Published: September 16, 2008 10:50 am         

Fountain County to fund jail repairs

COVINGTON, Ind. — Financing for the repairs at the Fountain County jail will not involve borrowing any money.

Fountain County Council President Ron Howard told Fountain County Commissioners on Monday night that financing of the million dollar project can come from the county's rainy day fund and the cumulative capital fund.

"I contacted the State Board of Accounts, and they said we could use the rainy day funds," Howard said.

The county has $486,000 in that account. The remainder of the funding would come from the cumulative capital fund which has $582,000 in it at the present time.

"I have contacted all the councilmen, and they have said they would approve it," Howard said.

The county council has called a special meeting for 9 a.m. EDT Sept. 29 to approve the funding.

Commissioners will approve additional appropriations from the fund as needed during the project.

In other business, commissioners:

-- Voted against closing an alley in Silverwood requested by Jimmy Morgan.

"There is no reason to close the alley," said adjacent owner Fred Thompson. "People use it all the time."

-- Approved the transfer of items purchased through the Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program to the Mellott, Veedersburg, Covington and Kingman volunteer fire departments; the Veedersburg. Hillsboro and Covington police and the Warren County Rescue.

-- Heard a complaint about veterans' flags being removed from cemeteries after a short time. Cemeteries come under the jurisdiction of township trustees.

-- Approved a request from the Covington Business Association to move its Christmas in the Park to the courthouse square this year.

-- Learned the county has received $51,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for storm damage in June.

-- Will have County Attorney Richard Holmes do a title search on an abandoned cemetery southeast of Wallace.

-- Designated Sept. 21-28 as National Resource Conservation and Development Week as requested by the Sycamore Trails Resource Conservation and Development District. Fountain County is a part of the group.

WILLIAMSPORT, IND.

District considers using natural gas

The Warren County School Board is considering the possibility of switching from propane gas to natural gas.

School officials have learned that a natural gas line may be run to the proposed ethanol plant on Indiana Route 28 near Indiana Route 63. That line could run past Seeger Memorial High School and Warren Central Elementary School.

In other business last week, board members:

-- Approved the 2009 regular budget, 2009 capital projects budget and 2009 bus replacement budget with no major changes.

-- Will apply for additional revenue of $300,000 from the state for the Patriot Activity Center.

-- Learned health insurance premiums will go up 20 percent Oct. 1.

-- Hired Great American of Cincinnati, Ohio, with Dave Brown, local agent, to monitor the tax deferred annuities.

-- Learned the district enrollment will be around 1,250. The district ended last year with 1,258 students.

-- Hired Mary Jo Freeman as nurse at Williamsport and Pine Village elementary schools and Chrysta Arnold as district registered nurse to oversee the licensed practical nurses.

-- Set the next meeting for 7:30 p.m. EDT Oct. 7 at the administration building.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Fountain County Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. EDT Oct. 6 at the courthouse.