Commissioners hear from departments

The Ripley County Commissioners met on Thursday, March 28 with Amy Copeland as the recording secretary. John Ertel, attorney, represented Ripley Co. Commissioners: Mark Horstman, President; Chris Schmaltz, and Kendall Hankins.

Ripley Co. Maintenance, Craig Herbert reported the hot water valve had “gone out” at the Annex Building. Dunlap provided a quote of $1117.05.

Another concern is the elevators and the fire code that mandates the elevators be tied in with the fire panel, to facilitate recall. Digital is recommended, as the state of Indiana no longer requires maintenance of analog lines.

All decisions on these updates/repairs and requirements are tabled until the next meeting on April 12. Herbert will have more information and bids for the Commissioners consideration.

Both, Sheriff Rob Bradley and Deputy Chief Sheriff Lee Davidson spoke. Bradley came with a request for a Ripley County “official” to provide contact information so a contract can be drawn up for inmate Medicare/Medicaid if needed for any in-patient treatment/procedure.

This is a new contract to replace the previous (five-year) contract that expires soon. The motion was made and approved to provide the contact information and be brought to the next meeting for consideration.

Chief Deputy Lee Davidson brought information relating to the cameras requested to update the ability to monitor the courthouse entrance and Annex lobby during the courthouse project and in the future. Davidson iterated that these cameras and monitors will facilitate providing assistance directly to a situation when and where it occurs.

A quote of $11,019.79 was presented for three individual offices, the courthouse entrance, and the “pit.” There is already a $20,000 grant in use to update courthouse security. A modified amount of $7414.91 was approved for the camera and monitor/screen requests.

All the offices in the Ripley Co. Sheriff’s Department have the capability to tie into the feed from the courthouse, Annex and covered offices. Davidson offered to purchase two monitors from the commissary fund. The outcome was that with a bit of creative financing, all cameras, wiring, and monitors/screens needed will be purchased.

A very real concern Davidson shared is the need for new police cars in the Sheriff’s Department. A Dodge Charger was purchased last year for $37,000. Now the similar vehicles are $52,000.

The Commissioners requested more information and quotes. There was a suggestion to lease the fleet. Davidson will be checking into options to update and procure police vehicles that are needed. There are 21 fleet vehicles in the Sheriff’s Department. Eight of those in the fleet have greater than 100,000 miles on them. One recently blew an engine.

Jason Edwards, Director of Ripley Co. Garage reported that mowers are going and ahead of schedule. Edwards shared the CR 550 S bridge is done. Chip-and-seal starts on May 27 on CR 800 S.

Edwards reported that CR 950 S is about to begin. USI will be documenting the process. USI is creating a documentary on bridges from 1926 to now. There is some concern with ancestorial burial items on the Southeast corner and the west corner of the CR 950 S bridge has caved-in.

The rest of the meeting was (mostly) occupied with the courthouse project and Veregy. Ripley Publishing would like to clarify a statement made in the previous article on the March 15 meeting.

It was stated in the article that the Commission approved the motion to rent the “green-house across the street.” The Commissioners approved the motion to write a contract to present for VEREGY to consider.

Ripley Co. Commissioners were approved (by Veregy) to rent the “green-house across the street” reported Art Noel, Veregy. Ripley Co. will rent it, but Veregy will reimburse Ripley Co. for rental and utilities, from June 1 through January 31, 2025. June 1 is the official start date of the courthouse project. Offices affected will need to move before the end of May.

Ric Hertel, Ripley Co. Prosecutor, voiced concern with working in the offices on the third floor and construction noise. Noel insisted “we want this to work for everyone.”

Veregy will present a new timeline at the next Ripley Co. Commission meeting. Moving both courts out of the courthouse, will save costly time on the estimated date of completion.

Another savings on the courthouse project lies with selective panel removal of the decorative tin ceiling tiles. A quote was requested for removing only tiles that are necessary for access for duct-work and wiring. The rest will stay in place and be covered by a drop ceiling. Therefore, there will be no exposure to lead paint and no health risks.

It is projected that with selective tile removal and to have most offices out of the courthouse for the entire project will save eight weeks on the completion date. It is hoped that if offices scheduled to be in the courthouse can find space outside of the courthouse or work remotely there may be a couple more weeks shaved off the estimated completion date.

In the final minutes of the meeting, Kendall Hankins brought forth information regarding the amended Solar Ordinance regarding SES Solar “farming.” Articles 1-7 were passed and returned to the PCA. Item 8 – to reword to conform to state standard from roadway/access point was rejected. The moratorium on SES farming has been lifted.

Randy Miller, EMA will be retiring after the April 8 Solar Event. Congratulations to him as he has been promoted to Fire Chief.

Pinwheels for Domestic Violence Awareness Month, April, were approved to be placed on the courthouse square. However, they were advised to keep them on the sides unaffected by the construction.