Published: November 20, 2007 10:26 am      

Marshal defends need for portable computers

Units do not make the meeting agenda

COVINGTON, Ind. — The portable computer units for sheriff deputies’ cars were not on the agenda for Monday night’s Fountain County Commissioners, but that didn’t keep the issue from being brought up.

“You either need more information or you don’t care,” said Hillsboro Town Marshal Charles Ellis.

A proposal to spend $37,651 for the software and an additional computer failed to get a second at the Nov. 5 meeting.

Ellis defended the need for the units.

“It is going to tie into the new E-ticket system after the first of the year,” he said. “Each officer should be able to swipe a driver’s license and print the ticket right there in the car. (This system) helps you know a lot more about the person before you get out of the car. It is a tool to keep us safer.”

A former dispatcher in Montgomery County, who did not give her name, praised the ability to communicate with more than one police officer at a time.

Neither Terry Ellingwood nor Janet Shoaf responded. The third commissioner, Lowell Osborn, was absent.

Shoaf made the motion on Nov. 5 to proceed with the system, but neither Ellingwood nor Osborn seconded it.

In other business, commissioners:

-- Tabled action on two bids for repair the elevator at the courthouse. Ellingwood will contact the two bidders, Otis Elevator of Terre Haute for $11,950 and Kone of Indianapolis for $12,048.

-- Hired Kone to do the inspection of the wheelchair lift at the courthouse for $325.

-- Agreed to pay a sheriff’s deputy for nine vacation days he is unable to schedule before the end of the year.

-- Renewed the employee insurance with QBE Cox for another year.

-- Approved 13 holiday days for 2008. They include New Year’s Day, Presidents Day, Good Friday, Primary Election Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Election Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving and the day after and Christmas and the day after.



WHAT’S NEXT

The Fountain County Commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. EST Dec. 3 at the courthouse.