The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/210126
Wednesday, November 13, 2013 Blue Jeans Center will host Sunday brunch The Blue Jeans Community Center in Monroe City will host Sunday brunch, Nov. 17, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The menu will include biscuits and gravy, baked apple french toast, ham and cheese sliders, hot chicken salad and other good stuff. All proceeds benefits the center. Informational Cub Scout meeting in Otwell The Boy Scouts of America Cub Scout Pack for the Otwell area is having an information and registration meeting on Monday, Nov. 18, at the Otwell Community Center in the Senior Room, next to the library. Meeting times are 6 p.m. for adults interested in being part of the Pack and 6:30 p.m. for all adults and boys interested in the scouting program in the Otwell area. For more information, contact Michael Richard (BSA District Executive) at 812-7048441, Brian Wamser at 812-789-6058 or Lou Fort at 812-766-3496. Breakfast for 2013 returning graduates from PC Pike Central invites graduates from the class of 2013 to return Wednesday, Nov. 27, for doughnuts and fruit and to meet with faculty and staff at 7:45 a.m. in the Media Center. At 8:15 a.m., we would like these returning students to meet with our Junior and Senior class to discuss life after Pike Central. We are hoping to give our students first-hand knowledge of college life, military and workforce experience. We will need all returning graduates to contact Kyle Brames by e-mail at Kbrames@bcsc.k12. in.us by November 22. Otwell Ruritan Vendor/Craft Show to be Dec. 7 The Otwell Ruritan Christmas Vendor/ Craft Show will be on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Otwell Community Center, located at 2301 North Spring Street. The event will also feature Breakfast with Santa, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., in the dining room. For more information, contact Denise Schnarr at (812) 6170333 or by email at otwell3@netzero.com. start building along the intersection will win. If we sit and do nothing, we will have missed that opportunity. It is important to act soon," said Coleman. "In May of this year, you had a significant lead over the counties to the north and south of you, but today that lead is not nearly as significant," said Pike County Growth Council Executive Director Paul Lake, emphasizing the importance of moving quickly on this project. Council President Greg Willis said, "It sounds like I'm trying to squash economic development. I'm not. I'm all for it. That isn't it. My question is, where has the Redevelopment Commission been? Pike County earlier established a Redevelopment Commission and a Tax Increment Fund district at the area of the I-69 interchange. It sets a baseline of property assessment in that area now. All development and increases in assessment will go to the TIF District. That funding can be used to fund infrastructure project such as the sewer line. The county commissioners' request for $850,000 didn't include any language specifying it would be paid back by TIF. Councilman Joe Sutton said he would like to think the money was going to be paid back, but it wasn't anywhere in writing. "I would have a better feeling if the redevelopment commission would say that is going to be paid back." "I apologize. I thought that was just a 'given.' I thought that was the whole purpose of the TIF district," said Commissioner Jeff Nelson. Sutton agreed, but said it wasn't anywhere in writing. Councilmen said they didn't want to slow the project, but they wanted it worded so the money could be recouped once development started. Councilman Greg Mangin asked if this was the appropriate time to start engineering work. Brian Bullock of Midwest Engineering said if they can get a final route of the sewer line decided, it will keep the project rolling. Willis said it was unlikely the full $850,000 would be paid back, so he wasn't against appropriating a smaller amount to get the project started. Bullock said it would take about $50,000 to $60,000 to get the engineering process started. "We have a window here and we need to act on it," said Harris. Eventually, Dennis Bishop moved to appropriate $50,000 to get the project started. Then in a month the council would have another meeting to approve the other $800,000 with TIF language in it. Myreon Krohn voted against it. "It needs to be moved forward, but in the right direction. I think it needs to be in black and white." Sutton, Bishop, Harris, Mangin and Max Elliott vot- ed for it with Willis abstaining. Willis said he had to abstain because he had family that owned property in the area benefitting from the sewer line. Behme requests Whaley be removed from library board "I'm representing concerned citizens about saving the history of Pike County," Tom Behme said the county council's appointment to the library board, Robyn Whaley, voted against approving using the former Barrett Memorial Library. He said she is wrong about the library not having funds to support the center. He said in their October meeting the board transferred $53,000 to the rainy day fund. Behme said he didn't understand what the problem was, because it wasn't going to use any more personnel than is already being paid. It was just going to move two people from the new library building to the former Barrett Memorial building, which they are paying $5,000 a year in utilities, with it closed. Behme said if the council didn't want to get rid of Whaley as their appointment, then "have her change her vote on his. That is all I'm asking . I'm not attacking their personality. I'm attacking their vote," said Behme. No action was taken by the council. In other business the council approved an ad- ditional appropriation of $30,000 from the general fund with $12,100 going to Advance EMT wages and $17,900 going to paramedic wages. "Is there an explanation for this?" asked Councilman Willis. EMS Director Chris Young said about $7,800 of the shortfall was because a 10-year employee left in the middle of the year and had considerable leave time built up that had to be paid. He also said some of it was that an advance EMT was replaced with a paramedic, which is paid more. Young said part of it was that at budget time, not as much has he had requested was approved. He said less was approved for 2014 than for 2013 and a 2.25 percent raise was granted. Councilman Elliott asked, "How do we fix this so it isn't a problem like this next year? "Sounds like we already have it for 2014," said Councilman Sutton. "I don't understand how it can be this far off," said Krohn. The request was approved by a 7-0 vote. Councilmen voted 52 to approve a transfer of $29,431 from technician vacation-sick pay to paramedic, along with other smaller transfers to Advanced EMT pay. Krohn and Sutton voted against the transfers. The next council meeting is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 10. Volunteers needed for Salvation Army, Christmas in the Park By Andy Heuring Bell ringer volunteers for Salvation Army are needed this Christmas and Thanksgiving, as well as volunteers are needed to help with the set up of Christmas in the Park this weekend. Salvation Army bell ringing The Red Kettle Campaign, of the Pike-Gibson Salvation Army, is starting soon and volunteers are needed. Last year, more than $5,000 was raised in Pike County during the 176 hours volunteers rang the 354-8500 Petersburg City Services Manager Gary McCandless announced last week that city workers will be flushing hydrants on Thursday, Nov. 14, and Friday, Nov. 15. McCandless said that hydrants on the north side of the city will be flushed on Thursday, Nov. 14, and that hydrants on the south side of the city will be flushed on Friday, Nov. 15. For more information, contact Petersburg City Hall by calling 354-8511. By Andy Heuring County Councilmen approved $50,000 for construction and engineering of a sewer line from Petersburg to I-69 during their two-anda-half hour meeting Tuesday morning. County commissioners had requested $850,000 from County Economic and Development Income Tax funds for the sewer lines. But councilmen decided to appropriate only $50,000 now and later the other $800,000 was requested as a loan from the CEDIT funds to be paid back by TIF funds. Petersburg Mayor Frank Coleman told the council, "We all know the importance of I-69 interchange to development in Pike County. . . If you don't have utilities there, potential developers will move on to another interchange. Pike and Petersburg are in a prime location to capitalize on economic growth and development." Coleman explained Petersburg could not afford to pay for the city line. Consequently they have drafted an agreement with the county that calls for the county to pay $850,000 for the construction and engineering of the sewer line and then Petersburg will own, maintain and operate the sewer line as an extension of their sewer plant, as well as pay any amount more than $850,000. "We are excited about this opportunity and the economic impact the intersection can have. If we miss this opportunity, it will never be again. The first one to Subscribe Today!! Petersburg to flush hydrants Thursday, Friday The Press-Dispatch Council appropriates money to start sewer line project Fax: 812-354-2014 E-mail: tpd@sigecom.net Briefs We Have News You Can Use! A-4 M Z netedition yeah, it' that fast! s The Press-Dispatch. No matter where you live. www.PressDispatch.net/Subscribe bells. This year, once again, volunteers will be ringing at the Dollar General Store and at Shopko on the Fridays and Saturdays between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Counter kettles as well will be available at establishments around Pike County during the four weeks between the holidays. Of each dollar raised in Pike and Gibson counties, 89 cents goes directly to programs and/or services. During the first eight months of 2013, 13,889 meals were served, and 1,464 bags of groceries were handed out. That totaled more than 30,000 lbs. of food. Emergency housing was provided for 48 families. Emergency utility assistance was provided to 90 families. Hundreds of backpacks with school supplies were also distributed. On 618 occasions, diapers and formula were distributed to those in need. If you would like to consider being a bell ringer, check out the bell ringer video at www.saprinceton. org and call John Burns at 812-354-3433 or Cal Biddle at 812-354-8069. John orga- nizes the volunteers ringing at the Dollar General Store, while Cal organizes the volunteers ringing at Shopko. Volunteers are needed for November 29 and 30, December 6 and 7, 13 and 14, 20 and 21. Whether it was serving meals after the Petersburg tornado or helping a young mother with formula for the baby, the motto for the Red Kettle Campaign has been "Doing the Most Good." Park has been condensed to two weeks as last weekend's work day was cancelled due to a family medical emergency. Organizer Wes Garris said a crew of specialized electricians will be working on wiring, but other volunteers are needed to help with the replacing of old incandescent bulbs with new more energy efficient LED bulbs. Garris said because they are now a week behind there will be lots of projects that Christmas in need to be done on Saturthe Park day, November 16. They will Set up of Christmas in the start at 8 a.m. Pike County Democratic Party's Annual JeffersonJackson Dinner Saturday, November 16th First United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall 801 Walnut Street, Petersburg Featured Speaker: United States Senator Joe Donnelly Other Speakers: State Senator Lindel Hume, Secretary of State Candidate Beth White, State Auditor Candidate Mike Claytor CONTACTS FOR TICKETS: Chris Burkhart, 354-3090 Cindy Ridao, 354-9256 Twyla Flint, 354-8663 Jennifer Dedman, 789-2349 • Reception for Senator Donnelly at 5:30 p.m. • Dinner at 6:00 p.m. • Program to follow Dinner is being catered by: Delightful Bites $15 per person