County fathers seek funding for western bypass completion

By Dennis Marshall

MOUNT VERNON, Ind. — A request for up to $10 million in county funding to help complete the Western Bypass drew no vote Wednesday, Oct. 14, as Posey County Council members sought more time to consider the proposed commitment.

Commissioner Bill Collins told the council the remaining work would cost an estimated $45 million, including a railroad bridge, and could require a county match of $9 million to $10 million. He asked for permission to pursue a grant to help fund the project rather than an immediate appropriation of the county’s share. Collins said an application submitted now would not bring funding until 2031.

“We’ve been waiting a long time on somebody to step up and say they’re gonna help us pay for it, so I would like to just go ahead and get it done,” Collins said.

He also raised the possibility that a major development could change how the county pays its share.

“If we were to get a fertilizer plant or something come in, maybe that $9 or $10 million could go away,” Collins said. “Maybe if they want to pay for it, and we get the grant, we can say thanks but no thanks.”

The county’s rainy day fund had a reported balance of $2,718,264.78. No portion of the fund has been committed to the bypass.

“I personally would like to have 30 days or so to digest it,” council member Zack George said.

A special meeting could be called later this month with 48 hours’ notice.

The council also approved the county’s 2027 budget on second reading following a public hearing that drew no comments. The county will take a 4.5 percent increase in the levies for its County General, Health and Reassessment funds, below the 6 percent maximum allowed by the state.

Auditor Maegen Greenwell said it was the first time in recent years the county had not taken the full allowable increase. The smaller increase was intended to limit the tax impact while continuing to fund county operations.

County employees also will pay a smaller share of health insurance premiums next year after the council approved a change in how the county and employees share the cost. The county will cover 90 percent of premiums and employees will pay 10 percent, a change from the current 84/16 split. Premium rates themselves are not increasing, meaning employees who participate in the plan will see a smaller deduction from their paychecks. Greenwell credited the county’s insurance agent, Ted Thompson, with helping keep premiums flat for another year.

The council approved $26,047 for an outdoor warning siren at the Harmonie State Park campground after Emergency Management Agency Director Carrie Thompson requested funding for four new sirens. The other three were deferred while the county works to resolve radio interference problems with the existing system.

Thompson said the current sirens use the old VHF fire channel, which has caused interference with emergency radio traffic. She recommended moving the sirens to a dedicated frequency. Officials also have discussed expanding the sirens’ coverage radius to about 5,400 feet and using a two-way system with Storm Sentry technology for automatic activation.

The council approved a new compensation study by Wagner Irwin & Shields to review county positions and pay. Council President Heather Allyn said the last full study was completed in 2023 and that job duties and comparable salaries have changed since then. The new study is expected to take several months, and department heads were asked to respond to information requests from the firm.

Commissioners also received permission to advertise the county’s vacant economic development director position with a salary range of $80,000 to $90,000, rather than a fixed salary of $80,000. The council approved a month-to-month contract with Volt Strategies for $6,250 per month through the end of the year. The firm is expected to help establish the economic development office and assist with legislative and grant work.

Elsewhere, the council approved $410,177.24 in highway funding distributed by lane-mile allocation and authorized the Highway Department to proceed with the purchase of a John Deere tractor and 10-foot mower for $180,778.92. Payment is to follow an appropriation at next month’s meeting.

The council also approved $3,000 for dispatch repairs and several additional appropriations for Emergency Medical Services: $5,000 for vehicle maintenance, $13,000 for ambulance billing, $60,000 for overtime and $33,000 for operating supplies. EMS reports showed 234 calls for service in September, including 178 transports, with revenue of $142,792.66. The department was operating one full-time employee short.

The sheriff’s office reported 130 people in custody, including 104 Posey County inmates, 16 held for Vanderburgh County and 10 state Department of Correction inmates. The county received $18,640 from Vanderburgh County in September for housing those inmates. The sheriff also reported continued difficulty retaining deputies, including employees leaving for positions in Jeffersonville, and said metal detectors had been ordered.

The council approved a $25 donation for Project Lifesaver, which helps locate people who may wander and become lost. Members also approved additional appropriations of $16,487.52 for an interim first deputy in the assessor’s office and $4,000 for part-time reassessment work.

The council also approved appropriations to allow bills for a fire district consultant and for flooring work to be paid as they arrive. Some of the work is expected to continue into next year.