The Daviess County Council met for their regular June meeting Wednesday morning and appointed Pete Parsons, Dr. Suresh Lohano, and Kent Norris to the Daviess Community Hospital Board of Trustees. The Council also appointed Debbie Lawyer to fill a vacancy on the Odon-Winkleplek Library Board. The Council also set September 11 and 12 as dates for budget hearings and set October 2 as the date to adopt the county’s 2025 budget.
In regular business, the council approved the purchase of digital upgrades for all emergency agencies and fire departments in the county. With the upgrades and enhanced infrastructure, all public safety and emergency agencies in the county will be using a common platform and have the ability to communicate with each other in emergency situations. Chief Deputy Sheriff Steve Sturgis has worked with all county fire departments and first responders on the upgrade. The only exception is the Madison Township Volunteer Fire Department, which has elected not to participate. Council President Tom Schaeffer said he will make contact with Madison Township to be sure their communication equipment will be compatible with the rest of the county.
The council members tabled consideration of tax abatement reports to give them additional time to look over the documents.
In financial business, the Council appropriated funds received from the Opiod Settlement: $55,000 will go to equipment to help defray the costs of the communication upgrades, $2,500 for community corrections training and education, and $7,000 for community corrections repair and maintenance. The Council also approved $64,250 for repair and maintenance at the Security Center. The Council also appropriated $11,017 in funds received from the state for boater safety education.
The Council also approved the transfer of funds within the accounts of the Superior Court and the moving of funds within the accounts of the Highway Department. The next council is scheduled for July 10 at 8:15 a.m.
