Belterra wants to reduce payments
County Council to join fight for funds
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

Much of the Tuesday, January 17, meeting of the Ripley County Council concerned a report that Belterra Casino & Resort is about to cut the amount of their funding to Ripley, Jefferson, and Crawford counties.

According to Council president Donald Dunbar, Jefferson County wants to fight this and is willing to pay 50 percent of the cost if Ripley and Crawford will divide the other 50 percent.

The matter came before the commissioners at their meeting on Monday, January 16, through Julie Berry of the Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission.

County Attorney Neil Comer, who attends both meetings, explained that the original agreement required Belterra to pay into the riverboat-sharing fund. However, when the state changed the law so that the casinos could operate dockside, it became possible to lessen that amount.

If it continues," said Comer, "within two years they won't be paying anything."

Admitting it could be expensive to join the fight, Comer warned that if the county does not become involved, the income from Belterra could diminish completely.

Commissioners Chuck Folz and Lawrence Nickell said the commissioners want to know how council members feel about the issue since the council will have to determine the funding.

After much discussion, it was agreed that the commissioners would return to the February council meeting to request an additional appropriation listing a specific amount to be used to join the other two counties in the confrontation.

Noting that Belterra has already claimed to have over paid the county, Attorney Comer said, "Really, what we're fighting over goes back about wo years. They have already been taking funds saying they have overpaid us. The figures don't add up to what they promised us."

Early in the meeting council members unanimously elected Donald Dunbar to continue as president and Dephane Smith to continue as vice president.

In other business during the one-hour meeting, the council members:

* Continued the appointment of Bob Gindling to the alcoholic beverage board;

* Extended Cathy May's appointment to the Osgood Library Board an additional year to August 2009;

* Approved additional appropriations for the Ripley County Health Department and the Ripley County Highway Department;

* Received an annual report and budget from Katherine Taul, executive director of Ripley County Tourism;

* Received the monthly commissary report from Sheriff Bill Davison.

* Decided to meet at the regular time in February.

Regarding the tax abatement renewal request for Wagner Truss, council members voted to have Pam Sander, economic development director, verify the information before the extension is granted.

A motion to table the request until it is verified received unanimous approval.

Commissioner Folz reported an incident at the courthouse recently that involved a threat and the necessity to have the sheriff's department secure the building. His point that the courthouse needs a stronger security system brought Dunbar's suggestion that the commissioners put in for a grant.

Folz also expressed concern that there is no defibrillator available in the courthouse or the highway garage. This matter brought a council suggestion that the commissioners come up with a plan for obtaining these.

Council members present included Dunbar, Mark Busching, Bill Dramann, Benjamin Peetz, David Simon, and Dephane Smith. Council member Ed Armbrecht was absent.

County Auditor Mary Ann McCoy and Attorney Comer attended in official capacities.