The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1162521
The Press-Dispatch Wednesday, September 4, 2019 C-7 EAST GIBSON NEWS Submit school news: Email: egnews@ pressdispatch.net Deadline: Noon on Friday Francisco Elementary Commissioners award last of blight elimination money By Janice Barniak Commissioners met Aug. 20 to award what they be- lieve to be the last of Gib- son County's blight elimina- tion money; a $29,800 con- tract with Parker Excavat- ing that beat out a $ 37,623 bid from Naas and Sons to bring down four residences. "This is it, for the hous- es," said Commissioner Ste- ve Bottoms. The five- year program has taken down 93 homes total, according to Economic Development Coalition representative Debbie Bennett Stearsman. "To me, it's been one of the most successful pro- grams," said Bottoms. "We wish it was going to contin- ue." "If we can find money for it, we'll do it," Stearsman said. Commissioner Mary Key was absent. Council eyes 40 cent raises for county workers By Janice Barniak In a review of the most recent draft of the coun- ty budget, Gibson Coun- ty Council members went through what could be cut from the budget to deter- mine what funds would be left to provide county work- ers with raises this year. According to the council, one big expense for the com- ing year is a large uptick in the county's technology con- tract with Parrish Consult- ing. According to Parrish, Mi- crosoft will no longer sup- port the version of Windows the county operates on, lead- ing to upgrades to almost all the county computers. "If you want to know where the raises went, that's where they went," said Coun- cilman Derek McGraw. Other increased expens- es this year included approv- ing two new jailers; which, between salaries, insurance and other related costs, will total an additional $125,000. Gibson County Jail is the subject of two lawsuits alleg- ing dangerous conditions; the council has been steadi- ly increasing the number of jailers to match recommen- dations, though finding and keeping employees has been a challenge at the facility. They also clarified that a commissioner misspoke about contracts, and phas- ing out comp time in favor of overtime is only a feature in the Gibson County High- way Dept. budget, but other departments, for example, Gibson County Soil and Wa- ter should continue to utilize comp time to cut their over- time costs. Another consideration of the council was wheth- er the council should, af- ter Sheriff Tim Bottoms re- tires, change some of the compensation aspects for sheriff. Currently, sick days earned at a regular officer's rate are paid out at a sher- iff's rate when the employee takes the elected post. Also, the council is con- sidering, with a new sheriff, capping the amount a per- son's pension can be. The idea would be that right now, the whole pension is based on the sheriff's wages, even though, many times, most of the person's career was as a regular deputy. The council discussed capping pensions or put- ting sheriffs on the same pension plan as other elect- ed officials. No decisions were made on the subject. Gibson County Survey- or Scott Martin asked for a raise above what other coun- ty workers were likely to re- ceive; the council rolled that back. Unless brought back up in future hearings, in the current draft, he would re- ceive the same raise as oth- er employees. The council also looked at Gibson County Judge Rob Krieg's request for a judge's supplement. "I don't want to do it until we see what everyone else gets," said Councilman Dan Beard. "I'm not ready to do it. Especially with Bill (Mc- Connell) not here." "We know where Bill stands," said Councilman Jay Riley. McConnell has previously turned down the supplement in previous requests put forth by the judge; he is also known to be conservative about of- fering raises in general, re- peatedly pointing to the im- pact they have on retirement funds, for example. The $5,000 supplement, if approved, would come out of a fund that judges have dis- cretion over. Judge Jeffrey Meade didn't include a supplement in his budget, noted the council; they decided to look at the request again on the day the budget is read. "I don't want to open it up again," Beard said. The council discussed the 40 cents per hour raises proposed for county work- ers based on what was left in the budget, adding, with the exception of state-man- dated posts that have spe- cific raises required by the state, that they were not thinking of allowing bigger raises for any specific set of county employees, discuss- ing the standing-room-only meeting when the auditor's office proposed raises high- er than the county approved for other workers. "No buts anywhere," McGraw said, meaning without exception. The council also discussed rais- ing their own pay by 40 cents—it hasn't gone up in the last nine or more years. They did not reach a con- sensus. The budget has reading and advertising require- ments before the council votes one way or another on the proposal. The next coun- ty council meeting is 9 a.m. Sept. 10. BARTON/FRANCISCO/OCE LUNCH MENU Thursday, September 5: Salisbury steak with roll, nuggets with roll, chef salad with roll or a ham and cheese sand- wich served with fresh fruit and juice. Friday, September 6: BBQ chicken on bun, cheese pizza, popcorn chicken salad or a PB&J sandwich served with fresh fruit and juice. Monday, September 9: Grilled cheese, chick- en patty on bun, pop- corn chicken salad or a PB&J sandwich served with fresh fruit and juice. Rainbow of Flavors Week: Extra option of red Italian pizza. Tuesday, September 10: Beef nachos, ten- ders with roll, chef salad with roll or a ham and cheese sandwich served with fresh fruit and juice. Rainbow of Flavors Week: Extra option of red Italian pizza. Wednesday, Septem- ber 11: Popcorn chick- en bowl, mini corndogs, taco salad with roll or a PB&J sandwich served with fresh fruit and juice. Rainbow of Flavors Week: Extra option of red Italian pizza. Above: Hayden Maile and Autumn Klueg paint- ing with watercolors in their kindergarten class. Far left: During first grade gym, Bentley McGil- lem works on his soccer volley. Left: During first grade gym, Kaydence Fahrner concentrates on the soccer ball as she volleys through the orange cones. Zoey McAvoy and Colbie Ferguson work on their push-ups in first grade gym class. First grader Daisie Benton leads the class in their gym exercises. Mrs. Becky Jackson sits with a group of stu- dents in class working with dry-erase boards. Students work on coloring pictures in class. Pictured are, front row (l to r): Wesley Potts, Ow- en Nossett and Aubrey Robinson; second row: Nora Criss and Carson Heichelbech. Alee Mayberry enjoys the view from the top of the jungle-gym dome at recess. Above: Students in Mrs. Day's art class working on their masterpiece for class. Left: Terrin Meece launches a volleyball during gym class. Far left: Mrs. Amy Day instructs her art class on the next step of their project. Above: Mr. Dustin Meuser playing flag football with stu- dents at recess. Right: Cooper Smith and Cannon Tooley have fun play- ing on the play set at recess. Mrs. Teresa Barton helps student Austin Le- mond with some school work in class. Serena Molina, Zoey McAvoy and Lock Pride all do sit-ups during first grade gym class. Brentley Norrington focuses on painting his masterpiece in kindergarten using watercol- ors. During first grade gym, Tyson Sheehe works on his push-ups. CALENDER Sept. 8 – Grandparents Day Sept. 10 – Volleyball at Pike Central, A (6th) and B (5th), 4:30 p.m. Midterm Sept. 12– Volleyball vs. Princeton, A (6th) and B (5th), 4:30 p.m. Sept. 16 – Volleyball at BTS, 5th and 6th, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 17– Volleyball vs. Owensville, 6th only, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 18 – Fall Sports Pic- tures 2:15 Sept. 19 – Early dismissal, Professional Dev. at 1 p.m. Sept. 24– Volleyball vs. FES, 6th only, 4:30 p.m. Sept. 27– Volleyball Tour- ney at OCE, 4:30 p.m. Oakland City Elementary