March 28--With a couple of signatures, the county leaders made it official earlier this week and rescinded the termination letter to Anderson Township Volunteer Fire Department EMS service.
"We know you have worked very hard and the community of Milroy and the surrounding area should commend your's (Nick White) and Becky's (Puckett) efforts in the matter. Without those efforts, I am confident to say we would not be here talking about this today," commissioner Bruce Levi said.
Anderson Township fire chief Nick White thanked the county leaders for their support and said it is anticipated the improvements are only starting in the volunteer department he heads.
"It took a departmental effort to get to this point. We will continue to work at this and get this phase behind us. We do not want to end up in the place again," White said.
The attention then turned to the issue of dual dispatch for the area in the event of an emergency medical call. Since June 2013, RMH Ambulance has been dispatched simultaneously with ATVFD medical personnel.
"I am a little hesitant to lift the dual dispatch at this time -- with spring and planting season nearing, I am not sure how many volunteers in the department may be in the fields and unable to respond," sheriff Jeff Sherwood said.
Following a brief discussion, the commissioner decided to continue dispatching RMH Ambulance personnel with ATVFD EMS for the current time.
In other matters, it was announced that the Rush County Area Plan office is once again looking for a director, following the announcement that current director Kevin Tolloty of his resignation. Tolloty was the county's third APC director and was hired in August 2013 to replaced Kate Meyer.
According to commissioner Ken Masters, the APC has found itself in the position of seeking its third director in less than 18 months. Prior to Tolloty assuming the lead, long-time APC and Board of Zoning Appeals consultant David Rogier assumed the duties on an interim basis. Today is Tolloty's last day, and it is unclear if Rogier will again assume the position on an interim basis.
In an unrelated matter, county probation department director Mark Fields requested the county leaders enter into a contact with Youth Opportunity Center (YOC), a youth detention center in Muncie, to provide supervision for at-risk youth. For a number of years, the county has contracted with a similar facility in Muncie, Cedar Bridge. However, Cedar Bridge is moving its operations to Loogootee. According to Fields YOC will charge the county $115 a day to provide a bed for up to 90 days for the youth, with no up charge should the need arise for additional days during the year. Fields and Catherine Custer of the local probation department recently toured YOC and said they were impressed with the facility.
"It is essentially a jail for kids, it offers classrooms, a gym and exercise area and is a secured facility," Fields said.
Following a brief discussion, the county leaders signed the contract.
In a final matter, the county leaders will meet at 8:30 a.m. today in the county council room in a special session to announce their appointments to the forming county redevelopment board.
Contact: Frank Denzler @ 765.932.2222 x106.
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