Cathy May, Contributing Writer

The Ripley County Council meeting was going smoothly last Monday, July 21 until a $3,066 additional appropriation for a truck to be used at the Ripley County Fairgrounds Park was brought up. An auction had been held previously where unwanted items were sold in order to pay for the truck. But, several council members were concerned because the money was coming from the highway department funds when county highway employees have had their hours cut back.

After much discussion, the consensus was to use money from the county’s distribution from the Ripley County Community Foundation Endowment Fund for the truck. However, attorney Neil Comer wanted to review the contract with the foundation to make sure that would be a permitted expense. If the highway department wants to take the funds from another fund and then ask for reimbursement, council had no objections.


In other business:
• Deputy Dave Pippin, from the Ripley County Sheriff’s Office, reported one of their vehicles was totaled and the insurance company was giving them $12,650 plus equipment toward the purchase of a new one. That leaves them $12,000 short. Pippin reported that Bloomington Ford has a vehicle waiting for them. He asked to take $12,000 from the Home Incarceration Fund(equipment) for this vehicle, whichwas approved. It was also noted that the sheriff’s office is waiting on two vehicles ordered earlier from Struckman Ford.

• Chuck Folz, Ripley County Commissioner, asked for an additional appropriation of $15,000 from the Covered Bridge fund. The Otter Creek Covered Bridge needs to be painted and fire retarded. The appropriation was approved. Folz also asked for $250,000 to replace bridge #89 at the north end of Old Milan Road. It was built in 1969 with wood supports and the supports are rotting. This Ripley creek bridge is used by school buses. The money was approved from the Cumulative Bridge Fund.

• Several items came up from the Ripley County Department of Parks and Recreation. The $12,157 grant from the Reynolds Foundation for concrete floors in animal barns at the fairgrounds was approved. There was concern on some of the items. It was noted that the council would like to have someone from the park board come to their next meeting and go over their budget. As attorney Comer explained it, “There has always been a fuzzy line between the park and the highway department. Highway workers are used to help at the park and their time is still paid for by the highway department.”

• Two women from the Sunman area, Donna McCool and Ruth Riehle told the council they were against the forming of the Sunman Regional Sewer District and they would like for the council to rescind the resolution they (council previously) passed in support of the project and pass one that says they (county council) are against it. Since a copy of the original resolution could not be found, the matter was tabled.

• Terri Eggleston, Ripley County Department of Family Services gave an update on their financial situation.

• Shirla Jones, Ripley County Probation, asked the council to sign an ordinance creating a new Court Ordered Testing fund and to transfer $4,000 from the Adult Court Ordered Testing fund to the newly established fund. They approved the request.

• The next regular meeting of the Ripley County Council will be held on Monday, August 18 at the Commissioners’ Room in the Ripley County Courthouse Annex.