Commissioners debunk rumor regarding industrial park

As Pulaski County Commissioners were receiving an update on the progress of a potential industrial park on the west side of the county, they were also setting the record straight. 

On Monday, during a regular meeting, Pulaski  County Community Development Commission Executive Director Nathan Origer gave an update on the proposed Pulaski County Center for Agriculture and Renewable Energy industrial park. 

Origer said copies of the appraisals have been given to the potential landowners for their review. 

“Once I have heard back from them, we will start looking formally into negotiating an option on it and moving forward with that,” Origer said. 

The preferable piece of property that was appraised is about 55 acres. The park would be in the area of U.S. 421 and the CSX railroad, south of Medaryville, near the co-op. 

Origer said there is funding available for the option. 

Commissioner Terry Young said he would like to dispel the rumor regarding the industrial park. 

According to Brady, the Pulaski County Drainage Board is looking to start a maintenance project on the Antrim Ditch which encompasses a good portion of the Medaryville area. 

“The rumor was that the assessment fees were going to go towards the industrial park that we are wanting to build just outside of Medaryville. That is not true,” said commissioner Larry Brady. “The assessment fees are for maintenance of the ditch only and have nothing to do with proposed future industrial park.” 

Origer said he had not heard that rumor.

In other business: 

• Before the regular business of the evening started commissioners Bud Krohn Jr. and Young voiced their concerns regarding a recent letter to the editor that was published in the Pulaski County Journal regarding the time clock system and the Pulaski County Highway Department. Krohn Jr. questioned if he can comment back to the individual. Young said, “Whatever this board decides is in the best interest of this county and the taxpayers and that’s with the time clock.” Young said he has seen the problems the auditor’s office has had to deal with in the past with employee time sheets. The time clock system was purchased to reduce that mess, according to Young. County attorney Kevin Tankersley said the new system will eliminate the problems that the writer was alleging are happening in the letter. “The new system eliminates that because you have to be scanned with your fingerprint ID,” Tankersley said. Krohn Jr. said he didn’t understand why the paper printed the letter.  

• EMS director Nikki Lowry said the October run numbers have increased. She also said one of the ambulances was involved in an accident with a deer. The vehicle is drivable but there is damage to the lights and the front corner panel was pushed into the door. The hope is that the ambulance is not out of commission for long. 

• The new safety manual for the county was approved. Brady thanked those who were involved in creating it.  

• EMA director Sheri Gaillard recently completed 40 hours of emergency management agency training. She also updated the commissioners on what’s happening in her office including training, grants and public outreach. Young questioned about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance work she could be completing. She understood that there might be an ADA committee already established. Young said there is not but there are a few people who would like to be on the committee. She said now that she has completed the EMA classes she will begin to focus on it. 

• Young told Gaillard he would also like to see emergency plans created for each department. He used the example he received from the state park. 

• Origer also updated the commissioners on the Unified Development Document. There is still some tweaking occurring, according to Origer. A public hearing regarding the zoning ordinance is next Monday. The planning commission board will need to approve it before it goes before the commissioners. It could go into effect the first of the year.   

• A conference request was made by Origer and approved by the commissioners. 

• The proposed county frost law was briefly discussed. Tankersley said the proposed frost law is straightforward and simply asks those who drive semis and trucks to stay off the county road when the roads are thawing. He said he would like to know about any concerns before the proposed law is approved by the commissioners. 

• An agreement regarding the renting of the county copy machines was approved.   

• A postage meter lease agreement for the clerk’s office was discussed by the commissioners. Tankersley said he briefly reviewed it and it is quite detailed. The contract was received this afternoon, hence why he only briefly reviewed it. The agreement was tabled due to the commissioners wanting more information about the costs. 

• A resolution from the election board requesting support from the county council for five Vote Centers that was tabled during their last meeting was brought to the commissioners. The council wanted the resolution to be advertised. According to auditor Shelia Garling, the resolution does not need to be advertised. She said the resolution was  already approved by the election board. The Vote Centers will be in Francesville, Medaryville, Monterey, Star City and Winamac. The commissioners approved the resolution. 

• A financial accounting suite history conversion agreement with Low payroll and financial data system was approved and signed by the commissioners. 

• The payroll and claims were approved without any discussion. 

• The Nov. 2 regular meeting minutes were approved.