Impounded vehicles to accrue daily fees at county jail

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Vehicles stored by the Putnam County Sheriff's Department during criminal investigations will soon be a burden on more than just the county.

On Monday the Putnam County Commissioners approved an ordinance to begin charging fees for vehicles stored at the Putnam County Jail as a result of criminal investigations and drug busts.

The charge for most vehicles will be $15 per day, with a $25 per day charge for semi trailers.

The fees will be paid directly to the sheriff's department prior to removal of the vehicle.

Criminal vehicles were not the only ones on the minds of the commissioners, as they accepted bids for new tandem trucks for the Putnam County Highway Department.

The county received three bids on the project: $106,302 for Kenworth trucks from Terre Haute Truck Center, $106,995 for Internationals from Indy Truck Sales and $108,258 for Freightliners from Truck City of Gary.

The bids varied by options and the trade-in value the county's older trucks. The commissioners took the issue under advisement. Highway officials will review the bids, and a selection should be made at the Monday, June 18 meeting.

The highway department began repaving projects on Tuesday, with a number of locations on the slate for the summer.

Additionally, two sections of the Lincoln Hills Culvert at Heritage Lake are to be delivered by the end of the week. Department officials hope to have the section of Heritage Drive reopened by the end of June.

In other business:

* 911 Director Dave Costin reported he will be requesting $143,000 from the Hazardous Materials Fund for the narrow banding of county radios. The money is controlled by the Putnam County Council, but Costin also sought the Commissioners' blessing to make the request.

The total cost of the federally-mandated project is $167,000, but the county already received a $24,000 grant to go toward the project.

If the county is not in compliance by Jan. 1, 2013, it will face steep fines.

"It's something we have to do," Costin said. "It's something that's mandated."

Costin said the department is doing well financially, besides the narrow banding issue.

He also reported the Putnam County Emergency Operations Center open house will be Saturday, June 23 from 2-6 p.m. Amateur radio operators will be set up that day, as will the Greencastle Fire Department command vehicle and fire engine, Operation Life and some police squad cars.

* The commissioners approved the filling of two-full time positions in the assessor's office and two in the auditor's office. All four are existing positions, so no new money will come from the budget.

The county council must also approve the moves before any hires can be made.

* The commissioners are requesting applicants for openings on the Putnam County Board of Aviation Commissioners and the Putnam County Public Library Board.

Interested county residents should have a letter of interest and application to the Putnam County Auditor's Office, Courthouse Second Floor, by Wednesday, June 13. Mailed applications should be send to Putnam County Auditor, 1 W. Washington St., Room 20, Greencastle, IN 46135.

The commissioners plan to make the appointments at their Monday, June 18 meeting.

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