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The Posey County Commissioners met on Friday last week because of the Labor Day holiday to review Soil and Water Conservation plans, prepare to ask for additional and hear departmental updates.
Pricilla Kelly, Jim Droege and Dave Elgin approached the commissioners to ask for their support on the Big Creek Watershed Management Plan.
Four organizations are participating in the plan, including the Posey, Gibson and Vanderburgh County Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Four Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Are Inc.
Their hope is to obtain a grant through the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s EPA 205J Program and Indiana State Dept. of Agriculture’ Clean Water Indiana Project.
This plan is set to be executed from September 2006 through December 2009.
The plan was created to help secure grant funding for the project.
Jim Droege began by explaining the process. He said the first phase of this project is to begin in October.
He also explained the goals for the watershed. He added that this is set up to do water testing.
Dave Elgin then offered technical information. He explained the stream analysis parameters, like pH levels in water, dissolved oxygen levels, e. coli levels, orthophosphate levels, nitrates, ammonia nitrogen levels and turbidity.
A map of the watershed was also given.
Kelly asked the commissioners for their support. She also asked the board to write a letter to the Sheriff’s Office and County Highway Dept.
The commissioners told her to draft a letter for them to review before signing it and sending to departments.
The commissioners then voted to send an additional appropriation to the county council for $49,200. The requests range from copy paper to Inmates in Institutions line items.
Commissioner President John Sherretz read a letter from the Jail Commander explaining that the kitchen exhaust fan needs to be cleaned according to Purair Inc.
Purair claimed that the last time the fan was cleaned was July 2005. The cost would be $200.
The commissioners asked Sheriff Jim Folz to make sure that Beuligmann’s didn’t clean the fan when they performed some work at the jail.
Sherretz then read a letter from Linda and Joseph Wittner about trash at 2851 Blackburn Road, the Dennis Hogan property.
The letter addressed the situation that the Zoning board recently vetoed his attempt to place a single wide mobile home on the lot for his daughter. It also addressed concerns that Hogan would not clean up the lot as he said he would if the mobile home was placed there.
The commissioners then asked Building Commissioner Bud Elpers if a letter had been sent to Hogan. He said he had been in contact with Hogan and was aware of the situation. Elpers noted that another thing is the tall weeds and grass.
EMA Director Larry Robb told the commissioners that all the public schools have received their weather radios. He said that in the coming days, he plans to get radios to the parochial schools.
Robb then told the commissioners that Posey County is eligible through the Indiana Homeland Security Initiative for a grant. He said the county qualifies in two sections.
The first is a mapping system that would be put on the Internet. He added that this would bring additional costs later.
The second option, which was better for the county, was the distribution of 10 laptops that are completely paid for by grant money. He added the laptops would have mapping system on them and would have to be distributed by Sept. 30. He told the commissioners this would enhance Emergency Response.