MORGAN COUNTY — “Do it.”
That was the request Morgan County Commissioner Bryan Collier made to county attorney Anne Cowgur during the discussion of the commissioners concerning re-establishing a county park board.
Collier wants the attorney to come up with an ordinance that will allow the county to appoint a park board.
Several years ago, due to conflicts between the old board and the commissioners, the county dissolved the board.
The commissioners became a “park board” and made decisions on the county’s park system. It has come up that the commissioners cannot be a “park board” under Indiana law. That started a discussion on re-establishing the board.
During Monday morning’s meeting of the county commissioners, discussion revolved around the board’s makeup.
Under current law, the commissioners and the county council each appoint two members to the board. An elected official, yet to be determined, will appoint a fifth person to serve on the board.
In addition to telling Cowgur to create an ordinance, Collier said they should consult the council on the idea of re-establishing a park board.
No decisions were made as the commissioners wait for the ordinance.
New ambulance
Morgan County EMS director Brent Worth asked the commissioners for permission to replace a 2023 Dodge ambulance with a new 2025 Ford ambulance.
Worth said in 2023, the county remounted an ambulance “box” on the dodge chassis. That truck was put in service around 10 months ago.
Worth said the problem is that the truck does not have the power to go up and down the hills in the county. The truck has around 13,500 miles on it. Due to its low power, there are signs of engine strain, he said.
Worth said the company will accept the old truck as a trade in. The cost of a new ambulance will be around $350,000. The company will give the county $100,000 trade in allowance for a final cost of around $250,000.
Worth said by transferring funds and the appropriation for new equipment, he said they would not have to ask for an additional appropriation to purchase the vehicle.
The commissioners gave their approval to purchase a new vehicle.
Other business
- The commissioners opened bids for the replacement of several small structures on county roads. A small structure is defined as a bridge or culvert that is less than 20 feet or less in length.
The commissioners received three bids, ranging from around $642,000 to around $987,000. The commissioners took the bids under advisement.
- They granted electrical easements in Old Town Waverly Park for the installation of new electrical lines.
- Finally, they approved adding the unincorporated areas around the town of Monrovia into the county’s regional sewer district.
The next scheduled commissioner meeting is Monday July 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the county administration building.
