News and sports in the Whitewater Valley

By Adrienne Greene

Dear Pastor,

What does destruction, looting and “occupying” have to do with racial problems? It’s terrible to see such evil.

A:

            Yes it is. Just as there are always bad-apples who spoil the bushel; demon spirits of destruction, looting, lawlessness and murder have mixed themselves into this important moment in American history. Our citizens and our God are seeking to proclaim justice and equality for all people. We have made great strides in healing our nation of racism, yet the peaceful protesters of today are raising an important point: If black men are still dying in such brutal ways, we have not yet arrived at a place of peace as a nation. There is a terrible evil threaded through our ranks and we must do something about it.

James, the brother of Christ Jesus, instructs us: “Your calling is to fulfill the royal law of love as given to us in this Scripture: ‘You must love and value your neighbor as you love and value yourself!’ For keeping this law is the noble way to live. But when you show prejudice you commit sin and you violate this royal law of love.” (James 2:8, 9, TPT.) The scripture he was quoting is a teaching from Jesus himself. Christ boldly addressed the issue of bigotry in a time when slavery was commonplace.

Some of us grew up in a rural community where racial diversity was non-existent. In my Christian household, thankfully, my parents did not teach prejudice toward any skin color either. I grew up, like many white people in rural areas, without a context or reference for the tensions plaguing the urban cities or southern states. My experience with other races didn’t occur until I went to college. To some, my ignorance is a crime in itself…that I should have been more aware of the oppression and strife whole cultures of people were held under, and in some ways, still are. How can you live in America and not know what’s going on? I’ll tell you: we didn’t have Internet, we had lack-luster education standards in our schools (to say the least) regarding American history and in my household, TV was scarce (cable was non-existent) and the newspaper reported mostly local events. It was easy to get lost in the corn fields of Indiana and forget the rest of the world.

Last night, the Lord brought a film across my cable TV screen that changed my life, however. It’s called, Emanuel: The Untold Story, a documentary about a horrific massacre that occurred in 2015 at the oldest African American church in the nation; “Mother Emanuel,” Charleston, South Carolina. The terrible truth is that I don’t even remember hearing about this event on the news at the time. I had no idea this diabolical, hideous crime had happened. As I watched, I wept and repented. The Holy Spirit convicted me of the fact that it is inexcusable to be a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all people while having such little understanding of the plight of other races. The movie explained to me exactly why our nation is in an uproar of continual protest, proclaiming and crying out for the equality and acknowledgement of our brothers and sisters of color. Emanuel is a must-see for every American citizen.

The destruction and looting and violence of our cities in response to the death of a black man is simply trading evil for evil. Yet the root of why our nation rages against racism is as necessary as the signing of The Declaration of Independence. God is allowing the racial pot to boil over because we must embrace one another, truly. The cancer must be cut out; the boil lanced. Because we’ll all be in heaven together, for starters. And we don’t need to wait until then to bring heaven to earth.

“After this, I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne; and to the Lamb’” (Revelation 7:9, 10, NIV.)

Please pray for one nation under God…just as it is in heaven.

Do you have a question or comment for Pastor Adrienne? Send your inquiries to: info@adriennewgreene.com or write to P.O. Box 214, Harrison, OH 45030. For more information, please visit www.adriennewgreene.com or tune into the “Ask Pastor Adrienne” YouTube channel.

Anyone who would like to write a column about religion or other topics should send his or her column to jestridge@yahoo.com

Destroying History / Self Destruction

For the past couple of weeks we have witnessed terrible examples of statues and monuments commemorating past leaders and events desecrated or destroyed by mobs, many of whom think they are delivering blows against white supremacy or advancing social justice while our hapless leaders sit idly by.

These mobs are not destroying history, history is past, it can’t be destroyed but it can be hidden, obscured or lied about.  These mobs, righteous as some may believe they are, are in fact destroying us and themselves.  These leaders and great moments captured in stone and bronze are reminders and markers of our past, much of it glorious and good and portions of it not so good, even shameful, but together these past events form our culture and are the foundation for continuous learning and improvement. 

Here are a few examples:  Christopher Columbus, now much reviled as the man who brought so much suffering and disease to indigenous people in the West had no such intentions.  He was merely looking for more efficient trade routes to Asia and, since he correctly believed the earth to be round, figured he could end up East by sailing West having no idea the American continent was in the way.  If Christopher had not done it, some other European was going to – the economics of the time and the advancing technology made it inevitable.

Thomas Jefferson, much reviled because he was a slave owner and may have had sexual relations with one or more slaves.  Never mind that in his time slavery was as common owning farm tractors today.  Never mind as well that his authorship of the Declaration of Independence is one of the greatest writings and gifts to all mankind – the document that audaciously stated that rights come from God not government and as such provided the very foundation of freedom that eventually helped end slavery.

These mobs refuse to acknowledge the contributions of great but imperfect leaders, focusing only on their flaws and judged with contemporary standards, not the standards of the times when they lived.  In so doing, they miss the great lessons – good and sometimes evil, these leader’s lives teach us so we can do better.  The old cliché that “those who forget history are doomed to repeat it” is certainly true when you have destroyed the very past you could have learned from.

Larry Wiwi

Franklin County

By John Estridge

Franklin County Council wants to generate $1.1 million to purchase capital assets and not increase taxes.

The way council’s financial advisors, Reedy Financial Group, plans to make the seemingly impossible happen is to reestablish a bond that is set to go off the books and float it to pay for some of the needs of county offices.

However, council members may have to go back to the proverbial drawing board as the county may be looking at slightly less than a quarter of the available money to pay for the repair of the clock tower on the Franklin County Courthouse.

Gabe Gerth, senior accountant and municipal advisor for Reedy, talked to council members Tuesday night, June 23, about what it was decided to spend the money on and the timeline for making the bond issue a reality.

It was the first time all council members had been in the same room for a meeting since the state’s shutdown order in March. Four council members sat in their usual seats behind the council podium and with their nameplates in front of them. A second, smaller table was set up to the west of the main podium. There, auditor Karla Bauman and two council members, Glen Bischoff and Rebecca Oglesby, sat at that table. Councilman Dean McQueen was also supposed to be seated at the smaller table, but he was absent. Chief deputy auditor Derrike Kolb sat in the back of the large meeting room in the chair by the desk usually used by the auditor during county commissioners’ meetings.

About a dozen people, either with business before council or media covering the meeting, were scattered around the room, sitting in chairs with proper social distancing for each person. Whitewater Publications reporter Randy Teufel appeared to be the only person wearing a mask. A Zoom hookup allowed others to watch the proceedings from remote locations and partake in the meeting.

Council members talked about changing how the money will be spent due to the needs of the courthouse’s clock tower.

According to an article published in the June 3 Brookville Democrat/American, a person reported to officials the clock tower appears to be leaning.

FCC member Joe Gillespie, who held the county surveyor’s position for decades before retiring, said there appears to be water damage and subsequent rot undermining the clock tower. He and commission vice president Tom Linkel also said using a figure of $250,000 to fix the situation was too preliminary as there have not been any concrete estimates sought on fixing the problems. However, it will be expensive to fix the problem.

“We’ve not got a bid or a quote or anything like that,” Linkel said.

“It is going to be expensive,” Gillespie said.

Oglesby said it might not be repairable and something would need to be done to it, maybe remove it from the courthouse, instead of trying to fix it. She said it is leaning in a bad way, and she is concerned about a heavy wind taking it off the courthouse and endangering the public.

However, Gillespie was adamant about fixing the problem instead of removing the clock tower from the historic and picturesque courthouse.

“We’re going to repair the bell tower,” Gillespie said. “We’re not going to allow that to fall.”

As it now stands, the bulk of the money will go toward new equipment for the county highway department. The current list of capital projects chosen by a three-member county council committee consisting of: president Jeff Koch, vice president Oglesby and Scott McDonough, are as follows:

 County highway

Grade all, $360,000; mini excavator, $100,000; single-axle dump truck, $140,000; tandem dump truck, $175,000; and addition to highway building, $100,000 for a total of $875,000.

Assessor

Copier, $5,000.

Area plan

Computers and software, $10,000.

Small animal control

Kennels, $9,000.

Park

Resurfacing internal roads, $22,000.

Auditor

Lights, $3,000.

IT

Auditor computer, auditor printer and auditor UPS, $5,160; assessor, server, $4,097; commissioners, six computers and eight wifis, $12,992; sheriff, phone system $35,900; for a total of $58,149.

Recorder

Equipment, $3,000.

Sheriff

Body armor, $5,000.

Commissioners

Roof repair — courthouse, $50,000.

EMA

Emergency operations center laptops/external monitors, $18,000; Basic vehicle, $32,000; 16-foot cargo trailer, $6,800; and supplies to stock trailer, $3,051 for a total of $59,851.

Grand total: $1.1 million.

Koch, Oglesby and McDonough met after the meeting and worked out a time to meet again and discuss how to work in the clock tower on the courthouse.

Gerth also gave council members hard copies of the schedule for what has to be done and when it has to be done to make the bond issue a reality.

• Monday, June 29 – Publish notice of determination and additional appropriation public hearing and post in three places within the county.
• Monday, July 6 – Publish notice of determination and additional appropriation public hearing and post in three places within the county.
• Wednesday, July 15 – File additional appropriation ordinance with Division of Local Government Finance.
• Tuesday, July 28 – County council conducts public hearing on additional appropriation and considers adoption of additional appropriation ordinance and bond ordinance.
• Wednesday, July 29 – Send notice of intent to sell bonds (first publication).
• Monday, Aug. 3 – Publish notice of intent to sell bonds (first publication).
• Monday, Aug. 10 – Publish notice of intent to sell bonds (second publication).
• Wednesday, Aug. 19 – Bond sale; bids received/awarded.
• Wednesday, Sept. 2 – Bond closing.

Arrests

Monday, June 15

Christopher G. Hunter, 29, South Third Street, Cambridge City, was arrested at Brookville on an out-of-county warrant hold by Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Deputy A. Bowers.

Wednesday, June 17

Jason A. James, 43, Meadow Lane, Mooresville, Indiana, was arrested at the Decatur County Jail for a court appearance by FCSO S. Stirn.

Thursday, June 18

Ernest D. Spurlock, Jr., 46, County Line Road, Rushville, was arrested at his residence on an arrest warrant by FCSO T. Ford.

Joshua T. Trammell, 42, Pine Road, Brookville, was arrested on U.S. 52 by FCSO Deputy John Roberts on an arrest warrant and Motor vehicle habitual traffic violator charge.

Friday, June 19

Justin D. Carnes, 25, Fisherman’s Court, Indianapolis, was arrested at Lakeshore and was charged with Domestic battery. He was arrested by Indiana State Police Trooper Chad Snyder.

William L. Crank, 24, South County Line Road 850-West, Glenwood, was served an arrest warrant in Laurel. He was arrested by Deputy A. Bowers of the FCSO.

Laura E. Kinman, 34, West Indiana 229, Batesville, was arrested at the Ripley County Jail on warrant service by FCSO R. Gordon.

Jason L. Robinson, 35, High Street, Laurel, was arrested at his residence for an arrest warrant by FCSO T. Ford.

Chad J. Williamson, 38, Glenmont Lane, Cincinnati, was arrested in the parking lot at Kroger’s in Batesville by BTS Ethan Back on two arrest warrants.

Jeremy J. Wilson, 40, St. Mary’s Road, Brookville, was arrested by FCSO Deputy Ryan Geiser on Snail Creek Road and charged with Possession of a firearm by a domestic batterer and two arrest warrants.

 Saturday, June 20

Adrian Fransisco, 26, Rue Madeleine, Lawrence, In., was arrested at Mounds Beach by Indiana Conservation Officer B. Shoults and charged with Public intoxication.

Blaze K. Propes, 20, Nelson Avenue, Indianapolis, was arrested at Mounds Beach by FCSO Deputy A. Bowers and charged with Minor possessing an alcoholic beverage.

Sunday, June 21

James D. Ruble, 49, McGuire Ridge Road, Laurel, was arrested in Laurel by FCSO Deputy A. Bowers for Operating a vehicle while intoxicated and Operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangerment.

Accidents

At 7:28 p.m., Friday, June 12, Melanie Nevels, Keeler Road, Brookville, was eastbound on St. Mary’s Road when the vehicle she was operating went off the south side of the road, hitting a culvert, causing her tire to blow out. Franklin County Sheriff’s Department Deputy John Roberts investigated.

At 6:33 p.m. Monday, June 15, Yazmin Lopez, Cincinnati, was backing out of a parking spot at the Mounds Beach parking lot when the vehicle he was operating was struck by a vehicle driven by Zachary Hoffman, Cincinnati, who was also backing out of a parking place. FCSD Deputy Brad Ramey investigated the accident.

At 3:56 p.m., Monday, June 15, Julie Seale, Oxford Pike, Brookville, was westbound on U.S. 52 West behind a vehicle operated by Karen Nottingham, Corbin, Indiana. The Seale vehicle struck the Nottingham vehicle in the rear. It was investigated by FCSD Deputy Jason Robinson.

At 1:27 a.m., Monday, June 15, James Race, East Velocipede Pike, Liberty, was operating a vehicle southbound on Indiana 1 when he went left of center and drove into a ditch. The accident was investigated by FCSD Dylan Enzinger.

At 9:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 16, Adam Lambert, East County Road 475-South, Connersville, was operating a vehicle westbound on Fairfield Causeway Road when a deer entered the road. It was investigated by FCSD Deputy Bryce Jenkins.

At 5:59 a.m., Tuesday, June 16, Eric Fullenkamp, North Hamburg Road, Batesville, was operating a vehicle eastbound on Hamburg Road while Randy Bedel, Sawmill Road, Batesville, was operating a vehicle pulling a trailer and heading westbound on the same road. As the two vehicles passed each other, Fullenkamp’s vehicle struck the rear of Bedel’s trailer. FCSD Chief Deputy Greg Mehlbauer investigated the accident.

At 7:39 a.m., Thursday, June 18, Mary Ross, Big Cedar Road, Cedar Grove, was operating a vehicle southbound on Indiana 101 when a deer ran into the path of her vehicle. Mehlbauer investigated the accident.

At 9:05 a.m., Saturday, June 20, Diane Schindler, Kerr Road, Cedar Grove, was operating a vehicle eastbound on Dickson Road when a deer ran into the path of her vehicle. FCSD Deputy Brad Lecher investigated the accident.

At 10:30 a.m., Saturday, June 20, Andrew Hester, Oak Haven Lane, West Harrison, was operating a vehicle eastbound on School Road when a deer ran into the path of his vehicle. Lecher investigated the accident.

At 2:15 p.m., Sunday, June 21, Alison McCreary, East Shay Street, Connersville, was southbound on Ind. 1 when McCreary said another vehicle went left of center and almost struck her vehicle. McCreary said she swerved to the right to avoid the collision. Lecher investigated the accident.

By John Estridge

It is believed antibodies from people who have survived COVID-19 are an important weapon for patients suffering from the virus’ ill effects.

Testing is now available on Tuesdays and Thursdays in a trailer outside the Union County Health Department at the intersection of South and South Main streets in Liberty.

Alvin Day, public health awareness coordinator, told the Union County commissioners about the testing at the commissioners’ meeting Friday morning, June 19.

There is no charge for the testing. This is limited to UC residents. People must call (765) 458-5393 Option One to make an appointment as this is only by appointment. Hours for appointments are 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

According to Webmd.com, COVID-19 antibody testing is important for a couple of reasons. If a person is found to have COVID-19 antibodies, then through questionnaires and other methods, researchers can find out much information concerning how the virus affects many people. And how wide spread the virus is. Also, it is believed plasma, from those with the antibodies, will help those who are sickened by the virus to fight off its debilitating symptoms.

The website said the test can be done with a finger prick much like diabetes patients use to check their glucose levels.

Those administering the tests are looking for two separate antibodies:

IgM antibodies, which happen early in an infection.

IgG antibodies, which are more likely to show up later.

It said most people have the IgG antibodies about 14 days after symptoms start. In other viruses, it stays in the blood for long periods of time; however, it is not known how long they stay in the blood with the new coronavirus.

Also, the researchers are trying to determine if those who survive the virus, have immunity from the virus and/or to what amount of immunity.

“Once scientists know who has had the virus, they can find out how sick it makes most people,” according to the website. “And they can study what happens if people who’ve had it come into contact with it again. Along with other scientific information, this can help researchers understand who might be immune to the virus.”

Day was asked about the accuracy of the tests. He did not have a definitive answer, and the website did not either.

“Companies make their own claims about the accuracy of their antibody tests,” according to the website. “Some say it’s up to 100 percent. Government researchers are studying how well the tests are working, but it’s too early to say for sure.”

In other business, the commissioners:

*Discussed the periodic bids for the Community Crossings Grant. This grant program was started by the state legislature several years ago when the same legislators increased the state’s gasoline tax. Money from the tax increase goes to the Indiana Department of  Transportation (INDOT) for the building and upkeep of state highways. INDOT also gives out grants up to $1 million per grant, to counties for the upkeep of county roads and bridges.

Counties have to put up matching funds up to 20 percent of the grant.

Commission President Paul Wiwi updated his fellow commissioners via speakerphone about this year’s Community Crossings Grant application. He said county highway superintendent Jeff Bowers is ready to turn in the grant. It was not known if the state was going to continue the grant program due to the COVID-19 virus and subsequent state-wide quarantine which led to a sharp decrease in fuel consumption within the state.

Wiwi said it is believed the state is going to continue the grant program. Wiwi did not have a list with him of which roads are on the application.

*Wiwi also reported the Gradall is working. It took about $1,000 to fix it this time, and there does not seem to be any oil leaking.

*Wiwi reported the county will receive a nice settlement from the insurance company due to the damage done by straight-line winds to the county’s highway department facilities located off Kitchel Road. The county is talking to some area contractors about fixing the damage.

*A lift is needed to fix the remaining clock high in the courthouse. It needs a new minute hand. There is also a piece of slate hanging off the edge of the roof. Wiwi wanted commissioners to ask the company with the lift if they can take the piece of slate down and look to see if there is any damage on the roof.

Commissioners at the meeting said a roofing company is coming in August to look at the situation.

*Received and signed a grant for UC Public Transportation from executive director Trisha Persinger. She said it is an 18-month grant running from July 1 of this year to Dec. 31, 2021. It doubled the money the public transportation is receiving, she said.

*Heard from commission vice president Tim Williams who said the balance in the county’s Economic Development Fund is slightly more than $36,000. He said there is not much the county can do with $36,000 to promote economic development.

*Talked about a pending contract with American Elevators Inc. of Cincinnati. However, the quote from that company includes an inspection fee, and the inspection has already been completed by Tri-State Elevator. Some buttons within the elevator need to be replaced as they are currently inoperable, commissioners said.

Commissioners want to talk to American Elevators Inc., to see if the quote will be diminished if the company does not have to do the annual inspection, also.

*Agreed to allow a county employee to carryover unused vacation time.

*Approved Debbie Weaver to replace Bev Wiwi on the library board.

By John Estridge

Two of the major expenditures for Union County are the ambulance and health insurance contracts.

This year both are up for bid. Union County Council members discussed the unknown monetary factors of the new ambulance service and the health insurance contracts during their monthly meeting Thursday, June 18 while they were discussing their upcoming 2021 budget hearings in August.

On the next day, Friday morning, June 19, commissioners engaged in a conversation about the nuts and bolts of putting out those bids before the budget hearings commence. The current ambulance contract expires at the end of the calendar year while the health insurance contract ends Oct. 1.

Commissioners Tim Williams and Howard Curry were present in the Commissioners Meeting Room on the second floor of the Union County Courthouse. President Paul Wiwi was at his home and participated in the meeting via speaker phone. Williams, as commission vice president, chaired the meeting. Much of the meeting was taken up with discussing what the commissioners wanted in the ambulance bid specs, including how many years to make the contract.

Ambulance

Currently, Spirit Medical Transport LLC of Greenville, Ohio, services the county.

Union County Auditor Cheryl Begley said the county should receive the bids back from the interested companies by Aug. 21 so council will have an opportunity to work the 2021 budget in order to pay for the contract. Council has a public hearing on the 2021 budget set for Aug. 20. At that meeting or before, council members will probably schedule the budget workshop meetings to commence in late August or early September.

At the June 17 council meeting, council president Richard Blank said the two biggest unknowns facing council in working on the 2021 budget are the ambulance contract and any increase in premiums with the health insurance for the county employees.

Wiwi said he wanted a multi-year contract so they don’t have to go through the bid process every year.

Williams said he contacted the county’s attorney, Jim Williams, and the State Board of Accounts allows for contracts up to five years in length. Jim Williams said it is possible to ask for a three-year contract and then have an option for another two-year extension on the contract.

All three commissioners discussed their dissatisfaction for a one-year contract, but they decided to leave that as an option.

According to Curry, he has been approached by some Liberty Volunteer Fire Department members who wanted changes to the specifications for an ambulance service. However, Curry could not remember the specifics of their suggestions.

It was decided Wiwi would contact West College Corner Volunteer Fire Chief Donnie Jackson while Tim Williams will contact LVFD Chief Jim Barnhizer and either get the desired changes from them or schedule a meeting with the fire chiefs, one commissioner and a couple of county councilmen to go over desired changes in the bid specifications.

They also plan to talk to and/or invite to the meeting 911 personnel and the county’s police agencies to see if they have any concerns or suggestions.

Wiwi wanted to know what the county was currently asking in the bid packet. Begley had constructed possible bid specs based on past contracts. Tim Williams read it aloud so everyone could hear it together.

“Ambulance response times for emergency calls should be 12 minutes or less 90 percent of the time,” Williams read. “Bidders should have a minimum of one advanced life-support-equipped ambulance staffed to answer all first-out ambulance calls in the county at all times. First-out ambulance should be staffed by a minimum of one EMT advanced and one EMT basic 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Additionally, bidders shall provide basic life-support-equipped ambulance during major holidays to include July 4 and Labor Day or any other dates that the county population is expected to have a sizable increase. Mutual agreeable staffing dates and times to be determined by the commissioners and/or their designees. Staffing for the ambulance should be a minimum of one EMT basic and one driver.”

Wiwi said Spirit seems like it is hitting the 12-minute average for response times. He expects calls to places like Egypt Hollow take longer than 12 minutes.

Tim Williams went over the different companies, which has serviced Union County since the county went away from a volunteer service: St. Clair Emergency Medical Service, Rural/Metro Ambulance Service and Spirit.

Wiwi has been a commissioner during the service of all three ambulance companies, he said.

According to Wiwi, he would like to have all the information available for the commissioners’ next meeting, which is scheduled for 8:30 a.m., Friday, July 10. He wants to then send the bid packet out so the interested companies will have enough time to have them returned by Aug. 21.

Health Insurance

Commissioners also briefly discussed upcoming health insurance bids with health insurance costs being another unknown in the budgeting process.

Begley said at least one local insurance company has expressed interest in bidding this year. Curry said he would like to have as many local insurance companies as possible bidding on the package. Begley said there are currently 49 employees on the policy. Some have opted to take Medicare instead, officials said.

Begley said she will get up the bid specs and have them published.

By John Estridge

County councils in Indiana are going to have a very unenviable job this fall: They have to set 2021 budgets without really knowing how much costs are going to go up and how much revenue is going to go down.

Much of this is caused by COVID-19 and the ensuing shut down, which ate into state and county income tax revenue, gas tax revenue and may change property tax-related assessments in the long haul.

Thursday, June 18, a financial analyst met with Union County Council (UCC) members and discussed an option to increase the Local Option Income Public Safety Tax (LOIT) to its optimum level, 2.5 percent. Currently, it is at 1.75 percent, according to Jason Semler, CPA with bakertilly Municipal Advisors.

Semler was invited to the county council meeting to give a presentation concerning LOIT.

He said the county is currently at 1.75 percent. Of that amount, 1.5 percent is a combination of County Adjusted Gross Income Tax (CAGIT), Economic Development Income Tax (EDIT) and Public Safety. By law the county can add another 1 percent, which would take the three aforementioned taxes together to 2.5 percent. In Marion County, the limit is 2.75 percent.

By raising it by 1 percent to 2.5 percent, the county could raise an additional $145,000, Semler said.

According to UCC President Richard Blank, there are unknown expenditures in the upcoming 2021 budget. He named two of them. They are health insurance premiums are expected to increase and the commissioners need to put out bids for a new ambulance. He estimated the cost of the two items alone could be around $70,000 coming out of the General Fund (GF) that would not normally come out of the GF. And that figure is far from concrete.

Also, Blank asked Semler about how much the COVID-19 and subsequent shutdown will lower income tax revenue for the state and county. Semler replied that is the proverbial $1 million question he gets asked everywhere he goes.

According to Semler, the real income tax hit may not come until 2022. That is because the 2021 distribution is going to be based on 2019 taxes.

“Your 2021 distribution is based on what people earned in 2019,” Semler said.

And Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb extended the date the state tabulates how much income tax will come in for distribution from June 30 to Aug. 30. This is important because of the COVID-19, income tax filing was extended from April 15 to July 10. So, all of the taxes will not be filed by the usual June 30 cut-off date, Semler said.

Semler said he is not cognizant of the county’s exact financial situation, but he knew the county has dipped into its cash balances, which is not preferred. However, Union County is not alone in its dilemma of having expenses outrun revenues, Semler said.

Council member Chris Rosenberger said if the county provides needed services for the county’s residents, then it is the council’s job to find a way to pay for those services.

“If you’re going to provide the services, you need to pay for them,” Rosenberger said.

According to Semler, during the 2008 recession, income tax revenue was reduced by 10 percent. That is the amount many estimate the income tax revenue will fall due to the shutdown. However, this is new territory as nothing like this has occurred before.

Semler said more unknowns on the revenue side include what will the shut down do to property tax assessments and how will circuit breaker laws affect the county.

Blank pointed out council will have to make decisions on the budget before all the figures will be final. And Semler agreed.

Later in the meeting, council set the public hearing for the 2021 budget to be held at its Aug. 20 regular meeting. The members will also set dates for the budget workshops. Auditor Cheryl Begley said the budget adoption has to be completed by Oct. 17. And she has to have enough time to put everything together to make that October deadline date after council approves the 2021 budget.

Semler said the first step to increase the LOIT tax is to hold a public hearing. A resolution or ordinance must be written for the increase. This must be advertised before it can be passed. If it is voted on when the ordinance is introduced, the vote has to be unanimous, or council will have to take another vote at the next meeting. At that meeting, a simple majority is sufficient for the tax increase proposal to pass.

Semler was asked to get more information on what the impact will be on taxpayers.

In other business, council:

*Discussed the Liberty Town Council agreed to pay up 50 percent up to $60,000 of the cost to upgrade the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). Blank said that really made him happy.

According to a Liberty Herald article written by Randulf Teufel, the money will be used to replace the PSAP’s radio equipment. Lightning strikes have really damaged the radio equipment, authorities have stated in the past.

*Adjusted the county’s salary ordinance.

According to Begley, an employee in the Prosecutor’s Office retired. She has not been replaced due to the diminished court activities from the shutdown. A part-time person is currently handling the former employee’s duties and probably will remain a part-time employee until the court resumes its normal activity, authorities said. There was not a line item for part-time help in the Prosecutor’s Budget. Thus, council has to add a line item to pay the part-time employee. While this will save the county money, the county has to do this with an additional appropriation. Begley will prepare the additional.

*There is a need for a crane to finish the repair to the courthouse clock. Begley said there is not enough money in the Courthouse Upkeep Fund to pay for all of the clock repairs, so at some point, council will have an additional for that line item.

*The county received a $2,000 COVID-19 grant.

*Approved a $15,718 transfer from Recorder’s Identity Security Protection Fund to Recorder Perpetuation Fund.

Recorder Lavinia Herzog said she needs to purchase a new server for her office.

*Approved a $1,000 transfer in the Union Circuit Court Budget from Circuit Court Postage to Circuit Court Supplies.

*Approved Kathy Walker for the Union County Library Board. She replaced Erin Hensley, who resigned.

Liberal Governed Cities:  Where are the Adults?

Like most Americans, a super majority I believe, I am appalled at the circumstances of George Floyd’s death and will defend with my life the right of citizens to protest.  I also believe a super majority of Americans are appalled at the violence and destruction of property of innocent private citizens and like me stand in shock at the lack of action of local government as businesses are looted, vandalized and sometimes destroyed.

Liberal mayors ordering police to stand down and let the rioters “get it out of their system” is not new, we saw it in the Baltimore riots during the Obama administration.  So the question is if you live in a liberal governed city why are you still paying taxes?  These liberal leaders have made it clear they are violating the social contract we taxpayers have with our local governments – we pay taxes in exchange for police and fire protection when we need it, except I guess when there is an Antifa or Black Lives Matter initiated riot.  The entire situation results in this question screaming in my head:  Where are the adults?

 Speaking of missing adults, where are the governing adults in Seattle where several blocks of the city, presumably much of it privately owned, is now barricaded and under the control of “Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ)?  The hapless mayor thinks it is sort of like a festival and perhaps an example of a “Summer of Love” and the clueless governor had a deer in the headlights moment when asked about CHAZ – he apparently had not heard of it.  Again, neither the mayor nor the governor seem to have the slightest concern for the citizens and their property who were scooped up unwillingly in this madness – I guess taxpayer’s lives don’t matter?

An adult leader would have politely asked these knuckleheads to cease and desist peacefully and when the refusal and declaration that they are now sovereign from the United States reply was received, they would have calmly informed these CHAZ folks that since there is no treaty between the U.S. and CHAZ, the U.S. will immediately cease to provide water, electricity, food, or any other service to CHAZ.  Any adult would know that this kind of action would result in this pitiful event dying with a whimper as living conditions very quickly disintegrated and returning to normal living conditions for CHAZ residents is as easy as renouncing CHAZ and crossing the street back to the USA.

Larry Wiwi

Franklin County

From the Franklin County COVID-19 Task Force released June 17, 2020

The Franklin County COVID-19 Task Force announced Wednesday, June 17, the transition to long-term economic recovery for the county. 

     “COVID-19 has definitely not gone away,” said Franklin County Health Department Supervisor Angie Ruther, RN. “It is still crucial to take preventative measures such as washing hands, sanitizing commonly touched surfaces, and practicing social distances.”

     “As Indiana progresses through its ‘Back on Track’ stages, we want to turn our focus towards long-term economic recovery,” Franklin County E.M.A. Director Amy Lindsey said.  “Unless or until there is a vaccine, we are still going to have cases of coronavirus. Please, continue to take self-preventative measures. With that said, we want to help facilitate resources to those impacted financially due to the earlier restrictions.”        

     Lindsey has been working with local groups such as United Way of Franklin County, Franklin County Economic Development, the Franklin County Community Foundation, and local business leaders to develop safety plans for businesses, as well as identifying resources for financial assistance.

     “We will continue to monitor the latest information regarding coronavirus, and if needed, we can reactivate the task force,” Lindsey said.

     People wishing to monitor the number of local cases can do so by visiting www.coronavirus.in.gov.  For a list of resources, go to www.franklincounty.in.gov.