Fire truck gets nod for funds; county hears of road plan

Tentative approval has been granted to the Russellville Fire Dept. for purchase of a new fire truck.

The $100,000 requested could come from the county's Hazardous Waste Fund, and would represent about 65 percent of the total cost of the truck.

Fire department representatives Dennis Fordice, Mark Rossok and Kevin Carrington told commissioners Kristina Warren, Gene Beck and Dennis O'Hair that the truck would replace a 1972 model which has several mechanical issues and may not longer be compliant.

The new truck will respond to all structure fires, grass and field fires, vehicle fires, accidents and medical runs in the district. According to information provided by Carrington, if the truck had been in service in 2005 it would have responded to 97 percent of the total runs for the year. Of those 68 percent either did or could have involved hazardous material. During the last three years, the truck would have responded to 91 percent of the runs, of which 65 percent either did or could have involved hazardous material.

The total cost of the truck is estimated at $155,000.

Carrington said the truck to be replaced needs extensive repairs, but a Crawfordsville civic group has the finances to make those repairs so the truck can be donated to an in-need community in Mexico. The Russellville Fire Dept. does not have the funds to make those repairs.

The commissioners granted their approval of the request, pending the additional approval of the county council, which oversees county funds. They also noted that the funds should come from new tipping fees being paid into the Hazardous Waste Fund, and not from the $2 million balance now in the account.

Meanwhile, the commissioners also learned that a project is in the works to widen Fillmore Road to three lanes from Ind. 240 to the turn at CR 50 South.

Bill Dory of the Greencastle/Putnam County Development Center, told the commissioners the project is planned to provide better access to industrial property known as the Sgt. Cunningham site.

Dory said there is now some speculative interest in the property, and there is some grant funding to pay for the project. The Greencastle Redevelopment Commission is taking the lead on the project.

He notified the commissioners of the plans since there could also be some improvements onto the county road at the turn, and that would require the cooperation of the county.

Meanwhile during Monday's brief session, the commissioners:

-- Heard a request to vacate a portion of CR 950 North near CR 675 West where it dead ends into a creek. The county surveyor needs to provide a legal description of the portion of the road to be abandoned. After that, a petition will be filed to notify the surrounding property owners. The issue will then be voted on by the commissioners.

-- Approved McBride's Subdivision on CR 200 North as a 10-acre lot in Monroe Township. The item was unanimously approved by the county plan commission.

-- Tabled a request from Main Street Greencastle until the May 1 commissioner meeting concerning use of the courthouse restrooms during the upcoming Fair on the Square. The commissioners noted that the restrooms were "trashed" last year, and wanted to investigate the possibility of having the facility monitored during the two-day event. They also heard the recommendation that the remainder of the courthouse be closed to the public during the event.

-- Learned the ethanol plant at Cloverdale is still moving forward, but wet weather has slowed down progress on moving dirt.

-- Heard that the Extension Office is in the process of setting up workshops for 4-H projects.

The next meeting for the commissioners is a day meeting, set for 9 a.m. Monday, May 1 in the courthouse annex. The meeting was moved to the morning due to the primary election the following day. The commissioners normally meet on the first and third Mondays of each month at 6 p.m. in the courthouse annex. The sessions are open to the public.