Commissioners approve snow plow bids for some county subdivisions
MARTINSVILLE — The Morgan County Board of Commissioners met Monday morning to complete some year-end activities.
They opened bids for materials the county highway department will use next year. Those bids included costs for asphalt, stone, culverts and fuel. The bids will be reviewed before being awarded.
The commissioners also approved awarding Wallace Construction the contracts to remove snow in several subdivisions around Morgan County.
The county was looking for private companies or persons to plow roads in several subdivisions around the county. Wallace Construction was the only company to submit a bid.
The company did not bid on all subdivisions. Those subdivisions will be plowed by the county.
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Voting precincts approved
County administrator Josh Messmer said the county received census information at the end of September.
He said under state law, the county had to come up with new district maps for the commissioners and county council by the end of the year.
Messmer said according to law, the county's precincts must have between 600 to 2,000 registered voters.
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He said using the new information, the county was able to reduce the number of precincts in the county from 54 to 46.
The county now uses vote centers, which allow registered votes to vote anywhere in the county. Voters used to have to vote in their precincts.
The commissioners approved the new precincts.
Morgan County Clerk Stephanie Elliott will be sending out cards to county residents informing them of any changes to their precincts.
Next year tax sale
The county has 39 parcels of property that did not sell at the most recent tax sale.
Morgan County Auditor Dan Bastin said those properties have delinquent property taxes going back at least 18 months or more.
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He asked the commissioners to approve a resolution authorizing another sale on Feb. 9. The commissioners gave their approval.
Lawsuit resolution approved
County attorney Jim Wisco gave commissioners a copy of a settlement agreement with a former county employee.
The agreement, which is confidential, settles a lawsuit the employee had filed against the county. The commissioners approved the agreement.
Lawsuit against recorder
Zillow has reportedly filed a lawsuit against the county recorder's office.
The company is alleging the county and the recorder are not following state law when it comes to access to those records.
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Wisco said the county needs a bulk uses agreement for those wanting access to county records. He is working of developing an ordinance that will establish an agreement.
Other business
The commissioners approved allowing an employee in the highway department to have a take home vehicle. The employee is on call 24/7 to deal with problems on county roads.
The commissioners approved a resolution to purchase land for a bridge under construction.
Verley gets award
Long-time county employee Deb Verley was named the Outstanding Supportive County Executive Assistant of the Year by the Indiana Association of County Commissioners.
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Verley has been the executive assistant to the commissioners and council for around 20 years.
New website
The county has a new website that can be found at morgancounty.in.gov.
Messmer recently told the Reporter-Times that anyone interested in serving on boards or commissions next year can submit information on the new site.
The next meeting of the Morgan County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 14, at the Morgan County Administration Building, 180 S. Main St., Martinsville.
This article originally appeared on The Reporter Times: Morgan County Commissioners OK snow plow bids, talk Zillow lawsuit
