Beth Rumsey, Staff Writer

“We don’t want this particular sewer district,” Donna McCool, Sunman, told the Ripley County Commissioners at the meeting held on Monday, June 16. McCool, along with other residents within the area of the proposed Sunman Regional Sewer District, have signed a petition against the formation of the sewer district. “We want it permanently stopped,” she said. Along with signing the petition, McCool has asked that those who sign, also mail a form letter opposing the sewer district.

According to Commissioner President Robert Reiners, the commissioners decided to not support the plan nearly two years ago at their July 17, 2006, meeting. They felt that it was not needed because the existing septic systems were functional. “We don’t want to force something on someone they don’t want,” noted Reiners. The commissioners also thought it would impose a lot of cost to the customers.

Attorney Neil Comer advised McCool to seek the advice of an attorney. He also stated that the commissioners have no authority over the issue. The commissioners unanimously voted to send a letter to Lynn Newman, IDEM, stating that they do not support the Sunman Regional Sewer District.
Kathy Kelly, Southeastern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (SIRPC) updated the commissioners on grants received in Ripley County, the newest one being a Community Focus Fund (CFF) grant for the construction of a new fire station for the town of Versailles. Kelly also presented a brochure concerning mortgage foreclose prevention. She noted there are two people at SIRPC trained in foreclosure prevention. There is no charge for this program. For more information you can call SIRPC at 812-689-5505.

A request for $28,000 from LifeTime Resources was unanimously approved. Julie Schafer, deputy director of community services, told the commissioners that Ripley County had two new vehicles for the Catch-A-Ride program, for a total of seven vehicles in the county.

The commissioners unanimously approved the rezone of property owned by Levi Bieler, Holton, back to the original request of five acres. The Ripley County Area Planning Commission had originally approved only three acres of the rezone from Agricultural-2 to Roadside business. The commissioners decided that three acres was not enough room to support a septic system, building and a parking lot.
In other business:

• Technology Director Kelly Vollet reminded the commissioners that there would be no technology meeting for June.

• Sheriff Tom Grills submitted bids for elevator repair at the jail. The commissioners requested that Grills speak with John Graf for advice. The sheriff will have courthouse maintenance employee Johnnie Lohrum look at the service doors that are swelling in the heat and sticking.

• The commissioners unanimously approved to have a service door installed in the fencing at the jail to access a heat exchanger that needs serviced.

• Ron Smith and Virgil Woluing requested a short section on Prattsburg Road that is currently closed be reopened in order to have a shorter route to State Road 129. The commissioners said that the property owners would be required to make the request. They also stated that the cost to bring the road up to county specifications belongs to the property owners.

The next commissioners' meeting will be held on Monday, June 30, beginning at 8:00 a.m. at the commissioners’ room in the courthouse annex. All commissioners were in attendance, along with Mary Ann McCoy and Attorney Neil Comer.