SCHOOL NOTIFICATION
The Daviess County Council heard from Washington Police Officer Tim Guy and several school officials on Wednesday.
Guy reported on the School Guard Notification Program. Guy told the council that its the only notification system available. He says he’s been working with North Daviess Schools in regard to training issues. WHS Assistant Principal Troy Zollars told the council the program is not only important as an emergency tool in contacting law enforcement, but that it allows teachers to reach the office in case help is needed.
Barr Reeve Principle Jeff Doyle said that people don’t like to talk about an active shooter situation, but that the system is a good resource, which you hope you never have to use. He said the School Guard System would save lives by cutting down law enforcement response time to an emergency. Guy agreed with some suggestions to make teacher training on the system an annual event.
In appropriations, the council approved appropriations for overtime in the Sheriff’s Department which is reimbursed by the DEA,. The council also approved additional appropriations for jail maintenance and repair, and electricity and telephone at the Sheriff’s Department. Also approved was an appropriation of a just over $7,000 of grant money used for boater safety education. Also money was allocated for fee reimbursement for vaccines at the Health Department
COUNTY COUNCIL/BRIGES
The Daviess Council on Wednesday heard a report from County Highway Superintendent Phil Cornelius about the Old Vincennes Road Bridge over the West Fork of the White River.
Cornelius said that repair of the bridge which sits in Knox County, has been discussed by Daviess and Knox Counties for more than 12 years. He reported that current plans are to raise the load limit from 4 to15 tons, and the Federal Government and INDOT would cover approximately $1.7 million of the cost. That would leave Daviess County to provide an additional $100 thousand for the project.
Cornelius also discussed the inter local agreement between Daviess County and the City of Washington to rebuild the 15th Street overhead bridge over the CSX tracks in Washington. By state law, the city and the county must split the cost of the bridge repairs after exhausting other sources of funding.
Also announced at the meeting, County Attorney Grant Swartzentruber said the next session of the County’s Advisory Plan Commission would hear a request to rezone 50 acres of land south of Farlen near U.S. 231 from agricultural to industrial for a proposed facility to manufacture railroad ties.
The Council also approved the appointment of Chuck Melton to the Odon Winkelpleck Library Board.