County Council February meeting notes
The Dubois County Council met for the regular monthly meeting on Monday afternoon and took the following actions.
Approved $14,985 for Astro Security, Inc. to install new electronic access locks and card readers for the doors of the Dubois County Courthouse and $1000 for a radio. The radio will be for the deputy assigned to the court house.
Approved advertising for $440,000 for three single-axle dump trucks, six salt spreaders, and a new excavator for the County Highway Department. Highway Superintendent Steve Berg will investigate a used excavator for purchase and also report on maintenance costs with the current excavator they would like to replace.
Approved $800,000 appropriated for county road repairs; the appropriation was approved for advertisement last month.
Commissioner Doug Uebelhor presented the council with a check representing the wages for the amount of volunteer hours the Retired Teachers Association of Dubois County gave last year. The group donated nearly 43,000 hours at a value of $921,364.47 in wages.
Approved advertising for $1500 from the Pretrial Diversion Fund to be used for lodging expenses for Jasper Police Officer Adam Bower while he attends the K-9 school.
Approved advertising $6000 appropriation from the general fund to cover the expense of a lab tech giving testimony concerning a child molestation case that went to trial in 2011. Dubois County Prosecuting Attorney Kevin Crouse originally requested $7200 to pay for the expert testimony from the lab tech during the trial. Crouse attempted to negotiate the price down in 2011 but did not hear from the company again until Jan. 31 this year. He was able to negotiate the fee to $6000.
Approved advertising the appropriation of $12,025 for the purchase and training of a K-9 and officer. The money was raised through contributions from the community but must be appropriated for the expenses.
Approved $60,000 in appropriations split between the general and rainy day fund for the Huntingburg Airport.
Auditor Kathy Hopf requested authorization to advertise for $1800 for a yearly retainer fee for legal advice from Kahn, Dees, Donovan & Kahn of Evansville concerning human resource issues. The council approved the advertisement but also requested Hopf investigate what legal counsel is available due to the office’s membership in the Indiana County Auditors Association.
