004. Council decided to wait to receive it until budget time.

Sandy Howard presented the council with a copy of the LCC Grant Awards for 2005. These grants were given for substance abuse prevention and education and are given in three categories: Intervention/Treatment, Prevention/Education and Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice. A total of 13 grants were given totaling $44,245.

Julie Schaefer of LifeTime Resources presented information on their programs. They have asked to be included in the 2006 budget.

Council approved Additional Appropriations and Transfers as requested. Members gave committee reports. Budget hearings will be held on August 30, 31, and September 1.

All seven members of the County Council were in attendance: Donald Dunbar, David Simon, Dephane Smith, Mark Busching, Ed Armbrecht, Bill Dramann, and Benjamin Peetz. Attorney Neil Comer was present to advise the Board. County Auditor Mary Ann McCoy was present in her capacity as secretary to the Council. The next schedule meeting of the Ripley County Council is July 19, at 7:00 p.m. at the Ripley County Annex.