Steve Darnell, interim superintendent for the Southern Wells Community School District, notified the county council Tuesday of the district’s intention to renew the district’s longstanding referendum this fall.
The referendum to charge property tax owners in the district an extra 12.7 percent in property tax has been in place since 2009.
Darnell said these additional funds have helped keep classes small, employ quality teachers and continue operating for the benefit of their students.
The following financial matters were approved by the county council Tuesday:
Additional appropriations — County engineer: $327,353 for Bridge 403 construction and $527,251.78 for Bridge 19 construction; Auditor’s office: $27,836 for the implementation of an online archive for plat and transfer books; Wells County Circuit Court: $15,000 to accommodate the influx of investigative consultant services and $4,000 for the Community Control program, ensuring those on probation are following rules through phone software; CASA of Wells County: $2,000 for volunteer training and $596.31 for volunteer recognition.
Transfers within departments — Clerk’s office: $2,000 from supplies and $4,800 from professional services with a total of $6,300 going to part-time and $500 to Social Security; Community Corrections Project Income: $1,250 from PT intern and $2,200 from vehicle supplies with a total of $950 going to Social Security, $300 to retirement and $2,200 to gas, fuel and additives; Community Corrections Grant: $2,200 from clerical assistance, $500 from postage and $1,000 from service contract with a total of $200 going to Social Security, $2,000 to retirement and $1,500 to the telephone.
Engineer moves forward with several projects
County Engineer Nate Rumschlag sent a written report in place of attending Monday’s commissioner meeting. In it, he requested the commissioners sign an agreement with the Indiana Department of Transportation for the inspection of Bridge 105.
Additionally, Rumschlag reported he submitted the CR 450E project to INDOT this week but doesn’t expect to hear back until later this year. Rumschalg also said he had submitted a report with Jason Borne for the Uniondale Volunteer Fire Department drought study, which will soon be submitted for approval.
Rumschlag also made recommendations for the roads left from the realignment of the Hoosier Highway. He had mailed surveys to all the affected households several weeks ago and received two responses — one of which preferred to keep the whole road as the Old Hoosier Highway and one who preferred the Clark Street Extended on the north section and Old Hoosier Highway on the south section.
Rumschlag recommended the second option for clarity in communication; the commissioners gave their approval for this change.
Lastly, Rumschalg said he will be working on the 2022 Traffic Asset and Bridge Asset Management Plans.
Goodspeed tile project waits in limbo
In Monday’s meeting, County Surveyor Jared Hahn said he is still waiting to hear definitively that the county can take on the project.
That said, Hahn was able to ascertain damages given the expedited nature of the project. It worked out to cost between $1,500 and $1,600 per acre. He estimated the project and damages will still come under the allotted budget.
The commissioners approved the contract unanimously.
Jail inmate reports remain consistent
While absent from this week’s county council and commissioners’ meetings, Sheriff Scott Holliday sent a report for the jail’s inmate numbers. As of Tuesday, 88 inmates were being housed in the county jail. Of those inmates, 33 are pre-trial holds for Wells Superior Court, 24 pre-trial holds for Wells Circuit Court, 15 Level 6 felons, 12 county-sentenced and four from the Indiana Department of Correction.
— Compiled by Holly Gaskill
